Dreams stay with you like a lover's voice. - Big Country, In A Big Country

From Wikipedia:

The Texas Hill Country is a region of Central Texas, USA, that features rolling, somewhat rugged, hills that consist primarily of limestone but includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite outcropping in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located some thirty miles northwest of Fredericksburg. The Hill Country also reaches into portions of the two major metropolitan areas of Central Texas, especially in San Antonio's northern suburbs and the western half of Travis County, ending just west of downtown Austin.

Several cities were settled at the base of the Balcones Escarpment, including Austin, San Marcos, and New Braunfels, as a result of springs discharging water stored in the Edwards Aquifer.

Several tributaries of the Colorado River of Texas -- including the Llano and Pedernales rivers, which cross the region west to east and join the Colorado as it cuts across the region to the southeast -- drain a large portion of the Hill Country. The Guadalupe, San Antonio, Frio, Medina, and Nueces rivers originate in the Hill Country.

The area is also unique for its fusion of Spanish and Central European (German, Swiss, Austrian, Alsatian, and Czech) influences in food, beer, architecture, and music that form a distinctively "Texan" culture separate from the state's Southern and Southwestern influences. For example, the accordion was popularized in Tejano music in the 19th Century due to cultural exposure to German settlers.

In recent years, the region has emerged as the center of the Texas wine industry.

Frederick Day, a demographer with Texas State University in San Marcos, said that the Hill Country life-style reminds one of the small towns of the recent past. "Like old America . . . [the] cost of living is pretty low. To people who have spent their work life in Houston or Dallas, the Hill Country is very attractive."

I think about this place a lot. It's my dream. I do believe in love at first sight. It's Texas before concrete and noise and cars and exhaust. It's the real Texas. I go back to a time where it was me, my good friend, my boyfriend, his best friend and a couple dogs and we were out on some random road playing in the river. The sunset was gorgeous and life was free. It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it. I never thought I would miss it all this much. What I took for granted then. All the Texas country singers I missed that always came through Lubbock. Road trips to San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth. What I wouldn't give to risk studying for an exam and run off for the weekend. What I wouldn't give to find a good 'ole Texas boy who wants to take me 2-stepping to Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Randy Rogers band, Robert Earl keen.

I'm thinking more and more about becomming a nurse practitioner instead of a clinical nurse specialist. Then, after I retire from the Navy, moving to the hill country and opening a small clinic and just living peacefully. Having my friends down for a cookout by the river and playing some good music and maybe even sleeping out under the stars.

I started thinking more about being a nurse practitioner after we got a new one here on our detachment. He's been working in the ER and he let me I&D (cut open and drain) an abscess and then basically work up this one patient (who I think has the exertional compartment syndrome that I have). It was a fun day. He was prior enlisted as a MM1 (machinist mate 1st class) nuke. Just the same rate and everything as my brother. He was on a different class of submarines though. Anyway, after his time as a prior enlisted, he went through the nursing program and they paid him for school and everything. He's very knowledgeable with the Navy and nursing, so I hope I can work with him some more and maybe even be able to use him as a reference some day.

It's been going okay out here. I used to go on highs and lows and lately I feel like someone put me on mood stablizers. I just feel blah. I'm battling being sick again and I just had a long week of work. It's my day off today, so I'm laying in bed recuperating. Much needed.

No sign of any guy interests and you know, that's fine with me. I'm just not in a place where I am really ready to open up and start that whole process again. It's just difficult to fit that in with all the things I want to do with my life. I'm going to be moving here, there, etc. I'm holding out for a Texas boy. Especially if he went to Tech. haha.

Now! Speaking of Texas Tech! How 'bout them Red Raiders??? I hope we can stomp all over UT this weekend! Man, I wish I was back in college! Well, another nurse out here went to UT, so we're gonna be up at 3 in the morning watching the game live...I think we might end up betting on it. Not with money. But, thanks to Andrew's idea, the losing person would have to wear the winning team's gear and put that picture on their facebook until the end of the season. I think if that happened, I just might just lose some friends. haha. It kinda makes me scared to think about having to wear her vince young jersey. ::shutters:: But, I have confidence. My red raiders better not let me down!

Okay, I'm going to close out this very long update. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves. Only 2 more months and about 2 weeks and I'll be on my way back from the desert!

I've got this little problem that I cannot control. You put my heart in jail, but now it's on parole. - Prozzak, Infatuation

I got a "get out of jail free" card yesterday! We have planned morale trips every now and then and if you can manage to arrange your day off to fit in with one of the trips, you can go! This was the first one I got to go on. We went to Kuwait City and visited the aquarium and the marina mall.

The aquarium was actually pretty fun. It's right on the water and you can kinda see across to downtown where the Kuwaiti Towers are. It was kinda foggy outside though. They had some interesting animals and some damn good coffee! We sat outside by the water and enjoyed that.

Then, we went to the marina mall. That was pretty fun, I guess. It's just another mall, except more expensive. I did buy a couple long sleeved shirts from H&M here. I don't have anything for when it gets cooler.

We all had to do "rover" and "watch" duties. The rover got to walk around and make sure everyone was behaving and being safe. The watch people had to sit on the bus and watch our weapons. I got lucky and got to rove.

Dr. Saperstein, Dr. Minnich, the Chaplain and I all ate at this really freakin good Lebanese place. We were there a long time. Here, meals are an event and they don't rush you. I really like that.

Back to work today. That was the most I'll get of the outside world for a while...I did enjoy it.

Check out my facebook album for our mass casualty basewide drill and more from the Kuwait City trip! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2276328&l=569ee&id=16706036

See the gear shift for the high gear of your soul, you've got to run like an antelope out of control. - Phish, Run Like An Antelope

Happy birthday, Navy! 233 years of tradition! :)

We had the navy birthday 5K today! I ran the whole thing and didn't stop. it's not that much, but 1K into it my shins were already on fire and tight and painful. I pushed through the whole thing. It was a great run and only made me want to do it more. I spoke with one of our ortho surgeons after the run and told him about the problems I have with my shins. He said it did sound like classic exertional compartment syndrome. He said he sees it all the time in Pensacola and that they could do the fasciotomy here and I'd be fully recovered by the time I got home! The only problem. I would have to be off work for a week. I gotta ask mamma bear. I'm kinda nervous. I'm also afraid the people I work with would think I was trying to get out of work. I'm not...at all! I just started to tear up at the idea that this problem might be fixed.

Bethesda always made me do the run around. I did PT for 6 months. Nothing. Bone scan. nothing. I can never get an appt for ortho. Plus! I have people all around here to help me. I wouldn't be living on my own. The ortho docs have enough time. I have a physical therapist that sleeps right next to me. It's all good. This would be a dream come true.

I even talked to Julie about it and we talked about training for the marine corps marathon in DC. Man....that would be truly amazing. It would be hard work, but well worth it.

I'm going to get dressed and go over to work and talk with my dept head about it. Hmm. I wonder what she'll say. I pray I can do this.

It's a beautiful day!

Sent on a mission to find out just how much shit one man can take. - Soul Asylum, Dragging The Lake

We're all in that mid-deployment slump. I don't have much to talk about these days. Just working. Yesterday, I was officer of the day and today is my day off. My alarm clock I think is broken and didn't go off today! ENS Wood called and I was like "shit, shit, shit..." and I made it dressed and hair pulled back (a little crazy looking) to the quarter deck in 7 minutes. He's pretty cool and he and LT Lampert have now nicknamed me "UA". Damn. I'm never late. I hate being late. I've never even been late to work. Ever. Bah. Oh well.

So, I thought I would share this little fun story I got from Andrew this morning. It kinda explains what life has been like out here....I think we have some decedents on our detachment!





WHO IS JACK SCHITT ?

For some time many of us have wondered just who is Jack Schitt?

We find ourselves at a loss when someone says, 'You don't know Jack Schitt'!
Well, thanks to my genealogy efforts, you can now respond in an intellectual way.

Jack Schitt is the only son of Awe Schitt. Awe Schitt, the fertilizer magnate, who married O. Schitt, the owner of Needeep N. Schitt, Inc.
They had one son, Jack.

In turn, Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt. The deeply religious couple produced six children: Holie Schitt, Giva Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Bull Schitt, and the twins Deep Schitt and Dip Schitt.

Against her parents' objections, Deep Schitt married Dumb Schitt, a high school dropout. After being married 15 years, Jack and Noe Schitt divorced. Noe Schitt later married Ted Sherlock, and because her kids were living with them, she wanted to keep her previous name. She was then known as Noe Schitt Sherlock.

Meanwhile, Dip Schitt married Loda Schitt, and they produced a son with a rather nervous disposition named Chicken Schitt. Two of the other six children, Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt, were inseparable throughout childhood and subsequently married the Happens brothers in a dual ceremony. The wedding announcement in the newspaper announced the Schitt-Happens nuptials. The Schitt-Happens children were Dawg, Byrd, and Horse.

Bull Schitt, the prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He recently returned from Italy with his new Italian bride, Pisa Schitt.

Now, when someone says, 'You don't know Jack Schitt', you can correct them.


Sincerely,
Crock O. Schitt





I watched MASH the movie the other night. It's NOTHING like deployments now. haha. I wish I could have a martini in my tent. If I do indeed get to go to the Marine Corps Ball in November at the US Embassy, there will be alcohol there! I'll be going with a Chaplain friend as a guest, so I guess I should make sure I behave....but ya. It's like Christmas just thinking about a glass of wine!

I heard back from the detailer. I had a choice of Guam or Jacksonville. I'll tell you. If I were not on deployment, I probably would have chosen Guam. I'm homesick. That's what it comes down to. I miss being home. If I went to Guam, that would be 2 years I would probably not make it home. No one would want to come out there because it costs so much. I don't know. The idea of that right now is a bit too much to think about. I do want to do an overseas tour....but just not now. I am very excited about Jacksonville! I prayed a lot and I never got much back...so I just had to say, Lord, I'm making this decision and if it's not right...then close the door. He'll make sure it's all worked out anyway. So, back to Bethesda in January and Jacksonville in June. :)It's exciting to think about the changes next year!

There are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there's still time to change the road your on. - Led Zeppelin, Stairway To Heaven

Fate. Destiny. Free will.

My path in life. As a Christian, I believe that God has a path planned for me and He knows where I will end up, who I will love, who will break my heart, where the Navy might send me, what kind of nurse I will be.

So, the question I then have trouble with is
What do I do when it's up to me to choose my fate?

I can pray about it. I can try and listen to God's answer, but in the end I'm always questioning if I'm not just "hearing" an answer I want to hear and running with it and saying it's God's voice.

Originally, I felt led to go to Guam. Then, speaking with the detailer it seemed that it wasn't going to be an option, so he mentioned some places in the US. I researched, prayed and thought about it and told him a place in the states I would then want. Then, he said he still might be able to give me Guam. Sheesh. SO, it's been two weeks. My detailer will be getting back to his office this week and I hope to hear back from him soon.

What I'm hoping is that he calls and says "I have one slot open, so you'd better like it. If you want to PCS in June, you'll have to go to........"

And I would pray for continued peace that the choice was made and it's God's hand at work and wherever I should go, I will.

What I'm fearing is that he calls and says "Okay. Your choice. You can go anywhere. Where will it be??"

And I'm stuck back between what I think will be good for my career vs. my personal life. Because right now, I'm feeling torn. I know I should go with the career one....I've seen in the past what chosing the personal life has gotten me! Bah.

I have this debate in my head. Well, maybe God is putting the strong desire for me to go to one duty station for a reason. Maybe he's using that to give me my answer. Ha. Then, I start questioning again if that's not just me making an excuse. I'm a big believer in fate. I think we do have everything planned out. I just want to sit back, be told where to go next, and have a decision made.

This anxiety is starting to build about it.

On a whole other topic. I'd really like a glass of wine. hehe.

Sunset love potion, prize sunrise sail, lay on the couch while I clip your toenails. - Wu-Tang Clan, Black Shampoo

I'll try and make this short and sweet. I'm in vicodin and I was called into work and got home late because it was busy.

My right big toe has been through a lot. When I was young, I had to have the sides of the nail cut due to bad ingrown toenails. Then, it got smashed in the door and eventually fell off. Then, smashed in soccer and fell off again. Now, when it grows in, it only makes it about 1/4 of an inch and then stops and a new one grows in. It's very troublesome because I then have to cut it back and I can't file it and make it smooth because it's painful. It's embarassing when I get my pedicures, etc. I finally convinced one of the docs here to cut it out entirely. We used silver nitrate so it hopefully won't grow back. He said it will, but I'll hope it won't. It never grew back when I had the sides cut as a kid. Who knows.

They numbed my toe up. yes, it hurt to numb it...but tolerable. It is weird to see them jamming a needle into your toe. Then, popped it out. Now, lots of pain. Oh well. He gave me some vicodin. Been much better with that, except that I took it this afternoon on an empty stomach and then threw up later at work 'cause I felt so sick. Thought I'd show just a couple fun pics of the "procedure". haha.

I took the good times, we'll take the bad times, I'll take you just the way you are. - Billy Joel, Just The Way You Are

I love the Navy family. These people, brought together from 99 different commands, from 200 something backgrounds, different hometowns, favorite football teams, different religious, cultural, and political views, all are there for each other. Sure, if this were "Survivor", we've already talked about who would be voted off first, but in all seriousness, if the shit came down, we'd back each other up.

It's such an inspiring feeling. Looking around, these people are my family. I'm starting to really enjoy it here.

We don't get a lot of trauma's, but I'm really surprised at some of the stuff we have seen. We just got a guy on a ventilator the other night. We've had some cardiac drips going and major eye traumas. For the most part we are slow and it doesn't seem that important compared to Baghdad and such, but we really do help the forces by keeping the guys going. Our hospital is unlike other hospitals in theater. Most of them are trauma centers geared to patch them up and send them back home. Here, our job is to patch them up and try and keep them healthy enough to go back to the fight. Doesn't always work....but it does most of the time.

Yesterday was busy and tonight was a little more calm, thankfully. We split the shift. I actually got to go watch the EMF E's vs. O's basketball game. Winner was 1st to 21. O's lost in about 15 minutes. haha. Then, I went to our bbq before the EMF soccer game. Being on PM shift, I miss all these get togethers. All the intermurals, etc. I was so elated to get to spend time with my friends today. It's been much needed.

I love these guys.

Never was a gangsta, till I graduated to one. - Eminem, Soldier

I woke up in the morning to run into the recreation room and watch footage of hurricane Ike. With a brother who's a cop in Seabrook and a sister who was sick and on pain meds who couldn't leave in Houston, I was very curious. I knew they'd be in pretty safe places, but you never know. I watched for hours. I only wished I could have been there to be with my sis. I felt bad her being there all by herself.

Well, when I went into work, my mind wasn't on EMF Kuwait. It was on my family who was having a hurricane strike them right at that moment. As soon as I got into work, they told me I would be transporting 2 of our patients up to another base to fly out with the air force medical planes to Germany. Originally, they needed a nurse to go because they were going to write for IV morphine for the trip. They changed their minds, so they didn't really need me to go, but the memos and everything were all put together, so I still went. They wanted me to wait for the patients to get their wound vac's changed over to regular suction on the plane so I could bring the wound vac's back to Arifjan. Those were the only two we had and if they went with the patient, we would probably never see them again.

At that moment, I was not in the mood to do all this. Any other day I'd be totally excited. Yesterday, I just wanted to stay in touch with my parents and see how my bro and sis were. After I started getting all their paperwork and everything together, I started to get excited about it.

PAD issued me a cell phone and the armory issued me a 9mm. Wee! A nurse with a weapon. I've never had to carry a gun unless I was at the range. This was kinda exciting. Okay, and yes my other corpsmen made me pose for some pictures. haha. They told me I could go in civilian clothes, but that was a bad idea because at this other base, you have to be in uniform to go to the DFAC. Hmm. Lessons learned.

The ambulance picked the two patients and I up. The 2 EMT's were army reservists from Texas, one of them was from Lubbock. That was kinda cool. We had a fun ride. One of the patients had to go to the bathroom and they were out of urinals, so he just had to use a gatorade bottle, but then he was in too much pain to go, so he kept trying to stand in the ambulance to go. One of the EMT's said it was the first time it seemed like a party in the ambulance. :)

We got to the CASF (umm...some acronym for the air force holding nurses area), this was where they kept patients until they were flown out of country. My bed was right next to the patients, so if they needed anything, they had me and their nurses there. The air force people were very nice. I couldn't sleep at alllllll last night. I tossed and turned. Listened to my ipod. Tried to relax. Eventually, I fell asleep and then was woken up at 0300 and told we were getting the guys up to get ready to head to the plane. Sheesh. Got them on the litters and on the ambulance bus and out to the flight deck. We got them all hooked into the medical plane (it kinda made me wish I was an air force flight nurse....but I know I would have to fight all the other AF nurses to do that also). We had some issues with transferring the wound vacs over to regular suction, but rigged it up just fine with some tape. Expeditionary.

Then, I went back and napped until my ride came and we got back to Arifjan. Good times. I got to leave base for the first time. I got to carry a weapon. I helped see two patients off that I had gotten to know pretty well. Met some cool Air Force peeps.

Oh, and the people that drive over here are NUTS. Just sayin. The scenery though, is just like west Texas. haha. Still haven't seen any camels.

I just grabbed brunch with Laura and I might try and nap right now. I'm so tired.

Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Withering my intuition leaving all these opportunities behind. - Tool, Lateralus

Right now I'm beginning to negotiate orders with my detailer.

Earlier this year, I emailed him and told him my plan to go to DUINS (our grad school program) after my next tour and that I needed to have my rotation date in the summer. He said it would be no problem to PCS (have my permanent change of station...aka move to next base) next summer and leave early.

My orders right now have me leaving Bethesda in Oct 09. I want to leave the summer of 09 so when I rotate out of my next base, I can go to grad school. Long story.

Well, now, he's saying, yes, he can give me Guam, but he said Oct 09. Hmm. So, I'm going to do some studying on hotfills and see if there is anything I can come back to him with.

I really want to rotate in the summer. Maybe I'll have to stay at Bethesda until summer of 2010. If I did that, then I could try and go to grad school without going overseas maybe. Hmm. That's a thought. I'd really like to do that first though.

Here's the thing. There are ideas that I want for my life and then there is the part of me that knows I need to step back and let God set forth the plans for me. If I try and run the show I'm only going to screw it up. I'm praying and praying...but I can't always tell what His answer is.

Everyone take 5 seconds right now and please lift this up in prayer. I really to ultimately want what He wants for my life. Please pray that the door will open up perfectly and that I will be at peace with the decision and the process and the answer will be clear. I need a bright neon sign!

Thanks all my prayer warriors out there.....I'll let you know updates.

I was born with pain. My moms and my pops pass it down to me. - Mobb Deep, You Can Never Feel My Pain

I was looking through people magazine today. It was the one with Brad and Angelina's twin debut. I have often thought about adopting a child one day. This made me think about it some more. I started looking online at so many children around the world that need someone to love them. It's almost overwhelming.

Well, then I started looking at children just in the united states and put the max age of 5. It was so saddening. Almost all of the children had mental disabilities, but most of them from drugs while the mother was pregnant or abuse as an infant. It broke my heart to look at these beautiful little girls and boys and try and understand how someone could do that. It's unbelievable how a person cannot have love for the unborn or young child, and yet these kids end up having more love than anything. They put up and deal with horrible conditions from the beginning.

Maybe some day I can be in a position to adopt a child. I really hope I can. Especially when it comes time to retire. I will have time available.

I was so lucky to be born into a loving and supportive family. They have stuck by me from the beginning and I have some of the best brothers and sisters to look up to! I didn't have a choice and neither do these other children, but God blessed me and I hope He will with all the kids out there without a loving family.

Anyway, it just touched my heart and I thought I'd share. I'd hope that everyone say a prayer tonight for all the orphaned, abused, punished, and unloved kids out there.

We can walk our road together if our goals are all the same. We can run alone and free if we pursue a different aim. - Rush, Hemispheres, V. The Spher

A few pics of everyday life around here. Not very interesting. I have some more at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2264701&l=2d050&id=16706036.

So, I was trying on getting a video in here about me listing my goals. It didn't work. the connection here is just too slow.

In any case, here are my goals for deployment:
1. Grow as a nurse. Done this already. The hospital isn't always fast paced, but I'm seeing so many new things.
2. Study my GRE. Hm. Not doing so hot on this goal. I've made it to page 2 in my study guide.
3. Get financially stable. Doing pretty good on this. I've paid off my credit card and next month will have my car paid off.
4. Grow spiritually. I'm doing okay on this, but I want to be a lot closer to God. I need to spend more quiet time with Him.
5. Physically. I'm working out a ton more and trying to get more toned. It's working for the most part. Could be eating better though......I'll do good and then splurge.
6. Let go of some emotional baggage I've been carrying around. Time to move on.

I'll have to update them as I go through the deployment. Overall, I just want to grow as a person, inside and out.


Random tidbits.
-LTjg G discovered that LTjg Davis looks like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. That was entertaining. There is a pic on my facebook album.
-Remember. When working with bungee cords...always wear your PPD (personal protective devices)! We got a nasty eye injury from one today! eeeekkk.
-I'm excited! I'm planning on buying an old beatup suv as a second vehicle. Not my primary daily driver, but one I can have for snowboarding, camping, weekend short trips, etc. I've found some pretty decent ones for under $4500! Everyone wants to get rid of their suv's right now. This is one of the biggest things I'm looking forward too!

A rose looks grey at midnight, but the flame is just asleep. And steel is strong because it knows the hammer and white heat. - Johnny Cash, These Thin

I've been in a horrible mood this week. I think it all started on our "dinner and a movie wednesday". We had it on Wednesday instead of Thursday, because as I said in the video, I was Officer of the Day on Thurs.

So, at our little group meet up on Wednesday, one of my friends informed me that most likely we will have to stay an extra month before we can leave. Right now the next detachment's wave 1 is set to leave and then the 2nd wave isn't set to leave until a month later. They want them to be 2 weeks apart for a smooth turnover. Therefore, they are going to push back the departure date of wave 1, so that means we will have to stay. Good and bad from this. Good...extra money and extra time with my friends here. Bad...I am already starting to think about wanting to go home and we're only 2 months into this.

Needless to say, that talk put a damper on the 4 of us that night.

The good part about that night was that we all went to play video games and Joe and I played NCAA football! I, of course, picked tech....and sucked it up because I have no idea what I'm doing when I play it. I did go up to the community center today (because the internet was sucking it up bigtime) and played some for practice.

Then, Thursday my routine was all screwed up because of OOD. I had to get up and muster at 0645 both days and then try and sleep and then either work or stand watch. I missed getting to work out those days.

We work with the same people every day. We live with the same people. We just have our own little quirks and things that bug each other. It's interesting.

Right now, it's 3am here in Kuwait. I've stayed up to listen to the first Texas Tech game! I bought a thing on their website to listen to red raider radio. They had a commercial playing that had the fight song and I started crying. I miss tech so much. I miss college. I just miss the US right now. I get to have fun playing as Tech's team on NCAA football on xbox. haha.

One thing that has saved me from being over here. Skype. I've been going into the laundry room so I can actually use my mic instead of typing. It's really cheered me up on my low days.

I was reading some messages that I sent back in Sept of 05 and it was talking about the hurricane that hit Texas after Katrina and how my sister didn't want to leave. Well, it looks like the same thing is happening now. That cat 4 hurricane is on it's way to the gulf coast somewhere and will get bigger before it hits. Scary stuff. I hope people all take precautions. I'll be watching this...

Servants to mother machine, nursed by video screens, paradise of insanity, born into a grave of mental slavery. - Kreator, Mental Slavery

I was flying back from Lubbock and I saw Jesus on the plane, or maybe it was Elvis. You know, they kind of look the same. - Don Henley, If Dirt Were D

I was looking up videos of Lubbock and it struck me. You can't find any other city with such diverse weather complexities! Here are some examples:

Hail


Wind/Duststorms


Lightening (not a great video...but still)


Tumbleweeds (reminds me of one instance where I was driving and there were hundreds flying across the street! Ignore the crazy hick yelling in the camera. hahaha)




I really miss Lubbock! Everyone says you'll never miss it once you leave....but I really do. I'm actually toying with the idea of retiring out there. Here's a good video after you've seen all that destruction. haha



I didn't really know much about Texas Tech or Lubbock before I graduated from high school, but it's like the 4 years that I were there....it took a piece of my soul. I won't be the same until I can get back there. I need to soon. My last weekend there was February of 07 and it was a good weekend, but just bad memories as to why I was headed there. I need to replace it with a good trip back to the HUB city when I get back from this desert.

Even though I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window, on a cold dark winters night. - Reo Speedwagon, Can't Fight This Feelin

I have some of the best friends back home a girl could wish for!

Jim and Kristi are always there sending me letters on fun paper, cards, packages, playing on skype with me, etc....I can't believe how much I treasure their friendship and they sacrifice so much to make sure we stay close while I'm far. I always get cheered up when I talk to them. They compliment me when I'm feeling self conscious. They tell me wonderful stories to keep me entertained. I can't imagine life without them.

Tanya sent me a package the other day too! Tons of magazines, bath and body works and candy and NUTELLA! I miss being back in DC with her and Phil and Jessica! I know she misses me too and that she has a ton of stuff to do planning her wedding and all...But soon, I'll be back and we can go snowboarding! I'm worried because I don't have much more time in DC and then I don't know how far we'll be separated. But, I do know that we will cross paths again. Maybe down the road I'll try to be stationed in Jacksonville and she'll be living there!

Courtney has gotten on facebook chat and talked with me a bit when I was on that. That was always fun.

My girls from my small group always send out updates every week. Mine is on thursdays...Oh poo. I forgot to send mine out on Thursday. I have to go do that....

My parents are amazing and send me packages all the time. I didn't think I would need all this stuff I keep asking for, but I miss having this stuff at my fingertips. They get on skype and play a lot and put patton up to the camera.

There are a few others that get on skype and play. That really is so much fun and I'm hoping some of my other friends back home would get on.

I'm trying to write more and I have a few cards to send out tomorrow. Some of my friends though, I'm surprised, I haven't really heard much from. That's kinda saddening. I fear there is growth growing there, and honestly, it's hard not to get easily upset by all that. It's just good to even know they're trying. I am so blessed and I'm going to thank God extra tonight for just the wonderful people in my life!

Especially, the new ones he's brought into my life here. We're family. Just like my Tech family. My Arlington High family. The internet family I gain through connections like Tess!

We're all connected and it's just hitting me right now. Thank you all for being so supportive of everything I do and listening to me when I'm complaining or being a silly girl or whatever.

Be good, and you will be lonesome, be lonesome and you will be free. Live a lie and you will live to regret it, that's what living is to me. -Buffett

Hmm. A lot is going on here. My mind is wandering to many different things. They're not bad. I'm doing really well. I'm learning so much here it seems.

I'm learning about being a nurse. We have many different types of patients here. I'm just seeing different ways of being a nurse. I'm also having the opportunity (at times my only option) to teach a lot of my corpsmen. Some of them were pulled from desk jobs and they are now on a floor and when we get busy, I rely on them a lot. The only problem is....they don't always know what it is I'm asking them to do, so then I have to stop and teach them, which takes even longer. I enjoy this, don't get me wrong. I've just been spoiled to having corpsmen that have been on the floor a while.

I'm learning about being an officer. There are situations that arise that I've never had to deal with back at Bethesda. At first, I was getting really upset because the politics are worse here, which I never could imagine. But, now I'm realizing that it really is showing me important things I will need to know. Something I'm going through right now is kinda strange and hard, but I am seeing how the process works and having to make choices that are good for my shipmates and Navy. It may be tough to make those decisions, but I know they have to be done.

I'm learning about monotony. Pfew....every day same thing. Wake up. Work out. Eat. Work. Home. Ready for bed. Maybe movie or call or internet.

I'm trying to keep my self confidence that I've always had.....but....I feel like people pick apart how you look here. I don't understand it. When I was talking about rugby one day, I had a corpsman ask me if that's how I broke my nose. I stopped writing and told him that I never broke my nose. He felt like a jerk. Then, I had another one ask me if I was ever a big (meaning fat) kid before. I said no and asked why and he said because I had chubby cheeks.

Mind you, these are both things that I have been very self conscious of in the past and there really isn't anything I can do about it so I just let it go and don't let it bother me...but it just seems weird that these things come up here. I feel like I'm in high school or something around some of these guys.

Then, other little things that people will ask about the way I walk or anything...I now get defensive. What do they want?? Do I ask everyone else about their looks? No. Whatever. I'm kinda using that frustration though to help me work out more. I'm starting to tone down. I'm liking that. It's hard to control the diet here though! There is all this free food at the DFAC and always desert around the hospital.....urg! If I could just stop that part I'd be super skinny...but NO! haha.

This is such an interesting experience. I didn't know what to expect. I am really enjoying my time here though and I know it will go fast. I'm excited about the holidays here. I think it will be a lot of fun! I know other people will be missing their husbands/wives/kids/girlfriends/boyfriends, etc...but I don't have all that, so I'm gonna have a good time being here with friends.

We're surrounded by the comfort and protection of the highest power. - Savage Garden, Truly Madly Deeply

'Comfort' is on standby for Georgia aid

Hospital ship stays in Baltimore for now

By David Wood |Sun reporter

August 15, 2008

WASHINGTON - With a $20 million, 24-nation aid effort under way for victims of the fighting in Georgia, the USNS Comfort, Baltimore's familiar white-hulled hospital ship, remains idle at its Canton pier, though on standby for possible deployment to the region.

The Pentagon sent a military team into war-ravaged Georgia yesterday to determine what supplies are needed and the most effective ways to deliver them. Two Air Force C-17 cargo planes have already carried basic loads of shelter, food and clothing.

The Comfort, with its 12 operating rooms and fully staffed 1,000-bed hospital, could provide badly needed medical services. The ship is also capable of producing large quantities of fresh water.

But Lt. Cmdr. Steven Pigman, an administrative officer on board the Comfort, said it would take five days to get under way. Most of that time is required to load food and medical stores and assemble its medical and support staff of 1,000 to 1,200 people.

At the ship's cruising speed of 17.5 knots, it would take just over two weeks to travel the 5,840 nautical miles from Baltimore to Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti.

There are other options.

The Pentagon is prepared to airlift mobile field hospitals to Georgia, which would be quicker than sending the Comfort, and the units could be deployed in rural parts of the country if needed, officials said. The Defense Department also has access to mobile water purification units that could be airlifted as well.

International aid officials have described a confusing situation in Georgia, with units of Russian troops roaming outside the contested enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and militias in unmarked uniforms on the streets. Russian troops invaded Aug. 7 after an escalating confrontation over the two disputed regions.

The United Nations refugee agency said one of its assessment teams was attacked yesterday by a paramilitary group, which hijacked their vehicle at gunpoint. The vehicle was later recovered and the U.N. officials were unhurt.

The Pentagon's operations in Georgia could put U.S. military personnel directly in contact with Russian forces. The teams will be authorized to act in self-defense but will not be "confrontational," officials said.

"I don't see any prospect for the use of military force by the United States in this situation," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters.

Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon has had "very good cooperation and dialogue" with Russians as it coordinated its incoming C-17 flights and arranged for an assessment team to work in Georgia.

The U.N., which is supervising the international relief effort, estimated that 115,000 people have fled the fighting over the past week. Aid agency officials said many have taken refuge in kindergartens and other public buildings where food, water, medicine and toilets are in short supply.


I know a ton of nurses that might be going on the comfort making things very tough on Bethesda! Our floor alone sent someone to Africa, one here (me), 2 to Cuba, and now 2 on the comfort possibly. We were already short staffed. Yikes. I hope they're all doing okay.

I also had a Brit as a patient the other day and he had an open fracture (meaning the bone was sticking through the skin) and he doesn't even flinch in pain. He stated it was a 2 out of a scale of 0-10!
Most American men will say their pain is an 8 out of 10 and request dilaudid for small infections!
They also don't have the cool accent, but that's besides the point. ;)

If you believe in working hard all day, just step in my shoes and take my pay. - ZZ Top, Just Got Paid

There's more on my facebook album
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2258279&l=cd0ac&id=16706036



Today, I put 2 years of being an ensignling behind me!

I am now a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTjg)!!

I was forced into doing a promotion ceremony, but I'm really glad I did. It was actually a ton of fun. Even with it being a black flag day and wind kicking up tons of sand and knocking all the O's covers off!

CDR Pruett-Baer administered my oath. She's from Bethesda with me also. LTjg Weiss helped "pin on my rank". It was actually really great to have my friends that I've made so far be there.

I could do my oath anywhere, so I wanted to be out on the helo pad where it says "Welcome to EMF Kuwait" on cement blocks! It was really hot and sweaty, but pretty freakin awesome.

Then, we all went inside and had ice cream cake! That was the best part! Well, that....and the pay raise I'll get on next month's paycheck! Woooo hooooo!

I got my last pictures with "Chuck Norris" and had to give him up so they can pass him down to the next senior Ensign. It's nice not having him attached to my hip anymore. I'm back to my normal size. haha.

As much as this place can be freaking ridiculous (with all the freaking memos and routing sheets I have to do every day...which I might add I never had to do at Bethesda...and I thought they were up tight....), I think I'll actually end up liking this place. I have a feeling I'm really going to miss everyone here a ton.

I don't have a family to go back to. I know we all see each other as family since we're away from loved ones, but really....I don't have much to go back to in Bethesda. My close friends here really are my family. They mean a lot to me and it's going to be a fast (now) 5 months with them.

Here's to being a LTjg!