Navy

Today I'm posting as a member of the Navy. I have completed Basic Training and am currently doing Technical Training for my job now. I am looking foreward to it.

I am in the process of adjusting to a new lifestyle, but at the moment I am contemplating many different thoughts. One is education, I hope to earn many college credits during my time in service. So far I have accumulated 7 College Credits. I am being paid to get them, and being offered more for little to no monetary cost. The time I spend is an investment not a deduction, because I plan to use the knowledge and wisdom I acquire.

I am eagerly awaiting the new challenges which will occur.

My stay in Basic Training:

Very interesting. In terms of intellectual growth, limited. Naval history and customs were touched upon, but I learned much more from reading my Bluejacket's Manual than any information touched upon in training. Basic was an experience that trained one in the habits and mental focus needed in the Navy.

The physical exertion needed in training was well below anything I had expected. Very rare was it that I was challenged. The build up was slow, minimal, and so gradual that none of us were injured. They did not want to injure us, but I would have liked a chance to prove myself more.

Let me make this clear, we still performed a huge amount of exercise, but it was exercise, something I might push myself to working alone. I pushed myself beyond my limits again and again, but I did not have to. Many just drift through without improving themselves. I chose to improve myself.

The one thing that was needed to get through training was focus. Lose focus for a single instant of any day, at any time, and you could lose you goal. It is not hard, but being here has sharpened my focus to an all time high. There are many who will not deal with it, and there are some that could not deal with it. Those that would not were forced to leave. Those who could not were given the means to improve themselves, and we all improved each other as well. Very few left because of problems they could not have fixed, those that left in the later stages were for reasons beyond their control. If one person had a flaw, we worked to help each other grow and learn, overcoming problems as best as possible.

I am glad to be here, serving my country, and growing as a person at the same time.

Christmas Tree of Dung

I don't remember where, but I remember that some call it a "christmas tree" bill when you attatch unwanted or controversial bills onto a desirable bill. Say you had a bill giving funding to homeless shelters, attach one giving money to Abortion Clinics onto this bill. If you want the money for homeless shelters, you must also support abortion clinics. You know that the only way the bill will pass is to also have the support of those who support the other bill as well. Even if you agree with the added bill (the "ornament" on the christmas tree), is it right to do both together? Shouldn't a bill be one issue? I hope so.

Ask these simple questions: Do you support the troops? Do you support the war?

If you support the troops you would give them money. Make a bill for that. Do you support the war? If so, vote against any bills withrawing troops. But by linking the two together a rift is created. I don't have an opinion to give on the bill, but tying the two issues, support of the troops, and support of the war, together is a harmful act that can only serve to hurt the troops. A bill should be one issue or related issues, but even anti-war activists can support the troops. Supporting the troops does not mean you support the war, and the other way around. It is two issues and should be treated as such.

New Buddies

Made lots of new buddies, and met up with lots of old ones. Jin from last year was there with her friend again, and we chatted some. Also got to chat with staff and amazing Otaku's. A great year with great stories and great new friends.

PS: The Halo 2 2nd,3rd (me), and 4th place from the tournie spent the rest of the night doing stuff together, so lots of fun there. Look foreward to seeing them next year, but hopefully I will have some kind of costume so I will have to recognize them, and hopefully they won't be able to recognize me in costume (woot).

Grab Bags Neva!

So don't buy grab bags... they suck.

The adult grab bag sucked story wise, lol. I'm sorry I like a good story, even though it has some pron in it. Perhaps I have too high standards.

So... other grab bags? Well they were identical things in them, exactly identical. I got one, and my friends thought it was great, so they got one, same stuff. Well, still great, but... angering? lol.

Strangers with Candy

So we had our own room, but found out our new friends (and old ones) were going to sleep in a car in a parking garage because they were not able to get hotel space (or cash). Me and the others, when we found out, offered crash space to our old and new buddies (all 4 of them). When our group member who was only there for the Red Sox vs Yankees game found out they would have to share their floor space (actualy, that was the problem, they found it very rude when the guests moved their bags to allow room for laying on the floor. Haha.... sad.

Well I didn't make an issue of it, but I thought that this was the height of rudeness. Our friend at the games isn't even paying for their own trip (paying part of it, in installments, over time, no cash up front). They had no problem paying at least 50$ for EXTRA food and drink for the room (none allowed at the game). We each got 20$ of food together, that was 100$ in food/drink, which was more then enough. We ended up giving away most of it anyways, lol. Something I found good, something everyone else was angry about (angry again? It was only that time of the month for one person, and they were not an angry person that trip). Well, okay, you won't tolerate people you don't know very well in your room, I didn't make a deal of it. It was stupid, we had nothing worth stealing, but it was a group vote and the group was crying and complaining about how unfair it was that they had to share space... well, I guess I'm just better at sharing? (rofl)

Don't mean to turn this into a flame, but it really bothers me that people have such trouble sharing. When I was on my way to work at 5:30am one day, giving my friend a ride to the same place so they could borrow the car of a friend who had an automatic (I drive manual), there was a rain/thunder storm going on. A guy was hitch-hiking on a dangerous road where its a natural dam for flooding, so a long narrow road, no shoulder, sheer drop on either side for more then a mile. The guy asked for a ride to his house, less then half a mile from my house. He had walked many miles, and was only a few more from his house, but it was still pouring. He even offered a drenched 20$ for the ride of just a few minutes. My friend, who I was helping, wanted me to drive off (I had discussed what should be done in this situation before). The person who was lending them their automatic car was one of the same who at AnimeBoston2007 (see below) wanted to help our friends planning to sleep in a parking garage, and the friend wanting me to drive off was the same who kicked our friends from the room in favor of floor space. Some things just never change?

I refused the 20$, would have taken 2$ in gas, but it was really the difference for me of taking care to shift properly and just driving in terms of gas used, so I can be a little more careful shifting and I've made the gas back. My "neighbor" (lived 20 houses down or so, but close enough) is a plumber, so if I ever need one I can ask him, quick and local, and a nice guy I have learned. I've really just turned this into a expression of my.... disgust, haven't I? Ah well. I really wasn't mad about that whole hitch hiker thing till I found out later that my friend had brought it up in class, and the teacher had "taught" the whole class why it was wrong to do what I did, and what a fool I was. It might not have been the safest, but it was the right thing to do. The teachers I know have a duty to teach their students yes, and perhaps even show the students the right way to think yes. However, I have butted heads mentaly with what they are teaching the students of theirs I know before. They teach their students to be safe, cynical, bastards. Nothing in society teaches generosity, compassion, or sacrafice. All things in moderation, but when friends are probably going to be mugged in a parking garage, give them some floor to sleep on, when a man is shivering and coughing in the road, give him a ride home the rest of the way so he doesn't die of the weather.

One last thing, almost forgot. Friday night I stayed up all night. I decided I could help myself stay awake with some work. So... I volunteered for the Con for 4 hours. 9am-1pm. I stuffed the bags they handed you at the entrance. In fact, I did the first station (assembly line set up). I was so fast compared to the others (woo woo) that I filled up half the tables with the thing I was producing. I like to think im just fast, but the truth is that the other workers were just very very lazy. They were there to work the 14 hours, get free space, free admitance, and free stuff. I used up the supplies before they could bring me up more, so I moved to the next station, and used up all their supplies, and so on and so forth. People seem to forget the meaning of volunteer. I used up all the supplies for all the bags, pretty sure we finished enough for the rest of the con in those 3 hours. The other hour was hauling food up for staff/volunteers to the rooms. Thats cool though, and none of my buisness, didn't talk much just listened to music and worked. What bothered me was afterwards people were hassling me about volunteering. Why spend your time for the con man? Why did you do it? Are you stupid? Hmmm.... well no, I just enjoy helping others and I even got some free pizza and helped myself stay awake by volunteering. So what is wrong with helping? Well, the same people complained, and the same didn't. I just guess I like a different crowd.

Panels full of Dick Heads!! O my

I went to more panels this year, that is to say more then zero. I enjoyed the 4chan panel despite the.... nah I just enjoyed it in a twisted way, lol. The Ultimate Hentai Party was also great, I won a giant tentacle, the event was led by a collection of great people. One had a giant penis hat (the "dick" head), one had basicly their whole cosplay outfit designed to show cleavage (and a nice job of it).

I wanted to go to the make a plushie workshop, but by Sunday I had yet to fully explore the Dealers room and this was my last chance, so I went there instead. Next year I suppose. My second year here, but the dealer room always changes I suppose, completely different this year.

Any other panels... lets see... Ah, AMV Overflow, don't know why they would use overflow in the program... Its like saying here is the retarded ones, "pst, go there". I was really confused when I saw the Guest Autograph overflow... thats just mean spirited, all those who aren't important enough for your own individual panel, go here, we won't list you, but go here. Geeze.

Every Alien that Dies for the Cause Aid's the Cause

Videogames: I wanted to play Gears of War, but seeing as I just bought it myself and have not had a chance to play it yet, decided not to ruin my suprise. Lots of fun for me in the future playing that. I didn't spend much time in there this year, just watching Gears of War, hanging out with AJ (you'll find out why later), and Halo2. I only played five Halo 2 matches this year :( . Two for fun on differen days, and three for the Halo 2 tournie. They held it at like 3am so of the 50 or so signed up like 30 showed up. They let me sign up there since there were so many spots open (due to it being 4/20, and 3am, so most were probly off enjoying themselves by then). I only had to play three rounds, woot. Ended up placing third. I know I haven't played in over 6 months, I know the first two rounds were on my top 2 favorite maps, but I really dissapointed myself on Zanzibar. I lost my rythm, no idea where to go to find people on those ones. I had the same problem on Ivory tower, but it is so small that it didn't matter as much. Props to the guy who came in first, a graceful winner who didn't look down on us (because I was certainly dissapointed with myself) and was the clear winner. At the top of my game I give myself 50/50 odds of beating him, considering I used to love Zanzibar. Still, the first place prize was some anime, second was a T-Shirt, and third was a .hack game and .hack poster. I would have preffered second, but third was fine. I think they got the prizes in the wrong order, lol. So, third at Halo2 for AnimeBoston2007, not bad for out of practice me with no intent to even compete (just happen to be in there with AJ when they were asking Halo2 competitors to come to the tournie).

Anime Boston 2007

I realize I don't post here much, just when things worth writing happen, sorry my life is so boring.

We were there for the whole con, but missed opening ceremonies (egh, no biggie). Okay, lets do a break down.

NO HENTAI?

Saw dealers room today, big but dissapointing. Glad I gave Jin that 20$. Funny thing is, she has same cell-phone as Chris, so he let her use his charger (lucky). :)

Artist alley was cool, saw Mookie, but had to keep reminding myself wasn't Moogie like I remembered, Mookie, from Dominic Deegan, Oracle for Hire webcomic, cool guy, Calahan made and gave him some fan art, as well as making him promise to look at his own web comic.

Finish this a little later.

Anime Boston 2006

Hey Everybody!

I went to AnimeBoston 2006!

First day I got up at 6:30am, but didn't have to go to school so I think that alone makes this trip worthwhile. Didn't feel like a schoolday, a very very nice day infact.

Drove and had fun talks about stuff like Hentai. Funny times.

We met "Jin", a female Auron from FFX at train station and invited to join our trek to the convention center, good thing for her too. She had lost her purse (:(), but we helped her find friends. A very cool person.

Arrived and had a thirty minute wait for pre-registered guests like us, and a five minute wait for the people doing it on the spot. Nice chairs along the line though. Organized. And they handed out free Heroine with your ticked (World of Warcraft Trial) as well as a ton of cool stuff.

Austin (AJ), Tim C. (Halo Tim), Carina, Mike (tall one), and a few other guys visited me, Sean C., and Chris Colby (cool wolfman). Chris brought playboy and 100$ of soda/junkfood. Muhahaha.... tons of Mountain Dew, but we shared. Chris slept with his security object (sharpened serated machette), and me and Calahan fought for the other bed after chris tried to kill us in his sleep. :)

We found a gift basket, nice one, for Greg Aries (Most honored guest there!) on our bed once. Sean tried ripping it open, but we restrained him. Instead, we called desk and asked to deliver it ourselves. They said no and they would confiscate it. So... we hurrily wrote a note saying we got the thing by accident, come visit us at extension 2307, give wads of advice and cash... ect. But they came and rippe that note off, threw it on ground and went away.

Later, heard a knock and went and saw them giving that basket (without our note), to 2309, one of our neighbors! Muhahahaha.... but out of respect for Greg we decided to cancel the party later that night (even though several drunk ppl still showed up and chatted with us).

We went to game room for most of the night besides our hotel room, from around 6pm-5am in and out. Great how Calahan tried DDR in my wheelchair. Laugh riot. Anyways, HALO!

I won 2/3, and kicked ass on campaign with noobs helping them have fun. Turned out I knew one of the campaign buddies but didn't recognize them till later. Someone was superbouncing with sniper on lockout (blue small one), so cheating, and won, but I would have started a fight had I not been crippled at the moment. Everyone was a screen peeking whore. I stand around a corner with BR/Shotgun, waiting. Sticky grenade to floor.. I die. Okay. Six more times in a row they only decide to bomb the place I'm hiding, I start cheating for that game (just that one) too. Too little to late, I pull from 7 to 18 to 19 to 25. Met some okay ppl though.

Found a cool programmer to talk with at 4am, showed me www.theinternick.org, a good site. He gave career advice, helpful chitchat, what shows on and when at the con... good guy.

Me and Calahan decided to sleep at 5am'ish.

Bye Chino!

We got up, had breakfast. Well, they did. I chose to sit in the room getting ready and then walk around.

The breakfast at this place last time consisted of three pieces of fruit and some OJ. Not exactly missing much. Then we took group photos... very fun.

Long plane ride, but no danger this time, nice and smooth. They took away my lighters at the airport though. Thats ok, they didn't see the cubans or machettes. I can deal with losing the lighters.

When we got back, we had a bet going for what time, and I lost by 45 minutes, Corry Emerson won only off by 2 minutes. It wasn't that cold back here, but sitting on a bus with no heating for an hour does make you chilly this time of year. So we got home, I unpacked suveniers, and went to bed with Sarah, who missed me a lot (she hid while I was gone).

O yea, my sister cleaned my room, but just took an organized mess and made it unorganized.

Crazy Beaner Chicks Day

I published the last entry a day late, cause I was too tired to walk to an internet cafe at night. By the way, all the buttons are in spanish here so I managed to publish it twice. Im not sure how, but it may involve bananas.

And giant silver Colones.

Then we packed, and left for the tennis club. We stopped for suveniors. I bought a lot. Mostly for me, but some for others as well. I bought 2 extra knives in case my brother has been using my stuff. One is small, and concealable. Serrated though, nice.

Secondly, I bought a machette. I already bought one, but this one is much bigger. And sharper.

Ok, now on to the Chicas.

We went out for dinner. It was a long drive, and a crappy resturant.

Then they brought in 5 pairs of local dancers.

First they did tradicional dances. Then disco, then modern. We were included in almost all of it. Very fun, and funny. Wish we could have dances like that all the time. It was all recorded though, so I can see it now.