Since this is my first 12 of 12, I’ll explain what’s going on. The 12 of 12 is sponsored by the Podcacher Podcast. On the 12th of every month, you put up 12 pictures that describe your day. This month, the 12th fell on Easter Sunday, so you get to share my Easter with me! The hardest part of the whole thing was narrowing it down to just 12 pics! And, well, I added in a nice video, too. It’s of the jellyfish at the zoo. Jellyfish just have so much more when you see them moving!
Jellyfish! (I’m working on embedding the video, but here’s a link in the interim.
And, yes, I know it’s long after the 12th! It just takes me a while to get it together, but the pictures were all taken on the 12th!
Having said all that – here are my 12 pics:
The girl’s basket
Yes, the animals get baskets, too!
Snuggles checks out his new wheel. Stupid rodent still hasn’t figured it out!
Bandit checks out his basket
Dying the eggs (yes, we waited until Easter morning to do the dying. It’s a teen thing, I guess.
Bunny ears!
Artist at work
The finished eggs. (I personally love the ducky and the angel!
Inside the butterfly building at the zoo
What are you looking at?
Angi looks at the indoor jungle
Dad and daughter enjoying the zoo
1. Do you have children in school? Yes, one daughter who is a junior in high school.
2. Did you go to public school? If you have children did/do they? Yes and yes.
3. Are you currently in school or taking classes? I’m currently working on my MBA through TUI University. It’s a little harder than my Bachelor’s!
4. What level of education have you completed? I have a BS in Computer Science and am currently working towards my MBA.
5. Do you, or did you have loans out for your (or your children’s) education? Not yet. The military has helped me have a fully funded education. My luck may run out with my daughter, though!
6. What are your thoughts on the cost of tuition for colleges and universities? Very expensive, but I think it’s a good system. Even though it costs a lot, the availability of scholarships for those the show they can do it is a good thing. While I personally don’t like the costs, it’s better than the “we owe everybody the same thing” mindset. Right now, everyone does have equal opportunity.
7. Did school prepare you education wise for working in the real world? Educationally, yes. I learned the basic skills to survive in the world.
8. Did school prepare you emotionally for what lay ahead? Somewhat, but I think being raised in a home where I was taught to do what was right and have a strong work ethic did more to prepare me. It’s the parents, not the schools, that should prepare our children for the world.
9. If you were to run a high school, what changes would you make? More emphasis on the fundamentals – the three Rs and imparting knowledge. Mentorship of students in their potential careers would be good. I would eliminate the “all students are the same” mindset and make sure everyone has the same opportunity at education, but would teach based on each student’s individual potential and skills. I would eliminate the social indoctrinations being infused into the schools and partner with parents to help them raise their children in the way they see as right.
Thirteen Things I WON’T Miss About Balad
As a supplement to last week’s Thursday Thirteen, here are the thirteen things I will NOT miss about being deployed to Balad:
1. No beer!
2. Humming “Wasting Away in Mortaritaville” after I hear about the latest mortar attack.
3. Considering 35 MPH “High speed” driving.
4. Dust.
5. 12-hour days, six days a week, with the “day off” meaning I get to wear PT gear to work.
6. Military Airlift.
7. Wearing 50 pounds of “battle rattle” every time I fly.
8. Dealing with people who just don’t understand boundaries for people’s bodies.
9. $60 per month Internet access that barely works.
10. Living in one room with paper-thin walls.
11. Dealing with people who are getting bored and looking for something to do…and usually finding the wrong thing.
12. AFN commercials
13. Uniforms, everywhere, all the time.
10 Things I Won’t Miss About Winter
- Ice on the roads
- Drivers who don’t understand the difference between driving on ice and driving on dry roads
- Slipping on the sidewalks
- COLD
- The constant dirty windshields
- I can’t ride my motorcycle!
- Geocaching is extremely limited
- Running the snowblower (even though I’ve managed to get away without it this year)
- Christmas shopping (Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas! But the shopping brings out the humbug in me)
- Black Friday
Manic Monday #158
What would you do with an extra hour each day? First, I’d think of a thousand things I could do with it, then I’d probably end up just surfing the Web.
Do you wear a watch? If so, tell us about it. If not, how do you keep track of time? Yes, I do! In fact, someone once compared me to Dexter Morgan on the Showtime series. He puts his watch on first thing when he gets up and so do I. But I DON’T kill people on a regular basis.
If it was possible, would you want to know how many days you had left to live? I don’t know, honestly. One the one hand, it would ensure I would live my life with purpose, but on the other hand, I would also be looking forward to that day with dread instead of being able to look to the future with hope.
- Mourning :: Death
- Approval :: Sought
- Lotion :: Motion
- Perspire :: Sweat
- Language :: English
- Defection :: Russian
- Play :: Games
- Graphic :: Violence
- Spicy :: Meatball
- In love :: Deeply
1. What one day of your life do you think was your best day? The day my daughter was born.
2. What one day of your life do you think was your worst day? The day my grandfather died. I was ten years old and still remember it vividly, and all the crying I did for a while after. St Patrick’s day is still a hard day for our family.
3. If you had to pick the best year of your life, when was it and why? 1984-1985 – my sophomore year in high school. I was living at the Air Force Academy, one of the most beautiful spots in the world, with lots of good friends, and really enjoying life.
4. If you had to pick the worst year of your life, when was it and why? This past year. Going through a divorce, major family stress. In the end it may be the best year looking back for long-term results, but right now, it’s just extremely difficult.
5. Most recently, what night did you do something that you loved? I try to do something I love every day that I can. However, for a highlight memory, it would be the day I visited the Ziggaraut of Ur last month. A phenomenal, once in a lifetime experience!
6. Most recently, what night did you do something that you hated? The night I informed my wife I wanted a divorce.
7. Tell us about your best relationship that did not work out. My first real girlfriend, Tammy, in Colorado Springs. We just had a special bond that I still remember with great affection. Every relationship since that has come and gone has been tumultuous, but Tammy and I just had fun together.
8. Tell us about your worst romantic relationship that you’ve had. My 18-year marriage, characterized by constant, non-stop lying.
9. Is there a celebrity that you’d love to spend a “no hold bars” night with? Oh, the list is long and dignified!
- Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen things I’ll miss about Balad
- Being able to drive pretty much wherever I want.
- Being able to scan my ID, sit down and eat.
- Free food, three squares, every day.
- Geocaching in a war zone!
- Believe it or not, I miss having the protection of a weapon available 24/7.
- The sound of F-16s taking off in pairs – watching the Wingman.
- Focusing on the things that are really important – right now.
- The great people I worked with every day.
- Mongolian night at the DFAC!
- Working with good people focused on one mission.
- Being in the middle of the cradle of civilization, and the location where so much history has happened.
- Hearing the thanks of someone I’ve genuinely helped heal and deal with crisis in their lives.
- Being a part of a mission that has such a direct and profound impact on the world around me.
Unfortunately, the 1000 Words Meme website is not cooperating with the proxy servers I have to go through from over here, so my NEW Tuesday meme is…drumroll…Ten on Tuesday!
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Sushi
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Mongolian barbecue
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Black-eyed peas
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Sweet and sour shrimp
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Stir fry
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Cashew chicken
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Lo mein
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Chow mein
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Spaghetti!
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Fettucini Alfredo
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