Im backkkkk

for those of you missing me...

i have no excuses, we havent really been busier than usual I have just been laxier(that letter has stopped working on my laptop so i have to substitute it with x) than usual.

for those of you not missing me....

well lets not be ridiculous:)

okay okay where to start

July,

I proposed to my sweet Audi. you all were there but I like to think about it. Up until that point the Marine Corps had been the best, and arguably the ONLY good, decision of my life. It now takes second, a second that doesnt even come close to the first.

After getting back to Denver we tried to arrange a visit to go see her parents in Wyoming because we both wanted her Dads approval, and since I was sure that was impossible, approval that is, I would have been content with consent. Well read on readers.

This proved to be very difficult because as soon as I got home I had to take a week trip to Burrlington. the place not the coat factory. It is in an old post of mine so you can look back for pictures if your heart desires. it wasnt winter this time but it was an adventure. Rain, A broken radar, a second radar to get and set up, long nights that turned into early mornings and about half a doxen tornado warnings. It was a test of my ability to keep my sanity against all odds.

After returning we finally made it up to Wyoming, spent a day out on the lake, and later that night I asked Audi's dad the big question. Weird how you plan things out but then your mouth seems to take all control, I didnt ask for permission like I had planned but rather for his blessing as I had already asked her.

He said a lot of really nice and flattering things but in my attempt to be more humble I will just say that he said yes. After that i got lots of hugs and "welcome to the family"s and an awesome turkey dinner

that is my favorite part so I will pause on that and try to make one giant post, a few short posts.

Somewher in all this we bought a new bed, which rocks. We also got engagement pictures, which are gorgeous, thanks to Audi and the photographer which will be on my next post.

Can I just add that even with such an awesome girl it is really a strain on a realationship to be gone almost as much as you are home. Most of you know this Im sure and most of you have told me this, but as always I learn the hard way. however we are doing great due to Audi's level of sweetness and a pair of 20 dollar webcams.

I love you all and I will be better on my posting

ah what a month!

I know I am terrible...its been a while...

Well the biggest thing that has happened this month is Jump School.

I always made fun of the Army before but now i really know...they are...different to put it nicely!

The first week is spent practicing jumping out of an airplane door, learning PLF's( Parachute Landing Falls) and jumping out of a 34 ft tower. Pretty rough all the way around... The PLFs hurt a lot and we had to do them over and over and over...

Week 2 moves on to mass exit over the mock plane doors...thats 15 jumpers out of both sides of the plane, the Swing Landing Trainer and being dropped from a 250 ft Tower. The SLT was a serious pain. I was dropped about 25 times, each time leaving bruises on my ribs and a rather severe headache...
The Tower was amazing! They hook you up in a parachute and then drag you to the top of the Tower...and then drop you to the ground... You could see the whole base and it was pretty sweet!

Week three is the serious gut check...five jumps out of an airplane moving at about 200 MPH. You spend hours in the Harness Shed waiting for your turn...and then they call your number. You realize as you are walking on the C-130 the this is the point of no return.

Once you get on the bird you are given a ten minute warning...then you stand up, hook your static line to a wire in the bird, and then wait. You hear the wind rushing past the plane, you can feel the adrenaline in your stomach, tasting the bitterness in you mouth, your eyes dialate...classic fight or flight stuff. You soon realize that Flight is the only way:)

Once you start moving you are out of the door before you know it...your whole body goes horizontal in a wind that feels like a freight train. This last for an intense 3 seconds that feel like forever...and then you are floating. It takes about a minute to hit the ground but it feels like 5 seconds.

Anyway if you go to youtube.com they have plenty of airborne videos.

I got my wings pinned on on Thursday and felt the pride inside me swell even more:) There are about 100 Radar Marines in the Fleet and only two currently have jump wings, SSGT Ashby and myself so you can understand my feelings of Awesomeness!!!

This was a good and fun(which means really terrible!) and the best part of this month was by far...getting home to My Sweet Audi! Three weeks felt like an eternity without seeing her. We got to talk at night but usually only had an hour or two...mix that with the time difference and it got tricky to communicate. What's important is that we made it and I am so happy to be home!

This is all!

Ah Mason...mason mason mason

The time has come, my little friends, to speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings...

Don't know why that has been in my head all day or what is has to do with anything, but thats how the wheels turn in the head of John

GREAT STINKIN NEWS!

For all you George R R Martin fans, Winter is coming...to HBO. The Song of Fire and Ice has been picked up by HBO and is in full swing. Filming begins in October(I think) and it is being filmed in Ireland.

So far it has been tight lips on cast and anything else that I would want to know...but this is progress and progress is good! I can't wait!

Once again I have to put a disclaimer on this as it is FAR from PG...but all you fans obviously know this and will know what to expect.

In other news...

My new RADAR is kicking my butt! It has been one thing after another and I have been busy busy busy.

My car is making progress slowly but surely...I now have a working speedometer, turn signals, windshield wipers(very important) and even a heater that works semi good!

Jump school is a definite go, barring any crazy injuries or nonsense, and I am getting super pumped. It will be a little hard because I won't see Audi for the three weeks followed by 2 more weeks of AT. So almost all of June will be Audi-less, which is very sad indeed, but I think we both can manage...this will be a good test to see how she could handle a deployment...I think she will pass with flying colors;)

Just so nobody says "I would have come if I had known" the invitation is extended...I will graduate from Jump school June 19th. It is a ceremony open to all guests and it would be neat to see. It is in Georgia so I understand, especially with the current economy, if nobody can make it. No pressure of course just an open invitation...I am trying to get Audi out there so it will be an early introduction to any that come...

if any of you are interested give me a call and I will get you all the necessary info.

April Awesomeness!!!

So far it has been a stinking awesome month.

First I had a Birthday! Audi and I went and watched Fast and Furious(not a bad flick) and went to Texas Roadhouse. I had a great steak and some tasty ribs and then Audi told our waitress(gurrr) that it was my birthday. They all came out and sang happy birthday and gave me this cheesy plastic cowboy hat. Definitely made me blush.

She also gave me a Barnes and Noble gift card...she is catching on quick:)

In other news I also got accepted into Airborne School...jump school! I leave may 29th and train for 3 weeks. I am pretty excited to jump out of airplanes!

I have also been spending a great amount of my time with the above mentioned Sweet Audi! We are having a great time getting to know each other and are starting to get a little more serious about our relationship. Fingers crossed people...I really like this one!

Oh and I'm not fat any more... Marines Corps says so! I made weight FINALLY!

I'm Sorry...I promise.

I know I know...More posting less...whatever I do!

I haven't posted because 1. I have been pretty busy with work(and other MORE entertaining endevours;) and 2. you guessed it...I am just plain old lazy.

So what has kept me so busy...?

First is work! The guys with the 10 Lbs brains have been here all week doing upgrades and such. It has been kind of frustrating because they were just tweaking things without telling us what they were doing. That, luckily, is over now as they have left so we can put all the settings back to how we want them!

I have also been put in charge of the 63 Radar. This is pretty sweet because it is a lot more mechanical than 59 which is controlled mostly by software. the downside to this is that I haven't worked on the 63 since...well probably Radar School 2 years ago. It has been a slow process re-aquainting myself with this Korea Era beast but I have no doubt that in the end I will be as effiecent on it as I have become on the 59.

Second is working out. Can anybody say Cardio, Cardio, Cardio. The Marine Corps standards have become even more strict and I am about 3 lbs overweight. We all hate the weight standards...until we see a really fat soldier, sailor, airman or worst of all Marine. So I have tried to stop my complaining and have started hitting the cardio machines(and the pavement) with a renewed purpose.

Last but not least...Sweet Audi! I have been spending the majority of my time off(all of it) with Autumn. Sounds corny but I find myself getting butterflies everytime she comes to get me from base. I love being with her...and even better she returns the feelings..I have this song running through by head all day, "I should be sleepin, stead of dreamin about you."

I have often made fun of my brothers for falling so deeply and hard for a women that they have only know for a short while. I must admit that I have fallen very hard for this cute little thing I call my girlfriend!

In other news Denver weather is even more retarded than Idaho weather. With a high of 80 degrees on sunday the weathermen have been calling for snow all week. Wednesday we are told that we are supposed to get between 2 and 14 inches of snow. I don't know how you can predict snow with a foot difference possiblity...but whatever. We are told that we will have thursday off due to the possible crappy weather. So naturally we go out wednesday night to celebrate. We also had a birthday to celebrate see it was just plain lucky

We were out until about 2 am and still no snow...we thought that there was no possible way we would get any snow, let alone 14 inches...little did we know. By ten we had a couple of inches on the ground but nothing serious so I went to get my car towed to a mechanic. by noon the roads were so bad that 15 MPH was the top speed on base and 10 was about average.

crazy weather...I just want it to be summer already!!!

Mess Night

So I went to Mess night. Traditionally it has always been a Marine only thing due to the rowdy style of the dinner. It is typically just another reason to dressed up and act like complete asses!

This year they decided to reveal our traditions to the fainter of heart. So we all took dates. I was a little unsure of how this would work due to how Marines act when they are a bit on the tipsy side.

As it turned out it was a hit!

We started out the night a little late. Due to my inherited need to put things off to the last minute, I waited untill the night before to tell Audi that it was at 1800(6:00). Because of this we were a little late to get her hair done. I was a little worried as being late is the unforgivable sin in the Marines...but I figured that because we had dates they would be more relaxed.

Might I add that whoever decided to hold this thing downtown during rush hour is straight retarded!

So we showed up about 30 mins late due to my terrible driving and lack of direction downtown. Luckily the dinner starts with a social hour so we were okay.

All in all it was a great night and a great chance to talk about Iraq in a less than serious setting.

And I would like to add that Audi looked GORGEOUS

updates and regular dates

So here it is...for those of you hoping I blog tonight so that you can see my plans for manana here thery are.

Beach tommorrow...it is going to be an all day thing. We are keeping our fingers crossed for whales...WE WANT TO SEE THE WHALES!

Thursday night I am flying into Boise. This is a new experiance for me...never flow into or away from Boise so I'm excited. Josh is picking me up from the airport and I am chillin at his place for the day...thats Friday I guess. I really hope I get to see Cami and Ben and I would love to go to a dinner someplace...anybodies house qualifies.

Saturday and Sunday...Well I'm not really sure okay. I am single and live by the seat of my pants. I go where the wind(or rather the vehicle) takes me. Plans are for people who don't have 10 siblings spread of 2 countries, five states and who knows how many miles. I try to see everybody but sometimes it just can't happen(Sorry so much Kells you know I would love to come visit and I am trying!)

Monday I am fishing with the Papa. Just me, my favorite old guy, a canoe and a resevior. Oh and fish...I really want there to be fish!

Tuesday I will go to the City of Salt...the birthplace of my independence...or at least legal independence. I hope to see Kara and Maximus....I have seen him once since birth and he was asleep in a crib...I really want to meet my nephew okay...I love nephews more than most things. Oh and I hope to see James to.

Tuesday night I will leave on a Jet plane back to the Mile High City. I have a girl back home that is DYING to see me...and thats all I have to say about that!