Never in my wildest dreams did I think I was going to spend a birthday in a war-torn country, but God works miracles, doesn't he? Even though I would have been celebrating it somewhere in downtown Seattle clubbing and drinking it up, (probably doing something I would regret later after seeing the photo on Facebook) it definitely wasn't bad here.
The lead up to my birthday (although quiet) started off with making smores and listening to a marine sing crazy stories on the guitar...
Woke up and wrote the schedule, went to softball and played the actual Base Command Group Team. They didn't have 18 players show up like we did, so they weren't able to sub in when they wanted to... beat them 9-6. Asked to do a rematch and kicked their butts 23-0 (and I finally scored two runs on this team). 'Bush league' of us, Chief called it.
Almost spoiled a surprise, but I got a funny card from Puddy (we go back to the FRS) with what used to be a valentines day card--its all they sell here on this side of the airfield--and a bag full of candy. As if I need more. Such thoughtful people. Pecker said he was even gonna give me a card too... quite possibly a cake!
Doc picked me up and I got to ride the ambulance for the first time. I lit up the sirens as soon as we were free from most of the hangars and honked the horn before we turned into the Turkish restaurant. I enjoyed the aromatic preview of the food we were taking to the movie. Indulged in my 10 minutes of European MTV and headed to the theater to watch Avatar.
Got to the theater and ate half our chicken kabobs outside the door and saw the movie man run upstairs with the VHS of Avatar. We experienced an hour of technical difficulties (and opening credits of Super Troopers) before they realized the VCR needed to be swapped out. But it was ok because Muffs joined us and we spent the whole hour gossiping and venting. Quality girl time, yes?
Before hittin the sack, I watched the last half of the Colts vs Jets game and enjoyed my cup of tea.
It wasn't until I called my sister and started breaking down that I realized I was really missing family then and there. I get a hot feeling in my face and my tears start rolling before I figure out that I need to hang up...
It is now WAY past my bedtime, and I'm going to start the grind up tomorrow once again. Now that I got that "Quarter of a Century" out of the way... I had better be 25% more productive tomorrow. Or rather... today.
Til the next...
....An Idiot's Guide
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Afternoon
All I hear out everybody around here is "Afternoon," or "Morning," or even just "Ma'am"... have we gotten so lazy that we're shortening the greetings now? What the heck does "Afternoon" mean to me anyway? Are you telling me that its afternoon? You won't even wish me a good afternoon? It's more of just a way to announce to everyone that you know what time of day it is, or that you are being that smart ass telling everyone what time of day it is.
And folks, that's what really grinds my gears.
Also the first dust storm I have ever experienced was this very day, followed by a bit of light rain. I drove through it all for some KFC, but it really wasn't worth it.
And folks, that's what really grinds my gears.
Also the first dust storm I have ever experienced was this very day, followed by a bit of light rain. I drove through it all for some KFC, but it really wasn't worth it.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
100110
Binary numbers? Try today's date.
Still making mistakes writing the dates out, 2010 is such an odd year, yeah? We're all so used to writing 9's or 0's in sequence and suddenly...
Just when I fear that I am losing my femininity being Miss Flightsuit, I get a complimenting Christmas card from one of the Ugandan gate guards checking IDs at the DFAC. A nice card (and in almost perfect English)... and one to Amy as well from another guard-- deserves a nice New Year card back, right? So, to be cordial, we both write cards from the same pack and deliver them while going to breakfast.
Two days later, after a day's work, there is an envelope stuck in my door addressed to LT Vanessa. I open it, enclosed is a note taken from a flower-shaped notepad. The note tells me that he is hoping I am having a good day and that he would like to meet outside of chow to talk sometime, or maybe to have lunch. Write me at this email address.
I'm getting admirer notes? In uniform?? This is the first proven incident.
At first I am thinking... "This guy knows where I live??" At the time (1-2 weeks ago ish) our names were clearly labeled on the outside of our doors, so I thought he just paid a lot of attention to how my last name spelled out on my desert name tag. Turns out, after I brought the situation to Amy's attention, she was the one who stuck the note on my door. The guard, who will remain nameless, handed it to Amy to give to me. What's great (sarcastically) is that we have to see these guards everyday, so there's no escaping. But I proceeded to go with my initial idea: Pretend like I never got the note.
About three days later, I was almost late to duty, so I walked to breakfast alone. Strength in numbers, I always said, but this time I couldn't help the situation unless I wanted to be hungry for 3 hours. After I cleared my weapon, I saw that the guard was not him. But after I showed my ID and began walking in, I hear "LT!" over my shoulder and lo and behold, its him running to me to ask me how my day is going. From what I can remember I told him I was tired. He guessed, 'Gym?' I said, just flying (white lie). I walked faster, knowing I was going to have to get a take-out box anyway so relief fell over my face. As I opened the door, he handed me an envelope. Great, I thought. Another one.
"You wrote me a note?"
"Yes."
"You wrote this note."
"Yes."
"For me?"
"Yes."
So I was basically making sure that he was writing this note to me, showing that I was surprised by his move. He followed me inside, and I told him okay. I continued in, got a take-out box, still on a hurried pace, got my food, never looked behind me and left.
Basically the same note... told me his email address and his English is a little forceful but of course being a girl, I will read into these things (I need a time to meet... I know you are busy because of your position... write me at this email...) and be a little creeped out. I have kept the same manner in showing my ID to get in, saying hi, but nothing has changed. I am finding myself, however, making sure that I am talking with somebody else while having my ID checked, as to not be interrupted. Silly, I know. But when he does catch me, I'll have to tell him I don't have time, I cannot write, and its nothing personal. I wonder if he'll get that cliche. Who knows? I just don't think it's fair I have to be the subject because I am one out of [enter single digit number here] females here on the base's southside.
Today, I blew the third of my wall outlets out, also burning my lights. In doing so, I had no other options but to visit Billeting. In there, is James, a black man who looks to be the age of 30, smile on his face and all. Very nice guy, funny, says hi to me all the time at the DFAC. The second time I go into the office b/c they locked my room up, he tells me he hopes I'm not offended when he says it, but I am a very beautiful woman. I am in a freakin flight suit. Really? Because he's a civilian, he feels he can say it. First off, I'm not even good with compliments in spite of your position--civilian or military. I told him thank you, but later he makes this comment about our first date being a fix-it appointment in my room. Incident number two.
It's because there are a limited supply of females and we are high vis, high target. It was going to happen even if we were ugly-to-average looking.
Gaaahh. Maybe I should stop wearing makeup and chop the hair. I really do need to chop the hair. Really.
Okay, that was a fun-filled workday consisting of 3 hours at work total and no flying. The rest... connecting with the outside world (6 mile run with Amy) and figuring out ways to avoid talking to boys I don't want to know.
That'll be all.
Still making mistakes writing the dates out, 2010 is such an odd year, yeah? We're all so used to writing 9's or 0's in sequence and suddenly...
Just when I fear that I am losing my femininity being Miss Flightsuit, I get a complimenting Christmas card from one of the Ugandan gate guards checking IDs at the DFAC. A nice card (and in almost perfect English)... and one to Amy as well from another guard-- deserves a nice New Year card back, right? So, to be cordial, we both write cards from the same pack and deliver them while going to breakfast.
Two days later, after a day's work, there is an envelope stuck in my door addressed to LT Vanessa. I open it, enclosed is a note taken from a flower-shaped notepad. The note tells me that he is hoping I am having a good day and that he would like to meet outside of chow to talk sometime, or maybe to have lunch. Write me at this email address.
I'm getting admirer notes? In uniform?? This is the first proven incident.
At first I am thinking... "This guy knows where I live??" At the time (1-2 weeks ago ish) our names were clearly labeled on the outside of our doors, so I thought he just paid a lot of attention to how my last name spelled out on my desert name tag. Turns out, after I brought the situation to Amy's attention, she was the one who stuck the note on my door. The guard, who will remain nameless, handed it to Amy to give to me. What's great (sarcastically) is that we have to see these guards everyday, so there's no escaping. But I proceeded to go with my initial idea: Pretend like I never got the note.
About three days later, I was almost late to duty, so I walked to breakfast alone. Strength in numbers, I always said, but this time I couldn't help the situation unless I wanted to be hungry for 3 hours. After I cleared my weapon, I saw that the guard was not him. But after I showed my ID and began walking in, I hear "LT!" over my shoulder and lo and behold, its him running to me to ask me how my day is going. From what I can remember I told him I was tired. He guessed, 'Gym?' I said, just flying (white lie). I walked faster, knowing I was going to have to get a take-out box anyway so relief fell over my face. As I opened the door, he handed me an envelope. Great, I thought. Another one.
"You wrote me a note?"
"Yes."
"You wrote this note."
"Yes."
"For me?"
"Yes."
So I was basically making sure that he was writing this note to me, showing that I was surprised by his move. He followed me inside, and I told him okay. I continued in, got a take-out box, still on a hurried pace, got my food, never looked behind me and left.
Basically the same note... told me his email address and his English is a little forceful but of course being a girl, I will read into these things (I need a time to meet... I know you are busy because of your position... write me at this email...) and be a little creeped out. I have kept the same manner in showing my ID to get in, saying hi, but nothing has changed. I am finding myself, however, making sure that I am talking with somebody else while having my ID checked, as to not be interrupted. Silly, I know. But when he does catch me, I'll have to tell him I don't have time, I cannot write, and its nothing personal. I wonder if he'll get that cliche. Who knows? I just don't think it's fair I have to be the subject because I am one out of [enter single digit number here] females here on the base's southside.
Today, I blew the third of my wall outlets out, also burning my lights. In doing so, I had no other options but to visit Billeting. In there, is James, a black man who looks to be the age of 30, smile on his face and all. Very nice guy, funny, says hi to me all the time at the DFAC. The second time I go into the office b/c they locked my room up, he tells me he hopes I'm not offended when he says it, but I am a very beautiful woman. I am in a freakin flight suit. Really? Because he's a civilian, he feels he can say it. First off, I'm not even good with compliments in spite of your position--civilian or military. I told him thank you, but later he makes this comment about our first date being a fix-it appointment in my room. Incident number two.
It's because there are a limited supply of females and we are high vis, high target. It was going to happen even if we were ugly-to-average looking.
Gaaahh. Maybe I should stop wearing makeup and chop the hair. I really do need to chop the hair. Really.
Okay, that was a fun-filled workday consisting of 3 hours at work total and no flying. The rest... connecting with the outside world (6 mile run with Amy) and figuring out ways to avoid talking to boys I don't want to know.
That'll be all.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Friday, January 01, 2010
Beginning (or End?) of a Decade
Bringing in the new year with a Montecristo cigar, Cup 'O Noodles, and "chardonnay" cider... and calls to the east coast (despite the fact they were 8 hours from midnight) was completely different from last year's celebration, of which I spent with my one and only baby sister on the streets and clubs of downtown D.C., uncomfortably surrounded by what looked to be the city's own Asian mafias... from a large social celebration to a peaceful private celebration in my room...
I really don't want to feel down in the dumps, and I don't, but every time a major shift happens such as a new year, graduation, or marriage, its hard not to think about the fact that I always manage to go stag to every celebration. Plus, being deployed is a totally different way to be separated... All these guys are new people, I am not attached; people I know from high school are mostly married and parenting (or expecting;) its just such a dynamic thing to hear about every single update when I check FB -- if it wasn't for Skype, I wouldn't be able to call or video chat with my parents as much as I had originally anticipated.
No need to get worried, folks. I'm just thinking again... and you know what happens when people think--things get said, or things happen. Well, something like five months left... time went by fast, but still 150 more days left?! I really have to commit to this "reading books" thing I was going to do while I was out here, not burning my eyes into the screen of the computer watching movies.
Felice Anno Nuovo
I really don't want to feel down in the dumps, and I don't, but every time a major shift happens such as a new year, graduation, or marriage, its hard not to think about the fact that I always manage to go stag to every celebration. Plus, being deployed is a totally different way to be separated... All these guys are new people, I am not attached; people I know from high school are mostly married and parenting (or expecting;) its just such a dynamic thing to hear about every single update when I check FB -- if it wasn't for Skype, I wouldn't be able to call or video chat with my parents as much as I had originally anticipated.
No need to get worried, folks. I'm just thinking again... and you know what happens when people think--things get said, or things happen. Well, something like five months left... time went by fast, but still 150 more days left?! I really have to commit to this "reading books" thing I was going to do while I was out here, not burning my eyes into the screen of the computer watching movies.
Felice Anno Nuovo
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