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