24 hour vocabulary lesson...

INTUITION

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Main Entry: in·tu·i·tion
Pronunciation: "in-tü-'i-sh&n, -tyü-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English intuycyon, from Late Latin intuition-, intuitio act of contemplating, from Latin intuEri to look at, contemplate, from in- + tuEri to look at
1 : quick and ready insight
2 a : immediate apprehension or cognition b : knowledge or conviction gained by intuition c : the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

Wikipedia

Intuition is sometimes popularly thought of as the sixth sense. Apparently there are many unconscious processes occurring within a person and when those unconscious signals become strong enough, a conscious thought is experienced. The information that contributes to the intuition comes from different hardly noticeable observations about the environment that a person doesn't consciously register.

"Intuition is a combination of historical (empirical) data, deep and heightened observation, and an ability to cut through the thickness of surface reality. Intuition is like a slow motion machine that captures data instantaneously and hits you like a ton of bricks. Intuition is a knowing, a sensing that is beyond the conscious understanding -- a gut feeling. Intuition is not pseudo-science." - Abella Arthur

DISAPPOINTMENT

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Main Entry: dis·ap·point·ment
Pronunciation: "dis-&-'point-m&nt
Function: noun
1 : the act or an instance of disappointing : the state or emotion of being disappointed
2 : one that disappoints (he's a disappointment to his parents)

Wikipedia

Disappointment is the emotion felt when a strongly held expectation is not met.

"Disappointment is a good sign of basic intelligence. It cannot be compared to anything else: it is so sharp, precise, obvious and direct. If we can open, then we suddenly begin to see that our expectations are irrelevant compared with the reality of the situations we are facing."
- Chogyam Trungpa

EXULTANT

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·ul·tant
Pronunciation: ig-'z&l-t&nt
Function: adjective
1: filled with or expressing great joy or triumph
2: JUBILANT

Wikipedia

Exultant is a feeling often associated with happiness and celebration.

"...And a red-bird, dipped in sunrise, cracks from a poplar's top
His exultant whip above a silver world." - Charles Erskine Scott Wood

HOPE

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Main Entry: hope
Pronunciation: 'hOp
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): hoped; hop·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hopian; akin to Middle High German hoffen to hope
intransitive verb
1 : to cherish a desire with anticipation (hopes for a promotion)
2 archaic : TRUST
transitive verb
1 : to desire with expectation of obtainment
2 : to expect with confidence : TRUST

Wikipedia

Hope is an emotional belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances within one's personal life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance —ie. believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary.

"Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certanity is that nothing is certain or unchangeable." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

66H out...

100th blog...

Wow, so this is a pretty momentous occasion... I am not sure I have committed to any sort of "journaling" long enough to make it to 100 entries, so yay for me!!

Okay, on to the good stuff... The last week had both some highs and lows. While we have a nice little group for comedy on Thursday nights now, the show was sold out this week, and we couldn't even get "will call" seats... The crappiest part is, I start nights TONIGHT (poopies), Kim starts working evenings (3-11) and her daughter comes back from Texas next week, so no comedy for her for the next 8 weeks. Needless to say, it was a downer that we didn't get to see the show on Thursday, but Kim, Tas, Leah, Josh, Jim, Dan and myself had a good time drinking some beers and playing stupid bar video games nonetheless. I also added to my MySpace t-shirt photo collection, courtesy of Tas...

Friday night, I hung out with Jim, Dan (Armor Dan, not the aforementioned Infantry Dan), Jenna (Dan's woman), and our new neighbor Luis (a Medical Service LT) at SOHO. The band was actually really good that night, as opposed to the usual crappy bands they have playing. Little did I know, it was "Pimps and Hoes" night... I was definitely NOT dressed to impress... Jim, however, was rocking his button-down shirt and 80's sportcoat, so we had to immortalize it with a "Pimp" photo... We always play it up because people think I'm Jim's "Hoe" anyways. It is great fun to just keep people guessing...

Last night was the most fun I have had in quite awhile; Kim, Leah, Josh, Tas and I went bowling/drinking at Peach Lanes. I am surprised they didn't take our picture and ask us politely to never come back... But it really wasn't our fault! We definitely got a bum lane... We had to call the desk several times for help with our screen that didn't work correctly, to re-rack the pins several times because the sweeper was stuck, and to clear pins out of the gutter once. Well, apparently we used the call button so much, that it got stuck and they had to come down to the lane AGAIN to fix it. Ha-ha! But the coup de grace of the evening was Tas -- On the last frame of our last game, there was a pin stuck in the right gutter of our lane... Tas threw the ball, it went into the gutter, hit the pin with such force that it flew out of the gutter, hit the marquee above our lane and knocked it, and the marquee above the lane to our left, down. Both marquees fell onto the lanes, and the attendants had to come down to our lane once again to put the marquees back up... Of course, Audrey had her trusty camera to capture the evening's debauchery... Just a side note... Doesn't Tas look like he should be in a Lucky Charms commercial? We thought his "capri" pants were hilarious...

Well, that is about it for now... It was a pretty good blow-out weekend before all of our schedules change at work. I am off to watch a "My Super Sweet-Sixteen" marathon, then try to go back to sleep for a bit before work...

66H out...

Day one back on the wagon...

Today I decided that I have been off the exercise wagon long enough... So, I strapped on my new running shoes, grabbed my Dell DJ, packed my suit and headed to post. I ended up running two miles on the treadmill (I could have run another mile, but I decided to play it smart and not kill my muscles the first time back), then I jumped in the pool and swam about 1,000 yards. I always hate swimming less than 2,000 yards, because it just feels like a waste, but then, I remember that I don't swim distance anymore... Ha-ha!

I decided that I want to run the Atlanta half-marathon in November. I told myself that I was going to run two halfs this year... That probably won't happen, but I could at least get this one in. I had so much fun running the San Diego half-marathon last year, that I want to run more. I wish I could have run the SD half again, but California in August was not in the cards.

Well, I am off to stir the stew and press out a uniform for work tomorrow... I only work an 8 tomorrow, yay! Back to the gym tomorrow...

66H out...

Insomnia strikes again...

So, yesterday I told you about the new collection I have taken up... Here are the first two in the series...

As I said, if I see someone with a MySpace t-shirt, I will befriend them long enough to get the photo... The only rule is that the head of the t-shirt owner MUST be cut off in the photo. It was an accident the first time, but I realized that it only makes the photos funnier...

Well, I had drinks with Marty last night, and we said our good-byes before he takes off for Ft. Campbell. I will miss having those guys around, but they are both eager to get their careers going, so I am happy that they are moving on to bigger and better things... Both Peter and Marty have purchased homes already, so I am a bit jealous... But in a year or so, I will be ready to do the same. I, of course, had to immortalize the last time I hung out with Marty, so here is the photo... One of the guys at the bar said to Marty, "Don't do it, it'll end up on MySpace!" And I replied, "Nah, not this one... He's not wearing a MySpace t-shirt tonight!" Ha-ha.

Well, it is 4:00am, and Geoff is aghast that I am still awake, since I replied to the e-mail he just sent me...

Oh, cute little Jinxy is snoozing away in her cat bed... I guess I should be snoozing away in my bed too...

66H out...

No clever title today...

Well, now that I am awake and have some coffee brewing, I decided to sit down and chronicle the past two weeks...

Since I last wrote, Marty graduated from Ranger Danger school on the 4th of August! Peter drove down from Ft. Cambell and I switched shifts at work to go. His fiancee, Jamie, flew out from California with his parents as well. I am so proud my battle buddy was able to keep quiet and graduate!! Hopefully he will be around for a bit, so I can see him before he takes off for Ft. Campbell... I am sad (but happy for them!) that both Peter and Marty are done here at Ft. Benning; It was so nice to have old friends here, like a little slice of home, but they are moving on to bigger and better things...

I have also made a new friend out here through MySpace! I was bored out of my gourd one day and browsing through profiles, and I ran across a guy here at Ft. Benning that is PCSing to Monterey at the beginning of the year... So I messaged him about cool things to do and where to eat out there, and we have since struck up a little friendship. He has come out to comedy with the group a couple of times now, and is a super-cool guy. I love making new friends, it is so fun!

Of course, Rosie and I have gone out several times in the past two weeks, and it is always a good time... We ran into Adam again (one of the guys that provided us with the Ninja show in my last blog) and hung out with him. We also ran into bi-polar Chris again... Wow, he is such a trip. He might be a cool guy if he wasn't such a jerk when he is drunk. Needless to say, we already had a few drinks when Adam took this photo... Ha-ha. I am lucky to have made such good friends here!

I have also taken up a new collection... Last week, I met this guy who was wearing a MySpace shirt, and I thought it would be hilarious to take a picture with his shirt and use it as my MySpace profile picture. Well, Tas wore a MySpace shirt to comedy last week, so of course, I had to get a picture with it... Now that I have two, I have decided that if I see anyone with a MySpace t-shirt, I will befriend them long enough to get a picture with their shirt... I think it will be an interesting new hobby. Ha-ha!

Last Friday, Rosie threw a surprise going away party for Lucy, one of the LPNs on our floor. She is deploying with the 249th CSH, and left for Ft. Bragg yesterday. Stupid me, I forgot my camera, but plenty of other people took pictures, so as soon as I get some, I will post them.

Well, that is about it for the last two weeks... Yay, Marty just called me! He is still waiting around for his 1610 to get out of here, so we are going to get drinks tonight!!

66H out...

It's a Dirt Devil...

Hello all...

So I am procrastinating cleaning my apartment once again... Why is it so hard to just get up and clean?? I tried to be super-motivated to clean after I bought my new vacuum at Wal-Mart today, but alas, it sits in the middle of the dining room un-plugged.

Rosie and I had quite the interesting night out on Monday... We hung out at The Tap with her friend, Matt, who was in town. We were having a great time all by ourselves, until we ran into this guy Chris, who Rosie unintentionally met last weekend. I am sad to say that he is friends with Rich and Andy, both of whom are super-cool, so I am not sure how they ended up friends with this dude... All I can say is wow... I think he forgot to refill his Lithium prescription this month. He is probably the most obnoxious, irritating, yet amusing person I have ever encountered... However, the best part of the evening was the private ninja show that a few guys that Rosie knows put on for us!! Since Leah could not be with us, I decided that it MUST be immortalized so she could share in the fun later... Ha-ha! I love the combination of alcohol and dumb Rangers on leave... Always a good time and a great photo-op.

In other news, Marty graduates from Ranger Danger School on Friday! Peter is driving down from Ft. Campbell, and I was able to switch shifts at work, so Peter and I are going to surprise him. I can't wait!! I will definitely post a picture or two...

Well, I guess my apartment is not going to clean itself...

66H out...