Humpday Confessions #24

Today marks 3 more navy work days.  Woah.

Confessions:

-Despite how busy last weekend was, it was still completely relaxing.  WIN.

-After Olive put her ass on my head because she is a princess and insists on laying ON the pillows at the head of my bed, the dogs are no longer allowed in my room after Teh MD Adult Roomie leaves in the morning/while I'm sleeping.  Granted, it's only for the rest of this week, but no, no more.

-The Skipper called me out on not attending command PT.. during my last week at VX-1.  I'm just relieved he didn't notice sooner.  Yay self-workouts!  PS.  I couldn't decide between the following 2 gifs, you're welcome.

-I keep getting this feeling like I'm leaving so much work unfinished.  There are things that never got completed, but I didn't care about them to begin with, I'm not sure why my brain seems to care so much about them now.

-Going into work on Monday made me feel all out of sorts.  There were a million little things I needed to accomplish, which always makes me feel anxious.

-I hate my hiccups and sneezes.  My hiccups sound like a donkey baying.  My sneezes are so loud they scare other people and so forceful that I have actually peed a little.  WTF body?  And yes, I've done kegal exercises to counter this problem, no luck, these sneezes make my entire body flail.  Ridiculous. 

-Teh Sister and I have the same obnoxious hiccups.  Yet, she wasn't unfortunate like me with the sneezing problem, which I blame on Teh Dad.

-I'm talking about all this sneezing because I can't take my allergy cocktail this week so I can get allergy tested on Friday and I'm sneezing my freakin' face off.

-I had an update available on Suzy2.5 Tuesday morning and I ended up with visual voicemail.  WIN!

-Teh MD Adult Roomie and I picked up a 4 pack of 1000 count puzzles for $12 and we were super pumped about them.  Then we started doing the fall one (with lots of similar colors) and subsequently wanted to off ourselves because none of the puzzles came with an image other than the itty bitty one on the back of the box and it was hard and sat on our table for over a week.

-I will purposely drive like a crazy person to get you out of my blind spots.  I will purposely swerve in your lane.  I will speed up to ridiculously high speeds and then reset my cruise control so I start going really slowly.  If those 2 things don't make you want to not be near me, you're an asshole.

-If you didn't see it on FB, Olive laid her ass on my head at 0453 one morning.  I took a picture and it would have been funny, if it hadn't been her ASS on my HEAD.

-I just checked the Krispy Kreme website.  There IS a KK in Charleston.  All hope is not lost!!!

-I requested a flight in the MH-60, which was my EAWS platform I qualified in, and it was approved and scheduled.  Hopefully, pics to come!

-Almost a week later, I still haven't watched the season premiere of Grey's.  I'm not ready to face the fact that Cristina is really gone.  /weep.

-My woe voice is very convincing.
Teh Megan: Ohhhh nooooooooo!!
Teh MD Adult Roomie: What?!
tM: We don't have any marshmallows and I just made hot chocolate.
tMDAR: Oh, I thought it was something important.
tM: It IS important!  Why do we feed all our food to the dogs?

She really thought something big was wrong due to my voice.. but "it wasn't that big of a deal."  WRONG, NO MARSHMALLOWS FOR MY HOT CHOCOLATE IS NOT OK!!

So What Wednesday #8

So what:

...I dropped my graduate class this morning.
   ++ I looked at the syllabus and saw a 10-15 page lit review due on week 4 and a 18-20 page case study due at the end of the class.  During week 4 I'm going to be at DW.  At the end of the semester I'm going to be in NC.  It was for the best.

...I've been staying up late and waking up early for FB chats
   ++ This morning I got news that I wasn't expecting so soon.  It definitely made my week... if not much, much longer.  We'll see.

...I didn't study for my PO1 exam.
   ++ I was studying for EAWS and we had a snow day and I had medical and I've decided to study geography and call it done.  At least I'll find out how much studying helped me.

...I like to one song over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over....
   ++ I can't help it.  First I have to learn the words properly, then I start singing it at the top of my lungs, then I start enjoying it, then that feeling comes where that song conveys your life so perfectly so you have to sing it again and again.  It makes for some killer song headaches.

...my goal for the entire month of March is to write my resume.
   ++ Writing a resume is hard work.  Writing a resume and having no idea what you're doing is even harder.  I'm going to have to enlist some help, but I will make it happen.

...I don't have school work or EAWS to occupy me at work so I feel bored.
   ++ I also look bored when I'm on FB 86% of the time. 

...I'm really enjoying getting up early to get to work early.
   ++ Not just because the 5am chats I've been having, but also because it means that I almost always go to the gym and workout and I've been seeing results which makes me happy.  My NSUs weren't tight when I put them on last Friday for my board which definitely was a confidence booster.  My NWU pants are still a bit tight, but I also bought them smaller than I should have... I was a Navy baby, don't judge me.

...I really want to get my EAWS pin this Friday but I don't think its going to happen.
   ++ Really this is more about my convenience and planning that actually wanting to wear the device..  Then again, I did earn the damn thing.  I have to figure out when to take my uniforms to the tailor to have the patches sewn on because yeah.. supporting the local economy and saving myself bloody fingers.

...I got 5 referrals and 1 prescription for my 5 issues from my medical appointment yesterday and I was completely happy about that.
   ++ Ahhhh military medicine at its finest.  Hopefully these referrals will help me solve my back problems issue and I also requested a referral for tattoo removal, so we'll see what happens with that.  YAY medical!

...I'm afraid that Monday's snow was the last snow of the winter. 
   ++ I know that most people are SNOW over it.. but I love it.  Truly.  Even if I have to come to work.  It's pretty and it means I get to go sledding and lay in the snow.

Happy middle of the work week!

Single Awareness Weekend #1

Last week really felt long.  Probably due to circumstances regarding the previous weekend, but I survived.

Friday

Friday was an interesting day.  I had intended for it to be a relaxing Friday at work, but as always, everyone else always has different plans than me.  At 0600 I was at work, gettin' my work on, doin' what I do.  Right around 0800 I get a call from one of the ITs asking me if I was ready to do my EAWS board.  I said, not really but I would.  He then told me that they were planning on doing my board at 11.  I said, "11... today?"  He said, "Yep."  I asked if I had to be in my NSUs (the uniform I got my volunteer award in) and he said yes.  Great.  It was at home, not staged, not ready and I was at work, alone, doing what I do.  Fantastic.

Thanks Navy for those curve balls.  Keeps me on my toes.

After cramming in some studying for an hour and a half and ignoring all work problems that I could, I went home and changed uniforms.  When I got back to work, I still had 15 minutes till my board.  It was at that point the Navy was like, oh, you were feeling relaxed still?  Nahhhh.. Good game girl.  Here you go!  And all hell broke loose in my office and I was the only person there that could fix all the things.  Several people were in the office for different things and I was on the phone with a Chief and LCDR and finally said, "I'm sorry, but I've done all I can do for you and I have to go to my board now, it starts in 3 minutes and I'm not there yet."  I grabbed my stuff, walked out of the office, stopped, took a breath, and walked across the hangar for my board.

My board was not with the ITs like I had anticipated (I had been studying with them), it was with an LS3 and an LS2.  True to my study time with the ITs, I knew the stuff they didn't know and they knew the stuff I didn't know, which makes for a great board honestly.  I didn't do nearly as bad as I thought I would.  Although the first question they asked me I didn't know, which was definitely a blow to my confidence until I reassessed and reassured myself that there was going to be things I didn't know.  PS.  It was an acronym right off the bat and there was no acronym glossary in the entire study guide.  The one thing I'm willing to do for the EAWS program is make a stupid acronym guide for both phases because it was ridiculous how many acronyms were NOT defined!  For someone who isn't in the aviation world (ever) it was extremely difficult.

After missing lunch and switching boards (they did 2 boards at the same time.  One group administered the common core for the ITs while another group administered the platform specific for the LS's and I), we were finally done around 1400.  They called us back in a few minutes later to congratulate us on getting our wings.  I was relieved and excited and surprised.  Towards the end of the 2nd board, we were definitely struggling, part of which (I believe) might have been due to the fact that no one had eaten lunch, the board or the boardees (us)).  I think they took that into consideration, thankfully.

Hello dual quals.  PO2(IDW/AW) Teh Megan.

After disassembling my study guide and happily throwing the entire thing in the recycle bin, I changed into workout clothes and headed to the gym to burn all the calories I had eaten (ha.) and then headed to Target meet another GEGR friend who had Phil since she had taken him to donate his bloods.  After getting home and bringing in all the Christmas presents at my door and feeding Phil dinner, I called Teh FL Greyhound Wife and suggested we go get Shop Kicks since every where was 200 points for walk-ins and I suggested we eat since I hadn't done that enough for the day.

She agreed and came over and we went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch dinner.  Then we hit up all the Shop Kick stores in SoMD.  Then I had some (more) retail therapy time at Kohl's where I got some adorable striped shirts (which are apparently in now again) and a cute black dress (thank you break up diet!).  We had been out way longer than either of us had anticipated.  This had messed with my scheduled drinking plans, but it was for the best.

Saturday

I finally went through the process of opening my "Christmas" presents aka break up retail therapy presents.  I had ordered a 5.1 speaker set from Woot, a small bluetooth speaker so I could listen to music upstairs, and Cards Against Humanity.  Saturday morning after determining it was too cold for a walk with Teh Greyhound Neighbor-Wife, I finally got motivated and hooked up the speaker bar and the rear speakers and sub.  LOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE IT!  I jammed all day on Saturday.  The real motivation for setting up the speakers was so that I could clean and have music playing.  I did have some technical difficulties, which was all my computer, not any of the speakers.  I worked through them, which is always frustrating but rewarding when it all finally works out.

After I got the jamz going, I was able to start the laundry, do the dishes (for the week), I dusted before I set the speakers up (since it was easier and NEEDED to be done), I finished dusting the rest of the house after the music was on, scooped poop, fixed up a new piece of cardboard to hold my ribbons/warfare pins, and I vacuumed the entire house while flitting back to the computer for "breaks" in between activities.

I'll wear the wings on top in NSUs, but I plan to keep my IDW on top for my camis (because I can and because I'm cheap).

After being productive, I had to download Grey's since abc.com now requires you to log into your cable service provider to watch this most recent episode.  Seriously?  I hate network TV taking over lives.  I hate that I can't stop watching Grey's Anatomy even more.  I really struggled through most of the episode.  After the fall cliff hanger I was really expecting more.  Then again, Shonda is focused on Scandal now (which everyone says I need to watch), so she doesn't care about her baby.  I was in complete "Meh" mode until the final 3 minutes when the episode FINALLY hit me in a good too soon way.

It was the voice over that really sucker punched me and left me bawling on my couch realizing that as hard as my decision was, I did do the best thing and even if it hurts sometimes, I made the RIGHT decision for me.

Writing about that was very hard not to include spoilers.  That means I care.

I made it my goal to not get out of my pjs on Saturday after making it halfway through the day.  I was successful.  The other big part of the day was that Sam arrived to the airport in Spain!!!  While I tried to go to bed early, chatting with Mr. Scrooge prevented that successful endeavor.

Sunday

I woke up and checked my phone to learn that Sam had arrived in FL via photos!  One of the best wake ups in a while.  I got ready and got to church and had a surprise, I didn't have to sit in the booth!  It was another cosmically good day.  I got to worship my heart out and then afterwards I went to brunch with Teh Singing Podcaster and Teh Singing Cat Lady.  We saw the most adorable puppy while we were waiting for our table.  We finally got our table and bellies were satisfied.

While I had been at lunch, Teh Coast Guardian had called me and asked if Phil and I were interested in going on a walk at St. Mary's City River State Park.  We definitely were since I hadn't worked out since Friday.  When I got home I got ready and packed up Phil in Yurtle to meet Teh Coast Guardian and Teh Humanitarian.  We walked and chatted about life and orders and Alaska and boys and Phil and Sam and moving and life.  We felt the temperature drop 10° during our hour trek.  After the walk, I took Phil home and made a poor life decision: to go to Walmart on the night before a snow storm was supposed to roll in to pick up some items I couldn't get at Target and I needed milk (because I was out, not because OMGSNOW).  /facepalm.  I tried to have the same mindset as I always do at Walmart, just be patient, you're not in a hurry, you have no where to be other than on the couch...  It was mostly successful.

When I came home, it was chillax evening with Philbo while oooh-ing and aaawwww-ing over Sam pics.

Loooooove her!

I was successful at going to bed early on Sunday night, even though I really didn't need to.  I had gotten the message that VX1 was closed on Monday due to the storm that was coming in... unless there was nothing on the ground when it was time to go to work...

Monday

I woke up around 0450 without an alarm, which is disappointing but worked out.  I checked my weather app and knew that there was nothing on the ground before I even bothered getting out of the bed.  But I had been told that VX1 was closed, so I didn't really make any real attempts to get up and get ready.  I did chat with Mr. Scrooge for a short bit, checked the FBs from my phone and saw that the VX1 facebook status had been updated to say that we were closed, closed for today.  I no longer felt any guilt about still being in bed.  I finally fell back asleep for a little bit, enjoying it because as soon as Sam gets here, that might not be a possibility.

I eventually got up and considered making my goal to stay in my PJs all day again.. but then Teh Greyhound Neighbor-Wife messaged me and invited me to go sledding... and who turns down sledding?  Not this girl!  I guess it worked out that I didn't get my TA letter to AMU so they wouldn't let me sign into my class this morning, even though today was the first day the class opened and I already gave them the remaining monies that the Navy doesn't pay..  I'm not even complaining.  Sledding standing in the cold was way more fun than forum assignments and readings anyways.

I made it the furthest!

Chris tried to beat me.. he failed.

All bundled up!

WIPEOUT!  This photo totally makes me giggle.

Hanging out in the snow.

There were more photos of Sam:

After sledding, I snuggled up with a blankie, hot chocolate, and my computer for the rest of the day trying to get warm again.  I even put my socks in the dryer so they would help thaw my toes.  The worst part of the day was letting Phil out and he decided to zoomie in the snow and I wasn't able to get it on video!  It was super unexpected because he rarely zoomies ever.  I guess there was enough snow to make him want to frolic.  I had taken him out to run around a bit in the main courtyard area of the neighborhood, but he has to stay on a leash and can only go as fast as me (short distances he much faster than me, imagine that).


So to recap that was: lazy, dogs, snow, surprise 3 day weekend!

Linking up with these ladies:

So What Wednesday #5

So What

...that I got upset when my instructor said, "Tough shit," when I explained that I wasn't really big on switching up work stations with other members of my group for class.
   ++ it's not them, it's me.  1.  I'm OCD.  I have all my windows in their specific places and I like it that way.  I don't like when they aren't in my spots.  I'm less productive when things aren't where I put them.  2.  Germs.  Boys are gross.  3.  Some PMS might have been happening because her response really upset me.  Not like crying upset, but rage.  I was short with my 2 group members and I didn't talk for about 20 minutes because I knew better than to engage.  4.  I don't like NOT getting my way.

...that I'm glad this class is over.
   ++ I've enjoyed this class, I've enjoyed my break from SoMD, I've definitely enjoyed my break from VX-1.  But, I miss Phil and my couch and my closet and my bed and tv and katamari and my kitchen (I haven't even gotten to use the new stove the landlord put in!) and all my food and not having to spend money eating out or suffering through free mass produced food that the hotel offers and my parking spot that I don't have squeeeeeeeeeze into.  Teh Bear didn't make this list, but only because he left me on Monday and we get to Skype in the meantime which is soooo 2012.

...that I'm thinking of pushing back Phil's annual vet appointment until after Sam arrives so I don't have to make 2 trips to the vet.
   ++ savin' dollas, yo.

...that my tax return is pre-spent.
   ++ goodbye credit card balance (and Christmas and poor habits), hello INTL 506 (Analytics II (not that I took Analytics I)) and Samwise Gamgee (yay puppy)!!!!!!!

...that I've told myself I'm going to bed early for a week and haven't succeeded
   ++ I have worked out every day instead (except for when Teh Bear was here).. see more on this below.

...that I really don't want to celebrate Valentine's Day, even though Teh Bear keeps insisting I do.
   ++ He claims that last year we were going to celebrate in someway but I got food poisoning instead.  I do know that the day after we went and got 1/2 off chocolates and I was totally ok with that.  Apparently, I really want to do something though.  I'll have to figure it out, but I'm certain it doesn't involve going out to dinner on a Friday night, that happens to also be Valentine's Day, in Pax River... actually on second thought, that could provide soooooo much entertainment.......

...that I went out last Thursday night and didn't get to bed until after 0130 and feel like I haven't caught up on sleep since.
   ++ It was totally worth it.

...I stepped on the scale in the hotel gym and was super disappointed in myself.  This even happened:

Nothing completes self-loathing like a FB post.
   ++ I realized today that some of that is PMS related.  Most of that is eating out and eating mass produced food since....  the end of January.  Some of that could also be the workout lapses I've been experiencing.  The number I saw was definitely a swift kick in the ass.  I'm proud of myself for working out 2x a day since Monday.  Now lets see if I can keep this up... hahahahahahahahaha.

...that I'm on the fence about this impending snow storm.
   ++ I love me some snow, but it could definitely interfere with travel plans, but it supposed to be several inches, but people don't know how to drive in it...  It's really a problem.

...I finished And the Mountains Echoed and now I'm afraid to start another one of his books because I might get sucked in again.
   ++ It was a really good book.  The ending wasn't what the reader wanted, but it was still satisfying in a realistic way.  Maybe that was just me because "Memory Care Unit" cut a little close to the bone?

...I started Out of Oz and struggled to get into it.
   ++ It has been several years since I read the previous books of the series, so all the characters are disjointed in my head, despite character lines at the beginning of the book.  Slowly it is starting to come together, so we'll see how it all pans out.  It definitely helps makes the 30 minutes on the elliptical pass faster.

...I have a month to get my EAWS pin and I brought all my study stuff with me and it laid on the desk where I put it until I repacked it in my suitcase.  Yes, that means I didn't study at all.  Have I mentioned how much I don't want that pin?
   ++ I really need to buckle down on that and just get it done so its not hanging over me anymore.  It's been 2 years of toting this stupid binder around and I'm just as close now as I was when I started carrying it around.  It's just obnoxious and it's my own fault for not doing it.  Also, it's already on my eval, so it HAS to get done.

...I haven't been sitting alone at lunch this week.
   ++ I guess I'm not so bad for a sailor...

...I've been writing down blog topics but haven't blogged on them yet.
   ++ free time?  What is this you speak of?  Between getting off work/out of class, working out, eating dinner, checking FB, and catching up on blogs, when is there time for writing blogs??  Must get better.

Five on Friday #12/Little Notes #8

Dear Gentle Readers,

The desire to blog has been at an all time low recently.  It's really not anything specific, just a lack of desire to share all the things and the general boringness that is currently taking place in my life.  Work days go something like this: workout?, go to work, come home from work, take Phil on a run, make dinner, sit on the couch with Teh Bear watching The Office, decide it's time for bed, find things to do on the internet for another hour, and finally go to bed.

Weekends have been equally boring, which has been alright with me.  After the business of the holidays, it is a much welcomed break.

Dear Phil,

You have been especially adorable this week.  I'm not sure if it's the threat of the new puppy or you've turned a new stone.  They say that each year can be different with a greyhound (or maybe its just dogs/pets in general?) and that has definitely happened this year.  It might have taken 2 years for you to come around, but that's ok with me.  Your sleeping on the couch and drooling on my favorite pillow has been so adorable I don't even try to relocate the blanket under you.  I feel bad for visitors that have to smell that, but you're just so comfortable and content that I don't even bother you.

The video I got of you playing makes me smile and I'm not even ashamed to over-share this video.

Teh Bear and I are taking you to donate blood today and I'm pretty hyped about it since we don't normally get to take you.  You're my favorite puppy-luppy ever (and don't listen to Teh Bear when he says that will change once the puppy gets here, I'll still love you no matter what, especially when the puppy is being annoying).

Dear work/week,

I anticipated last week was going to be difficult since it was the first full work week since the holiday period.  Oh, oh, how wrong I was.  This week has been almost unbearable.  Monday was fine, but Tuesday kept pretending to be Monday, and on Wednesday it should have just been Friday, Thursday still wasn't Friday, and now that it is finally Friday, I'm just exhausted and need a nap.

I've been making a steady effort at EAWS flashcards, I was voluntold from big Navy to apply for a Navy special project on Tuesday (no one has any idea what this special project is, which makes it pretty stressful for this control freak me), people are getting back into the swing of being at work so the office has been busy, busy, busy, in addition to the escort duties that we've had going on this week, it's been pretty non-stop.  Fortunately, we are off on Monday, but next week doesn't need to be more of the same, kthx.

Additionally, Teh Bear is absolutely, with the passion of 1000 suns, hating his MD job that I was so excited that he got finally.  He is currently looking for anything in S.MD so if anyone knows of any openings, feel free to let us know, because holy moly, his stress is stressing me out.

 

Dear Navy,

I'm not gonna lie, these last 5.2 years have been difficult.  In the last year, I've flopped from definitely getting out to probably staying in.  That is hard for me.  I was pretty sure I was done after 6 years, but now I'm not sure.  I was 88% sure that my JSOC denial meant that I was done with the Navy, or at least that's what I had told myself and other people.  But after I got that email that said (summarized), "We're sorry but going to VX-1 killed your career, go IA and apply again," I told people I was going to see what orders were available when my window opens since I was approved to stay in the Navy.  I keep giving you all the chances and it's scaring me.

On Tuesday, I was voluntold by Big Navy (meaning bigger than my command, but a message directly from DC) to apply for a CNO special project.  No one has any clue what this project is, but coming on the heels of the JSOC denial really makes me wonder what is going on.  I had to include a photo with this application package, so I took a day and "dated the Navy," to mean that I did my hair nice and wore not my blueberries (so they told me what to wear, whatevs) and I even put on make-up.  I won't hear back for "a few months" but here's hoping to at least finding out at some point what I applied for.

Additionally, this is during the honeymoon of finding out I'm actually getting to go to a class that I've wanted to attend since 2009.  I'm still waiting for the bottom to fall out, like with all things regarding the Navy, it can't be as good as it seems (like shore duty orders to Pax River, MD ruining my Navy career?).

P.S.  I took a very "professional-looking" photo, per the Command Master Chief.

Dear surprise snow,

At some point way earlier than alarm time Thursday morning, I thought I heard it raining.  I didn't really pay much attention and fell back asleep.  After my shower, while I was getting dressed, I thought something was wrong with Yurtle because she was discolored!  Then I realized it was snowing outside!  Big, fat, wet flakes plastered my face as I walked into work and my fingers were freezing, but it was totally worth it.  I took it as a good omen since I also submitted my special package application that same day.  Perspective, I haz it.

5 Goals

-Complete my EAWS this month (since I bought the uniform device already...)
-Try not to use the crock pot for every meal I make for the next week
-Have a date with Teh Bear this weekend since we are both off.
-Take Phil on a walk/run this weekend.
-Figure out when workout app I'm going to go with (since RunKeeper has definitely been a piece of shit recently)

5 Things

-I felt like I hadn't "really blogged" in a long time.  When I look back, maybe I did, but still.
-I feel lazy not taking any classes for 3 months, but I know its for the best, especially after the struggle that was November.
-I really want to hear back from this special project thing sooner rather than later.
-I'm very proud of myself for working out 2x some days this week.
-18 days till my birthday.  Amazon wishlist is available, but I'm also accepting cash donations to help pay for Samwise.

Happy Weekend, Gentle Readers.

Linking up with these ladies since it's FRRRIIIIIDAY:

So What Wednesday #1

I've been reading Shannon's blog for a while now and I thought that her "So What Wednesday" could be a good replacement for my "It's Ok Thursday" linkup (that I greatly miss).. so I'm joining in today.

SO WHAT...

...Monday rolled around and I was completely mentally prepped for a normal week, but after 10 hours of work, I finally broke down and posted a negative FB post.
...if my phone is filled with photos of Phil sleeping in his jammies on the couch with his mouth open and his tongue hanging out.
...I said that I would burn at least 200 calories before entertaining myself via TV/PS3 and have only fulfilled that requirement once.
...that the biggest reasons I haven't been meeting my 200 calorie goal was because I was so unbearably sore from my workout on NYE (as in Teh Bear touched my butt playfully and I almost stabbed him with the knife in my hand) and the unbearable cold outside (which isn't an excuse not to use the rowing machine).
...that I hate the Navy one day and want to stay in the next day.  Making up my mind is tough work.
...that I didn't start my EAWS stuff in December like I said, I enjoyed the break!
...if I forgot to announce ON Teh Blog that the web address changed.  Ooops, my bad.
...if I bring Phil back to work with me when I have to go back in at night.
...if only want to play Katamari Forever on the stage where you make the ball as big as possible to make a star in eternal mode.  Something about rolling up whole cities gives me great satisfaction... and brings me back to my days of playing Katamari for the first time when I was in college... when I'd tell the ex-fiance's same-name friend that I wanted to play Katamari and he would know that I wanted to play the level where I could roll up all the things and he'd turn everything on for me and let me have at it.
...if I got lots of tutoring for my EAWS test.
...if Teh Bear and I spend most of our time watching The Office.
...if I get extremely over-aggressive about games where there is a winner (ok, this is probably not very so what).
...if I combine recipes to make a better recipe for taco soup/chicken tortilla soup.
...if eating dinner at 5:30 doesn't do the trick, eating again is acceptable.

Five on Friday #10

UNO

Five day work week, you suck.  On Wednesday, I thought it was Thursday, on Thursday I thought it was Wednesday.  Friday, you're an elusive jerk.  I feel like surviving this week has been an accomplishment! 

DOS

I really, really, really should work on getting my EAWS pin.  For my non-Navy Gentle Readers, EAWS = Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist.  It's like the IDW pin I got in Bahrain (you member?), except for the aviation community.  I have been tasked since I arrived at VX-1 to get this pin and I just have zero motivation to get it because my allegiance to the aviation community is practically nil.  I know I will get it, I just.. wah wah wah, excuse excuse excuse.  My goal for December was to finish getting signatures on my last few sections (like less than 5 sections to get signatures for), learn all the content, and have the test and board completed by the end of January.  Part of my motivation problem was that my last school semester really burned me out and I just wanted an educational break.  I don't want to learn, I want to blog and be lazy and watch Grey's Anatomy and not have to do anything (except wrap Christmas presents).  But, now we have passed the halfway point of December and I've yet to do anything with it, except print out some flashcards to study from (even though I made flashcards, yes I'm an overkill master). 

TRES

I was checking out ratemyprofessor.com and it's really not looking good for any class I could want to take.  The reviews are horrible for all the professors teaching the next 4 classes listed in my academic plan.  It's like AMU puts the good teachers on the initial classes so students get a good experience and you've already started the program so you're less like to transfer out, and then the other teachers are designated to teach in classes later down the line and they are horrible.  I know that what I'm seeing on the website might be skewed, but I've posted on that website since starting school again, so I do value those opinions in a way.  I really miss NC State's professor review website, which doesn't seem to exist anymore.  It came before ratemyprofessor.com and was extremely helpful in which classes and professors I took.  Most of the poor reviews I'm seeing have to do with the instructor's lack of participation in the class.  Which only makes me reflect on my INTL501 professor and what an awful experience that was.  So after being burnt out from last semester and the poor reviews, I'm scared to sign up for more classes.  The lack of instructor participation makes me wish I lived closer to DC so I could go to a brick and mortar school and instead have to worry about getting to class rather than lack of instructor participation.

QUATRO

Teh Bear will be working this weekend, which is totally ok since we will be off together for Christmas, so I'm taking the opportunity to save on shipping costs, by having an increase fuel cost and meeting Teh Sister to exchange presents.  I also will be enjoying English Christmas as one of the Brits from worked invited us to their house for mince pies and mulled wine.  I'm excited since I missed out last weekend on an invitation since I was party-prepping Teh House.  For church on Sunday, I'll be in the sound booth again, but this time potentially using the new computer and presentation program, which is scary yet exciting. 

CINCO

YAY for Teh Bear's birthday!  I didn't make a bday post for him which I've seen several bloggers do for their significant other's birthday.  I didn't even get a card, which I admitted to him, made me feel super guilty.  Then again, we did have a party on Sunday, a nice dinner (which he actually cooked) on Tuesday, saw Thor 2 on Wednesday, and we have plans to see The Hobbit next week when we're off together at one of the theaters with the recliner seats.  It's like perpetual birthday celebration.  He did remind me to not let him open future birthday presents early, as he was a bit disappointed that he didn't have anything to open on his birthday.  Yet, he's used his bday present every day since opening, so I feel like it was a pretty good trade off.  He announced last night that Earl Grey Tea is delicious, so maybe that's his favorite?  I know that we've been going through mugs much faster than I ever did.



YAY for 2 short work weeks, 2 weeks in a row!!  See, there are good days in the Navy!  The ones where you don't have to be there.  :D



Linking up with these ladies since it's FRRRIIIIIDAY:

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?