Strick's Ramblings

As the year of the rabbit comes to an end, the year of the Dragon quickly approaches. 2011 was a good year, filled with many ups and downs, good times and bad times. 2011 seemed to last about as long as a decade. My medical board started around January and lasted until the end of October. So much has happened in this year, I’m not ready to write about it all now.  As I adjust to retired life and prepare for my 2nd career, I find myself missing the camaraderie of my military brother and sisters.  Although I'm glad I have moved on, especially when I think about the deployments and time away from family.

Anyway, enough about that.  The kids had a good Christmas.  Money is tight, but we're surviving.  We are together as a family and safe.  We have much to be thankful for!

My thought are with our troops that are overseas!  May you come home safe and sound!

2012 WILL BE A BETTER YEAR!  And that's that!

With only 7 days and counting until Christmas 2011,  I must admit, this is among the worst Christmases ever.  Although being deployed during Christmas was certainly not fun, Christmas without money is almost equally no fun.  Retirement from the Air Force wasn’t what I expected.  Getting my money is apparently not a priority of the Military.

I am, however, grateful that my family and I are all together and healthy.  Yesterday, early in the morning a real close friend of mine died.  The cause of the death is unknown; does not really matter.  She was too young to die.  Why does this happen?  Who knows?  Our families were supposed to spend time together this holiday.  No family should ever have to go through this… This has been on my mind since I found out yesterday.

As the cursor blinks, the words seem to have frozen.  Enough for now… ciao!

James Strickland's location@9:08pm,12/16 W Cummings Ave, Hampton, VA 23663 http://m.google.com/u/m/xHMnbq

This is only a test...

Brrrrrrr.....

I have recently come to the conclusion that my life comes in 4 parts.  Part one was my child hood.  Part two was when I joined the Military.  Part three is when I get out of military.  Finally part four is when I become an old man.  Part two of my life is currently winding down... it appears that there is light at the end of the tunnel, however dim the light may be, at least there is light.

Just more of my random thoughts.

Once again, I seem to have forgotten that I even own a website. November 2010 was the last time I wrote in here. guess I just haven't had much to say. So much has been going on in my life and the lives of my precious family.

I have recently updated my website from handwritten HTML/PHP to a CMS (Content Management System). This certainly makes my life easier. As I get older, I seem to get lazier with regards to coding. Why hand code your pages when there is no longer a need. As a comparison, why use an Atlas or a paper map and a hi-lighter when you can simply use a GPS. Technology has certainly made our lives easier in so many ways.

As the summer approaches, our family is bracing for a big change... to be announced at a later date once everything is final. Enough for now...

Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360 | Shop, Buy, Deals & Compare | PCMag.com

What will happen to Nintendo, now that PS3 & XBOX has motion gaming.  Nintendo has stuck around this long, will they remain?

You know, being on convalescent leave is not too bad.  I mean, I get paid to lay around the house and get better.  In fact, I got 18 days off for free.  These days don’t count  against my 30 days annual paid vacation, which is a good thing. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all good… I did run out of my drugs yesterday, and my knee hurts.  The swelling persists, today is day number 8, since surgery.  Walking still is a task, assisted by crutches you’ll see me hobbling around.

I think the worst thing, other than the pain, is not being able to take a shower.  I am addicted to hot showers, and not being able to take a shower is driving me crazy.  What I do, is stick half my body in the shower, with my bad leg out with the knee wrapped so it will not get wet, and shower that way.  Hopefully, next week after my follow up I will be able to take a shower.  It gets boring laying around the house. 

Greetings all,

October was a busy month.  I aged yet another year, at 35 years old I had my first surgery.  I had knee surgery on Wednesday.  Currently my knee is slightly larger than a softball/grapefruit and it hurts.  

We took the kids to Busch Gardens Williamsburg for some Halloween fun last weekend.  They have Hallowscream there, and it was certainly an interesting experience.

And finally, this weekend the kids will walk around the neighborhood and get free sugar.  I was considering handing out broccoli…

What a boring Columbus Day. Not that I'm celebrating this day. hey, it's another paid day off work. While reading about Columbus on Columbus Day, I stumbled upon the following:

8. Columbus was an opium addict, the same drug used in producing modern-day heroin.

9. There is genetic evidence that Columbus and his men brought the sexually transmitted disease Syphilis to Europe.

What an amazing hero! Just today's thoughts...