Noctimark

Considering how intense VBSS training is from Monday thru Friday, it leaves me very little to do on the weekends.  Weekend one in Cali was fine.  My roommate and I went to visit several museums in San Diego.  Weekend two was even better since I spent it with Valerie.  Weekend three, which is now... not so good.  I'm rather bored.

See, everyone I had class with the past two weeks graduated this past Friday.  I got rolled back to the junior class, meaning my training has been extended a week.  All the people I came down here with are currently flying to Japan.

Still, it's bittersweet.  I'll get even more training, plus it's one additional week away from real work.  It's also one more week of getting to fire simulated paint bullets at eachother (and get to show off awesome bruises and bleeding wounds).

It'd be nice if I could find something to do though.   Bleh!! Lol.

So ya, I am in San Diego right now, about to attend a three week school in the area.  It means being away from the awesomeness that is Japan for a bit, but that's alright.  It also means that I get a break from the ship.  School might be tough, but that's okay considering all we're doing is learning and practicing tactical movements.  

Good times, good times!!!

I shall miss Japan during this brief little break, but she'll still be there by the time I get back.

Yep, ya just gotta love living here.  I really love it, and it's always a blast.  

So far, I'm learning hiragana and katakana, meeting Japanese people, and trying every food I can find.  I'm also getting stared at by many Japanese women, which rocks since I've always had a thing for Asians.    

Anyways, aside from that all, things are going well.  Still, I miss being home.  I miss a lot.  I also miss Sammy, Tarah, Jack, Lindsey, Myra, there's too many to name.  I just feel like I could use a good visit home.  It's been around six months so far.  Each day seems to pass by faster than the previous.  I am about to finish a three month tour as a food service attendant, something every Navy sailor goes through, and it feels like I just started!  It's insane how fast time goes by.  Guess that whole, "Accelerate Your Life" really does make sense.

Anyways, that's all for now.  I'm still working with big guns, firing things that go boom, and getting in better shape day by day.  Guess there's nothing left to do but live life to the fullest here.  

I miss you all back home.  I won't be much longer.  That's the life of a sailor.

Well, it was about a month ago that I was told to pack up, suit up, and fly off to meet my ship in a far away port.  When I arrived in Japan, I'd gotten used to living in a nice room, having a cafeteria to eat at three times a day, and once I was done with work, I could go off base and walk around.  That all came to an end once I left to meet my ship Guam.  

Now, it's not all bad news.  In fact, it's very little bad news.  I love being on my ship, the USS Cowpens, CG-63.  Great times have been had, and I've only been onboard for around a month and a half.  During this time, I was able to visit Guam, of course since we were flying there to meet the ship, and Malaysia.  Now, Guam's cool, but to be honest, it's got a ghetto feel to it.  I don't think I'll be pushing aside plans to return to Guam on my own accord anytime soon.  Malaysia's a little better, but not by much.  I will say that the prices for food, entertainment, and travel are rediculously cheap.  I only spent $50.00 for what would have normally cost me $200.00+ anywhere else.

Good times have been had, as I've said, and I love being a sailor on this ship.  It's hard work, but it's good, hard honest work.  You get your hands dirty and learn to appreciate the little things.  I write friends and family all the time while underway (Navy term for being out at sea), and I'm always for having more pen-pals if anyone's interested. ^_~

Well, that's all for now.  I'll be sure an update once more when something new happens.  To be honest, so many new things are happening, it's hard to consolidate it into one journal entry.  I feel I'm not giving these amazing life experiences enough justice, but hey, no biggy.  Pictures are worth a thousand words.   Take care all!!

~Mark