Hold the fricken phone, man

Or not at all... The DSN phones are down, Oh no! What are we going to do? Well looks like it's reverting back to the days when deployments didn't permit phone usage... at least until they get them back up.

Does this mean I might have to use my international cell phone? Damn these restricting deployments... damn them to hell.

When it rains it pours

Rain? In Afghanistan? Chyeaa! You better believe it... I even have the mud-caked boots to prove it. I walked outside to use the porta-potty and to my surprise I saw wetness and felt the gust of wind filled with water particles, quite a relief that it isn't dust particles for a change.

The rain has got me thinking about how I haven't posted anything tonight so I decided to let everyone know that there is a little bit of liveliness in the environment here, it's almost a sight for sore eyes. I also recieve two packages from people at my command, I think I need to hop on facebook and say thanks. Getting these packaged is like opening presents on Christmas, always so excited!

What's new with me?

• Well my room mate moved out today so I stole the bottom rack and with stealing the bottom rack I rigged up a curtain-esque type of layout so that if someone decides to flip on the light I won't be bothered as much.
• I have been making a lot of progress in my gaming study material, function wise. Once I get down how the map functions in the game then I will be able to add the content... Very exciting, I will have to post screenshots when I get a chance.
• Running out of minutes on my international phone. Pretty good though, it lasted me a good 3 weeks.
• Tearing apart this energy drink -- it's 0330 and I still have 3 1/2 hours to go!
• Listening to some of the night crew sleeping, aside from the noise from the air traffic it's pretty peaceful right now.
• Thinking about my family and how Madison is so close to being brought into this world. I love you Lauren, you look beautiful -- I think your nose is cute. I love you Dad and Mom, and Debbie.

Well that's it for now. Until next post...

Crossfit anyone?

In the midst of my relaxing hours off of work, I ponder about how I should start my workout routines. I tried Mens Workout Guide and it was awesome, it was great to have a schedule to follow, made things much easier. Then I tried to adlib it and just go when I felt like it... worked out hard but seldomly made it to the gym because I am the type of guy who needs a schedule, to feel like someone/something is telling me to get off my lazy ass, I'm sure others can relate.

My room mate is a beast, by the way. He's like 5'10" and 230lbs of pure muscle, like the type of dude who works up a sweat by trying to wipe his ass after taking a dump, or that guy who gets stuck in a doorway, or the one who gives you directions to the beach or the gun show, or ... well you know what I mean. We call him Smiles; big black dude, whenever he is talking or doing anything involving the least amount of facial expression it's always with a gleaming wide smile and squinty eyes, even when he is just talking... good ol' Smiles. He's like one of those guys you remember, like Bubba from Forrest Gump, except the Hulk version of Bubba. 'You! You steal Bubba's shrimp? Bubba SMASH!'

Anyway, Smiles doesn't seem to work out religiously so I asked about his routine one time and boy was I in for a ride. Most people would just say 'Ya bro, I do a Crossfit routine' but asking Smiles a question is like striking a conversation about video game physics engines to an expert nerd -- I got it all, even if I just wanted to short version, like... the trimmed down version, you know... the 'Ya bro, I do a Crossfit routine.' I mean it's great to aspire to a new and better you but all I need to know is what you do... routine wise... It's like I opened a can of worms under the empty stomach of a hovering canary.

So he finds it necessary to explain to me the reasons why he does Crossfit, which is cool. Some explainations just boggles your mind and it's almost like you have to refrain from laughing. Really sweet and nice guy, not saying anything bad about him BUT I will give an example of what I am talking about:

"Hey Smiles, what do you do? You know workout-wise."

"Oh Ski, many things people don't understand is that when you workout it should be a mind, body and soul exercise. Most people go to the gym for two hours and I don't find it necessary because it's only for the physical aspect, you know what I am saying?"

"Ya"

"It's like, Crossfit is amazing because it works out everything, and I mean f*ckin everything dude. You know you have aerobic and anaerobic properties when you work out?"

"I know about aerobic and anaerobic bacteria --"

"It's makes you stronger dude... mentally and physically. I mean you want to be stronger, everyone wants to be stronger, it's just in our blood. Yea I see where you are going Ski, I mean I am just like you, you are motivated, you have your head on your shoulders, you love your wife, it's amazing, what else do you need, you know?"

"Of course, I just --"

"Love is so hard to come by now a days Ski... it's almost like a take it or leave it situation. Divorce rates are high and girls are so f*cking stupid man, especially the ones here on deployment... like f*cking dumb dude! You need a woman who has her head on her shoulders and know what's right from wrong. You know what I am saying Ski?"

And this could go on for hours. I think counting fingers was involved in the conversation as well but you understand what I mean? A simple example of a workout would have been nice but it also was a nice conversation... a one-sided conversation but if that helped him get through his day then cool, glad I could be a listener.

So, back to the main story, it took me a good 3 - 4 weeks to finally get a routine to do... no joke. I started about 2 days ago and am incredibley sore. Crossfit is designed for intensity while targetting key muscle groups. An example of what I do is:

• 5 Pull-Ups
• 10 Push-ups
• 15 Squats

Sounds easy huh? Well the catch is I only have 45 seconds to rest between sets and I do as many sets in 20 minutes as I can. The first night I did it, 2 nights ago, I nearly passed out -- shows how much endurance I lost...

Anyway I plan on extending the workout eventually... and thats pretty much it.

I gotta jet right now, my buddy wants me to drive him to the barracks so he can pinch one off.

Funny you should say that...

So I was looking over some study material for my next advancement exam and I stumbled across a blurb in leadership instructions that totally sums up a lot of people I know in just a few sentences. This isn't necessarily a great thing either so upon faces that came to mind were also memories. I will quote these Navy instructions:

The other mistake made by new petty officers is that they supervise but do little else. Some people think supervision consists of ordering subordinates to do all the work while they sit back and do nothing. You should be as careful to avoid supervising too much as you should be to avoid supervising too little. Supervisors who won’t dirty their hands on occasion are more of a liability than an asset because morale problems are certain to develop. -Military Requirements for Petty officers Third and Second Class NAVEDTRA 14504

It's right there! In the instruction! ... like... the OFFICIAL instruction people! Not only is this a common practice, it's a professional and integrity expectation. For the leaders of the military, who are most like this, I strongly employ you to take up this required-instruction-to-advance literature -- you know? the instructions you are considered experts in... experts, that's all.

Let me back up just a little bit. First, wipe the shit off your nose THEN stick it into the books of knowledge it should have always been in, after all you are representing the Navy and what the Navy stands for... this means this instruction...

Some more of that random stuff

I could really use some sleep right now or just to shut my eyes for a little bit, but at the same time I feel like I have so much to do... don't ask, I don't know what else I have to do right now nor can I find something but I just feel like I have to do a lot.

Anyway let's do some more randomness since I can't find anything to write about right now.

• Dunkin Donuts Coffee Cup - Makes me think of home and my dad, of course. You know you rant and rave about their coffee. Thanks for sending some by the way. It was gone in like 2 days.
• Lo-Carb Monster - Sometimes I really need these energy drinks, they help wake me up...... and then crash. So they are good for going to sleep, as well?
• Study Material - Trying to find some good study material that I can stick with, hopefully something visual and something to fuel the method I am creating.
• Deployment Food - Could be a lot worse but I am laughing because of me and my wife's conversation when she asked me "If it's not meat then what is it?"
• Bed - I just need it now.

Navy advancement training

Well the results came out and I didn't do too well. I could rant about it all day but the fact of the matter is I didn't advance and with the guild of not studying came the motivation to develop a new study habit and way to retain the information needed for the tests.

It sounds funny but if you read my Warcraft III post, I discussed the power of the map editor it comes with. Yes, I utilized a game for study material but before you shut out the idea take into consideration that this method gives audio, visual, and kinesthetic learners a chance to receive all their preferred methods of learning in one package, this package being a playable map that offers tons of information and interactivity between the user and study material.

One instance I created was a patient that was sick. When you approach the patient the game gives you a list of options on what to do and how to handle the patient. Along with the proper choices are also the improper choices that immediately prompts you of the wrong choice. Aside from the formalities, with me being a less than proper guy when it comes to typical behavior, my spin on informing users of wrong answers is situations like patients blowing up in your face and what not. Even with all the obnoxiousness aside I believe that this is a great way that I will retain information because I get the audio portion down alongside with the visual and the best part is the interactivity and freedom of choice in the game.

Maybe this development could become official... BUMED?

2012

"Dr. Adrian Helmsley, part of a worldwide geophysical team investigating the effect on the earth of radiation from unprecedented solar storms, learns that the earth's core is heating up. He warns U.S. President Thomas Wilson that the crust of the earth is becoming unstable and that without proper preparations for saving a fraction of the world's population, the entire race is doomed. Meanwhile, writer Jackson Curtis stumbles on the same information. While the world's leaders race to build "arks" to escape the impending cataclysm, Curtis struggles to find a way to save his family. Meanwhile, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc around the world." Written by Jim Beaver

Blah blah blah... 2012. Highly anticipated movie of the century, of the millennia, of the lifetime, of the ... who am I kidding? If you went into this film expecting the least bit of realism then you are terribly in for a disappointment. Now, the fact that I wanted to see this, back when they were showing the previews before I went on deployment, is the only reason I put this Haji-scammed version into the DVD player at work. Being deployed lowered my standards tremendously so I expected very little from this... and I am really glad I did because it was predictable and obnoxious. How many times can the main cast barely escape death? And when I say barely, I take seriousness in saying just scraping by from the treads of the rear tires on a motor home, yes, a motor home. And when I say barely escaping, I mean countless maneuvers in a private plane, that no one was qualified to fly, through clashing buildings overhead, and difficulty gaining proper altitude through the streets of Los Angeles, or whatever. Try taking a limousine and driving it just at the right moments and speeds that a gaping death hole is unable to catch up with you AND that you are able to miraculously dodge every obstacle that heads towards your path, and there are a lot of obstacles... a lot. Seriously, like obnoxious amounts.

Aside from the fact that this director's hands are still digitally tainted from all the editing, the movie wasn't too bad. It has a good cast and, darnit, they tried their damnedest to achieve a believable environment, whether or not you can see past a nuclear exploding volcano, they sure tried their hardest to make it something... something at least! And something it was. The main character is played by John Cusack and the supporting roles, not to down play them the least bit, are Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrelson, and Danny Glover, amongst others. Like I said, good cast... I don't know what other storyline could go with this 2012 theory but they somehow managed to turn it into a Noah's Ark ordeal, weird? Naw, I've seen weirder. I could deal with that... I see where they were going.

All in all it became apparent, immediately, that the lust for digital enhancements was the main alpha pubescent factor, almost like Jose who had the first prominant adams apple in 6th grade, like f*ckin look at me!  But, once you see the movie and the first action scene you are smiling, smiling because you are holding back laughter not that it's funny but because of how obnoxious it is. Quite entertaining, visually, that is and I have always liked Woody Harrelson and Thandie Newton so it made it worth while. Hey guys, they tried alright! It's not the actors, that's my main point!

If the creators', and I say creators meaning computers because without computers there would be actors sobbing in fear of a terrible giant green screen, back to what I was saying -- If the creators' are able to recover from their cut and paste particle enhancement overloads and are all caught up with prescriptions of eye-correction spectacles then they may be able to sit down an legitimately watch the movie... it will be like one of those moments where it's like: Dude, did I really just punch Becky's right boob? I did and I am damn sure it wasn't the best move.. I wish I could take that back but I can't and now it's engrained impressionably.

Not a bad flick. And yes I said flick babe.

Oooh Shiny!