August 2005 Archives

So I've completed my two week orientation. I've finished and done well in my survival and engineering classes, I've participated in the T/S State of Michigan Coast Guard Inspection, I've rowed a lifeboat a couple miles out to the red #8 buoy at 0400, and am now done for the week.

Now to head back to pick up and put together what's left of my house. I've got a new place up here, that's much closer in that the old one. I'm right on the West Bay within a couple minutes walk of the Academy. Pretty rad, I know. I'll get an address out to people once I know it.

Come visit! It'll be more fun if you come in the next couple weeks while Grand Traverse is still a sunny paradise but most of the "fudgies" have gone home. But you'd be welcome anytime. I'll probably have some sort of gainful employment soon, but I can always find time or lose sleep for friends. And thanks for your comments and support through the last couple months. Its gone by incredibly fast, but even with the numerous distractions I'm still really happy to be where I am.

So when I first started thinking about making this change, I toyed with the idea of starting over from zero. Selling everything I had gathered and just going back to the start with nothing. In the end, I decided to hold onto most of it for as long as I could. But the universe doesn't like half measures, and someone decided to help me get the rest of the way. The short version: My house has been tossed, there is very little left, and almost everything I own is contained in the corner of a farmhouse in Traverse City. This consists of about 3 days worth of clothes, a guitar, a coffee grinder and 8 boxes of cereal.

Maritime is like jail, but in a good way.

And so I have arrived. I have some pictures to share but no way yet to get them out of my camera and into the Internet. I will continue to investigate.

Went to OnStar for the last time ever. Weird. I was expecting to get out there around 1:30 but I've got some kind of responsibility disease that made me stick around even after they'd took my badge and pager and everything, trying to make sure all the files that were needed were available. Sigh and ah well, its the last day so I guess I'm glad I did my best at it.

So within the next couple hours I'll be hitting the road. I report to the Training Ship at 1000 Sunday, and I'll be there for a couple weeks. I'm cancelling my cable modem and voip phone service, so if you want to get a hold of me, cell phone is the only way. And I'm not sure how good it will be either.

I may have Internet on and off while I'm there and if so I'll send out some updates, otherwise it will be a couple weeks.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I feel fantastic. Now if I could just get everything packed.

While you're at it, think some good thoughts for Chris and Sandra who are off for a tour in the sandbox in another week. Here's wishing its cooler than 100 and the insurgents decide to quit and go home. Safe home, guys, and thank you for your service.

BTW: With the last of my Sears credit I bought a digital camera so I can share some pictures. A bit of a switch since I've never been a "carrying a camera" guy, but I'll learn slowly.