Life on the sea or well almost...

Hate Myself...

2011-11-30T16:28:00.001-08:00

So... I hate myself. Why? you ask. I hate myself because I can't seem to stop thinking its cold here in San Diego it is only 59 degrees here at night and during a sunny day I can wear a tee shirt and at night I go outside and shiver! I keep telling myself its way colder back home and I should be thanking my lucky stars that I'm wearing a hoody at night and short sleeves during the day. That is why I hate myself, because San Diego is spoiling me I loved the fact when I first got here and got to make fun of the people for what they called rain. But now I can no longer look down my nose at these weak people for I have become one.

A chilled Airman

Not what it use to be...

2011-10-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

I joined the navy because of the old stories of adventure and seeing the world. The navy isn't like what it use to be. The navy use to be the branch you joined if you wanted to be in the military and have fun doing it. That doesn't mean they didn't defend the country they learned to love, but rather just to play hard after they worked hard. The navy today is so different then what it was. Hearing the stories our RDC's told us while in boot camp only to learn those kind of adventures can no longer be apart of today's navy. Today's navy is a business and nothing more than an overcrowded downsizing business just like everywhere else in the U.S. Today's navy if you want to stay in past your four years you can't mess up even once or they will PTS (perform to serve) you out because the navy is to big. Its almost sad seeing first classes being kicked out because they drank underage 13 years ago at there A school. I say this because the military is very stressful to begin with and I think it is unfair to ask members of the military to be perfect because this only invites stress into our well deserved off hours as well, and my first class is going through this. Everyone talks so highly of him in the shop and from what little time I've known him I've developed a deep respect for him. It's a shame for the navy to be losing him. all the people I've talked to are getting out after there time is up it's rare to here of a person to want a career in the navy anymore because it is so difficult to stay in we all love our job in the shop but the politics involved need to go, we need to focus on our jobs and only that not all the paperwork. The navy should not honor the Admirals who make policy but those who take the bullshit away so that those of us that just want to get out there and do our job can without having to look over our shoulders and make sure we aren't violating some unknown rule that our sleeves on our coveralls are rolled 3in above our elbows. I'm not saying that the tool control program is bad, or the FOD (foreign object damage) program is unnecessary those keep our pilots alive but why do we need to all the other crap that has nothing to do with fixing a bird it wastes time and money that could be used so that we can make the navy less exclusive.

A sailor who should have been born 20 years ago

It's not delivery...

2011-09-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

Digiorno why did I bye you you clearly stat that you are, in fact, not delivery. You say this trying to tell me that you will, be a rather thick piece of cardboard covered in some weird non-marinara sauce sprinkled with (and I use this word lightly) cheese... then also the minimum required amount of the oddest pepperoni I have ever tasted. You tried to warn me... its not delivery... what the hell did I expect... I do not blame you digiorno you stated this clearly, not in fine print, but your slogan. You said plain and simple, you would taste like a microwave... pizza

Wondering why that restaurant on the beach closed so early
a now thirsty Airmen

Finally...

2011-09-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

I finally finally got to work on the birds. I got to get my hands dirty I finally got to screw nut and bolt finally.

That's all I have to say

I Wonder...

2011-08-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

So have you ever heard something so scary and exciting you peed in you dress whites standing there in front of chief select? No? Well neither have I... I was just wondering. But I did here some interesting news while running around my command meeting people, getting stuff signed, dropping off important documents to various medical personal. I learned that in around a year I will be bound for the sandbox... That's right AMAR Harvey is going to the middle east just after I get one year under my belt, the whole squadron is going to the desert to do crazy things. I can't say how I feel about this. I am excited, I'll tell you that. Guess I should learn all I can.

harvey

New Place...

2011-08-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Holy Crap San Diego is very extremely wonderfully awesome. I arrived in San Diego yesterday and I love the city I just spent oh wow like the past six hours wondering around this amazing city. I first walked from my barracks to the ferry and took that inland, then from there I went to the maritime museum to see how my naval ancestors lived, don't envy them btw. I then went to a small taco place and had real taco's for lunch. Wondering around aimlessly I found myself in a farmers market with stands lining the street with fresh produce. Rode an electric bike, I really want one but they are a bit much, so awesome that was. Then found a park and sat down had an ice cream cone. I then walked back to the ferry and back to the barracks. San Diego is very very very cool.

A content sailor,

Oh Praise to the Detailers

2011-08-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Detailers are the people who give out orders to those of us in the united states military. They are similar to the ancient Greek gods we never really see them, they are very temperamental, they have favorites they normally favor the AM's and AO's giving them there lively hood before we even ask for it, they ignore the AT's for months before answering their prayers. I say this because FTS AM's are obviously not in favor with the Detailers we for some unannounced reason have fallen from the good graces of the Detailers, otherwise I would have orders...

just waiting oh great Detailers please show me where to go!!!

The morning...

2011-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Morning here at NATTC is almost magical. As you walk the halls of the barracks you can hear the symphony of your fellow sailors showers running and uncapping shaving cream bottles, brushing teeth and opening energy drink cans. To the quarter deck you go to show the Watch your ID and ask to leave. As you walk outside and you get hit with a wave of humidity that fogs up your glasses and after you get your breath you continue on to the galley to eat the only meal they cannot mess up, you meet up with your shipmates and discuss what will happen that day. Back out in the humidity to hear the the AM class leader order you to march over to your hanger bay to pledge allegiance to your country. Then you learn.

Life as a groundhog...

2011-08-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

My day in groundhog day, living on a military instillation is like living in the movie Groundhog Day. Everything is very scheduled and very repetitive. I only realized this just a few days ago when I got to drop out of my cycle for a while, because for some reason we had a shortened day and I got to see the color guard assembling for colors that night and the rifle squad practicing in the shade behind one of the barracks. I realized that all these rituals, not only do they happen everyday but they are on time everyday. I found it quite comical, it felt like I was playing an old video game where you are trapped in the same three day cycle having to run around in it solving the riddles and helping people. I bring this up because today was another day where I was released from my cycle yet again.

The AM's and AO's (aviation ordinance) had to go to this conference like deal all about drugs and motorcycles and the USO and Red Cross. I now have three different stress balls, and I never stress about anything. This was quite enjoyable as we also got to see a NWD (Navy working dog, why we changed "dog" to "NWD" is beyond me) take down a volunteer in the big puffy suit, totally cool the dog reminded me of our dog Storm and how she will look around after she clamps her mouth on something. The NWD was especially funny because it could not get any traction on the floor of the hanger bay. I learned I do not wish to be running from these dogs anytime in the future as they do not let go until they get there treat.

That is all for today because I wish to utilize my brake in the cycle today.

first blog and don't judge the grammar I'll learn... or not.

2011-08-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Well I've decided to start a blog. Why? you ask. For your entertainment and so my family stops calling me to ask what i'm doing. No I don't have orders yet. I'm also kidding you all can call me i don't mind at all. but mostly because of what Mr. Reese use to say "an un-examined life is not worth living" or something like that. Also for the off chance that somebody offers me a book deal or movie rights so I get rich. Also I was reading Christina Flores's blog and it was very interesting about her adventures in Korea and well as I've only made it to Florida my stories probably will not be as interesting...

Also I have to preface this with the fact I may be vague about what exactly I'm doing but that's later, and I only say that because it was drilled into my head in boot camp "loose lips, sink ships" or blow airplanes out of the sky. It's whateves...

To begin I am an aviation structural mechanic (AM) in the United States Navy(USN). I am an E-1 so I am the bottom I just passed the hydraulics test with an 83% hooya! that's the hardest test we AM's have so sweet, right! I am also whats known as full time support (FTS) or a full time reservist so ugh. I also work with planes duh... aviation. you know what I wanted at first... to be an active duty submariner... I think I got the furthest from that... yep yes I did.

I don't really know how to begin this blog or what to talk about in the before mentioned blog, I will start simple.

The weather here is very very very hot... ok that's enough of that today all of us AM's were required to celebrate tonight because we all passed our hydraulics test well all the Navy passed the Marines not so much... so we all went to port side to have fun and play pool and try to flirt with the few females that are there, it's about 10-1 male to female so not much luck. Now as to preface my tale we have a sailor in our class who is from China. He is around 24 and has not quite yet socialized to our way of life, and is often the comic relief. He also gets very horribly drunk very horribly fast witch is also very funny because he is still amazing at pool. I do not understand this as he(drunk) beat me(sober) time and time again throughout the night (also whoever taught him the F word needs to be killed).

Now to the story, we, all eight of us or so, are walking home, as we are, we are poking fun at our Chinese friend informing him that he is extremely wasted. He denies such accusations saying that he is only physically drunk, not mentally drunk and after saying this, issues a challenge, daring us to ask him anything about hydraulics. Then pointing at one of the Marines that passed his test by the skin of his teeth, asked him what kinetic energy was. The Marine replied with a shrug accompanied by an "I don't know". our Chinese friend then proceeds to demonstrate what kinetic energy is by leaning up against a tree and shouting to the Marine why is the tree not falling over. This obviously does not demonstrate the the principle of kinetic energy especially if both objects are not moving, or make Marines calm and well mannered. So we decided to pick the Asian wonder up and carry him home to the barracks before he could go up to anyone that outranked us and get kinetic energy demonstrated on him. where he proceeded to call his mother before going to bed. so sweet.... then I went to my room and wrote this. and that was my day a rather good one at that.

oh and our token Asian got %100 on the test I came in second at %83, he is nuts man.

more stories as my life accumulates them...
good night