There are parts of my job that can become routine—but every now and then, you get an experience that reminds you why you signed up in the first place. Last week, I had the opportunity to work a protection detail for the Secretary of the Navy. As a former Marine, that carried a little extra meaning for me, given the Corps falls under the Department of the Navy. It was one of those rare, full-circle moments—and likely a once-in-a-career experience. To top it off, one of the Troopers in the motorcade told me I had the best-looking suit in the group. I’ll take that as a win. Grateful for the opportunity, the people I got to work alongside, and the reminder that even in a routine job, there are still moments that stand out.

Starting the week off a bit differently than planned! I was busy doing recurrent training this weekend, and was supposed to travel home last night. But the weather here was a bit less than hospitable 😢So I decided to stay. “Better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground!!” But that in turn means 2 extra nights, as the weather at home is also miserable through tonight, but hopefully will clear out tonight so I can catch up to my week, which means no chance to get home, but head directly to a trade show my team is setting up tomorrow. Oh well! This is what makes life interesting!! I LOVE Monday’s so I’m getting it done while working remote. Still dressing as if I were in the office!! OOTD: Blue/Green/Tan Tattersal Navy Kahki’s Green Ribbed OTC Dress Socks Brown, Derby’s “Speedy” Trying out the Creed - Centaurus today. Wishing you all a wonderful Monday!!

G’Day Gents, I thought it’d be fun to ask you all which American (USA) writers deserve to be on a hypothetical Mt Rushmore, as there’s so many writers from America that one could make a strong case for to be considered as a big 4 writer within American literature. I’ll start: Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner and Toni Morrison

Weathering a storm is one hell of a feat whether it be a storm of thunder and lightning, water and wind or sand and dust. However there's one storm that every person faces at some point in their lives, and unlike the storms of nature, this storm is invisible to the naked eye that leaves nothing, but destruction in its wake some of it invisible and some of it visible. It's cruelty is unprecedented and its power unnerving, the storm I speak of is the mental storm that runs rampant within our fragile minds, flooding it with depression, loathing, anxiety, stress and guilt. Today marks the 5th year of my war against my mental illness, it's been an interesting year of ups and downs, but no storm lasts forever, and I'm confident that with continued perseverance and tenacity, it'll finally come to an end bringing serenity to my wartorn mind. Thank you to everyone in this group for your support and continued support through these last two years. Your support and comradery are what motivate me to find my footing, carry on my mission to weather the storm and find the serenity that has eluded my mind for 1,826 days. Banjo

My dad is 86, I am 61. I asked him how his father and grandfathers had passed away and at what ages. I believe it is a normal question to ask, especially was we mature. Dad thought about it for a moment. "Your great great grandfather was one of the first traffic fatalities in the country. He was run over by a Model A truck in 1928. He couldn't hear it coming. His son, my great grandfather died in the late 1950's. Hit by a train while walking along side a railroad track. He did not hear it. My grandfather died in 1977 attempting to start a lawn mower. My dad and I looked at each other and he asked me if he had answered my question. "Yes. Don't walk in the street. Don't walk on the railroad tracks. Don't mow the grass."