Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Panama City, Florida, dive school. ITB strain, the stick
I apologize for the lack of blogging… it’s been a bit saturated the last three weeks. I’ve made it that far in dive school and only managed to suffer an ITB strain which does not feel good by the way. So with the help of my friends and their advice, The Stick, your average ice pack, and Tiger Balm, I’m feeling like I can actually manage a short run… or fin.
I’ve been passing all my tests with a 93% or above (granted we’ve only had two) but they are all very lengthy and in depth. I’ve also been sitting out as far as PT goes the last 8 days or so due to my knee. The second time I attempted my bay swim (a 1,000 yards in alligator bayou as they call it) I smoked the 22 min time limit in 19 mins and 48 seconds. So I’ve passed all there is to pass so far until… ENTER POOL WEEK! Yes folks. the most dreaded time of dive school aside from advanced physics! We had day one this last Friday and we were all breathing compressed gas the deepest depth of… TWELVE FEET HOOYAH! So we did that whole thing practicing pulling our tanks over our head, cutting off our air, rising to the service exhaling so as not to burst our lungs, diving back down, fixing our gear and all that. It’s pretty damn exciting, this is what I’ve always wanted. Next week we get into “hits” which range from getting physically rocked to your air getting secured, mask ripped off, regulator taken away and tied into a knot, spun a few times, and then as you hold your breath, solving all those issues. Needless to say it’s going to be interesting. I’m waiting for more people to quit, I’m kind of disappointed more haven’t, we’ve only lost three.
Time off from all the crazy and yelling is as good as solid gold. Ryan and I drove nearly 50 miles today to some place south of Panama City to a reseraunt/bar for margaritas and beer. After successfully negotiating that place we drove back and found Pappy’s which was a great place with 21 beers on tap… thankfully not all domestic shit beer. We spent a good amount of time there, picked up our Army friend Will and played a game of putt putt which Ryan ended up winning. The rest is history…
Nothing else very new to report besides the fact that I miss the hell outta you know who.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2c, 2nd class diver, Coast Guard, Dive Locker West, Dive school, MSST, San Diego
This second week of being at the dive locker is exposing a few things, both good and bad. The few bad things are quite simple, being a fledgling unit attached to the MSST (Maritime Safety and Security Team) in San Diego, dealing with inefficiency of our superiors who fail to realize that we can run ourselves. Unfortunately I avoid saying what I REALLY mean due to the fact that anyone would be able to read this, but more importantly, someone from the actual unit. The good things are that I’m semi “mudpupping” with the divers. Mudpupping is a right a passage if you will for non-divers who aspire to be… well take a guess. I’ve certainly done my fair share of mudpupping in Seattle, and due to that, and having a few of my friends at the locker I get treated with minimal abuse at least for now (hence semi mudpupping). The only real thing that has been not so strictly set forth for me to do is two-a-day workouts (which I gladly do since I’m my worst critic on my physique) and checking in with the command. I’ve all but abandoned the latter, tired of hearing, “Come back in 20 minutes.” So screw that, I PT in the morning, shower up, get coffee, find a relatively quiet place, and with the aide of earplugs and the coffee I study the dive manual. Matt has assigned me to read the laundry list of ailments and physical travesties that can occur whilst diving. If anything respect for the job and well… fear has kept me not only attentive, but asking questions to ensure comprehension, a task difficult for a visual learner who only has a manual.
I got off work today after a near 3 mile run jam packed with pull up, abdominal destruction, and other exercises with Vic. All these activities which of course left me all the more sore from the morning workout, ever stronger callouses on my hands, and of course a smile. I decided on a half-assed “me” day and went out to buy some stuff for the house, and a cheapy plastic cabinet to put in my locker at work. I failed to find the Vans store with the help of my iPhone, but didn’t really need to be spending money anyway, but I did go out and have cheaply priced delicious sushi.
Another slow day with minimal responsibility, eager to obtain the elusive (at least for me) 2nd class diver qualification so I can actually get to work. I thought about going to see new Johnny Depp gangster movie, but the name escapes me, and I feel that my job during the week is reading the dive manual. Too “hooyah” for my own good I know…
Time for play this weekend, I need to do some beach visiting, and some other constructive activities located in the wonderful city of San Diego.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 101, 5, beer, brewery, California, Deshutes, freeway, iphone, McMennamis, Oregon, Portland, REI, Rouge, San Fransisco, Seattle, Sonoma, Washington
More and more I publish my blogs and realize after 6 years of being out of school how much shit I’ve forgot. Simple grammar, punctuation and all… I need an editor. This serves as a sort of immunity clause for all blogs to come… write that down.
I left the cloudy Inland Empire around 9 am two days ago up north. Nearly choked to death on smog holding on desperately to the surrounding mountains of the San Fernando valley, but manage to escape only to be plummeted into the vast wasteland that is central California. My directions thankfully took me to the 101 for a much cooler (temperature wise) and scenic drive until I stopped for the night a few miles north of San Fransisco to visit my sister in Sonoma County. Between Super Mario All Stars, a trip to the Russian River Brewery, and putting up with her crazy cat I retired fairly early exhausted and looking forward to getting further north. My plans to visit Oregon were scrapped as my friend in Astoria had a wedding to attend, so I said the hell with directions anyway, got on the 101 going the only direction I knew would take me in the vicinity of where I needed to be. Passed through Eureka for a late lunch at an inconspicuous establishment known only at the Six Rivers Brewery where I devoured a mediocre burger and a pint of their Sasquatch Strong Ale which was a formidable pint to take down on a very empty stomach weighing in at 8%. From there I cut east away from the central California coast nearly consumed by very low clouds for an all around gloomy and mysterious day. Powering through the 199 interstate ensuring my speedometer read only 3 to 5 miles above the speed limit (typically on cruise control) to avoid the speed Nazis aka Oregon State Police who have probably paved at least a quarter mile of the 5 freeway simply on the speeding tickets I’ve managed to earn in the last 4 years. Back on the uneventful 5 freeway I received a phone call from my good friend Matt (who’s blog link in in the ol’ blogroll) who had recently arrived to Seattle after his four month dive school in Florida. Long story short he suggested we meet up in Portland, he’d make the hotel reservation, we’d reunite, and finally share a pint as friends are likely to do. We both arrived in PDX (as the cool kids call it) around 10pm and had said beer(s) at the Deshute’s Brewery, exchanged stories in an overall giddy mood as we are both good friends and glad to be in each others company.
Arose this morning feeling groggy and overcome by itchy eyes and irritability due to said condition. I thanked myself for obtaining allergy meds upon arrival to Virginia during my post deployment screening. Got some coffee from the lobby and took a deep breath realizing that I was indeed in the great Pacific Northwest, that it was good to be back, that Portland had remained weird, and that damn it felt good to have leave for another month.
A quick breakfast at Mother’s Bistro, a visit to the Portland Saturday market, a pint at the Rouge tap house, 2 pints at the Blue Moon public house which serves McMennamins brewed beer, a stop in at REI, and a few other errands. At the end of the day I’ve compiled a good amount of photos on the new Olympus SLR, an iPhone in conjunction with a new service provider, multiple smiles, a slight sunburn, and a continually growing civil war general beard (think an entire beard with the middle of my chin shaved.
Cheers, to adventure. I can’t wait to get to Seattle and see everyone. This trip is going so damn well… would upload pictures, but guess who forgot their usb cord?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bible, Dive, Dive Locker, Honda, New Zealand, XR
Even after multiple emails it seems my detailer is ignoring me. As much good news as Matt keeps telling me about my chances with a billet at Coast Guard Dive Locker West, it’s hard to check your email day after day and have nothing but garbage email telling me to complete sexual harassment and/or suicide prevention training for the zillionth time in the military. So the waiting continues…
I’ve made it pretty apparent to everyone who knows me that I’m not religious. I certainly used to be, but I’ve long since drifted away from the herd (or was it flock?) if you will. The other night I was on lookout and my friend, and fellow Gunnersmate came up for divine services, but nobody showed up. It wasn’t really that I was curious, I’ve read a bit of the Bible and been to my fair share of Sunday mornings, but I suppose I wanted to reflect for old times sake as the Bible can be taken in numerous ways, and usually has a good message. So I put my pride aside and took a listen. The chapter and verses in so many words were to exhibit patience, and damn if that wasn’t appropriate to the situation of the day and the whole patrol… hell… the whole tour. It was good, it was comforting and as Scott left after we discussed the readings, I did indeed feel a bit more at peace if only for an hour or so.
Looking more into motorcycles, I completely overlooked the Mellon family way and neglected to look at dual sport motos. What better than to go with a dirt and pavement friendly bike? I grew up on a Honda XR and it was a great, dependable, and fun. Granted a few changes have been made since my old 80’s style to the new 2008 version. If all goes well, I’ll be in San Diego meeting up with my Pop somewhere in between and riding east into the desert for weekend trips and leave to the unknown, discovering the mysteries of the southwest. I’m very excited for the whole thing, it brings a smile to my face.
I’m gonna say it… Fuckin’ A it feels good to be in my home away from home, drinking a cold beer after a warm shower and most importantly off that 110 foot boat.
Despite my absence of orders, I feel pretty good. I have one more patrol until my amazing adventure in New Zealand with Ashley, and 4 more months in this godforsaken wasteland they call the middle east. Spend a year out here boarding filthy dhows, getting looked at like you’re the devil no matter how polite you are, away from family and friends, the f’n heat, et all and see how much you miss the good ol’ USA. I sure know I do.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Coast Guard, Dive Locker, Diving, TACLET, Tactical law enforcement team
The crew has had enough, and it finally came to a head. Our commanding officer is now under a full fledged Coast Guard investigation for things that have happened onboard our ship. Upon reaching the pier in Bahrain we were met by the executive officer of Patrol Forces South West Asia. He told us that the investigation will be taking priority over our duties, and if necessary keep us in port until this problem is solved. I’m not going to say what I’ve said, what my statements entailed for professionalisms sake. I am however relieved that this has finally been set in motion to be resolved and that there’s hope for a better work environment onboard our ship, the crew certainly deserves it.
I received an email from my dear friend Matt the other day. He’s back from the far east from doing some Coast Guard business over there for three months, quite an adventure. He mentioned that a few people are failing out of not only SCUBA, but 2C as well for “stupid shit” and that my opportunity to get involved in the program may be looking better. Now I’m not holding my breath, but with two of my friends at the unit and it being such a small community, I have a lot more faith in my success. I called my detailer (an officer in charge of my next assignment) and left a brief message discussing my willingness, capability, and desire to get to the dive locker and requested that he email me at his convenience. If this doesn’t pan out, I’ll have to look at my picks I have as a Gunnersmate second class anywhere close to San Diego. Looks like my best bet for a job I’ll enjoy will be Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team or PACTACLET. I’ve already achieved all the pre-requisites to fully integrate into a detachment with minor growing pains. Who knows, maybe after I get back up to speed on my boarding officer knowledge and whatnot they’ll send me to dive school. Lots of opportunities, and I have a lot of good people in my corner. There still may be hope yet.
Between the investigation and my worklist, it’s going to be a busy in port. Thankfully we had the last two days off to sit back and relax. I actually had the time and energy to dedicate about an hour and some change at the gym which left my chest sore… always a good feeling. With the dedication and know how that I have in the gym now, I sure wish that my job didn’t involve being super busy and underway. I just imagine if I was shore side support… man… I wouldn’t even have a neck.
I think I’m at the curve now where I’m starting to get “pings” if you will of missing home. I’m nearly 5 months in and being away from home in the states never really bothered me, but over here in a totally different world makes all the difference. I miss green things, bars, hiking/ trail running, my friends and family, and quite frankly sitting on my butt playing a shoot em’ up video game with a friend.
The movie collection is growing and growing, bordering on spiraling out of control. My life will be over if dvd switches to something else, blue ray excluded, I’m not conforming to that just yet.
I’m working a lot harder at controlling my temper and being more optimistic about life in general. I know it’s not that bad, even if I say it’s not, it just makes it a lot easier to believe it when you’re surrounded by good friends instead of jackasses on a boat who don’t know when to say when with booze, or make bs excuses for their childlike behavior making the boat look bad. For that reason among so many others is why I choose to strive to work with professionals (CG Dive Locker West). Every time I entertain the idea of Matt, Pickle, and I working together again it just makes me smile because I know they won’t let me down. Trust… it’s all about trust.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I’m under scrutiny from my peers, I’ve always been and I know it. I’ve always been held to a higher standard for the way I’ve chosen to live my life and I’ve not only come to accept it, but I live my life by that.
She asks me when was the last time I was happy and I don’t have an answer. I say that I am happy for periods of time, but the thought of a straight week long happiness is something that I think people fool themselves about. I’m happy when I’m with my friends, I’m happy when I drink with the people I love, I’m happy when I’m doing a mission. I’m not happy when I’m stagnant, I’m not happy when my character is in question from my command for doing above and beyond my job and finding the mistakes of others. I do not enjoy being looked upon as a person who has never been seen as happy. Thinking about it more and more I wish I could honestly remember what truly made me happy for a sustained amount of time. I told her the last thing that made me happy was being a 17 year old hardcore kid going to shows every weekend with my brothers Kel and Joseph. From the very first hardcore show I ever went to, I knew it was where I belonged. Yes, I was raised proper by my parents, but my adolescent direction and influence was through my music which preached that your friends were family and that’s all you have… and that’s always stuck with me. There’s nothing in the world that made me happier, sane, and balanced than the Southern California hardcore music scene… nothing. Now one day away from my 25th birthday I’m desperately trying to figure out what the equivalent of that is in my life today… and I can’t seem to find it. From what I can deduce it’s going to San Diego with my good friend Matt, awaiting Ashley’s return home from Africa, living as best I can waiting for solidarity to fall into my lap.
I think the happiness I need is outside of the Coast Guard, but I’m not sure I’m ready to leave for the simple fact that I’m not good at anything else. I can’t imagine waiting tables, selling tvs, or say working with my brother in air conditioning. However, I remember how I was when I was younger. I was a whole lot nicer, charming, and easy going than I am now… even with a shitty job at a movie theatre. I weigh the idea of staying in or getting my ass back to school and it scares the shit out of me. Where am I going to call home? Seattle? Somewhere in California? Where am I going to live? How do you register for school? Can I afford school? Can I afford a place? It feels like all the progress I’ve ever made as a kid into an adult, leaving home and joining the military has completely reset my life if I go with getting out.
I feel so vulnerable with a ladyfriend who can take me down a peg psychologically, but she’s more right than she knows… well actually she probably does know… she’s much smarter than I am.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: buoy tender, Coast Guard, Dive, Gunnersmate, MSRT, SEAL
Dive school, and what seems like an infinite quest to try and achieve it is turning out to become more and more of a goal I’m not going to accomplish.
The new news:
1. There are no Gunnersmate spots on any buoy tender, not to mention any of them that actually support a Gunnersmate
2. The Dive Locker is full and aren’t accepting any applications
3. There’s no known way to enter the dive community as of now
My options (if you could call them that):
1. Wait for something to happen
2. Switch rates to say Boatswains mate, become a third class again, work my way back up to second class, learn an entirely new job, in hopes of getting transfered to a buoy tender that may or may not get, and may or may not get sent to dive school.
3. Actually give a shit about being a SEAL (which I really don’t) and get a dive qual among a whole lot of other qualifications and spend the next 5 to 7 years in the Navy preferably NOT getting shot at.
Needless to say this new news has compromised my ability to do much of anything, but sit and be miserable. I have another four years with the Coast Guard and personally don’t give a shit about the cool guy stuff anymore (ie SEALs or going to the MSRT). Where do I go from here? Hell if I know, I’m all out of goals for myself in the Coast Guard. I’ve literally set out and accomplished everything (with the exception of dive school) I’ve ever wanted to do in this job. Now comes the hard part, finding the motivation to continue on with my four years left, and then what? Back to being a civilian? I can’t even begin to imagine that…
Filed under: Uncategorized
I hate talking on the phone.
I hate telling the same story twice.
I don’t like talking about home when I’m away.
I don’t care about other people’s relations, gossip, news, or how this or that person is doing information.
I’m incredibly selfish with my own life.
I’m so obsessed with achieving my goals that I’ve put everything and just about everyone as a second priority.
I don’t take criticism very well.
I choose not to call.
I choose not to email back
Again all falling back on me being selfish with my own time and priorities
I’m desperate to figure things out
I get in a state of self loathing if I don’t work out, but it’s hard to motivate myself. Thankfully the gym usually wins
I’m glad I don’t drink as much here
I get pretty miserable when I drink too much
Living a busy life on the road is the only thing that sustains me, I cannot imagine living any other way
I’m horribly anal retentive about the appearance and flow of my room
Buying Outside magazine, looking at cool gear, and getting me inspired about more and more adventure and gear pertaining to said adventures has turned me into a complete classic consumer case.
With no bills over here I’m completely frivolous with my money
I’ve completely disconnected myself from my friends, and they’ve accepted that. My dear friend Ashley is the only one who tries to keep up.
I feel that I’m leading her on and that it’s an unforgivable thing I’m doing
She’s the only person who “gets” me at this point in my life and that’s why I hold on so tight to her, because I have trouble figuring myself out.
If I don’t get an opportunity to go to dive school I have no fucking clue what I want to do with my next 4 years in the Coast Guard.
Sadly it feels like I have no other choice, but to stick it through
I can’t imagine working as a civilian and having some young fuck mouthing off to me… I’d probably punch his teeth in… it’s all about respect.
I feel that I’m losing everything I’ve ever learned at school and it depresses me
I STILL don’t feel that I have the discipline to go back to school and apply myself for a piece of paper that says I’ve been to school for another 4 years. Worthless piece of paper.
I miss my own bed
I miss Americans
I beginning to hate ignorant Seattle based liberals more and more everyday
CNN polls about the war make me even more upset
If we leave where we are now the whole world will fall apart.
Believe me… I’ve seen the locals we’re going to intrust this country back to, it’s pathetic.
I miss my team in Seattle more than just about anything
It seems like life is creating roadblock after roadblock to prevent me from getting back to working with those guys
It’s experiences like what I’m going through right now that makes me damn proud to be an American.
I don’t think that’s cheesy anymore either
What I’d give for rain
What I’d give to fall asleep to the above
I feel that I should probably not post this
Well congratulations to me for surviving a whole month and five days here in the middle east. I’ve been very busy, but I’m already getting the hang of how things are running here. My qualifications onboard are coming along very nicely. I took my oral board and I’m now an inport OOD (officer of the day) which is left in charge of the ship inport while the commanding officer and the crew are off on liberty well deserved. I have a few more watches before I consider myself competent enough to be a full fledged quartermaster of the watch, who is essentially in charge of safe navigation of the ship underway.
The first patrol was fast paced, demanding, and had an absence of good rest. We pulled in just the other day and I was already thrust into the inport watch with only 2 hours of sleep from the night before. I must apologize as I read back into this blog, I’m a bit tired, and scatterbrained. Anyway the patrol proved very very interesting having worked with Iraqi Marines, British Royal Commandos, U.S. and Australian Navy etc. One of the days a certain Aussie vessel offered to do what they call a crossdeck where each ship essentially swaps a few crewmembers for a tour/ meet and greet. I got a really cool patch out of it from the engineering department fellas, hung out for a few hours, exchanged sea stories, and just hung out. Other interesting notes from the patrol:
- Launching flares at boats called dowhs for being where they’re not supposed to be
- Doing quite a few boardings
- Visiting Kuwait
- Seeing places that contribute to you filling up your gas tanks
- Getting bit or stung by some nasty middle eastern wasp, I then judo chopped it and stomped on it.
- Shooting quite a bit of my arsenal onboard
- Having more responsibility than I ever have in the Coast Guard
I can’t think of anymore at this moment, but that’s the gist of it.
Right now I sit on my new macbook, listening to my new itouch, wondering how the hell did this all happen. I’m very glad that I’m doing what I’m doing. There’s a lot of growing pains going onboard right now with the command, but I’m sticking it through a lot better than the rest of the crew. Quite frankly it’s nothing I haven’t already experienced already, so I’m doing my job of informing the rest of my shipmates that we need to stick together and watch our mouths, deal with these problems constructively, and perform they way we need to perform.
I’ve been talking to very few people since I’ve been over here. I call Ashley on a regular basis, then my parents, and I shot a call to John Z the other day. I keep trying to reach my friend Matt, but it wasn’t until this morning when I checked my gmail for the first time in a month that I found out he was in in different country as well working for the Coast Guard temporarily. To all my other friends that I haven’t got around to calling, I’m really don’t want to have to validate the reason for not calling, I’m busy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.
