ribbons and medals... versus me?

What are the worth of the rows and rows of colorful strips of shiny striped and solid material, that humans add a value to? The strips that represent different criteria, or qualifications that a person "accomplished" or was "awarded?

What about the warfare pins, the shiny metal in intricate designs, representing different tasks a person memorizes, and demonstrates to one person, or a group on a review board? The eagle globe and anchor? The ship moving through water? What about the A with the wings? And the strange looking dophins? The bubble of a diver helmet? All demonstrate the things the person has done in the past, and shows what the person had access to.

Do they define the person? Do they make the person worth more if they wear them? Do the pins show that a person is smart, or is better than anyone else? Is the number of pins someone gets, a matter of value, enough to judge one person over another?

Ribbons that are awarded to a service member, do show that the person has accomplished something, they show that the person might have seen combat, or they might have had access to a shooting range, or they might have recieved a NAM in recognition of some job they did that their command thought was great. Or, they just happened to be at the right place, at the right time. Or they might be of a certain gender. Or, they just happened to get lucky to get stationed where they did.

I was judged, by my appearance. I'm not saying my uniform was a mess, or my cover was on crooked, or my name tag was on backwards, or my ribbons were on the wrong side. I was judged because of my rank, and number of ribbons, and "lack" of warfare devices that I wear on my uniform. Maybe I should have expected this when I joined the navy. But come on, seriously, do these pieces of cloth, and forged metal really show what a person can really do???

Working in a large command, for example, the Naval Hospital of San Diego, hundreds of corpsmen compete with each other. They dont do it on purpose all the time. But with so many people stationed there, its hard to get noticed for what you do. So, when you are awarded with Blue Jacket Sailor of the Quarter, or even Blue Jacket Sailor of the Year, you think someone should notice. Those titles arent given to everyone. You have to display a sense of military bearing, a sense of pride, and have knowlege of the navy, the history, and things that are happening around the world. You think someone would notice. But no. There are no ribbons, there are no medals, not even a letter of commendation or whatever. Nothing to show that you have done a great job, except a freaking "bullet" on your "brag sheet". Stationed at the hospital, you dont get the opportunity to go on a ship, and you dont get the opportunity to go with the marines, and you dont get the opportunity to work with aircraft. Working at a hospital, you have your job, and you do it. And you work to go to school at the same time.

In order to get a lot of ribbons, you need to either get deployed to somewhere that the "action" happens, Which is usually an FMF Corpsman, getting deployed with the marines, which is usually a male. Or, you have to get on a ship, preferably a "small boy", and that way, since you are a corpsman, you are taking care of so many damn people, that you are bound to get noticed. You even might take care of the medical issues of the CO. But what if you dont get that "lucky" to get on a small ship, or get with the marines? Should it even matter???

Being in the navy for 2 years, an E-3, just took the 3rd class exam, with 3 ribbons and working on the 4th ribbon, (the good conduct) (in 9 more months I get it), excellent eval both times it has been given, BJSOQ, BJSOY, letter from the Admiral, something should stand out, you know???

But no.

Sitting next to a 3rd class dental tech, (who probably was in corps school and dental school the same time they were actually in the real fleet) who has been in the same amount of years, with 3 rows of ribbons, and two warfare devices, i look like nothing. I look like I just came out of freaking boot camp.

Why does this bother me? Why am I comparing myself, when I know that I am a great person, when I know that I am happy, when I know that I am loved, and that I am in a great marriage, why should it even bother me? I'm working on my degree, I'm constantly improving each day, I'm almost a mother, and its just strange that pieces of stuff that people make, and pin on their chest defines what people make you out to be.

I know that people are worth more than their ribbons. The actions speak louder than the ribbons. In my last post, I was talking about how I was proud to shake the hands of the Medal of Honor recipients. Maybe I shouldnt be. They are just people too. There are other people out there, that deserve the medal too, but didnt get recognized, for one reason or another. Maybe their chain of command all got killed, and no one reported the circumstances. Maybe the person died, and everyone else did too. Maybe their command just didnt submit the award request. In many cases, thats why someone doesnt get recognized. Because the chain of command, or lack of reports.

I know that I was all happy and interested in these medal recipients. Maybe I shouldnt have been. Because today, I was just getting angry at someone who did the same thing that I did yesterday. "Oooed and Awed" at a person, because the person was wearing a piece of stuff that someone else made into a thing that represents something.

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress. (the two medal of honor images and text above found at: http://www.cmohs.org/ )

Today was my first day back from leave, and I was back to work in the navy. My house hunting leave was done, and I was actually ready to start something new. After a day of the checking in process, and nko training, it was a real treat to be able to go to the Makalapa Clinic here in Pearl Harbor, to go see three Medal of Honor recipients, and hear them speak, and have a chance to ask them questions. The three that were there, was Mr. Donald E. Ballard, Mr. Kenneth E. Stumpf, and Mr. Allen J. Kellogg. They all recieved the medal of honor after serving in Vietnam. The pictures here, are mine, and they were actually signed right then and there after they spoke to about 30 navy men and women. They each gave a brief history of where they were from, when they joined, if they were drafted or signed up before they were drafted, and also the accounts of how they actually performed under fire with complete valor. It was interesting to be able to hear their opinions of the war in Vietnam, and also on the wars going on now. And I'm trully glad that I was able to shake their hands, and to attend this rare occasion that three recipients be in the same room together.

For more information on the Medal of Honor, and the recipients, passed away and living, go to this web site:http://www.cmohs.org/

Sightings of Gecko's

A few days ago, I was cleaning the bathroom. I saw this little sliver of a dark tail. I suddenly freaked out. I thought it was a silver fish or some other strange bug! When I looked closer, it was a tiny tiny lizard! A gecko to be exact. He was about as long as the distal phalanges of my thumb! I didnt catch him, because he was so small that he resembled a small bug! I just let him be...

Since that encounter, I have seen 2 other gecko's climbing on the walls in the living room.

Tonight, I was able to catch one. I went to close my window a little, and there on the screen was this little tiny beige and black gecko! I caught him in a little playing cards box. So I aligned him next to a five of spades, to illustrate his length, and size. Of course, after taking about 15 snapshots of the cute thing, I let him go outside on some bushes. As soon as I came inside, and closed my bedroom door, another one, slightly bigger than this one, and a bit orangy in color, started running down the wall, onto a blue rubbermaid tub I have. He dissapeared, and I couldn't find him. So I might be lucky later, to have another sighting of him!

My New Home

The Koolau Mountains (I think thats what they are called) is seen in the distance. Every time I step out my front door, I see these beautiful mountains. My home is on the left of the picture.

A few days ago I was finally able to pick up my car from the Matson industry that ships cars to Hawaii from California, and back. It feels so good to have it back with me!

And here is a view of the home that Leonard, and I, and our room mate Ghaly, live in. We live in the lower left of the house, and our land lord in the rest of the house. The purple Bougainvillea are so pretty! They have been in bloom ever since I arrived the 31 of March.

Beef Stew with Red Wine (recipe by Diana Rattray)

(the italicized text is actually my input into the recipe. all plain text is from Diana Rattray)

Today, I have decided to use the rest of the stew beef that Leonard had left over from last night. I googled recipes for beef stew and this one sounded the best!!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds stew beef
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
1 to 2 medium carrots, sliced
2 ribs celery (I didnt use this cause I dont like celery...)
1 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 cup dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon
1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary, or a dash of crumbled dried rosemary
1 jar (15 ounces) small onions, or 10 to 16 ounces frozen small onions, thawed
1 box of egg noodles
butter
salt

Preparation: Trim stew beef and cut in small bite-size pieces. (I didnt cut up the meat, cause I dont like cutting meat!) Put in a food storage bag with the flour, onion powder, and seasoned salt; toss to coat well.


Heat oil in a large sauce pan, over medium heat. Add beef to hot oil, and cook, stirring until lightly browned.




Cut up the onion. I didnt dice the onion as the recipe says to, my eyes were watering too much, and plus I like the big onions!!!

Add the onion, and celery. (again, I didnt add the celery....ewe!!!)

Continue cooking, stirring for about 3 minutes.

Cut up the carrots, and minse the garlic. I didnt mince it, cause I dont have a mincer. I just cut it up.

Add carrots, garlic....

beef broth, wine...

and rosemary.

stir it up a little.

Bring it to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, and cover with a lid. Simmer for about 30 minutes.

While the stew is simmering, you can go ahead and
Drain the onions in the jar. Start the pot for the noodles as well.

fill a medium sauce pan with water, and add a dash of salt.

When the water starts to boil, add the pasta.

Cook the pasta until they are soft.

Add the drained onions to the stew, and continue simmering for 20 or 30 minutes, or until beef is tender.

Serve with the freshly done noodles.

Delicious!!!!!

to kill a Cockroach

So I found out a new way to kill a cockroach.

Make sure you put the nasty bug in with your laundry, and spin it in the washer for about 30 to 45 minutes.

After the wash, put all the clothing in the dryer, for about 50 minutes.

After the dry, gather all your clothing,

but make sure you remember you put the cockroach in there, cause otherwise, you might accidently touch the crispy nasty thing with your hands!!!

Kittys Boy

I miss my Kittys. I was just thinking about him, and what a great cat he is. It will be in 2013 when we can be reunited again. Until then, he will probably be happy with his new Colorado outdoor life, hunting ground squirrels, and watching the birds. Here are a few images of the cutie..

It's A Boy!

So Leonard and I went to Trippler on Friday, and we found out we are having a baby boy! I didnt want to put up the image of his privates, but they are indeed there. The ultra sound measurements told us that the baby is actually 15 weeks old, so the new due date is the 28th of September. In this first image, you can see him laying on his right side. His head is in the lower part of the picture, and you can see his spine going up to the top of the picture. You can see his left ear too.

In this picture, you can see his profile really good. In the right part of the picture, is his head, and you can see his mouth and nose so clearly! Oh he is so cute!!!

Botanical Gardens At Waimea Valley

I went to the Botanical Gardens today. The Waimea Valley Botanical Gardens is an outdoor area where there is a mile and a half walk up to the falls.

On the way to the falls, there are so many types of vegitation to look at. This image to the left is a leaf of the Elephant Ear plant. I liked how the sun shone through the leaf, so it appeared to be a sort of stained glass.

Several species of Hybiscus were growing everywhere. Here is a yellow one, and then also, I think this peach one was a hybrid.

A wall of vines were growing in a pretty area. We just had to get our picture taken! Here is my husband Leonard, Me, and our little baby, Leonard the Third.

There were many chickens just running around, kicking up the leaves, and there was this endangered bird. Looked and sounded as a chicken, but it had another name. Peacocks were there too. And one was hanging out under the canopy with us, to hide from the rain.