Monkey Mail - and ideas wanted.

Before I commence with Monkey Mail, I need to ask for your help. My next post will be my 200th post! And I want to make it something special. So, what are your thoughts? Do you have any ideas to make it something, cool/different/informative/creative, etc.....

Now, on with Monkey Mail:

18 April

Hey beautiful! I just got a few emails from you at one time, Don't have much time to write because due to an inspection i need to grab all the sleep that i can. I put a picture of you on my cell phone background, one in your little blue skirt, so freaking cute. just reminds me how beautiful you are and how much i miss you every time i check the time. I have to use my cell phone for time since i forgot my watch this underway.

Im really glad that you  had fun with the seminar and that you got to meet and talk to some cool people. Makes me happy to know that you are doing well. Miss you so much.

I would write more but there just really isn't that much to talk about. The steel can doesn't offer THAT many stories that are well-told over emails.

I'm almost off the dinq list, i have one interview left, and i was supposed to have it already but it got canceled due to this inspection.

Miss you so much beautiful thing, cant wait to squeeze you.

Love you!

-----------------

20 APR 11

I managed to lose both my cell phone chargers. which sucks because its also my mp3 player. I brought the ipod but im trying not to use it, on principal. We are doing refresher training right now which equates to a lot of drills, cleaning and very little sleep when ever you can grab some. I fell asleep on a motor generator today, it was warm. They are keeping the vent heaters low to prevent a fire so the boat is freaking freezing.

I kinda feel like i haven't gotten anything done in the past few weeks. Hard to believe we have been underway almost three weeks. Its a strange time-warp. [...] I can't complain about life right now too much though... save for this training. I generally get a decent amount of sleep, sometimes more than that. The little maintenance i have been assigned with I am usually able to get done between watch. The guys who only stand 6 hours of watch tend to be the group that gets the maintenance - or so they say-.

Oh! about that 'stache! part of the pact we made was not to shave them until we got home, like home home. So....  You may get to see the terrible stache! I can't take myself seriously with this thing. Everytime i look in the mirror and see it its like... "You douche!"

[Sailor D] just glued a couple gummy bears to his nipples and showed me. Haha! "You can get gummy bears to stick to anything if you just lick 'em."

I have a headache and my wisdom teeth are coming in pretty hardcore because I never got to take care of them during off-crew. Been hurting the past couple days.

Anyways, sexy wife - I gotta get going, either gonna go run, or sleep - sleep is safer but i feel bad because i was good all day and just ate a bunch of abandoned gummy bears.... they needed my help.

LOVE YOU,
SO MUCH!

------------

21 APR

just have a minute, need to sleep - today was kinda... hell. not HELL but i mean, the whole boat was pretty beat from doing drills for like 10 hours straight and we had been doing stuff the night before as well so none of us had ample sleep. 5 Hour energys are amazing, My Rec committee bill when i get back is probably gonna be just over 100 dollars from the sweater, belt buckles and 5-hour-energys.

[...]

I feel i should stop complaining... There just isn't a point to it. But then again sometimes it does get a little overwhelming and its hard to think about anything else, but not so much underway - except for when we are piloting then its kinda like... "ugghhhhh". Just cause we have to stay up and do more, but we are not the only division who does that...

Oh! I found my cell phone charger... well one of them. Tomorrow I have another... 16 hours of watch I think. Blah. I'm sleepy. I woke up from a nap feeling like i had just done something bad...... like... yelled at someone.. i don't know or remember i was so out of it. The past few nights i try to go to sleep after midnight but i cant get to sleep for a couple hours so then i'm tired the next day.

[...]

Oh! I did a lot of troubleshooting today, i needed a lot of help from senior guys but i learned a lot.

I love you beautiful girl, miss you so much!
*Squeezes*

Monkey Mail - and the happiest I've been possibly ever

Ok this has been the best best best last few days ever ever ever! (As far as days without the Monkey, go)

This week I gained confidence, real friends, and inner peace! Much love has been coming my way it feels wonderful. If you've been reading recently then you know what an emotional downer I've been lately. 

It started off on Friday when I got flowers for my porch. Then I spent the weekend at a capoeira seminar. I've always been an incredibly shy person. And for the longest time I hated going or doing anything by myself, especially if it put me out of my comfort zone. But, in an effort to stay busy while Monkey is gone, I've been getting out there and doing my own thing, and it's been getting easier and easier to do it on my own. I'm still a little reserved and tend to not socialize much but I'm getting better at it. But, back to this weekend. The seminar was truly amazing, not just for the experience but for the people. Every night a group of us went and hung out. Typically this is not something I would do, but lately every time I'm alone I end up crying and I'm just flat out tired of that so, I was determined to not be alone as much as possible. So when I heard rumblings of people going out I made sure to get the details and get out there with them. These people in particular are just amazing, everyone one of genuinely cares about each other and they accepted me into their group as if I'd known them forever. I ended up opening up to them about how down I've been feeling and to my surprise they didn't give me feigned pity (which I hate), or pretend to try and relate to it. Instead they acknowledged that I needed support, and people, and friends and that's exactly what they gave me. I feel included and loved and that is the best support I could ask for. Last night, they were all going out after their workouts at The Source and I got a text inviting me out. When I got there is was all hugs and "thanks for coming out". Wonderful, we laughed and had a good time. These last few days have been the best days ever! All of it means so much to me. 

Also, sunday I had an amazing conversation with Mestre Batata, who taught the capoeira seminar. He shared some amazing life insights and we had a conversation about me and being around people. That I have so much to give and so much to gain from surrounding myself with these great people. When I left his parting words to me were "Be happy, you deserve to be happy." I left there on such an emotional high. Nearly in tears, but for the first time in a long time because of happiness. Then to top it all off when I got home I FINALLY had email from Monkey!!!! As if all the positive energy willed those emails into my inbox!!  He left two and a half weeks ago and I hadn't heard a peep from him! Such a relief and a perfect ending to my perfect weekend. Then, which out further ado....

MONKEY MAIL (Excerpts from the 4 emails I received)

6 APR 11 6:35PM

Hey beautiful one! Sorry i haven't written you yet, Sailor mail has been down and we haven't been able to send until some time yesterday. Apparently the IT LPO on the other crew didn't understand how it worked so he just deleted the .bat file that allowed sailor mail to que up on the outgoing.

Anyways, I have been alright... I have a few emails from you but haven't been able to read all of them yet. I will probably do that right after i write this one.

Been thinking about you! Love you miss you. There isnt really a whole lot going on here. Relatively level days since i am qualified now. 

This schedule is very strange, kind of nice because you can plan for the next day and sleep where and when you need to and in general i think you can get enough sleep for the day. It also helps you to keep track of what day it is a little better. Im still on the fence about it over all, but its not as bad as i thought it would be. I have been sleeping a lot more than last patrol - I am trying to go the whole underway without  caffeine if i can. Im sure that at some point i will need it for something but its healther this way.

I updated the pictures of you on my phone the night before we left so i keep them close and they always make me smile.

Love you so much mrs. Duck!

Miss you!

----------------

9 April

Hey Ducky!
 So i doubt you have gotten my previous email. Im not even sure it will get to you at all. sailor mail was down for the first few days with small periods of up-time which i never got to take advantage of. I know for a fact that this one will get to you WAY after i send it.

 Anyways, i have to go back on watch pretty soon. There isnt really much to talk about, some funny things that i wont discuss over email, but not a whole lot over all. [Sailor M] and I are getting along pretty well - amazingly.

Its a strange schedule. Im trying not to take caffeine this run if i can avoid it. The issue with my schedule is that if i want to work out, i will loose sleep because there is uasually something to do at 0730 in the morning, I get a decent amount of time off, but it is very inconveniently placed in the day due to ship operatins, such as when meetings and drills are. Kinda sucks beause the 15 hours that i have off (which is nice) is usually taken up by other crap to do with work.
 Then the other thing is that when I AM sleeping and i hear a "Prepare to ventilate" or "Code red" come over the 1MC - I freak out and fly out of bed all scared because i think that im on watch and have to rig, and that i will be in trouble for sleeping on watch.. which isnt the case of course because if i am in bed then I am not on watch. When I am sleeping though, i flip out beca im a little delerious.
 I love you so much. Miss you so much. I cannot wait to see you. Know that i think about you every day, and i love getting your emails even though you will not get too many from me. I expect this one to get to you about a week from now.

Love you!

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Wed, APR 13 0600

Hey you. I just read your 12th email.  Not really a lot going on here, life is so boring on a steel tube. I'm working on quals but sleeping a LOT more than last patrol. I feel better in general.

No real update on anything... I have been singing backstreet boys to the chief of the watch for my section. Muahahahaha! Im growing a mustache/soul patch combination that looks absolutley atrocious. I am told that it accents my douch-baggery very well. I named my mustache "El Douche'" I look very Conquistador with a stache.

YOU ARE AWESOME. I think about you and talk about you all the time and love yous so much! I'm sorry there haven't been many emails from me, like i said there really just isn't much going on...

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

---------------

ughghghg I was so good today, and then i wasnt gonna eat mid-rats... but they had wings. Newmie's wings, they arent as spicy as the straight ones... so freakin good! I think i ate 20. Tomorrow is gonna be painful!

I miss you so much, i want you to know that there is a sea-monkey who misses you all the time!

Ducky, you are awesome, and beautiful, i look at your pictures every day. Miss you so much. Thank you for all your emails.

Oh I love ya SO!
*squeezes*

 So there you have it. That's my weekend in possibly the longest post I've ever made. If you made it through that, mad props and I love you!!

My Capoeira Weekend

I have some time to kill so I might as well tell you about my weekend.

I recently started taking Capoeira classes. Capoeira is "Capoeira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuˈejɾɐ]) is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century. It is known by quick and complex moves, using mainly power kicks and quick leg sweeps, with some ground and aerial acrobatics, knee strikes, take-downs, elbow strikes, punches and headbutts." You can find out more on wikipedia.

I've only been to three classes and it's been pretty inconsistent due to birthdays, neck injuries, last minute predeployment drives to WA, etc. None the less, I was excited to attend the Mestre Batata Capoeira Workshop this weekend. I definitely am one of the least experienced people there, but I've learned to just go with it and not care that I don't know what I'm doing and do my best and realize that the other people want to help me. 

The ground stuff in the beginning was not going well for me, I was confused most of the time and couldn't remember what anything was called. The second half was more about kicks. I did much better with this. My dance training helped a lot with all the spinning kicks! 

At the end everyone gets together in the Roda (pronounced hoda) and plays. Everyone around the Roda sings and claps to the instruments that are being played. It's all about the energy. It is described as a conversation with a statements and retorts. It's all in good fun and comradeship. In most cases except by the advanced students, no real contact is made. It's as much an art form and a dance as it is a style of fighting. 

Here is an example of some Capoeira (not this weekend) with Mestre Batata. I most definitely do not look like this when I do it. hahah

My porch haz a happy!

So, this morning after an IM conversation with my Dad I was feeling kind of down. (I'm not going to tell the whole story because I'm not one to air family woes in public.) Basically, I had made an obvious hint that for my birthday I wanted flowers for my porch so I could come home to something happy while Monkey is gone. I didn't get any flowers. I wasn't sad about the flowers, I was sad about the reason I didn't get them.

I was at work and the only person in the office was my boss so he's the one who got to hear my sob story. Later, I was sitting at my desk after lunch when he came in with a tray of flowers for me! It totally made my day. It was truly thoughtful, and I am very touched and thankful. So, now my porch has some pretty flowers that I get to come home to every day. They will need to be put into larger pots soon, but I only had these pots and I wanted to get home and get them planted before it got dark. 

They look small right now, but they are supposed to at least double in size, and there are bunch of buds that will open i couple of days. My porch will be blooming in no time. :) 

Gimmie your battle cry...

Hey I'm working on a little project hopefully to finish today. I need to know that the "battle cry" or "call" is for all the branches.

Here is what I have, correct me if I'm wrong and add what I've forgotten, or let me know that I got 'em right. Thanks all!

Navy = Hooyah (if I got that one wrong I'm in trouble, haha!)

Marines = Oorah

Army = Hoorah

Airforce = I found online Hooah (also HUA?)

Good while it lasted.

I was having a really good week. Felt really really good all week. Very happy, lots of patience. Haven't gotten a single email since he left. Two finally went through, (of the 8 i've sent). But still felt good. I was even having a great week at work.

Then all of a sudden the tears are back. Just hope they go away as quickly as they came cause I really don't want to go the entire deployment feeling this mopey. Could really use an email from him. 

I'm going to bed. Maybe I'll feel better in the morning.

Wordless Wednesday.

I feel like I haven't posted in a while. So, with three hours left, I present my wordless wednesday.

We both miss this.

It is working?

So far my tactic has been to A. Stay busy, and B. Pretty much just ignore the fact that he's gone. After all, for most of the week it's not that different from when he's 'here' except that I don't get to see him on the web cam at night. But, that's easy to remedy. I just go to bed a little early, which isn't entirely a bad thing. It's the weekends that get me. When I have an entire day to myself and I can't really ignore the fact that I can't talk to him.

I made a point of having something to do every night this week so I just wasn't thinking about it. My bestie from way back and my favorite friend from muay thai went to Dosha yesterday for mani/pedis. Then my bestie and I went out salsa dancing. It was a lot of fun. I haven't been out salsa dancing since I quit my salsa team a couple months ago. I haven't even really salsa danced since then. But boy my toes are tired!!! The floor was really sticky which was annoying. It makes it really hard to turn. I'm sure I picked up all sorts of bad habits last night. 

It made me feel pretty good about my skills though, to have a couple different people ask me if I was an instructor somewhere. I also had one guy as me if I was Russian. Which I most definitely am not. I actually get asked that a lot. I guess I have a lot of eastern european features. Or so I've been told. Which is funny because I don't think any of my lineage is from Eastern Europe. (Mom, correct me on this if I'm wrong)

Anyway, so my point of all this is that after this weekend I was feeling really good. I felt like I was going to make it at least a couple weeks before the blahsies kicked in. As long as I kept a positive attitude. So, when I opted out of going to my friend's brother's place for breakfast, I didn't think anything of it. The second she walked out the door, I instantly regretted it. I was alone again, with nothing to keep my occupied, for the first time in days. All of a sudden it hit me. Maaan I miisss him!!!! Arg. 

So, I've moved my dance lesson to earlier so I can get some alternate human interaction. Then I'm off to my parent's house for some belated birthday dinner. Maybe, i'll eat myself in a sleepy stupor and I can come home and just crash into my bed. 

Also, I had my first major laundry accident. Some of my stuff is now tie-died blue. I have no idea what did it. And I actually think it was the laundry soap. It was the exact same color. I noticed that this load didn't have enough water for how much clothes were in it. I think the soap just sat on top and didn't wash out, then it went in the dryer and got set it. And it was only on like 4 things in the whole load. I tried to rewash them, but I think the trip through the dryer did them in. A couple things can't be saved, but two of them are white, so I'm trying to drown them in bleach right now. Golly, I guess I'll have to go shopping to replace those lost items. Darn. ;) Retail therapy, aye!!

He's all gone, and some photoshop.

Well, so he's officially all gone now. Off to save the world and what-not. He was actually supposed to leave a day earlier but something wasn't working right...or something. I didn't really ask. Technically, ship readiness is OPSEC and we were on the webcam, so I just figure I'll find out when he gets back and can tell me in person. It's obviously working now, so that's what matters.

I was actually feeling very good yesterday. All mentally prepared and ready for it. Then he didn't leave. Which was cool . I got one last minute web cam session. The guys were having a "wine and cheese[puff] movie night. It was quite cute actually. They were all drinking wine and eating cheese puffs, pizza, and I'm pretty sure I saw some chicken nuggets. 

Anyway, I apparently did not mentally prepare for day two. Cause I was a stupid wreck on my way to work this morning. The only reason I didn't cry was because I wasn't wearing waterproof mascara and I didn't want to show up with black tear streaks smeared all over my face. 

Luckily, I had a pretty fun day at work. I got to just be left alone to be creative. Lots of photoshop fun. 

At the end of the day my sister sent me some photos she took of my nephew. I've got to hand it to her. My sister makes some freaking adorable kids! I noticed there was some food on his face so I offered to clean up the photo a little bit. Since I was already in photoshop and it was the end of the day, I decided to go a little further and just touch up the whole picture. :) It was fun. 

So, all in all it ended up being a decent day. I have a big weekend planned with manis/pedis and salsa dancing with my two best girls to distract me.