Jessica Scott

So I’ve started on book two of my new series. Nothing that creates a firestorm of excitment in me, yet but the story is there, waiting to come out. I just need the scene that is going to kick it all off for me. The new series, of which The Last Sunrise is the first, is called Sons of Adam. I’m not exactly sure where these books will fit but they feel right. Even though I was stuck in a couple of places, these books fit me, my interests and my experiences.

I don’t have any idea how many books there are but the basic premise is that mankind is set to bring about the End Times and its up to the Sons of Adam to keep that from happening. There’s some cool issues in there, too. I tackle the Problem of Evil several times and am probably going to continue exploring that topic through fiction.Â
Anyway, that’s the big news today. Nothing much else to report from Iraq.

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Okay, so I’m going to share my little thrill that The Last Sunrise is finished and now safely tucked away while I figure out the next book. That book was exhausting to write. I poured through 97,700 words in about 30 days (thank you Austin Romance Writers of America writing challenge). The story grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go. I did struggle a few times getting through it and I KNOW its a first draft, but it feels good to have it done.

So this was a darker story than what I normally write and it was kind of liberating. I used motivations and themes that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work through. The main theme running through this book is: is the cost worth the price we pay? We all have to make decisions every day, and especially on the battlefield, but what price to we pay for these choices. And it had a slightly paranormal, apocolyptic thread in it, combining my love of religion with my favorite discussion, the origin of evil argument.

Anyway, its done and I just wanted to share that with you. Back to my other projects and hand receipts. My goodness, the hand receipts will never end!

Its day two without chocolate…

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Most of you who know me know that I have 2 pretty big vices (there are more, but these are the major ones): chocolate and swearing. So, for Lent, this year, I’m going to give up both. Yes, I know, these things have not worked for me in the past. But I’m not giving up sugar, I’m giving up chocolate. So supreme stress will still be fed. I’m lucky, as my muse is addicted to music, not chocolate. I’d probably go insane over here if I wasn’t writing, so its a good thing my goals aren’t going to be counterproductive.

Anyway, as for the swearing, I think my brain is hardwired to swear. Its like a bad habit that’s full grown into the muscle memory of how I talk and react. So we’ll see if I can rewire the profanity section of my head. Its not going to count, however, if I put a curse word into my writing, though. Once again, need to feed the muse and she’s demanding that I put what really happens onto the paper, not the ideal.

So. That’s my goal for the next 40 days, she says, sitting here eating dark chocolate M&Ms (thanks Al!). Wish me luck.

I’m going to need it.

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I’ve been debating about posting regarding an issue I’ve been dealing with over here but I decided to share my severly edited thoughts with the world. I’m a strong proponent of women being able to do what they are capable of, with their own limitations being the only discriminator. That means doing their job as soldiers just like everyone else, right? Now I’m not a fan of women in combat arms as a rule, but that’s another discussion for another time. A non direct action job shouldn’t be an issue, right?

Here’s the situation. My platoon is responsible for occupying a radio relay site. They are remotely located from here. There are showers and latrines and a single sleeping area. Two different units are responsible for the two different sites. One unit will not allow females on their site because they say the living conditions are too harsh and there was a rape at one of these sites during the last unit’s rotation.

I’d love to hear differing opinions on this. The soldiers would be pulling shift monitoring the communications equipment.

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Okay, I’ve always walked a fine line between tomboy and girlie girl. But this is getting ridculous. I actually broke out mascara and eyeliner yesterday for my promotion (hey, it was a special day that I figured deserved a little makeup, plus there were pictures involved). So anyway, my husband, bless his heart, makes the comment that, yeah, I look better with a little makeup than without.

I love the man dearly but, seriously. Really? So my wicked side is coming out and I’m thinking I can go really overboard and put the eyeliner on like skank black and line the eye, the inner eye and draw a cat tail. That would get some looks, don’t you think? I thought it was funny more than anything b/c I really only put on a touch of it. Just enough to feel like a girl again.

I’m probably going to go off the deep end. Someone call Lauren at the Bobbi Brown counter at Saks in Austin. Mama’ coming home in about a year and we’re going to have us a session. (And my husband is having kittens at this very moment at the thought of me loose in Saks at the makeup counters). I’ve gotten much better with age and the funny thing about being over here: I don’t have the slightest urge to shop. I think it’s got something to do with everyone wearing the same thing. There’s no competition, no sizing up this girl’s purse or that girl’s shoes. Its kind of liberating in a way, so I can kind of understand where feminists say that removing all the material things makes us more conscious of who we are, not what we have. 

So another lesson learned from life in Iraq. Let’s see how it translates when I get back to real life in the states.

Take care!

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Okay, its not often but I’m going to skip to work tomorrow. I’m getting promoted. Now don’t get too excited. The promotion from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant is usually as automatic from Private to Private First Class. But, I’ll finally get to color that gold bar black (I’ve actually been threatened with a serious amount of push ups if I color in my rank).

I’ll probably only get promoted once more in the army, so I’m going to enjoy my day, God willing. My husband is here with me and he’ll get to promote me, along with my brigade commander, Col Volesky. I figure working for him taught me most of what I learned in the last year about being an officer and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to learn from him. And it will only be the second promotion in our Army careers that my husband has gotten to promote me. My daughters pinned on my 2LT bars after OCS in 2007.

So have a beer for me and celebrate for me.  I’ll have a beer next year when my brigade comes home.

Take care!

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First, welcome back. The blog took a hit for a few days last week because of network issues but I’m back now, for the time being.

Anyway, an issue from this war hit up close and personal this week. Since President Bush 41, photographing the caskets of our fallen brothers and sisters has been banned. I saw today that this policy is being relooked. While I will fully support and carry out the orders of those appointed over me, I sincerely hope this administration will leave the ban in place.

It is not because of any desire to hide the cost of this war in lives. It is not to protect anyone’s right to privacy because there is no way identify who is carried in which casket. The entire reason I want this ban to remain in place is to honor our brothers and sisters and carry out the process of their return home with quiet dignity and respect.

While I can understand that most reporters and photographers would conduct themselves and treat the results of their work in a respectful manner, inevitably there would be that one who would desecrate the photos or use them as part of a protest. Our soldiers gave their lives to protect and defend the Constitution, and yes, that involves free speech even to the point of disrespecting our fallen brothers and sisters. That, however, does not make the thought any less distasteful or disgusting to me as a soldier or as an American.

We owe it to our brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice to respect the last honors this nation bestows on them and not create a public spectacle of their final return home. People who wish to protest or advertise the cost of this war should find another way to do so and remember that human decency should impact their decisions. People who wish to pay their respects should find another way as well, preferably one that involves permission from the families.

But please, leave the honors due to our fallen brothers and sisters where they belong. With the families and friends of the fallen. We as a nation owe it to the families to respect them, as well as their fallen loved ones.

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Yes, it hurt that bad….

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Wow, I have a new appreciation for pain. I was fully initiated into B Co, 3BSTB today. They laid me on a table and stuck a breathing tube down my nose. You have to get the full visual: the tube is 6 inches long and a good quarter inch around. They lube it up, pull your nose back and start feeding that sucker in and oh by the way, it has to puncture the membrane in the back of your nose before it can get all the way down your throat. I think my sinuses are still bleeding.
Now before you wonder why this torture, consider that it is a lifesaving skill when a soldier’s face has been damaged enough to prevent them from breathing.
I have to get the pictures from my First Sergeant but I have been officially initiated!

Black Knights!

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I just received a box of pencils and crayons from Student Supply in Kent, Washington. There wasn’t any way for me to identify who sent the box, but I wanted to say thank you to whoever sent it. I’m passing them along to the company commanders and wanted to pass along my thanks to the secret santa! 

I can’t thank you enough for your support.

Jess

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