5 Years Ago...A Pivotal Moment

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5 Years Ago...A Pivotal Moment

Posted: 10/26/2006 8:30:28 PM EDT

While searching for some old photos on my backup CDs I found some pics that brought back memories of a pivotal time in my life.

How many of you have had a really PIVOTAL moment in your lives? How Old were you? Where were you? What were you doing in your lives when things finally made a drastic change?

I'd say the most PIVOTAL moment of my life was the year 2001!

After moving out of the dorms I found a place that looked okay at first glance. The neighborhood wasn't too good, but I thought it wouldn't be THAT bad. I thought of it as a 'social experiment' of sorts. I thought I could be a POSITIVE member in a not so good community and maybe make a difference in the lives of my neighbors. Now HOW NAIVE of a PSEUDO LIBERAL thought is THAT!?!?!? Besides, "It's Got A Pool!" (Words my brother & father still to this day mock me for stating)

Yes, the apartment had a POOL! But I later learned it had more problems than one could shake a STICK at! The neighbor next door was a prostitute that would bring her 'tricks' home and every now & then she'd be surprised when they'd rather beat the everliving crap out of her in her apartment, steal her stuff and run away. Several times I've been awaken to hearing her screaming as somebody was smashing her head up against the wall separating our units. The girl down the hall was a drug dealer and the woman across the hall was a VERY frequent client of the girl down the hall. There was only ONE good neighbor in the whole building that I met! Once we caught a man sleeping in the back stair well (the 5th time we caught him but he'd wake up & leave before the police arrived). This last time we tied his leg to the railing while he slept and the Police came to get him as he was about to escape again! They ran a check on the guy and he had two warrants for his arrest for attempted murder. He was just hiding out in our laundry room & back stairwell every night.

The building had a HORRIBLE cockroach problem, and the first floor had a RAT problem! Not quite sure WHY!?!?!?

OH! Maybe it's because the 'ignant folks' that lived in the building were TOO F(_)CKIN LAZY to take their trash down to the dumpster so they'd just THROW IT OVER THE BALCONY!!! Not just Garbage bags & dirty diapers, but ENTIRE FURNITURE SETS. Chairs, Couches, Bookshelves, Desks... EVERYTHING! Go outside by the first floor and you'd get mauled by rats that are crawling all over the garbage.

There was a storefront church/homeless shelter next door where a GREAT deal of our would-be winter muggers would try to go...

Only to wind up sleeing in my heated apartment lobby if they were locked out of the shelter (timers on door locks to dissuade bums from staying out drinking)... Then when getting home later at night they'd try to mug you when entering your own apartment building!

Living with Little Somalia just down the street at the Cedar-Riverside Crack Stacks on September 11th was SIMPLY INFURIATING!!! Don't even get me started on that day!!!

The back area on the way out to the dumpsters was also a popular Bum-Hang-out where they'd sleep on old carpets for 'beds'.

Freeze +P was my best friend during the years 2000-2001!!!

My best friend certainly wasn't my Girlfriend... Who that same year...did she cheat on me with my best friend??? Take a wild guess... (But I know the truth)

(Not too difficult to see, this photo was taken 3 days before 'the incident')

SO, yeah... My life was very much in the shitter up until that point. I started reading the bible again, sat down with a close friend, and started setting some goals for myself and for my future... I started that Pivotal Change. Not only in personal affairs and management of my life, but I also changed majors (after 3 years of Computer Science I switched to a 4-year program in a completely different field)!

First things first. I lived iNuhBaDNayburhood, and I had to GTF OUT FAST! So I moved to a Better apartment in a Better neighborhood.
-I had an AR-15 and was back into shooting more as well.
-I got a DAY JOB working as a programmer for a nearby database conversions company.
-I got a NIGHT JOB working as a Bartender at a real DIVE bar right by campus.
(TWO jobs while being a full-time student is TOUGH!)
-My new apartment wasn't much, but it was HOME, and it was ALL MINE!

Now I had a nice new place to make a new start... I ELECTED TO GROW UP!

I'm not QUITE where I'd like to be in life yet, but as the Jeffersons would say, I'm "Movin' on Up!"

About a month later I bought a P.O.S. Used Chevy S-10 and Met my first ARFCom Friend and his Wife at Armored Fire... They were FedGunner and Mrs.FedGunner!

Suffice to say the knowledge & advice I had recieved from my many friends on ARFCOM like FedGunner, MCNielsen, and so many others has helped keep my life on track for improvement ever since! Thank you all!

-iNuhBaDNayburhood (But not really living in a bad neighborhood anymore)

Posted: 10/27/2006 2:48:16 AM EDT

[#1]

Ah yes....the ghetto. Lovely place. I have to work down there a few times a week. My defense level goes ultra high when I hit that part of town. Glad to see you made it out.

I imagine everyone experiences major changes in life, and the fortunate ones have some form of control over them. It has been my experience that when life gets really shitty, it most always ends up putting you somewhere better than where you were.

Posted: 10/27/2006 6:07:18 AM EDT

[#2]

Ok, my life change quite literally came from the Army National Guard

I spent most of my college years working full time either as a security officer and then eventually got a job working for a small gun shop. I began to learn firearms, reloading, precision and tactical shooting, and the disease really began. Between the disease, college, and the social life entailed in such, I quickly found that the full time pay and national guard wasn't enough. The credit cards and student loans piled up. I got married in 2002 as my wife finished college but I still had a year and a half to go (i had switched majors a couple times) We were over $50,000 in debt in all, living in a trailer house in bemidji. I worked extra, sold some guns, but the damage was done.

Then a deployment to Bosnia came up in 2003, I was 23, and I consider this the first in a string of good changes. For one, the pay increase was able to pay off almost 13,000 in the course of the 10 months. I realized that the gunshop was not cutting it for income and began looking for AGR (full time National Guard) jobs. After getting accepted for two jobs then having them cut for budget reasons before I even got home, I realized I would have to do the work thing until I could finish school and get the hell out. My wife's degree was in Computer Science, and this would require us moving away from Bemidji, where there were almost no job oppurtunities for her - which left her working at Herbergers.

When I got home, the gun shop had closed up and my father in law wanted us to move back to the iron range to get a job in the mines or something. He chewed my wifes ass on the phone that we were wasting our time and lives. I sat down started thinking and started writing emails with my resume to companies in the firearms industry that might be interested in a Army guy/gunshop manager/ veteran/ with almost a degree. The next day I got a call back, an invite for an interview, and we were off to move towards the cities.

That was May 2004. Now, I sit in Iraq on a second deployment, that job still waiting patiently for my return, the wife with a computer job she's happy with, a house, kid (that I've only seen for my 14 day leave- she was born a week after I arrived in Iraq) two vehicles, dog, cat, (several more guns) and we are down to the last $10,000 of school loans and consolidation - which should be almost gone by the time I get home.

My success story

Posted: 10/27/2006 6:39:43 AM EDT

[#3]

height=8

Quoted:
kid (that I've only seen for my 14 day leave- she was born a week after I arrived in Iraq)

I can hardly imagine doing this. So all I can say to you is Thank you!

Posted: 10/27/2006 8:24:50 AM EDT

[#4]

Un believeable, isn't it?

First of all, let me say thanks to Booniehat223. I'm glad things are working out for you and don't forget to CY6!

5 years ago when I met Inuh, Fed, Lurch and devilsadvocate at the first MN_HTF ARFCOM shoot, I was married to my ex-wife. Now, I am re-married, self-employed and expecting my first child in January. Amazing how life changes in such a short time.

It changes more drastically the younger you are as demonstrated by the two stories above

Thanks for sharing your story, Inuh! Now quit throwing your trash in the alley!!!

Posted: 10/27/2006 1:26:58 PM EDT

[#5]

Thank you for Sharing, Boonie! And thank you for serving! Your INCREDIBLE sacrifice is greatly appreciated amongst your friends on this board!

There are some of us that would have, but the government determined people like me to be 'Unsuitable' for service. I wish you only the best in life!!!

I had a great day meeting MCN, Lurch, & DA as well... (Speaking of DA, anybody hear from E? I haven't seen him in about a year now!)

Congrats again on the first-born, MCN!!! That ROCKS!!!

It's AMAZING how things can change so quickly in life, and I pray that all of our lives continue to improve in the years to come!

Anybody else have any great changes in their lives they've experienced?

Posted: 10/27/2006 6:42:17 PM EDT

[#6]

hey booniehat,

thanks man. keep your f-ing head down. if you need ANYTHING, let me know, it'll be in the mail ASAP!

iNuhBaDNayburhood--damn dude, thats one mighty fine get-o!

C

Posted: 10/27/2006 6:57:47 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
snip

just

Thank you for your service SIR!

Posted: 10/27/2006 10:34:04 PM EDT

[#8]

To all the "thank you's"......thank you.

I think I speak for almost eveyone in the military when I say that those simple words are the most meaningful benefits of being in the military, and what I think I would miss the most if I don't re-enlist (I have less than a year to make up my mind, I will have 9 years by then). But I do miss everything from family to hunting and fishing.

Thank you all again, I should be home roughly March'ish, will probably bump into a few of you at the ranges and clubs.

ps-

Inuhbad, - congrats on your success as well...you might not be on the top but as you said, you're moving up. Nice to see other people doing something about their lives rather than "woe is me"

MCN - congrats on the kid, I think I know what you're feeling there

Posted: 10/28/2006 8:22:54 PM EDT

[#9]

boonie- what's your area of expertise in the military? i mean what do you "do" in iraq?

thanks

C

Posted: 10/29/2006 8:21:03 AM EDT

[#10]

Boonie, a heartfelt thanks from my wife and I. Nothing we could ever do will properly express the gratitude we feel for every one of the service people that take time out of their lives to make sure we can live ours.

INuh, you look really familiar, do you work down on University and 280?

My big life change was 8 years ago up in Duluth. I dropped out of college and it was the best thing I ever did. I got away from the party lifestyle and some bad influences and started to grow up and take responsibility for who I was. I consider self improvement an ongoing task so I'm back in school and working full time but I'm on a more fullfilling path rather than one based on a projected yearly income level.

Posted: 10/29/2006 10:41:21 AM EDT

[#11]

I don't work near U & 280, but I live not too far from there.

Do I know you? Where would I have seen you before?

Minnesota is a pretty small world at times.

Edited to add:

Congrats on the changes! It really IS very fulfilling to have a job you ENJOY regardless of income level! I certainly don't get paid too much, but I LOVE my job.

In fact, I've got to head into work right now, and I'm not really all that bummed about it! I'd rather be taking a nap right now, but I have work to get done before 8 AM tomorrow, and it'll be fun to finish up that project!

It's odd how things like that work out!

Posted: 10/29/2006 12:01:34 PM EDT

[#12]

I think it's a case of mistaken identity if you don't work in that area as a banker.

There is a lot to be said about quality of life in your job. I recently took a lateral transfer, ended up with more work, same pay but the people and intangible benifts make it all worth while.

Posted: 10/29/2006 12:17:11 PM EDT

[#13]

I'm not a banker, but I do most of my banking at WellsFargo right off University & 280 by the Super America. I've got a few friends that work there, so I sometimes hang out there and talk with some of the bankers (my friends) there... Usually in the afternoons when I'm in my suit/tie from work.

Posted: 10/29/2006 1:45:27 PM EDT

[#14]

I probably did see you there then and assume you worked there. Small world.
I work right near there and end up at that same Wells Fargo at least once a week.

Posted: 10/30/2006 1:13:58 AM EDT

[#15]

Well, by MOS I'm supposed to be an 19K = M1 Abrams Tank Crewman. My Unit back home is converting to Cavalry, so I'll be converting to be a 19D = Cavalry Scout.

here...We do nothing like that. We have a lot of different missions, convoys, patrols etc. My two primary jobs are working as our armorer (based on my civilian experience, not by army training) and I am a Sergeant of the Guard, responsible for a section of our bases perimeter defenses.

eta - sorry, this is Booniehat223, angrysgt is my roomate, I got him hooked up on this board, apparently he didn't log off....my bad

Posted: 10/30/2006 1:19:09 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Well, by MOS I'm supposed to be an 19K = M1 Abrams Tank Crewman. My Unit back home is converting to Cavalry, so I'll be converting to be a 19D = Cavalry Scout.

here...We do nothing like that. We have a lot of different missions, convoys, patrols etc. My two primary jobs are working as our armorer (based on my civilian experience, not by army training) and I am a Sergeant of the Guard, responsible for a section of our bases perimeter defenses.

eta - sorry, this is Booniehat223, angrysgt is my roomate, I got him hooked up on this board, apparently he didn't log off....my bad

Man...do I feel stupid now

Posted: 10/30/2006 2:00:24 AM EDT

[#17]

height=8

Quoted:

eta - sorry, this is Booniehat223, angrysgt is my roomate, I got him hooked up on this board, apparently he didn't log off....my bad
HellA trailer house in Bemidji.....good grief!!!!! It is better than the trailer we live in Iraq!!
It's nice to keep in touch with MN shooters while we're over here. We have some CMP rifles waiting for us at home that need shooting!!!!!!!!

Posted: 10/30/2006 7:21:39 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

eta - sorry, this is Booniehat223, angrysgt is my roomate, I got him hooked up on this board, apparently he didn't log off....my bad

That happened to our Mod once before, too!

Posted: 10/30/2006 5:41:15 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:

eta - sorry, this is Booniehat223, angrysgt is my roomate, I got him hooked up on this board, apparently he didn't log off....my bad

Log off????? Hell Booniehat is on here 12 hours a day as it is !!!!!!! I think he stole my identity !!! I have to sneak in here to get my work done...and it's my computer!!!!!
A trailer house in Bemidji.....good grief!!!!! It is better than the trailer we live in Iraq!!
It's nice to keep in touch with MN shooters while we're over here. We have some CMP rifles waiting for us at home that need shooting!!!!!!!!

Angrysgt lived in a trailer once too...and aren't you initially from somewhere over by Bemidji? See I never drank the water there, so I'm not as messed up - jk
He only own 1.5 AR's so his opinions don't matter anyway

He's just an old... ANGRYsupplySGT