I wanted to write down some of my goals I have been thinking about for the next 3 years we are going to be in Okinawa. There is so much I'm looking forward too!
1. Getting over my fear of water. This hopefully won't take long as the island is known for the incredible snorkeling and beautiful blue waters! I'm not sure why I'm so scared. I can't keep a steady, consistent, CALM breath when I try to swim laps or put my head under. I get water up my nose when I dive in and my eyes burn from the chlorine. This can't continue... And im sure with Tony's help (I can see the "fights" now) I will get over this.
2. Learning Japanese. By no means do I think that I'll be fluent, but I am really excited to learn. Hopefully i'll be able to understand and have enough in my vocabulary that others will understand me.
3. Camping & Rock climbing. I've always enjoyed both of these things - but I've never been really good. I haven't had the tools to camp comfortably, nor have I had the amount of experience needed to be a great rock climber. I'm hoping this can change!
4. Letting go of my love for Minneapolis. Just for a few years anyway ;).. Okinawa will be such a different pace of life. Different culture. Different people. Different part of the world. And each day as much as I will miss my family, friends, and the city I love - I'm going to soak up every bit of the island life I can. That's a goal and a promise.
5. Read more. I'm not sure what makes me think that I can't read enough here in the states, but there's something about moving half way across the world that just makes me want to be very well-rounded. I want to learn about the Okinawan culture, better my knowledge of American history, and teach English as a 2nd language.
6. Be the most supportive and adventurous wife I can be. And no matter how far my friends and family are - work hard at being the best friend, sister, and daughter I can be.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
WOBC 1
So it has been roughly 47 days since I arrived in Quantico Virginia for Warrant Officer Basic Course and the course has been everything people told me it would be and more. To explain it a little better, this four month school is designed to provide us with the knowledge and leadership to assume the role of a provisional Rifle Platoon Commander in the Fleet Marine Force. This course goes once a year and right now we have 195 students who are the technical experts in their respective occupational fields. This year there were 8 from my community including me and the other 7 will be my direct competition during this course! (ranking does matter) The amount of time in the service for each person ranges from roughly 9 years to 18 years and we have a minimum three year obligation after they spend all of this money on us. They preach the five horizontal themes of an officer which are; A man or women of exemplary character, Devoted to leading Marines 24/7, Able to decide, communicate, and act in the fog of war, A warfighter who embraces the Corps' warrior ethos, Mentally strong and physically tough. Everything we do here is under the microscope and very intense, they insert friction wherever they can in order to prepare us for difficult times later in our career.
Academically they cram 830 hours of classroom and evaluation time (roughly 2 years of college) in 4 months! They basically use the "fire hose" method of teaching and tell us to make it happen, but there is a method to their madness and the instructors are some of the best officers across the Marine Corps. We study almost all hours that we are not in class or sleeping and it feels like college finals week - every week! Physically they also push us past our comfort zone and many of us feel as if our bodies are breaking down...far more than bootcamp for instance, but that is probably just because we are old and not 18 anymore!!
Last week we spent four days in the field doing land navigation, squad assaults, live fire ranges, hiking, combat life saving, and much more. During that time we did roughly 30 miles of movement with various combat loads. I can officially say that I really miss California and its amazing weather, the last week has put me through sleeping outside in 8 inches of snow/sleet/rain with some 50 mph wind gusts!
Spirits are high and I am doing well so far, on course to graduate in the top ten percent. I am counting down the days however and right now I sit at 72 days till graduation, 125 to the wedding, and 144 till I am in Japan. 2013 has been and will undoubtedly be pretty damn crazy for me and Tara!! Hopefully this paints a better picture to what I have been doing out here and there will be more posts to come if I can get some free time...
Academically they cram 830 hours of classroom and evaluation time (roughly 2 years of college) in 4 months! They basically use the "fire hose" method of teaching and tell us to make it happen, but there is a method to their madness and the instructors are some of the best officers across the Marine Corps. We study almost all hours that we are not in class or sleeping and it feels like college finals week - every week! Physically they also push us past our comfort zone and many of us feel as if our bodies are breaking down...far more than bootcamp for instance, but that is probably just because we are old and not 18 anymore!!
Last week we spent four days in the field doing land navigation, squad assaults, live fire ranges, hiking, combat life saving, and much more. During that time we did roughly 30 miles of movement with various combat loads. I can officially say that I really miss California and its amazing weather, the last week has put me through sleeping outside in 8 inches of snow/sleet/rain with some 50 mph wind gusts!
Spirits are high and I am doing well so far, on course to graduate in the top ten percent. I am counting down the days however and right now I sit at 72 days till graduation, 125 to the wedding, and 144 till I am in Japan. 2013 has been and will undoubtedly be pretty damn crazy for me and Tara!! Hopefully this paints a better picture to what I have been doing out here and there will be more posts to come if I can get some free time...
Normal night at my desk doing homework
Reading and taking notes on MC Doctrinal Publication - Warfighting
Packing to go to the field
Roughly 125lbs of gear without my 400 rounds of ammunition
Ready to head out to the field
Cannot believe this was 10 years ago!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Max turns 6!!!
Thought I'd share a quick top 5 reasons why I love this kid
-there are a million good things, but let me be sarcastic in this list
5. He tattles on me a whole lot. He thinks the silly things I say are either inappropriate or mean and I think he wants to get a rise out of his mom over some of the things I will say to him. We'll work on the tattling over the next few years.. because there's a whole lot more I have in store for him.
4. He is a tremendous athlete. I don't want to give him a big head (not quite yet anyway) but he seriously does everything with a "natural" motion. Uncle Tony got him a "big boy" skateboard that he will hopefully start using soon. His mom probably wasn't too happy about that - but Max will learn how to do it...and do it well in no time. There's no doubt in my mind that he will surpass his parents athletic ability by the time he is 12.
3. He calls me Terry. The last couple years I have (for whatever reason) started calling Max, Terry D. Terry D used to be an old neighbor long ago and when I used to call the kids and pretend to be someone else, opening my different voice box, I would call myself Terry D, which turned out to be Max's nickname. I like all of his nicknames that he gives me - some that don't make sense, but the fact that he has a comeback ALWAYS - I'll welcome it always.
2. He doesn't appreciate my gifts very much. Don't get me wrong, he loves the toys that I periodically give him - but the greatest gift of toilet paper and kleenexes? He throws it back in my face. Not sure why any child would dislike this gift. If they only knew how much their parents used a kleenex to wipe their gross snotty noses and toilet paper to wipe their (...ok, you know where I'm going) - they'd appreciate it. Someday he will.
1. I haven't had the "sweet" cuddly Max for nearly a year now. I definitely miss it, but I love the relationship we have. Whenever we see each other, it's a quick hug and we're right at the bickering. I tell him he has to hug me or I won't give him any more presents - and although he can go without the toilet paper, the other gifts I give him are definitely worth hugging for. We like to wrestle, make crazy faces, and just be the "cool" kids when we're around each other. I wouldn't change any of it.
-there are a million good things, but let me be sarcastic in this list
5. He tattles on me a whole lot. He thinks the silly things I say are either inappropriate or mean and I think he wants to get a rise out of his mom over some of the things I will say to him. We'll work on the tattling over the next few years.. because there's a whole lot more I have in store for him.
4. He is a tremendous athlete. I don't want to give him a big head (not quite yet anyway) but he seriously does everything with a "natural" motion. Uncle Tony got him a "big boy" skateboard that he will hopefully start using soon. His mom probably wasn't too happy about that - but Max will learn how to do it...and do it well in no time. There's no doubt in my mind that he will surpass his parents athletic ability by the time he is 12.
3. He calls me Terry. The last couple years I have (for whatever reason) started calling Max, Terry D. Terry D used to be an old neighbor long ago and when I used to call the kids and pretend to be someone else, opening my different voice box, I would call myself Terry D, which turned out to be Max's nickname. I like all of his nicknames that he gives me - some that don't make sense, but the fact that he has a comeback ALWAYS - I'll welcome it always.
2. He doesn't appreciate my gifts very much. Don't get me wrong, he loves the toys that I periodically give him - but the greatest gift of toilet paper and kleenexes? He throws it back in my face. Not sure why any child would dislike this gift. If they only knew how much their parents used a kleenex to wipe their gross snotty noses and toilet paper to wipe their (...ok, you know where I'm going) - they'd appreciate it. Someday he will.
1. I haven't had the "sweet" cuddly Max for nearly a year now. I definitely miss it, but I love the relationship we have. Whenever we see each other, it's a quick hug and we're right at the bickering. I tell him he has to hug me or I won't give him any more presents - and although he can go without the toilet paper, the other gifts I give him are definitely worth hugging for. We like to wrestle, make crazy faces, and just be the "cool" kids when we're around each other. I wouldn't change any of it.
Friday, March 1, 2013
The "Ivster"
This past week I was able to watch Ivy as Beth and the others took off for Disney World! I was so excited for Max and Mya to experience the magical kingdom - and selfishly, I was so excited to spend some QT with Ivy babes! As there were times that I thought she was missing her siblings and parents, we got along juuuust fine.
I had to apologize to Beth that Ivy's new game now is falling off the couch (into my hands) - she thinks it is hilaaaaarious. I am to blame, because to hear her laugh like she was - I couldn't help but to continue :)
Her new words this week were "Grandpa" and "pretty". and boy, did she say "Grandpa" a whole lot. I think she liked hearing her own voice say the word! It was very sweet. I'm not sure if she was doing this at home, but this week I noticed that whenever she didn't get something or wanted something slightly out of reach, she would yell "Owie" loud - like she was hurt so I would come help her. She's smart. And I love it.
Friday morning I was sad to wake up and not have her around. She was so much fun - and I'd do it every day if I could!
I had to apologize to Beth that Ivy's new game now is falling off the couch (into my hands) - she thinks it is hilaaaaarious. I am to blame, because to hear her laugh like she was - I couldn't help but to continue :)
Her new words this week were "Grandpa" and "pretty". and boy, did she say "Grandpa" a whole lot. I think she liked hearing her own voice say the word! It was very sweet. I'm not sure if she was doing this at home, but this week I noticed that whenever she didn't get something or wanted something slightly out of reach, she would yell "Owie" loud - like she was hurt so I would come help her. She's smart. And I love it.
Friday morning I was sad to wake up and not have her around. She was so much fun - and I'd do it every day if I could!
Here are a few pictures from our week
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