My damn foot

I was doing so good this morning. Now my foot hurts about the same as it did two years ago when I broke it. Shit.

Foreign lands

I just applied for a new passport yesterday... I may have to put it to use real soon. *Language Warning*

Burp...

Yesterday as I was walking to my truck I saw a crowd of people surrounding a tree near the dorms. In the tree I couldn’t see anything but I heard a lot of crows squawking… it was an angry squawking like someone had invaded their space. As I closed in I saw what all the commotion was about – the Red-tail Hawk was back. He was hopping from branch to branch looking to get into a better ambush position but with all the kids gathered around and the crows making a fuss I don’t think he was going to find any squirrels nearby. But it was nice to see him back on campus.

Dinner last night was mushroom and swiss buffalo burgers. They tasted awesome.

Lots of hours done at work this week. Some school work was done. A lot less time was spent on the internet. Overall things are good.

Oh, went to the bar a couple of nights with Fat Kid. I kicked her ass at pool and darts… at darts I beat her by 500 points playing cricket. She says she can beat me at foosball but we’ll see.

When the hell is it going to warm up around here? Lately I’ve wanted to go the batting cages but it’s just too cold out. Hopefully next weekend will be better.

Passport

Before my parents left for Mexico last week to blow my inheritance I asked them to send me my birth certificate and old passport. The passport was issued about 11 years ago. Looking at the picture now it’s amazing I even got laid by the time I was 18 – what the hell was she thinking?

Finally, a post

This past week has been one of reflecting. I’ve thought a lot about where I’m at now and where I’m headed. Last week I was really feeling down and overall I just wasn’t jiggy with it. That’s why I stopped blogging for the past week.
A long drive later and I realized just how good I have it now: I have no one to report to. I have no chain of command, no parents that I have to go home to each evening, and no significant other that expects to see me at dinner, nothing. Hell, I could get in my truck now and drive away and get back just in time for a test Wednesday. My roommates may get curious about my disappearance but it doesn’t matter. That’s freedom.
So this past week has gotten a lot better. I’ve been getting up between 5:30 and 6:00 each morning to go through my routine. I now enjoy eating breakfast and my desk and seeing the sun rise through the trees. The warmth of the sun through the window in the morning is one hell of a way to power up for the day.
Since I’m getting up earlier I’ve been putting in a few extra hours at work. I’ve been wasting less time on the internet and I’ve been working more on my papers.
Yesterday while running a few errands I felt like a power house and nothing could stop me.
Overall I just feel cleaner. I’ve been taking better care of myself this past week than I have in a long time.
Last night was great too. I had sent out an email to some friends Friday saying that I was cooking halibut and shrimp Saturday night. I had everything, all they had to do was show up and eat. I really had no idea how many would show up so I made sure there was plenty of food. Of course most of those douche bags never showed up. But for those that did I think we had a good time. Plenty of fish and shrimp, I must have been at the stove for over an hour cooking all of it. Beers were drank and good times were had by all. After I finished cooking I enjoyed a plate-full then I just sat back and watched the good times. It felt really good to be able to bring people together, feed them and have everyone laughing and having a good time.
Overall things are looking up; new energy has been found and progress is being made.

Something else I learned this past week: Since my cell phone is registered in California but I live in Pennsylvania I wondered what would happen if I called 911 – would I get a call center in San Diego or would I get a call center here in Pennsylvania? This week I discovered that you’ll be connected to the nearest call center to you… lucky for me though I wasn’t involved in the incident, I just witnessed it – and in the end no one was hurt though the runner-up for the Darwin award did grab the live power line.

Changing

As much as things change, they never really do.

*Shakes head and steps away for a little while.*

hmmm

I have a friend that is making a huge mistake. And unfortunately the friend is dragging some of her family down too. But she doesn’t see it as that. She is blissfully carrying on like this is the greatest thing. And if anyone talks to her about how wrong this situation is she’ll get pissed at them. She’s even started to lie and cover-up for this mistake – again, her blissful ignorance of the situation.

What to do? I’ve thought about an intervention; but then she’d feel that all of us are attacking her and it’ll just make her cling tighter to her mistake.

I guess all one can do is sit back and be ready to pick her up once it all blows up because it will blow up, eventually.

Jarhead

I’ve been quiet since I watched Jarhead the other night. I’m still trying to figure it all out.
I watched it while I was at work (yeah, it’s a good job) and about midway through I had to pause it to use the restroom. I don’t want to call it a flashback but I definitely had the impression of being back in the head at boot camp. It was weird.
I heard from some people that saw it in the theaters that it was a movie that made the military look bad. I don’t agree. It certainly shows some of the bad elements of the Corps; but anywhere you look there will be bad elements. I think the movie does a nice job of showing that there are different types of people in the Corps… some are shit-hot Marines… some are shit-birds.
The movie was almost like Full Metal Jacket… I could definitely see a lot of similarities. Granted a lot of military stories start at boot camp then proceed on to war… but the narrative in Jarhead even sounded like the narrative in Full Metal Jacket.
And a note for anyone thinking about joining the Corps – I never experienced any of those beatings nor did I ever witness anything like that… It happens but it’s rare… some units are fucked up like that. I kinda wish I was in a unit like that.
*Note to my parents: Don’t watch this movie.

***SPOILER BELOW THIS LINE***

The movie kind of made me sad though. I guess it’s because I can understand why Troy and Swofford were upset after they didn’t get their kill. You train so hard for something and dedicate four or more years of your life to do a job; yet when the time comes to do your job the opportunity is taken away from you – kinda sucks. I feel that I did all this training for the Marine Corps and it never got put to use.

Oh well… shit happens… hopefully it’s for a reason.

Options

I’ve been talking with my family about my options after graduation. I’m suddenly reviewing my plans harder than I thought I would. I think the last paragraph of the email back to my father explains it the best:

Again, I'm just checking options. Hell, with no ties to PA I could move anywhere really... I feel like I've opened a door just to find a room with many, many doors, and now I just have to start stepping towards the door I chose. And that is the hardest part, which door do I want to head towards? It's all in that first step.

Got jobs?

In my last ditch effort to procrastinate my paper I bring this thought:

I left Alaska in early 2000 because I wanted to join the Corps and because things weren’t going well… The longest I’ve been back there was for a month in 2004 between getting out of the Corps and starting school here. Since I’ve learned I’ll be graduating this spring my plan has been to return to Alaska till I get the job that I want (very long hiring process, 1 – 1.5 years).
I’ve been talking with friends in Alaska and I’m suddenly having second thoughts on moving there for any period of time again. Last night I was actually checking online for jobs in the area that I could take till I get picked up for the big job.
Hell, now that I think about it, I have no ties here so I could even move someplace new, preferably closer to DC but I could entertain other ideas.
Hell, I could get my CDL and become a long haul trucker just to see a bit more of America. Ok, probably not… I’ve gone a little crazy on some of my last trips where I’m driving long distances alone.
Wow, I thought the next chapter in my book was nearly set and I’ve just learned it’s completely blank… Keeping in mind I still fully intend to get my big job that I want… but the interim is not set.
Any ideas for where I should go and jobs I could get? – Leave it in the comments

Here is a quick, unofficial resume:

Doorman/Bellman/Valet at a major hotel in Alaska – 22 months
Front end at Costco (including cashier) – three months
Stocker at Costco - two months
Sorter at FedEx – two months
Marine Corps – Trained for infantry, ended up a computer geek – 4 years, 4 months
Student (B.A. this spring in Political Science) – too long

As far as computers go, I’m not too good on the server side; but, I can fix just about any desktops/laptops or break them well enough that you get a new one. I managed the entire inventory of electronics at our school in the Corps with nothing missing since I took over.

Strong Point: I make things work/happen. I’m good at finding solutions to problems and utilizing all resources to get the job done. When delays/problems arise I’m quick to find alternative means to get the job done. “Semper Gumby”

Weak Point: While I’m quick to find solutions sometimes they are not the cleanest solution – often I look at it as “the ends justify the means” and once the task is completed I’ll look back on it and realize that there were easier/cleaner ways to do it.

Alright, so I need to clean up that resume, especially the weak point, but it works considering I just wrote it all out. A better one will be done during this spring break... once the philosophy paper is done.

Last night

Twenty dollars in parking tickets once I got to my truck this afternoon – no biggie. But some of the memorable quotes have come back to me:

“My parents don’t download porn; dial-up is way too slow.” – Fat Kid

“I know her name! Ma-Deuce!” - Telebush

Son of a bitch…

My truck is somewhere downtown… took a cab home with a couple friends. I’ll just have to find a ride into town tomorrow morning to get my truck. Ehh, oh well, a fifteen dollar parking ticket is a hell of a lot cheaper than a DWI… passing out right about now...

Work Story

Alright, story from work, but let me explain my job real quick: It’s a work study on campus but for the VA. When people apply to PSU if they check that they are a veteran we get their name and call them. Also, when PA residents get discharged from the military someone sends them a little post card that says ‘fill this out and return it if you want more info on PSU’ (White Card). Once we have their info we call them and explain the application (App) and Financial Aid (FA) to them… all this is free of charge and no obligation from them… we just help out. Every time we talk with someone we have to write it up in their file… most write-ups are two or three lines… short and quick.
One other important fact… 30 days of military service makes you a veteran, no need to complete a full four year contract, you get the title in just 30 days – granted you don’t get any of the benefits but we still call you.
Last night I called this kid and here is my write-up: (the name, date and time of the call was changed to protect this little shit)

3/1/06 (1930) Spoke with John – I wish I could write not nice things here, but I can’t. I’ll just say he sounds completely unmotivated and condescending – he didn’t even make it through boot camp – he’s a veteran?! It was everything I could do to not hang up on him. I think his mom filled out the white card for him. During spring break I may have to take a day trip to Harrisburg to swift kick this kid in the nuts. Covered App and FA with him. Resending Course Description because – surprise – he lost it and has no idea what he wants to study. Good luck to whoever calls him next – hopefully they catch him in a better attitude. If I call him again I’ll snap and start cussing him out. And I don’t get angry. Last week my roommate threw up on my bed and I wasn’t angry – this kid has made me angry. So much for not saying not nice things. Susp 4/4/06 EVE -Telebush

The two supervisors had a good laugh from that one. I expected them to make me rewrite it but they said to leave it, our boss will get a good laugh from it.

Saving a goat

Dr. Phat Tony has a Kill Jill Save Jill post up. He has a goat, and if the goat doesn’t start paying rent by next year the goat becomes dinner. You can click the link and help Jill pay the rent, or you can send in your goat recipes. My only question about the whole thing is this: If you start feeding the goat basil, oregano and other seasonings will the meat be seasoned come killing time?

In other news… someone want to write a philosophy paper by Monday for me?

Picture Time

I haven't made a picture post in a while... so here it goes.



This is how good I've gotten at darts (not very much).

Wake Up

This morning I should have been waking up to a hang over and about a foot of snow. Instead the streets are just wet and I wasn’t feeling anything beyond the normal morning grogginess. I checked the email though and I had a pleasant surprise though: two friends from Albuquerque wrote to me out of the blue… well, I’d assume its from another friend that just got out of the Corps mentioned me… Anyways, they both seem to be doing well. It’s nice for old friends to drop a line out of the blue. Oh, and the woman… she still looks damn good.

Testing today

I think I may have kicked that test’s ass. In 50 minutes I managed to fill up a blue book and I could have gone another 10-15 minutes writing everything down.