Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Day 33
Today was my first time putting on my dress blues as a Lieutenant. Our command had a formal meal at the air station's officer club. My blues don't fit quite as well as they did during training. Bummer.
Day 32
Tuesday was my first time watching President Obama address a joint session of congress. I thought he gave a good speech. He should have picked a different tie though.
Day 31
Monday was my first time using a roomba to clean my whole apartment. I've christened my roomba Stevie. It's kind of like having R2D2 vacuum your apartment. It's awesome.
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Day 30
Last night was my first trip to Sun Dog at Neptune Beach.
I live about 10 minutes from Neptune Beach, and it's my normal stomping grounds but I'd just never been to this place before. Turns out they have good live music, cheap beer, and it's walking distance to the other good places at the beach. If a pub crawl were to be organized anytime soon, this would definitely rate a stop. I'm just saying.
I also played poker last night with some other JAG's, and busted out early. That, sadly, is not a new experience.
I live about 10 minutes from Neptune Beach, and it's my normal stomping grounds but I'd just never been to this place before. Turns out they have good live music, cheap beer, and it's walking distance to the other good places at the beach. If a pub crawl were to be organized anytime soon, this would definitely rate a stop. I'm just saying.
I also played poker last night with some other JAG's, and busted out early. That, sadly, is not a new experience.
Day 29
Friday night was my first time wetting-down to Lieutenant.
The wetting down is a tradition in the American Navy (and Royal Navy) from days of yore; typically, the newly promoted officer or officers will host a party paid for with their first raise at their new rank for all the other officers in their command. If you want to get really traditional, the newly promoted will also jump into the ocean or have salt water dumped on them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting-down)
We rented out Culhane's Irish Pub, and just about the whole command was there. There were nine of us who promoted recently, so we were able to throw a pretty good party with the combined funds. Toasts were made, karaoke was sung, inappropriate comments were heard; all the hallmarks of a good time. A Commander at the Air Station relayed a tradition the aviators have that I was onboard with but not enough others were, the Carrier Landing.
To execute a carrier landing, you pour beer all over the floor or a low, long table. Two people take a table cloth, roll it up into a cord, then strech it across one end of the surface. Then the officer making the landing runs for that surface and spreadeagles onto it, much like a slip and slide. As he slides face first across it, his feet catch the table cloth, much like a tailhook on a carrier.
We didn't do one last night, but I've got a lot of new experiences I have to rack up this year....
The wetting down is a tradition in the American Navy (and Royal Navy) from days of yore; typically, the newly promoted officer or officers will host a party paid for with their first raise at their new rank for all the other officers in their command. If you want to get really traditional, the newly promoted will also jump into the ocean or have salt water dumped on them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting-down)
We rented out Culhane's Irish Pub, and just about the whole command was there. There were nine of us who promoted recently, so we were able to throw a pretty good party with the combined funds. Toasts were made, karaoke was sung, inappropriate comments were heard; all the hallmarks of a good time. A Commander at the Air Station relayed a tradition the aviators have that I was onboard with but not enough others were, the Carrier Landing.
To execute a carrier landing, you pour beer all over the floor or a low, long table. Two people take a table cloth, roll it up into a cord, then strech it across one end of the surface. Then the officer making the landing runs for that surface and spreadeagles onto it, much like a slip and slide. As he slides face first across it, his feet catch the table cloth, much like a tailhook on a carrier.
We didn't do one last night, but I've got a lot of new experiences I have to rack up this year....
Day 28
Tonight was my first visit to Aromas, a cigar bar in Jacksonville.
It's nice and upscale, good addition to the Jax rotation.
http://www.aromascigars.com/
It's nice and upscale, good addition to the Jax rotation.
http://www.aromascigars.com/
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Day 27
I changed my first diaper on Wednesday night. Joey Hullihan was kind enough to participate for Lap 29 and let a complete diaper-changing novice get him situated. He's a trooper, and very forgiving for being one month old.
It was my mom's idea, not surprisingly. She and Joey's mom Jen Hullihan were completely entertained as Papa Jon showed me the ropes.
It was my mom's idea, not surprisingly. She and Joey's mom Jen Hullihan were completely entertained as Papa Jon showed me the ropes.
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