A kilo of rice

I like this picture for many reasons. First of all this picture was taken with the commanding officer of Naval Hospital Yokosuka. The Sasebo clinic is a branch, or satellite, extension of the Yokosuka system. Though we have an OIC who acts in the place of the CO when he isn't around, this is the man we have to stand in front of if we ever have to go to Captain's Mast. From time to time though he'll come down to visit and see what's going on. This particular day he was available to award us with our EMT class completion certificates. Though I didn't successfuly pass the national registry the first time I took the test, I'm not that worried cause I'm in good company. Of the 9 corpsmen that took the test, only 2 passed. Sure it would have been cool to not have to worry about it again and make my command happy for passing it the first time, but that's just the way she goes from time to time.

This picture is also very special to me because I had to really overcome adversity to pass the class. The first 10 days or so all I wanted to do was get out of the class. I wanted to beg and plead with my chief to drop me from the class. I'd been in verbal quarrels with the instructors because I didn't care. I was all jagged up in the head. Somewhere inbetween it all I found that needed motivation, and I stuck it out. Those in charge of me could have crucified upside down and nailed me hard with negative reinforcement until I got the picture, but instead they showed interest and cared and talked it through with me. One could say it was a miniture journey for me to overcome adversity and rise above my selfish wants and to look at the big picture. When the CO asked what we learned that is what I wanted to tell him, but instead I answered his question in my head.

The most superficial reason why I like the picture though is I think it's an overall good picture. It's rather symettrical, and I look pretty fit. For a time I'm making my profile picture on facebook. ;)

This week went by smoothly and without problems. I had an appointment with my councelor on Thursday and we had a good talk. She didn't give me a "homework" assignment for this week because I guess what we talked about was enough to grasped, and that I should just sit back and think about what we talked about. That is fine except it is nothing I don't knaw on already everyday. We talked about my place in this command, world, my friends and family. Overall a good talk, and I get to go back on Wednesday. It is good to just talk to someone. Especially when talking to those who I normally would are so hard to get ahold of since they live on the other side of the world.

I had the worst nightmare I have ever had. Between the death of Ted Kennedy, talking to my family on skype, my frustrations with the command, and a healthy dosing of youtube, I think I know how it was derived. This nightmare is possibly my worst fear, and I woke up crying and my subconscience could hear myself making noises. I'm just glad there wasn't someone sleeping next to me otherwise I probably would have scared the Hell out of them. My dream was I wasn't allowed to go home and I had to watch a "good-bye" video from my mother as she took her last breaths. It bothers me to think about it, but the dream was so powerful and struck such a chord I can't internalize it. Let this be a great big nod to my mother and how important she is to me.

I haven't drank in like 3 or 4 weeks. Last night a few of us went to Chili's on base. Everyone around the table was getting margaritas and tall drafts of beer. To Chili's credit they only serve MGD and Miller Light on draft. I drank diet coke. Owning a car is now a huge deterrant to drinking too since I drive so much. All it takes is one little hiccup and everything I've ever wanted to do with my naval career would vanish. Plus the BAC limit in Japan is .025 compared to .08 in the states. They don't mess around. When you mess with the bull you get the horns, and this is not a fight I want to pick. Some times living on the wild side just isn't worth it.

Highlight of my week: the swim meet today. It was Kris and I who represented the United States and the navy since we were the only Americans at the meet. Literally it was an all-Japanese meet. Years later I hope think that was kind of bad-ass, but it was confusing at the time. Luckily they were tipped that we were coming, and were very accomadating in helping us get to where we needed to be.

Of course the meet was a lot of fun. Though I didn't swim the times I wanted to, and me being the ignorrant person I am thought Kris and I would just walk in there and dominate (not the case, neither of won a race). There are piles and piles of excuses as to why I didn't swim the times I wanted to, but I'll spare you. Kristoph's girlfriend flew from San Diego for a few days and made it out to the meet too. She is very nice and pretty and if it wasn't for my lack of ability to make simple conversation with women, I might be able to tell you more about her. Just kidding, but seriously. So yeah, it was fun to get out there and just compete.

Scratch the swim meet being the highlight of my week, and I can't believe I almost forgot about this. We had a mock PRT on Friday, and I turned some heads including my own. At the end of the story I want point out that I scored an outstanding-high on my push-ups and the swim, and an outstanding-medium in the sit-ups (I missed an outstanding high by 1!). Sit-ups was 104 compared to 98 a month ago, push-ups was 87 compared to 80 a month ago, and instead of running the mile and a half I swam it instead. For a meter length pool we have to swim 450m. To get an outstanding-high at our altitude I have to swim a 6:55 or better. I clocked in at 6:26. I'm sure there are some of you out there who don't know what outstanding-high/medium means, and I don't necessary blame you. Sadly it's a much of navy/military jargon, and it would take a long time for me to write it out and explain it to you. Take this in comparison: I was looking at the PRT results from the spring cycle, and only 1 person scored an overall outstanding high, and he is now at a different command. I missed an overall outstanding-high by one sit-up and I have 6 weeks left to train for the official PRT.

One thing I didn't like about the good news of the mock PRT. Obviously word got around the ENTIRE clinic about my results, and there were all congratulating me and so forth. The guy who I train with, Darryl (Ice) didn't get one single congratulations and he is improving at a fantastic strides too. I'm getting most of the credit, but what people aren't really accepting or something is I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. A big part of me would rather not get any recongition at all if they don't want to mention his name with mine in the same sentence. Also, people aren't really talking about Dr. Margraf. I could make the argument that he saved my naval career by helping mentor me that there are larger things in this organization besides the clinic, pharmacy, and being a corpsmen in general. Now I can see how that can chap some people's ass, but with his leadership he has steered me into a direction I have too oft neglected to accept as where I need to be headed.

Some of you have gotten on the Skype train and I just wanted to say good on you. I don't need to mention any names, but I love folks who take my advice! :)

That's about it for now, but not without one last story. This is a shout-out for all you Wisconsinites who jest with me on different forums of communication regarding your misconceptions of Japanese culture. Kristoph and I were given a participation gift for competing in the meet. What we got? A kilo or rice. BOOM!