Jacob's Journeying
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Greetings.
Today is Sunday, November 20th. We're are quickly closing in on Thanksgiving and roughly one month away form the start of a new year.
The weather around here in North Carolina has been fairly nice.
At the beginning of November I got done with the Rifle Range. It's a two week event when you count Grass Week.
Everything was going great until Wednesday when I got sick. I think the overall stress of everything is what did it to me. Waking up extra early, standing outside shivering in the cold, pulling targets for two hour straight and lack of nutrition must've really shocked my body. It's still hanging onto me so I've been doubling up on rest and vitamins. At least I got Expert. Now I have two days to gather myself back together and transitioning into something else.
Fleet Week.
Got a gear list and a day to get my bags packed to leave on a ship heading to New York City.
(Two days later)
Flying out to the ship on a helicopter.
Today is Sunday, November 20th. We're are quickly closing in on Thanksgiving and roughly one month away form the start of a new year.
The weather around here in North Carolina has been fairly nice.
At the beginning of November I got done with the Rifle Range. It's a two week event when you count Grass Week.
Everything was going great until Wednesday when I got sick. I think the overall stress of everything is what did it to me. Waking up extra early, standing outside shivering in the cold, pulling targets for two hour straight and lack of nutrition must've really shocked my body. It's still hanging onto me so I've been doubling up on rest and vitamins. At least I got Expert. Now I have two days to gather myself back together and transitioning into something else.
Fleet Week.
Got a gear list and a day to get my bags packed to leave on a ship heading to New York City.
(Two days later)
Flying out to the ship on a helicopter.
And then living on a ship for a few days.
As we enter port we 'man the rails', dock at the pier, and it's game time.
Fleet Week is basically a public affairs event for the Navy and Marine Corps. It's a time for locals and veterans to come aboard ship to ask questions plus meet crew. It's also a time for Sailors and Marines to go out on liberty in New York.
This was the first time ever being in New York and it was amazing.
It was also freezing cold.
Fleet Week is basically a public affairs event for the Navy and Marine Corps. It's a time for locals and veterans to come aboard ship to ask questions plus meet crew. It's also a time for Sailors and Marines to go out on liberty in New York.
This was the first time ever being in New York and it was amazing.
It was also freezing cold.
The day after we ported they immediately started signing us up for the activities they had planned like going to 9/11 Memorial, Today Show, Good Morning America, helping out at a homeless shelter, and hockey games.
I signed up to go to the Today show the next but the group that was going left early and left a bunch behind. No sweat. We'll hit up the later show at GMA.
So I quickly put on my uniform and went without a second thought.
I walked all the way down to Times Square with my group to stand outside representing the Marines. We didn't know what to expect. Army, Air Force, and Navy is already there. Next thing the crew members are setting up for the next part of the show with lights, cameras, bringing rescued dogs from the Humane Society of New York.
It's Veteran's Day so the military has a large presence on this day. They grab a couple service members from each branch to hold a rescued dog while they start recording. They announce who are going to be guests to the show for the day and soon the news anchors show up to meet and greet. Everyone's already doing the picture thing with their phones too. Of course celebrities show up and people automatically want to get pictures with them. We were kind of shoved to the side so nobody came over to talk to us except Garth Brooks. A couple of my buddies we're asking who he was but I knew him. He's a country man, wearing his blue jeans and cowboy boots with his signature black hat. (He was there to sing a live song for the military.)
Anyways, I was standing front row to the crowd guards they had setup along the perimeter. Garth passed in front and I said, "Hey Garth can I get a picture?" He replied, "sure anything for you all." I handed him my phone and we all took a group picture with him. That was it. I chose to face the fear of speaking up and it wasn't so bad.
I signed up to go to the Today show the next but the group that was going left early and left a bunch behind. No sweat. We'll hit up the later show at GMA.
So I quickly put on my uniform and went without a second thought.
I walked all the way down to Times Square with my group to stand outside representing the Marines. We didn't know what to expect. Army, Air Force, and Navy is already there. Next thing the crew members are setting up for the next part of the show with lights, cameras, bringing rescued dogs from the Humane Society of New York.
It's Veteran's Day so the military has a large presence on this day. They grab a couple service members from each branch to hold a rescued dog while they start recording. They announce who are going to be guests to the show for the day and soon the news anchors show up to meet and greet. Everyone's already doing the picture thing with their phones too. Of course celebrities show up and people automatically want to get pictures with them. We were kind of shoved to the side so nobody came over to talk to us except Garth Brooks. A couple of my buddies we're asking who he was but I knew him. He's a country man, wearing his blue jeans and cowboy boots with his signature black hat. (He was there to sing a live song for the military.)
Anyways, I was standing front row to the crowd guards they had setup along the perimeter. Garth passed in front and I said, "Hey Garth can I get a picture?" He replied, "sure anything for you all." I handed him my phone and we all took a group picture with him. That was it. I chose to face the fear of speaking up and it wasn't so bad.
9/11 Memorial was the next day.
Very surreal to be there and see items preserved from Ground Zero. There's just too much to mention.
People from all over the world were there. It's just amazing how much impact 9/11 had on the whole world. Also there is the Freedom Tower close by which is a sight to see.
Very surreal to be there and see items preserved from Ground Zero. There's just too much to mention.
People from all over the world were there. It's just amazing how much impact 9/11 had on the whole world. Also there is the Freedom Tower close by which is a sight to see.
All in all, New York is an interesting place. Full of detail and very densely populated area. People going here and there all the time.
Cars honking at each other is common. You'd think they're mad but it's normal. People handing out coupons to local comedy shows. People speaking in different languages and taking pictures with their families. People very aware and alive, real people from all walks of life. It's like what you see in the movies. It's real.
Cars honking at each other is common. You'd think they're mad but it's normal. People handing out coupons to local comedy shows. People speaking in different languages and taking pictures with their families. People very aware and alive, real people from all walks of life. It's like what you see in the movies. It's real.
- PRIMITUS
- BLOG 1 : PATHWAYS
- BEGINNER WORKOUT PROGRAM
- BLOG 2 : LEAVING FOOTPRINTS
- BLOG 3 : THE SPICE OF LIFE
- BLOG 4 : 4 REASONS TO RETHINK FACEBOOK USAGE
- BLOG 5 : MOTIVATION
- BLOG 6 : THE CASE FOR CAFFEINE
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 1
- BLOG 7 : FIGHT CLUB
- BLOG 8 : FREE FALLING
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 2
- BLOG 9 : BRANCHING OUT
- BLOG 10 : BLAST FROM THE PAST
- BLOG 12 : PATHWAYS PART 2
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 3
- BLOG 13 : PATHWAYS PART 3
- BLOG 14 : ARMAMENT
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 4
- PERSPECTIVE REDEFINED
- BLOG 15 : BREAK DOWN
- THE COLONEL SANDERS STORY
- BLOG 16 : WRECK
- BLOG 17 : NIGHT VISIONS
- BLOG 18 : CHANGES AHEAD
- BLOG 19 : PATHWAYS PART 4
- MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES PART 5
- BLOG 20 : PATHWAYS PART 5
- 3 MILITARY SKILLS TO LEARN
- BLOG 21 : ROAD TRIP PART 1
- QUOTATION COMPILATION
- BLOG 22 : THOUGHTS