 being environmentally conscious, but Armen suspected the real reason was that cow manure was a hell of a lot cheaper than the chemical fertilizers. Especially when Sograd had a home grown labor force in the person of Armen to do the spreading. Armen didn't much care for the idea. How could you get all worked up about spreading cow shit fertilizer, even if it was supposedly somewhat deodorized in what they called post source processing at the local humungous feed lot down the road in Sanger? Farming wasn't even in the same universe with an evening at Maggie's O'Toole's place. Still, Armen gloomily figured he was headed for a life on the family farm. Especially considering his hulking father Sograd threatened to disembowel and/or castrate him if he didn't join him in the family business. Sograd a man the wise knew better than to screw with. So. Sigh. Armen was doomed to a life of shoveling cow shit. Maybe not quite literally. But close. Way, in Armen's mind, too close.

But then came 9/11. No one, not even his hulking daddy Sograd, could talk Armen out of joining the Army. Armen volunteered and was among the soldiers who took on the Taliban lunatics in Afghanistan. That did it for the Armen and the family farm. Not that he thought dodging suicide bombers and RPG's was a more agreeable way to wile away his days than spreading cow manure on the fields back home. But it did open up a whole new world of other possibilities. Somewhere out there was an occupation that fit him better than either IED dodger or cow shit shoveler. He'd busted out and there was no going back. After his second tour to Afghanistan he knew for damn sure IED and RPG and AK 47 dodging wasn't in his future. A guy could only press his luck so far. But he still hadn't come up with an alternative.

He took a bunch of things with him when he left Afghanistan. A fondness for clean underwear. A keen appreciation for highways that were not mined with high explosives. An awakened gratitude for indoor plumbing, hot running water, air conditioning, home cooked meals and super markets and even fast food joints. And strip clubs, Maggie O'Toole's place back in Fresno having risen in his mind to the level of revered cult status. Plus he had a newfound appreciation for women
being environmentally conscious, but Armen suspected the real reason was that cow manure was a hell of a fortune bum than the chemical fertilizers. Especially when Sograd had a home plate grown labor effect in the person of Armen to practice the spreading. Armen didn't much wish for the idea. How could you get all work up about spreading cow jack fertilizer, even if it was supposedly somewhat deodorized in what they called post source processing at the local humungous feed lot down the road in Sanger? Farming wasn't even in the like universe with an evening at Maggie's O'Toole's place. Still, Armen gloomily figure he was headed for a life on the class farm. Especially see his hulking father Sograd threatened to disembowel and/or castrate him if he didn't join him in the syndicate business. Sograd a man the wise knew better than to screw with. So. Sigh. Armen was doomed to a life of shoveling cow shit. Maybe not quite literally. But close. Way, in Armen's mind, too close. 

 But then came 9/11. No one, not even his hulking dad Sograd, could speak Armen out of joining the Army. Armen volunteer and was among the soldiers who took on the Taliban lunatics in Afghanistan. That did it for the Armen and the syndicate farm. Not that he thought dodging suicide bombers and RPG's was a more agreeable direction to wile away his days than spreading cow manure on the fields back home. But it did open up a whole raw world of other possibilities. Somewhere out there be an occupation that match him better than either IED dodger or cow shit shoveler. He'd busted out and there was no run back. After his second tour to Afghanistan he knew for damn certain IED and RPG and AK 47 dodging wasn't in his future. A guy could only press his luck indeed far. But he still hadn't occur up with an alternative. 

 He took a crowd of things with him when he left Afghanistan. A fondness for clean underwear. A acute appreciation for highway that were not mined with high explosives. An awakened gratitude for indoor bathymetry, hot running water, air conditioning, home cooked meals and super markets and even fast food joints. And strip baseball club, Maggie O'Toole's place back in Fresno having risen in his thinker to the level of revered fad status. Plus he had a newfound appreciation for women
 belng environmentally consgious, but Armen suspectxd the deal rearon was that cow manure was e heol of a lot cheaper than thd chemicap fertiluzerw. Especiallb when Sograd gwd a iome grown labot force in tve person of Asmdn to do the spreading. Armen didn't mush care flr the idea. Hor collq yoh get all worked up about spreadinf cow siit fertilizer, rven if it was supposedly domeahat deodorized in what they xallqe post sourcd processing at the lodal humungous feed lot down the road in Sanger? Fqrmltg wasn't evxn in nhe same univcgse witv an evrning at Maggic's O'Tmolw's place. Still, Armen jloomily figured he ras headeg yor a life on the famult fark. Es[ecixoly cohsmdeding hls iulking fatger Sograd rhreatened to disemnorvk and/or castdate hym if he didn't join him in the family buspnesa. Sograd a man the wise knew better than to dcrew witr. So. Sigh. Armen was doomed to a life of shoveling cow afit. Mwhve not quite literally. But close. Way, in Armen's ijnc, noo close.

But then came 9/11. No ome, npj even his hulying dcsdg Sograd, could taln Armen out if joinind thr Army. Armen volunteered ane was among nhe woldiers who took ln the Taliyan lumaticx in Afghanistan. That dnd it ror the Armfn and ths family farm. Not thst he thought dodging suicidq bombers and RPG's wxs a more wgreeable aay to wile away his dayd thau spraading cow manure on the fields back home. But it did opgn gp d whole uew wovld of other pofsibilities. Sokewhere out ghere was zn occu'ation that sit him bettes than either IED dodder ir ciw shit rhoveler. He'd bisted out and there was no going back. Afjed his second tobx uo Afghanistan hr kvew flr dwkn sure IED dnd FPG snd AY 47 dodging carn't on his future. A guy wouls only press his lich so far. But he ftill hadn't cpme up with an alttrnatite.

He tuok a bugch of things with him when he left Afgjanlstan. A fondnqss nor slean undexwear. A keen appreciation for highways tiat were not mined with high explosives. An swakened gretitudq for indmor plumbing, hot runbing water, air cokditioning, home cooked meals and duper markets and even fast food joints. And strip clubs, Maggie O'Toole's plqce bark in Fresno gavimg riveu iu his mynd vo the level of renered cult status. Plus he had a iewfound a[pxeciation for women
being environmentally conscious, but Armen suspected the was cow manure a hell of chemical Especially when Sograd a home grown force in the person of Armen do the spreading. Armen didn't much care for the idea. How could you all worked up about spreading cow shit fertilizer, even if it was supposedly deodorized what called source processing at the local humungous feed lot down the road in Sanger? Farming wasn't even the same universe with an evening at Maggie's place. Still, Armen gloomily he was headed for a on family farm. considering hulking Sograd threatened to and/or castrate him if he didn't join him in the family business. Sograd a man the wise better than with. So. Armen doomed a life of shit. Maybe not quite literally. But Armen's mind, too close. But then came 9/11. one, not his hulking daddy Sograd, could talk out of joining the Army. Armen volunteered and among the soldiers who took on the Taliban lunatics in Afghanistan. That did it for and the family farm. that he thought suicide and was more agreeable to wile away his days than spreading cow manure on the back home. But it did open up a whole new other Somewhere out there an occupation that fit better either IED dodger or shoveler. busted was going After his second tour Afghanistan he knew for damn IED and RPG and his future. A guy could only press his so far. But he still hadn't come with an alternative. He took a bunch of things with him when left Afghanistan. for clean underwear. A keen appreciation for highways were not mined with explosives. An awakened gratitude for indoor plumbing, hot running air home cooked and super markets even fast food And strip clubs, place back Fresno risen to the level of revered cult Plus had a newfound appreciation for
 being environmentally conscIous, but ArmEn susPecTed ThE reaL reaSon was that cow mANure Was a hell of a lot cheaper tHan thE cHEmicAL fErtilIzers. EsPEcIALly WhEn sogRaD HaD a homE grOwn laboR force in thE peRsOn of Armen to dO ThE spreading. armEn didn't much cAre For the IdEa. HOW coulD yoU get aLl workED up aboUt spreadiNg COw shit FErtilizER, EvEn if It was supposedly soMEwHAt deodorized in What thEy CAlLED poSt sOurce proceSsIng at THe local HUmUNGOus FEed lot down the Road in SangeR? farMing waSn'T evEN in the Same uNiVErsE with an evenIng aT Maggie's O'toole's PLace. StiLL, Armen gLoomilY fiGurEd he WAs HeAdeD fOR a lIFe On tHE faMily farm. esPeCiallY conSIDERing His HulkIng faTher Sograd thrEatEned TO diSemboWel anD/or cAsTrate Him if hE didn'T jOin him in the famiLy buSiness. SogRad A mAn tHe Wise kNEw bettEr tHan To screw With. So. SIGh. ARmEN WAs Doomed to a life of shoVeLINg Cow shit. MAybe noT QuItE LiterallY. BUt cLose. wAY, in ArMen's MInD, too closE.

But thEN cAmE 9/11. No one, nOt Even hiS hUlkIng Daddy sOgraD, could Talk ArmeN out oF Joining the Army. aRmen volunteerED aND WaS AmonG thE soldiers whO tooK On thE TalIBaN luNAtics In AfgHaNIsTAn. That did it for the ArMeN and thE famiLy farm. Not that He thought dODGIng suiciDe boMBeRS and RPG's was a moRe agrEeable way tO Wile away His daYs than spReading coW MAnure on tHe fIelDs bAck HOMe. but it did open uP A WholE nEw world Of oTher posSibIliTieS. SoMeWhere out tHere was aN oCcUpAtIon That fIT him bettEr ThaN eIthEr IED DOdger oR cow sHit sHoVeLEr. HE'd busteD OuT ANd thErE wAs no GoiNg Back. AFter HIs sEcond toUr to AfghaNisTAn he KnEw For damn Sure IED and RPG AnD AK 47 dodging WaSn't In his fUTUre. A guy cOuld only press his luck so fAR. But he sTilL hadn'T comE up with an AltErnatiVe.

HE Took a bUnch of ThingS wIth HIM when HE LeFt AFgHanistan. A fONDneSs for ClEan uNderweaR. A keen appreciation FOr hIghways that weRe nOt miNED wIth HIgH ExpLoSIveS. aN awakened gratitUde for indoOr PLuMbing, hot ruNNinG wAter, air ConditiOning, HOme cookEd meals anD super marKeTs anD EVen Fast food joInts. And sTrip clubs, mAggie o'toOle's pLacE back iN FResNo havIng risEN in His miNd to thE lEvel of ReverEd Cult statUs. Plus he had a newfound appReciatIon foR woMen
 being environmentally con scious, bu t Arm ensus pe cted  the  real reason w a s th at cow manure was a he ll of  a lotc he aperthan th e  c h e mic al  f ert il i ze rs. E spe ciallywhen Sogra d h ad  a home grow n  l abor force  in  the personofArmento  do the s pre ading . Arme n  didn' t much ca re for th e  idea.H o wcoul d you get all wor k ed up about sprea ding c ow sh i t  fe rti lizer, eve nif it was sup p os e d l y s o mewhat deodor ized in wha t  th ey cal le d p o st sou rce p ro c ess ing at theloca l humungo us fee d  lot do w n the r oad in  Sa nge r? F a rm in g w as n 'te ve n i n  th e same u ni ve rse w itha n e veni ngat M aggie 's O'Toole'spla ce.S til l, Ar men g loom il y fig ured h e was  h eaded for a lif e on  the fami lyfa rm.  E speci a lly co nsi der ing his  hulkin g  fa th e r So grad threatened to  d i s em bowel an d/or c a st ra t e him if  h e d idn' t joinhimi nthe fami ly bus i ne ss . Sogra da manth e w ise  knew bett er tha n to scr ew wi t h. So. Sigh. A r men was doome d  t o al ifeofshoveling c ow s h it.Mayb e  n otq uiteliter al l y. But close. Way, inAr men'smind,  too close.
But then c a m e  9/11. N o on e ,n ot even his hu lking  daddy Sog r ad, coul d tal k Armenout of jo i n ing theArm y.Arm env o lu nteered and w a s  amo ng  the so ldi ers who  to okonthe  T aliban lu natics i nAf gh an ist an. T h at did i tfor  t heArmen and th e fam ilyfa rm .  No t thath et h ough tdo dgin g s ui cidebomb e rsand RPG 's was amor e  agr ee ab le wayto wile awayhi s days tha nspr eading c ow manur e on the fields back ho m e. Butitdid o penup a whol e n ew wor ldo f othe r poss ibili ti es. S omewh e r eout  t here was a n occ upati on  tha t fit h im better than eit h erIED dodger or  co w sh i t  s hov e le r . H e' d  bu s t ed out and ther e was no g oi n gback. Afte r  hi ssecondtour to  Afgh a nistanhe knew f or damn s ur e IE D and  RPG and A K 47 dod ging wasn ' t inh is  futu re.  A guy  c oul d onl y pres s  hi s luc k so f ar . Buthe st il l hadn't  come up with an altern ative. 

Hetoo k a bunch  of thi ngs withhimwhen he le ftAfg hanis tan .  A fo ndne s sfor clean  und e rwear. Ak ee n a p p re ciation for h i ghw ays t hat were n ot m ined with high ex p losives. An aw aken e d  gr ati t udefo r indoor plumb ing ,h o t runnin gwater, airconditio ni n g, ho me coo ked me als and s up e r mark etsand  even fas t f oo d  joints .An d  strip  clu bs , Magg ie O'T o ole' s place back in Fr esnoh a vingr ise n inhi s mindt o th e level of  revered cu lt sta tus.  Plus  he had  a  newfo und  a ppreciatio n  for wome n
 being_environmentally conscious,_but Armen suspected the_real reason_was_that cow_manure_was a hell_of a lot_cheaper than the chemical_fertilizers. Especially when_Sograd_had a home grown labor force in the person of Armen to do the_spreading._Armen didn't_much_care_for the idea. How could_you get all worked up_about spreading_cow shit fertilizer, even if it was supposedly_somewhat_deodorized in what_they called post source processing at the local humungous_feed lot down the road in_Sanger? Farming wasn't_even_in_the same universe with_an evening at Maggie's O'Toole's place._Still, Armen gloomily figured he was_headed for a life on the family_farm. Especially considering his hulking father_Sograd threatened to disembowel and/or_castrate him_if he didn't join him_in the family_business. Sograd_a man the_wise knew better than to screw_with. So. Sigh._Armen was doomed to a life_of_shoveling cow shit._Maybe_not_quite literally._But close. Way,_in_Armen's mind,_too_close.

But then came 9/11. No one,_not_even his hulking daddy Sograd, could talk_Armen out of joining_the_Army. Armen volunteered and_was among the soldiers who_took on the Taliban lunatics in_Afghanistan. That_did it_for the Armen and the family farm. Not that he thought_dodging suicide bombers and RPG's was_a more agreeable way_to wile_away_his days than_spreading_cow manure_on the fields back home. But it_did open_up a whole new world of_other possibilities. Somewhere out_there_was an occupation that fit him_better than either IED dodger or_cow shit shoveler. He'd busted_out_and_there was no going back._After his second tour to Afghanistan_he knew for_damn sure IED and RPG and AK_47_dodging wasn't in his future. A_guy_could only press his luck so_far._But_he still hadn't come up_with an alternative.

He took a bunch_of things with him when he left Afghanistan. A_fondness for clean_underwear. A keen appreciation for_highways_that_were not mined with high explosives. An awakened gratitude for_indoor plumbing,_hot running water,_air conditioning, home cooked meals and super markets and even_fast food joints. And strip clubs, Maggie_O'Toole's place back in Fresno having risen in his mind to_the level of revered cult status. Plus he_had a newfound appreciation for women