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You didn't bother to read my last post at all, that or you didn't understand the point that was made. The only point you made that I did not mention due to my horrible patrol times these past couple days, is erasing high scores. She doesn't play for scores, she doesn't play so she has something that can prove her skill. She plays because it's fun. Back in the days of the PS2 era, when her memory card got chewed up by a dog. Did she get angry, mad, or even remotely sad? No, because she knew better and thought about it logically. All that did was give her a reason to play them and enjoy them again. Thats a quality in her I actually wished I had. If I lost all my saves, I would have been annoyed and probably not play those games again anyway. She looks at the silver lining and takes it as a joy. It's her lack of greed and uncaring attitude towards gamer reputation that allows her to not care. Your also looking at deleting scores the completely wrong way. First off, I would think it be obvious in that I wouldn't delete scores or characters in a single player game, that would be pointless. I would however do it in a co-op game. Harsh, no, instead it's completely loving. That action would allow her to not only repay that game with joy of starting over (again, an aspect I don't have), but it would allow her to share the experience with me. She loves playing co-op games with me, so thats mainly what I buy. It defeats the purpose of buying it if we play it separately.

On a side note I would also like to say that it's my personal feeling that I am being subconsciously attacked, not that I mind seeing as it's common human nature. Most every human a run across views the unknown or misunderstood as wrong or a threat. Instead of reading what I type and assuming or implying the worst. Think about the fact that regardless of how much I post or type, you will never know the entire story. There will be aspect I will forget to mention, feelings words can't describe, etc. Is it not more logical to instead of assume the worst, ask questions to gain more of an understanding? I consider myself a genuinely good human and a great husband. If I was really so hell bent on feeling better then her, putting her down, or making her feel bad. Why would I even bother trying to improve our relationship constantly. Even though I am deployed I still do relationship research so I can bring new subjects up to her, just to see if I can change to be better for her. We never argue or fight because there is nothing worth fighting about. We are both genuinely happy with the relationship and each other. And speaking of improvement, I'm going to go back to games for a second. She doesn't really play games with anyone else. And while she does play games for fun, she also wants to get better. Logically it's better in the long run if I continually raise the bar for her is it not? Your music instructor gave you higher level music to set the bar. Do you think you would have gotten so many firsts if he set the bar lower? Would you have even placed if he didn't set the bar at all?

Those last few sentences felt like an attack and I am sorry. But I feel I made my point. I strongly suggest before assuming the worst that you learn as much as you can first. Your going on what I have told you and nothing else. Humanity is for the most part, good. So why not assume that I know what I am doing and have good intentions behind it. The main post wasn't even up for debate anyway, I was simply burning time while I waited for my wife to reply. Lesson learned.

So I go on guard and I'm chilling. Just got done masturbating and smoking a cigarette. When I hear gunshots, lots of gunshots, from the other side of the COP. My first reaction that I guess was ingrained into me was to man the 240, charge it, and start scanning for other enemies. It took me a few minutes to realize that my heart was pumping faster then a hummingbird's. I won't go into details about what happened since really not much did. Nobody got injured, I never saw anyone or fired anything, we tried looking for the attackers but didn't find them, end of story really. I just had such a rush going that when I got off guard I was beat.

The next day we went to Winkleman and back, nothing happened, just chilled for the most part. When we got back I was about to go smoke when the squad leader told me and Backskay to get our tops on. The way he said it implied we were in trouble so my anxiety set in once again. I go outside and we wait for a little bit. Well they bring two shovels, so I'm thinking were getting smoked with them somehow, like digging a ditch or something. So I'm asking Backskay what the hell is going on, because I don't know what we did to get in trouble. He rolls with it and doesn't tell me s**t, the ********. Anyway, we ended up getting promoted. My thoughts went kind of like this. "Okay, were getting promoted, were not in trouble, thats a relief...Oh s**t, were getting promoted!" And when I say "Oh s**t" I mean it as a bad thing. You already know the tradition of getting your chest caved in when you reach a new rank, so I got a little anxiety again. He went through the whole generic speech, then told up we work hard and do a great job. Then we got the s**t kicked out of us, and when I say us, I mean me. I got the short end of the stick by taking the harder hits. But I know it wasn't for any particular reason. In fact afterwards they said they are probably going to hit Backskay again since he got it so light. Well I'll send a few pictures of the whole thing when I get them so you can get a laugh. Though one of them you can't really tell I'm in it because when it was taken, I was flying backwards behind Backskay. I also took a knee to the chest too. Anyway, don't get all pissed off love. It's not like Kuhak, it's tradition, they still like and respect me, I am in no way harmed physically or emotionally. I just thought you should know the story so you can be proud of the promotion and laugh at my experience.

Can someone explain to me why at every COP (Combat Out-Post) I go to the ANA (Afghan National Army) love me more then anyone else. I'm the only guy on this COP who has ANA visit regularly. I'll be up in a tower and an ANA will show up, chat for hours, give me food and cigarettes, and genuinely take an interest in what I am doing. Now here is the kicker, they don't speak English. Maybe a little English, but most of them don't speak any. Yet here I am, finding myself chatting with one for hours despite the obvious language barrier. We chat about the country, the locals, my co-workers, his co-workers, etc. They try and teach me their language too. They help me over walls on patrol (since I am short and carry the most weight), and they always ask me how I am doing and shake my hand. Even the ANA from my old COP not only recognize me after months without seeing me (they delivered some food to our COP a little bit of go), but they even dismount their truck to chat me up. The interpreters to seem to enjoy my company, but they also seem to chill with everyone. I actually trust some of the ANA more then some of my co-workers. I just don't get it.

And sorry it's been a while. I've been quite busy lately. We are taking down the COP and moving, then moving again. And sometime during this process I am going on leave. Not to mention the amount of injuries we have had and people just up and leaving. Bear in mind when I say injuries I mean like broken ankles and the like, no deaths. Still pretty cold where we are and we are moving to an even colder area. Not that I mind, I find it relaxing...ish.

It's been a while but I've been busy. Leave was a blast aside from being violently sick, waking up screaming, and the normal hallucinations I tend to get anyway. Been very busy since I came back. As of now they have me getting my certification on the experimental weapon system called the CROWS. So I actually have a bit of down time during the day, at least until class is done. Tomorrow I get to shoot it, then it's back to normal work. Half way done with this deployment though. And aside from my various illnesses, pains, sores, and mental disorders, I'm okay (and if you think I'm exaggerating I can enlighten you with a great list of bodily disorders I have to deal with). Happy thanksgiving everyone.