Have you ever had one of those moments where you're so freakin' mad at something that you want to scream out at the top of your lungs how incompetant they are?
I'm having one of those moments. *sighs* Unfortunately, its one of those moments that I can't go into detail with.
Meanwhile. . .
I guess I don't want to leave this post completely without some sort of update. Since I've been neglecting my Blog as of late. *oh I hate reading posts about neglecting blog!* **smacks self**
This fourth of July they are having an ATV competetion. I'm not sure where, and I don't know where they are going to come up with these elusive ATVs, unless there are some on Bondsteel I haven't seen. Pictures will definitely come.
Also, a couple weeks ago Thund HER struck, and all chick tribute band to ACDC came to Bondsteel and I've been meaning to put some pictures up of that and haven't because I'm a bum.
ANd I did some vector control stuff too and took some pictures in my bitchin' white coveralls and I told Jon the Vector Control guy that I would post pictures on my blog. I have yet to do so.
Because I'm a bum.
But I have been doing a bit of drawing lately! I also redid the Gallery using the nifty Javascript trick I was talking about a few weeks ago. Like how that turned out. And I also added my gift/fan art section. Which I kind of did by Blog, because it just sounded easier in the long run.
And some good news! Today was the last day of the Freakin' Urinalysis until October! Yay! I am so done with that crap I can barely stand it!
But if I go into detail I will risk venturing into the beginning of this post. And I really shouldn't go there.
Just one of those moments.
A blog about a girl who speaks her mind and talks about whatever she wants. So its a blog about everything, and absolutely nothing, all at the same time. . .
Showing posts with label zzz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zzz. Show all posts
6.30.2005
6.13.2005
Clarifying
I was chatting with my mom and she wanted to make sure something was clear.
The Swedish Oil Massage. Because normally when people hear things like that, they get the wrong idea.
Yeah, I got a full body massage. But I was wearing shorts. They didn't massage THAT area.
And most of the time a towel covered the areas that wasn't getting a massage.
But it still felt really good. Except for parts of the leg that sent me giggling like a school girl.
The Swedish Oil Massage. Because normally when people hear things like that, they get the wrong idea.
Yeah, I got a full body massage. But I was wearing shorts. They didn't massage THAT area.
And most of the time a towel covered the areas that wasn't getting a massage.
But it still felt really good. Except for parts of the leg that sent me giggling like a school girl.
6.09.2005
Dizzy Spells go hand in hand with lots of Pointless Ramblings
I spent a good majority of the last 24 hours sleeping. Mostly because I'm getting over a dizzy spell that has me teetering on edge when I'm sitting down. So the Doctors gave me some drugs that induce a coma and I've been trying to get things done but instead feel drawn to my bed.
Meanwhile, I sent out an email to people telling them to give me crap to put on the unit webpage and I think they're ignoring me. Don't tell me I have to bring out the Command Sergeant Major.
Although he looked at me and said 'where's the website? There's nothing on it.'
I could have told anyone that. Most of the work has been trying to decide how to put up the mounds of pictures on the website and upload them at a rate of 2kB per minute. Which means this will take a long time.
In other news, James Lileks is a freakin' genius. I spent the last thirty minutes thumbing through Interior Desecrations and I don't remember when the last time I laughed that hard was. Were these people for real? I can only guess that the truth is stranger then fiction. I think I'm going to mail this book to my sister Julie. I bet she would get a kick out of it!
Meanwhile, trying to work, but finding that hard when other people aren't exactly doing their job. Grumble. Or they are busy with other things that they forget that they have to send me something. Like how many people got hurt last week and had to have work done. I needed it by, oh, yesterday, and now because I didn't get on other people's hides about it, I'm the one getting yelled at.
Gotta love the army.
Anyway, the 13.1 Mile half Marathon is off, on account that I did indeed pull my calf muscle and am on 7 days of Work out at your Own Pace PT.
Well, at least my good friend who happens to be a guy will be getting back sometime today. I think we swapped most of task Force Tornado with the French and they've been over in the French Sector since Monday. And the French have been hanging out with us.
And I got the greatest shirt EVER.
Well, actually, its pretty high up there with my Minion Shirt.
Pictures to come of me wearing it.
Meanwhile, I sent out an email to people telling them to give me crap to put on the unit webpage and I think they're ignoring me. Don't tell me I have to bring out the Command Sergeant Major.
Although he looked at me and said 'where's the website? There's nothing on it.'
I could have told anyone that. Most of the work has been trying to decide how to put up the mounds of pictures on the website and upload them at a rate of 2kB per minute. Which means this will take a long time.
In other news, James Lileks is a freakin' genius. I spent the last thirty minutes thumbing through Interior Desecrations and I don't remember when the last time I laughed that hard was. Were these people for real? I can only guess that the truth is stranger then fiction. I think I'm going to mail this book to my sister Julie. I bet she would get a kick out of it!
Meanwhile, trying to work, but finding that hard when other people aren't exactly doing their job. Grumble. Or they are busy with other things that they forget that they have to send me something. Like how many people got hurt last week and had to have work done. I needed it by, oh, yesterday, and now because I didn't get on other people's hides about it, I'm the one getting yelled at.
Gotta love the army.
Anyway, the 13.1 Mile half Marathon is off, on account that I did indeed pull my calf muscle and am on 7 days of Work out at your Own Pace PT.
Well, at least my good friend who happens to be a guy will be getting back sometime today. I think we swapped most of task Force Tornado with the French and they've been over in the French Sector since Monday. And the French have been hanging out with us.
And I got the greatest shirt EVER.
Well, actually, its pretty high up there with my Minion Shirt.
Pictures to come of me wearing it.
6.05.2005
Food and STDs
On friday I had to give the FMPP brief. FMPP is Force Management Pass Program or something of that nature, it is the Bulgaria trip mostly. Anyway, before you leave you have to do a Brief and Preventive Medicine, which is my section, has to give a portion of it.
I don't mind giving this briefing at all. In fact, I like to give it. Though apparently people tell me I go red in the face when I have to talk about my part.
That might make sense in a moment.
Anyway, people have to go over the safety portion of the briefing and all that jazz as well as the medical portion and then it comes to me. My job is to tell them where not to eat and not to screw around (literally).
So we get around to listening to the droning of the earlier briefing, because these people mostly have to give this thing every week and you can tell that they're bored, and I'm thinking "I plan on waking these people up a bit".
One way that my NCOIC had gotten it into people's heads so that they wouldn't forget the food issue is by the use of the words "explosive Diarrhea" and "Projectile Vomiting". Excessive Number 2 and 3. Yeah, that would kill any desire to eat at some of those questionable restaurants. That being the idea.
But by far my favorite topic of discussion is STDs. You see, when your dealing with a Task Force where the Male Female Ratio is 10 to 1 or even worse then that (like the guys at Monteith) some of them like to think of this trip to Bulgaria as a little opportunity to get some. And I don't care who these people are, whether they are married or what not, people are screwing around. I don't care who people are screwing around with, just as long as they give me enough warning that I'm not in the same room with it (which had been a problem earlier). So you got people going to Bulgaria to fool around and get a little, and Preventive Medicine is in charge of making sure you don't get any STDs because we get to councel you in case you get some.
So we get to drive home the point of avoiding the screw around by explaining STDs and what they will do to you. SPC D had set up this awesome power point that went into graphic detail of some STDs and some of the higher ups thought it was a little to graphic for the fragile minds of our soldiers or something *gag* so now we have this really boring powerpoint which is as basic as you can get. So we have to go into lavish detail about explaining these diseases as what they will do to you.
Like, you can get Genital Warts even if you use a Condom. And its non-curable. You can get Herpes even if you use a condom. And it too is non curable. I wish I could have gotten into detail on the multiple exposures to Gonorrhea (that will make anybody make sure their partner is free of this disease before trying to get some themselves) but I only had 5 to 10 minutes on food and STDs.
From what I understood, I woke a lot of people up. I also got commended on doing a fine job with my part of the power point.
And whats more, when these people come back from FMPP, they get to pee in a cup. And I'll be there to collect.
I wonder what kind of STD comments I'll get next week?
I don't mind giving this briefing at all. In fact, I like to give it. Though apparently people tell me I go red in the face when I have to talk about my part.
That might make sense in a moment.
Anyway, people have to go over the safety portion of the briefing and all that jazz as well as the medical portion and then it comes to me. My job is to tell them where not to eat and not to screw around (literally).
So we get around to listening to the droning of the earlier briefing, because these people mostly have to give this thing every week and you can tell that they're bored, and I'm thinking "I plan on waking these people up a bit".
One way that my NCOIC had gotten it into people's heads so that they wouldn't forget the food issue is by the use of the words "explosive Diarrhea" and "Projectile Vomiting". Excessive Number 2 and 3. Yeah, that would kill any desire to eat at some of those questionable restaurants. That being the idea.
But by far my favorite topic of discussion is STDs. You see, when your dealing with a Task Force where the Male Female Ratio is 10 to 1 or even worse then that (like the guys at Monteith) some of them like to think of this trip to Bulgaria as a little opportunity to get some. And I don't care who these people are, whether they are married or what not, people are screwing around. I don't care who people are screwing around with, just as long as they give me enough warning that I'm not in the same room with it (which had been a problem earlier). So you got people going to Bulgaria to fool around and get a little, and Preventive Medicine is in charge of making sure you don't get any STDs because we get to councel you in case you get some.
So we get to drive home the point of avoiding the screw around by explaining STDs and what they will do to you. SPC D had set up this awesome power point that went into graphic detail of some STDs and some of the higher ups thought it was a little to graphic for the fragile minds of our soldiers or something *gag* so now we have this really boring powerpoint which is as basic as you can get. So we have to go into lavish detail about explaining these diseases as what they will do to you.
Like, you can get Genital Warts even if you use a Condom. And its non-curable. You can get Herpes even if you use a condom. And it too is non curable. I wish I could have gotten into detail on the multiple exposures to Gonorrhea (that will make anybody make sure their partner is free of this disease before trying to get some themselves) but I only had 5 to 10 minutes on food and STDs.
From what I understood, I woke a lot of people up. I also got commended on doing a fine job with my part of the power point.
And whats more, when these people come back from FMPP, they get to pee in a cup. And I'll be there to collect.
I wonder what kind of STD comments I'll get next week?
6.01.2005
Highlights of a Slow Day
We're reaching the midpoint of this deployment. Where everyone is getting lazy and starting to slack off. And things are becoming monotonous.
In the office today, we were all looking at each other with the 'blah' expression plastered on our faces.
But I'm getting a little change up in my routine. Yesterday, I conducted my first Urinalysis ever. Yes, I was in charge, if I told you to pee in a cup, well, dag gum it you better well pee in that cup!
Even though by army regulation we're supposed to conduct these things once a month, we've been having logistical problems with the whole Pee in a Cup program. But now things are starting to run a lot smoother and kind of last minute, I got a crash course in handling a bunch of soldiers that need to go pee *now*!
And I will hence forth be doing a wizz quiz every few days for the first part of this month. Then I will get to skip a few Pee Tests when everyone's comfortable.
Today we also went over shipping the urine via Official Mail.
The highlight of my day is shipping off pee. What has become of my life?
Oh wait, there's a magician coming tonight. That will be the highlight. I stand corrected.
In the office today, we were all looking at each other with the 'blah' expression plastered on our faces.
But I'm getting a little change up in my routine. Yesterday, I conducted my first Urinalysis ever. Yes, I was in charge, if I told you to pee in a cup, well, dag gum it you better well pee in that cup!
Even though by army regulation we're supposed to conduct these things once a month, we've been having logistical problems with the whole Pee in a Cup program. But now things are starting to run a lot smoother and kind of last minute, I got a crash course in handling a bunch of soldiers that need to go pee *now*!
And I will hence forth be doing a wizz quiz every few days for the first part of this month. Then I will get to skip a few Pee Tests when everyone's comfortable.
Today we also went over shipping the urine via Official Mail.
The highlight of my day is shipping off pee. What has become of my life?
Oh wait, there's a magician coming tonight. That will be the highlight. I stand corrected.
5.29.2005
Guy Friends
I've made a few friends from Task Force Tornado, the all male unit from Kansas posing as Infantry. One in particular, a guy named Nate, has become a pretty good friend of mine. Actually, I've acquired quite a few good friends from Tornado, I'm not sure if its just because I'm female and they're having withdrawals or what, but don't worry, I've been on my guard in that arena. And I think they got the hint too.
But they're still pretty cool guys.
Meanwhile, Saturday before yesterday Nate asked me if I wanted to go see Fred Trevalena with him, sort of a 'date' but as friends, nothing more. So I went to see Fred Travalena, we had a good time, and he informed me that Saturday was my turn to pick what we were going to do.
At the time I had no idea what we were going to, there isn't a whole lot to do on Bondsteel. YOu could catch a movie in the theater with the horrible surround sound or work out in the gym, or play pool at the MWR building. Or go get a Rootbeer float at the cappuccino bar. Hey, if you really want to get fancy, you can go out to eat instead of going to the DFAC. Your choices are Burger King or Anthony's Pizza.
The arena is pretty limited. And you have to watch what you do, because I hate to say this, but the command can get a little anal at times.
Well, one of the Specialists in my unit had managed to acquire a pretty decent copy of Star Wars, and since I didn't have any other ideas of what to do, I thought maybe he wouldn't mind sitting down and we could watch a movie.
Well, apparently he liked the whole Star Wars thing. He mentioned repeatedly that it was one of the coolest dates he had ever been on, when a girl supplied Star Wars. We went to his hutch, and his roomies wanted to see it too. At first we were watching it on a 13 inch screen when we decided that it was a wee bit to small. So one of the other soldiers got his projector out and we hooked that up to the Xbox and hung a sheet and VIOLA! Instant big screen TV!
I won major kudos, and the movie was pretty good, besides the time stamp of the obviously pirated copy.
Don't worry George, when it comes out for real, I'll get a legal copy.
We got chinese at the DFAC and some fruit juice in boxes, all gathered around and watched Episode Three, meanwhile trying to keep it on the low down before everyone came into the hutch wanting to watch it. And there were a few people who came around wondering why we hadn't said anything to them about having flippen' starwars in the barracks.
I guess that's the best screening I'm going to get of it meanwhile, because by the time I do make it to a real theater with decent sound, Star Wars will likely have left the building.
Unless they have decent theaters in Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, Nate has the 'date' for this Saturday. He's questioning whether or not he can top Star Wars however.
If all else fells, I have a DDR Pad. We were doing that, it was laughable. And funny.
And of course, after Star Wars, you can't forget Karaoke. I sung more songs within my range, though I did have fun singing Joan Jett "I love Rock and Roll", however, sorry, I didn't get it on film.
But I don't think you need it on film after my last lovely rendition.
The take with me and another guy named Richard singing "Lion Sleeps Tonight," by the tokens was particularly hilarious. I found out I can't keep a straight face and hit those high notes when another person is on stage with me.
The guys in Tornado want to throw a party and get me to invite my girl friends from Med Falcon. I noted that the problem with that is I wasn't exactly buddy buddy with a lot of girls in Med Falcon (true, I get along during work, but my idea of fun and their idea of fun don't actually coincide), hence why I have started to hang out almost exclusively with people from outside of the task force. Or guys from within the task force.
Mostly guys. Hardly any girls. Cooincidence? I wonder?
But they're still pretty cool guys.
Meanwhile, Saturday before yesterday Nate asked me if I wanted to go see Fred Trevalena with him, sort of a 'date' but as friends, nothing more. So I went to see Fred Travalena, we had a good time, and he informed me that Saturday was my turn to pick what we were going to do.
At the time I had no idea what we were going to, there isn't a whole lot to do on Bondsteel. YOu could catch a movie in the theater with the horrible surround sound or work out in the gym, or play pool at the MWR building. Or go get a Rootbeer float at the cappuccino bar. Hey, if you really want to get fancy, you can go out to eat instead of going to the DFAC. Your choices are Burger King or Anthony's Pizza.
The arena is pretty limited. And you have to watch what you do, because I hate to say this, but the command can get a little anal at times.
Well, one of the Specialists in my unit had managed to acquire a pretty decent copy of Star Wars, and since I didn't have any other ideas of what to do, I thought maybe he wouldn't mind sitting down and we could watch a movie.
Well, apparently he liked the whole Star Wars thing. He mentioned repeatedly that it was one of the coolest dates he had ever been on, when a girl supplied Star Wars. We went to his hutch, and his roomies wanted to see it too. At first we were watching it on a 13 inch screen when we decided that it was a wee bit to small. So one of the other soldiers got his projector out and we hooked that up to the Xbox and hung a sheet and VIOLA! Instant big screen TV!
I won major kudos, and the movie was pretty good, besides the time stamp of the obviously pirated copy.
Don't worry George, when it comes out for real, I'll get a legal copy.
We got chinese at the DFAC and some fruit juice in boxes, all gathered around and watched Episode Three, meanwhile trying to keep it on the low down before everyone came into the hutch wanting to watch it. And there were a few people who came around wondering why we hadn't said anything to them about having flippen' starwars in the barracks.
I guess that's the best screening I'm going to get of it meanwhile, because by the time I do make it to a real theater with decent sound, Star Wars will likely have left the building.
Unless they have decent theaters in Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, Nate has the 'date' for this Saturday. He's questioning whether or not he can top Star Wars however.
If all else fells, I have a DDR Pad. We were doing that, it was laughable. And funny.
And of course, after Star Wars, you can't forget Karaoke. I sung more songs within my range, though I did have fun singing Joan Jett "I love Rock and Roll", however, sorry, I didn't get it on film.
But I don't think you need it on film after my last lovely rendition.
The take with me and another guy named Richard singing "Lion Sleeps Tonight," by the tokens was particularly hilarious. I found out I can't keep a straight face and hit those high notes when another person is on stage with me.
The guys in Tornado want to throw a party and get me to invite my girl friends from Med Falcon. I noted that the problem with that is I wasn't exactly buddy buddy with a lot of girls in Med Falcon (true, I get along during work, but my idea of fun and their idea of fun don't actually coincide), hence why I have started to hang out almost exclusively with people from outside of the task force. Or guys from within the task force.
Mostly guys. Hardly any girls. Cooincidence? I wonder?
5.14.2005
frustrations
I feel the need to just give up on Blogger. I'm getting so freakin' frustrated with it that I don't know what to do with myself. If I want to post anything of any consequence that takes up more then two paragraphs, it usually freezes and dies, and I've had it up to here on what to do with this thing.
First its Greece. I typed up this long post on my experiences there and so on and so forth and the thing deletes most of my post as I'm trying to preview it. Then I wanted to type something about my feelings of what I'm going through right now, and the trials and tribulations of being a Sergeant in Todays army, and the thing delets that too after I try to post it (though that was partly my fault, I did copy it, but then I tried to copy something else too without thinking what I already had on my clipboard.)
Anyway, I'm just frustrated right now. I have to go to BNCOC in the morning and I'll be doing that for the next two weeks. I don't know if I'll ever post anything about greece or not. This whole thing is turning out to be a huge chore for me because half of the time the internet ceases to work.
Makes me wonder if this thing is even worth it.
5.12.2005
Meanwhile. . .
Your Political Profile |
Overall: 85% Conservative, 15% Liberal |
Social Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal |
Personal Responsibility: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal |
Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal |
Ethics: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal |
Yeah, so I am conservative. However I didn't like the phrasing of some of those questions. I wish they offered more choices because some of those were questionable.
I would Quote Tex, but it Might not be Appropriate
Yep, I'm back from Greece. Had a flippen blast too! But considering I just got back, I'll have to arrange my pictures and get back to you on those in a little bit.
But anyway, I'm back. . . Just a quick notation. Now I need to go back to my room, take a nice hot shower, and chill.
Then tomorrow, I have to fetch Jadacious Maximus and play soldier again.
But anyway, I'm back. . . Just a quick notation. Now I need to go back to my room, take a nice hot shower, and chill.
Then tomorrow, I have to fetch Jadacious Maximus and play soldier again.
5.08.2005
Well, This is It!
Wow, that was close. I almost slept in!
in that my alarm didn't go off, but I have a great biological clock for this sort of thing. I woke up myself ten minutes after it was supposed to wake me up.
Anyway, I'm off to Greece and I'll be back some time later this week. Although I am taking my computer, I don't intend on using it all that much. Its more of my dumping ground for the many many pictures I intend on taking.
I'm just in the hospital right now tying up last minute errands (like emailing my battle buddies important information, cleaning out my inbox, taking a second to update my blog, that sort of thing)
So anyway, I'm in civilians for the first time in almost 4 months and I feel naked because I turned in my weapon yesterday and I don't have this extra weight on my back that I've come to be used too. Feels weird not lugging around a weapon everywhere.
And then I had another Red Vs Blue marathon with some of my new friends in Tornado. At this rate, I think I will have everyone on Camp Bondsteel watching this thing by the end of this deployment. . . well the guys at least. I haven't gotten any other girls hooked on it yet.
UPDATE: Red Vs Blue is a cartoon based on Halo that I'm slightly addicted too.
Tornado is Task Force Tornado, which is the infantry (well, actually they're Armor posed as infantry for purposes here in Kosovo). I'm in Task Force Med Falcon, which is the hospital.
Apparently that confused somebody.
in that my alarm didn't go off, but I have a great biological clock for this sort of thing. I woke up myself ten minutes after it was supposed to wake me up.
Anyway, I'm off to Greece and I'll be back some time later this week. Although I am taking my computer, I don't intend on using it all that much. Its more of my dumping ground for the many many pictures I intend on taking.
I'm just in the hospital right now tying up last minute errands (like emailing my battle buddies important information, cleaning out my inbox, taking a second to update my blog, that sort of thing)
So anyway, I'm in civilians for the first time in almost 4 months and I feel naked because I turned in my weapon yesterday and I don't have this extra weight on my back that I've come to be used too. Feels weird not lugging around a weapon everywhere.
And then I had another Red Vs Blue marathon with some of my new friends in Tornado. At this rate, I think I will have everyone on Camp Bondsteel watching this thing by the end of this deployment. . . well the guys at least. I haven't gotten any other girls hooked on it yet.
UPDATE: Red Vs Blue is a cartoon based on Halo that I'm slightly addicted too.
Tornado is Task Force Tornado, which is the infantry (well, actually they're Armor posed as infantry for purposes here in Kosovo). I'm in Task Force Med Falcon, which is the hospital.
Apparently that confused somebody.
5.07.2005
Day to Day
ATTENTION MURRAY: (permalinks should be fixed. Note Should)
Man, I've been riding high on that concert for the last week, I can't express how much flippen' fun I had! Lit has since become one of my favorite rock bands and I've even been lurking in their forums. Well, ok, I haven't really been lurking, I posted pictures. Thought Lit lovers would appreciate them more then anybody else.
So um, there are some more pictures for you to paruse at your leisure, most of them link back to my site.
And I'm still working on getting videos online. The only way I can get things online is through FTP, and the internet connection from my laptop has proven to be particularly horrendous. It takes me about 6 minutes to download a 100K file. These are like 16 megs.
And everyone in the hospital has jumped on the any soldier bandwagon, well, at least it feels like that. Which reminds me, i need to update my site. I got so freakin' spoiled the first few months I was here, pratically getting a letter/package/something in the mail everyday, many times two or three +, that now that I'm going into this dryspell, I'm thinking, "where's my package?"
Of course, I still need to mail these letters I have sitting in my hut as I sit here typing this out. I've got about fifteen letters to return. And I need to see if I can find that invoice for that Mug so I can give Murray a post card because he's feeling out of the loop.
Or he could just send me his address :)
Hopefully, I'll have enough time after I get back from Greece (after giving the task force a swift kick in the fourth point of contact to send me info for their respective sections) I'll have a website up for Task Force Med Falcon.
Why oh why did I agree to take this assignment on?
Man, I've been riding high on that concert for the last week, I can't express how much flippen' fun I had! Lit has since become one of my favorite rock bands and I've even been lurking in their forums. Well, ok, I haven't really been lurking, I posted pictures. Thought Lit lovers would appreciate them more then anybody else.
So um, there are some more pictures for you to paruse at your leisure, most of them link back to my site.
And I'm still working on getting videos online. The only way I can get things online is through FTP, and the internet connection from my laptop has proven to be particularly horrendous. It takes me about 6 minutes to download a 100K file. These are like 16 megs.
And everyone in the hospital has jumped on the any soldier bandwagon, well, at least it feels like that. Which reminds me, i need to update my site. I got so freakin' spoiled the first few months I was here, pratically getting a letter/package/something in the mail everyday, many times two or three +, that now that I'm going into this dryspell, I'm thinking, "where's my package?"
Of course, I still need to mail these letters I have sitting in my hut as I sit here typing this out. I've got about fifteen letters to return. And I need to see if I can find that invoice for that Mug so I can give Murray a post card because he's feeling out of the loop.
Or he could just send me his address :)
Hopefully, I'll have enough time after I get back from Greece (after giving the task force a swift kick in the fourth point of contact to send me info for their respective sections) I'll have a website up for Task Force Med Falcon.
Why oh why did I agree to take this assignment on?
4.27.2005
Business as Usual
Well, I've been busy. It hasn't let up, and it looks like there is no sign of it letting up any time soon.
On top of my other details, I have been tasked as the Webdesigner for Task Force Med Falcon. So it is my duty and privilege to put up a website for the Task Force. So I've been working on that.
Problem is, I have absolutely no content for this thing as of yet, because of all the rules and regulations you must abide by when putting up a unit website.
It makes it so much fun.
Anyway, that's eaten up a lot of my time so far this week (among other things, like two trips to Monteith in a day) that I haven't take a moment to sit down and think "gosh, that blog thing I usually do is just sitting there and I haven't put anything of interest on it for who knows how long. . ."
So, um, until further notice, I'm not doing much to the blog. Like I mentioned before, the things I want to talk about here, I can't talk about, and the things I can talk about aren't interesting enough to talk about. Yes, a catch 22. In fact, I wrote something about it earlier but then my internet connection promptly quit.
Oh, that reminds me, I've been having trouble returning emails too, so if you haven't heard back from me in a while, well, that's why. Its been busy.
On top of my other details, I have been tasked as the Webdesigner for Task Force Med Falcon. So it is my duty and privilege to put up a website for the Task Force. So I've been working on that.
Problem is, I have absolutely no content for this thing as of yet, because of all the rules and regulations you must abide by when putting up a unit website.
It makes it so much fun.
Anyway, that's eaten up a lot of my time so far this week (among other things, like two trips to Monteith in a day) that I haven't take a moment to sit down and think "gosh, that blog thing I usually do is just sitting there and I haven't put anything of interest on it for who knows how long. . ."
So, um, until further notice, I'm not doing much to the blog. Like I mentioned before, the things I want to talk about here, I can't talk about, and the things I can talk about aren't interesting enough to talk about. Yes, a catch 22. In fact, I wrote something about it earlier but then my internet connection promptly quit.
Oh, that reminds me, I've been having trouble returning emails too, so if you haven't heard back from me in a while, well, that's why. Its been busy.
4.21.2005
Troubleshooting Expensive Hardware
So today I have been struggling to maintain my alertness considering I went to bed at 0215 or something like that, being the person that I am, and surprise surprise, I didn't want to wake up this morning.
That's not really much of a surprise.
Anyway, yesterday, out of pure spite for my wallet and because it was just there, saying *buy me! Buy me!* i picked up an iPod at the PX. And then I got all excited about purchasing something that can take all of my music and I can just listen to at random whenever I feel like it, as my previous MP3 player only carried a paltry 128 Megs and it was a pain to switch those songs out regularly.
So anyway, I picked up this piece of hardware out of the blue and take it home with the excitement of thinking how cool it is and how brilliantly simple its design is.
Well, the thing doesn't work correctly.
I'll be sitting there typing posts at midnight or writing letters to people thanking them for all the schweet shtuff they keep sending me, and the song pauses. Right in the middle of one of the best parts. And there is no explanation as to why it pauses, it just does. I'm not even touching it, its just laying there, playing its music, and freezing. *grumble grumble*
I checked iPod's troubleshooting tips and reset it. Problem still happens. So I put the hold button on, and it still does it. I see if there is anything in the book about this, nothing.
This morning, I get online and check out iPod's website. Still nothing. I try to call Apple's tech support. They're in a different time zone. Apparently, to fix the problem, I have to mail it in.
Unfortunately, they don't mail back to APO addresses, so it would go home for my family to mail back to me.
I would predict that I wouldn't see my little iPod (which I have christianed Fuji) for over two months.
Kind of an overkill since I just bought it yesterday, don't you think?
So, that brings me to idea number two. Take the box and all the fixings, put the iPod back into it, find reciept, and exchange it for another iPod and hope the same problem doesn't surface. That seems to involve a whole lot less hassle.
The thing is, this iPod is now registered to me. Think that might make a difference?
That's not really much of a surprise.
Anyway, yesterday, out of pure spite for my wallet and because it was just there, saying *buy me! Buy me!* i picked up an iPod at the PX. And then I got all excited about purchasing something that can take all of my music and I can just listen to at random whenever I feel like it, as my previous MP3 player only carried a paltry 128 Megs and it was a pain to switch those songs out regularly.
So anyway, I picked up this piece of hardware out of the blue and take it home with the excitement of thinking how cool it is and how brilliantly simple its design is.
Well, the thing doesn't work correctly.
I'll be sitting there typing posts at midnight or writing letters to people thanking them for all the schweet shtuff they keep sending me, and the song pauses. Right in the middle of one of the best parts. And there is no explanation as to why it pauses, it just does. I'm not even touching it, its just laying there, playing its music, and freezing. *grumble grumble*
I checked iPod's troubleshooting tips and reset it. Problem still happens. So I put the hold button on, and it still does it. I see if there is anything in the book about this, nothing.
This morning, I get online and check out iPod's website. Still nothing. I try to call Apple's tech support. They're in a different time zone. Apparently, to fix the problem, I have to mail it in.
Unfortunately, they don't mail back to APO addresses, so it would go home for my family to mail back to me.
I would predict that I wouldn't see my little iPod (which I have christianed Fuji) for over two months.
Kind of an overkill since I just bought it yesterday, don't you think?
So, that brings me to idea number two. Take the box and all the fixings, put the iPod back into it, find reciept, and exchange it for another iPod and hope the same problem doesn't surface. That seems to involve a whole lot less hassle.
The thing is, this iPod is now registered to me. Think that might make a difference?
4.04.2005
The Rhetoric of being a Badass
I think there is something about somebody saying that I always posed with a weapon lacking a magazine, and so I made up for it.
We went to Letnica yesterday on a MEDCAP, providing medical support for the community sponsored by Task Force Tornado, which is a Combat Arms unit. I was all over this one. One of the SGTs had an M203 in his possession and I asked to pose with it.
Then they brought to my attention what they referred to as 'Bazooka Joe', which happens to be a M249 SAW.
Another Kodak moment.
But you know what's really badass? Carrying 3 weapons at once!
However, I feel that if I tried to actually fire these things at once, I probably would be bowled over like everyone thinks I would with the 203. Also, I probably wouldn't be able to hit jack.
My NCOIC wasn't impressed. And he posed a bit of rhetoric my way, asking me why I got a thrill posing with items that were meant for Death. Really, your talking about three pieces of equipment designed to kill other people. And I take them in my hand and say "snap a picture of me toting this badass piece of equipment."
Um, doesn't that ring the whole point of being a soldier to mind? Not everyone gets to pose with instruments of death at this scale. It is bloody COOL! That's why!
The supreme power of Peace through Superior Fire Power. People aren't going to mess with you if you strike an imposing image with an item designed to kill.
Though granted, I think the picture of me with the 203 and 249 and a 16 slung on my back would have more people laughing at the thought of me actually trying to fire those things simutaniously then striking fear into the hearts of enemies everywhere.
And I still stand by my statement. I love instruments of death, and I love posing with them. Even if they are designed to kill, because that's sort of the point.
We went to Letnica yesterday on a MEDCAP, providing medical support for the community sponsored by Task Force Tornado, which is a Combat Arms unit. I was all over this one. One of the SGTs had an M203 in his possession and I asked to pose with it.
Then they brought to my attention what they referred to as 'Bazooka Joe', which happens to be a M249 SAW.
Another Kodak moment.
But you know what's really badass? Carrying 3 weapons at once!
However, I feel that if I tried to actually fire these things at once, I probably would be bowled over like everyone thinks I would with the 203. Also, I probably wouldn't be able to hit jack.
My NCOIC wasn't impressed. And he posed a bit of rhetoric my way, asking me why I got a thrill posing with items that were meant for Death. Really, your talking about three pieces of equipment designed to kill other people. And I take them in my hand and say "snap a picture of me toting this badass piece of equipment."
Um, doesn't that ring the whole point of being a soldier to mind? Not everyone gets to pose with instruments of death at this scale. It is bloody COOL! That's why!
The supreme power of Peace through Superior Fire Power. People aren't going to mess with you if you strike an imposing image with an item designed to kill.
Though granted, I think the picture of me with the 203 and 249 and a 16 slung on my back would have more people laughing at the thought of me actually trying to fire those things simutaniously then striking fear into the hearts of enemies everywhere.
And I still stand by my statement. I love instruments of death, and I love posing with them. Even if they are designed to kill, because that's sort of the point.
4.01.2005
Subjected to Mass Punishment
I didn't see Elektra last night, I couldn't find my movie date, I think he stood me up, or he just forgot.
Well, the head of our enlisted Department, SSG D, saw Hide And Seek instead.
You know that there might be a problem if the typo in the schedule declares that the movie is called Hide and Sick. He came in this morning ranting and raving about how bloody awful this movie was until he was red in the face. It got so bad to the point that the commander officially ordered him not to talk about the movie anymore.
Fast forward to this afternoon, myself and two other soldiers were discussing about the policy that was reiterated this afternoon that we are not to go shopping, eat, or drink coffee on the local economy until further notice. To emphasize this, we were shown a picture of three soldiers sitting down at a cafe drinking coffee. Those soldiers were in our task force, and two of them were giving the brief (which was part of their punishment). Dang, I wish I knew I could have gotten away with it before now and claimed ignorance, because I didn't think we were supposed to stop and shop, eat, or have coffee.
In afterthought, in the office, I'm trying to get the ok to leave when we start discussing the briefing and various parts of the task force and how SSG D felt he was disrespected by a member of one of the other sections (as a side note). When the good Captain asked SPC D if she would ever treat any senior NCO with such disrespect, the wise cracking started, at the expense of the good sergeant. In good harmless fun mind you.
As punishment? SSG D kindly asked the captain to leave the room, and we were subjected to a full ten minute rant about how truly awful Hide and Seek really was.
Can I just have the push ups next time please?
Well, the head of our enlisted Department, SSG D, saw Hide And Seek instead.
You know that there might be a problem if the typo in the schedule declares that the movie is called Hide and Sick. He came in this morning ranting and raving about how bloody awful this movie was until he was red in the face. It got so bad to the point that the commander officially ordered him not to talk about the movie anymore.
Fast forward to this afternoon, myself and two other soldiers were discussing about the policy that was reiterated this afternoon that we are not to go shopping, eat, or drink coffee on the local economy until further notice. To emphasize this, we were shown a picture of three soldiers sitting down at a cafe drinking coffee. Those soldiers were in our task force, and two of them were giving the brief (which was part of their punishment). Dang, I wish I knew I could have gotten away with it before now and claimed ignorance, because I didn't think we were supposed to stop and shop, eat, or have coffee.
In afterthought, in the office, I'm trying to get the ok to leave when we start discussing the briefing and various parts of the task force and how SSG D felt he was disrespected by a member of one of the other sections (as a side note). When the good Captain asked SPC D if she would ever treat any senior NCO with such disrespect, the wise cracking started, at the expense of the good sergeant. In good harmless fun mind you.
As punishment? SSG D kindly asked the captain to leave the room, and we were subjected to a full ten minute rant about how truly awful Hide and Seek really was.
Can I just have the push ups next time please?
3.31.2005
The Drama Ends
Well, the roommate situation has finally resolved itself. I am now out of the room and moved into the room next door. Once the one roommate moved out, that left me and the other roommate, where most people were bunked up to 4, it wasn't fair for there to only be 2 in the room.
So next door apparently they were having some issues, so I moved out and two of them moved in, and now we're at 3 and 3. I really like my new room a lot better, it's like a giant load has been lifted off my shoulder and now I can relax at night.
Once more, I even have something to talk about with my new roommates. We seem to get along alright, they are pretty easy going, they have a few basic rules that I'm more then content to follow because me having the same rules caused the initial problem with my roommates in the first place.
And we even enjoy the same types of things. SSG C is an original Twilight Zone Fan and so we can get together and start watching them as I slowly collect the series. She also doesn't laugh at me when I watch Ninja Turtles, because she watched them when they were a thing too.
So anyway, that chapter in my life has come to a close to a happy ending, as far as I'm concerned. I don't think there will be much more drama in that department.
Meanwhile, went to Kamenica this week and took lots of pictures on the way over there. I swear I shall post these, I got some good ones and you can really see the lay of the land once the snow melts. It really feels like I'm in another country when we head outside the wire.
Meanwhile, I got a movie night with Elektra at 2100. Can't pass up a free movie, though going through the Greece Trip classes on the Apostle Paul proved to be entertaining at best. They have a religious retreat sponsored by the chaplain where we sit and watch a 8 part series on the life of the Apostle Paul, and at the end we are eligable to go to Phillipi Greece on a retreat and see different places and museums of interest in dealing with Paul. They usually have it at the South Chapel, but they are doing something in there and they moved the class, which forced me to try and find it so I took my new Bike and rode it to the North Chapel, which is uphill and encorporates a pretty decent workout. But it wasn't at the North Chapel, it was at the South DFAC, so after going through all the trouble of trying to find it, I had to ride back down to the other part of the Camp to see the film.
Anyway, my little workout tuckered me out. I ended up crashing in my bunk soon after for a quick nap. Hopefully, I'll be awake enough for Movie Night.
So next door apparently they were having some issues, so I moved out and two of them moved in, and now we're at 3 and 3. I really like my new room a lot better, it's like a giant load has been lifted off my shoulder and now I can relax at night.
Once more, I even have something to talk about with my new roommates. We seem to get along alright, they are pretty easy going, they have a few basic rules that I'm more then content to follow because me having the same rules caused the initial problem with my roommates in the first place.
And we even enjoy the same types of things. SSG C is an original Twilight Zone Fan and so we can get together and start watching them as I slowly collect the series. She also doesn't laugh at me when I watch Ninja Turtles, because she watched them when they were a thing too.
So anyway, that chapter in my life has come to a close to a happy ending, as far as I'm concerned. I don't think there will be much more drama in that department.
Meanwhile, went to Kamenica this week and took lots of pictures on the way over there. I swear I shall post these, I got some good ones and you can really see the lay of the land once the snow melts. It really feels like I'm in another country when we head outside the wire.
Meanwhile, I got a movie night with Elektra at 2100. Can't pass up a free movie, though going through the Greece Trip classes on the Apostle Paul proved to be entertaining at best. They have a religious retreat sponsored by the chaplain where we sit and watch a 8 part series on the life of the Apostle Paul, and at the end we are eligable to go to Phillipi Greece on a retreat and see different places and museums of interest in dealing with Paul. They usually have it at the South Chapel, but they are doing something in there and they moved the class, which forced me to try and find it so I took my new Bike and rode it to the North Chapel, which is uphill and encorporates a pretty decent workout. But it wasn't at the North Chapel, it was at the South DFAC, so after going through all the trouble of trying to find it, I had to ride back down to the other part of the Camp to see the film.
Anyway, my little workout tuckered me out. I ended up crashing in my bunk soon after for a quick nap. Hopefully, I'll be awake enough for Movie Night.
3.26.2005
Being out of the Loop can Hurt Sometimes
Why am I just finding out the sequal to this now?
Battle of the Babes, over 2 months ago
This means I need to follow this website closer.
Battle of the Babes, over 2 months ago
This means I need to follow this website closer.
3.24.2005
One Mission is Done. . .
And so, thus ends my air sampling mission. Today was the last day for air sampling and now it is over. Unless I am ordered to continue it again, which I might, but it is over for now.
It was one of those things that was mine, my job, my mission, whatever. But it was mine and though the first time I did it on my own was a complete and miserable failure, since then I got pretty good at it and it was kind of my way to get out of the office and take one of the Humm-V's out and do my own thing. It was also a chance to talk to a new face, I got to know quite a few of the Force Protection guys guarding the wire.
Anyway, it is now over. And it kind of makes me sad. I'm hoping we get handed that mission again soon. And there is no way I'm going to let them take it away from me. Air sampling is mine I tell you. MINE MINE MINE!
See, I'm a bit angst ridden because other tasks will be keeping me from actually finishing the mission. I have training that conflicts and so my two battle buddies are going to pick up the slack and my mission will go out with a small blurp on the radar, because I'm not the one who will be finishing it.
I got to like Air Sampling. I guess I'll post pictures in the Milblog about it.
Meanwhile, tomorrow I get to talk to a JAG officer about my blog. He's the defense lawyer here on post, basically if somebody does something stupid, or gets accused of something, then he's there to protect them. As long as they don't crash and burn before he gets that chance. He'll be able to give me some advice on what I can post and what I shouldn't. Becuase truthfully, I can post whatever I want. Its the consequences I have to live with.
Oh, and Mom? The Peeps are getting a lot of attention. I've got the beanbag Peep sitting on my monitor waiting to wish in the Easter season. It is soft and furry and makes me smile.
I think I'll take a picture.
It has attained its rightful place and shall not be moved henceforth from this spot. Kind of like the christmas tree left over from the previous task force.
It was one of those things that was mine, my job, my mission, whatever. But it was mine and though the first time I did it on my own was a complete and miserable failure, since then I got pretty good at it and it was kind of my way to get out of the office and take one of the Humm-V's out and do my own thing. It was also a chance to talk to a new face, I got to know quite a few of the Force Protection guys guarding the wire.
Anyway, it is now over. And it kind of makes me sad. I'm hoping we get handed that mission again soon. And there is no way I'm going to let them take it away from me. Air sampling is mine I tell you. MINE MINE MINE!
See, I'm a bit angst ridden because other tasks will be keeping me from actually finishing the mission. I have training that conflicts and so my two battle buddies are going to pick up the slack and my mission will go out with a small blurp on the radar, because I'm not the one who will be finishing it.
I got to like Air Sampling. I guess I'll post pictures in the Milblog about it.
Meanwhile, tomorrow I get to talk to a JAG officer about my blog. He's the defense lawyer here on post, basically if somebody does something stupid, or gets accused of something, then he's there to protect them. As long as they don't crash and burn before he gets that chance. He'll be able to give me some advice on what I can post and what I shouldn't. Becuase truthfully, I can post whatever I want. Its the consequences I have to live with.
Oh, and Mom? The Peeps are getting a lot of attention. I've got the beanbag Peep sitting on my monitor waiting to wish in the Easter season. It is soft and furry and makes me smile.
I think I'll take a picture.
It has attained its rightful place and shall not be moved henceforth from this spot. Kind of like the christmas tree left over from the previous task force.
3.23.2005
Latest ramblings, continued
Lately, my blog has had a lot to do with updates on my life, or lack there of. *sighs*
Anyway, the issue with my blog is resolved, for now. And FYI, I was not ordered to remove the blog, I did it on my own until I was comfortable with what I could or could not post.
So, the Milblog is back up and functional once again. Offending posts have been removed. And a guideline to OPSEC issues that I have tentively titled "The Ten Commandments of Milblogging". At least, they are my commandments. And I shall obey.
Meanwhile, I think I'm going to start looking around for a new webserver. My current one, or so I've discovered, can be insanely slow at times. I know some people have been more then kind about allowing me to host my website on their servers, but being the insanely independent person that I am, I want to retain my freedom of being entirely independent and supporting my server myself. So I'm just asking if anybody knows a good Hosting Service that I can use that is relatively quick. Or at least, quicker then my current (which is Yahoo Webhosting, only because I've been with them for nearly six years)
Oh, and one of my battle buddies just convinced me that I should look into a new hobby that is expensive at first, but gets cheaper the more often you do it. SkyDiving. Yeah, I've always wanted to go, so now I think when I get home, I might buy a car, take a roadtrip to Arizona, Skydiving capital of America I think, and
And I'll be in country longer then 12 months boots on ground. Hey, I don't mind, more money and less opportunity to spend it!
Next item to knock off on my list of things to do, Empty out that Inbox. I'm giving myself until Sunday to get this taken care of. So if you emailed me recently, expect a blurp.
Anyway, the issue with my blog is resolved, for now. And FYI, I was not ordered to remove the blog, I did it on my own until I was comfortable with what I could or could not post.
So, the Milblog is back up and functional once again. Offending posts have been removed. And a guideline to OPSEC issues that I have tentively titled "The Ten Commandments of Milblogging". At least, they are my commandments. And I shall obey.
Meanwhile, I think I'm going to start looking around for a new webserver. My current one, or so I've discovered, can be insanely slow at times. I know some people have been more then kind about allowing me to host my website on their servers, but being the insanely independent person that I am, I want to retain my freedom of being entirely independent and supporting my server myself. So I'm just asking if anybody knows a good Hosting Service that I can use that is relatively quick. Or at least, quicker then my current (which is Yahoo Webhosting, only because I've been with them for nearly six years)
Oh, and one of my battle buddies just convinced me that I should look into a new hobby that is expensive at first, but gets cheaper the more often you do it. SkyDiving. Yeah, I've always wanted to go, so now I think when I get home, I might buy a car, take a roadtrip to Arizona, Skydiving capital of America I think, and
And I'll be in country longer then 12 months boots on ground. Hey, I don't mind, more money and less opportunity to spend it!
Next item to knock off on my list of things to do, Empty out that Inbox. I'm giving myself until Sunday to get this taken care of. So if you emailed me recently, expect a blurp.
3.22.2005
Global Personality Test
| Advanced Global Personality Test Results
|
personality tests by similarminds.com
Stability results were moderately low which suggests you are worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.
Orderliness results were medium which suggests you are moderately organized, hard working, and reliable while still remaining flexible, efficient, and fun.
Extraversion results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.
open, tough, irritable, worrying, does not like to be alone, craves attention, low self control, emotionally sensitive, interacting, sad, very social, aggressive, prefer organized to unpredictable, dependent, social chameleon, suspicious, values the heart over the mind, likes large parties, outgoing, likes to make fun, likes to fit in, mildly phobic, vain, makes friends easily, enjoys leadership, clingy, rash |
These are things I usually reserve for things like LJ, but I decided to post it here for once.
For one, maybe I should take it again. Half of the trait snapshots don't sound anything like me (for example, does not like to be alone, can something be further from the truth then that?) And dependent? If anything, I'm very independent.
But still, kind of fun. I think I'll wait a few days and take it again, see what kind of things come out of it next time, maybe then that will more accurately reflect my true 'type'.
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