While T was here, I became an official gun carrier.  Next week, I’ll be taking a Handgun Training class.  After that, I’ll be taking my CHL class.  I can’t wait.  One of the times I went out to see T, we went shooting and I did a pretty good job (all shots on the chest/stomach/groin, one over the shoulder).  I’m also looking forward to going hunting for the first time.  Hopefully sometime this year.

Well, I guess that’s it.  Sorry this was so short.

Until the next dew drops,

M

I was watching Trading Spouses (I’m not normally one for reality shows since I haven’t really had cable in awhile  but this one caught my attention).  Anyway, this one traded a Vegan from California and a woman from the Louisiana Bayou (Cajun to the core).  I’m proud to be from California…but the Vegan lady just irritated the hell out of me.  She was so judgmental and so bitchy it was ridiculous.  She constantly said how much she loved animals and such but when the Cajun puppy peed in the house, she did that whole “lets force the dog to smell the pee” (even though it’s pretty much been proven that doing that doesn’t work) and even spanked it.  She said that the dog hardly even felt it but he yelped.  He was yelping when he was being forced to “smell” it.  Hell, the little Cajun boy said he felt *this* small because she was just mean.  And all her little California friends…all judgmental too.  Californians are supposed to be some of the most non-judgmental people ever and yet…there are these people.  Grr.

Okay, I’m done with this rant.

Until the next dew drops,

M

I am now less than 100 hours away from leaving Virginia.  It hasn’t hit me yet though.  I think it’ll finally hit me when I get into Texas.  In about two weeks, I get to see T for the first time since early June.  Seeing him always makes me happy (of course).  It’s going to be nice not living in a hotel room for a little bit.  I’ve lost almost 10 pounds since around 1 July.  I cut out fast food and soda.  I eat very little sweets.  And I eat healthier.  I’m pretty proud of myself.  It’s not always easy eating right while living in a hotel room when all you have is a microwave.  *Pats self on back*

Tomorrow, I’m running (or, going to try to run) 6 miles.  Then, I’m going to start packing up my Beastie (that’s the name of my truck).  Can you tell I’m a little anxious to leave?

I’m determined to really update this blog as much as possible.  I tend to be really good for awhile but then I taper off.  I’ll try to avoid doing that this time.  I don’t just want to keep everyone updated on my life but I think this will help relax my brain after all the schooling.  I’ll need something else to think about every once in awhile.

Okay, I’m done rambling for now.

Until the next dew drops,

M.

I feel bad for complaining to T about my issues.  I apologize for bitching so much but he tells me that it’s his job as my boyfriend.  Having him definitely makes up for my lack of work support…although sometimes it’s hard for me to see that.

Bah, I’m done now.

Until the next dew drops,

M.

I’ve seen quite a few pages for people I went to high school with.  They were the “beautiful” people back in high school.  And, to my horror, they are still the beautiful people.  Not only that, most have great jobs that make them happy, have graduated college, a lot are married (and have gorgeous photos of gorgeous weddings for gorgeous people), and some have or are expecting children.  I’m jealous.  There, I admit it.  I’ve been bitten my the green-eyed monster.  I’m in a fantastic relationship right now but I highly doubt we’ll ever get married OR have children (although, I’m pretty certain I don’t want children so that doesn’t really matter).  I’ve got a divorce under my belt and no college degree.  All I have to show is nearly eight years in a career field I hate.  But, I’m at a turning point.  I’m going to be starting school next month for a career field that I hope I will enjoy.  And with any luck, I’ll be heading to Arizona in February after I grad out.

Then maybe…just maybe…someone will be just a little jealous of me.

Gee…I shoot for the stars don’t I?

Until the next dew drops,

M.

I feel like I’m losing my mind at work. I’m trying to run two different offices, in two different buildings, all while trying to out-process. Oh, and I get to train the two new people (in two different offices). Both will be on leave next week (one will be back mid-week but will need to do base in-processing) so I won’t be able to train them until the following week. I will only be able to give them a total of 10 work days for training. I’ve been put in a very awkward position and I blame my leadership. Such is life though, right? The military has a saying that I’m guessing applies to my current situation: “Shut up and color!”

I went walking tonight. I wanted to walk for an hour but at about 40 minutes into it, I developed a blister on my big toe…and then it popped. Stupid feet. Traitors.

I had to go to Urgent Care (emergency room…I don’t know why they changed the damn thing) yesterday because I hurt my back. Don’t know how (can I blame leadership for that too?) but I pulled some muscle back there. The doc gave me some muscle relaxers. Put me to sleep awfully quick. T laughed at me the whole time while we were talking on Skype (T = the boyfriend). He called me a baby giraffe. I think I walked just fine (the walls did keep getting in my way though). While picking up the muscle relaxers, I also got my allergy pills and nose spray stuff. A different doc was supposed to give them to me a little while ago. I guess she finally got to putting it into the system. Yay allergy meds!

Tomorrow morning, at 0900, the packers are coming. I should probably get some things ready.

Until the next dew drops,

M.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/07/military.gays.ap/index.html

(AND, FOR THE LINK PHOBIC):

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress should repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law because the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win, according to a new study released by a California-based research center.

Protests in 2007 against a high ranking military official’s comments that being gay is “immoral.”

The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton’s policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation.

“Evidence shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion,” the officers states.

To support its contention, the panel points to the British and Israeli militaries, where it says gay people serve openly without hurting the effectiveness of combat operations.

Undermining unit cohesion was a determining factor when Congress passed the 1993 law, intended to keep the military from asking recruits their sexual orientation. In turn, service members can’t say they are gay or bisexual, engage in homosexual activity or marry a member of the same sex.

Supporters of the ban contend there is still no empirical evidence that allowing gays to serve openly won’t hurt combat effectiveness.

“The issue is trust and confidence” among members of a unit, said Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, who retired in 1993 after working on the issue for the Army. When some people with a different sexual orientation are “in a close combat environment, it results in a lack of trust,” he said.

The study was sponsored by the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, which said it picked the panel members to portray a bipartisan representation of the different service branches.

According to its Web site, the Palm Center “is committed to keeping researchers, journalists and the general public informed of the latest developments in the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy debate.”

Two of the officers on the panel have endorsed Democratic candidates since leaving the military — Army Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, who supports Barack Obama, and Marine Corps Gen. Hugh Aitken, who backed Clinton in 1996.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Minter Alexander, a Republican, was assigned in 1993 to a high-level panel established by the Defense Department to examine the issue of gays in the military. At one point, he signed an order that prohibited the military from asking a recruit’s sexual orientation.

Alexander said at the time he was simply trying to carry out the president’s orders and not take a position. But he now believes the law should be repealed because it assumes the existence of gays in the military is disruptive to units even though cultural attitudes are changing.

Further, the Defense Department and not Congress should be in charge of regulating sexual misconduct within the military, he said.

“Who else can better judge whether it’s a threat to good order and discipline?” Alexander asked.

Navy Vice Adm. Jack Shanahan said he had no opinion on the issue when he joined the panel, having never confronted it in his 35-year military career. A self-described Republican who opposes the Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq war, Shanahan said he was struck by the loss of personal integrity required by individuals to carry out “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“Everyone was living a big lie — the homosexuals were trying to hide their sexual orientation and the commanders were looking the other way because they didn’t want to disrupt operations by trying to enforce the law,” he said.

1.  Running is the quickest and most efficient Means of Weight Loss (didn’t I just say that?)

- 20 minutes three or four times a weeks is enough to make you fit

2.  Running reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, the number-one killer of women.

3.  Running lowers your heart rate and blood pressure

4.  Running reduces your risk of stroke, the second leading killer of women

5.  Running lowers your risk of breast cancer

6.  Running enhances your immunce system

7.  Running may prevent diabetes and help those with this disease to manage it more efficiently

8.  Running helps keep your intestinal tract in good working order

9.  Running enhances your respiratory system

10.  Running may reduce the symptoms of PMS

11.  Running improves your health and well-being during pregnancy

12.  Running may reduce the symptoms of menopause

13.  Running prevents muscle and bone loss that ocurs with age

14.  Running is good for your joints

15.  Running helps prevent a decline in reaction time

16.  Running leads to a long and happy life

17.  Running gives you energy

18.  Running relieves stress

19.  Running elevates your mood

20.  Running enhances your mental power and stimulates creativity

21.  Running brings renewal

——————————–

My goal for today was to run 5 1/2 miles.  I made my goal.  So, my goal for next Sunday is to run 10K (6.2 miles).  I walk three days a week and run 3-4.  But I’ve decided that on my walking days, I’m going to run a mile first.  I want to bring my mile time to 8 minutes.

I don’t have much more to say now.

Until the next dew drops,

M.

So, I wonder, why do they read these sites that talk about people they don’t like? Do they really lead that boring of a life that they have to make stupid comments about everyone? If I don’t like a CELEBRITY, I don’t read about them. Or, I read about them…laugh at how stupid they are…and go on about my marry ol’ way. Have we learned NOTHING from Bambi?

“If you can’t say something nice…don’t say nothing at all.”

Until the next dew drops (but hopefully not on my bed),

M.

I did learn that my downstairs neighbors were woken up at 0130 so don’t feel bad for me too much. It’s actually very strange. It’s not just that my roof is leaking. My walls seem to be too. Maybe my apartment is expressing itself because I’m leaving? I can’t sleep on my bed tonight (most likely anyway…I’m assuming they’ll have to destroy some part of the ceiling to fix it). I’m guessing my ceiling has been leaking for awhile since there are already brown stains all over it. I blame the roofers. They’ve been here for a few days and my ceiling wasn’t leaking before that. Punks.

Guess that’s all for now

Until the next dew drops,

M.

EDIT:  They won’t fix my ceiling until after I move out next week.  It’s supposed to rain all weekend.  How nice of them!