Rainy Days and Work

Holiday's over! BACK ta work with ya!

Not like I'm complaining...We're still on standdown, so it's just a half-day. I think I'm going to Burlington tomorrow to fool around. Gotta take some stuff back anyway. Kristen & I were gonna go to Mt. Erie today to do some climbing and I was really looking forward to it, but the rain came.

But it was a good one (Christmas). Uneventful. I got to catch up on a lot of stuff I wanted to do.

I'm going home in a few days...Fly out on the 4th. I'm stoked...haven't been home in well over a year. In fact, we were all trying to think back as to when I was last there, and I want to say it's been 2 years now. Either way, I'm due.

Meg wants me to go to Costa Rica with her in April. I think I'll be in Japan by then, but even if I'm not, I don't think I can scrape up enough change that fast for a ticket and accomodations...but it's tempting!!

What else, what else... OH! I finally got a call back from those folks down in Bremerton regarding my corrective eye surgery. I go in on the 3rd for an eval. I'm a little nervous -- I mean, we're talking Navy doctors here -- but excited. I have to wear my glasses until the surgery, but that's ok...Hopefully, if they don't burn my retinas to a pulp, I won't have to wear glasses ever again, other than for reading..

WWOD?

Ah!! I love Oprah, and I'm watching her 'Favorite Things' episode again from this year. I watched it when it first aired a few weeks ago, and I got a little teary. It's so exciting! This year she had Hurricane Katrina volunteers as guests who all thought that she was going to talk about the efforts they put forth to help the victims, so when she busted out with the true reason they were there...OH! I almost jumped up and down with them!

Leaving Brewton Now...

I guess there are pieces of me all across the south now...South Alabama, Texas, Northeast Alabama, Virginia, Oklahoma now too. After the Navy, I'll have made memories, friends, and become attached to more places than I'd care to admit! The thing that makes it all a good thing is that I am so fortunate to have lived in so many different places. I can always revisit them in my mind!

I'm especially glad to be living in Washington now. I really like the fact that I can go down to Seattle on the weekends. On top of that, there's plenty of things to do out here that make this an ideal place for an outdoors freak like me.

Various Pics In Brewton

Shamelessly pilfered from http://www.brewtononline.com. Lots of good browsing there...for me, anyway.

City Limits

Old Friends

I finally got in touch with a childhood friend that had called me months ago. I'm so glad that we've done a little catching up tonight. I have many memories with this gal. She's now married with three children and after seeing their picture, I think they are spittin' images! Three kids...Wow. It's funny how people change as you get older. It's nice to know that things are going so well for her. I hope I can meet up with her to visit when I go home next month. Talking with her brings up a lot of old memories from growing up.

It's kinda weird, b/c I got an email from another old friend, too. Not someone I've known nearly as long, but a good friend nonetheless. Every few years people pop back in my life from the past. I hope to get to talk to this guy sometime soon too.

Thinking about Brewton, I dug up some pictures on the net...

Ooof!

USS Nevada

I deployed on Thursday on the USS Nevada, SSBN-733. This is one of the Navy's Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. It has the capability to carry 24 trident ballistic missiles. If you want to know more of the unclassified info, you can check out a good site at:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/subs/weapons/index.html



I was fortunate to get to deploy, because it is not often that women can ride on subs. I mean, really, how many women can say that right now?! Not too many. I gotta brag a little. ;)

I left my apartment at 1:30 a.m. to get to base where we used a government van to drive around Tacoma to Bangor. It took us about 3 and 1/2 hours, and by 6:30 a.m., we were onboard. We were underwater in Washington's sound until 8 p.m., and I walked back in my door around 11 p.m. It was definitely a long day!

Most of the guys we actually talked to and especially the navigation crew were accomodating. The guys passing through the halls were a bit pushy, but maybe it's a factor in being in a cramped area. I think part of it is a territorial thing, too...Having guests onboard while you're trying to do work, and topping it off, having a woman o/b is offensive to some.

The best part of the trip was laughing my ass off with the guys I went with, especially Eric. He's a trip -- really funny guy. On the way back, we were all so exhausted that everything was making us laugh. I got the giggles. I really enjoyed myself, though. I love days where I get the giggles!

We were able to look through the periscope which I must say was great, and I would have loved to have sat there awhile but they had to get back to work. They also fake-fired the MK-48 torpedoes...Not real impressed there. Just a loud WHOOSH, and the knowledge that, had it been real...well...

The trip solidified my resolve to get out of the Navy. It has served its purpose for me, and I feel by the time I am done with my service that I will have fulfilled my duties. Seeing how the other half lives was a wakeup. No, women are not yet allowed to live aboard and/or deploy for extended periods of time on subs --yet-- in the USN, but life on the sub is akin to life in the surface fleet, which is where I'd be heading if I re-enlisted. The cramped quarters, dealing with messy/dirty shipmates, not seeing land for long periods of time, being bossed around by people hung up on their rank...All of that. Most of all, I can't in good conscience continue to serve past my obligation. I am strongly opposed to not only this administration and its war, but also the military's policies and operation in general. However, I am dedicated to finishing my enlistment honorably, and until that time I just have to grit my teeth and do the best I can because that's what I've committed myself to. I just hope the next President and his or her administration will do more justice to our troops and our people by bringing our troops home.

While I'm on the subject, let me bitch a little more. One of the guys I work with has shown me a video that was an eye-opener in regards to what our military has done in Fallujah. Yes, we used chemical weapons, despite the US government's rebuttals. See for yourself!! It's called 'white phosphorous,' and it's akin to napalm which was used in the Vietnam era. You can view it here:
http://rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/en (click on video)

Off my soapbox...So, I wore my working blues with my dress shoes (stupid!), and by the end of the day, my feet were killing me! I am concerned about a couple of places on the soles of my feet that are causing me pain b/c I'm trying to train for the Whidbey Half-Marathon in April. Hopefully they will heal soon.

Missed Out On Some Stuff

I left out a trip I wanted to mention that I took with Meegan before she left to go out to sea in the beginning of December. We went to Vancouver, B.C. to see the Picasso exhibit at the Vancouver Art Museum. We left Friday afternoon, and arrived in time to catch some sushi.

(Commie Corcoran pictured above...)

We stayed at a hostel up there that was pretty lively. It was situated above a bar that was hoppin' way into the night, so it was hard to get some shut-eye. I had never stayed in a hostel before, but I'm glad that I did for the experience.

We managed to get up pretty early Saturday morning and after getting some great coffee, we took off for the aquarium.

The aquarium was alright -- they had beluga whales which I've never seen before. The look like they are smiling all the time.

We met a sea lion who was agressive with his handler about his lunch. He actually stood up in the water while barking to signal that he was ready for the fish.

(Extreme displeasure!)

Next we took off for the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Awesome! http://www.capbridge.com
The bridge is 230 ft above the Capilano River and is 450 ft long. It sways a bit as you walk across. The view is spectacular. It was pretty foggy up there, but it was still worth it.

Once we made it across, there were a series of smaller conjoined suspension bridges through the trees.


We were now running behind to make it to the art gallery, so we hustled back into town.

As we wound our way through the halls, we got separated. The more I observed Picasso's works, the less I was impressed. When I reached 'The Rape,' I gave up on trying to sympathize with him. He obviously was a talented artist, but I got the feeling that he was trying too hard to make works that went along with what was popular in the times. Plus the whole man-dominating-woman theme pissed me off. So, I went upstairs and saw some really strange stuff. It was almost as bad as the modern art museum that Meg and I went to in San Diego about 2 years ago where we saw sewn-together pillows that made a gigantic turd. I think it might have been entitled something to that nature, too. And there was some picture of a black guy with an actual joke about a nigger in it. We laughed the whole way through it because it was so absurd that people considered it art. I digress. So back to Vancouver...upstairs there was a pile of 1,000,000 Canadian pennies on the floor entitled...you guessed it: '1,000,000 Pennies.' Stunning. Right next to it was a series of 5 canvases that were a violet-black color splotched all over. I overheard one of the curators stating that the artist --same one who'd done the penny crap-- had squished 40,000 grapes on the canvasses. The couple she was telling this to actually oohed! The title? Does it bear repeating? Yeah, '40,000 grapes.' And there was also the obligatory blank wall called 'Snowflake.'

There was actually a few well-thought pieces upstairs that really intrigued me. The best one, called 'Gossip,' was a blank wall with 4 speakers placed behind the wall. The artist had placed an ad in the newspaper asking people to call in with gossip from their daily lives. Then he or she? had actors and actresses read the scripts of the gossip into a recorder, which was then played into the speakers. So in order to hear the gossip, you had to lean into the wall.

We ended the day by doing a little shopping at Sears, which up there is a more upscale department store like Macy's. We also made a pitstop in Bellingham where we ate at Old Country Buffet. That was my bad call.

Clarification

So, I was getting pretty passionate last night about the whole 'execution' subject. I knew that Tookie was to be executed by lethal injection, but I wrote 'electrocution.' I wasn't thinking about it.

All we are saying...

Is give peace a chance...

How can we justify one killing to atone for another? Does Tookie's good works since his trangressions not count for something? Anything? For his life, to be able to live out his days locked up, rather than electrocuted? I just can't understand it. I know that he began an organization that breeds hate. I know he was convicted of killing 4 people. I realize he has committed numerous crimes. I just cannot agree with a soul being separated from this phase of its development on command of humans who have no way of knowing if they are making the 'right' decision. How do we know? How can we be sure that this is what 'God' wants? I don't think it is. I don't think that we should be the judge of when a person should die. If the Christian right says God will punish those who kill other humans, how can they take it upon themselves to hurry the process and advocate someone's death? Not saying all Christians believe in the death penalty, that is. I just do not personally agree with Tookie being electrocuted tonight. What about redemption??

Ba-ba-ba-Bennie and tha Jetssss

Jammin' to Elton in concert...On the boob-tube, of course. What a fabulous pianist (and man).

I'm so ready to go to a concert or show 'round here. I just gotta find someone to drag along with me. I nearly went to see the Charlie Hunter Trio Friday, but I decided against it. Hopefully when the weather gets better I can hit some shows out at the legendary Gorge.

Tonight I think I'm finally getting my head above the water when it comes to my chore list. I've finally got my email list down to a manageable size, and the pile of paperwork on my desk is shrinking.

I volunteered to go on the USS Nevada on Saturday for a one-day trip. I'm really fortunate to have the opportunity to go, b/c normally they don't allow females to ride on submarines. It will just be for about 10 hours, but that should be enough for me, especially knowing we're going to be deep underwater. Yikes! I'm looking forward to it, though. Just as long as I don't get accosted by a sub guy...They're a whole different breed; I know, b/c I work with a bunch of 'em!

So the guys in my office have determined that I'm having an affair with a guy named 'Jim,' b/c I'm always leaving work to go to the gym. Right now, especially with this program I'm helping to run, I'm at the gym in the mornings, mid-day, and sometimes in the evenings. So the guys think it's code to meet up with this 'Jim' character. Could be, hmm?... ;)

Up Close

 

Dropped It

You can see the carcass dropping from this eagle's talons as it flies off. There are 2 other eagles in the trees behind it. The seagulls are waiting for some food, too. 

Waiting for the Eagles to Grab Some Supper

 

Dead Salmon

This is what the eagles are after -- the salmon who've died after spawning. We could see them in the river bottom all along the way. Steve took this one and flung it up on the shore to attract the eagles. Sure enough, within 20 minutes, several young were flying overhead, and although none of them swooped down while we watched, they had definitely spied the carcass. I learned from the interpretive center that the young have different wings made for soaring, while the adults have wings that give them an attack advantage. The youngins are comparatively ugly, too, with spotted-colored bodies void of any outstanding features. 

The View

All I can say is I'm already to go back... 

Brrr!

Here we began in Marble Mount with snow on the ground! 

Bald Eagles

WoW, what an awesome day I had yesterday! I went kayaking down the Skagit River and saw tons of bald eagles along the way. We set out at 7:30 in the morning for Marble Mount. Kristen and I were in my truck (aka Bama and Butch Cassidy), communicating with Steve and Dan (aka Old Man Winter and Musk Ox) via walkie-talkies. It was a nice drive, and I think we finally put in around 9 a.m. When we first got in the water, we floated right past an eagle. The water was moving swiftly, but was mostly pretty smooth. We didn't see another eagle for a long while, and we started to get disappointed. However, about an hour into the trip, we started seeing so many that we couldn't count them all! Each tree that would have one would be surrounded by another 6 or 7. Absolutely spectacular. Steve was the only one to flip, and he did so near the beginning of the trip, but he didn't get too uncomfortable. Basically the weather was not so bad that we were freezing. I ended up taking my gloves and beanie off and was still doing fine. We pulled out in Rockport, about 9 miles down river. We made excellent time, and were back in Oak Harbor after eating out around 4:30 p.m. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and I can't wait to go again. WAY more exciting than sea kayaking!! I felt like I was actually going somewhere. It was good for me to get out, too, just to hang out. Dan's alotta fun -- he's the one who, along with a friend of his, took Meg & I hiking in the Olympics. I've never really hung out with Steve before, but he's funny. We all enjoyed it.

When we pulled out at Rockport, there was a board posting the eagle count for the area: 406!! Amazing. They're feasting on the dead carcasses of the salmon. I hope I can go back this month to see some more.

The Gals

Sheereen, Meegan, and Kristen 

The Three Amigos

Sheereen on left, Meegan on right...

A Fine Meal

So this past Friday night, we had a going away dinner party at Kristen's for Meg. I made a salad recipe that I got from Grandma called Napa Salad. Fantastic! Lots of time to make it, but well worth it. Kristen really went all out -- she made tons of sushi, and some kind of mushroom broth/soup that was tasty, too. We really had a good time, but I'm sad that Meg's out to sea.

 

Step-A-Thon

I'm worn out. I went to a 70's-Themed Step-A-Thon this evening at the gym that lasted 2 hours. I had already worked out earlier with the command. I've been helping run a physical fitness program for my command since last week. It's going to go through the end of next week, and it's for people who are out of shape to help them get ready for the PRT (Physical Readiness Test). We do aerobics in the mornings MWF and yoga mid-day. On T/Th, we do a mock PRT in the morning and command PT in the afternoon. Plus I give lectures MWF on making wise choices when it comes to eating and general fitness. It's a bit of a challenge for me as well because the trainers make the workouts so intense.

I'm really hoping to run a half-marathon by the middle of next year. I don't expect to run the entire course, but I know I could run/walk it. The Whidbey Island Marathon and Half Marathon is coming up April 2nd, and if I'm not out to sea, I'd like to give it a shot.

I'm kinda glad that I'm not going anywhere for Christmas. Well, kinda glad, kinda sad too. I'm glad b/c I'll be able to catch up with all my 'to-do' stuff. I really expected to get a lot done over the Thanksgiving holidays -- returning emails, writing letters, cleaning house, etc. -- but because I was so sick, I didn't accomplish a thing. Over the holidays we're getting a whole bunch of time off. We'll only have to report to work something like every fourth day, which is great. Yeah, I won't be able to be with some branch of my family for the holidays, but I think the satisfaction of accomplishing all the things I've been wanting to do for the past few months will help make up for it (and, of course, the fact that I'll be going home in January to see all my grandparents and old friends).

On the Path to Wellness

Turns out, it wasn't food poisoning after all! It was a stomach virus, and it eventually landed me in the ER twice in the past 3 days. I won't get into the nitty gritty, but those so-called docs up there ran a bunch of tests only to come back and say that they couldn't do anything for me but let the virus run its course. Ugh. But I'm feeling so much better today. I've actually begun to eat again.

Me yesterday:


Me today:


Ahhh...


I've started reading an interesting book by Tom Robbins.



That guy's a bit strange. It's as if he takes his dreams and incorporates them into a novel that doesn't make any sense at first, but then when it comes together it hits you like a ton of bricks. So much insight! Fanciful writing that I normally wouldn't like, I think, but I'm really diggin' this one.

This is so unlike another weird book I started reading a few months ago and had to put down. 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It came sooo highly recommended...by critics, by my Dad who I borrowed it from, and by the queen of them all...Oprah. It sucked. Too weird. And after the first 100 pages (which felt like a century to read), I thought he was taking me in circles. Like the guy who got lost in the jungle and finds footprints to follow, only to realize hours later they're his own. Maybe I was too intellectually immature to just not 'get it.' But dad made me feel better when I told him I didn't like it when he said that some people just don't like the guy. That'd be me.

That's my life today. Tomorrow's another.

Food Poisoning

I've managed to lay up on my couch all day today. I haven't been this sick in a long while. I really believe I got food poisoning on Friday. I was so ill that I knew I should go into the hospital, but I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to make it. So I toughed it out here at my place. I was finally able to go to sleep a little before 3 a.m., and that was only after I took all kinds of medicine. I got up this morning and I've still felt nauseous all day long, and I've had the chills to boot. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I haven't been able to get anything done that I had planned. *sigh* Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow. It's already subsiding a little bit.

We lost. I couldn't watch the end of the game. That's okay, b/c I'm still behind 'em.

So everyone's back debating the end of the war...Let's get real here...
(Dated, yes. Nonetheless, it's still applicable)...

Iron Bowl

What happened to the Tide's defense? Seven sacks in the first half. I had to flip the channel after Auburn's 3rd td. I hope we can regain a little dignity in the second half.

The worst part of this game is having to watch it by myself. Noone's into it 'round here!

Bush Borrowed More Than All Previous Presidents Combined, Group Says

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200511/NAT20051104b.html

Whew!!

Didn't think I'd make it much longer without my computer! Heh...It's been in the shop for the past 2 weeks, making it mildly irritating because I use it for keeping track of bills and my finances, as well as keeping in touch with people through email. Okay, I'll be honest and say that I missed surfing the net, too. I'm only slightly addicted! ;)

Actually, the only real 'vice' I have now is coffee drinking. My friends call me a coffee snob, which is not too far from the truth; I'm very picky about the stuff. So I was pleased to hear on this evening's news that a new study was published in JAMA saying coffee does not cause significant blood pressure problems in women. To the contrary, regular coffee-drinkers are more likely to have lowered b.p. On the other hand, you're screwed if you drink soda -- real bad for the 'ole ticker.

Well, I'll be posting pics of my apartment soon, so Jennifer, you'll hafta help me out with the 'window treatments.' I'm real pleased with the decorating I've done so far, but there's always more to do!

Columbus Fun Run

I ran my first 10K today -- pretty sore now. My goal was to just finish without walking any part of it. I really thought I'd only make it about 4 miles and that I'd walk from there, but I just kept pushing myself to the next marker that I'd make in my mind. Pretty good sense of accomplishment after that one. I had a conversation with a lot of the guys who'd ran it after the race, and they were telling me how the next step up is a half-marathon. They told me once you get hooked, you'll want to keep improving. Well, I think just running the 10K is a huge improvement, considering I never ran a day in my life prior to joining the Navy.

Can I go to the bathroom, Mrs. Rice?

 

Bullshit Protector

Some vet wore these to a speech Dubya gave not too long ago. I found them on the net and printed them out at work. Actually, they should be issued where I work. Perhaps I'll start a campaign...Want your own? Cruise on over to www.wiseass.org/bullshit.html