Day 128 - Old Dog Still Has A Few Tricks

So as I predicted, the Marines decided to include me in their frat games. I get a call that I am needed in the server room. My first thought was "This is it, one way in, NO way out." Funny thing is, they forgot! I get over to the office and everyone is there. I am on high guard because I know what they are planning to do. Half an hour goes by and nothing. Here I am thinking they are letting me relax then BAM they will get me.

In walks Chris Knight, one of my fellow ITT contractors. "Hey Chris, Happy Birthday man!" I flash a smile and nod at Chris in thanks. Then I see it, they had forgot! Everyone else just freezes and then looks right at me. You would have thought some CHUM had just got dropped in the water! I'll give them some credit they played it off well. The well wishes came from all over the office and then they went back to what they were doing.

About another 15 minutes have passed when the finally jump. I moved to the center of the room to watch two Marines play a football game on a computer. As I turn around to answer a question to Sgt K he reaches out to grab me. They always say moments like this happen in slow motion, I feel him grab me with his right hand but he kept his left out trying to grab. Instinct took over and I in turn grab his arm and twist. Next I pull him down and he loses his grip with his right. I slide up and wham, HEADLOCK. I follow this with pulling him down to the ground to keep it locked. The other Marines just stand their and laugh. Well for about a minute, then they jumped in. I was good for the first three. The fourth is Sgt Presswood, a rather large black man that has 50 pounds and some height on me. Once he latched on I knew it was futile. I relaxed so that they could do what they were going to do. Otherwise someone was going to get hurt. Probably me.

Now the last guy I saw this happen to got a boot in the Ass for each year of his life. I guess they decided to be nice and I got a single boot. They all let go and we helped each other up. Poor Cole got clocked pretty good on the way down but no major injuries. Fun times overall. I guess I am an honorary Marine or something, who knows. Granted I know I earned a bit ore respect. Maybe next time they will listen when I tell them I bounced for 5 years.

Sadly one didn't listen. The very next day Sgt K was feeling froggy and probably a little miffed about the headlock from the day before. So again he came at me. Once again he was sloppy and I put him in another headlock. This one had one arm around his neck and the other around the back of his knee and hooked on the first arm. Then I picked him up. It took all of two seconds for him to tap. I set him down and asked him if he forgot what happened last time. He shakes it off and not too soon after decided to wrestle one of the smaller guys in the room. Sadly, he got put on his back and almost choked out. Some people never learn.

The rest of my Birthday was pretty cool. I got a lot of bday wishes from people. Whether it was email, facebook, or through instant message I got the message that people remember and care. Thank you all!

I did get a cake. The same guy that reminded the Marines it was my birthday also used some favors with the mess hall and had them bake me a cake. I'll throw a picture up on flickr.

The rest of the week has been pretty normal. Tonight we had another successful movie night with may watchers. 12 Rounds with John Cena was the show. Not bad I have to say, very much a Die Hard with a Vengeance copy but not bad over all.



The trouble with real life is that there's no danger music.
- Jim Carrey from "The Cable Guy"

Day 120 - "32 and Counting" or "Thanks Mom"

So I take a moment to reflect...

I was told by my mom about the trials and tribulations she faced when she found out she was pregnant with me. Being 16 at the time had enough complications but she was also suffering from Lupus. Doctors told her that she had a 50% chance to live through the birth and I had 0%.

Anyone guess now why I love the phrase "Never Tell Me The Odds!" And all along you thought it was because it was said in Star Wars! Well... maybe that has a lot to do with it but it has more meaning than that.

I'm not trying to toss my mom under the spotlight for the accident that I am. I have to say thanks to her for having me against all odds. She faced some hard choices and went for it. I only hope that I can fill the shoes she has left me. (No high heel jokes either guys!!!)

This last year of my life has definitely been the hardest I have had yet. There has been a lot of hard choices that I have had to make. I am still waiting to see the outcome of those choices.

Who would have guessed that I would be in Iraq? Granted, you could say that about Florida, Alaska, etc. etc. I am adding Australia to the list soon. For a redneck from Oklahoma I don't mind to travel. That's probably my Grandad in me. He didn't settle down in one place till late in life. If it wasn't for the wife, who knows where I would be.

So I'll admit, part of me sits here and wonders what have I really accomplished. I know that some would say a lot. There are times when I feel like I haven't done anything at all. I guess it's safe to say that Christina isn't the only one hearing a biological clock.

The frat boys here call me old and are waiting to hold me down and boot me in the Ass in their twisted sense of tradition. I wouldn't say that I am in a big hurry to go hang out with them today. Granted they may be Marines but I am not afraid. With age comes wisdom or so they say. All I know is that I see how older people forget things.

It's weird the spot I am in. The future as always is wide open. What will I do next? I can honestly answer: "I don't know!" I have to wait a bit more to see the conclusion of this chapter. To say I want to be X when I grow up is strange at 32. Granted most that know me will say I will never grow up. My answer to that is that I will do my best to keep the kid at heart right where he is.

I will end my ramblings with this:

Don't let the odds scare you. The only people that beat the odds in life are the ones that went for it. The only odds I am sure of is that when you don't try its 100% against you. (I know Yoda would argue but he is in a Galaxy Far, Far, Away...)

Day 113 - Revenge of "The Bradshaw"

So as you may know I play a lot of poker here. It passes the time, makes me think, and allows me to socialize. I have always been lucky so games of chance are fun for me. Occasionally I goof like anyone else.

A month or so back, we started teaching Weaver how to play poker. He learns quick and enjoys playing from time to time. Well, during his training he learned the hard way that a four card straight doesn't beat anything. Unfortunately some of the others felt they should call a four card straight a Weaver from that point on. Poor Weaver!

About a week later we are all playing and Weaver is right there with us. He has some good cards and goes all in. Myself, I thought I had a better hand and went all in as well to call. We laid down our cards and I say I win with my straight. The others at the table protest that I am missing a 5 card. In my head I had a straight so I argue. It went something like this, "No, No, No, Look, I have an Ace, 2, 3, fouuuuuu....... Well needless to say I lost to Weaver and inherited his 4 card straight. Now deemed "The Bradshaw." With humility I laughed got up and left.

Fast forward to current day. Most players have let me be about my mistake, only bringing it up when they have a four card straight. Two particulars can't let it be and bring it up every other word. Sgt K and Josh just have to bring it up constantly, even when we aren't playing. For the most part I can let it slide off but sometimes I am honestly ready to beat them with the chair they support their sorry asses with.

So here we are again and as the game progresses I again am reminded of my failure in cards. Luck would have it that I would find the ultimate way to shut them both up. I get another Ace and 3. On the flop a 2 and 4 appear. At this point I am actually chasing a straight, a legitimate one. I bet high, most drop out but not all. The next card comes out and it doesn't help me. Deciding a bluff is in order to keep up appearances I bet high again. All but two drop out. One is Sgt K. Josh has folded at this point and again brings up the 4 card straight failure of my past. The River comes and I have nothing but an Ace high card. Now, reality is that I have a Bradshaw as well because I have a four card straight. I finish with a Bluff and play off the comments being said. I go all in. To my surprise, so do Sgt K and Sgt George. We reveal our cards and I win. Using the cards that I have been made fun of for over a month, I take out two players and triple up. Not only that, I take out one of the two that can't shut up about it. As the night goes on, I get knocked out of the game, but my victory was already complete.

It has been three days since and two poker games. Not a peep about "The Bradshaw" has been made by Josh or Sgt K. Don't get me wrong it gets brought up. Just when its funny or appropriate. I love it when people get their dues.

In other news, I am planing a trip to the land down under. I spoke with Ryan today. A friend that I look forward to seeing again. He moved there a few years back and it will be a nice reunion to see him again. Now its just a matter of scheduling time off for Christina and I. Yes, she is joining me there!

Not much else to say today. Weaver is now gone on vacation. My little sidekick has gone. I mean that in jest, he is a good friend and a damn good alarm clock for food.

Remember Life isn't about the things you own, It's about experiences and the people you meet long the way.

Day 105 - Cleanup and Aftermath

So as I eluded in my last blog, some things broke recently that I had to fix. Thankfully life is back to normal here and I am back to waiting for it to all go to hell again. I figured out I'm a cross been the Matag man and EOD (Bomb Squad.) If i'm sitting around doing very little, it's not a bad thing. If I am running fast heading to or from the Sever Room, LOOK OUT!

Other things that have been fun. KBR is the company contracted to maintain the buildings, etc. You may have read in another post about their ability with electric work. So don't be surprised when I was scared to let them re-wire my buiding. I got notice I needed to move out temporarily along with the other people in my building. I moved into the room of a co worker that is out on vacation. In the begining I was told 3 days. So three days pass and I go over and see that they aren't done. Next I stop by their office and ask, "How much longer?" The reply I got made me think of the movie "The Money Pit." The guy looks right at me and says they need three more days. Holding back my frustration I ask, so what happened that you need to double the time you stated to begin with? His response was typical, "We actually have 4 days to do it via the contract so we still have time." Thinking to my self what an ass-bag for not answering the question, I tell them thanks and walk away. Well it took four days so I really shouldn't complain. I had an electrician from the Navy come by and double check their work. They did a good enough job. The light in my closet actually works now. The one task I asked of them and got confirmation that they would do it, didn't get done. You see, the light switch for my room is located in the hallway. So my light gets turned on when someone is looking for the hallway switch. I asked them and they said the would move it in the room for me. It is still in the hallway. Shiny new coverplate and switch too. Oh, well, I'll just make a sign. This button wakes a wookie, a very angry wookie! Turn on at your own risk!!!

Water. The basic thing we all need. I am reminded we are in a desert. In fact every time I go to the bathroom I get reminded. When we have a water shortage they lock the real bathrooms. Real, as in a trailer of real toilets and stalls. So you are left with porta-potties. Joy. Would't be so bad but these things don't come with lights. You can imagine how this complicates the process. How one can miss water. Enjoy it while you have it.