A month and a half without a shower? Eww. :) If I don’t shower every day, a one-mile perimeter needs to be cleared. Did someone higher up than you finally order a shower to be built when the smell got too bad? I faintly remember my brother mentioning shower trailers. How many men are in a company? I hope I don’t regret it, but how long exactly did (or do) you wear the same uniform?
Best costumes in movies… Memoirs of Geisha, Moulin Rouge, Gone with the Wind, LoTR. There are so many. Those are just a few of my personal favorites for wardrobe. Have you seen any of those?
I did read the Lord of the Rings book, but I haven’t read them over and over again like a lot of people I know. Only once. Do you read at all while you’re overseas?
The videos aren’t going anywhere. She has a big competition in two weeks in Moscow. I’ll tell you how it goes.
Please don’t feel obligated to answer any of my intrusive questions about your family. I’ve met a couple people with high-functioning autism before. One of them is married and has a good job.
Your ex breaking up with you while you’re gone is really lame. I remember my brother telling me that kind of thing is really common when you’re deployed or on a tour. What do they call them? Dear John letters? It wasn’t like she didn’t know what she was getting herself into when you left. Were you together long? I want to ask if she had a good reason for breaking up with you, but if it was unexpected, I can put two and two together. There I go asking questions that aren’t any of my business again. Don’t answer that if you don’t want to.
Designing and alterations is all I do. If something needs a needle and thread or a sewing machine, I can tackle it, and no, not everything ice-skating related I sell is for people in Houston. I’m about to blow your mind: I have a website. People order my work on there. They send me measurements and I get it done. It’s a small percentage of work I get though. I have to turn down work because I either can’t take the time off to get outfits done within a certain time frame, or can’t go take measurements in person. I’ve sold ice-dancing dresses and outfits to Russia, France, once to Japan. Mostly, I make things for a discount to younger figure skaters who can’t afford the bigger name designers in the industry. It’s an expensive sport, and it used to be that most skaters come from wealthy families, but now a lot more don’t. I help some ice-skaters resell their costumes when they can’t use them anymore, too.
You asked about getting better at sewing/designing. I started taking classes at my community college by my house as soon as I could for needlecraft, pattern making and fashion design, and have gone to a couple workshops. I even did an internship once with this Ukranian lady who yelled at me half the time, but she sure did teach me a lot.
I was so surprised at seeing just how many wounded vets there are. My brother goes to these meetings twice a month, and I’ve gone with him once. It breaks my heart. Not every injury is physical. People don’t realize that. I’m sure you’ll figure out what you want to do whenever the time comes.
What made you go into the military?
I have a few other prints I’ve collected over the years I could send you, if you wanted. I overheard my brother once tell my other brother about how many topless photos of women the guys he was in the marines with put up on their walls. This is a judgment-free zone. You can put your photos next to whoever or whatever you want.
This is already really long, but you wanted me to tell you something funny so let me do that. I was talking on the phone to my friend this morning (early afternoon, same difference) and was so distracted I poured orange juice into my cereal bowl.
Best wishes,
Ruby
From: [email protected]
Date: October 8, 2008 2:17 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Showers, Costumes, and Things
Ruby,
…did somebody pee on you? You should know I couldn’t type that sentence with a straight face.
No one ordered a shower to be built. The shower trailer had burned down. A few of the guys got desperate and found an industrial coffee maker that they rigged up to warm water, and built a shower out of that. It didn’t work great, and you had to stand in mud the whole time, but it was better than nothing. Last deployment I brought one of those bags you fill up with water and let sit in the sun so you can shower outside just in case the same thing happened… it worked. Two hundred sweaty men were in my company. I was swapping out T-shirts and socks every other week…. It was just as bad as you’re thinking.
I haven’t seen any of those movies. I’ll have to take your word that the costumes are cool. Maybe when I get home, I’ll look them up.
Are you going with your little sister to Moscow for her competition?
I read some… didn’t really get into it until I started going overseas and had nothing to do. A lot of us read while we’re here to pass the time. When I’m home, I’d rather watch a movie.
You aren’t being nosey. I would have asked too. Paige has HFA. My dad worries about her a lot… and I guess I do too… but I know she could be on her own if she wanted to someday. Social cues give her trouble, but anyone who can’t appreciate how honest and kind she is doesn’t need to be in her life anyway.
Are you some famous designer and you’re playing it cool? Where was your internship with the Ukranian lady? Could you get another internship or do you know… everything there is to know? Send pictures of these… costumes… you’ve made.
You’re right. The worst injuries a person can take aren’t always on the outside.
I joined the army because I had nothing else going on… still don’t, if you want to get technical. I didn’t want to sit in a class all day in college and didn’t have a trade school I was interested in back then. I didn’t want to work for my dad either. The military seemed like a good idea. Looking back on it now, I know I did the right thing joining. If I would’ve stayed home, who knows what I would’ve ended up doing or how I would’ve turned out. Maybe good, maybe not. Who knows.
The military is what keeps a lot of magazines operating. No joke. For the record, I haven’t had a “topless” woman on a wall in at least eight years.
I had a bad day today, but your message made me feel better. Maybe everything will work out. I still have almost two years left on this enlistment. I’ll figure it out.
The orange juice story made me laugh. You’re on top of your game. What else do you have?
-Aaron
From: [email protected]
Date: October 10, 2008 3:05 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Jimmy Rigging
Aaron,
Bingo. Someone did pee on my shoes at Mardi Gras. I think that was worse because it was a complete stranger. Continue with your guesses. The crap show retelling isn’t over.
A shower out of a coffeemaker? Something is better than nothing. Do you have a shower trailer where you’re at now? I’m also not going to make a comment about changing your clothes every other week.
No, I’m not going with her to Moscow. It’s too expensive. She only travels with her coach to international qualifying events. If she moves on to a final, I’ll charge the trip onto my credit card. That’s what I usually do.
Now you have me curious. What do you guys read? I know you said some fantasy, but what else?
I hope I don’t regret asking, but are you close to your dad? Does he or your siblings write you while you’re gone?