RDC "C" School

Well, after 13 long weeks, I will graduate of RDC "C" School. And, let me emphasize long. It has been. I started RDC School in the beginning of March. And, at the beginning, it seemed like it would never end. It seemed like we were never going to be the senior class at PT. With Physical Training (PT) every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 0630 but, we had to be there at 0600 for muster. And, I think the hardest part about PT was the fact we had to do a sub-stained run of 30-45 minutes every two weeks or so in side. That is the hardest to do because the scenery never changes. Around and around we went for 30-45 minutes at a 12-15 minutes per mile pace. Tuesday's were Personal Inspections (PI) on a different uniform every Tuesday. The first two were very, very rough, but after that, it got really better and easier. Thursday's were free until we moved out of the instruction phase and into the shadow phase, and then, we had to rev the division we were shadowing. Sometimes, that rev would be 0400 in the morning. It was a little brutal sometimes. But, after 6 weeks of instruction phase, we moved into the shadow 2 phase, were we had to shadow our divisions and watch how the RDC's did things. It was a little easier, although we had to shadow 8 hours Monday through Friday and 8 hours over the weekend. And, we still had PT on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with a PI's on a Tuesday or Thursdays.

The school tested me throughout. Several times I wanted to quit and I often wondered what I got myself into. I kept telling myself the means justify the ends. But, after I think about, I am looking forward to the transformation I will see when 88 civilians become sailors in 8 long weeks. I think that will be the best part of all. It will be long, hard, stressful, and painful at times. But, in the end, it will be worth it.

The Good Sheperd

The lectionary this morning was from John 10: 11-18. As I was listening to the sermon this morning, it dawned on me that I will become a shepherd here in a couple of weeks when I get my first division and this is what God has in store for me in then next 3 years while I am up here. I have been thinking over since January if it was a good idea for me to come up here and train new recruits. It is a stressful, demanding job that requires a lot from you, but I think in the end it will be worth it. This passage and the sermon hit home this morning. I will be a shephered to 88 new recruits. I will watch over them and make sure they get to their destination okay.

A new way to prayer....

I know it has been a while. I ran across this at church today. The church leader brought it up after the announcements. He found reading a magazine, a new way to pray to God every day. And, in today's age, why not, right? Here is someone's answer to pray to God when everyone is busy: Information Age Prayer. Here is what they say on their homepage:

About Information Age Prayer

Information Age Prayer is a subscription service utilizing a computer with text-to-speech capability to incant your prayers each day. It gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your prayers will always be said even if you wake up late, or forget.

We use state of the art text to speech synthesizers to voice each prayer at a volume and speed equivalent to typical person praying. Each prayer is voiced individually, with the name of the subscriber displayed on screen.

At Information Age Prayer we think our service should be used like a prayer supplement, to extend and strengthen a subscriber's connection with God. Traditional prayer is an integral part of this connection and should never be forgone, even after signing up.

You can subscribe for yourself, or you can purchase a subscription as a gift to friends or family.

Promotional Rates for New Users, Limited Time Only!
Choose a Religion from the left menu.

On the left side of the screen, you can pick the following religions: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Unaffiliated, and Other Religions. If I click on Protestant, for a low price of 3.95 a month, a computer with a text to speech voice, will pray the Lord's Prayer to God for me.

I found this pretty funny and ironic. But, in today's age, when everyone is busy, this will probably work. I don't agree with it. One, to today's ecomony, when people can't even put food on the table, foreclosing on their rent payments, etc, but they are still willing to pay a computer to pray for them to God (for a low price of $4 a month.) Oh, well! What will come next!

Are you Going to Finish Strong?

This is pretty amazing. I read several blogs, and this one comes from the "Broadside Blog." The author is actually a cartoonist that does funny cartoons parodying the Navy and Marine Corps. His blog is here. Anyway, his latest his about a guy with no arms and no legs who has an amazing speech. His video is here. I would recommend viewing. It is pretty amazing to say the least.

Where was I......

I can remember when people talk about 9/11 and ask people where they were when they heard the news. So, I just want to get this down for when people ask me where they were when they heard/saw President Obama get sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.

I was in the state of Minnesota on Interstate 90 near the town of St. Charles going about seventy listening to NPR.

Where were you at when President Obama was sworn in?

Gurnee, IL

Well, I guess I better update what is going with life so far. After spending Christmas in Portland with my mom and step-dad, Bill, I traveled over to Spokane to spend the night before New Years Eve. Spokane in the month of December got over 5 feet of snow. Without my GPS, I would have never made it to my hotel because the snow piles on the side of the interstate covered the signs. From Spokane, I traveled over one good mountain pass and one snow/ice covered mountain pass to Missoula, MT to spend New Years Eve with my brother Regan. That was a lot of fun, but I couldn't spend more time with him because of another storm coming the next day. So, on New Years day, I traveled over to Great Falls, MT through Lincoln, MT (in case you are following me on Google Maps or something) over another bad snow/ice covered mountain pass through the coldest recorded place on Earth (Rodger's Pass) . After spending time in Great Falls, MT with my dad and step-mom, Sue enjoying friends, family, and studing my for test, I traveled over to Helena, MT to take my E-7 test, which I don't think I did very well. We will see what happens in April. After Helena, I spent one day in Great Falls before heading over to Lewistown, MT and Winifred, MT to see more family. From Winifred, MT, I traveled over through Broadus, MT and Alzada, MT to Rapid City, SD. After spending the night in Rapid City, SD, I went and saw Mount Rushmore National Memorial. From there, I traveled on the Interstate 90 over to Great Lakes Naval Training Center after spending the night in Fairmont, MN.

I found a place in Gurnee, IL through an apartment complex my friend recommened to me. So, here I am sitting in a steel folding chair with the computer on a folding tv table.

Powell's Bookstore

I went into downtown Portland, OR today to look around and get some exercise in. When I was down there, I stopped by Powell's Books . If you are a book reader or just love shopping for books and are in the Portland area for a couple of days, I would recommend stopping by for an afternoon (or two.) They have over seven huge rooms of books and they take up a whole city block in downtown Portland. I think they are rated at one of the best bookstores in the world. It was amazing to say the least. I walked in from the Green Room entrance and was amazed. I had to use the restroom and ended up in the Purple Room after that. I wondered through the History Sections. Next, I wondered up to the Pearl Room where they have a Rare Book Room with books selling between 100 and over 2000 dollars. Next, I wondered over to the Science Fiction section in the Gold Room where they have over like 5 rows of books. It was awesome, and I was in book heaven. So, they have pretty much any book you ever wanted, and if they don't have it, they will find it for you.

Last Night

I just wanted to say "thanks for the memories" to quote a Fall Out Boy song entitled the same. However, as I look back over the past three years, I am thankful for the people I have met and the experiences I have had. Yet, as I move on, I know that He is watching over me from above, and is guiding me to Great Lakes. But, on a more important note, I will be returning back in three years or so. Everyone take care!

Shalom!

Two posts in one day....

Well, I am waiting for the movers to stop by and move my stuff out of my apartment. I have less than one week to go here in San Diego for awhile and it really hit home yesterday when Lynette had a going away party at her place yesterday. But, she sponsored a prayer quilt in my honor. It is pretty cool to say the least. The picture of the quilt is on the left. At the end of the party, when everone was leaving I noticed I was getting a little misty in th eyes because I am leaving such good friends down here. This prayer quilt ministry is such a good idea. The idea is that the ministry makes the quilt but leaves the string untied everywhere. Then, people tie a knot in the quilt and say a prayer. The knots keeps the quilt together and your prayers help the person out. Here is the website if you are interested in starting one at your church: http://www.prayerquilt.org/. So, anyway, this coming Sunday will be the last Sunday at First Church for awhile. I know I will be coming back to Sunny San Diego on vacation, but I don't know when that will be. Well, I think the movers are here. Take care!

New law allows saluting in civilian attire during Anthem

11/19/2008 - WASHINGTON D.C. -- Veterans and servicemembers not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Dr. James B. Peake, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag."

The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem. Last year's provision also applied to servicemembers while not in uniform.

Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official head-gear.

The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran. It was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed Oct. 14.

The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform servicemembers during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008.

Last Days

Well, I have only 12 days left onboard here and another 15 more in San Diego. I really thing it finally hit home today, that I have only a short time here before I transfer and head north to parts unknown. I know He will guide me where He wants me to go, but it is still another journey in the unknown I have to take.

Things are going good onboard the ship. I have started checking out of the command, and have already checked out with the CO and the XO. I only have a couple of more signatures to go before I am done. I think once I finally have my check out sheet done and over with, it will defiantly hit home. This week is my last week onboard here for awhile (knock on wood), and I think this week will go by blazing fast. The movers come by next week to move out of the apartment, and there is the Christmas party next Wednesday. After that, it will be a hop, skip, and a jump before I leave the following Sunday.

I think I will have a couple of parties before I go. One will be this Sunday, December 14th, at a friend place in the afternoon. And, I was thinking about having another “adult” party on December 19th. I will let more people know about those when it comes around the corner, quickly, I might add.

Well, I think I might go up to the office and “see” how things are going. I hope everyone has a good week at work, or whatever, they might be doing.

Shalom!

New Book

Well, after a really, really, really, really long day at work, I was looking forward to reading a new book I received in the mail the other day only to realize I left the book at work. I was going to talk about it, but now I can't. However, thanks in the wonderful Internet, I will tell you the title and leave it for tomorrow night to discuss what I thought about the first couple of chapters. The title of the book is 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Robert Schnase, who is a United Methodist Bishop from the Missouri Conference. The church I am going to now will start discussing the book come next year some time, but since I won't be here, I am going to read it now and just blog about it, I guess.

For some reason....

I just love quotes. I don't know what it is. And, of course, those cute little pictures Google comes up with on special occasions. I wonder whose job it is to figure out the google picture of the day. For example, today is Veteran's Day, and I have attached their picture of day to the left.

President Lincoln’s words in the Gettysburg Address are perhaps the most appropriate, albeit in a larger context than originally intended:
“But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Today, I think we should remember those who have gone before us and given the highest sacrifice to their country, but also remember those still living who are putting their lives on the line for their country.

Shalom!

Happy Birthday

Today is one of the most important days in the history of the US Marine Corps. I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to the Marines stationed around the world and the ones at home. God Bless!

Stars

Once of the best things about my job is I get to look at the stars at night. Over the last couple of months, this job has got very stressful, and I realized sometimes it is the simple stuff in life that makes our job worth while, and for me, it is looking up at the stars at night with no lights around.

Change

I was at Borders in Mission Valley the other night killing some time before a movie started. And, I came across a book that predicted what someone would be like given their birthday. Mine said as a Gemini, I would like change. And, I think that is very true. I am happy that Senator Obama will be the next President of the United States. I think the country needs some changing, and this is one of them.

However, I am sad that California managed to pass Prop 8 yesterday. The state was looking pretty good in that area accepting the right for gays and lesbians the right to marry. I still get into arguements with people onboard here who question the right for gays and lesbian to marry. If you have any questions, please go here. This is 8 reasons why my Pastor oppses Prop 8, and I agree with all of them.

On another note, I managed to bring my camera with me this time, and I will try to either get some pictures on this, or at some other sight.

Shalom!

Underway

I wish I brought my camera along and I am now kicking myself. I saw some cool things that I could have shared, but oh, well. Next time hopefully.

Shalom!

Well....

While I am waiting for Wayne to make some buffalo/sausage burgers for tonight, I might as well give an update of what is going on in my world.

We just got back from a week long underway where some group came out and tested the ship out and see if we could survive with a number of problems thrown at us. It was pretty fun to see what kind of damage this group could throw at us and how the ship could fight the problem. The main inspector noted that he was impressed with the ship during one drill because he didn't think we could make something happen with in the time allotted. After that, we went and shot some missiles that really not a lot of ships get a chance to do, and then we went and shot our guns at some targets.

Next week, we will get underway for around two weeks to integrate with the strike group that the ship is deploying with in January. It should be a lot of fun with a number of things going on. After that, we have to pull back into Seal Beach because they loaded us with the wrong amount of ammo and no one noticed. Oh, well. Hopefully, this time, we won't get thrown out of the liberty port and we can actually enjoy some time out in town. We will see what happens.

I am still leaving at the end of December. I am excited about doing something new, but I am also sad about leaving my good friends I have made over the past three years. People like Molly and Matt, Karen, Sheri, Carl and Lisa, Wayne and Marian, the Water's Edge Crew, Tom, Jim, Demmie, Mary, Lea, Becky, Randy, Elbert, and many others. But, I think this is the better for my career in the Navy. An,d I keep telling myself the "ends justify the means." I will be trying to come back on leave and see everyone hopefully around once a year or so. And, before you know it, I will be back in San Diego in 2012. Anyway, I don't want to get too mushy around here.

Go Broncos!

Shalom!

Leave Date

Well, I routed my transfer information today through the command and put down a transfer date of around 19 December. I probably won't leave town until after church on the 21st, but I just wanted to let everyone know I will be leaving around that time. I will write more on the subject later.

Take care!

Shalom!

Cool Quote

This quote was used by Admiral Mike Mullins, JCS, in his speech he gave at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Dedication:

"In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field to ponder and dream; And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls."


Major General Joshua Chamberlain
Speaking at the dedication of the Monument to the 20th Maine
October 3, 1889, Gettysburg, PA