Lose the fattitude

This is my Christmas tree. There are many like it, but this one is mine...

That is my weak attempt to satire the Rifleman's Creed. In reality the tree was a hand-down by a family who upgraded to a 4' tree, and the lights were borrowed from a clinic nurse who didn't get around to hang them in his office. I have to return them after New Year's. Rarely my lights are turned on though. I suppose that's because it's only me, but I wanted to prove to everyone back home that I do have a tree, and it is "decorated." All my presents I either bought for myself as furniture, or was mailed to me in care-packages and I was too impatient to wait till Christmas to open them up. Actually I do like to open my packages at work. I like to share what my loved ones sent, and if it's candy or some sort of perishable treat I will most always share with them. My personal favorite thing to do is read my letters from my little brother, Max to everyone. His innocent writing is rather entertaining to everyone. Anything to lighten up the morale of the boys in the pharmacy.

This past week was Christmas. "Lucky" me I was on duty. It didn't originally start out that way though. When the December watch-bill came out I wasn't on it at all. Basically I had to pick which days I wanted to stand duty. On Christmas a guy named Jonathan was supposed to stand watch. Jonathan is a newly-wed and wouldn't be able to celebrate his first Christmas with his wife, so I decided to take his place. It wasn't like I had anything going on. Another reason I wanted to take Christmas day was the Chief-Of-the-Day (COD). It was SW1 Frey, a guy who I really like and we always end up having a motivating conversation or two. In fact, he came down to the desk at 2130 to tell me he was going to bed, but we ended up talking for 2 hours. What actually ended up happening was we were talking so much that I took someone else's scheduled watch accidently. What did we talk about? Usually it's about fitness, leadership, goals, I complain about my problems, trade stories, and the usual stuff. I look up to him, he made first class in only 5 1/2 years, and he is only 25 years old. We have a lot of stuff in common I think.

Back to Christmas Day though. If I could ever be given a present on Christmas while on duty, I certainly got it. There was not one telephone consult, walk-in patient, or emergency we had to arrive to. The only time I was in the ambulance was to check-off and drive to the galley for food. I did plenty of sleeping! For breakfast the USO organized a steak and egg meal. It was real steak too and not that minute steak crap every other day of the week. For lunch my LCPO, Chief Bennett, bought lunch and gave us ANOTHER present. He told us that if we are standing duty Christmas Day we would be given a 96 hour special liberty pass! Dinner was maybe the most special. The galley was serving roast beef (again the real stuff) and lobster tail! Maybe medical duty crew got a hook-up and maybe I had 3 lobster tails. Yes, it was pretty much awesome. It wasn't 15 minutes after the stroke of midnight though that our first phone-call came. I want to personally thank CFAS for not thinking they needed medical attention on Christmas Day and making our day as easy as it was.

The day after Christmas was a different story. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to have a special swimming work-out. We invited our top swimmers to join Kristoph and myself in the traditional 100x100 set. We would have to swim 100 100's every 2:00. There was 7 of us total in the pool. The youngest was 7 and she swam 40 100's. Next was a 12 year old boy who knocked out 50 before he had to pull-out. Third place was a tie between two sisters. One was 12 and another was 15. They each did 7,000 meters. I was next on the quit-list and finished with 75 100's. Kristoph was the only one who finished the entire set. This morning I could barely move. I was sore in places I didn't know possible. We had a good time though. Kristoph and I had lunch afterwards and laughed about it though I was a little embarrassed even though I couldn't lift my arms above my head. Yes, it was a stupid idea, but I'm glad I did it and next year I will triumph!

Also last night, I rented a couple of movies. I wanted to go out because I had nothing going on today, but was just too tired from the swim. So I threw in a movie and cracked open a bottle of wine. One bottle would have been plenty, but I decided to take it to another level and one bottle soon became two. I did find out though I like shiraz wine, and not pinot grigio so much. Though I can't call the states from my cellphone, I was still a functioning enough drunk to use skype. I was all over the place, sending pictures to my friend, confirming visits from friends, making ridiculous claims, and waging bets I could not back-up. Overall it was a suprisingly fun time. Rented The Hangover, always a good choice, and decided to make it my first blu-ray purchase. I also bought the ultimate Eric Clapton collection deluxe CD, and Dwight Yoakum's greatest hits. I owned that CD once before, but it was stolen from my car when I lived with Sarah in high school. Oh, this is when I'll make my plug-in for testifying that Dashboard Confessional's newest CD "Alter the Ending" is amazing and I would recommend it to just about anyone.

Funny story. So there I was at work, and there was a patient at my window. It was on Thursday, only a half day, and I might have come in unshaven and looking shitbag-like. We get to talking, and this patient is really cool, he was very polite and interesting. Then his phone rings and he answers it with "This is the XO." You could see the blood flush to my face with embarrassment. Here I was looking like an asshole in appearance, talking to a patient like he is a dependant (very non-military bearing-like), and really who I'm talking to is the Executive Officer (2nd highest in command) for one of the ships! That isn't the funny part though, just part of the story. Turns out this XO was wearing an Oklahoma University sweatshirt. We get to talking about college football and he asked me where I was from. I replied with the right answer, and he was like, "Wisconsin!? My best friend at boot-camp, through 'A' school, and our first command was from Wisconsin!" The XO was a mustang, former enlisted, and his friend was from Neenah. He told me how his friend's mom would drive down every weekend and take them back to Neenah-Menasha. I was more than impressed, I was stunned. I rebuttaled to him though with a dream I had shortly before I enlisted about how I had to make a choice whether or not to join the navy because I was offered a job to coach the high school boys Neenah High School swim team. He liked that story and we became friends. Next time I see him I'm going to ask for a challenge coin.

I've been in this country for 8 months now, and this past Monday is the first time I have ever actually shopped and bought something from a Japanese grocery store! You know what? I like how they roll here! I can't buy like spices and other stuff because everything is obviously written in Japanese, but their meats and sushi supply is incredible! Japanese culture really prides itself on the freshness of their food, and after 5pm all the fresh food is marked like 50% off. It's awesome. I'm a total whore for stuffed rice balls. A canteloupe though here is like $17! Not sure why it's so expensive. I did laugh to myself though when I realized that Buck Owen's song, "Act Naturally" played on repeat throughout the store.

Hmm, I'm trying to think of anything else that pops out, but nothing really comes to mind. Next week is New Years and I plan to be in Fukuoka, which I'm VERY excited about. Morale is very high and I'm very tired. The title is a reference to my good friend Mr. Andy Bauer and my lifestyle now that I'm back from Diego Garcia. I'm bumping up the PT another notch and taking it to the next level. Dr. Margraf is strongly suggesting I take up Stew Smith's excercise program, and I'm strongly considering it. For another time though.

Since DGAR (epilouge)

My life sort of went back to the way it was. Being away put a breath of fresh wind in my sails though. I came back more motivated, disciplined, and locked-on to my purpose there. I realized that things really weren't that bad in Sasebo. As long as I stay(ed) motivated and kept my attitude positive everything would work itself out. I came back with a plan and sense of purpose. So far everything has been going great, and the forecast is to keep it that way. I wrote lots of letters on the island, recaliberated my life, and it has been a very beneficial experience.

Since then I added some new pieces of furniture to my apartment. I now have a desk to write/study on, a futon for guests, back in the swing of things with swim club, and I put in Tuition Assistance for the next semester's classes. I also have bar stools for my counter in the dining room, and I'm back to watching lots of movies on the weekends. I did watch a crazy ton of movies on the island though. In fact I watched all 5 seasons of house on DVD in about a week.

Last night I went out and saw Paranormal Activity. I actually really enjoyed it, but then again I am a sucker for those low budget hand-held cam corder movies like Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield.

Things are back on track, I'm PT-ing harder than before I left and continuing forward with that special warfare package. Morale is super high and I hope to keep up with this blog at a normal schedule just like before all those weeks ago.

Coming back from Diego

I already mentioned Singapore as a whole in a previous post. Totally awesome country, and I wouldn't mind going back. Nice exchange rate, good looking women, and lots to do in general. I do remember it being very hot though since it was as close the equator as DGAR was. Oh, one thing about Diego Garcia, because it was in the southern hemisphere, it was spring there. Lots of rain, but it came in guerilla warfare style. It would creep on us, pour like crazy and as soon as it started it was gone. Also I did not see one spider there, but lots of geckos. There was a one-legged rooster we saw hopping around from time to time Joe and I called the Legend of Diego. Diego Garcia doesn't have any indigenous people anymore. They were all booted out. What they do have though is a filipino workforce. They were contracted in, and provided the services there. They ran the barber shop, resteraunts, took us out fishing, etc.

A quick story about Singapore though. I went and did some shopping out in town before I had to be at the airport. I bought 3 CD's and a Mandarin version of Twilight for Jenna (since of its large Chinese demograph I counted it). Well, I hopped in a taxi and off to the airport I went. Shortly after I was dropped off I noticed I had forgotten my things in the taxi. This is when the fun started. Of course I couldn't remember the taxi number, but I did remember the phone number needed to call in case of anything was lost. So I called it and because I didn't know the taxi number things got real complicated. I would give details and information and told to call back about every half hour. Finally after about 5 call backs they located the taxi, but there was nothing inside. As pissed off I was I finally checked in and stopped in the airport book store. Sure enough they had a marked up copy of Twilight in Mandarin which I rebought, and using the complimentary Internet booths at the airport I ordered the CD's to be delivered from Best Buy. I also gave this guy $40 because I bought his story that he was stranded, etc. Hopefully that good Karma will one day pay for itself.

One more thing about my time on the island. My boy Darryl sent me a message about a former friend, Cody. She apparently did not like how she was in my blog. I sent back an email essentially telling her I did not care what she thought, what is on the blog is my life and whatever is in it is staying. When I write untrue things that ruin her character or attack her or anyone else I will make the adjustments. This paragraph only exists because it's my subtle way of saying I hope the navy isn't so small I have to cross paths with her again.

HM1 Martinez's husband, Damion picked me up from the airport in Fukuoka. He didn't have to do that, but I'm thankful he did. I'll have to share with the command my disdain for the policy on not dropping off or picking up their sailors personally. I was told to catch the bus and wished the best of luck. All that is neither here nor there. Damion and I had a good long talk back home, and it was the first of many rounds to share my times and experiences. He is a helluva guy and I'll miss him when he leaves Japan.

Once I got back to the clinic the weirdness began to settle in. I was obviously resocialized to the ways of life of Diego Garcia. Even the mountainous terrain of Japan sort of freaked me out compared to the flatness of the island. Back to arriving at the clinic, it was the Friday after Thanksgiving (I spent Thanksgiving 2009 in Singapore), and there was no one there except for the duty crew. It was empty, and I sort of felt alone. Not going to lie I was a little spooked, almost like I didn't belong there. That feeling would stay with me for about a week while the other staff members greeted me back. Then I started feeling like if I tried to think about it real hard, my trip to DGAR could be forgotten, like it didn't even happen. Almost like dream of sorts. Sure felt nice to sleep in my own bed again.

When I arrived at my apartment I was thankful to notice it hadn't burned down. Though I gave the key to Darryl, I could tell he hadn't used it for anything. Luckily my only problem was it was a little dustier than when I left it.

hey man, it's effing Diego

Remember how I was saying we were delayed and did some shopping? Well, I wasn't alone. In fact I was with a dentist, flight surgeon, and a couple other people people. There was this one first class, a SEABEE, who first enlisted in 1981! He got out for a few years, then joined the reserves, and now was active duty for the past few years, and now he only had 3 years before he could retire. Interesting guy, and you tell he was all navy. Kinda cool actualy. I'm not going to beat around the bush, the dentist was probably the hottest woman on the island (I'll get to that in a minute), and I found out the flight surgeon was an ad hoc professor at the college I was taking classes from (again I'll touch on that in a minute) over a couple glasses of Tiger Beer while waiting at the airport terminal.

Those people were just a footnote to the story I'll share with you now. On the flight I was seated next to MCPO Smith. Master chief Smith was the CMC of WESPAC munitions command, and he was visiting Diego with his CO. Getting that much sit-down time with a master chief is invaluable and I seized the opportunity. We talked non-stop, and I can't begin to tell you how therapuetic it was. He asked me about what I thought of the navy and shared with him my personal views, my frustrations, my questions, and my confusions. All my questions were junior sailor related, and he made the chief's mess look very good. I left the plane remembering two things that use myself when talking to more junior than me sailors. They are to always remind yourself what the facts are. When you are frustrated and vexed, just step back and remind youself simply what the facts are. This helps you put everything into prespective and a plan to accomplish what you need to do. The second piece of advice he offered was to always listen. What is your leadership telling you? If they're talking to you most likely they are trying to teach you something where you can take something from it. I doubt I'll ever meet Master Chief Smith again, but that conversation pretty much saved my naval career.

We arrived on the island late in the night. It was a quick meet'n'greet with my sponsor, the pharmacy tech I was relieving, and a even shorter tour of the clinic/pharmacy. After that I was shown to my room and I went to bed. The next morning I was up to go for a short run to take a tour of the base. It was the last motivating PT I would do for the time I was there.

Diego Garcia is a funny little place. It is a shaped like a horseshoe and is 37 miles around. The widest it is only 2 miles. The island is also extremely flat. In fact the highest point of elevation above sea level is the outdoor pool that had to be man-made. I can also gloat that I was in the southern hemisphere as it is 7 degrees south of the equator. The entire island is a military base and you needed a security clearance to even check out of customs. There are 4 things to become on the island: a hunk, a chunk, a drunk, or a monk. DGAR is a great place to get in shape if you let it, or the other 3 options I suppose. Because I was only there for 30 days, I personally treated my experience like a vacation. Besides the PRT I chose to do with the command, and one other mandatory PT session, I only PT-ed twice, and it wasn't very motivating PT.

Since being overseas I have prided myself on staying away from the heavy drinking and jackassery behavior. Not there though, I really let myself go. Cigarettes, dip (when it wasn't sold out), Captain'n'Cokes, and pizza were the staple items. My diet was crap upon crap. Sure in the beginning it was very nice; I felt like I needed this break. Like most vacations though they soon get old, and I was beginning to start getting that Catholic guilt about the 2.5 week mark. Being in Diego Garcia was the closest to being on vacation without actually having to take leave.

You could say that I was productive. I took a tour of the USS Georgia, a nuclear submarine. I took my final exams on the island thanks to the flight surgeon I met in Singapore. For being in DGAR for 30 consecutive days I picked up the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) Expeditionary ribbon. I even paid for the EMT national registry test myself and took it, though I didn't pass. Above all else I started working on my dive physical needed for a special warfare package. I'll get to conversations with Joe in a bit, but I felt like I was able to do a lot.

Like I mentioned earlier the island is a funny place. It is obviously the navy, but not really. Some things really don't happen, like the rules of fratenization. The clinic, an enlisted staff of 30, was very top heavy with 1st classes who we called "the first class mess." Immediately once I arrived I was warmly accepted and greeted with open arms. There were only 4 third classes onboard, and 2 e3 and below. We would drink and party with them like I was back in 'c' school. A very weird feeling, but it was accepted there. Hell, I don't even know all the 1st class' names in Sasebo, but once work got out or behind closed doors we were all on a first name basis on the island. I checked in on a Tuesday, and that Friday was the Captain's Cup. A monthly athletic competition between the different rates/commands on the island. It was hot and sunny, and I participated as much as I could. My one philosophy on the island was to not make others in DGAR look bad, but to make BHC Sasebo look good. Needless to say about the Captain's Cup I was rather sunburnt that would bother me for the next week. The next day was the Halloween Party and we all dressed up. I kinda stole my idea from Laughlin, and went as a dick in a box. It got lots of positive reviews.

The MWR program there was fantastic. Everyday there was something planned, and just for participating we were given a t-shirt. I raked up a couple shirts. Most notably my 100 freestyle race (of course I took 1st overall). I also qualified for the texas hold'em finals tournament but it was going to be played the day after I left. I also played in a spades tournament where my team took 3rd runner-up. Either way it was SO nice to throw some spades again. When the clinic caught wind of my swimming PRT time they put me in a triatholon relay, but it was postponed twice due to certain factors and I didn't compete before I left.

My best friend on the island was Joe Sayre. We were inseparable. In fact it got to point when the 1st class mess would ask us where our girlfriend was and we would know they were referring to me or him. He was a shit hot fellow 3rd class who had just come from the USS Truman in Quanico, VA. I can't count the nights we would have the most motivating conversations about the navy, the next step(s) in our careers, ways to get there, etc. He had bought a nintendo wii and we had some epic battles in Wii sports. My experience on the island would have been very different if he wasn't there, and call me gay, but I'm thankful I was able to know him.

Everything on the island was awesome. I even was able to go deep sea fishing. For 4 hours, 5 of us went out for only $150 ALL TOGETHER and we kept everything that we caught. The wahoo were biting and we snagged 6 and a yellow-fin tuna. For $6 a fish they would fillet them, and we took them to the local resteraunt to cook for us. We only brought 2 wahoo's and the tuna. The tuna was made into sushimi and the wahoo was cooked in like 5 different ways: grilled, garlic, sweet'n'sour, cajun, and a couple others. There were 6 grown ass men at dinner and were all very hungry, but we still each had a box full of left-overs. Awesome time.

As noted in the title, that was our battle cry. Effing is substituted for another word though ;) I'll always remember the times I had there.

Everything leading up to the island

Thank God for facebook because this post could easily be nothing, but a story in pictures. Because it is sort of a hassle to post especially multiple pictures on the blog, I will have to refer to you taking a gander at my Diego Garcia photo album. I pretty much captured everything along the way. From Korea, to Singapore, to my month on the island, and back again.

Not sure if it's good writing structure to kick-off a story with the conclusion first, but I get to make the rules here. I'm glad I was able to go and experience this. I get to get chalk this up as another opportunity for me that the navy has offered, and I get to walk away from this adventure to my desk and write a thick, juicy chapter in the story of my life. I saw some incredible things, met some extrodrinary people, did some once in a lifetime things, and accomplished things few I know have, or ever will. It has made me rethink a lot of things in my life and my path, and I'm very thankful for this.

So there I was, traveling farther east than I ever have in my life. Diego Garcia is 3 hours behind Japan, and it took many hours of flight time and miles to get there. I started out in Fukuoka on a 90 minute flight to Seoul, South Korea. I had about a 3 hour lay-over there and I was on a plane headed for Singapore. While in the Korean airport though, I did stop at a little resteraunt and had a Belgian wheat beer. Wasn't Hacker-Phsorr, but it was the next best thing. It was gold hit my lips. The entire airport had wi-fi, and because I brought my computer with me it was a no-brainer I capitalized on the service. Their power was different than America so I couldn't charge my computer in the process. After that though I really didn't see much Korea though I tell people I've been to Korea. Much like when I tell people I've been to Washington DC though it was only Dulles Airport. I stopped by and picked up a Korean edition of Twilight for my friend, Jenna. Everywhere I go in the world, I get a different copy of that country's language.

The trip to Singapore was an experience more painful than enjoyable. It was a 6 hour flight from Korea to Singapore, but luckily I was hooked up with an aisle seat. I think I've been flying enough where the novelty of sitting at a window and looking outside has worn off. Especially when you're flying over an ocean for most of the trip, and at 35,000 feet. There really isn't that much to see unless you're factoring take-off and landing, but that isn't worth sacraficing the mobility and "extra" leg space an aisle seat offers. I do remember though flying back to Korea from Singapore on my way home, and a Korean woman was so small and petite (she spoke English and told me she was 31, but didn't look a day over 24) that she was able to cross her legs in the airplane chair! Yeah, she had the window.

My original intentions of first arriving in Singapore was to see it's nightlife. I flew in at about 2200, but was tired from traveling. My hotel was on the military base which was like a 40 minute drive (after factoring traffic). Add in a day of traveling across the world, checking in, and trying to understand what everyone is saying through their accents, I was too tired to go out. It was around 2330 when I finally arrived at my hotel room. Nicer place though especially for only $75.00 USD. The exchange rate while I was about $1 USD = $1.40 Singaporean dollars. Not bad especially coming from Japan where the currency was $1 USE = 84 Yen (or about 84 cents USD). I did find out though that the McDonalds close by delivered and yes, I capitalized.

I was to be picked up at 1130 the next morning and taken to the airport originally, but there was a delay and we had a chance to drive to the shopping center, Orchid Street. Understand that the official language of Singapore was English, but the country in itself was a true melting pot of culture. There is a huge demograph of Chinese, Mayalasian, and Indonesian influences. I really liked Singapore from what I experienced. Extremely clean and safe. They don't tolerate any foul play. They have no problem caining you and are very adamit about the death penalty. Singapore doesn't tolerate drug trafficing at all and it's a garuntee death penalty, no matter what you have or how much you have. That said it's a very libral country. Prostitution is legal, banking and information services are it's biggest exports, and there is no such thing as a homeless Singaporean. The government takes care of its people by subsidizing housing, giving allowances during the hard times (the recession doesn't affect Singapore). There also isn't any corruption in government, and from what I was told is because the officials are nicely paid and aren't tempted by a higher paycheck because they already are paid nicely. Besides learning English and their parent's language, Chinese is also taught in school. This is because China isn't getting any smaller and they are so close to Singapore. I don't know how many BMW's, Mercedes, Lamborghinis, and Ferrarires I saw.

Singapore is also a bartering country. If you go into a store and see something you like, it is almost improper and rude NOT to barter with them. I'm kicking myself for not picking up a suit there. Lots of Luis Vuton, Rolex, Gucci, and other top shelf fashion stores were also there. The only depressing thing I can say about Singpore is the outstanding prices on alcohol, and that is because the government taxes the Hell out of it to deter people from by it. A pint of its homemade beer, Tiger Beer, was $15, and that's after the conversion! BTW Tiger Beer is quite delicious and I drank more than one pint.

Taxi's are dirt cheap unlike Japan, and because they spoke English I was able to rack their knowledge of the city/country. The city is the country; Singapore's borders are only 500 sq km, but they are in the process of "taking back the sea" much like what the Dutch have done since the beginning of time. With a country that rich they can do pretty much anything they want.

I flew out of the military base. It was a MAC flight and didn't cost anything. In 4 1/2 hours I would be arriving on the island. Another post will tell all.

Explaining myself

This post might be broken down into a couple of volumes. I know as well as anyone that I have not written in forever since my last posting, but that isn't because I was THAT lazy. It all started a long time ago, and snowballed as to why I haven't posted in some time.



So there I was, getting ready to move out of the barracks. A lot was on my mind, and sadly meeting the weekly post deadline was not on the short list. I moved into an apartment that obviously did not come with Internet. Hell, I didn't even have furniture. There were free wi-fi spots around base, but I didn't really have enough time in my scheduled day etched out to sit there for time on end and report.



Sure I could have gotten Internet much sooner in my place, but I was continuously being jagged around with when I was actually leaving for Diego Garcia. First it was going to be the week after I moved into my place, so early October. Then they pushed it back a week due to weather. There was an ensuing typhoon that was creeping up on Sasebo which luckily didn't hit us, but it cancelled my flight. They, and when I say "they" I mean the uppers and administration, pushed my date back again because they travel itenerary was too expensive. They needed another week to figure out a cheaper way to fly me out. All this time I chose to hold off Internet service since I originally thought I was going to be already be in Diego Garcia.



So there I was in Diego Garcia. In the middle of nowhere. I mean I have never been more isolated from anything in my life. I was 1,000 miles from the next nearest rock, island, piece of land sticking out of the water. Internet service was available, but it was a privledge, not a given. You could pay for that privledge, and I did, but even so dial-up in 1995 would have been faster and more reliable than the stuff we had. For 30 days of service I had to pay $250, and even at that price sometimes I couldn't connect, some pages wouldn't upload, and it was sort of like the navy: no such thing as a good day, just degrees of bad. Luckily the most reliable website was facebook, but uploading pictures was next to impossible and an all weekend adventure. Needless to say I did not have a reliable way of posting a blog post on the island.



After I returned from the island I went another week without Internet at my place, and it was the same routine before I left. Finally the day came when I was able to get Internet in my place, but ran into a bit of a pickle. There were only two places where I could get service in my entire appartment. There was my bedroom which was not good because I needed that room to sleep in and it just isn't big enough to hold a desk to place the computer on. My next best and chosen option was my countertop in my dining room. Well, the counter is fitting for bar stools, which I did not have at the time. I spent the next 3 weeks with Internet in my apartment, but I had to stand at the counter to use it. Because I had to write so much and share a lot of stories and information, this was not suitable writing conditions. Finally my bar stools came in, and I had to wait another two weeks to find time to sit down and write.



I heard the people and listened to the complaints! I am back on my weekly schedule. Pictured below is my workstation for the rest of the time in Japan.

So I hope this explains my absence in my posting. I will make another couple of posts right now to explain my recent travels on today, but I figured this deserved it's own explaination.