Hitch up the Bandwagon, we're goin' for a ride!

I hate bandwagon riders. They really drive me nuts. i don't understand the concept of shifting loyalties... I would rather ride out bad times with my team then constantly shifting to a new team.

This year, when Texas beat OU in the Red River Shootout (I refuse to call it the Red River Rivalry, because that's just post-9/11 stupidness) there were millions of new Texas fans. Then Texas lost to Texas Tech and all the new Tech fans came out of the woodwork. Then OU hopped back on top (unfairly I might add) and now the Boomer Sooner bullshit is back. It makes me sick.

I can deal with a person who has no loyalties, and just watches sports for the games. They at least are fans of the game, and that never wavers. What I can't stand is those people who jump on whomever is on top of the heap.

Part of being a true fan is enjoying the high times, riding out low times, and knowing everything there is to know about your favorite team. When you can have a heated arguement about who's team is better and dredge up decades worth of stats, records, and players without stopping... that is being a true fan.

Wearing the same outfit every time your team plays because you believe it to be the key to your teams successes is true fanhood. Never wearing it again because they lose is true fanhood.

There is however a limit. Putting your team's logo on everything you own is lunacy. So is crying your eyes out when they lose, or claim various forms of cheating (refs, dirty play, dirty tricks, etc.) leading to their downfall. That is also bad sportsmanship.

For example, I know many OU fans (most of them actually) who always scream they were cheated when they lose. It is always the refs fault for making a bad call, or whatnot. It's never that the other team was just better. Bad sportsmanship ruins the experience. Be a gracious loser and offer the other team (and fans) their due and move on. Your shot at redemption will come around sometime.

So in closing this little rant, I just want to reiterate my main point... Don't ride the bandwagon. Pick your team and stick with it, or don't pick one at all. And for goodness sake... be a good sport!

Enjoy the Bowl season and be sure to watch the Longhorns stomp Ohio State and OU get spanked by Florida!

~Ian

EDIT:
I ran across this article, and despite showing some signs of being a lunatic (crying when his teams lose, having a teams logo over everything, claiming losses are due to refs), Big Lo shows what it means to be a true fan. Here's to you Big Lo! Hope you keep getting better and healthier!

True Fanhood right here

Alive

I am alive I promise. I'm sorry I haven't written much, but I will be doing more now hopefully. Due to the prodding of others (you know who you are) and being outblogged by a few people, I want to kick up my output.

So here's my end of 2008/start of 2009 resolution... To blog more. I have a lot rattling around in my head, so I'm going to finally let some of it out!

Oh and by the way, I write my opinions, so to any new readers who have just come across this site, don't be too offended by anything I write. Oh and if I haven't offended you yet, just wait, because your time is coming around!

I am also working on doing some video blogging so look out for that in the near future.

Check back soon for new content!

~Ian

Cleaning it up

The other day, I realized that I swear a lot. Like A LOT a lot. So I have decided that I need to clean up my language.

I look at it this way... I am 24, educated, and want to go somewhere with my life and career. I know how to control my mouth, and can do it quite well, but it gets out of hand sometimes.

So the way I look at it is that if I start cutting back, not completely editing myself, I can be less offensive with my language. I know I have that whole Sailor thing, but in all truth, the old views of a Navy Sailor aren't exactly accepted anymore.

But that's my plan. I'm going to start watching my mouth. Wish me luck!

For Fucks Sake

So I think I am back...

I really haven't been inspired to write for a while, and I have been BUSY... but I have words...

And I will share them.

More to come soon, I promise!

~Ian

Alot of updates

Wow, its been a while yes? Well I've got alot to update on, and upon request from the sister I will hit all the points here and now!

1) I finally will be transferring to Pensacola, FL. I leave the 3rd and will be on HOLD until late July when I class up. So I am transferring from being on hold here to being on hold there. You figure it out, I can't.

2) I got orders for my first duty station. I will be working on Mine Hunter Helicopters for squadron HM-15 in Corpus Christi, TX. Yep, I will be HOME... or close anyways. Unfortunately its only until early 2010, when my squadron changes homeports to Norfolk, VA. I am supposed to report in mid-September.

3) I have a girlfriend. Her name is Jessica and she is from Chicago. She is an amazing woman, and she has made me really happy since knowing her. Unfortunately I will be far away from her when I move to Florida, but she is going to come visit me, and then come to Dallas when I go on leave after A School. She is also joining the Naval Reserves, and goes to boot camp in November. Her A School is in Texas so we will be close again for that time, and she is looking at schools close to where I will be. Basically she is fantastic and I'm glad to have her.

4) I got a new tattoo. It's my Navy tattoo, and if you want to see a picture, go to my myspace page and browse my pictures.

Besides all of that stuff, life has been pretty chill. Just a boring daily routine with a dash of variety every once in a while. Things will get interesting soon and I look forward t it. While I am excited to be moving on with my training, I'm sad to be leaving Jess behind in Chicago with our relationship being so young. I really hope she can make it down to visit me in FL. so we can spend time together... but we will still talk insane amounts like we do now!

That's about all guys and gals... Wish me luck on the next leg of my journey and here's to becoming the Navy Sailor I am meant to be!

~Ian

A few prayers

A Soldiers' Prayer
"Almighty Father, with an upright heart I have left my dear ones at home, to defend my country against its enemies. My thoughts constantly goes back to them. They are thoughts of love and of anxiety. I ask You loving Father to keep a watchful eye over each and every one of them. Soothe their hearts and help them to bear my absence patiently. Protect them from the dreadful dangers of war.
O my Lord, I ask not much for myself - just only courage to perform my duties well. I offer You this day and every day my thoughts, words and actions of mine as prayers of faith in You, of hope in Your provident care, of love of You and Your justice. May my prayers parallel all my service and sacrifices for my fellow comrades, my family and my country, protect them all and bless them now and forever. For all those who have died welcome them into your loving embrace. Gracious Lord, lend an ear of compassion to the supplication of a soldier - your child - serving my country to the best of my ability out of love for You. Amen."

American Soldiers' Prayer
"Help me to remain true to my ideals during my service to my country. Help me be what is in America, the land of the free. May I realize that I represent what our country stands for. My uniform is a symbol of duty and valor both in peace and in war. I take up arms to defend what all Americans hold dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Grant me the strength to live according to these ideals, the courage of my convictions, and the resolve to endure whatever dangers threaten. With You at our side I fear no evil and resist every enemy, secure in the knowledge that you hold me in the palm of your hand. Amen."

Prayer to St. George
Heroic soldier and defender of your Faith, you dared to criticize a tyrannical Emperor and were subjected to horrible torture. You could have occupied a high military position but you preferred to die for your Lord. Obtain for us the great grace of heroic Christian courage that should mark soldiers of Christ.

Prayer to Saint Michael
"Glorious Prince of the heavenly hosts and victor over rebellious spirits, be mindful of me who am so weak and sinful and yet so prone to pride and ambition. Lend me, I pray, thy powerful aid in every temptation and difficulty, and above all do not forsake me in my last struggle with the powers of evil. Amen."

And the wait begins...

SO I completed my Apprentice Technical Training (ATT) ten days ahead of schedule. It was all computer-based, and self-paced so I, being the intellectual that I am, of course finished early. It wasn't hard, just alot of pointless math and stuff I really won't use except on my advancement exams.

So anyways, I was thinking that by getting done faster I would get out of Great Lakes faster. Well that is not to be. Since I am Full Time Support (FTS), which means I am active duty in all ways except for when they count the number of active or reserve members I am counted as reserve, my orders for my next duty station have to be written differently.

So what does this mean? It means that I am on hold (stuck here) for more than a month. Now I am not complaining too much about sitting around here, doing practically nothing and getting paid for it, but I would trade that for getting into my actual training and moving along in my Navy career, and oh yeah BEING IN FLORIDA.

Oh, and the explanation I got for why I am different from the rest of the students transferring to Pensacola was so vague and worthless, I almost lost it on the woman. Is it too much to ask to get a proper explanation of why it is that I am getting screwed over? I would hope not, but as I always say... "Welcome to the Navy".

So anyways, maybe with all the down time I am about to start having, maybe I will blog more. I know I have been slacking, and I am sure my reader base has dwindled to almost nil, but let's see if I can draw in some new fans by updating my site somewhat regularly!

That's about all I have at the moment, so I will call it a post. Be back soon with some exciting or at least funny Navy stories!

~Ian