Well today is the fifth day out eight days of twelve hour watches, the good news is that its the weekend and it'll be relativily slow. I'm just looking forward to Tuesday night and going out with my Italian friends for some well earned relaxation
In other news, there was an Italian trucker stirke earlier this weekend, meaning all things moved on wheels, which is pretty much everything in Italy, was not available. Produce, gas, mail, meats, medicine, it was gone! I moved on base because I live a good ways away from where I work and didn't want to run the risk of running out of gas on the highway, and there were also reports of violence and that's never fun. The strike is over now but I'm still in the hotel on base because I'm still saving on gas money and I already paid up through Sunday night.
Other than that I've just had a lot on my mind lately. Past relationships, work stuff I've got going right now, plans for the future. Or maybe the lack thereof! I've been reevaluating my situation in life, and I keep coming back to the fact I have no real direction or major plans for the future. I always thought I had everything worked out, and for the most part I can deal with whatever comes my way. But I try thinking about where I'll be in five years and I haven't the slightest clue. Sure maybe I've get a few general ideas, but for the most part I'm just drawing a blank. My options are pretty limited; get out of the Navy and go to school, stay in and make Chief, or get accepted to a commissioning program where I'll go to school and become an officer.
I've been looking into college stuff a lot lately, and I definitely know if I want to go to school it'll be at Texas A&M, and my majors narrowed down to Business Management, Communications and Theatre Arts. The latter being what I would love to do but couldn't see myself making a living off of. But then again, if I do go officer by the time I'd be able to get out I'd be six years away from retirement. I know my line of thought at that point would be "Fuck it, just stick it out for another six years and get the retirement benefits!" And honestly it doesn't sound like that bad an idea, full retirement at 38, talk about every mans dream!
I've been looking into doing some distance learning courses as well to help ease the course load when I do get to school. Most the commoon core courses like math, history, english, etc. Plus I found out that my military experience and training my actually count as college credit! Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me. Plus at Texas A&M, prior enlisted members of their NROTC program have the option of whether or not to participate in the majority of their functions and operations. An absolute minimum involvement in military duties while going to school AND getting paid to do it, the situation just keeps getting better!
I've been talking to a few of my friends from back home as well, and it's just made me miss everyone back home so much. I don't know where I would be without them as my friends, there have been so many times when just the thought of everyone back home has kept me going, given me a reason to get up in the morning, something to look forward to, especially when coming home on leave! They know for the most part how important they are to me, or at least I would hope they do. My friends have always been their for me, even when I'm only around a few weeks out of the year, and that means the world to me. I have the greatest friends in the world, and if you guys are reading this... Good Times!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Higher Education
Lately I've been thinking of trying to do the commissioning route to become an officer by going to college. I'd have a lot of benefits by going to college full time while still on active duty, like getting paid, having my rent paid for me, and number of other advantages. Two big, daunting concerns keep popping into head though: what would I study and what in Gods name would I do with a college education?
Even before graduating high school, I realized I have no idea what I want to do with my life, in a professional sense. There's really nothing out there that I would really enjoy doing for the rest of my life. One of the reasons I'll probably stay in the military is because I already have a career path, not mention a great retirement fund and plenty invested as well. Money isn't really the issue for me so it's pretty much my choice of what I want to do. Sadly what I want to do is spend my days on a tropical beach sipping pina coladas and drinking beer, sadly I can't think of a major for that one.
Well lets say I get my higher education and get that commission as an Ensign. I'd have to serve at least another five years, by then I'm thirty-two and have six years left until military retirement. Modestly speaking I could easily retire as a Lieutenant Commander at the age of thirty-eight, so what am I going to do with a Bachelor's of X after retirement? I'll already have full retirement benefits and pay to the point where I don't even have to work. Sure I could go on serving my country, but you know twenty years is enough for one lifetime thank you. And maybe I don't have to work but I sure wouldn't be making enough to be hitting the aforementioned beach professionally either. So what's a middle-aged retired guy supposed to do besides have a mid-life crisis?
These are some pretty big questions for me, a lot of soul searching and decisions need to be made before I can answer these questions.
Or I could just say fuck it and wing it like I've been doing since high school! Everything's been going pretty well so far, it couldn't be too bad could making uninformed decisions about my life without actually thinking about it?
Right?
Even before graduating high school, I realized I have no idea what I want to do with my life, in a professional sense. There's really nothing out there that I would really enjoy doing for the rest of my life. One of the reasons I'll probably stay in the military is because I already have a career path, not mention a great retirement fund and plenty invested as well. Money isn't really the issue for me so it's pretty much my choice of what I want to do. Sadly what I want to do is spend my days on a tropical beach sipping pina coladas and drinking beer, sadly I can't think of a major for that one.
Well lets say I get my higher education and get that commission as an Ensign. I'd have to serve at least another five years, by then I'm thirty-two and have six years left until military retirement. Modestly speaking I could easily retire as a Lieutenant Commander at the age of thirty-eight, so what am I going to do with a Bachelor's of X after retirement? I'll already have full retirement benefits and pay to the point where I don't even have to work. Sure I could go on serving my country, but you know twenty years is enough for one lifetime thank you. And maybe I don't have to work but I sure wouldn't be making enough to be hitting the aforementioned beach professionally either. So what's a middle-aged retired guy supposed to do besides have a mid-life crisis?
These are some pretty big questions for me, a lot of soul searching and decisions need to be made before I can answer these questions.
Or I could just say fuck it and wing it like I've been doing since high school! Everything's been going pretty well so far, it couldn't be too bad could making uninformed decisions about my life without actually thinking about it?
Right?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Greatness and Laziness
I've traveled to a good portion of the world, more than most people see in their lives. I lived in Japan, Italy and of course the US. I've been to Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, England, Singapore, and I'm planning and seeing a lot more of Europe in the next few years. There is one thing I keep coming back to in mind, and when I say this don't think I'm some singled-minded bigot because I'm not. But America is really the greatest country in the world.
And I'm not just saying in terms of the economy or the quality of living in the States, I'm talking about the beauty of it all. Sure maybe America doesn't have as rich or ancient a culture as say Japan or Europe. But I mean think about it, the clear blue waters of the Florida Keys, or maybe the striking outline of the Rocky Mountains in the distance, or even the beautiful night line of New York City. Sure I've seen clear blue waters elsewhere, I mean come on I spent almost half of the last two years underway on the Kitty Hawk where there's nothing BUT blue water to look at! But really, no where else I have seen the wide open spaces, and I'm not just talking fields and such. Even looking at LA or NYC, two of the most crowded cities the US has, they are so much more open then any other city in the world, except for maybe Australia.
What brings about these thoughts are not the actually any of the things I've described above, but in fact the work ethic of the Neopolitians, or lack thereof. The most noticeable about such is that EVERYONE in the Naples area takes off for the whole month of August, and I mean everyone! I asked some of my friends about it and they told me that everyone works so hard all year long they want a vacation, so everyone I guess just decided on the month of August. But when they said "hard" I became skeptical. So I decided to do some research, I found online an article from the New York Times from 1894 about a reporter who traveled to Naples, and he noticed four things: the lack of work ethic, the trash, the beautiful scenery, and the lack of young beautiful women. With the exception of the last one, Naples really hasn't changed in over a hundred years. Maybe this is the region time forgot? Surely you could ask any senior citizen what the internet is only to have them look at you like you've sprouted a third eye.
Nonetheless, the point to all this is... I believe a lot Americans who have never left America take it for granted. Go someplace like Singapore, trying looking at the cops their crossed eyed and see if you don't end up in a hospital. Don't believe me, neither did a first class from Kitty Hawk engineering department. And it's not just limited to a particular preference either, cops in other countries will beat the piss out of anyone regardless of race or sex, they're equal opportunity beaters. you should see the cops in Hong Kong, I wouldn't mess with those guys for all the shady electronic goods in China. Plus speaking your mind, not such a big thing around the world, or religious freedom (middle east anyone?). I'd like to see someone go to Angola and try suing McDonalds for making them fat, cause that'd probably go over REAL well. Then again I'm not even sure if people in Angola sue to begin with...
And I'm not just saying in terms of the economy or the quality of living in the States, I'm talking about the beauty of it all. Sure maybe America doesn't have as rich or ancient a culture as say Japan or Europe. But I mean think about it, the clear blue waters of the Florida Keys, or maybe the striking outline of the Rocky Mountains in the distance, or even the beautiful night line of New York City. Sure I've seen clear blue waters elsewhere, I mean come on I spent almost half of the last two years underway on the Kitty Hawk where there's nothing BUT blue water to look at! But really, no where else I have seen the wide open spaces, and I'm not just talking fields and such. Even looking at LA or NYC, two of the most crowded cities the US has, they are so much more open then any other city in the world, except for maybe Australia.
What brings about these thoughts are not the actually any of the things I've described above, but in fact the work ethic of the Neopolitians, or lack thereof. The most noticeable about such is that EVERYONE in the Naples area takes off for the whole month of August, and I mean everyone! I asked some of my friends about it and they told me that everyone works so hard all year long they want a vacation, so everyone I guess just decided on the month of August. But when they said "hard" I became skeptical. So I decided to do some research, I found online an article from the New York Times from 1894 about a reporter who traveled to Naples, and he noticed four things: the lack of work ethic, the trash, the beautiful scenery, and the lack of young beautiful women. With the exception of the last one, Naples really hasn't changed in over a hundred years. Maybe this is the region time forgot? Surely you could ask any senior citizen what the internet is only to have them look at you like you've sprouted a third eye.
Nonetheless, the point to all this is... I believe a lot Americans who have never left America take it for granted. Go someplace like Singapore, trying looking at the cops their crossed eyed and see if you don't end up in a hospital. Don't believe me, neither did a first class from Kitty Hawk engineering department. And it's not just limited to a particular preference either, cops in other countries will beat the piss out of anyone regardless of race or sex, they're equal opportunity beaters. you should see the cops in Hong Kong, I wouldn't mess with those guys for all the shady electronic goods in China. Plus speaking your mind, not such a big thing around the world, or religious freedom (middle east anyone?). I'd like to see someone go to Angola and try suing McDonalds for making them fat, cause that'd probably go over REAL well. Then again I'm not even sure if people in Angola sue to begin with...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
First Blog
I've heard the wonders and horrors I've blogging, a term that I'm not even sure I'm ok with. I like the idea of having my opionin floating out and around in cyberspace, but the term blogging just nips at my heel like a hormonally imbalanced chihuahua. But nontheless I feel the need for some kind of outlet. I'm going to start my first blog with some info on yours truly. This will probably be a little longer than you may be willing to sir down for, fair warning and all.
Probably the most important aspect of my life is that I'm a Sailor in the US Navy. I used to think enlisting was the single greatest mistake in my life, but recently I've been more inclined to believe that I actually made a good decision. I did the whole boot camp thing, which for the Navy is a joke. I spent nine months in specialized tech schools to become an intelligence specialst (IS) in Virginia Beach, easily the most boring place in existance. I soon left for my first tour with Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two, or VFA-102 for short. It was here I learned that the past eleven months of training amounted up to exactly dick. Almost a year of of preparing for this job and none of it really meant anything. I found this to be infinitely amusing and I still do to this day, if in a less-disgruntled sort of way.
VFA-102 is forward deployed to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan located in the city of Ayase, Japan just outside of Yokohama. I lived in the barracks on base because I was high enough ranking to live out in town. Let me tell you something, anyone in the military that claims they haven't experienced the "college life" is lying their ass off. Being in a military barracks is like living in a college dorm, except here we had maids! I can't ever remember a night in barracks 985 where at least one person wasn't partying. The aviation community in the Navy is pretty diverse but everyone has one thing in common... getting off work means it's time for the booze to flow. I had a lot of great friends in Japan, and we shared some good times and some not so good times.
Living in Japan, even though being on base is like Little America, was a very unique experience and one that I'm grateful for. The Japanese are an amazing people with a country like none other in the world. Unfortunetly, in the two years I was there I had to spend time in hell. No, I'm not referring to fire and brimstone. That would have been better... I'm talking about the USS Kitty Hawk, lovingly referred to by all who set foot onboard as the Shitty Kitty. The ship is the oldest in the fleet, and i knew it was bad when my grandpa said "That piece a crap is still floating?" Ya, it's THAT old! To make matters worse, the ships company I got to work with were one of a kind in that we-all-hate-our-lives-and-want-to-die way. And the leadership was worse, I quote I use from a friend of mine "I've never seen a chain of command that hates their lower enlisted more than this place." I was very lucky in the fact that not my duties in way, shape or form involved anyone outside of my squadron, so my exposure to the Shitty Kitty OZ division leadership was highly limited. I made no secret either that I wanted no part of anything they represented, and boy did they HATE me for it! Something I'm actaully rather proud of thinking back.
I loved Japan, and I loved VFA-102 and my leadership. But I very quickly accomplished everything I could while I was there. In two years and eight months I was already a warfare qualified second class, a major step up from the green seaman apprentice I was when I first showed up. Instead of spending another year having to deal with Shitty Kitty, I applied for orders to Command Sixth Fleet based in Naples, Italy. I very quickly realized after arriving that I didn't hate the Navy as I once thought, just the Kitty Hawk. I moved here about five months ago, and already I've got myself into a nice little niche here.
I live alone in house out in Lago Patria, the area used to be a private retreat for some Roman general. The great thing about Lago Patria is the quiet, the only think I can hear is a little traffic and the dogs barking next door. Most people would take this for granted but I used to live on a military air base, and when I wasn't there I was on an aircraft carrier. Between the literaly deafening jets flying overhead and the ever-constant playing of bad rap music, times of peace and quiet were few and far in between. Now the only noises I hear are my own, which could easily make for an entirely different conversation.
I'd say that's a pretty decent summary for the last few years, my recent activities have been limited to standing twelve hour watches, frozen pizzas and various pastas. I have a decent number of sea stories, random thoughts, and bitching to fill this blog... I still don't like it.
Probably the most important aspect of my life is that I'm a Sailor in the US Navy. I used to think enlisting was the single greatest mistake in my life, but recently I've been more inclined to believe that I actually made a good decision. I did the whole boot camp thing, which for the Navy is a joke. I spent nine months in specialized tech schools to become an intelligence specialst (IS) in Virginia Beach, easily the most boring place in existance. I soon left for my first tour with Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two, or VFA-102 for short. It was here I learned that the past eleven months of training amounted up to exactly dick. Almost a year of of preparing for this job and none of it really meant anything. I found this to be infinitely amusing and I still do to this day, if in a less-disgruntled sort of way.
VFA-102 is forward deployed to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan located in the city of Ayase, Japan just outside of Yokohama. I lived in the barracks on base because I was high enough ranking to live out in town. Let me tell you something, anyone in the military that claims they haven't experienced the "college life" is lying their ass off. Being in a military barracks is like living in a college dorm, except here we had maids! I can't ever remember a night in barracks 985 where at least one person wasn't partying. The aviation community in the Navy is pretty diverse but everyone has one thing in common... getting off work means it's time for the booze to flow. I had a lot of great friends in Japan, and we shared some good times and some not so good times.
Living in Japan, even though being on base is like Little America, was a very unique experience and one that I'm grateful for. The Japanese are an amazing people with a country like none other in the world. Unfortunetly, in the two years I was there I had to spend time in hell. No, I'm not referring to fire and brimstone. That would have been better... I'm talking about the USS Kitty Hawk, lovingly referred to by all who set foot onboard as the Shitty Kitty. The ship is the oldest in the fleet, and i knew it was bad when my grandpa said "That piece a crap is still floating?" Ya, it's THAT old! To make matters worse, the ships company I got to work with were one of a kind in that we-all-hate-our-lives-and-want-to-die way. And the leadership was worse, I quote I use from a friend of mine "I've never seen a chain of command that hates their lower enlisted more than this place." I was very lucky in the fact that not my duties in way, shape or form involved anyone outside of my squadron, so my exposure to the Shitty Kitty OZ division leadership was highly limited. I made no secret either that I wanted no part of anything they represented, and boy did they HATE me for it! Something I'm actaully rather proud of thinking back.
I loved Japan, and I loved VFA-102 and my leadership. But I very quickly accomplished everything I could while I was there. In two years and eight months I was already a warfare qualified second class, a major step up from the green seaman apprentice I was when I first showed up. Instead of spending another year having to deal with Shitty Kitty, I applied for orders to Command Sixth Fleet based in Naples, Italy. I very quickly realized after arriving that I didn't hate the Navy as I once thought, just the Kitty Hawk. I moved here about five months ago, and already I've got myself into a nice little niche here.
I live alone in house out in Lago Patria, the area used to be a private retreat for some Roman general. The great thing about Lago Patria is the quiet, the only think I can hear is a little traffic and the dogs barking next door. Most people would take this for granted but I used to live on a military air base, and when I wasn't there I was on an aircraft carrier. Between the literaly deafening jets flying overhead and the ever-constant playing of bad rap music, times of peace and quiet were few and far in between. Now the only noises I hear are my own, which could easily make for an entirely different conversation.
I'd say that's a pretty decent summary for the last few years, my recent activities have been limited to standing twelve hour watches, frozen pizzas and various pastas. I have a decent number of sea stories, random thoughts, and bitching to fill this blog... I still don't like it.
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