Up and Down Interstate 15

If you're wondering why I haven't posted in a couple days, it's because I haven't been home. I took a nice little road trip down to Vegas this weekend. I left Saturday morning, and came back today. I was a little nervous about going because I found out on Friday that technically, I'm supposed to be on leave status to drive that far, but I figured, you only live once, right? It only took me six hours to drive there, and I enjoy driving by myself. I just put my iPod on shuffle, hit the cruise control, and enjoyed the scenery...some of which you can see here:

Utah 1
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Utah 2
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Utah 3
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Utah 4
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Is Utah gorgeous or what? Well, after I arrived in Vegas, I went to Melissa's house and we chatted for a while, and then went shopping. I really can't explain how much fun it is to shop in Vegas, so I'm not even going to try. After that, we went to dinner with Jim and Nicole at this vegan Chinese restaurant, and it was scrumptious. Sunday, Mel and I went shopping again all day long. We were both trying not to spend too much money, but at the same time, I didn't want to pass up anything essential. I ended up buying this great little black jacket at Armani Exchange, and a silver lamp and a pink chair at Urban Outfitters. Yes, a pink chair. And if you ever come to my pad and see it, you'll understand that I HAD to have it. Sunday night, we met some of my former Gap co-workers at a bar called the Crown & Anchor, a nice little British pub down the road from UNLV with 30 different beers on tap. The C&A is easily my favorite bar in Vegas. We stayed for several hours just drinking and talking. It was a super time. Here are a few pictures from inside the pub:

Tanya, Jason, & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Me & Mel
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

So, yeah, I had a great time in Vegas. It was fun and relaxing...just what a weekend should be. A special thanks to Mel for letting me crash on her couch with her cat, Tony Socks.

Two Dozen Candles

Josh & Caleb
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Today is Caleb's 24th birthday. Summer's parents hosted a surprise party for him on Sunday, which was great. And tonight, we had another little gathering at the Wendt house. Hanging out over there is so much fun. Whether it's mellow or hyper, the mood is always positive. Caleb and his brothers and their friends and girlfriends and families have invited me into their homes and really made me feel like family. God has truly blessed me with great friends all around the world. Happy Birthday, Caleb.

Morals

I've been validated as "good." Now I can rest easy. (I wonder if the picture of Barney in the background is supposed to symbolise that which is good. If I was evaluated as bad, whose picture would be there?)


How evil are you?

Fuzzy

Everyone has heard about the weird drinking laws in Utah; but did you know about this one? Males between the ages of 18 and 30 must have a goatee or facial hair of some sort. I mean, all of them do, so it must be in the law books somewhere, right?

Eenie, Meanie, Miney, Moe

I got my unaccompanied baggage delivered this morning, which consisted mostly of my clothes. There was also a few kitchen items, my DVDs, and my snowboard, which will definitely come in handy.
This afternoon, Caleb called and asked if I wanted to come over and hang out, which I'm always up for. So I showered, and as I was getting dressed, I faced a dilema. You see, for the past month or so, the only clothes I've had are 2 pair of jeans, a pair of khakis and about 10 t-shirts. But since all my stuff came today, I had to pick between tons of different jeans, chinos, t-shirts, button downs, track jackets, sweaters, etc. And let's not even get into the shoes. It took me forever to figure out what to wear. I think I'd already mentioned something about the several different kinds of shampoo available here in the States. I spent 20 minutes yesterday trying to decide which kind of salsa to buy. In Misawa, we had mild, medium, or hot. Having all these choices is so strange. Sure, it's one of the modern coveniences of being able to get exactly what we want, but do we really need it? We're so spoiled.

Sweets to the Sweet

Sweet Dreams
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

So, yeah, today is Valentine's Day. When you don't have a significant other, it's easy to get bitter about it, but I'm not. I mean, I guess I could get out more and try to meet people and stuff, but I'm perfectly content being by myself...for now. Do I get lonely? Sometimes. Do I ever think I'll find "the one?" Someday. One of my greatest fears is ending up old and alone. But, I guess I just feel so close to God and my friends, that I don't think I'll ever truly be "alone." Especially when I'm lying on my mattress (the only piece of furniture currently in my flat) eating a Krispy Kreme Donut.

Fringe Benefits

Last night, I went and saw "Million Dollar Baby" with Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman. There are few things I enjoy in a movie more than solid, thick drama...unless it crosses the line and becomes sappy ("Pay It Forward," anyone?). This movie was probably one of the most delicate, touching dramatic films I've seen in a long time. It's easy to blow it off as just another boxing movie, but it's so much more. Hilary is so amazing. And the banter between Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman is priceless. Another highly recommended film.
After I left the theatre, I just "happened" to drive by a Krispy Kreme. The "Hot Now" sign was all lit up, and well, I just couldn't resist. I ordered a half-dozen assorted, and the guy behind the counter gave me another dozen glazed FOR FREE! I'm starting to like Utah more and more.
And now a completely different subject:
After going to see concerts so often in Vegas, and then being deprived of them in Japan, I try to stay abreast of the shows coming to the Salt Lake City area. Later this month, I'm going to see the Hot Hot Heat. Next month is Tegan and Sara. And The Killers are coming in May. Oh, how I've missed seeing a good show. There's also a band called "The Exploding Fuck Dolls" appearing that I might go see just because they have such a cool name.
So now, I'm going to head to the gym and run off some of the donuts I inhaled. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

Tailgate

I don't have many pet peeves, but one of the few is when people drive all up close. And how do 99% of Utah people drive? So close I can't even see their headlights! I'm driving the speed limit, here, people!

Switcheroo!

Dang. And I'd been doing so well. Earlier tonight, I pulled a double whammy. The first was when I got in my truck, pulled out of my apartment complex, and started driving on the wrong side of the road. Luckily, there was no one in the way. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, I was leaving Target and started to get in the passenger side. It's probably not that big of a deal over here, because I doubt most people are in on the joke about going to the wrong side of the car when you're in Japan. Regardless, I felt stupid.

The Grind

Today was my first official day at work. True, I didn't really do any actual work. It was mostly a bunch of in-processing appointments, as will be most of the next two weeks. Regardless, I met most of the guys in my shop, and they all seem pretty cool. I'm just desperate to get all my stuff situated and get into a normal routine for a while.
So much has changed in the States since I was last here. Case in point: everyone is so accessible. Everyone has cell phones, and with cell phones, there's really no such thing as long distance. It's just weird that I can talk to anyone I know over here anytime. Today, I talked to Don in St. Louis and Meredith in Cincinnati. Yesterday, I talked to Jerry in Texas, Jimmy in Phoenix, and my parents in Kentucky. The day before that, I talked to Abby in Seattle and Melissa in Las Vegas. They weren't lying when they came up with that whole "global village" term.
I'd like to close by wishing myself a Happy Half-Birthday! I'm officially 30 1/2. I handled 30 with dignity and grace, but I'm not so sure about this other 1/2. I think my hearing will be gone soon, and any day now I could fall and break a hip.

Jiggety-Jig

What a day! I officially moved into my new place. After picking up the keys this morning, I went back to my hotel and picked up all my stuff and dropped it off here. Then I made a quick run to Target to pick up basic new place necessities (i.e. shower curtain, dish soap, etc.). Then the little maintenance man came to install my washer and dryer. Then the cable guy came to install my internet and cable television. Then I spent the rest of the evening driving all over creation trying to find a place that sold mattresses. You wouldn't think something like mattresses would be hard to find. But they are. So, I finally find a furniture store and pick out a mattress. Then the guy tells me they don't actually have it in the store; however, if I'm really desperate to have it tonight, I can drive to the warehouse 45 miles away and pick it up myself. So I did. Whew!
Tomorrow is my first official day at work, and, as luck would have it, it's a squadron PT day. So I have to show up at the gym at 6 AM. This is going to stink on so many levels. My running habits since I left Misawa have been sporadic, at best. Plus, I'm still not fully adjusted to the time change. I'll be lucky if I fall asleep by midnight tonight.
But you know what? It really doesn't bother me too much. I've got my place and my truck. I have friends here. I'm looking forward to this time in Utah. It's gonna be a blast.

Phunky Phonics Phun

People from Utah have a stange accent. I wouldn't necessarily call it "hick," but it's definitely distinctive. They pronounce the word "fountain" without the "t." They pronounce the word "color" like "collar," and "born" like "barn." I've prided myself on getting rid of any hint of a Kentucky accent I may have ever had. I hope I don't pick up this odd Utah speak.

Chips and Church

Last night, I was invited to Caleb's house to play Texas Hold 'Em. Apparently, this version of poker has developed into quite a craze in the States lately. When we started, there were seven players. The final three were Thaddeus (Caleb's oldest brother, who bears a very strong resemblance to Matthew Perry), Sam (Caleb's youngest brother), and me. Thaddeus won, and I came in second. It was two bucks to buy in, and I left with four, so it was profitable AND fun.
This morning I went to church with Thaddeus, Ashley (his fiancee), Sam, and Heidi (his girlfriend). They go to a place called Washington Heights Baptist Church, which is the largest non-Mormon church in Utah. Since I grew up in a church with about 300 active members, I normally avoid such large churches with the impression they're impersonal. However, I really enjoyed the service this morning. The praise and worship was spectacular and the pastor gave a message that was relevent, poignant, and interesting.
And this afternoon, as we all know, was the world's biggest display of homo-erotic macho bullshit known as the Super Bowl. I went shopping, took a nap, and watched "Shaun of the Dead." It was probably one of the better Super Bowl Sundays I've had.

Insomnia + Boredom = Makeover

If you're thinking, "I know I typed in the address for Currt-Dawg's blog, but this doesn't look like it," don't worry. You're in the right place. I just figured I'm entering a new phase in my life, so I thought I'd make a few changes to "the wax." Also, I've had the old template for a while, and change is a good thing. Plus, it's really late (almost 3:30 AM!), and I'm extremely jet lagged (still) and wide awake and there's nothing but infomercials and "The Ashlee Simpson Show" on TV, so I might as well do something constructive. Enjoy!

Fantastic Voyage

Truck - Day 1
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

It has finally happened! I picked up my truck this morning. When I sat in it for the first time, it only had 3 miles on the odometer. It's beautiful and it rides so smooth. And just to make everyone in Japan a little more jealous, I took this picture with mountains in view (yes, the whole area is this gorgeous), as well as the Barnes & Noble across from my hotel (I think I've already mentioned how much I love that place). Yeah, I'm a happy and no-longer-stranded boy.

Nippon Ginko

Another sign this transition is going to take a while:
I can't pass an ATM without thinking, "Do I need to get yen?"

The Epitome of Slack

The bulk of the past few days has been made up of sitting in my hotel room surfing the internet, e-mail chatting with Abs, and switching between Comedy Central, VH-1, and MTV. There were a couple evenings hanging with Caleb and his brothers, a trip to Target/Barnes & Noble, and, most recently, a half-mile stroll to Layton Hills Mall (where I picked up a cell phone that doesn't even compare to the crappiest of Japanese cell phones). Unfortunately, I can't pick up my truck until Thursday morning, therefore putting off apartment hunting until Thursday afternoon. Tomorrow, I think I might try to catch a matinee at the theatre, which is also within walking distance.
Being bored is so dangerous.

Culture Shock

I guess it was pretty inevitable. Every time I've visited the States over the past four and half years, it's only been for a couple weeks and I get all giddy like a school girl and go on shopping sprees and whatnot. This time, however, it's a little more permanent.
Let me start from the beginning. I checked into my hotel yesterday to find out I was blessed with wireless internet access. Apparently, this is a pretty common thing in the States. No more paying a ridiculouly high fee for crappy service (I'm talking to you, Heronet!). And you can imagine my sigh of relief when I realized I wouldn't have to forego my daily visit to www.chickswhostrapiton.com. The little Mormon girl at the front desk didn't seem quite as excited.
This afternoon, I made the trek over to Super Target, which was probably the most bewildering thing I've experienced yet. Did you know Target now has furniture? FURNITURE at TARGET! And it's not shoddy, either. It's good, quality, cool looking stuff. I knew there was a reason I swore off Wal-Mart. Not only was I amazed by the presence of furniture, but I was totally freaked out by all the stuff! After all the time spent shopping at the Misawa BX, I damn near fell over when I saw 8,372 different varieties of shampoo.
After Target, I walked into Barnes & Noble, where I immediately had an orgasm.
After spending four hours at Barnes & Noble, I grew hungry and walked down to Applebee's, where, despite popular opinion, I was able to order a beer on Sunday. And not just any beer. I got a Hefeweizen. On tap. However, they did force me to order food with my beer. That's okay, though. I was hungry anyway.
Another added bonus is that I flew into the States coincidentally on the same weekend during which the feature film "Alone in the Dark" is released (featuring Tara Reid as an anthropoligist!). Does it get any better than this?
The final overwhelming thing about which I will write is the 99 television channels I can access. And of these 99 channels, there are no fewer than 14 news channels, three cooking channels, nine religious channels (including the BYU station - PARTY ON!), and six that show infomercials NON-STOP. Of the remaining 67 channels, at least 60 are showing some kind of reality television show at any given time. I LOATHE reality television. Luckily, I have found solace in VH-1's "I Love the 90's." As anyone who's ever played the Trivial Pursuit 90's Edition with me, the 90's are MY DECADE!
Anyway, I'll be sure and keep everyone posted on my daily freak outs. Stay tuned for when I pick up my brand new truck and try to drive on the RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD! Two words: Di. Saster.

Rednecks and Reacquiainting

After arriving at the Salt Lake City airport yesterday, I was greeted by two men who, during the ride to my hotel, talked endlessly about hunting. I somehow managed to get the basics of life at Hill AFB out of them, though. I was originally supposed to be working in the Utilities shop, but I have been moved over to the zone, which is strangely reminiscent of my arrival in Misawa. My hotel is right in the middle of a little shopping area. I have a Target and a Barnes & Noble right across the street, and I'm about a half mile walk from a mall. The best part, though, is that I got in touch with my friend Caleb Wendt, who lives nearby. He came and picked me up last night with his girlfriend, Summer, and we went out to eat and to his house where I met a couple of his brothers. We spent most of the night catching up and telling stories. He gave me all the ups and downs of life in Utah. I'm still kinda freaking out about actually being in the States again, but I really think I'm going to like it here.

Heart

Misawa Crew
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Today, I officially start my new life in Utah; but before I do, I just want to let everyone know how much I appreciate all my peeps back in Misawa. I'll never forget you guys. Much love.

Jet City with Abs

I landed in Seattle around noon-ish today, about five hours BEFORE I left Misawa. Kinda funny, huh? Anyway, my good friend Abby picked me up at the airport and we had the funnest day. We dropped my stuff off at my hotel and I showered, then we went to downtown Seattle for a late lunch at this great Mexican place. Mexican food is something Misawa sorely lacked. Then we just walked around downtown and through the market, which was interesting with all the neat shops and street musicians and stuff. Then we went to the movies and saw "Sideways," which was absolutely spectacular. Anyway, I just wanna give a shout out of thanks to Abby for the great day of conversation and fun. Tomorrow, I head to Salt Lake City where I'm apparently supposed to live for a while. Craziness.

Progression

I get on the plane today. Last night was my last night at the Hospitality House. I was worried about saying goodbye to everyone, but it's not that bad. I'm not saying I'm not going to miss everyone, because I will. It's just that I feel the relationships I've nurtured over the past four and half years are ones that will continue to grow. It's not the end.

"May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent, one from another."
Genesis 31:49

Out there

I have now completely out-processed my squadron and the base. It feels kinda liberating, yet vulnerable. I still have to meet with my landlord this afternoon to discuss what he's going to charge me to re-re-paint my house. Yeah, that's a long story I don't really care to discuss. Regardless, I have my plane tickets, and there's not really anything anyone can do to stop me from leaving.
Since I'm in the middle of moving, my posts on "the wax" will not be exactly consistent. I'm going to do my best to keep it updated, but I can't make any promises until I get everything set up in Utah. I've decided to put "Tripping Lucid" on a brief hiatus; however, I will still log my dreams in a notebook, and post them whenever I can.
Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know the dealio, so I don't get angry e-mails from people wondering what the dealio is. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

This house is clean.

I guess I'm in what would be known as the "home stretch." I would like to thank Jimmy for letting me crash on his floor for the past few nights, since I was without furniture. I moved into billeting today, which is actually pretty nice.
I would also like to thank Caleb, Jimmy, Kerry, and Jeni-Bomb for helping me paint my house on Saturday. The results weren't exactly spectacular, but at least we put forth an effort, and, more importantly, we had fun.
Today, I went through and vacuumed all the floors, scrubbed the bathroom, and washed the walls. I got a little nostalgic when I was wiping away all the graffiti. Quotes from everyone from Thomas Paine to (of course) Madonna. Movie lines from "Planet of the Apes," "Groundhog Day," and "Gone With The Wind," to name a few. High scores from Tetris and Bop-It (my eternal envy of Mike Hook and his big 250 on Bop-It Extreme).
Now, it's just a house.

What's up, Doc?

So, it all began on Tuesday, when I was in yoga class. Everything was fine, until one time when we went into the downward facing dog pose. I was moving my arms above my head, and heard a snap and felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder. For the rest of the class, I couldn't move my arm up at all, so I just kinda faked the rest of the poses. Wednesday, it was still hurting, so I decided to call for an appointment, which was made for Thursday morning. When I got to the hospital, the doc checked me out and asked all the standard questions and sent me down to get x-rays, just in case. The x-rays showed that nothing had been broken, and nothing was out of socket, which is a good thing. So then, she sent me to get drugs (Naproxen - a stronger form of Motrin), and then down to physcial therapy, in the hopes they could fit me in for a more thorough diagnosis before I PCS. The physcial therapist checked me out, and, after telling me I had the loosest joints he'd ever seen, taught me a few exercises I could do to relieve the pain and get full range-of-motion in my arm. He told me what exactly happened (apparently, I grinded some bone/cartilage that wasn't supposed to grind, causing tenderness and pain) and gave me a very detailed print out for my exercise instructions. I left a happy boy.
So, my point is this: people give military doctors a lot of crap, but in my eight years of Air Force medical care, I have had no complaints. Every time I've gone to the hospital, be it at Nellis or Misawa, the med techs and doctors have been nothing but courteous, professional, and thorough, with an excellent bedside manner. I know there are those of you with some crazy Med Group stories (Biscuit's is the best!), but until I get treated for a concussion when I should be getting the drugs pumped out of my stomach, I'm going to defend military doctors.

Mmmmm. Free goo.

Stay Puft
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

1. "Curtis, what did I tell you about playing with those rabid dogs?"

2. "Curtis, have you been huffing that white spray paint again?"

3. "Looks like Curtis has been making out with Peeps."

You Speak-a

Japanese Mover Guy: (holds up miniature version of lamp from "A Christmas Story" given to me for Christmas 2003 by Abby) Lamp-u?

Me: Hai.

JMG: (with puzzled look) Leg-u...?

Me: Hai.

JMG: (with really puzzled look) Ooooooh.

Me: (blank stare)

JMG: (shakes head)

I wanna hold your hand.

The first round of movers just left with my unaccompanied baggage. There were four of them, and they totally looked like the Beatles. Well, almost. There was a John, a Paul, and a Ringo, but the fourth guy was older, and didn't really resemble George Harrison too much. Regardless, I was kinda hoping they'd stop in the middle of packing up all my stuff and start singing "She Loves You" or something.
Now I must make preparations for round two, for tomorrow, another gaggle of movers will come and take away everything else belonging to me. But first, I must get clean, because I've had on the same t-shirt for over 48 hours...without showering. It's repulsive, I know. Ringo made a funny face when he walked by me earlier.

There's Still Time

Listen:

So Jealous
by
Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara are twin sisters from Canada, and they've been around a while, but their latest album, So Jealous, is what's going to put them on the map. The new wave and pop hooks are what draw you in, but the more you listen, the better it gets. Plus, any album where Matt Sharp makes an appearance can't be bad. The timbre of their voices could easily come off as annoying, but once you get used to the folky melodies, it just becomes endearing. Full of heartbreaking lyrics with a sweet sound that doesn't devolve into sappiness, this album proves that pop music can still have depth. It's impossible not to sing along. This album will be my soundtrack to 2005.

Winter Wonderland

Carving at Hakkoda
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Snowboarding is one of the many great things northern Japan has to offer. There are several excellent resorts within a 2 hour drive of Misawa. This picture was taken by Paul at Mt. Hakkoda, one of the more challenging places to go, and, as you can see, it's absolutely gorgeous. Luckily, my future home of Utah is also known for its snowboarding, and even though I may pay a little more for lift tickets, I don't think I'll be paying up to $60 on toll roads. You gotta love the Japanese and their unbelievably high cost of living.

Flashback

CE Christmas in Vegas
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

So, as promised, here are a couple pictures from the Christmas parties I went to last month. The first one is Jimmy, Amy, and I at the CE Christmas Party. Our theme this year was "Christmas in Vegas" so I decided to dress like a rock star. Amy was a pop star, and Jimmy was a punk rocker. I went a little overboard with the eyeliner and the nail polish, and got some strange looks from several people. Ironically, those same people are the ones I'll miss the least when I leave Misawa.
The second picture is from the NSGA Christmas party. Paul and Trish asked me to go with, and besides them, Amy, and Jimmy, I didn't really know anyone. So, in order to be more social and up my chances of having a kick-ass time, I turned to alcohol. By the time this picture was taken, I was pretty inebriated. Again, a special thanks to Paul and Trish for taking care of me.

NSGA Christmas in Misawa
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Nothing more...

For the past three weeks, the top headline has been the tsunami in coastal southern Asia and its after-effects. We've seen story after photo after video of thousands of people dying. Such massive destruction has rarely, if ever, been seen by anyone. The death toll has risen daily. Thousands of children orphaned. Billions of dollars in damage and reconstruction costs.
And how do I feel? Numb.
I mean, I sympathise with these people, but I'm troubled at the fact I can't work up a tear or even get that empty feeling in my stomach. I watched in shock as the waves came over the beach and spilled into the streets and washed away the people and cars and buildings. I thought about how horrible it must have been to witness it. But I didn't really FEEL how horrible it must have been.
I remember going in to work on September 12th, 2001 and turning on the TV in our break room and watching that plane fly into that building over and over and over again. I did feel a little taken aback. There was a little bit of emptiness in my chest. But I don't think I truly felt the pain I should have.
I remember sitting in my sixth grade class on January 28th, 1986, and watching the Challenger Space Shuttle explode with those seven astronauts on board, including Christa McAuliffe, who was to be the first teacher in space. Our teacher made such a big deal out of it, but I just sat and watched. Maybe, since I was just 11, I didn't really have a grasp on what death really was.
So, why am I this way? I've thought about it plenty of times, and I don't really know. Maybe I've just been calloused by all the horrible things going on in the world. Genocides. Stupid wars. Murder. Racism. Homophobia. Senseless violence. Hate crimes. Maybe I'm just cold and heartless. I've tried to get worked up about these things. I've donated to relief charities. I've imagined myself being there. Whatever it is, I don't like it.
I feel so detached from life that death has no meaning.
I'm going to change this.

All About the Benjamins

Shimoda
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Whoever said you can't buy happiness has never been to Shimoda Mall.

Snowball

It has finally happened. After three months of calling, visiting, begging, and nagging the crew at MPF, I received my official orders today. Of course, it couldn't go perfectly smooth. Due to a slight oversight by MPF, they're going to have to cut a set of amendments to go with my orders, which, God willing, will be ready on Monday. Regardless, the biggest obstacle has been conquered. I can't believe it's actually happening. I've spent nearly four and a half years in Misawa, and it's so strange to see the beginning of the end. Almost surreal.

Accomplishments - 2004 Edition

Sleek
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

1. Sprained my ankle, causing me to miss four whole weekends of snowboarding.
2. Saw Belle & Sebastian in Tokyo, and Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliott in Atlanta.
3. Went to the Sapporo Ice Festival which was, like, so cool.
4. Put up with more than my fair share of military bullshit.
5. Spent three months in Iraq involuntarily supporting a stupid war, but still managing not to kill anyone or be killed.
6. Committed yet another four years of my life to the US Air Force.
7. Bought two new trucks.
8. Turned 30.
9. Climbed Mt. Fuji for the third time.
10. Ran a total of about 1200 miles.
11. Taught Paul to dance.
12. Became thoroughly addicted to Interpol's new album "Antics."
13. Got another tattoo.
14. Started "Tripping Lucid," my dream blog.
15. Voted in the Presidential Election, but apparently it didn't do much good.
16. Got the courage to reveal myself to more and more people.
17. Went to my first Japanese strip club.
18. Went 11 whole days without masturbating, which is longer than any living male on the face of the planet has ever gone. Ever.
19. Got the most intoxicated I've been since January 2001.
20. Deepened my friendships with Paul & Trish, Caleb, Jimmy, and M-Dogg.

Yeah, it's been a good year.

You want a sticker, kid?

Since I've been living in Japan for the past four and a half years, there's something I've had the luxury of avoiding - Wal-Mart. And, well, since I'm moving back to the States in a month, I've decided to continue to avoid this massive, corporate evil. Back when I was in college, I always joked that Wal-Mart was my worst enemy. I had to park 3 miles away from the entrance, and I couldn't leave without spending $80. Now, it's an enemy for different reasons. Here are a few:

* The average Wal-Mart associate works 32 hours a week at $8.00 an hour--a monthly gross of barely $1000. Union members in retail occupations (which Wal-Mart does not allow) earn about 32% more on average. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

* Former Wal-Mart cashier Dana Mailloux, 33, worked for eight years at a store in Fort Myers, FL, moving up to $9.15 an hour. In the Fall of 2002, her manager called her and more than a dozen other longtime employees into his office and told them he had to lay them off because of lack of work. That same day, Ms. Mailloux says, she passed a room with six new hires, red vests in hand, filling out paperwork. Returning to the store that weekend, she says, she saw newly advertised positions listed on a bulletin board. (Wall Street Journal)

* A July 2000 internal audit of 128 Wal-Mart stores found 127 were "not in compliance" with company policies concerning workers not taking breaks. In a class-action suit in Texas, on behalf of more than 200,000 current and former Wal-Mart workers, statisticians estimate that the company underpaid its Texas workers by $150 million over four years by not paying them for the many times they worked during their daily 15-minute breaks. (New York Times)

* Most Wal-Mart employees cannot afford to pay the expensive premiums and deductibles required for health care coverage. The average worker would have to pay one fifth of his paycheck for health care coverage at Wal-Mart. On a wage of about $8 an hour and 29-32 hours of work a week, many workers must rely on state programs or family members or simply live without health insurance. Wal-Mart increased the premium cost for workers by over 200% since 1993. Medical care inflation only went up 50% in the same period. (United Food and Commercial Workers)

* Women make up 65% of the company's hourly employees, yet men hold 90% of top store manager positions. Women working at Wal-Mart make on average 4.5-5.6% less than men for the same work. (Institute for Women's Policy Research)

* 10% of all Chinese imports are imported by Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart were a separate nation, it would rank fifth in the world in importing Chinese goods. (LA Times)

* Wal-Mart has more than 1,107 international operations. Bangladesh workers earn as little as nine cents an hour making shirts for Wal-Mart. (USA Today)

* In 2002, 1,436 child labor law infractions were discovered at 20 Wal-Mart stores in Maine. (Maine Department of Labor)

And if that isn't enough for you, I'll give you one more reason. In 1981, a Wal-Mart was built in Morganfield, Kentucky - my town of 3,500. Within a few years time, Clements Drug Store and Fritts Drug Store (both locally-owned), a locally-owned hardware store, and a locally-owned auto-parts store went out of business. Then, in 1998, Wal-Mart abandoned the old building to build a brand new building where a Super Wal-Mart now exists. Since then, French's Food Mart (locally-owned) and Sureway (a western Kentucky business) have both gone out of business. A town of 3,500 has no need for a Super Wal-Mart. My hometown has lost its soul.
True, it could have been K-Mart or Target or any of the giant retailers. But it was Wal-Mart. For these reasons, I will never purchase anything at Wal-Mart ever again.

Artificial Sweetener

Paul's comment (paraphrased): "When I ask if you want to do something and you answer, 'Okay,' it makes me think you're going along with it just to appease me."
Good point, Paul.
Do I go along with people's suggestions and ideas just to placate them? Maybe sometimes. But, is that so bad? Isn't making sacrifices a big part of friendship? Who wouldn't want to make his friends happy? However, I wouldn't want to begrudgingly drag any of my friends along to something they didn't want to do. Not only would that bring them down, it would probably bring me down, as well.
So here's my solution: anytime any of you ask me any kind of question, and you think I'm giving you an answer just because I think it's the answer you want to hear, challenge me. Is that what I really want to do? Is that what I really think? In return, I promise to be completely honest. Furthermore, I'm going to challenge each of you to be equally honest with me. I figure it's the least I can do for my friends.
And don't bullshit me. I can totally tell.

Post-Yule Sentiments

When I was younger, every year after Christmas, I always went through a little depression. All the build up, decorating, anticipation, wonder, and excitement was over. Now, I'm just grateful I lived through another year, thankful I have such a loving family and great friends. True, it's still kinda sad to see everything end so abruptly, but now I'm more concerned with the results of Christmas than the preoccupation with the add-ons.

39 1/2 Foot Pole

Yesterday, I got off work at 1:30, so I went home and showered, then Jimmy and I did some last minute Christmas shopping at the BX. What a madhouse! People everywhere. Long lines. Screaming children. After we finally got out of there, I just wanted to go home and lay on my couch, but I had to go over to alterations to get my measurements to send to Brad so he can order my tuxedo for his wedding. While I was in alterations, my cell phone rang, and it was Paul. He and Trish were next door in the furniture store and saw my car parked outside. So after I left alterations, I went into the furniture store to say "hi." I know I've explained before how much I love Paul and Trish, but it's rare for someone to have such power over me to be able to turn my mood completely around, especially with just a quick chat.
In a somewhat related story, today is Christmas Eve, and this morning I, along with the rest of the Praise Team, was invited to Chaplain Sackett's house for brunch. It was one of those things where you're asked to do something, and you don't really think about it. You just say, "yes," but you really don't want to go. You just kinda want to blow it off. Well, I figured that I should go anyway, even though I don't really know Chaplain Sackett or his family or, except for Jimmy and Caleb, even any of the other people on the Praise Team. I'm friendly with them, but they're barely more than acquaintences. Jimmy went with me, and we were the first ones to show up, which was a little unnerving. But as soon as we walked into the house, and were greeted with such big smiles, I was glad I showed up. The Sacketts have five children and another on the way. They live in base housing, but you can tell it's a house filled with love. The others showed up soon after we did, and as we were all hugging and wishing each other a Merry Christmas, I had a nice warm feeling inside.
I know most people will say when we celebrate Christmas, we're celebrating the birth of Christ, and that's all very true. But to me, Christmas is just about being together. Love. Relationships. Family. And when I say "family," I mean everyone I love, not just blood relatives. One of the reasons Jesus came to Earth was to really be with us. Giving gifts and singing carols is great and all, but just being with all the people I love is the best part of Christmas for me. Tonight, we're going to have our annual Hospitality House Christmas Eve All-Nighter, and I'm going to do my best to hug everyone as much as possible. I've spent too many Christmases in the desert, and I'll never take for granted any of the time I get to spend with my family. I love those people.

Architect

Let me talk a little bit about my Dad. I have an amazing amount of respect for my Father.
He loves the Lord.
He teaches by example.
He stresses honesty and education above everything else.
The man can fix anything.
We didn't always get along; but now, when I look back, I see how he was trying to point me down the right path.
For such a considerate, kind, wise, cheerful, loving Father, I'll forever be grateful.

Delerium Tremors

Sometimes, I think I'm overdosing on friends. Or rather, my friends are overdosing on me. I have this paranoia they're getting sick of me. Of course, they would deny it if I asked. But if they denied it, would it be because it isn't true, or they just don't want me to feel bad? Everytime I ask them to hang out or go to lunch, they look at me wide-eyed, and their minds frantically try to think of an excuse of why they can't go. They're probably thinking, "Well, we only have to put up with him until he PCSs next month, so we'll just suffer through it." Yes, friends. Endure me. Withstand my cheery, fake, annoying personality. I think I'd just rather be tolerated for the next month and not leave here with a bad taste in my mouth.
This sounds rather cynical, and I'm not really sure I feel this way. I really do love my friends, and I hope they feel the same. Sometimes, you venture so far in your relationships, and there's just nowhere else to go. No more you can give. Maybe the depth of my friendship has its limits.

That pear tree TOTALLY has a partridge in it!

It's been a rather exciting past few days. Thursday night was my squadron Christmas Party. I guess I had really high expectations or something, because it was fun, but not THAT fun. Jimmy and Amy went with me, and they both said they had a good time, so that makes me happy. The big thing about Christmas Parties is the prizes. I won a little gift set of body scrub and lotion, so I gave it to Amy. I also won the centerpiece, which was a nice little poinsettia.
Last night was the NSGA Christmas Party, and Paul and Trish bought me a ticket. Jimmy went with Amy, so we had a nice showing from the Hospitality House crowd. Well, I started off early with mixed drinks. And I continued with mixed drinks. In fact, I got pretty liquored up.
Let me take a brief moment to talk about our prizes. First off, Jimmy won a bookshelf stereo. Then Amy won a mini-disc/mp3 player (but traded some guy for a portable DVD player), then I won a palm pilot, then Paul won a treadmill. We totally had the winningest table in the ballroom. I was proud of us. Let me rephrase that. I was drunkenly proud of us.
So, like I was saying, I had a lot to drink. Have you ever been out, and you start drinking, and then you totally lose track of how many drinks you've had, but you're moving around and feeling good, and you just don't care because you're having so much fun? Yeah, that was me last night. I'm not sure what time we left the club, but it was obvious I wasn't going to be driving anywhere. So I hopped in with Paul and Trish and they hauled me to their pad. We sat down and chatted for a while, and Paul gave me some pajama bottoms and t-shirt, and I went to sleep in their guest room. Let me rephrase that. I attempted to go to sleep in their guest room, but as soon as I lay down, that whole really annoying spinning thing started happening. I hate that. And you know and I know there's only one way to cure it. So I staggered to the bathroom and Mr. Finger met Mr. Gag-Reflex, and I rid myself of the spinning, so to speak. After that, I slept like a little drunken baby. The next morning, Paul cooked pancakes for us. I felt really horrible, because even though I rid myself of the spinning, I didn't really rid myself of the nausea. I managed to shove down two extremely small pancakes (we're talking nickel-size pancakes, here), and I felt bad that I couldn't eat more. But there was just no way. Then we sat around for a few more hours, watched a movie, and eventually made it to the BX to return our new prizes for what we really wanted - MONEY! Actually, I totally would have kept my palm pilot if it was compatible with Mac OS (Come on, people! We Mac users represent 5% of the home-computing world! Live in the now!). And Paul's treadmill wasn't big enough for him on which to run. I'm not sure what the grand total was for everything, but I ended up making $135. I gave the Dinki have the value of the palm pilot, since it was they who bought my ticket.
And so, let me just reiterate how much I love Paul and Trish. They bought me a ticket to their Christmas Party, totally took care of my drunken self, let me crash at their pad, and even made me pancakes the next morning. Yeah, definitely going to miss those two.
One more thing: I have some great pictures from the parties, but I've just about reached my upload limit on flickr, so I won't be able to post them until next month. But definitely check back, especially if you want to see me dressed up like a ROCK STAR (with eyeliner and all)!

Again From the Top

Well, it looks like we can start the count back at zero.

By definition, a crush must hurt, and they do.

My friend Jay separated from the military about nine months ago, but we've been e-mailing each other a lot lately. I think he's in the same funk I am, though I think he's in a little deeper. In his last e-mail, he wrote, "It's incredible how deceitful we humans can be." I couldn't agree more. Why can't people be just upfront with their feelings? Why say one thing and act completely different? If someone says, "Yeah, I'd like to hang out," but then avoids contact, should I believe this person's words or this person's actions? I think it's a lot easier to just say, "You know, I'd rather not." I'd rather be dealt with honestly than have false hopes. I get so sick of developing these stupid crushes on people. And it's always someone who's unattainable. You'd think after years and years of this, I'd be able to control it by now. Nope. And this is all territory I covered about a year ago. I can learn math, english, history, music theory, etc., but I can't learn emotional restraint.

(Rein)Deer in Headlights

Kerry's Antlers
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Kerry's twin sister, Simone, is visiting for a while, so last night, Paul, Trish, and I met them at Shimoda for some social shopping. At the 100 Yen Store, Kerry found a delightful little teaching aid, and here she is modeling it.

Going Bananas

It has been seven days since my last...
I wonder if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

Cat, Chicken, Turtle, Dove

So, last night, Jimmy and I went to Hachinohe for the purpose of finding a place called "the DX." The DX is basically a strip club. I'm not really a big fan of strip clubs, but, for some reason, we felt compelled to explore this one. I guess it was just the curiosity of a strip club in Japan. I'm not going to go into all the details, but I will tell you one thing: Jimmy likes his women a little more "mature." After we left, I was thinking, "Well, checked that one off my list," and that I'll never go again. However, now our friend Caleb is curious as well, so maybe we'll take him, too.
In other super-great news, my weeks and weeks of hounding MPF have paid off, but in a much better way than I'd expected. I was actually on the receiving end of a call from MPF today (I damn near fell over), and the young man on the other end told me he was sorry things got so out of whack with my folder. And here's the best part: since there's absolutely no way I can finish my out-processing in 18 days, he's going to send up a request to have my DEROS pushed back to January, which means I'll get to stick around Misawa for another month. This is good on so many levels. Not only do I get to hang with everyone here longer, but I'll actually get to enjoy Christmas. I'll have another month to save up some funds. I'll have enought time to pack out all my stuff. Yeah, I'm definitely happy about this.
I've had major slack time at work, lately. Today, I took a three hour lunch, and nobody even noticed I was gone. I think they just assume I'm outprocessing or doing stuff for the Christmas Party. I grabbed a pizza and went over to Paul and Trish's house. Paul was off today, so even after Trish went back to work, I stuck around and we had some good conversation. Then, after work, Paul and I went to the onsen, where we had more good conversation. I so appreciate that guy.
At PQ2 earlier tonight, we decorated the Christmas tree, which always puts me in the Christmas Spirit. This is gonna be such a wonderful Christmas. It will be my last one in Misawa, and I'm going to take it all in as much as I can. My friends here are so great.

Tsunami

I'm feeling really overwhelmed this week. Not because of how much I'm doing, but because of how much I'm getting ready to be doing. I still don't have my orders, which means I can't do any out-processing. But I know when I finally do get them in my hot little hand, all hell is going to break loose. Visiting pretty much every office on base, even ones that have nothing to do with me. Turning in bags and mobility equipment. Packing out household goods. Packing out unaccompanied baggage. Turning in FMO furniture. Cleaning my house. Painting my walls. Selling my truck. Ugh.
I'm already dreading saying my good-byes. I think about how great it would be to stay here longer, but then I think about how I felt the same way when I was leaving Vegas. I still miss Vegas sometimes, but I'd never trade anything for the experiences I've had and the friends I've made in Japan. I'm sure that's how I'll feel about Utah in a few months.
It's so hard to have faith sometimes. Faith that all this crap I have to do will get done. Faith that God will take care of me financially once I get to Utah. Faith that I'll meet lots of new and exciting people when I'll get there.
Pressing on. Running the race. Claiming the prize.

Walnut! Hey! Come on!

Making Mochi
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

This morning, Jeni-Bomb, Caleb, and I went with Kerry to a festival at her elementary school in the village of Shingo. There were about 40 kids, and lots of adults. When we first got there, we socialized with the kids, and they recited to us the greeting they'd learned:

"Hello. My name is *****. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you. And you?"
"Fine, thank you."
"Let's shake hands and be friends."

After that, we watched them perform a little skit about the Japanese legend of Momotaro. Then we all made mochi, which was amusing, to say the least. To make mochi, you take cooked rice and beat the living crap out of it with a big wooden mallet until it forms a pasty dough. By itself, mochi has no taste at all; but if you prepare it with bean paste or soy or in soup, it tastes much better. After that, we played around with the kids for a while. This involved marbles, cards, walking on stilts, origami, etc. A little girl named Kasumi kept grabbing my hand and taking me to all the different games. She was much better at walking on the stilts than I was. After that, we ate the mochi, and left to come back to Misawa. Overall, it was a really fun morning, so cheers to Kerry for inviting us along.

Kasumi and Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Three Ring Circus

Things got a little crazy tonight at PQ2. It all started innocently enough with hand stands. And it can't be just one person doing a hand stand. Everyone has to get in on the action. But the one thing of which I can be sure after witnessing these hand stands is this: Jeff has the hairiest belly of all participants (which probably comes as a relief to Amy).

Jimmy's Hand Stand
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Jeff's Hand Stand
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Amy's Hand Stand
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

After the hand stands, we decided to take the acrobatics a little further and make a little human pyramid. Being the lightest, Kerry got to be the princess and get on top and wave to everyone down below.

Pyramid
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

And, since everyone was so hyper, the inevitable wrestling was sure to follow. Now, I understand it really looks like I'm humping Jimmy and making my 'O' face (and look how much he's enjoying it!), but I assure you, it takes a lot more than writhing around with Jimmy and Mike to get the job done. Well, most of the time, anyway. Normally, I wouldn't post a less-than-flattering picture of myself, but this one just makes me laugh. I'm so NOT photogenic.

Wrestling
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

So, yeah, it was another fun night at PQ2. Some nights are mellow. Others are more spirited. I honestly don't know what sets us off. Maybe we should lay off the sugary snacks. Anyway, it's getting late and I have PT tomorrow. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

We are currently having our first official snowfall of the winter, and that makes me a happy boy. Okay, yeah, back in October, it spit a few flakes out of the sky, but now, it's REALLY SNOWING. Snowflakes. You can actually SEE. Accumulating. On the ground. Of course, there's also four inches of snow on the ground in my future home of Utah, but I'm trying to concentrate on the blissful light powder covering Misawa. I'm so ready to strap a big piece of wood to my feet and slide down a mountain. What could be more fun?

Sleepy Cinema

Long weekends are great. My house has been constantly full of people and eating and socializing and watching movies. I fully intended to get extra sleep, but I've been staying up late, and my annoying biological clock won't let me sleep past 8 AM.
Normally, when I'm at work, I'm really anticipating all the super stuff going on for the upcoming weekend. But when I realized I had a whole four days with no work, I was kinda worried. How am I supposed to fill up four days with no work? Too cold for camping. Trying to save money, so I can't shop or go on a road trip. No snow for snowboarding. However, I didn't realize how much fun it is just to chill out with my friends. Ah, friends. Something else I'm going to miss about Misawa.

Gifts from God - 2004 Edition

1. Thick wool socks.
2. Paul's accountability.
3. 4-day weekends.
4. Trish's honesty.
5. Lipizzan horses.
6. Ben's playfulness.
7. Abby's depth.
8. Having the most comfortable couch in the world in my living room.
9. Don's openness.
10. Parents who are still married.....after 35 years.
11. Meredith's classiness.
12. Jeni-Bomb's innocence.
13. Candles that make my house smell good.
14. Caleb's talent.
15. Kerry's gentleness.
16. The Bop-It.
17. Melissa's thoughtfulness.
18. Brad's companionship.
19. Heath's intelligence.
20. Books by Bret Easton Ellis.
21. Dan's closeness.
22. M-Dogg's realness.
23. Chips and salsa (a-d-d-i-c-t-i-n-g).
24. Mike's vulnerability.
25. E-mail conversations at work.
26. Jeff's balance.
27. Sales at Armani Exchange.
28. Jimmy's craziness.
29. Hugging. Not with anyone in particular. Just hugging.
30. Laying under a blanket on Thanksgiving watching movies while it's bitter cold and windy outside.

Victims of Tryptophan

Yoshida and Ichikawa
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Every year in our shop, on the day before Thanksgiving, we have a big meal and take a really long lunch. Even though 75% of our shop is deployed, the Japanese really appreciate it, so we did it again today. I brought bread, stuffing, and some veggies. Our new boss made the turkey (thank God, because I'd have no clue how to cook that thing), and the Japanese brought yakisoba and some amazingly delicious cheese rolls. I think turkey must be hard to come by in Japan or something, because the JNs in our shop really maw down on that stuff. Afterward, we all sat around the break room and watched movies and played cards. As I was walking to the bathroom, I spotted these two guys all layed out on the work bench. I couldn't resist taking a picture. Anyway, here's to a four day weekend!

Born to Blossom

Album of the Week:
Gwen Stefani
"Love.Angel.Music.Baby."

I'm probably a little biased due to my unconditional love for this fine, fine lady, but this album is spectacular. I've been anticipating its release for a few months, and now that it's here, I'm addicted. No Doubt albums tend to circulate around relationship woes, and usually, when artists take time off from their groups to do solo projects, it's more of the same. Luckily, Gwen followed her child-of-the-80s instincts and created an album of dance tracks for the ages.
She enlisted the help of several different producers, including Andre 3000, Nellee Hooper, Dr. Dre, and the Neptunes; and even with all these different influences, the album still holds together well. Gwen's style and attitude never falter or fade into the background. The songs range from disco pop to sensual R&B to stomping hip hop to indescribably weird. And a few could have easily ended up on a New Order album in 1987 (and wouldn't you know...you'll find Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner of New Order in the liner notes). The other interesting attribute is the recurring shout-outs to Japan. She mentions the fashion sense of Harajuku girls more than once. Standout tracks include the first single, "What You Waiting For?" as well as "Bubble Pop Electric," and, "Crash."
So, what is it about Gwen that's so appealing? Well, I'd say she's got moxie. Individuality. Spirit. Skill. Initiative. She's sexy without being slutty. And above all...class. And if this album is any clue, she's got enough moxie to last a lifetime.

Armor

I'm not going to get into all the details, but last night, I came close to getting a fist in my jaw. At one point, I had my eyes closed expecting it to happen. I could see it all so clearly in my head. The pain of the impact. The sting of my skin splitting. The throbbing and aching. The taste of blood in my mouth. I wanted it to happen. I was hoping for it.
Why was I so desperate to get hit? What did I want out of it? There's a lot to do with it, I think. And it all starts with lack of feeling. For one, I'm getting ready to PCS, so I've been emotionally preparing myself for the pain, and it's made me numb. Second, I just feel like a big wuss, physically. And finally, and probably most importantly, I haven't really been intimate with anyone in a long time, physically or emotionally.
I don't know. Maybe I'm way off. Maybe it's just a phase. Maybe I want sympathy. Maybe I've watched "Fight Club" one too many times. All I know is I've been feeling rather empty lately, and I don't like it.

Brush with Greatness Number 5 -or- Feelin' Hella Good

One of the many benefits of living in Las Vegas is all the great shows that come through town. I really took advantage of it, especially the last year of my tour. I was going to see a cool band or singer at least twice a month. One such occurance took place in October of 1999. No Doubt was doing a seven-city mini-tour about six months before the release of "Return of Saturn," just to test out their new material. All the places they played were in Southern California, their home turf, except for one--a nice, little venue called The Joint, inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It was one of the better places in Vegas to see shows, and I was really excited because I'd never seen No Doubt before.
A large group of us went, and I remember standing in the crowd when the curtain came up. Gwen was sporting cool, black space pants, a pink, glittery tank top with one strap, a big pink cape attached at her wrists, and bright pink, feathered hair. She looked amazing. They started out the show with "New," one of my favorite No Doubt songs. The crowd was jumping and screaming, and I was having a blast. About 2/3 of the way through the show, I decided I was going to surf the crowd. I had my friend Rick toss me up, and I must've stayed up for quite a while. Before I knew it, I was almost at the front of the crowd. I looked behind myself, and saw Gwen standing at the front of the stage, singing "Sunday Morning," another favorite. As is the case with most concerts, there is a big metal gate in front of the stage to make a little passageway between the band and the crowd for the security guards. I knew I was going to be tossed over the rail any second, so I decided to take the opportunity at hand. I steered myself in the direction of Gwen, and as I was falling over the rail, I flipped over and managed to grab the inside of Gwen's left thigh with my left hand. I could feel the security guard tugging on my leg, so I screamed the only thing I could think of:
IIIII LLOOOOOOVVEE YYYOOOOUUUUUUUUU!!!
The security guard yanked on my foot, and my hand lost its clutch of Gwen's leg. Gwen never missed a beat. I was dropped on the floor, but I jumped up and ran around the side to the back of the crowd, receiving smiles, nods, and pats on the back on the way. I surfed a couple more times, but didn't get as close to the stage as the first time. One of the more humorous times, I got dropped on two 12-year-old girls who gave me nasty looks. Then one said, "Cut it out, mo fo!" Those were her exact words. "Mo fo"? That's why I hate all-ages shows.
Thus ends "Brush with Greatness" week here at the wax. I hope you've enjoyed your time of living vicariously through my narratives. If you have any ideas for future themes, please let me know. My e-mail address is on my profile. Thanks for your time and attention. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

Brush with Greatness Number 4 -or- A Diamond in the Rough

The set-up for today's BWG is similar to yesterday's. Only this time, instead of working at Caesar's Palace, I was working at GAP Kids in my own mall. Working at GAP Kids is not something I enjoy, mostly because I'm not very good at it. Folding all those really small shirts isn't as easy as you'd think. And when children start to run amuck, I run for the break room. So, whenever they asked me to go next door and help out at GAP Kids, I wasn't exactly thrilled, even though it was usually only for a few minutes while someone was on break or at lunch.
Well, it was December of 1999. Every December, there's a big rodeo convention in Vegas. The entire city is "countrified"--cowboy hats all over the place, belt buckles that could double as hub caps, twangy accents, a Reba or Garth concert every night. Total insanity. But, I digress.
I was helping out for a few minutes at GAP Kids, basically staring at the ceiling. I saw a lady come in wearing boots, jeans, a suede vest, and a cowboy hat. She kept her head down, so I didn't get a good look at her at first. I walked over and gave my standard greeting. "Are you finding everthing okay?" She lifted her head and faintly smiled. There, less than two feet away from me, was Jewel.
Now, before I go on with the story, let me just say that I'd never really been a big fan of Jewel. I've always thought she's talented, and doesn't sell out or compromise herself. I bought her first CD, mostly because everyone else on campus had it, and I figured it was, like, a requirement to officially be a college student. People would go on and on about how attractive she is, but I thought her talent was more attractive than her looks. She was a little thick for my taste. However, when I was face to face with this woman, I was totally smitten. Her smile almost knocked me off my feet. Her eyes emitted equal parts class and sexiness. She radiated beauty like no one I'd ever seen before.
Now, back to the story. She spoke very quietly, "Thanks, but I'm fine."
"Well.....uh, my name's Curtis, so let me know if you need anything," I muttered.
"Alright, I will," she replied.
I walked back behind the counter, and did my best not to stare. She browsed for a few minutes, and left the store, turning and giving me a quick, shy glance as she exited.
After she left, I reasoned she must have been in town with her boyfriend, Ty something, who was a really famous rodeo guy. I kept going over and over in my head how I behaved, and wondered if I stared too long. Maybe if I had just minded my business, she would have stayed longer. I'll never know.

Brush with Greatness Number 3 -or- Last Dance with Mary Jane

As many of you know, I spent two years working at GAP as a second job while I was stationed in Vegas. There are seven GAP stores in the Las Vegas area, and I worked primarily at the Boulevard Mall, near UNLV. Occasionally, we had the opportunity to work at other GAPs, which I usually passed up, unless it was working at the Caesar's Palace GAP. This store was the largest in Vegas, and one of the biggest in the country. One particular time I was working at Caesar's in February of 1999. I was running stock to the floor from the stock room, when I happened to see a mother with her children--a girl, around 16, and a boy, maybe 12. The girl was holding a dress up to herself, so I thought I'd go offer some help. As I walked up, I could hear the girl asking her Mom to buy it for her.
"Are you finding everything okay?" was my standard greeting. The girl turned around, and it was Kirsten Dunst.
"What do you think?" she asked, referring to the dress.
"I like the blue one, myself." I replied. I wasn't really that familiar with Kirsten's movies. I'd seen "Interview With the Vampire" and "Wag the Dog," but the Kirsten movies with which I'm most familiar ("The Virgin Suicides," "Drop Dead Gorgeous," and "Spider-Man") still hadn't been released.
Kirsten turned back toward her mother.
"Whatever you want. You're going to be the one wearing it," her Mom reasoned.
"Let's look around some more," Kirsten replied. They both smiled, "Thank you," and left the store.
I pretty much kept my cool this time. But, like I said, she wasn't near as famous then as she is now. If it were to happen again, I probably wouldn't be as well-spoken.

Brush with Greatness Number 2 -or- Magnified Plaid

It was April of 1998, and there was a big independent music festival in Las Vegas. My friend Jim had become a big fan of the female pop-punk band The Halo Friendlies. He'd even started e-mailing them, and their lead guitarist was e-mailing him back. They were playing at a really small venue during the festival, so we went to see them. We really enjoyed the show, and after they played, they came out to say "hi" to us. As we were talking, some other guys walked up and were standing kinda off to the side. I didn't really look at them, because the Halo Friendlies were some pretty hot chicks. As the conversation was winding down, I asked them if they were going to see the MxPx show later on. All four of them got this really weird look on their face, and glanced over at the guys standing to the side. I looked over, and it was MxPx! Then I got all goofy and started stumbling over my words and stuff. I think I said something stupid like, "Oh, yeah, you guys rock, too." They were really cool, though. I couldn't believe how many piercings the singer had in his face.

Brush with Greatness Number 1 -or- Over the Edge

I decided to do a little series this week called "Brush with Greatness." Basically, it's the stories of my encounters with celebrities. There are five major stories--one for every day, today through Friday. Here's number one:
It was late October of 2000, and I was on my way from Las Vegas to Japan for the first time. I was in LAX and had to switch from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. I had all my luggage on a cart, and was wheeling it outside, along the sidewalk, when I looked over and saw The Edge. He was wearing really cool rock star jeans, a black jacket, and a skull cap. I desperately wanted to say something to him, but he was with his family, and I thought it best not to disturb him. I stood there and basked in his rock star glory for a few minutes, then began walking again, in order not to look like a stalker freak. I realize this may not actually qualify as a "brush with greatness" since there was no actual contact, but when you're talking about the guitarist for a band as legendary as U2, I think walking within 20 feet of him is close enough.

Kiss Bliss

I don't mean to brag or anything, but I'm a great kisser. It's not like I've had a lot of practice, or at least, not as much practice as I'd like, but I believe it to be true. So what brings me to this conclusion? The biggest supporting argument I have is I was once talking with an ex-girlfriend of mine who told me I was the best kisser ever. So good, in fact, that she was once making out with her next boyfriend, and said my name. (How cool is THAT?) Of course, that's not the only evidence. I've had subsequent make-out partners tell me the same thing. It's a label I'm proud to wear.
So you're probably thinking, "Gee, Currt-Dawg, how can I become a better kisser?" Well, I'll tell you. The key is to be gentle and subtle. You have to start out light, and build to the heavy stuff, but not too quick. It's a fine balance between taking charge of the kiss, and reading the lips of your make out partner. As an added touch, I like to caress the side of the neck, and then move back to cradling the back of the head. It shows tenderness. Of course, if you're kissing someone ever so softly and she (or he) starts to stick her tongue down your throat, then I say go with it. She's obviously there for one thing, so you might as well give it to her. However, if this is someone you really want to impress, you have to be tender and suave. Kissing is an emotional thing, and you don't want to ruin the moment.
Of course, this only covers basic technique. I haven't even gotten into oral hygiene, setting the mood, picking music, head movement, breathing, saliva control, when to stop, etc. But, like all things, practice makes perfect. If you'd like a more thorough lesson, I'm available for hands-on training on a case-by-case, first come, first served basis. Thank you.

Wondering Whether Winter Weather Will Wait

So, if you'll look at the date, you'll see it's November 11th. That's the 11th day of November, normally one of the colder months here in Misawa. However, when I walked out my door this morning to go run wearing track pants and a sweatshirt, I damn near fell over. It's gotta be at least 65 degrees outside. We don't have weather this nice in July, much less November. This could only mean one of two things: global warming is happening a little sooner than expected, or we're gonna have one helluva winter.

Three Amigos

Jimmy, Currt-Dawg, & Caleb
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Caleb, Jimmy, and I played for CrossPoint tonight, which is always rather interesting. Afterward, we went to Paddy's to toss back a couple pints of Guiness, since we don't have to work tomorrow. Few things in this world are better than good conversation over a couple pints of a good Irish stout. We're going to hit up Paddy's again on Friday because there will be a cool, little Irish band performing. Ah, Paddy's...something else I'll miss about Misawa.

Hit the Ground

Album of the Week:
"Gold Medal" by The Donnas
The Donnas debuted in 1998 with a self-titled album that was basically four high school girls doing their best Ramones impression. Original, maybe not, but definitely something that showed promise. On their sixth album, the Donnas' message is essentially the same: "They like boys and they like to party." But the evolution of their sound has been rather interesting. They've shed the basic three chord punk song, and developed into an all out rock force to be reckoned with. The tunes are catchy without sacrificing raw, speedy energy. They've transcended novelty and developed into a slick package full of attitude and sexiness. Oh, yeah, did I mention they're totally hot, too?

...and Jimmy on skins.

Jimmy
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

There's not much I can say about Jimmy because he's so eclectic and unpredictable. This I know: he plays the drums for our praise team, and since the piano is right next to the drum set, it's not like I could ignore it, even if I wanted to. I appreciate Jimmy's mad skills. Go Jimmy!

It's a good thing.

I've come to the conclusion you can make quesadillas out of just about anything. Just go through your refrigerator, pull out random leftovers, mix it up with a half pound of cheese, slap it between two tortillas, and microwave for four minutes, flipping half way through. I've made some good stuff out of leftover tuna, rice, tofu, salmon, soy meat, and who knows what else. I bet you all read my blog just to peer inside my erratic mind, but who knew you could get great recipes, as well? Eat your heart out, Martha!

Hot Stuff

Mike, Zach, & Jeni-Bomb
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

In the grand tradition of weird things we do at the Hospitality House, tonight, Mike (who will henceforth be referred to as M-Dogg), Zach, and Jeni-Bomb engaged in eating extremely hot, little bitty jalapeno peppers right out of the jar...just because. Of course, this is really nothing compared to the baby carrot stuff or the great gum chew, but it was still humorous to watch them all squirm because their mouths were on fire. If you look closely, you can see Kerry in the background inspecting the bottle from which the peppers came, and wondering why these crazy Americans would want to inflict such pain on themselves. (I'm tempted to insert a Bush joke here, but I won't.) Afterward, we played several rounds of Speed Scrabble, which has become a Thursday night tradition of sorts. Ah, PQ2. Something else I'm going to miss about Misawa.

"You're like a lobster in a pot. You're thrilled 'cause the water's getting toasty."

All I can really do is sigh. All along, I was kinda thinking Bush would win, but now it's really sunk in. It's not that I'm a big Kerry fan, either. In fact, for those of you that were wondering how I ended up marking my absentee ballot, I voted for Nader. Now, if it would have come down to the big eight electoral votes in Kentucky and Kerry lost by one vote, I would have willingly cut off my left testicle as punishment, but this is Kentucky we're talking about. Bush won the Bluegrass State by a landslide.
The part that hurts the most is that 11 states had gay marriage ban amendments on their ballots, and all 11 passed (by a 3-to-1 margin in Kentucky!). It's a shame that we live in the 21st century, yet people are still so bigoted, fearful, and just plain red-necky that they feel the need to legalize discrimination. I guess I really shouldn't worry, though. Those amendments will all be overturned easily within the next 10 years. It's like the proposed amendment in 1912 to ban interracial marriage. Today, we laugh at those people and wonder how they could have been so intolerant and foolish. That's what people will be saying about us in 50 years.
So, the people of our country have chosen George W. Bush as their leader. The country's reply? "Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket?"
I guess there are some good points to re-electing Bush:
1) Plenty of ammunition for late night talk show hosts' monologues.
2) Increased possibility of seeing Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly get in a fist fight over who hates liberal commie faggots more.
3) Four more years of Bush will make our country see that maybe Hillary isn't such a bad choice for President in 2008.
Anyway, I'm not going to pout and be bitter. I've somehow survived the past four years, including two wars and three trips to the desert. I think I can handle another four, unless the war output is increased. I wonder who's left to fight? Paraguay, maybe?
By the way, the quote in the title is from Lucia, Lisa Kudrow's character in "The Opposite of Sex." If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Democratic Research

Caleb and Mike
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Caleb and Mike came over tonight to eat some pizza and chill out for a while. I think the main reason Mike comes over is to read the Jon Stewart book. (Golly, man, buy your own copy!) This is one of the things I'll miss most about Misawa. Just having people over and chatting and lounging. Good stuff.

Rise & Shine

Band of the Week:
The Cardigans

I've liked the Cardigans, a suave Swedish export, for a while, and a couple weeks ago, they put out an exclusive album on iTunes, which revived my interest. Their first two albums available in America, "Life" and "First Band on the Moon," were very upbeat and poppy. The latter was far more commercially successful, mostly due to the radio hit "Lovefool", but artistically inferior to the former. Soon after, they released "Gran Turismo" in 1998. This album was much colder with an almost metalic feel, yet it didn't take away from the allure of Nina Persson's voice. After that, the members seemed to go their separate ways, with Nina doing a delightfully country solo project called A Camp. Finally, in 2003, they reunited and released "Long Gone Before Daylight" which is as warm as "Gran Turismo" is dark. Overall, their sound has gone through many phases, but each is appealing in its own way. And there's nothing quite like Nina's sweet voice floating over whatever her bandmates give her. For a good time, I recommend their cover of Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" on "Life." You won't even recognize it. Good stuff.

Uncle!

I give up. It's just too much, and I can't take it anymore. I've decided to avoid any kind of discussion, web site, television program, radio broadcast, or other propaganda relating to the election for the next three days. I've had my fill of it all. There's too much slander, back biting, animosity, and plain ol' hatin'. The only thing it does is provoke me and get me all ruffled. It saturates the media, and has begun to take over my normal thoughts leaving me anxious and edgy. Therefore, I will not discuss anything remotely political or do any kind of research into opinion polls, predictions, and the like until the last state's polls have closed and the tally is well underway. So, if you ask me a question about Bush or Kerry or stem-cell research or the economy or abortion or gay marriage or, heaven forbid, the war in Iraq and I run away with my hands over my ears and humming loudly, please don't get upset. I'll be back to normal Wednesday around 3:00 PM (JST), unless we have another debacle like in 2000. Then I'll just crawl up on my couch and wait for England to re-stake its claim on our country.

(S)lacking

Yes, you're reading it right. It's 3:30 AM, and I'm up. I just got back from a stand-by call. There were some, ahem, pipes that needed cleaning, so to speak.
Is there such a thing as being too lazy to go to bed? I mean, I was in bed before, but then I got a call, so I had to get out of bed. I just got home from said call, and decided to check my e-mail for no apparent reason. And, of course, with the e-mail checking goes the inevitable surfing. Actually, what led me to surfing was this evil little e-mail from J.Crew. The J.Crew e-mail reminded me of this really cool leather and shearling jacket at Banana Republic I've been drooling over for a while. From there, I decided it had been quite some time since I browsed Armani Exchange. I'm just torturing myself because, due to my impending PCS, I've made a vow not to spend any more money on stuff I don't really need.
So, yeah, I'm just sitting here on my couch, trying to muster the motivation to walk up the stairs and get back into bed. With such severe sleep deprivation, I can't even imagine what I'm going to be writing tomorrow on Tripping Lucid. I despise stand-by.

mu-sick

I finally finished. I have successfully re-catalogued my entire CD collection. I basically divided it into three groups:

Group 1 - The CDs from artists of which I am a fan (i.e. Sleater-Kinney, PJ Harvey, Bjork, etc.). These CDs I'm keeping as they are, with the cases and all. There are roughly 300 CDs in this group.
Group 2 - The CDs I want to keep, but don't necessarily have sentimental value (i.e. bis, The Donnas, Pulp, etc.). These CDs and booklets are going into binders, but I'm tossing the cases. There are roughly 700 CDs in this group.
Group 3 - The CDs I was only keeping for a song or two that have already been uploaded onto the iPod, or that I'd bought after reading good things or on a whim or with high hopes and poor results (i.e. The Androids, Katastrophy Wife, The Music, etc.). These CDs I kept in their cases and put in a crate to pack back to the States with me with the intention of finding a second hand store at which to sell them. There are roughly 200 CDs in this group.

So, if you're doing your math, you can guess there are roughly 1200 CDs in my collection. Actually, the exact count was 1218. This is what I was talking about yesterday regarding contentment. I have over 1200 albums in my collection, yet I can't ever be happy with them. I always want more. Insanity.
Anyway, my stairwell looks much neater now. My only problem now is getting rid of all these empty CD cases, but that's a project for another day. I should probably get to bed. I have to go back to work tomorrow. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

Great Gain

I'm starting to get a little depressed, or something. Nothing serious. I think it's just a product of being off work for so long. I run every morning, but somehow, it doesn't really make up for goofing off the rest of the day. I'm sure it will go away once I get back to work and start having an actual purpose every day. There were a few things I wanted to get accomplished during my leave, such as organise my DVDs into a binder (accomplished Saturday), cash in all my spare change and yen (accomplished today giving me a $303 bonus!), organise my CDs into binders (started today; hopefully finish tomorrow), and get a head start on my out-processing (not gonna happen). I can't believe I go back to work the day after tomorrow. Where did the time go?
Another thing I've been concerned about is finding contentment. It's amazing how fortunate I am. I have so much useless crap in my house, yet I still can't ever find a movie to watch or a CD to which to listen. I've got a roof over my head, and a bed in which to sleep. Isn't that enough? And not just material things, either. I have a family that loves me, and friends that support me. I need to realise my blessings. Wise up, man.
One final thought: Today is the Four Year Anniversary of the Day Misawa was Graced with My Presence. Four years. Wow. Okay, I'm gonna hit the sack in the hopes of getting up extra early tomorrow and getting some stuff done. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

Autumn in Japan

Waterfall
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Today, Caleb and I took a drive through Oirase Gorge and to Lake Towada. The leaves are all changing, and it was absolutely beautiful. God's creation is so amazing.

Lake
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Stream
Originally uploaded by currtdawg.

Rapid Eye Movement

When I was in Iraq earlier this year, I was having some crazy dreams, so, as a little experiment, I decided to start logging them in a little notebook each morning. Yesterday, I was rummaging through my bedroom and happened upon this little notebook, and boy, did I have some whacked out dreams!
So, anyway, I've decided to start a second blog devoted entirely to archiving my dreams. I'm going to do my best to update it on a daily basis, but this probably won't happen because: A) I don't remember my dreams every night, and B) I'm occasionally rushed in the mornings. However, I will do my best, so please be patient.
Now, before you go off reading into my brain and stuff, there are a few disclaimers and things you should know. I don't plan on editing ANYTHING. There is some seriously fucked up shit going on in my head that sometimes manifests itself in my dreams. These dreams are just random electric impulses, and I can't really control them. You're likely to read about some very evil and/or deviant behavior (violence, cruelty, voting Republican, etc.). Does this mean that I, too, will act this way when awake? Of course, not! You're also likely to read about some extremely strange, uh, shall we say, sexual dealings. Well, you know what? I'm human, and we're all sexual beings. And, I'm sure there will be sporadic homoeroticism, as well; but I'm sure if you were all totally honest with yourselves, you'd probably admit to similar urges, or dreams pertaining to such things, from time to time. So, don't freak out! If you have any questions, please grow a pair and ask me. I'd rather not have people gossiping about me or the Air Force Office of Special Investigations knocking on my door requesting I go and answer some "questions." One more thing: I seriously doubt anyone reading this is a licensed therapist or anything of the sort, so please don't offer any kind of advice based on what you've read unless I ask for it. The last thing I need is someone coming up to me and saying, "Well, Curtis, in your dream you were walking through the Sahara Desert eating pine cones and talking to Linda Ronstadt while shoving cashews up your butt, so I've come to help you with your obvious feelings of abandonment and strong desires of beastiality." As I said before, these visions in my brain are random electric impulses. I take my dreams with a grain of salt, and you should, too.
I guess that's about all I have to say about that. To get to my dream blog, you can go to http://tripping-lucid.blogspot.com, or, you can go to my profile, which lists both of my blogs at the bottom. Remember, my dreams are for entertainment purposes only. I'm taking a big risk by letting you all into my head. Don't make me regret it. Thanks.

A Den of Slack

I've accomplished about nothing this week. I get up and run each morning, and the rest of the day is spent surfing or shopping or baking. Oh, yeah, the baking. I've baked like no man has ever baked before. Cookies. Brownies. Bread. You name it. The weather has been really nice, and I've gone to the beach a couple times, but the temperature drops about 10 degrees by the ocean, so I don't get to lay out. I just stroll along the beach, which is still pleasant.
I had people over Wednesday night, and part of the discussion involved instances of confusing similar words. For instance, confusing "retarded" for "retired." Other ones include "Croatian" and "crustacean" and my personal favourite, "Volvo" and "vulva." Special thanks to Jeni-Bomb for providing us with so many hours of amusement.
Paul and Trish are leaving tomorrow to go back to the States for a couple weeks, so things will definitely slow down around here. I'm gonna miss them. This also means that I'll be leading Bible study on Saturday night. We're going to talk about the importance of worship and fellowship. To emphasize my point, I'll be using a medium that can be used to convey a point on any topic imaginable--The Simpsons. Seriously, the ubiquity of The Simpsons cannot be denied. That show covers everything.
Anyway, I'm going to jump in the shower in preparation for meeting the gang for dinner. Take care. No worries. God Bless.

Will that be all, sir?

There are two things in this world impossible for me to accomplish: 1) leave a store with everything I went there to get; and 2) leave a store without buying something I didn't really need.

I could take this in doses large enough to kill.

I'm basically floating along this week, and it's great. I have no schedule. No limitations. I'm feeling good. Running. Relaxing. I want to hug people. Practice purposeful acts of kindess. Make things beautiful.
One final thought: Is there anything on this planet better than peanut butter? I THINK NOT!