Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I find myself away from home this year. Away from Natalia, the comforts of home and away from my favorite season. I found this year to be very good year for me with the news of my deployment most of the year over my head and squeezing every moment with Natalia to make it special. Also blessed to have shared time with Roisin whom became part of my life. I eagerly await next year and a homecoming and hopefully a reunion with those I miss and look forward to that experience of coming home from a deployment. Of course not as glorious as I would have wanted but I answered the call to duty.

“if something is there, you can only see it with your eyes open, but if it isn't there, you can see it just as well with your eyes closed. That's why imaginary things are often easier to see than real ones.”

- Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

Finished a 77 hour work week during the Christmas week with that day spent at work. A Christmas to remember for sure. Also to finish up our long week I thank my team at work for making me feel human for just a few hours. Those small things in life are missed here and I am slowly starting to feel it.

New Year's is around the corner and I will also spend that night at work. One of my New Year's resolution has been accomplished just in time by reading Unholy Night, which becomes my 50th book this year and one I recommend and fits the season. Get another view on the lives if the Three Kings and the birth of Jesus in this book. Also read two Kurt Vonnegut novels in Slaughterhouse-Five and the Cat's Cradle and found them to my liking.

I am still running and getting more regular with it. Slowly working my way to 10 km runs comfortably as my legs just keep feeling heavy and bulky and hoping to break through that feeling.

200 Days Left

As off now I have 200 days left on island, but not that I am counting. The other night there was a group celebrating their departure at the local bar as they had "a day and a wake up" left. I already know I will miss this place a little as I get accustomed to it and also miss some people. But that is life and I have been in this position before. But this time it is bye and not see you later. Some stuff at work has changed and I await to see how it may change the dynamics there if at all. Soon we may change around teams and shifts and I am not looking forward to that as I like my team and team lead. I hope to at least keep the same team lead. 

The weather has changed a few days ago as winter is making its way to the tropics. We have a more constant breeze and a slight temperature drop by the coast and the ocean has been getting rough making snorkeling not so pleasurable. I hope to start to run more often as I am getting used to hour long runs. Finished reading Robert Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky and I recommend it. Still reading Farnham's Freehold and thus far a good read and already will recommend it as it is very provocative when released in the early 1960s.

Check out this cool short film from Neil Gaiman - A Dream of Flying. 

Don't forget to check out the latest No Agenda Show

Happy Thanksgiving

Days continue to move slow and the weather never changes. At home I know it is cold and snow has made its appearance as usual before Thanksgiving. However here I have 85 degree sunny days and though many envy that I do wish for some change. I continue to run and snorkel and always hoping to do more of each. Work has been good as my small team has gotten close and we work like one unit. We also welcome our HM1 to our team whom has had a rough time here but we all clicked and hope to work with her my whole time here. Not many HM1s get down and dirty and do the real job and she has no problems doing it. The longer I am here work dynamics change and attitudes change and I learn daily new things about the life at work. I already know I will miss those I work with even spending the short time we will spend.

I am back to my reading pace and will meet my goal of 50 books by years end and hope to increase it. Currently I am reading Farnham's Freehold by Robert Heinlein and Abyss Deep. Abyss Deep the sequel from Ian Douglas and I am very glad he got it written and published after I had a short email conversation with him about his first book and wanting to keep reading a sci-fi book about a corpsman. Lucky I have managed to find a decent selection of book here.

I wish you all a pleasant Thanksgiving and one spent with those whom you care and share life with. I continue to hope and pray to talk with Natalia as often as I can. Know I will be here standing duty defending freedom and democracy keeping America's threat secured (P.S. this is my funny sentence but sounds good. LOL).



In the High Country (official teaser) from Joel Wolpert on Vimeo.

Disconnect

Getting work to a routine and days moving slow for me thus far. Been running and snorkeling as I have been. Getting better at running and working myself up to a steady one hour run. On my walk to the NEX one day I came across Scooby and the gang and took a picture of their van. Also got lucky and tagged along with a few psych techs here and went to Girl Scout Beach. I want to visit all the beaches if possible.

"Which is why human society mostly works; people avoid trouble. But behind every law is the implicit threat of force, and behind every vote is the implicit threat of rebellion. That's the bargain that holds a free society together. And no society with a wide power imbalance remains free for very long."

- Daniel Suarez - Kill Decision

Though we have some connection here (internet) it is in designated places and not so fast. So we are not "connected" all the time and I find it now not as bad. You learn to "disconnect" and do other things and get together with others. It would be a bad thing to lock yourself in your room and not interacting. You learn to just walk everywhere and sit and stare at the sky and the ocean and just be.

Lately been reading two books simultaneously; one at work and another in my room. Right now reading A canticle for Liebowitz, which it is a little of a hard read for me but a good concept and world. Also reading Kill Decision which relates to our world today. Go ahead and call me crazy. But not too long ago we would never believe unmanned machines would be doing the killing.

Below is a cute animated short I came across. Enjoy.

Don't forget to catch the latest No Agenda Show.

Happy Halloweenie!

Well, I spend Halloween at work and this means no trick or treating for me this year. Also looks like I will spend all major holidays at work and not being able to do the many running events here or the chance to get some volunteer hours.

"It weighs (the world) life and labor in the balance against silver and gold. That'll never balance."

- Walter M. Miller Jr. - A Canticle for Liebowitz

I keep getting in the running in the days off and the rest out in the ocean looking at the marine life. A few guys here have spotted some barracudas and I will also like to see one but I am sure I would freak out a little. Trying to slowly get a snorkeling group together and hope to get to see the other beaches in the area. I am back into my reading mode and split it between two books at a time as I have one at work and one at "home".

Talked with Natalia very briefly the other day and look forward to talking to her longer this Monday. She sounds like she is good and having fun. I do miss her as I miss my other woman in my life but I always look forward to the awesome homecoming.

Oh! The Water!

Finally moved in to my permanent room and got hooked up with good roommates. Even my first night slept through the whole night. Had one shift at work that got some action and better get ready and get on a pace to get ready for those. Haven't worked that much this past week as I had BLS class and I got 2 days off for that. No complaints there.

Been running more constant and hope I can go more often. At least every day off go for a run. Found out there are no real trails in this side to run due to security. I was told by an MP of a nice trail right outside this side. So I will look for that in a few days. Also started to go snorkeling in the nearby beach and I must saw it is very cool and relaxing. I think that will be something I will do regular and start to go to the other beaches to see. I remember when I had my aquarium and the fishes I kept there. I kept naming them in my head as I see them out here. Also got close to a few small jelly fishes and my first turtle was spotted.

Got to talk and see Natalia through Skype this past Monday as my parents picked her up for a few hours. I do wish I had to see more of her but that is the system. Not happy but that is they way it is. She looks happy and a month away and I feel she doesn't miss me which is a good thing. I do not want to see her cry.

I do step back and see that not everyone works where I work, walks to the beach past a guard with an M249 SAW and swims the Caribbean ocean and wraps up the day with a movie outdoors. Overall it is not bad at all here. We have a few things to pass the time with away from work. Wish I could write more but that is pretty much thus far away from work.

Don't forget to catch the latest Sword & Laser Episode 146

FPCON ALPHA Here.

A week here gone and moving slowly and I hope it starts to pick up. My first night at work went through uneventful and a step into history for me. I am one of those very few to see what actually happens here. In a few weeks I will get the layout of the land here and fall into a pace. Still waiting to move to my permanent room and roommates. Here we share our home with army and the workplace as well and I see a small division between the two branches and I hope to break that. At least myself on my shifts. I see no reason to alienate each other when we are doing the same job and depend on each other doing it. Wish I could share much more about the job but at the present time I am unable to do so.

Talked with Natalia again and she got to spend a few hours with her grandparents for the first time in a few weeks. I wish she had more time but the system is not on my side. Natalia sounds good and happy and that is all that matters. In a few months we will both be together again.

Got two runs thus far and hope for a more constant regimen as I get adjusted to my work schedule. Also wanting to go snorkeling soon but waiting for that first paycheck to see where I stand. My last run I headed to the beach near here and got a little wet there to cool off on my way back. Went out for a little nightlife here and not for me, but it is expected for it being a base. Plan on trying to find a real trail out here and go for a nice run Monday. Also got back into reading mode and am reading 3 books. Yes, 3 books as I am not able to take in material to work some left over stuff was there and started to read Da Vinci Code and some junkie sci-fi book in my work areas along with The Dirty Streets of Heaven by Tad Williams.  I hope in the next few weeks to experience more of the life here which I will have plenty of time to do.

I Am Here, 270 Days To Go.

Here I arrived a day early and the countdown has begun. Met up with my buddy here that same night by chance and started to get the 411 on the place. So far everything we really need is close by and not as hot or humid as I would expect, but again its almost October. Air condition everywhere, internet is slow but food is not bad. Ocean views constantly and I am sure I'll be tired of looking at the ocean in a few months. I plan on doing some running and volunteering. About a week here and I can say I got a good lay of the land. Introduction was smooth and just

awaiting to start to do the job. Iguanas everywhere and I do not like them but I am sure in a few weeks you won't even notice them. Thus far days moving very slow and hope they start to move on. My posts will be short as I won't be able to post publicly most of my experiences and adventures here. I can say I am in a historic place and doing and seeing things that many never see or experience. I hope to soon get back to my reading as I have fallen far behind.

I may be away but don't forget to stay up to date with the No Agenda Show.

Norfolk, VA

 Well I've arrived to Norfolk with no problems. Flight was quick and smooth. I must say out of all the airports I have been on the Norfolk airport is pretty ugly. NMPS here is one of two Naval processing centers for deployment and in a few months it will be the only one. A rather small place for the work but it gets done. The process went smooth with much help. I left Friday afternoon, briefs were good and leadership looks good. I do wish I had a little more time here and able to look around the whole base, but it looks like there may be plenty of time in my demob process. As it was I just walked to NMPS and back to my room daily. So far I am doing good mentally and eager to get this started. Hoping to settle in fast and have good roommates.

Posts may be short due to security reasons. A little hard for me as I am an open book and have a big mouth.

On a short rant many seen the short footage of the Navy Yard shooting that was released and well, I don't see an assault rifle or a handgun. Turns out he obtained the handgun inside the building, but no assault rifle. So right away the media made up stories and lied to us. Why? The Agenda! The agenda to disarm law abiding citizens.

The Day Has Arrived

Last day at home and last few days here were great with Natalia all week. I will keep a journal of all my happenings and post some stuff here. A corpsman's view inside GTMO. Who knows, maybe a book deal in the future? The six months "heads up" I got, I think were as good as it can be. I went from shock to enjoying life to getting ready and being at peace being away from Natalia. Out of my many travels and accomplishments, I get the chance to serve my country. To put on the uniform and do the job. Not in Afghanistan as I may have hoped but in a place with much history, secrecy and conflict. I go to treat those with respect and make their lives better in any possible way as I believe some are not bad but simply wrong place wrong time. To learn about the place and the conflict. To also take care of my people in any way possible. Pictured is Natalia doing the "Shuffle Truffle" out in the trail.

Another shooting and this one is full of the memes and talking points. We have again another Navy reservist (that's me) which is seen as a military and normal person. This reservist for some reason works there and uses another persons ID to get in. Why? Of course he uses the weapons used in the debates to ban, AR15 (no other rifle but the AR15), a shotgun and a handgun. Let's not forget he was also obsessed with video games. This man walks into this highly secured building with metal detectors and guards in Washington DC where gun control is one of the highest in the nation. Someone clearly is not doing their job, but lets not look into that. Right away the same talking heads in Washington jump on the same debate but this one may not get much traction. Now we must be afraid because it seems dead children make a stronger point, so what's next?

Horner wins the Vuelta and I find articles regarding this as it seems he "lied" about his whereabouts the night before the penultimate stage as he was not able to be found. Of course the team claims one thing but the truth is he was not at the room or hotel he told the organization where he was. Not only that but on hs trip back he made an unscheduled stop in Valencia. Think what you may. Maybe he went to dance away with his wife on the "Bacalao Route" LOL

Been watching lately a bunch of ultra endurance running and sky running. I find this stuff fascinating and very attractive. Below I post the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc 2011. Many won't believe what these people do. Seems the sport originated in the western U.S. and Spanish/France border.