I've got less than three months left in Afghanistan, and I just received my follow-on assignment a few days ago. I'll be going to Hawaii next summer! I'm so excited I can barely stand it. For all of the shit I've been dealing with this year, this feels incredible.
The only downside is that it will be difficult to see/visit my son while I'm stationed OCONUS. I figure I'll tackle that obstacle when I come to it. I'm not on orders yet, and assignments can change, but my morale has been through the roof since I found out. This is exactly what I needed... a fresh start.
Between now and when I get to Hawaii I'm going to save every penny I can. I'll get a rat-hole apartment when I get back to Kentucky, since I'll only be there for a few months, and save as much as possible. Hopefully I'll get to Hawaii with close to $20K in the bank. I've got more than a few plans for that money. :D
For the first time in six years, I'll finally be stationed in a location where I will be able to perform all of my hobbies (scuba, skydiving, motorcycles, and hopefully surfing), I'll have the money to afford it, and now that I'm divorced, I'll have the freedom to do so.
I informed my Ex the other day of my upcoming move, mainly so I can start scheduling time with my son when I get back, and it got very quiet on the other end. Since the day we were married, we both hoped that some day I would get stationed in Hawaii. Now, a little over a month after the divorce was finalized, I come down on orders to my dream assignment. To think... if she would have held out for a few months, she could have been a stay-at-home mom in Hawaii. Now, she's just a single mom in Kentucky. The irony is so thick I could cut it with a knife.
But who cares about her!?! This is my life now! This is finally the impetus that I've been waiting for. If some of you haven't noticed, I've been focusing fairly heavily on my failed marriage and have had a rather bleak outlook on the future these past few months. I knew that at some point I would begin to get past the hurt and the pain, and start to look forward to the prospects in front of me.
This turn of events however, has taken me completely by surprise. I knew that getting stationed in Hawaii was a possibility, but this duty station is usually one that you have to re-enlist for. I'm incredibly grateful, as the opportunities that this could entail are virtually limitless.
Chalk one up for karma... [thumbsup]
I cannot think of someone more deserving than you,,,,, given where and what you have been through the past couple of months
A nice geographic cure...AND you don't have the baggage in tow...you'll work out the logistics with your son and he will get to see and know his father
under the best possible circumstances
Sweeeeeet! Congrats. Been to Hawaii once in the late 80s with my future ex. ;D Had a very nice time... except for the 8 hour flight back home. Ever had really BAD food posioning on a 8 hour flight? [puke] :P Anyway, good for you! [thumbsup] Hope you enjoy it. [popcorn] Also hope the visits with junior work out. VERY important stuff there. ;)
Just keep living in a rat hole appartment though... you don't need much to be happy, and raking in an extra 800 a month doesn't hurt. Not sure what paygrade you are... but even an e-6 with no dependants is pushing 2k a month out there, and there are plenty of apartments for around 1100 right near pearl harbor. (I'm secretly hoping for orders to NSYPH myself, don't tell the wife).
W00t! What's not to love? Sun Sand Surf and money in the bank! Ten years ago I visited New Zealand and Australia for a month each, when I had about $20k in the bank. Good times! Best two months of my life.
So what do you do when life gives you pineapples?
Make pineappleade? ;D
glad to hear you are on the upward swing. Enjoy the new scenery!
You make pina coladas! [thumbsup]
hell, I went to an Adam Sandler film reference at 1st and thought you were going to have a Little Nicky moment and start shoving pineapples up Hitler's ass or something when I read the title...
congrats!
That is so cool for you. [thumbsup]
Note that there are very few places to ride fast in Hawaii. Also there's no helmet law and lane sharing is not allowed. But with the sand and surf, the awesome food, the natural beauty and the friendly people, it's almost paradise.
Ciao.
Get teh skinny from DRKWNG - he was there a good bit of time
Good news
Quote from: Sad Panda on October 11, 2011, 08:34:00 AM
Get teh skinny from DRKWNG - he was there a good bit of time
Contact Teddy as well.
w00t! fingers crossed for luck! [thumbsup]
Quote from: King Tut on October 11, 2011, 07:21:37 AM
So what do you do when life gives you pineapples?
Make pineappleade? ;D
you make that delicious, rum-soaked-pineapple drink courtesy of jebus tristos :) :) :)
Quote from: duccarlos on October 11, 2011, 08:37:22 AM
Contact Teddy as well.
bam! someone say my name?
I meant the other, better looking, Hawaiian named Teddy. Sorry dude.
[clap]congrats man[clap]
make the beast with two backs Pearl, get out of the rat race and live on the other side like the locals
Kailua or Kaneohe. Course since I lived there its all grown way up.
Quote from: VisceralReaction on October 11, 2011, 11:25:34 AM
[clap]congrats man[clap]
make the beast with two backs Pearl, get out of the rat race and live on the other side like the locals
Kailua or Kaneohe. Course since I lived there its all grown way up.
What kind of drive is it from over there to pearl? I'm kinda curious
that drive sucks. everyone is trying to get on base at the same time.
if you are gonna do that live close to H3.
and I would rent a room from somebody who rides bikes and has a garage over an apartment anyday.
lots of missing bikes for a place that doesnt even have a track anymore.
i recommend an on/off road bike to get the most out of it.
good luck, have fun!
Quote from: duccarlos on October 11, 2011, 10:50:47 AM
I meant the other, better looking, Hawaiian named Teddy. Sorry dude.
hey man, ver.3 is 3x the pretty! ;D
Quote from: Punx Clever on October 11, 2011, 12:10:51 PM
What kind of drive is it from over there to pearl? I'm kinda curious
from the windward side of the island, it's not nearly as bad. H3 is pretty much a straight shot to pearl/hickam, er, JBPHH.
the majority of the commute traffic is from the west/central, eastbound in the AM, westbound in the PM. like the whole frickin island works in HNL, but lives west/central.
Shit it's gotta be a hell of alot better going via the H3 now. The last time I was there when my
grandmother died they were almost finished with it and we had to go over the pass each time
to get back and forth to HNL
Quote from: VisceralReaction on October 11, 2011, 01:00:57 PM
Shit it's gotta be a hell of alot better going via the H3 now. The last time I was there when my
grandmother died they were almost finished with it and we had to go over the pass each time
to get back and forth to HNL
the other good thing is that you have options (H3, pali) to get through, in case of traffic.
for the rest of us, if there's traffic on H1, we're screwed [roll]
Cut the skin of pineapple and cut around the core. Cut the pineapple into 1.5 inch cubes. Add maybe a half cup to the blender. 1.5 ounces of rum, I like dark rum, into blender. Get a can of Coco Lopez and shake it up really good. Open it and pour about 2 TBS worth into blender. Add either a scoop of vanilla ice cream or perhaps 1/6 cup half and half. Add some ice, blend. To tweek the thickness, you can add more ice to thicken, or more rum to thin it out. Let it blend really well because getting ice bits stuck in your straw really sucks. (Pun intended.) You can also make the same drink with a clear rum, then after it has been poured into a glass, leaving a little room at the top, you can float some dark rum or spiced rum. Tacky umbrella optional. All portions are approximate. If you really like the coconut, add more in the next drink. If you really like the pineapple, add more of that. Not creamy enough? More ice cream. Not strong enough? More rum. You could also consolidate steps, by purchasing coconut ice cream to replace the Coco Lopez and half and half or ice cream. You could also put a splash of Kahlua into the blender. Or Bailey's. Or half of a ripe banana.
Just don't [drink] too much or you might [puke] and definitely do not [Dolph] after consuming said product.
I've also made a great pineapple upside-down cake in a cast iron skillet with a cornmeal base that was very popular. Search for recipe on web. Pineapple and rum and butter and cornbread in one delicious dessert.
[drool] [drool] [drool] [drool] [drool]
Teddy is dead on, dealing with the H1 on a day to day basis SUCKS. The only way it's not terrible is if you're pulling shift work. I had a seventeen mile commute (each way) for the first year and half I was there, from Makakilo to PH and there were times that it could take up to an hour and a half; mostly caused by the cluster-make the beast with two backs that was the Kapolei/Ewa junction. Depending on where you work, living on the windward side is definitely the way to go. It's more expensive, and the places usually aren't as modern, but it's much more relaxed.
I think it's a pretty good bet that you'll be working up at Schofield though, so that puts you in the Mililani area. There are plenty of good spots up there on the hill that are close to the base. You could also live a little "further" out and get a spot near Haliewa if you wanted to try and get a spot near the beach. Start checking things out in Desmotropic, and get in touch with Zilla. He's at the 25th, and also came from Campbell.
Quote from: teddy037.3 on October 11, 2011, 12:46:24 PM
hey man, ver.3 is 3x the pretty! ;D
i thought that the pretty upgrade would not ship until v10.
Quote from: duccarlos on October 12, 2011, 01:56:35 PM
i thought that the pretty upgrade would not ship until v10.
lol
i just soak pinable chunks in cocnut rum for a couple of days and serve them as appetizers.
then i chug the liquid left in the bowl.
Quote from: King Tut on October 12, 2011, 02:40:03 PM
i just soak pinable chunks in cocnut rum for a couple of days and serve them as appetizers.
then i chug the liquid left in the bowl.
That explains a lot of things..... ;D
Quote from: krolik on October 12, 2011, 09:39:53 PM
That explains a lot of things..... ;D
it's a summertime thing, and i havne't had money or a reason to make it so shush.
wow, i'm threadjacking hardcore.
sorry adam
Quote from: King Tut on October 13, 2011, 06:45:19 AM
wow, i'm threadjacking hardcore.
sorry adam
we're still talking about pineapples, right?
Quote from: RAT900 on October 11, 2011, 04:33:38 AM
I cannot think of someone more deserving than you,,,,, given where and what you have been through the past couple of months
A nice geographic cure...AND you don't have the baggage in tow...you'll work out the logistics with your son and he will get to see and know his father
under the best possible circumstances
Couldn't agree more [thumbsup]
Good deal mang!