Tabitha and Sexy Rexy

As a break from the book reviews, I thought I'd give you, my Thirsty readers, an update on things down here in sunny San Diego.

Pictured above is me with my really good friend Tara. She has been a real blessing to me as a friend and a crazy companion. We've gotten into many shenanigans together. An odd thing I have noticed is that gay men rarely hang out with lesbians. Tara is a lesbian and I am gay, so it's kinda weird that we get along so well. I not only hang with her, but I have made friends with a few other lesbians: Ann and Lincoln. They have been incredible to me.

Tara invited me one night to hang out with her. I met her at Wang's where she was dancing with some new friends she had made. Little did I know that this party she was at was a She-She party. Meaning it was for lesbians. Needless to say I stood out a little. Me and the bartender were the only males in the whole party. I made the most of it and had fun. Oddly enough I did get checked out by women too. They thought I was an incredibly butch lesbian. I wasn't sure how to take that, but whatever.

At the She-She party we decided I needed a lesbian name so I wouldn't feel so left out. For some reason I came up with Tabitha. But you have to say it like you're a macho butch woman, complete with flexing your muscles. Then we gave Tara a gay name so she could be like a gay boy when we go to gay bars for me. Her name was Chad but then we realized one of the bartenders at Babycakes is named Chad. So it has since been revised to be Sexy Rexy.

We also went out together for New Year's Eve. It was quite the night. We went to Bourbon St., a bar off the beaten path. There we saw drunk women try to pole dance and we got our beads and hats you see in the picture above.

All of us go out for Sunday Funday just about every week. It's a good time. We go to Mo's for a brunch and endless mimosas then to Babycakes for drinks and cupcakes.

I met all these great people through a support group for navy homosexuals which was founded by Ann Foster. She and I had been talking all through my deployment about starting up a chapter on my ship. That is still in the works. Regardless of what happens with that, I am glad I am part of GLASS (Gay Lesbian and Supportive Sailors) even if there is no chapter on my ship. I'm still doing what I can to get it done. If I hadn't spoken up to my CO about having more support for gays and lesbians at the command, then I would never have met Ann, Lincoln, Tara, or any of the other great lesbian and gay sailors I have had the pleasure to meet.

Been Awhile!

Hey, all you people out there in the blogosphere! It has been awhile and one of my beautiful redhead friends reprimanded me for not updating my blog. So here I am.

I have been in Pensacola, FL for training with the US Navy since October. In February I graduated from "A" school at the top of my class which awarded me accelerated advancement at my next command. On March 25 I graduated "C" school and got my orders to my next duty station which is:

SAN DIEGO!!!

I will be serving in the USS Higgins, a destroyer stationed in San Diego. This was exactly what I wanted, so it goes without saying that I am ecstatic!

Things I'm loving lately:

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: they sing "Thrift Shop" and "Same Love"
Cynthia Hand: Author of the Unearthly series
InstaGram/PicStitch/InstaQuote: Yup, I've become one of those people.
CrossFit: Not new. I've just been really getting into fitness and have some crazy goals. Well, others would think they're crazy. I think they're awesome.
Being in the Military: Basic sucked. Not gonna lie. And parts of "A" school sucked as well. But it is just getting better, and I'm getting into the swing of it. San Diego will be an awesome PCS. And I've found confidence that I didn't realize I was lacking.

Books I've Read:

This is kind of unfair, but I'm going to do quick book reviews to catch up and hopefully get back to being good at updating this.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: One of the most messed up books I've read in a long time. Both the characters are just awful. I've never read a book that made me hate both protagonists. I don't even know if you could call them protagonists, but they're not antagonists either. However, Flynn is genius and her prose is spot-on and moody. I highly recommend it.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore: Totally a chick book. If you love sappy romance, you'll love this. I'm usually good with romance. I consider myself a hopeless romantic. But this was almost ridiculous. I kept expecting it to turn out to be a joke. But no. Cashore was serious. Also, if you like kick-ass heroines, this is great. But it wasn't my cup of tea. I recommend it for young teenage girls. Or fans of Twilight.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh: Such an extraordinary and disturbing story of a young girl who learns how to love through the language of flowers. It explores several different types of relationships. The main character is hard to love at times, but it turns out to be all right. The language of flowers theme carries through the whole book and is interesting enough to keep you going. I recommend it to anyone who likes a thinking book with emotion.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan: So fun! Loved it. Read it. That's all.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl: Pretty mundane in the writing. The movie made the characters come to life for me more than the books did. I'm not sure why that is happening so much lately. The story is fantastic though, so I would highly recommend it as a young adult novel to read. The love story is good and doesn't seem too forced, but it is also very undeveloped. Like, they fall in love for the sake of falling in love regardless of chemistry. In the movie, I understood the attraction. In the book...not so much.

Crewel by Gennifer Albin: An intriguing dystopian novel about Spinsters who can actually control the thread of life. The story line is creative and I liked that, but it doesn't get explained well enough. The main character is strong but her personality is too finicky. She's strong and makes quips at unexpected times and gets sheepish when it is more convenient for the story. Of course there's a love triangle and it is actually a good one. Somewhat. As far as triangles go. I'm thinking this love triangle business is tired. Let's try a love octagon for some real intrigue. Oh. And there was the agenda for gay and women's rights that rippled throughout the book. It was too obvious a schtick.

Sever by Lauren DeStefano: This woman is a genius. Her writing is impeccable. I just cannot get enough of her. This is the conclusion of the trilogy and it was sad to say good-bye to the characters. I take comfort knowing I can re-read and visit them again. The conclusion does not disappoint, but I don't think it's the best installment of the three books. As far as trilogies go, though, DeStefano managed not to drop the ball which seems to be the latest trend in YA books these days. I highly, highly recommend this series. It has a weird premise, but I love when authors are willing to stretch the boundaries, push the envelope a little. Go get it. Now.

Boundless by Cynthia Hand: Fantastic trilogy. Again, a third in a trio of books that I really loved. I was sad to say good-bye to these characters as well. Hand managed to, like DeStefano, not drop the ball on the third installment. The love triangle (another one) is still going strong, but you get the feeling throughout it all that you know how it will end up. There are beautiful scenes and humor and plenty of intense moments. When you go get Sever, go get this one too.

That catches you up to where I'm at right now. I don't get a whole lot of time to read and when I do finish a book I don't have a lot of time to sit and write a review, but I will stop making excuses and keep this thing up.

I'm leaving Pensacola on 03 April, going to Idaho, then reporting to San Diego in mid-April. I'm excited for my future and the great adventures the US Navy has ahead of me.

I'm Back!

Hello, my affectionate readers! I have returned from the black hole I disappeared in for the last three months. I was at basic training for the US Navy since August and have now returned to civilization, reappearing in the warm and sunny world called Florida. Pensacola is a great place; it feels like summer here. I've decided there are only two seasons in Florida: summer and cool summer. It seriously feels like an Idaho summer here right now and this is their "winter." It supposedly gets cold here, but I have yet to feel it. Ok, at night it does cool down a lot and I have felt chilled, but I will take this over the frigid, frozen tundra I left in Idaho.

Basic was interesting. Not gonna lie, it was not what I was expecting. At all. Lots of folding clothes. Lots of sitting around. Lots of standing. Lots of getting yelled at for no reason. Basically 8.5 weeks of feeling like I'm worthless. I kept waiting for the "building up" period everyone told me about, but it never really came. Graduation was cool. There were some memorable moments and some moments I would love to forget.

Now I am at "A" school at Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. This is a small base compared to the NAS next door, but it is nice to have a more tight-knit group. Plus, it is a little more chill over here. I have been here almost a month and my classes will start this week.

I thought I'd give an update of where I'm at. My blog will continue! I will try and do more book reviews as I read. Granted, I will not have as much time to read as I used to, but when I do finish a book, expect to see a review on here. I am always taking suggestions on books to read, so please feel free to make recommendations.

Oh! Flyleaf just released a new album and I bought it. It is fantastic! I'm listening to it right now. They don't seem to do wrong.

Until next time...

Oh and this is me, today, at the Blue Angels Homecoming airshow!

Independence Day

It has been awhile since I've posted. This will also be sort of a book review for Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. Really just a huge lumpy post that will hopefully make sense. I've felt the urge to get some thoughts out in the universe.

I am leaving in almost 30 days to start basic training and a subsequent career in the United States Navy. I'm feeling a huge mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to nervousness to fear to worry and doubt. It's funny cuz the excitement, when it comes, usually overshadows any of the negative feelings. I'm apprehensive because of the unknown. I'm not sure what to expect with all of this even though I've had a year to prepare. It will have been literally a year since I made the decision to when I leave for basic. Probably almost to the day.

I'm worried about leaving my family and friends and all the things I will miss. My nieces and nephews will continue to grow and change while I'm away and I will miss milestones. I try not to focus on the things I will miss and rather the things I will gain from this.

For the first time in my life I am fully comprehending the sacrifice it takes for someone to serve in the military. Days like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day all take on a whole new meaning for me. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones to war.

I just recently read Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor. It was a tale of survival and the human capacity to overcome. It was a story about true fighting soldiers who gave it their all and the one man who lived to tell about them. My eyes misted over a couple times while reading as the men fought to their dying breath. I gave it a five-star rating and I think every American should read it just so they can get somewhat of an understanding of what our troops are facing.

I know I won't be on the front lines but I will be helping to gather the intel that will help those on the front lines make decisions. The US military is like a well-oiled machine especially if everyone works hard and does their part. I'm determined to be the best in my field, to be a reliable and helpful source, and to work my hardest. No time for slacking!

What if I'm not cut out for this? What if I mess this up? I want to be able to finish my service in the Navy, whether in 8 years of 20 years, and be able to say that I too gave it my all.

These are just some of the things I've been thinking about on this Independence Day. I've never been one for fireworks and, frankly, this year I've been worried about the state going up in flames with all the idiots out there playing with fire in the dry heat we've been having. So today I celebrated my independence by spending time with my family and friends and taking some time to think of my future in the military and of all those who have served valiantly before me. I hope to be able to live up to the standard they have set.

Up to Date

Time for a quick update on me. I guess it's been awhile since I've posted anything about my personal goings on.

I'm less than four months away from my departure date! The reality set in when I realized that I would, originally, have been leaving this coming Tuesday, April 17th. I would definitely be a basket case right now if that were the date now. It is still on for August 9th and I'm stoked. I've been working on my memorization and I've been working hard to train physically so that basic isn't such a shock to my mind and body. I'm pretty sure, however, that no matter what I do to prepare I will not be completely prepared for basic. So I'm just going to continue doing what I'm doing. I ran my best 1.5 mile yesterday with a 13:56. I will need to knock down at least a minute off that by the time I get in. However, if I don't I'm right in the good range to where I will be able to pass the final test easily. Hopefully.

I'm still doing CrossFit. It is a kick in the pants and I love it. There are days I want to curl up in a fetal position and say "No more!" But I go again the next day. This has got to be a sign of some sort of mental illness to actually crave this kind of pain.

Kate, my sister, had a beautiful baby girl on March 16. Her name is Lundyn Taylor Chacon. She's a cutie patootie and I'm glad I will get to spend a few months with her before I go. I am sure I will post a few pictures of her on here. In fact, I might do a whole post dedicated just to her.

My novel is still coming along. It has taken a back burner to all the insane preparation for the Navy, but I still have it in the back of my mind all the time. I have been itching to write lately and I'm about 75% through the 2nd draft. After this, I am going to do some edits and I might have a class at the university rip it to shreds, and then I will try to get more serious about getting it published. The timing is just terrible. I will keep you all posted on how that goes. If you are on Facebook, you can "Like" my book's page here.

I will be dj'ing my third dance this weekend. It is, again, for my friends and all their kids who are taught at home. It is quite the experience and I've also been getting ready for that. I found a new way to express my love for music and that is by dj'ing.

Gigi is turning 5 in June! She got screened for kindergarten this week and scored a 53 out of 56 so she is very ready. I can't believe she's old enough for kindergarten! She's growing like a weed and stands up to my hips.

Morgan and Wyatt are also growing. They've matured just in the past few weeks since Lundyn was born. They are still active and a little unruly but boys will be boys. They turned 3 in January. 

It doesn't seem like it, but I have been really busy. Work and exercising and Navy and all that has sucked up all my time. In my spare time I'm hanging with family and friends, soaking it all in because I'm not sure when I will have any of these moments again in my life. There are days, still, that I wonder what I'm doing as far as the Navy goes, but I know this is what I want to do with my life. Something needed to change and the Lord provided this as a way for me to improve myself and the world around me. I'm excited for these great changes coming up in the next few months.

Part of Me (Outrage)

I saw on the news the other day that there is controversy over Katy Perry's latest video for her single "Part of Me." This is a fantastic song. Perry has proven herself to be a star that can hold her own with her album Teenage Dream. Her songs, her face, her touch is everywhere these days. I'm not complaining. I love Katy Perry, and I have ever since she kissed a girl and she liked it. Maybe that's making me biased for this whole war of words between Katy Perry and feminist author Naomi Wolf. Or maybe it's the fact that I am going into the military and I have a soft spot for people who are serving. The fact that a celebrity with Perry's panache has decided to put a positive light on women in the military is fantastic.

This is what Naomi Wolf's Facebook page said:

“Have you all seen the Katy Perry Marines video? It is a total piece of propaganda for the Marines…I really want to find out if she was paid by them for making it…it is truly shameful. I would suggest a boycott of this singer whom I really liked — if you are as offended at this glorification of violence as I am .”

Glorification of violence? Really? Naomi Wolf, screw you. I'm sick of groups getting on these crusades. Boycott Katy Perry. How about we boycott you? No one ever knew about you until you started making your snide remarks about Katy's video. Should we boycott you and your need for your voice to be heard and for your 15 seconds of fame? Do you really want to be known as the woman who fought against women being in the military?

This video does not in any way glorify violence. I am fighting the urge to use some very vivid language to describe how I feel about Naomi Wolf right now and any other stupid activist who thinks that this video is anything but a video about a women empowering herself. Sure, it's not realistic. Katy Perry is an entertainer and a damn good one at that. Sure, she's wearing makeup and looks hot at basic. That is beyond not realistic. Get over it. Her point was not to glorify violence. The point was to send a message to women and girls that they can. They can be stronger.

Perry's video gives a whole new meaning to the song. I thought it was just another song about a bad breakup. Knowing about Perry's history and her recent divorce, it is not a big surprise that her new single would be about a breakup.

If you're going to harass Katy Perry for a video that makes women look bad look at "California Girls" where she shoots whip cream out of her bra. Yeah. Ya don't see feminists getting mad about that one, do you? That is more degrading to the image of women than seeing Perry in her fatigues, carrying a gun, and looking badass for our country.

So, maybe I'm wrong. Shame on you, Katy Perry, for actually being a good role model to our young girls and the women out there who feel they can't make anything better of themselves. Shame on you for not being a total slut to get famous. Shame on you for actually being patriotic.

The morale in our country has been terrible the last few years. Perry is being crucified for this because she's actually showing some patriotism and so that's called propaganda. Oh please. Like the military needs people right now with the economy being so bad that people are flocking to join because it's recession proof. Thanks for that, Obama. Not going to lie, that was one of the bonuses for me joining. It's a job that won't go away any time soon. However, I really don't think Perry was telling anybody to join the Marines. I think she was telling young women that they can rise above. Whatever they come across in life, they can become better because they have the power within themselves to do it. If anything, feminists should be applauding her move instead of making her a martyr.

So, to you, Naomi Wolf, I say Shame on you. Shame on you for using Katy Perry's video as a platform for your own bitterness. You made something beautiful and powerful into a joke. You could have taken this chance to align yourself with Perry as a role model for young women, but instead you made the efforts of women in the military over the past several years to become equal and noticed something to laugh about. Boycott her all you want, Naomi Wolf, Katy Perry is not going anywhere. Shame on you.

To watch the video, go here.

Four Years

Four years ago today my sister passed away. March 15, 2008 will forever be ingrained in my head as the worst day of my life. There is not a single day goes by that she does not pop up in my mind at least once. I see her in the face of her beautiful daughter and I am so grateful for the little piece of Brittany that was left behind. It's funny because I thought I was coping, and I thought I was doing better. I am. Doing better, that is. But it still hurts. And I can see the pain it has inflicted on my parents to lose a child. In the process of losing one child, however, they gained another with Gigi.

I look back on what has happened since then. Who I have become since that fateful day. I am a stronger person both physically and emotionally. I feel as though I have seen a glimmer of what hell is like, but I have been rising above it. I stand today as a testament that I have made it through. There will always be tough days. I miss my sister a lot. She was my ally in several ways I can't even begin to express. Funny that I did not realize that until she was gone.

A friend of mine told me today that she knew Brittany was proud of me. Not only did my friend have a feeling about it, but she felt as though someone had whispered it to her. My friend knew that my sister was proud of me and my choices and she loves me. That, above all today, has been the greatest gift ever. I know Brittany is watching over us and I consider her my guardian angel. I can feel her presence sometimes when I'm with Gigi or when I'm distraught or lonely. I know she's there reaching out for me to lift me up.

I know for a fact that Brittany is especially proud of my decision to join the Navy. She always admired the people in the armed forces, and it was she who really understood the power and the beauty of serving your country. I have only just begun to see it. So it is for her that I will go to basic in August. It is for her that I will serve my country. It is for her that I will become a United States Sailor with honor, courage, and commitment.

I love you, Brittany.

Crypto Tech

I just realized that I hadn't made this announcement on my blog. It is a little bit old news now, but this seems to make it even more official.

I've joined the Navy. That's not the news. I got the job I wanted! There were some bumps in the road to get it, but I would go through it all again in a heartbeat. My new rating in the Navy is cryptologic technology technician (crypto tech or CTT for short). Let me explain how it happened.

My recruiter has been amazing and I owe him a lot for having my back. He called me up saying he had an information systems job I could take. I was iffy about it so I told him to give me some time. Even though he was reluctant to give it time because it wouldn't last very long, he let me think about it. I did some research on IT and saw that it is very translatable to civilian life and that it is just a really good job. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that it would be settling or that I wouldn't like it. But, I figured it was better than doing the rating I was in (to avoid conflict I will not tell what that rating was). So I decided I would call my recruiter in the morning and take the IT job if that was really my only option right now.

Well, I called him and told him just that. He laughed and said "You're a big pain in the butt, you know that?" Apparently I missed my shot for the IT rating. Truth be told I was relieved. It was more a mixture of relief and despair that I would be stuck in my original rating. Then he told me there was a CTT job opening leaving in April!

That next morning I went in to answer some questions about my background and then I signed a paper and we faxed it back in. Then it was the waiting game. We didn't wait long. They called my recruiter and said that it was a typo and the job wasn't leaving til August. They did not want to push my departure date back so it looked like we were back at square one.

Discouraged and saddened, I left the recruiter's office trying to think of the positives about my original rating because it looked like I was going to be in it no matter what. I worked out some of my anguish at Crossfit, even though deep down I felt like things were still going to work out. Whether that meant I was going to be in my original rating and find out that I loved it or I was going to get the job I wanted, I was not sure at the moment.

Once I left my Crossfit gym, I saw I missed a call from my recruiter. I didn't even listen to the voicemail, I just called him right back. He said "You've been selected for the CTT rating. You can either leave in April in your original rating or you can go in August in the CTT rating."

August? Six more months of waiting? A whole year after I swore in at MEPS?

I decided to go with the CTT rating despite the wait. Really, that's the only downer in this whole predicament. I got the job I wanted and it's going to rock!

So, my official departure date has changed from April 17 to August 9. More time to prepare, get in shape, spend time with family and friends before my life changes drastically for the better. It is amazing how little stress I feel lately. I didn't realize that my job change had stressed me out so much. My recruiter is trying to get my departure moved up, but it might not happen. I will keep ya'all posted!

Me in the Navy: The Decision to Join

I decided I would document my experiences in the Navy through video. It starts with a lot of rambling because I really wasn't sure what I was going to say at first. If it doesn't work here you can see it on YouTube by clicking here. Thanks and feel free to comment! That's all for now!

Worst of 2011

This is Part 2 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. The first post focused on my best and favorite moments of 2011. This second post will be my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. The final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did.

My Worst Moments of 2011

(In no particular order whatsoever.)

1. MEPS. Such a long, drawn-out process at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Salt Lake City. Probably the longest day of my life so far. And that's just the beginning. I was there from 6am to almost 6pm and most of that was waiting in lines. 

2. DLAB. I was devastated when I took the language test to get a linguistics job with the Navy. I was 2 lousy points away from the minimum. 

3. Halloween Weekend. My plans and my friend Casey's plans for the weekend were apparently very different from each other. I like the idea of Halloween but for some reason, Halloween is always the worst day for me. Examples:

               1. Senior year of High School. Injured my knee at ballroom dancing practice right
               before school. 

               2. Utah State. Made an idiot of myself by wearing this hideous mask thing to work. I think
               there were some pranks in there that, by that time, I did not find funny at all. 

               3. Mission Halloweens. I always hated talking to people on Halloween. They were always drunk
               or just a little more belligerent than normal.

 I rest my case.  

4. California trip. The wedding part, like I said, was awesome. The whole part where I spent most of my time in airports or my hotel room or waiting for a ride was super uncool. Probably my least favorite trip I've been on in a long time.

5.  Winter. It seemed like last winter clung on forever! Hence we did not get a good summer. Summer was cool and just...not summer-ish until maybe August. Bring on the heat!

Guess it's a good thing I can only come up with a few bad moments of 2011. It was definitely a year full of ups and downs but I think it will always be a memorable year for me.

Attitude of Gratitude #11

Today I'm grateful for:

 My Cousin Ashley

I have always looked up to Ashley and have been proud to have someone in my family serving in the military. Little did I know (especially when this picture was taken) that I would be in the military someday as well. It's amazing where life takes you. Ashley has been a big help in my decision to join the Navy. Today, I called him about my job change, and he told me which one not to take. I appreciate his honesty and it's nice to have someone to trust in this whole thing. My recruiters have been good, but I know they aren't paid to tell me the whole truth. Thanks, Ashley!

 

 Opportunities to Give, Serve, and Help Out

I get a lot of opportunities at work to help people. Especially with Christmas around the corner, I feel like I have somewhat control and can help people have a good holiday season. Today a lady came in and needed help picking out Christmas gifts for her son who is on an LDS mission to Argentina. I helped her pick out some gifts (a towel, CTR rings for the kids he's teaching, etc.) and she was really grateful. The more I got talking to her, the more she told me about how dire her circumstances were. She was worried about being able to keep her house because her husband had been unemployed for two years and finally got a new job working minimum wage. They were basically starting over. Add to that the stress of having a son on a mission in some faraway country. So I made her dollar stretch as much as I could. Gave her a good percentage off and gave her a good deal. She didn't even really know what I did. It's nice to be able to play Santa Claus.

P.S. I don't do this for just anybody. Friends and family, yes, but not complete strangers. Sometimes I just get the feeling that I should do it, so I go with it. This woman was very impressed with me, left with a big smile on her face, and even complimented me on my salesmanship. She made my day! You rub my back; I will rub yours. I firmly go by that policy at work. If you treat me like I'm just a lowly retail employee, then you will get the bare minimum customer service because I don't get paid to put up with rudeness. 

 

 11-11-11

Just as I began typing this part of the post it was 11:11 PM on 11-11-11. I got to make two wishes today! Well, they were both the same wish at different times of the day. I'm grateful I got to see this day because the next one won't happen until November 11, 3011. If the Earth is still around by then. Ya never know. 

 

Attitude of Gratitude #8

The three things for which I am most grateful on this day are:

 Navy DEP Meetings

Once a month, every second Tuesday of every month, I meet with my recruiters and other DEPers and we discuss things that will help us before we get into basic training. Tonight's topic was boot camp. We watched a video on what to expect and then we talked about it. Overall it was good to hear that others have the same questions and fears that I do. I am a good, healthy mixture of nervous, anxious, pumped, afraid and excited for boot camp. I know it's going to be tough and rigorous and unlike anything else I've ever done, but I also know it's going to be the beginning of a great adventure in my life.

 New Girl

Oh, Zooey Deschanel, how I love you and your awkward, quirky humor! This is one of my new favorite shows. A favorite scene from last week's episode was when Nick was trying to get Jess to say "penis" but she couldn't say it. Tonight's episode's favorite quote actually comes from Cece, Jess's best friend who is a model: "You tell anyone we held hands, I have two people in my phone who will kill you. Really."

Tessa's Off Day

Tessa is one of my favorite co-workers. She and I get each other because we've both been with Deseret Book for a long time. Her 18 years make my 4 years look pretty pathetic though.  Today she was quite entertaining. It's fun to be able to laugh at ourselves at work especially with the busy season coming up and we don't want to take things too seriously and get overly stressed. Sorry, Tessa, but your off day made my day!

Utah Trip

Last Thursday afternoon I went to Utah with my friend, Casey Poetker. It was supposed to be a Halloween trip as well as a time to take a linguistics test for the Navy. We stayed til Monday afternoon with Casey's friends Jessie and Sean.

Some highlights of the trip:

• Going to In N Out Burger with Casey as our first and last stops in Utah. I love that place, and now I see the hype. I just barely lost my In N Out Burger virginity this summer when I went to Lagoon with my friends Mike, Lacey, Kira, and Brittany. 
• Lunch with Kelli at a little Greek hole-in-the-wall place. She filled me in on her really awesome and crazy romance with a Dutchman. It is quite the story. If you know Kelli, that girl has some great stories. I guess even if you don't know her she has some great stories, regardless. The food was really good too. It was my first time ever having Greek food.
• The Haunted Forest with Jessie, Sean, and Casey. It was quite the setup. They had a Freddie Krueger that was really intense and got into his role really well. And I was in the back so I got the joy of being followed. 
• Jessie and Sean. They were entertaining and just really great people. It's always great to make new friends. 
• The Gateway mall. I love going there just to look around. I know where I'm going to shop when I have lots of money. 
• I bought three sweet new ties. 

While the trip wasn't exactly what I envisioned, and I was slightly bummed about it for awhile, I thought about it and it was probably for the best. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason or, in this case, they don't happen for a reason. Just take things like that in stride and move on. Now it is back to reality for that was my last hoorah before Christmas retail season. Yay!

DEP

So, now that I'm in the Navy and waiting to enter basic training and start my school and all that jazz I am now in the Delayed Entry Program or DEP. It is basically a way for the Navy to help me transition into the culture of the Navy and also so I don't look like a total, complete idiot when I get to basic.

We meet once a month and today was my first DEP meeting. It was great! I learned a lot of things. We talked about dress and grooming and saluting etiquette. I was nervous before the meeting just because I didn't know what to expect. It was a really great time though and, by the end, I was feeling quite pumped to be a part of something so awesome.

I never thought I'd join the military. The more I'm involved in it, the more I realize that I am exactly where I need to be and that I've been prepared for this time in my life.

Remembering 9/11/01

Ten years ago our country experienced an event so tragic from which we are still reeling. All the economic hardships, political drama, wars overseas that have followed are all centered on this one event. It changed the face of the United States forever.

I can remember, just as most people can, exactly what I was doing that day. My friend, Matt, and I had decided to go for an early morning run. While we were running he told me about it and I remember saying, "That's not good." After our run we went to the cafeteria near our dorms and the news was on the big-screen television. I remember watching as the second plane flew into the other tower and then the tumbling of the buildings later. I didn't know what the consequences of this was going to be, but I do remember the huge outpouring of patriotism and unity that it created in this country.

One thing I hate to see is the "Never Forget" stickers. How can you forget such a momentous and horrific event as this? The planes crashing into the towers tends to overshadow what happened at the Pentagon as well. The whole idea of the "Never Forget" stickers make me mad because we shouldn't even need them to remind ourselves of it. In fact, we shouldn't even need a terrorist act such as this to make us feel patriotic. Our country is unique in our freedoms. We have things no other country has, and we take them all for granted. Does our economy suck right now? Yes. Do our politicians not really give us any hope for a brighter future? In my opinion, they don't. Others may disagree. This blog is not meant to be a political stance, so I will just leave it at that. The way I see it, we just don't have enough patriotism in the United States anymore. It's as if we've forgotten what it means to be patriotic.

To be a patriot you are "a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion," someone who "regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government (dictionary.reference.com)."

Where I work, people are constantly buying books about the end of days and signs of the times. They read these books, come back and tell us all about how the country is going to go to pot and there's nothing we can do about it. There's a defeatist attitude in the country these days and it really bugs me. What we need is action. This nation is built upon the strength of the individual. We've come to rely too heavily on the government to pull us through when the United States was never meant to be fully led by the government. Our political leaders are merely our representatives and our voices. What we need is to find the leaders that best represent our voice as a whole.

This is partially why I've joined the Navy. To be a part of something bigger than myself. People shake their heads at me because this is a scary time to be signing in to the military. What with the government heading for collapse and the world on the verge of a full-blown war. I've always felt that I would be a part of it. I don't know why. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking forward to being in any form of battle, but it is my duty as a citizen of this great country to defend the freedoms I love.

I've sort of gone on a tangent. I can remember the explosion of patriotism that followed September 11, 2001 and I want that feeling back. It really didn't last long. My friends at college and I went to donate blood right after the attacks and we were turned away because there were so many people volunteering to give blood. Now you can't twist anyone's arm, hardly, to donate blood. We sit back and wait for something else to happen. We're so worried that another terrorist attack will happen. By doing this, the terrorists win. They get what they want because they want us to be scared and acting like injured puppies. I say it's time we start acting like the proud wolves that we are. Start standing up for our freedoms. Give the politicians something else to fear: people with guts enough to say NO MORE!

Thank you to all the firefighters, police officers, and military men and women who serve and have served our country. You're amazing and words cannot express how proud I am of you. To all those who died and who lost loved ones in the senseless, brutal terrorist attacks of September 11 I honor you and love you.

To you, reader, whoever you are, I'm just a young guy in a little town in Idaho, and I know you have your own opinions about what I've said in this post, but I'm hoping that my words will influence you to at least take inventory of your own patriotism. Where do you rate yourself? Are you willing to take a stand? Are you willing to take some action to keep the freedoms you love?

Think about it.

Huge Leap

Here is my official announcement. As of August 25, 2011

I have enlisted in the United States Navy!!!

It was with much thought, deliberation, and prayer that I made this decision. Believe me, I did not go willingly at first. I would always go back to military but I always pushed it aside because I did not think I was capable of it. But once I figured out that it is something I could do, and something that I felt right about, I dove head first into it.

I visited with the recruiter at the end of July right before I went to California for my best friend's wedding. During my long layovers, boring flights, and all that time alone I had plenty of time to think and weigh the pros and cons of joining the military. I also talked with my cousin who is now an officer in the Navy. He was encouraging and supportive. My friend, Kira, is enlisted in the air force and she and I had several talks about the military. So...all these things pointed me in this direction.

I will leave for basic April 17 in Great Lakes, IL. My MOS (job) is air crewman. In this capacity I will be on the planes on the aircraft carriers, working the equipment in the planes or helicopters, and just being a badass. After basic I will go to Pensacola FL for Air Crew Candidate School where I will get the training necessary for my job which includes a lot of swimming.

Wednesday (August 24) and Thursday (August 25) I went to SLC to take the ASVAB and to go through MEPS. Thursday was an exceptionally long but memorable day. It was an intense and thorough physical from hell, but it was worth it. When I went in I thought I would go for an intel job, but, practically at the last minute, I decided against it and went with air crewman.

I am excited/nervous/freaked out/happy about this new adventure in my life. It has always been in my heart to serve my country in some capacity, but I was never sure. A part of me, I think, always knew I would end up doing something like this at some point in my life. All I can say is that, if you want to change your life for the better, you have the ability to make your life what you want it to be. That is what is so amazing about the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Regardless of the terrible economy, we still have a fantastic country that I don't want to see collapse. I feel like I'm doing my part to protect the land I love.