I was happy to travel out to the Seattle area and visit with my brother for Thanksgiving, but I could do without the travel back today. Sitting on the tarmac in Newark for over an hour after leaving the gate absolutely sucked, especially when they locked the restrooms until after the turbulence went away. Every time I fly I realize how much I can't stand flying. It gets me there quickly and that is what I fly for. As I landed today I realized I have two more cross country flights in the next two months and one of them is very close to Christmas. Happy Happy Joy Joy!
As for Seattle, it was cloudy and damp, surprise I know. I got to see Whidbey Island for the first time and all of the country around there out to Sequim. I even have a speeding ticket to prove I was driving in a small town and didn't realize the speed limit. Lucky me. When in Seattle yesterday, the whole family did this underground tour that was well worth the money. I learned a great deal about the history of Seattle in a humorous and interesting way. If you are ever there, I recommend that tour at Pioneer Square.
Now I need to get some motivation to finish all this work I have due in the next two weeks.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
BZ Golden Corral
Last night my parents and I went to the annual military appreciation day hosted by Golden Corral. For those not living in the few states where this restaurant has a presence, all military members past and present get a free meal. It is one of those steak houses with a LARGE buffet. What makes it so amazing is that they give the meals out on the honor system. For us mom paid and dad and I took advantage of the free meal.
The place was packed as you might expect and on first glance it looked like they weren't going to make any kind of money with all the veterans running around eating as much as they wanted. However, last year the company cleared millions of dollars of revenue on that day alone. Now why mention this? It shows that if you are generous, you actually can benefit from that. I am sure there are many of people who bend the truth and say they are veterans for the free meal. Personally, I say go for it. If you need a meal that bad and someone is offering a healthy buffet for free take advantage of it. After all isn't that part of what we stood up to serve for? Plus, they know that most people are going to fess up and pay if they need to, especially based on the amount of revenue they get. Another benefit is there are people collecting donations for the DAV and other charities that benefit wounded veterans. I can't imagine how much they collect on this night as I saw many people dropping money in the buckets.
If you are ever in one of those states where there is a Golden Corral I invite you to take part in this dinner next November. They seat you as you come at tables of 6-8 so you get to meet other service members and have a great discussion at the table. I know I will continue to go back when I am in the area and partake in this annual dinner.
The place was packed as you might expect and on first glance it looked like they weren't going to make any kind of money with all the veterans running around eating as much as they wanted. However, last year the company cleared millions of dollars of revenue on that day alone. Now why mention this? It shows that if you are generous, you actually can benefit from that. I am sure there are many of people who bend the truth and say they are veterans for the free meal. Personally, I say go for it. If you need a meal that bad and someone is offering a healthy buffet for free take advantage of it. After all isn't that part of what we stood up to serve for? Plus, they know that most people are going to fess up and pay if they need to, especially based on the amount of revenue they get. Another benefit is there are people collecting donations for the DAV and other charities that benefit wounded veterans. I can't imagine how much they collect on this night as I saw many people dropping money in the buckets.
If you are ever in one of those states where there is a Golden Corral I invite you to take part in this dinner next November. They seat you as you come at tables of 6-8 so you get to meet other service members and have a great discussion at the table. I know I will continue to go back when I am in the area and partake in this annual dinner.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Seminary and Submarines
As I quickly approach my half-way point of seminary, I am beginning to reflect on what has changed in my life and what has stayed the same. Especially as I begin to think about the next chapter in life that will begin in about 18 more months. When I first arrived in seminary I knew things would not be completely opposite from that on the sub, but the similarities really surprised me. In the vein of the famous 100 ways McDonald's is better than a submarine, I offer a list of ways in which seminary is no different than being on a submarine. I will not set a final number as I am positive the list will grow and change over the next half of my time here.
Disclaimer: I am in no means saying I want to go back and live the life of an XO/CO on a sub. I am glad I followed my call to ordained ministry, but man sometimes I feel that maybe everything is like being on a sub.
1. The technology sucks. Sub's have computers that take 14 character passwords and are typically a generation behind what the rest of the world uses. Seminary has computer programs that are put into use before they are even tested leaving us to figure out how to register for classes the night before when trying to get other work done.
2. Grading that is obscure. It seems like most of my papers are graded by ORSE/TRE/BSA inspectors. They tell you how screwed up and wrong your ideas and execution is, but rarely do you get comments on how to get better and improve your writing and thinking. This is the typical inspection line of "you need to figure out how to fix yourself, I am here to inspect."
3. Leadership that sets unrealistic goals. I have learned the human capacity of the number of pages one can read in a week. Not only am I expected to read up to 500 pages a week, but I am supposed to read it slowly and fully grasp what I read. I can keep up most weeks, but comprehending it all, not so much. I sometimes wonder what the reasoning behind purchasing 25 books a semester accomplishes other than making some theologian somewhere a ton of money. Subs taught me to push myself beyond my limits and this may be the purpose here, but it still hurts.
4. Competition. Here the competition is brutal among those wanting to get their PhD's. It is pretty interesting to watch. At least the competition I saw was among departments or other ships, never really between everyone in the same division.
5. Lofty Career expectations. There are many who want to be the next great theologian and are scheming to make that happen. I too have goals after here, but they mainly deal with trying to just get out there and preach to sailors and ministers.
6. Long Hours. I never expected to put this much time into studying. I don't think I have ever studied this much and I went to a fairly challenging engineering school (Georgia Tech). I think I spend about 60+ hrs/week working in a church and studying. Not as much as on board, but quite unexpected just like onboard. You never expect to pull a 100 hr week on board and no one will every tell you they occur frequently.
7. Crazy certification exams. I have to start studying this summer for my ordination exams. I have already passed one, the easy one they tell me, and have to take 4 more in August. Two three hour exams on a Friday, a three hour exam on a Saturday morning and then get a take home exam at noon that day that is due back the following Thursday. And like PNEO, there is a fairly good chance of failing a section and you can't go on in the career unless you pass all the sections.
8. Tight community. I had to put something positive in this. While I don't think my friendships here will be forged in the confines of a steel tube for 6 months, the suffering here does tend to bring people together like on a sub.
Well, I know this list will grow and change as time goes by. I am just running out of time as I need to actually get back and study. On another note, the site meter said last week was a record number of views of this web page. It had to be the submarine stuff on the site. Hopefully, the two or three of you keep coming back.
Disclaimer: I am in no means saying I want to go back and live the life of an XO/CO on a sub. I am glad I followed my call to ordained ministry, but man sometimes I feel that maybe everything is like being on a sub.
1. The technology sucks. Sub's have computers that take 14 character passwords and are typically a generation behind what the rest of the world uses. Seminary has computer programs that are put into use before they are even tested leaving us to figure out how to register for classes the night before when trying to get other work done.
2. Grading that is obscure. It seems like most of my papers are graded by ORSE/TRE/BSA inspectors. They tell you how screwed up and wrong your ideas and execution is, but rarely do you get comments on how to get better and improve your writing and thinking. This is the typical inspection line of "you need to figure out how to fix yourself, I am here to inspect."
3. Leadership that sets unrealistic goals. I have learned the human capacity of the number of pages one can read in a week. Not only am I expected to read up to 500 pages a week, but I am supposed to read it slowly and fully grasp what I read. I can keep up most weeks, but comprehending it all, not so much. I sometimes wonder what the reasoning behind purchasing 25 books a semester accomplishes other than making some theologian somewhere a ton of money. Subs taught me to push myself beyond my limits and this may be the purpose here, but it still hurts.
4. Competition. Here the competition is brutal among those wanting to get their PhD's. It is pretty interesting to watch. At least the competition I saw was among departments or other ships, never really between everyone in the same division.
5. Lofty Career expectations. There are many who want to be the next great theologian and are scheming to make that happen. I too have goals after here, but they mainly deal with trying to just get out there and preach to sailors and ministers.
6. Long Hours. I never expected to put this much time into studying. I don't think I have ever studied this much and I went to a fairly challenging engineering school (Georgia Tech). I think I spend about 60+ hrs/week working in a church and studying. Not as much as on board, but quite unexpected just like onboard. You never expect to pull a 100 hr week on board and no one will every tell you they occur frequently.
7. Crazy certification exams. I have to start studying this summer for my ordination exams. I have already passed one, the easy one they tell me, and have to take 4 more in August. Two three hour exams on a Friday, a three hour exam on a Saturday morning and then get a take home exam at noon that day that is due back the following Thursday. And like PNEO, there is a fairly good chance of failing a section and you can't go on in the career unless you pass all the sections.
8. Tight community. I had to put something positive in this. While I don't think my friendships here will be forged in the confines of a steel tube for 6 months, the suffering here does tend to bring people together like on a sub.
Well, I know this list will grow and change as time goes by. I am just running out of time as I need to actually get back and study. On another note, the site meter said last week was a record number of views of this web page. It had to be the submarine stuff on the site. Hopefully, the two or three of you keep coming back.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
On the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day...
Today marks the 90th anniversary of the treaty of Versailles, ending the war to end all wars or so we hoped. Armistice day was created to commemorate that day and later it became what we know as Veteran's Day. It is really odd for me to actually have to work on that day as I have had to do the last two years after getting it off for every other year of my life, including in school. I never really thought about the day until I had to labor in school on this day. I have never really considered myself a veteran as I didn't see any combat, though there were some stressful and scary days on the boat. I guess that is something I learned from my dad. He never looked for recognition (was a Navy HM), but made sure that others were appreciated. When I think of veteran I think of my grandparents. So today I called them and it made me appreciate what they gave me today. My grandfather no longer knows who I am, nor does he likely remember the Battle of the Bulge (not that he ever talked about it). But his sacrifice over there allows me to live in a country of phenomenal liberty and peaceful transfers of power.
In seminary, they tend to forget those who serve because it can get violent and nasty but I am of the opinion that someone has to get out there and protect the weak and it might as well be me. As for all the others that are out there tonight standing on the wall, on the fireline, in a trench, in a tank, on the midwatch, in a ready room or sleeping getting ready for tomorrow I thank you and I am extremely grateful for writing a check that is payable to the US Government for up to and including your life. I pray it never gets cashed and you get to come back to your family and friends and let someone else take a turn on the pointy end of the spear. For those that have served, job well done.
I didn't get to do what I wanted tonight, watch my favorite episode of Band of Brothers--Why We Fight. I think every American should watch the entire series, but that episode in particular. It shows what we all stand for here and validates why people choose to give up a normal life for the excitement that comes in the military. If you are so moved, donate to a charity for those who served such as the Wounded Warrior Project or the DAV or just tell them thanks.
With the thanks of a grateful nation.
In seminary, they tend to forget those who serve because it can get violent and nasty but I am of the opinion that someone has to get out there and protect the weak and it might as well be me. As for all the others that are out there tonight standing on the wall, on the fireline, in a trench, in a tank, on the midwatch, in a ready room or sleeping getting ready for tomorrow I thank you and I am extremely grateful for writing a check that is payable to the US Government for up to and including your life. I pray it never gets cashed and you get to come back to your family and friends and let someone else take a turn on the pointy end of the spear. For those that have served, job well done.
I didn't get to do what I wanted tonight, watch my favorite episode of Band of Brothers--Why We Fight. I think every American should watch the entire series, but that episode in particular. It shows what we all stand for here and validates why people choose to give up a normal life for the excitement that comes in the military. If you are so moved, donate to a charity for those who served such as the Wounded Warrior Project or the DAV or just tell them thanks.
With the thanks of a grateful nation.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
History Unfolding
Finally the long campaign season is over. It has been quite a night to see history unfold before my eyes. I am not writing to discuss the politics of the two candidates, but rather to sit in awe of the way in which our country transfers power. Congressman John Lewis called it a non-violent revolution and that statement really catches the essence of why America is different among countries of the world. It is a nation that openly works out its mistakes and social wounds, no matter how deep or ugly, in a way with no military coup necessary to change the reins of power. Every four years, on schedule and without guns we peacefully transfer, or reaffirm, power in the country.
Tonight that transfer of power has distinct historical significance. A minority, at least in our country, has ascended to the highest elected office in the land. Despite all of the negative attitudes we tend to heap on ourselves, Americans can look beyond labels to make a choice based on policy. And the side that loses can accept the defeat and reach out to work with the winning side. I have to say that McCain's concession speech was unbelievably gracious and forward looking despite it being his only shot at attaining the presidency. I am just amazed at how much foresight the founding fathers had when crafting the document that provides for election nights in this country.
Tonight that transfer of power has distinct historical significance. A minority, at least in our country, has ascended to the highest elected office in the land. Despite all of the negative attitudes we tend to heap on ourselves, Americans can look beyond labels to make a choice based on policy. And the side that loses can accept the defeat and reach out to work with the winning side. I have to say that McCain's concession speech was unbelievably gracious and forward looking despite it being his only shot at attaining the presidency. I am just amazed at how much foresight the founding fathers had when crafting the document that provides for election nights in this country.
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