Stuff

When I decided to join the Navy, I realized just how much stuff I have. Moving about the same time probably had something to do with it too. Anyway, lately I've been selling some stuff to clear up space and pay the bills while I look for a job. It would be really cool if I could buy and resell stuff to pay bills while I'm in DEP. I don't know if I could keep it up for 9 months though. I figure I'll keep looking for a job while I'm selling stuff. I prefer to have a "guaranteed" income. But I do want to have my own business some day. Right now I'm thinking a CPA firm, but I may end up one of those creepy old ladies hanging out at the flea market.

In the spirit of stuff, here's George Carlin's "Stuff" routine:

A List

I was searching for reliable cars the other day and JD Power says the most reliable car brand is Porche. My next search was for the most affordable reliable cars.

My mother asked me the other day why I want to join the Navy and I didn't really know what to tell her. I mean, I know, generally, why I want to join. It just seems like the right think to do from every angle. Anyway, I got bored, so I sat down and made a list.

I want to join the Navy to:
gain self esteem
gain structure in my life
get direction in my career and my life
have discipline
learn teamwork
be part of a group
travel
learn new things
meet new people
get fit
jumpstart me career
be less "all about me"

Some of these do overlap. And I don't necessarily want all of them, but I do know they would be good for me anyway.:)

41/59

Reading is Fun-damental!

I've recently started reading "The Good Earth" for the third time. I know I know. But just because most people are made to read it in high school is no reason to avoid it. In most cases it is reason, but not this time, I swear! I enjoy it because I don't have to struggle to concentrate on the story and the imagery. I get completely engrossed in the book. It's about a Chinese farmer and what he goes through during his life, such as getting married, having kids, having a surplus of food, nearly starving to death, then bouncing back. Excluding children's books, this book is the one I've read the most times and I plan to read it many more. Three times is a lot for me to read a book. I usually just read it once and never pick it up again, which I think is terrible of me, but there are just too many more books out there that need my attention.

Confession Time: I have a compulsion to buy books. If anybody knows of a fancy-sounding word for this, please let me know; I'd like to use it. ;) I have bookshelves in my room full of books on most topics. I want my collection to be like a library, something for everyone. Even if everyone is just me. One day I will get a notion to read a book and I want to have a variety of choices available. Every book for every mood.

Another Confession: I read strategy guides cover to cover. Yep. Weird, huh? If you've ever read one like you would a novel, you know what I'm talking about. If you only use them to look up something specific, you'll miss out on all of the tidbits in the middle.

I've always wanted one of those libraries like the ones you see in the mansions in old movies. You know, where the bookshelves are built into the walls of the room and all of the books look like they were printed in a set.

I'm going to fantasize some more about my future library. :)

41/59

20!

I finally got down to 176 today! Yoohoo! Only 20 lbs to go! Then the ball can start rolling. I have decided to cut cheese out of my diet. So now I'm eating 1 chicken tender and 1/2 can of vegetables for each meal. I should find something better to eat for breakfast. I think eggs still make me nauseous. I think I'll give them a try tomorrow.

39/59

Patience, Grasshopper

My weight loss has slowed down considerably. I've only lost 1 lb since my last post, over a week ago. It's really frustrating. I have so much I want to do, but I can't even get started until I finish losing all of this weight. Urgh. I've gone down to one chicken tender a meal and some green beans with no salt added. It's actually tasty. I switch out the green beans for black beans once or twice a weeks. I figure next I'll cut out the shredded cheese I put on the chicken. It's reduced fat! My mother keeps pestering me to run. I know it will help; I just don't want to run at this point in the process. I need to gather some motivation to run. You'd think I'd have that in spades. Apparently not...

I bought the Bluejacket's Manual last week and it came in the mail yesterday. I was very surprised since the website said they mailed it media mail. I was expecting it sometime next week. Also in mail news, I have to go to the post office tomorrow and ship a pair of headphones I sold. YAY! I love getting money for stuff that's just taking up space. :)

I haven't mentioned this before, but I was on unemployment benefits after I lost my job, about the time I started writing this blog. I only mention it now because they took away my benefits and they are making me pay back the money they already gave me. I've spoken with some other people and they've never heard of anything like it. Oh well. Now I have to get a job to pay my bills until I go to basic training. But don't get excited. I don't plan on talking much about whatever crap job I get; I'll probably hate it enough without bitching about it in my blog every day. :) Anyway, this blog is about going forward, not backward!

38/59

Donuts

I've got donuts on the brain. Specifically Krispy Kreme donuts. I tried some at my last job and it was like biting into sweet, sugary air. Mmmm.....

This picture is really more for me than you.

37/59

Learning Things

I was bored and decided to learn the phonetic alphabet, since I'll need to know it in basic training anyway. So, here it is:

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Julliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

If I get the nuclear program, I'll be treading water in the DEP(Delayed Entry Program) for about 9 months. How lame. That Means I'll have to get a job so I can pay my bills.

I hit 179 today, so that means I only have 23 lbs left to lose! :) Then I'll spend a couple weeks studying for the ASVAB, then head to MEPS.

36/59

The Bigger the Hair...

Sometimes I really hate the internet. There is always conflicting information and it drives me crazy. Of course, I'm going to verify all of this stuff with my recruiter when I hit my goal weight, but I'd prefer not to be blindsided. That's why I keep doing this internet research.

So anyway, it turns out I have to cut my hair. That's ok for me. It's just that there are so many different styles to choose from.

I also read that there isn't a physical fitness requirement you have to complete until the 6th week of basic training.

Urgh...

33/59

FINALLY!!

I finally made it over the 30 pound hurdle. It took 5 days, but it's done. Whew. So now I've lost 32 lbs and I have 27 left. The loss has definately been slowing down since about 20, but it's still chugging along. I figure after I hit my goal of 156, I'll move on to phase 2 since I'll only need 5-10 more lbs. Then I'll feel comfortable going to MEPS.

I've been reading on the internets about what to do with my hair. I've been thinking up until now that I would just get it cut short so I wouldn't have to worry about it. Also, cutting my hair short isn't a huge issue for me. Then, while I was searching for medium length haircuts online, I found a couple of articles that were about how to keep your long hair and I was intrigued. They advise to put your hair in a bun, which is ok. I think, with some practice, I could swing that. But I don't know if I would worry too much about the bun falling down. Does our hair have to stay in regulation while we are doing PT? I'm still on the cutting the hair side of the fence, but now I have some doubts.

32/59