Four More Things: Day 1

I've had this prompt in my drafts for a while and I figured now was the perfect time to finally complete some of those blank blog drafts.  HERE VE GOOOOO!!!!!




The happiest iguana in GTMO.
Taken between dives.  This guy was really excited about Cheese-Its.

L: Bahrain Financial Building
C: Al Fateh Grand Mosque
R: Bahrain World Trade Center

After 2 years of being overseas, I couldn't get enough leaves.
Teh Megan + Fall 4eva

Disney World with Teh Sister, Magic (ears) equipped.
There's really nothing quite like telling Snow White you came to DW as a break-up celebration.

Humpday Confessions #12

Short weeks spoil me for long weeks that seem to go on and on and on and onnnnnn.

Confessions:

-I bought local honey from a stand on the side of the road recently and it was $11 for a pint sized mason jar and I was like WTF so 'spenive!  Then we opened it and I tried it and OMG WORTH ITTTTT.  It tastes like flowers kinda and was the perfect sweetness.  I hadn't had "real" honey since I was a little girl and OMG, I hope to never have to buy store honey again... EVER.  Side note: I had a quart jar of PA honey when Teh Bear was here, but he took it back to FL with him, since he was the tea drinker, and left me with the crappy store honey.  Le sigh.

-A sure way to piss me off?  Ask me for the same information over and over and over and over, rather than just save it the first or second or third time I send it to you.  Redundancy makes me irate.

-I saw Teh Blog on someone's reading list last Wednesday and I might have done a little dance.  Followers..

-There were no gifs in last week's confessions and I felt like a failure.. but I went to bed early instead.  Sorry not sorry.

-Link-up "rules" are stupid.  That's why Kathy's link-up is the best evar of all the link-ups.  No follow me and all your hosts, no comment on the person before you, no "I'm gonna check and make sure you're following or I'll delete your link", I mean some people don't even post confessions who link up and those links even stay there (I'm only kinda complaining about this, but that's the blogger's fault, not the host)..  Ain't nobody got time for that shit.  So yeah, Kathy rocks, if you weren't already aware.

-The E-2 sounds like a swarm of bees and it makes me irrationally angry when I hear it running outside the hangar.  The roar of the F-35 also makes me irrationally angry, but then again, when they blast past my house, rattling my windows, I feel like I'm justified.  This girl does NOT (heart) jet noise. 

-It annoys me when people, primarily women, of course, comment how awful they look in a photo, especially if they aren't the primary focus in the photo.  I've been reading a lot of articles recently about women and body image and rights and stuffs like Hobby Lobby and Verizon commercials (watch it here) and women empowerment in general; I even read one on men and body image!  I just want to shake people, again, primarily women, and be like YOU ARE YOU!  Stop demeaning yourself!  Stop being so hard on yourself!  In the grand scheme of things, how bad you THINK you look is only hurting YOU!  If you are ashamed of the way you look, fix it, it's that simple.  You can't go on a run or a walk?  Go swimming, it is (currently) summer time...  You don't have time?  You don't have the money?  There's 10 minute workout videos on youtube for FREE.  Unless you have some type of actual disfigurement, stop hating your body (not to say if do have an actual disfigurement you should body hate, but you might have a reason to be a bitter-pants).  It's the only body you have, be proud of it.  It's gotten you through so many things.  It's an amazing, adaptable thing and it works for YOU.

-While I'm on the soapbox, seeing kids with no self-confidence makes me infuriated.  I get it that some kids are shy, but I feel like every kid should have a cheerleader.  To cheer them on when they do stupid shit and when they do incredibly genius shit and the gamut in between.  That's the thing about being a kid, everything is new.  Yes, there are wrong answers, but getting them wrong is a learning experience.  When I see a girl with her arms wrapped around her waist and she's hunched over, practically folded into herself because she's self-conscious or shy or defensive about being where's she at, I want to shake her and tell her she needs to be proud of herself and carry herself with dignity and to not be afraid or defensive about whatever situation she's in.  I'm just saying... confidence, have some.

-I get irrationally angry when someone uses the term "girl" for women or lady or female.  I feel like girl is something that describes a female that is under the age of 18.  At 18, you can become a lady.  At some point in your 20s you become a woman.  When describing females in college as "college girls" I can feel my blood start to boil.  Women in college aren't girls, even if they act like they are 13.  And the Navy taught me that when woman is just too awkward, "female" is always appropriate.

-Sometimes, I forget that not everyone is/has been in the military.  A FB friend gave away a True Blood spoiler on FB and then this went down:

All I could think of was my own experiences where I wasn't able to keep up when I wasn't living in the US.  When I couldn't play certain YouTube videos because I wasn't in the "right" country, when I emailed ABC to tell them I was stationed overseas and couldn't keep up with Grey's because there was a country block on Bahrain, when the bandwidth in GTMO was so limited it took 15 minutes to load a 2 minute YouTube video, so trying to stream an hour long TV show was out of the realm of possibility.  I thought of my friends who would have been PISSED if I had given away the spoilers to their favorite show when they were stationed in the Sand Box.  I still haven't seen the final seasons of HIMYM because it's not on Netflix and I don't watch television in real time, nor do I have a DVR.. and I was IN America when that aired. 

Bottom line, friends don't give away spoilers on social media, no matter how many hours/weeks/months/years ago the episode/season aired.  It's just the right thing to do.  If I were to read articles about the show that gave away spoilers, that's my own fault. 

That is not to say that you shouldn't post about current episodes on FB, but a general NOOOOOOO!!!!!! will suffice, rather than saying so and so was killed.  I'd rather vaguebook with a tag that I'm watching a show so more people would be interested in watching it so we can discuss it than just lay it all out there as a status. 

That's just me.

-I was pulled over on Sunday morning after church and then this happened:
State Trooper (ST): Good morning.  How are you doing?
Me: Good morning.  Well, I was doing pretty good, but now I'm not sure anymore.
ST: *Laughs* Well, why not?  Do I look like a scary guy?
Me: Well..  I don't think I look scary, but plenty of people say I'm mean.
ST: *Laughs* I pulled you over this morning because you were going 64 in a 45.
Me: But it's 50 there, not that that really helps my case.
ST: It doesn't change to 50 until after you passed where I was parked.
Me: Touche.
ST: If I could just get your license and registration.
*I hand him my stuff and he goes back to his car and comes back a minute or two later.*
ST: So, here you go.  I just gave you a warning this time because you are in a good mood.
Me: OMG thank you so much!  I'd give you a hug right now, but that's probably inappropiate.
*ST laughs and explains the information on the ticket to me and warns me that he and his friends were out all day and to slow down.*
Me: I'm coming from church, so lets just say the spirit was moving me, but I'll definitely tame that spirit a bit.
ST: *Laughs* Have a good day.

If I wasn't his best "customer" all day, I'm disappointed in myself.  I'm not sure if it was my charming personality or my big boobs (which were completely covered) but I'm grateful for a warning ticket.  I proudly displayed it on the fridge when I got home.  The power of laughter goes a long way.

-Monday night I ate dinner at 5pm and stayed up past my 9pm bedtime to putting together a 1000 piece puzzle with Teh MD Roomies.... soooo I'm pretty much 90.

-I might have published this on Tuesday morning because I was 100% positive it was Wednesday and I couldn't figure out why Kathy hadn't posted the link up by 0630.  I stalked her page for at least 30 minutes before I realized I was a day early.  Obviously humpday confessions is my favorite blog post of the week.

Humpday Confessions #11

Friday still feels so far away.

Confessions:

-I have greyhound friends who talk about needing a xanax when their dogs go into for dentals.  This irritates the crap out of me.  I love my dog, but if I didn't trust my vet, I wouldn't take Phil.  For those friends who have "special needs" dogs, I kinda get it, but at the same time.. get over it.  I don't freak out when Phil and Meri have appointments (including if they have to be put under anesthesia) and I don't freak out about my own appointments where I have to have procedures done.  It only right AS the procedure is happening that I start to get a bit nervous, but otherwise, why worry?

-Drama llamas make me want to punch them in the face.  'Nuff said.

-I read this article about being a military spouse recently and while it was written in jest, it was that I'm-kidding-but-not-really tone.  I'm afraid it might be indicative of my future.  Also, it took me several years to figure out how to respond to people when they thanked me for my service, so now that people are thanking my boyfriend for his service and not me, in my head I'm all defensive, "What about me?!  I served, too, JERK!"  Then I realize it's not the same anymore.  #militarytransitionsarehard

-Usually around mile 3 of a run, the flies/insects start diving bombing me.  It's extremely irritating.

-People who require you to put in the captcha code to comment on their blog make me sad.  So much so, I almost don't leave a comment, except that I've already typed it up and all I have to do is type in the mostly illegible numbers.

-I recently learned some teenagerese.  Instead of whatever, they say, "swerve," and put their hands up, with thumbs together... apparently it's also an "emoji," whatever that is.  I just call them emoticons.  All these different names for the same thing overwhelm me.  So does teenagerese.

-I have always twisted the stem off my apples while saying the alphabet for each turn.. because inside of me is an 8 year old girl who might actually believe that the letter I am on when the stem comes off is the first letter of my future husband's first name. 

-There's certain times I miss Bahrain...  like when I want mexican food delivered, or when I have to pick up my dry cleaning, or when I need delicious chocolate treats.

-"Hey, Beautiful," being the first thing said from someone 10,000 miles away, who I don't often get to hear on the phone, makes me get this super cheesy grin every time I think about it.

-Every time I take a bite of white meat chicken, I always get disappointed it's not dark meat.

-Gatorade is best served with liquor.  It's NOT best consumed after a long run since it makes my saliva thick and sticky and gross.  Sorry for that potential TMI.

-I'm excited about Charleston.  Unbearably excited.  But the worst part of transitioning is the upheaval of my entire life.  I know that it will all work out in the end, but finding a place to live, finding a job, writing a million point five resumes, getting my stuff packed out, the actual relocation time table, vacation before hand...  just all the things are making my brain go a million miles per hour in a million different directions at once.  It's annoying me, and it's definitely annoying other people.  I can't concentrate on a single subject for long periods of time and my conversations are all fragments over a span of subjects.  It's hard being me.

Five on Friday #24

UNO

I had this draft started for last Friday and then failed at blogging.  I feel like I've been blog failing for a while now, but I know I'm my worst critic.  One of the bloggers I read was talking about how during the summer she kinda falls off the blogging train.  I get it.  Totally.  For me its not that I don't have things to blog about, it's that I don't have the time to blog.  I guess it's really a matter of making the time, but I downloaded an obscene amount of books (like 42, but who's counting) and recently, laying in bed reading Nook is more enticing than sitting on the computer having internet ADD until way past my bedtime.  I'd rather play the "just one more chapter" game as an excuse for not getting to sleep on time.  I tell myself that at least I'm already in bed, so there's that.

Additionally, I love my bed.  It misses me when I'm gone.  The feeling is mutual.  Just being in my bed is preferable to sitting on the couch.  ANNNDDDD my bed is my safe place from the dogs (except for Miley who am I unable to resist forever and always).  On the couch, Meri lets her entire body just drop on my arm as I'm trying to type or dribbles water on me from her wet beard or noses at my ear to give her attention, Olive makes the most obnoxious breathing noises, distracting me, or she begs with those eyes to get up on the couch when the spot beside me is taken, Phil is just so cute I can't stand not to pet him.  There are no dogs allowed on my bed when I'm in it, unless invited and I don't invite my dogs ever to join me.  I just like my space.  #sorrynotsorry. 



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Finally, I also like cuddles.  Just to prove that I am an human and not a robot to everyone.



Pretty sure this was the best line of the book because it was like he was describing me.
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DOS

We've been playing this fun game call "guess the song title and artist" at work this work listening to the Pop2K station on Sirius.  I'm impressively bad at the artist/title, but I probably know 95% of the lyrics.  Good job brain, good job.

Seriously though.  NMCI, one of the best things you've done for me in my Naval "career" has been to unblock streaming media.  Dealing with work arounds and secret methods was just a pain and while I don't mind breaking the rules, it was always a disappointment to come in on a random day and find out that I'd been found out.  If I tracked my internet options the entire time I've been in the navy, we'd definitely see some exponential progress.

I started with ZERO internets in bootcamp (obviously) and mostly just my cell phone for internets during my VA beach time, other than when I'd go to Mr. Scrooge's house and I'd bring my laptop.



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When I got to GTMO, there was "DSL" internet.  And by DSL it actually meant (in)direct SATELLITE link.. not whatever it means to actual first worlders.  The internet, at work and home, was the speed of dial up.  Sometimes, we'd make those dial-up sounds when the internet was being particularly slow.  We had to use a work around to get to Facebook and Google Reader still existed (/weep).  I would send out the "Nuggets" which were the past 24 hours worth of submitted Texts From Last Night after lunch and people would get extremely disappointed when they weren't sent out.  I would get hate mail.  This is when people first started depending on me for entertainment.  When I PCSed to Bahrain, I was unable to keep up with my Nuggets and TFLN faded into the past with some disappointment.  In my room, I had a 25 ft ethernet cable that I used.  Since we were already at dial-up speed, the additional speed decline of wireless wasn't even worth it.

Bahrain internet was faster.  Sometimes there were hiccups when the Royal Kingdom of Bahrain wouldn't allow me to see certain webpages because censorship is legit over there.  Since it was ONENET rather than NMCI, we had access to youtubes and facebook and sometimes Google Reader, but I was so busy that I couldn't really enjoy those things at work.  The internet was fast enough to play World of Warcraft, but due to some complaints from Teh Bear and my boredom with the game, I quit cold turkey at the end of May 2011.  The other problem with Bahrain internet was that it wasn't American internet, which meant I couldn't go to certain websites and watch my shows.. em hmm ABC.com for Grey's Anatomy.  I tried to make sure all my downloads were when I was at work or asleep so I didn't have to deal with the bandwidth drain.  I had a 50 ft ethernet cord constantly stretched across my flat because the wireless was too much of a hassle to try and deal with.

When I PCSed to MD, it was like being back in America.. oh wait.  I was.  I had ALL THE INTERNETS!!!!  Life was glorious.  I could stream Netflix on my TV and play youtube videos at the same time.  I could even play MULTIPLE videos at the same time.  After coming from GTMO and having to wait 15 minutes for a 3 minute video to even load/buffer then Bahrain where the video was probably unavailable since I was in an "unsupported" country, this was a magical experience.

So really what I'm saying is.. I appreciate the internet.  You should appreciate your internet too, Gentle Readers.  Even if you have shitty Comcast or have to/had to deal with bandwidth caps.

Just watch the first 2 minutes of this clip.
TL;DR: Just give it a second.  It's going to space!

TRES

I was pretty sure that Wednesday felt like Friday.  After my whirlwind NC trip last weekend, I'm ready to just relax for the weekend and be totally boring.  I say that and I'm sure that I'll have plans for every day of the weekend.  Not that I mind, but I really just want to sleep in and get to lounge in my pjs for at least a few hours.  Too bad Teh Dogs can't read this (that's not to say I won't read it to them or remind them when I go to bed Friday night we're sleeping in).

I even did my laundry already so I don't have to deal with as many clothes this weekend when I wash what dirty laundry I have.  Working out consistently is really adding to the dirty clothes problem that I have every week.  At least shorts/short sleeve tshirts take up less space in the laundry than long sleeves and pants.  Although Teh MD Adult Roomie and I were talking last night about how much I miss wearing my long sleeve workout shirts because they had thumb holes.  Thumb holes are the shiznit...  especially for someone who has short everything and is used to the sleeves of clothing coming well past my knuckles (I've gotten in trouble several times in uniform for my sleeves falling to the ends of my fingers rather than stopping at my wrists, which is usually when it's cold so it kinda works out for me in attempting to keep my fingers warm, but still.  There are short people with short arms in the world clothing designers and the petite section is MUCH smaller than the "regular" people sections)!

Also, a random for you:  Boob sweat is the ickiest.  Truly.  I hate it.  Not only is my sport bra soaked, if I'm laying down doing any exercises, the boob sweat runs UP my chest towards my neck.  How freakin' disgusting is that?  Just more aresnal for the boobs are the devil list.  I feel like such a dude when I'm having to wipe my between my boobs during my runs/workouts because the boob sweat is just too much for me to handle, it always makes me think of guys who constantly rearrange their junk.  Ugh. 

The only benefit to boob sweat is using it as a weapon against Teh MD Teenage Roomie.  Nothing makes her get her feet off me faster than the threat of me touching her with my sweaty boobs.  WIN.



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QUATRO

I have this thing I want to talk about but I don't want to jinx it.. but lets just say, maybe NOT Millington, TN?

I totally believe in jinxing things.  My LT comes in our office all the time and will say, "It seems quiet today."  At which point all hell seems to break loose.  Everyone wants to call both lines, all the people want to come in to check in, the cleaners need to be escorted, there is someone using every computer in the office.  I just don't tempt fate.  He's learned to ask if it's a quiet day, and he realizes that I will always knock on the desk (wood, of course) when I say, "Not so far."  I also believe in karma.  What goes around, comes around, bitches.  I believe that if you cut someone off, you will get cut off.  I also believe that if you make poor choices, you will get poor results.  Honestly, my belief in karma is what fuels my desire to help people and be generally agreeable, while not letting myself get run over by the asshats out there.  I also believe in acting on your word.  Don't make empty threats or empty promises.


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 For instance... Yesterday at work, during turnover time, one of the other 2nd classes was being obnoxious.  I gave him the "cut it out" glare, but he laughed and continued being obnoxious.  Someone else commented that he was being annoying and he said he knew that he was doing it on purpose.  He kept doing it, and I said, "If you keep doing that, I'm going to throw something at you."  He stopped for a moment, but then went right back to being annoying.  I took a cup with coins in it and threw the entire thing at him.  He commented that only one coin had hit him, so as I was leaving to change into my PT clothes, I picked up one of the coins on the floor and threw it full force at him.  It ended up hitting him in the side of the head.  I didn't even apologize.  I warned him it was going to happen.  I don't even play. 

CINCO

A G rated (you're welcome) stream of consciousness from Teh Megan: I really enjoy running.  I like my route.  I like the smells (honeysuckle, salt water/beach).  It's paved.  I'M NOT A RUNNER!  I'm going to have to buy one of those water bottle belty things if I keep running in the middle of the day.  I'm sure that bicyclist thought my head was actually tomato when he offered me water the other day.  I'M NOT A RUNNER DAMMIT!  I don't want to do the elliptical today, it makes me feel so lazy.  6.5 miles isn't lazy, you moron.  Fine, I'll just do an ab workout after my elliptical-ing.  I'm really glad Teh MD Adult Roomie loves me enough to turn around and go back home for Nook for me so I can have a good workout.  If I didn't have Nook maybe I would have went on a run.  I ran yesterday, I need to rest.  I didn't bring the right bra for a run (oops PG slip), so maybe I would have endured the gym.  Don't be silly.  Ok, I would have went on a run.  That foam roller is really a miracle in my life.  I might even build some upper body strength using it.  Bahahaha, don't be silly.  It's really weird when it's so hot I don't really sweat and the salt just dries on my face and my face feels all stiff.  Maybe that's where those big freakin' zits came from. No, that was PMS, nevermind.  Being a girl is stupid.  All these zits and PMS and having the "right" sports bra.  Should I buy more "right" sports bras?  Is 3 enough?  OMG I need to save money, not spend more.  I did so good the other day, resisting replacing my pots and pans despite the Woot deal.  But I really should buy one of those water bottle belty thingies, even if they are dorky.  I can't carry my water bottle and run.  I already feel like my phone weighs 10 extra pounds in my pocket.  I got the arm band, but I'd have such a horrendous tan line from that thing.  I should look up leg workouts, so I can do some strengthening.  I've read that it really helps with running.  I don't need anymore lower body strength though.  I need to focus on not having arms that keep waving at people after I've stopped.  That's important.  I bet if I had a half sleeve tattoo like I want, no one would notice the extra waving.  Oooo, I should go look at that tattoo on my pinterest.  No, don't.  That will only make me want it more.  But I really want it.  What would a half sleeve look like in a wedding dress?  Teh Mom would hate it.  You're not getting married anytime soon, who cares?  See, this is why I shouldn't buy anything.  I need dollas to pay for a new tattoo in November.  Ughhh I need dollas to move too.  Tattoos aren't as important as moving. Uggghhh moving.  No, don't think about Charleston.  You'll jinx it.  Stop.  No, just plan for Millington.  You know how the navy works.  Uggghh.  But I just want to plan all the things.  Is it time to eat yet?  I'm not really super hungry, but I should eat for my workout so I don't die.  *gnat flies in front of my face and I clap to kill it*  OMG I KILLED IT!!  I NEVER GET THEM!  This is a great day.  Awww they are playing mine and Teh Worldwide Jesus Lover's song!  I miss her.  She should come to visit me.  We could go tour DC and do all the things.  Going to DC costs money.  I don't have money.  I have to move.  Moving blows.  It stresses me out.  And all my things will be gone.  I need a job.  But IDK (yes I think in acronyms, judge me, don't care) where I'm going to be.  PLAN for Millington, dumbass.  You know how this works.  Uuuggghhhh.. 1.91 inches of snow a year.  Depressing.  it doesn't snow at the other possibility either.  But the other possibility is awesome and NOT in BFE, Tennessee.  Don't jinx yourself.  Just stop.



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PS.  If you were paying attention, I might have mentioned the not-Millington option.

Linking up with these ladies since it's FRRRRRRIIIIIDDDDDDDAAAYYYYY!!!!!!

Education Motivation

I was recently talking with our new Chief who is really down to earth and not really involved in any programs at work yet to be super busy yet.  Most people who are higher ranking than you usually have some pretty standard questions they ask their sailors to get to know them better.  Are you married?  Do you have kids?  Are you from the South (to me since I still seem to talk like a hick)?  Are you working on your degree?

To the last question, I usually catch folks off-guard because I've already completed my bachelor's degree.  Then the conversation goes a different route.  1-  Why aren't you an officer?  2-  Are you working on your Master's?

1.  Well, honestly, I'm not an officer because I had a particularly shitty officer recruiter who covered the entire western side of NC.  He didn't seem to be in need of recruits, so he didn't bother with me because my graduation gpa was 2.968.  It wasn't a 3.0, so it wasn't good enough for him and he acted like even meeting me for 15 minutes was a waste of his time.  There's some other stuff that went down, but lets also add the fact that working as a server at Texas Roadhouse wasn't really covering the bills and I needed a job, uhhh yesterday, so the pressure was on.

2.  No.  When I graduated Teh Mom asked me if I was going to get my Master's.  I looked her straight in the eye and asked her if she was paying for it.  She said, "no."  To which I responded, "Me either."  Well folks, that's not a valid excuse anymore.  I have the GI Bill AND I could use Tuition Assistance ((TA) remember that program that the DoD threatened to cut and every servicemember using TA and all the dependents of the DoD got up in arms about?), the money is there.

But guess what isn't... my motivation.  I have absolutely no motivation to come home every day and do homework.  I enjoy my evenings sitting on FB and reading through Reader Feedly and getting to take Phil out for a walk and having time to do a good workout in the evenings and make dinner and be lazy.  That Chief asked me how long it had been since I graduated from college.  I had to count...  on two hands how long it had been since I graduated college (Dec 2007).

For a long time, I had a valid excuse.  I don't want to do more school work so soon after graduating (pre-Navy).  Once I joined the Navy, I was busy with bootcamp and A school and C school.  Then I went to GTMO and I already had my degree so I didn't care.  Also, the internet was barely real internet.  I wasn't worried about getting a Master's degree.  Then I was in Bahrain, working 12 hour days.  Master's homework + 12 hour days?  Ain't nobody got time for that.  Then I came to S.MD and I just wanted to enjoy being in the US again, not having the stress of 12 hour days, of not being brand new at my job (which is only partically true), and I already had my degree.

Then that Chief looked at me and said, "Every year you don't use TA, you're taking over $4,500 that the Navy is willing to give you, for free, and throwing it away.  It's the dumbest thing ever.  I've been doing random certifications since I realized what I was wasting.  Even if they aren't huge accomplishments.  They are FREE!"

So with less than 2 years left in the Navy (probably), I'm strongly considering starting my Master's.  Not only will this move make me potentially more marketable when I do (probably) get out of the Navy, but then people will stop harassing me about why I'm not working on my education.


My other options for education are to get my Enlisted Air Warfare Specialization (EAWS) pin (which I am supposedly required to get before leaving VX-1) and getting promoted to E-6.

The test to promote to E-6 happens every 6 months, and I am required to take it, so really, the focus there is just studying my pants off to actually do well on the exam and pass...  Since this exam rolls around every 6 months, I try to start studying a few months in advance.  I've already started studying for my September exam since I will be in school in DC for 2 weeks in August (woot!), which will definitely cut into my normal study time.

For my EAWS pin, I'd have to learn about an aircraft (since I'm at a squadron and all) and someone talking to me about aircraft is like me talking to someone who has never heard of WoW about guilds and raids and levels and experience points and character races and talent points and armor scores.  It is overwhelming.  I've yet to actually find someone that is willing to sit down and literally teach me the material.  They want me to read over the provided materials and regurgitate the information back to them.  Sadly, I don't learn well that way, which is really why I have no motivation to complete the program.  At least with the IDW program, there were briefs you could attend and ask questions, even if it was just someone reading a slide, I was hearing the information.  There is no training given on these subjects, so it really starts to feel like a self-taught thing.

I'm definitely not comfortable teaching myself something about which I have absolutely NO knowledge on at all.  Gentle Readers, I didn't even know what FOD was, and FOD walkdown is so important it happens everyday, first thing in the morning.  BTW, FOD stands for Foreign Object Debris.  It's the crap that could potentially get sucked into an aircraft's intake/engine and cause problems to the aircraft or potentially injure personnel.


So yeah, I'm not sure where this motivation is coming from..  but I should probably follow through on this before I lose the momentum....  Anyone know any good (online) graduate schools/programs for me?

29 May: Muzaks

Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. 


(sorry I'm late) :(





1.  Bacchanale (PS, that video isn't short, but damn it's good)
For me this song represents my last concert semester in band.  We didn't actually get to play this piece for contest because our band was too small to make a big enough sound, but we LOVED this piece.  It also helped that we had a substitute director that day who made it even more fun. The more the director dances, the better the band, IMO.  My love for this piece will never die.

2.  Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground Honestly, I hate this song.  I hated this song after the mabillion times I heard it played.  This song came out during the summer my parents finally separated.  Teh Sister, Four-Eyes (my neighbor at the time), and myself often spent as many days as we could possibly get a ride at the community pool.  We practically stayed water-logged.  During the summer, all the other pool frequenters were school aged kids who weren't around their parents, so the rebellious thing to do was listen to the "sex song" that was popular at the time.  Seriously, kids would like up at the jukebox to play this song and I wanted to drown them.

3.  So Far Away by Staind This song came out before I started my senior year of high school.  Teh Ex-Fiance bought this album and Evanescence's first album for me on one of our first dates.  We would have sing alongs to this song and we even went to Oz Fest to see Staind.  This was back in 2003 when Chevelle was an opening band.  I got the worst sunburn ever, but it was my first concert, so it was totally worth it.  PS.  Teh Ex-Fiance looked creepily like Aaron Lewis.

 4.  Dare You to Move by Switchfoot I'm pretty sure that some psychic force used to be in Teh Kaar and it would know when Teh Worldwide Jesus Lover and I were getting in the car together.  There was a period when this song would play every.single.time we were in the car together.  I'm not even exaggerating.  Even after she had left the country, sometimes she'd call while I'd be driving and the song would come on the radio even though it wasn't even popular anymore.  Then when she came back to the country and I went to visit her, the song played while we were on our way somewhere.  Now anytime it comes on, I message her, because that's OUR song.

5.  Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros I've deemed this "our song" for me and Teh Bear.  I told him before he came to visit me in Bahrain he needed to learn the words so if it came on my ipod while we were out that he HAD to sing it with me.  I left no option there.  He did actually learn the words, even though he said he never remembers the lyrics to songs, AND he actually sang it with me.  There is video of me serenading him in Teh Kaar to this song.  Teh Bear still sings it with me if it comes on.  /swoon.

A bonus:
My current fave song:
Red Hands by Walk the Earth
Also, how freakin' awesome is this video???

10 May: For (lack of) Shame!!!

Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment(s). Spill.

My most embarrassing moment happened, unsurprisingly, when I was in middle school.  As a girl I, somewhere, picked up that I should be "ashamed" of my body and all its functions.

I've already written about it here.  Scroll down to #10 to check how I left my used feminine hygiene product in someone else's stall in a public restroom.  Oops.  If it happened now, I would have laughed, apologized, and moved on.  Ahhh, sweet, sweet adulthood.

I've decided on a twist for this prompt (suplize).  Let's talk about times that I probably should have been embarrassed, but wasn't?  Yeah.  Lets.

-My first time at VX-1 PT when I pulled down my pants to my ankles... and my shorts went down too...  And I was standing in the machine room in a t-shirt and underwear for at least 3-5 seconds...  Only one other person saw it.  I found this more hilarious than embarrassing.  I laughed about it for a week afterwards and the girl that saw it sometimes still reminds me and likes to share the story (I let her, cause I'm awesome).

-At my very first Color Run, I was talking with my running mates about getting blown off so we could be "cleaner" before we finally decided to leave.  A group of people walked past us and one of the guys (who was black) walked by me and said, "Am I clean enough?!" I said, "YES! You're so colorful!" He laughed and said, "So are you!" I responded, "We're the same color??!! Who would have ever thought?!" Immediately, I recognized the potential awkwardness of the comment, but he didn't take it the wrong way and responded with, "Well said!" before continuing on his way with his group of friends.  I didn't get beat up that.  Again, I thought this situation was amusing, abet slightly awkward, but not really embarrassing.  I'm sure that my friends and parents were slightly embarrassed for me though.

-When I fell in the mud in GTMO while walking to the movies, dressed in a brand new outfit.  Super cute skirt, cami top, Old Navy flip flops (this was when their popularity started to wane with me due to lack of traction).  I was feelin' like I could take on the world.  I didn't see the mud since it was dark outside and I slipped and the story (via Teh Bear) is that it looked like slow-motion.  One minute I was walking just fine and the next I was falling very slowly to my butt.  I wasn't embarrassed.  I was pissed that my brand new clothes got literally soiled and extremely proud that I didn't spill a single drop of my alcoholic beverage.  Bitches, what?!

-In Bahrain as I was walking across the parking garage into the mall, there was an oily spot on the concrete that I slipped on.  I pretty much "took a knee" against my will.  I'm not sure if anyone saw it.  I was just angry that my knee had landed so hard, I had skinned my knee and was bleeding almost staining my pants!

-Despite having been at VX-1 for 1.5 years now, I still don't know where some of maintenance offices are downstairs....  I'm almost slightly proud at my resistance of this knowledge.

-The infinite amount of times I said something genuinely and it comes out sounding dirty which makes me laugh... and get to say, "That's what she said!"
...like asking the most senior enlisted person currently at VX-1 if he would read me bedtime stories since he has a Scottish accent.
...like reading the name Phil Ennis as penis.
...like telling someone to "just stick it in there..." in regards to putting something in the safe.
...like saying, "It's so hard." in relation to anything relating to my job.
...and sooo many more.


Do you see how hilarious you actually are, or are you easily embarrassed?

9 May: In this mmmooooommmment..

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)

Clouds are beautiful.
I missed them SO much when I was in Bahrain.

Welcome to the jungle...
We got fun and games!

The top photo is one I took on my way home for lunch.  That beautiful blue sky, those massive clouds.

You don't appreciate clouds until you don't have clouds for an extended period of time.  Seriously.  There were very few times I experienced clouds in Bahrain.  

I knew what was coming with those clouds as I lamented to Teh Bear that I really wasn't looking forward to weed-eating the poop patch that evening.  I even went so far as to describe what I had planned on wearing for this glorious event (my work boots with grocery bags over them, an old set of utilities or coveralls, gloves, and swim goggles (since I don't own safety goggles).  He did point out how I seemed to be very worried about what I was going to wear for just weed eating.  I've heard about how messy it is though, I needed to be prepared.

As I was walking out of work, I stopped to talk to the guy that was on duty.  While standing there, I saw it lightening and heard it thunder.  I watched it start to drizzle, then start to pour.  I got a shower as I walked to Yurtle who was parked at the far end of the parking lot.  I texted Teh Bear on the way home exclaiming how I no longer had to face the demons that evening.

I tried to get Phil to go out to the poop patch for a photo, but it was raining and he's not a big fan of that.

PS.  I got the hummingbird feeder last week.  I'm not even sure that any hummingbirds are using it.  I need to change the juice inside, but the yard is just unholy.  I even feel bad for Phil who has to dodge his own bombs...  Maybe tomorrow?

PPS.  This yard issue is an on-going problem...

Thoughts of a well-spent watch...

The one thing no one EVER told me about when I was considering joining the military was that I'd stand "watch."  "WTF is watch?" you ask.  Oh watch... sweet, sweet watch.  The best kept secret of the military. 

Watch is also synonymous for "duty."  Meaning.. someone is always available to take care of issues.  You'll hear, "I got the watch."  That means that you no longer have to call 911 if the building catches on fire, you don't have to record "all conditions normal" every 30 minutes in the legally binding log book (that you are supposed to write in ALL CAPS for).  Watch means different things in different places.

In bootcamp, watch meant standing at the door of our compartment to challenge anyone that wasn't supposed to be there and circling the compartment every 30 minutes to make sure no one was doing things they shouldn't be.  You got to carry a fakely loaded weapon and practice your best "recruit handwriting" in the logbook (for recording all clears and if any events took place, like if there was a fight club discovered in the showers at 0323 or a boy in the girl's laundry room with the girl that let him in having sex) and even answer the phone if you were lucky enough to be there when it rang.  Extra duty included snow watch, where if the snow was more than 1/4" you got woken up at whatever time it was in the morning and got to go outside and shovel snow.  As much as I wanted this duty, I ended up never getting to shovel snow.

Once I got to training, watch meant sitting in a ladderwell stairwell for 2-3 hours and ensuring that no guys got distracted and ventured too far down the halls of the bottom floor (where the girls lived) and that no girls got lost and went upstairs (where the boys lived).  There were also other types of duty, like colors (which is when the National Anthem is played and the flag is raised or lowered at 0800 and sunset) and duty driver (where you drive people to their "official business" (ex: medical when it's at another base and they don't have their own method of transportation, pick up incoming personnel from the airport, etc)).  There was also a quarterdeck (the entry point of a space/area/building) watch, but since there were 4 ladderwells, that's where most of the watches were stood.  The quarterdeck watch included making records in the logbook, but only one poor soul was submitted to that.  The quarterdeck assistant got to hand out liberty cards (freedom passes which gave us permission to wear civilian clothes and be out in public) and they got to collect them as people came back to the barracks.

When I was in GTMO, duty was sitting on the quarterdeck entry point of our building to check badges for everyone that came in since the space was only available to select people with the proper clearances.  This watch lasted for 12 hours.  The day watch consisted of mostly checking badges and calling "Attention on Deck" when O-6 and above walked onto the quarterdeck.  Night watch was totally different where you got to bring your computer in and watch movies/listen to music and check the badges of any persons motivated enough to come in before 0600 and clean and sweep the sidewalks outside (subsequently giving yourself blisters), and calling the main security watchstander to let them know that there were no terrorists detainees free in the parking lot and nothing suspicious had been seen on the cameras and there were no crazy fires every hour from midnight-0500.  The logbook was completely electronic, I was impressed with the techy-ness of this.  Good times.  Really.

In Bahrain, duty was standing on the quarterdeck, checking badges to ensure that people who had the proper clearance to get in were getting in and people that didn't have the proper clearance weren't.  You also got to call "Attention on Deck!" for any and all stars (O-7 and above).  You got to record when all the important folks came and went in the logbook.  Luckily, the watch was secured at 1800 6pm and started at 0600 the next morning.

Here at VX-1, duty includes sitting at a computer in a office space that is mostly windows that gives you a view of the road and the buildings across the street.  You check badges and make records in the logbook when someone checks in or goes on leave vacation or if a fire alarm goes off or any kind of special non-regular event happens.  You get to answer the phone and do lots of call transfers to other people in the command.  I personally think the best watches are holidays and weekends because you don't have to deal with as many people as you would if it was a week day when everyone was at work.  Except that no people means even more time to fill....

And luckily, all that description above took 30 minutes.  Now onto the thoughts of watch..

-Duty driver walked in with the chevrons on his jacket upside down.  I pointed it out to him, and the other 2 2nd classes that were still here agreed that he was wrong.  He insisted they were facing the right direction.  I insisted they were still wrong.  I even showed him my own jacket so he could see what was wrong.  He still insisted he was right.  Finally, I got him to understand that he had them on upside down, not backwards (there is an eagle in the insignia that is supposed to face a specified direction).  He claimed to have looked it up...  I'm a master of looking up insignia directions for this uniform, dude.  You're wrong.  He fixed it after he finally understood.. Which was good because there was no way I was going to even let him be on watch with his shit so obviously jacked up.  It was the first thing I noticed when he walked in.  Note:  He is a 2nd class.

-It's a hard life being an IS.  All of my exam study material is classified, so no studying for my exam on watch.. and what with only 25 BMR questions, I don't feel like that's the information I need to focus on.....

-I'll be productive and fill out the rest of the log book!
-All columns made on every page!
-All pages stamped!
-Title rows created up to letter Q!

-The duty-driver said I needed to regain my sanity so he took the log book away while I answered the phone.  I really just want to finish the rest of the book and be done with it.  Too bad it wasn't as funny as he intended.....

-I'm pretty sure that rice and black beans with cheese for dinner isn't going to be as delicious as I want it to be.

-I WILL finish the rest of the logbook before dinner.

-Total time working on logbook: 2 hours.  We are about 1/3 of the way through the book and I did the lines for the columns and rows and stamped each page for the remaining 2/3s of the book.  The last time I did that was Memorial Day weekend when I had 2 back-to-back days of watch.  I really need more things to do on watch...  It's really a bummer that reading Thought Catalog depresses me too badly.

**LUNCH BREAK**

-Rice and beans and cheese wasn't as delightful as I wanted it to be.

-Phil appreciated his trip to the dog park (where he actually fetched the ball THREE times!) and his free dinner.

-Apparently a little kid called right after I left for dinner asking where "Mike Cock" was.  I'm slightly disappointed I missed this.

-I was potentially going to dog sit this week, then I was definitely going to dog sit this week, then I was no longer dog sitting this week.  I'm trying not to be disappointed, but it's not working out too well.  I was looking forward to an extra puppy-luppy.

-TWO WEEKS TILL VACATION!!!!!!!  Teh Bear says I need to acquire/find some boots.  Apparently, he is very hardcore about this hiking thing.  Now.. where did I put my DCU boots???  Why do I have a feeling they are in the bottom-most container in the storage closet????  Uggggh (not like the boots).

-I take great joy in finding random lint balls in clothing I've not worn in over 6 months.  YAY for lint balls in the pockets of my NWU jacket. 

-I really wish that Google Reader worked on NMCI.  NMCI is the devil.

-I just went to JPAS to see if there was any work-type stuff I could do.  JPAS is down for maintenance..  Why can't JPAS go down for maintenance during the work week?  WTF?  Their efficiency is disappointing.

-Talking on the phone really passes the time quicker than just sitting here.

-Thank you STFU Parents for the entertainment you have provided.  Too bad NMCI will only load the first page of most of the articles I've opened up.  Mommy-jacking is probably one of my biggest FB pet peeves now that most of the copy/paste statuses have disappeared.  Oh wait..  Biggest FB peeve is liking everything that you see on your FB feed and I get spammed until I have to hide your likes/comments.  /wristS

-Screw NMCI, I will play BUBBLES!

-I WON!  I WON!!!!!!  I've never won bubbles before.  I always end up losing, which is disappointing   But this time, I WON!  And there was someone there to witness it.  I once spent 7 hours on watch playing that game and couldn't win the entire time.  I won after playing for 1.5 hours tonight.

-Tried playing Pacman.  I had to be told that you have to eat all the dots.  Megan 80's Fail.

-Tried playing the flying helicopter game.  Good thing I'm not a pilot.

-Played the shooting the disks game.  Felt like a redneck.  Moved back to Bubbles until watch was over.

-Watched my relief pull in the parking lot at 2315.  Saw no one come from the car until 2328.  So much hate.

Overall thoughts:
This duty day wasn't as bad as one in the past have been.  It passed fairly quickly and there was no depressing articles and no earth shattering realizations.  Whew!  Maybe next month?

Fill in the Blank Friday #8

(image)

1. My biggest accomplishment in life thus far is   surviving 2 years overseas.  It was much harder being out of the US than I anticipated.  At least the first year I was destined to be content with minimal options since we weren't allowed offbase.  Being in Bahrain was infinitely harder due to being immersed in a different culture entirely.  

2. My favorite place to sit in my house is   on the left side of the couch.  From here I can see Phil in his crate or in the livingroom, the TV, the clock on the stove, out the window, and the table is right beside me.  One could refer to this seat as my "throne"....  

3. My fashion philosophy is   if it isn't comfortable, then you'll probably not see me in it.  Unless its super cute and probably colorful, then maybe...  

4. Something every girl should have is   a favorite accessory and a favorite perfume.  With the right earrings and the right perfume, I can thrill a crowd.  

5. If you looked in my purse right now you'd find   1 thing of Jergen's lotion that needs to be tossed, 1 thing of Johnson and Johnson's lavender lotion from Teh Bear, my wallet, a few pens, a tube of the best chapstick ever (Blistex Raspberry Lemon Blast), my keys, my itouch, a pack of spearmint gum, a church bulletin, a CVS voucher, and tampons (a girl always has to be prepared!).  

6. My favorite music right now is   honestly, probably something mellow.  I've not really listened to much music in the week or so, but if Call Me, Maybe came on, I'd turn that up and sing at the top of my lungs too!  

7. My favorite part of my body is   my eyes.  They change colors depending on what I'm wearing.  I also love when they turn really green.  

Little Notes #3

Dear cold front,
I love you. Please stay all summer. My idea of a good time is 60°F or less. Shorts aren't a requirement in my life. If you looked at these legs you'd see why, they'd blind you. I don't need the beach. I just need some cold to be happy. Preferably with snuggles and snow, but in the middle of the summer, I'm not that picky.

Dear Creamsicle-colored pouf/loofah/whatever you want to call yourself,
I was very happy to have you in my life. You were orange and white and had soft spots and scratchy spots and I really liked that. I knew your demise was imminent when your string slipped one day. The next day when your mesh started to come out of place, I knew our relationship was doomed. I was crushed to have to put you to rest. PS. You made me consider going back to plain old washcloths.. :(

Dear extremely scratchy pouf/loofah/whatever you want to call yourself,
We've been together a long time. Since Bahrain long time. Shoulda Been a Cowgirl shunned your cousin (we brought you both home on the same day!), but I held you near and dear to my heart because you seemed to take a lot of abuse and still managed to hold up. You've never had a leaky mesh problem and your string always stays tight. Thank you for always being my backup despite being replaced so many times. Also, you're the best mosquito bite itcher I've ever had. I love you as long as you love me.

Dear mosquitoes,
The back of my neck isn't a nice place to have a HUGE red bump. It's awkward and people probably think I have a huge zit back there. It also kinda itches which then makes me look like I have lice. So now people definitely think I'm gross. I hate you. Seriously. LOATHE YOU WITH ALL MY BEING AND DIDN'T MISS YOU WHILE I WAS IN THE DESERT!

Dear crockpot,
Thank you for giving me a whole new lease on potluck dinners. Despite the fact that it took me more than 30 minutes to peel and dice 3 sweet potatoes, you worked diligently through the night to ensure that I would not go to this potluck empty handed. You stewed my potatoes and chicken all through the night and then with the help of Bets, I showed up with shredded chicken and sweet potatoes all in one pot and all I had to do was put the items in the same container. Genius. <3 forever.

Dear Adobe,

Thanks for making photo editing so easy!  Can you please also create a tool that generates motivation to use all your awesome products?  That would help me to further enjoy your current products even more.  You're welcome for that idea, it was free.

Just a koala.  On a log.  Within touching distance.

Re-ID dilemma...

Upon arrival at the resort where we were staying in Australia, I realized that my military ID had vanished.  Crap.

I had it in Sydney, so my thoughts were that between boarding in Sydney and arriving at the resort, it had fallen out of my pocket.  I was crushed.  Seriously.  I'm not sure if you remember the great ID debacle of 2011.

Dilemma.

Who would want to replace that face?

Dilemma solved.

A fair alternative to the above photo.

I was completely satisfied and even proud of that ID.  It was a subtle funny...  you didn't see it unless you really looked at the photo.

I called the airport in Sydney and in Perth to check and see if anyone had turned it in to lost and found with no luck.  Considering the way the entire Australia DET started, I wasn't really surprised to have lost my ID, it was par for the course by that point.

Nonetheless, no ID meant having to get a new one when I got back to Pax River.  My first day back to work, I had to explain to the gate guard that I had lost my ID in Australia on DET and he said, "Well, thats a story I've not heard before."  I offered to show him any of my other 5 forms of ID (oh yes, literally 5: both passports, birth certificate, social security card, and driver license), he said that would be ok.

I went to work in my peanut butters/black and tans/NSUs so that way I wouldn't have to get my picture taken in my blueberries/NWUs..  along with the fact that any uniform that you have to blouse the pants in the summer should be referred to as a sweatsuit due to the heat retained.  Which means, sadly, no more DCU's in my ID photo..  :(

I have a funny face standard to uphold, and I talked this issue over with Teh Bear on one of our limited Skype calls while I was in Australia and he suggested I do "wide eyes".  I couldn't seem to practice that on Skype because I kept giggling, probably because Teh Bear was staring at me.  He suggested I practice in front of a mirror, but soon after that call, it was time to leave Australia and I promptly forgot what I was supposed to be doing in front of the mirror.  When I got home, I realized there was something Teh Bear and I had discussed, something to do with the mirror, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.

When I went to PSD and sat down in front of the camera, I remembered!!!  Practice wide eyes!  I didn't get to practice, but I warned the lady I wanted to have a silly face.  She said, I can see from your last photo that must be your goal every time.  Smart lady.

It was then time for the photo.  It only took one shot this time around.

It was wide eyes and big smile, with a little bit of front teef showin'.

An extremely satisfactory substitution for the last photo.
It's ok if you wish you were this awesome.

Hopefully, I won't have to get another ID since this one doesn't expire till my EAOS (my last day in the Navy).  Seriously, that is a face full of win.

PS.  Teh Bear says that the current ID photo is my excited face.....  Which is pretty scary.