Cooking

Almost twenty year ago I joined the Army. Those of you who know me now might think there is something wrong with that sentence. Because now I am in the Navy and still have three years to retirement. But it's true. Right after high school I left for the army. I went to basic training in fort Lenard Wood and then off to Monterey Ca to learn Arabic. Now this might be another point that those people that know me. But that is the point of this story. When I first picked my job in the navy I was going to be a linguist interrogator. As many of you know, that didn't work out. The bottom line on that story is I didn't study hard enough. I have a few excuses I like to tell myself but those are for a different day. After I failed out of the linguist school I was given a list of alpha-numeric codes that corresponded to a job in the Army (we called them MOS). The sheet did not have a discription of work or even a job title. I had to look that up in a separate book (that was at least 5 years out of date). I choose three jobs that I thought would be alright, considering I was no longer going to be interrogating terrorists and spies. One of those codes was 92G which according to my outdated book was a nurse of some kind. About a week later my Commanding Office congratulated me on being selected for Cook as my next job. 

"What?!?!" I said confused "I didn't even

pick cook as an option. How is that even possible"

He showed me my selection sheet and pointed to the 92G and said I had picked it right there. I was shaken. I tried everything over the course of the next two weeks to get it changed. I would not be a cook. That is not what I joined the Army to do. Eventually I accepted my fate and accepted that I was going to be a cook. I called my dad and told him what was going on and how I felt about it. 

Now, my dad did most of the cooking when I was growing up. And he did a great job of it. He taught me a lot of techniques and tricks as I was growing up. But it wasn't until I went to school that I realized how much I connected the art of cook to my dad. The more I learned the more I felt connected to him and the more in enjoyed my new profession. My dad did one other thing to help me with accepting my new job with a more open mind. That day when I called him and told him how I felt he impacted some wisdom that I have never forgotten and strive to live by to this day. The said, "Son, no matter where you go , there you are."

I know it sounds simple and not much to base a life long philosophy on, but to me it boiled down to the fact that it is up to you to make the best of any situation. So you can take what life gives you and dwell on the fat that it is not what you expected or you can make it what you expected. I went on to do really well in the Army's cook school and got selected to a prestigious spot on Washington Dc and went on to make some great friends and cook in some amazing kitchens for some unbelievable people. I would not have changed that experiences for anything and I believe it only happened because I went in with the right attitude. Thank you Dad. 

Still here

I It is my intention to keep this post light. I want to focus on the bright side and funny moments in life. Do to some recent events I will be telling some stories about my dad. He taught me life. He knew how to love with all his heart and not hold back. I love the outdoors and listening because of him. He was a great story teller, musician and comedian. No story was complete without his laugh. He was always bigger then life and despite being 6'4" and 240lb myself he still called me little boy. It's a little hard to focus on a specific event right now. But I will post a few stories this week. I miss you dad. 

Thanks 

Addicus

Bravery

My wife is one of the bravest toughest people I know. She amazes me on a regular basis. Lat night we were sitting down for a parfait desert (the current favorite in the house) when she heard some commotion outside in the street. She walked over to our window and saw a group of 8 teenage girls brawling in the street. One of the girls literally holding the head of another one and kneeing her in the face, with their "friends" watching and egging them on. I personally am terrified of teenagers.Jen didn't even think twice she walked right out the front door and told them to knock it off. Jen is 5'2" and stood shorter the half the girls out there. She was actually standing right in the middle of the group when I got out there to back her up. Most of the teenage girls were talking back and giving her attitude but she did not back down at all. It wasn't until we got on the phone with the cops that they finally started to break up and leave. Four got into a car and drive away while the other group of four took off on foot.

After things settled down we discussed that even after 7 years of watching Castle, neither one of us thought to get the plate number of the car before it left.

This is just one example. On a day to day basis she teaches our kids and is often home with them day in and day out while my job takes me away from them for long periods of time. Even when my ship is home I have unpredictable hours. Her strength and support makes my job easier to handle. It would be my wish that everyone has someone like her in their life that can show such bravery and strength. And that you never have to experience a pack of terrifying brawling teens alone.

Addicus