Lists

Everyone who has met my mother knows she loves lists and calendars. Back before Facebook made it possible to invite everyone to Thanksgiving, mom had a physical calendar with her own organization system. Gold stars were for days off, Silver for paydays, Green for nail appointments; you get the idea. ~With the advent of the Google Calendar, it has been a slow transition to a digital world.

I inherited her affinity to lists and calendars.

I didn't realize how useful calendar and lists are until I started real life. Most days were a carbon copy of the last (school 5 days a week turned into work 5 days a week). Now I have appointments to handle and people to meet at specific times, thing to carry around and notes to write down Oi Ve! I need organization!

In leu of this revelation, I have a list of things to do when I am home. (I will censor it for the sake of my wife)

1.  Kiss my wife
2.  Meet my 5 month old daughter
3.  Shower and Shave
4.  Eat sushi
5.  Eat food
6.  Nap
7.  Movies!!
8.  Extended Family time
9.  Find a Job
10. Enroll in College


 

Rough Day

You know those times when you needed to knock on wood, and you obviously didn't? That was yesterday. I remember telling my wife that I had nothing to blog about, I should've said knock on wood.

I knew I was heading downtown today so I went to withdraw money from the ATM. I went through all the poorly worded choices, entered my amount, and a receipt popped out. The ATM went to home screen. I looked at the receipt and there was a denial code stating to pickup card. Its late and the banks here. Are not open, so I call MY bank. When I get the woman from the bank I explain my troubles and she tells me that some punk British hacker tried to buy the newest dubstep from Napster with my account. (my words not hers). So the cards shut off and will be destroyed, meanwhile I'm stuck with my on post money card. Which is not the worse thing ever, but when you need something like lunch downtown, you are out of luck. How did I survive? Lots of I owe yous. Much loves from here.

Its been awhile

Its been awhile, and I am haaving a hard time writing anything that does not sound incredibley stupid. I read my wife's blog all the time, and she kicks butt in the writing department. She makes it seem so easy too! Like, just put words down on the screen and BAM! you have a great composition. I on the other hand, struggle without using pictures to illustrate.

Many people know how a soldier looks. If you are by the University of Utah near lunch time, you may see a  few dressed in there tan boots and there matching pants and shirts. There are a few common practices in the ACU uniform that most are not aware of.

Thank you Mr. Joe Snuffy for modeling the uniform for me

A. Carry a memo pad here, just in case your OIC/NCOIC starts rattling off random to do lists
B. Quick reach to your Challenge coin, for when your buddies want a drink.
C. This one is the awkward one, you know in the WWII movies when someone is dying and the give their best friend a letter to give to his wife. Place that letter in this pocket, along with your personals (wallet)
D. Pens. Three of them, if you have to read and correct memos you better have a red pen, all others have a black pen.
E. Your Secret badges clipped here when not in use.
F. Your Safety reflective belt is rolled up here, for easy access when you are walking around base after dark.

Much to everyone's surprise, I have a defense mechanism what I call "delay in emotions,"  it's not that I don't feel emotions. I wait until later to feel them. When I left on my mission, it took me nearly 8 weeks before I felt homesick. This time I lasted 4 months before I feel the yearning to be home. Granted, my life has moved so fast, I don't know what normalcy is, heavens, I have a child! I know I want to go to a place where I am not confined to a bed or work. This place is slowly shrinking as the weeks go back and i want a place to stretch out!! And please, I want a Friggin descent Hamburger!!!!!

Home Substitutes

While away on my long adventures, I have seen people get packages with items that make this place feel like home. Mitchell gets a box of food that look like it came from the Asian market (seriously, i didn't know they had shrimp chips). Coon gets clothes from American Eagle so he can dress like he did back home. I have a slightly skewed way of looking at things, I try to find things here that remind me of home. It is far cheaper, and easily accessible. Like the Lavender smelling dryer sheets so my bedding smells like a field of flowers (I have a lot of girls in my life OK?), but i think the cleverest ideas came from the Dining Facility. To the novice looker, I just ordered a grilled/boiled chicken breast with a side of broccoli and cheese. when I combined these items together and close my eyes. . . . BAM! I am back in the Sandy house on a Sunday afternoon with dad making Chicken Di Van, 6 chicken breasts because his son will eat two of them! The latest concoction of home loving came when I was craving the fried potato wedges and baked beans combo. Too easy, Chicken breast again, side of fries, side of baked beans add barbeque sauce. When I eat this, I am transported to the countless times we tried to sneak our way over the the frying pan to eat some potatoes. I have found the solution for recreating all of my home, but the subtle substitute keep me sane while I am away.

Bond, James Bond

So I totally broke down and found a copy of Skyfall from the UK, and I don't even feel guilty about watching it! Sparing any plot spoilers, I will say it was an epic ending to a well deserved character development. The conversation when the credits rolled was "So this movie has to be before Dr. No right?" CORRECT!!! This is our List of Jame Bond movies in chronological order, so that the stories mesh as well as possible. Casino Royale/ QoS is where James Bond gets his 00 status. The next group of movies are all recent; however, they all contain Judy Dench as "M" {group those together}. The only thing that needs to be addressed (and it is a minor inconsistency) is 007 had to trade out his Beretta in Dr. No for another Walther PPK, and what happened to his DB5? So here is the list Enjoy.

Casino Royale (Daniel Craig) -- 2006
Quantum of Solance (Daniel Craig) --2006
Golden Eye (Pierce Brosnan) -- 1995
Tomorrow Never Dies (Pierce Brosnan) -- 1997
The World is Not Enough (Pierce Brosnan) -- 1999
Die Another Day (Pierce Brosnan) -- 2002
Skyfall (Daniel Craig) -- 2012

Dr. No (Sean Connery) -- 1962
From Russia with Love (Sean Connery) -- 1963
Goldfinger (Sean Connery) -- 1964
Thunderball (Sean Connery) -- 1965
You Only Live Twice (Sean Connery) -- 1967
On His Majesty's Secret Service (George Lazenby) -- 1969
Diamonds are Forever (Sean Connery) -- 1971
Live and Let Die (Roger Moore) -- 1973
The Man with the Golden Gun (Roger Moore) -- 1974
The Spy who Loved Me (Roger Moore) -- 1977
Moonraker (Roger Moore) -- 1979
For Your Eyes Only (Roger Moore) -- 1981
Octopussy (Roger Moore) -- 1983
A View to a Kill (Roger Moore) -- 1985
The Living Daylights (Timothy Dalton) -- 1987
License to Kill (Timothy Dalton) -- 1989

Missing: The otter half

There is a strange sensation I get, it occurs more frequently now, that makes my heart feel heavy and my body feel like lead. I get this sensation when my body tries to snap me back into reality and the realization that I am not with you. Every now and then when my day has died down, when I smell something familiar, or just randomly throughout the day; my mind sends me to another time and place where I am with you and we are happy together. I faintly remember how it feels to have you laying on my chest, or in my arms. If I think real hard with my eyes shut, I can feel the kiss we had in the elevator so long ago. I love these moments; however, as hard as it is to grasp them, it is that much harder to keep them. Then suddenly, my heart sinks and I realize I am here and you are there.

Missing: my other half

Life without toliet paper.

When you decide to leave your home and travel abroad, it is far easier to accept that your destination is different than your current establishment. Just embrace it and let it be. Here is a list of my thoughts on my current residence.

1.  First concern is that even though they ship a lot of things from America, there comes a Caveat to all of them.

2.  When I see someone drinking anything resembling Mountain Dew, I feel like a Crack addict that hasn’t had his hit yet. Yes we have Mountain Dew, but it is either non-American or flat expired American soda both are in a can. Nothing will satisfy that craving of that first hit of perfectly chilled Mountain Dew.

3.  Individuals that smell like curry, body odor, and *something else* smell that way for a reason. It is hot, the best things to eat involve curry, and toilet paper is limited. C’est Le Vive. We all stink here.

4.  It is more costly to ship coins internationally than it is to make your own fake representation of it.

5.  19.99 sounds great for a digital camera, until the bill comes in and you realize that you forgot to convert the currency. Also, it will break soon because it isn’t a real Sony, it is a Fony.

6.  Netflix and internet is cheap, but a free movie down the street is cheaper, and typically has more comfortable seating.

7.  “I think I am eating Camel” try suppressing any inquiries on what type of meat your fast food service is providing. It will be different regardless.

8.  I hate tomatoes, yet I never ask for no tomatoes, I don’t need to her.

9.  When will I ever be back here again? Live and Love it!

Columbo Day.

I am quite sure Ashelyn will have a way better story on adventure last year. This is all that I remember.

We were working in the morning have a good ole time. Teresa would swear that Ashelyn was distracting me from doing my work, but truthfully, I'd get most of it done before so i can talk to her as she baked. We had gone on a few driving adventures to celebrate random achievements like TGIF. When we found out it was Columbus Day, you know it a perfect excuse to go play! Ashelyn told me she'd pick me up at my house (WHAT!? She is planning this adventure!?)

While we were getting ready for the evening, she kept texting me that I needed to dress warm (How warm? Like spend all nigh in the wilderness warm, or warm enough to make it from car to movie theater?)  She picked me up and we went to the pond that's by I-15 that no one remembers. I believe the idea was to have a boat and explore, but it was dark and drizzling, so we decided to camp out on the shore. In our picnic basket we had whole peanuts, Martinellis, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and "Adventure Snacks" like the ones you get at the gas station to go on a road trip.We created news paper hats as tribute to Senor Columbo.

That is how you celebrate Columbus Day! 

Weak.

In the book of Ether Chapter 12, Moroni describes to us a conversation he had with the Lord concerning writing to the Gentiles:

 23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;

 24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.

 25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.

About this time is when the Lord steps in with his nugget of knowledge.

 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

The last part of that verse stuck in my brain today. I was late to morning excercises and I was told to run 4 laps (2 miles) and do 25 sit ups for being late. I remember bolting around the track and passing individuals. I remember this time last year when I was always worried about running two miles in less than 16 minutes. I have been blessed with a body, and a focus, that allows me to keep improving on my running times. “Till the weak things become strong…” My ultimate goal is to run under a 7 minute pace. Unfortunately, with this strength I have suffered in a few other areas, it is time to re-evaluate myself and identify my weakness and focus on it. Constant improvement is the way to find peace in your life.

So, what is in your life that you need to look at and ‘strengthen’? I challenge anyone that is reading within a million pixels of this sentence to take an inventory of your life (personality, possessions, the whole gambit) and identify those thing which you find are weak. With faith and dedication the Lord promises ‘then will I make weak things become strong unto them’

Here's to you, My Love

When my kids ask how some joe smo like me managed to snag a fox like they're mother, I suppose some part of that conversation has to bring up the night we went topless.

I was bragging about driving home from work topless for what seemed like 2 months, and the only one that would actually listen to me was the baker.  We worked together and she seemed to be the only one that listened. I believe Teresa got sick of me talking about my mustang every day, because one day she “volun-Told” me to ask Ashelyn out for a drive; she noted that Ashelyn typically stays home and would love some adventure.

I don’t what I said, or how many times I asked, but I do know she said she would go on a drive with me. I spent the afternoon after work trying to clean up and look descent, but not too pathetic (I cry a little bit when I go to Tyler’s room, there is clean, then there is I-am-a-serial-killer clean).

I remember waiting forever while she did "Stuff." I secretly thought it was her way of telling me she wasn't interested, but I persisted.  Finally I was able to pick her up at the gym near my house, because I wasn't cool enough to put the charms are her family...yet. We drove around the city and I kept thinking to myself  "Self, when is this drive too long?" I was worried that all she would say about our adventure was that I was indecisive with the radio and it lasted too long. When I dropped her off, We hugged good bye and went our separate ways.

Whatever I did, I did correctly because we had several topless trip in my car, a drive to Wendover, some movie experiences and of course, cooking at home. We are now looking toward our first child being born and a whole lot of "Firsts" As for the "First Year" I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Here's you My Love and to the many more Adventures throughout our life Ashelyn!!



Our New Years kiss

Pathetic

Its been about a month when I realized that you can get badges for reading new articles from Google News. All you gotta do is log in, click news section and start reading. Google keeps track of what subject you read and how many articles, and compares that to the general public. When you read about 2 times more articles than most Google readers, you get your first badge. The benefits is that you can look on the side and see what subjects you read, and well, read more of them.

This is my News profile, I have Platinum Badges in Mobile Industry and Nokia. This means I have read 6 times the amount of Mobile Industry articles than the common public, as well as Nokia. This is pathetic, but isn't so me? Some people our shrugging their shoulders and saying "ya so?" Its just weird to see the quanification of your interests... Oh, well more is definitely to follow (I'm looking at you Space subject)

Friends

Today I was trying so hard to be positive and just be happy, which is hard when you have a busy job in a small area.

And then I recieved a present. My bunkmate gets to go to the docks frequently, and while he is there he gets to enjoy some Kuwaiti socializing. He found some HUMMUS!!!! Dropped it it off and told me not to kill anyone. I laughed out loud (LOL'd) because I was close to doing so.

I'm grateful for those people who keep me sane on this earth, speaking of, one in peticular just Skyped me... thats my cue to say adieu!!

Update

It was brought to my attention that I haven't written in my blog. I keep telling people that I don't leave an exotic life, and things have settled down.  I could tell you how my colleague  has been out for the last ## days counting ummm “Widgets” and that I’ve been working everyday doing this and that. 

There is at least one highlight of the week:  When I started, the army provided a generic pair of Asics that I have ran all of BCT with, I took them to AIT where I replace the insoles twice (back then was the good ole days when the instructors said ‘run’ and an hour later said ‘you’re done get ready for school.’) I even had them when I started this little journey I am on, I ran with these things. Every day when I get off the track and my shins feel like someone took a baseball bat to them. Every time I think to myself “Self, you need a new pair of shoes.” Longest story short, I bought some nice black Adidas, they are lighter than my last pair, and don’t give me those nasty shattered leg feeling. Definitely one of my better investments.

1925

I was inspired by Ashelyn's comment that She would have married some soldier post WWII (view blog) to ponder on when I should have been born. More truthfully, how I would've lived if i was born in the 30's and 40's.

Awkwardly, I would want to be born in 1925, so that I could enlist in the American Army at the start of the War to End All Wars. After goin through my basic training, I would learn how to jump out of airplanes and soon be attached to the 101st Screaming Eagles, I would have been there in Normandy to invade, and spend the war in battle torn Europe.

Back home, I would find a sweet young lady that can cook and clean, and I would marry her. Using my newly enacted G.I. Bill to go to school. (who would have thought the government would pay me to go to school?) By the heighth of the Cold War, I would be recruited out of my college to work for the new government agency called the CIA.

I would have had a bunker in the backyard.

I would wear my fedora and horned rim glasses.

My record player would have the Rat Pack, and Ray Charles. Elvis would have been to hard for me to grow accustomed to.

Numbers are Numbers

Have you ever watched Stranger than Fiction? In the start of the movie you get to "see" how an OCD individual views the world. Numbers pop up every so often measuring steps and lengths and such.

I am not that cool. I don't have a mind that can display numbers everywhere as I calculate the distance between my desk and the desk in front of me (38.5"). I do find myself counting and measuring when I'm bored and tired. Here are some nominal numbers of where I live. I can't tell you EXACT numbers, and if you know why, well then you know why I cannot.

From my doorstep to the bathroom door is 150 steps. Bathroom to Cafeteria is 175 steps. Marketplace to  my door is 250. From bathroom to work is 180, across a stree and around the corner. My desk is slanted at a 15 degree decline (away from me, so that my chair gets sucked into my desk.) the refrigerator is 4 steps away from me, and is filled with an average of 8 12-packs of soda, and 72 500mL water bottles; combine that with my double serving packets of Kool-Aid I recieved from Ashelyn, and I drink about 3 bottles a day, and pee about 5 times in 20 hours. (Yes I am up for 20 hours a day).

Just a few numbers to crunch on durin you day. Enjoy!

Just a short list

The word “plagiarism” doesn’t really work in my line of work. So, I did not plagiarized Ashelyn’s blog idea in making this. I’m simply ‘rebadging it’ to make it my own.

The List of Things I surely do miss, and the things I can’t wait to do.

• ·         Snuggling on a couch.
• ·         Fighting for covers.
• ·         OTTERS!!
• ·         Outdoor adventures.
• ·         Shooting soda cans. (Next time will be more fun!)
• ·         Showing off my computer creation, and having the girls look at me like I’m speaking French. Scratch that, not French, German, or Italian, because Ash knows them.
• ·         Museums and Zoos!!!
• ·         Traveling
• ·         Finding Ghost Towns.
• ·         Looking at the Stars (both on my ceiling and real ones)
• ·         Columbus Day!
• ·         Trying to dance like a Mexican woman as I cook. (but only when no one looks)
• ·         Watching Ash cook, cause we know I can’t.
• ·         Big Bang Theory!
• ·         Family Dinners (the kind with smelly kids… not old farts)
• ·         BUILDING BIONICLES!
• ·         “Hey Honey, can we make…..”
• ·         PASTA carbanananana
• ·         Random Restaurants
• ·         Listening to 10 seconds of every song in the playlist.
• ·         Afternoon Naps.
• ·         Hugs AND Kisses.
• ·         Antiques!!!

Pier

I was going to bore you with a monolouge that seemed to come from J. R. R. Tolkien. (honestly describe a valley with three pages?! ridiculous) My monolouge was going to be a vague reference to my working area here. Lucky for you all, Mitchell took me to the Piers today. Now, I have something to talk about. Thank him later.

We live like 30 minutes from the beach, but you wouldn't believe it if you were here, its too dry and hot and well deserty. I had a day off and Mitchel used it to his advantage, claiming there is rare communication systems to be seen on the boat, we easily got a pass out side the wire.  Plus side was we needed to be in casual clothing BONUS!

It was a short day, so we weren't in too much trouble. We played on a beach, got sand in between the toes, felt the warm water of the the Gulf. We went into the market place and mingled, found a few stores and bought a few things (I found a replica Omega watch that was too good to pass up, it is James Bond's watch after all)

Now to fully appreciate what had transpired, you must know three things about me.
1) I cooked for a living in Utah.

2) I struggled with the concept of eating Hummus until I went to Mazzo a few months ago, and with Ashelyn to draw strength from, tried Hummus and Grape Leaves for the first time citing "when in Rome...."

3) I ate Oysters with my sister in February, drawing strength from Lacie, I slurped down my first round of Oyster, citing "when in Rome...."

Now that these key things are known about me, we fast forward to the Middle Eastern man slicing chunks of chicken off a rotisserie and mixing herbs into in.... Oh did I forget he was bare handed? Well the thing he was making is called a Shiwarma, Its a pita bread taco with panini grill lines and herbs inside. Add the potato/chili paste/ mayo dipping sauce and you got an authentic fast food treat. So what do you do as you look at the concoction?

When in Rome you say as you step up and struggle through the Language barrier. Then you sit down and try your meal, Is it Good? That's for you to experience, When in Rome

Many months ago I was standing in a formation in front of my family, I hoped they got goosebumps  as I did when the commander rolled up the unit flag "it will stay that way until they start their mission" noted the narrator.

Yesterday, I saw this action come full circle as I stood, in the middle of a formation, in a gym with not even ten spectators. Even with the minimal on-lookers, we still went through the Pomp and Circumstance that you would expect a military ceremony to have. The one difference was that the unit we replaced rolled up their flag, and we unrolled our flag.

It literally happened over night, as if the night gnomes navigated their way into our operating area and changed all of the signage and flair. The TOC went from a room of Mcdonalds scheme of red orange and yellow, to a subtle Blue and white, the color of our Double Diamonds we wear on our shoulder. Now I am not longer a foreigner tip-toeing around someone else's house. It is my house, it is my mission. I own it. And own it I will, untill the send another group of soldiers here to unfurl their flag and post their colors where we stand.

Sandstorm

When I think Sandstorm, I think of that old Techno song that came out 10 years ago.  What I have found out, however, is that A) no one cares about that song outside of the U.S. and B) there are real sandstorms. Barring all the technical data that I'd grab from Wikipedia, I'll simply say that its now the time of season where the winds and heat blows enough sand up to cause a problem. (Think WATER CYCLE, but with Sand).  Today was my first sand stormy experience, so I was eager to run and grab my Shemagh that Ashelyn let me buy a couple of months ago in Utah. Donning the high speed head dress, I ran outside to realize I suck at tying it. I can breath just fine, but the seal between my glasses and the cloth allow little sand bits to attack my eyes. Mission: FAILED

So what does any self respecting soldier do during lunch when it blows? Why, he goes to the MWR Rec Room!! I was not the only one who had this brilliant idea, there were many people there, I was about to say 'Soldiers' but there were Marines, Sailors, Airmen (Grrr) AND Contractors... Norman and I resolved to playing some pool (rematch from when we went bowling and beat him 2 games to 1) What we didn't know is that some Seamen were on the table before us, and we were to mind read the fact the were coming back. The ensuing conversation escalated until the little Asian on the ping pong table told us to play doubles best 2 out of 3 for the table. Fair enough, at least I won't be playing against Norman.

We didn't plan it, we didn't even know it was going to happen. We kept missing easy shots one after another, and the first game went to the NAVY. Second game was going about the same as the first. when they removed their balls off the table, it was easy for us to scoop ours up and won just by the skin of our teeth. Last game, Norman and I hustled them out with one run each. The games were good, but we had to go back to work, so we let the others play ( if there is no water near by, what is the navy doing here besides playing pool anyways?) Norman and I have a respect for the Boat boys, at least they are as bad as their Flyboy brothers at the Air Force.