Happy Late Veteran's Day

It doesnt matter that it's late, like someones birthday might, everyday is a celebration for the people who do the leg work to insure my freedom.

Thank You. Come home safe.

Here's some blogs about tuesday.

KBR: Sad, but pointed. Always a great read. I look for an update everyday. Excellent writer.

http://kbrsecurity.blogspot.com/2008/11/happy-veterans-day.html

Army of Dude. Good writer, talks about the shell shock of being home. I felt very much like him when he describes the students everywhere who didnt understand what veterans day meant. Though it means SO much more to him then it can to me at this point in life.

http://armyofdude.blogspot.com/2008/11/eleventh-hour-of-eleventh-day.html

Comment how YOU feel about the day and whatever you'd like.

Another quick update!

I forgot to mention in the previous post that I started my mission papers last night.
I need to go get ANOTHER physical, and return to the dentist... What a bad last few weeks medically...
I also need to talk to mom and dad about some of their details, but im excited to be able to start them. I hope all my faithful readers (and my not so faithful readers) write to me.
OK, That's im done, hope to hear form you guys soon!

Tim

She Cant Take No More!

Yesterday, three plays into the football game, I tore the ligament in my right ankle. We threw a intercepted pass, and I had to do a quick cut to my left. Immediately, my ankle stayed in the ground and my body kept moving. I fell to the ground and heard a loud "POP". Later I played a few more plays, but I couldnt move like I needed too.

Ive since been to the hospital, they issued me an Aircast, which is removable and helps when I walk. The ER doc. said I severly tore my ligament in my right ankle. Normal sprains heal in 3-6 weeks, he said mine could be longer 6+. Which isnt very hopful, but I think I will be able to walk relatively normal in a week or two. Until I can continue running, I will work on my upper body more. (Like it needs more work! pssh!) I imagine in my military class they will have me run the warm up cadence and then go to the weight room for a week or two. I hope I can have someone lift weights with me.

Walking is still painful, this morning (now monday) I had to walk to a class on the complete otherside of campus, though its a small campus, this building is uphill all the way. It took me over half an hour! Normally 7-10 minutes became 30! Plus it was raining... Luckily I left early because I knew it would be harder, but I was still a few minutes late. I'm in the library now doing homework and downloading The Unit. Im dreading walking downhill home, not only will I have to go back up hill, but the rain will probably get worse.

Ive recently discovered the dicovery channel, history channel, and military channel all have podcasts, most of short clips of their shows, but they are intense! I love these things. I've been reading and watching about battles in Iraq, Viet Nam, and other such wartimes. These are great! They break down little details, who did what and where. and even political motives. I rarely use our tv at my apartment, if I do its for the discovery channel or animal planet (specifically the freaky animals) and I love it! I think they should have a class where all we do is analyize the history channel. The other day I watched the show Combat Zone, which is an indepth analysis of battles. I particularly watched the episode about the Battle of Tal Afar. I love that Im learning things that teach me recent history and today's events. I think I perfer this specifically because most of my classes are with 18 year olds who still act like they are in High School.

Well, I got to read some Science papers before I head out of here. my goal from now on is to not spend more then 50 dollars at the grocery store. Trips may be more frequent, but I think this will help me realize how much money im spending. Which Im slowly realizing more and more that im spending a ridiculous amount...

I cant believe there is only four weeks left! It went by fast, and I wish I could've started studying harder from the beginning, im definitely paying for it now. Well, I got to go.
Give me a call sometime, I have a lot of sitting around to do for a few weeks...

Tim

Best. Night. Ever. OR Why not to eat pizza during a Midnight 5K.

The sad truth is I'm running better, working out harder, and slowly improving. The sad thing is, I was eating pizza the whole way!

Let me explain.

Fridays: Long day, two classes, five hour inbetween, boring, but restful.
Today, since our military physical fitness class has newbies, it's time for them to run the PT test (two min of push ups, two min of sit ups, two mile run). Which is never fun.

So me and some peeps from my class were talking about the midnight 5K or 5pooK run. Every semester they have one and the fall you get to dress up and run. Its the same run we do for class, around the campus and such, but with a few laps thrown in. So, not much of a terrible workout, well, it still sucks. So me and my buddy Cash met up with a kid from our class Brad and went on this 5K. I went as a guy who was stabbed to death with a pen (pictures to come) and Cash went as a jedi with an awesome lightsaber (totally kills the ones Emily's family owns. But Cash is also a very special brand of child.) Before the 5K Me, Cash, and his roommate whose name I cant recall at the moment, all went to the Blacklight Party. Which wasn't as good as I'd hoped it be. Saw some people I knew, but left pretty earlier. So we stopped by little ceasers on the way home, and picked up some pizza.

We ate some before the race, dished some out to people before and during the run, and ate some ourselves during the run. Which was the BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER! I feel so crappy at the moment. But it was so much fun. Again, I got to push people, and make friends doing it. I met the mad hatter girl, and the girl that happened to be in Cash's ward. And the school bus, which was a shopping cart with a lot of people and a yellow banner aroudn them all running together.

People loved my costume and were snapping pics with me a lot. And alot of people posed and took pics of me and Cash with our pizza boxes. I made the time in 27 minutes. A passable time for the Marine Corps! HOORAH BABY! Pizza in hand, and in stomach. Uphill a lot as well. I feel good. Well, only about that. Physically I won't sleep well tonight. I have to get up early for a football game too. Im going to be so miserable tomorrow.

This is the most fun I've had since I've gotten here. For sure!

Cash and I are on a pizza ban. Well, I am for sure. That crap hurts so bad, I have one giant knot in my stomach. Well guys, I got a game tomorrow. Good night and Good luck!

Tim

BTW (by the way) My team name is the wildcats.

Potholes of Wisdom OR The Key for Excruciating Pain

So, as mentioned in my previous post, I've been in some huge pain. I know quite a few people here who are becoming dentists and all of them are surprised that I haven't been given vicodine or anything for pain. That's funny, because after the last few days, I too am surprised that I wasnt given anything to atleast cut off the nerves from my face-area to my brain. My roommate suggested I go to the Student Health Center and have them give me a prescription. I figured that would be easy, I could go to it right after my classes. So I did.

I made an appointment and called my mom. She said to make sure that they do take my insurance, so I do not have to pay anything. So, I called real quick to find out. Turns out that they do not contract to any insurance company, so they will only know AFTER they commit me to their battery of tests and paperwork. So I cancelled, just in time so I dont have to pay a fee as well!

I called my dentist (whose name I now know) and he said come in as soon as you can. I called around my roommates for a ride, but to no avail. I called my FHE sisters, all were busy. So I went to my elders qourum president, (who lives around the corner, literally) and asked if he wanted to do his service for the day, he said yes, but had a class during the time I needed to go, but he asked his roommate, who gave me a ride, and was nothing but friendly. I told him to make sure if there is anything he needs doing, Im his man.

I was in and out in maybe 10 minutes total. Maybe not even that long. It turned out that the pain was caused by, and check this out for gross-out factor, festering food stuck in my wisdom holes (do they have a name of the holes? Gums? That sounds too easy.)

Unfortunately the blonde dentist (that felt too much like scrubs where Janitor calls the blonde doctor "Blonde Doctor".) wasn't working, but I have an appoinment for a cleaning next week. I hope they drain as much from my insurance as they can. Legally. Today's appointment was free, which was good. My dentist is a good guy, slow sense of humor, but his assistants (who know my name, maybe because im in so much, or they deal with my insurance, or im such a baby that I have to go back to get my wisdom holes cleaned) make up for it, they are super friendly. Go figure! They're early-mid 20's mormon women. Probably making a fortune at this practice as well! hmmm, maybe I should be a dentist. It sounds like a lot of work. Maybe i'll be a dentist in England! Maybe i'll just rob a bank, that's a lot less thinking, and if it's a small town, I may actually get away with it...wait! My concisence wouldn't much care for that! oh well!

Well, that was just an update for today. Talk to you guys later. Does anyone know if Dan reads these? Or the grandparents? Can I delegate that to someone? I give this assignment to Mom and Anna, for some grandmother/granddaughter bonding.

Tim

Where my money goes!

This past weekend has been the worst since I got here. Among getting my teeth pulled and THAT constant annoyance, I've had no one to hang out with, and nothing to do. Everyone is either gone or busy (who's busy in college?) So I've done a lot of sitting around generally moping. (in the case that I've spelled that wrong, Id like to assure my readers understand im not cleaning the kitchen floor.)

I have to go back to the dentist today so that he can give me drugs. I dont even care anymore what kind of drugs he gives me, as long as my mouth goes numb, he could give me coke for all i care. I may regret that later in rehab. But there is two things good about going back to the dentist, not that I have to sacrifice ANOTHER favor by asking someone if they could drive me there, but

A) The pain will go away. I can sleep for more then twenty minutes. I also dont have to worry myself and my roommate, Shawn, about me ODing on Advil. (Im nearly done with that bottle, ive murdered my tylenol already)

AND

B) I can get the dental assistants phone number. Last time I was unable to do that due to all the tools in my mouth, and generally not being able to talk afterwards. It was hard enough having to explain AGAIN to one of them that my parents address is NOT a city called APO, but rather its a military code or something. And then they have to ask, "Oh, is your father in the military?" Which just opens up a completely new can of pain on its own.

I dont know how long I can make it through class today, the pain has been giving me headaches and Advil is seriously not working very anymore. I have very forgiving teachers (or who can be) but I dont want to abuse this forgivness on this situation. I asked myself last night, at oooooh-3 o'clock or 4, whether Mom would've let me stay home from school in this condition. So I ran through the list of what have I done, what could I do? And realized that Mom knows exactly what she's doing. She would've known to ask for painkillers. Had I painkillers, I would certainly be in class. She also probably knows some secret to healing quicker, If I were healed I'd be in class. The rule was unless you're throwing up or have a fever, your on the bus. (I may have jazzed that up a bit, but you get the idea) So after hitting THAT snag in my thoughts last night, I got derailed and thought, "What if I got my arm ripped off? Certainly, she would've made me go to school!"

But I would'nt put my money on that!

Probably for the best, though I kicked and complained about it all the time. I was not the easiest person to wake up everyday. But I really do feel appreciation for her getting me up for seminary, and driving me to school, putting up with my grouchiness and my music in the car EVERYDAY. It's very cheesey sounding, but true. All the RM's anywhere, where they have RM's always say how it helped them on their mission, or whatever. I understand that already.

Anywho, I will talk to you guys later, I got to finish up a bit of homework, then walk to class. I think there should've been a mandatory car rule, instead of a laptop. I already had a laptop.

Tim

Long dayz

I heard somewhere in college there's no rules. So i changed the "s" in days to a "z". That'll show the man how serious I am!

ANYWHO!

I dont know if i ever fully explained the title of my blog. Quarters for the machine is because of how expensive it is to do my laundry. Three bucks! for one load. That is, only if you actually want your clothes dry. a load for wash is one dollar (two loads for a full set of laundry) and then both can fit in one dryer. Which for 18 minutes of drying is only a quarter, but to get your clothes dry (because believe it or not, a dryer tends to just warm up your clothes, not make them toasty warm and dry in this freezing cold weather!) So i shove another buck of quarters in that evil machine.

Man it was good to hear from Dan today. Maybe too many stories of porn, but he's a grunt, I guess that's what he has to deal with. I was reading a milblog today about a grunt, and he talks about what kind of a person he is. Referring to him hitting on a married woman, and things of that nature. So I guess they are all in the same boat? I dont know.

It is getting much colder here alot faster then I'd thought. We are on storming warning, it's suppose to snow tonight, but I doubt it'll do much more then frost. Im a little excited to see it snow up to my knees like I hear everyone talk about it being able to. And not a moment too late to have gotten a pair of boots in, they keep my feet warm, look good, and are really versatile in support, construction of the shoe itself, and just the range of control they give. I had this idea of buying a used or crappy electric blanket and rigging it up to a battery ripping out the heating junk, and sticking em' in a pair of long johns. So I'm warm, while im coaching football or walking in the snow. or in a class with no heating. In my apartment with no heating for that matter... Plus then I'd wear jeans ontop of them so now wind or anything.

I see this idea going two ways: First, Ill spend more money then I'd like on a finding an electric blanket and battery supply, it becomes a total success and doesnt snow or remain cold the rest of my stay here.

OR

I could Hook it up, and the second I hit a puddle of water, or a wire becomes bare, I get shocked to death. Well not to death, but a lot. Which I'd imagine is as bad as death.

Ok, so my day, I had NO classes. Both of my friday classes were cancelled. Which is cool, but I dont have a job, and everyone I know is in class. So I dont know what's better. to be able to chill at home watching some cool military channel stuff and reading for my middle eastern studies class. Or sittin in the library on campus so I can download another show about the modern combat rifle has every Nazi and Commie to thank for it's creation. I cant tell you how many episodes* of combat rifle (weapon, or combat in general) evolution I've seen that have reenacted the revolutionary war. And, another thing to note is that all the military historians are ex-marines and overweight.

So I've been lazing around the house. At night, I went to an ultimate frisbee game in sub-artic temperatures. Ihave my national guard jacket and my BIG rain coat on, with jeans, two pairs of tall socks, and my boots, and I was still cold. Today is MUCH worst, but no snow (If you cant tell I fell asleep writing this.)

But One of my FHE sisters called me and said they were watching a movie, so they came up to the stadium and picked me up. I was like an ice cube when they came by.

Later on, I met up with a kid from my military physical fitness class and went running. His name is Cash. And he's been the only consistentancey in running buddies. In class, He does much better then me on the running, so I run with some people in the back, for two reasons:

My selfish reason is because some of the girls are pretty cute and fun to talk to. Plus it looks good when I push them to not walk, to sprint, to finish off good.
AND
Because I COULD run a little further then them, thats where the gap in people is, so I have no one to talk to or pace with, so I will inevitably fall back to them anyways. So, it's just easier to push one or two people to move up there with me and make it look like it's easy for me or something to make look like a stud.

I have more pictures to upload to my website. But I really have to go up to campus to do it, the upload speed is crazy up there, I dont think any other students upload things often, Maybe little text or something, but not much of anything.

Well, I will talk to you guys later.

Tim

*Maybe four...WAY too many.