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Apr 2, 2004
Yes. It's fun times in Newquay, Cornwall. Had my Friday off today and took my car over to the local VW dealership for its 20,000 mile service. Sun was out. Drive was nice. And I even got around to stopping by Truro for some window shopping and sightseeing. Ain't life grand? What a lazy day. I think everyday oughta be like this.
So, I pretty much spent all afternoon and evening vegged out on my laptop, playing a new pc game I bought today called Divine Divinity. Yup, I'm a nerd and I like spending my time and money on video games. I think it's my way of making it up to myself for not having that many toys when I was a kid. Besides, I think it's been scientifically proven that people who play video games are smarter and score higher levels in hand-eye coordination, as well as improved logical processesess... ess. ;:0P
I also bought my plane ticket today for my trip to Amsterdam next week (about $180 roundtrip). Not bad. There's about 8 of us guys goin'. Fun times. Good times.
Totally random thought, but I gotta say how much I love this bath tray set that I bought from Ikea in Bristol about a month ago. It's got this wooden tray that you place across your bathtub when you're taking bubble baths, and you can put your soap and shampoo and ashtray and cigarettes and can of Vanilla Coke and bowl of microwavable kimchee flavored noodles on it while you're latherin' up, listening to some ambient mood music with candles lit up around the bathroom. Plus, it came with this small little brush (but I haven't figured out what it's really used for) & a back scrubber (my favorite). You just squeeze some smelly soap on there from your local foo-foo store and scrub away. So awesome. Only sucky thing I'm noticing lately though is that moist wood tends to grow mold on it in this country.
But why do I like it so much? Because I'm celibate and depraved of the luxury of being loved by someone else, so I have to make every effort to provide love for myself whether it's by soaking my tired, virgin-like body in scented soap bubbles, or purchasing pc games for hours of celibate fun, or indulging in two hearty helpings of Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream that was imported all the way from the United States of America all the way to Newquay, Cornwall, United Kindgom from my grocery store on base to my refridgerator and of which the ice cream was probably frozen and thawed out over a dozen times during it's journey because everytime I try to carve a scoop out it's like cutting into a ceramic vase. A very cold ceramic vase. That's why.
Anyhow, you gotta try the bath set with your bath. It's the best way to unwind especially after 3 hours of non-stop volleyball practice or 8 hours of dealing with petty bull-shit from co-workers and ignorant external customers or agonizing over how frustratingly confusing your government purchase card account balancing & maintenance is when you were only trained for a total of 2 hours by your predecessor who already transferred out of your command, so now you have to drive 6 hours to London from your little town in southwest Great Britain at your own personal expense because your command has decided that only mission-essential funded temporary additional training requests will be approved by the Command, and they're saving it for the important people like the Command Master Chief who thinks it's absolutely vital for her to visit every month just to chit chat and take up space in your work center.
In closing, I really enjoyed this day.
Posted at 02:35 pm by anythinggoes
Mar 31, 2004
I love my George Foreman grill!
I love my George Foreman grill! Argh!!! Call me crazy, but I think it's the shiznit. Just marinate some meat overnight in the fridge and grill i up the next day for dinner after a long day at work, and "viola"! Orgasm on a plate.
Here's the usual recipe I use. Feel free to try it.
INGREDIENTS:
1 serving of Pork or Chicken breast
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
1/4 cup Vinegar
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1/2 cup Chopped Onion
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder / Minced Fresh Garlic
1 Tbsp Ground Black Pepper
1 Tsp Regular or Brown Sugar
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Oil (Sesame or whatever)
A little splash of Beer or Whiskey or any kind of alcohol flavor you might be craving
DIRECTIONS:
Put the meat in tupperware. Simply pour the ingredients over the meat and seal it. Place the marinade in the refridgerator for at least an hour (*best overnight so it soaks up all the flava) before you throw it in your George Foreman grill. Mmm mmm! Like my buddy Casey used to say, "It'll make ya cry for yo' mama!"
Posted at 10:26 am by anythinggoes
Mar 29, 2004
Damn, what's my password again?
Damn, duuude! I've just come to the realization that I have been using the internet for way too long. I can't even remember half the passwords and user names I've racked up. This is really a sign for me to start simplifying my life, well at least as far as the internet goes I guess. No more porn sites or stupid blog sites. (Yeah, right).
So, today was the best day ever (can you sense my sarcasm?). Naw, it actually wasn't that bad other than the usual people who come around to irritate the hell outta me all decided to visit me today. Had a great morning start by waking up early enough to get to work on time, as well as getting my few errands done and over with. Then it started getting busier as the day progressed with a few discontent patients and a couple of crying kids. It was all good though as soon as I broke out with my secret stash of chocolate. Kids love that stuff, and I just love making kids even more hyper for their already discontent parents. That'll teach 'em to walk in late for their appointments and making me do all the dirty work; running around single-handedly trying to check in 3 patients at once to make sure their kids get the quality healthcare they deserve and that the doctors' schedules don't go berserk.
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, my day. At least the sun decided to come out. It was pretty damn warm today. I even had to roll down my car windows and open up my sunroof to cool off on my drive home while bumping to a new cd I got the other week (total waste of money, btw). But hey! I'm rich. I'm in the Navy. I actually like filling my life with worthless material to make it seem more substantial than it really is.
I actually went online and researched around for quad-band phones. I ended up getting a Motorola V600; an unlocked, quad-band phone with Bluetooth compatibility, polyphonic ringtones, a built-in camera, and glows in several selectable colors for different caller categories that I choose... all for under $600.00 plus shipping & handling. Yeah, shut up. I know it was expensive, but hey. I'm happy and that's all that matters. If you care to see where I got it, go to http://www.mphone.co.uk/Motorola/motorola_v600.html and look it up: Motorola V600.
Besides the phone, I'm really proud of my other impulse purchase I made around New Years this year; a KT-113 Koritech Handystar portable karaoke all-in-one microphone. It's awesome. All you have to do is plug it into your tv or receiver, and BAM! Karaoke, baby, yeah. It even scores you after you sing. Mine's got about 1,500 songs in it, and I only know about half of them, but it's all good. I payed about $350 bucks for the mic, including an extra SD chip that plug into it that has 500 more songs. Yeah, kinda expensive, I know, but I kinda lucked out and received two microphones, when I was only supposed to receive one. Maybe I'll just sell it or give it to someone. If you're curious about where I got that one, go to http://www.furnitureandgifts.com/handystar.html. I know, it sounds like a weird site to find a karoke microphone, but I think it's run by some oriental trade store and you know how us orientals can be disoriented sometimes.
I'm feeling like I'm good for the time being and I don't have any impulse to buy anything expensive. I've actually saved up enough money for the trip to Amsterdam this April. I think I wrote about it in an earlier entry. I'm kinda excited to go, but at the same time, I'm not sure 'cause I only know one person out of the whole group that I'm going with. Even if I become third wheel though, I hope it'll be a place I can have fun on my own. Oh well. Only one way to find out, right? If anything, I can go, take pictures, shoot some heroin, and say I've experienced Amsterdam. Just kidding.
Posted at 01:32 pm by anythinggoes
Mar 25, 2004
Okay, so I was feeling romantic tonight. Now back to reality! I haven't written jack in a while 'cause I've been out of it and feeling like crap. I miss life in the U.S. and having the opportunity to stop by and check in on friends, or stoping by the local Starbucks for a cup of my favorite over-priced Folgers in a fancy paper cup, or speeding down the I-5 in my little VW. Ugh! Oh well.
April's coming. I'm kinda glad. March has been a really dull month. Weather's starting to brighten up a bit lately, so hopefully I'll be able to do a little more travelling soon. Thinkin' about a trip to Amsterdam that a friend was talking about for mid April. I guess we'll see.
Poop! That's my favorite word for the moment. Poop! Time for bed. So tired tonight, I dunno if my three alarm clocks will be able to wake me tomorrow morning. Plus, I've got the duty this entire week, so I gotta make sure I'm up early to unlock the entire office. Sweet dreams...
Posted at 03:51 pm by anythinggoes
You captured me from the first moment I saw your smile. I've tried to deny it to myself that it was more than just that, but everytime I'm around you I feel like nothing else matters but being with you. You talk to me as if you knew me all my life, but when you look into my eyes all I think about is seeing your smile the first thing in the morning when I wake up and the last when I fall asleep. I wonder if you see how much I wanna be yo' baby daddy. Word up!
Posted at 03:43 pm by anythinggoes
Mar 20, 2004
Woke up around 9:30 this morning just laying in bed, seeing gray out my bedroom window and wondering which one of my three alarm clocks would ring first. It so hard to get out of bed especially since I got myself some flannel sheets and a down comforter earlier this past winter. I'm lucky that my office is pretty relaxed about random tardiness.
Anyhow, no work today! It's basically gonna be the weekly routine of washing laundry, watching dvd's, cleaning up the house, and cooking food. There's gonna be another potluck at a friend's house and I'm trying to figure out what to bring this time. Last time I brought over some pork sinigang (Filipino sour soup) that was a bit on the spicy side. I'm thinking I'll either just make some Guamanian red rice, like my friend Seth taught me, or a pot of kadun pika, "spicy chicken drummetes". Found the recipe on chamorro.com. We'll see. I really wanna try making some kelaguin (spicy meat marinated in citrus) but I'm too scared it won't turn out as good as how the Apuya Family does it.
It's still cold and windy outside. Ugh! It started out like this yesterday morning, but then the sun came out for the rest of the afternoon and I was hoping it would stick around. Ah well. Maybe today should be the day I finally get to my spring cleaning.
I'm trying to think if there's anything else I need to get done this weekend. Oh yeah, that's right. I have to get an appointment for Gomer at the local VW dealership for its oil change. I'd do it myself, but it's cold out, I don't have the tools, and I'm a puss. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Posted at 03:13 am by anythinggoes
Mar 18, 2004
Yup. There's nothin' like a cup of liquid hot magma ramen noodles (you know the kind that you can't wait for it to cool down, so you risk third-degree burns down the digestive tract knowing it's still piping hot), and a whole bag of BBQ rice cakes for lunch to get you going. I was just reading the back of the bag that I "inhaled" a few minutes ago, and I realized I just ingested over 700 calories all in one sitting, not to mention the 2000 milligrams of sodium from my cheddar cheese flavored noodles. Is that bad? I mean, I look in the mirror and I've still got my slim (yet sexy) figure. Oh well.
I was actually on the Slim Fast regimen about two years ago when I was in Washington. One for breakfast, one for lunch, and a sensible seven course meal at the local King's Wok Chinese Buffet. Ha! Surprisingly, it seemed to work because I would hit the gym on a regular basis. I'd go into different phases where'd I'd be really good at eating "healthy", but for the past year or so, I just said "fuck it". If it tastes good, it's going in my stomach.
Being 28 years old really seems like some kind of joke to me sometimes. I think to myself, damn, I used to be 24. I used to be 21. I used to be 18, even! 28 years old? Later this year I'll be 29. By the time I transfer back to the U.S. I'll be 30 years old. When I retire from the Navy, I'll be about 38. I don't really don't feel any different now than I did when I was in high school. Still goofy and energetic, with slightly more facial hair and a bigger... um, heart.
I think one of my greatest fears is that one day, I'm gonna wake up and look in the mirror and I won't even be able to recognize myself. Don't you ever look in the mirror and try to find wrinkles around your eyes? Shut up, you know you do! I think my left eye has more wrinkles than my right. Ha ha. Again, what's the point. There's isn't one. Does there always have to be a point to a story? No, especially if you already know me and know how short of a memory I have.
Lunch break is over. Back to work.
Posted at 06:22 am by anythinggoes
Mar 17, 2004
Today seemed kinda erratic with all the different crap I had to tend to. As usual, I was getting frustrated with getting my supply purchases in order. I'm in charge of researching and ordering supplies for my clinic and I just recently started learning the systematics of it. And there's so much damn shit to buy! Can I just scream for a minute? Argh! It's a bit intimidating when I think of how easily one slight mistake can drastically affect the rest of the clinic, so I'm finding myself triple-checking my work to make sure I don't screw anything up. And there's always someone who comes interrupting me every hour asking about their supply order while I'm in the middle of it all. I really need to post my "Hours of Operation" outside the door.
In addition, I'm the one and only Xray Tech onboard now. Although I don't have too many customers on a daily basis, it's still a full-time job on the days that I do, because of record filing, equipment maintenance, making sure I have enough chemicals to develop xray film, and managing the clinic's Radiation Health Safety Program. Today wasn't so bad. Only had one chest xray.
When I'm not so busy with xrays and supplies, I'm usually helping out with patient care by checking 'em in for their appointments, checking vital signs, drawing blood, giving shots, and making appointments on our not-so-very user friendly appointment scheduling computer program. We're really short-handed nowadays on patient care staff so I can't always hide in my office.
Aside from the fun stuff, I also attend our MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) meetings, conduct CPR classes every month or so, present lectures during Command Indoctrination monthly, and manage our clinic's crash cart equipment and supplies.
Woo! Fun times. I try not to complain to often 'cause all-in-all, it's really easy working here. I'm just really starting to develop my whole balancing routine. Once I get it tweaked the way I need it, I think it'll be a breeze and I'll be able to let my hair down a little. (Um, what hair?) Like I always say, it could be worse, right?
A bunch of my co-workers and I put a team together and had our first pre-season volleyball game this afternoon. We're gonna play other departments from our base, and so far there's only been 5 other teams that I know of who's signed up. Now if only my team would just learn how to keep the damn volleyball in the court, we might have a chance of making it. Playin' for fun. Ha! Screw fun! I wanna win damn it!
After hittin' the ball around with the guys, I hurried home and scarfed down my left over chicken adobo and rice that I made last night. I swear, I think I have some kinda eating disorder. I hardly ever eat breakfast and lunch, besides my four cups of coffee at work, and when I get home I just gorge myself on whatever I can find in my kitchen.
I put some more pictures up on my living room wall. Bought these cheap ass wooden picture frames from Ikea a couple weekends ago. It's about a 2 - 3 hour drive located in Bristol. Some friends, Shane and Maria went with me and the main reason for the trip was so Shane could look for a spare bed for his brother and brother's partner who's visiting in a couple of weeks. All he ended up buying was a damn plastic ice cream scoop. Crackhead! I just loaned him my two air mattresses.
Anyhow, I'm beginning to get bored with myself. If you're reading this, you probably are too. I'll try to think of something more exciting and profound next time. I promise. Hafa adai.
Posted at 11:59 am by anythinggoes
Mar 16, 2004
March 16th sounds like a good day to start a blog. Just a matter of fingerin' out a place to begin. Well, I guess you can't go wrong with an introduction, right?
I'm just an average, run of the mill superhumanbeing. I'm currently living in the United Kingdom, in a slow-paced, "Little House on the Prairie" environment called Cornwall. I work at a small U.S. Naval medical clinic as a radiography technician.
I was born in Manila, Philippines and grew up in between Gapan, Nueva Ecija and Meycauayan, Bulacan until I emigrated to U.S. with my parents when I was 8 years old. We settled in San Diego, California and I attended George Nicoloff Elementary School, Southwest Junior High, and finally graduated from Montgomery High School in 1994.
Three months after graduating, I decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy to earn money for higher education, gain character, and explore the world. I turned 19 years old on my first morning in boot camp at Recruit Training Depot Great Lakes (aka Great Mistakes). Lookin' back now, I don't see it as a mistake. More like a major turning point in my life where I once was an apathetic teenager who knew little about the world outside of Southern San Diego. I've gained so much knowledge and experience from the people I've met and the places I've been while in the Navy.
My first duty station was at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington with Attack Squadron 165. I was an Airman Recruit, basically working my way from the bottom of the heap. I obtained my qualifications to become a Plane Captain within a year of greasing up, washing, and maintaining A6-E Intruders. I experienced my first 6-month West-Pac deployment with my squadron on the U.S.S. Nimitz (aka Mother Nimitz).
We visited several ports including Bremerton (Washington), Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai (UAE), and Jebel Ali (UAE). Upon the end of my first deployment, I submitted a request to change my rating to become a HM (Hospital Corpsman). I realized I didn't like working with planes and cocky pilots.
As soon as our aircraft carrier returned to port in San Diego, California, I bid my shipmates farewell, met my parents by the dock, bought my first car (a new blue 1996 Honda Civic that I named "Charmaine") and checked into Naval School of Health Sciences San Diego at Naval Medical Center San Diego, formerly known as Balboa Hospital.
Hospital Corps School was a breeze and after graduation in September 1996, I was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for Filed Medical Service School. Two of my classmates and I drove my car cross-country from California to North Carolina within 2 days to learn that we had just missed a major hurricane. Guess we were lucky. In school, we basically learned how to function like U.S. Marines, how to fire a rifle, and how to patch up wounds in the heat of battle. (More fun than it really sounds). I lucked out and had two of the coolest drill intructors.
My first assignment as a Field Hospital Corpsman was with Charlie Company, 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group at Camp Pendleton, California. Try to say that ten times as fast as you can! I remember a lot of sitting around, reading training material, standing barracks watch, painting boxes, hiking, camping out, cleaning my pistol every frickin' day, standing unifrom inspections just as often, and putting up with petty politics.
While with 1st Medical Battalion, I volunteered to join Marine Service Support Group-15 (MSSG-15). Although we had the worst leadership you could imagine, my co-workers & I made the best of things, and I took my second 6-month deployment on the U.S.S. Duluth with our Marines.
If there's one thing I learned from that deployment was that I never want to step foot on the U.S.S. Duluth ever again if I can help it. It was so small that it didn't take much to get seasick from the old rustbucket rocking so much, and you couldn't get away to get any time to yourself. Half the time, the air conditioning wouldn't work and there'd be no hot water for showers. Call me a puss, but let's see you spend 6 months on her and see how you like it.
Some good things I experienced during this deployment were the ports we visited: Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Seychelles (UK Island), Djiabouti (Africa), Kuwait, and Bahrain.
We returned to Camp Pendleton and I worked in the S-1 Office as an Admin "Beyotch" until I transferred out in December 1999.
I chose orders to work at my first medical clinic at Naval Submarine Base Bangor Clinic in Washington State. I certified as an EMT-Basic and a Navy and EMT Course Instructor. I fell in love with Washington with its beautiful cascading mountains and abundant trees. This state is also where I traded my old Honda Civic for a new black 2002 Volkswagen Golf TDI who I lovingly call "Gomer". Someday when everything falls into place, I'd like to settle down in Washington State.
After spending three years of cross-training thru my clinic in Washington, I decided to specialize as Radiology Technician because it's easy and it pays good on the outside. Training only took three months to complete at Naval School of Health Sciences San Diego, California.
I got the chance to choose between several duty stations upon completion of Radiology Technician School: Sigonella (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Guam, Cherry Point (North Carolina), and a few others. I chose Naval Medical Clinic St Mawgan (United Kingdom) since I've never experienced Britain and Europe, and I wouldn't have to learn another language if I wanted to speak to the locals. Ha ha!
Now that I've been here for a little over 6 months, I'm getting adjusted. I'm renting a 1-1/2 bedroom/bath house in town. My first priority was to make my home an actual "home" by decorating it with pictures of my family and friends. Just call me Martha Stewart. Lately, I've been a home body because it's been cold and rainy out. I arrived in the United Kingdom during the end of Summer (which was nice and hot).
I've gotten the chance to meet a few new friends and travel to Land's End, St Michael's Mount, Bristol, Truro, London, Stanstedt, Glasgow & Edinburgh (Scotland). Although the area I live doesn't conveniently cater the luxuries I was used to while living in the U.S. (i.e. Starbucks on every street corner, clubs, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Domino's Pizza, malls) I still try to look on the bright side of things. Being here still opens a window of opportunity to travel to nearby European countries. I've even gotten the chance to learn how to tell someone to "go fuck yourself" in a Scottish accent! Priceless.
Still gets lonely and monotonous at times, but I guess it could be worse, right? Right.
Posted at 02:47 pm by anythinggoes
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