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So I continue to live in a strange and foreign land, and when you live in a strange foreign land you tend to do strange things. So on Halloween I decided to hike up the nearby volcano Mt. Etna with my friend Justin, instead of going to some lame mundane costume party. It took 6 hours of hiking and 2 hours of driving total to complete this task, and this was no easy task. It's very rare for me to quit something once I make my mind up to complete it, and my body was screaming for me to quit. Maybe its because we didn't start the hike until 5 o clock in the evening, and the sun was setting and for 5 hours we navigated to the top by moonlight (wasn't too hard, you just head in one direction, up!). What sucked the most is I had recently hurt my ankle (like father like son) running the PRT (see previous blog), and climbing a Volcano isn't exactly the smartest thing to do after such an injury, luckily my injury compares none to my father's.

One thing I've noticed since my enlistment into the military is that I have only spent one holiday (Christmas 2004) in a normal light. Holidays just glide past me nowadays with pretty much no thought into them. There was last Thanksgiving, where Justin and I cooked a 15 lbs turkey in a toaster oven in the barracks. I find myself working most of the Holidays at work, being that I have no children and that I am single. It doesn't bother me though, holidays just aren't the same as they once were when you were a kid, and they aren't even close to being a holiday if you have no family to spend them with.

To think about it, Holidays pretty much suck as an adult, it's not that much fun to sit at home and hear the doorbell ring 2 million times so you can pass out candy to small children (unless your Mark Foley). In fact, Halloween teaches children that welfare is ok, you don't have to work for a living, you can get food by going door to door. Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year, pretty soon we all will be taking a page out of the Texas Trailer Trash book and leaving our Christmas lights up all year round. New Years has turned into Anthony Robbins Holiday, everybody trying to improve themselves, they see Chuck Norris on a Nordictrack and they go out and buy one, or buy the ab shocker thing, the thing that gives you six pack abs while sitting on the couch eating cheetos. (Pfffffft). Easter has turned into a Rainbow fest, if your not careful you may confuse it with the next gay pride rally. Everything is pastels and rainbow colored, bunnies, chicks and little candies. A far cry from Jesus hanging on the cross, but don't tell Hallmark that. So in all reality I guess Im not missing to much when it comes to Holidays, just my family, and that's nothing different than I miss everyday.

You would just think.....

Im am about to venture off and do my PRT (physical readiness test) for the Navy. It is composed of a weigh in, toe touch, mile and a half run, push ups and sit ups. You have to be within weight regulation (if you fail this enough times your fat butt gets kicked out), you must be able to touch your toes (should be easy, lots of Sailors can't), you have 2 minutes each to perform as many sit up and push-ups. The cherry on the top is the mile and a half run. You would think being in the MILITARY, a fighting force, that you would want to be physically fit. It amazes me the amount of overweight and underfit people serving our country. Its like when I was in boot camp, we had people join the Navy who did not know how to swim. Now this may be just me, but if theres the risk of me going out to sea on a ship, I think I would learn how to swim before I volunteer to do this. We had people in Boot Camp with me who couldnt read, not because they couldnt see the words, they just didnt know how to read em. Back to the PRT. Its always funny to me, that 2 weeks before the PRT you start to see people in the gym trying to shed the lbs for the weigh in and improve their run time. Personally I think we should be physically fit year round, but of course thats just me again. Its just a pet peeve of mine to see people in their younger 20's winded after running a lap. Im going to wrap this up and just blame it on their parents. Now a days you see the signs " Caution Children at Play", but you never see the children. They are all inside playing video games for hours on end, and their parents are letting them. The United States will not remain a world power if this continues, the Asians are going to take over, they are much smarter and they play outside. I just dont see why kids play Basketball video games when they could actually go outside and play basketball. Shoot em up games are ok though, we dont really want kids going outside and shooting people, that has got to stop!!!!!!

I just woke up hating everything

I just moved into a new room, a bigger and better room. One that I do not have to share with anyone but me! Its funny the thins you find when you move, i.e.

-Keys to someone elses car???? (not mine, but they were behind my dresser)
- balls and balls of wires and AC adaptors and more wire
-empty boxes, and lots of em
-old papers and fliers
-and just a whole bunch of junk you dont need, but yet you still keep it (its like you move junk from one location to another location)

Not only did I bring junk I never use over, but I also tracked in 3 inches of dust from my old place. I guess my mom's method of using dust as a proctective covering isn't the best thing, now I'm having horrible allergies. Today was just a day full of errands, grocery shopping, unpacking, bank, stopped by to pay my phone bill (never fun) and I even had time to get pulled over by military police for speeding (which I was not) :( . Luckily I didn't get a ticket, I refused to sign it, and I told them that they were shooting radar while they were moving, cause I knew how fast I was going (cmon like my station wagon can speed). Well thats about it, nothing too special going on here, just there damn allergies.... aaaaaaaachoooo

My patience is building

Just a little musing from my weekend, well my night last night to be exact. My friends and I decided to go out into town and have a nice dinner and hit up a few Italian pubs. Fun it was indeed! Turns out there was some Italian festival of some sort in Catania (Catania= large city near base) and there was an immense amount of people out in the streets. It would have put Disney World to shame (except no fate people in scooters were out last night). Well I drove us to the restuarant and parked the car. It was agreed upon that my friend Stef would be the D.D. and drive on the way back. Well it wasnt until we got back to the car that Stef informed she could not drive a stick (should of told us before that). So we gave her a crash course in driving a standard, and no parking lots were used. Turns out that a car with 4 varying slightly unsober people out at 4am is the ideal way to learn how to drive a stick. I know how hard it is to teach a person to drive a stick, my ex-girlfriend almost put my truck into the neighborhood pond when I was teaching here, and I was stressed out of my mind. For some reason last night, I was very relaxed and calm when teaching Stef. Even when she stalled going up a huge hill and started rolling back, my nerves were good, just a pull on the parking break and all was well again. This was Stefs first time to actually achieve driving a stick, and I felt very proud. She said that her boyfriend freaks out and screams at her when he tries to teach her. My patience has greatly improved lately, and the 40 minute car ride home was actually somewhat pleasant.

Accept it, We're better than you

Somebody from California apparently wrote the top part, but somebody from Texas came back and put them on thier asses at the bottom.

CALIFORNIA:

- I can wear sandals all year long

- I go to the Beach - not "down to the shore"

-Our chicks are WAYYYY hotter than yours. Well...Miami can hang.

- I say "like" and "for sure" and "right on" and "dude" and "totally" and "peace out" and "chill" and "tight" and "bro" and I say them often

- I know what real cheese & avocados taste like

-Everyone smokes weed and its no big deal

-We'll roll up 40 deep when something goes down.

-I live next door to Mexicans, but we call them American's!

-All the porn you watch is made here, cause we're better and thats how it is

- I don't get snowdays off because theres only snow in Mammoth, Tahoe, Shasta, and Big Bear

- I know 65 mph really means 100

- When someone cuts me off, they get the horn and the finger and high speed chase cuz we dont fuck around on the road

- The drinking age is 21 but everyone starts at 14 (legally 18 if you live close enough to the border)

- My governor can kick your governors ass

- I can go out at midnight

-You judge people based on what area code they live in, and when asked where you're from, you give your area code

- I might get looked at funny by locals when I'm on vacation in their state, but when they find out I'm from California I turn into a Greek GOD

- We don't stop at stop signs... we do a "california roll"No cop no stop baby!

- I can get fresh and REAL Mexican food 24 hours a day

- All the TV shows you "other" states watch get filmed here

- We're the Golden State. Not the Cheese State. Not the Garden State.....GOLDEN!!!

- We have In-N-Out (Arizona and Vegas are lucky we share that with them)

- I have the most representation in the House of Representatives, which means MY opinion means more than yours, which means I'm better than you [geez.... hahaha]

TEXAS:

Ahem... So.. Um.. yeah... I read this, and thought I would reply...Hey... California listen up... Texas is where its at!-

I too can wear sandals all year long... plus I can put on boots to stomp your toes and I won't even stick out.

- You may be able to go to the "beach" instead of the "shore"... but can you go to the drive thru "Beer Barn?" What now surfer boy?

- You're chicks aren't way hotter than ours... they are almost equal... and thats only due to silicone, saline, botox, lasers and hair dye... We have the real ones and they can beat yours up.

- We're taught to say "Yes Sir" and "Yes Ma'am" and respect our elders because of it. We also say "Howdy" and "fixin" and "Yall" are pretty much recognized right away anywhere in the world :) We're famous

- You may know what real cheese and avocados taste like... but I know what 100% Grade A Angus Beef tastes like. Who wants avocados and cheese when you can have steak and potatoes?

- Haha... who do you think grows the weed and sells it to you?

- Why roll 40 deep when something goes down if 5 corn fed country boys can get the job done...

- I live next door to americans, but we call them mexicans- About your Porn.... 3 words... "Debbie Does Dallas"... You can brag about it now, but we started it- Why would you brag about not getting snow days off?

- We're smart enought to know 65mph means 65, but our speed limit is 70.

- When someone cuts me off, they get run over by my big ass truck, then I give them the finger and tell them to go back to california.

- The drinking age is 21, but if you aren't chasin the beer by 1 yr old... you're behind.

- Yeah, Well my governor became the President of the United States... yours isn't even eligible.

- You can go out at midnight? Thats nice, I haven't even come home by then.

- Ok... you said,"You judge people based on what area code they live in, and when asked where you're from, you give your area code" and as hard as I try I have no idea what you're talking about... I think you're watching too much tv.

- Yeah, you'll definitely get looked funny when you come to visit but we have another name for you pretty boys, and its not greek, its french.

- Of course you don't stop at stop signs... none of you can drive.

- You can pick up Real mexican food 24 hours a day huh... well I can swing by home depot and pick up 24 Real mexicans anytime of day. Can you say catering?

- All the tv shows get filmed there... but where does your favorite poker game from? Texas Hold'em anyone?

- You can keep your golden state... We're the Lone Star State...the one and only!!

- Do I have to remind you about the drive thru Beer Barn again? Does In-N-Out serve alcohol? (Oh and did I mention Dr. Pepper was created in Texas?)

- You guys have the best athletes huh?... Eight words... Lance Armstrong and The University of Texas at AustinThough I could mention MICHAEL JOHNSON - Olympic Sprinter, World record holder in 200m and 400m, 5 Olympic Gold metals, 9 time World Champion (born Dallas, Tx)Oh and remind me agian who won the Rose Bowl between USC and Texas????? I believe it was the LONGHORNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Football is a religion, not a sport

- In Texas, football means football, not soccer.

- 90% of football "movies" you guys are making are about Texas Football.

- Texas is the only state that can still separate to become its own country. The only way California's gonna accomplish that is if another earthquake comes along and you guys sink into the ocean. Can you say Atlantis.... And as the Great Sam Houston once said "Texas could survive without the United States, but the United States could not survive without Texas"

Cody- Koh-dee, (N): Bad ass since 1985

So my apologies for not blogging in a while. Just been working for the most part and fiddle fartin around base. I successfully fixed my car and changed my fuel pump (its in the gas tank) and revived my dead car myself (thanks to Dad). iAll this while it was parked in the parking lot, I couldnt have been prouder of myself. Ive decided to take a train trip this summer before I leave Italy for good, so I am now budgeting and saving for that. WOOT WOOT, oh and I may be getting a new room, so disregard that last blog about my roomie, because I may not have one in 2 weeks. Oh and I get my braces put on Monday morning, little anxious but I know there will be an end to it one day (kinda like the Navy) all good things must come to an end right? Tuesday Im taking the ACT to improve my test score from last time, and so I can send it to the Naval Academy. If I get picked up for the Naval Academy then I will not go to Resp Therapy school, but spend the next 4 years going to school full time. Thats pretty much my life in a Nutshell, nothing too exciting. Oh they opened an Applebees on base, but no one speaks English so its kinda hard to order and they always get your order wrong. So thats about it, thats an update on me, nothing too exciting, just working and going to the gym. We have a Dress Blue inspection coming up, thats where we line up and the Commadning Officer walks through the ranks inspecting our uniforms, like she knows what to look for. Anyways, it takes hours and Im not one to enjoy standing in the sun in a wool zuit suit, I just hope I dont pass out.

My Roomie

Within my year and a half of being stationed here I have gone through 3 roommates, each having there own special thing to offer. My second roommate (we shall call him, I dunno... how about Sean R.) was the most interesting of the 3. He got kicked out for cocaine use, and I would often come home to him bumping nasties with some fat Italian chick (he had a bad habit of leaving his door open), putting me into a state of extreme nausea and burning horrible images into the back of my skull that would later reappear in a nightmare.

My current roommate is the most mellow of the three and is nearly a decade older than myself. He has been with the Marines and has been to Iraq not once, but twice! He is from Montanna and has several missing teeth, even though his hygeine habits are immaculate (40 minutes showers are a little much though). His room is almost sterile and its contents are nothing more than Navy issued linen and a framed picture on the desk of his dog in the back of a truck that his sister gave him. He sits alone in his room quietly everyday reading western books and war books. He listens to the radio (for the weather) only in the morning while he is getting ready (which is 5am ,7 days a week). Ive never seen any visitors, he gets mail on the holidays, and he doesnt even own a phone, nor a computer. He wears the same outfit almost everyday that is composed of; Jeans, Sneakers, White Tee Shirt thats tucked in, brown web belt, and an faded orange hat. He is a sad sad sad little man, and I have tried to get him to hang out with me with no prevail.

I however, am his yang, I am loud and listen to music 24/7. I have guests and visitors all the time and people often crash on my floor. Showers are hit and miss with me, I can only guarantee that I shower on days that I work or go to the gym. My room has so much clutter in it, almost like a garage sale from hell, and the clutter comes from ebay, which keeps my mail flowing at a glacial pace as it slowly trickles in. If Im not working, you wont know when Ill awake from my slumber, nor will you know when I will fall asleep. I believe dishes should be done when you need to use that certain dish, and its home is in the sink until then (thats why we have paper plates, another mutual agreement between us). My clothing varies greatly from day to day, and isnt limited by season, I am a firm believer that flip flops may be worn year round. The differences between us are many.

Now lets talk about the similarities, like you really even care. We have been roommates for 8 months now, and like two lesbian women living together and menstrating at the same time, we have developed something of the same sort. Our bladders have the same clock, and it never fails, that when I REALLY have to go pee, hes in there peeing. Whenever I am hungry and want to use our microwave/stove, low and behold its already in use, BY HIM. When I want to brush my teeth to go to bed, hes doing his 30 minute floss job. When I need to take a shower and go to work (ON THE WEEKEND, his off time) hes in there at the buttcrack of dawn taking a 40 minute shower, we are constantly stepping on each others toes in this tight space. I hate it when I have to make a B.M. and hes already in there doing it, its just ridiculous.

In the 8 months he has known me, he has said maybe 20 sentences to me. I wonder, is it me, or is it him. He's real quiet, and Im afraid he will go postal one day starting with me (post traumatic stress) and then go to work like nothing happened. I've spent alot of time with my grandparents, and I know how they are set in their ways and are creatures of habit, but this guy would put them to shame. Hes a real nice guy, just a little creepy, thats all Im saying!

Within the last week my 1980 something tool shed of a car decided to breathe its potential last breathes. I say potential last breathes because it is now relying on me to fix it and my handyman skills are questionable at best. My father however, could correctly fix anything on Earth that has a moving part to it, and I have always relied on him, and assisted him in fixing cars. Since he is an ocean away, I find myself being guided over the phone on how to revive my dead land yact, and things look glim from my standpoint. I am though impressed on how well my father knows me, and sort of scared on how he is telling me to fix my car. First off, he had me pop a spark plug wire off and "jam a screwdriver into it" while "having a friend try to start the car". My father knows me well because he said " hold onto the handle and not the metal part of the screwdriver" and he told me to look for flying sparks, which there were. Next my father told me to "bang on the gas tank as my friend tries to start the car", I guess thats Texas engineering or something. My father (knowing me) told me not to use a hammer to bang, for this would put holes into the gas tank. Yes indeed it would, and this would have occured to me as an afterthought, to me "hammer=banging" when it comes to fixing things, simple logic really. Lastly, (and most scary) my father instructed me to buy a can of choke carb cleaner (an extremely flammable canned chemical) and pop off my fuel rail (like I knew where/what that was) and spray it directly into the engine while my buddy sits "safely" in the car and tries to start it while I spray. While I bought teh carb cleaner, I picked up canned spray paint and repainted the flaking rust spots on the hood. Which until today were being held down with tape to keep them from coming off. I have my doubts that my car will ever run again, but its fun taking it apart right now and playing detective so we shall see.