Finding the Better Side of Everything

Being in this place makes me appreciate what I have at home so much more. But I am having to make the best of things while I am here. I have been fortunate to be in the job I've been placed in. At first I felt guilty because I was not out with the troops in the danger outside the wire. This last couple of weeks has shown me that what I am doing is important to the final success of the overall mission. I have been out taking pictures again, and will sharea couple here. Some are also

posted on the other sites that I post to.

Here are a couple:

Continued Writings

Window to the Soul.

When does anyone become fully in touch with who they are? Does anyone really know their true self? I feel it may take most people a lifetime to truly know who they are or think they are. Then sometimes surprisingly they find out that they where not even what they thought they were. I know a lot of people who seem to know what they want, what they are about, where they are going. Do they really know, or are they under a self imposed illusion that they are living out. Some are constantly seeking, to know who they are. They strive day to day trying to come to grips with the life they have been given. Sometimes that personal battle ends in tragic finality. People who find nothing and are not patient, or what they find or think they find is worse than what they can deal with. I do not know everything there is eo know about myself and sometimes what I do find is surprising.

Minds of Thought

I sometimes drive myself a little nutty. Because I can never stop thinking in my mind. With my mind on the move constantly it is hard sometimes to get settled into a restful state. You can be at total rest and your mind keeps on moving, traveling across vast regions, never seen but only imagined. Creativity is that way, sometimes conceiving in ones mind what you want the end state of your poem, or painting to be. It is best to follow what the heart says to the mind, and the mind says to the heart.

AAEtm 2 May 2006

My Dialogue (Ever continuing)

When I was very young, I was afraid of many things. I would go as far as to say I was a coward. Now I would say I'm still afraid but able to face my fears. What happens from cradle to grave, is as the catapiller to a butterfly.

AAEtm 2 May 2006

The Cedar Haiku by Art

Old desert cedar

Painfully weathered now dead

Seasons of life pass

AAEtm 2 May 06

All things eventually pass away and turn to dust. The trees of the desert or mankind itself.

Sites

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/free/gallery.asp?memberID=167773

Things I am thankful for.

I am first of all thankful for Dee, she keeps me up even when things are down.
I'm thankful I woke up yesterday when it was time to get ready for work and wasn't dead of natural causes or other. Were is that mortar round going to. Just joking. I'm thankful for my children and grandchildren, you are all accent to my life. I am thankful for all my old friends and all my new ones too. There was a time I didn't value my friendships as much as I do now. I was pretty much a loner. Randy once said he thought I was stuck up. I might have been or just didn't think myself worthy of friends, or just couldn't relate. These days it is different, I've made quite a few friends. It is a great difference to me. I am going to post an Image then I may be out of time. So until I can post again. You all be at peace.

This is of course Al Faw Palace again. Bet your all getting tired of Al Faw. Well I gotta photograph what I can.

This is from the East Balcony looking in toward the main entry.

I'm going to put some other links to let you see some things I'm up to.

This Weeks Posts.

22 Saturday 2006 0325 Baghdad

This is the first of my 360 blog journal that will be coming from ongoing writings as my days and weeks progress. I do not know how often, I will be updating my 360 and my artsphotoart pages, but I will endeavor to continue as time permits. It is my intention to continue both sites and my webpage when I get it up and running after I return from this place to my real world.
I wrote in an earlier entry in the previous version of this blog that, “not all soldiers are warriors and not all warriors are soldiers”. One of my friends responded that I would have to explain that statement one day. So I will begin the meaning behind that statement, with the understanding that this is only the surface of the reality of a Warriors origin.

Warrior.

What makes a soldier? What makes a warrior? Is there a difference between the two? Soldiers usually are professional persons that work as soldiers. Not all soldiers are warriors and not all warriors are soldiers. Warrior is a state of being almost spiritual in nature. Many will argue that, that is not true, and that all soldiers are warriors and being a warrior has no spiritual bearing whatsoever. Warriors not only have codes to live by but those codes are a part of the breath of life within them. Some soldiers know the codes in their head and are often made to memorize the codes for the purposes of their masters. But knowing the knowledge and having that knowledge as a part of what makes you real are two different things. A soldier that is a warrior never stops being a warrior even after he/she retires the weapons, armor, and shield of their profession.
There are many who do not realize they are Warriors, but are. I do not wish to offend anyone by this, but some who serve God are Spiritual Warriors first, but not everyone falls into that category. Warriors have a driving purpose for good. They will seek good for the weak oppressed and the abused. They will sacrifice for someone who they do not know. Family, friends, and anyone who needs them in times of trouble they will be there to help. Remember I said not all soldiers are Warriors. Take away the title and take them from being a soldier will they remain a Warrior? Some will many won't because they will see only good for themselves and not for others. Warriors may never have even touched a weapon in their entire life, nor ever have shed blood and they will still be Warriors.
There is much more to the Way of the Warrior than this and other writings will follow on the subject.
AAE tm


22 Saturday 2006 1700 Baghdad

Untitled thoughts of an old soldier.

In quiet solitude, sitting all alone, contemplating who I am, were I’ve been, and what I have done. Looking inside a heart and mind divided: sometimes light and other times much darker. What is the good of this being, not really pure but having purity, not really evil but having evil?
Humanity is not always humane to its kind, and often it is cruel. Why not good overshadowing evil, instead of evil overshadowing good?
He sits alone and struggles in himself to find that better part he once had. It tears at his heart and mind making him very sad. What has happened to me that made me change, or have I changed at all? Could it be that I have always been this person, but have been blinded from the start? What truth is in my heart? Contemplate hard perhaps the light in times of need, uses the darkness as its tool of justice?
AAE tm

Sorrow to Joy

In times of sorrow
Deep within my soul crying
Joy will find its time

AAE tm

World of Friends

Some things in life are objectionable, some are not. There are a lot of lonely people in this world, who need friendship and love. Time stands still in their lives in anticipation of some form of friendly interaction with someone who cares. This world would be a prettier place if everyone would just reach out and take notice of the ones who are hurting. We all are part of this planet and it really isn’t as big as it seems, but for someone who needs a friend it can be a large and lonely place.

AAE tm 21 APR 06

More Images from the Palace

This is the chandelier above the foyer as viewed from the third floor. This thing is huge and to walk into the foyer you cannot help but be compelled to look up to see the brightness and sparkle. This Photograph only begins to do the real thing justice.

AAE tm 20 APR 06












This is a view looking down at the main entrance of the Palace. This was taken from an outside balcony Just opposite of the one you see in the center top of the Photograph.

Now for a little history the palace was built just after the Gulf War of 1991, in remembrance of those who defended Faw.

AAE tm 20 APR 06









This is a view from the same balcony above facing toward the East.

AAE tm 20 APR 06










The wall opposite the above arches.

AAE tm 20 APR 06
















A typical example of one of the hallways in the palace.

AAE tm 20 APR 06

















This Balcony is on the West side of the palace. This is a sunset.

AAE tm 20 APR 06

My Angel with Brown Eyes.

An eternity shall my desire be, to hold again my brown eyed Angel in my arms.
Gently cradled in arms long un-held, once again rejoicing in loves warmth.

AAE tm 19 APR 06

Architectural Details

The Image on the bottom is a detail from a column in front of a building. The two other images are details from a wooden door panel.

Cool Haiku site check it out.

http://raysweb.net/haiku/

Haiku by Basho

Neither to Evening

Nor to morning does it belong:

The melon blossom

--Basho

Spiral Up Spiral Down Buying my Stairway to Heaven

This is one of two spiral staircases in the palace main foyer. Both are done in marble with ornate ceiling work and chandeliers.

The Ceiling work.

The Chandelier. Looking down from the top floor.

View looking up from the bottom.

Just Another Day at the Office.

This is a Photo I posted on the former version of this blog site. This is Al Faw Palace. This is where I work at seven days a week.

This is the Rotunda, everything is done in marble. There are two storys above the main floor and the ceilings are quite ornate.

Both Photographs were taken with a Fuji Finepix A210 3.2 megapixel camera.