Five on Friday #24

UNO

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

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



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



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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

TRES

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

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

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

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



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QUATRO

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

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


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

CINCO

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



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

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

Fill in the Blank Friday #40

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1.   One thing that is completely superfluous, but that I could never give up is   Starbuck's Peppermint Mochas...  I know lots of people claim their coffee isn't that good, but I haven't found a place that makes a better peppermint mocha.  Just sayin.'

2.  Conversations where people are having arguments and I'm the 3rd party  make me feel awkward.

3.  I can't  shower  without having an inner monologue going, which is usually a running list of things I need to do/get at the store/etc.  

4.    Jelly Beans (currently)  is my favorite snack.

5.  Lately I've been   feeling unmotivated with a random dash of motivation... sometimes sprinkled with motivation based on guilt.  

6.  If at first you don't succeed   try one more time, because they might not have heard the phone ring.  

7.  Fall is    the most awesome season of the year because of pretty leaves and SNOW!!!  

The movers are here!!!

So I started putting my comments on FB and realized that I was quickly passing up an opportunity for a blog.  Silly Teh Megan!


Movers are here.. I promise to keep all my witty comments contained within this status update.  You're welcome! :)

So far no body odor...  talk about an exciting unexpected surprise!!

super clever idea when moving:  take a box.  tape the bottom closed.  open the other side so the flaps are sticking straight up  tape those around up around the very top.  now put the open end on the floor and use as table!

The sound of packing tape never sounded so good!

The sound of packing tape is VERY loud over the phone... Shoulda Been a Cowgirl didn't like it as much as I do.. hehehe.

I can only see 2 of the guys from my "desk".  I hope the other guys aren't wrapping things crappy.  I think they are working on the storage room though, and there isn't much that needs to be packed in there.  I think they wrapped the recliner though.

I seriously want to give each one of these guys a hug and say, "Thank you for not smelling bad!"

Man, I forgot to look at the time when the guys arrived.  I don't think they are going to beat the GTMO moving crew.  I do have a lot more stuff.  I think I'd rather these guys take their time anyway.....

I can walk past my bar safely again!!!!  :)

Do you get a packout when you leave the military to a destination of your choice?

Hahah.. the mover just packed up the little boxes I was going to use to ship stuff.  The hahah part was mainly because he wrapped them in packing paper.

Hrm.. totally forgot to get my crocs out of my shoe bin.  Oh well.  New ones when I get to America it is! :)

I'm a little sad they aren't labeling the boxes.  The man in GTMO made sure to document every item that went into each box.. and since each box was numbered I knew what was in each box.

Super excited to have packing paper again.

These guys are hardcore.  One of them is wrapping my games up individually.

I really need a life and should stop writing down my every thought.  *glass clinks in kitchen*  on second thought.. maybe I should just keep watching the movers.  

Yaay!  There go the candles getting wrapped.  No issue at all.  Fantastic.

Correction:  the guys have markers and are writing on the boxes.

I think they also understand a least a moderate amount of my Southern Drawl.  This is good.

Only 4 bottles of liquor could get packed.  Well alright then.  Full bottles of: Sailor Jerry, Absolute, and Malibu.  The other stuff I think I can definitely sell considering they are also mostly full to never been opened.  Anyone interested in an unopened bottle of Jack Daniels?  A mostly full bottle of Bombay gin?  A half full bottle of Skyy vodka?  A quarter bottle of Absolute Citron?  a whole bunch of liquors (creme de menthe, creme de cacao, amaretto, peppermint schnapps (good for brownies))?  I'm looking for donations on opened bottles and close to full price on unopened bottles.

The movers have all gathered in the hallway where I can't see them.. or in the storage room.  I'm slightly concerned.  I will resist the urge to go "check on things"..  These guys are professionals.. Right?

Is the point of hitting the sides of the box and the top to make things settle?  I could only wish that was how hard my boxes were going to get hit and be thrown around...

The kitchen is packed!

Apparently they are going to take a break and come back in an hour?  They've only been here for an hour!  Hrm.  That's annoying.  So much for doing anything today..

It's so quiet in my apartment with no one else here!

YAY they are back!  Almost to the minute an hour.  Impressive!  Commence noise!

Hrm.. one of them just did the head bob.  I was so impressed until that point.  He wasn't talking to me, that was the only saving grace.

Teh Lumberjack entertained me while the movers were doing their thing.  It was a fun chat!

So many cleared surfaces!!!! this is progress!!!

Yay for doing this all at once instead of breaking it up into 2 packouts.  That means that everything will get there by November!!!  Which means less time living out of a suitcase!

They have this roll of bubble wrap that is slightly shorter than me.  I want to steal it and run around with it over my head yelling, "I'm am the victor!!!!"  (not like the name, like the adjective).

We were worried, but it appears the table WILL fit in the box.  Magical.

I'm totally taking a photo of me with the bubble wrap.  Its ok that they think I'm crazy.  Seriously.

Good-bye diploma frame.  Good-bye Teh Sister+Teh Megan photo collage!  I'll see you soon!

Did he just put my hookah case in with my very important frames?  And he only wrapped those very important frames in a single layer of bubble wrap?  /cue nerves.

As more and more full boxes appear and less and less stuff can be seen, I'm starting to feel protective of my belongings.. Although it really could have been the way he didn't appreciate my diploma frame.

It really is convenient that hotels offer hair dryers.. That way mine can be packed out!  :)  And its also super awesome that my hair straightener is for wet hair.  Just sayin.

Yep, I'm ready for these guys to be done.  They started a little before noon and it's now almost 3.  They also took an hour break.  I will keep myself distracted by thinking about how much like Christmas it will be to unpack all these mystery boxes!

Time to start praying that nothing gets broken/damaged during shipment.

Prayer call.  They aren't stopping.  Good call.

How can they not be done yet?!  I don't have THAT much stuff!  I think I pack stuff faster.  This is what I get for owning more stuff than would fit in my car.

Should we place bets on if they will clean up the mess or not?

I've never seen furniture in boxes before now.

These guys stand up all day long.  I remember when I worked at HellValue and stood up all day long.  The best part of my day was getting to my car and sitting down.  Sometimes I'd just sit there for a few minute before driving off.

Mannnn.. They taped the bubble wrap closed before I could wrap myself in it!

Hrm.. someone just picked up the floor.  Totally impressed.

Everything is packed.  So many boxes!

The funnest part of moving is sneaking around with the bubble wrap while the movers are carrying things out... hehehehehehehhe

Yay 2 blogs from moving day!  Photos AND this "status update" one.  Winning!

after 4pm.  Really, they can finish this job anytime now.

I don't understand how taking out each load of stuff is taking longer and longer.  I thought we took the big stuff out first?

Waiiiiiiitttt... It doesn't all fit.  Fantastic!

Papers signed!

Last mover is doing the last of the clean up work and taking out the empty boxes.

Empty apartment... /exhale.

The END!!!!!!!

Uh oh.. it won't all fit!  Please also note how awesome my building looks in the reflection on the car windshield.. :)

 

Life drama 2

So, I pretty much decided I want a Kia Sportage EX for my next vehicle.  This decision took me about a month to come to.  In the meantime, I've been looking at the options, test driving, sending Teh Dad and Teh Sister to test drive, getting price quotes from USAA, Navy Federal, cars.com, edumnds.com...  I've been doing lots of homework related to Kia Sportage.  I'm trying to find the best price and the best time to buy between now and November.  And its tricky.


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 Lets start with, do I really want to spend $25,000 (prob plus some) on a vehicle?  Do I really?  No.  Would I to get what I want?  Yes.  Do I really need all those things that I want?  No.  Do I really want all those things that I want because this is the first car I'll have ever bought for myself and I plan on keeping it a very long time?  Yes.  Will I give myself grief down the road for not getting those things that I want?  Yes.  Do I really want to spend over $25k on a vehicle?  No.  Will I?  Probably.  Will I regret it?  Some.

See what I just did there?  That's pretty much a several time a day conversation in my head.  Ugh.  I'm having pre-buyers remorse, what is that?!

Then it comes to dealing with my car now.  Which is finally sorted out, but was very tricky there for a while.  That will be more of a headache come October and we're transferring the car to the guy buying it, so I'm saving that blog for a later time, when I need to rant.  Which I'm sure I'll need to rant, because it will be a situation where I'm having to deal with locals, which usually comes with a frustrating lack of English (on both sides), spending money (hopefully not mine), and will ultimately end up with me no longer owning Teh Kaar, which in turn means walking to work.  Good times.

"You're going too fast" warning...  NOT ok.

Since I know what I'm looking for, I'm trying to get a jump start on the actual purchase.  Shoulda Been a Cowgirl and I went on a Kia Dealership adventure, to include finding the dealership and actually test driving... twice.  The first test drive was on the base model which didn't impress me at all.  I was only allowed to drive it down the street and back since it was someone's already purchased vehicle.  Well then.  We went back later and test drove the highest model and loved it.  The dealer didn't really hassle us, it was nice.  He let us drive it, gave me his card, easy day.  I think he knew because we were Americans (which isn't hard to tell when I open my mouth) we weren't actually going to buy.  I considered it for a moment, but the price of everything in Bahrain is so inflated because their money is worth more than USD.  I also considered the fact that I'm buying a new car when I get back to the states because having to ship my car means time without a car.. which was the issue to begin with.  And buying a car means having to ship it back, which means being without a car, which was back at square 1.  So I got over that idea quickly.  In addition, it would have been the European model, which was the engine I didn't like.  So, definitely no.

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Then I went to base, because there is a car dealer on base, who deals mostly with Ford, Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeeps.  He was talking to the person in front of me about a Nissan, so I kinda got my hopes up he could help me with a Kia.  Instead he told me "there's a reason they have those warranties," and tried to sell me a Ford Escape.  A manual Ford Escape, after I had clearly said, "I want an automatic, my car now is a manual, and my clutch foot is tired."  I wasn't joking.  People kill me.  Actually, I wanted to kill him because he called during my sleep time, which is pretty much a death sentence to the caller, no matter who it is, unless I really like you.  I was sad that he couldn't help me because they usually give such great deals.  But, I wanted to kill him, so it is probably for the best that I don't see him again.

I talked to Teh Dad and he said he'd test drive an American one for me.  Which he did last weekend, with Teh Sister.  They liked it.  He really liked the SX, because it had the "get up and go", but that's the most expensive model, which I don't even want to pay for.  Teh Sister gave me the email address of the dealer.  When I spoke to Teh Dad and Teh Sister, both spoke highly of the dealer.  Great, a decent car salesman.  Win.

I emailed him a list of things that I required, things I thought were nice options, and things that I didn't want/care for.  This is his email back to me:

Me = not impressed.

1.  No professional writes in all caps.  I've seen people claim they write in all caps because they are dyslexic...  Well, that's what spell check is for, welcome to the 21st century.  You aren't sending me a navy message, so fix yourself.
2.  I'm interested in buying a very expensive car.  Tell me what I'm looking at paying.  I don't care that it isn't November, and there are potentially deals now that won't be available down the road.  I need to know how much I'm spending.  Because that could very much affect other things when it comes to money and the MD situation.
3.  He led Teh Dad and Teh Sister to believe that he really wanted to help me.  He even told them, "Well, I need to eat in November too," implying that he didn't need a sale right away, and was happy to help them help me.  He didn't seem all that happy to help me.  He talked to Teh Dad about payment options and down payments, but he didn't mention any of that to me in the emails.  Again, 21st century, welcome to it.  Email is the way to communicate now, get with it.
4.  Is there something somewhere that says if you don't thank a military member for their service you will get your tires slashed?
5.  My list of "must haves" was 4 things long.  Automatic, keyless entry, power windows/doors, and the reverse assistance thingy.  All of these things are available at the lowest, non-base model.  Again, not impressed.

At this point, I'm willing to find the place with the best deal online and head straight there after getting off a plane in NC.  I'll be tired, grouchy, and probably down right mean, along with being excited over being in America, which means I'll probably be pretty no-nonsense about the whole situation. Get me the best deal, I'll buy your car.  Don't give me a good deal?  Keep your damn car.  Easy day.

OMG WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Teh Bear warned me that this adventure wasn't over.  I told him I knew, and that was just all the more blog posts/rants for the future.  See, I'm always blog preparin'!



   

Life drama 1

This probably isn't the first of my blogs about life drama, but this is the first time I've labeled it as such.  I'm thinkin' its pretty clever, so I'm going with it.

I've finally run out of pre-written blogs.  Which makes me kinda sad since I was doing so good at staying on top of the blogging.  Life has kinda been running amuck (spell check says this isn't word, but I'm using it anyways) lately.  Its things I can control, like going out and being social, or choosing to focus on chatting with Teh Bear instead of distractedly giving him 2 word answers while he tries to chat with me while I write a blog, or my Private Practice marathons.  Either way, seems like since Ramadan started, I've been doing more things, which is ironic since its so freaking hot and we have this stupid clothing regulation we have to follow that the locals don't even adhere to.  I really should make a list of reasons I hate being in Bahrain, it would make me feel validated to look back on it later and realize that this place was mostly miserable.

I guess a good indicator of life sucking is when you go to the doc for your yearly wellness assessment and you're told that you're a medium risk and the HM2 has no suggestions for you, because you work at NAVCENT and your life just sucks.  That was actually Teh HP Wizard's experience, but still true nonetheless.

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Recently, life has been about planning for November.  Its a lot to look forward to and definitely a lot of planning is required on my part.  Planning is my thing.  But planning also = stressing.  Stressing over things I can't really control, which is kinda pointless.  Which leads to a vicious cycle of me trying to plan.  I start planning, realize I can't do anything because I'm overseas, get frustrated, get stressed, Teh Bear calms me down, I calm down, I become apathetic to planning, I give up planning, I get bored, I realize I miss planning, I start trying to plan again, I get frustrated.... see?

What is happening in November?
Teh Megan GOES TO AMERICA!!!!!!!

I've started progressing in small steps.  Transfer package = step #1.  One glitch in the transfer package equation. Are you planning to ship a vehicle to the U.S.?  ____ Yes      _____ No

A few months ago, a local approached me and asked if my car was for sale.  I told him not at the time, but potentially down the road, before I left Bahrain.  I got his number and told him if I decided to sell it, I'd call him.  Well, it was time to call.

After looking at it, and taking it for a test drive, he had the money to buy the car 2 days later.  He had misunderstood when I had told him I needed to know if he wanted to buy it within the next 10 days (because the transfer package has a deadline).  He thought that meant he needed to buy it from me in the next 10 days.  After 2 calls in the middle of my sleeping time from his english speaking friend, I finally explained that I needed to know for paperwork purposes, but didn't want to actually sell the car until October (definitely will need to keep my car until late October, its hot in Bahrain and walking to work doesn't sound like fun to me, kthx).  He seemed to understand.   I did assure him that I would definitely sell it to him in October and wouldn't put a sign in my car to sell it in the meantime, that I would contact him in October and we could get the paperwork stuff settled and it would be his.  Promise.  He said ok.  Glad that was settled.  That only caused moderate drama for 24 hours.

What does all that really mean?

This means Teh Megan will be purchasing a vehicle when she arrives in America.  Rah, for meeting the stereotype of deployed sailor returns home and buys new car.  I'm looking at the 2011/12 Kia Sportage.  I went and talked to the car dealer man on base, because they offer some pretty nice deals, and he told me, "There's a reason Kia's have 100,000 mile warranties.  They also don't drive well."  At which point I promptly responded, "Well, I've test driven one, and its what I want."  He then proceeded to tell me how great the Ford Escape is and started looking in his database for Escapes.  He later emailed me a quote for a $17k one that had a lot of extras!  Those extras included everything a base model has, nothing more.  A/C isn't a perk buddy, its standard.  Rah.  It also included a manual transmission, which I had already said no to.  I was apparently wasting my breath with Mr. Car Dealer Man.  I wasn't impressed.  I went back online and read more Sportage reviews.  They aren't bad on gas, people say they drive stiff so they can feel every bump in the road, but I'm used to driving 4 inches off the ground, so when I drove it, it felt smooth to me.  I talked to Teh Dad and he is going to try and test drive one for me in the near future to tell me what its like, since the American base model and European base model (which I did test drive) have different features/engines, and I definitely wasn't a fan of the European base engine... or that stupid 120kmh warning.

After I arrive to MD in my new vehicle, I will need to find a place to live.  Preferably with 2 bedrooms and at least 1.5 baths and a yard (fenced in if neighbors are close) and will allow dogs.  I'm not picky or anything.  If nothing else, this will at least narrow down some options.  I'd prefer a townhouse type place, if I was given the choice of townhouse vs apartment, in a dream world, I'd find a house, but not holding my breath on that one.

(image)

After I find said place, I will then need to buy furniture.  A LOT OF FURNITURE.  I currently own 5 pieces of furniture: a skirtless loveseat with a very uncomfortable fold out bed and a recliner with a broken arm because the movers ripped it off (thanks, jerks), and 3 tables... with hearts (they were given to me).  I could have gotten the recliner fixed, but it is so old, its really not worth the headache of doing the fixing it paperwork through HHG, especially when English is the 2nd language of most people that work in the office.

So, a bed, a mattress, a couch, end tables, a chair, a dining room table, chairs for the dining room table, maybe a desk, maybe a tv, something to put a tv on, a book case (or a few), night stands, kitchen stuff, washer and dryer, microwave.. Idk, things that fill a house.  Things that came with my Bahrain apartment.

I considered buying a townhouse, but I'm not really sure what the market is like and/or if there are places within a range that I could afford.  In addition to all the other expenses of American living that I'll be incurring.

Like:
cell phone
internet
car/property insurance
gas
moving expenses (I've learned that even if the Navy gives you money to move, its never quite as much as what you actually spent)
new uniforms (including that stupidly expensive goretex, which I will actually have to get before I arrive, but it is for MD)

I'm sure there are other things that I'm leaving out that I just can't remember right now.  Because while living in Bahrain is expensive.  I don't have to pay for electricity.  My gas bill is practically non-existent (yay Middle East), my cell phone is prepaid and I rarely use it since Skype is free, I don't pay for internet (unlike GTMO), I did pay for car insurance and my renters insurance, but they were fairly cheap since my car is old and my furniture was provided.

On the other hand of planning, I am retardly excited about the proximity I will be in of really awesome things.. liiiikeeeee My Raleigh Parents (my last roommates from college who moved to Philly), Mrs. Boomkin and Mr. Voices, Washington DC (helllllo photo opportunities (cherry blossoms in the spring, national monuments, etc) and/or lots of people I know).  I'm also halfway between NY and NC.  Which means that a trip to see the NY relatives is more of a possibility than it has been.

(image)

Its nice to daydream about all these things, but its a lot more stressful to actually make these things happen.  And everyone has already told me, you don't leave for a few months.  EXACTLY!  A FEW months.  So far I've only received one email from my sponsor, and I know there are people that don't even get a sponsor, but I'm kinda psycho, and I have lots of questions (which my old LPO can attest to from when I got my orders to Bahrain, I sent him at least 2 pages of questions) that I'd like answered or at least some friendly guidance about the area/places to live/how my job will be/etc.  Its just nice to know things before you have to dive head first into them... for me anyways.

I can haz stress-free PCS?  No, ok fine.  Just as long as I can haz 'Merica.




   

Q: Will I blog about anything in the next two week not related to Teh Bear's visit?

A: Probably not.  Because:  I'M SO UNFREAKIN' BELIEVABLY EXCITED I CAN HARDLY STAND MYSELF.  Still, because now Teh Bear is actually here.  He's hibernating right now, which was good, because I got to also take a nap, since the 9 hours of sleep that I'd had in the past two days was starting to debilitate my ability to speak normally.

Example:
Talking about watermelon juice.
Me:  You just take pineapple and ice and blend it together.

When I picked up Teh Bear at the airport (5-10 minutes before he walked out, whewww!), our first destination was a 1-hour dry cleaner to get his suit cleaned for our fancy smancy date tomorrow for brunch.  I most definitely drove straight home.  Got all the way to my parking spot and realized, shit, we were in the wrong place...  Luckily, we were still moving when I realized this and we just went straight to the dry cleaners.

Note: Dolphin Laundry off American Alley did an AMAZING job with his suit and it was only 3BD.  It was dry cleaned and pressed and they literally were carrying it out to put on the rack when we walked through the door about 4-5 hours later, when I'd told them we'd pick it up.  Much better than the place that did my uniform for the JSOQ boards and failed to iron an entire sleeve.  Le sigh.

Other example would include me mixing up the order of words while I'm speaking, making me sound dyslexic.  And no jk..  I typed in "dislexic" (<3 spell check), and I honestly thought, wait isn't that an eating disorder?  No, thats anorexia.  But whats the other one?  Lexic has to do with dictionaries and words.  You've got the right word, retard.

But, now I'm off to base to finish the project that I did last night...  except for the most important part which was email it to my LPO.  Teh Megan fail.  Luckily, it will only take a few minutes, but I'm sure Teh Bear will be finished hibernating by the time I get back... then again, if I'm lucky.. maybe not.  ;)

Sorry no photos, I did take some photos of everyone at dinner tonight, but nothing crazy, and my camera is currently so far away from where I'm sitting..

Ok, fine I was feeling bad so I did a search for funny pics.  Don't judge my originality.  You wish you were me.

Mostly it was icanhazcheeseburger type stuff, cute, but not so much always funny.  This is what I'm sharing with you, Gentle Reader.

Fitting right?  (image)

This one is for Teh Bear (image)

While amusing, ever so creepy.  This is why no one likes going to the dentist.  (image)

 
Don't ever tell anyone I never did nothin' for you.


   :)


 

Shameless plug for how awesome my new computer is..

So when I talk on Skype, the Dell Integrated Camera menu pops up now (which I told it not to do, otherwise I would talk to Teh Bear all the time in "googly eyes"... and he can't take me seriously when I have googly eyes up)..  It definitely made for a serious case of the giggles.

WTF am I talking about?  I come in pictures.. hehehe I'm so punny.

Enjoy.

Golem/Googly eyes!  Most definitely my fav.

When I think about Teh Bear?

In my natural state...

Trying hard to be something I'm not...

Most ridiculous face I could make with this effect.

Why the long face?  You actually watch your face grow when using this one.

Another natural state...  

Prob looks like a baddie from WoW.

Looks like a 2 headed ogre from WoW, sans the board with the nail through it, but with a smile!

We are Siamese if you please.  We are Siamese if you don't please.

You're actually not supposed to hold your breath under water when you're diving....  But lets pretend I didn't know that.

Elementary, my dear, Watson.

Pretty sure I had this hair style and color not too many years ago.

Hitler 'stache..

Creeper 'stache

It's my tortured artist look, and I'm twisting my beard pieces!

crazy face! 

I was slimed!  Thats my most horrified face.

Tinnnnnnyyy bubbles, on my computer screen, MAKES ME HAPPY, MAKES ME SCREAM!

This is what happens when Tinker Bell flies in front of you while you're talking on Skype.

hEHEHEHEHEHEHEH.. this was so much fun.. I also have screenshots from Teh Bear discovering his addons...  But I'm saving that blog for a day when I need to blackmail him more.  ;)  But he's been warned.  :D



  

AND THE WINNER IS......

Me when it comes to making a decision..  (Image)

A Dell XPS 17.  Its a refurb, but it will still be new to me, kinda like buying a used car.  Cheaper, but still new enough.


I'm pretty excited by the decision.  Mostly the MAKING the decision, finally.  I'm pretty sure I sat at the submit order screen for 14 of the 15 minutes I get for inactivity.  










The inner monologue went something like this:
Am I getting what I wanted?  Am I getting too much?  What is the difference between BD-RW and DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM?  Should I just get the better BD-RW?  When the hell would I ever burn a blue-ray disc?  Did I get the processor I wanted?  Should I just kick it back down to the minimal version, save $100?  Should I just go with the 1gb video card instead of the 3gb?  Should I just go with 6gb of RAM instead of 8?  You know you are being ridiculous, right?  But its a blue-ray player, Teh Bear has been buying blue-rays and if I want to watch Toy Story on my computer, I'll need the blue-ray player, because Lord knows operating that PS3 will make my brain explode.  You know you've looked at computer for DAYS now, and you have seen what's out there, and you've asked for help, and no one has really made any concrete suggestions, so you're on your own?  Be a big girl and just click the damn button.  But what if I'm not getting what I want?  How is this computer NOT what you want, you just picked it out, dumbass.  (Yes, I call myself dirty names in my inner monologue.)  Yeah, but there's so many options?  Should I just go spec out a new one and see if there's any good coupons?  Oooo, should I wait until June 1st and see if any Dell Outlet deals come about?  *shift body, screen falls all the way back with a pop*  Ok, no, I won't wait.  But what if when I check out they charge me tax and shipping and then that extra $100 that I just spent is doubled cause of tax?  Oooo mmmm geeeeee.


Finally, I unfroze (which is a sign of me panicking), and open a new tab to the dell outlet one last time to make sure that I was getting the right one.  I mean, I know people preached APPLE to me, and some people threw some other brands at me, that I couldn't really find/didn't meet my standards, but what's a girl to do!?!?!?!


So I looked again at the submit order button.  Realized there was NO tax AND Dell is shipping the computer to the APO.  


SUBMIT ORDER.  
check.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36 hours passed without an email from Dell confirming my order.. oh and yes I had written the beginning of this blog in the excitement and blissful glow of being soon-to-be-new-computer-owner...  I had a purchase ID, but not an order #... 2 VERY different things.


The last 12 hours of those 36 included several calls to Dell.  I tried calling so many times at work that I'm sure I can recite the "this call isn't toll free from your location" message... in Arabic...  ok, maybe not, but potentially parts of it.  I think the guys says poop at some point.  I couldn't get a working number, so those annoying pop up boxes when you are trying to configure a new computer that ask if you want to chat with a rep?  I actually had to use THAT to talk to someone this afternoon about the lack of order confirmation.  Sushi Sheesha Seeshi T gave me a number to call that ACTUALLY worked, and I finally spoke to a Dell rep.  I told both the chat person and the phone rep that I wanted to make sure the order was cancelled.  The phone rep assured me that the order wasn't going to go through anyways due to shipping it to a PO box.  No, lady, an APO isn't a freakin PO box.  GOSH.


So, with that order cancelled, I sorted through all the options again, this time finding one slightly better because it has facial recognition!!!!  Which is one of those stupid cool things that I was pleased with.


This time I shipped it to Teh Bear (who has recently become my personal postal worker, and for that he is awesomest) and put in the correct billing address (oops, my bad).  I got a purchase confirmation email AND an order confirmation email in the SAME MINUTE, which completely negated Teh Bear's argument about how I was being impatient about the first order, thank you, Dell (you assholes).


What I ended up:
-- XPS L702X Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
   Unit Price: $1,049.00
   Quantity: 1
-- XPS L702X
-- Documentation
-- Service Software
-- Label
-- NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 3GB graphics with Optimus-- Service Software
-- 9 Cell Primary Battery-- Certified Refurbished
-- DataSafe Online Backup Software
-- Service Software
-- Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM)
-- 17.3 inch HD+ (900p) WLED Display-- Dell Support Center 64 Bit 2.0
-- Elemental Silver Aluminum
-- Power DVD Software
-- 64BIT Operating System
-- Operating System DVD
-- Shipping Material
-- Wave Systems Software
-- Internal Backlit Keyboard - English
-- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 and Bluetooth 3.0-- Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Operating System DVD
-- AC Adapter
-- Software
-- No Media Selected
-- Microsoft Office Starter
-- Processor: Intel Core i7-2720QM processor (2.20 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.30 GHz)
-- 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)-- Sound Blaster X-Fi MB Panzer software version 1.2
-- 125V Power Cord
-- Facial Recognition Software-- Information
-- Processor Label
-- Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
-- 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) 2nd Drive-- Label
-- 8 GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)-- Software
-- Dell WebCam Central
-- Image Restore Software
-- Bracket
-- Roxio Software CD
-- XPS 17-L702X: 1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis (Included In Price)
   Unit Price: $0.00
   Quantity: 1
   Total Price: $0.00
Subtotal: $1,049.00
Shipping and Handling: $19.99
Shipping Discount: -$19.99
Sales Tax: $68.19
Total Amount: $1,117.19

I feel like out of all the systems I looked at and for, I got the best deal for the best specs with this system.  No, it didn't have a fingerprint reader, but that was one of the surprise cool things about the Stupido 17, along with the lid design.  It will most likely come with a silver lid (which are great for Peace Frog stickers).  But it won't have the insides of the computer showing, and the lid will close properly...  I won't have to worry about coming home one day and my computer not having a display anymore (yay peace of mind, peace frogs, peace of mind.. hehe get it?).

Retro Peace Frog is the bestest, which is why I have the towel and used to have this sticker on the very first laptop and on my car, and I have the outline peace frog on my Camelbak bottle.  I'm kind of a Peace Frog fiend. (Peace Frog Store)