I have two things to say:

1. Thank you!
2. Farewell.

First and foremost, I want you all to know that the donations made towards Coach's wife's scents shop for that special n00b went to me. I didn't know that it was, but it was. Coach presented the gift to me at Gman's party this past weekend, and I was astounded at all the donations you guys put together not knowing who it would be for. The donations will help me go visit my family in Florida and Alabama before I deploy in July to Iraq. You may or may not have noticed me getting a little antsy or short with people in the past week or so, and I apologize for that. It's hard to take everything in that's going on in my life right now. Recently, I found out my ex filed for child support. I don't make that much as it is, and it's been really difficult to take care of my other son preparing for my one-year deployment. I'm not asking for sympathy, but I wanted to clue some of you in on my madness lately. You see, I've been paying child support since my first son was two. I've payed her $120 a month for the past couple years I've been in the military. I know it doesn't seem like much, but my first son gets a $600 disability check each month. Add my $100 to that, and my ex is paying her entire rent with no problem. Evidently, she wants more... It's looking at about $400 a month for me (or more) so far. She'll be making about as much as my base pay with her part-time job and my child support, as I will having a full-time job in the Army as an E-4 (SPC). Her current husband was getting unemployment for the past year-and-a-half, and now he ran out of unemployment, and so now I'm getting the shaft. Though I don't agree with paying for an entire family to live, which I feel is the case, (This includes her second child, my son, herself, and her husband.) I don't put a price on my son. They tried to get me for back-child support, even though I had stubs of all my previous checks. Either way, they are trying to stick it to me, even though I've been supporting my other son since his birth. Bottom line is that it's been really hard to take care of anything anymore because it seems like every penny I have is for someone but my family. I sometimes feel like I've neglected them even as hard as I've tried. There have been cases where I've put n00bfest first, even before my family, and it's time to step back and put them first in everything before this deployment. With that being said, number two.

Starting May 15th, until June 12th, I will go on block leave (leave allowed before deployment) to visit my family before I leave. I won't be around much during that time, but I will be going to visit various n00bfest members as I'm on leave. A picture of the trip I'll be taking is here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... F8&t=h&z=6 If you're along the way or can make the trip out towards Port Saint Lucie, FL (or nearby) we'll all get together and have a good time. Once I'm back from my block leave, I'll be heading out for a year to Balad, Iraq doing SSA operations and possible convoys delivering supplies. My schedule is looking like 12 hour shifts thus far, and I'm not sure whether I've got the day shift or night shift.

All-in-all, this is my time to tell you all how much I care about you all, and appreciate everything you guys do for n00bfest and for those in need, with all your help, I'll have a better chance at visiting my son in Florida and the rest of my family before I'm gone for a long time. It means a lot to me seeing all of you who put in blindly for the cause. It shows your true caring and loyalty to n00bfest and its members, and reiterates that this isn't just a community. It's a family, a lifestyle, a change. It's why I've been here for almost seven years of my life. When I first got here, I was a donation freak. I donated everything I could, whether it be money, servers, or labor fixing or tweaking the servers. It is an excellent feeling to know that when I'm in the toughest of times from giving all I have, n00bfest was there for me. Finding this community in a little crappy, non-working Steam browser back in 2003 will be something I will never forget. Thank you, n00bfest, for all that you've done in the past, the present, and all that will be accomplished without me during this deployment. I know that all of you will all shine well, and hope that your hearts never tarnish for n00bfest and everything we are. If anyone needs to call me, or simply speak with me, please don't hesitate to PM me, and I'll give you my number.

Thank you, and farewell.

Later dude. Good luck. Sorry I was a dick to you on d2.

Get back safe and sound. We'll all be glad to have you back.

Good luck over there, Tommy. Take care of yourself and come back to us, dammit!

♥

Stay safe out there bro! Keep ya head down! Come back safe!

Later mate, Vent will be empty without you, I'll sit and wait for you:

Acid enjoy your trip to see your family and son. I cant wish you that enough. Be safe While deployed we will be thinkin of you here at n00bfest. Hope to see you again on the server one day after this is all said and done. ♥ Clorox

Good luck Acid...glad we got a chance to meet last weekend. Take care of yourself and don't let all the crap RL can throw at you get you down.

Remember no matter how bad shit gets you can make it through and it just makes you stronger. I really hope that your deployment goes smoothly and you get a chance to make it back out this way when you return so we can sit down again and have a few beers.

Drop us a line on the forums every now and then if you get a chance.

good luck out there man, I would come to see you off if I didnt live on the opposite side of the country

come back safe and sound buddy

Acid man, enjoy getting away from the box and visiting family. Take care of yourself and we hope to hear from you soon.

n00bfest will be waiting for you when you get back, good luck bro, stay frosty

Good luck man, Have a safe trip and watch your 6 out there damnit. Im sure I speak for all of us when I say we apreciate what you are doing for our country.

Take care dude.
Don't die, and come back to us in one piece~

also enjoy your family man

♥ Acid. be safe bro

hey acid i enjoyed scrimin with you and you are a stong presence on n00bfest that i'll miss till your return. i feel you situation. im divorced and one of my kids is cerebral palsy.the shit can hit the fan hard sometimes and not always in a fair way.you got skills and child support does end eventually. just do the best you can and keep workin on yourself. i don't know who made this big mess of a world but i'll send a little prayer for you anyway.
your brother
faze

acid, it was great meeting you this weekend. you are a great guy and a good friend. best of luck in that desert. cover your ass and come home to n00b.

Good luck acid, come back safe, and we are truly going to miss you man

God Speed, Acid. Ever swing into GA, hit me up: we gotta go drinkin' and do a jam at an open mic bar or something.

Represent.

Come back whole.

Much ♥

and.. thank you.