COLD

And Foggy. And still me for another couple of days. I'll head back down south on Thursday to the in-laws. I'd stay home but one of the nephews is getting married on Saturday. Dumb bastard. A little harsh I know, considering I've been married for so long. BUT he's only been out of school, high school for about a year. Dropped out of college already and he's working part time at a paint store. Seems like a prime candidate for the military. I told him we need to talk, but I don't think he took me seriously. Oh well, maybe he'll beat the odds.........

Went to the doctors today. Been getting little migraines again. I'm thinking I need new glasses. I'm probably right, but right now it's important that I get all that in my record since I'm retiring. Next week it's the back.

Forgot to mention that the kids and Number One got me a gun case for the rifle. It's nice. It also tells me she's getting more comfortable with the guns being around. Next: 12 gauge shotgun. But that'll be a while. No more big purchases until I get another job!

Hard KT Tunstall the other day and got it playing via Youtube. Good music and she's a little cutie! I love girls that talk funny. (she's Scottish if you didn't know).

BIG HUGE CONGRATS to TAMMI!!!!! Woo Hoo!

BACK

From my little vacation. All went well and the kids had a great Christmas. Of course we were at my sister-in-laws but that's ok. On of the nice things about going to southern California is that the weather is so much nicer than it is here in this valley.

I got to see the grand kids. They are both doing well. The boy is just about 2 and doesn't like to poop. It would be funny if he wasn't so uncomfortable.

But all in all a good trip.

Hope everyone's Christmas went as well.

Finally

Feeling the Christmas Spirit. I know it's about time right?

It happened last night as I was getting all the Christmas presents ready to be loaded up for today's trip. Despite having to spend most of our extra $$ on MAJOR car repairs the kids will manage to get a pretty decent haul this Christmas. That and I you tubed some of my favorite Christmas songs. Go there and listen to Jars of Clay do the Little Drummer Boy. It's the best version of that song EVER. Even better than David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

We get off at noon today and hopefully I'll be on the road by 1pm. I have a feeling it's going to be a shitty drive. Not because of weather or anything but because every idiot in California, yes including me, are trying to get someplace for Christmas. I can't wait.....I have such patients when it comes to other drivers. I should be thoroughly irritated by the time I get there.

I hope you all have a SUPER Christmas. Talk to you when I get back.

Still

Not much going on but I'll give you the gist of it.

Finished ALL 4 Twilight books. Very good series of books and no I'm not gay nor am I a teenage girl. Like I've said before, these books were obligatory reading for the Chief's family. Why? I told you before. We lived in Forks, WA (the setting of the books) until 1984. Don't ask me when we got there. I just know I was in 4th grade. I don't feel like doing the math right now so don't ask me the year. But if you like books just for the entrainment value this books are good. They managed to keep me up past my bed time more than a few nights.

I also love to books that are a part of a series. Keeps me entertained longer. Idle hands or minds or whatever. I'm also taking suggestions for good books.

I bought my Christmas present a few weeks ago. I forgot to mention it here. Me forgetting something. Go figure. Anyway..... I bought myself a Tom Tom GPS. Gotta say it's one of the coolest gadgets ever. Seriously. When Number One and I went down to So Cal for her test it came in extremely handy. I was farting around with it on Sunday and found out that you can download different stuff for it. I downloaded the locations of my bank and also even better....... I downloaded the locations of every In-N-Out in the US. Hows that for sweet?!?!? Gotta love In-N-Out. Seriously. Best burgers ever. Now if you could only get McDonald's fries with In-N-Out burgers.......perfection.

Not looking forward to the drive tomorrow or having to stay with in-laws during Christmas. It's about a 5 hour drive, but I'm sure it will be a lot longer because of traffic. Don't get me wrong, I like my in-laws. What I don't like is that the one we stay with makes shit tons more money than we do. So like last year when their kids (older kids, college and high school) got new phones and shit and it takes them an hour to unwrap everything, it's a little upsetting. The kids don't notice but I do. I'd rather be home.

Speaking of home we FINALLY got the check from our home warranty company. Ya, it's been since September. We've been without A/C and heat since August. I just didn't have the $4,000 to get it replaced. The Navy doesn't pay that well. It's not been to cold here thank goodness. With the fireplace we've been fine. I like it a little cool in the house, but Number One is perpetually cold. She'll be happy.

I'll be bored and on-line later tonight if anyone want's to hear me bitching and complaining or wants to bitch and complain at me.

Hi

Sorry about the light blogging. I was in a class all week and well there just wasn't a whole lot to share. Pretty boring week. Not that I'm complaining.

Number One and the kids left for her sisters today for Christmas. I will follow on Wednesday and be back home on Sun.

Other than that I got nuthin'.

HI

Still here. I'm in a class all week, so probably light blogging.

Nice relaxed weekend. We had our Christmas Party for work on Friday. Wasn't to bad of a time. It got really foggy on the way home.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

NOTHING

Ya, today I got nothing. I've got an interview tomorrow. 2 hours away. I'm getting a little frustrated. The one recruiter I've been talking to is on vacation, so another is filling in. Well the new one doesn't have the whole story so she thinks my interview is supposed to be in another place, that's farther away. Top that off with a big plate of phone tag and ya. Little frustrating.

Update already: Finished playing phone tag. We are all on the same page now.

Still not sleeping well. Maybe that's why I fell asleep in my office. Almost made it a whole hour before someone woke me up. Doesn't help that I have been staying up later than normal reading. I have just finished the 3rd book in the Twilight series. Yes I know their girlie. I think I've mentioned this before, but I used to live where the stories take place. I get a little nostalgic when I think about that place. I really had a good time there despite it being a redneck logging town.

Oh, update on the car. It will be done today. Well it's supposed to anyway. There was some talk about the heads being bad, but it was a false alarm. Close to $2000 final. Really chaps my ass.

I think we, and by we, I mean my wife, have come to a decision about me staying in or going ahead and retiring. She's going with retiring.

I'll let you guys know how the interview goes.

STUPID

I over heard one of our younger Petty Officers running his mouth. It was one of the dumbest and uninformed statements I have heard in a month. Get this: "You know why gas prices were so high? To pay for the war!"

Huh?!?!? It took every ounce of my being not to tell him what a moron he is. Obviously he took Economics 101 taught by a Democrat.

WEEKEND

Was not what I had in mind. Friday was a disaster. Plain and simple. We left a little later than we wanted to, which put us in Los Angeles for rush hour. Ya. I was ready to start shooting people. Took us about 2 hours longer than it should have.

OK. Little back story. I'm not one of those people that can go without eating. My blood sugar gets all f'ed up. Which means my head gets all f'ed up. Bottom line, once that happens I get a little irritable. That's sort of an understatement.

Fast forward. We get to the hotel just shy of 8pm. I have still not eaten. Get to the hotel and they have no reservation under my name. WTF???? I go to the car and get the reservation number. It's not for that night. It's for next week. Seriously. WTF!!! Now it gets fun. I made the reservation through Priceline. I give them a call and long story short, since I made the reservation through their much touted "name your own price" system, I'm fucked. They can't change the reservation and I'm out $60. Pissed doesn't even cover it. I also will not use them again. I realize it was my fault. But that's a shitty policy.

The original reservation was for the Hilton. After much fuming and a little yelling, not at the hotel people. We ended up staying at the Double Tree. We didn't get into our room until almost 10. I didn't eat until almost 9:30. Completely insane by that point.

Not what I had in mind. Really. BUT! I love the Double Tree. We've stayed there a few times before and it's always been nice. This time they really took care of me. I was really nice when I got to the counter. Despite the fury I felt. He first offered me a room for $99. OK. Not bad, well it is, but it'll do. So I asked what the next room up cost. $124. What's the diff? Free breakfast and Internet. I'm good with free breakfast. I also ask about a discount for military. AND!!!! He give me the $124 room for $99. AND!!!! He give me two vouchers for the breakfast. AND!!!! Two vouchers for free drinks in their bar. Which I really needed and I used. The room was awesome. The two beers much needed. Breakfast was really really good.

Saturday Number One had a test to take. That's while we went in the first place. It's kind of funny because she tends to get a little anxious when it comes to tests. I think she did better than she thought. She keeps remembering things she did wrong, but it's only a couple of things and she's keeps dwelling on it.

Irvine was nice. Lately here it's been foggy and overcast. We haven't really seen the sun here in a couple of weeks. There? Sunny. 70's. A nice break.

Still no firm decision on staying in or what. I thought we had it worked out. I thought wrong. Of course.

So

it begins. The weekend that is. I'm probably heading home in about a half an hour. This afternoon Number One and I have to drive to Irvine. Tomorrow she has to take a test for her work. She's already nervous. She doesn't like tests. The school was kind enough to give her a car, hopefully their nice enough to give her a gas card too. That should take her about 2 hours. I don' know what I'll do during that time. Maybe there's a mall or a Harley dealer close.

We got a good deal for a hotel off of Priceline ($60). Hopefully it's a nice hotel. Looks nice on the Internet, but we all know how that goes. It is a Sheridan hotel. We'll see.

Hope everyone has a super weekend.

STRESS

This is something I'm normally pretty immune to. I'm a pretty easy going guy for the most part and honesty not a lot of things get to me. However lately things have been sort of piling up. First and foremost is my retirement. Now while it is something I'm looking forward to, I'm not entirely convinced it is the best time. Personally it is. See, while the Navy has been good to me as a whole, there are certain aspects of the Navy which I have problems with. I will be quite content to never have to deploy again. But then again, I've done 8 of them and big Navy isn't making them any easier.

The problem is the economy. Ya, that thing. If you look at the news at all you know that it's in the shitter. That does not give me a warm and fuzzy about getting out right now. On top of that take into consideration that Kalifornia has absolutely NO idea how to be fiscally responsible. They just signed a budget and they are already Billions of dollars in the red. But the state doesn't have a spending problem. Huh???? I see things getting really ugly here before it gets better. I'm not a big risk taker. Did I mention that?

Also as you've probably read, my car took a crap. Big crap. Big. Talked to the mechanic yesterday and while the head gaskets were bad, he thinks the problem is worse than that. Like having to replace the whole engine. We went from spending $1,5000 to probably double that. To say I was in a sour mood yesterday would be putting it mildly.

Bad mood.... check. Heart burn..... check. Losing sleep...... Check. I am prone to bad moods, but usually they go away fairly quickly. I take Prilosec for heartburn, but it's not been helping. Insomnia has really not been an issue. Until lately.

So I sit pondering what's best. Number One is on board except for one small (major) point. She's ok with me going back to sea, but I want to do something different. Like really different. Like go to Iraq or Afghanistan. Pros/Cons: Pro deploying with the ship is only 6-8 months at one time. But in the course of 2 years I'd really be gone probably 10 months. A little more money. Con: It's the ship. I hate it. Been there done that. Iraq/Afghanistan Pro: I haven't done it before. It would be a new challange. $18,000 in the course of 9-10 months. Con: Well it's Iraq or Afghanistan. I would probably be gone 10 months. Period.

There are a few more details but that's the jist of it. This weekend Number One and I will be out of town, together. No kids. So we'll have to talk about it. I already know she's really opposed to the second option. Really.

So that's where I sit. Good thing I don't drink huh?

Because

I'm bored and aggravated, so for for now I'll just post this. It's been circulating for a bit, and while I have not officially been tagged I'll do it just because it will be funnier than what is actually going on.

What I've done.

Things I've done are in bold:

1. Started your own blog. Uhhmm yes. Although those closest to me don't know. I might tell my sister though.

2. Slept under the stars. Yes. Lots. Sometimes it was unintentional.

3. Played in a band. No. Despite my love of music, I was not blessed with any real talent.

4. Visited Hawaii. Yes. At least 12 times. It's a regular stop while heading out for deployment. It was only fun the first couple of times.

5. Watched a meteor shower. Yes. Out in the middle of the ocean on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity. Yes. Every payday.

7. Been to Disneyland. Yes. But I need to go back with the two boys.

8. Climbed a mountain. Not really. But I've been on a few.

9. Held a praying mantis. Yes. They are way cool.

10. Sang a solo. No. See question number 3.

11. Bungee jumped. No. But I would given the opportunity.

12. Visited Paris. No. Probably won't either. Even though my last name is of French origin.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. Hell ya. Talk about kick ass.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. No.

15. Adopted a child. No.

16. Had food poisoning. Yes and I wanted to die! But that's what I get for ordering food drunk in the Philippines.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. No.

18. Grown your own vegetables. Yes. We grew tomatoes last summer. I'm not much of a farmer.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa. No see question number 12.

20. Slept on an overnight train. Yes. When we moved from Cleveland to Forks, WA we took the train because my sister had tubes in her ears and couldn't fly.

21. Had a pillow fight. Yes. Probably with my brother. Then I kicked his ass.

22. Hitch hiked. Yes. It was a long walk from downtown Olympia to my house.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. No. We can't do that in the Navy. But I sure as hell am when I get a real job.

24. Built a snow fort. Yes. The last winter we lived in Cleveland we had so much snow my Dad built us a kick ass snow fort.

25. Held a lamb in my lap. No. Why would I do that?

26. Gone skinny dipping. Yes. I even remember the girl's name I swam with.

27. Run a Marathon. No. Have you seen me? Seriously.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. No

29. Seen a total eclipse. Yes I think so. Also watched a couple lunar ones too.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. Yes both. Sunrises are especially cool in the Indian Ocean. But the time I watched the sunrise from a fire watch tower after taking ..... never mind.

31. Hit a home run. Baseball? Yes, once. I'll never forget it. Nor will I forget any of the other ones either.

32. Been on a cruise. Yes.... duh. I'm in the Navy. 8 to be exact. Unless you're asking about regular cruises. Then no.

33. Seen Niagara Falls. No. I'd have to go to New York for that. Not gonna happen.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. No. See question 12.

35. Seen an Amish community. No.

36. Taught yourself a new language. Yes. Sign language. Although I've been seriously thinking of teaching my self Spanish. I am in Mexifornia after all. Plus those Spanish ladies are HOT.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. No, but I'm pretty content.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. No.

39. Gone rock climbing. Sorta.

40. Seen Michelangelo's David. Nope.

41. Sung karaoke. Yes. There was this one time... in Singapore..........

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser. No but the rest of my family has.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. Yes. It's called date.

44. Visited Africa. No but I've been close to it before.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. Yes. Drunk or sober?

46. Been transported in an ambulance. Yes. But it wasn't for me. It was for my brother.

47. Had your portrait painted. No. Again, have you seen me?

48. Gone deep sea fishing. Yes. In Alaska. I'd live there if I could.

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person. No.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. No. See question 12.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. Yes. Lots of snorkeling. First time was in a place called Diego Garcia. Look it up.

52. Kissed in the rain. Yes. Among other things.

53. Played in the mud. Yes. See above. What did you think I was talking about up there?

54. Gone to a drive-in theater. Yes, but it's been a long time ago.

55. Been in a movie. No. I have an aversion to being in pictures. Especially movies.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China. No.

57. Started a business. Yes.

58. Taken a martial arts class. No.

59. Visited Russia. No.

60. Served at a soup kitchen. No, but I probably will soon.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies. Uhmmmmm no. But I'll eat a lot of them.

62. Gone whale watching. No. But I've seen lots of whales. Nothing is cooler than seeing them from an aircraft carrier.

63. Got flowers for no reason. No. I'm a guy. There's always some reason I buy flowers.

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. Yes. Twice.

65. Gone sky diving. No, but I would in a minute.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. No, but I met a guy that was in the Luftwaffe. I can't tell you how interesting that conversation was. I bought a painting from him.

67. Bounced a check. Unfortunately yes.

68. Flown in a helicopter. Yes. Lots of times.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. Yes. I have a bear that's really old.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. No.

71. Eaten Caviar. No. That's bait where I come from.

72. Pieced a quilt. No.

73. Stood in Times Square. Nope.

74. Toured the Everglades. No.

75. Been fired from a job. Yes. Who gives a 17 year old stoner a job frying doughnuts anyway?

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London. No.

77. Broken a bone. Yes, I broke my foot while mopping the floor..... don't ask.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. Yes. Lots this summer.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. No. But I've flown over it.

80. Published a book. No. Who'd read that anyway??

81. Visited the Vatican. No.

82. Bought a brand new car. Yes.

83. Walked in Jerusalem. No but it's HIGH on the list.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper. No. See question #55

85. Read the entire Bible. Just the Old Testament.

86. Visited the White House. Nope.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Yes and I'll do it again too.

88. Had chickenpox. Yes.

89. Saved someone’s life. Yes. My brother. The idiot almost drowned.

90. Sat on a jury. Nope. I vote in my home state of Washington.

91. Met someone famous. Yes. R. Lee Ermy, He was the Drill Instructor from Full Metal Jacket. I tend to avoid celebs.

92. Joined a book club. No, but I read a lot!

93. Lost a loved one. Yes.

94. Had a baby. Yes, well actually the wife had them. Two, boys thank goodness. Someone I can play with.

95. Seen the Alamo in person. No, but I want to.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. No, but I've seen it. It looks nasty.

97. Been involved in a law suit. No.

98. Owned a cell phone. Yes. I pay for 4!

99. Been stung by a bee. Yes! I hate bees.

100. Read an entire book in one day. Yes, but not like real books.

Only 47. Maybe I should get our of the house more.

LONG WEEKEND

But it still went by to fast. Way to fast. It was a nice quiet weekend though.

Again, we cooked a super turkey. I still get chills thinking about it.

Saturday took the boys shooting. Taught Mini-Me how to shoot bow. It was a good time.

Sunday we actually did to a bit of shopping. Bought a couple of things for the boys. Hopefully we'll do a little more this week.

Hope everyone else had as good a time as I did.