Unpopular Opinions Part 1

Megan's unpopular opinions...

Beer is disgusting.  All beer.  Cheap beer.  Craft beer.  ALL BEER.

Don't try to change my mind.  Yes, I will take a sip of Teh German's beers every now and then, but there isn't a beer that I've tried that is enjoyable.  Not a single beer has graced my mouth that made me thing, "Yeah, I want more of this."  I have drank beers before that have been experiments in toleration.  It's not my jam.  It means more for you.

All wine tastes like Jesus Communion wine.

I don't like wine either.  I blame this on being raised Catholic.  Just like beer, I've tried many a sip of wine all to the same result: I could probably tolerate some of those wines, but nary a one has been something that I wanted to ingest more of.  Again, more for you!

Doing things on a mobile device/tablet is better than doing it on a computer.

NO.  That stupid tiny keyboard is only meant for making me feel like I have oversized foam thumbs.  Autocorrect is of the devil.  Mobile websites are complete garbage since they usually don't have full functionality (with the exception of our mobile wedding website, which I purposely made with exactly the same functionality as the desktop version, you are welcome very much).  That said, "I don't use a computer," is NOT a valid excuse if you are constantly updating your Facebook from your phone.  If you can use the Facebook app, you can manage to open up the browser app and go to websites.  It's a thing.  I promise.

Winter is best.  Fall is bestest.

I live in the asshole of the South, if you don't believe that, check out a map of South Carolina and determine the proximity of Charleston in relation to the east coast's butt (PS. Lake Michigan looks like a dick).  When someone was discussing how they thought it was super miserable this summer after they moved here in June and myself and another individual had to inform them that this summer was actually very mild compared to "normal" Charleston summers, they almost packed up their shit right there and moved to another state.  Most people in Charleston are all about that "Salt Life" (barf), but I'm all about that Hood Life.  By hood life I mean HOODIE life.  My world is pretty much perfect when I'm wearing a hoodie.  There is never a day that I'd rather be hot and dealing with swamp ass over being cold.  I love some warm socks and blankets and snuggles.  Die, Summer, die.

TV is stupid.

People seem to have a hard time accepting the fact that I/we don't watch TV.  I don't know why.  I cannot stand the commercials, I can't stand the stereotypes and pushed agendas.  Essentially, I hate everything.  There are times when I think to myself that I want to watch TV and then I spend 5 minutes watching it in public somewhere (doctor's office or at someone else's house or a restaurant or the vet center on campus) and I remember why I never watch TV.  Yes, I could choose to watch awesome shows after the fact without commercials, but that leads me to my next point...

Popular things are stupid.

Ok, on this point, I've been proven wrong a few times, but generally, I am strong in my opinions about this.  I didn't read Harry Potter or Twilight until 2012, pretty much at the start of their decline in popularity.  I didn't want to be part of the fangirl crowd and that continues to this day.  What does this mean for me when I do finally get around to partaking in whatever craze is going around?  It's probably already over.  All the books are published, all the episodes are released.  I don't have to wait on the next episode.  #betterlatethannever  PS.  I've fallen out of touch with Grey's Anatomy, Game of Thrones, and Silicone Valley.  I'm not heartbroken about it.

Coffee is gross.

Unless it contains a diabetic coma inducing amount of sugar and/or flavoring.  Peppermint mochas year round for me.  I have partaken of pumpkin spice, but I'd rather have a peppermint mocha any day.

Energy drinks are the worst.

The smell of Red Bull makes me gag.  Seriously.  I don't understand how people can drink that garbage.  Teh German likes to get them when we drive long distances and I spend a majority of that time with my nose in my shirt.. sniffing my boobs?  Whatevs, anything is better than the smell of chemicals that are probably not digestible.

Confessions {1/6}

-I can tell who has me hidden/doesn't see my posts on FB when they share the same video that I've shared a week later.  Too bad you don't see my awesome posts.  Then you'd have seen that video a week ago.  #Imawesome #Theirloss

-I failed at ordering the dog's food before we ran out, so I had to go by PetSmart and pick up a new bag of food.  This was beneficial for them because there were holiday toys on sale.  I picked up a new squeaky/crunchy toy and it is a Hannukah toy since it's blue with the Star of David on it.  I've been referring to it as "the Jew ball."  #Imahorribleperson

-When we went to the outlets on Friday, I stopped by to pick up a coupon book.  When the lady asked for my address, she said she grew up in my neighborhood and her sister lived down the street from me.  Then we had a conversation about the "hoodlums" that play in the street.  It brought me all the joy that someone else understands my pain about these children.  #miserylovescompany

-I enjoyed watching Teh German play with Coworker's Son after the hockey game on Sunday.  He said that he also liked the way I dealt with Son.  I didn't realize he hadn't really seen me interact with small children.  I think it may have eased some of his concern about my eventual parenting skills.  #dealingwithbabiesissexy

-I was more surprised than anyone else that I didn't get incensed when I dropped my $6 container of ketchup sodden tater tots all over myself and the floor at the hockey game.  #Imayhaverageproblems #jk #imneverangry

-It took me several days to do my 2015 review.  It was extremely difficult to power through the first 6 months of the year.  It was interesting to see what I said and didn't say on Teh Blog regarding issues with Mr. Scrooge.. and then it was all wiped away when Teh German entered into the picture. #worthit

-It's currently 49°F in my house and I'm really freakin' cold and Yurtle is at a doctor appointment, so it's not like I can go sit in her and get warm.  I have no idea why the heat isn't working and I have no idea when I'm going to be able to pick up Yurtle and I don't have work to distract me and I'm extremely grouchy about all of it... as tends to happen when I'm not in my Megan optimal state (warm, fed, enough sleep, no headache, etc).

Linking up with:
Life with Lolo
Alanna & Company
Humpday Confessions with Nadine and Kathy

Confessions {11/4}

-I see all these people posting recipes on FB and I want to beg them to post something that looks delicious that doesn't contain cheese or bread or cream cheese.  Something moderately healthy, PLEASE!?!  #WhohaveIbecome #wherearethevegetables

-Sometimes, I have to pop my back before doing certain activities.  #90yearold
-Sometimes, when doing certain activities, my back pops.  #90yearold
#yesImtalkingaboutTHATactivity

-When Meri lays with me on the couch, she almost always has a paw touching me.  I find it completely endearing.  That said, when she lays with me on the bed, she practically flops her 30 pound body onto mine and it often knocks the breath out of me.  #MeriMeriQuiteContrary #goatdog

-I almost called in sick on Tuesday because my head hurt so bad from pressure front/weather.  Instead, I opted to work from home.  The fact that I need all the PTO I can get for Germany next June was seriously my only reason for working.  #priorities

-Tuesday, when Meri wasn't roached out beside me (roached = sleeping on her back with her legs in the air), she spent her remaining time on the back of the loveseat watching it rain and waiting for the feral neighborhood cats to meander onto our driveway.  At which point she would go freakin' crazy whining and barking at the cat and running back and forth between the loveseat and the back door.  #huntingdogs

-When people put spaces after slashes (/) my inner grammar nazi starts screaming.  It is not this / that.  It is: this/that.  Always.  Forever.  NO SPACES WITH SLASHES!!!  #grammarnazi

-Despite the headaches that the rain has been presenting to me, naps/sleeps while it rains are epic.  #Ilovetherainthemost

-Teh German said that he didn't really get excited about Christmas last year until the 20th of December because that's when he left for Germany... all because it wasn't cold here.  #preachintothechoir

-2 months after Phil's dental, I'm still super pumped that he had teeth pulled and that his breath is SOOOOOO much better.  That said, I'm also doing better about brushing both dog's teeth.  #win  #myfacenolongermeltsoff

-I haven't made any moves on the house-front since Teh German and I discussed it.  I did possibly find a realtor who I would trust (he's friends with Teh SC House Finder and he helped them find their house), so that's a step in the right direction.  When discussing the situation with him, he agreed that my first step should be to go to the bank and see what I can afford.  Hopefully being completely debt free will help.  #procrastination #debtfree #untilIbuyahouse #firstworldproblems #howmuchdoesahutcost

-I felt slightly guilty Tuesday.  I worked from home all day because of a 2 day headache that wouldn't go away (thanks Barometer Head), but in the afternoon it stopped raining, so I was better.  Since I had no headache, Teh German and I carried on with our plans for 1/2 Price Burger Night @ Moe's, then headed to Music Farm to see Trapt.  #Iwasntfaking #Iswear

-I failed to bring earplugs and the music was too loud.  #getoffmygrass

-I was glad we only paid $15 to see Trapt.  I couldn't tell if the acoustics at the venue were crappy (which I had been told was an issue) or I'm just overly sensitive to loudiness (which is a possibility).  For the first band, Area 51 or something related, we couldn't understand 90% of the words the guy was singing.  The bands got progressively better, which was good, not to mean the first band was bad, but they reminded the audience at least twice that this was their 4th ever live performance and they didn't even have merchandise for purchase (oops).  We also heard Atvian? and Process One?*  It was after my bedtime and I can't remember the names.  The set changes took forever.  Trapt didn't even go on stage until 11 and the concert technically started at 8.  The intro bands played 30-45 minutes + set changes. 

Also, I hate encores.  No.  Just play all the songs you know people want to hear.  That said, if you gained most of your followers off the album you released in 2003 and no one really knows anything from your new albums, just stick with the 2003 songs that made you good.  Trapt "finished" their set with Headstrong and "walked off stage" but then the crowd starts chanting, one more song (as Teh German and I have started to leave) and the band comes back out and does 2 more of the popular songs from the 2003 album.

That said, the final song was Stand Up and if These Walls, Headstrong, Hollowman, and Echo hadn't brought me back to my senior year of high school already, Stand Up would have immediately transported me back to 2003, in Teh Silver Streak (as Teh Dad called it), blasting that song to try and sing through the pain and anger of whatever Teh Mom had done that time.

*The intro bands were: First Decree, Adakain, Wicked Love, Vault 51

-I hate that I like the smell of vape "exhaust."  #itisstillsmoking #smokinglawsapply

Linking up with:
Life with Lolo
Alanna & Company
Hodges Podge

Confessions {3/11}

-I woke up last Wednesday thinking it was the Monday after daylight savings time.  I thought I was an hour late to work and I was super confused until I realized it was actually only Wednesday, the time was still normal, and I had teleworked the day before.  Waking up Megan is something on the special side.

-Because it's Charleston the weather got "nice" last week.  By "nice" I mean 75 degrees outside, bleh.  One of my coworkers told me to move back to the Arctic when I expressed my disinterest in summer.  Swell idea, dude.  It was 69 degrees when I woke up this morning at 5:30... AM.  It's supposed to be 85 degrees today.  Let me remind you it is MARCH.  IT'S STILL WINTER PEOPLE!

-Since it has been "nice," I saw someone at 7am with their top down on their brand new convertible BMW.  Really?  No.  It's too early for that mess.  But I have a question about this.  The person driving this BMW was a black guy.  Whatevs.  But then as he's driving down the road, he starts brushing his hair.  At a red light, he runs his hands over it to smooth it down.  It wasn't like he had a huge fro.. it was very close cut.  WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS EXERCISE?

-Mr. Scrooge informed me last week that he was going stir crazy (he hadn't left the house in a DAY after his surgery) so he left the house to go jeans shopping.  I just glared at him.  This man has TWO drawers FULL of jeans, that would be 6-10 pair PER DRAWER).  He said that those didn't fit.  I responded, "Maybe you just need to stretch them out, or do you mean length wise?"  He said, "Length wise."  My response was, "Ok, fine, but if you bring home new pants, we're purging."  He agreed.  Smart man.  This all started because I noticed his "riding jeans" have a hole in the crotch.  I told him to stop busting ass in his jeans and he'd be able to have nice things.  I also informed him that he needed to prepare to part with those jeans and left them on top of the dresser for him to give his final goodbye.  Those were the pants he was wearing to go jeans shopping.  /facepalm  They have since been discarded.

-I found a golden yellow shirt in my short sleeve sleep shirt drawer (moving on) and my first reaction was, "Why the fuck is there a Navy PT shirt in my sleep shirt drawer?"  You see.... Mr. Scrooge has this habit of "putting things away" but they aren't in the correct place, so I end up having to re-put them away.  Buuutttt, he doesn't do laundry (I revoked his privileges with the exception of towels), so I knew it couldn't have been him.  He gave me a confused look as I gingerly removed it from the drawer and started to unfold it to see if it was really a PT shirt.  It wasn't.  It was a hair dye shirt Teh Sister had let me borrow that I accidentally brought home.  I literally sighed in relief.  In other news, the Navy ruined me.

-We've already discussed long tags in women's underwear (click that link, totally worth it, those confessions were golden).. but can we discuss that little piece of crotch cotton that is supposed to idk, do something?  I feel like it's almost always 2-4 inches too far back to be of any use.. unless I was a shitty wiper (get it?).  TMI alert!  For instance, if I were to start my period, that little piece of fabric catches NOTHING.  What's the point in that situation?  I'm already questioning the point unless the underwear are made of something NOT cotton, then I kinda get it, but still...  Maybe this is just me?  I've never checked other women's dirty underwear for this problem

-Why do people like their own FB statuses?  I don't get it.  You posted it, of course you already like it.  If you didn't like it, you probably wouldn't have posted it.  I'm so confused.

Last weekend was really a gem for confessions because people really just fuel my rage... continuing on...

-Last weekend at Kohl's, an associate was restocking the Lauren Conrad Cinderella stuff and we were chatting and she said she was super excited about all the old Disney movies being remade.  I had made a comment about Ariel being my favorite when the conversation first started and when she said, "I really hope they do A Little Mermaid over again.  That would be so awesome!"  All I could think was, How would they do that?  It's mostly "under the sea..."  I tried to keep the confused look off my face, since it can often be mistaken for my "you're an idiot" face.

-I went into PetSmart after Kohl's since the foster dog was on the way and I wanted a smaller bowl for him (and Meri).  I should have known from the gaggle of people at the entrance that I shouldn't have went into the store.  I'm a dog person, Gentle Readers.. but I am NOT so much of a dog person that I will ever go into a huge pet store on a Saturday ever again.  The worst part was that it wasn't the animals that were obnoxious, it was the stupid people who wanted to pet other people's pets and baby talk to them (I don't judge your baby talk to your own pets, I judge your baby talk to stranger's pets).  NO.  Step away.  Mostly, get away from ME.  Unfortunately for me, the bowls were at the back of the store, which happened to be directly in front of the grooming place. This meant that there were lots of people waiting nearby with their pets and lots of crazy ladies who just had to pet the cuddly wuddly widdle puppy (a 50lb bulldog). 

-I stopped at Publix to pick up an item and when I got to the registers they all had lines.  Whatevs, I wasn't in a hurry so I wasn't upset about it.  The guy in front me of me saw that I only had 1 item and offered to let me go in front of him and I told him it was ok, I could wait since I wasn't in a hurry.  He insisted so I went in front of him.  While I had been standing there, I noticed that he had a brochure thing in his hand and the very specific items for WIC (I was a cashier at a grocery store in high school and somethings you never forget.  The code for bananas (4011), the overflowing buggy that includes expensive meats and sodas and sugary snacks with a mom with 3 kids will pay in food stamps 90% of the time, the look of someone who feels embarrassed for having to use government assistance).  Unrelated, but related because I live in SC, the guy was a well-dressed black guy.  When I moved in front of the guy and put my stuff on the belt, the cashier was an older lady who looked at me, kinda smiled, then looked back at the man who had let me in front of him and kinda made a face/rolled her eyes, then smiled at me again.  I just stared at her blank faced.  No lady, I'm not going to cut eyes at the nice man who let me in front of him just because he's using WIC or because he's black.  NO.  I would have happily judged him if he had a buggy full of steaks and little debbie cakes and soda and was using a food stamp card, but I won't judge the man who already seems slightly nervous about what he's going through as he groups his items on the belt.  I'm aware that everyone struggles at some point and WIC isn't really anything to be ashamed of since he's providing for his family and someone already had to make the trip to social services to get the WIC to begin with, for whatever reason. #noshame dude, NO shame.  (This mindset is the true mark of adulthood, no sarcasm font.)

-I had a dream last night that kinda twisted my entire day yesterday together in a freaky way.  Apparently, I had posted a lasagna recipe on Teh Blog.  Nadine and her partner (who isn't gay, but dreams don't have to make sense) had tried my recipe and Nadine had just walked in the door of their apartment and she skyped me to tell me they were about to partake of this lasagna and that they'd had a hard time not burning it.  There were 2 lasagnas in 8x8 metal pans (like what I make brownies in to take to a party) and they might have had some dark brown edges where they were in the back of the oven, but they weren't really burnt at all.  As I was watching them eat the lasagna, they each had their own 8x8 pan and were just eating straight from the pan with a fork, straight out of the oven (not sure how they weren't burning their mouths, but again dreams don't have to make sense...), they started to tell me how good it was.  Between bites they admitted that they didn't use velvetta cheese and they added ricotta cheese and changed a few other changes and right as I was about to get upset (because velvetta cheese is the secret to delicious lasagna), the music they had playing in the background got really loud.  At which point, I semi-came to and thought my alarm was going off, but it was actually Mr. Scrooge's alarm (mine usually goes off first, thus the confusion).  I think this dream was a wrap off of my day yesterday.  I got lots of comments on my book review post and I was unable to go to everyone else's post and make comments and I was feeling like a bad blogger.  I had also Skyped yesterday with a coworker to be able to learn somethings so I could write some documentation.  I have no idea where the lasagna came from.. but I have a feeling I'll be making lasagna soon.

ok, probably not.. except for the someone is going to make lasagna part.

-Restarting running HUUUURRRRRTTTTSSSSSS my pieces.  (Ok, this is less of a confession and more of a whine.)

-I'm a candy hoarder.  I get legit upset that someone else is going to eat all my favorite candies, even though I'm horrible at eating my own candy (and now I'm an adult and can buy more if it gets eaten).  I was known to stash candy when I was a kid in my room so no one else would eat it (particularly those Blue Razz Berry suckers with the gum in the middle).  Then I wouldn't want to eat it because then it wouldn't be there if I wanted it later.  I was the same way about using my Lisa Frank stickers.. once it was gone, it was gone. 

-I brought my Chicks, Bunnies, and Dicks Ducks candy to work but after getting lots of looks while I was eating them in a meeting (I'm assuming I was crunching too loudly), I swapped them for the Starburst jellybeans that were at home.  Last night, I was in the kitchen and I heard the rustling sound of a ziploc bag and then the sound of a handful of candies being gathered and tossed into a mouth and I turned around and wide-eye glared at Mr. Scrooge then in my best purposely whiny voice announced, "BUT THOSE ARE MYYYYY EASTER CANDIES!!!!"  I'm ridiculous.

-I searched for a panties gif at work (you're welcome HR) and my day was made when I found this Tom Hiddleston gif in the results...
 

It's Ok Thursday #10

It's Ok....

...to have an It's Ok Thursday post as your only post in a week.
...to have mostly given up on FitBF.
...to have the desire to go to bed at 8pm, but know that you wouldn't go to sleep till late anyways, so instead you stay up and then go to bed late.
...to feel proud of your knowledge from reading the Bible.
...to not tell people your goals, not because you think they will judge you or it's a secret, but because you know that if there is encouragement from the outside, you'd feel disappointed if you didn't succeed and your own disappointment is enough.
...to feel like the frustration is just too overwhelming to continue being involved in something.
...to send your friends text messages saying "I miss your face and your name being at the top of my text message list."
...to eat jelly beans every day for a month after Easter.
...to worry that jelly beans are making you gain weight.
...to go on a guilt run due to feeling like you're gaining weight.
...to be excited about the warmer weather, even though you really prefer fall/winter.
...to dread summer because it means 90°+ temps and no taking Phil out for runs because the pavement will be too hot for his paws (sorry I never realized that ZepZep).
...to walk into Physical Therapy and not be hurting for once.
...to just enjoy the heating pad time during Physical Therapy
...to use chicken stock in your beef pot roast.
...to buy OJ just for the container it's in....
...to be extremely disappointed about the season finale of Downton Abbey (season 3).  I just want to shout it from the rooftops, but I don't want to give away any spoilers and its.killing.me.
...to be kinda excited the people that rank above me aren't in the office this week.
...to be excited over getting our new inventory system to work.
...to enjoy repetitive acts like putting all 1500+ items into the inventory.

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!!!!

Fill in the Blank Friday #22

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 1.  One thing I plan on doing to relax this weekend is     taking a nap after the Greyhound haul on Saturday.   Maybe writing some blogs, but definitely being lazy.  Maybe finally finishing the rest of Weeds on Netflix… who knows.

2.  A big pet peeve of mine is    people that drive significantly under the speed limit.. Example: Speed Limit is 50, driver goes 35.  FML. 

3.  I am really loving   not breaking into a sweat every time I walk outside AND seeing red leaves on the trees...  because WINTER IS COMING!!!

4. The rain is    still absolutely one of my favorite things.  Actually, when it started raining in the middle of the night last night, I woke up, said a little prayer of thanks and immediately fell back asleep.  The only thing better is snow, duh. 

5. My favorite girly indulgence is    earrings.  I’m too lazy to paint my nails or wear makeup, but I LUB ME SOME EARRINGS.

6. A song I always get stuck in my head is    whatever was playing last when I get out of car, usually.  Or sometimes my alarm song.  It just depends on the day. 

7.  The best cure for stress is    music and/or working out (in whatever form you choose, naked activity is considered working out in my book.. so what if I’m excited about vacation?). 

Recent Realizations

-Dresses that I used to be able to see my belly in....  don't show my belly anymore.  Sometimes the evidence of my working out catches me by surprise.  Sometimes, its really nice to see the evidence.

-I haven't worn pants (excluding pj pants) since I came back from Australia.  Only dresses and skirts, with the exception of pj pants going home from my surgery and lounging around my house.

-points 1 and 2 could mean pants shopping for me whenever I start wearing pants again.... :(

-Today I was selected for urinalysis (pee/drug testing... since I work in a job where I'm required to be drug free to pay my taxes).  For the first time, maybe ever, I was able to say, no I'm not on ANY meds.  OMG!?!?!? YYAYYYY!!!

-I generally dislike wordpress blogs because I can't usually subscribe to them via google reader.  Often I can subscribe by email, but I don't want that.  I want blogs on my Reader Feed... that's what its for.  :(

-Recently, I've had this problem where I think of something that needs to be done or asked someone and immediately forget.  As, pick up the phone and call someone to ask a question and forget what I'm going to ask them from the moment I picked up the phone (probably after saying, "I need to ask so-and-so this exact question.").  It's seriously annoying.

-I have ELEVEN mosquito bites on my left ankle from going to the dog park to let the dogs go business after it rained earlier this week.  ELEVEN.  I can't even just put 11 because that isn't significant enough.  There are 5 on my right ankle.  SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?

-If we're FB friends, you have probably recently experienced a spike in my FB posts.  Blame Teh Bear's work.  They no longer allow electronics while the operators are on shift, meaning that our chat time has been significantly cut and he's no longer available to intercept the comments that I feel like I NEED to tell someone.

-When it comes to parking at my apartment, I get movie-theater-seating syndrome.  What is movie-theater-seating syndrome?  It's what Pirate Gone Marine and Teh Bear have.  They absolutely can't stand it when you're in a empty-ish theater and someone decides to sit right next to/in front of/behind you.  I don't really care so much in relation to going to the movie theater... but at my apartment, its different.  The road into my apartment is curvy, I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea, but it's not.  It makes all the parking spots weirdly sized.  Recently, we've had several people move out of my building (Yay to the kids being gone from below me!).  This has created more open parking spots.  I have a spot that I've claimed since I moved in.  I always try to park there if its open, when it's not open, I say dirty things in my mind to the person that parked in "my spot".  It's on the very end beside the dumpster, which means that only one side of my car will get door dings if its hit.  I even try to park as close to the curb as possible, tire touching close.  A few nights ago, I parked in "my spot" and apparently, everyone thought it was snuggle Yurtle night.  There was 3 open spots at the other end of the row and no one parked in them, but there were 3 cars right beside me....  Now, I'm not a parking lot stalker, I just currently have 2 dogs.  They go out before I go to bed (usually after everyone is home) and when I wake up in the morning (usually before everyone leaves).  I know this is a stupid thing.... but.  Yurtle is still new, I must protect her.  PS.  This argument is invalid in large parking lots like at Target/Walmart/etc.  In those situations, the far ends of the parking lot are the only safe spots, usually.  PS, I'm 98% certain I obtained my 2 perma-dents on Yurtle's sides from the vehicles the kids downstairs were transported in.  The burgundy and aqua paint matched their parent's vehicles too well for me not to be suspicious.

-Not having AC makes me swangry.  That's a term I just made up.  It's like hangry, but instead of hungry, its sweaty.  Because when I sweat, I get angry.  It was 81°F and rising in my apartment..  my rage was growing with the same upward trend.  It's was 82°F outside, probably with a breeze.  NOT OK.  It's was cooler in Florida than in MD.  Seriously?  Teh Bear suggested I open the windows when I chatted with him on his break (the only opportunities we now have to chat in the evenings)..  I did that.  I was still sweating.  I then went with Teh Rucrazie's suggestion of "moar neked."

-I've seen dead/fallen leaves on my running trails!!!  What does this mean?  Either we seriously need some rain or WINTER IS COMING!!!  Maybe both?  Preferably the latter?  Let's just go ahead and put on some excited faces for an upcoming season change x2.  Fall and Winter are definitely my faves.  Winter being my #1.  AHHHH!!!!  Fall AND winter in America?!?!?!?!?  I'm not sure I'm going to be able to contain myself. For those of you who take all your seasons for granted, try a year in GTMO or a year in Bahrain.  When it's pretty much perma-summer let me know how excited you'd be for the seasons you love the most not getting coverage.

-I frequently refer to The Song of Fire and Ice series as the Game of Thrones series, which isn't what it's actually called.  Pretty sure if I called it The Song of Fire and Ice series very few people would comprehend what I am talking about.  This makes me sad.  The first book of the series was called Game of Thrones.. the rest of the series isn't.  Thank you television for making people less intelligent.

-I'm almost done editing Australia photos.  I'm not really sure what I'm going to blog about once those are done......  that's a lie.

I'm going to visit Teh Bear at the end of the month in 2 weeks in 13 days!!!!!  YAY!  I'm sure that means more Adventures with Teh Bear!  Maybe.  I know we've got some family activities planned since his brother will be in town.  I also found a groupon for massages.  There is also a Kilwin's that requires my presence.

Then, there is The Color Run on Sept 9th!!!  YAY!  Soooo excited to run it with Miss Reflective and another friend from GTMO.  Also, Teh Dad and Teh Step-Mom will potentially be making a visit to S. MD that same weekend, so they will get to see me all colored up!

Then, October potentially holds training so I can be a lock picker.  Ok, just kidding, but it is lock related, I'll be trained in inspecting doors to see if they meet requirements for classified storage rooms.  That will be in almost Louisville, KY, so Teh Ginger may need to keep his schedule open for a Teh Megan visit.  Especially if I'm that close (2.5 hours if you're reading this).

November starts holidays!!!

Ahhh so much excitement to be had!  Ok, you are now released from your excited face.

We'll let Kristen Stewart take it from here.. she's always sooo excited.  Some of the memes of her not smiling really make me laugh.

Australia Adventures #9

For our last real outing, we headed to Perth again and then back to Fremantle later.  I really wanted to get some panoramic shots, as they are my newest, favoritest thing (with .gifs).  I had been told that Kings Park was the best place to get views of the city line.  We set out that morning and, luckily, beat the rain.  It started to drizzle on us by the time we were done at the park.  We considered walking around a few more trails, but I was getting hungry hangry.  We had lunch at the park cafe, which was actually pretty good.. but I learned a valuable lesson.  Milkshakes in Australia are NOT the same as an American milkshake.  mmk, thanx.

The park had a few war memorials (always cool for 2 people in the military), the city view, and (despite it being winter season) enough cool plants for me to be pleased at the photos I was able to get.  Overall, I'd call it a satisfactory trip.. sans the milkshake incident.  /shiver.

I wished the family that was here before I took the photo had read the sign about the SILENCE.
Because quiet, they were not.

My travel companion and I couldn't get over how cool the flame was.

With some of Perth in the background.

The other side of the flame fountain (I'm not really sure what to call this)

Hooyah, NAVY!

WWI women's memorial (I think).

Shrooms!

I'm not really sure what most of these following flowers actually are.  There were some signs, but I couldn't really tell what was what.  Nonetheless, we don't have most of these plants in America (that I've ever seen), so I was THRILLED.  YAY tourist!

A cool tree.

We were warned well in advance not to try to out drink the Aussies.  Yes, no worries on that.
When you're one of the most isolated cities in the world, you have to fend for yourself...
which means, brewing your own goods.

An explanation of the seasons, which I found VERY helpful.

We waited on this fountain for several minutes because it shot up like Old Faithful if you waited long enough..

Old Faithful-esque... Thank you grounds man for ruining my photo...
All of them of the fountain shooting up.  Jerk.

CAW!

I'm not going to lie, winter is definitely my favorite season.  I LUUUURRRRRVVVEEEEEEEEEEEE snow (in case you didn't already know).  My allergies are under control, the cold weather is great for snuggling, I hate sweating, you can have beautiful days in the winter without all the suffocating heat, the potential for snow days (come on, you love this too, unless you work for a psycho company who forces you to put yourself in danger to get to work, or else you're fired... you know who you are), I can run Phil on the street shoulder again (since the pavement won't be too hot for his feet)...  Winter is just the bestest.  Since I'm reading the Game of Thrones series (which is actually called A Song of Ice and Fire, but no know actually knows that, thank you HBO), I have taken to saying, "Winter is coming."  Luckily, I get to say it every year!  Win.

What does this have to do with Australia?  It was winter while we were in Australia.  It wasn't snowing of course, but it was a great break from the US heat.  I was able to break my wear flip-flops only streak!  I'm extremely glad that we didn't go to Australia during their summer, I heard its absolutely miserable.  Good timing, Navy, good timing.





Want to catch up on the Australia Adventures???1st day off in Australia (summary)
2nd day off in Australia (summary)
San Francisco (photos)
Perth Zoo a, b, c (photos)
The Indian Ocean and downtown Perth at night (photos)
Caversham Wildlife Park a, b, c (photos)
Fremantle Prison (photos)
walking around Fremantle (the city) (photos)
Perth from King's Park (photos)
HMAS Ovens (submarine) (photos)
Sydney at night (photos and a story)
Sydney in the morning (photos and a story)
Australia Panoramics (photos)