Ms. Babble Interviewed By “You Served”: Featuring Female Milbloggers

Thank you Katherine of “You Served” for allowing me the opportunity to be a featured female military blogger!

You Served: What led you to be a Mil Blogger?
Jami: I had been in the National Guard for 5 years before I was deployed to Iraq in 2005. I never thought about blogging until my deployment to the Middle East. I think I started maintaining a blog mostly to keep in touch with everyone back home. I knew they would be worrying about how I was or what I was doing. Even though I wasn’t able to update my blog during that deployment as much as I do today, I think it still helped people understand what was going on with me and with the war in Iraq.

Part of me also maintained the blog to help document the experience. Today I’m so glad that I did! Memories tend to fade and distort with time. It’s my own personal time capsule.

YS: Do you feel that being a female Mil Blogger adds a unique perspective to your blog? If yes, how so?
J: I think that the vast majority of my blogging could have easily have been written by a male soldier. But I think the simple fact that I am a female soldier writer, regardless of what I write, makes it unique. I don’t believe that my writing speaks in any particular female voice. It’s simply another soldier’s perspective.

YS: In what ways did your time in Iraq change your perspectives?
J: When I arrived in the Middle East, I instantly recognized how sheltered I was as an American. This alone opened my eyes beyond anything else that had previously happened to me in my life. I also realized that being gone from home for so long taught me the importance of self reliance. I could see what it really meant to be poor and it left me with disdain towards America’s culture of materialism. Most importantly, my time in Iraq changed my perspective on life and it helped me understand the importance of living it with fervor.

YS: What is the main message you seek to share with visitors to your blog?
J: I write mostly observational posts. With that being said, I suppose my main message would be for people to take a moment to let these observations roll around in their heads so that they can see that the world isn’t so black and white.

YS: What have you learned from your experience as a Mil Blogger?
J: I’ve learned that writing publicly is both fulfilling and intrusive. Sometimes I forget that it’s more than just myself who can read the posts. The first time a stranger approached me to talk about my blog in person, (specifically about a few emotional posts) I didn’t quite know how to react. It’s an unusual feeling knowing that the stranger in front of you knows you far better than you know them.

YS: What advice would you give to a woman who wants to start her own MilBlog?
J: Try to write as honestly as possible but be mindful of the eyes who will be reading it. Also, for every negative comment you may get, you’ll received 10 more positive ones. Be sure you allow those 10 positive comments out weight the one measly negative one.

Popularity: 46% [?]

Contributing To A Documentary About War In Iraq/Afghanistan

I was approached to be a contributor to an online series called “In Their Boots“.

From the website:

IN THEIR BOOTS is a compelling new magazine show about the dramatic impact the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are having on us – the people here at home. The show will feature our Iraq and Afghanistan service men and women and their families in stories and situations that have universal appeal.

One of the episodes is focusing on music and visual art that’s being created by men and women who have survived deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is where I come in.

After a lengthy conversation (interview?) with one of the film’s employees, I revealed that I would be going to Israel shortly. Apparently it isn’t in their budget to do the interview in Israel.

But I did ask her to contact my platoon Sergeant because the project is also interested in documenting unit reunions. My platoon has vowed to have an annual reunion on, or very near, the date of our deployment, August 25th. They’ve been in contact for the last couple of weeks and it looks as if the platoon will have a film crew in their faces later this year. It’s a very exciting prospect. It kind of immortalizes our unit, what we did out there, and honors us in an almost historic way.

Here’s the trailer for the project:

I bet you can’t wait to see the full length episodes. I know I can’t!

You can find more information about the series at their website:

Popularity: 33% [?]

An Unlucky Experience Made Me A Lucky Writer…Again

There’s some really great things happening with the book sponsored by Gary Trueau of Doonesbury which features such amazing writers as yours truly.

What kind of a writer would I be if I didn’t publicize my work?

Ego aside, it’s actually full of some AMAZING stories that have harpooned tender and heartfelt emotions inside of me. At over 300 pages, it’s well worth the $12. Not to mention, all proceeds go to the Fisher House which supports American families of service members.

They’re currently on a book signing tour and doing fun interviews on my beloved NPR. I’m not sure where they’ll be next but they’ve got my numbers. No wagers, please, on if they’ll call me to join their troupe.

Popularity: 26% [?]

Lots ‘o zeros

I’m back from New York and still scrubbing off the cities grime from my body. And apparently while I was away, americanbabble.com had a momentous occasion. This site logged 10,000 visits!! The winning visitor was my Uncle Scott who took the screenie below.

What did he win? Recognition. A pat on the back. A big ol’ smile from me. um… this post. I think I also have some chewing gum left over from last nights flight. How about sincere gratitude for thinking to take a screen shot.

The prizes are lame, I know. I’ll keep brainstorming.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Skitz M. Jones, you’re my hero

I have been on a blogging hiatus mainly because I refuse to subject you to my depressed state of mind. But I’m breaking my silence momentarily to mention that a fella who survived Iraq with me has recently published a book of poetry.

It’s listed on Amazon.com here.

Congratulations, Schweitz.  You deserve it.

Popularity: 9% [?]

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