Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Like Fasting at a Buffet






When I scheduled the surgery, my one regret was missing the first week of training. We were supposed to do individual weapons qualification--rifles and pistols--the first three days of training then the next three days were to be the light (M249 SAW) and heavy (M2 HB .50 cal.)machine guns and the M19 belt-fed grenade launcher.

I just found out we are firing those weapons next week--the week I return to limited duty in a sling. So next week I will be watching everyone else in my unit fire the M2, M19, and M249 while I watch--as much fun as watching other people eat while you are fasting. Firing a machine gun is not a one-arm activity.

Reading Robert Alter: The Psalms and the Wisdom Books

  Over the past year I have read two of Robert Alter 's remarkable translations of the Hebrew Bible: The Book of Psalms and, more recen...