The majority of this year will be spent in afghanistan. I don't know where I'm going or what I'm going to be doing and it sucks. Seems the Marine Corps can't decide when to tell us the truth or not. So were all sitting here stuck. And wondering when we will leave. I've stopped caring. I just want to get this over with. At first I was kind of excited about going, and now its gone. I have a lot of issues with the logistics. All I can do though is make sure me and my buddies come back alive. That's it. Who knows, maybe they'll change their minds and have us do real infantry stuff. /sidenote we no longer do traditional infantry work. the mos has become so saturated with additonal duties that, at times it feels overwhelming. It feels a lot more like policing. Than being a grunt. Site exploitation, detaining epws, questioning, stopping drug and arms trade. The Marine Corps has become a massive police department. How odd. /endsidenote
Lost track of what I was talking about.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thoughts on a future
A lot of things came about this semester that have made me think a lot.
I am a physics major. I've spent a good deal of the last couple of years as an aspiring physicist. Only this semester did I realize that the education I received at school, was more than inadequate for me to be able to even want to pursue a future in physics.
The lack of information and the poor teaching abilities of some of the professors has really changed my perspective on academia. Some of the professors have gone so far as to make the comment that they can not afford to fail any of the students in our dept for fear of losing funding. Keep in mind, there are only 15 physics majors, that are actually attempting upper division classes. Some of the professors do try to teach, and they do a damned good job, but a majority of them don't. They almost don't care. We get a grade for showing up to class. I missed a month of my quantum mechanics and solid state physics classes this past semester and still got an A and a B in both of them. I did not earn those grades. Nobody did.
We, the students in the dept, knew who our professors were going to be for this past semester and tried to fight it. No matter how many of us went and talked to the dept chair, he did not listen. He felt his opinion of the professor was better than ours. At the end of the semester we were right. He won't admit to it, but we were. After discussing it with my peers, we all agreed that we learned nothing this semester. Everything that we know or knew about quantum mechanics and solid state physics, was learned in prior classes or through undergraduate research. Not every had the opportunities to do so though.
This is the downfall of education. Granted it could get a lot worse, I still don't see it getting any better anytime soon.
/endrant
I am a physics major. I've spent a good deal of the last couple of years as an aspiring physicist. Only this semester did I realize that the education I received at school, was more than inadequate for me to be able to even want to pursue a future in physics.
The lack of information and the poor teaching abilities of some of the professors has really changed my perspective on academia. Some of the professors have gone so far as to make the comment that they can not afford to fail any of the students in our dept for fear of losing funding. Keep in mind, there are only 15 physics majors, that are actually attempting upper division classes. Some of the professors do try to teach, and they do a damned good job, but a majority of them don't. They almost don't care. We get a grade for showing up to class. I missed a month of my quantum mechanics and solid state physics classes this past semester and still got an A and a B in both of them. I did not earn those grades. Nobody did.
We, the students in the dept, knew who our professors were going to be for this past semester and tried to fight it. No matter how many of us went and talked to the dept chair, he did not listen. He felt his opinion of the professor was better than ours. At the end of the semester we were right. He won't admit to it, but we were. After discussing it with my peers, we all agreed that we learned nothing this semester. Everything that we know or knew about quantum mechanics and solid state physics, was learned in prior classes or through undergraduate research. Not every had the opportunities to do so though.
This is the downfall of education. Granted it could get a lot worse, I still don't see it getting any better anytime soon.
/endrant
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I've been dealing with a lot of problems as of late. Trying to get back into my routine. Trying to be healthier, Trying to be a better Marine. It's been really hard lately. I've lost all my focus for everything I ever wanted. It really bothers me that I've allowed myself to lose touch with everything this much. I've really screwed myself over.
I entered a race called the Muddy Buddy. I've let myself go so much I know I won't be in the best shape for it when it comes around. I can get to a point where I know I'll finish but I'm really worried about this summer. I'm going to Bridgeport for AT this summer and it's all about Mountain Warfare training. I'm slightly concerned about it.
I've let myself go. My priorities are all mixed up.
I'm tired of all the bullshit. I'm tired of being unsure of myself, and I'm tired of not being able to stayed focused enough to achieve the goals I want. I get so close, and then I let one thing get me down and I end up taking 30 steps back instead of one.
I entered a race called the Muddy Buddy. I've let myself go so much I know I won't be in the best shape for it when it comes around. I can get to a point where I know I'll finish but I'm really worried about this summer. I'm going to Bridgeport for AT this summer and it's all about Mountain Warfare training. I'm slightly concerned about it.
I've let myself go. My priorities are all mixed up.
I'm tired of all the bullshit. I'm tired of being unsure of myself, and I'm tired of not being able to stayed focused enough to achieve the goals I want. I get so close, and then I let one thing get me down and I end up taking 30 steps back instead of one.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tabata!
Started Crossfit again after a 2 week break. I was doing P90x with Rivas, but it did me no good. It's too repetitious. I like CF more.
My eating habits as of late have been HORRIBLE. I've been eating a lot of nasty junk and I can feel the effects of it when I work out. Like right now, I have the worst damned heartburn I've had in a while.
I stopped smoking again. I've been moody, as I expected, the last couple of days. It sucks. I want to smoke, but I know what will happen if I do. I'm going to stop drinking too. Had I not started again, I can only imagine how much better off I'd be. So no more drinking. It's bad for me. Does me no good, and my grades seem to suffer, as well as my motivation. Time to get back into my good habits again. Just need to fight the urge to get nasty.
Semper Fi,
Chris
My eating habits as of late have been HORRIBLE. I've been eating a lot of nasty junk and I can feel the effects of it when I work out. Like right now, I have the worst damned heartburn I've had in a while.
I stopped smoking again. I've been moody, as I expected, the last couple of days. It sucks. I want to smoke, but I know what will happen if I do. I'm going to stop drinking too. Had I not started again, I can only imagine how much better off I'd be. So no more drinking. It's bad for me. Does me no good, and my grades seem to suffer, as well as my motivation. Time to get back into my good habits again. Just need to fight the urge to get nasty.
Semper Fi,
Chris
Monday, October 13, 2008
Goals and other crap.
Been sticking to Crossfit pretty well. I've only missed a couple of days because I didn't wake up in time.
I've been doing two a days twice a week. I'll do the WOD and then take a swim a couple of hours later. I'm enjoying it, I'm just kind of tired afterwards.
Lately though, I've been playing with the idea more and more of going to some Certs and maybe open a Crossfit facility. Won't be for a few years, but I've been growing more and more passionate about health and fitness and have grown more and more enthusiastic about teaching others the ways of Crossfit.
It's like an addiction. It's awesome. I'm pretty damned sore right now from the WOD on 081012.
On a side note, I'm really jittery right now. Had too much coffee. I feel like Fry in that episode of Futurama where he drinks 100 cups of coffee. Wow.
I've been doing two a days twice a week. I'll do the WOD and then take a swim a couple of hours later. I'm enjoying it, I'm just kind of tired afterwards.
Lately though, I've been playing with the idea more and more of going to some Certs and maybe open a Crossfit facility. Won't be for a few years, but I've been growing more and more passionate about health and fitness and have grown more and more enthusiastic about teaching others the ways of Crossfit.
It's like an addiction. It's awesome. I'm pretty damned sore right now from the WOD on 081012.
On a side note, I'm really jittery right now. Had too much coffee. I feel like Fry in that episode of Futurama where he drinks 100 cups of coffee. Wow.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Muffin top, Marine Corps Ball and the hard routine.
I was going to wear my dress blues to a social mixer with potential employers that is held at my college every year. I put on my trousers and damn near shit myself. I had this nasty muffin top look. It was horrible. It is horrible. I did it to myself. With drill coming up this weekend and next weekend. I'll have plenty of time to organize myself and set up a program for weight loss and conditioning that will have me back in my dress blues by the time the Marine Corps ball comes around.
I read the article "The Hard Routine" on the CFJ the other day and learned a lot from it. It's time for me to start my hard routine and get where I should be. Not only does the my appearance in uniform depend on me sticking to it, but also my career. I want to get a commission in the Corps. I have wanted to for a long time. That's part of the reason I enlisted.
The planning starts today. The program starts Monday. (what with drill happening this weekend and all).
My ultimate goal is to be down to 180 by January 1st and 160 by March 15th. That damn SDI was right, I did get fat again, but I won't be for long.
I know for a fact I'm going to dedicate most of my time to Crossfit. I will Crossfit most of the time and when needed supplement it with either swimmimg/running or one of those p90x workouts.
I'm gonna Zone again. This time an extremely strict Zone diet. I've got the books. I understand the way it works, I just need to apply it now.
Another good motivational point for me to stick to it....I'm gonna get put on BCP....dammit. No meritorious promotion for me for 6 months.
I read the article "The Hard Routine" on the CFJ the other day and learned a lot from it. It's time for me to start my hard routine and get where I should be. Not only does the my appearance in uniform depend on me sticking to it, but also my career. I want to get a commission in the Corps. I have wanted to for a long time. That's part of the reason I enlisted.
The planning starts today. The program starts Monday. (what with drill happening this weekend and all).
My ultimate goal is to be down to 180 by January 1st and 160 by March 15th. That damn SDI was right, I did get fat again, but I won't be for long.
I know for a fact I'm going to dedicate most of my time to Crossfit. I will Crossfit most of the time and when needed supplement it with either swimmimg/running or one of those p90x workouts.
I'm gonna Zone again. This time an extremely strict Zone diet. I've got the books. I understand the way it works, I just need to apply it now.
Another good motivational point for me to stick to it....I'm gonna get put on BCP....dammit. No meritorious promotion for me for 6 months.
Monday, September 8, 2008
New path, new life, old habits die hard.
I've been trying to get back into Crossfit after coming back from bootcamp and it's been hard. I know what I'm supposed to be doing but can't really get back into it yet. It doesn't help that I've sustained two injuries that slowed me down after trying to get back into it. I need to work harder at it. I have a little over 3 weeks before I get weighed in. I know I have some weight to lose. I'd hate to get put on BCP for 6 months. It might ruin my chances at getting into OCS for the upcoming summer. God I would hate that. I need to buckle down and get going. I've been doing pretty good on the chow. Granted it's not as great as I would like it to be, I've been controlling the amount of bad trash I've been eating. I've been able to maintain weight for that last couple of weeks so it's not THAT bad. If I throw in some more PT I know it will drop fast. I've been swimming twice a week at school and it helps some. I need to do more of it.
Having trouble trying to quit smoking. I stopped for a year, then 3 months. 3rd times a charm right? It's hard. I'm not going to lie. I have a weak will. I just need to buckle down and use all the discipline that was forced into my body over the past summer. I've been ignoring it. It's time to get it going again.
Semper Fi,
Chris
Having trouble trying to quit smoking. I stopped for a year, then 3 months. 3rd times a charm right? It's hard. I'm not going to lie. I have a weak will. I just need to buckle down and use all the discipline that was forced into my body over the past summer. I've been ignoring it. It's time to get it going again.
Semper Fi,
Chris
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