Dedicated to Sean

The following was sent to me, and I feel that it is so damn funny that I must post it here. It is the "official" bio of my brother Sean - who plays football for the Merchant Marine Academy. Most of it needs no explanation ... and it does wonders for the southern stereotype.

Before USMMA: Lettered in football for two years, soccer for four years, swimming for two years and baseball for one year at NorthshoreHigh School... was named All-District in football...played club soccer for NOSA...placed second at the Los Angeles State Wrestling Tournament.

Personal: Born Sept. 1, 1985 in Alameda, Calif...son of Rex and Trissy Bent...has three brothers, Geoffry, Byron and Buster as well as asister, Trigger...majoring in systems engineering.

Buster and Trigger are the family dogs. Los Angeles State WrestlingTournament - Is that the unofficial name of the Chino Detention facility? Sean, do you have something that you'd like to share with us? I can see Sean now ... um, uh, uh, well, um, what I mean was, ummm, I play football? Yes, Sean you do ... and yes, I am judging you!

New EWO

Amazingly, my relief is in Baghdad and in an even stranger chain of events, he should be here at my location within the next few days. Very strange in deed. The concept that my time might be coming to an end just has not really hit. The good news is that I was ready to leave months ago - so the sentimental attachment just isn't here. However, in true Navy form there is a mandated time length requirement for a turnover (I guess this is to ensure a "proper" turnover). The funny part about this is that on a ship you are lucky to get five days. It is more of a, "I had it - you got it." The turnover requirements over here are just insane. Another admin program designed to help the war fighter that falls short. So does that mean that I know my fate and when I'll be coming home? The long and short of it is no. Don't take this as bitterness - I would say that it is quite safe that I'll be home well prior to December. Trust me - it can't come soon enough. The fun meter is broken.

A little "Feisty"

Sometimes this blog is a little off the cuff, and quite honestly, I think that this post reminds me of the best damn calculus teacher at the boat school. Everyday is a Tuesday in this barren land; however, today is Monday. Basically, I want to crawl up in the fetal position and cry my eyes out (like baby Kenny) b/c of the precarious situation "my" teams have placed me in. You know, ok, I get it ... My Padres just aren't good enough, the Saints are back to paper bagging it, Tony Stewart didn't seem to drive inspired in Dover, and Navy Football is quite pedestrian. And, if that wasn't enough, I am going to have to listen to all the crap about how great the Steelers are playing. Duane, I just don't want to hear it - just remember your team had a starting quarterback that got caught by the po-po for doing the same thing as the Idaho Senator. Nice, very nice.

Time continues to move slowly. I feel like I am in the last two minutes of a football game that somehow takes an hour to play out. Still no word from the Navy brass in Baghdad on my departure - I'll believe it when I see it. For some reason, they've gotten into quite the habit of over promising and under delivering.

But if you want to talk about results, the entire Moody family gets "mad props." Colleen, Jack and Meg, and Granny Moody came through with a total of three boxes full of goodies. Inside them were Monsters ... and they now have a new flavor - Java. Basically, it is liquid crack and
just utterly awesome.

At any rate, Go Padres, 7 games left ... figure we need a minimum of 5 to make it work.

Mad Friars

I've resisted the urge to write about this all week: How about them Padres? Jerry Coleman, hang a star on the first seven games of the homestand. Seven in a row - now that is what I like to see! Granted, it was against two of the proverbial cellar teams; however, good teams are supposed to beat up on the weak! Now, who said that Newton was an idiot? So, we've got ten games left w/ 3 at home against the Rockies and then 3 at SF, followed by four at the Brew crew. I really hope that we have things in hand before the games in Wisconsin ... I don't want to keep reading about the East Coast teams and how they are this and that. The good news gets even better b/c Milton Bradley should play tonight or tomorrow. Harriston is swinging a big stick and makes me ask the question: Should Giles join his brother on the bench? Says here that Giles might get a few more "off" days in order to keep him fresh for the post season. If anyone has tickets that they want to pawn off, I'll start walking from Iraq right now. Hell, we are in Ramadan, and I need a trip to the Promised Land - the World Series. Trust me, San Diego is no Mecca - but I'll take the hit for the team. I'll just tell the boss that I have my own pilgrimage that I need to embark upon.

Reflection

3/5 is on deck. It is that time in the deployment when the call for lessons learned and after action reports have cast wide nets. It is one of those things where even if you don't have anything to say - you have to say something. Naturally, I am all for such endeavors. In order to complete something like this the skill that one has to draw from is reflection. Admittedly, this is something that I am not particularly very skilled at accomplishing. For one reason or another, I tend to keep my head down and keep plugging along. Most of my vivid recollections are centered on times when I just about lost my mind - and that isn't particularly helpful. It is one of things that I'll just have to keep working on. With that goal in mind, I'll attempt to cajole myself by thinking that I do have something to offer and that you, my readers (read Sean), may gleam from some of things I have been able to reflect on. Most of these, I've learned the hard way.

1. "Just do it." This marketing slogan by Nike is utterly brilliant. The question "why" is the most often asked, rarely answered, and usually the least important. The solution? Accept the fact that you know fewer things than you think you do and do your job the best you can. All you can control is the execution phase.

2. "It is harder to fire someone you like." Endear yourself to your boss and command. If you don't, you become expendable. The solution? Focus on reasons to say "yes" rather than finding reasons to say "no."

3. "What have you done for me lately?" This may be more of a corollary to my second point; however, I feel that it deserves some time in the spotlight. We live in a time where things that you have accomplished in the past may lead to credibility and further your own experience; however, the fact remains that everything is about the here and now. Deployments, awards, qualifications, ribbons, etc... largely serve as placeholders for personal memories. The solution? Go climb Mt. Everest, find a cure for cancer, take two weeks and then go back to work.

No mail

Today is the last day for mail with 2/6. As soon as I get the good mailing address for the next unit - I'll push it out. In the mean time, please don't send anything, as it will end up in North Carolina.

Speaking of mail, I continued to be spoiled! Thank you very much to the following:
Grieser Family - A package full of books. My favorite by far was the Japanese Anime about Vampires ... nice, very nice.
Money Hill Ladies - The peanut butter granola bars are the best!
Hebner Family - Jeff Gordon is going down, and the the Home Depot Chevy is on his way to his third championship! Know about it!
Wood Family - Feeding my obsession w/ the Padres. I wish that we could play the Giants more often!

The FNG continues to move along. His attitude is contagious, and I think that eventually he will see success. No pictures or anything from my FMF qualification - Marines don't do that stuff. No worries.

Strolling Aroung the Lake

The dictionary defines the word "fun" as something that provides mirth or amusement. You'll notice that nowhere in that definition is mention of a combat endurance hump. Well folks, that was my Sunday morning -"humping" (walking 6.2 miles with a full combat load). Fun times. So call me Nancy, fit me for a dress, and point me to the hot tub. Marines call this fun, and I call it a nightmare. Marines are required to demonstrate proficiency in certain evolutions that Marines have to stay proficient in - marksmanship, weapons safety, rules of engagement,"humping" etc ... on a monthly basis. So, there I was playing along. The best part of this whole deal is that one of pre-deployment milestones is the ability to hump 15 miles. So, in essence this was supposed to be easy.