Hello world!

morning guys! ...so its been a few days, and about that last post...i wasn't actually depressed, we were just feeling the wrath of a tropical depression, that actually turned into a tropical storm and smashed into haiti(because they don't have enough to worry about anyway, right?!) anywhoo, the storm with lightning and the whole bit, knocked out the internet tower, so i had nice long blog typed up and the only thing to be actually saved was the title thing...soooo...a few weeks later, here we are haha.
...today is "friday", tomorrow is some holiday, most of the island folk don't even know what its called..but who has a holiday on a thursday(every year) and then opens back up on friday??..just another example of how things are a tad different...its nothing special really, something like "liberty day"....when these people are no more freeing themselves from any sort of oppression than the puerto ricans..both get the benefits of the US's welfare system, without paying into it...good times!....but there is no room in here for cynicism...its a beautiful sunny day...just may get up to 80 today, with nice puffy cotton ball clouds floating around and a slight breeze..this my friends is not arkansas, and its days like this, that i love this place :) ...when i hear about the 40 degree temps back home, im shivvering already..mom if you could bring my hoodie with you at the airport, that would be fantastic!....39 days! ...i am counting...im so tired of chicken and rice, and rice and chicken, and some extra rice on the side of that..its strange how its the staple food source down here, but yet it doesnt grow on the island..i wouldnt be surprised if some of it comes from the arkansas delta..home to those ASU Indians( screw you NCAA board! its an honorific name, get over your politcally correct selves!) but yea, big jay and i had a little talk about why rice? and i told him that id never had this much rice in all my life, which is strange considering we grow a whole mess of it back home..but the caf at school rarely served it, and its not a big thing in our meals..but down here its with every meal(though its good with several things...kidney beans..sweet peas...spaghetti and meat balls...carrots...and any other veggie) my personal favorite has to be my experience with taters and chili..as in instant mashed taters, and chili...mmm mmm...oh yeah its good with rice too...rice is such a neutral tasting substance, it almost assumes the flavor of whatever it is you're eating with it...its kinda like that one X-men character who can change into whoever she needs to, to get in there and reek havoc..(in the new movies, she wears the whole blue skintight suit..cant think of her name..but yeah)
---> in other news, the world series is over, which means its time to get ready for some spring training!! those cards are lookin' strong, we get to keep our manager, lost a few pitchers that really screwed our chances of success, and retained all of the big power guys, with some of them going in for surgery to be good to go for next year...Boston who??? Go Cards Go!
.....ok so on to stuff that is slightly less important than baseball....
tomorrow im flying over to st.thomas to catch a little ferry down to the BVI's or British Virgin Islands...they are supposed to be beautiful, and id expect nothing less..the place we are going to is called the "baths"...some big stone things in the water..should be pretty sweet...if i had use of my digital camera id get some pics on here...but as my trusty kayaker decided to give us a quick swim in the caribbean last weekend or so(they run together..blah blah blah) anywhoo its outta comission...and my freakin razr died(phone) BUT who has two thumbs and planned ahead? "this guy, this guy right here" *point thumbs up, and then turn inward with a jolly grin slapped across the face* (D.Dykes, OMP '07) ...yeah i brought another phone down with me, so im in...anywhoo yeah so it should be a good time..anytime i get off campus is a good time for that matter
...ive got a couple term papers due..which ive "started".....no really i have...but eeehhh...yeah anyway one is on the impact of tourism on the caribbean and is rather interesting doing all the research and finding out differnt island people's point of view on it..rather touchy subject, and not nearly as cut and dried as some would like to believe...its strange that after nearly 3 months down here, i dont feel like a tourist anymore...haah when you've seen most everything worth "seeing" on the island...its not the same..but its still great on days like today!!
so if i dont write as much as i used to, its probably because, ha 1. lightning has bettered our technological efforts..or 2. im doing one of 2 papers
..enjoy the change in leaves and all that fall stuff..im on th 7th month of summer..whoooohoo

Tropically Depressed

I am blessed

So today was interesting....I started my first day of the service learning, which entails going down the road a bit to this tiny elementary school..While its nothing like some sort of dirt-floor, hole in the wall school in sub-saharan africa, it is most definately below the commonly held standards of most back home..so that was the first initial gut check, there were a few more..but i left with a newfound appreciation for teachers of any variety..
today i was working with 4 young guys with some of their math issues, which goin in I was honestly a little nervous, because math isn't really my thing...but its just 3rd and 4th grade division chris surely you can't mess that up, right? ...im pretty sure i didn't, and now i am a firm believer in the whole check your work philosophy(really thats an awesome idea, sure wish i would have used that back in the day...eesh) anywhoo today's long division practice was a great refresher course for both me and the little guy..he's the only one whose name i forgot..then i moved on to help james...now as soon as he walked in the room i knew there was something different about him and spotted it immediately...james, a great kid, sadly has down syndrome and is 14...but has the maturity level of about a 2nd grader...his problem today was counting change...quarters, dimes and nickels....pennys really threw him off....what was the saddest part was i flipped through his book to check his past work, and wanted to make sure he could do the problems he got checked off a few weeks ago..simple multiplication 253 x 3 = ....i let him write it on the little chalk board she gave us and he started to add the numbers...using the "stick" method, which i learned was drawing lines and then goin back to count them...this was a step ha, but hardly progress...it was made evident that he obviously had no idea how to do any of the problems on the page...which meant some one else had just done the work for him...thats not learning...what was even worse was when the principal walked in to tell me that james is a little slow and to just "do what you can with him, he doesn't get things"...she said all of this in front of him as if he is deaf...he isn't, haha as he reminded me several times that i was writing on the chalk board to hard and it was hurting his ears,when i was barely pressing at all...it kinda upset me both what the principal said and the way she said it..i wanted to explain to her that 1. he isn't deaf 2. he isn't a little slow, he has down syndrome, which is a genetic disorder far beyond his or anyone's control...which doesn't make him a dicipline problem..and 3. that with attitudes like that, he will never get any help on the island, and will probably spend the remainder of his life being put down and not helped due to the close mindedness on the island!! ...ok so it ruffled my feathers a bit, and brandon (mississippi guy) and i were both pretty fired up when we left the school...anywhoo the two other kids had different problems, one with rounding(which used to give me fits as well) and then some other conversions..for the most part goodtimes, and im really looking forward to going back in the morning...it should be noted that brandon was working with kids who were like 1st grade and having trouble focusing in general..so after he got them calmed down it was time for them to go home...it was a frustrating afternoon in some regards, but i have a good feeling about this one...

"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."- B. F. Skinner

"Ralph!!!" .."whats up Chuck?"

...so maybe i have a weak stomach..or maybe i just dont do well with the combination of diesel fumes and rough seas...or maybe i should just learn to take the magic pill and be done with it...no no nothing permanent guys, just a dramamine! eesh
i guess its been a few days, so thats not a guess because i cant remember my last spellbinding post...don't hold your breath on this one though..but we'll see
-> its cut out that whole raining business(probably because i wanted it to stop) but more than likely it has something to do with actual weather patterns, but who really knows (?)
-> this school is....well.....it is what it is ALTHOUGH it does have certain perks..ahemm: getting cheap and reduced rates on trips to the BVI (british virgin islands) on special off days..ha "liberty day"..thats a new one! but i'll take the 4 day weekend, thanks
--> boy do i hope someone has paid that movie gallery fee
----> im not in the sharpest mental state right now, certain events (nothing to worry about as far as my well being) but certain events are weighing heavy on my mind...it seems that its getting down to big boy decision in life sorta decision making time for myself, and while its not really a "tough" choice, it can be. on the one hand i have the relativly easier route to go toward, and on the other is the more challenging route, both provide roughly the same financial stimuli to stay in school*which means plenty to cover it* but im leaning toward the harder route...for anyone that knows me, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise...but yea
-> today i was reaffirmed in my understanding of how fragile life can be. another soldier died in iraq, but this time it hit a little closer to home...its strange how the names don't mean anything to you until you hear them again...only this time in a more somber tone...never knew him personally, but was close to his family in my younger days...he will be missed...
--> "Explain why you desire to become a Marine Corps Officer" (sustain 100 words, maximum 150 words)
The desire to be the best I can be, has always pushed me to define new limits of personal success. One does not become a Marine Corps Officer by chance or fate; it takes dedication. I live in the greatest country in the world only because those before me have sacrifced so much so that I can reap its benefits. It is my wish to serve my country proudly to ensure the freedoms for future generations, just as they were garnered for me, years ago. I can think of no better way to serve these United States than as part of the most revered fighting forces on the planet.

....on monday i meet with the gunnery sgt. to go over my packet for application into the Marine Corps Platoon Leader Course...it is a highly competitive opportunity with which i think I have what it takes. the above is my "tentative" response to the lone non standard information question in 25 pages of "yes and no's" ....if you've got any feedback feel free to let me know....
its bed time now
...hopefully this hasn't been some depressing event..but i guess they dont call it a blog for nothin'

John Dryden - “We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.”

Just to be sure

In case it sometimes seems that I'm some sort of malcontented quasi-tourist down on some wretched island with the laziest people in the world, I wanted to take a moment and dispell those notions.
1.) I can see how some people just get used to this island and all that it has to offer, but that hasn't happened to me yet, and it won't....this weekend was another beachtime-o-fun-arama so not to worry there, but what is kind of sad to me is that the cable has been out in the dorm for like 3 or 4 weeks(because UVI hasn't paid the bill, seriously its like that! haha..just glad im not one of those smucks who actually paid extra to get cable and internet, some 100$ worth of services that work sometimes..so anyone who is folling where im going with this is surely wondering 1 thing...well maybe 2..."But chris, what do they do with their time?" im glad you asked..and the answer*drumroll please* is NOTING! aaahhh...well, unless you consider sittin around (while its a beautiful day mind you) and bitching and moaning about the lack of cable so they can watch stupid shows...then yeah not a whole lot...but who has two thumbs and could care less about tv? (start by holding two thumbs up,like the classic signal) this guy! (now take those two thumbs and point them toward yourself, this is usually done in tandem with a huge smile of satisfaction....i cannot claim the origins of such an award winning move, i learned it from sir dewey dikes) ahemm..but yeah i found it strange that with the major source of entertainment on the blink, no one thought to..i dunno, get outside, go to the beach...play hopscotch or even chinese freeze tag! come on!!
2.) on that note, I have to put in a plug for the most beautiful spot on this island, in my humble opinion...dont worry mom, I'll show you when yall get down here...anywhoo its just a little ways up this hill they affectionately(sp?) call "the bitch"...its like the evil twin of the illustrious "beast"...but on top of this little piece of ground is a view that is something out of jurassic park..looking east you can see most if not all of the north shore and west, there is a pretty cool view of some mountain cliff things with water crashing in on them...its nice..and what is even more better(incorrect i know, but its for effect :D) is looking south and seeing the little dots of red roofing that i call dorm sweet home..theres a little ridgeline that runs either direction..and ahhhh, well you get the idea...makes for a rather rewarding experience after a daintly little jog
3.) I'd also like to put in a plug for my new favorite food item...ahemmm..."mini-PBnJ's"...but what is it you ask?? just smaller squared of bread? or perhaps a strip type invention made soley out of crusts?..no no..being ever mindful not to waste materials, you take two wheat thins, a tiny bit of jelly and an equal amount of peanut butter and place them together. Becareful to not get tooo much now, as justa little dab'll do ya (Buffett)...oh does it fill you up?....after 10 or so..yeah its about time to start chewing i guess...anywhoo that was today's alternative to cafetorium lunch..which isnt that bad, but chicken and rice variations can only go down my hatch two days a week for so long, so i excercise my right to creativly master the art of sandwich making....granted its not quite like playin around back in the kitchen at coltons, cookin up crazy bbq'd ribeyes and assorted other food items...namely those christmas tree pancakes,only amazing i might add...but yeah goodtimes all around...
My work here is done....but ill leave you with this scene....if you haven't figured out, i like this movie

"OK so I owe you guys 300 dollars and you boys drank 500 dollars worth of beer..................Well the bar lady never charged us after the first round so we thought that beer was complimentary, you know, for the band????? " Blues Brothers

Prolific, no less?

"We got two honkies out there look like a seedy diamond merchant or something. Say what? They look like the're from the CIA or somethin'. What they want to eat? The tall one wants white bread, toatsted, dry with nothin' on it, and the other one wants four whole fried chickens and coke. Shit! The Blues Brothers!"
.....Seemed like a good time for a little Blues Brothers' moment, if ever there is one...
In other news, its still raining...and the sun is out,but not out..its "quasi-out" as it were, kinda like when your dog makes a whole bunch of noise like he wants to go out so of course you go open the door to have him do what?...smell the outside air..and go back inside...good ole dogs..and about dogs, down here pit bulls are the dog of choice for the locals, out on the beach saturday(or it could have been friday or sunday..they run together, water, sun, sand..yadda yadda yadda) but one of those days, we saw this sketchy lookin truck pull up with 3 dudes and 3 pit bulls...they took them out in the water to wash them...which is really really strange if you think about it, because the salt water dries and leaves the salt there on them...and just because ive smelled some of the local muts around here, they stink! and im not sure why they use the salt water..ive also seen ppl shaving their dogs in the water...which is kinda gross if you think about it...granted they have all kinds of coral out there, but chow-mix floating coral isn't anywhere in the book...i wish they'd not do that..at least not where other people on the beach can see them...but again like so many other things on the island, i just give a hearty "Oh,Well!" and move on haha...pretty much all you can do...
Do note:
1. today is thursday, which might as well be called friday, as no i dont have class on friday
2. i've got a deadline to meet for the news paper..yes i write little articles for the illustrious UVI Voice...this last article i submitted is sure to piss people off...i pretty much tore into the lazyness of the kids who sit outside the caf. and leave their trash for the custodians to pick up in the morning..even though there are 4 big-huge(thats a scientific measurement by the way..its a little smaller than "gynormeous", and little larger than "big"....wanted to clear that up for anyone )
3. this confrence room is freezing!! and there is no thermostat
4. i dont really have much to say in this post....ill find some arguably deeper point of reflection after this weekends beach going im sure....but then again maybe not...we'll see..
5. on the list on this site, my blog is not on the blogs of note..while i noticed this, i also checked out the ones that were, and they pretty much sucked..so to any creator of this ranking site, do give my blog a considerable look before passing it by...because who really cares about the annals of craftmaking in New York...and don't hate on mine because pictures are scanty...there's a reason
6. on the movie fine note: i recently recieved a federal summons to district court to plead my case and explain the situation....so far i think im gonna be in the clear...but if this be my last blog for a while, that could be why
7. disregard #6
8. still a fan of this numbering thing
i think ill let this rest for now.....so i hope everyone and everything is goin just fine and ill be in touch