7/18/2005
I’m still standing!
American Soldier says,
I must say that alot has changed since I’ve been gone. The first week of work was interesting. I really didn’t do much at all. The first day I spent trying to get all my passwords fixed and my Outlook account was busy downloading over 3000 emails. My work never suspended my account and somehow my email got into some spam bot. So between work related items for the past 7 months and ads for Viagra, I had a busy first day. Everyone was very nice and welcomed me back literally with open arms.
On the home front I have been opening up more and I can tell that my patience level is coming back. When you are a Soldier you do things right away and to the best of your ability. In the civilian world, things are typically worked around certain habits or other tasks. I’ve been getting into the man of the house routine again. You know, fixing things around the house. Well as best as a gimped Soldier can!
My appointment with my doctor went fine. The doctor looked at me after looking at the MRI results and asked me how bad I was hurting! He told me that my surgery would be tricky but nothing he and his team couldn’t handle. He also said that he could have me in for surgery in the following weeks. No more than 4. So I just have to make the admin requests to get short-term disability setup and request a surgery date.
I am happy to be home but the camaraderie that is inside of me still misses my Soldiers and the people I became good friends with. At one point last week I sent an email to our unit admin asking what it would take to get me over there. He said that I need to get fixed first. He didn’t want to see me get hurt because I could not function at 100%. It’s a tough pill to swallow but it’s reality.
I am considering putting the last year’s entries in a book format. However I have yet to find a trustful publisher. This publisher would also respect the fact that I’d be using this pseudonym. If anyone knows someone, send him or her my way.
Filed under: General, News from home
10 Responses to “I’m still standing!”
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Either great minds think alike or my previous comment was a kick in the pants for ya.
I hope someday you become completely at peace with your situation….or you kick butt in P.T. after the surgery and come back better than you were before. What do you want to happen, A.S?
Hey, A.S. ~ thanks for the update! Glad things are going well for you and smoothing out! Have been praying tons for you and Mrs AS ~ will continue to do so!!!! Will also be in prayer about your desire to return to your unit. Anything is possible!!!! A while back I emailed you an article about a one-eyed sniper who evenutally returned…and I’ve heard of guys who’ve lost one of their *legs* going back as well. So, if that’s what you really want, if that is your goal… keep that goal in mind and work toward it with all your might. Sheer willpower, determination, and prayer can accomplish amazing things!!!! if returning isn’t your goal, find a goal to work toward. That will keep you motivated and give you additional incintive just hang in there and keep working at your physical therapy, etc. and get you thru the rough patches.
OK, end of “mom-like” advice, LOL!!!
AS,
Thank you for filling us in on what’s happening in your world!
So glad that work is going well and you are getting back in the swing of things. I’m glad too that your co-workers welcomed you back.
I continue to pray for you too and your family especially about your surgery. I just know that you will be good as new when you recover!
It’s good that you want to be a soldier. It is people like you that keep our country free. Those who are willing to go and fight so that we can have the freedoms that we have today. Thank you for that!
Hope the idea about a book turns out well! I love this blog and I know that your book will be a great read.
Well take care AS and so glad that you are doing as well as you are!
AS–so good to hear from you. I’m glad things seem to be going smoother in your world. Please take care of you! If being a soldier is still what you want to do, then I hope that works out for you. Thank you for loving your country so much. And yes, yes, please do the book thing!!!!!! Wish I could help with a publishing contact… Hope you find one! Can’t wait to read it!
glad your doing alright. doing a book is a good idea, i hope you can find a good publisher. hang in there, rock on and thank you
Dear AS,
It is good to have you back. Whatever your dream and/or desire for your future, you know how to get there. It’s inside.
About publishing a book:
1. Write it.
2. Ask a lawyer for advice.
3. Do the legwork yourself. You’ll save money.
4. Send a copy (AFTER YOU COPYRIGHT IT) to the Library of Congress. This is proof of who published what, when.
5. Then, enjoy all that dough!
There are some programs that will help you publish your own work. I will look around to see if I can come up with the URL. I know it will be a great book!
I put “publish books” in the Google search engine, but they didn’t show exactly what I was looking for as far as instructions to publish on your own. THOSE GREEDY *mumble, mumble, mumble*!
Maybe if you look into it, you can decide for yourself. Remember, always speak to a lawyer! Pro-bono, preferably. Pro se. lol. Take care.
First of all Thank you.
My boyfriend was deployed last October. He is an MP with a National Gaurd Unit, that is around the same time I found your site and I have been reading it ever since.
My mom is an author and she has had 2 books published through Publish America. The website is www.publishamerica.com. This might be something to look into.
Take Care and Thank You again.
Dear AS,
I have to differ with the last poster. Publish America will not be a good fit for your book. They have a poor reputation in the book industry. Their books are over priced, poorly edited, and are not stocked in bookstores. Many authors are seeking to get releases from their contracts. PA is considered in the industry as a scam.
If you just want to print the book for your family, check out Lulu.com. If you want to get your book into the hands of readers, I suggest you send a query letter about your book to literary agents and publishers that are seeking a story like yours. There are websites online to help you, such as Publishers Marketplace and The Association of Authors Representative.
Here are sites about Publish America.
The Frederick News Post Article: PA’s Hometown Newspaper: (I live in Frederick and can tell you PA does not have a good reputation in town.) http://www.lisamaliga.com/fredericknewspost.htm
Making Books / The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25187-2005Jan20
Rip Off Report, Publish America House of Publishing Rip Off: http://www.badbusinessbureau.com/reports/ripoff104646.htm
Preditors & Editors: http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pebp.htm - 26k
WNBC / Publishing On Demand Can Cause Problems: http://www.wnbc.com/askasa/4124957/detail.html
The Only Thing You Need to Know About Publish America: http://www.steelypips.org/miscellany/publishamerica.html
The Neverending Publish America Thread: http://p197.ezboard.com/fabsolutewritefrm11.showMessage?topicID=209.topic
A Writer’s Life: http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2004/12/more_on_publish.html
The Truth About Publish America FAQ: http://www.freewebs.com/truthaboutpa/faqs.htm
Useless Knowledge Mag: Article by PA author Argile Sox / http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/may/article346.html
Try to ignore the ads. The article is what is worth going here for.
On Publish America: http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/writing/pa.html
For Publish America, read Scam America: http://www.sensiblesoftware.com/articles/a/For-PublishAmerica-read-ScamAmerica.html
AS, there was a very nice lady at the Iraqi War Vets forum who wrote and published a bkkk recently. Here name is :
Reuben, Nancy F.
nfrcba@msn.com
If you contact her and tell her netseeker31 referred you to her for some suggestions, I am sure she won’t mind. Her book has been out long enough for her to have gotten a feel for any pitfalls. Her book is called, “Heaven’s Heros!” It’s a book of poetry she wrote to honor our troops. Lol, I’m still trying to get the money to buy it from her. She’s going to sign it for me. If you contact her, hope she can help you with goos ideas. She is very nice. She also has a family, so she isn’t a groupie if you know what I mean, lol!!