Tuesday, August 31, 2004

I'm going to Yokosuka, Japan

I have just received orders to Yokosuka Naval Hospital, Japan. I'm pretty excited! I don't really know how to contain my excitement except for telling the world! Woopie! Now, I have to get ready for it. Get passports, visas, etc... Pay off all my bills, get my apartment ready for inspection. Eat all the Texas steaks I can!!!

Sorry, no pictures today.

Monday, August 30, 2004

The Police in Texas

I really dislike the police here in Texas. When I first got here, I was pulled over for doing 3 mph over the speed limit. I had my cruise control on and I passed a cop doing about 3 mph below the limit. He gave a warning since I was serving in the military. But still, they are too strict and I believe that the tax payer's money should be used for more necessary law enforcement. They should give tickets to wreckless drivers rather than people "going above the posted speed limit".

Here is a Wichita Falls police car. Notice that it almost looks like a civilian car. The lights on top are hardly noticable.


Wichita Falls Police Car Posted by Hello

Sunday, August 29, 2004

Photo of the Day - Williams Autobody Shop

I snapped this picture on my way back home the day I walked to downtown.


Williams Autobody Shop - Wichita Falls, Texas Posted by Hello

Saturday, August 28, 2004

Advanced and Basic BMET School, Sheppard Air Force Base

Some would argue that this is by far, the hardest school in the Department of Defense. The failure rate here is so high, it is laughable. Yet people from all over the world dare to enroll in a year's worth of intense shock therapy and training.

Here in basic school we learn basic AC/DC theory, tools, basic troubleshooting skills, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and medical equipment. Since it is virtually impossible to cover every single piece of medical equipment there is in the medical field, equipment blocks are divided into separate areas of medical. Blocks covered are: Cardiovascular, respiratory, sterilization, laboratory, radiology, emergancy, dental, and computers. The information covered here in a 42 weeks is equivilant to two years of college. I've seen people cry when they go through the indoctrination because of the overwhelming amount of equipment that has to be covered. I found it to be a challenge.

I went through basic school in 2002. I had a lot of fun and the time flew. I remember getting burned a few times by the sterilizer and blowing up thousands of dollars worth of circuit boards in X-ray.

In advanced school we learn, advanced laboratory, lasers, fiber optics, advanced radiology, networking and computers, teleradiology, X-ray acceptance and general administration and leadership. It is six months long.

I found advanced school to be a vacation.

Department of Defense Biomedical Equipment Technician School Posted by Hello

Friday, August 27, 2004

Chinese Food and Tipping

Sometimes, I yearn for some good Chinese food. It is healthy and delicious. It always hits the spot. Today, I had to breakdown from my savings plan and feed my hunger. I love all things sweet, tasty and exploding in flavor. So I always order sesame chicken. That’s my favorite dish. Fried chicken smothered with a thick caramel sauce sprinkled in sesame seeds. YUM!

I find that it is always smarter to call-in the order so that it would be ready for me to pick up. Rarely, do I sit down and dine-in. In American custom, it is customary to tip the waiter or waitress for good service. I don’t like tipping. It is a waste of money. For two bucks, I can buy another egg roll or a gallon of gasoline for my car. Restaurants also like to price gouge you on drinks. At home, I stock up on sodas and put them in the refrigerator. When I want it, I just grab one and drink it. It is more cost effective to eat and drink this way. It is not being cheap, it's being smart and getting what you want at the same time.


In this photo, I have used Print Shop Pro to make the artificial sunlight. As you can see, the Texas Flag is the only flag in the United States that can fly at equal height to the flag of the US. It is because it is the only state that can secede from the union and become it's own country. Also, notice that if you let Mexican's have control in the remodeling of your building, then it will look something like this. How's that for a Chinese restaurant? It's the clash of two cultures don't you think? Posted by Hello

Thursday, August 26, 2004

Downtown Wichita Falls

I decided to walk to downtown today. I've driven there many times, but I thought that I should walk it this time. I was hoping to discover something new and exciting. Well, I didn't realize that downtown was going to be five to six miles away. Now I'm suffering from achy feet. But it was worth it.


Here is the skyline of downtown Wichita Falls. Don't let the it fool you, it isn't a shopping mecca at all. The tall, nostalgic buildings represent government and utility companies. Up close, there are banks and churches. Posted by Hello


The empty streets of downtown show that it really isn't the shopping center of the city. Posted by Hello

This is an alley. Brick buildings are a usual sight to see. Posted by Hello



This is Holliday St. Above it is Interstate 44. In Dallas, it is common to see freeways stacked up on top of each other. But Wichita Falls is a small city.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

First Entry to Blogger - Wichita Falls, Texas

Wow. This blogging thing has probably been out for years. I’m just now finding out about it. I guess this is an online journal. That is good, I can finally share my photos with the rest of the world. I'll try to keep it updated as much as possible.

My first entry to Blogger will be dedicated to Wichita Falls, Texas. Where I live, and the surrounding nature. I sure hope that my mediocre photography skills is not that bad. All the photos on this site will be taken by me.

The photos taken here were taken with a Sony DSC-S50. It is 2.1 Megapixel. I know that it is truely an amateur's camera, but I'll do with what I have.

Thank you for stopping by! I'll do my best to keep it updated. I promise!

Here is one of the many bridges that cross the Wichita River. You can tell that it had to take several months to construct this bridge by counting the number of layers from the bottom to the top. If you look closely, you can see the imprints of the wooden boards used to shape the pillars. Posted by Hello



As you can see, the freeways here in Texas, constantly remind you that you are in Texas. Posted by Hello


The Wichita River is quite muddy. This photo was taken at Lucy Park which is about a half mile from my apartment. Posted by Hello


I currently reside at The Heritage House Apartments at Wichita Falls, Texas. It is a quiet, relaxing place. I enjoy sitting on my recliner and reading books while listening to the birds chirping and the wind rustling thru the trees. The people here are very quiet and courtious.