Humpday Confessions #13

I can haz August??

Confessions:

-I put an egg in my ramen noodles.  Don't say "ewww" until you've tried it.  (Holy crap, did you just see Teh Mom come out of me?  Woah.)

-I think assumed that 85% of the people who linked up last week were on their period and I felt a little left out that I'm a week behind.  I'm ridiuclous.  But don't worry.  I'm all caught up now.  Ugggh.

-Shonda Rhimes leaving Grey's Anatomy was one of the worst things that happened in my entire life.  I HAVE NEEDS DAMMIT!  I refuse to watch Scandal because I believe that Shonda needs to return home to Grey's, finish off the show and THEN I would follow her like the fangirl I am.

-Someone called me "Teh" last week when they responded to a comment I'd left on their blog.  As in, "Have a good day, Teh."  I wasn't sure if I should laugh or not.  FYI: "Teh" is actually a typo for "The" which I've used for years as a screen name.  It started back in the days of Myspace and I was going to be The Megan.. except that after I'd typed Teh Megan 3 times I said fuck it and just kept it.  At which point, there were people that would actually call me Teh Megan.  I've just carried it on since.  So really, my name is Megan.  My last name is irrelevant, but my last name is not Megan.  If you have picked up on my last name, lets just say we forget that bit of information, mmmmkay (probable) internet stranger?

-Dear Brad Paisley, There is nothing sexy about checking someone for ticks.  Ever.  WTF.

-I didn't get my Friday blog post done.  In my defense, I spent the morning working on my resume to apply for an SC job.

-Let's just say that eating broccoli before working out isn't one of my wiser life decisions.  Sorry gym-mates, my bad.

-I use a foam roller after my runs and when I roll my back out I make some pretty inappropriate groans.  Teh Roomies think its pretty hilarious.  I've told them the difference in my roller inappropriate groans and my other inappropriate groans is my ability to speak isn't hindered when I'm rolling.  How long till August???*

-I applied for more "real life" jobs this week in Charleston.  I don't even know what to do with myself.

-I have an unhealthy obsession with my shirts.  I might have went full on whiny-ass just about separating them to be packed out...  They are still in my closet and I can still wear them until the 24th, but the idea of not having them was almost unbearable.

-Along with that obsession, I have a problem with wearing the same shirts too frequently... and my pants.. and all my clothes actually.  I rotate all my clothes based on the last time worn, so I have to pick from the front of the closet to wear something that hasn't been worn in a while.  If it doesn't get worn within 6 months, it goes in the donate pile.  I should probably apply that to my pants.

-I want to pack kinda, but its hard since Teh MD Roomies are staying and we have to separate all our stuffs and IDK where to put all my things and I'm still not sure what I need to keep with me and OMFG MOVING IS HARD!!  Also, if you didn't see MacKensie's post about looking for a place to live, you're missing out.  Hiiiiilarious and accurate in all the ways.

-We still don't have a place to live in SC yet.  1 month from now is our flexible arrival date (and then I'll come back to MD for a monthish and then officially move down).  Meaning we need to agree on a place to live and make it happen within the next two weeks.  Actually, tomorrow would be good too since we also need to schedule my packout delivery.  YAY for helpful friends who are making the process easier!!!!

-I have enjoyed the storms that have rolled though this week, despite the spazzy dogs and minimal car wash, since I'm on duty this week and have ZERO desire to go back into work at 11pm.

-The power company in SoMD has a thing where you can average all your power bills and pay that amount each month rather than a low bill in April and October and high bills in December and July.  That's cool.  Except that last year they were using the average for my apartment, not my townhouse.  The difference is pretty significant but the problem wasn't brought to light until this past January.  Meaning for a year they were using the average for my old address.  It was fine pre-August 2013, I didn't really go over the average amount on my own, but apparently with 2 people living here and it being hot as balls then cold as.. balls? the power bill went well over the average that I had been paying.  The only reason I even realized it was that I saw December's bill of over $300 and I almost flipped my shit when it actually said something like $500 (because that was the accumulation of all the overages).  And then January was over $250.  All that to say, Sugar Momma Teh Megan is left with all that overage to pay and it makes my checking account really sad.

-Humpday confessions is the only linkup I participate in where I make it a point to visit other bloggers who link up.  Sometimes, I even try to go to everyone's page.  I rarely click through the weekend wrap-up linkers unless I recognize them and the Friday link ups depend on how busy I am.  But Wednesday?

-*I talked to Teh Pirate Gone Marine yesterday who made a comment about particular final gifs I had used in weeks prior.  It reminded me I had more to use.

Reflections of a dutiful watchstander... #5

***Warning! This post could potentially contain spoilers for The Hobbit and/or Zero Dark Thirty. Do NOT read if you don't want to see potential spoilers..  but please read on if you potentially want to be entertained.***

-The Hobbit or Zero Dark Thirty, which shall I watch first?

-The Hobbit, just in case it starts to get boring around hour 2, I’d rather not be watching it and trying to stay awake at 2200 tonight.

-Teheheheh Bilbo Baggins. That makes me think of Phil.

-Oh Bilbo, you’re so boring.

-Ooooooo dwarf song sounds like monks.. and some of them have scottish accents? Except for all that hair, I’m in love with midgets.

-RARRR! I’m a badass! I fight with a log!

-Woaaaah, why does that wizard have bird shit on his face and a nest in his hair. NOT OK, YO, NOT OK!

-BUNNY SLED!

-Oh, dwarves, you’re so bitter. Let it go….

-Just one sec while I hoist these horses out of here. ME SO TROLL LIKE.
-bahahah “A floater! The flavor!”
-“Just needs a sprinkle of squirrel dung.”
-"LOOK WHAT CAME OUT OF MY OOTER! ITS GOT ARMS AND LEGS!"
-"MAKE ‘EM SQUEAL! AAAHHHHH!"
-"Nevermind the seasoning, we ain't got all night."
-"The secret to cooking to dwarves is…"
-"They are infected with parasites, I wouldn't risk it…"

-Go go, bunny sled!
-"These are Gundabad Wargs, they will outrun you. These are Rostaman Rhosgobel rabbits, I’d like to see them try!"

-HALFWAY!

-“I don’t like green food.”
-“Where’s the meat?”
-“More of a letter opener really.”
-Wow, moon convenience. Good thing we came all this way to get a map reading.

-For a kids book, these baddies are pretty scary to me. Just sayin’, nub dude has scars all over his body and that freaks me out.

-Pretty sure I've just discovered the plot of the 5th Harry Potter book.

-I’m 100% sure that if I had read this as a kid, I wouldn't have been able to read/pronounce 67% of the words in the book. Same for LOTR.
-Some of this music makes me think of Titanic.

-Vanishing elves might be scarier than the bad guy.
-OOO, pretty snow.
-Movie watching is much better than trying to beat Bubbles or trying to find things on the internet to occupy me.

-Thunderbattle… Stone giants. That just happened. It’s like Transformers.. but with Dwarves and not.

-BAHAHAHAHAHA. Just transferred a call to a Chief. His ringback tone is 1000 Years by Christina Perri.

-I’m not sure how living creatures survive falling so far down a stone tunnel..
-Woah the goblins.
-WOAH goblin king. Woah dangly chin.
-“If they will not talk, we will make them squawk.”

-GOLLUM! THE RING….
-“What is it? Bagginses? We hasn’t tried hobbitests before! If Bagginses loses, we eats it whole.”
-“Is it scrumptious?” New favorite thing to sing at dinner time.

-Bhahaha the Goblin Song!
-King Fatty Goblin needs some better fighting skillz.
-Middle-Earth goblins aren't as smart as WoW goblins. Just sayin’.
-Goblin bowling! STRIKE!

-30 more minutes!

-And that’s how 13 dwarves fought an entire cave of goblins and Gandolf killed the Fatty Tactful Goblin King.
-For as much falling as everyone has been doing, no one seems to be getting hurt in the same way I would… I only have to trip on my own feet and get hurt.

-Aww Bilbo, way to give the verbal smack down on a dwarf.
-Baddies always sound like their voice carries a mabillion miles. I don’t even understand how that works.
-So many things are coming full circle. Love it.
-TREE DOMINOS!
-I’m a badass, I have NO shield now.
-Wow, that was a convenient path.
-Where the hell did that log come from?
-Aww Bilbo became kind of a badass! And crazy big birds!
-But you didn't kill the baddy! Must kill the baddy!
-Dear Gandolf, maybe you could have summoned your bird friends after we lost he horses and made this adventure a little easier?
-Awww hobbit/dwarf hug.
-“No, I would have doubted me to. I’m not a hero. I’m not even a burglar.” So what he’s sayin’ is, he doesn’t burgle.

-OMG YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!!! I HATE YOU PETER JACKSON AND YOUR NEVER ENDING MOVIES AND YOUR CRAZY BUDGETS AND YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE A MABILLION MOVIES!!! WTFFFF!!

-Dinner time.

-9/11 phone calls. That’ll get ya.
-“It’s biology.”

-Yep, the commentary on Zero Dark Thirty is going to be lacking.
-I miss using my brain to put puzzles together.

-Hahahahaha.. she’s making toast at work.. like me in GTMO.

-Oh prayer call… don’t miss you.

-bahahahah Top Secret = red.

-her hair in her eyes makes me want to punch her. No one does that IRL.

-Yeah, lets just talk about potentially classified information over an unclassified line. That’s what you do as an intelligence analyst............. and then you go to jail.

-Awww hookah and sexy arab parties.

-At least I got 2 long movies to fill up a watch shift. Good thing

-The Hobbit had funny parts.

-“Motherfucker. Good.”

-The main character/ginger wins the award for most disheveled hair styles ever.

-Helo crash question/joke.. Too soon, sparky, too soon.

-How does one NOT hear a helo outside your compound? Nevermind, someone figured it out.

-UGH! I hate when the screen saver tries to come on while I’m watching a movie at work. :)

-I’d call that a Class Delta fire.

-Why go out and greet the damn helo if you know you’re gonna get sandblasted? Oh that's right, must dishevel the hair.

-WHAT??? It ends with her CRYING? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

-Well that made me miss my real job even more.

Reflections of a dutiful watchstander... #4

8 hours!  Lets go!

-After the most humiliating day of work ever on Friday, coming back to VX-1 gave me a migraine.  It might also be combined with the pressure change, since it looks like it might rain/storm outside, but I've been dreading pulling in the parking lot since leaving it on Friday.

-Cicadas seem to make everything infinitely dirtier.  There was one that wanted to hang out in the duty office with me and I respectfully declined.  Too bad I can't get rid of these stupid flies.

-I seriously want a fly swatter. 

-Due to the cicada mindset, the entire duty office is now clean.  Well, at least I can say I did something productive for VX-1 tonight.  "Like an EP sailor"  hahahahahahahahahah.  Yeah, I just too sooned myself.

-Worst thing to say to a woman, "Well, sometimes females cry at work.  And if they are like you, it doesn't happen much.  Sometimes you don't even know why you're crying, so it doesn't necessarily mean anything."  or something to that effect... worst.idea.ever.

-I'm out of Grey's Anatomy to catch up on.  /sadface.

-I brough my Reddit Disney Exchange gift (Mulan and Mulan II movies) to see if they will play on the computer.  I'm not counting on it.

-I've got 3 cards that need to be filled out sitting beside me and they are a very daunting task for some reason.

-I'm not sure if a beaver or a groundhog just crossed the street and ran down the fence, but damn that thing was big and hairy.
-I failed at bringing stationary to write Teh Sister.  This is the last week I'll be writing her since ALL military mail seems to take 10+ days to arrive... and here I thought it was just an overseas thing.  Way to go Army for proving me wrong.

-These flies... OMG UUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH!

-I really want to write a blog post about what happened Friday but because it is work related in a negative way, I'm afraid to, which is the absolute worst feeling.  Although not as humiliated as I felt on Friday.

-Coming to watch and not having a Song of Ice and Fire (or Game of Thrones for those of you who watch it) is almost like a relief.  Instead, I can start Harry Potter #3.

-EWWWW one of the flies landed.on.me.  NEED a fly swatter.  OMG I'm ready to wage war.

-The outside lights just came on.. at 4:30.  Oh, I remember darkness at this time.  I miss it kinda.  I think that I'd just prefer it get dark around 6:30/7pm every evening though.. since we're wishing.

-Time to see if this computer will play a DVD.

-SUCCESS!!!!  Woooooo passing 1 hour and 15 minutes!

-Mulan 2...  I get it.. but prob should have just let that one go.  At least there were no babies.

-To the asshole who left on DET today and parked in the up front spot,
I hope your truck gets keyed.  I wouldn't do it cause it's bad karma, but that doesn't mean that someone else won't.  When you're going to be gone for 2ish months, park in the back.  Dick.

-YAY for colors being later.  That means Phil doesn't get fed too late.

-Mulan 2, I really hate how you turned a girl power movie into a getting married movie, now that I think about it.  I much prefered being left with the ending of the first movie.

-I can write cards.. I can do it.

-YAY text messages from Teh Sister that she's alive.

-Cards completed!

-Fly city is gross.  (BTW fly city is the VX-1 duty office)

-It went from like kinda light outside to D.A.R.K.  holy moly.

-Walk Off the Earth videos watched.  Why isn't it time to go home yet??? uuuuuggghhhh.

-All vacation blogs written..  Now if I would just finish editing the remaining 400 photos, I could attach them and be golden... and we could finally finish the vacation recaps.  Maybe that should be my next "challenge" hahahaha.

-YAY for FB chat with Teh Bear!

-YAY for Nook reading time.  Me + HP.

-YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY for getting relieved 10 minutes early!!!

Makin it through May...

This weekend felt like there wasn't enough time for all the things I wanted to do...

Friday night I held down the VX-1 duty office like the best CL2 VX-1 has ever seen.  The night didn't really pass quickly, and the day felt really long since I had to be up on Friday morning at normal time since I had a chiropractor appointment first thing.  After my appointment, I went to the pharmacy and chatted with my XO while we waited on our meds together.  Lots of people at my command aren't his biggest fan, but I don't mind.  After getting my meds, I went to Chick-fil-a to get a free breakfast combo that I'd received a coupon for in the mail.  (YAY FREE SHIT!)

I, creepily, ate breakfast in the parking lot of Petco since the store wasn't open since it wasn't even 9am.  After returning an item that was too small for Phil (surprise) and getting some dog food, it was time to head back home.  I had a momentary motivated streak, but it passed after I realized I didn't have the equipment to fullfil the motivation.

You see, Teh Greyhound Neighbors (husband) offered me a free gas weed-eater since he had an extra that he didn't use.  This offer meant I could return the unused one that I've been meaning to use but hadn't yet an put $100 back in my pocket.  WIN.  I let the moment of motivation pass to save $100.

Instead of weed-eating.  I furminated Phil-boy.
They say Greyhound don't shed...  they do... minimally, but they do.

Phil's new nickname is "Snowman"..
These are Snowman's snowballs.

I got to Skype with Teh Bear before his phone interview.  And after several hours of internetting, I decided to lay down for a nap so I would be able to survive my watch that evening.  Teh Bear called as I was laying down to say that everything had went well and he was progressing to step 8 of 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Wooo!!!  (I'm obnoxiously excited about this.)

After a nap and a shower, I was getting ready for work and realized that my dress whites uniform, which I had been telling my LPO was ready to go for the last 2 weeks, isn't actually ready to go.... as it still has a COMUSNAVCENT rocker on the arm.  Teh Megan fail.

I stopped by the post office to splurge on some stamps before going into work.  During our walk on Thursday, Teh Greyhound Neighbors (wife) and I had been talking about urinalysis.  I jinxed myself by saying I wasn't usually on the list, because Friday, I was on the list.

I "failed" my first urinalysis test... because I didn't pee enough!  The worst part of "failing" a urinalysis test is "wasting" pee by not peeing enough.  Fortunately, I had all night to make some pee.  Good times were had by all when I was finally ready.

Teh Jewish Greyhound Friends delivered brownies right before my shift was over, which was awesome!  My, sweet, sweet, relief came early, which I appreciated, and once I got home I was ready for bed....  and then, a stupid motivation streak hit me and I ended up doing the dishes and changing the air filter in my AC unit at midnight:20.  I can't even make this stuff up.  I had to disassemble most of the front of the AC unit to find the filter, but I made it happen.  Phil was like, WTF, it's bedtime, yo.

Once I finally got in the bed, Phil started flipping out because a storm was coming.  He started panting and pacing and a few minutes later I heard the boom of thunder.  Phil actually chose to come lay beside the bed instead of in his bed(s).  I told him he could get in bed with me, but he doesn't like being on the furniture.  /shrug.  By this point it was 1am and I was exhausted since the morning was coming early.

My body woke me up at regular alarm time, and I was like, OH HELL NO! and rolled over and went back to sleep.  That worked out for about an hour before my body was like, Oh, you're too hot?  Guess what, I win, muchacho.  Phil and I got breakfast and after some internetting it was time to get ready to start the day.

First up was heading to GHC for an adoptathon and to help prepare for the GEGR picnic next weekend.  Teh Jewish Greyhound Friends went with me and we didn't really get to do much with the dogs, but we rocked an assembly line stuffing give-away bags for the picnic.

I had planned on picking up Moe's for lunch since I was in the area, but when Teh Singing Cat Lady suggested lunch with her and Teh Singing Podcaster, I was like, YES, KTHX!  We ended up hitting a new mexican restaurant that just opened in town.  We weren't disappointed.  Afterwards, Teh Singing Podcaster needed a haircut, which was conveniently located near a Payless Shoe Source, so Teh Singing Cat Lady and I went shoe hunting for me while Teh Singing Podcaster was getting his hair did.

I acquired 2 new pairs of shoes and we rocked some "awesome" sunglasses (pics/posts to come).  We also hit up Target for a few items we needed, after making a pit stop at the sunglasses wall....  I had to leave because I was supposed to be at the fairgrounds for my first Pets on Wheels volunteer event, and I needed to pick up Phil to go be my accomplice.

We made it to the event right on time and we even got to see our vet (it was an animal fair event) who checked Phil's boo-boos from the dog fight a few weeks ago with the foster and complimented his healing abilities.  We weren't at our booth long before the thunder and the rain started.  The lady that was there with me and I decided to start packing stuff up.  We were ready to go by 4 and since she was taking all the stuff with her, she told me to go ahead and leave.

This thing was so heavy it set off the passenger seat seat belt indicator.

I had some errands to run on base, so I was headed that way when I passed a flower stand that I stopped at.  I noticed this stand before the earth day events a few weeks ago, but couldn't stop.  The flowers were gorgeous and this time I actually stopped!  I got 2 different pots of plants.  One will be going by the front door and the other under the hummingbird feeder.

Teh Jewish Greyhound Friends (wife) suggested I drop Phil off at their place, since they live on base, while I ran my errands, saying that "Gracie wanted to see Phil."  I said, "Sounds like you want to see Phil, so he'll be there in a few minutes!"  I think its totally acceptable to want to hang out with other people's dogs.  NBD.  After Phil was dropped off, I headed to the uniform store to remedy my dress whites situation and to the commissary to pick up groceries all while on my regular Saturday chat with Teh Dad.

I stopped by to pick up Phil and socialized for a little bit before the wall of tiredness hit me.  I invited them over for dinner and stole one of their dogs, Buddy, because he was so excited to leave.  Buddy rarely leaves his Mom's side, so I was impressed as at how well he did without Gracie or his Hu-Mom.  I was home long enough to clean off the table when Teh Jewish Greyhound friends arrived.  Apparently my dining room table is where every item that enters the house must spend time before it can be processed through the system and put away....

While Teh Jewish Greyhound Friend (wife) and I were making dinner, Teh Jewish Greyhound Friend (husband) was unbelievably awesome and weed eated my yard (with the weed eater than Teh Greyhound Neighbors (husband) had dropped off earlier in the day while I was out).  He actually ran out of gas and didn't get to finish the front because the back was so bad!  I let him use my brand new shampoo in exchange.  Not that those things really equate, but there wasn't really anything I could offer in exchange that could even compete with the kindness of him doing my yard work that I've been dreading doing for 2 weeks.  I have vowed that I will NOT let it get that out of control again, so that way I can maintain it myself.

Lets just pause for a minute and talk about how awesome my friends are.  Seriously.
Free weed eater, someone doing my overwhelming yard work for me?  I don't even have the words to thank these guys.  I kinda want to cry because its so nice.

After Teh Jewish Greyhound Friends left, I chatted with Teh Bear and did some laundry while catching up on the internetz that I had missed all day.  I thought about going to bed early but definitely didn't make it... due to a good reason (blogging).

Sunday morning, Phil and I woke up and had breakfast.  Then it was time for church, which I missed last week due to the Color Me Rad 5k.  After a baptism and a special children's performance, I headed to Walmart to pick up a few items.

A few items turn into $90 worth of stuff mostly of that stuff being $15 I spent on plants...  which is a big deal, Gentle Readers, as I have a black thumb.  Proof:

I'm about 100% sure it's NOT supposed to look like that.

This bamboo I've had since I got to MD.  Teh Humanitarian has tried to give it TLC, it just... hates me.  I finally tossed it over the fence, rocks and all.

I came home from my successful Walmart trip and chatted with Teh Bear before he went to work and had lunch.  After he signed off to get ready, I tried to take a nap, but I was unsuccessful, so I got up and went to diggin in the yard.

PSA #1:  I'm a priss.  I do NOT like dirt under my finger nails.  I felt sooo icky!  There were even WORMS.  I know that earth worms are good for flower beds, so I didn't freak out too much about them.

I also did some weeding.  Literal pulling weeds out of the ground.  That was pretty good for my OCD.

PSA #2:  This is my first time ever doing my own yard work.  NO JK.  Teh Dad only let me mow the grass a few times since I only liked to mow the grass in the fastest gear possible.

PSA #3:  Weed eating is hard, ya'll.  Seriously.  I had to read the instructions FOUR times to get how to start the stupid thing (it's gas).

PSA #4:  Outside makes me sneeze wayyyyyy more than inside.

PSA #5:  Don't wear tennis shoes to do yard work when your dog uses the yard to poop.  Just take my word on that, wear some solid (as in with no holes) Crocs.  Rubber shoes are genius for yard work.

I finished planting flowers in the front yard and decided to relocate to the back yard, which needed to be raked after Teh Jewish Greyhound Friends (husband) had weed eated the night prior.  Seriously, it was a jungle out there.  I started raking and less than 5 minutes in, about the time I started feeling a potential blister trying to form on my hand, I gave up and headed to Teh Greyhound Neighbor's house for a tutorial on how to make weed eater gas and to borrow the leaf blower (to clear out the yard).

I'm not actually sure if this belongs to me or not, but it was over grown with weeds,
so I took initiative on the situation.
I planted a hydrangea in the back right (hopefully it will grow, it might have been dead out of the bag),
a random "spring mix" in the right, some pansies in the center, the hyacinths from Easter on the left.  In the very middle, I planted some bulbs that Teh Mom had given me for my birthday in Feb, I have no idea what they are.

The tulip went here.

Random annuals around the tree.

I ended up staying for dinner and socializing, which was cool.  I enjoyed meeting people we had chatted about before.  I finally made it back home and restarted on the yard.  Since I had more gas, I was able to finish weed eating the front yard and I went back over the back yard where the weeds had been laid over.  I raked the rest of the grass out the back gate, planted a few more flowers in the back yard and called it quits due to exhaustion and the smell of gas and knowing there was probably dog poop and/or dirt in my hair.  Please refer to PSA #1.  Sadly, there were no pics of the back yard since it was dark after my shower.  Just take my word for it, there was digging and more dirt under my nails.

I did forget the rest of the bulbs Teh Mom had given me for my birthday, but those will prob get done this week at some point... maybe.

After a shower, exhaustion slammed into me like a Mac truck, but I knew I wasn't done yet.  I still had GEGR foster blogs to make, Teh Blogs to write, and internetz to check.  Once those tasks were complete I was toast.

This week will be an adventure of a different type since I'll be in my "get out of the Navy" class for the entire week, then the GEGR picnic is Saturday annnnnddddd The Color Run in DC is is 7 days!!!!!

WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

PS.  Teh Bear made it to step 8 of 8.... Just sayin'.  /hugegrin

Reflections of a dutiful watchstander... #3

1515:  I have assumed the watch... early!  Despite the post office dude yappin' my ear off, I still manged to make it to work 15 minutes earlier than the required 15 minutes early.

1530:  Of course it would be AMAZING outside now that I'm at work.  Today would have been the perfect day to take the dogs for a walk/run.  It was gross and cold until at least 1pm, which was when my naptime started (having to stay up till at least midnight gives me a pass to take a nap). 

1531:  During naptime I came up with the most ingenius idea ever.  I usually have very cold toes.  Today was no exception.  But today, I got smart about it.  I put my heating pad at my feet and warmed my toes.  My nap would have been delightful had the dogs not been waking me up everytime they ran up and down the stairs like a herd of elephants.

1545:  I think the real job of the duty person is to be the VX-1 Operator.  I've transfered more calls in the past 30 minutes than on an entire Saturday watch.

1600:  At least with weekday watches you get to see people you know.

(Backstory:  VX-1's hangar is across the street from the parking lot.  We have a crosswalk with 2 blinky lights (one in each direction) to alert drivers that someone is crossing the street.  The lights blink when you push the button, and almost everyone uses the crosswalk lights.  The speed limit on the road in front of the hangar is 25mph.)

1623:  Dude pushes crosswalk light button and steps out to cross because the car coming wasn't that close and would have time to stop.  Car did NOT stop and the driver actually held her hand out like she had magical powers to stop the guy from crossing.  He almost got hit by a car.  I wanted to yell at her!  He just kept walking and she didn't even slow down a little.

1630:  I am told on FB by a friend of a friend that I am obviously NOT in the military due to my ignorant statements about using the MGIB if Navy Tuition Assistance (TA) were to get cut.  I have a feeling I'm about to submerge myself in several hours of research on the MGIB to make a blog post about TA cuts.  I can only handle so much.

1645:  Seeing drivers with earbuds in their ears makes me crazy.  At what point has that EVER been legal?  Might I suggest a cable that runs from whatever you are listening to, to your car stereo auxillary port?  Yes, you car is new enough to have that.  Those cable are also cheap.  And if you don't have an auxillary port, I would suggest the radio tuner one.  Crazy what technology is capable of these days.

1700:  I really want to eat my little oranges, but I don't want to get mesy and get orange peel under my nails.  I'm such a girl.

1702:  My duty driver is of Indian/Pakistani descent.  I gathered this from his subtle accent and the fact that I can smell his aftershave/cologne for several minutes after he leaves the office.  Or maybe thats my Bahrain PTSD acting up again.  He's a really nice guy though. 

1703:  I put my Sweetart Chicks, Ducks, and Bunnies away becuase I was going to eat the entire bag.  I really want one though.  Except I have no will power because they are delicious.

1704:  I wish the Admiral and Skipper would leave so I can call Teh Dad and wish him a happy birthday.  He's so close to a senior citizen discount!

1726:  People that purposely try to skew answers to questions annoy me.  I really should have just restrained myself from even joining the TA discussion on FB.  UGHHHHHHH.

1730:  Daylight savings time sucks when you sit in an office that is 3/4th windows.  SO MUCH SUNLIGHT.. WAAAHHH.  My cheeks hurt from squinting.

1741:  Boredom wins.  I will read the Nook.  I will start Dance of the Dragons so Teh Bear can talk to me about it.  I will try not to read the 2nd Harry Potter book. 

1748:  The Duty Driver did the sideways head bob.  Fulfilling stereotypes.  I can't even handle it.

1808:  I really struggle reading the A Song of Fire and Ice series because I feel like I'm being thrown in pool and being commanded to swim.  I hate the lost feeling I have when starting out Martin's novels.

1819:  Sometimes, people make me giggle.  2 dudes just jogged by and one of them had his shorts pulled up to his belly button with his shirt tucked in.

1830:  Soooooo hungry...

1849:  Dinner plan made!  BBQ here I come.

1850:  Crap, have to wait until after colors to leave.  uggggghhhhh.

1920:  Freeeeeedom!

1935:  YAY bbq sammich for mah belly!  And a free drink, which I feel is satisfactory since I answered to "Sailor." 

1950:  Holy crap starving dogs are scary!  Beasts are let out for business while foods are prepared.  Mud wiped off Phil's paws prior to being admitted inside.  Dogs happy.

1959:  Sweet, sweet food, you are so delightful to me. 

2020:  But, I don't wanna go back to work.. wahhhhhh.  Carrots for doggies and out the door.

1228:  Gate guard got a laugh at my ID.  Mission success. 

2030:  Signed back into computer.  Facebook checked.

2035:  New page made in the logbook.  Watch gets way more boring when it's dark.

2045:  Time to call Teh Dad and tell him Happy Birfday.  YAY!

2102:  Time to get back to Westeros.

2123:  Weekend duty has better parking spaces.

2146:  YAY BRAN!!!! 

2203:  Is it time to go home yet?

2223:  Is it time to go home, now?  I think I might have eaten too many Sweetarts.  Apparently, birds, ducks, and rabbit don't mix well?

2225:  Potentially a Bear will be in my Northern terrority Easter weekend....... !!!!!!! YAY!  I wish Southwest would run promos when I needed them to.

2227:  My fingers smell like bbq.  You'd think that I didn't wash my hands (I did).  No wonder Phil tried to bite off my finger when I gave him carrots.  He's really not doing good with "easy".  And Rudy is "broken" and pooped in my dining room this morning.  And he killed my ZepZep stuffy night before last.  I don't even know where he found the stuffed dog.  Life with dogs.

2246:  Brrrr.. It's chilly in the duty office, but I don't want to turn on the heat since it is so finicky.  My heating pad for my cold toes is going to be deeeeeelightful tonight!

2302:  And the midshifters are off!  30 more minutes... Sweet, sweet relief...

2320:  Relief came early!!! WOOOO!!!!!!  Time for my cold tosies to get toasty with the heating pad that is waiting at the foot of my bed.

Reflections of a dutiful watchstander... #2

I'm on watch again.  Holding down the proverbial VX-1 "fort," making sure the fire department arrives with expeidence if anything catches on fire, and making sure that all calls are transfered to their proper destination...  WOOO. 

I've got 8 whole hours of this... let's get this party started!

-I hope this watch passes quickly.

-I really like when my duty driver goes out on a run and he can also pick up "supplies" for me.

-Why does one schedule the special duty driver to make a run if there is only one vehicle for the command currently, which means that if the van is gone, the regular duty driver doesn't have anything to do... except relieve me for lunch.... 

-I would totally have edited photos my entire watch if we were allowed to bring our laptops.  I'll probably write blogs in the meantime, in additions to my comments here.  Hooyah productivity.

-Holy crap.  A Ford F2/350 just drove by the hangar.  It was painted white.. but had camo trim.  To include camo print window covers and a runner stripe along the bottom of the truck..  I think some of these folks need to take the redneck down a few levels, seriously.

-You can really fit a lot into a seabag.  It's funny to see women my size (5'2") carry something that weighs almost as much as them. 

-Awww, CO, it's funny when you think I'm someone I'm not, then tell me that we look alike (the person he thought I was).. when in actuality, we don't.  She has strawberry blond hair, I have brown hair.  She has to wear her hair back becuase it's long, I don't.  I don't work with aircraft, she does...  At least we're both kinda psycho...  But, if I had been nominated to take a pie in the face, I would have eaten the whole pie.... 

-When the Skipper is a normal person and talks to me in a friendly way, it catches me off guard... always.  This is the same guy that almost put me to sleep when I had my scheduled meeting with him when I checked into VX-1.  Off.Guard.

-I'm spoiled by vacation.  Why do we have to work tomorrow?????  Ugh.. Why couldn't we have a 5 day weekend for Thanksgiving.. I'd be SUPER thankful for that.

-Bing, why do you even exist?  You are the "wannabe" search engine that will never be Google.  Microsoft just needs to acknowledge this and start setting Google as the default search provider in Internet Exploder... or stop making Internet Exploder, that would be the best move.  That way NMCI would have to switch internet browsers.  I should be thanked for all these good ideas I have.

-Holy crap.. It's only been 2.5 hours.  This getting dark early crap throws me off.  UUUUGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH.  During the summer when it got dark, it meant there was only a few hours left.  This shit sucks.

-YAY Lunch break!
a.  Kody is a silly puppy.
b.  It's so much easier to manage food with 2 dogs with the crate being put into use.
c.  YAY for seeing the house with all the Cmas lights 3x tonight!! 
d.  To the person that keeps parking in MY spot every time I'm not home when you get home.  You're a douche.  Seriously.  Find your own spot.
e.  I seriously love 40-50°F.  It's my fave.
f.  Boo for missing Teh Bear on my break.

-Boo to coming back to duty.  Only 3.5 more hours to go!

-YAY for parking in unauthorized spots that are closer to the duty office and not having to walk in the dark to my car at midnight.

-I feel like the night won't be complete without at least one game of Bubbles.

-I'm still super excited for all the folks that made rank this time around.  I actually get excited every single time I see someone's name I know on the lists for advancement.  I always remember how excited Miss Reflective and I were about advancing and in the military, there are few things to get that excited about.  I feel proud to know several people that have deserved to be advanced for a while now and finally picked it up this time around (or last time, in a few people's cases). 

-I've had a rough time today and yesterday about not getting Junior Sailor of the Year/Quarter/Month.  I've been sad and at the same time, upset at myself for being petty..  Although, I am a Petty Officer, so I feel like some of that pettiness is validated (hehehe).  I was glad not to have to work today (since I'm on duty tonight) so I wouldn't have to listen to people apologize for me not getting the award.  It's been a back and forth day for me becuase I feel like I deserved it, but at the same time, the persons that won these awards also deserved it (via a subjective (imo) board).  It is what it is.  Maybe next time... And all that other encouraging crap.  I suggest we create an award for the "Black Shoe of the Year".. There's less than 10 of us total.  We can just pass the award around.  I mean there's an "Airman of the Year" and "Mechanic of the Year"...  I totally feel like "Black Shoe of the Year" is valid since we don't fall under either of those 2 awards.  I'm only half joking. 

For my non-military/Navy Gentle Readers..  "Black shoes" are those people that are NOT a part of the aviation community.  The aviation community (when they reach rank E7 and above) are allowed to wear brown shoes, which is a way they distinguish themselves from sea-faring sailors.  Aka, the aviation community is "special" and they want everyone to know by their shoe color....  Yep, totally went there.  :)

-I should be reading my "Game of Thrones" book.  Apparently, Teh Bear is almost finished with book #3 and I have book #4 and he's going to want to read it and he will give me shit for reading so slowly if I'm not done with it soon.  I'm about halfway through it, which I feel is pretty good considering how busy I've been.  Most of that was accomplished during plane rides.

-"Because when I arrive
I, I'll bring the fire.
Make you come alive
I can take you higher
What this is, forgot?
I must now remind you
Let It Rock
Let It Rock
Let It Rock"
Yeah, that just happened.  What?  That was totally my ring tone while I was at NMITC. 

-FB is boring me.  But I'm a blog writing FIEND.  I'm up to the Grand Canyon... wooo, halfway through blog writing.. Sadly, the end was way more busy than the beginning....

-2 more hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ugh.

-15 minutes passes more slowly in the duty office than in my work office.  But I'm being so blog productive, I almost like it.

-1.5 more hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-The AC/heater in the duty office is annoying.  It's either too cold or too hot.  My fingers are getting cold.  Probably from all the typing I've done this evening.  We're back in Phoenix!

-Best idea for the duty office ever:  setting the moniter on 2 4" binders so I didn't have to look down at the screen all night, meaning my back doesn't hurt as bad as it used to during prior watches!

-Sometimes, when you try to help someone out and they make excuses not to do the work and then it bites them in the ass (big time) when they don't.. I get really happy.  Sorry you didn't get that job because you never got the clearance I was helping you get because you were "too busy" on DET to fill out the paperwork.. the same paperwork that someone else on that same DET completed.  Enjoy your civilian life, good buddy.  BAahahahahahahhaa.

-Yay for having completely filled out the logbook on my last watch.  That means that there's no more pages that need to be filled in by Miss OCD (me).

-I'm always very amused by the security folks who ride the bike with the basket in the front around the hangar.  I can't take you seriously on that bike.  It's like an adult tri-cycle.  Where is your self-respect?

-I'm pretty sure 40-50% of this watch has been spent waiting on Internet Exploder to switch between tabs.  What self-respecting network continues to use such a crappy browser?  Seriously?  SERIOUSLY NMCI!  MAN UP!

-Talking with Teh Bear makes watch pass quicker.  Although, him going to see Wreck-It-Ralph without me makes me sad.. especially since he was here A WEEK AGO... WTF, TEH BEAR?

-I turned the heat up.  It's warm again.  But I know if I open the window, I'll be chilly.  First world problems.

-It really is unfortunate that NMCI has blocked Google Chat.  That really makes my life difficult.  Assholes.

-I just remembered that this isn't Chrome so there's probably a mabillion spelling/grammar issues in this post.  Oh well!  NCMI Problems.... :(

-It's also annoying that because NMCI hasn't updated to the newest Internet Exploder browser, Blogger doesn't load correctly and I can't use the buttons to make links/attach photos/strike through words because they don't have keyboard shortcuts... Again, First World Problems AND NMCI problems.

-I could keep doing vacation recap blogs... or play Bubbles.  It's a very hard decision at this point, but I feel like blogging is a more effective use of my time... now that my fingers are no longer numb.

-30 more minutes!!!!

-I'm halfway through NC part 2!  OMG so much accomplished this evening!  WOOOO!!!  It really is unfortunate that I couldn't edit photos, cause that would mean so many blogs to publish/schedule!

-OMG OMG OMG 10 minutes (if I'm relieved on time)!!!

-WOO RELIEVED ON TIME!!!!

Dominoes, Destinations, Duty, and my Killer

There is only one more full work week till OUR vacation!!!!!!!!  The excitement is building, despite having no more plans to make, only events to show up for.  It's a feeling of surrealism that we're (Teh Bear and I, duh) actually taking a vacation, vacation, and doing something new and adventurous for both of us.

How did I celebrate this weekend?

Thursday night Teh Mom came in from NC.  She was going to Baltimore for the weekend, and she figured that stopping to see me wasn't a bad idea.  I agreed.  We hung out on Thurs night till way too late while I told her the story of my mystery pain and it's solution.  On Friday morning, I got up and went to work.  At lunch time she messaged me that she was heading out then called me to ask if I wanted to do lunch.  I agreed.  She said she wanted something "Southern Maryland-y" so I gave her two options of 2 places I hadn't been to yet:  Smokey Joe's (a bbq place) or Blue Wind Cafe (a gourmet sammich place).  She decided on bbq so I met her and drove us to Smokey Joe's.  We decided for "NC bbq" in MD it was actually really good.  After picking up a bbq sammich for my LPO (she needs a Teh Nickname), we left and I brought Teh Mom back to her car.  She headed on her way to Baltimore and I headed back to work.

After work, I came home and succumbed to the desire to take a nap.  It was delightful.  Afterwards, Phil and I went on a walk (since Teh Bear says I need to practice my walking for our Grand Canyon excursion) then it was dinner and dominoes, Mexican Dominoes to be exact, with Teh Humanitarian and Teh Coast Guardian and Teh Korean and Teh Flying Metal Mouth and 1 other friend later that night.  Teh Coast Guardian won Mexican Dominoes with doubles again, actually double doubles, but this time there was no argument if it was a valid play.  Phil and I came home to play on the internet and take a nap.

Saturday at 03, I woke up, got ready, took Phil out for a quick business and fed him half his breakfast, then left to meet my copilot so we could go transport some newly retired greyhounds back to GEGR's greyhound central (GHC).  At 05 we found out that the hauler with the dog was going to be 2 hours late.  We arrived 30 minutes early, despite getting some bad directions about taking an exit that wasn't necessary since we were already going the right direction.  I explained to my copilot that I had taken someone's watch that afternoon and that I needed a nap since the hauler was already late.  Hotel de Phil (the back of Yurtle) is more comfortable than I expected.  I wrapped myself in Phil's comforter and passed out till 0830 when my copilot woke me up to explain that the hauler was going to be even later than they had told us.  It was decided at that point that other people were going to come meet the hauler and that I could go home so I could make it to work on time that afternoon.  I felt like one of the ladies was frustrated with my having to leave, but both my copilot and another man there understood as they were both prior Navy.  As the man said, "I retired and I know that you can not be late to watch."  I agreed with him and apologized for having to leave to everyone and headed back to my car dog-less.  :(

I made it back home and took Phil on a walk and gave him the other half of his breakfast.  I played on the internets and chatted with Teh Bear on Skype until it was time for an afternoon nap before watch.  I made it to watch on time.. And survived watch, then came home, took Phil out, and collapsed in bed exhausted.

Sunday morning when my alarm went off for church, I wasn't ready to get out the bed.  But I couldn't be late!  I formally joined Lexington Park United Methodist Church today.  I've been going there since February, but finally made it official.  Teh Coast Guardian and Teh Humanitarian also came with me to church, which was awesome.  Afterwards, we hit up Linda's Cafe for lunch then the thrift store for me to drop some stuff off, look for another Phil comforter, and for Halloween costumes for Teh Coast Guardian who has decided he wants to be a banana.

After a skype date with Teh Bear, it was nap time again (I love weekends!).  I was, expectedly (yep, just made that word up for you), woken up by Teh Coast Guardian saying that they were going on a hike at St. Mary's River State Park and it was time to go.  After I was ready, we all piled into Yurtle and headed off.  Phil was a little cramp since I had to split Hotel de Phil (aka sit a seat up for a human to sit in), but he survived.

When we arrived at the park, I noticed Yurtle's TWIN in the parking lot!  I was so excited.  It's rare to see Kia Sportages, but it's extremely rare to see them in S. MD since the closest dealership is an hour away.  ANDDDDDDDD, this car was an EXACT twin, it was even twilight blue!  I left a note on their windshield: Awesome car!

There was a snafu during the hike where Phil decided that a fuzzy black dog was for eating after the dog growled at him.  The fuzzy black dog ended up being ok (Thank Allah, I could just see the vacation money pour from my account), and Phil acted like nothing had even happened after it was all over.  The full path around the lake was 7.5 miles, but we prob walked around 2 miles then turned around.  When we got back to the car, there was a note on my windshield:

I'm glad there are still friendly people in the world!

After we arrived back home, I started wings and pizza for dinner and Teh Coast Guardian and Teh Humanitarian came over.  We watched Louis CK: Chewed Up, which Teh Bear showed to me and I think is hilarious.

I also brought my camera with me on our walk!  Proof:

Playing on the fallen tree.

Catch me!  I'm going to jump.  - Teh Coast Guardian.

Phil's thunder thighs.

Can we say gorgeous day?

Pretending to sit on Phil since he's tall enough to be a personal bench.

Look at the camera, Phil!

Phil and I!  Finally a good pic together not taken by me.

Phil walking Gami (her leash was attached to his for about 3 steps, until he stepped on her leash and she abruptly stopped).

Teh Humanitarian and Teh Coast Guardian.

Peeps of fall in S. MD!

It was such a beautiful day!

WINTER IS COMING!

Walking path wide enough for 3 people and 2 dogs.

The lake.  /swoon.

Teh Phil-boy.  He's so handsome.  Even if he tries to eat fluffy black dogs.

Teh Coast Guardian and Teh Humanitarian and Gami-girl.

Teh Megan!

Next time, I won't bring Phil and I'll bring the Nikon.

Hai Mom!!

The lake.

Being artsy

YAY for excellent walks and weather and friends and no crazy vet bills and
vacation coming up and...  so many more things..
YAY to an awesome life!

Up this week:
-Work.  Rah.

Up this weekend:
-packing..  WOoo!
      *to include laundry, making a list of items to not forget anything, rolling everything I pack, digging my boots out of my storage closet, picking out which size suitcase I'm bringing, prepping the car (to include removing back seat headrests, bring the cargo cover in the apt)...  this list just seems to keep growing, I'll stop now.
-Fall Festival at church (crap, I gotta buy some stuff to make a cake!) to potentially include trunk-or-treat
-potential other Halloween activities during the day on Saturday
-relaxation and socialization!
-If my new (brown) chairs arrive (brown because Target no longer offers the black ones to match the ones that I ordered back in December) before Friday, then Mexican Dominoes at Teh Megan's house since we'll have enough seating for everyone at the table.. AND we can actually use the leaf (which means having to unwrap it from the original packaging...)

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?