Thursday, June 22, 2006

Pre-check-in nerves

Well, I'll be checking into my unit tommorrow. I really hope all goes well. We were constantly told how important this was for us as a first impression...however for me, it'll be interesting, as I'll be shaving and changing in an airport lavatory. Joy. Oh, well...I just hope it all goes well.

From the LAX USO

I love USOs. Support them all you can. They make troops happy.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Almost there...

Tommorrow, I leave extremely sunny 29 Palms for home. I'm kinda sad, as I do like the desert...but, my excitement at seeing my wife kinda overwhelms any sadness I have, so no big loss.

Unfortunately, tommorrow will suck in terms of waiting around for my flight...as I have a red-eye (an overnighter flight for the untraveled). So, I'll be attempting to sleep tommorrow in the air(which never happens to me on planes). Oh, well. It'll also be my first time to O'Hare. I'm actually not really looking forward to it because I switch terminals...which, at most airports, really sucks. Oh, well, I end up home, so I can't complain too much.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

We drink today, for tommorrow we die...

...in the hot 29 Palms sun. I tell, you, it's getting hotter every freaking day. And for whatever reason, I seem to end up spending more time in it the hotter it gets.

Oh, and we graduate tommorrow...so I'm happy. Unfortunaly, it's followed by all day field daying. Oh, well, in two days, I'm gone to see my wife.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Three Days...

...and I head home to see my wife! I'm getting very excited. It's not that I don't like the desert (even though it was miserably hot today)...it's just my wife isn't here to brighten the days...even though it's really bright in the first place. You know what I mean.

Anyway, we're doing lots of wrap-up as we prepare to head to our units.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Dumb move of the day

Bahahahahahaha...ouch my sides hurt. If this woman had any reason not to marry...it was just displayed to all the world. On a side note, I wonder if the .40 caliber handgun was a Glock. I need to review Missouri's Conceal & Carry laws. Hmmmm...

EDIT: Maybe I was a little mean to this guy. Nah, it's pretty stupid to try to impress someone you're trying to get to marry you by running around naked in public only to get caught. Try chocolate...it works better and has greatly reduced chances of you getting a weapon pointed at you.

Cats that look like Hitler

...someone has way to much time on their hands. It is kinda funny...and creepy. It's okay, though, I'll teach Baci to MCMAP his tail.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Congradulations Marines, you made it!

Whew...well, I made it. We've taken our last test and are now wrapping up our training. We're all now heading to our respective units on the 22nd. Fun stuff. I'm feeling relieved as we passed our field day with an outstanding...and we're now secured for liberty...with nary a firewatch shift in sight. Awesome. A free weekend.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Random statement of the day (guest blogging by O'Dell)

O'Dell rocks. Yea. Chuckle, chuckle.

Random thought of the day

People are petty.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Random thought of the day

Restful days are never long enough.

Eight days left...

...until I see my wife again! Our final test is on thursday...though, we haven't been told what exactly we will be doing until the 22nd (when we leave). Crazy. It's been busy enough, that it's going pretty quickly, but I really want to see my wife.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Firewatch part 2: I survived

Well, I survived my 0-dark 30 shift of firewatch...and got to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Very pretty...though I'm not sure about it being worth it. Sleep is better than walking around in the dark.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Firewatch: part 1

Finished my first 4 hours of firewatch without dying. I figured out I probably walked between 6-8 miles. Next up...getting up at 0200 for my next shift.

Dollar Movies: The Sentinel

After not having enough time to watch them, I returned to the dollar movies. Yesterday, I watched The Sentinel.

Okay movie...entertaining. The whole concept of a secret service agent having an affair with the First Lady is weird to me. 3/5. Save your money and watch Enemy of the State for it's cool chase scenes (and rediculous technology that doesn't exist...yet).

RE: random thought of the day

I was wondering why the Z was spending so much time on the computer...

www.myspace.com/thez1984

Friday, June 09, 2006

Random thought of the day

There's an aweful lot of Marines that spend an aweful lot of time on myspace. Of course, it seems like everyone and their cousin have myspace accounts...except for me. And my wife. And the cat. The Z may have snuk (is that a word?) into the house and made one without my knowledge. Oh, and my sister has one...I think.

Ah...the weekend...oh, wait...

Well, after a crazy week of training, concluding in an awesome (and too short) field experiance, I made it to the weekend relatively intact. Unfortunately, I have 8 hours of firewatch this weekend (again). The nice part it's two seperate 4 hour shifts instead of the 8-hour crazyness that was last weekend. I should be able to get some stuff done and relax this time.

My awesome field work was a demonstration of what my MOS does in the field: construct, operate, and maintain telephones for the Marine Corps. I really enjoyed getting everything together and having a working phone system up in the middle of the desert. Fun stuff.

Anyway, we're getting close to being done. Less than two weeks, and I'll get to see my wife (...and drive the Z). The most important part, though...is that I'll be home in time for our anniversary. I can't wait.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Busy, busy, busy

Well, I've been rushing around like a madman becuase I have so much going on. It's crazy. I have evenings off, but it's just not enough time. Though, my wife has noted that I'm studying now more than I did for college. Oops.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Things I'm looking forward to...

As my training is getting close to being done, I have a couple things I'm looking forward to...in particular, my wife and I are planning a trip to Cedar Point...an amusement park in Ohio. What makes Cedar Point so exciting is the fact that in every Travel Channel special on them, at least 2 of thier roller coasters get mentioned (they have a lot of them). I'm excited. Spending time with my wife always makes me happy...spending time on roller coasters just adds to the fun.

8-Hours of Firewatch

My feet still hurt from yesterday, when I served 8 hours on firewatch (walking posts around the barracks). Due to the small size of my class, we had two 4-hour shifts...unfortunately for me, mine were in a row. Fortunately for me, they didn't interfere with my sleep...but I couldn't get a whole lot done yesterday.

Yes, firewatch can be boring...and most of the time it is very much so. Yesterday was no exception. Anyway, my feet got pulverized...but I'll survived. I just hope it doesn't mess up my PT tommorrow.

Random Observation of Today

The desert gets hot. It was 105 yesterday...and it's supposed to be 104 today.