One Semester of Spanish Love Song

Here it is.  Mucho gusto!

Litmus Test for the South

In my limited experience traveling the American landscape, I’ve noticed that some of the places that are technically in the South are not Southern in culture.  Oklahoma is one of these places.  Oh sure, they have lots of cowboy culture (there’s even a cowboy museum in OKC!), but they lack the one crucial ingredient to make a place truly Southern–and no, it’s not Jeff Foxworthy or the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.  It’s sweet tea.

At this point you’re probably thinking “Gadzooks! No sweet tea!”  And I know, that is worthy of an out-loud “gadzooks!” but I should also clarify that you probably can find sweet tea for sale in most large grocery stores in Oklahoma; but you cannot order it to drink in most restaurants.  It’s actually quite sad, because I’ve been trying to drink less soda, and sweet tea seems to be the slightly healthier alternative of choice (what with all the alleged antioxidants and general lack of high fructose corn syrup).

I’ve reached the conclusion that you are no longer in the South when you cannot order sweet tea from the menu in a restaurant.  And you may be in the outer reaches of the South when you order tea and the server has to ask “sweet or unsweet?”  Luckily, there’s a Logan’s Roadhouse in the area, and they do serve sweet tea, even if most of the other places do not.  And if nothing else, I’ve still got cherry cola (even if it is the ghetto mix of half Dr. Pepper and half Coke, a la K-Train’s recipe).  So if you’re wondering what to get us for Christmas, feel free to send full gallons of sweet tea through the mail. 

Our First Thanksgiving, Away…

This has been a week of historic firsts.  To start off, I managed to not post any new blog entries for a few days–which caused me some small distress, since I had thus far blogged every day since August 12th 2008.  I’m sure some of you were equally distressed… or at least I would like to believe you were equally distressed.

Aside from not blogging for a few days, this was the first Thanksgiving that Cori and I have spent away from our families.  So we spent Thanksgiving day at our new home in Oklahoma, but we weren’t alone.  There’s another new attorney at work, so she and her husband came over to feast with us.  They’re from Chicago, and they actually got to Tinker only a few days after we did.  They’re very nice, I’m sure any of our friends who make the journey out to OKC will enjoy meeting them, should the opportunity present itself…

So it was dinner for four, and Cori made all sorts of foods–turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, multiple casseroles (including the famous E.B. corn casserole!), and pumpkin pie.  I love all the different foods that go along with holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter; there’s just such a wide variety of things to stuff myself with, it’s hard not to take more than a few bites of each food.  So by the end of the meal I was full.  The food was really great, and I’m looking forward to living on leftovers for the next few days.

And besides great food, the company was great too.  I know it can potentially be awkward to spend a holiday with folks who you haven’t known for long, but I think everyone had a good time. One thing I’ve noticed about military culture is that people tend to make friends pretty quickly–most folks are very welcoming and don’t think twice to go out of their way to make you feel welcome.  In fact, we got several invitations to spend Thanksgiving with some of the other attorneys at work (but we had already made plans for a newbie dinner by the time we were invited…).

So the dinner was nice, the conversation and company was nice, and we finished the evening off by playing some Rock Band, because what holiday is complete without playing pretend music?  And to round out the week, Cori and I are putting up the Christmas tree today.  More good times.  I’ll put up some pictures of our Christmas-y home soon. 

Home Internet Access, and Cable To Boot

I didn’t realize how much I missed being able to get on the internet at home until we moved.  During our glamorous stay in on-base lodging (you know, the place with mice…) we were without internet access.  So we made frequent trips to Starbucks and Panera Bread to use their free internet.  In so doing, by the way, I discovered that Starbucks is actually pretty stingy with their internet access–you have to pay four dollars for every two hours of use.  And Panera Bread isn’t very generous either, at least during the hours of 11:00 am to 1:00 pm–they boot you off after just thirty minutes!

Anyway, we finally got our internet hooked up at the house, and it is incredibly convenient to be able to check email and update podcasts while wearing pajamas and lounging on the sofa.  It was also very nice to be able to watch FSU pummel Maryland last night, thanks to ESPN and Cox, the local cable provider.  Cox has some really funny adds for cable and internet, my favorite of which are below.

Aside from Cox bringing us the wide world of sports, they’re also our internet provider and I have so far been impressed.  The service guys who came out yesterday were very polite and helpful.  So Cox is doing ok in my book, and hopefully they’ll stay that way.

Our House (In the Middle of Our Street)

Here (at long last) are some pictures from the house we’re leasing in Oklahoma.  I’ll put up some additional photos once we get all the furniture and clutter sorted.

We’re happy to have a place to settle in, and we’re looking forward to some of our friends making the long drive (or short flight) out to visit some time in the next two years that we’ll be stationed here.  Yes, that is an open invitation…

Some Random Funny Images

This is a lazy post, but a post nonetheless (written at the local Panera Bread, whilst I wait for our home internet service to be set up). Here are some random funny images, mostly from tee shirt websites. This post is dedicated to my friend K-Train.

McMillans In the House!

We’ve moved into our house in Oklahoma.  Unfortunately our household goods have not.  Last night we slept on sleeping bags on the floor.  And normally I’m not a fan of sleeping on the floor, but I have to say being in the unfurnished house was still a step up from the mice-infested temporary lodging on base.  Our stuff will arrive tommorrow, and I will post pictures of the house soon.  (By the way, sorry for not posting any pictures as of yet, I have just been too busy to take the time to transfer the pics from the camera to my laptop… while at Panera Bread or Starbucks using free internet.)

Gears of War 2: Last Day

I really enjoy movie and video game trailers that are cinematic and offer a compelling glimpse of the story.  Some of the best trailers I’ve seen lately are set to good mood music–like the Gears of War “Mad World” trailer, or the Prince of Persia TGS teaser.  Here’s one of my current favorite trailers, for the recently released Gears of War 2, and it features “How It Ends” by DeVotchKa.

Gears of War: Mad World

For any Tears for Fears fans (and who isn’t?), who are also video game fans (again, who isn’t?), here’s the trailer from the first Gears of War, featuring a very cool cover of “Mad World.”

Gears of War has been out for a few years, so if you haven’t played this Xbox 360 exclusive (and you also have a 360), then you should definitely pick up a copy.

In-Processing Briefings–Where’s the “Military Intelligence”?

So I’ve been going through the normal in-processing procedures over the past week or two.  First going into the office and meeting everyone, then being on leave for house hunting, and most recently going through the “right start” briefing.  This briefing is an all day deal, starting at 0630 and going late into the afternoon.  Ideally this is a way for new folks at a base to get an idea of what the mission of the base is, hear from the major organizations, and also get set up for payment and insurance.

I went to this briefing last Friday, and most of it was, to be blunt, a waste of time.  Most of the briefers were no-shows, so some guy came up and rushed through the slides, making light of whatever the subject matter was.  I was kind of ok with this, since most of the no-shows were organizations I didn’t really care about.  But of the briefers who did show up, there were two that I did care about–finance, and Tricare medical/dental insurance.  The finance briefer was great, and answered all my questions (which I didn’t have too many of, since I had been to see her during the previous day).  The Tricare briefing, on the other hand, was a joke. I considered the medical insurance briefing one of the most important, but, proportionately, it was given the least amount of time.  So at the end of the Tricare briefing I had lots of questions, very few answers, and in fact the briefer ran out of the room before I could even turn in my paperwork.  This was frustrating, to say the least.  Even more frustrating was the fact that the Tricare briefing was cut short by the staff sargeant running the show; and this guy then proceeded to brief us on the base chaplains (who were among the no-shows).

The chaplain’s briefing, which I would have otherwise been interested in hearing, was really bad, and therefore really frustrating for me to sit through (since it took away from the more important insurance briefing).  What was even worse was that the chaplain’s briefing consisted of just a bunch of slides with quasi-funny/ mostly weird pictures and random captions.  Here are two examples of the more memorable ones.

When life gets you off balance, come see your chaplain!

When life gives you the horns, come see your chaplain!

I am all for referring folks to see the chaplain, but ten minutes of slides like these, which robbed me of time I could have otherwise spent finding out how to get myself and my wife health care coverage, was incredibly frustrating.  So the whole “military intelligence” oxymoron joke seems appropriate here…  But I’ll leave it to the reader’s creative mind to figure out how best to apply it to the “right start” briefing debacle.

Jeannie Tate: Italia!

I really like these Jeannie Tate videos.  Here’s one from Italy.

House Hunting: Part 3: The Conclusion: The Movie

We found a house!  We put in an application for some rental property, and today we heard back in the affirmative.  We still have to go in and sign the lease, but at this point doing so is really just a formality.  I will post pictures as soon as we can get in (the management is doing some touch up painting…).  Our household goods are still in storage, somewhere in Texas I think, so it may be a few days before we get to sleep on our own bed, but it’s good to know we’ll have somewhere other than the on-base (mice infested) temporary lodging to spend our Thanksgiving.  Huzzah!

Jeannie Tate: Oprah!

Here’s a Jeannie Tate video of her visit to the Oprah show.  Funny stuff.

Jeannie Tate: Bill Hader!

I posted a Jeannie Tate video the other day (with Rashida Jones from The Office), and due to the over underwhelming response, I thought I’d post another in the series.  Hope you enjoy this one as much as/ more than the first. 

House-Hunting: Part 2

Yesterday Cori and I got to look at a really nice house not far from base.  The owner showed us around, guiding us from the two smaller bedrooms, to the living room, to the backyard, and then the master bedroom (with built-in panic room/storm shelter…).  We like the house, though the rent is a little more than what we’d like.

So the owner was  a nice lady with an ailing mother she was moving to take care of, and a Brussel’s griffon who was just as friendly as our little dog.  She seemed pretty eager to find some reliable renters who would actually take good care of her house while she was living with her mother.  And after showing us around and chatting she was, to put it mildly, pleased with us.  She apparently really liked that we are a military family, that I’m an officer, and that we generally seem like we’d be good potential renters.  And as she was rattling off all the things that she liked about us, she stopped midsentence and asked “Who did you vote for, for President?”

I was a bit surprised by this question–I don’t even think this is a legal way to discriminate among potential renters… I managed to roll off “Ralph Nader” with a chuckle, and Cori said “Bob Barr”–so we managed to duck the question with a bit of joshing.  But still, I can’t believe she asked us that!

Anyway, we’re still looking at places to rent, and hopefully I’ll have some more information on where we’ll actually be living very soon.

Mice Infestation: Not An Emergency…

So this post is more of a way for me to air a few grievances than a substantive update… Anyway, Cori and I are staying on base in temporary lodging, which is supposed to be like a nice hotel or condo.  Last summer, during my internship at Patrick AFB (just south of Cocoa Beach), we were in brand new quarters, near the beautiful Banana River for half the summer; the second half of the summer we were in the older TLFs off-base, but this was ok because we were only about twenty yards from the beach.

I wasn’t expecting to stay in an ultra-extravagant place at Tinker.  I understand that the Air Force works under budgetary constraints, and “temporary” lodging can sometimes be designed with the weekend traveler in mind.  So I wasn’t thrilled when I saw the TLF we’re staying in–it’s a one bedroom number, with the bathroom sink immediately beside the kitchen refrigerator.  But the lack of space is something I can deal with.  What I don’t like dealing with are creepy-crawlies, like roaches, crickets, and mice.

I’ve actually seen only a few crickets in the TLF, and no roaches (so far).  And honestly, coming from Florida, bugs are something I’m kind of used to.  What I’m not used to are mice scratching in the walls at all hours of the day (and night).  Last night Cori actually saw a little furry visitor scurry across the kitchen floor and into the counter under the oven.  Bleh.

I called up the hotel front desk, to report a possible mouse infestation.  Now I’m used to dealing with folks in the Air Force–usually professionalism and courtesy are the rule, not the exception.  But the woman working the front desk–Jessica, in case you really want to know–was anything but polite.  I told her we had been hearing mice scratching in the walls, and that my wife had seen one or two of them.  Jessica bluntly told me that this wasn’t an emergency–and not to worry, since the mice were probably just looking for a warm place to sleep, since it’s getting colder at nights.  I’m not kidding–this woman was trying to reassure me that mice scurrying over your feet was nothing to be concerned about.

I was livid, but I tried my best to keep my temper.  I told Jessica that I wasn’t paying nearly six hundred dollars (for two weeks) to have put up with rodents for roommates.  We have a small dog staying with us, and contagious diseases like rabies is a big deal.  Man I was pissed at this lady.  I worked really hard to stay calm, and I think I mostly succeeded, but I told her I wanted someone to deal with the rats within the week; I know it’s not an emergency, but geeze, what kind of a person tells you to just suck it up when you’ve got to fall asleep to the sound of mice scurrying in the walls???

Sigh.  Deep breath.

So this is just one little thing, not even really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.  Other than the  problem with mice, Tinker has been really nice.  (Words that rhyme are the most fun aren’t they?) I’ll try to post on more pleasant things soon. 

Jeannie Tate!

Well here it is, what we’ve all been waiting for:  a soccer mom doing interviews with B-list celebrities.  Check out this little video, let me know if you like it and I may post some more on this in the future. 

House Hunting

Yesterday and today the wife and I have been out house-hunting.  We’ve been cruising around Tinker AFB and Oklahoma City, checking out rental property, and so far we’ve found three or four really good candidates.  The one that I like the most is located in Moore (just south-west of Tinker).  It’s a three bed,  two bath, really close to a few churches that we want to check out.  And probably the funniest thing about this house is that when we drove up and got out to peek in the windows, the neighbor’s little girl was playing in the yard and she started interrogating us–”Are you guys moving in? Do you have any kids? Do you like the snow?”  Very funny.

Anyway, we’re still looking for a place to live.  I’ll update with pictures once we decided on a definite house to rent.

“High Flight”

When you think of the U.S. Air Force, the first thing you think of is probably not poetry.  But when I was a cadet in AFROTC we had to memorize the (un?)official poem of the Air Force, and in the years since I always think of its verses fondly.  The name of the poem is “High Flight” and it’s actually pretty good.  Whenever I read it, I imagine what it must have been like to be one of the first pilots to leave the ground, or to be on board one of the space shuttles as the bonds of gravity are left behind…  Take a look for yourself below (and don’t be afraid to read it aloud…).

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

–John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Quick Poll: Oklahoma…

My friend Jeremy mentioned not too long ago that there are a few things that he thinks of right away when I mention Oklahoma.  I have to say, there are a handful of things that I almost automatically think of too.  So I’m wondering what other folks think of.  Here’s a quick poll to find out.

We’re Here!

This is going to be (another) short post; but I just wanted to let everyone know we’re finally in Oklahoma.  I’ll post in a few days with some pictures and more information on what’s going on.

Erica!

This post is dedicated to Erica, friend of all things “chilly!” 

Just in case this first video isn’t enough (or is perhaps removed), here’s a second take on this advert.

G.I. Joe PSA: “Getting Lost”

Today the wife and I are on the road (and yes, this post was written in advance and scheduled to go up during our trip).  So one of the things I never like to do is get lost while driving.  And since I posted the He-Man intro, I’ve been thinking about some of the other TV shows I loved as a kid.  One of the other great 80s cartoons was GI Joe, full of realistic laser-gunfights where no one was ever actually shot.  Incredible.  One of the other great things about this show were the many public service announcements (PSAs).  Here’s one of the originals,  titled “Getting Lost” (ahh, now it all comes together!), followed by a parody from a few years back.

Now you know–and knowing is half the battle; but did you know about this funny yet very weird parody?

Get Out the Vote!

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past few months, here’s a little reminder:  Tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 4th) is election day!  So go out and cast your vote (if you haven’t already voted early or by absentee ballot).  Vote!  Cause it’s your civic duty, eh?  And if you don’t vote, you can’t really complain about the results.  Here to back me up is a clever, inside joke if-you’ve-ever-been-forced-to-play-a-Halo-match-you-didn’t-want-to, PSA from the kind folks who make “Red vs. Blue”.

He-Man!

When I was a wee lad, my favorite TV show was He-Man.  I don’t remember too much about the show now, other than the fact that there were lots of dudes in fur bikinis for some reason (I guess barbarians and quasi-medieval guys had unusual fashion sensibilities…).  And I do remember the line “by the power of Greyskull!” and the really cheesy opening for the show.  Here it is.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

I’m not one for product placement, but man if I could get paid for endorsing Downy Wrinkle Releaser, I think I’d refuse cash and insist on a lifetime supply of the stuff.  With all the packing I’ve been doing lately, I’ve become very fond of the idea of being able to quickly get wrinkles out of tee shirts and other clothes.  Ironing is ok if you don’t mind taking the time to set up the iron and the ironing board… plus the time it takes to heat the iron and actually smooth out all the wrinkles (and to get a good crease if you really want to go the extra mile).  But if you don’t have the time or space to worry with ironing Downy Wrinkle Releaser works wonders.

If you’ve never used or heard of Downy Wrinkle Releaser, it’s a spray that helps loosen wrinkles, using magic.  Ok, maybe not magic, since the ingredients are listed as “fiber relaxers, water, quality control agents, and perfume”–but there’s some really amazing stuff in there, because I have basically stopped ironing since I discovered this product.  I highly recommend you pick up a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Relaser the next time you’re in the laundry detergent section of the grocery store (or in a handy-dandy travel sized bottle in the over-night toiletries section of big-box stores).  It’s incredibly useful for  getting rid of packing-induced wrinkles, and generally skipping the whole ironing process on just about everything (old-fogey faces excluded).