Never forget the spirit of the season

[Bill Glasheen]

Kids are kids, and they are on the receiving end of it all. But I try... I try to tell my son the lesson of the spirit of the season. That lesson of course is that the gift is in the giving.

And speaking of giving...

Sean worked with me at Uechi camp one summer (Suparinpei and Tsukenshitahaku no sai) before heading off to Iraq. He's over there now putting his ass on the line while the rest of us are enjoying time off with those we love. He's minus a girlfriend he had when he left these shores ("it" happens...), but his spirits are high. We keep in touch.

Straight from "somewhere" in Iraq.

Camel Spiders are the nastiest things I have seen over here. I was sent to a Radio Relay Point after I was released from my last company (I went from a Transportation Company to an Infantry Company). Transportation and Infantry... 2 very different worlds I might add. So I was at this RRP or RP as we call it (I can't really go into detail on what those are all about via internet) and I was on the radios with one of my soldiers when we heard this loud scream; very lady-like I might add. It was another one of our soldiers who woke up looking at the bunk above him with a huge camel spider right over his face. So everyone who heard the scream entered the area to find this soldier burning the camel spider yelling, cursing - it was very funny. Unfortunatly it was my room the camel spiders got into so I wasn't too thrilled my whole time at the RP.

Well I'm going to wish you a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays now. I will be on the road the next few days. Take care and take it easy. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sean

Here's a picture Sean sent of one of the little buggers.



If you want to write him, he's shonchin@gmail.com .

We need more Seans in the world who are willing to give their all in whatever they do, and find humor in the face of fear.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and remember the spirit of the season.

- Bill

[chef]

God bless you, Sean. Thank you for being over there to fight for our country. We need more people like you with courage and willingness to fight for our and others freedoms.

I sent you an email. Keep up the good spirits and watch out for those nasty, big spiders.

Regards,
Vicki

[AAAhmed46]

Holy #####, thats HUGE.

[Glenn]

Here's a good link on camel spiders
http://www.camelspiders.net/
Not as dangerous as the myths that have circulated about them would have you believe, but definitely would have quite a surprise effect on the unweary!

[Bill Glasheen]

From Glenn's site...

This picture gives some perspective. This is actually two of them. I'm wondering what the lower one is doing to that upper one...



Here's a picture of a camel spider bite.



And here are the facts.

1. Camel spiders top speed - 10 mph.

2. Size: Up to 6 inches

3. They have no venom.

4. They don't jump.

5. Called camel spiders because they live in the desert.

They actually aren't spiders at all, they're solpugids.. Along with spiders, they are members of the class Arachnida.

- Bill

[mhosea]

I remember seeing on TV (probably in some documentary about spiders) the case of young woman who saw a large spider in her car as she was driving and ended up getting seriously hurt by running off the road. The species turned out to be one that is considered "harmless" to humans.

[mhosea]

Here's a shot of a camel spider bite on the toe (no blood, so you can see clearly what the damage was).

[Glenn]

2. Size: Up to 6 inches
- Bill

The ones in that picture look bigger than 6 inches! Must be a lot closer to the camera than the person's legs in the background...or a different species.

[CANDANeh]

Not something I want to wake up to hanging around my face

[Bruise* Lee]

Ugh, that alone is enough of a reason to admire the bravery of the men and women there....LOL. One of those would make a good thanksgiving dinner they are so big. you seriously could use them for target practice. I am not sure what I would write to your son, but I am very appreciative of the men and women willing to serve in our countries military - whether a person believes Iraq is the best strategic use of the military in the war on terrorism or not, their sense of duty and sacrifice inspires nobility of spirit

[Bill Glasheen]

I am not sure what I would write to your son, but I am very appreciative of the men and women willing to serve in our countries military - whether a person believes Iraq is the best strategic use of the military in the war on terrorism or not, their sense of duty and sacrifice inspires nobility of spirit

Very true, and your sentiments are genuine and appreciated.

Correction...

Sean (the Uechika in Iraq) is not my son. He's just my adopted Uechi pen pal after our shared time at camp. Sean is serving in Iraq, and I'm about to go to a warm, comfortable gym with my own much younger son.

FWIW, we both still are buddies with Sean's ex girlfriend. She's a busy young lady (and Uechika) in her first year of college.

- Bill

[AAAhmed46]

From Glenn's site...

This picture gives some perspective. This is actually two of them. I'm wondering what the lower one is doing to that upper one...



Here's a picture of a camel spider bite.



And here are the facts.

1. Camel spiders top speed - 10 mph.

2. Size: Up to 6 inches

3. They have no venom.

4. They don't jump.

5. Called camel spiders because they live in the desert.

They actually aren't spiders at all, they're solpugids.. Along with spiders, they are members of the class Arachnida.

- Bill

*Shudders*

[AAAhmed46]

I am not sure what I would write to your son, but I am very appreciative of the men and women willing to serve in our countries military - whether a person believes Iraq is the best strategic use of the military in the war on terrorism or not, their sense of duty and sacrifice inspires nobility of spirit

Very true, and your sentiments are genuine and appreciated.

Correction...

Sean (the Uechika in Iraq) is not my son. He's just my adopted Uechi pen pal after our shared time at camp. Sean is serving in Iraq, and I'm about to go to a warm, comfortable gym with my own much younger son.

FWIW, we both still are buddies with Sean's ex girlfriend. She's a busy young lady (and Uechika) in her first year of college.

- Bill

I hope he leaves Iraq with a good impression of the people, though he probably wont unfotunatly.

[jorvik]

This is the kind of cheesy, sickening sentimentality that the US is famous for I pity the poor UK troops who have been sent into die in Afghanistan.....knowingly underequiped, some killed because they didn't have the right body armour.because tony b'liar and his party wouldn't supply it....and they shouldn't be there, but I grant you it is not there fault that they are there

[Bill Glasheen]

It seems you are alone in your Grinch attitude, Ray.

Go rain on someone else's holiday, and go spit on someone else's soldiers.

- Bill