Sometimes you have to south if you want to go north

I feel absolutely miserable in this picture, and I wish there was a better way to explain how I felt. I'll elaborate more on this later, but this picture was shot after the petty officer indoc fundraiser where we had a pie in the face stand. Throughout the week I have been a bit of a smart ass so I think I warranted the most pies in the face. After a time I just stopped trying to clean off. This is on top of my head cold that I'm toting around with me. Since I've began pharmacy tech school I do say that I've become a bit more candyass when it comes to being ill. Maybe I now know there is better living through chemistry. All you stoners out there might be smiling at that comment, but that is neither here nor there.

To be honest I really didn't know what to expect from petty officer indoc class. I tried to get a temperature of it from other 3rd classes I have come to know since being in the navy, and I have thought, at least from what they tell me, is it is a 3 day marathon of power points. Not a bad day, right? Here in Sasebo though, I was sorely mistaken. We have a 10 day course that they call an "Academy." Our day starts by PT-ing at 0600, and we are scheduled of things to do until 1800 everynight. Our only scheduled meal time is lunch because we are busy with class all during breakfast and dinner. Yeah I'm pretty hungry right now. Our only day off is Sunday, but I'll touch on that in a moment.

Our first day we had a mock PRT (physical readiness test) where we're tested on push-ups, sit-ups (two minutes each) and a timed 1 1/2 mile run. I haven't done one of those since I was in Virginia, but I was proud of myself when I had a personal best in both the sit-ups (105) and run (11:41). Every morning we have an inspection in our utility uniform. Luckily Mom mailed that not a moment too soon since the digital cammie uniform isn't really authorized to replace the utility uniform yet here in Japan.

So we sit in class all day. Mostly it is taught by MA's (Master at Arms aka base police) and the main goal of this academy is to prepare us how to be leaders and better petty officers. Mind you this academy is not navy wide and only in select places from what they told us. As my BFF Rich summarized best, "sometimes you have to go south if you want to go north." What he meant was I feel like I'm back inbetween boot camp and corps school. We have to march in formation EVERYWHERE and are expected to sing cadence, we are constantly reminded to mind our military bearing (something I cannot stand up and down to no end), and they seemingly take pleasure in playing mind games with us. You know, whatever we say cannot be the correct thing to say. They also like to wolfpack us where if one of us slips up they will gang up and spin our minds around and essentially make us feel like the worst sailor ever.

After classroom work is done we go into what is called the "hanger bay" where we are given "extra military instruction." That is where they beat us with PT. Remember that we are still in uniform (again, much like boot camp). After that we have to march back while singing cadence back to the barracks AFTER CLASS HAS BEEN DISMISSED. I should point out here our classroom is literally across the base, a half hour march.

Our day isn't done there. Maybe we have time to catch the galley before it closes, then we have a class meeting outside of classroom instruction to prep for the next day. In this class we have to organize a fundraiser, prepare answers for questions the instructors asked us throughout the day which we didn't know at the time, and make out a Plan Of the Day (POD) for the next day. To get 26 people on the same page when no one wants to be there in the first place is as frustrating as being there in the first place.

My attitude is really no different than when I was in a training command. Because it isn't on our evaluations how we did, and because we're going to be beaten at the end of the day anyway, I either try to do the bare minimum or be in most people's opinion, a smart ass. Example, when we were in the hanger bay we had to count off to see if everyone was accounted for, when my number came up I yelled "OCHO!" The instructors didn't take kindly to that, and that has since been my nickname here. Also, when they asked who the next secretary of the navy was going to be, and it was clear no one knew the answer, I boldly raised my hand and replied, "Chuck Norris." Yeah, we had another set of push-ups because of that stunt. I know that instrutors laugh about it behind closed doors, but they have to put on an image. I just want to complete this course and get frocked next Friday.

Today is Saturday and we had "fun PT" where we could choose a game to play. We played ultimate football (a frisbee was not available) which the instructors played too. Because we were out of the classroom I could be a little more pushy and I was just giving my instructors Hell the entire time by calling them "old" and just heckling them. They were good sports about it because they are humans too, and that is something I've come to learn since being in the navy. Later today we had the fundraiser where we had the pie in the face stand and a car wash. We raised something to the tune of $1,700 in 3 hours. That money will go towards our frocking ceremony (frocking is the pinning of our new rank) reception. Why we needed a fundraiser and spend all this time on energy on a party I'm not sure when meeting at a bar afterwards would have been just as good.

I have become close to two individuals. Darrell "Ice" Icenhauer and Jonathon "JD" Laughlin. They are in the class with me and we have a riot. The 3 of us went out the weekend before indoc and raised some Hell. My only complaint is those two are like a couple of hens. They are always bickering at each other and either on or the other or both are always butt-hurt at the other for some reason or another. Either way we all get along and the 3 of us do a pretty good job at sticking together. They aren't the mustache brigade (and Mitchell) yet, and I'm not even going to compare them to the GB boys, but I have found some running partners.

"Only" 6 more days left of indoc class. Because of it and the stresses it has brought I am now sick and morale is low, but I'm an awesome warrior so I think I'll manage. Oh, plans have changed for Christmas. I think I'm going to Bangkok, Thailand now. It sort of got to me when everyone from home was like "you'll be really lonely in Australia over Christmas." The holidays are a time of sharing with friends and family, this is true. I have a friend, a former boss from my days at the Wilderness in the Dells who is teaching Thai babies English over there now, and we have set up tenative plans to hang out for about 5 days in Thailand. Should be sweet!

I wish I could elaborate on everything that is going on in indoc class, but this entry will have to do for now. There is just so much I'm frustrated with! Grumblegrumble.

HM3-Select Rastall

Until that piece of metal is official authorized for me to wear (we're currently looking at June 5th, 2009), that will be my official title for working purposes. Yes everyone, I have been promoted, and I'm claiming this as my first big step of my naval career. One could argue graduating from corps school and pharm tech school, but I could argue right back that I really had no other choice. Navy advancement tests are taken twice a year (March and September), and this was the second time taking it. I had ZERO hope that I'd pick up rank this time around. I felt that bad about how I did. It's a funny thing really because when I looked at the breakdown of my score (called the profile sheet) I scored in the top 82 percentile of my peers. Because I was not expecting anything, and when I did, I cannot lie when I say I cried a little bit. I'm very proud of earning this rank because of so many reasons. I am now a petty officer of the United States Navy, and no longer a rank that is given to me just because I put in a certain enough time in the navy (that is how one is promoted through the first three ranks, e1-e3, but I automatically was promoted to e3 coming into the navy because of my civilian college credits), and out of the 13 e3's in my clinic, I picked up e4 on only my second try, faster than anyone I work with.

The bird is called a "crow," but its official title is an eagle. The crow is perched on a single chevron signifying third class petty officer. Second class petty officer has the crow and two chevrons, and first class petty officer (e6) has three chevrons and the crown. E7 and higher if gets a little different, but that's down the road. I will get to wear this insigna on my garrison cover, my collar of my uniforms, and on my jacket.

I should be partying hardy, right? The funny thing is I haven't had a drink since learning of my advancement. Still no desire to. I know some people back in the states that would slap me if they could after reading that. I did lose $40 playing Texas Hold'em though. I lost big on a single bet, and kept on rebuying because I thought I had it, but lost. I watch "Rounders" too much.

Looked into Australia a little bit. From what I was told it is still too early to book anything this far in advance, but by September I should be able to knock find out more presice numbers. Australia is farther than I thought from Japan, 4,200 miles. I asked for a guess-timate figure on how much I should be expecting and I should be looking at around $2000 for 10 days split up between Syndey, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand. Who wants to join me?! It is only 7,200 miles from O'Hare airport.

Not sure if this is bad news yet, but it looks like I have to reenlist in 2013 for 36 months. The reason for this is because I signed up the loan repayment program to pay for my UWGB federal loans, which is great, but by doing that I deferred the Motgomery GI Bill unless I reenlist for a minimum of 36 months to obtain 100% of its benefits. That's just the way she goes I guess. Just the way she goes.

I bought a coffee maker! To honor my little buddy, my first coffee brand was nothing less than Maxwell House. You know how folks learn things from their parents? For example, when I smoked I smoked what my old man smoked, Marlboro Lights. Well, when I was growing up, my parents used Sweet'n'Low and dry creamer to make their coffee. I didn't get the memo, but my mother has changed her ways and now calls Sweet'n'Low the "pink poison," and all I heard in my skype chat with her was how awful and bad that stuff is for you. Sometimes I can't win with that lady. I try though.

This next paragraph is more looking at one person inparticular, and I think they would know who they are if they read it, but: Why should I make you a priority in my life if I'm obviously not one in yours? See, the thing about being in the military is I feel like I'm putting "the rest of my life on hold while I'm doing this especially while I'm overseas. This is my path to better preparing myself for the rest of my life how most of the population goes to college. It is just a shitty thing how some people handle/deliver a message and how they make me look like an asshole sitting here wondering whether I should throw on my Dashboard Confessional or not. Thank you for deciding for me. Sucks, but again, that's just the way she goes I suppose.

Tried to watch "Happy-go-lucky" last night, but had to turn it off. It was too as I like to call it "comtemporary British." Same reason why I really didn't care much for "Bridget Jones' Diary." Jane Austin is a completely different story though, mind you. I like the way they talk :) I also watched Nicolas Cage's "Knowing" and that wasn't half bad if you take it for what it's worth. Also showing at the theater on base is "Star Trec" and "Angels and Demons." How I love ticket prices are only $3. Heck, I'll stand for the National Anthem before every feature for that price. I also rented Apocalypse Now and vow to watch the whole thing. Penelope Cruz's Oscar winning movie, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is also on the docket for this weekend.

Besides finally realizing I was snubbed from over 6,000 miles away, morale is high, and my future is looking bright. Next week I start petty officer indocteration. Should be "fun."

on the 8th day the lord jim rested, and the swimmers were happy

Enter Garcia everyone. He just flew in this past Monday, and he's already dominating my computer emailing his family and everyone else. Not a big deal of course. For the record this is a terrible picture of him, but Garcia is in fact Filipino (I can't begin to pronouce or write his first name). A short history on him: we graduated school together in Virgina. Though he wasn't part of our "clique," he was an always welcome supporting cast member to our shenanighans. Because he was underage in the states he couldn't come out with us to the bars, but now that he is here in Japan where the drinking age is 20, I now have a running mate if I so choose to slip up a little and have some fun. Either way it is good to have someone here who I'm very comfortable with and have known for almost a year now. Be prepared to hear his name in later stories I'm sure.

The other picture is one night when we did go downtown to explore the bars and such. This is Darrell Icenhour, but we all call him simply "Ice" (or I call him Darrell because that is just too sweet of a name to not say from time to time).

This is a legitamite door in Japan or an actual resteraunt. Ice is 6'4'', but as you can clearly see there are some disadvantages to being slightly above normal height here. In our journey on this night we hopped from bar to bar. Luckily I have found a beer I can tolerate called Kiren. It is a lager and because regulations are different here than in the states the alcohol content is a little higher. Beer is about $5 a bottle, but they also have drafts here as well. Bars in Japan are very tiny due the lack or available real estate, but if you go off the beaten path to a mom and pop type establishment you will find that they are clean, homely, and are full of curious native Japanese people as interested in us as we are in them. Overall I feel that everyone wins. Now I just need to learn more of the language.

Some more pictures are posted on facebook.

Tomorrow we have a dress white uniform inspection. Normally I could care less, but I'm making this into a bigger deal because if you get an "outstanding" score I could possibly get a day of special leave as a reward. My uniform is not so bad that I would be trouble, but I spent almost an entire move shining my shoes to make them look shithot. Time will tell on this one.

Today all the new sailors who checked into the command had a sit-down with the OIC, or Officer In Charge (essentially our commanding officer at the clinic). We all went around telling her a little about ourselves and when we got to me, before I told everyone about myself she told me that she has so far heard only good things about me, very good. That kinda fired me up, especially when Garcia came right after me and when he got done talking she looked at our sponsor (the guy who helps welcome us to the command, someone who we both share cause we're both pharmacy techs) and said that "you need to help work on this shipmate's military bearing." Apparently my act was hard to follow. Again, I'm awesome.

Yesterday I was actually working in the pharmacy compared to the checking in classes and signatures I had to find to complete my check-off sheet. Thus far working in the pharmacy isn't too bad of a gig. It is sorta busy here and when I'm not serving someone at the window, I'm asking questions about the computer system from the times I messed up earlier. As with anything a person does, each day gets a little easier, I retain just a little bit more, and I'm more familiar with just what the hell I'm doing and spent the past 6 months preparing myself for.

The watch billet for June came out today. I stand 5 watches I remember correctly. Because I'm not qualified to be an EMT yet, or certified as an ambulance driver, I'll do other smaller jobs on watch and learn as I go. My title is "UI" which is Under Instruction. Standing watch is something my recruiter definately forgot to tell me about. That's okay though, all goes with the job description.

I've decided I want to spend Christmas in Sydney, Australia. Thus far I'm in the priliminary stages of organizing such a trip. I may want to spend a day or two in New Zealand too just because I can being I'm so close. A good friend from high school, Brian, who is in the army, just facebooked me today and said that he'll be back in Korea this fall. That'll give me another place to go to, but probably not until next summer or so. Beijing, China is also still on the docket, and I'm still weighing my options on wanting to visit the Taj Mahal in India. If I hit all these places before I leave I feel that I will have completed just about all I wanted to see in the eastern hemisphere close to Japan.

It's nice not having a roommate. Besides the obvious walking around naked and such, I like having that sense of ownership to my room. I can keep it as clean as I want (and it is very clean), I don't have to share anything or worry about stuff turning up missing, and there are times I like being alone with my door open.

I'm still waiting on my package from my folks. I do say that the military mailing system is about as pleasing to me as Wal-Mart is, I'll avoid it all costs.

I've pretty much wrapped up all the movies I wanted to see of 2008. Almost all movies nominated at the Oscars save Revolutionary Road and The Visitor. So now I get to venture into the older movies I have yet to have seen. I did go see the new Wolverine movie though on base (it just arrived here). Yes it was entertaining, but in the end I was disappointed with how I thought it fell short of being as true to the original trilogy as it's potential afforded it. I love summer, it's when all the good blockbusters come out.

Overall status is still high and I want to let everyone know that I changed my security settings on here so everyone can now post a comment whether or not they have a google account. I appreciate all the words of praise on this blog. It's a fun thing to do and as long as you keep reading and feeding my ego, I'll keep writing.

LOYD!!!!

So it has been a couple of days since my last post even though I told some of you that I would have something posted yesterday. Forgive me, but the days are seemingly so short and the time gets lost.

As usual I like to start off each post by telling a little about my posted pictures. To the left is the TV character Ari Gold (played by Jeremy Piven) on HBO's "Entourage." Lately I have been catching myself watching youtube videos of his character and laughing uncontrollably. He is almost the epidemy of the kind of guy i want to be when I "grow up." If you take a gander at some of the videos I'm sure you will see why. Well, from a comical point of view. The other picture to the right is me in one of my uniforms. "Working coveralls" are just for that, to work in. I did not know however that they are not authorized to wear outside of working spaces (in my case the clinic). This would explain the weird looks I got (one from an e-7 chief) on my way to breakfast. The posted picture is me when I got back from breakfast before I had to change back into civilian clothes to walk to the clinic. Our galley and clinic are in different directions. Ugh! Uniforms are a huge pain in my tookus, but that is for a differnent time. Look at those shined boots though ;)

The first two days of the week included me doing some introductory classes on basic corpsman work to prep me for when I have duty. My duty shifts will start sometime next month from what I hear, but this is a mandatory class. I am a little surprised at just how much I have been able to retain from corps school despite the last 7 months being choked with pharmacy knowledge, and for that I'm a little proud of myself.

As for the rest of the week I am taking a course on learning how to triage in a tactical environment. You know, for if I ever get stuck with the marines and I have to administer medical care under fire and things like that. Today was the first day which was all classroom lecture, but I wasn't detered. Since I have to be there anyway I figured I mind as well capitalize and be awesome at this scope of my duty as a corpsman despite my assigned job in the pharmacy. You never know when I might be on the green, aka marine, side of corpsman work. Though I do not think this should be so openly admitted, I have decided that if the big navy requests volunteers for a tour in Kuwait I will be the first to volunteer for the opportunity. It would only be for about 8 months, and I feel I must remind you that Kuwait is not Iraq and certainly not Afghanistan. It's just one more chapter in my story, and I would be paid a lot! This subject shouldn't be talked about much more lest this becomes a reality.

So the weather is starting to pick up. It isn't quite "hot" yet, but the humidity is becoming quite bothersome. The air conditioning in my room is on all day long even though it really isn't supposed to be when I'm not here (the base is trying to be very high on energy efficiency, but they obviously are not from the cold realm of Wisconsin and thrown in the subtropical climate of Sasebo). Rumor has it that the month of June is the "rainy season" where typhoons are a common phenomenon. This Friday, payday, I plan on buying an umbrella to prepare for this worst case scenerio.

Along with a dietician I should sit down with a financial councelor to knock out a budgeting plan for my time here. There are some big trips I want to take including Australia/New Zealand this Christmas, Beijing sometime next year, and maybe India (I want to see the Taj Mahal) before I go. Also I want to pay off my credit cards as soon as possible (nothing Mom wants to hear I'm sure that I even have a credit card balance in the first place). By the time it would great to knock out one of my college loans too. This doesn't include books for college and the random trips the base offers for single sailors to explore the country.

Friday is payday, and I'll be paid almost $1,100. A part of that is a little extra to help cover the cost of my move to Japan, but also my COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment aka overseas pay) has kicked in. That is an extra $300/month for my rank/marital status/years of service/ living in the barracks. If I were to be married and live out in town it would be like $800/month, but that is neither here nor there. Either way on my short list of things to buy, besides the umbrella, are a coffee maker (I have finally jumped the tank and converted to my love of coffee), and I'll probably pay off my private loan to navy federal credit union (4 months ahead of schedule).

Time for laundry and some personal reading. I have created a goal sheet and taped it on my wall to remind me of what my priorites are and reading a little everyday is on the list. Writing a personal letter once a week is also on the list, and a couple others, but a lot is navy goals and things that are interesting I'm sure to only me.

My physician perscribed me sunglasses cause my future is so bright

Hello all, and welcome back to the show. For those of you who are facebook-less, this was a snapshot of me after I finished running 4 miles for the first time at a 6.0 pace. It only took 3 tries to do it, but we pulled it off. I was walking funnily afterwards for sure! When I walked out of the gym some guys were smoking and I thought I'd have a celebratory cigarette. The cowboy killer did not help, and I about threw up. Thank Him that I quit smoking.

For once the title to a post is remotely similar to what I'm about to write about. As I was talking to my friend in China, my future is only frustrating because of all the positive choices/opportunities which lay before me here. As long as I can stay out of the bars here I think I'm going to be just fine. Yeah, my life is real hard.

Good news! I was cleared to take one class of college this summer! I am lead to believe this is almost unprecedented with my LPO (leading petty officer aka work supervisor) in letting a suborinate start school so early in checking into a command, but I think she saw how serious I was in continuing my education. Though it isn't the four classes I wanted to take, it isn't none at all in the same breath. I think I'll take my hardest class, chemistry with a lab (5 credit class) first to knock it out and get it out of the way. After that I'll take micro economics (3rd time is the charm so they say), intro to anthropology, and then intro to mass communications. When those for classes are finished, because of all the college credit I have obtained through the navy and as a civilian at UWGB, I will have earned my associates degree. From there I will continue to tear up the classroom and by the time I leave Japan I want to have a bachaloers degree with me to my next command. In essence by New Years, I will have at least one degree. Pretty cool, huh?

So I went fishing for the first time today. Japan does not have fishing licenses or age/catch limits which is very convienent. I had to go out to a civilian bait shop to pick up worms. That was a treat, take aside from the obvious language barriers, Japanese worms are not American worms. For one they have much more defined segments, little legs/feelers along its body, and they have a mouth that apparently bit a little bit (which I didn't find out until I brought the worms back to the outdoor center on base). No, I didn't catch anything, but it was just relaxing to bask in the Sun and sit there to think, ponder, and plan my path. There are fishing trips every Sunday and I will capitalize on that when I can.

I passed my driver's test and I now have a government issued license. Not sure what I can exactly drive, but I'm assuming it is for government vehicles only. Because I don't have a car here I'm not too concerned at the moment.

This is the last week that my current roommate is here before he leaves for San Diego. It isn't like I have a problem with him, but because I arrived here after him I in a way feel inferior and the beta rommate. When he leaves I'll be happier and can lay claim to all cleaning, arranging, and walking around the barracks naked is always a plus ;) . Still no word on my Portsmouth classmate, Garcia. Apparently the the navy is really jagging him around. I feel very bad for him, but he'll eventually get here.

Last night a guy knocked on my door to ask me what I was doing. This is a habit I hope becomes more frequent. Unfortunately I had things to do at the clinic, and it was past my bedtime the way it was. Next week I'll be back in the clinic instead of running around base doing indoc stuff; the more face time with everyone can only help me.

Though I forgot to tell this story. On Cinco de Mayo I was in a room with a guy who was playing a video game via Internet with another corpsmen down the hall. The guy who was in the other room, Cintroli, is about 5'3'', maybe 5'5'' but either way very small. I made a small joke about greasy Italians or something to that effect, and they guy who I was in the room with relayed the message (they were talking on a headset to one another). I was quickly corrected that he was Mexican (remember this was on Cinco de Mayo). I then pushed the envelope and said something about the Omppa Lumpa escaping the factory (a nod to Ari Gold in "Entourage," a reference that I only got). I then left the room and before I got back to my room, Cintroli comes walking out of his room and I thought there was going to be a fight between us. I apologized and he told me he was drinking and now was not a good time to be cracking jokes. From that point on he has called me "Rass-hole."

Overall things are on the up and up. Morale is still high and my situation is totally under control.

The Omppa Lumpa has escaped the factory!

It's hard to believe that today is already a Wednesday! My week has been flying which is definately okay with me. I just have to make it until the 15th, only 9 days away. That's correct, payday can't come soon enough. That's another story for a different paragraph.

The picture of the blog is a combinations of thoughts. In the foreground we can see the size of a typical Japanese car. It makes a Geo Metro look like a cadillac. With this known, they get excellent milage (not sure on the logistics), and I haven't a clue what's under the hood, and even if I did take a peak I wouldn't know where to begin to describe what I saw. Secondly in the featured picture is the white building. That is the clinic is which I call work. As you can see it isn't very big, but there is certainly plenty to do as I'm finding out. Sooner or later I'll get a snapshot of the pharmacy itself. Lastly (and the original intent of taking the picture) is the background is the mountains. I wanted to show again that the area is completely surrounded with them, and it is totally awesome. Maybe someday I'll decide it will be cool to make the foolish mistake to try and jog up one, but for the time being they are just cool to gaze at. On Monday it was raining, and as the clouds were rolling out you could see the clouds seemingly getting stuck in the hills. That was very picture worthy, but I was walking back from PT and I didn't really have my camera on me.

For the past two days I had to sit through command indoctrination. To say I liked it really isn't my choice since it is not only mandatory at this base, but at every command which a sailor checks into. The first day was a stampede of briefs about all the different programs here and just what is exactly offered for us. Everything from MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) programs to NCIS (yeah, like the TV show) briefed us. There is so much more to do here than in Portsmouth, and the possibilites of opportunites are infinite if we choose to capitalize on all that is offered.

Our second day of indoc was a little more "boring." We were given a crash-course on Japanese culture and way of life. Here we learned everything from the use of chop sticks, to a brief history of Japan (and the base itself). We also were given a once-through of the mass transportation system and the language (both written and spoken). Tommorow we take a field trip around the area which I'm guiltly a little excited for. You can garuntee my camera will be with me and a blog to follow my experience.

All this week and next the base is going through what is known as a general inspection. That is where the admiral of Japan operations goes through and makes sure everything is up to snuff. Certain sailors, myself not included, are chosen to take part in FOCUS groups whose goal is to get the temperature of the sailors morale/issues they have toward this base. In essence it is like a mini Admiral's Call without them actually being present. My point to this story is I was at lunch yesterday and I noticed a lot of khaki (either senior enlisted or officers wear khaki uniforms) at one table and when I took a closer look at their rank, sure enough there sat the 3 star admiral. You don't see too many of those guys walking around. Because I'm hesitant around officers I didn't approach the table, but it was semi comical to see the base commanding officer, a captain, just cater to the admiral like he as a seamen recruit. He was just groveling at the admiral's presence, laughing at all his bad jokes, and essentially brutally kissing his ass. Commanding Officers' really aren't seen doing such things.

Jumped in the pool for the first time this morning. I should really start getting out of the habit of comparing the present day to when I was 40lbs lighter swimming 10,000 yards a day in Green Bay. Speaking of PT, I try to go twice a day when there is command wide PT in the mornings and in the evening, but for sure at least 45 minutes everynight. As far as my diet goes I think I'm on top of that as well. I only eat during galley hours, I stay away from carbs for lunch and dinner, lots of fruit and a salad is also present at every lunch and dinner. I should keep a meal diary, but that is just one more thing to do on top of my growing pile of "things to do." Either way I will eventually get around to arranging a meeting with the command dietician and keep a steady eye on the scale.

As far as networking goes I couldn't be happier. People skype me enough to keep me happy (sometimes too much due to my limited awake hours, but we all know how big of a whore I am for attention and hence I manage it). An old boss from the Wilderness in the Dells is teaching English in Bangkok, Thailand and has requested I mail her Kraft Mac'n'Cheese which is a request I am thankfully able to fulfill. Postage back to the states is dirt cheap which exceeds my expectations. The world is truly getting smaller with the networking tools I have come to find.

Currently I'm reading a book sent with me from the states by my Uncle Gordie called "The Day of Battle" by Rick Atkinson. It is about the invasion of allied forces on Italy and Sicily during WWII. Thus far I'm very captivated, and try to read about 50 pages a night. There is little time for TV here. A TV was donated to me from a co-worker for free, and thankfully cable for the AFN channels are free because it's primary use is to help me fall to sleep after I put the sleep on every night.

So you probably want to know where I live?

Here is my newly discovered official address:

BHC Sasebo
PSC 476 Box 25
FPO AP 96322
ATTN: HN CW RASTALL

This was a little confusing to me, so I'll break it down to you Barney style. Though I don't know what all the abbreviations are: BHC is Branch Health Clinic. I'm not sure what "PSC" is but consider the street name, and "box" is self-explainitory I hope. "FPO" is the city I live in and "AP" stands for Asia-Pacific, but think of it as the state. "96322" is my zip code.

Mail is costs the same as any other American post box. Don't fret about over-seas costs, etc. Mail everything only priority mail, and from what I hear mail takes about a week from the states to get here (maybe from California, but don't kill the messenger).

Any questions, just ask view here, facebook, email, or skype.

Oh Ran! Look what you made me do!

So tomorrow will be a full week since I've been to Japan. I should be getting shit-housed, right? The old Cal would seem to think so as well, but there a realization occured to me when I flew across the world. I'm starting to think that the "old Cal" is over, and I'm facing a new page of a thing called "maturity." I have yet to desire to drink. It's crazy, it's weird, it's not me, but hear me out on this.

At this command, though I am junior in rank, I'm not junior in age. Though the drinking age in Japan is 20, there are many sailors here who can't even lay claim to that entitlement. From where I stand and seeing where I have been, I do not wish to make the choices they make anymore. Why is this? Many reasons may have a hand in this. For one, I still consider myself "alone" here. I have made many aquaintances here so far, but a connection has yet to be established. Because of my age the seniors in the command have subtly appointed me as a non-official leader I feel, and ringleader of the "better choice." I feel I am making a positive first impression here, and I don't want to destroy that image in my first steps in the door of acceptance.

Second of all, as we all know, alcohol is very fattening which is something I can certainly do without. I view my time in Japan to be taken seriously about my waistline, and thus far I'm on the right track to doing just that. I've had one Miller Light and one glass of sake (not too bad in taste and from what I hear has a high enough alcohol percentage to satisfy any Wisconsinite).

That said, miss a good old bar, and my traditionalist tendencies are forcing me to play the "too proud" card to really venture into a club or Japanese alcohol-serving establishment. On top of not personally observing one, but I have yet to hear of a place that I can just belly-up to and just shoot the shit with someone, like the bar we found in Portsmouth with John, Josh, and Flores.

Earlier I mentioned connections. Here I sit patiently waiting for a former classmate from Portsmouth, Garcia to finally arrive. He is taking his time in getting here, and I don't blame him, but in the meantime I am trying to find my bearings and make my mark. Hopefully with his arrival we can consul in each other, and give each other something that we're looking for. He a guy who he knows, and can attempt to show him the ropes (as much as I know), and me a friend who I know his style without trying to discover it since it was already found so many months ago in Portsmouth.

I know what you all must be thinking, that I'm getting depressed and homesick. That is certainly the farthest thing from the truth. I'm finding something to do everyday. Whether that be finding the barber shop (they are very good, but take FOREVER to complete. At every command the time in accuracy gets longer) or working on my online mandated courses this command expects from me before I can actually start working. There is a decent movie rental place (and as I sorely found out, the release dates in Japan are far later than in the states. For example, Twlight and Gran Torino is still in theaters here), and I can always take comfort in the 24hour gym or rent a kyake.

Tomorrow I get Internet in my room. That will end my days in sitting in this cafe every night after dinner and become more accesible over a larger time from in the day. Knowing this, along with my new "maturity-turning" phase, I have taken a liking to an Uncle Steve-style approch of going to bed early to wake up early. I don't recall staying up past 11 since being here, and I like getting up before 5am. Usually it's lights out by 10:30 at the latest.

Japan is quiet and clean in my observations. Cars are small and compact. Lots of people smoke, but I have yet to stumble on a butt on the ground. For you tobacco lovers a carton of Marlboro Lights is $32 and log of Skoal is $16 on base (chew isn't sold in the community). For you Repubicans there is no sales tax, the price is as-is.

When I was walking down the strip, called the Ginza, with my roommate (he is leaving to go back to San Diego on May 15th) so he could do some souvenier shopping, I felt a little embarrassed not being able to communicate at a level I felt comfortable with. Oh, for you samurai enthusiests out there, samurai swords are outlawed and cannot be bought. I'm sorry, but take comfort knowing that I did look into it.