HNT: Beauty and the Beast edition
Wow! Is it Thursday already? (Okay, technically it's Wednesday night but work with me here ... suspension of disbelief, remember?) First off, several of you commented on the picture hanging on the office wall in my last HNT. Here is a better shot of it.
This is one of the most powerful images I have ever seen in my life. We all think of Soldiers as rough, tough guys ready to lay down their lives for us in the pursuit of freedom. The juxtaposition of this big, burly, scruffy, battleworn medic tenderly and compassionately holding another Soldier in his arms as he cries just speaks to a part of me that I don't have the words to tell you about. The truth is that even the Marines in their sharp uniforms in the recruiting commercials, sold as the manliest of men, the cream of the crop, are human. They bleed and sometimes their minds are shattered.
Soldiers are not superhuman and sometimes the horrors of war are too much to handle alone. The other thing it illustrates is the cameradrie that exists between men with a common bond. A battle buddy is always there to help one pick up the pieces. These two men in civilian life, hell, in peacetime service for that matter, may have despised each other but in this here and now, they are together, sharing a pain that many of us will never know. The frailty of the one and the compassion of the other wrench my heart everytime I look at it. It's a poor copy of a painting I picked up on the cheap in Korea but in this case the subject matter moves me and that matters more to me than the technique or artist's skill .
Now on to the HNT and it's UGLY I warn you in advance. Meet "The Beast" ...
This is my foot. I have two. the other one looks much like this one. They are ugly and I hate them. I inherited my mother's feet when I was born. Hers are ugly too but at least she has all her toenails left and they look pretty good after a pedi with polish. I don't get pedi's with polish and did I mention? I have ugly feet. I have a total of seven (toenails that is) between the two feet. I hate them but am facing my inner self, coming to grips with my flaws and what's the easiest way to do that? Put them on the internet of course! Well that and wear flip flops so they are visible to all. Did I mention they are ugly and I hate them? Cuz they are and I do!
Now that I have totally grossed you out and embarrassed myself, I give you "The Beauty" ...
Michelle is a great chicka. I work with her and love her to death (as a coworker ya'll. Get your minds out of the gutter. Besides her husband (who is currently deployed to the Middle East) would kick my substantial ass) We share chocolate, gossip, a love of blogging and microwave popcorn together. I have been bugging her to do a guest HNT post on my blog for ... well, forever! She recently got a pedi and took a pic for me. so to wipe the horror of the beast out of your minds, I give you Michelle's cute little tootsies!
Everything else is starting to level out for me. Class is over. I have to take my final and I'm done so I should be a better blogger buddy shortly. I am taking a road trip to see a very good friend of mine and a fellow blogger this weekend. And finally, I've been sober for 66 days without slipping or even having the urge. YAY ME! This is me chilling on the front porch.
Yeah I know I started smoking again. BOO ME! But I plan to quit again once I get a little more sobriety under my belt. HHNT to all and I hope your lives are looking up as much as mine is. I love you and miss you all. Wanna get in on the fun? Go see Os. He'll clue you in. Laters ya'll! **MUWAH**
Comments
Yep, military peronell are human contrary to popular belief and movies.
Hey, trying to stop everything at once might be a bad idea so maybe you should stop smoking later.
Great post!
Posted by: Ole Blue | August 30, 2006 9:01 PM
Dude, it may be time to get your own damn self a pedi. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Queen of Ass | August 30, 2006 9:05 PM
As a professional who does multiple pedicures every single day..I can assure you that your feet are NOT that bad. I have SEEN bad feet, Tommy. Believe me!
HHNT!
Posted by: sandi | August 30, 2006 9:06 PM
I'm glad you gave us Michelle cause yo feet's ugly boy - UGLY! LOL HHNT!
Posted by: Seamus | August 30, 2006 9:10 PM
Too funny...
Her feet do look very pretty :)
Posted by: Crimson | August 30, 2006 9:16 PM
Excellent post brother...I love how you always put yourself, the real you, out there for the masses to read...good or bad.
I'd also like to say...cute feet Michelle! TG, not so much! ;)
Posted by: Chuck | August 30, 2006 10:30 PM
The beauty Michelle, has...well...beautiful feet...and there's nothing saying you couldn't get a pedi...maybe no polish, but your feet will thank you nonetheless.
Happy HNT!
Posted by: The Melody Censaor | August 30, 2006 10:46 PM
Ouch! Brave, man, brave. Thanks for the cute feet to bring us back though. HHNT
Posted by: Semi-Celibate Man | August 30, 2006 10:50 PM
Your feet aren't beastly... Give yourself a treat and get a spa pedicure... Very yummy feeling and nothing like having a massage on the calves.
Beautiful toes on your guest! Woo!
Happy HNT gorgeous...
You look great and well...
Don't tell anyone but I've been breaking the no smoking clause I promised myself...
*sigh*
So hey, lets go hang out on the porch and enjoy the night air... And smokey it all up! hehe
Happy HNT love!
Posted by: Blondie | August 31, 2006 12:32 AM
Tommy, that image is so moving. It's so true a picture can pain a thousand words.
Michelle has lovely feet, the pedi is hot! I gave your poor tootsies a kiss.
Ana, I already looked at this shot. Again and again and...I love the way you look so innocently at the camera in all your naked beauty.
Happy HNT to you both
Posted by: Suze | August 31, 2006 4:36 AM
Tommy, that image is so moving. It's so true a picture can pain a thousand words.
Michelle has lovely feet, the pedi is hot! I gave your poor tootsies a kiss.
(that's what I get for commenting on two posts! You can delete the first, sorry Tommy!)
Posted by: Suze | August 31, 2006 4:41 AM
Love the close-up of the artwork. You're right on with that one.
Your toes? Uhm, yeah.
The coworkers' toes? Lovely.
But I love the cocky shot of you smoking and smiling. Are you *sure* you don't want to keep drinking? Cause, we could, you know,....just sayin'.
HHNT!
Posted by: Felicity | August 31, 2006 5:41 AM
LOL, so this is the real reason you asked for me to do a talented foot post next? ok, i'll have to think of something.
thanks for sharing that first picture and what it means to you. great nekkidness.
and i am so envious of michelle's pretty tootsies. i got kind not such great feet, fat lil duck feet.
oh well,
HHNT, big guy. love that last shot just ditch the butt:P
Posted by: lime | August 31, 2006 6:36 AM
Michelle definitely has a nice looking foot....you my friend....well we runa close race haha....Congrats on the sobriety...I do know it is hard work and a lot of willpower....keep having those long talks with God like you have posted for us lol.
HHNT
Brad
Posted by: Brad | August 31, 2006 7:51 AM
Go for some clear polish...no one will notice & your feet will feel great, after the massage! Her toes are lovely - thank her for sharing them with us.
Happy HNT!
Posted by: NoOneInParticular | August 31, 2006 8:15 AM
TG awesome pic up top and story!!
HHNT!
Posted by: steve | August 31, 2006 8:57 AM
Thanks for the closeup and the story to go along with it. Of the picture, not the feet. lol.
Happy HNT! Yay on the sobriety! And we need to have a talk about the smoking.
Posted by: betchacantguesswho | August 31, 2006 9:56 AM
nice display of pics and they follow your theme. cool
hhnt
Posted by: mitz | August 31, 2006 10:32 AM
I lost a toenail when I forgot to lock a ladder I was on...it is back now and better than ever.
painted with cherries.
The top pic is indeed powerful...
xoxo
HHNT
psst...you don't have gross feet, they just look like man feet.
Posted by: spitfire | August 31, 2006 12:17 PM
Interesting and very touching...;-)
Happy HNT!
Posted by: SeaRabbit | August 31, 2006 2:37 PM
Great feet, even with their flaws. Flaws and scars and such are just a sign of character, a part of you, a story. Thanks for sharing. Happy HNT
Posted by: moosekahl | August 31, 2006 4:27 PM
Wow tommy 66 days, that so rocks!
That is a moving picture...and man, I could never go there. Thank you for going there for us.
Tommy what the fuck happened to your toenails? That cannot be normal! Get help! LOL For heavens sake, get help!
Posted by: Susie | August 31, 2006 5:30 PM
LOL..well the second foot is truly lovely!!
Good on ya for posting your foot tho!
HHNT!
Posted by: Sassy | August 31, 2006 6:30 PM
well done on the 60 odd days of not drinking, take my hat off to you, what's an odd cigarette these days
Posted by: rach | August 31, 2006 7:13 PM
You are a doll TG!
Happy HNT!
~xo
Posted by: Lee Ann | August 31, 2006 7:35 PM
That first picture brings me back to the time I saw my sergeant's head being cradled by our medic. He died later that day.
Too bad about the smoking. :-(
Posted by: BTExpress | September 1, 2006 12:06 AM
Lurking around and spotted your feet! I feel your pain... My feet are little, chubby and in my opinion absolutely adorable except for one small detail... one of my baby toes has only a sliver of a nail and the other one has a goofy looking-barely there toe nail... and I am a woman. I try to make up for it by painting them, but that doesn't always work...lol.
Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Tracy | September 1, 2006 5:53 AM
dude, what happened? how did your toenails fall off?
Posted by: Dawn (webmiztris) | September 1, 2006 11:29 AM