Monthly Archives: December 2011
Post #679: It’s War
We’ve been at war with bugs and insects since the dawn of time. We’ve been at war with countries in the Middle East since the dawn of time. If a new breed of Middle Eastern insects ever comes along, we’re really screwed.
Post #678: Surviving Christmas Weekend
I left Valdosta by car on Saturday morning and headed to Jacksonville. I arrived at the airport around 5am, and security was pretty painless. I don’t think I spent more than about ten minutes in line, which isn’t bad at all. The airport wasn’t all that busy, and certainly not as busy as I had expected it to be on the last good travel day before Christmas. My flight to La Guardia in NYC was very smooth, and the views over Manhattan during our arrival were spectacular. I had a clear and awesome view of the Statue of Liberty, as well as the new Freedom Tower being put up where the twin towers previously were. It really was a good reminder of why I do what I do on a daily basis, even if things sometimes do get stagnate and cause me to second guess my decision, which doesn’t happen very often.
I arrived into Portland quite early, and Jeff met me at the airport. For lunch, we stopped by Buffalo Wild Wings and drooled over the waitress we had. Actually, it might have been the fried pickles I was drooling over, but regardless, I was drooling because of something or another. 
I made it back to Fairfield with Jeff right around 2pm. We made excellent time on the interstate. It was good to see my dad when I got to the house.
Maggie making herself comfortable on my luggage. Maybe it's a hint she wants to go back with me?
The rest of Christmas Eve was good. I went to my Uncle’s house for a Christmas Eve party and saw his side of the family for the first time in three years. We only stayed for about an hour or so but I was dead tired. I passed out after I got home around 9pm which was ridiculously early for me on a Saturday night. But, then again, I hadn’t slept in about 30 hours so it was about time, lol. Christmas was good. My dad and I ordered Chinese, watched a movie, and then I went and saw my friend Jessica around 8pm. We visited for a few hours, did a lot of catching up, and then I left her house about 1am.
Today has been a good day. I went to JC Penney to try to get a couple new button-up shirts because I forgot two of mine back home, but I only found one I really wanted to get, so I did. I headed over to Walmart to get some soda for the fridge afterwards, and saw my friend Jeremy. Actually, he was the only one I saw there that I recognized. That place has changed so much it’s unreal. I miss the days of walking in and having 20 people yell “hi” to me. I grabbed a few Bolley’s hot dogs after that, then came home and spent the afternoon with my dad. We watched ‘Meet the Parents’ this evening, which I could watch every day of my remaining life!
That’s about it for now. I’ve typed and rambled on enough. I’ll post again soon with more updates as I do more this week. Tomorrow it’s dinner with Tracie, and then Wednesday is lunch with Jeremy.
Until then, see ya!
Post #677: No Fly Zone
The audio is disturbing towards the end, but if you decide to have a listen, please take the time to hear it all without skipping parts.
Post #676: Maine This Saturday!
It’s true! I’ll be leaving in the early hours of Saturday morning (we’re talking around 2am) for Jacksonville, where I’ll park my car for the two weeks while I’m back home. My flight leaves around 6:50am and I have a stop in Atlanta on the way North. My flight arrives in Portland around 11:45am, so it will give me the rest of the day to unwind and visit with my Dad, and possibly even make it to the club! I’ll be in Maine until the 7th of January, so it will give me the same amount of time to catch up with people as I always have, which is 15 days.
It’s been since February that I’ve been home on leave. I would have been back over the Summer or Fall, but I ended up going to California instead since it had been a wish of mine for quite some time. I’m really looking forward to this, mostly because I’ll be home for Christmas and get to spend it with my Dad, and I’ll get to ring in 2012 with my closest friends for the first time in three years!
Bring it on!
Post #675: Wouldn’t You Know It…
It defeats the purpose of having something shipped to you using overnight delivery when you miss the delivery the next day. Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all!
Post #674: Happy 52nd Birthday, Mom!
If she were still here with us, my Mother would have celebrated her 52nd Birthday today. I miss her a lot, but I think the life that I am leading would have made her proud. Yes, I have done things since she passed away that would no doubt have brought (and warranted) a verbal scolding from her, as anyone that knew her came to expect since she loved to speak her mind. But unlike most, she recognized the difference between honest mistakes and ignorance. I have been guilty of both. And, to this day, all of the advice preached to me by her and my dad while I was growing up has been 100% right. I would give anything to have her back to set me straight whenever I make poor decisions. I think that’s what I miss the most from her not being here. It’s funny how you can get so angry at those who are trying to help you, but then when they aren’t there to help anymore, you miss it more than anything, and wish you had given more thought to what they had said when you had the chance. A person is never too old to make mistakes, and because of that, they are never too old to stop learning from them. If you want to be happy and successful, you have to look at those who are happy and successful around you and take qualities from each of them to push your life in that same direction. So far, this technique has worked for me, because I took my qualities from my parents. Like my parents, I’m sometimes a little too passionate about giving advice to friends, arguing my opinions, and telling people to smarten up, but I’m okay with that, because I know in the end, whether they decide to help themselves or not, I’m still me, I still have what I have, and I will always expect the same treatment from those around me should I falter. Happy Birthday, Mom.
Post #672: Passing Thought
Just a passing thought here, after reading some recent status updates on Facebook…
When the only thing you have in life to look forward to is the next time you go out to the bar, or the next time you’re able to drink alcohol, your life is truly in the shitter.
Post #671: End of an Interesting Week!
At the beginning of this past week, I looked ahead and thought, “man, this will NEVER end.” Now that the week is over for me, I can look back and say, “man, that was kinda fun!” While I can’t go into the specific details on here about the week, I can say that it was certainly interesting and I had a decent time doing a bit of role play at the base, haha.
The weekend will be filled with some last-minute Christmas shopping. I have to get some wrapping paper, a couple more gifts, and some things just for my apartment that I’ve been slacking on buying since I moved in. But the common theme here is…shopping.
Post #670: Christmas Tree is Up!
I put up my tree today! It made an otherwise rough day somewhat better. I’ve been staring at it ever since it went up, because this is my first tree for Christmas since 2007. It makes me feel good to have one up for the holidays. I’ve never had to put one up alone before, but hopefully one of these years that will change. But, for now, I’m happy knowing my friends and family back home are doing well, and I’m happy that I finally can enjoy a tree once again.
Merry Christmas
