february:
02nd
MOM's b-day
03rd
LLOYD's b-day
dental appoint
05th
dental appoint
07th
GABRIELLE's b-day
09th
dental appoint
10th
YELIN's b-day
m16 range
dental appoint
13th
day off
14th
valentine's day
CHETTE's b-day
16th
day off
17th
dental appoint
18th
ncopd
backbone run
dental appoint
19th
day off
20th
EDITH's b-day
day off
21st
STEPHANIE's b-day
JEAN's b-day
23rd
nbc class begin
25th
CURTIS' b-day
26th
DENISE's b-day
27th
nbc class end
|
|
|
|
SUNDAY 29TH FEBRUARY 2004
10:55-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Another weekend is winding down. I'm not looking forward to this coming work week. Well, I do not really look forward to any work week. But this upcoming one (01) seems as though it will be particularly annoying. I'll not be in class though, that will be a change. I graduated Friday. I was going to post but, ... well, I was lazy. There you go.
Not much happened this weekend: JAMES and I went to PINKY's for a little get together. It was the three (03) of us, plus the two (02) married couples, BRIAN and his wife KELLY and BRIAN and his wife JILL. We had fun. PINKY prepared some ribs and I made some baked potatoes. By the time we ate though, everyone was tired. Well, everyone except JAMES who was going from one (01) person to the next talking away. He had a little more than enough to drink. He was just drinking beer and I didn't remember him drinking a whole lot. But he was definitely feelin' good. We didn't even talk about leaving and people were taking me aside and telling me not to let him drive back to the barracks. He wanted to leave a bit early so we took off. Of course I didn't let him drive.
Today we hung out at the mall a bit while waiting for the 3:50 showing of "The Passion of the Christ". It was good. We sat amongst a church confirmation class. But besides them, it was packed full of people. I can not remember the last time I went to a theatre so packed full of people. It was cool though, no one (01) was talking. The only sound was crying and applause at the end. What does that mean? Applause in a theatre? MEL gibson wasn't in the theatre. I think it's more a matter of a statement to fellow viewers: "Hey, I liked it, did you? Clap if you did." Well something like that I suppose. And that is about all I have to say about it now. I suppose there is not much to say. And anyway I do not think I can put anything about it into words without cheapening it. It was good and moving and a gripping telling of the story. I liked it.
Yup, I'm all prepared for the week. Actually, I need to clean my boots a bit, come to think of it. But my uniform is all pressed. I have a dental appointment at 0940 so I'll not be able to attend ths morning's formation. That is definitely a good thing. I loathe standing in that Battalion formation each Monday morning. I have reading to do now. My counseling class begins tomorrow.
There will be more in days to come. I have been rather introspective lately (even moreso than usual) and little things have been occuring that have been making me question this or that, and of course this movie is going to bounce around in my mind, ... so there will be more to come. I'll try my hardest to begin so that I can afford my heart and mind a chance to put some of what is in me on paper so that I may add to the site and hopefully bring whoever it is visiting a little more than I have been in the past few months. I want to do a larger update and add more but sometimes I just am too lazy. Maybe not lazy but I don't know, ... but I'm trying to figure it out, ... figure me out. (I thought I was going to wrap things up here. I suppose I'm rambling a bit.)
ERIKA called me while I was at Borders with JAMES. She said she just called to see how I was doing. That was actually confusing, ... I told her I don't really receive phone calls. In fact, I don't receive much word from anyone about anything. I suppose though that is the nature of growing up and going through life and moving on, ... some people just fall by the wayside. But anyway, she said she had low self-esteem. She didn't say much else but I knew she really didn't know what to say. And it was okay. I have been there. I'm there a lot, just wanting to tell someone and just wanting someone there who I know understands. It is extremely refreshing to know she thinks I'm still someone who can be trusted and called upon to give advice or just listen. I appreciate her confidence in me and her love for me. It sure is nice to be remembered.
"ERIKA ...
... Thank you!"
After the movie my phone chimed to let me know I had missed a call and the caller had left voice mail. It was LESLEY letting me know she had a new phone. She told me to call her but didn't leave a number. I can only hope she calls back to leave one (01) or I see her online so that I can get it from her. A second friend calling to talk. That was very nice. Again, that was very refreshing.
"LES ...
... Thanks!"
I almost felt like it was a normal occurance to hear from my friends. I wish it were but I can not be greedy, even for the attention of my friends. They have their lives and friends and are leading them as they see fit. I'm doing the very same thing. And who knows, maybe they are wanting to hear from me and wanting a little reassurance too. But anyone who has frequented this site knows the deal: I'm always thinking and wondering where you are and what you are doing. And I'd like to think I have made myself pretty accessible. I mean it is too easy to find this website, and in fact a lot of people I know have just stumbled upon it. Okay, a lot means five (05) or six (06). At least those that have let me know equal approximately that many.
Okay, really, now it is time to read.
May the LORD make His face to shine upon you, give you peace, woo you in, change your heart, and make you His forever.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WEDNESDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2004
9:44-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Ham and cheese HotPockets and Lotte Mandarin Orange Drink are rather yummy.
Well, tomorrow is the last day of my NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) class. I took a test that I wasn't prepared for at all this morning. Of course it was my own fault since class for the week has pretty much afforded me the opportunity to slip in and out of consciousness every ten (10) minutes or so. Today though I managed to stay awake for the duration of the class. And hey, staying awake in class paid off: I was able to finish the final exam at the end of the day in just under fifteeN (15) minutes. And I'm pretty sure I aced it. So there. I bet if I'd have stayed awake Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I'd be in the running for the head grade in the class. I'm not too disappointed though since there were actually Soldiers in the class whose job dealt soley with NBC. But anyway, by this time tomorrow I'll have graduated. It will be nice to get back to the shop next week. Of course I'm scheduled for another NBC class during the last half of next month. This one (01) will deal with the actual equipment and the defense of NBC attacks. It will be two (02) weeks long and in the very same classroom and taught by the very same instructor. BLAH. But hey, knowledge is power. Well, at least that is what they sau. Whoever "they" are. A little NBC knowledge would not hurt.
I have nothing planned for this weekend. JAMES, SHAMAL, and I'll mostly just bum around the barracks. I have pretty much given up on the prospect of fun over the weekend and just look forward to the time in order to rest from the previous work week and dread the upcoming one (01). Ha! Okay, it all is not too bad. But pretty bad. It seems everyone at the shop has things going on and problems to deal with; I'm pretty much the luckiest one (01) in the shop as far as not having too much to worry about and deal with in my personal life. We have some real situations though. Wow. But hey, I can still want to improve things in my world. I think I have the right to whine a little bit too. Besides, it is theraputic. Okay, enough about that. But really, I'm not as bad off as I was last week. Things are going okay and I'm delightfully sane for the time being.
Hopefully things stay remotely "okay" for a little while. More later. Later, more. Later
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WEDNESDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2004
5:21-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
I usually do not plug things or people but in this case I just can not resist; in fact I really feel I have no choice but to plug it. Check it out. Get a copy:
Sidestepping
by the incomparable YELIN kim.
No, you really should not have to question my taste or recommendations; just get yourself a copy of this. I ordered mine just now, even though I had asked her ages ago to let me know when she finished it, ... ahem, ... I had to run into a link on someone's instant messsage away message. But however, whatever, I'm going to finally have my copy of a collection that I know I'll simply adore.
"Thanks Poetess."
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2004
5:25-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Well, class ended about twenty (20) minutes ago. I managed to struggle through day two (02) of five (05). I should be sleeping now so maybe I'll not nod off every ten (10) minutes or so tomorrow. I can not really gauge if today's sleeping was worse than yesterday. There is just something about military schools and classes I suppose; I just can not help but get a little shut eye every once in a while.I feel guilty about it too. The instructor is always explaining how much she puts into her lessons and how much she enjoys teaching. I should stay awake if nothing else but to show her I appreciate her effort and what she is doing. Believe it or not most instructors in the Army don't know lick about what they are teaching and in fact don't know a lick about how to teach or get information across to Soldiers. She is okay in my book.
The only problem is the class is rather boring. The information does not really pertain to a detachment of only about twenty (20) people. We do not have an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) room in which to store lots of NBC equipment. All we have are about twenty(20) masks, individual protective overgarments and a few radiological detectors. For the most part, the people in the class deal with hundreds of masks and lots of detectors and testers and such which deal with detecting and protecting in a chemical and radiological enviroment. So since not all units are created equal, and mine is by far the most different of the different, most things just do not pertain to me, or at least pertain to me on such a small scale it is not worth really sitting and listening too. But hey, it is a school and I'm there to learn as much as I can. So I'm going to try to pay attention and finish this week out a little smarter than I started out. If anything else I'll be able to give more accurate classes on the subject when I get back into the fold of the unit. Of course when the end of March rolls around I'll have to go to another, more in-depth NBC class. It is a two (02) weeker. I can not wait.
Well, since JAMES discovered he wasn't deploying we have been hanging out, going to play pool at this little bar and such. He mentions RACHAEL less and less. That is good. She really threw him for a loop. And to think he was going to marry her for extra money before he deployed. Yes that is a rather popular thing to do. Two (02) Soldiers (or a Soldier and a civilian) will get it into their heads that financially, they would both benefit from a marriage for at least the duration of a deployment. Soldiers get paud money for being seperated from family as well as moeny for housing and food and such if married. So it is a considerable amount. And with their base pay being untaxable when deployed, ... well, it turns out as a nice bonus for a deployed Soldier. But nonetheless, he had feelings for this girl. And well, let us just say that she is not exactly ready to committ to one (01) person. MAURICIO knows all about this too. When she was "finished" with JAMES, she moved on to him. But they have a lot in common so as of now I think they are still hanging out. Last I heard though, she was laying up with DANIEL (Yup, anothet one (01) of my coworkers.) The other day JAMES told me that they were trying to guess who else in the unit this girl would try to "befriend". All I can say is it will not be me. I do not need to get wrapped up in that mix.
Oddly enough Fort Drum and I are not getting along too famously. I suppose we never did. But just lately being here has really begun to irk me. I'm going to again send up the bat signal and email people regarding my want to get back to Korea as soon as possible. Yes, "The Plan" is definitely still in effect. Camp Humphreys, Korea and then Fort Hood, Texas. I think a change in enviroment would really help me open up and such. I'm just losing ground pretty quickly and becomign so very, ... well, things are just so "BLAH." I'm so lucky to have very good friends who encourage me, but something just has to change in my life. ANd well, I can not seem to get an edge on things and change whatever it is that needs some tweaking. But i am trying and when I figure it out I'll post here and maybe it will help someone else. Well, adduming people actually visit this site.
I suppose it all boils down to putting a little more trust in myself and having a little more faith in my abilities, potential, and just doing what I have to do. I'm lucky to have a good mind, imagination, friends, and a loyal Friend to back me up. I have everything going for me and I'm still not happy. Well, I'd not say "not happy," just not satisfied. I remember an episode of a show called Seinfeld where George decided to do exactly the oppostie of every instinct and thought he had. And while I do not plan to betray those things, maybe I'll try living differently. Because the way in which things are going just is not cutting it. Any suggestions?
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
FRIDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2004
7:15-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Supposedly I'm going out tonight. MAURICIO came to my room really early this morning to ask me to go to his room to read something he had written. It turned out to be his version of the infamous night of a week or so ago when we went out with RACHAEL and ended up at Denny's with strangers and such. Anyway, he wanted to know what I thought. It was cool. Although I pretty much knew what was going through his mind at the time, it was interesting to read about it and experience it again through his word choices and phrasings and such.
So we are going about twenty (20) minutes north of here to Alexandria Bay. It's nothing to get too excited about, just different surroundings. But as I have not really done anything for the last couple of days I figure it will not hurt going and getting out and about. Apparently it's RACHAEL's birthday, so I suppose her and MAURICIO thought it would be a good idea to go out and do something for the occassion. We are supposed to be leaving around 8:00 but I definitely do not see that happening, even though I'm getting ready now.
I guess it will be okay. I'm not much for the bar or club scene anymore. For a few nights JAMES and I have been going to a little bar to play pool at their lone pool table. That is about enough for me I suppose. But a little change is good. So I figure I'll tag along. Who knows, we may all actually have a good time. I'll let you know what all happens later. Later.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THURSDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2004
11:45-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Sure enough, I slept until about 9:00. I must say it is nice to be able to sleep in without having to drag myself out of bed for PT (Physical Training) just before 7:00. And today's morning was a great contrast to yesterday's early wake up call for class and a four (04) mile run. But today is supposed to be a working day: it is the day I have set aside to clean up my room. It is rather cluttered. The unforunate thing is that there is not room (a place) for everything so I must get a bit creative with my stashing, ... err, putting away of things. So after I finish my bowl of noodles, I'll begin to undertake that project. JAMES does not think I'll have it all cleaned up by the time he gets off of work later this evening. And although he is probably right, the state it is in now can be drastically improved in a few hours. So we will see how far along I can get.
I think the powers that be have a better handle on my server problems. But I have been lazy about updating too simply because I'm just used to my server being down for huge blocks of time. But things seem okay now, so I'll get back to updating much more regularly.
That is all for now, back to lunch and room cleaning.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WEDNESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2004
8:05-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
JAMES was pounding on my door at about 5:45. Yup, I slept through my alarm clock. Well, technically, I had reached over and cut it off when it began to beep around 5:30. But I fell back to sleep. Luckily I had set out my PT uniform last night so even though I was going to rush a bit to make it to the Battalion classroom for NCOPD (Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development), I had everything out already and ready to put on. Of course when we arrived, the classroom was relatively empty. I wasn't surprised. This month's class was on troop leading procedures. It was a good topic but the instructor wasn't well-prepared. We all ended up watching a slide show, reading what was on each slide, and expounding upon what we read. So yes, the instructor was terrible and it was a terrible bore at 6:00. I almost fell asleep several times. Needless to say, it would not have been to good to be caught sleeping by the Battalion sergeant major or any of the first sergeants roaming around.
But it all came to an end and before I knew it we were all out in the quad stretching for the four (04) mile "backbone" run. For some reason Bravo Company's First Sergeant had this silly thought in his head that I was a good runner. He pointed me out and told me to head towards the front to be one (01) of three (03) Soldiers to carry the Battalion guidon (a big flag, ... big). Yes, it sounds like quite and honor but in my state it wasn't. Earlier in the month (or perhaps late January)had fallen out of a Battalion formation as a result of pain in my lower back. So I was hoping to "test" my back during this run, not run right behind the Battalion sergeant major with a ten (10) pound flag. Sure enough, I could only stand holding the flag for about a half mile, I could only stand running in formation for about two (02) miles.
The pain in my back took me from the front of the formation to the very back. I was more than aggravated as I have run four (04), five (05), eight (08) miles in the past without this kind of problem. I didn't come in too far after the formation, only about a minute or so, but I was still disappointed. I ran the route though, so that counts for something. I plan to go to sick call and find out what the problem may be. Of course, I know this will result in physical therapy appointments and a hassle, but I'm in real pain and I can not stand not being able to run. I'm only twenty-two (22) so maybe something is wrong. Well, something is wrong. Anyway, I hope it is nothing serious. Maybe rest is what I need or something. But I'll not be able to go to sick call until the week after next as I have an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) course to attend for the week.
We are all going to do an inventory today of one (01) of the team's equipment. That will not be fun. I have done them before and they are not very entertaining. But it must be done. I'll not be going into work Thursday though, as I put in a four (04) day pass. It was from attending PLDC back in November and December during a lot of holiday time.
I will be very glad not being in the shop tomorrow for what I know will turn into inventory day number two (02). I have a dental appointment at 2:10 too. It seems I'm at the dentist every day. It is actually a nice break from the shop. And hey, I'm not having to pay for any of the work being done so that is super good. I imagine she will do a bit more sealing and a bit of fine tune work on my front teeth. They are a bit bulky so she will most likely shave them and polish the corners and such. She does good work so I have no real concerns about her doing what she does. It will most likely be a long day but I have a day off tomorrow so the day will not be so bad.
JAMES has not really begun packing. All his stuffage is set up in his room. He has been making a lot of appointments and such. And I believe he received a set of orders. So it looks like he will really be leaving at the end of the month. Hopefully he will not be staying for a year but who knows. I do not think he will anyway; I think he will end up staying about four (04) months. It is going to be odd with him gone. And it looks as if SHAMAL will be out of a room. Well, so to speak. He is in there playing video games and such much more than he is in here. So with JAMES gone I suppose he will "move back" in here. So in addition to all his stuffage being here, he will be here too. And this room will seem even smaller. But maybe we can rearrange people and places. Maybe SHAMAL can just move into JAMES' room as JAMES will have to put a lot of his (most of his) things in storage for holding until he returns in order to clear this post and head to Italy. And hopefully I'll be leaving sometime this autumn overseas as well. I should get on the phone in a few weeks with Ms. Josephson to inquire about assignments and slots over there. I definitely do not want to do two (02) more years here in upstate New York. So I'll keep working the Korea, with a return assignment to Texas, issue in the months to come.
Not much is going on really; it is just day to day around here with nothing really mixed in to spice things up. JAMES' leaving is really the only thing that will change the way things operate around here. I suppose that is a big change. But other than that this place is proving to be very boring and without much to really do. But who knows maybe I'll find something to interest me for the (hopefully) seven (07) or eight (08) more months of my being here. I sure hope something comes along or I come along something to mix things up and occupy my time.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2004
12:21-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Listening - "YOU SAID"-SHANE barnard & SHANE everett Psalms
"You Said"
SHANE barnard & SHANE everett
You said "Ask and you will receive"
Whatever you need
You Said "Pray and I'll hear from heaven and I'll heal your land"
You said, Your glory will fill the earth like water to seas
You said "Lift up your eyes the harvest is here the kingdom is near"
You said ask and I'll give the nations to you
Oh LORD, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see your light
As it rises on us
You said "Ask and you will receive"
Whatever you need
You Said "Pray and I'll hear from heaven and I'll heal your land"
You said, Your glory will fill the Earth
Like water to seas
You said "Life your eyes the harvest is here the Kingdom is near"
You said ask and I'll give the nations to you
Oh LORD, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see your light
As it rises on us
Ask and I'll give the nations to you
Oh LORD, thats the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see your light
As it rises on Earth
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2004
11:05-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Listening - "ALWAYS BE YOUR BABY"-NATALIE grant Deeper Life
Today was such a long day. I awoke at 5:00 in order to shower and prepare to head over to the shop around 6:00 with JAMES to pick up my gear before heading back here (to the Bravo company area) to draw my weapon for the range. We didn't leave for the range until 8:00.
Luckily, things began smoothly. We were able to sign in ahead of Bravo company since we took our own vehicle. JAMES, MAURICIO, and I were finished by 9:30. I shot thirty-four (34) out of forty (40). I wanted to shoot forty (40), and I think I could've had I slowed down a bit. It would have meant a few more promotion points. JAMES and MAURICIO didn't shoot too well but did shoot well enough to qualify. BRIAN did okay, but it was Forgy who held us up. We ended up leaving a good three (03) hours later as a result of him not being able to qualify. He left without qualifying and JAMES left with news he'd be deploying to Afghanistan. Forgy will head to the range tomorrow to try again, JAMES will head to Afghanistan before the end of the month.
Yes, JAMES will be leaving to work Production Control (PC) in Afghanistan for what could blossom into a year long deployment. Chief Harvey walked into the firing range's lounge area, right up to JAMES, to talk to him. Coincidently, I was on the phone with DREW who was back at the shop. I mentioned to him that Chief just walked in and he gave me the low-down: The team there needed a Sergeant to run PC. Of course naturally, I wanted to go. But as I'm not a Sergeant, my going wasn't an option. DREW was in the running but as a result of his divorce going-ons, Chief didn't want to send him. So, as of now JAMES will be heading there at the end of the month. It could be for a month, two (02) months, or a year. It isn't known how long our people will remain since civilians are supposed to be filling the calibration team's slots soon.
Apparently they didn't have enough workers and had to pull out and wait for more to sign up. So as of now military calibrators are filling in for them. But yeah, this could mean I won't see JAMES again for a very long time. I'm still trying to get to Korea. And if he stays for any real amount of time it could mean that I'd leave before he gets back. So I have no doubt we will be hanging out as much as possibel before he splits. And with SHAMAL coming back from leave on the 23rd, the last week of this month should be quite interesting. A lot of things are going to change. Hopefully the change will be good. I need some good change in my reality right now.
Well, all for now but I'm sure soon there will be much more to tell. Hopefully my server will allow me to post soon, it has been acting up lately.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SUNDAY 08TH FEBRUARY 2004
11:35-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Listening - "EL MENSAJE DE LA CRUZ"-Delirious Libertad
Well today wasn'thing to really get excited about. I didn't do much of anything. I did do laundry and hung out with SHAMAL and JAMES (Yeah, no more rank and last name stuffage. At least not with them. Too lazy to type it out. Of course I could have instead of typing this which is so much longer than abbreviated ranks and a couple of last names. But anyway, ...) for a bit. I have not put my laundry away. I should probably get around to doing that soon. Or well, now.
Last night on the other hand was all but boring. SPC Lee came to get me around 6:00 I think. It could have been a little later or a little earlier, I could not say for sure. Anyway, a bunch of people were in JAMES' room drinking beer and talking and such. So I joined. SHAMAL and I went to buy some more as well. When we came back everyone (it was only people in 95th) was going from one (01) hall to the other and in and out of each other's rooms listening to music and dancing and just having a good (loud) time. It was cool until some Bravo guy decided he wanted to get loud with JAMES. I wasn't there to see it but apparently they entered into a shouting match and what not. It is pretty typical when Soldiers are mixed with alcohol. But that was settled rather quickly, or so we all thought. Later in the night the same guy got into it with another of our guys. SPC Tyler didn't shrug him off as easily and quickly as JAMES did but again, we managed to diffuse a potentially explosive situation. So a bit more drama ensued but nothing we could not handle as a company.
We're a small company with only a handful of personnel at every site we are at. The ratio of us to our unit of attachments are usually about one (01) to forty (40). So naturally, you would think we would be there for one (01) another. It is odd though, as a group, we do not really do too much. We all go off in as many directions as people from a large company do; so it was odd to have so many of us chilling out in the barracks at once. But it was cool to just hang out together. And of course we weren't about to let anyone start trouble. Within the company we rag on each other, of course. But hey "no one (01) makes fun of my little brother but me." That is the kind of mentality we have when it comes to "outsiders" wanting to get loud and start trouble, we take care of one (01) another.
Later on in the night we all decided to head on over to Mo's for some food. MAURICIO was far to intoxicated to drive so I drove his car. Well, eventually I drove it, once we managed to get it out of the snow. That was fun too. MAURICIO was loud in the diner and JAMES kept apologizing to me for leaving his wallet back in the room. See, we have to show identification before getting on post. Well, he didn't have his. Of course MAURICIO didn't have his either. I suppose JAMES was vouched for. MAURICIO opted to have me pull over so that he could hop in the trunk. Of course, when we arrived at the barracks I forgot he was in there and decided to plow over some icy snow. He thanked me after I was parked and he was let out. All in all it was just another night at Fort Drum in 95th Maintenance.
I registered for an Intro. to Counseling course. I thought I should get back on track with my eArmyU stuffage. I think I can handle some more distance learning after my nice break. That will begin in March. So March to May I'll be doing that each day. It should be interesting enough. I suppose I'll find out soon enough.
Well, I doubt I'll go to bed but I'm going to lay down. I have been going into nap mode more and more frequently these days. No big deal really, I suppose it is just a way of slowing things down when they threaten to get ridiculous. And anyway, it gives my mind a chance to expand because I'm remembering all kinds of dreams these days. That is cool. I'll be back tomorrow.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SATURDAY 07TH FEBRUARY 2004
12:20-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
"You Remain"
JENNIFER knapp
Though I'm poor and needy
My shelter You'll be
Not by my merit lead me
To where You say
Waste my time on lover's quarrels
Speed my breath and hope to stumble
Out of my distrain and still
You remain
My Wall my Mighty Tower
Be my Shadow come cover me
Till all my enemies cower
Jealous of my King
Though the day be laced with trouble
Be the stone o'er which i stumble
Straight into the arms and stay
Where You remain
They said to me I'd fall by the wayside
Answer me now
Answer me now
The fatherless we may be weary
Be our Peace and do not tarry
Wait we will for Your joy
Be my Portion promised me, o LORD
May I be forever
Where You remain
Where You remain
Where You...
Where You remain
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
FRIDAY 06TH FEBRUARY 2004
10:35-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
I am doing absolutely nothing. Today was a tiring day. And, of course, it began early at PT (Physical Training). Today we had a Battalion run. My back hurt so much nearing the end of the four (04) mile run I had to break the formation and stop running. I have never fallen out of a formation. But I supopse there is a first time for most things. My back still hurts. I don't know why I could not stand it anymore, usually four (04) miles is not a problem. But the fact we were sprinting sometimes and runnint other times and trying not to slip on the snow and slush, ... well anyway, no big deal.
I am just glad the work week is at an end. It has been a busy and hectic week indeed. And with that said (typed) it is time to bed down once again. Yes, I'll confess, we left work super early and I went straight to bed. I suppose sleeping more has become a habit. I could have adopted worse habits I suppose. Ha! But I doubt I'll go to bed just yet. But I should. I mean why not, there is not exaclty a million and one (1 000 001) things to do here.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WEDNESDAY 04TH FEBRUARY 2004
11:35-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
As I did yesterday, I bedded down right after work. I wasn't especially tired today it just seemed like the thing to do since I'd done it yesterday. So, after the end of the work day, a trip to the dining facility, and a shower, I crawled under my covers and slept from around 6:00 to 10:00, then another hour or so. I'll most likely stay up until 1:00 and then get back to sleep again. Strangely enough I was a bit tired today. Maybe I slept too much yesterday evening.
Nothing "really" happened today. It was pretty much just another day at the shop. Not too much work, and way too much attitude. Everyone in that shop has an opinion or gripe or complaint about something or another. And more times than most discussions quickly turn into arguements or just turn plain ridiculous. But the days go by pretty quickly so it's an eviroment which I can tolerate.
And besides I have other things going on I need to do and take care of apart from shop operations and dealing with my coworkers. Of course, when I return from work and go right to sleep I don't get them done. I have to pack at least one (01) box before I get back to sleep. The only way I can really get things organized in the room is to get rid of the clutter for which I have no place. So I'm shipping things home. The parents naturally have plenty of room for extra stuffage.
I have another dentist appointment tomorrow. Yesterday's went well I suppose. The dentist I'm seeing is a rather peculiar Korean woman. The first question she asked me was "Do I want to get promoted?" That wasn't so bad; she's around Soldiers and was curious, no big deal. Then she asked me odd things like "If you had a girlfriend and she was pregnant, what would you do?" She was actually rather funny. She was making jokes with her assistant and such. So one (01) filling down, at least one (01) more to go. And she said I'd most likely need a crown on the one (01) she filled. She said that would come later, after she finished work on the other teeth. Yes, I have a few troublesome teeth. But no worries really, I'll get them fixed up, and for free. Ah, military benefits.
JAMES and RACHAEL are getting along quite well. I suppose they're a couple now. SHAMAL says he's spending lots of time with her, in her room or just going out. So yeah, JAMES has a girlfriend. Ha! I haven't seen them together since the first night they really began to get to know one (01) another. I'm sure it's quite cute, or disgustingly cute, either one (01). She was saying even at Denny's that they'd probably become a couple too gushy to be tolerated by people. Yes, this was being said that first night. But in any case, I've heard bad news so I think things between them are working out. And JAMES and MAURICIO cleared things up and are cool now. I mean they didn't have a falling out or anything like that, MAURICIO just had some things to get off of his chest I suppose.
So things are going okay I suppose. I'm still not on my way to Korea. I'm supposed to phone my branch manager again in a month or so to inquire about leaving in September for the "Land of the Morning Calm." I may not have mentioned speaking with her on the phone last week. Well, I spoke to my branch manager on the phone last week. There, I mentioned it now. She deals with assignments in my company. She said that since I was a first term Soldier (I have not reenlisted) I'd be able to go in September when the level of ten (10) level (Private-Specialist) Soldiers dropped below 100% in Korea. She didn't say for sure if I'd get orders cut for me though. She basically said maybe, at the soonest September, but to check back each month or so. Also, she said that they are in need of Sergeants, so if I get picked up I'd still be able to fill a slot over there. She also said Fort Drum is in need too.
So two (02) of us here would have to get picked up for Sergeant for me to be able to leave. I told her that three (03) of us were promotable. And right now MAURICIO and I pretty much have the same number of promotion points. So hopefully we will both get picked up in the next couple of months. I basically don't know too much except that the earliest I'd be leaving is September. Hey, no problem, leaving is definitely the opperative word here. And that would give me enough time to prepare, go on leave, and take care of any other loose ends. So that is what is going on with that.
And I suppose that is pretty much the rundown of things. Well, for now it is all the news that's fit to print. Who knows, anything could happen in the next few hours or weeks or months. I'm sure sooner or later I'll have some real news to report. But as of now things are pretty much routine and business as usual. But it's not really a bad thing.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TUESDAY 03RD FEBRUARY 2004
2:35-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
"Goodnight TINA."
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TUESDAY 03RD FEBRUARY 2004
2:05-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Well, Monday wasn't so bad afterall. It began with quite a coincidence. Chief wanted me to go to the gym yesterday morning fot PT since I was going into work, ... you know, regular day like any other. Since everyone that could give me a ride went to the Superbowl get together (including myself) at PINKY's (SGT Lambert's) the night before, I decided to walk the mile or so to the gym. Luckily, it wasn't snowing and super cold. But it was still going to be quite a walk indeed. (Okay, here it is, the coincidence.) As I was walking along the road a car slowed to a stop. I knew the driver was stopping so I could hop in. When I got in I said goodmorning and it was PFC Hill. That was pretty crazy considering I had forgotten more than one (01) thing and had to walk back up to my room a couple of seperate times. So I felt pretty lucky as I rode (in his warm car) to the gym. That was cool. We never saw Chief there. Later when we arrived at the shop he said he was on the "bike". We had looked a couple of times in the treadmill and bike room and didn't see him. No biggie, we must have just passed in the night a couple of times.
Work was nice and relaxing. Chief didn't have much for me in the way of news or information so he just did his thing in his office. I worked. I took things in, manned the phone, and tried to calibrate everything which came in. It was great: There wasn't a peep in the shop. I like it that way. PFC Hill was doing him IMO stuffage. He and MAURICIO (SPC Santos) are the shop's Information Managment Officers. I think that is what it stands for. I'm sure MAURICIO will correct me if he ever stumbles upon this site. (I wonder if anyone regularly visits here. "Hmmmess.") There is not much of a workload in the shop at the moment. That is a nice thing but also, here, kind of not so nice.
We have too many personnel for our own good. Surprisingly though we will have five (05) or six (06) people in and out of the shop at any given moment throughout the day going to appointments, meetings, etc. So rarely do we have everyone who is assigned in the shop at once. But we still have people who consistently wander around the shop with nothing to do. And it is not so easy to say "Hey, pick up a piece of equipment and get to work," when there is nothing on the shelf or certain "popular" standards are being usd to calibrate something else. That is the souce/reason for many frustrations in the shop. So, it was nice (very nice) to have a quiet shop to work in. I didn't even turn a radio on. It was just me, my thoughts, the occassional customer or phone call, and the hum of the equipment.
Tomorrow everyone will be back in the shop minus PFC Hill. He is taking a week off of leave to just relax and get some things straightened out, ... basically to just take care of non-army business and get out of the sometimes monotonous habit of the work week. It is a nice idea to take a break every once in a while. And I'll be at a dental appointment tomorrow morning. I'm suspecting that I'll be pretty much down for the rest of the day. I have quite a few teeth to be looked at since I have not gone to the dentist for a good checkup in a while. I lost a couple ot fillings in the desert and have not been by the dental clinic since I have been back. So yes, I'm a bit overdue. Tomorrow should be very interesting. Hopefully the whold experience will be dulled by a few injections of novocane. And hey, I just may get out of a few days of work.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MONDAY 02ND FEBRUARY 2004
10:42-PM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
"MOM ...
... Happy birthday! You're now three hundred and fifty-two (352) days older, ... and that much more classic."
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SUNDAY 01ST FEBRUARY 2004
10:30-AM-(UTC/GMT -5 Hours)
Well, I just awoke. Seems like I slept in huh? I actually didn't sleep in considering I bedded down around 7:30 in the morning. Yeah, it was a late night (into early morning) for me. A group of us went out to Red Lobster last night.
It was nice, there were seven (07) of us all together. Rarely do we (as coworkers) go out in a group like that. Well, maybe I'm just never invited. Ha! But anyway, it was cool to just head out for a bite, conversation, and such.
Apparently a group of three (03) women, who we were told were lesbians later by their waitress, thought our table was a bit too loud. And yeah we were a tad on the loud side. It wasn't "cause-a-scene-loud" but it was definate we were having fun and were more than happy to share our jokes with total strangers at other tables. So we were informed by our waitress that they had complained to their waitress. Of course they could not simply walk over to our table and ask us to be a bit more on the quiet side, they had to complain to a waitress who wasn't even waiting on our table. But whatever, they left about ten (10) minutes afterwards and we turned the volume back up again.
After we ate, four (04) of us went to a small bar to have a few beers. We all ended up playing pool with each other and some of the other patrons there. It was cool. MAURICIO (SPC Santos) and I were enjoying ourselves. We had not done much together since the first few times we went to Friendlys and such, so it was cool to hang out with him again. RACHAEL and JAMES (SGT Lindly) came along too. RACHAEL is new to Bravo company (our unit of attachment). She is pretty cool. I met her a few nights ago when I wandered on into MAURICIO's room. She and MAURICIO were discussing SALVADOR dali and books, art, and such; they were really hitting it off. They had a lot in common. And she seemed laid back and cool, intelligent. So we all went out and had a good time playing pool, music on the jukebox, and conversing.
JAMES and RACHAEL talked more and more as the night wore on and by the time all seven (07) of us arrived at Denny's they were both quite friendly. JAMES wasn't drinking since he was the designated driver, but RACHAEL had a few drinks in her. And oh yeah, we were seven (07) leaving the bar for Denny's. The four (04) of us piled into JAMES' truck to leave when a couple of (very loud) girls and a guy started yelling and approaching the car. RACHAEL was yelling too and talking to them and probably before I'd have been able to add two (02) and two (02) they were in the back of the truck and we were all on our way to Denny's.
So there we were, at Denny's. It wasn't in the plans for the night. But then again I didn't think that a trip to Red Lobster for dinner would last well into the next morning. We sat down after a good wait, and after i had a few words with the bouncer at the front. Yes, Denny's uses bouncers when night falls. And coincidently the guy who had tagged along with the girls who tagged along with us decided that the two (02) black guys sitting next to us should not have called one (01) of the girls he was with "Shorty." I watched (chin in hands, elbows on table, ... okay, maybe not that intently) as the situation quickly escalated. In noe time, the two (02) bouncers were up, across the room, and earning their pay. Nothing happened. The three (03) who came with us, or well, who we came with, left and hopped in a cab. I didn't find the guy's cell phone until they were on their way down the road. So I pocketed it. Hopefully I can use his phone book to contact someone who can contact him and get him in touch with myself. Yes, something like that. That is a lot of contacting.
But now it is time to eat, ... something. PINKY (SGT Lambert) is having a Superbowl "thing" at her house later today. I'm not planning to attend since I have to work tomorrow. Yes, everyone but Chief and me have the day off. Someone has to "take one (01) for the team" so to speak. I always volunteer for minimal manning. I do not mind and I like a quiet shop. So tomorrow should go smoothly. I just have to get up adn get to the gym for PT in the morning.
I will report on how it all went tomorrow evening. Sorry again for all the delays, the server was being very fickle for the last few days. But all seems well now.
Peace be with you always. And may GOD continue to bless you.
Faith & Confidence
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
|
|
Content on this page © 2002-2009 Ted A. Mueller unless otherwise stated.
|
|
|
