Been a long time, been a long time, been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lone-ley tiime

Back from vacation in Alabama. Flew back Monday. The trip was great. The return was not.

I did quite a bit while I was home, but I didn't have enough time to do all I wanted. I got out there on the 4th, and while I was at the airport waiting to be picked up, none other than Wade drives by! What a blast from the past. This is the brother of an old friend from childhood, who I was also friends with during college. Wow. He hollered out, but b/c of the traffic, I was unable to talk with him. I would have liked to.

I spent the first few days visiting with my grandma, and we had a great time. I was able to finally get my package in for the repair of my breakfront that was damaged by the movers when I moved to Washington. This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time, and I am finally through. I spent a few days with my grandparents, aunt, and cousins after that. I had a great time there, too. It was sooo good to be home! I also was able to visit with my sister...Less than ideal, but good to see her. Maybe it's her age -- preteen --, or maybe it's her situation...We did enjoy going to the world's largest aquarium in Atlanta. Huge whale sharks & belugas. Lots of other creatures of the deep, too.

Before I left, I got to see some old buds from college -- Suzann & Nisha. Good times, good times. Got my ass beat at a few rounds of pool. :)

Jennifer had it right when she said I was in airport hell Monday. I missed my connecting flight in ATL b/c of the weather which subsequently caused all kinds of havoc with my arrangements for getting home from Seattle. I had to be home that night b/c I had a pre-op appt in Bremerton for corrective eye surgery. I have been on the waiting list for this surgery for a year, and if I missed this appointment, I would not be able to have the surgery (I'd be out of the Navy before I'd come up again on the list). So it was imperative to get home that night. Only thing was, I could not find a ride that late in the game. I was really bitter about the situation b/c I felt betrayed by some people. I was finally able to get a co-worker to pick me up -- someone who had also helped me move a while back when people I considered friends wouldn't. He stayed for hours helping me move into my new apartment, and now he came down to Seattle to pick me up. He's turned out to be a friend as well as someone who has gone out of his way to help me. He & I share strong opinions about politics -- in fact, he introduced me to Mike Malloy. We listened to him on the way home, and you can download daily shows either on podcast or here: http://www.airamericaplace.com/archive.php?mode=show&id=8

I got over the anger and the hurt feelings after awhile. There was one person who I later had a talk with about the situation. I feel she is a good friend, and I'm glad we'll be hanging out again.

I am ready, so so ready, to get out of the Navy and go on to grad school. This trip home made my feelings stronger. I hope that my remaining time in the service will be alright. I was told the other day that I didn't seem to be putting the Navy as a priority b/c I had taken leave instead of making an effort to be put on a crew to go out to sea. After thinking a while on it, I realize I really don't care. Leave is a right, and yeah, seeing my family is a priority. I'm kinda in a f-you mood about that. I'm not a bad Sailor, but I'm at the point now where the Navy is no longer a priority of any sort, other than getting through the next year. I'll do my job and perform my duties, but I'm not gonna go out of my way...My priority now is preparing for grad school and my transistion to civilian life.

I think I'm gonna grow some dreads when I get out. I'm so sick of wearing a bun! Maybe by then the Princess Leah look will be in. That'd be cool.

So yesterday I saw the Walmart movie. http://www.walmartmovie.com/

Now, don't let me fool you. I am (shamefully) a Walmart queen. Oh how I savor the beckoning lights and whisk of air that hits once I step through the sliding doors. And there to push a cart my way with a smile is an elderly person that reminds me of homemade food. I push past the crowds to begin my perusing in the kitchen ailes. Cheap, cheap, cheap! I move on to the arts & crafts, finishing in the sporting goods. And the clearance ailse? Oh, ho ho! I swear they pump oxygen in there like they do in the casinos. The only frustration I face is using the self-checkouts. Getting home with my goods is like Christmas all over. It's sick.

Friends of mine joke about how much I shop there. (My truck is easily identifiable, and I get accusatory phone calls when I've been caught). I went to the movie, though, to see what all the fuss was about. Yes, I have heard about how people in China slave to make products so that we here in America can buy them cheaper. I've thought in the back of my head, "How awful!," but have never tried more than telling myself I ought to -- I have never tried to stop shopping at Walmart and start shopping at local stores on a whole. My justification has been, well, all the other stores are selling the same China-made goods, Walmart just offers them at a discount. Hey, it's one of my faults. I'm a Walmartaholic. Also, hearing about deplorable conditions in factories over in China and actually seeing video of it makes a world of difference to me. I have a hard time conceptualizing pain in that sense -- I understand it when I can see it. And naturally, I have heard many bad things about Walmart, but it's hard for me to shop at more expensive stores when every dime counts on my budget. So, all this in mind, I tromped off to the screening.

Well, it definitely has made in impact on me. The whole of the movie did not focus on the situation in factories overseas, although this was definitely explored. It showed how the corporation of Walmart has created an unfriendly -- even hostile -- working environment for its workers, especially women, for the benefit of cheap products. Walmart has railroaded small businesses without a thought or even an apology, and they have effectively managed to keep the union out of most of their stores. Their treatment of workers here in America is shameful, and they make their employees rely on supplemental incomes from the government to avoid the cost of providing them theirselves. The movie is a must-see.

I honestly do not think I will completely stop shopping at Walmart. I have definitely made a commitment to shopping at alternatives when possible, and I will make efforts to seek out ways to avoid them. The alternatives are nearly the same (i.e., getting my home goods at The Home Depot is more expensive, and most of their products are made in China, too), but I will try to avoid Walmart specifically b/c of their nasty business practices.


Clips from The Daily Show's expose were shown throughout the movie:
http://video.lisarein.com/dailyshow/jan2005/jan202005/01-20-05-daily-walmart.mov

Links to anti-Walmart organizations: http://dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Business/Allegedly_Unethical_Firms/Wal-Mart/








Well, I haven't even finished unpacking yet b/c I've been so busy this week. The appt with the eye doc went great -- it looks like everything's a go for the surgery. It'll be PRK as opposed to LASIK. I'm a little frightened, especially after the possible problems were explained, but if everything goes right, I'll have so much freedom -- no more waking up, fumbling for my glasses just to see the clock. It'll be a blessing.

Watching 20/20 now about a woman that infiltrated 'male society' for 18 months. The most revealing part of her journey (to me) was a retreat she went on with a bunch of men under the guise of a man. These men spoke of violence towards women, among other things. I would have been scared to death to be out there in the middle of the woods with a bunch of men...That group mentality could turn quickly to a manifestation of their secret desires to harm women. She said she was pretty concerned.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670034665/qid=1137823777/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-4516107-5241403?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 I'm gonna order it and I'll letcha know how it reads.


I'm heading to Bellingham tomorrow to attend a Team In Training meeting. http://www.teamintraining.org/hm_tnt The Luekemia/Lymphoma society trains people to run marathons or cycle long distances all over the world in exchange for fundraising. It sounds like something I might be interested in, so I'm dragging a friend up there to check it out. I've gotta hit REI, too. He wants to go geocaching and do a little hiking there, so I hope the weather works out.