1st week's impression
So my first week as a paratrooper's over. And it's been great fun!
We left the base on Monday morning, all fit and ready for what was lying ahead: 72 hours of field day training and a 15km walk back to base as a finish. The weather was great for being outside, even though a bit warm, but I'm not gonna complain; it wasn't raining, and that's a good thing despite anything else.
By Monday night, we had stormed the same hill (sarcastically called "Hamburger Hill" by our drill instructors) for about 50 times and everyone was pretty much out of breath. Fortunately they made a break comparably early (around 2100) and everyone went to "bed" - or rather: to the respective tent.
Tuesday was a mere repetition of what we had done Monday - true drill for those days. Tuesday night, however, was different: it was reconaissance time again! Nightvision goggles were soon being handed out - while there was still some light - and around 2200 we went out; without a superiour; on our own!
It was great, and of course "my" team performed best: we were the only team out of 4 that was not spotted, we discovered everything that was intercepting our way - unlike others, who didn't see two mine-traps that would've blown them up if it had been the real thing - and all that even though we had most likely the crappiest part of the terrain to cover: a wide field with not-yet-fully-grown wheat on it.
Clearly we rock!
Wednesday came, and all that was left to do was pack all the things, and then start the long walk back home. Coincidentally (if you believe in coincidence) Wednesday was the hottest of the three days, so we were pretty much soaking with sweat when we arrived back at the base. I guess we had an aweful scent, too, but that didn't bother us then; we were just glad of having arrived back "home" where we could have a decent shower.

All in all, those three days rocked hard. Can't wait for the next field days...

All the good things
I'm completely wasted, the weather has been fine, tomorrow there'll be a Barbeque and paratroopers are fun - what more could I possibly ask for?!?
...except maybe: Annie, where art thou!???

Windows 2000
So, Windows 2000 doesn't want me to see if anyone comments anywhere. Bah.
If there's anyone out there who's had the same problem - namely that you're not shown any "comment" button on blogs - and solved it, please contact me and tell me how to deal with that bloody thing, because it really fucks me up at the moment.

On a sidenote: Caipirinha is clearly the most rocking summer-cocktail. Only problem is that it's so expensive (4 Euro)...

The mysteries of bureaucracy
Think army. Think bureaucracy. Think application of transfer. It took them 5 months to send me on a "trial week" to the paratroopers.
And now? All of a sudden it can't be fast enough: I returned from Lebach last week's Friday. I started into shift work last Monday. Today, I was told I won't be transferred next month, or the month after.
Today, I was told ... I'm being transferred due Monday. Next Monday. 05/26/2003. That quick or what??!

I'm so running high on adrenaline! Can't await to start working there!!

Brief review #1
Marylin Manson - The Golden Age of Grotesque

If you like the sort of music that is best overall described with "Hard'n'Heavy" Manson's new album is a must.
On it, you'll find a combination of raging guitars, the electro-rock elements he's known for, driving rhythms and lyrics that, once you actually take a look and read them over, not only make sense but also are rather deep and not exactly what one would expect of "one like Manson".
Personally, I've been listening to the album for 3 days straight now and I'm still not fed up. It's been worth the money and I think I might try and get me some more Manson albums to see if his older works are as well-composed as the songs on The Golden Age of Grotesque.

w00t0r!!
So, I arrive in a mood to kill the first one to even look like asking what'd be up with me and the first thing I get to know is that I only have to work this week's shift - I've not only been taken out of next week's shift but also out of any other shift I had been signed in for already!! Before I could really start to wonder about reasons, I'm being told - after a brief phonecall with the guys in Lebach base (paratrooper base I was last week) - that I'll be transferred there as soon as possible! Which means, I'll be a paratrooper by 1st July latest, if I'm a bit lucky it's going to be 1st June even!
Yadda yadda!

I'll see that you get to read about my paratrooper week tomorrow night, got other things to do at the moment...

Lethargy / Melancholy
The weather changed to depressing-grey-sky-with-occasional-rain and it feels like one of those days in fall when all you want is to stay home where it's warm and nice and comfortable and where you can sit with a giant cup of milk and honey and read a good book.
I feel like croutching into the nearest warm and comfy bed and not get out before the sun is shining again.
I definately don't feel like 2 weeks of shift.
Too bad life doesn't care for what I feel like...

Death from above!
Rah! So, it seems like I'll finally get my chance: the week at Lebach paratrooper base rocked more than anything I did so far while serving!
Went out shooting 3 times, slept out in the country 3 nights, had day and night reconnaissance training and got to use nightvision and infrared goggles for the first time (ROCK-ING!!!), got totally soaked the entire time spent outside - it rained from the moment we left the base until we re-entered it, heh - and generally had the most fun time ever since joining the army. And all of that in only 5 days down there!!
My superiours down there were "impressed that a guy from the radio operator troop is able to move that silenty out in the woods" (heh, I clearly own!) and clearly I'll do anything to get there.

Back down to Earth: two weeks of shift-work ahead. From 100 to 0 in 2 seconds. Incredible. At least my notebook is supposed to finally arrive within the week, plus I got myself the new Marylin Manson album, which rocks big time. (I confess I downloaded some of the tracks, but they only made me buy the album...)

Back to you on Tuesday. Heads up and keep on rolling.

"Spiced ham" anyone?
Okay, so Monty Python had their laughs, but spam's getting an increasingly high intolerance count on my "kill 'em all" list.
I'm getting unwanted, unneeded and completely unnecessary emails from domains such as diplomats.com, syriamail.com, usa.com and clerk.com. (Here's a more-or-less complete list of my email "sponsors"...)
What am I, a free-trade-outpost for the daily email debit?

I got a few words for all you spammers out there: FUCK OFF AND DIE ALREADY!

Comparison of the day
P.M. says "American beer is like sex in a canoo: it's fucking close to water."
I can only nod in agreement.

Words women use
There must be millions of guys walking this planet who have at one point wondered what the bloody hell they did to get a girl upset like that. Well, guys, here's a starter and I admit, this is not my own work. It's pretty good stuff though so I thought I might as well share. Sit back, read along and enjoy...

"Fine" - This is the word women use to end an argument when they feel they are right and you need to shut up. Never use "fine" to describe how a woman looks this will cause you to have one of those arguments.

"Five minutes" - This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five minutes that your football game is going to last before you take out the trash, so it's an even trade.

"Nothing" - This means "something", and you should be on your toes. "Nothing" is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. 'Nothing" usually signifies an argument that will last "Five Minutes" and end with "Fine".

"Go ahead" (Raised Eyebrows) - This is a dare. One that will result in a woman getting upset over "Nothing" and will end with the word "Fine".

"Go ahead" (Normal Eyebrows) - This means "I give up" or "do what you want because I don't care" You will get a "Raised Eyebrow Go Ahead" in just a few minutes, followed by "Nothing" and "Fine" and she will talk to you in about "Five Minutes" when she cools off.

"Go ahead" - At some point in the near future, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble.

"Loud sigh" - This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot at that moment, and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing".

"Sift sigh" - Again, not a word, but a non-verbal statement. "Soft Sighs" mean that she is content. Your best bet is to not move or breathe, and she will stay content.

"That's okay" - This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before paying you back for whatever it is that you have done. "That's Okay" is often used with the word "Fine" and in conjunction with a "Raised Eyebrow".

"Please do" - This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done. You have a fair chance with the truth, so be careful and you shouldn't get a "That's Okay".

"Thanks" - A woman is thanking you. Do not faint. Just say you're welcome.

"Thanks a lot" - This is much different from "Thanks." A woman will say, "Thanks A Lot" when she is really ticked off at you. It signifies that you have offended her in some callous way, and will be followed by the "Loud Sigh." Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the "Loud Sigh", as she will only tell you "Nothing".

PARATROOPER TIME
I've finally gotten word from my superiours' superiours and word is: I'm going to a paratrooper base for the coming week - "on trial", to give both them and me a chance to check out each other and to give me a proper impression of what "life as a paratrooper" is like.
However, this means that I won't be posting anything next week, since I'll have my hands full with paratrooper stuff (whatever that is; I'll see next week) and quite frankly, I have no bloody idea if there even is a possibility to go online at or around the base.
I'll give a report on next week's Saturday or Sunday, though, so anyone interested: stay tuned for more...

As if I didn't know already...
What can I say, I've been made, tested and found to be a heretic.
Check Dante's Inferno Hell Test for yourself...

Where am I?
When I'm at army base, I'm at the ass end of nowhere.
Come to think about it ... when I'm home it's not much better. ; p

Find out if you're near me...

Regular service sucks
So it's regular-service-week again. Sigh. Only two days and already I miss the freedom of shift-work! Your superiours don't bother you, you get to do what you like to do (reading, playing senselessly violant 3d-shooters on the laptop, sleeping without bothering about superiours etc) and you get extra money and free days off for it!! Who wouldn't like that, I ask you!
But no, instead I have to sit around do nothing, be ordered about by superiours who're almost as bored as I am ... and when they ask for "people with computer knowledge" all they need is someone who types their lists...

Good news of the day though: I'll be commanded to join paratroopers "on trial" in a month or so - will get exact dates within the week - and finally it'll start moving somewhere!!! Paratroopers, here I come!
Apropos "paratroopers": a friend of mine from Canada sent me a toy paratrooper for my birthday present! How cool is that!

The concept of "Happy Hour" drinking
So I went to a local bar with a couple of friends on Saturday and we've had quite a fun and good evening sitting there drinking cocktails. Even more so because they guy who was responsible for our table booked all cocktails for Happy-Hour prices - very much to my advantadge, since I payed all cocktails! - even though we only had about one third of them in the actual Happy-Hour timespan.
Also, I "chatted up" a rather good friend of mine and spent the night talking to her until about 4 am, all the while massaging her. Sleeping on the iso-matress - practically on the floor - wasn't too bad after the long hours spent that way.
All in all I can only say that my birthday rocked all in all...

So it's my birthday
The still-lingering flu had mercy today and I even could go to the club as planned. But that's been about it already again. So far, this has been one of my worst birthdays yet (and it's my 21st after all, so I've collected quite a collection already) and for some depressive reason I don't feel it'll be ending better than it's started...

I found an old fortune-cookie saying today: "Silence is golden when used at the right time."
There couldn't possibly be more cruel and ironic truth to such a short saying ever.

Happy birthday.