Friday, December 09, 2011
Not Forgotten
They say in order to write one must have something to write about. When I was pounding away at the keyboard before I had some things to say. Before here I was blogging over on myspace. I had a pretty good run going...people were reading and commenting.
Then a couple of things happened:
1) My life ugly. It was looking that I might have to leave the Navy before retirement and I was pretty upset about it. This leads into #2.
2) I did something no one should do...I blogged angry. Where to this day I feel what I blogged about was correct it was not a good idea to air these things in such a public place. Truth be told I am not sure where I could have aired them at the time. I was literally trapped on the far side of the world with no idea of when I would ever be coming home. Some higher ups at my command found my blog and gave me a what foring and from what I understand some people back on the island were held accountable for how I was being thrown around.
3) Life just moved me away from this.
Now here we are almost two years since my last post and I am in a much better space. I have retired from the Navy and I engaged to a girl who is the best thing that ever happened to me.
So here I am back at these keys punching away and not sure where to start. There have been alot of things going on that I would love to write about. The world, the President, of course just the things I observe on a daily basis and if you know me at all TV.
So why don't we start again...you and me...the writer and the reader and we will see where this goes.
Things about Rob K. that are different now then before:
I am writing and posting from Garner, N.C.
I am engaged to the love of my life Regan. I looked all around the world to the right girl and there she was, right down the street from where I lived in New Jersey.
I am working on getting my teaching certification to teach middle and high school social studies and government.
I could go on...but I am thinking alot of this will come out in the blog.
So....lets go!
Labels: Diego Garcia, Garner, Navy, North Carolina, rob Kerns
Thursday, September 25, 2008
What a Long Strange Trip it's Been...so far
As I sit here in the Bahrain airport I am finally putting down my thoughts from the last few days. It has taken me a bit to get away from all the emotion of everything so now I am ready to write.
When me and my merry band of Navy Journalisnts left Iraq we found out that we werent given travel arrangements per say as we just had to get to the airport and sort of "catch a ride," down to Kuwait. Apparently, the Navy Indivdual Augmentees are not given seats...we have to catch what's left on the plane.
So we sat up all night and I had to find us a flight...of which I finally did and we made it to Kuwait!
Next...
We make our way to the Navy desk and are told we are only going to be at this base for a few days and then we will be moved to Camp Arifjan...when are we going. Hmmm...dont know. When will you know...just check back in the morning we will let you know then.
Next morning....
Come back tomorrow morning...
Next morning...
OK get your gear your leaving at 1300!
So then we bus for two hours across Kuwait...I didn't think Kuwait was big enough to bus two hours across...but we did.
Welcome to Camp Arifjan!
We were welcomed by fellow Navy who had our tents ready, and a schedule of events for the next few days. At last someone with a clue!
So we settle in and wait for about five days so we can turn in our gear and take some classes on not going home and killing our families...that blog is for another day.
So we hang around Camp Arifjan for five days and then the fun starts. We spend the day cleaning our filthy M-16's and giving them back all the gear we were issued. Much of which was still in the plastic it was given to me in!
Then we take our two hour class...ok I know not to kill my family when I get home.
Everyone is then told they are leaving then following day....everybody but Robbie.
Yup, Apprarently, there are only two planes a month that go to D.G. from this end of the world and the next one wasent for a week and a half....so I have sat at Camp Arifjan all this time. I called and bothered my brothers, cousin Michelle and kids to keep my sanity.
After all this I am put back on a bus and sent back to Ali Base. The bus driver rode the gas and brake...gas and brake. I felt like I was on a two hour ride at Universial. I was feeling so car sick....
I didn't hurl...but it was close.
So I am in another tent...that night all I dreamed of was leaving Kuwait, and how it could go wrong. As I tried to sleep people were coming and going in and out of the tent all night to come from and go to thwir flights...didnt sleep too well.
Next morning back on the bus...
Kuwaitti International Here I Come!
I get to the plane and I am immediatly accosted by the curb attendants...apparently they work in a rortation and this guy was assigned to me as they jumped on all of us as we left the bus.
I told the guy that rolled up on me I was fine and he seemed to go away. I then thre my bags on the metal decetor to get in to the airport. I then made my way through the detector and guess who was waiting for me on the other side with my bags neatly stacked on a little cart...yup my assigned curb attendant. He then rushed me away fromt the counter so fast I almost forgot my glasses that I had to remove for the metal detctor.
I made it to the ticket counter...they releived me of my luggage and curb guy releieved me of five dollars.
When I was handed my boarding pass I noticed it said my flight is boarding in twenty minutes.
"Excuse me, I think you put me on the wrong flight. I am supposed to leave in two hours."
"No. I put you on earlier flight. You leave now."
"Shouldn't you ask me before you change my flight?"
"No. I put you on earlier fight. You leave now."
Fine whatever.
So I am out of Kuwait.
Neat fact...everyone on the flight had computers out and i-pods on from the moment we sat down to the moment we landed and none of the flight attendandts said a word...intresting yes?
So now I have a 15 hour layover in Bahrain...I catch a ride with some other Sailors...and eventually I end up on base and then sent to a hotel out in town as there is no room at then Inn.
I slept...I showered...I ate Chili's.
Now I am waiting on this flight...the I/A experience that began all these months ago is over. I am spent. I want to sleep in my bed on D.G. tonight, in the privacy of my own room.
It is so near!
What's more a cold beer awaits as well.
When me and my merry band of Navy Journalisnts left Iraq we found out that we werent given travel arrangements per say as we just had to get to the airport and sort of "catch a ride," down to Kuwait. Apparently, the Navy Indivdual Augmentees are not given seats...we have to catch what's left on the plane.
So we sat up all night and I had to find us a flight...of which I finally did and we made it to Kuwait!
Next...
We make our way to the Navy desk and are told we are only going to be at this base for a few days and then we will be moved to Camp Arifjan...when are we going. Hmmm...dont know. When will you know...just check back in the morning we will let you know then.
Next morning....
Come back tomorrow morning...
Next morning...
OK get your gear your leaving at 1300!
So then we bus for two hours across Kuwait...I didn't think Kuwait was big enough to bus two hours across...but we did.
Welcome to Camp Arifjan!
We were welcomed by fellow Navy who had our tents ready, and a schedule of events for the next few days. At last someone with a clue!
So we settle in and wait for about five days so we can turn in our gear and take some classes on not going home and killing our families...that blog is for another day.
So we hang around Camp Arifjan for five days and then the fun starts. We spend the day cleaning our filthy M-16's and giving them back all the gear we were issued. Much of which was still in the plastic it was given to me in!
Then we take our two hour class...ok I know not to kill my family when I get home.
Everyone is then told they are leaving then following day....everybody but Robbie.
Yup, Apprarently, there are only two planes a month that go to D.G. from this end of the world and the next one wasent for a week and a half....so I have sat at Camp Arifjan all this time. I called and bothered my brothers, cousin Michelle and kids to keep my sanity.
After all this I am put back on a bus and sent back to Ali Base. The bus driver rode the gas and brake...gas and brake. I felt like I was on a two hour ride at Universial. I was feeling so car sick....
I didn't hurl...but it was close.
So I am in another tent...that night all I dreamed of was leaving Kuwait, and how it could go wrong. As I tried to sleep people were coming and going in and out of the tent all night to come from and go to thwir flights...didnt sleep too well.
Next morning back on the bus...
Kuwaitti International Here I Come!
I get to the plane and I am immediatly accosted by the curb attendants...apparently they work in a rortation and this guy was assigned to me as they jumped on all of us as we left the bus.
I told the guy that rolled up on me I was fine and he seemed to go away. I then thre my bags on the metal decetor to get in to the airport. I then made my way through the detector and guess who was waiting for me on the other side with my bags neatly stacked on a little cart...yup my assigned curb attendant. He then rushed me away fromt the counter so fast I almost forgot my glasses that I had to remove for the metal detctor.
I made it to the ticket counter...they releived me of my luggage and curb guy releieved me of five dollars.
When I was handed my boarding pass I noticed it said my flight is boarding in twenty minutes.
"Excuse me, I think you put me on the wrong flight. I am supposed to leave in two hours."
"No. I put you on earlier flight. You leave now."
"Shouldn't you ask me before you change my flight?"
"No. I put you on earlier fight. You leave now."
Fine whatever.
So I am out of Kuwait.
Neat fact...everyone on the flight had computers out and i-pods on from the moment we sat down to the moment we landed and none of the flight attendandts said a word...intresting yes?
So now I have a 15 hour layover in Bahrain...I catch a ride with some other Sailors...and eventually I end up on base and then sent to a hotel out in town as there is no room at then Inn.
I slept...I showered...I ate Chili's.
Now I am waiting on this flight...the I/A experience that began all these months ago is over. I am spent. I want to sleep in my bed on D.G. tonight, in the privacy of my own room.
It is so near!
What's more a cold beer awaits as well.
Labels: Diego Garcia, I/A, Iraq, Iraqi Freedom, Navy, rob Kerns
Friday, February 08, 2008
Flying from here to there
I am not a fan of flying. I really don't think I really ever have been. It really developed for me when I got stationed in Hawaii and I had to fly over water for five hours. Lets face it, if that warning light comes on there is no where to land out there in the middle of the big blue.
However, this is something I endure as it is part of my job.
Leaving Diego Garcia...heck I don't know how long ago it's been. Time gets wishy-washy when you are out here going from country to country.
Anyway, I left Diego Garcia on a military transport KC-10. Talk about no frills flying...me, some cargo and a box lunch I paid $3.85 for. There were also some other people and their lunches too.
So 10 hours of flying between Diego and Yakota, Japan, with no in flight movie or flight attendents. Just me and the cargo.
You know it really wasen't that bad...a bot boring but not bad.
Now I am sitting in the Narita, Japan, airport waiting to get on this HUGE 777 to fly back to the states.
It looks like a sound aircraft..but I still hate flying.
So...in 11 hours I will be in Chicago...more then...I wonder what the in flight movie will be?
However, this is something I endure as it is part of my job.
Leaving Diego Garcia...heck I don't know how long ago it's been. Time gets wishy-washy when you are out here going from country to country.
Anyway, I left Diego Garcia on a military transport KC-10. Talk about no frills flying...me, some cargo and a box lunch I paid $3.85 for. There were also some other people and their lunches too.
So 10 hours of flying between Diego and Yakota, Japan, with no in flight movie or flight attendents. Just me and the cargo.
You know it really wasen't that bad...a bot boring but not bad.
Now I am sitting in the Narita, Japan, airport waiting to get on this HUGE 777 to fly back to the states.
It looks like a sound aircraft..but I still hate flying.
So...in 11 hours I will be in Chicago...more then...I wonder what the in flight movie will be?
Labels: Diego Garcia, I/A, Japan, KC-10, Kerns
Monday, February 04, 2008
My Last Weekend on D.G.
Well the weekend has come and gone...and it was eventful.
My Friday was quite full.
First we had a radio remote to raise money for the SeaBee Ball. After four hours of song requests and hamburger sales we raised about $500. Not bad
Next we did our latest hail and farewell for those us coming and going off of D.G. For me, yes I will be returning but the better part of the staff that is here will be gone so I got to say farewell to them...and I got my lunch bought for me by our chief.
A few of us then hit the pool and got some sun...the last real sun of this last weekend I might add.
After that is was back to the barracks room for a few hourse...I fell asleep watching TV.
Around 9 p.m. I met some friends down at "Jake's Place." This is one of our few island bars. I sat down and people began buyig me drinks as a way of saying goodbye. Alot of people wanted to say goodbye...I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but they all bought me drinks.
After a few hours of beer, mixed drinks and a few trips to the dance floor it was time to head to the "Brit Club." This lcub is run by the island Brits(hence the name). I spent most of my time there hugging a lamp and staring out to the ocean.
Needless to say the evening ended with me sleeping on the floor next to my comode wondering if this was really a good idea.
Saturday was spent in quiet reflection...
Saunday I packed and did laundry....
Monday began very very early as the Super Bowl came on at 4 a.m. here. We all went to the Island Room to catch the game and were served a BIG breakfast, and got the traditional D.G. free t-shirt.
So now here I am on Monday afternoon. I am down to one a wake-up till I fly home.
Am I ready to go? Yes! Will I miss D.G.? Yes, I will.
I know after I have been home for about three weeks I will begin to miss the tropical weather and some of the people here. This island has been my home for the last nine months. After I return from Baghdad I will have to do another eight months here...I really don't mind that. However, on my next, "last weekend on the island," I don't think I'll drink so much.
My Friday was quite full.
First we had a radio remote to raise money for the SeaBee Ball. After four hours of song requests and hamburger sales we raised about $500. Not bad
Next we did our latest hail and farewell for those us coming and going off of D.G. For me, yes I will be returning but the better part of the staff that is here will be gone so I got to say farewell to them...and I got my lunch bought for me by our chief.
A few of us then hit the pool and got some sun...the last real sun of this last weekend I might add.
After that is was back to the barracks room for a few hourse...I fell asleep watching TV.
Around 9 p.m. I met some friends down at "Jake's Place." This is one of our few island bars. I sat down and people began buyig me drinks as a way of saying goodbye. Alot of people wanted to say goodbye...I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but they all bought me drinks.
After a few hours of beer, mixed drinks and a few trips to the dance floor it was time to head to the "Brit Club." This lcub is run by the island Brits(hence the name). I spent most of my time there hugging a lamp and staring out to the ocean.
Needless to say the evening ended with me sleeping on the floor next to my comode wondering if this was really a good idea.
Saturday was spent in quiet reflection...
Saunday I packed and did laundry....
Monday began very very early as the Super Bowl came on at 4 a.m. here. We all went to the Island Room to catch the game and were served a BIG breakfast, and got the traditional D.G. free t-shirt.
So now here I am on Monday afternoon. I am down to one a wake-up till I fly home.
Am I ready to go? Yes! Will I miss D.G.? Yes, I will.
I know after I have been home for about three weeks I will begin to miss the tropical weather and some of the people here. This island has been my home for the last nine months. After I return from Baghdad I will have to do another eight months here...I really don't mind that. However, on my next, "last weekend on the island," I don't think I'll drink so much.
Labels: Diego Garcia, Iraq, Navy
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Counting the Military Way
When people ask me how much longer I have on the island. I often give them an answer like "11 and a wake up."
To a person in the military this answer is quite valid and they go along with their lives with this knowledge.
For people in the civilian world they tend to look at me with their head tilted slightly to the side with a puzzled look on their face. It reminds of my old German Shepard Pepper when I would ask her to fetch something for me.
So I will now explain how to count backwards in military terms and why it is done this way.
You often count back to mark major landmarks, like returning to port from a major underway or a transfer(like I am about to have).
So when you count back you don't count the day you pull in or transfer. That is the day it happens so it is counted as just waking up and you do the event. You just simply count the days and subtract the day of the actual event...you simply say "11 and a wake up."
Isn't that easier...and it gives you one last day to have to count.
To a person in the military this answer is quite valid and they go along with their lives with this knowledge.
For people in the civilian world they tend to look at me with their head tilted slightly to the side with a puzzled look on their face. It reminds of my old German Shepard Pepper when I would ask her to fetch something for me.
So I will now explain how to count backwards in military terms and why it is done this way.
You often count back to mark major landmarks, like returning to port from a major underway or a transfer(like I am about to have).
So when you count back you don't count the day you pull in or transfer. That is the day it happens so it is counted as just waking up and you do the event. You just simply count the days and subtract the day of the actual event...you simply say "11 and a wake up."
Isn't that easier...and it gives you one last day to have to count.
Labels: Diego Garcia, I/A, Iraq
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