A true hero...Tommy Norris...Medal of Honor Recipient

FBINA_246's photostream on Flickr.

Photos from Week #3

Week #3 is behind us and things are progressing as expected.  Things are heating up in the pool with many attempting to obtain the elusive "Blue Brick" for swimming the 34 miles.  A handful of guys have already completed the mission and are now in the hunt for the 100 mile "Blue Brick".  These guys are animals!!!  Room mate Jeff Malcore is closing in on his 34 miles and will be trying for the 100 miler too along with the Team 300.  Simply amazing swimmers.  As for me, in the first three weeks, I have completed 17 MILES!!!  An accomplishment for the kid from Hawaii.  The last time I swam laps was 26 years ago in recruit training.  It's taking some time, but I will reach the objective of 34 miles.

Wednesday night was the journey to DC for the ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  Took a bunch of photos and saw the names of Hawaii Police Officers Ronald "Shige" Jitchaku and Kenneth K. Keliipio.  Both well respected officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Friday, one of our instructors took us on an excursion to the National Marine Museum.  Although having been there a week earlier, I still managed to see exhibits that I missed the first time.  Very nicely done.

Friday night, I was invited to go to Georgetown and on Saturday night, went to Alexandria "Old Town".  Both places were nice, but I liked Alexandria...nice and quiet.  Had an early dinner at Macaroni Grill and had the "Mama's Trio", lots of food and tasty too.

Today is a time to do some work, as we are heading to New York next weekend for the traditional NA trip.  Real excited about it as this will be a first time for me.  Will capture the memories and share with y'all.

Check out my Flickr account under "FBINA_246" and see all my photos.

Have a nice week folks and we are officially in Week #4.  Aloha

Half Way Through the 3rd Week

Session 246 is already in the 3rd week...they were right when they said that time will go by fast.  Haven't had lunch yesterday and today because of our physical training is right after lunch and don't want to show others what I had for lunch.  The weather is still a bit humid, temperatures in the 90's.  It did rain briefly yesterday, which cooled things down.  Hopefully it will be cooler tomorrow morning for our 2.6 mile challenge run.

Classes are going along smoothly and got a lot of work done over the weekend.  Will try and finish another paper this week...just about done, but will need to tweak it a bit.

The swimming pool has been packed with all the potential blue brickers jumping in.  The more the merrier.  I have resorted to getting up a lot earlier than normal and getting my half mile in and try to get another half mile after classes, but the pool is also crowded during that time as well.  Everyone is pretty much cool about it, but is does get crowded, because I am no Michael Phelps.

The other guy in the photo is Jeff Malcore, my suite mate and from Wisconsin.  Big Green Bay Packers fan and good guy.  He is swimming like a maniac and wants to get the 300 mile team brick.  Good Luck Hawaiian.

Our photography class got their cameras issued to them today and the instructor Bob was running through the settings with them on the Nikon cameras.  I got my Canon 60D with the 24-70L lens which although is a beast to carry for long distances, captures some nice images and HD video.  I am looking forward to trying out new settings and realizing the full potential of it.

Will let you guys know how the PT goes today...someone mentioned running steps???  BRING IT ON!!!  Aloha for now.

Paper Almost Done...Break Time!!!

Well, I had intentions of staying in the dorm all weekend and completing the majority of my assignments, BUT hooked up with the gang again and during lunch, I was invited to go to the National Marine Museum in Quantico.

The museum is a MUST SEE!!!  Excellent exhibits and it's free. 

Had dinner and now...BACK TO WORK.  Have a great weekend.

The Weekend

Going to stay in the dorm and do some homework this weekend.  Just had breakfast in the cafeteria and there was about 20 guys in there.  A bunch of people go home for the weekend and others went to sight seeing journeys and others are probably still sleeping.  What a life!!!

Last weekend went to the Globe and Laurels, which is a steakhouse just off base.  It is apparently owned by a retired police major and his restaurant reflects that.  The waitress said there are in excess of 6000 patches on the ceilings and other police memorabilia on the walls.  Although they already had one from Hawaii Police Department, I gave her another one for the collection.

As for dinner, I had the prime rib....tender and tasty.  Sure beats cafeteria food.  Thanks Jeff. 

Depending on how much work I can get done today, my suite mate Jeff wanted to go to a nearby museum.  Gotta go now and do some studying.  Aloha

Week 2-Back In School

During the weekend, I was invited to tag along with some students and go to Washington DC.  We had a Capitol tour planned as well as checking out a couple of the Smithsonian museums.  Did a lot of walking and had an opportunity to travel on the metro train.  Very efficient form of traveling.  Had a great time.

Having attended all my classes and acquired all the reading materials, I have some work ahead of me, but that was expected.  Got a few papers to do and shouldn't be any problem.  In the process of finalizing one already.  The Fitness class (required in the NA) has a few labs that we need to do.  The instructor is very knowledgeable and seems like he can work out for a week at a time.  His philosophy is to reduce the time spent on exercise, but increase the intensity.  Sounds simple and it is supposed to reduce injuries.  Will give it a try. 

Wednesday was our first challenge run, which was a 1.8 mile run on the base.  Everyone did a great job and were supportive of the guys who were having some difficulty.  The challenges will increase in distance and also include circuit training.  We will all finish together as Section 246.

Did some PT in the pool and it was nice....little impact and got a great workout.  Outside temperatures were in the 100's. 

As of Friday afternoon, completed 11 miles in the swim challenge but got a mean cramp on the last length.  Need more fluids, but not beer....for now.

Will catch up on all my school work this weekend.  No playing tourist.  See you next week.