No one cares, so I'm closing the doors early

It seems that no one reads this blog besides my sister, so due to this fact, I am moving up my Hiatus Day. I was going to be not available after March 1 due to the fact that i am going off to the Navy, so i was going to close the site off then, but I think now is as good of a time as any.

I appreciate all of you who did stop by and read my stuff, and it will still be up and online for anyone's perusing, but there will be nothing new until after Basic Training if not later.

So unless I am struck with the urge to write between now and March 1, you will see nothing new for a good while. As a writer, I crave an audience, and to not have one is disheartening. BUT, I am sure one day people will flock to read my writings, but these are not those days, and I am OK with this. It is a part of life, and as with everything, it must be taken with a grain of salt.

So again, thank you to the people who took the time to read and enjoy my writings, and I hope to be back with a whole new load of stories in the not too distant future.

So I say farewell, and off into the great seas I sail...

~Ian

5 that I stole from ChristelPistol

Five things about me that you may, or may not have known.
In no particular order and without further adieu…

A) Five jobs I have had in my life:
1. cart pusher
2. mover
3. sports writer/copy editor
4. tech salesman
5. enviro technician

B) Five movies I watch/have watched over and over
1. Kingdom of Heaven
2. Fight Club
3. 300
4. Out Cold
5. Grandma's Boy

C) Five places I have lived:
1. dallas, tx
2. richardson, tx
3. muskogee, ok
4. tulsa, ok
5. the colony, tx

D) Five TV Shows that I watch:
1. mythbusters
2. CSI
3. american justice
4. venture bros.
5. fight quest

E) Five places I have been
1. Disney World
2. on a cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuise
3. Alcatraz
4. kayaking on the Patomac
5. hell and back

F) People who e-mail me (regularly):
1. SisterPistol
2. Pops
3. Derreck
4. Stepmom
5. my boss

G) Five of my favorite foods
1. pizza
2. anything my dad grills
3. ghengis grill
4. chocolate
5. hamburgersandfries

H) Five places I would rather be right now...
1. having sex (can't argue)
2. Dallas
3. Austin
4. with my verybest friends
5. Anywhere but here

I) Five friends I think will respond
1. no one
2. nobody
3. not a soul
4. a pattern?
5. I think so

J) Five Things I am looking forward to in 2008:
1. finally leaving Muskogee
2. 3 days with my sister. (symmetry)
3. Going to the Navy
4. changing my life
5. NAVY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Navy and my life as I know it...

You don't realize how attached you get to the stuff you have until you're faced with not having it. When I leave for the Navy, I have to leave behind... well EVERYTHING.

No computer, no ipod, no phone. No tv, no movies, no music. None of the comforts I have grown to "depend" upon. No more junk food, beer, lazy days spent watching football. I will get to enjoy these things again, just not during Basic Training. It's just when you live your whole life with it, you tend to find it hard to change.

I know it's simply the price I have to pay. Every decision requires sacrifice, and my life as I know it will be my sacrifice. I can't say that I am totally disappointed by what I have to give up.

I have to move out of Oklahoma, stop living on the verge or poverty, give up my job that doesn't give me enough hours or pay, move out of an apartment that has a bug/noise/idiot neighbor problem.

What do I get in return for my sacrifices? I get a great job with great pay and benefits. I get to travel the world. I get a month of paid vacation. When I get out of the Navy, I have a great resume.

I am not complaining. I am willingly giving this stuff up (for the time being) so that I can raise my quality of life, and not be stuck in the same rut I have been in for a while. I just don't see any downsides to the adventure on which I am about to embark.

I am lucky to have the friends and family I have, who support me in my decisions, whether they totally agree with them or not. I am privileged to be able to go to them, and have them give me their opinions straight up with no bullshit.

My sister did not agree with my joining the Navy in the beginning, but over time, she is slowing coming to embrace the idea, and not because she totally agrees, but because she loves me, wants to see me happy and successful, and if this path is my chosen one, she will be behind me. My best friends support me as always in everything I do, and that's more than I could ever ask for. My Dad and my Stepmom also support me in the same way as my sister, not totally agreeing, but standing behind me regardless.

For those of you who don't know, on March 3, 2008 I am shipping off to Navy Basic Training in Great Lakes, Ill. There I will spend two months becoming a U.S. Navy Sailor.

After that I will be off to my Training School in Pensacola, Fla. for training in Avionics. I will be there 14-26 weeks to learn all there is to know about planes and helicopters, and possibly becoming part of the Aircrew.

From there I will go on assignment, and when it comes open, try to shift into Mass Communication when a spot opens up. I was not able to get a spot initially due to the program being fully staffed. So I will learn Avionics until then.

Also, after a few assignments, or at the end of my 5 year enlistment, I will be joining Officer Training to learn how to be either a Public Affairs Officer or a Naval Pilot.

Everything after my initial training school is just speculation, but at least I have a plan going in. I want to serve enlisted for a few years on assignment so I can see the world and enjoy my time in the Navy before becoming too "responsible", or as the enlisted say... "I want to work for a living, and earn my pay".

So anyways thats whats going on in my life. 9 days 'til I leave Muskogee, 19 days 'til I get to hang out with my sister, and 26 days until I ship off. I want to thank everyone who has supported me through all the thick and thin, and to all my readers for checking out a view into my world. You have 26 more days to enjoy my insights until I go on hiatus!

Seaman Recruit Townsend, Division 302 signing off.

Cockney

Wanna see what my site would look like if it was written in Cockney?

Check it out!!

If you wanna do this to your blog or any site at all just go HERE

Cheers

~Ian

20 visits

I got 20 hits on the blog yesterday... my highest to date... still 30 short of my goal.

I have less than a month till I ship off the Boot Camp and this site goes on hiatus, so let's get 50 before I go!

~Ian

A SHOCKER

I just watched, what was arguably the best, and the most shocking Super Bowl in history. The then 18-0 Patriots could not rewrite the history books completely as the Giants defeated them in a huge game. I shall proceed to eat my words on my prediction.

I am impressed. Simply impressed by the way the Giants weathered the game and made plays when they needed to. They outlasted the best team in football history.

Congrats to the Giants for winning such a big game. Congrats to the Patriots for doing so much this year and it's a shame they couldn't cross that final hurdle.

As well as both teams played, especially New York, the Patriots gave them the game. They missed so many opportunities that would have put the game away. But on the other hand, the Giants made several awesome plays to take the game. It was simply one team wanting it more. Don't take this as me bashing on the Giants, they played a hell of a game, but they know they escaped with that win, but they also know they outplayed the best team in NFL history.

In all the history-making the Pats did this year, it was the Giants making the final marks in the history books. For the first time in history two brothers not only took their teams to the Super Bowl, but also won it, and picked up the MVP trophy as well. I don't think Eli is going to be the laughing stock of the Mannings anymore.

One thing is for sure... I think all star quarterbacks who have celebrity girlfriends, will tell them to STAY HOME from now on. Sorry Gisele.

Anyways, I want to again say congrats to the Giants for a remarkable game and season. Who would have thought that an NFC East team other than the Cowgirls would have a chance and actually win the Super Bowl? (besides me that is...)

So this is the end of the 2007 football season... *sigh*... I can't wait for next season already!

Super Bowl Sunday!

It's time for everyone's favorite unofficial Holidays, Super Bowl Sunday! For the first time in a while, I am actually excited to watch this game.

The Pats vs. the Jints. The consummate favorite vs. the consummate underdog. Tom "Hollywood" Brady vs. Eli Manning a.k.a. The Other Manning.

After much consideration, I think the Pats will win 35-24. The Giants will do enough to cover the spread, but not enough to ever really challenge the Pats. New England will make history by being the first team to go 19-0, win their 4th SB in 7 years, and Tom Brady will win his 3rd (should be 4th but whatever) Super Bowl MVP award.

The commercials, I HOPE, will be better this year than the last few, and the halftime show should be exponentially better. Tom Petty!

Anyways, I'm off to watch the Mythbusters Marathon and drool over Kari until the Super Bowl comes on!

~Ian

The Navy recruit is finally here!

On January 31, 2008 I became a Naval recruit.

After about a month of paperwork, and other bullshit, I have finally accomplished what I set out to do. I am in the Navy.

Keep your seaman jokes to yourself.

Unfortunately, I did not gt the Mass Communication job I was aiming for. Apparently the job will not be available until next year. So, I am going into Avionics.

Due to my 95 on the ASVAB test, (4 points shy of a perfect score), I was able to pretty much pick whatever job I wanted. Due to my leave time frame, and my record of traffic violations (yeah it bit me in the ass) That field was limited. But I was still able to to get the best job field in Aviation that the Navy offers, which is fucking awesome.

And I can apply for the Mass Comm job as soon as it comes open, so it's still in range, it's just over that hump.

Anyways, as an Avionics recruit, I get to work on planes and learn all about them, and I also get the chance to fly.

Let me repeat that... I CAN FLY!!!!!

Slightly excited about that. My A school will be in Pensacola Florida for 14-26 weeks, depending on what job I choose in Avionics. From there I go on assignment or I go to flight school.

I leave for Basic Training on March 3rd, and I am working on getting shifted to leave out of Dallas instead of OKC.

So that's all the news I have for now... I'm really excited, and thank you to everyone who has supported me through this whole process.

Here's to my future!

~Ian