Saying Goodbye

I couldn't ask for a better final week with my friends and family before I ship out.

It all started with this past Saturday when I had my going away party, then I met my friend Kelly for dinner and coffee.

Monday and Tuesday I spent with my parents running errands, did things around the house, and cooked out. 

Wednesday, I met my friend Katie for lunch and coffee.

I spoke to my recruiter on Monday to check in and then on Tuesday we were supposed to meet at the office for my 7 day re-certification and PT, but that got pushed back to Thursday. I had my urinalysis... I have a couple more of those next week (on Tuesday before going to the hotel, on Wednesday morning at MEPS, then again at RTC--boot camp)... I had a few minor things to straighten out about shipping out, and we had PT where we exercised to a TaeBo video for an hour.

Thursday evening I went out with my parents, brothers, grandma, and brother's girlfriend and son and we spent some time together.... this was after I went to the recruiter for my meeting. When I got home, I spoke to my great grandma on the phone for a while. 

Yesterday, I am met my best friend, Ana, to see the movie "Something Borrowed." It was a great!

And, last night I went out with my friend Katie and her friends to celebrate her graduation from junior college. It was so much fun! I hadn't had a night out with the girls in a long time.

Also, my niece arrived for her weekend visitation with my brother Benj. She will be here until Monday afternoon when they leave to take her back to Indiana to meet her mother.

Today I met my friend Amanda and her mom and we all went bowling....and I didn't suck too much... got better with each game we played (started off at a 40 and ended on a 60, I think).

On Sunday I have plans with my grandparents, immediate family, and my aunt for a cook out. 

This is all getting so surreal, and time is flying by so fast whereas before it dragged. I intend to have a relaxing weekend and then get things in order on Monday... Tuesday my mom drops me off at my recruiter's office and I go to the hotel, and Wednesday I ship out for RTC at Great Lakes for boot camp for 9 weeks.

I am saying goodbye to my childhood home, my friends and family, my pets, and civilian life. The next time I write in my blog I will be a United States Sailor and training for my job in aviation.

Time is running away, where has it gone?

The following two songs definitely describe how my last week has been... I am excited about all of the opportunities my future holds, but running out of days to do things before I leave.


Incubus- "Drive"

"Drive" lyrics

"Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear
And I can't help but ask myself how much I let the fear
Take the wheel and steer
It's driven me before
And it seems to have a vague, haunting mass appeal
But lately I'm beginning to find that I
Should be the one behind the wheel

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
I'll be there"


3 Doors Down- "Running Out of Days"

"Running Out of Days" lyrics


"All these little things in life they all create this haze 
There’s too many things to get done, and I’m running out of days"

Motivational Navy artwork and posters

I found some old Navy recruiting posters and a couple of other images that I found that were inspiring to me.

Mary Englebreit artwork from a 2009 calendar I had.

Vintage Navy WAVES recruiting posters... World War II

Cute images of tattoo designs with Sailor Jerry's style inspiration

Found: really cool old pictures of family members in uniform...

These are some more Peek family military pictures... a couple of them are really cool and I think that they would be really fun to reproduce for my artwork. Most of these are of my Mom's dad, John, but the last one is John and Joseph (my great grandfather).

Dad... pictures from his military career

10 days... Wow!

I had an excellent weekend. I saw many of my friends yesterday and today.

Last night I had a going-away party with six of my closest friends, one of my brothers' girlfriends, and a couple of my brothers' friends who are also like brothers to me. It was a lot of fun! We started the evening about 8 pm and all either headed home or went to bed between 5 and 5:30 am. It was so nice catching up with everyone... good food, good conversation, good fun, good friends. A fun time was had by all... a perfect send-off party.

Tonight I met a close friend who I know from college, and we went for dinner then out for coffee. We spent a few hours visiting and catching up... it was really nice! Next week a couple of my close friends, one of which wasn't able to make the party, want to get together with me. Also, I will be seeing my niece and a few family members for the last time in quite a while.  I am going to try my hardest to fit everything in with my schedule.

It is finally sinking in that I am leaving. A month ago I was so anxious and ready to leave that it was all I could think about and nothing else mattered. Now I have one full week and a couple of days left to go before I ship out. I am relaxed and at peace with the fact that I am leaving. Only a few minor things have me on edge. I have one final Navy meeting next week for our weekly PT and then am going to get in my regular PT. There will be final house-keeping things to do before I leave, such as laundry and packing up the last of my room and talking to my family about important need-to-know items before I ship out.

It is so hard to believe that I will be moving out of my childhood home in 10 days. So many memories that it will be hard to say goodbye. I'm trying to take it all in for the last time... to relax and enjoy every moment of it. It will be awhile until I see it all again. Now I will be onto a new chapter in my life and oh, the experiences I will have and the places I will see. I can't imagine what all awaits me in this new venture. I am sure that I will have lots of stories to share along my journey. Once I leave for boot camp, I will not have access to a computer for 9 weeks, and will see when I get liberties back... probably in A school. As I have the time to recap my travels and new experiences, I will try to update everyone. I have all my addresses written in my address book and my stationary all ready to go. All I have to do is finish packing my few items to take with me to boot camp, then the rest of my "unnecessary" items will be shipped home. I will be provided with the essentials by the Navy, and begin my career.

Sometimes, I can't find the words to express what I'm feeling and a song is the only thing that will do... I want to thank everyone who has always been there for me in my support system of friends, family, teachers, and acquaintances. I face a crossroads in my life where I had a decision to make, and it helped to decide the path for the rest of my life. I am headed into the unknown, starting a new life, and I couldn't have gotten to where I am today without all of you. (I'm sure that there are more songs to describe it all, but this is what I thought of right now.)

Fall Out Boy- "Thnks fr th Mmrs" (thanks for the memories)

Green Day- "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"

Chantal Kreviazuk- "Leaving on a Jet Plane"

The Proclaimers- "I'm on My Way"

Eve 6- "Here's to the Night"

Anchors Aweigh

One day I was watching $#*! My Dad Says and they were talking about the William Shatner's character's Navy days. Recently I was searching for a good audio version of Anchors Aweigh and revisited this TV episode.

Here are a couple of clips: 

Ed Sings Anchors Aweigh

Tim's Choir Performs Anchors Aweigh

I heard that we will have to be able to sing the Navy anthem "Anchors Aweigh." I am not surprised by this...it makes sense. 

I already have the sheet music, so I can sight-read the notes that I need to know. Kudos to all those years of choir training!   

Navy Choir sings Anchors Aweigh

There are different verses to the song. Wikipedia gives the original 1906 lyrics, then they were changed in 1950 and added a bridge. Today's lyrics are even longer than previous ones because it adds an additional verse and an additional bridge.

"The song is also is used in the US Navy boot camp in Great Lakes IL, recruits when passing through an underground tunnel heading away from the barracks sing the first verse and sing the second verse on the way back."

Wikipedia- Anchors Aweigh

These are the lyrics taught to those at boot camp:

Verse 1

Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry;

We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.

Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory

And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Verse 2 (most widely sung)

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to foreign shores, We sail at break of day, of day.

Through our last night on shore, Drink to the foam,

Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

Current events

I'm sure everyone has seen the current events in the news and know about the role played by the Navy SEALS.

Here is an interview I found today about it.  It focuses on a proud Navy and supports its sailors. Go Navy!

Interview with Admiral Gary Roughead

Documentaries about the US Navy

I have found a couple of documentaries about the Navy that are quite interesting. One is called Carrier and it is followed the USS Nimitz during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)... right after 9/11. This was a 10-part mini series on PBS. It is really cool because the show gives an insight into a few different careers in the Navy, lifestyle on board an aircraft carrier, and what it's like at sea for sailors. It also shows the homecoming.

Carrier (PBS)

Another documentary that I came across today is also about the USS Nimitz. It's called USS Nimitz Dry Dock. I have watched 2 episodes so far, and it is neat. I am not sure how new this documentary is, but on the US Navy's youtube page I only see the 2 episodes... so it must be relatively new. The carrier is dry docking at Puget Sound for a year. When they dry dock they guide the ship into the dock, center it above a series of wooden blocks, seal the channel, and drain it of water. It is a very long and intensive process to prepare the ship.

USS Nimitz Dry Dock- Episode 1

USS Nimitz Dry Dock- Episode 2

USS Nimitz Dry Dock- Episode 3

The USS Nimitz is posting videos on their Facebook page: USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

15 days to go! About 2 weeks

Yesterday I had a meeting with the Senior Chief Petty Officer for our district. My recruiter took me up there so I could meet with him and the May shippers. He wanted to make sure everything was still on track for us and answer any remaining questions we have. And, they fed us dinner... pizza! :)

Today I had my last DEP meeting and we also had our pre-PRT test... we were tested on our 1.5 mile run, sit-ups, and push-ups. It was to give an idea of what we have to work on. I have some work to do.  We also got some important information about current Navy issues and talked about recent events in the news, its possible consequences, and a high threat level. So the overall message to us DEP members was to be careful and still be prepared for our commitment (and all it entails to serve our country).

A long couple of days with 2 round-trips from my house to Janesville. I only have one more PT meeting left with my DEP group, and that is next week. Then begins more processing stuff to ready for Basic Training.

Now begins the countdown...get ready, get set, go!

I have 21 days left... a little less than 3 weeks. I can't believe how much time has flown by since I signed my contract back in February!

I am getting overly anxious for this new chapter in my life to begin. Daily life is boring and annoying me... and every little thing (and sometimes a certain person, depending on the day) is getting on my nerves. Things have become monotonous and I feel like I have been cooped up.... I am sick of anything that might even hint at drama or rudeness. I can't wait to see my friends... it's been forever! It will be the ultimate send-off to spend time with my friends since I have already seen family. There is not enough time to see everyone before I leave, but I will have seen most of the important ones. Time to relax a bit.

I just have to stick it out a little longer and get a few minor things in order before I leave.  Before I know it, I will be leaving for boot camp and then off to A School for my technical training. Once I leave I will be out of contact with everyone at least until boot camp is over... only accessible via regular mail in the form of handwritten letters. And, I will be away from friends and family for the first significant period of time longer than a couple of weeks for the first time in my life. This is definitely a huge step, and I am glad that I am not only beginning things soon, but that I have taken the time to think long and hard about it before I made my life-altering decision.

U.S. Navy in the movies

In the past 2 days I have watched 2 movies featuring stories inspired by/featuring the U.S. Navy. 


Last night I watched A Few Good Men. I can't believe how long it had been since I had seen this movie... still a good one. My favorite dialogue in this movie is when Lt. Kaffee, Lt. Commander Galloway, and Lt. Weinberg arrive in Cuba to investigate the case: 


Kaffee: Whoa. Hold it. We gotta take a boat? 
Barnes: Yes, sir. To get to the other side of the bay. 
Kaffee: Nobody said anything about a boat. 
Barnes: Is there a problem, sir? 
Kaffee: No, no problem. I'm just not that crazy about boats, that's all. 
Galloway: Jesus Christ, Kaffee, you're in the Navy for crying out loud.


Tonight, I watched my favorite movie Top Gun. I have watched this movie so many times that I can practically recite the whole thing. And, it is so ironic that I am going into the Navy now especially since I am going into the aviation field. I love the comaraderie that is presented in the movie. I know that it is not factual, but it's still a great movie. And, whenever we watch Top Gun my brothers, my dad, and I always turn up the TV volume for the opening scene for "Danger Zone" and the sounds of the aircraft being readied until the aircraft takes off and leaves the aircraft carrier... as we did when we were growing up. I don't know why we do this, I guess it's just a bit of tradition. My brothers were giving me a hard time that I was mouthing the words as the actors said them.  "You never leave your wingman."


One day I hope to see all of these.... here's a list of movies featuring the U.S. Navy:


Navy Seals, Chasers, Going Under, The Caine Mutiny, Mister Roberts, Midway, In Harm's Way, Flight of the Intruder, Away All Boats, Destination Tokyo, The Enemy Below, Fighting Seabees, Hellcats of the Navy, Operation Petticoat, Victory at Sea; Run Silent, Run Deep; In the Navy, McHale's Navy, Francis in the Navy, Don Winslow of the Navy, The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell, Down Periscope, The Wackiest Ship Army, Ensign Pulver, Anchors Aweigh, Tears of the Sun, Officer and a Gentleman, Antoine Fisher, Annapolis, The Hunt for Red October, Pearl Harbor


There are also countless TV shows and documentaries.


I am so excited to be leaving for boot camp for the U.S. Navy in 24 days... time has really flown since I signed my contract back at the end of February.