I don't know why I go to extremes. - Billy Joel, I Go To Extremes

This was from the past few days. We went to the Santa Monica pier and then Six Flags Magic Mountain. I rode the most freakin awesome ride of my life at six flags. It's called tatsu and you sit in the ride and hang from a track, and then your legs are brought up also so that you're belly is just hanging as you fly around. It is seriously awesome. yes. seriously. I'll post a video of it that I found on youtube.

I'm going to miss Port Hueneme. We've all been getting to know each other really well. Next stop is Camp Pendleton where we will actually be out in the middle of no where camping in seahuts. It won't be quite as fun. Darn. I don't really know if I will be able to get on the internet and I have been told the cell phone reception is not good. I hope I'll be able to stay in touch, but if not, then I'll try soon.

You all need to get skype so I can talk to you guys on the webcam. I keep getting on, but no one is on. :( so sad.

Buuuuhhh bye!

Drinking helps us to forget what we are, we leave the office and walk straight to the bar. - The Kinks, When Work Is Over

So, this was our night out last night. :) Our team leader chief and some other officers. We figured out that I am the bull ensign (the most senior O-1). That means they get to tease me a lot when we go out, but it's a fun tradition.

It is kinda hard because I'm the youngest officer and they're all married and have kids and there aren't that many people that I can closely relate to. Other than that, they are a TON of fun and I'm learning a lot from them. We have such a great group.

The italian place we went to was on ventura beach and they had $10 margarita pitchers so you can see where the night went...haha. Then, we came back to a bar on base and were doing irish car bombs and jagerbombs. haha. It was a fun night.

Today we had some briefs, but not much. Now, we're all getting ready to drive to Santa Monica. It's going to be fun.

I have a cold though. That sucks. Other than that, I'm enjoying myself. :)

I wanna live with you in the 5th dimension. - Soul Asylum, Home Sick

Here's my room for those of you wondering what it looks like.

I'm done for the day so we're trying to find something to do.

Last night we went to Ventura beach and at at this really amazing seafood place. Angela's. I think that was the name. It was really pretty out there, but it's cooler than I thought it would be. I had to run and buy a sweatshirt.

other than that things have been much better. It doesn't look like I will have to bother with training records yet. Yay! Hopefully, they will have a system at camp Pendleton for that.

Again, everyone needs to get on skype and add me: ckumpunen. :)

Violent, frustrations, he cries ot to God, or just no one. - The Used, Poetic Tragedy

Ah. Day 2.
1st lesson: Whenever you get something done in medical...make SURE you get it in writing. While going through the predeployment process at Bethesda, whenever I didn't have anything in my record, that person would just pull it up on the computer and check it off my list. I thought they would do that here. Nope. I just had to redo most of the stuff I did for predeployment before I left to come to california. Suck.
2nd lesson: Once you wake up and get out of bed, keep running around and looking busy. I came back into our room this morning and Senior Chief caught me and this is how that went....

Senior: Hey, there Ensign. How are you this morning?
Me: (thinking) I already don't like how this conversation is going....
I'm....doing alright. (I should have said my dog just died, family member was diagnosed with cancer and I was broken up with)
Senior: Well, I just found out we have a new leadership position that opened up...
Me: (I REALLY don't like how this conversation is going)
Senior: Are you good at excel?
Me: I'm...good. I guess. I can get along ok on it....
Senior: We need a new training record officer.
Me: (OH GOD! THE MOST HATED COLLATERAL EVER) Oh...Um. Ya. I get it. I have a new collateral?
Senior: Well, it would be great for your fitrep. You'd get to meet all your shipmates better. Blah blah blah.
Me: Ya, ya. Spare me the sell. I get it. I'll do it.
(I'll just grab my ankles and smile because I'm the only ensign on wave 1, which makes me the lowest officer so I'm the bitch. Yay.)

So, yes. Always stay busy. I haven't even had a chance to start setting this up.

Lesson 3: This base is larger than it looks! I've been to medical twice, NEX twice, dental, the galley, and all over...And for a seabee base, they should have more sidewalks.

lesson 4: Always keep cute glasses because apparently you can't wear contacts in Kuwait. I almost cried today when I heard that. I LOATHE wearing glasses. I could write a book on how much I hate glasses. I won't even get started. But, I have to get some. So, I've got to go to the NEX tomorrow and get some glasses. No navy issued ones. They are crooked, fall off my face, and don't thin the lenses.

Lesson 5: keep gadgets charged. That is the only thing keeping me happy. I can text my friends (Jim and mom thank you for being supportive when I started to almost cry today), listen to calming and/or angry music on my ipod, play on my computer, etc. I love electronics. I can't imagine being deployed without them.

Lesson 6: try and keep a positive attitude and keep the bitching away from the enlisted guys. I do my best to try and wait til I'm in our Khaki room to let it out so that our corpsmen don't see our frustration. I don't want them picking up on it too. I want to still be supportive of them and positive so it won't bring them down too.

Something to figure out:
Instruction on wearing backpacks in uniform?
-on the left shoulder only
OR
-both shoulders at the same time

Just the left is killing my back and I've asked two chiefs and they've told me different things. I must look this up.

Well, we're about to go to dinner tonight! Some really good seafood place. Last night we had Japanese. We went to a place where they cooked right in front of you. It was so amazingly good! I wish I had taken pictures. It was a blast.

I should have more free time the rest of the week if anyone has gotten skype. I just got a headset with a microphone! :)

I

I call home what you call hell. - Ice-T, The Hunted Child

I just wanted to add this! Everyone needs to download Skype if they have a webcam. www.skype.com You are able to call anyone in the world on your computer and talk to them on the webcam. I'm going to try using this and I would love to talk to everyone! (One of my fellow nurses is blowing kisses to her baby on the computer next to me)

What a long strange trip it's been. - Grateful Dead, Truckin'

I made it to Port Hueneme! We landed at LAX yesterday. I was nervous about the flight because Tanya and Phil took me out the night before and got a little more crazy than I wanted. (I'll put some fun pics up when I feel like it later)

The flight actually wasn't too bad. I slept the ENTIRE way across the US. We landed and started noticing people that were from the hospital in Bethesda. There were 6 of us on the same flight so I just called and had them added to my reservation.

We went by the USO first (which was a LONG trip across the airport, outside, and crossing lots of traffic) to get some grub and relax. I love the USO's. :) There was a nice lady who made us lunch and we had boxes of girl scout cookies right there, internet, tv, magazines, games, etc...

Then, we figured we were having too much fun and should get to camp. We called the shuttle, had a long tour of the LA area, got to learn more about each other, and finally got dropped off at the gate. Yes, the shuttle left us at the gate. Because we had a civilian on the van, the guy said he couldn't drop us off at our building on base. Such crap. We all had to trek the half mile or whatever it was with our seabags. Not fun. I don't mind the weight on my back, but it cuts off circulation to my arms! I had that on my back, and my backpack on my front. We finally got to the place to check in, and then had to deal with one of my corpsmen who had left her phone on the shuttle.

In a way, it's kinda neat being an officer. LTJG Weiss was on my flight so he and I were trying to take care of everyone. We got the cell phone and rides situation taken care of. Then, food. We ordered some pizza and just relaxed. We're in a large berthing room. We broken down by gender and rank, so I'm in a room with female chiefs and officers. (the Khaki room) We have enough space so that no one has to be on the top bunk so we have plenty of storage here.

I'll be here til Sunday morning. Until then, we're mostly doing paperwork and getting our uniforms ready, etc. I can't wait to get to Pendleton and get out of these darn Khakis!

Again, I'll take some pics around here and post them later!

I feel a change back to a better day, hair stands on the back of my neck. In wildness is the preservation of the world, so seek the wolf in thyself. –

So, as you can see we got to do the camping/tubing trip as planned!

I'll back up. My parents flew in. We moved my stuff into storage (a much better move than the last one) and drove back to Texas.

Then, last Friday my closest friends and I ventured to the Texas hill country to get away for a couple days and camp and tube. It was such a blast! Very hot and sticky and I have the strangest burn I've ever had...it's very sporadic. It's almost like I have a skin disorder. haha.

Friday night we sat around an amazing campfire, thanks to Kristi, Jim and Lauren! We had hot dogs and played "werewolf". Good times. Then, Saturday morning we met Erin, Brian and Sergio to go tubing on the Guadalupe River. It was raining off and on in the morning and got so cold. The water level was real low too so you'd get stuck on the rocks. There was one point when Erin and I got stuck on rocks and then it started pouring and all we could do was sit and laugh our butts off. I couldn't even try to move off the rocks because I was laughing so hard.

I busted my knee on some rocks later when I was swimming around. A few others have battle scars! The sun came out...we enjoyed a few beers. Lots of cheese. Good times!

Saturday night we went to the Whitewater Amphitheater to see Robert Earl Keen! It was soo good to hear him in person. I really wish I had gone to more Texas country concerts when I was here. I am trying to make up for it!

That night I got real sick and actually threw up in the middle of the night. It wasn't from beer or anything. Either it was the heat or some virus because I was sick the whole car ride home. I have some good friends Jim and Kristi that let me pass out in the back of their minivan and then were okay with me throwing up in a ziplock baggie....I think I was just throwing up and saying "I'm sorry" over and over. haha.

Thank goodness all that stomach stuff is gone. Monday, I ran errands with Jeff and HAD to stop by our snow cone hut! It's a tradition. Drive around with snow cones! Then, today I went shopping with Courtney.

So far it's been a fun time off. It's going way too fast. I knew it would so I'm trying to savor every second...but soon I'll be gone and I won't see anyone again for probably around 9 months.

The reality of it is setting in. It's weird to be on this side of deployments. For the past 6 years I've been watching all my guys go overseas on deployments and now it's my turn. Really strange.
There are things I want to say. Things I'm thinking, but I guess I should stop at that. I need some sleep.

Sorry the pics aren't the best. I didn't take that many. Other people got more and might post them on facebook.

I was born for adventure, women, whiskey and sin. No, I'll never surrender, live by the sword 'til the end. - Styx, Born For Adventure

Since it's memorial weekend, I figured I'd talk about how all my friends and I are off getting to experience the "adventure" side of the Navy.

A lot has changed for all of us since we graduated Romeo class in October of 2006! Some of my close friends are now LTJG's!! I'll no longer be Ensign Kumpunen on August 12th! I'll get to say LTJG Kumpunen. Weeeeird. And the pay jump is pretty significant for this one. :) Plus, I'll be on deployment, so even more ways to save some money. I know there was a reason I didn't get on those earlier deployments like I wanted to. God always has that plan ready.

In the past month or so, many of my friends have started off on their experiences:

LTJG Meyer (my roommie from OIS): She got last minute orders to report to Bremerton, Washington (outside Seattle) and be stationed on a ship. Can't remember which carrier. My bad. Anywho, she had a cross country journey to Washington. So fun to see the pictures. Since she reported to the ship, she's been sent to San Diego to do additional training. Lucky girl. I know it's a stressful situation being brand new on a carrier! She has a lot to do as an officer and I know she'll be great and I think she's enjoying it, but kinda scary. She's an industrial hygienist, so she's does inspections all over, etc. It's kinda neat hearing about her job.


LTJG Smith (3w nurse nnmc): She got orders to the USNS Mercy!!! I'm so jealous! She flew out to San Diego and met them in Guam. The hospital ship is doing a humanitarian mission all over the Pacific. They will see some amazing things and places. Here's a link to the captain's blog: http://mercycaptain.blogspot.com/. He's a civilian, but you still understand.


ENS Conrad (5w nurse nnmc): Brit got orders to Djibouti, Africa! She's stationed there at a military clinic for a lot of the special forces, etc. It's close by Somalia. She got to spend some time in Cali also and even took a few days to Vegas when they had liberty. I hope I get to do that too! Here's her blog: http://web.mac.com/nursbrit/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html


Me (5c nurse nnmc): I get to leave for Kuwait in less than a month!!! I go on leave the 2nd of June and I'll fly back to DC on the 20th, only to leave for training in Cali on the 22nd. Then, I should be in Kuwait mid July. I am so excited. You have no idea. Obviously, you know my blog. haha.

Anywho, it's so amazing to see all of my friends and I spreading our Navy wings and getting out in the fleet! For a long time I just wanted to feel what it would be like to be away from Bethesda. It's not the same experience here. Very brass. Lots of little stuff to worry about. I hear anywhere else in the fleet, you can kick back more and have a ton of fun. That's just what I'm wanting to do! I love getting emails from all these girls and telling me the amazing things they are doing these days and all the new things they are learning about field medicine, humanitarian missions, shipboard life, training, etc. Now my friends and I are literally all around the world! This is so awesome. This seriously was the best decision I ever made and I only wish some of my other friends back home could join in!

Have a happy and safe memorial day!

Going to jail accused of being a peeping tom. - Parliament, Little Old Country Boy

So, when someone contemplates joining the service, they don't need to ask themselves these questions:

1. Am I tough enough?
2. Can I make it through training?
3. Can I stay up to physical standards?
4. Will I be okay with moving every few years?
5. Will I be okay with people telling me what to do?
6. Do I mind putting myself in harms way?
7. Am I okay with someone controlling my life and being in a contract that I cannot get out of?
8. Will I be fine with living on a ship, in a tent, in barracks, etc?
9. Can I wear the uniform with pride?
10. Do I mind moving somewhere I don't want to move if they tell me to?


They only need to ask themselves this ONE QUESTION....



Am I okay with having someone watch me pee for a drug test?


I swear. This to me is harder than running my PRT. I had to drink so much water at MEPS so that I could go. Maybe for guys it's not that big of a deal. You guys do it all the time. We girls. We have our own little room to do our business. And it's even more difficult when you're having to aim into a little cup. Guys have major control over that.

I have gone for a random urinalysis soooooo many times at this command. This month marks the second time that I've been here that I've had to go 2 times in one month. It had to do with a "sweep" of the entire command this past week. I drank so much water before I went that I thought my bladder would explode. But, it makes it easier so I can just get in and out as fast as I can.

But, it's the most strange thing ever. They stand there and have to stare at you. Just leaving the stall door open is weird.

Just had to share my feelings about it. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it.

Hold the candle in your heart to shine the light on hidden parts. - Garbage, Cherry Lips

Here's this year's video I had to do for the candle light service. One of these days I'll get a good program to put together a great video, but I get so busy, that I just want it to get done. There were a TON more videos this year, so it was hard to fit them all in the song. Also, that's not my finger in a lot of those pictures! hahaha.

These are all the military, civilian, and contract nurses throughout our hospital and clinics.

It was a lot more fun taking them this year because I know more people around the hospital.

Anywho, enjoy.

On a place they call the planet Earth, my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by. - Electric Light Orchestra, Mission

I got my official orders for Kuwait today. :) I leave D.C. on June 22nd and my estimated date of return is January 8th, 2009. Weird.

On our schedule for the floor it has me listed for 5 days of work then "LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLdepdepdepdepdepdepdep", etc.

L=leave (in Tejas)
dep=deployment

That's how it will be on the schedule until January of 2009. Crazy! It's all real now. I'm looking forward to the change of scenery. I'm looking forward to getting away from some drama that is starting to creep up at work. I'm looking forward to getting away from bogus admissions and endless chart checks. I'm looking forward to a few weeks in California! I'm looking forward to wearing sports bras and camis every day. Not... haha. I'll probably be so sick of wearing the same thing every single day for 6 months. I can't imagine doing it for a year and a half.

All around I'm just excited to start a new, but small chapter in my life. I hope to learn a lot about myself, the navy, and other cultures.

Okay, that all being said. Here's my tentative plan for leave in Tejas:

June 3rd: parents fly in
4th: move into storage and start the drive back home
5th: arrive in Arlington, TX
6-8th: camping/tubing in New Braunfels (including Robert Earl Keen concert Saturday and a stop for breakfast/lunch in Austin on Sunday)
9th-14th: Arlington
14th: stop in Austin to see some friends before going to Beth and Adam's wedding in Driftwood. Then, on to Houston to stay with my sis
15-17th: Houston
17-20th: Arlington
20th: fly back to DC
22nd: fly to Cali!

Life has been so busy since the beginning of March and I really want this leave to be peaceful. SO, if any of you start giving me a hard time about not getting to see me a lot on my leave and guilting me...I'm just going to walk away. I'll do my best, but I'm already driving all over the state to see people, so I'm not going to spend my free days driving all over the DFW area. I can't wait to come home for a while and see everyone!

I just got my smallpox site checked today, my 3rd anthrax shot, and my battle record up to date today.

The only thing that stinks is that Tanya's in the hospital. :( Poor thing. Long story of complications from when she was really sick as a kid and now she had to have emergency surgery and it is a day by day thing. She's def doing better than she was a few days ago, but still. I hate seeing her sick. I helped wash her hair today. I'll be in to see her tomorrow. I've been able to stop in on her every day so far. I'm glad I work right there. She's my best friend up here. I hate that she's not feeling well. I hope she can get out soon so we can hang out before I leave. If you guys can, please say a prayer they don't have to take her back into surgery and that her wound heals fast and well.

You better let somebody love you before it's too late. - The Eagles, Desperado

A long time ago someone special sent me a Jimmy Eat World cd and I listened to this song over and over. It came on my itunes tonight and as I watched the rain and storm outside, I began to realize that this song means so much more now than ever. I couldn't find the actual music video, so I'll just use this one, but I didn't want to put just the lyrics.

I just finished reading a book with my church small group and it was a difficult read. The author pushed me and made me think things I never would have thought or believed. Now that I've finished it, I can see what I've learned from it all.

I've already caught myself being a typical girl about guys. I'm learning to stop and not let my heart get wrapped into something that is not right. Normally, after one call or one message or something, I would get so excited and think that maybe God was sending me someone. It's not true. It's nothing. It's nothing until God says it is something and until He brings him to me. Until then, there must still be a reason he wants me to be on my own. This past week so many people have questioned me on how I'm still single. I don't know why. Why do people ask?? I just tell them that God hasn't sent me my forever.

Some of my guy friends that are married have told me that I have amazing qualities and they don't believe that I'm still single after all this time and being so young. Ya, well.

Then, I had a fellow nurse say the same thing. Again, what do they want me to say? I have a good time on my own. I think that is why I'm overall so happy. haha. I just really feel like God is teaching me a lot and having me grow. Plus, He must still be working on my future love.

So, until then, I'll lay down, listen to this song, remember those feelings of what it was like to be in love and cherish the memories of loves past, but focus on what is ahead of me and what God is doing in my life right now.

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive. - Survivor, Eye Of The Tiger

Saturday night had to be one of the best nights of my life. I met amazing men and women that have stood up and been courageous and fought to take care of our military men and women. They fought to get the nurse corps established in 1908. They fought to get an Admiral spot in the navy. They fought to allow men to be in the nurse corps. They fought to keep tradition and stories for all of us.

I'm truly honored to have been able to sit in the same room with all these retired and active duty navy nurses. To hear stories from senators and other people, like Bob Woodruff, who were treated by navy nurses was touching. To hear from the retired captains I talked to that spoke to me about WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc, was inspiring. To be wearing the same uniform as all these other bright eyed ensigns that chose to not only sacrifice to take care of others, but to also sacrifice their life for their country and navy, it just....there are no words. I'm proud of us, Nurse Corps.

I hope that I can stay in the 20 years. I know the memories, stories, friends (who are all instantly family) will stay with me the rest of my life. I know that this was the best decision for my life and that God really had his hand in the middle of all of this.

I want to thank my friends back home who all support, love, call me, and are just overall there for me when I'm homesick and I question if this hard life is really what I should be doing. I want to thank my friends here that have become so close to my heart. You guys are like my brothers and sisters. I wouldn't be able to see the amazing things that this world can bring without you all. We do the impossible sometimes. No matter our backgrounds or differences, we all love each other the same.

Happy 100th, Nurse Corps!!! GO Navy!

More pics can be found at my picasa (http://picasaweb.google.com/ckumpunen) or on facebook.

When the working day is done, girls they just want to have fun. - Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Ho hum. I'm working right now. I just realized that I can write blog messages on the computers here at the hospital. I also just found out that I can check my gmail, yahoo, myspace, and whatever other websites that are blocked here, on my cell phone.

What? It's been a productful night shift. We did our bi-monthly crash cart drill and inventory. We made our own cold stone in the back report room with ice cream, sprinkles, whip cream, etc. I filled out a survey for my deployment online. We signed some going away cards for people.

I had gotten stressed out last weekend. Everything seemed to pile up and I was looking at everything that is coming up in the next few months and it was overwhelming. Now, I'm just trying to take a breath and be cool. One day at a time. This morning I have to go weigh in for the PRT and Friday morning (after my night shift) I have to run my PRT. I'm getting nervous. But, the good news is that I should be getting my new ipod today in the mail and I have a special playlist for the PRT. I think it'll keep me going.

I'm craving cake. Or a candy bar. Good news is, we're having a going away party for some people this morning, so a lot of people are bringing food in. :) I'll go weigh in first before I pig out! Then, can't forget to pick up cat food on my way home. Then, sleep and come back up tonight. Not too bad of a day. If tonight's shift is anything like this one is, it won't be a problem.

Let's see. I'm gonna find something of significance to talk about. I have just been talking about nothing.

Ha. Go figure. I go to cnn.com and the first story to catch my attention is this one:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/04/30/dinosaur.dung.ap/index.html
130-million-year-old poop sells for $960

So much for talking about something of significance. Now, I'm learning all about old dinosaur dung.

Ah. Here we go: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/04/28/hm.fatigue/index.html
Fatigue is more than just plain tired

For a couple weeks now I have just been flat out exhausted. I've been thinking I need to get my thyroid checked. My mom, both grandmothers, sister, and now my brother are all diagnosed with hypothyroidism. There are other reasons why, but still. I should look into it. That just means another doc appt. I'm tired of coming into work on my days off. But, as the article shows... I shouldn't just push away feeling fatigued. I used to have so much energy on nights that I would wake up hours early and work out and still feel rested. Now, I skip the gym many times and I wake up with the alarm and still feel exhausted. I don't know. It might just be everything going on. After this weekend, things should come down a bit.

I'm excited though. Friday night at cancun cantina with a bunch of the nurses at the hospital and then Saturday night is the 100th Navy Nurse Corps birthday ball. :)

It's gonna be a good weekend!