And So the Legend Was Born

I just [re]learned the history of how I came to be.

For tonight's entertainment, we picked up "filipino" food at the DFAC, brought it back to the Ready Room, and watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Found this to be interesting.

Obviously, I find much more humor than this guy did.  I can laugh about it, I can laugh at myself, which makes it not painful at all.

I have embraced the call sign, therefore, I am afraid it will be taken away soon.  Shorty was growing. 


Let's see how long this thing can last before I do something outrageously stupid to earn another one.

Live Simple.

To be deployed is to learn to live 'simple'.  Real Simple, like the magazine that I had subscribed to for a year, except this kind of living is only the simple kind and can't be complicated any more by infomercials, telemarketers, and other influential outliers.  No distractions disguised as flashing lights and expensive things.

While the personal letters have been coming in slowly, I have been so honored as to receive a couple of forwarded loan payment letters and bills for the house I'm not currently sleeping in.  To get bills and payment letters for a lifestyle you aren't even living is like getting a free book in a foreign language... you just don't care.  If the electricity in my room goes out without notice, you know the power outage is only because they need to run maintenance in order to keep it going for the few residents we are living south of the runways.  I walk to work rather than driving 10-15 minutes like I did on the Rock (Whidbey Island).  I pass the gym, chapel, mini mart, and the laundry drop-off/pick-up facility on the way to headquarters.  Yes, you're right, I said it's a drop-off/pick-up facility.  So to emphasize how simple life has been made to focus our undying attention on the war itself, our laundry is done for us.  Our food is made for us.  Sure, cooking and doing laundry may be a perishable skill, but we can't stop flying either--another perishable skill... I digress.

I have no television in my room, I catch glimpses of football scores and indie music videos on the screens of the DFAC (dining facility) while I enjoy a hot meal and dessert on the side.  I study during the day and read a little of my "smart" books in my room before turning in to an episode of How I Met Your Mother or my newly acquired DVD set of Entourage, Seasons 1-4.  The difference between here and home is the amount of things 'to do' on the list of lists.

To close off the blog, the OPSO and MO here just received in the mail 2 packages containing a blender, chickpeas, tahini, and various ingredients to make hummus.  How awesome is that? They plugged it in and just started mixing and blending away.  And with that... they had hummus.

Until next time.

Basic gifts

An elephant from Thailand that a retired Seabee gave me because he could.

An Iraq box which will soon become my smoking box.

A package of M&Ms which will become my Christmas sweet.

(and yes I am aware that the picture is backwards, it was a photobooth-ism, just hold a mirror to the screen and you can read it correctly)

Perceptions

Fighting to stay awake...

I have been wanting to blog about how this whole journey has been so far, but I could never find enough time in my room to sit down and do it.  But now I can because of two reasons: a) I am not flying or have duty tomorrow; and b) I am no longer sharing a room with someone.  But I don't want to write something long and runny, so I'll try to keep it faster, funnier.

So far, this experience has been different than any other that I've had.  I am continuing to learn things about myself: how I perceive in the midst of others and how others perceive me as a newcomer into an already established community of people.  I tell you, it is very encouraging to hear people say that they like you, with the words mostly coming from the seasoned chiefs and warrant officers.  Oftentimes, though, I question the validity behind their kind words, because I feel like I recognize them as the common encouraging and motivating statements used to butter up your peers to make them feel good about themselves--not necessarily because its true, but to improve morale and production within the workplace.  I never thought it would unnerve me, but like I said, it's different.

We're deployed.  Everyone is away from family and friends, which will be prominent in the next few months when we start going through more holidays in the calendar.  I still can't even believe I bought a house like I did and after living in it for 2 weeks I'm out the door to fight a war in the middle east.  The friends that I had had also made the journey with me all the way up to graduation.  Many of us started in API at Pensacola before we had even met up on the island.  This is the first real duty station where I had to adjust to a completely new set of characters and talents in a setting unfamiliar to these characters.  It's also different this time--I'm used to introducing myself with my personality.  Now, its the FNG who knows absolutely nothing and has to learn it all on the fly.

I can't believe I'm ranting.  Where are the good parts?? Don't worry, I'm just calling out pros and cons... but I'm falling asleep.  Til next post to follow up...

Retail Therapy kicked in... desert style

-Rugs to warm up the metal can
-Kettle for warm water when it gets cold
-Movies: Law Abiding Citizen, Men Who Stare at Goats, Year One, Ninja Assassin, The Blind Side, Inglourious Basterds
-New CDs: Shakira's She Wolf, The Beatles' Revolver, Rihanna's Rated R, John Mayer's Battle Studies, Timbaland's Shock Value II
-And a Christmas Present I won't open until the 25th... Homedics Foot Spa! For tired feet!

When I have more time and it isn't almost 5am, I will start to blog what you all have been wondering... life here in the desert. But for now, I must get some rest for it will be a long night once my eyes open later this evening...

2 Short Logs from the air base in the desert

Wednesday 25 Nov 2009 (+3)
Today is the first day in Iraq. With six days of “pre-deployment” across the Atlantic spent in D.C., Lajes Field, and Sigonella, the day has finally arrived. Coming in as -2 of a section approach passing through 4000 feet overcast, this base has so far impressed me. Airborne, it is huge. The north side of the runway is filled with buildings that I will have to time to explore. Supposedly there’s a Subway, Pizza hug, Coffee shop and all – but the Dining Facilities (DFAC) are free! Guess it depends on if I get sick of hot meals…
These “cans” we stay in are like mini college dorms. Bunk beds and a closet to each person… not bad. Except I left my keys to the trunk padlocks at HOME – stupid move. I actually had to break into my own trunk locker. Then I had to tackle the gun holster assembly, too. Reading od directions are pretty difficult. It was nice when we got in today (a grueling 5+45 flight), we ate cake from a re-enlistment, went to the DFAC, and enjoyed “Roll’em”, the squadron’s way of having movie night. Star Trek. Good movie. Just learned I’m on the night shift, so I’m going to wake up at 9:30am and workout, hit up chow, then study/look busy. My roommate is the incomparable Intel officer, Amy Hough. She is known for working 20 hour days by her own choosing and merit. Academy grad, she’s a force to be reckoned with—its kind of intimidating because she’s the same rank, yet she actually is a professional at what she does… at least I think so. Anyways, its 1:29AM and I’m still working on Italy time zone. Must work on the routine. My guitar and new keyboard and here and will be opened shortly. ☺

Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday 26 Nov 2009
Woke up today at 9:30 AM. Snoozed for 30 minutes because I was afraid of waking Amy. Turns out she wasn’t even in there sleeping. With the shades down it feels like nighttime every time the lights go off, which makes it easy to sleep! I felt guilty sleeping in so late, but I’m trying to stay as nocturnal as possible to get ready for flying at night. I’m a little nervous for flying on goggles because I lack so much experience. Guess this is how you get it.
Did more exploring today. Went to the gym at an off-peak hour (10:30am) and got lazy for the good shower. I settled for the closest head which was an icy cold one. I’m going to think about showering before bed now. Tried to go the NEX, forgot my ID. ☹ Take 2 tomorrow. I hear a jet coming in for the break! Whoa… ADD. Anyways, the DFAC served turkey at LUNCH – I the first two meals today, and my Thanksgiving consisted of a burrito and beef fajita! Mexican thanksgiving? Haha. Oh, I feel like a POS JO for the moment – I got told maintenance found my green flashlight lens in a jet. FAIL.

Electric Shock

I haven't felt this upset about something. I also haven't 'confronted' somebody about about how I felt... I usually am one to let things go and dissolve on its own. I haven't cried in SUCH a long time.

And I actually cried a lot this evening.

I feel like a big part of it was my fault, a long time coming. Not being as aggressive and open as I could be.

My eyes are pretty puffy. But like I said, it was a long time coming.

Glee

Tony Horton just requested that I be his friend on Facebook!

And nobody knew that as I was going through P90X I put my status as In a Relationship... which I was referring to as Mr Tony Horton because I saw him every single day!

:) I can restart the program now :)

I had to write this down to remember it

I just started playing softball in April for the first time, thanks to my baseball playing roommate, Adam. He had some background playing for school and trying out for the Diamondbacks. I would have never thought of playing, but the thought of it sounded good. It was very hard to get people to play volleyball, let alone tennis, so since there was a softball thing going on I thought, "What could it hurt to try it?"

I think I have come a long way since April. I would have to say I am glad I am a coachable person and I have learned a lot from the people on the team and around the field. Some of my teammates have played in high school, some have coached teams, others have had little experience and wanted to try something different. I used to bat poorly, but I have learned some tricks on the way and I hardly ever strike out. No one wears protection on the field (and this is most important for catchers who get balls thrown at their heads, chest, hands, and shins) but we play a safe game.

The rules are more than halfway there in my sports memory bank, but I am still learning. Playing softball made me appreciate watching baseball a lot more. Today, I finally was trusted to tagging out the other team at home plate 3 times. We weren't able to score enough runs to beat the opponents, but I received compliments about my catching I've never gotten before.

I am going to keep learning and getting better... there's nothing that I can't do if I don't try.

<3/4>

Prowler Flight Numero Uno: SF-0

After such a wonderful Vegas getaway (which I will have to revisit sometime and post G-rated pictures), I was scheduled for my very first EA-6B flight. Needless to say, I wasn't quite so nervous for this familiarization flight, but after my original front seat crew cancelled due to large crosswinds on deck, I was pulled onto a BAM flight with 2 LtColonels and a Colonel as my instructor... talk about lots of Marine brass!

My first go at it ended up being a hot switch with the jet already in the pits waiting to be refueled, so I skipped the pre-flight for the first go around. My last flight in a tactical jet (the mighty T-2 Buckeye) was mid-July, so about a year out of the gear in addition to being out of the clouds.

The backseat button pushing came to me a lot easier than actually strapping in. Typically the jets and the 40 lb gear is manufactured favoring the male anatomy. While we refueled I unstrapped and strapped in again, this time in way less time than the first time. Flying above the clouds and doing the maneuvers (like wingovers and barrel rolls) immediately put me back to the ACM in VT-86. It's always the first flight like this that makes me rethink aviation, but the more hours I get, the more I get used to it (even if I end up throwing up into a ziploc, haha).

I've got to remember to keep an eye on the horizon tomorrow when I go for the 2nd go around... it's extremely difficult to keep up with the flying when the backseaters can only see out of the side windows and up. I can get the location of the jet on our displays but having to watch out over my shoulder is going to get some used to. Also the unloading of the jet is something I haven't experienced too much since last year, although I think the USAirways pilot who took us back to Seattle this past weekend scared half the passengers by making some weird erratic movements immediately after takeoff--then the kid next to me with his intelligence informed me they usually take off and cut an engine, do a restart once they've cleared big cities like Las Vegas. I didn't even know that. I don't even know if its true. But who knows?

So the debrief was done during engine shutdown, I walked down the boarding ladder and my puke bag fell out of my leg pocket. A plane captain kindly informed me and chuckled. Surely they see this sort of thing all the time! Right..?! Ah, doesn't bother me. One flight hour at a time.

Dusty Diamonds, then Lavish Lotions

I would just like to share the day I had today.

I had the opportunity to drive my mother to the airport this morning to see her off to Washington, D.C. and then drive onto Interstate Highway 5 where I would eventually end up in Oak Harbor for a long day of classes and studying.

Immediately merging onto the interstate, I was able to escape a near vehicle merge, saving myself from a horrible accident. But life got a little better when I arrived at home a whole hour before work started, so I was given a chance to eat breakfast at home. Also, I was given a chance to hear my cat crying out for me from inside a closed bedroom.

With no opportunity to get to his kitty litterbox, he laid a nice fresh one in the center of my bed spread. Thank goodness it was easy to clean up.

Off to work, I'm falling asleep in the classroom before we start. One of my classmates has an extra Starbucks Soy Mocha latte (intended for a girl he liked) and he offers it to my sleepy self. Saved with sugar and caffeine.

After being really military like, I save myself for the second role of the day, the softball game. Time to get into gear and throw like a girl, catch like a boy, and run like a lunatic. We ended up tying the game at the last inning, going into sudden death (extra inning) and losing by one. Way to be one of the boys, I was the only girl out there. Totally used to it. Oh and by the way, we have gotta have the coolest games ever... How often do you get military jets flying overhead in formation every ten minutes while you're playing a little ball? It's really quite awesome how commonplace it is, plus it looks cool playing baseball with planes taking off in the background.

I get home for dinner, and its finally time to relax. One thing I love is that I can totally feel at ease with males and then be able to come home and become a girl. After a luxurious spa day with my mother, I have inherited more yummy and sweet smelling products and go absolutely crazy. Now I smell great and I'm about to head into bed and start the day all over again, exactly how this one went.

I love that I can still be a girl, but play in a man's world.

One of my fav passages from New Moon

'"You're impossible," he said, and he laughed once--a hard laugh, frustrated. "How can I put this so that you'll believe me? You're not asleep, and you're not dead. I'm here, and I love you. I was thinking of you, seeing your face in my mind, every second that I was away. When I told you that I didn't want you, it was the very blackest kind of blasphemy."' --Edward

-From Stephenie Meyer's New Moon

Squadron walk

As I walked out of the hangar at 10:30 pm from a late simulator event, it was a walk reminiscent of the ones I used to make walking into VT-86. The air was hot, humid, and splattered with noises of maintenance in the background.

I may have time warped back to Florida. We reached a high of 80+ degrees here in the northernmost area of the continental US.

Life is good in the Navy. We have some weird hours, but at least I don't sit around and veg all day on my couch.

I hold these sacred.
Without them, I would be helpless.
I would not be able to express
My joy
My fears
My anger
My pain
My strength
My soul
My heart
My love
My hate
Myself.

Invaluable. Vital.
Sacred.

Experimental

No, I am not trying new drugs... just new things.

These past weeks I have managed to (in addition to "work" and sim/study on the EA-6B) do or try (meaning its a new thing):

1. Snowboarding/skiing
2. Trap shooting
3. Biking around town
4. Golf
5. Softball
6. Firefighting
7. Drive back from Seattle to make Easter Sunday Mass
8. Dye and decorate Easter eggs
9. Cantor Responsorial Psalms at mass
10. Hiking
11. Hammocking
12. Get better at beer pong (and just the opposite, get worse at speed quarters)
13. Buy a guitar
14. Kayaking

And hopefully, tomorrow, I will start the fiddle. How bizarre is that? A girl like me playing the fiddle? I only think its possible because at home I managed to crank out "Twinkle, Twinkle" on a 3-stringed violin.

IN ADDITION, I still keep up with P90X! I'm on day 66 y'all!

This Should Worry You Too

I just received a brand spanking shiny new credit card in the mail. As I've been taught, I signed the back of it, but thought to myself, "How many times has this signature been checked to my receipt?" Seriously, do they even care if you signed the receipt with initials only? Or how about Ask for ID? Because I've seen people use their card and then be declined when the sales rep saw those awful words on the back of the money charger.

Then I found this, and it worried me a lot.

http://lemonsinspace.blogspot.com/2005/04/what-would-you-have-to-do-to-get.html

They talk to us about fraud and identity theft all the time on TV and there is hardly any security with using these cards of Satan. As a victim of identity theft, I say, "There has got to be a better way to do this!"

Tulalip

Gambling! Drinks! Winning! Mingling! Smoking! Sinning! Debauchery!











It's a casino, folks!

(these pictures were before and after all of that... no cameras on the floor!)

A Daily

Is it any wonder that I life in a beantown (that's coffee bean, folks) and am surrounded by coffeehouses on every block I walk... and I order anything but. It is funny what destiny has in store for each of us, or rather, God. Just a little over 2 years ago, I could not have seen it in my future that I would be here 3000 miles away from my family working a job I view as a half-career...

But in keeping retrospect, the job has begun. I have finished my first week in the VAQ and with every new day, I feel more and more anxious. When an instructor mentions failure, my stomach gets all in a tizzy and I think back to those awful days of VT-86. (The whole experience wasn't awful, just those certain bad days.) I am really going to have to pull it together if I want to be able to enjoy other things!

Random thought: Two years ago on a Cross-Country Flight to Austin, we were getting bad hydraulic indications in the plane and we were stuck there for an extra night. However we were on a tight schedule to get the IP back to the squadron to do more flights, so he called up maintenance on his cell phone. There we were, with all of our gear sitting next to the T-6 Texan II, hatches open, while maintainers on the phone were talking us through troubleshooting. Only in the Navy. Well, we couldn't figure out what the disconnect was, so I drove back to San Antonio. Waited for a big T-39 to drop off maintainers to bring the plane back while we joyrided back on the Sabreliner. Needless to say, I didn't get all my cross-country X's.

Channeling

Is it any surprise that in the new year that I'd want to become a more educated, cultured, wiser, better me?

Yet again, January marks the fabulous occasion of my birth. With that, I am looking for ways to prepare myself for the oncoming set of troubles and studies that always try to bring me down in the winter season. Taxes, flight "grad" school, holidays over and no family... you get it. Usually during this time, I'm reverting back to high school/college to hobby it up.

Here are some things I have decided to pursue/try while I still have a fighting chance:
1. P90X. Now, I am not what you normally call an obese chick. Most people consider me skinny. Well of course you're skinny when you have no curves and you waist is practically the same size as your hips! I'm currently in a bidding battle with some people on eBay for the DVDs, hoping I don't lose AGAIN. Now if you really know me, you'd know that I love Beachbody.com. I have at least 3 different workout programs with them, none of which get me feeling sore (yes, soreness is the feeling I want my body to achieve). I could easily get the sore feeling trying snowboarding again (let's not go there), but I'll try something in-house. The two things I am worried about is not being able to do the hour each day--its hard being single and wanting to leave the house/area all the time doesn't help. Also, I have a male roommate who sometimes makes dinner that wouldn't fall into the category of "healthy", which is a big temptation. I've got to make sure I don't fall into those traps. But if you've ever seen the infomercials (I have seen them for almost two years), you'd be inspired to try it. I've already done two weeks before... then I stopped doing it. I don't remember why.

2. Bookworming. Since the current outbreak of these books:


I've been reading more and more. Or at least WANTING to read more and more. I've got a discount at B&N, which makes it super easy to purchase things once I'm in the store. More books on queue: The Host by Stephenie Meyer and Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have a current magazine subscription to Real Simple on top of all that... and let us not forget about my current studies on aircraft systems and emergency procedures! This is just going to be like me attempting to read a leisure book "on the side" during college. Damn near impossible. But it truly is a better way to not spend money out at clubs and dining out... it nearly makes me unsociable...

3. Choreographing. Ever since the Winter Workshop my dancer friend asked me to be on, I've wanted to get back into that. I've been wanting to purchase a mirror or two to put in the garage and just choreograph. There aren't enough hours in a day to complete all of these things! (And I'm just on bullet 3, too.)

4. Making scrapbooks. I've left Virginia Tech over two years ago, and I feel like Facebook albums aren't going to hold out for more than ten. I feel the need to document them, with my own artistic addition, while I've still got a creative hand. First subject: the VTCC.

5. Learn Tagalog. Christmas vacation was a constant reminder of how I need to step it up and learn how to speak the language of the motherland. While I realize it extremely difficult for my relatives to speak to me in Tagalog as I reply in English, I can't see any other way for me to learn. That was, until I bought a workbook in addition to Rosetta Stone. It's going to be great. Di ba?

Those are the Top 5 of the year. It is the Year of the Other, like I had told my mom (yes, I felt that the year should have a theme, my own mantra if you will) and that will help me in my goals of contributing to the family since I can't physically be there to help. I feel like I've had a decent start, paying off random CC bills to get out of debt, then back in. Willpower is essentially what I'm praying for. If you help me pray, the chance is twice as strong, and I might just make it through this year.