OH! Think Twice, Just Another Day in Paradise

This would be the pharmacy team here at the Main Base pharmacy. As many of you know and are well aware of, we have another pharmacy in the Hario Annex. HM1 Martinez (mentioned in earlier posts and pics posted) is assigned to Hario. The short little Vietamese guy is LT Linh Quach, our pharmacist. The fellow in front of me is HM2 (FMF) Brian Oldenburg. In earlier posts I have come to talk at great lengths about HM2, so I'll spare you the honor now, but I will just add again for the record that he is a mentor and I consider him a friend despite his introverted loner tendencies. To the far right, that sea warrior is HN Godwin Garcia. I went to pharmacy tech school with him in Portsmouth, and here we are knocking it out together in Japan. I think that's really cool. Though I can't verify why he is so far away from us, I will say that he is one of the better wingmen in the work place; there has been many-a-time I have been stumbling on my words when talking to a girl at the window, and Garcia comes in for the clutch save to keep the conversation rolling. As you can see we don't have the largerst pharmacy, but there is about 500 drugs in our formulary. Oldenburg would have the most accurate numbers on that though since he is doing supply and Garcia is his predecssor. Hoo-yah PHARMACY!

Now, For the longest time I have enjoyed the lifestyle of short hair. There has always been something about the maintance-free conditions that come with the shorter hair. I remember priding myself that I cut my hair once a week whether it needed it or not. Well, my friends, these times they are a changin', or however the song goes. Lately I have been growing out my hair. Some circles may say that there isn't that big of a change, but others would note that it has never been this long since I've enlisted in the navy. So far I'm liking the change. I can throw a little gel on top, make it look glossy throughout the day, but it's still short enough to where I don't need to worry about the cow-lick in the morning. This picture was taken of me a week after the group picture from above. I really like it for some reason. The computer I'm standing in front of is "my" terminal. Garcia is on the other computer in front, and Oldenburg is on the back computer doing supply. Doesn't that smile say "Cal Rastall loves pharmacy"? I hope it's enough smoke over the eyes to fool whoever I talk to.

As it's unfolding, the Katie McMorrow experiement is I think folding. I tried this same game in high school when I tried to reconnect with Trina Dusso, and as it turned out fell through as well. I will not lie, the hair has given me added confidence. For the longest time I have always purposely tried to remain "a little ugly" so I could deter any woman of having interest in me, hence my mustache episodes. It was always my intention to concentrate on things I needed to, like my fitness, etc and no girl was going to help me get there. Well folks, I'm tired of being lonely. It sucks going home to an empty apartment every night and facebooking my life away. Enter Nicole. If she knew I posted this picture of her I think she might just kill me, but it's the only one that I have from my camera. One night we made dinner, err I made dinner, and the plate she is holding is my creation. Yes, those are my first-ever homemade mashed potatoes. Neither here nor there, moving on... Nicole is 20 years old, from Colorado, works on one of the ships here in Sasebo. She is was recently placed on the the free agent list aka just broke up with her boyfriend, and I was able to gather the courage to talk to her one day at the pharmacy window. Now, I know that the pharmacy "is not a dating service," but I see a lot of traffic rolling in and out of my way throughout the day, and I waited and picked what I think is the best one of the bunch. For some weird reason she asked me for my number, and things started going from there. We spend time with each other when we can, but I'm still terribly busy with my obligations and schedule upkeep. Plus she is on the boat, and is frequently deployed. We both know that this is not forever, but in the meantime it is nice to spend time with one another. As many of you readers know, I'm notorious for keeping my relationship status(es) out of my blog for 2 reasons: a) they don't really exist and b) I am self-conscious about what you all will think back home. I'm calling my shot and say that I have my first Japanese girlfriend, and she's American. Again, I'm not taking her home with me, and we both want very different things after we leave Sasebo, but we make each other laugh and she super supportive of my goals (whereas I'm only learning to share again). We're comfortable talking about our pasts', life is good right now.

Speaking of past. For the last week or so I have been dreaming about Sarah more than I have ever been since we stopped talking. I have these urges to look her up and see what she has been up to, but I constantly refrain. For one I don't want to stir that pot again, and two I think my memory of her in my dreams is better than what reality would tell me. I don't want to be let down again AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING!! I do know she would flip if she knew I finally decided to grow my hair out though, that's one thing she always badgered me about doing again, but always shrugged off. I wouldn't mind getting a sweatshirt or two back from her though, and I think her boyfriend wouldn't mind either, but the only way she would ever know is if she read this blog, and I know she doesn't. Mom says she doesn't talk to Sarah anymore, but something tells me that she is lying, and I am okay with that. Sarah really likes my Mom, and I think the feeling is mutual. I'm now at a place in my life where I'm comfortable with that even if I'm never again brought up in their conversations.

Pictured above is a couple of kids from the swim team. It was taken after our monthly water polo match. The first Friday of every month I invite the clinic staff to play against the swim club. After two games the series is tied 1-1. Yes, a group of 8-16 year olds take it to a bunch of adults. They are vicious, they gang up on us and have no problem dunking their coach. I think it is a little pent up anger being released personally. I'm just tying down the final touches on swim caps and swim jammers for the boys. A parent on the team is working on the girls uniforms as well. Overall it is my pride and joy, as many of you know, but it's just all coming together, and it makes me smile.

To add to my resume of volunteer coaching, I have picked up 7-8 year old baseball. I have never played baseball myself, and really started taking an interest in it when I first got to college when the guys from across the hall in the dorms were from Milwaukee and were Brewer-crazy so it only washed off on me. Our team name is the Fisher Cats; the kids ask me what that is, and I only tell them it's a nod to Catfish Hunter, and they get even more confused and leave it at that. Though they are more well-behaved than the soccer team, they are less talented, but that is okay. I have another coach working with me, HM2 Kim Ryan (the best), and there is a parent of one of the kids who helps out too, and that is crucial. I'm having the kids call Kim "Coach Mean Machine." I can't say if the kids or she gets a bigger kick out of it. Our first game is this Saturday, and I'm very excited about it. I'll get some pictures posted soon enough.

My godmother, Aunt Laura finally has a blog! Though I'm sadden she has fallen off the facebook wagon, I'm glad I can still read her writings. Her latest blog is about a canned chicken, and I just laughed because that story has been laughed with the family for years, and it has just now been written down. Her blog is good, much needed. Maybe is she gets a large enough volume she'll do what I plan to do with this blog and print it out to have bound and have copies made.

Note the above two pictures. The top picture was taken at a swim meet in August 2009. The picture immediately below was taken 2 days ago on 10 April 2010. Notice a difference in my physique? I'm really kicking myself for letting myself go while I was in Diego Garcia. Is there anymore that can be elaborated? I guess my hard work is starting to show? Who knows when my volunteer schedule clears up in June and I can go all-out. Kristoph looks about the same, then again I'm not sure he could get fat if he tried.

April 10th was a very special day for me. It marked the one year anniversary that I graduated from pharmacy technician school. I remember being very hung over that day. Uniform as a little tight, head pounding, the world was spinning. Pretty sure I accepted my certificate from the commanding officer still drunk. How did I choose to celebrate? I partcipated in my first triathalon. Is there any better way?! Let's state for the record that I did not actually sign up for it, but Kristoph volunteered me rather. Our friend, John, who is the gym manager/triathalon organizer allowed it to happen too. That's where the second picture is from, right before the swimming, or first event. It went real well overall. Though I didn't finish in the top 3 to medal,
claim to fame is that I was the top finisher from the clinic. What helped me out the most was my swim, obviously. Kristoph and I were the first two out on the bikes. It was a 500m indoor swim and I didn't geta time for it though. The second leg was the bike, and it was, as you can see on the stationary bike. I trugged for 20km (12.1 miles) on that damn bike. Took me 41:30 minutes to do it. On such a long event like the bike a lot of time can be made up or lost. After the bike it was the 3km (1.8mile) run. That was done on a road course around the base. My legs felt like jell0, not a good warm feeling. Somehow I finished the who thing in 1:10.56. Maybe I was more sore after the half-marathon, but either way I was hardly able to walk, and pretty much took care the rest of my day. Pictured right below was my reaction after I finished the run. Laying down with me is HN Ray Delaparra. He tried like Hell to try and catch me, but I was able to beat him by like 20 seconds. The pharmacy was raided afterwards for naproxen, and there was no shame in the trip to Chili's afterwards. I want to thank Nicole, the Service family, Flores family, and everyone else who stuck around longer than they had to so they could support Kristoph and I and the clinic in this event. I'm not saying that is easy, but I will say it was worth it. Kristoph took first place overall with a time of 54:00. The man is a genetic miracle. Yes, that is me sporting my Prefontaine retro-jersey. Steve Prefontaine is my favorite athlete of all-time (motivating), and it was also the lightest shirt I could find. Next time I plan to actually train for one of these. Really all I've been doing is running a lot (the night before I went on a 8km jog, or about 6 miles), and training for the EOD/special warfare PST.

Above is the 3 tri-athletes from the clinic. Darryl Icenhour is in the middle, and Delaparra is to the right. As much as people to work out, or as much as they say they do, I wish they would participate more in functions like this. Like I said though I won of those who participated. Either way it was a day of good fun and we walked away in all smiles. Morale is high, and another night of duty is almost in the books...until next time.