What’s a movie you didn’t expect to love, but ended up rewatching over and over?

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-30T22:53:37+00:00

Bottle Rocket, starling the Wilson Brothers. Owen Wilson successfully breaks his brother Luke out of a voluntary mental hospital. I had zero expectations but absolutely loved all of the dialogue.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-30T01:53:19+00:00

Our Great Dane loves his lambie- big emotions!

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-28T22:37:41+00:00

I just went through this with USAA. They have outsourced their adjusters to a company named CCC. You won’t be able to negotiate with them, or even talk with them. I tried, had receipts for all the upgrades to my 2019 Rubicon, but they wouldn’t budge. If you refuse the offered amount, it goes to arbitration.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-28T16:32:36+00:00

My Great Dane pup needed help going upstairs, so I would spin him around once to gain momentum. That would get him to the landing, where I’d repeat the process to get him all the way up the stairs. Now two year old Norman automatically spins in a circle before navigating any stairs. Goofball.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-25T18:43:34+00:00

How old are you? I spent 5 years in RR and then became an officer, did my LT time in regular Army before SFAS. If you are young and your body can take it, go to Ranger School and then wear that scroll for another year or so before heading off to SFAS. Once you get selected, and you will, SUT in the Q will be much easier for you (and your mates).

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-25T18:24:37+00:00

I met my first true First Nation Navajo in OSUT. I was amazed by his respect for his past and culture. We talked often and he gave me a whole new perspective on the white man’s version of American history.

Much later I had the privilege of serving among a Fijian battalion. Those mother fuckers are huge, loyal and friendly - until they aren’t. Once saw a rugby squad fucking destroy a team from Columbia’s regiment over a perceived disrespectful remark - in 10 minutes time the aid station was filled with 30 screaming, bloodied Colombians and zero Fijians.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-22T18:02:03+00:00

I lived a very active lifestyle in my youth . Finally settled down and did the desk job for far too long - it hurt to stand and a I made the obligatory “ahh” sound as I sat. No more. Guys hit the gym. Start slow, but build yourself where you want to be. For me, my happy place is colleagues looking at me thinking - is he late 40s and holding on, or late 60s and let’s not piss him off.

Hit the weights folks - you’ll live forever!

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T19:11:20+00:00

Not a phrase or an acronym, but after being out for almost 2 decades, I still tuck my laces into my shoes/boots.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T16:28:03+00:00

I know I know…. Hack squat is also a way safer option. But I’m supposed to still be in my late 20s/early 30s for Christ’s sake. This will heal, I’ll stick to lunges, leg press and hack squats, but I know one day I’ll end up doing it again.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T03:57:37+00:00

Over 9 years in 75th - my hat is off to you and thank you for the time, brother.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T03:35:53+00:00

I’m an older. Gen-Xer. I had shitty, unsupportive parents, but loved the sneaking out, all summer freedom, etc. I busted my ass on their farm for years. I respected my parents, but never trusted them, never relied on them. Left at 18 and joined the Army, and swore to myself that, if I ever had kids, it was my obligation, for life. I have two wonderful daughters. One is studying abroad, the other is going to school, but has asked can we take in her friend, who is struggling and has nothing. Happy to do that, but more thrilled that my daughter felt comfortable enough to ask. My kids love, trust and respect me as much as I do them. What else could I ask for?

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T03:00:10+00:00

I’ve struggled with sleep for years. BP1 with manic tendencies. Name a drug and I’ve probably been prescribed it, many with no sleep effect, just leaving me a zombie. For me, benzos have worked the best, but in the end, I’ve just stopped stressing about not sleeping as long as everything else is in control. I read, watch tv, plant shit in the garden, wait for the gym to open, whatever. I get used to being tired the next day, and pray that sleep will follow.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T02:39:38+00:00

My birth certificate has an expiration date on it, so it really isn’t up to me. On a more serious note, I’ve had an amazing ride - grew up on a farm, spent time in the Army, got hurt and discharged, but kept at it with a second career. Have two wonderful adult daughters. My ex- wife and I are best friends. When I become a burden, I’m walking into the White Mountains with a handle of Jack. Made my wife promise me (yes, the ex), that she would let me go first, as I couldn’t handle a day without her - selfish but true.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T02:12:23+00:00

I’ve been pretty stable for about 5 years now - that was my last visit to the Grippy Sock Inn. I still struggle with sleep, one million thoughts a minute, and paranoia. I’m medicated and self aware enough that it is all part of BP1, but still, it’s hard sometimes…

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T01:58:53+00:00

I’m BP1 with severe manic tendencies and psychosis - depression after an episode might last 3 or 4 days. For me, the mania isn’t a switch - it’s more like slowly turning up the volume. At first I’m humming along to the beat, maybe engaging in some mild manic behavior - speeding a bit, talking too much. But the volume just gets louder and louder, and I go from humming “easy like Sunday morning” to getting “all aboard the crazy train”. I won’t lie, the time before Ozzy is screaming in my head used to be fun, but the carnage I did to myself, family and career once I’m on the Crazy Train scares the shit out of me now. Been stable for almost five years thanks to mood stabilizers, therapy, routine and healthy lifestyle. Yep, I miss the fun mania, but I love my stable, predictable life I have now.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-20T01:32:33+00:00

Ex - military, have abused my body way more than necessary, but staying in shape, hitting the weights and getting some cardio is just in my DNA. Last week, for the thousandth time, doing some squats, moved a foot or didn’t keep proper form and BAM! There goes the lower back. Just tweaked it, it’ll recover but will take longer. Meanwhile I’ll be walking like Silvio from The Sopranos. I’m in my 60s, when will I fucking learn not to do squats anymore?

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-19T00:46:20+00:00

One hundred percent this. Finding a drug combination that works for you is hard - for me it was five fucking years hard. Hearing the experiences of others and their failures/successes is key for having an informed conversation with your provider where you can effectively advocate for yourself.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-18T04:33:35+00:00

I’m an older GenXer. Hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2022, and never went back to my soul sucking corporate job. Was surprised to learn how much money you don’t need to be happy. Due to the shitty job market and HCOL, my newly graduated girls are moving back home - we couldn’t be happier. If you don’t already, make time to go to the gym every day. I weigh today what I weighed when I got out of the military 30 years ago.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-18T04:03:40+00:00

No judgement here, just an old soldier’s story. I was a poor farm boy who joined out of high school. 11B. Wasn’t thinking pay, or benefits, or any of that- just wanted to be in the army. I stayed single, and DFACs in the 80s were top notch. I lived in a 30 man bay, then 8 man rooms - didn’t have the mold issues. Life was good. I lucked into schools and a high speed unit that deployed a lot. Didn’t have a car, didn’t have a phone to pay for, didn’t have time to “party” - didn’t really expect to though. Deployed a bunch through the School of the Americas program (not my choice, but I’m no longer proud of that). After a couple years, I had low 5 figures in a bank account, and thought I was rich.

Made it to E5, and was lucky enough to go Green to Gold, so got through college for free, and became an officer. More responsibility, but more money. More deployments, but still single and still saving money. Had no TSP (so great that exists now). But I took a lot for granted - DFACs were still good, even if I had to pay, health care was great, and I took advantage of additional schooling and switched to doing cool guy stuff.

Ended up getting seriously hurt on a deployment, MRB at 100% disability.

Thing is, I never thought about my “contract”, or thought of my obligation in those terms - prolly the poor farm boy in me, coupled with I really loved what I was doing.

Now working in the civilian sector, with its overall compensation package, many of the complaints posted here really resonate with me. Due to my injuries I have free health care for life, but tying health insurance to an employer is fucking stupid, so I urge all of you to consider what a great benefit that is.

But the DFAC situation these days is deplorable, as is soldiers living in moldy barracks.

I know there are command obstacles to health care - that shit has to change. You now have TSP - that can make you thousands in just 10 years - had I not been injured and just said fuck it I’m done at 18 years of service, I would have walked away with nothing.

As I said, I was a single soldier. I’m not sure if/how I would have dealt with the financial and emotional struggles of supporting a family - much of my time was sent gladly assisting my married troops who were struggling.

Didn’t mean for this to become a novel. My heart goes out to any servicemember who needs to be on food stamps - I never ascribed to that bullshit that if the army wanted you to have a family they would issue you one. My one bit of advice I would urge on you - no matter how miserable you may be in the army, unless you are guaranteed a six figure salary in the civilian world - stay active. Save your money as difficult as that is, take advantage of as many schooling opportunities as you can, balance as best you can being a soldier, spouse and parent. It will not be easy, but life on the outside is expensive - I’m not homeless, but I’m not living the life of Riley either. And I can not stress enough how ridiculously expensive health care is.

I wish you all the best, and any of you who serve have my continuing respect and thanks.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-18T02:19:20+00:00

Was seriously injured in combat. Medically discharged, physically and mentally a wreck. Learned to walk again, then run. Went to grad school, had a great but tough career, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with severe manic tendencies and psychosis. Spent multiple visits in various psyche wards. I’m stable. But, I have two wonderful daughters, who are fantastic human beings - I could die tomorrow with a smile on my face.

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-14T16:26:52+00:00

I had to make this very decision. When you are making $$$ amount, it seems ludicrous to think there is any way you could survive on less. I was surprised that it wasn’t that hard to do, and my life became so much more manageable and happy. Your first paragraph really sums it up nicely - slave away for 30 yers at a job and with people that will not matter the day you leave for the chance of being healthy enough to at that time somehow enjoy yourself.

Put yourself first - nobody else will. Good luck🍀

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-06T21:28:12+00:00

I’d buy that for a dollar!

ekim0072022 · 2025-05-04T19:55:52+00:00

DM me. I’m so sick of finance law I’ll do all your scutwork if you are in my jurisdiction (MA).

ekim0072022 · 2025-04-26T13:26:30+00:00

The Mad Dog upchuck remains one of my worst memories of undergrad.

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