Hold On

They're adding a second to 2008. You'll have to postpone the celebration for the specified time period. Of course, you won't know unless you have one of these.

I do. Are you ready?

Prone to Wander

Males Dominated 'Out-of-Africa' Migration - Discovery.com

I have always wanted to move, no matter where I was. I didn't like it anywhere, and I still don't. Today I read that it might just be that I'm a man, and men want to go. Maybe I'm not alone.

There's a lot I want to do in this life that I have not done. I'm rather upset that I haven't gotten around to doing it, and the frustration sometimes consumes me. And then I'm lost again - I give up and want to sell all my books and throw everything away. Streamline life and live simply. Pick just a couple of things that I say that I do, and forget everything else.

But I can't. Every time I think about shedding my interests I find it impossible to do so. I am the guy with too many hobbies. Can we count?

1. Education - I love to learn. This is the catalyst of my affliction.
2. Family. It's growing.
   
3. Home brewing. I love beer.
4. Computers. My living. Could be broken down into many smaller categories.
   
5. Motorcycling.
6. Business.
7. Pleasure reading.
8. Periodicals (deserves its own listing).
9. Movies.
10. Gardening.
11. Model airplanes.
12. Flying (one of those things I haven't gotten 'round to).
13. Music. This is big.
14. Writing.
15. Traveling.
16. Language.
17. War.

That last one is something new. I have recently become interested in joining the military once more as an officer, and if one were to choose the Army as a career, an officer in the Army would need to know about strategies and history related to war. Also about weapons and how to use them. So I want to study war.

But I won't get around to all of this and it is very frustrating. I have so many interests and I am forced to choose. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what I can do?


Cross-posted at the WordPress blog.

Starbucks is Lame

I’m amazed at the uncharacteristic way that Starbucks contributes to its community. The coffee is good (I will not deny), but the fact that everything is expensive really detracts from the homeliness of it. How does Starbucks let Internet providers charge for access? Shouldn’t the damn place just offer it for free? Does it not want a crowd?

I’m writing this in Starbucks tonight (not online) and as I write I wonder why I decided to stop in and have a coffee. I really wanted to get an assignment done. My school is online and the thought occurs to me now that I might have been more productive at Wendy’s.

I had a plan last year to gain Internet access from Starbucks. I offered Fazoli’s next door a great deal on a WiFi hotspot, which I could simply enhance so that I could reach it from Starbucks. I hate Fazoli’s. The owner, after months of deliberation, decided against it at the time but reserved his right to call back if he changed his mind.

I just spilled coffee on the notebook I carry every day. Gives it character.

So why did I stop here tonight? I guess it’s the fact that I could have sworn that AT&T was offering free WiFi at Starbucks. Turns out that $3.99 is not the same. $3.99 for two hours of use. That’s worse than T-Mobile’s $9.99 per day. The subscription is the same at $19.99 per month, but who wants to pay monthly for two Internet connections? I’d rather pay $60/month for a WWAN card and not have to search for an AT&T hotspot everywhere I go.

I remember when I got my first printer. It was an all-in-one from Compaq that eventually turned to shit, but it was a printer. And I remember after a few months wondering what I did with a computer when I didn’t have a printer. “What good is it,” I asked, “if I can’t print anything?” I now have nixed that idea and replaced it with “What good is a computer without the Internet? What is it for?”

But somehow I’ve managed to keep this MacBook open at Starbucks without hitting the ‘net. Wait a minute… Wendy’s is close… Nevermind.

I’m typing in Word, and I don’t have a printer or a connection to the Internet. Disconnection is great! But how do I play Mob Wars on Facebook or update my status?

That’s it – I’m opening my notebook.

Crossroads

I can't seem to have enough drama in my life. I'm always moving and changing my mind and even now that I have decided to do something, I can't decide which way to go about doing it.

For those who don't know, I have decided to try to enter the military again as an officer. I thought I wanted to join the Air Force (and some part of me does), but then upon finding my old company commander for a recommendation I was spun toward the Army. Beth would like to see me join the Air Force if I just have to go, but there's a sense of pride about being an Army officer that I cannot explain. I am torn at the moment.

My friend Ken said I should do a trade-off analysis. I'm sure he was talking about the trades between civilian life and being a soldier, but I can compare and contrast the two branches too. I can even do some of that right now:

The Air Force is more technical, hands down. I belong in information systems and everyone knows it. There are nicer things, I've heard, in the Air Force. I think the physical fitness tests are taken on stationary bicycles or something. I love aircraft. But there's no guarantee that I would work with computers as a career.

The Army is more... well, military-like. Officers lead soldiers and make strategic decisions. It's not really fun work but it is something to be proud of. There is a higher chance of losing a limb in the desert if I choose to go to the Army. It is more physically demanding and I was never any good at running. Not that I can't be, but I wasn't. But like the Air Force, there is no guarantee that I would get near a computer. I believe the chances are even smaller here.

Ken would like to see me as an Army officer and I respect his opinions. He also told me that I wouldn't get the opportunity to lead in the Air Force. I should confirm that. Beth hates the Army and thinks the Air Force is better for the family. After everyone says everything, it's really my decision and it should be made based on what I want to do for myself, my interests, and my family. It's just a big storm in my head and it may be a long time.

I started writing the letter required for the packet that states why I want to be an officer in the Air Force/Army. I haven't finished, and the letter may be different for each branch. I know that I want to serve this country and use my skills for something good. I know I can make decisions based on facts. I know I can lead. I just don't know if the green pill will take me down a better trip than the blue one.

This is one of those rare times I wish I could pray.

This Blog is Going TDY

I am moving - at least temporarily - to a new blog at WordPress. I doubt it's a permanent move, but I want to see how different the free WordPress is from the free Blogger. I have already found out that I cannot publish the WordPress blog here at benrehberg.com without paying a premium, so that's already a detractor.

But the theme is great and I want to find a better one for this site. And I like the interface at WordPress. So if this post gets old, check over there to see if I'm still writing.