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.