Long Flight to Djibouti

Layover Store in Germany

We had a layover in Maine, Germany and Kuwait before landing in Djibouti, Africa. It was quite a long flight from California which all started in Maryland.

Here is what I saw in Germany.
Berlin T-Shirts
Berlin Wall Souveniers
Map that says, "You are Here"

There wasn't a whole lot in the layover place at the airport. I was just happy to just get off the plane. I got to try out the Germain chocolate almond ice cream. It was really good! Like Japan, the bathroom was super tiny, but clean.

Stuck in Camp Virginia. This is the inside of our large tent.
Getting on my laptop.
Loading up the pallets of seabags onto our C130

The ride in the C130 was really bad. The piece of junk airplane was broken to begin with, so we had to wait until the plane got fixed. After it got fixed, we all sat inside the plane with our bags in our laps in a tight sitting position for 5 1/2 hours straight. It was very uncomfortable, cold, and extremely loud (even with earplugs and noise canceling headphones).
Sitting inside the cramped C130

Upon landing in Kuwait, the temperature was already over 110 degrees and maybe even hotter. The heat was unbearable.
Suck down that H2O or else!

The heat in Djibout wasn't as bad as the dry heat Kuwait. It was just uncomfortable because of the humidity. If you like being in damp humid conditions and be constantly dripping in your own sweat, this place is for you. Drinking plenty of water and keeping your feet dry is a necessity.

It's OKAY to Save Money

This is an interesting article I ran into lately about saving money.



Ways to Make Saving a Habit
by Andrea Coombes
Friday, May 9, 2008
provided by Wall Street Journal

What's your excuse? When it comes to the sorry state of our finances, we've all got one.

Maybe your raise at work never materialized, or you charged that unexpected car-repair bill -- or that plasma TV -- to your credit card. Whatever the reason, for many of us, personal balance sheets could look better. Half of U.S. workers report less than $25,000 in savings.

Even if you've saved more, is it enough to sustain you through a decades-long retirement?

Sure, plenty of consumers now are easing back on spending, thanks to sticker shock at the grocery store and gas station. But soon enough retailers and restaurants will be pushing hard-to-resist "recession deals" -- will you be able to restrain yourself? And, what happens to your budget-minded ways when the economy recovers?

It's time to shake off the "consumer" mantle that politicians and economists are so happy to drape around our shoulders. Resist their calls for consumers to save the economy, and resist the advertisements enveloping us in the idea that we need more and more things.

The only thing most of us need more of is financial security. A lot more.

How to get there? Think thrift. For some, it's a familiar idea. For others, thrift implies denial and deprivation, and that makes for a tough call-to-arms.

So, how to save money without scrimping, be thrifty without feeling miserly -- and maintain those habits after our economy picks up speed?

It won't be easy. Expect discomfort, says Kathleen Gurney, a psychologist and chief executive of Financial Psychology Corp. Keep going, even when it's uncomfortable -- the rewards are worth it, and once this economic slowdown ends, you'll have financial habits in place to support you for a lifetime.

1. Spend less time feeling poor. Flipping through catalogs and going to the mall will make you feel like you need things, Ms. Gurney notes. Sure, you can afford some of that stuff, but the main message is: Most of this is out of your reach. Instead, do things that offer a sense of well-being. Invite friends over. Walk in the park.

2. Retrain your brain. Depriving ourselves of current pleasure is nigh impossible if we're not driven by a sense that the future will be more fulfilling, says Ms. Gurney. When you start to feel that "I'm deserving so I'm buying" feeling, visualize a smaller credit-card bill or higher savings-account balance.

3. Look around you. Are you happy with what your hard-earned dollars bought? If not, shift your spending to those things that bring greater long-term satisfaction, including retirement savings.

4. Choose your extravagances. Here's mine: I eat out about once a week. An extravagance I do without: Cable television.

5. Assess weaknesses. "If you were thrifty, how would you look different?" says Gary Buffone, a financial psychologist in Jacksonville, Fla. Identify what you want to change; then shoot for specific targets, such as a six-month hold on buying new tech gadgets.

6. Make trade-offs. Substitute small, free pleasures for those that cost. Have a movie night at home with friends -- you'd be surprised how many people are equally eager to cut costs.

7. Set goals. Meet weekly with family to discuss the spending plan (don't call it a budget) for the months and years ahead. This may involve tough choices, such as forsaking a family vacation. But think of the guilt-free trip you can take after saving the necessary cash. Good memories last longer, Ms. Gurney notes, when not trammeled by large credit-card bills.

8. Resist your children. They're going to find it hard to change their expectations. How can you help? Stand firm. The next time they clamor for the latest videogame, remind them of the bigger prize (that family vacation), and tell them their choices here and now are, say, a picnic or a movie rental. Offer options, but don't give in to their push for more consumer goods.

9. Enlist other people. Many people are reticent to talk about money worries, but almost everyone has them, so open up and tap your allies. Hold a contest with friends to see who can save the most in a month, or agree with your spouse to talk before spending more than $100, Mr. Buffone suggests.

10. Post it. Remind yourself by putting post-it notes on your wallet, mirror or steering wheel with the mantra of your choosing: "I want to go to Hawaii in January." "I want to pay off credit-card debt."

11. Automate it. Divert money monthly from your checking account to savings. It will force you to budget, based on what's left in your checking account.

12. Rethink rewards. What are some of your happiest memories? Those are the true rewards. Next time you're about to buy something because you deserve it, ask yourself whether there isn't something you deserve more, such as time at home cooking with your teenager, or a stroll with your husband or best friend.

"We've been conditioned to think that spending the money on clothes, at a restaurant, is going to be the reward," Ms. Gurney says. "But what is the ultimate reward that we want from working hard, in the end?"

Pics

Held in Captivity
Warm and Cuddly
Anaka in Color

NEMTI

Land Navigation

I'm at Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute (NEMTI, formally known as Fleet Hospital Training)

The classes here are very informative and interesting. We learned combat medicine at the TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Course). Here we got to practice doing IV's, needle thoracentesis, cricothyroidotomy, patient lifts, litter carrying, applying tourniquets and using Quickclot. At the end of the course, they tested us in a high stress environment with bloody bodies, bombs and guns sounding off, people yelling at us, the whole works. It was quite realistic.

Another part of the training included IED training, gas-mask application in the gas chamber, the wear of MOPP gear, hot and cold injuries, law of conflict, 9mm Barretta qualifications and gun simulations, land navigation and setting up ISO shelters and tents.

I'm pretty glad to have led my team to every check-point at the land navigation evolution. All we had was a compass, protractor, pen, land coordinates and a map. My knowledge of mathmatics and analytical skill got my four man team to finish the course in 2 hours! I didn't led them in the easiest direction (we had to go through some pretty rough terrain and thick bushes), but I got us there. That's all that counts.

Out on the Range

Inside our Seahut

Birth of Victoria, Official Video

Introduction to Victoria's DVD

Sorry. The "Birth of Victoria" has been removed, so if you didn't see it in the short week it was posted, too bad. Google removed it because of "offensive material". Since when was the birth of a baby been considered "offensive"???

Western Parade at the Child Development Center at National Naval Medical Center

Backside of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda

Today, we had a Western Parade. There were lots of cowboys and cowgirls.

Victoria Sound Asleep
Videotaping Anaka
Walking with Ms Angie
Anaka Crying
Exion and his kids
Fiesta time!
Nayeli and her Pink Hat
Two Squishy Babies

Jog around the National Mall

Getting Ready for a Little Run

We parked close to the Jefferson and the Roosevelt Memorial. It was a long run to get to the reflecting pool. We jogged a total of 6 miles.


X and the Kids in front of the Lincoln Memorial

The BOB Running Stroller:
The stroller of choice was the BOB Running Stroller. Soco did her research and the found this one to be the best one. You really get what you pay for, the stroller was almost $600 and it was designed with the best and toughest materials. I was shocked at how light the stroller was for running. It took almost no effort to push it, except on the hills. By wearing the wrist strap, the brakes automatically engage if you fall. The front wheel steers if you desire or it can be locked in place. The wheel can also be adjusted if it veers to the left or right. There is two cup holders for the runner and storage pockets for each child inside of the stroller just in case they want to drink juice or play with a favorite toy. There is also a large pocket on the handle bars to carry your keys, wallets, cell phones etc. And the entire thing is water proof. It is infant friendly as in the pictures, you can insert a warm fuzzy for a 1 month old. The sun shade/wind blocker is the largest one of all the strollers that you can find. It has a large viewing window on the top if you want to see your child while you run. The frame has ultra shock absorbers and can be adjusted for off-road running. The stroller can carry two 6 year old kids which makes it a good investment if you run a lot like us. This stroller is 10 times better than the Eddie Bauer running stroller that we have. With that one, the handle bars are too close to the stroller so if you run, your knees seem to hit your child's head. It is difficult to take long strides and the tires keep going flat.
Overall, the BOB is the Bentley of all running strollers, it is a great product. 10 stars out of 10.

BOB Link. We bought ours at REI.

Nayeli looking at her Cherry Blossom

If we knew it was going to be a six mile run, I would've jogged slow in the beginning. At the end, my joints were hurting. Nayeli and Anaka desperately needed a diaper change too. It was overall a good run, lots of sightseeing. We ran around the National Mall and Reflecting Pool.

Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C.

Cherry Blossoms blooming outside my window (hi res photo available upon request)

There were a lot of activities to do in Downtown, D.C. today because of the Cherry Blossom Festival. I didn't get a chance to jump out of my vehicle to snap shots of the scenery, but it was very nice. Sometime ago, Japan donated 3,000 cherry blossom trees (according to the official site) to the U.S. as a symbol of good friendship. The landscape around here is very nice while the trees are in bloom.

On another note, I took many pictures of Nayeli sleeping. She sleeps in funny positions. And today, I caught her sleeping with her eyes open!

Snoring Loud
Butt in the Air
Nayeli sleeping with her eyes open

Anaka pictures of her sleeping.
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
Sleeping with Eyes Open (just kidding)

Texas de Brazil, the Brazilian BBQ restaurant

Nayeli enjoying her bread and baby corn
Let's clean your face
Meat Server at Texas de Brazil

In Feb, we ate at a Brazilian BBQ in Fairfax, Virginia. It was quite tasty. The waiters went around the dining room offering different choices of freshly cooked gourmet meat. Check out the website.
Texas de Brazil

Flashback to 2007

I recently found a whole lot of pictures of Nayeli and our family on Soco's camera. They were all taken in Japan. Here are the best of the best, enjoy!
Nayeli with a bottle of rootbeer
Second Class POs Rule (taken back in April 07, since then X has been promoted)
Soco and Monica at the Lab
Soco and X April 07
All smiles at the Hachiban Tower
Nayeli at the Fleet Rec Center
Eating Cake at Nayeli's First Birthday Party at the Yokosuka CDC
Celebrating Nayeli's First Birthday May 07
Nayeli in January 07

Today, Soco brought Anaka over to the shop to show off the new baby. She had a piece of lint or string wrapped around her index finger and it looked like it was cutting off the circulation to the tip of her finger! It looked like it hurt a lot. Luckily, someone had a pair of tweezers and somehow Soco removed the piece of nylon string. It was kinda scary.

Hung's Pictures - Nayeli at the CDC

Picking up Nayeli from the CDC
Nayeli playing dressup
Kids on Grandpa
Nayeli sitting in the Gazebo

I've selected my favorite pictures out of Hung's Archives of his last visit.

An Instructable on How to Amuse Toddlers