About Me #1

I have an unexplainable need to run up stairs whenever I find myself at the bottom of a set of them.

I have never seen Citizen Kane.

I still have every book given to me for "required" reading for English and Literature classes in high school. I have never finished any of them because I could never bring myself to read any of the "classics" after I read the first chapter of Catcher in the Rye.

I didn't eat meat of my own volition until I was 19.

If I have a weakness, it's my sweat tooth. If I have two, the second is buying electronics.

I love geometry almost as much as I love Secret of Mana.

I shot a bow and arrow on a weekly basis for two years.

I can remember my kindergarden gym teacher's name.

I think stereotypes are hilarious especially when they apply to me.

Not so deep down inside, I want to be James Bond.

New Workout Routine

I've started running through a 30 minute, focused workout routine at lunch 3 times a week. Chest/triceps for Mondays, biceps/shoulders for Wednesdays, and back/legs on Fridays. The whole routine is based around doing 4 sets of 10 reps on 3/3 exercises for each muscle group. There's supposed to be very little down time in between, so my two buddies and I rotate between 2 or 3 different exercises at the same time. So far, it's kicking my butt...but I feel great afterward.

I run twice a week with the team on T/Th (sprints and long run respectively)...overall, I think I've got fitness down as much as I can for now. I like feeling healthy (and not guilty about the occasional pizza...heh).


PT Test the first week of April...hopefully this all pays off!

Peace.

Rifle Marksmanship

Part of our company went to the rifle range this weekend. I shot 37/40 which qualified me for Expert which made me really excited especially considering the disaster that was my BCT qualificiation (broken rifle, first round no go, minimum qualify...bleh)

We've got a Class A inspection tomorrow so I had to get my new marksmanship pin...and they really needed to be resized as well. The jacket I was issued at BCT was waaaay too big for me...hilariously oversized.

Kind of an off-day tomorrow and some fun volunteering on Saturday. More on that later!

Peace.

Movie Theaters

It's official, movie theaters have been ruined by the rudeness and thoughtlessness of bad parents and stupid teenagers.

I'm giving up on theaters.

That's all for now.

The Past Year: A Summary

So, it's been over a year...but I think it's time to bring this back...

Here's a summary of what's been happening:
Army Stuff-
I graduated with High PT Score for my Basic Training Company (325 with the extended scale!); my platoon won the Honor Platoon award as well. I loved my Drill Sergeants and made some really good friends, one of whom followed me out to my next station.

I'm currently on my Unit's Run Team, and I've gotten my 2 miles time down to sub-twelve minutes which is very awesome...My squad is also fantastic.

Politics-
While I didn't vote for Obama, his policies so far have been pretty good. Not too terribly excited about his cabinet members, but I do approve of his appreciation for technology. Choosing an "internet czar" that actually understands what the internet is (and plays WoW) was a much-needed step in the proper direction. Also, I bought a MacBook Pro (I'll post a review of sorts later...) a while back...Obama's apparently a Mac user...I approve. All kidding aside (and most importantly of all given the current political climate of the world) the Middle East loves Obama (because most of them think he's a Muslim), and that has the potential to make my life easier for the next few years...

Technology-
I already mentioned that I bought a MacBook Pro...I've also managed to acquire a 40in toshiba LCD 1080p TV, a Sony 5.1 barebones sound system, and a PS3...I love all of them (many thanks to the floundering Circuit City and their ridiculously low prices!) More reviews to follow...

Thats all for now...Peace out

PS: 2008 coldest of the decade? Hmmmm

My Triumphant Return...

Hello...it has been too long, my friends.

A lot has gone on over the past month...mostly me trying to buckle down on classes so I can graduate...which I'm going to be doing tomorrow! How exciting is that? Four and a half years are gone tomorrow.

A lot of Army stuff has gone down as well...I'm having some trouble with the University giving my proof of graduation by January 2nd...which would be awful...ruin all of the plans I've laid so far. So keep your fingers crossed for me on that issue.

ROTC stuff finished up wonderfully...didn't end up with a 300 on the last pt test, but I wasn't expecting too...we lost too many days of PT to special events and such. I actually haven't done much exercise at all over the past month...woops...oh well, it's all been about passing, heh.

I was worried about my databases class, but turns out there wasn't anything to worry about...ended up with a B, which is wonderful.

Ok, I've got to run and start packing for Sunday...I've got a lot of stuff.

Hooah.

Range Shooting

My military science class shot M16s today. I did surprisingly well. All those hours of Call of Duty and Battlefield 2 have payed off. Last year's class was an embarrassing disaster for me...so it was nice to be at the front of the group.

Anyways, that's all. Felt like a badass today...nothing else going on outside of classes and tests. In fact, I'm off to one right now.

Hooah.

No Go

I will not be going on the field training exercise this weekend. A bit of a disappointment, but I'll use the time to get ahead on my homework so I won't be doing any over Thanksgiving Break.

It turns out that there are a bunch of us not going...we're going to have a get together on Saturday, so that should be fun.

For better or worse I still have to attend all of the prep-stuff this week...early-morning battle drills tomorrow, PT Wednesday, and something...can't remember what...probably more battle drills...on Thursday.

The good news is no PT Friday, no PT Monday, and Break starts Tuesday after classes.

I'm probably going to have to do some personal PT over the break though, seeing as how we really haven't even had PT in over a week prior to this morning...

That's all I've got...fairly easy week other wise, minus the Graphics test I have on Thursday.

Hooah.

Hell Weeks

It's been a crazy couple of weeks here...

Two very significant programming assignments were due this week (in Computer Graphics and Database Management I respectively), pushed back from last week...I had a test in another CPS course (in Software Engineering) yesterday. And I've got fraternity ritual this Friday, family and friends visiting, my final marching band game was last weekend...just...crazy.

Fortunately, the last big school-related fiascos are due today...so at least I'll be done with those for a few days.

We had swim PT this morning, which is always a nice change of pace, though now between the workout and a near-complete lack of consistent sleep for the past ten days I am completely exhausted.

We've got battle drills in the morning for our lead lab, which ought to be fun...unfortunately, I might not get the chance to use them with the battalion on STX. Because I'm not actually with ROTC, there are restrictions as to what I'm actually allowed to do...the plan was originally for me to participate in all field training events this semester...but I got news yesterday night that plans might have changed.

So, whatever...it's really no big deal. I've got plenty of field training coming up in a few months, heh.

That's all I've got. Arabic homework and more database project stuff to do.

Hooah.

October APFT

It's been an awful week...

I've had two major programs due in two different classes between yesterday and this afternoon...they've been sucking up all of my free time...

To top it all off, I had an APFT this morning. I went to bed around midnight, crabby and ticked off because I was so frustrated with my program for today.

I woke up expecting the worst. As it turns out, I should take more APFTs pissed off...I ended up 1 pushup short of a 300...if I had only been two years younger, I would have had it...

Pushups : 74(gah!) up from 57.
Situps : 90(w00t!) up from 84.
2MileRun: 12:34 up from 12:28 (but my first lap/one mile time was under 6 minutes!)

I found that the key to kicking butt on pushups is just to not stop...your first full set is what matters the most. I did 30 on the first test, 40 this time, so I'll shoot for 50 on the next one.

Thanks to my APFT scores, I'm in a fairly good mood...despite the fact that in a little under 5 hours, I have to turn in a 100 point program that isn't going to completely work...

Anyways, I just wanted to post my good/frustrating news...one friggin pushup...

Hooah.

Military Appreciation Day

This weekend, two of my favorite things (Army and the marching band...) came together in a big way. At the football game this past Saturday, in addition to the normal Parents' Weekend festivities, the University thought it would be appropriate to hold a military appreciation day. Our ROTC battalion was at the heart of the festivities. We wore our ACUs and marched onto the field with the band for pregame and the Star Spangled Banner.

The MS4s got us really into the game...we split up half-and-half in each endzone and did push-ups for points which the crowd seemed to really enjoy.

At halftime, a few of the cadets helped the dance/flag line hold open a giant flag in front of the band, which got a stading ovation...very cool.

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend...and unfortunately, the week itself is going to be atrocious...2 major programming projects due T/W respectively for Software Engineering and Database Management...Java and Perl...And I've got an SE test this Thursday in addition to the normal homework and whatnot.

So, I'm gunna head out...No political rants...I'm overdue for one of those...

Hooah.

Birthday Weekend

I just had one of the greatest weekends ever. Period.

Ever year the marching band takes a trip to one away game. This year, it fell to a University a stone's throw from Chicago. What made this trip even better was the fact that it fell on the weekend smack dab before my birthday...which is today!

The greatness really began on Friday morning. Because we weren't going to leave until 10:00am, I didn't have an excuse not to go to PT at 6:00, which if you know how much I love to run was actually ok with me. The route was the 6 mile trek that I screwed up the last time I led it, so I was a little nervous, but it really couldn't have gone better. We kept an 8 minute (or better) mile pace through almost the entire route, and by the end, I felt fantastic. After a quick breakfast, I through my weekend bag together, unplugged the video camera charger, and headed with my house mate over to the music building to wait for the buses.

The ride was great. My house mate is the band's CEO and one of only three fifth year seniors in the group (myself included); he had previously warned that those wishing to sleep and/or study en route to our first performance (4-5 hour trip) really needed to grab a ride on the second bus because of the loud, obnoxious songs we were going to sing and the fantastically crude stories we were planning to share with the newer members. We stood by our warning.

After checking into our hotel, we drove to a local high school to play with their band. This turned out to be the only truly disappointing part of the whole weekend. The students, both band and fan alike, were fairly rude to us and the atmosphere was fairly bland. In the end, it was the few who got into our cheers, jeers, and powerful half-time show made it worth while. The buses rolled into the hotel around 11:00pm or so after we left the game. I hit the pillow and was out.

The next morning, we grabbed some breakfast and drove to the college game. It was a tiny stadium, and we dwarfed the home team's band which was more of a pep squad then a marching band (they didn't take the field, but they were pretty cool people. A few of us met with them after half time and they were incredibly gracious hosts). The energy was great. A boat load of our fans showed up to the game. The tiny stadium made cheering so much more fun because it was possible to get shouted messages back and forth across the field without any real problems. Our team ended up winning by quite a bit.

After the game, the buses drove us into downtown Chicago. Our band announcer took all of the seniors to dinner as is tradition on the trip. We got authentic Chicago-style pizza and watched the Cleveland Indians get stomped in the sixth game of the ALCS. After dinner, most of us just walked around the city until the buses came back to get us.

Sunday, we went back to Chicago. We spent the day on the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier, shopping and walking. Chicago's just a neat city to be in for a while. It was cool having been there before because I could help figure out where we needed to go and all that good stuff. We left around 4:00pm. A quick stop at a flustered, but friendly Arby's filled us up at the halfway point. The last few hours of the bus trip made the initial trip pale in comparrison. Song after song...games...the whole back of the bus was glowing.

Got in bed around midnight just in time to get a few text messages from my friends wishing my a happy birthday. PT was great this morning, but I'm going to really be draggin' my feet and smacking my face to try and stay awake...

We're going to my favorite place to eat tonight...about as authentic as an Irish pub can get in middle America. Good times, good potato soup!

Hooah.

Fall Break

I'm going on Fall Break after classes today...but there's a football game on Saturday, so like any good marching band videographer, I've got to stick around campus. I'm actually very much looking forward to it. I was just very recently at home, and this will give me some much-needed, actual downtime (as much as I love being at home with my family, they, like me, hate to sit in one place for very long, so my breaks at home tend to fill up with activities very quickly).

PT was excellent this morning. We had a nice long run. I led this morning without any significant incident, which was nice. One of our lieutenants, a graduate of the program, ran with us and offered some really good suggestions on marching and handling road guards.

I've been spending more time on the Army Knowledge Online forums lately. It's a pretty cool place. Lots of interesting people talking about a whole lot of things...I've met some people who are supposed to be heading to Ft. Leonard Wood around the same time I do. It'd be great to at least know some names before I get there.

Work's almost over, so I'm out.

Hooah.

Zonk!

We got zonked at PT this morning...we showed up and went home. Excellent times...I've been sick for a few days, and a zonk is exactly what Dr. Spot ordered.

Working on Arabic homework right now...when I finish, I suppose I'll look at the news and post s'more.

Hooah.

PT Test from Friday

I was very satisfied with my results from Friday:

52 pushups
85 situps
12 min 28 (I swear it was 24) seconds

Run was an improvement (eitherway), situps were consistent and maxed, and the pushups were down from the spring, but much higher than last winter, and I wasn't terribly beat after I had finished them, which means I'm capable of more.

Max by December 15th is the goal for the semester...Here's to hoping I make it!

Troubles in Running

So last Wednesday, I really screwed up a run...crossing streets as a leader with a group of like 20 people is a lot tougher than I would have thought...I felt pretty stupid, but fortunately the MS4s are a lot more forgiving than any drill seargent will ever be.

I was apprehensive about taking up the position again this morning, but I certainly wasn't going to turn it down. The route was much more manageable today, and in light of the situation last week, the cadet cadre opted for the use of road guards this morning, which was an enormous help. Other than a pacing problem, things went much much smoother, which made me very happy.

Learn all I can now, so I'll be less likely to screw up later...not a bad philosophy.

Hooah.

Lying to Children

Read this article on a book that passes itself off as a guide to global warming for children...

When I was in kindergarten, my class took a trip to the health museum where, while getting instructions how to brush our teeth properly, the woman from the museum said, "And be sure to wave goodbye to the water as it goes down the sink boys and girls because no one will ever see that water ever again because the earth's water was disappearing."

I remember asking my father about that later in the evening; it's my earliest memory of the term "liberal nut" being used. He then explained to me how plumbing and water purification works, and how the level of water on the planet stays constant.

I also remember holding up class for a good half an hour while I tried to explain to my teacher why the health-museum-lady was wrong.

Needless to say, this story hit close to home. GET EDUCATED! FIGHT THE CHURCH OF GLOBAL WARMING!

Hooah.

PS: if you want to read a better blog then mine, head over to Chanman's blog, "Buckhorn Road," in my Friends section. I read about this book there.

Long Slow Run

I've got one of those in the morning...Last PT before our test on Friday.

I predict the following for my test:
1. Low 50s for pushups
2. High 60s to Mid 70s for situps
3. Low 12 minute two mile

Let's see if they hold up. It won't be a max, but it's certain to be a better start then last semester.

G'night all.
Hooah.

This week...

Busy week ahead in school...I've got a fairly substantial project due, a few tests to take, and the first PT test of the semester on Friday. Wish me luck...I'm going to need it!

Ruck it Up

We had a road march this morning. Those are always fun. 4 and a third of a mile or so. Not bad at all.

Our first APFT is next Friday. Gotta do some extra pushups to prep...

More to come later.

Hooah.