F#@k it's Cold!

Greetings from the East Coast!

Here is the top 5 of the moment:

5) Training in Maryland has been smooth so far. Initially it was freezing! My hands started to rash up from the extremely cold temperature. I've always wanted to know how it would be like to have a real winter with a bit of snow. Now I know how it's like, and I don't really like it as much as I thought I would. I like the sunny and rainy days in California. Snow days should stay as me going to the mountains for the weekend and me coming back home on a Sunday.

Otherwise I'm doing pretty fine in training. For the next few weeks, we are identifying various arthropods like insects, arachnids, etc. I don't mind IDing these crawlers, but my phobia for these things still bother the heck out of me. Today, one of my classmates unleashed a Madagascar hissing cockroach out of its terrerium. Just looking in the glass compartment, they are simply massive cockroaches without wings that hiss when you disturb them. However, when unleashed, my mind gets exhausted from being paranoid about these bugs. On the other hand, I'm training myself to relax a bit. They're just bugs. Sure, they may either represent filth or may be poisonous, but otherwise they're not a problem, right?

I'm still hoping to complete training with the remaining eight weeks. I have full confidence that I will pass. Failure is not an option, literally. My ex-roommate failed the first exam and the retake. When he got his results of the retake, he was removed from the training and the hotel that same day. Pretty scary. I also feel bad for the guy because he spent a buttload of money just to take the job in San Francisco from his hometown of Miami. It's definitely not a position I want to be in. Prayers are definitely appreciated.

4) On the brighter side, I enjoy being in the East Coast. It definitely has a lot more history than the West. No more cookie-cutter communities! It was pretty cool seeing Washington D.C. I haven't been there since 1998. I've noticed a lot has changed since then. One of the things I've notice is that there's more security and barriers. Well, that's a price of living in a Post 9/11 world. Also, I'm still trying to get used to the in-your-face attitude of the East Coast. I'm just a tad hestitant to even ask for directions. Hopefully I don't acclimate to the attitude here in the East. Otherwise, pardon my rudeness if we ever cross paths again. I am definitely planning more trips as well. It's pretty nice that I can do all my work and studying in training and don't have to bring a lot of work at home.

3) Speaking of bugs. I found out there's another thing to be pretty damn scared of other than the typical spider. Featuring:



Order Uropygi. The common name is a whip scorpion. I think of it is a hybrid scorpion and spider with a tail whip at the end to hit its prey. Great. Another thing to look out for.

2) Mass in Frederick is pretty interesting. I'm surprised that there's a strong Catholic influence in the area. Apparently, about 30 mi. north is Emmitsburg, MD, where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is laid to rest. If I find a way, I will definitely try to drop a visit.

The church that I go still has been around since the 1700s. The look really emphasizes that. It looks like a small Western European church. I really like the old-school look. A Vatican II auditorium church definitely lacks that kind of history, mostly because these are newly built churches. The feel is very traditional. Not Latin-Mass traditional, but traditional like organ music and more solemn Mass parts. It's definitely not Interfaith. It's not even the same feel from the parishes in Vallejo and American Canyon, which are trying to modernize things like the music. However, I do know that there are Catholics out there that don't really like the contemporary style, some of them even despise it. Perhaps the traditionial way really gives the sole churchgoer an hour of calm and solace to really reflect on his or her lives. Also consider that the more contemporary way also entices the emotions of the average churchgoer to feel God in their worship. Which way is arguably better? Does it even matter? I personally don't think so, but I know that there are those who just want to make an argument for either way, though perhaps we both reach the same goal in meeting God everytime we go to Mass.

1) I've been thinking about getting a tattoo in the future. Maybe a cross with the sacred heart to symbolize my faith. However, the big issue is that many gangs use religious tattoos in their markings as well. This is a big hinderance to any of my career choices. I can perhaps wear long sleeve shirts the rest of my working life, but I don't know if I can commit to that.

Also, I learned another "body alteration". It's called tounge forking:



First of all, I don't know why would anyone want to do that. A tongue ring is pretty extreme enough. However, this? I think the people that do this have some serious issues to deal with. I'm not saying that rebellion in general is unecessary. If used in the best context, a revolution here and there is healthy from time to time. This is how the US was formed. How we find ourselves leaving the parents household in the future. How we develop ourselves and become more independent and self sufficient. However, this is not the best way to show it. Neither are the reasons why an individual would split their tongue. I wonder if this is a reversible procedure?

That is all.

P.S. I posted an entry from the month of December. I was lagging with that enty until now. I guess Christmas has past. Oh well. I think I will try to continue updating my blogger. While I think tumblr is great, I like expressing though words than through images.