Thursday, February 23, 2006
Another cell phone adventure
Well since my class had to go donate to the Navy's urinalysis program I am stuck here with nothing to do, so I broke out the trusty laptop and figured I would write today's bog entry. The only problem I have is that I have no Internet access for links and news stuff so I am pretty much winging it.
Any one that has been a regular reader of my blog knows how I fell about cell phones and driving. So imagine my shock at something I saw on the way back to work yesterday from lunch. I had just exited the Interstate to head to the base after talking to my son at lunchtime. He had started a new job and since he works nights now at a restaurant I wanted to find out the particulars, like where he worked, what he does and that kind of stuff. As I was coming off the freeway I saw a California Highway Patrol car getting on the freeway and when I looked at the officer he was talking on a cell phone. Anyway I guess that since they do have to attend extra driving schools and all they are better drivers, but I thought it was a poor example.
I am a little worried at what happened in Iraq yesterday. When I heard of all the fighting between the Sunni's and Shite's and the fact that they are blowing up and destroying each other's mosques and all, I get a little worried. I thought everything was starting to go a little better over there, despite the crap I hear from the Main Stream Media, but this is a setback. I just can't understand why, if all this stuff that happens between them is religious in nature, why they would desecrate houses of worship. I wonder where all the Muslim leaders are, and why they are not calling for an end to this mess.
I am really encouraged by the fact that they found a live chicken in the slide area of Southern Leyte yesterday. There could be some people still alive and I am also very impressed by the attitudes of the search teams there. I am also proud of the hard work and dedication being displayed by the Marines and Sailors involved in the rescue efforts. Many people throughout the world think the American Military is just around to destroy things, but they have been active in rescue efforts in every disaster that has happened in the world these days. I wish them luck in finding survivors and will continue to pray for the victims.
While I don't remember all the particulars I guess the Government of the Philippines has decided to revoke all contracts with private sales outlets for the new 3-G technology cell phones. Something about some procedure not being followed or something like that. I know my woman is ticked off about it, as she wants to eventually get one, as soon as other people she knows get theirs. I guess the want to make sure they can get the most bucks for the government coffers as they can.
I am upset at the pure crap I see on the news concerning Dubai Port World taking over operations on the east coast. The posturing I see from both parties has really demonstrated to me how out of touch some politicians on both sides of the isle are. I have been hearing the most unbelievable crap on talk radio and even on FOX News. I can just imagine what the must be saying on CNN or MSNBC which I do not watch. If this does not go through we will be sending the wrong message to our allies in the area. Granted they are not perfect allies, but they are the best we have in the region. Denying them this deal would be discriminatory. After all the Chinese are running the port of Long Beach and the British ran this company before.
Lastly as this is getting long winded, I need to blog about prime time TV. I don't understand why FOX would take off the critically acclaimed show House, for American Idol. Maybe I am just getting old, but I cannot see why that show has to be on for two hours every night. I don't understand how it gets the number of viewers it gets. I don't watch it myself, and really miss the dramas.
Also with NBC showing the Olympics weeknight primetime has been really boring. I have been watching the Olympics but I am embarrassed by the attitudes and poor showing of our athletes, and what is with some of these so called sports. I just have a problem getting into some of it. I like the summer games but the Winter Games are boring to me. Our top skier Bode Miller has not done squat, the hockey team lost, and the fighting between the speed skaters in an embarrassment. I guess a lot of these folks are going to be missing all that endorsement money since they couldn't win anything.
Posted at 03:56 pm by
RWO
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Welcome home to the Marines and Sailors of the USS Tarawa (LHA-1), USS Cleveland (LPD-7) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-42) after a 7 month deployment.
USS Tarawa (LHA-1)
USS Cleveland (LPD-7)
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-42)
Posted at 05:57 pm by
RWO
I would like to wish fair winds and following seas to the Sailors and Marines stationed aboard USS Peleliu (LHA-5), USS Ogden (LPD-5) and USS Germantown (LSD-42), who are departing from San Diego today on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. Show the flag, have a good deployment, and everyone return safely.
USS Peleliu (LHA-5)
USS Ogden (LPD-5)
USS Germantown (LSD-42)
Posted at 05:57 pm by
RWO
Monday, February 20, 2006
I haven't commented on this yet
I haven't commented on this because I have been in a little non political mode lately, but I have to say something about what has been going on over the whole cartoon thing. Seems to me that all of this uproar is a result of a few radical clerics. They are stirring the pot and spinning thier people into an uproar.
Since we know who is doing it, and the United Nations also knows who is doing it, why not cut off all aid to the countries harboring these clowns until they clean it up.
This stuff is out of hand and since we do not have the policy of assasination that seems to be the best plan. When I see or hear of my tax dollars going to places like Palestine and see it come back in the form of protests and suicide bombers it sickens me. The time as comew for us to tell them, that if they want our money they must clean up thier act.
All of this uproar over a few cartoons published six months ago, sheesh.
Posted at 03:19 pm by
RWO
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Sometimes as I get older I find that I have been getting a little lazy on the weekends. Such is how I feel today. I have some things to get done, but I don't quite have the motivation to get started. I did get the laundry done yesterday so I don't have to worry about that now. I have to box some more stuff up so I guess I can get started on that. I want to pack up my baseball card collection for storage, as I don't really mess with them that much. I want to move my TV wall unit so I figure since I have to empty it out to move it I might as well pack up the stuff that is in it.
This morning I slept in about an hour extra and then got up, chatted with my special woman, and then went to church. This morning was the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time and our first reading was Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25. Our second reading was 2 Cor 1:18-22, and our Gospel was Mk 2:1-12. The message was basically that what we do also affects the community and that the community also affects our faith and us. He talked about personal responsibility, responsibility to the community and how the community should pull together to help the less fortunate, and handicapped. The Father also talked about how back in the old days, that being blind or having a disease was payment for sinful ways. People then thought that the only person who could forgive sin was God, himself and they were a little shocked that Jesus was going around forgiving sin. I guess when he performed the miracle and healed the paralytic; it must have blown them away. Anyway it was a nice story and a good service.
I lit a candle for the people in southern Leyte and we also prayed for them during the service. They also talked of a Marriage Workshop and did a little skit, saying that people of all ages no matter how long they have been married should attend the workshop and getaway to spice up their marriage.
After that I went and got myself a haircut as it was getting a little shaggy. Have to keep a good image. While I was there we were watching the news and I saw that someone in Nebraska hit the Power ball lottery for 365 Million Dollars. I thought it was kind of a lousy thing to find out that after taxes the lump sum payment would only be about 125 Million. If that is all the people are going to get then they should just say it is only worth 125 Million.
I am waiting to see my neighbor go work on his boat again. About 8 months ago he bought a boat. He hasn't ever taken it out yet from what I have seen, but every weekend he has been spending a lot of time working on it, sometimes just sitting in it. Anyway, maybe he just got it to fix it up and sell or something, who knows?
Now I am watching the Daytona 500, though I am not really a NASCAR fan. I was surprised they took off the Olympics for it. I guess I will watch it for a little while, while boxing up my stuff. If it gets too boring I will find something else to watch. Since it has been raining off and on it is going to be an inside day. It looks pretty nasty outside in some areas, so I think I will stay close to home today. San Diego is not a place where you want to drive in the rain, as there are too many careless drivers here.
Anyway I guess it is back to my lazy day while I await my woman to wake up and get on chat. Hopefully I will get something accomplished, but then it is a three-day weekend so I still have tomorrow.
Posted at 12:03 pm by
RWO
Friday, February 17, 2006
After a good night of sleep I woke up got my coffee, started my chat with my special person, and turned on the news. The top news story of the day was about a huge landslide in southern Leyte in the Philippines involving a huge loss of life.
I sure is a shame and from all that I have seen written about it, it could have been avoided if the Government of the Philippines would start looking at things like roads and drainage. This seems to happen somewhere in that country each rainy season, and you would thing that the Government might crack down on illegal logging which causes erosion, and would invest in some drainage. I hate seeing such a senseless waste of lives, and especially hearing that a school full of children was buried.
My heart goes out to the people of the Philippines and they have my sympathies. I am going to go to church and light a candle for them and will keep them in my prayers. I will also be donating some money to help in the efforts through a site my woman directed me too.
I am proud to see that the US has already been sending aid and that two US Navy Amphibious Ship's from San Diego are all ready on station and helping with the relief efforts, and are uniquely designed to handle these types of emergencies. I have also heard more help is on its way. Makes me proud to be an American. Anyway USS Essex (LHD-2) and USS Harper's Ferry (LSD-49) are on scene and I wish them luck in helping to find possible survivors. Here is a link to the latest article I saw:
Philippines Landslide Deaths May Top 1,500
USS Essex (LHD-2)
USS Harper's Ferry (LSD-49)
Posted at 04:17 pm by
RWO
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Well life sometimes sucks, but then sometimes it can be pretty cool. Yesterday was Valentine's Day for the new woman in my life and today is Valentine's Day here. I thought with 7000 miles of ocean separating us there would be no way to have a meaningful celebration. But we then decided to try and get creative and see what we could do to share our feelings and celebrate.
First before our chat, I went to the three different card sites I frequent and sent her the best Valentine Card from each Site. I then waited for her to come on chat. She came on right after I got home from work, which is a little early for her. We then prepared our meals at the same time, dinner here and breakfast there. We said grace together and then ate together. I had tacos while she had oatmeal and blueberry pastry. After we finished eating we both washed up, and then she discovered her cards and gave me a big thank you. That gave me a big smile. Everything was going well when her father called and ruined the mood by arguing with her about money and the fact that he had messed up some paperwork. I talked to her on chat and managed to get her calmed down and we started talking about happy things instead.
We then fired up our web cams and continued chatting. We have discovered when using them we have to use additional lighting and it gets to our eyes so we don't like to use them more than 3 hours a night. She was wearing a really bright red top that made her look stunning. Since it was Valentine's Day red was the color of the day there, and I loved seeing her wearing that bright red top. Her sister and daughter-in-law came by to eat and run some errands so I wished then a Happy Valentine's Day. She was still a little upset about her father and so I continued to try and calm her down, so we started talking about some future plans when her gift arrived.
I have sent things in the past but went a little extra this time, as I wanted it to be special since I could not be there with her. I watched as she opened the boxes, and that smile of hers got bigger and bigger. She finally got everything unpacked and put together and then I saw the tears of happiness in her eyes and knew I did well, making it a special day for her.
We then continued to chat and talked about future things, ate a snack of fruit together and played around with the web cams. Finally time came for me to get some shuteye so off to bed I went for a good night of sleep feeling good and confident that I made her happy.
This morning I got up at 5 and showered and shaved, then, I got my coffee and turned on the chat. We talked until it was time to leave for work with the agreement that when I get home tonight that I would make the same meal she was going to eat and that way we would make it a little more real. Oh and of course I had to wear a red shirt today in honor of Valentine's Day. I am not sure if that is for the Chinese side or the Filipina side, but I am happy to do it. So that is the plan, as it will be the closest we can be to being together in person. I love her and I love seeing her on the web cam, until I can see her in person again.
Posted at 03:35 pm by
RWO
Monday, February 13, 2006
During lunch today I had to run home and get a copy of a set of schematics that I had on my laptop, but had not been restored to the powerpoint projector PC at work. I also had to run some graduation stuff to the office for my last class, who graduates Wednesday.
I got it all taken care of and then while I was on my way back into the building I ran into ETC (SW) Chris Hatton. He worked with us for three years and then had transferred to some place in Texas. His wife is due to have a baby any time now, and she wanted to give birth closer to home, so he managed to get a couple of schools here so she can be closer to her family.
It was great to see him again, and he is doing very well.
Posted at 03:33 pm by
RWO
Well you had to know that the Vice President's hunting accident was going to be big news. I guess now we will be hearing about this for months and of course they will be calling for his resignation. Hey, it was a simple hunting accident and they guy who got shot was at fault from what I have read. Never walk into the line of fire, or you will get shot. Sheesh, I really hope this does not dominate the news.
On a lighter note I would like to wish a very special Valentine Greeting to my sweetie. Happy Valentine's Day, and I hope you have a wonderful time. Sorry I can't be there to spend it with you. Hopefully this will be the only one we will ever miss spending together.
For my readers, may you all have a great Valentine's Day also.
Posted at 12:25 pm by
RWO
Sunday, February 12, 2006
This morning I slept in an extra hour and then came down and chatted on the net. My friend went to bed so I decided to catch an earlier mass then usual. I went at 9:30 instead of 11:00 like I have been doing usually. Anyway since I did not go to confession yesterday, so I couldn't take communion, and actually had some extra time before church, I decided to treat myself to a Jack in the Box breakfast sandwich.
Anyway I left and went to the drive through window. Unlike the last time I went, I could not understand the person at the counter, and they were so slow. It must have taken me about 15 minutes to get my order and by then I did not have time to eat the sandwich before church.
Anyway I went to mass and the reading was about Jesus healing a leper. We had the Filipino Priest for mass this week. He has a heavy accent and is sometimes hard to understand. His sermon was about how hospitals and doctors can heal you physically, but only god can heal your soul.
After church we had to fill out a survey concerning health care. They are worried because most of the parishioners do not have health care and the hospital emergency rooms are so overtaxed that they are going to back an initiative to increase the cigarette tax and that money would be used for medical care.
I recently quit smoking so the tax will not affect me, but I also do not believe in taxing them further. I think that people who smoke are getting unfairly treated in many ways and the do-gooders are violating their rights, but that is another story.
If they would stop supplying health care to illegal aliens that would solve much of the problem here in Southern California. Or maybe if we started billing Mexico for their health care it would solve some of the problem.
Anyway after church I came home and was eating my cold breakfast sandwich and trying to fill out the Jack in the Box service questionnaire, but their site was down. I don't think they would have liked what I had to say. Anyway now that I have everything done I will now work on moving some stuff around the house.
Posted at 12:10 pm by
RWO
