You ever notice as vets you just meet and click

[TEB]

This morning at the ymca in locker room I had a dude approach me asking me about my hoodie.it has airborne wings and expert infantry badge on it. I earned them I told him their on my 214 I said jokingly, so in talking to this dude I find out he is former USMC infantry and he is around my age I’m 51 he is 49. And he joined the y to exercise and lose weight. I could tell he was a bit self conscious as we were talking in locker room. He mentioned I used to be skinny I jokingly said hey my wife refers to me as a human border collie or she says jokingly I’m running a metabolism like a meth head. As in I always have to be on the go even at 51. And one thing I carried over from being infantry thirty plus years ago is exercise running or light weights a lot of reps.

So I invited my new friend Jason to work out with Danica and i. So I said to him hey come work out with us on invite we do a round robin and he accepted. So I introduced him to Danica she is former 82nd as me I said Jason this is Danica she was military intel yes I know as we’re former infantry. We both know military and intelligence does not go hand in hand. It worked out well my vet friends we hit treadmill for cardio then took time to round robin today we did upper body with lite weights Wednesday will do lower body and abs.

And Danica is 28 I jokingly said she is one tattoo short of wearing a eye patch. Danica went to high school with our one daughter my wife and I have known her since she was in third grade. But today was good day as Jason will meet me Wednesday we exchange phone numbers and he wants to get down to below 300 in weight. I said hey bro just one step at a time. Kind of like humping a ruck we just get used to it. Like we did humping a ruck when we were infantry as teenagers. Don’t think of nothing more than next step as is what is.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. I need more workout time

to relieve stress. However, there is this ugly rethug tax bill that sends me to the keyboards and the telephones.

[TEB]

4. I know this tax scam has me pissed

[Siwsan]

2. With another female veteran, absolutely.

I've had mixed experiences with many of the male veterans I've met. Some are downright dismissive, but I don't take it to heart.

I was at a Pow Wow, once, and participated in the Veteran's Dance. I was one of only a few female veterans, and most of the men were very warm and welcoming. However, one man flat out refused to shake my hand. Maybe he was just a flat out jerk.

[TEB]

5. Im relaxed

If you served I respect that about a person. Danica asked me once why I joined infantry I said it was 1983 delayed enlistment I took asvab did really well. My recruiter nice guy he had mos as admin I wanted to do infantry and airborne school. Why I chose that go big or go home I personally wanted to test myself to see if I could make it. But once I got to benning in 84 I knew at 18 I made one bigly mistake I know bigly is a huge wurd I know big words ok I’m joking. The guy that would not shake your hand one word comes to mind. He is arrogant Asshole and insecure intimidated by fact you our a vet as well, Take it easy friend be safe.

[AJT]

3. It's good to read this just before heading out to my noon exercise class.

I wish I enjoyed physical exertion. I only exercise out of fear.

It's great that you've made friends at the gym.

I don't know what humping a ruck is, but it does not sound like fun.

[TEB]

6. To quote my wife

I always make friends AJT she told me I should run for office as I’m so easy going. I told her it may come out my skeletons in my closet I have a boog the chocolate lab a trash picking counter surfing land shark. I asked dear our you prepared to answer why your husband of 31 years has a boog.

[AJT]

15. Even land sharks deserve love.

[TEB]

16. I agree on love of chocolate land sharks

How was your noon class at gym, I’m cooking dinner at moment the boys just got home from school. Boog is all happy to see his loves the boys the chocolate land shark. He the boog says guys the man is making spaghetti and meatballs it is awesome. As boogs love spaghetti and meatballs and 9000 other food groups.

[AJT]

17. I go something cslled a barre class 3 or 4 times a week.

I find building muscle after menopause almost impossible, but I am trying. I know my diet needs to change, but that is very hard. I've always been very thin, even now I am 5'6" and weight 115 lbs, but I'm used to weighing 105 lbs. and feeling comfortable in my skin. Now my body has changed and I feel like I am in someone else's yucky skin. Ugh, getting to be an old lady sucks.

Leo is a huge fan of spaghetti and meatballs. I would say that is one of his top 5 faves. Tonight is chicken enchiladas, he'll be fine with that.

[TEB]

18. I responded to you in mail ajt

I hear you on this I’m 51 and this is the first time I really kind of starting to feel it. I always hit gym exercise been active but of late like last couple years I kind of feel 51.

[DashOneBravo]

7. Yes most of my friends are vets

Or cops. lol Glad you going. I always have been in pretty good shape as I eat well and exercise.

It seems we can relate easier. As for the rucking, which to non military is called back packing. We call our packs rucksacks and rucking means a hike on the road or hills. But it's never a pleasant thing. They put large rocks and weigh them before starting.

It's far better than a death run. I hated long runs and still won't do it.

[TEB]

8. Hey bro

I’ve always exercised since army and glad I met Jason this morning we was joking about m 60

[DashOneBravo]

9. That's good to exercise

They say that the M240B is better than a 60. But I never heard from anyone who had shot both.

I was a 60 gunner for a while. That has to be the best job for a gun guy. I loved it and thought it much better then the M249 because of the 7.62.

[TEB]

10. We just had the 60s and then the saw what were they

The 249

[TEB]

12. 249 were saws that is it I remember

[DashOneBravo]

13. That's correct.

M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. SAW. That's the lightest one and fires a 5:56. One thing was cool that it was belt fed but could also use a rifle magazine. Don't know if new ones do that too.

[TEB]

14. Science moment

When we got m249 let’s see how many drums of ammunition to jam it as grunts we were regular bill nye the science guy thought was you had trust it or fuck it up for the company armorers

[TEB]

11. On the 60

I had good cone of fire as in engaging even as left handed

[Victor_c3]

20. I find I click well with most vets

Usually Army and Marine sorts rather than Air Force or Navy. As a grunt I find my experiences are too different from these guys.

I’ve met two Coasttuard vets that I really liked. They were both first responders on September 11th and were thoroughly shaken by their experiences. The combat and fear part is part of PTSD, but the stuff that bothers me the most is dealing with dead and dying people. First responders of all sorts have my utmost respect and admiration.

But by in large I’m a huge fan of veterans. The sense of service to our country and to something bigger than themselves is a trait more people in our nation need. Also, we all have a lot of comparable experiences. A lot of times I can look at a person and tell they are a vet from their face and body language. A lot of vets have a warm and friendly disposition.

[TEB]

21. I agree

Especially being former infantry

[DashOneBravo]

22. I'm glad you learned early to network

It's much easier to find them now with social media.

And in the best Infantry manner: Merry fucking Christmas El-tee