On the Road

I have been traveling the last few days. Last night I didn't quite get as far as I wanted and have ended up at a Holiday Inn in Wauseon, Ohio. Up until this point in my trip there has not been any snow except for some flurries here and there. Well, there is about three inches on my truck. Fun.
What makes this really exciting is I forgot to pack my jacket. Not that my jacket was really warm anyway, but it is more the principle I think.

300th Comment - February

Fairlane has given me my 300th comment of the month.

Congratulations!

You are now entitled to my imaginary collection of troll foot cozies.

Thank you for your continued support!

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part XI - C

Not that I expect anyone to keep track of my health issues, I mean this is a web journal or my diary or whatever and all you are reading bits and pieces of my personal life. Mel, keeps on insisting that I say "exactly" what is wrong in her comments, and I feel I have covered this. NO DOCTOR HAS THE EXACT UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN BODY. But the last one has some good guesses and what little he has told has made sense to me.

The EPB and the APL are my problem tendons. The goal at the moment is to keep me from moving my thumb using those two tendons. Surgery is needed for the APL and therapy for the EPB. The best recovery time suggested is six months.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part XI - B

I was made a new splint today, but unfortunately after several hours it seems to hurt me more than help me. There is no way to go back and have it modified or remade today so first thing in the morning I will be visiting the hospital.
Anyone who has experience with a major base in the early morning hours knows just how fun traffic will be. Hopefully, the burned off gas will be worth it.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part XI

Not just anyone can get an MRI in Jacksonville. At least not in a short amount of time. In about two weeks I will have an MRI, then about a week later my doctor and I will look at it. "We" are going to figure out when I have surgery after this appointment.

So no matter how you look at it I am looking at about month or so before any action takes place.

RevGals' Friday Five: Heaven

Singing Owl of RevGals has had the loss of her sister and has decided to a heavenly Friday five. She writes:

So how about we share five "heavenly" things? These can me serious or funny or a combination of the two.
What is your idea of a heavenly (i.e. wonderful and perfect):

1. Family get-together
I would have to say the first few days of whatever leave period I am on.

2. Song or musical piece
Ride of the Valkyries (The beginning of Act III of Die Walküre by Richard Wagner) My favorite is actually the Apocalypse Now version with the "warfare" in the background or foreground depending on your point of view.

3. Gift
Good Hug (Many)

4. You choose whatever you like-food, pair of shoes, vacation, house, or something else. Just tell us what it is and what a heavenly version of it would be.
I would normally answer with Twizzlers, but I think I may be in a transition phase with that. I suppose food wise I would have to say, roast duck. It is just awesome.

5. And for a serious moment, or what would you like your entrance into the next life to be like?
What, from your vantage point now, would make Heaven "heavenly?"
I would like to think that it is better than "this" but I am ready for a surprise. (I make fun of it all the time.)
I would say riding the breeze on a warm summer day would be just fine.

The Meaning of the Asterisk

I thought I wrote about his before, but someone emailed me asking and if one is asking then there are twenty others.

I have an asterisk next the blogs that I have classified "holy."

I am not a holy person, I am though a man, and men tend to need road maps at certain times in life. This addition you could say is my landmark to help me find my way.

Take that anyway you all feel you need to take it.

Up in the Morning Before the North Carolina Sun

Normally, I would be doing some sort of PT right now. I haven't really done anything in the morning that would qualify to be PT. After my visit with my new doctor, "we" learned that I have two tendons with problems. One would require surgery and the other therapy. He had explained about all the possible problems that could occur during the surgery and he explained what I still need to get done before he can operate. So this morning I have a" laundry list" of crap to do and call.

I haven't heard anything about the house since yesterday. I don't expect to until later today, the sellers are in California. Apparently, there are several others that put in offers besides me on Tuesday, so someone is not going to get what they want. My agent "said" they were leaning towards mine, but who knows what the fuck that means.

Blog Roll Amnesty Redux

I stole this idea from Mathman who stole it from Rotus which is nifty in its ownright.

"It appears that the rules by which Technorati, Google and other important social websites and search engines rank blogs do not take blogrolls into consideration but do count links within posts. I want my blogroll to count so I am posting it here. If you would like to be included in my blogroll, please leave a comment on this post, including your blog’s URL. I make no promises as to performance but, at least have good intentions.

My Blogroll Policy (Redux) : If you ask me to, I will link to your blog or website even if it offends me, when I get around to it. I reserve the right to decline to link, or to remove a link without notice and without giving a reason... This policy is subject to change without notice. Don’t argue with me, this is my blog."

Wyldth1ng's Blogroll:

You've Really Got to Love Your People*
Yearning For God*
When Will I Use This?
Ton-Fifty-ONE
The Village Carpenter
The Daily Gut
Suitably Flip
Sharing a Journey*
Seeking Authentic Voice*
Rogue Gunner
Random Thoughts of an Aspiring Expat
Presbyterian Gal*
Presbyfruit
Post Secret
Possible Water*
PoliTits
MilBlogs
Magdalene's Musings*
Lost in Lima Ohio, A True Crime Blog
LadyBurg*
Jeans, Flops, and Jesus*
Inner Dorothy*
Identity Mixed
I, Splotchy
Hot Cup Lutheran*
FranIAm
Faith in Community*
distributorcap NY
Confederate Yankee
Cheesehead in Paradise*
Bruttally Honest
Blonde Sagacity
Beyond Assumptions

Then this is the extra list that I have not added due to pure lazyness.

RevGalBlogPals*
Zaius Nation
We Do It Too
The Warped Mind of Ron
The Glamorous Life of a Hausfrau
Random thoughts and Acts of Stupidty
Random Laundry
No Smoking in the Skull Cave
Mock, Paper, Scissors
Meaning and Authenticity*
Jonestown
Growing Where I'm Planted*
Freida Bee
Bits and Odd Pieces of Mindy's Kingdom
Aunt Dahlia
all the way from oy to vey
My Saturday Evening Post

Vexing Day

I apologize to everyone I have supposed to contact either yesterday or today. I have been busy doing stuff that I should have been doing all weekend. Today, I put on offer on a home, which I can not get my hopes up because so did three of people. The home has been on the market one day. I changed my offer twice just to make mine better than the others.

Also, in possible good news, I am seeing another doctor tomorrow for my wrist/hand. Hopefully, progress will take place.

Pain Without Love

If you are a regular reader you know that I have been in pretty much constant pain for about three months now. Most of my regular readers are also married and/or have kids. I am a single man. No surprises right? I want to have sex (throwing out a number here) four times a day. Luckily for me "rosy" never turns me down. (Alright, where am I going with this?) Well, the variables of me trying to have sex are really against me. The best way to really increase my odds is to go to a non-military town or find an all girl sorority. Here is the catch to my fun, every time I move my left wrist or thumb, pain takes over and whatever I am doing takes second seat. It almost seems like I am in a catch-22.

(I suppose I am not blogger savvy enough because my videos don't seem to want to work for me, that is okay.)

State of the Wyldth1ng

A friend of mine sent me that survey link that I posted yesterday. She thought it would hint to me that I am ready to settle down or some crap like that. The thing is, and I have posted this before so nothing new here, I have been DIVORCED three times. I got the t-shirt, then she took it away.

Funny part, about my luck is that I really haven't been trying to hard. I mean I just have been walking up to some of these women after a few minutes of observation time and saying something like let's go out Saturday night with me. Maybe because I have been bold in my statements, I don't know. Granted, after my encounter with the pixie, I have been staying clear of the ones that look like they are in their low twenties.

Here is a kicker in the whole situation, my latest night was last night. I went to sleep at about midnight. I haven't been drinking much for a couple of reasons. It is either beer or drugs and there is no libido with my drugs and legally I can't drive with them. The drugs are worse than the drinking, wacky. Plus, I don't need to do anything daring, I did that shit when I was in my low to mid twenties. It didn't get me very far.

Unfortunately, I encountered my "house mates" while out last night. I have come to the conclusion that these two are completely oblivious to other peoples feelings and emotions. They are perfect for each other. Again, both said some derogatory comments to me and had no idea that they were pissing me off. I can not express how hard it is to be "nice" to someone that isn't very in return.

Since being back I have been trying to have some of my local friends read the blog or at least glance at this sucker. It is like pulling teeth from a rhino. "They" have no problem going to there MySpace account, so I put a couple of links on mine. Doesn't even require any fucking typing of their part. (myspace.com/wyldth1ng Just in case you all want to see my nipple.) I really have not updated it lately, so much to do so little time. I need to get rid of some of this shit, I just have too much crap of me out on the web.

Some Silly Survey

Are You Fit to Commit?

My Result: fit to commit because you know what you want

You don't need us to tell you that you're on the right track. A cool and confident person, you know what you want; now it's just a matter of finding it. Even more important, you know that love is about much more than what kind of clothes they wear or car they drive. And you're ready to make it work.


You've gotten to a place where you are happy with your life, and you're ready to share it with someone special. So whether you've found them or are still looking, know that this time, you'll get what you want.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=fittocommitnewogt&c=50652

Good News Saturday

My Dad is doing okay.

My vacation plans are turning out better than I thought they would.

Someone bought me a beer last night (first beer bought by someone else).

Actually I thought I had more good news to write about but that is about it. The house I liked, I was too late to put an offer on so that is back to the drawing board with that. My wrist is unchanged. My truck still has "extra" dents in it that I didn't put there. I am still unhappy about my current living arrangement( should have thought more about it before agreeing).

RevGals' Friday Five: Baptism

For today's RevGals Friday five, I am telling you about my baptismal experiences. (Has something to do with this guy named, Nicodemus, to which I don't think I ever heard of before.)

1. When and where were you baptized? Do you remember it? Know any interesting tidbits?
November 1975, might have been a bad experience since I do not remember a thing about it. Maybe it was good, hard to say.

2. What's the most unexpected thing you've ever witnessed at a baptism?
I once saw a baby boy add to the baptismal water, you could say he left a deposit for the service.

3. Does your congregation have any special traditions surrounding baptisms?
Haven't found a good church since returning so this question does not apply as of yet.

4. Are you a godparent or baptismal sponsor? Have a story to tell?
I am a godfather of three. A niece and a boy and girl of an old friend from my first enlistment. Unfortunately, I have been neglecting my godfather duties the past few years. So off to the penalty box, I go.

5. Do you have a favorite baptismal song or hymn?
I would be lying if I said I did, no don't know of anything right off the top of my head.

The Spirits Are Not Calling

Ring! Ring!
Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?
Dial tone.


My life regardless of how happy I try to make it so, just doesn't go that way. I don't think I need to go into my wrist situation, that is well covered. My Dad is in a questionable state at the moment and hopefully will hear more by the afternoon. I have been trying to find and buy a reasonable home and that has not been going well at all. (The whole east side of NC is swamp land.) I have some issues with people that were, in theory, looking over my interests while in Iraq and at the moment doesn't look like a pleasant ending. I am not really happy about my current living situation, but I figure I can hold out till I close on a home. I flat out told my "housemate" that I was depressed and he ridiculed me even further. What kind of bastard does that? The good part at the moment, may be a happening or two in Pennsylvania in about two weeks. Plans for that are looking good at this time.

Something to Say

I have been trying to do some planning for my vacation and for the record, it is looking like it will be a good leave period.

This makes me happy.

Nothing to Say

I have nothing to say today.

I am in pain.



Sometimes a hug would be nice.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part X, The New Experience

I feel like today was a waste of a day. I went to Wilmington to see a civilian doctor, which is about sixty eight miles from Jacksonville with my vehicle. I know that is the correct mileage because that is what the sign read on the road and my odometer confirmed it. So, I go to the doctor's office and see a "nurse" tell her all my ailments that I have with my wrist she sends me for x-rays right after I said the x-rays in Iraq didn't do the doctors any good since I don't have any broken bones.

I go to another building in Wilmington get x-rays which takes about an hour and a half. "They" put them on CD. I go back over to see this nurse and she says wait here and takes the CD. I am put in a room about eight feet by three feet. It has bad paneling from the seventies on the walls and orange/brown carpeting. By this point in time my wrist is throbbing with pain. See the nurse had me take my splint off for the x-rays and discarded it for me. How nice of her.
(I did a bunch of paperwork as well before and after the x-rays, mostly saying if my insurance doesn't pay, I have to. Go Navy team!)

After about fifteen minutes in comes the "doctor" he presses on my wrist and thumb in ways show pain in my face. I tell him this hurts, that fucking hurts, don't do that again, you all know basic doctor-patient stuff. He pulls out this needle of white fluid and tells me, "this won't hurt me at all." I think that was a joke, I didn't laugh. Before he injects me, I tell him "they" did the same thing in Iraq and it last a few days. He just ignored me and tells me that I might feel a slight pinch.

This guy obviously needs testing on because it fucking hurt a lot. Then he says I won't need a splint and use my wrist and hand like I would normally. After a brief pause, he then says he will need to see me in 3 to 4 weeks. It has been about three hours since then and I am in more pain than "normal" at the moment.



Tell you all the truth, I am fucking depressed right now.

Updating Pictures

Slowly, I have been updating the pictures of me through out the web. It takes a little longer without the full use of my left hand. The above picture is me with the air traffic control tower at Kuwait International Airport in the background. Obviously, I am wearing my MARPAT utility uniform and my sidearm is a Berretta 9 mm.

For now, my profile picture is the last thing we see leaving Navy customs in Kuwait before going home. (Unless you have a crappy plane and get delayed several times and have to go through customs several more times.)

**Upadate for MEL*** I am not on a flight line, I am in a parking lot. The flight line was on the other side of the wall. Which if you ever get to come out to Iraq you can witness that for yourself. Hugs.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part IX

After being dicked around a bit on that XXX-HELP number, I finally got some head way and Tricare has issued a referral off base. So I call up these people and I have an appointment to see a "real" doctor! I am so excited. Well, a little bit at least.

The lady I talked to said just go their website and fill out the patient forms prior to arriving.
Holy crap! There is about 20 pages of redundant info. If they wanted a copy of something why not use a copier.

I am just glad, that I seem to be going somewhere with this.

Coming Home - Time Off

Everyone I talk to lately keeps reminding me I will be taking time off or will be going on vacation. Okay.

After 392 days of doing the same routine day in and day out, time off sounds good, but so far, for me, it lasted one day.

I still get up at five in the morning. I do a little exercise that I am able to do without hurting myself more. I then have been wandering around aimlessly for the last few days.

In a nut shell, the only real priorities in my life is to have semi meaningful sex with a woman. I realized a long time ago that it is highly unlikely to have completely meaningful sex so I don't push my boundaries on that.

I have "technically" gone out on two dates. One with girl that is five years my junior and jumps around like a pixie a lot. She also doesn't shut the fuck up, so kissing was a utter disaster. The other girl is ten years my senior and very physical when the lights go out. I am sorry, I am not a rag doll or chew toy.

I had met some friends for cocktails on Friday four women and one other guy. The guy is dating one of the girls, but secretly wants to date one of the other girls. We had a good time in general, lots of love taps on the ass. (Would call this the good game slap, but there was no game on the TV.)

Silly People in this World, We Call a Blogsphere

I really ought be on my way out the door right now. I am supposed to be meeting up with a some friends (girls) around nine. I stopped by a blog or two and it kind of turned into a dozen blogs or so. It seems like everyone is welcoming me home. Wacky and crazy and snazzy and silly all at the same time!

I appreciate it and it means the world to me, thank you all for your posts!

RevGals Friday Five: Lent

Mother Laura at the RevGals produced the following questions about Lent:

1. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras and/or Ash Wednesday this week? How?
It has past without me knowing about it.

2. What was your most memorable Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday/Lent?
One year when I was much younger, like a pixie, myself and a few others rented a UHaul and drove to New Orleans. We used the UHaul as our bed/transportation/happy place for the four of us. It was the best non-remembered Mardi Gras that I have had.

3. Did you/your church/your family celebrate Lent as a child? If not, when and how did you discover it?
I went to church, got some ashes on my forehead and went back to school. The Catholics sometimes would just not show up to school and do some church thing. Wacky.

4. Are you more in the give-up camp, or the take-on camp, or somewhere in between?
I do not understand this question. I actually have no idea how I am supposed to answer this question.

5. How do you plan to keep Lent this year?
Sacrifices, right? I did that last year, thought I did a pretty good job at it. I think I am going to take a break this year. Time off for good behavior type of thing. What you do think?

Dating and Giving

I had asked this hot single mom out as I previously stated I would and she said yes. But there is a catch, she works a lot. So finding a time to "go out" is going to be harder than I thought. We might go out on a lunch next week and then go from there.

It was definitely a confidence booster, I asked out one person and one person said yes. That is 100 percent. I think when I was in my twenties my percentage was like four percent. Plus, I am wearing this cast/splint on my arm so I was worried about that part as well.

I have another friend who is having transportation problems. I said I would pledge some money for the cause but put a time limit on my charity(Monday). This was Tuesday when I talked to my friend and I have not heard crap since then. I am thinking if I was in the situation and someone had offered to help, I would take the help. Hell, I would take help, now if I could get it, but this person's situation is far worse than mine. Their are still a few days to go, but there was also a good reason to put a time limit on my offer. This not a stringing offer, it is a one time deal. I had watched a show on TV yesterday that was similar to my offer with my friend, wacky.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part VIII

Going by the preliminaries, it is sad to say it but my care was better in Iraq. The theory was once this magic email occurred then I would see some orthopedic doc, maybe get an MRI, receive the surgery I need and then be on my merry way of recovery. That was a beautiful theory wasn't it?

Well, my doc can't get a hold of this other doc so he gives me this number XXX-HELP. At first, I am thinking my drugs have me thinking funny, then I remembered I didn't take any yet. Then I was thinking, he is playing a joke on me. Nope that was the number. (I purposely didn't give you all the prefix.) So I called the number and this is my conversation:

Lady: Blah blah blah, HELP line.

Me: This is Staff Sergeant Wyldth1ng is this the number to set up an appointment with orthopedics?

Lady: Do you have a consult?

Me: Yes.

Lady: Give me you blah, blah and blah?
(I hear "blah blah and blah")

Me: Can you repeat that? I didn’t understand you.

Lady: Give me your SSN, your address and birth date.

So, I give her the info and she says: That is not your address.

Me: Yes, it is.

Lady: No we have ____ as your address.
I then explain to her that this address she has is an address I used when I was stationed here in 1996 and I had just returned from a deployment and what I gave her is my true address.

Lady: Have a good day.

Me: Hold on! Hold on! You didn't give me an appointment date or time.

Lady: You won't have one for at least a month. You will need to call back to this number in about a week to ten days, select option four and then you might have an appointment to see orthopedics.

Me: You have got to be kidding me.

Lady: No, sir, this the process.

Me: I have been dealing with this since November in IRAQ, there has to be a solution that is quicker.

Lady: I am sorry sir. You are just going to have to call back, maybe you could try early next week. Have a good day.

Me: Have a better day.

Vacation Winter ' 08

Roughly, this is my travel route for vacation. I will be getting about two weeks and I plan to have about 5 solid days in Wisconsin. Then it goes by the way of the caribou. If you would like to sport for a dinner or lunch on my travel, please email me at my Yahoo/Wyldth1ng address and we can try to set something up.

I have lots of leave I am going to have to "burn" this year so opportunities are up the wazoo.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part Seven, Subsection A

For the most part my wrist hurts all the time. On a scale of one to ten, during the early morning it is a bout a two or three, unless I sleep funny then it is hard to predict. By mid day, if I keep it immobilized, I am looking at about a six; if I use my left arm (like a dumbass) then it tends to be about an eight or nine. By the time someone would have their afternoon tea it has never been less than an eight. As you can see, it is obvious that by the time I go nightie-nite the pain level just fucking sucks.

On my trip back I had to "ration" my meds so I was waiting until I felt I was going to cry from the pain before I would take anything. So for about a week or so my pain levels never really dropped below a six. Since being back, with the invention of beer, I have been able to not take my meds as often as I would have in Iraq. Also obviously, I do not take meds with alcohol. If I have a beer or whatever, I wait until the theoretical chart says the alcohol is out of my system before taking any medication. Because I love beer more than I love being in a loopy state, I prefer to drink my beer when I can.

Some of you have inquired about the typing thing, well, I probably should not be doing that. I should probably have someone else type it for me, and since I am single the odds of that happening are pretty slim. (On the lighter side of life, I am thinking about asking this hot single mom out for a date on Friday or Saturday which ever day she may have free.)

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part Seven A

I am waiting on an email from one doc to another doc. I will not receive the email. In theory, once this so called email occurs, the care will follow soon afterward.

I will keep you all posted.

Coming Home - The Transition

First, I want to say thank you all very much for the super warm wishes. I cannot tell you all how much it means to me.

I am writing this at about five in the morning, I have been awake since two and cannot get back to sleep. ( Technically, this is not my computer or connection, I am borrowing a friends since my computer is not connecting for some darn reason or another.) I did watch the first half of the game, saw a little of the half, then an overwhelming tiredness(is that a word?) came over me. It has actually been like that since I have been back. I figured it out toady what it is, I was "going to bed" at noon and waking at six pm in Iraq. Well, that would be about 8 pm and two in the morning here in North Carolina. So I am going to have to work on that one.

I have been having a hard time focusing my attention on anything longer than about five minutes. Which I have not figured that one out yet. I have been driving okay, it is just conversations with people have not been going the way it should.

I had a beer! I have had several beers. My first was actually in Shannon, Ireland and it was a Heineken (not sure on the spelling). Since being back I have been sticking to Miller Lite, except for one Arrogant Bastard I had with a meal on Saturday. I also had a "body shot" on Sunday. My friend said it was a "welcome home body shot," who am I to argue. It was a Washington Apple.

I am living with two other guys and a girl. One of the guys is dating the girl, all of the guys were in Iraq. This should be a temporary "home" for me, maybe a few months, since I have been looking at homes. This house that I am living currently, I would never be able to afford, it is at least double the size home that I am looking at and new. I have been focusing on homes that are at least twenty years old and have good (proven) foundations.

Hopefully, sometime today I should find out the when, what and where of my wrist. The doc game me another prescription of "Vitamin P" and I nearly had to give away my first born just to take it away from the pharmacy.

It will be a few days at least until I get back into a routine on the Internet. So am sorry if I have not visited your blog or website. I am thinking, I may shut down some of my other blogs. I have five. And I have a website that I really have not been using to its full potential. Actually I have two websites that I have not been using to the full potential, going to have to figure something out about that as well.

My leave is in question, big time. Everything is pretty much hinged on the wrist. My command all knows about it. Which is to say, the CO, XO(Executive Officer), Sgt. Maj. (Sergeant Major), my boss which is a Captain, his boss which is a Major, and a whole bunch of enlisted people in between. I have about eighteen combat leave days to take, which means that my first eighteen days of leave will not be taxed or you could say I will get all of my pay whenever I do take it.

I am sorry for such a lengthy post, it is not like me to write so much at one time. But if you made it this far, you have the basic gist of what is going on during this transition.

Coming Home - Surprises

It seemed that God did not want us, my squadron, to come home to the US, at least not on time. We had delay after delay after delay, well, you get the picture. I personnaly had one extra days worth of clothes with me, which turned out to not be enough, so I bought forty bucks of "skivies" and a towel to accomodate the delay we had in Kuwait. It appears that when a unit departs from wherever they are assigned a number that cooresponds with an aircraft. My unit is large enough to use a whole aircraft by themselves, so we were using a plane that seated a few hundred. Well, we were to fly on that plane no matter what, and that particular aircraft broke down often, hence the delays.

Six days later, on January 31st, we finally arrived in North Carolina. After, a brief formation in which our CO(Comanding Officer) told us how good we had done and one Marine was granted the "First Kiss"( another example a depressing moments), we were dismissed.

On my way to grab my seabags and get out of there, another Marine approached me and said my Mom was there. His proof that she was indeed my Mom was, he rattled off my family's names and my first name. Still, in disbelief,I walked about the hangar to find my Mom. Now you have to imagine about three hundred Marines and twice as many people in civiliain attire at five o'clock in the morning, not the easiest of situations to find one person. I did a once over decided he was mistaken and went to grab my seabags and get out of there. As I was picking them up he comes back and points to a sign in yellow and black writing that says, " Wyldth1ng, Welcome Home." Okay, well, that pretty much cinches the disbelief at that point, someone is here. Yes, it was worded exactly like that.

So, after grabing my seabags, I go to the sign and behold my Mom was there. Wacky. Thirteen years, and this was a first. Wacky.

My Mom and I spent a day and a half together, did the lunch thing and recieved pedicures. (My Alpha Male brotherhood would never admit to going to get their feet done, I personnally think it is fucking awesome and worth the twenty bucks.) (No, I had clear polish put on.) The next day we had lunch again and then I drove her to the airport. Surprises can be fun.

300th Comment of the January

Magdalene of Magdalene's Musings* has given me my 300th Comment of the month.

Congratulations! You are now entitled to my virtual collection of jackalope ear warmers.

Roar for Powerful Words

Evil Twin's Wife has presented me with this award.
`

In order to pass on the award, I am dish out some advice:

1) Write what is familiar to you.
2) Add humor, because life is humorous.
3) Never forget the little things.

I present this award to (not in any particular order)

distributorcap NY
Blonde Sagacity
Seeking Authentic Voice*
LadyBurg*
Beyond Assumptions

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part VII

It looks like I am in holding pattern with my messed up tendon. My last visit with the Doc, the drugs were downgraded instead of refilled. Vicodin for pain and Benadryl to help with sleep. It has been a few days and neither work as well, if they work at all. It is definitely not cool. I am going to give it another day and see (feel), then I may go back to the Doc. Everyone has said I have been more of a prick lately(not necessarily that nice). I have no doubt the pain/drugs are a factor with that.

Global Warming Here? Part II

It has been in the twenties eight straight nights here. The highest daytime temperature in that time period was 41.

I am sorry, I do not believe that global warming is the cause of the 140 degree heat in the summer and the chilling 20 degree nights in the winter in Iraq. This is a dessert. There is very little vegetation to keep the warmth in the winter and stay cool in the summer.

I do believe the Earth goes through its own temperature shifts. To say the maybe 200 years, being generous, of data suggesting that man has created a warm shift significant enough to change the temperature to extremes out of a planet that is 4.5 billion years old is asinine.

Was man here to create the Ice Age? No.

Maybe TRex was polluting the Earth with his SUV. (I know I am being silly here.)

I believe the Earth will correct itself, no matter what man will do it. I believe the Earth can survive without us. And it will.

Death and Taxes, Part II

It seems lately in the blogosphere(made up word) people have been posting about aging, looking older, mistaken age, or even death.

"You look well, it is better than the alternative."

What is the alternative? I don't remember someone giving me that choice. Where is the ACLU, there must be someone we can sue over this. Maybe it is my parents fault, maybe they made this choice for me, maybe there was this card with four choices on it like Choice A was football star; Choice B honor grad; Choice C poster child for "this is your brain on drugs" commercials; or Choice D live a life making lots of mistakes on the way. It must have been something like that. It was probably tucked away in all those forms at the hospital.

I get reminded constantly of my age, well, I am all banged up. It hurts to walk and lift things, I must be old. I get the finger pointing a lot. I am assuming they are looking at my nice ass. (Well, I think it is nice.) I do ride a bike to and from work and to and from the chow hall (DFAC) everyday. Most of the young guys and gals, skip eating lunch, probably because it is pretty cold outside lately. Wacky.

I thinking I will feel like a twenty something was I get back to the states. Lots of dancing, lots clubbing, lots of fun I have been missing.

RevGals Friday Five:Books

1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why?
The Odd Thomas series, it is very good, by Dean Koontz, unfortunately I still haven't read the third book yet. Captures the imagination and a spice of suspense and mystery and there you go a good book.

2. What is one of your favorite childhood books?
The answer should be obvious, The Monster at the End of This Book. Most children books are read to the children, this one is no exception, a good reader is required.

3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Do tell!
Nope, I have read Genesis and Revelations the most, but that is about it.

4. What is one book you could read again and again?
I am kind of bending the rules of the answers, but Tolkien's series on the Lord of the Rings.

5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why?
I don't really understand anything about "Lenten" because I am a heathen.

And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent?

In theory, I have been writing an autobiography for some time now. I have way to many pages and need to edit to be able to publish. I hope I won't need a blurb to expound on my talent when ever I do publish, we shall see.

Belly Growth, Part IV

I weighed myself today for no particular reason. To my surprise, I lost ten pounds since the last time I posted about my weight. (Yea!) I still need to work at my physique. I am still looking a little soft around the center. This injury is preventing my from doing some the types of exercises I need to be doing. (To not alarm anyone, I got in a little bike accident a few days ago which caused some bruising on the other side of my body.) The exercises that I can do I haven't been doing to regularly and not at all the last few days. So in a nutshell, I need to exercise some more when I get back.

Into the Looking Glass

Realistically speaking, in the near future, I may not be posting as often as I have been on this blog. Sometimes blogaholics get worried if there seems to be an abrupt "stoppage" of posting. Just so no one is alarmed, that is exactly what is going to happen. It won't be tomorrow and it won't be the day after, but sometime in the future there will be a break in "communications."

I have, for some darn reason or another, many different things going on with my life. Some good, some great, and some bad. Hopefully, I didn't lose my mojo while I have been out here. One of my priorities deals with opposite sex. I have some financial stuff to take care of. Living arrangements are always important. And a few things, that crazy as it may seem, I don't blog about.

Flag Etiquette

I have been asked several times about flag etiquette. So, I thought, I would post something and give you all a link. Most people would be surprised what the dos and don'ts of the US Flag Code (link is via the American Legion) actually are.

The following are excerpts from the US Flag code:

Time and occasions for display:

- It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

Respect for the flag:

- The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.

- The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.

- The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Position and manner of display:

- When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak.

- When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.

Top Dollar

I am thinking about buying a home when I get back to the states next to the base where I am stationed. I have been emailing back and forth with two different realtors. I have told them very specific on what my top dollar is and what type of home I am looking for. For some darn reason or another, they keep sending me lists of homes above my top dollar. It is my top dollar for a reason. They don't call it "Top Dollar" and mean it can go up twenty thousand more. Really.

I already figured in my escrow, extra insurance, maintenance, driving to and from work in comparison to renting for the estimated period I will be stationed here. I know what my top dollar is and when my break even point is. Why are these people trying to set me up for failure?

In the year 2000, The Correction

I know everyone has been reading all my posts especially the ones saying I have been taking percocet, right. Well I have been reading every one's comments all night and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why everyone is so interested in my September 10th post. The reason why I can't figure it out is because all night I have been thinking September 12th, in my mind.

You have to find the humor in that, right?

Wacky. So, wacky.

Here I am thinking you all are impressed by the length of the car line, but it was because I mistyped the date and I didn't realize it.

So, to be correct, the line should read:

On September 12, 2001, only military (and very high ranking government employees) were allowed to enter the base.

I am so sorry for the mistake.

In the year 2000

I could have sworn there was a song with either this title or phrase in the chorus. Regardless, Mathman has tagged me in a meme to recollect the year that I was twenty-five. I was twenty-five from mid October of 2000 to mid October of 2001. Wacky. (If I had used the Martian calender I would be only be seventeen, right now.)

1. I had been out of debt the first time in my life a the age of 25, every dollar (after taxes) was "blow" money. It was very exciting for about three months.

2. I had told myself, that I met the woman of my dreams. September 9th of 2001 was the beginning of the end of that marriage (Blog fodder for future). She was the woman who divorced me later and took most of my money and future money for the least amount of time. (Wife number 2)

3. I was at home, which was odd(taking wife to the airport that day), when I recieved a phone call from work to tell me to turn the TV on. About ten seconds later after turning the TV on , a second plane stuck the smoking building. Everything changed after that.

4. I remember thinking gas was expensive, I was just stationed at MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Yuma, Arizona. It was $1.22 a gallon on base. It was not as bad a the cigerettes which were thirty two bucks for a carton on base. I was paying 89 cents for gas (off base) and fourteen bucks for cigerettes in North Carolina earlier in the year.

5. On September 10, 2001, only military (and very high ranking government employees) were allowed to enter the base. I remember being in line of cars and being across the Nissan dealership and not moving, waiting to get on base. This traffic was the same for serveral weeks and we didn't know if it ever was going to different from that.

I tag Diane, Presbyfruit , Magdalene .

This was hard and I am young, seventeen by Martian years. So if you feel you can't do this I understand.

Why do this?

Why do I stay volunteered, enlisted in the Marine Corps? I ask myself that question every time I re-enlist.
It is not the money, even though lately the government has been trying to keep us by throwing a few grand our way.
It is not the sacrifice, at one point last year I went twenty seven days without a shower. Not because I wanted to, because there was not enough water for extras.
It is not for the glory, because unfortunately, other than some family and a few friends, there is no recognition.

I told myself one time that I would "quit" after the Marines' Hymn didn't mean anything to me anymore. That when the National Anthem played my chest didn't swell up with pride.

No, I joined for different reasons, but cannot deny what I have done and cannot imagine what life would be with out the Marine Corps.

3 Sides to Every Coin. Part III

Well, the "they" got me. Do to situations not in my control I am unable to make anymore "alterations" to the site. The file types that make this blog so user friendly is now being blocked my big brother.

I am still able to post though. As you can see.

I will have to make those changes when I get back to the states. Still on the teeter about putting up naked pictures as suggested. I did add a the rating of post before the shut down of such fun things. Little things to make the world go round.

The Daily Grind

Even though going to work has not changed from yesterday other than it has gotten colder, the anticipation of leaving is in the air. I have witnessed some discomforts by people and then hear them replying what the count down is and live with it. That is a good sign and a bad one. While most of are going through the motions of daily life, some are letting things slide. Things that should be corrected. I do my best to correct the things that need correcting when it presents itself to me or around me. It is not a hard task.

In essence the daily grind is going to change soon, and that is a good thing.

Cheesehead Victory

Looking Forward

I am looking forward to:

North Carolina pines
Driving
Going to a store
Buying anything
Drinking some frothy adult beverages
Sleeping In
Jeans
Soft toilet paper
Having a choice for lunch
Being able to drive to no where in particular
Women
Tanning
Going to a beach with water
Watching cartoons
USO
Flannel
Fresh cut lawn smell
Hearing Harleys on the highway
Hugs
Fast food
Good coffee
Friends
Golfing
Weekends
Hump Day
Mountains
Ice Cream
Captain and Cokes

Norman Rockwell's Homecoming Marine

RevGals Friday Five: Las Mañanitas

Mother Laura over at RevGals hosts today's Friday Five. It's birthday time in her family and she asks:
1. When is your birthday? Does anyone else (famous and/or in your own life) share it?
October 22nd
1907 - Jimmie Foxx
1938 - Christopher Lloyd

2. Do you prefer a big party or an intimate celebration for the chosen few?
Small party with friends.

3. Describe your most memorable birthday(s)--good, bad, or both.
Good - 9th
Bad - 29th
Both - 32nd
(You will have to ask me in person for details.)

4. What is your favorite cake and ice cream?
White, New York Vanilla

5. Surprise parties: love 'em or hate 'em?
I like surprises, brings spice to life.