Probably coming to Texas to rehab my foot

The Navy medical clinic submitted my paperwork for a lim-du (limited duty) board yesterday, and if the board's decision is to put me in lim-du status then I will receive a set of orders that will cancel my duty in Bahrain and place me at Lackland AFB in San Antonio for rehabilitation. I chose Lackland, but I could have gone to any major military medical facility that had the capability to conduct orthopedic rehabilitation. I should find out the results of the board late next week and could be out of Bahrain in the next few weeks.

Getting out of the flat for a few hours...

Rich came and picked me up so I could get out of my flat for a few hours. Although I have been busy studying and sleeping, it has been pretty boring thus far. I can only imagine how bored I will be prior to this whole ordeal finally being over (some 4-5 months from now). I am studying to get both my personal trainer's certification and GRE knocked out. I have plenty to do, but I tend to build up a lot of nervous energy when I can't move around like I am accustomed to and exercise when I desire. So, it was sure nice to get out of the house for a few hours. **Notice the new HALLIBURTON t-shirt I won on ebay!**

There was a huge traffic jam just down the street from my building, and come to find out it was because an armored truck had broken down right in the middle of one of the busiest streets in Juffair...or was this just a new approach to stealing an armored truck?

I am sure the KFC delivery guy didn't appreciate me taking his picture as we passed, but so what! Almost every eating establishment, including fast food joints such as McDonald's and KFC, has delivery guys that zip in and out of traffic all day and all night on motorcycles like the one above. In case you were wondering Dairy Queen has one as well, although I have been hesitant to order a Blizzard for delivery because it might not arrive in a timely fashion and already have melted...I may try it at least once before I leave though!

We drove down to the south end of the island and back, passing the University of Bahrain as we went. Maybe I'll have my GRE scores reported here as well as Texas Tech after I take the exam...do you think they'll accept the GI Bill? I wonder if I'll have to grow a mustache and gain forty pounds prior to commencement?

Broken Tibia

This is a picture of my buddy Rich and his girlfriend Christiana. They were good enough to come pick me up from the NSA Bahrain Medical facility and get me to the hospital since the Navy wasn't set up to do so...I am not sure I always understand why we have medical folks in the Navy when they don't really try very hard to do anything for us. Not only was there not an x-ray technician on duty, but they asked me if I would mind getting a ride to the hospital to get my x-rays done since their x-ray tech would have to walk 30-45 minutes from his house to do it on his day off. Wow...another big plus for staying on board with the military...then they would not give me a ride over to the hospital since it wasn't classified as URGENT?!?

The above picture is to compare my broken right tibia to the left prior to going into surgery. When I would lift my leg, my foot would move in a completely different direction and flop to either side...not a good sign I didn't think!

The doctors used two pins to fix my tibia and one screw to repair the ligament torn between the tibia and fibula. They will go in and remove the screw about four to six weeks from now when the ligament has had time to heal. I am not supposed to put any weight on my right leg for six weeks...I guess that means no marathon next Saturday! I am not really in much pain, but they have given me ample pain medication in the event that my condition changes. I am also on a round of antibiotics for a week. Once they cleaned my wound, they put me in a new cast which will be changed out in another two weeks.

The medical staff at the Bahraini Defense Force hospital was great. They didn't always fully understand what I was saying...and vice versa...but all in all, a very good experience. Much better, I think, than anything the Navy would have been able to do for me here. I am shocked that they are bringing dependants back to Bahrain when the medical staff clearly can't support the personnel that are already here, much less the wives and children that will be coming. I think they have really jumped the gun on this one.

A few more close-up photos to see the staples on the right and left side of the foot.

Shamal In Town

A shamal has blown over Bahrain and lasted approximately four days...which means constant filth and dirt in the air day and night. The wind isn't blowing very strong, but the dirt is blowing all over the Persian Gulf and covering everything. I think that people tend to get sick during these sandstorms becasue the air is so full of filth. Luckily, I have only been outside to ride to work and back. As luck would have it, the first day that the air cleared up was the day when I broke my foot! What luck, huh?

No more sunlight...got to get some sleep!

After a few series of nights with little/no rest, I decided I needed to change something to help my body adjust to sleeping during daylight hours better. Although I didn't originally think the sunlight creeping through the blinds was causing me to wake early, I decided I might be wrong and would attempt to block the sun out of the equation. One roll of aluminum foil later, and I have one dark bedroom that I will hopefully be able to sleep in during the coming days. I only averaged 2.5 hours of sleep per night during my last set of nights...in case you didn't already guess, that doesn't work for long!

I received my new GRE study guide in the mail from Amazon today, and I am going to begin to prep and hopefully take the exam late next month prior to coming home on leave. I have also been doing some work toward completing my certified fitness trainer course through the International Sports Science Association (ISSA).

Although I don't have a car, there is a parking spot in the building dedicated to my flat. I routinely use this spot to clean my bikes, and on the rare occasion that one of my buddies from work comes over for dinner, they have some place to park. There have been several occasions in the past when I come back to my building to find someone parked in my spot, and although I may not have a car to park in that spot, I can't use it if it's not empty.

The car that was parked in my spot today was a bright yellow Lamborghini. It was a beautiful car, and after spending several minutes admiring it with my doorman and taking a few pictures, I told the doorman to call and get the car moved. He laughed for a minute because he thought I was joking...he quit laughing when he realized I was serious. I am sure it made the owner of that car mad to move in order for me to wash my bike, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

I blame the Blizzard...

I personally think the similarities are incredible...except for about 30 pounds. For those who may not know, the left picture is of Lance Armstrong during his early triathlon days. Like the title of this blog entry reads, I blame the Dairy Queen Blizzard for my inability to become an world champion triathlete/cyclist. The blizzard is just so hard to turn away from, and it's nearly impossible not to ask for the LARGE blizzard when the bright lights of the Blizzard sign have me hypnotized.

Maybe I'm taking the wrong approach with my diet and training. I should embrace the Blizzard completely and see if Dairy Queen would like to sponsor me as a cyclist. With the full support of what I consider to be my evil nemesis, the sky may be the limit with regard to my athletic potential. Either that or I will be entirely too fat to race due to getting free Blizzards all the time...it's hard to tell.

Medieval Torture Device...

Had the indoor bicycle trainer been around in medieval times (or bicycle for that matter), I am certain that historians would classify it as one of the most primitive and gruesome of its age. The more time I spend utilizing this instrument of pain and suffering, the more wonderful even a terrible day of riding outdoors seems.

Prior to coming to Bahrain, I purchased the Tour de France DVD set that includes all seven of Lance Armstrong's tour wins (1999 - 2005). As they are great motivation to get on the trainer, I am getting to be an expert on all seven years of his TDF domination. Cody was also good enough to send me some Spinervals DVD's (more torture...not sure whether to thank him or put a professional hit out on him) to help the time on the trainer pass by quickly.

IT LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL!

Given that the Post 9/11 GI Bill's benefits are so amazing, I am planning on probably returning to graduate school upon getting out of the Navy in Oct and pursuing a Master's in Exercise Physiology through the college of Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences. I will still have to work full time, but not nearly as full time as I was as a manager with United Supermarkets. The new GI Bill covers all tuition, fees, most books and also includes a monthly housing allowance. Since I will be in a period of transition leaving the Navy anyway, this will likely be the most ideal time for me to knock out my graduate work. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for a good job in Lubbock that will give me the flexibility of putting a solid effort into school and taking care of my family at the same time...if anyone hears about something along those lines, don't be shy about letting me know!

Taking Care of Family as Families Should

I took this article verbatim from the December 26, 2008, issue of Conservative Chronicle. The article was written by Linda Chavez and really hit home to me as we make preparations to take care of Leah, and it should provide anyone in a similar situation with some good advice on doing the right thing with regard to caring for our own.

"TAKING CARE OF FAMILY AS FAMILIES SHOULD"


For the past dozen years, my family has been constantly growing until we now number 15. But this year's addition isn't a new daughter-in-law or grandchild. At 87, my mother has finally come to live with me. It wasn't an easy move for her. And the timing, at the beginning of November, meant integrating her into daily life during the holidays, when most families experience additional stress as well as the joys of the season.
Since my father was killed in an automobile accident in 1978, my mother has lived on her own in a small apartment next to her sister-in-law in Albuquerque. My dad's family has treated as one of their own for 30 years. When she could no longer drive because her eyesight was failing, my Aunt Elsie and Cousin Margaret drove her to buy groceries each week. And they included her in all family celebrations when she could no longer travel east to be with us on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
My mother's life has never been an easy one. She was nearly killed in a devastating car crash that broke her back and shoulder and left her with a hole in her skull and pins holding her ankle together. Three of her children have died: my younger sister of kidney disease when she was just six years old, my older half-brother in a car accident when he was barely 15, and another half-brother in his 50s. She has survived the loneliness of widowhood and the pain of breast cancer. Yet, despite tragedies that would have left others in despair, she has remained resilient and optimistic.
As independent as she has been, however, I've always known that one day she would live with me. I couldn't imagine shunting her off to live with strangers, even though I know this has become far more socially acceptable today than in the past when adult children assumed the responsibility of caring for their aged parents. But even as she began to lose her vision from macular degeneration and became frail with the aches of old age, she's resisted making the final move.
Finally, I quit asking and told her it was time. My aunt was 87 and couldn't be expected to chauffer my mother around much longer - and even my cousin was now in retirement, with her own health problems. And I worried that if I waited until my mother's eyesight was completely gone or until she was too sick to care for herself, the move would be even harder on her.
Her first week was difficult. She worried about the new doctors I'd line up, fearing I might insist on going into the exam with her (of course, I didn't) or that they would tell her she needed to eat differently or make friends her own age, advice she's ignored for years. But once she realized I'd let her buy her Mily Ways and shortbread cookies and wouldn't try to interest her in the local senior center, she settled in nicely.
The key has been allowing her the independence she so values. Yes, she is dependent on me for driving her on the errands, but she wants to prepare her own meals and set her own schedule. She's invited to join us in family events - grandkids' and great-grandkids' birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations - but she's also free to retreat to her apartment when it gets too noisy or decline the invitation if it involves a long car ride or she's not feeling up to it.
Most days she spends lying on the couch in her sitting room listening to the Game Show Network or Fox News Channel. She keeps the shades down and the TV volume and heat up. She eats like a bird, taking only tiny portions of meat or vegtetables, but she always has room for dessert. Her main exercise is pushing the cart through the grocery store once a week. But she remains trim and still beautiful after all these years - and more important, happy.
I can't possibly know how long we'll have her with us or what new challenges the years ahead with her will bring. But I do know that bringing her to live with me was the right decision. In an age when the elderly are often seen more as a burden than a benefit, it is important to remember what our parents have done for us and what we owe them. Taking care of each other is what family is all about.

More Carrier Landing Photos

While I was already busy goofing off and doctoring photos, I decided to combine a few sequence shots of one of the hornets landing. It was amazing to see all the launches and recoveries while on board the Theodore Roosevelt...a real treat!

Layton Christmas Party

It was wonderful to have all the Layton clan back in Lubbock at our house for a big Christmas party in 2008 (present company excluded of course...regardless what the photo above portrays). The kids apparently had a ball getting acquainted again and playing their hearts out. Mamaw and papaw spent most of the evening with their great grandkids, while (most of) the adults played a taxing game of Pictionary (Guys - 1 / Girls - 0...better luck next time). I hope to be present for all future Christmas parties beginning next year...I'll try my best! Merry Christmas!

The Perfect Christmas Job

Since I am looking into the possibility of working for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), I thought I might apply for this position helping Santa Claus...seems like it'd be pretty exciting.

http://www1.nga.mil/Newsroom/TopStoryArchive/Pages/GEOINTSantaClausUsesNGAtoTraveltheGlobe.aspx

Trip out to CVN 71 - USS Theodore Roosevelt

On Sunday morning two co-workers from NAVCENT and I flew out to the USS Theodore Roosevelt for an opportunity to do a crew swap with some N2 folks on board. It was designed to give us an opportunity to place faces with names of crew members we would be supporting during their deployment and vice versa. It was a great idea, and it actually worked out even better than we had initially hoped.

We had an opportunity to work with the folks in CVIC and SUPPLOT (intel centers on the ship) as well as having some fun watching flight ops on sever different occasions both during the day and at night.

The COD (carrier on-board delivery...C-2/GREYHOUND) took us from Bahrain, through Qatar to pick up a few more passengers and on to the TR in the North Arabian Sea. All the planes on the carrier have the ability to fold up to make space on the flight deck and in the hangar bays. It is amazing to see the COD and the E-2C begin to fold their wings up almost immediately upon landing so the ground crew can begin to maneuver them out of the way to allow for the next plane to trap.

Everyone had to wear this flight gear during the trip to and from the carrier. It consisted of the helmet ("cranial"), goggles, and a horse collar which is just a flotation device in the event of a water landing/emergency.

CVN 71 - USS Theodore Roosevelt

One of the hornets getting ready for a launch...I am pretty sure I could sit and watch these guys fly all day long and never get tired of it. I wish my eyes had been good enough to allow me to fly for the Navy!

The catapults that launch the aircraft are steam driven, so once the planes are launched you can see lots of steam coming from the deck as the catapults retracts and gets set to launch the next guy in line. You can also make out the arresting wires in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture below. There are a total of four arresting wires to give the pilots ample opportunitiy for making the trap before having to power back up, take off, and come around again for another try. The tension on the wires are set to a specic tension prior to each landing according to the weight of the aircraft approaching. There are huge hydraulic drums below the flight deck that apply tension to the arresting wires. The arresting wires looked to be (just glancing) about 1 1/2" in diameter.

The view from this lower platform is spectacular.

Below are a couple of night landing shots...hard to see the plane because of the slow shutter speed, but the effect of the lights screaming in through the darkness is pretty neat.

This sparks you see flying in this second night shot is the arresting hook scraping the deck as the pilot is attempting to catch one of the wires for a trap. It all happens so fast it's hard to catch. If the pilot misses the trap he/she has to power back up quickly and cruise out the other end. It happened a couple of times while I was watching.

When the tankers are getting ready to launch, they have to hit full afterburner in order to take off with all the extra weight. It is really a spectacular sight to see at night, because there is a 10-15 foot flame coming from the engines prior to launching and then off it takes off.

Run Across Bahrain

Last weekend five other friends from NAVCENT and I ran a 10-miler from the eastern to western shores on the southern end of Bahrain. It was a fairly challenging cross-country course across what seemed likely endless sand dunes and rock piles. We were bussed over to the eastern shore and took off running back to the western shores where everyones' cars were parked. There were 3 water stops along the way, and it was a pretty nice afternoon of running since the temperature was really nice...probably never got above 70 degrees.

Everyone finished up strong, and we managed to swing through a McDonald's drive-thru on our way back to the base. There is nothing like a greasy double cheeseburger to satisfy the hunger you build up over a good run. I'm still looking into bringing McDonald's on board as my endurance sports sponsor at some point...stay tuned for more!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

I purchased a Christmas Tree at the NEX to spice up my flat a little bit around Christmas, and by a little...I mean a little since my tree is only 18" tall. It does have lights, but they only run on 110V, and since I don't have a step-down transformer they will remain unlit. It's a fun tree anyway and makes my middle-eastern surroundings seem a little more cheery around Christmas!

By the way...Merry Christmas...not Happy Holidays...Merry Christmas!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...Almost!

I am sure that everyone already received our Christmas card in the mail, but on the off chance you didn't...here it is! I sure hate to be away from my family and friends during Christmas, but this will probably be the last year for that! I submitted my resignation (request for release from active duty) letter two weeks ago and will be seeking gainful employment elsewhere around Oct/Nov 2009. We've just got too many things happening with our family to be running all over the world...plus I just can't stand being away from my wife and kids.

I hope to see everyone (briefly) around March/April when I come home on leave, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of everyone once I am back in either West Texas or Northeastern New Mexico for good! I love ya'll and hope everyone has a great Christmas!