Busy Saturday

What a busy Saturday..

It started as always, the cadets singing at 0500. I mean come on every day? It worked out because I had to get up early because the class was going to Boston to see the USS Constitution. For those of you not familiar with her, she is the oldest seagoing warship in the world. Built in 1797 she is impressive to see, when you realize she is a piece of living history. Well our class made it up to the compound just in time for colors and then we got an extensive tour of the ship. I think my favortite part is getting to see the CO's bathroom. The way it works is, he has a room off of his stateroom with a view, but this is where it gets interesting. If you are working over the side I guess you could see the man do his business. Anyway...


After we got back from our bus ride to Boston, I ventured out to leave the base for a first time in a week. With school taking so much time, the only time I see myself leaving is the weekends. SO I went to Narragansett where my Uncle lived for a time when we were kids. It was so cool seeing places I remember from my childhood. Clam cakes, taste the same as they do from almost 30 years ago, and places I remember as kid immediately flashed back to me when I saw them yesterday.

The only thing I really missed was having Dawn with me. I love my wife so very much and it sucks being away from her for long periods of time. If my math is correct I don't have to many more long trips away from her in my Naval career. But one thing I learned from her was the art of people watching. I could go with her anywhere and sit and just watch people, sounds boring know but trust me until you have done it with my wife you haven't done it. Anyway there is a sea wall in Newport on the Ocean and you could literally sit for hours and watch people go by and soak up the sun.

It's Sunday here, and after a trip to mass and Dunkin Donuts for a bagel and coffee I am back in my room getting ready for to do some reading for class and relax. Next week I fly to Chicago to see the kids going through bootcamp and get a sneak peak at my new command. I can't wait.

Few thoughts from Newport

1. I should have paid attention in English class, this school is going to be a lot of writing. I suck at writing..

2. Nothing like the OCS guys waking you at 0500 singing in cadence.

So far it's now Thursday, I have not left this 1 square mile radius. Tomorrow I leave the base, Saturday I head to Bean Town... I can't wait. I'll have pictures of my trip sometime on Saturday or Sunday.

Newport

Well I started my class in Newport today, 6 weeks of learning about public speaking and how to be better at work. I am really very excited about this class, a bunch of people who I think a great deal of have gone through this class. It feels kind of weird being here knowing greats like them have been here. I'll post pictures later this week.

We'll be super busy, first week I'll be in Boston for the morning and then the following week I head to Chicago.. No it's not fun, it's all work. I am going to drop an email to my cousin and try and meet her in Boston but who knows when...

BTW I have a world class view from my room...

Bad luck for my beloved

If not for bad luck it would be no luck for Dawn. She was on the base and thinks she either sprained or broke her foot. Excellent timing considering she is due to drive from Jacksonville to Chicago... I love her to death but she has the worlds worst luck. Good luck Dear, I hope it's just a sprain....

Sex in the City

Well all is well in Fine Danbury, I will be posting a few pics of the landmarks today at the request of my sister. By now I would assume that if you are a woman you have been to see Sex in the City movie.. Funny I get teased up getting excited about a sports event, but every where I look to (TV, Web and the only theater in town) women are acting like it's the second coming of Christ. Ease up ladies it's just a movie. I wonder how many poor guys will be dragged to it and howmany women groups are going to go?

Who says you can't go home again?

OK, I just 1072 miles from Jacksonville to Danbury with a 3 night stay in DC. I was cruising along today happy as a clam, I made it past DC traffic, Baltimore traffic, and a little traffic in Jersey but oh my god, the traffic in NYC on a Wednesday at 0900 and in CT. I was in a 40 minute dead stop and small roll in New York crossing the George Washington Bridge and don't miss a turn, because it's a 30 minute detour. I will be here til Sunday and then head to Newport, I'll be updating day to day....

Mr Chris goes to Washington

OK, a couple of poor choices were made by me so far.

1. Going to see my boys loose yesterday as beatup on the O's today.
2. Going to see Downtown DC today.

OK let me explain, I went to work with Bill this am (5am) and hit the city at about 6am. No kidding I walked about 4-6 miles by noon today. Highlights included seeing the Navy Memorial, see Old Ebbit's Grill and seeing the White House.

I love DC and I would love to live here one day, it is such an incredible city when you think about the history here, not to mention it is beautiful to walk around. However, traffic and cost of living here is crazy so I will have to hold myself to visiting Bill.

Yankees Loose

Well after a day of Scrapple (still waiting on what the hell it is)...But my team lost, glad we went all the way to Baltimore to see an ass kicking. Either way we say Boog Powell, famous Baltimore Baseball player. The game was great, hanging out with Bill is a blast as we always have a good time together.

Other highlights included Bill's new phone, and teaching him Bluetooth and the strippers who gave us free t-shirts to come to some strip club on North Baltimore. Sadly for them we went south back to DC. ...Skanks

Kinda of crazy, a guy I worked with in Memphis, now living in Newport News had come to the game for Military Appreciation. It's cool being in the Navy because people you know keep turning up at every corner....


Pictures of the day coming soon......

Scrapple

What the hell is Scrapple... I'll tell you what is, nasty..

Random thoughts from I-95

Who stops at the I95 Strip bars that "Dare to Bare"? I really hope the fine women(?) don't think that Richard Gere and his stretch white limo are going to swing in and pick them up.

If you have never STOPPED at South of the Border, do so. It's worth 1 stop to look and chuckle, same random crap any port overseas has at a crap meet, but still a novelty.

If you are going on a car trip greater than 4 hours, do yourself a favor get XM Radio. It was nice listening to the Yankees beat Seattle today. BUT if you are the parent of 2 tween girls, make sure 1/2 of that trip is spent listening to Radio Disney. I swear I caught myself on more than one occasion leaving it on Radio Disney because I liked the song.

Zaxby's ( the greatest fast food place on the planet) is at every exit you don't want and when it's finally time to stop you've gone to far north..

Good luck trying get something even close to healthy on the road. I'm open to suggestions as I still have a DC to CT leg and a Rhode Island to Chicago leg via Cooperstown, yes the baseball hall of fame.

Well I am settled in at my my best friend's apt in DC, we have a great view of the Holiday Inn Dawn and I used to stay at when we would sneak up to DC from Newport News.... The good old days... Tomorrow Bill and I head to Baltimore to see the Yankees play... Can't wait.In case you are curious, I have been using my cell phone to take pictures along my happy way, it's not a great camera but it works... Photos will be posted as I go.....

On the Road

Well tomorrow starts my 2 month trip around the country. I plan to update daily and keep you involved in my travels.

Lets See, I head to my best friend's house tomorrow. Spend 4 days in DC with him, I am so excited, if I ever had a brother, Bill would be it. While there we are seeing the Yankees beat the Orioles ( I hope) and some time in DC. Then it's off to my parents house, then off to Newport for school and then to Cooperstown with my Dad to see the Baseball Hall of Fame. I'll be taking pictures with my phone and uploading them on a regular basis..

Then it's off to Chicago for 3 years.

WHEW!!

I am armed with my GPS, XM Radio and a cooler.. What more can I ask for...

Continuing the Family Business

After a routine follow up for my High Blood Pressure (DUH SEA DUTY) I am now happy to announce I am carrying on the family business of Diabetes. Yes I too get to pop pills, change my diet to shed pounds and test my blood sugar every day. Yippy I can hardly wait. When did I get old all of a sudden? I know it's kind of serious, but before anyone gets all worked up... I come from a long line of Diabetics so it's just a matter of my education. But it still sucks.....

American Idol and the Yankees

Ok, I still don't get it... How does American Idol out draw Presidential Elections? 50 million votes in 4 hours... Why can't we get that many to vote for the leader of our nation? FOr what it matters I want David Cook to win (Idol, not the Presidency). I got hooked back a few months ago watching it with my inlaws, my mother inlaw sets up like a racing forum and handicaps it all. Love it....


As I sit watching Idol, my beloved Yankees continue there worst season ever, getting the snot beaten out of them by Baltimore. BTW, I will be seeing the same two teams next monday play in person.

While I am writing, I truly wonder what the hell makes Paula Abdul such an authority on music? I mean 2 songs back in the 80s. I get it she is a train wreck waiting to happen but can't we get someone better, how great would this show be with Brittney Spears or even better Whitney and Bobby Brown?

On las thing, ask yourself will David Cook or the other David win? Well the million 16 year old girls will lock the younger in, so we get stuck watching that little shit cry for the whole show tomorrow. Grow up kid, the crying bit is cute but let's perform a little better...

Online Shopping

Sorry for the delay, had some work that kept me away,

1 thing for you to look at today

How cool is that? Or shall I say kreepy. So if you have ever had to move you may relate with my stress factor this week. I hate moving and would love to stay 1 one dpot for my lifetime like normal people but no such luck. Maybe in a few years....

Fearless

OK it's no secret sometimes the girls are a little timid when it comes to excitement. Lindsey has always enjoyed roller coasters at Disney but won't go on Rock and Roll Roller Coaster, and Emily has avoided Space Mountain like the plague. Well last night we went to the local Carnival at a school near the beach and the girls just simply shocked us. Emily was first she went on the Starhip 2000 a ride that spins around in a circle so fast you slide up the wall. Dawn and I convinced her to get on this ride, and I was hop[ing to give her a little thrill, sadly she loved it. Funny thing is afterwords she went on a kids ride and was very bored....

Then Lindsey went on the fireball, which is a roller coster that takes you upside down and hangs you there. Both of my little girls loved the thrill rides.. Weren't they just yesterday riding the baby rides and loving it?