Welcome to the last Sunday of 2014!! Final Sunday of the year means the final week of regular season football. As I stand in the kitchen prepping lunch for the kids and eyeballing the TV in the living room, I am reminded that I haven't done "the last" anything in over a year now. Usually I count down "the last" stuff during the final week of an underway. Haven't had to worry about that so I haven't done it. It is nice to think about those days again knowing that in the short year and a half I have left on shore duty will go by in a flash. It usually happens when you are kind of anticipating going back to the fun portion of your job.
As my wife sleeps on the couch I am also reminded that I don't even remember the last time I got to fall asleep on the couch. Then again, I haven't really been sick at all this year so I really haven't needed to nap. I look back to my childhood and kick myself in the rear because now I really wish that I would have taken all of those naps that my parents tried to make me take. Ah the old hindsight being 20/20 comment. The past is the past and it will never change. On to the present!
I know that I have been doing pretty good and making sure that I get on here once a day to update the site and throw up a pub just because I can. I actually missed last night because I got so deep into a House, M.D. marathon that by the time I realized what was happening, it was 1130 at night. I guess I did ignore the little tweeting voice in my head telling me to pick up the computer and type something out for you guys to have last night. Today's issue will come in twos. You will get one now and before I go to bed tonight, you will get your second issue hot off the press. Just a preview of what you will see to come in the following year. If I miss a day with you guys, the following day will be made up with multiple posts so that you won't get the opportunity to really miss anything. Wednesday will be a happy day for you guys because you will get to read all about the new and exciting things that will be happening in 2015. The things I plan to do, want to do, and will do. The things I won't do, try not to do, and hopefully don't do. It kind of repeats itself but it is a necessary evil.
I was asked the other day if I had enough technology around me. Let me set this up for you. I was playing Kingdom Hearts Final Mix on my PS3, which was connected to my 60" TV. I had my phone in my lap because I was talking to 3 different people via text, and I had my Chromebook open surfing the web. Now I can multitask rather effectively. I can talk and piss you off at the same time while finding time to annoy someone else completely. Technology is all around us and I find that trying to avoid it is futile. There are days where I actually do unplug. I do things like chores around the house, read the newspaper, do the puzzles in the newspaper, and generally hang out around the house. Those days are very quiet and they tend to be few and far between. Then again, I grew up with Sega and Nintendo so I really have never been in a time where I haven't had something that wasn't a piece of technology. I remember the year that I got a Playstation one and final fantasy VII. Probably the greatest RPG of all time (in my opinion). I spent so many hours playing that game. Anywho, before I digress completely....
Usually Sundays for me are my lazy day. The day where I do nothing but watch TV and relax before starting the crazy week that I have every week. For those that have been keeping up with me, I have four kids with two of them being special needs. My youngest finally got diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. So now I have a load of more things piled up onto me. I would go into the details of it but that requires another 10 to 15 minutes of just trying to remember everything that I have to do from Monday to Wednesday. Luckily things are kind of calm right now since school is out for winter break. In the coming year I have to be prepared to carry a workload for quite a long time. It's something that I have been preparing to do but haven't actually done.
During the typing of all of this though, I have prepared three different lunches and am still cooking the last one. Again, huge multi-tasker here lol. I still have plenty of things to do today because there is still plenty to do around the house. Laundry day, cleaning day, football day.... The list goes on and on. I do have help this time though even if she is still feeling bad. She is such a trooper. I admire her for her amazing strength to get things done even when she feels horrible. May I introduce the wife? Lol she won't actually be typing but she is around and getting some things done.
As I finish out this issue I would like to remind everyone to be excellent to each other. Know the movie reference? Type it in the comments below and give me a topic to write about. I'll let you choose.
This is SPARTA!!
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
Bath Time Blogging
I know that the title sounds funny but I think it is appropriate since I am sitting next to my two youngest children typing away while they are taking a bath. I can get two things done at once. Saves on time later since I have a video game session coming up later tonight after all the kids are in bed. This post might actually take longer than necessary because I will be pausing several times to get them all done before 8 tonight.
I spent most of last night after writing the previous post thinking about what it is that I want to accomplish in the coming year. I know that a few hours before bed isn't exactly the appropriate amount of time to come to terms with life changing choices. I actually have a few things planned out and I think that I will be able to succeed. I do know that instead of just saying that I'm going to do something and blaming my lack of motivation on something else, I plan on giving myself consequences for when I fail to do something or stay in line with my plans for next year. Now, you may be asking, "But Josh, how will we, the people, know that you have failed to do something that you have set out to do?" Well I have an answer for you. I will be posting all about it, live, on The Arena so that you can see my failures as they happen. Well, not exactly live, but you will see me talk about them on here as the day draws to its ever darkening end. I feel that if I publicly talk about my failures or my inability to be able to complete something, you will get to know firsthand that I am fallible too. I'm not perfect, nor do I claim to be. I will have punishments and consequences for my lack of action. None of the consequences will keep me away from here though. That would be just plain silly of me to forsake you of the opportunity to see if I fail or not. Even as I sit here typing this all out for you, the viewers, I can sense that there will be multiple times where you will get to read about how I wasn't able to do something. This line of thinking for me gives me the ability to delve deeper into the root of the issue. It will help me to think about why I did or didn't do something instead of just making up some lame excuse. I want to hold myself to a higher standard and be able to make myself become a better person.
We all want to change and we all make the new year's resolutions to do X. I don't want to just say, "I will do X." I want to say it and then do it. I want you guys to see how easy or hard it is to do things while being able to provide a valuable lesson to those trying to learn something about themselves. Keep an eye out for what I will be telling you. Offer up your suggestions. Criticism is often the best teacher. Oh, and don't think that I want you to tell me what I want to hear. I want honest, blunt advice. Something that stings so it will have an impact in my life. Things like that are hard to come by at times.
On New Year's Eve, I will be publishing my post about my New Year's resolution for all of you to see. The post will include what I hope to accomplish, what I will accomplish, and the changes that I want to make. Also provided, will be the punishment for the error of my ways. Things that I will do to show that I want to make these changes and that I am committed to being a better person. Ironically enough, this should help me hit my goal of being able to publish a post every single day of the year. Not just some short little post saying that I am doing okay and that the day was easy, but in fact, something like this post where it is lengthy. Something with body that will rivet you to your seat until you finish the final word. I know that I have been so horrible about keeping up with this site because I lacked the commitment. Just think of what you can glean from me doing this everyday. I am not much of a writer or a blogger, but I see the busiest people still finding time to get on their sites and let you know what is going on with them and the things that they are experiencing.
So with this, I leave you to the mystery and wonder that is coming up in the next couple days as you get to watch me unfold and grow right before your eyes. Until then, keep it real in the Arena.
This is SPARTA!!
I spent most of last night after writing the previous post thinking about what it is that I want to accomplish in the coming year. I know that a few hours before bed isn't exactly the appropriate amount of time to come to terms with life changing choices. I actually have a few things planned out and I think that I will be able to succeed. I do know that instead of just saying that I'm going to do something and blaming my lack of motivation on something else, I plan on giving myself consequences for when I fail to do something or stay in line with my plans for next year. Now, you may be asking, "But Josh, how will we, the people, know that you have failed to do something that you have set out to do?" Well I have an answer for you. I will be posting all about it, live, on The Arena so that you can see my failures as they happen. Well, not exactly live, but you will see me talk about them on here as the day draws to its ever darkening end. I feel that if I publicly talk about my failures or my inability to be able to complete something, you will get to know firsthand that I am fallible too. I'm not perfect, nor do I claim to be. I will have punishments and consequences for my lack of action. None of the consequences will keep me away from here though. That would be just plain silly of me to forsake you of the opportunity to see if I fail or not. Even as I sit here typing this all out for you, the viewers, I can sense that there will be multiple times where you will get to read about how I wasn't able to do something. This line of thinking for me gives me the ability to delve deeper into the root of the issue. It will help me to think about why I did or didn't do something instead of just making up some lame excuse. I want to hold myself to a higher standard and be able to make myself become a better person.
We all want to change and we all make the new year's resolutions to do X. I don't want to just say, "I will do X." I want to say it and then do it. I want you guys to see how easy or hard it is to do things while being able to provide a valuable lesson to those trying to learn something about themselves. Keep an eye out for what I will be telling you. Offer up your suggestions. Criticism is often the best teacher. Oh, and don't think that I want you to tell me what I want to hear. I want honest, blunt advice. Something that stings so it will have an impact in my life. Things like that are hard to come by at times.
On New Year's Eve, I will be publishing my post about my New Year's resolution for all of you to see. The post will include what I hope to accomplish, what I will accomplish, and the changes that I want to make. Also provided, will be the punishment for the error of my ways. Things that I will do to show that I want to make these changes and that I am committed to being a better person. Ironically enough, this should help me hit my goal of being able to publish a post every single day of the year. Not just some short little post saying that I am doing okay and that the day was easy, but in fact, something like this post where it is lengthy. Something with body that will rivet you to your seat until you finish the final word. I know that I have been so horrible about keeping up with this site because I lacked the commitment. Just think of what you can glean from me doing this everyday. I am not much of a writer or a blogger, but I see the busiest people still finding time to get on their sites and let you know what is going on with them and the things that they are experiencing.
So with this, I leave you to the mystery and wonder that is coming up in the next couple days as you get to watch me unfold and grow right before your eyes. Until then, keep it real in the Arena.
This is SPARTA!!
Thursday, December 25, 2014
New Gig
As you can see from the lack of posts on my unhappy site here, you can tell that I have been a very busy person. I haven't been neglecting you, I have just been dealing with many aspects of my life that have needed attention.
So I have picked up a new gig that I like to call a netbook. Well more specifically a Chromebook. I wasn't actually expecting to get one for Christmas. My wife just keeps surprising me with how awesome she is. Now, as I lay here in bed watching House on Netflix, I can readily update you guys on the things that are happening around The Arena. I won't go into to too much here because this just isn't the right time for me to do it.
It is however, the ending of the year. In the words of my Uncle, the head Bohicanite, it is time to clean up and make a better 2015. I love that guy. He is always good for ideas and laughs. This next year is going to be different by a long shot. There are things I get to do differently. Things I get to do the same. Some things that I get to do for the very first time. Now the song is stuck in my head. "Like a virgin..." Yeah I'm kind of a headcase. Luckily I have a psychologist for that. If you can't understand that I tend to live my days through movie quotes and song lyrics, then we can't be friends. Not really, but I do hope that you are at least smart enough to know when it happens.
I will happily end this little blurb here though because I have to go plan out my "New Year's Resolution". Why do people call it that? Is it because they want something to blame when they don't do as they planned? Whatever the reason, I need to go plan mine so that I can get it all mapped out and planned. I want to actually achieve some things in the coming new year. Something that I can be proud of instead of just saying "I made it through another year."
From the Arena,
Wickid
So I have picked up a new gig that I like to call a netbook. Well more specifically a Chromebook. I wasn't actually expecting to get one for Christmas. My wife just keeps surprising me with how awesome she is. Now, as I lay here in bed watching House on Netflix, I can readily update you guys on the things that are happening around The Arena. I won't go into to too much here because this just isn't the right time for me to do it.
It is however, the ending of the year. In the words of my Uncle, the head Bohicanite, it is time to clean up and make a better 2015. I love that guy. He is always good for ideas and laughs. This next year is going to be different by a long shot. There are things I get to do differently. Things I get to do the same. Some things that I get to do for the very first time. Now the song is stuck in my head. "Like a virgin..." Yeah I'm kind of a headcase. Luckily I have a psychologist for that. If you can't understand that I tend to live my days through movie quotes and song lyrics, then we can't be friends. Not really, but I do hope that you are at least smart enough to know when it happens.
I will happily end this little blurb here though because I have to go plan out my "New Year's Resolution". Why do people call it that? Is it because they want something to blame when they don't do as they planned? Whatever the reason, I need to go plan mine so that I can get it all mapped out and planned. I want to actually achieve some things in the coming new year. Something that I can be proud of instead of just saying "I made it through another year."
From the Arena,
Wickid
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Equality
The dictionary defines equality as "the state or quality of being equal." Most people refer to the mathematical definition of this word, but few look at it for what it really is. Equality is just that, being equal. The human race has fought for equality numerous times. From the equality of a minority group, equal rights for women, equal rights for slaves, and things of that nature. The world is now fighting for equality of the LGBT community. As of right now, there are 14 states that have legalized gay marriage. I happen to live in one of them. I believe that this shouldn't even be a fight. This should be something that is looked at like a normal thing. Dudes kissing dudes, chicks kissing chicks. It is what comes natural to some people. You shouldn't look at people with disgust or hatred because you aren't gay. Since every one likes to throw the religion thing around and shove the bible in people's faces when it comes to this, I think I shall incorporate these little passages in this post.
Chapters 18 and 20 of Leviticus, which form part of the Holiness code, contain the following verses:
Chapters 18 and 20 of Leviticus, which form part of the Holiness code, contain the following verses:
- 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22 KJV)[1]
- 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13 KJV)[2]
- sited by Wikipedia.
Why do people feel that this is wrong? Why do so many people look at this and believe that this is something that you need to enforce? Can I enforce a rule to slap you silly if I believe that you are stupid? No, I can't but I would definitely like to sometimes. There are definitely people that need it. Open your minds and your hearts. I love almost everybody. I despise a few people, but generally I can find the good in people and love them for the things that I like about them. So what if a man loves another man. Does that really bother you? If so, why does it bother you? Have you ever stopped and asked yourself that question? Does their love or the way the love each other bother you? Does their love in any way affect you? I see it all over the social media about the religious folk making a big deal about homosexuality. That it is a sin. That it is an abomination. If I have read my bible right and I do like to believe that I have, GOD wants everybody to love each other regardless of race or sexual orientation. I believe that the bible was just man's interpretation of what happened back in those days. I'm not a big religious nut nor will I ever be, but I do know a thing or two when it involves something like this. I will be one to admit right here that I once loved a man as more than a friend or a brother. I will never say that I'm disgusted with what I did. It was an experience that I will look back on and have no regrets. I'm not gay, but I can appreciate a damn good looking man. There are certain ones that my wife and I would fight over who got to "appreciate" them first.
As I look through the multitude of Wikipedia pages that I have up, I am inclined to look into Hinduism. Why you ask? Because they do not view homosexuality as a religious sin. I do not view homosexuality as a "religious" sin. Who cares about religion? Who cares what the bible says? Why should it matter what the interpretations of some old dudes have any effect on what YOU as an INDIVIDUAL believe? The answer here is that it shouldn't because every person is different. Every person has their own way of accepting things. Look deep into your own mind and try and find a reason as to why gay marriage is "so wrong". How does same-sex marriage affect the sanctity of marriage in any way? If people in Hollywood can get married for 72 minutes and then get a divorce, dudes should be able to marry dudes and chicks should be able to marry chicks. What ruins the sanctity of marriage is the inability for a spouse to be faithful and true. At least that is what my opinion is. Why would you go and get married to someone if you know you are going to be unfaithful. Some people do that so stay off the pedestal of "they never plan to cheat". No, but she tripped and his cock landed in her vagina. It is quite funny to try and figure out how that happens. Should I be concerned that two dudes get married? No, why would I? Does it affect me? No it doesn't and I wish them the best for the rest of their lives. Let's take a look at Neil Patrick Harris and his fiance David Burtka. Neil played Doogie Howser and a womanizing Barney Stinson in "How I Met Your Mother". He has played roles to be a straight man. He is in a very happy relationship with David and they have children.
To all of those that have children, what are you going to do if your child is gay? Are you going to be a horrible parent and shun them from your life? Are you going to hate them and try to "beat them straight"? Let someone get mad at me for being a parent and loving my children unconditionally. UNCONDITIONALLY!!!! That means no matter what you will always love them. If one of my boys comes to me and tells me "Dad, I'm gay," guess what will happen next. A hug, a kiss on the forehead, and dinner. Telling him that I love him. I would like to meet his boyfriend. The only way to kill this stigmata of homosexuality being an "abomination" is to just accept it and embrace it. If you aren't gay, cool. If you are gay, cool. Guess what, you will find love in all of the strangest places. I want my kids to find love just like I did. No one should be alone. Everyone needs and should have someone to love and to have someone love them in return. Don't be that close minded asshole that shuns and hates the thought of a dude kissing a dude. I would totally go stand in front of those stupid religious nuts and kiss another dude just to prove my point.
Be kind to one another and love unconditionally. The power of love is a strong one. Treat everyone equally and for god sakes vote YES to marriage equality for the LGBT community. I have before and I will do it again from now until the end of my life. I have a gay uncle and a lesbian sister in-law. I love them for who they are as you should. Smiles and laughter make your life last longer. Don't kill yourself with hatred and frowns. I have made my stand, have you?
From the Arena,
Wickid
P.S. - Just something I have been thinking about for a while. If you are religious, feel free to leave CONSTRUCTIVE comments and open your mind to the opinions of others. Message me on G+ if you have a serious issue with this post. I have and will always support the LGBT community.
Parenthood......
There are many things that I miss about being a kid. There are also a lot of things that I don't miss about being a child. There are some days that I still act like a child and I get very giddy when I get a new video game to play. I giggle like a little school girl when I play the game for the first time. Simple things still amuse me and stupid funny movies are the best kind of movie.
Now that I have transitioned into full blown parenthood, I look back on my childhood days. Things like "nap time" are the things that I miss the most. If I would have known that I wouldn't be getting naps everyday as an adult I definitely would have slept when my parents told me to go take a nap. As an adult now, I get my sleep when I can. Most of the time is it usually at the expense of just falling asleep on the couch for twenty or thirty minutes while the boys are downstairs with me playing. I know that I am supposed to watch them, but they behave well enough to not get into too much trouble. It doesn't stop them from doing things to get into trouble though. There are other days where I wish that it was just the wife and I so that I could nap when I got home from work. Getting up early to go to work is something that I loathe and enjoy all at the same time. I hate getting up early, but once I do get up I am awake for the rest of the day. I like my job, but the early mornings are just killer.
When it comes to the new video games, I look back to the days of the NES. You know, the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Mario/Duck Hunt game was the first game that I ever got to play. Who knew that the stupid dog on Duck Hunt could make you so mad? I also look at the supreme difference in the graphics and how well they have advanced. From block 8-bit games like Mario to the High Definition graphics for Skyrim and Assassin's Creed III. Who could have foreseen the joys of technology? I tried playing Oblivion for PC during my recovery time from my last surgery and had to stop. After playing such games like Skyrim and Final Fantasy XIII, I couldn't handle the horrid graphics. I am a victim of things looking too good to go back to things like that. I don't even care what people say about me for that, but I know that I love my graphics.
I also look back on how I treated my parents when I was growing up. My four boys are trying to do things like I did when I was a wee lad. Things like getting mommy to say yes even after daddy says no. I can tell you right now how mad my dad used to get every time I tried that little stunt. He would get so red in the face and yell for what felt like hours. I find myself doing the same thing with my boys. I had always heard the rumor that your children will be at least ten times as bad as you were to your parents. I don't think that it is true because my kids are fairly well behaved. They have their bad days where listening is just something that they don't want to do. I may not have always respected my dad growing up, but I did fear what he would do to me if he ever caught me doing something bad. It was always the fear of that paddle that usually kept me on the straight and narrow. He didn't do a bad job raising me. I didn't end up in jail, I'm not doing drugs, and I have my own family with a damn good job. He may not always say it, but I know that he is proud of me. Since we are on the subject of children pulling stunts, I have come to learn the signs of them doing things they aren't supposed to be doing. It is actually very nice knowing that I can catch them and stop the bad act before it gets too out of hand. I can't say that I won't ever yell at my children, but I will make my presence known when I need to. Sometimes I wish my dad wouldn't have been so vocal with me. I wish that he would have just talked to me like I have so recently learned to do with my kids.
How many of you parents wish that they had a "Parenting for Dummies" book? I know that I did when I got married to my beautiful wife. Instantly had two children to care for and sacrifice my needs to make sure that they were alright. Now, four years later, I have a total of four boys that try my patience everyday. Sometimes are better than others and I don't have to raise my voice. Other days are just full of yelling and high blood pressure. I always look forward to the good days. For the new moms and dads out there, THERE IS NO PERFECT PARENT. You will make mistakes and things will become very trying for you. Keep your chin up, smile often, and look forward to the days when you and your child will part ways. I don't say that so that you can look forward to getting rid of your kids. I say that with the knowledge and the confidence that my four boys will be productive members of society and will know right from wrong. Every thing that you can teach your child will stay with them for the rest of their life.
Some days parenthood sounds like such a horrible idea. I wouldn't trade the choices that I have made in my life for anything. If I could go back and do it all over again, my wife and I would be celebrating about 8 years of marriage instead of 4. I love being a dad. I love watching my boys run up to greet me every day when I get home from work. It makes me smile every time. I am going to enjoy parenthood for as long as I can. Enjoy yours while you can. Soon, you will be kid less, but you will always be a parent.
From the Arena
Wickid
Now that I have transitioned into full blown parenthood, I look back on my childhood days. Things like "nap time" are the things that I miss the most. If I would have known that I wouldn't be getting naps everyday as an adult I definitely would have slept when my parents told me to go take a nap. As an adult now, I get my sleep when I can. Most of the time is it usually at the expense of just falling asleep on the couch for twenty or thirty minutes while the boys are downstairs with me playing. I know that I am supposed to watch them, but they behave well enough to not get into too much trouble. It doesn't stop them from doing things to get into trouble though. There are other days where I wish that it was just the wife and I so that I could nap when I got home from work. Getting up early to go to work is something that I loathe and enjoy all at the same time. I hate getting up early, but once I do get up I am awake for the rest of the day. I like my job, but the early mornings are just killer.
When it comes to the new video games, I look back to the days of the NES. You know, the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Mario/Duck Hunt game was the first game that I ever got to play. Who knew that the stupid dog on Duck Hunt could make you so mad? I also look at the supreme difference in the graphics and how well they have advanced. From block 8-bit games like Mario to the High Definition graphics for Skyrim and Assassin's Creed III. Who could have foreseen the joys of technology? I tried playing Oblivion for PC during my recovery time from my last surgery and had to stop. After playing such games like Skyrim and Final Fantasy XIII, I couldn't handle the horrid graphics. I am a victim of things looking too good to go back to things like that. I don't even care what people say about me for that, but I know that I love my graphics.
I also look back on how I treated my parents when I was growing up. My four boys are trying to do things like I did when I was a wee lad. Things like getting mommy to say yes even after daddy says no. I can tell you right now how mad my dad used to get every time I tried that little stunt. He would get so red in the face and yell for what felt like hours. I find myself doing the same thing with my boys. I had always heard the rumor that your children will be at least ten times as bad as you were to your parents. I don't think that it is true because my kids are fairly well behaved. They have their bad days where listening is just something that they don't want to do. I may not have always respected my dad growing up, but I did fear what he would do to me if he ever caught me doing something bad. It was always the fear of that paddle that usually kept me on the straight and narrow. He didn't do a bad job raising me. I didn't end up in jail, I'm not doing drugs, and I have my own family with a damn good job. He may not always say it, but I know that he is proud of me. Since we are on the subject of children pulling stunts, I have come to learn the signs of them doing things they aren't supposed to be doing. It is actually very nice knowing that I can catch them and stop the bad act before it gets too out of hand. I can't say that I won't ever yell at my children, but I will make my presence known when I need to. Sometimes I wish my dad wouldn't have been so vocal with me. I wish that he would have just talked to me like I have so recently learned to do with my kids.
How many of you parents wish that they had a "Parenting for Dummies" book? I know that I did when I got married to my beautiful wife. Instantly had two children to care for and sacrifice my needs to make sure that they were alright. Now, four years later, I have a total of four boys that try my patience everyday. Sometimes are better than others and I don't have to raise my voice. Other days are just full of yelling and high blood pressure. I always look forward to the good days. For the new moms and dads out there, THERE IS NO PERFECT PARENT. You will make mistakes and things will become very trying for you. Keep your chin up, smile often, and look forward to the days when you and your child will part ways. I don't say that so that you can look forward to getting rid of your kids. I say that with the knowledge and the confidence that my four boys will be productive members of society and will know right from wrong. Every thing that you can teach your child will stay with them for the rest of their life.
Some days parenthood sounds like such a horrible idea. I wouldn't trade the choices that I have made in my life for anything. If I could go back and do it all over again, my wife and I would be celebrating about 8 years of marriage instead of 4. I love being a dad. I love watching my boys run up to greet me every day when I get home from work. It makes me smile every time. I am going to enjoy parenthood for as long as I can. Enjoy yours while you can. Soon, you will be kid less, but you will always be a parent.
From the Arena
Wickid
Exam Season
It is that time again my dear friends, Navy Advancement Exam results are out and open to the public. Congratulations to those that were advanced and good luck for next time to those that didn't. I happen to be one of the ones that didn't make it. I'm actually in good spirits about it too. This is only my second time taking the E-6 exam.
To those that know how these things work, then you know that up to E-6 is a bi-yearly exam cycle. Once you start making the attempt for E-7, you only get one exam a year and that is coming in two months. I am excited to know that at my almost 8 1/2 year point I have taken the E-6 exam twice. Not many people can say that they have accomplished such a feat. I know that with the knowledge that I have of my job, I will eventually make rate and advance at least one more time before I retire. I have a goal of doing at least 20 years and retiring. If I do happen to go further in my career than E-6, then so be it and I will be in as long as I can be. Yes, the wife and I are the same page for that. By the time I end my current enlistment I will have right at 11 years in. Why stop? It is one of those mind things. I have already gone halfway to the ultimate goal of a pension. Why quit? It just doesn't make sense. Some people do quit at the halfway point and I don't hold that against them. It is their choice and I thank them for their service that they have done. I would expect the same thing in return if I was to ever decide that I didn't want to do this job anymore. I happen to enjoy the hell out of my job and it gives me great pleasure to grow gills and breathe water for as long as I do. There is something about being hidden from the world that gives you a thrill that a roller coaster can't give you. I have spent 6 years, 4 months, and 4 days onboard a sea-going vessel. At least half of that has been spent beneath the waves doing what I do. I enjoyed every minute of it and as of right now, I can't see myself doing anything else. Shore duty has been a hard transition for me because I am so used to the boat life.
Anywho, I have rambled off topic enough. I really need to get into college so I can learn how to stay on topic when I do these things. I only had a 13.5% chance to advance to E-6 for this cycle. Now for those of you with questions, a "cycle" is every time we actually take the exam. For example, this cycle was the 220 cycle. These cycles are sequential so my next exam cycle will be 221. So in March, you will probably see another post similar to this one stating whether or not I will get to my goal or not. I can say that the exams are rather easy to understand and if you know your information, really easy to pass. I have never failed a Navy Advancement Exam. I have always passed but not advanced. Unless, of course, I actually advanced. There is so much that goes in to the final multiple that most people have a hard time seeing how much they missed it by. I'm looking forward to seeing how close I was. The last exam I missed it by 13.99 points. To many people, that seems like a whole lot, but to me it is actually a small margin. That just means that I have to study just a little harder to make those points up.
Well, there goes another Advancement Season into the books of my naval career. Time to get to work on studying and cleaning the house. I may even be a good dad and cook something substantial for my kids instead of making chicken nuggets or hot dogs. I can't help it if that is all they want to eat.
Until next time, from the Arena
Wickid
To those that know how these things work, then you know that up to E-6 is a bi-yearly exam cycle. Once you start making the attempt for E-7, you only get one exam a year and that is coming in two months. I am excited to know that at my almost 8 1/2 year point I have taken the E-6 exam twice. Not many people can say that they have accomplished such a feat. I know that with the knowledge that I have of my job, I will eventually make rate and advance at least one more time before I retire. I have a goal of doing at least 20 years and retiring. If I do happen to go further in my career than E-6, then so be it and I will be in as long as I can be. Yes, the wife and I are the same page for that. By the time I end my current enlistment I will have right at 11 years in. Why stop? It is one of those mind things. I have already gone halfway to the ultimate goal of a pension. Why quit? It just doesn't make sense. Some people do quit at the halfway point and I don't hold that against them. It is their choice and I thank them for their service that they have done. I would expect the same thing in return if I was to ever decide that I didn't want to do this job anymore. I happen to enjoy the hell out of my job and it gives me great pleasure to grow gills and breathe water for as long as I do. There is something about being hidden from the world that gives you a thrill that a roller coaster can't give you. I have spent 6 years, 4 months, and 4 days onboard a sea-going vessel. At least half of that has been spent beneath the waves doing what I do. I enjoyed every minute of it and as of right now, I can't see myself doing anything else. Shore duty has been a hard transition for me because I am so used to the boat life.
Anywho, I have rambled off topic enough. I really need to get into college so I can learn how to stay on topic when I do these things. I only had a 13.5% chance to advance to E-6 for this cycle. Now for those of you with questions, a "cycle" is every time we actually take the exam. For example, this cycle was the 220 cycle. These cycles are sequential so my next exam cycle will be 221. So in March, you will probably see another post similar to this one stating whether or not I will get to my goal or not. I can say that the exams are rather easy to understand and if you know your information, really easy to pass. I have never failed a Navy Advancement Exam. I have always passed but not advanced. Unless, of course, I actually advanced. There is so much that goes in to the final multiple that most people have a hard time seeing how much they missed it by. I'm looking forward to seeing how close I was. The last exam I missed it by 13.99 points. To many people, that seems like a whole lot, but to me it is actually a small margin. That just means that I have to study just a little harder to make those points up.
Well, there goes another Advancement Season into the books of my naval career. Time to get to work on studying and cleaning the house. I may even be a good dad and cook something substantial for my kids instead of making chicken nuggets or hot dogs. I can't help it if that is all they want to eat.
Until next time, from the Arena
Wickid
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
My soul
I think at some point my soul has left my body and has become a part of the video game world. I can not tell you how many hours over the past couple weeks that I have spent glued to the couch with my XBox controller in my hand and my mind wrapped and lost in the realm that is Skyrim. I have lost hours of sleep over this game and it has started to take its toll on me. I haven't become irritable or anything but I have managed to do so much that it seems like all I think about is what I am going to do next as the Dragonborn.
For those that have played any of the Elder Scrolls games, you know what I am talking about. For those that don't know, once you get into any of these games and start getting things done and discovering new places, you tend to lose yourself. I have spent about 150 in-game hours dungeon crawling, dragon slaying, and exploring. I have planned out everything that I want to do in one session of gameplay and typically complete my goals within about 3 hours or so. I have found that it has been very easy to just tune everything out and forget about the household once I hit that magical start button and the game loads up. I have made my Sneak skill legendary and made a multitude of armor and weapons to suit my current needs. If it wasn't for the fact that I had to go to work or get up the next day, I would be playing this game nonstop. The sad part about all of this is that I have only completed about 18% of the game. There is such a long list of things to do that I would take about an hour to just list them all. I have pretty much become a master at killing people with a bow from a fair distance away. The kill sequence and the slow motion shot is just something to be admired. I like watching the arrow leave my bow and pierce into the neck or head of my unsuspecting victim. I have killed over 10 dozen animals so that I could use their hides to make leather, which in turn is used to make armor so that I can sell it to make money. I have smelted way too many ores to count and I currently have Exquisite or Flawless weapons and armor. Most things take about 5 swings of a sword to kill and sneaking up behind someone to slit their throat or jam a dagger into their back has become something of a routine for me. I have cleared about 75 dungeons and murdered about 50 individuals just because it was fun for me to do. Nothing is sweeter than taking a victims life without them knowing you are there. It reminds me of playing Assassin's Creed and jumping from the roof of a building and knifing a man in the throat. It is just a sweet sensation. It gives me chill bumps just thinking about it right now. Normally, I would be setting up the XBox and getting the game going so that it is ready for me once I put the children to bed. Since the wife is recovering from surgery, I have "gifted" her the console so that she can watch movies while she is resting. She has currently made it in to Season 4 of the Gilmore Girls. I haven't played since Friday and it has made me a little antsy.
Since I can't play Skyrim, I have turned to other sources of video game entertainment. I have recently started playing League of Legends again. It has been far too long since I have even thought about playing that game. The last two nights have been spent learning how to play again without getting too badly slaughtered and getting yelled at by people who are probably younger than me. In fact, most of the people that play this game are in their teens. What I wouldn't give to go back to those times of having nothing but homework to do and then hopping on the computer to play this game for hours on end. I still feel that way sometimes when the wife is at work and I just sit down and lose myself into the deep immersion of a good story line in a console game. I'm not much of a PC game player, but I do happen to like League a lot. In fact, once the children go to bed I will be logging on to play for a few hours tonight. As long as I stay near my phone and respond to her requests, she doesn't really know what I am doing downstairs. Hell, I have even thought about doing exercises while waiting for my respawn timer to reach zero. At least I will be doing two things at once and getting a nice workout while playing. Then again, I haven't really been dying so that may or may not pan out like I want it. I blame my buddy for coming over on Monday to play. It's his fault for getting me into a game that requires literally no interruptions.
Speaking of interruptions, have you ever been so involved in a game that everything else is just obsolete? I seem to go into this little invisible box that has one window that may or may not be open depending on what game I am playing. League is easy to have a window because if you die, you have to wait to respawn. If I am playing on the console, don't bother me. There is no window and you will have to leave a message after the tone. That is how immersed I get when I have a console controller in my hand. As much as I want a PS3, I think that I will end up spending too much time playing Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX and very little time doing actual housework. Yes, I said PS3. I enjoy being a Console Generation behind. I know it works and that mostly all of the bugs have been worked out of the system. Plus, I won't have to feel the disappointment from not being able to get the newest generation of console because they are all sold out. I don't even want to spend the money to get either of the new consoles because I know that there will be problems with them.
Oh boy, enough about my soul and how it is forever lost to the video games that I play. "I am a gamer. Not because I have no life, but because I choose to have many." I know, I'm a nerd.
Until next time,
From the Arena,
Wickid
For those that have played any of the Elder Scrolls games, you know what I am talking about. For those that don't know, once you get into any of these games and start getting things done and discovering new places, you tend to lose yourself. I have spent about 150 in-game hours dungeon crawling, dragon slaying, and exploring. I have planned out everything that I want to do in one session of gameplay and typically complete my goals within about 3 hours or so. I have found that it has been very easy to just tune everything out and forget about the household once I hit that magical start button and the game loads up. I have made my Sneak skill legendary and made a multitude of armor and weapons to suit my current needs. If it wasn't for the fact that I had to go to work or get up the next day, I would be playing this game nonstop. The sad part about all of this is that I have only completed about 18% of the game. There is such a long list of things to do that I would take about an hour to just list them all. I have pretty much become a master at killing people with a bow from a fair distance away. The kill sequence and the slow motion shot is just something to be admired. I like watching the arrow leave my bow and pierce into the neck or head of my unsuspecting victim. I have killed over 10 dozen animals so that I could use their hides to make leather, which in turn is used to make armor so that I can sell it to make money. I have smelted way too many ores to count and I currently have Exquisite or Flawless weapons and armor. Most things take about 5 swings of a sword to kill and sneaking up behind someone to slit their throat or jam a dagger into their back has become something of a routine for me. I have cleared about 75 dungeons and murdered about 50 individuals just because it was fun for me to do. Nothing is sweeter than taking a victims life without them knowing you are there. It reminds me of playing Assassin's Creed and jumping from the roof of a building and knifing a man in the throat. It is just a sweet sensation. It gives me chill bumps just thinking about it right now. Normally, I would be setting up the XBox and getting the game going so that it is ready for me once I put the children to bed. Since the wife is recovering from surgery, I have "gifted" her the console so that she can watch movies while she is resting. She has currently made it in to Season 4 of the Gilmore Girls. I haven't played since Friday and it has made me a little antsy.
Since I can't play Skyrim, I have turned to other sources of video game entertainment. I have recently started playing League of Legends again. It has been far too long since I have even thought about playing that game. The last two nights have been spent learning how to play again without getting too badly slaughtered and getting yelled at by people who are probably younger than me. In fact, most of the people that play this game are in their teens. What I wouldn't give to go back to those times of having nothing but homework to do and then hopping on the computer to play this game for hours on end. I still feel that way sometimes when the wife is at work and I just sit down and lose myself into the deep immersion of a good story line in a console game. I'm not much of a PC game player, but I do happen to like League a lot. In fact, once the children go to bed I will be logging on to play for a few hours tonight. As long as I stay near my phone and respond to her requests, she doesn't really know what I am doing downstairs. Hell, I have even thought about doing exercises while waiting for my respawn timer to reach zero. At least I will be doing two things at once and getting a nice workout while playing. Then again, I haven't really been dying so that may or may not pan out like I want it. I blame my buddy for coming over on Monday to play. It's his fault for getting me into a game that requires literally no interruptions.
Speaking of interruptions, have you ever been so involved in a game that everything else is just obsolete? I seem to go into this little invisible box that has one window that may or may not be open depending on what game I am playing. League is easy to have a window because if you die, you have to wait to respawn. If I am playing on the console, don't bother me. There is no window and you will have to leave a message after the tone. That is how immersed I get when I have a console controller in my hand. As much as I want a PS3, I think that I will end up spending too much time playing Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX and very little time doing actual housework. Yes, I said PS3. I enjoy being a Console Generation behind. I know it works and that mostly all of the bugs have been worked out of the system. Plus, I won't have to feel the disappointment from not being able to get the newest generation of console because they are all sold out. I don't even want to spend the money to get either of the new consoles because I know that there will be problems with them.
Oh boy, enough about my soul and how it is forever lost to the video games that I play. "I am a gamer. Not because I have no life, but because I choose to have many." I know, I'm a nerd.
Until next time,
From the Arena,
Wickid
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