Elder Child Joined the Navy

[slgrieb]

It's great that she is serving. Everyone has to make their own choice on what branch is best for them. Thankfully, not everyone makes the same choice or else we would have one branch that is too full and the rest would be extinct.

Actually, she hasn't been inducted yet. There is still that little medical hurdle to clear. Again, I don't think that's an issue, and the Navy doesn't seem to think it's a problem. I have ambivalent feelings about the Coast Guard. Back when I was a canal sailor, the Coast Guard administered my tankerman test and later my wheelman's test. For what it's worth, I still hold a Class B Merchant Mariner's Document that permits me to transfer any cargo as inflammable as gasoline from ship to shore or between vessels. I still hold a license that permits me to operate any uninspected towing vessel on any inland water ways of the United States, excluding Western Rivers. Trust me, there is a whole bunch of legal speak here. Bottom line is that I could still push a 1750 foot tow along the Intracoastal Canal. I've done that, it was scary, and I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance.

But, most of my interactions with the Coast Guard involved my boat being boarded and having our sewage treatment system checked for compliance with Federal regs. I never worked on a boat that actually complied with Federal standards, but I spent a lot of time bullshitting Coasties who didn't really care about the job.

The bottom line is that I learned to regard most of the Coast Guard as desk jockeys or ineffectual, incompetent and unmotivated jerkoffs. I know that's unfair, but I would rather have my daughter dancing in a titty bar than serving in the Coast Guard.

[Joopster]

Actually, she hasn't been inducted yet. There is still that little medical hurdle to clear. Again, I don't think that's an issue, and the Navy doesn't seem to think it's a problem. I have ambivalent feelings about the Coast Guard. Back when I was a canal sailor, the Coast Guard administered my tankerman test and later my wheelman's test. For what it's worth, I still hold a Class B Merchant Mariner's Document that permits me to transfer any cargo as inflammable as gasoline from ship to shore or between vessels. I still hold a license that permits me to operate any uninspected towing vessel on any inland water ways of the United States, excluding Western Rivers. Trust me, there is a whole bunch of legal speak here. Bottom line is that I could still push a 1750 foot tow along the Intracoastal Canal. I've done that, it was scary, and I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance.

But, most of my interactions with the Coast Guard involved my boat being boarded and having our sewage treatment system checked for compliance with Federal regs. I never worked on a boat that actually complied with Federal standards, but I spent a lot of time bullshitting Coasties who didn't really care about the job.

The bottom line is that I learned to regard most of the Coast Guard as desk jockeys or ineffectual, incompetent and unmotivated jerkoffs. I know that's unfair, but I would rather have my daughter dancing in a titty bar than serving in the Coast Guard.

This right here is why you are a douchebag.

[slgrieb]

As it turns out, there was a glitch with EC's medical history due to her having had an ovarian cyst 6 years ago. But there hasn't been a recurrence, and taking the pill has kept the situation under control. Nevertheless, the Navy wants her medical records, but that looks like a formality. I think she is good to go. She got her test results from the ASVAB, and she had the highest score recorded in the San Antonio District in the past year. The Navy thinks she is OK for any career path up to Nuclear Engineer. Just so damn proud of her.

[Mobile PC]

I agree with you. I would love to have your daughter on the tip of my spear......... Oh my god, I am just kidding. But you lobbed it up there.....Just saying.... :0

[slgrieb]

I agree with you. I would love to have your daughter on the tip of my spear......... Oh my god, I am just kidding. But you lobbed it up there.....Just saying.... :0

EC is very cute, but doesn't seem to be interested in sex with either gender right now. She has plenty of male friends, but as she often tells me, the only thing men are good for is dancing. All the same, I am sure she's hetero, but just a late bloomer like her dad. I hear plenty about hot guys she knows, but so far it doesn't go beyond drinks and dancing.

Younger Child is a little more confusing. She's going to the Junior Prom with a guy, but most of her friends are female and she just doesn't discuss who she's attracted to with me much. However, she recently told me that Anne Francis in Forbidden Planet was hot. She might be gay, but I'm not sure. I'm fine either way. Mostly, she's just immersed in her art and doesn't socialize much.

[Pinnacle-Project]

Slgrieb,

In each of the armed forces, some jobs are more glamorous than others. It's unfortunate that your experience with the Coast Guard was not a positive one but please don't let your individual experiences with them paint such a negative image of the entire organization. Here on the Great Lakes the Coast Guard performs a valuable service. The same could be said in other areas. I'm glad you are proud of the career path your daughter is embarking on but please show some respect to those serving in other branches. I'm sure the parents of those serving in the Coast Guard are every bit as proud of their kids as you are of yours. What do you have to gain by taking any of that away from them with disrespectful statements? It's a free country so you are free to do so but what good comes of it?

[slgrieb]

I've said some good things about the Coast Guard, but mostly, no I'm not a fan. Does "any good" come from expressing my opinion? Golly, in a larger philosophical sense, I'm not sure. But it's still my opinion. When CeeBee posts that Blacks just aren't as smart as Whites, or when Joopster posts pretty much anything, does it do "any good"?

[Joopster]

I've said some good things about the Coast Guard, but mostly, no I'm not a fan. Does "any good" come from expressing my opinion? Golly, in a larger philosophical sense, I'm not sure. But it's still my opinion. When CeeBee posts that Blacks just aren't as smart as Whites, or when Joopster posts pretty much anything, does it do "any good"?

I respect all services. You had a bad experience because you couldn't follow the rules.

[slgrieb]

I respect all services. You had a bad experience because you couldn't follow the rules.

When I worked on tow boats, no I didn't follow the rules. The Coasties were a PITA because they didn't really care about us following the rules; they just wanted to be able to fill out the appropriate paperwork at the end of the day saying they had done "DUE DILIGENCE". I didn't even have to bribe them; if I just played the game long enough they would leave. I didn't send them to the Tonga Club in Beaumont to get blowjobs at my expense, or the Lion's Den in Port Arthur.

Still, for what it's worth, I hold them in higher esteem than the DEA.

[northbayteky]

This past Monday, Elder Child enlisted in the Navy. .... I couldn't be more proud of her.

Congratulations! I love hearing stories of people's children, growing up, moving on with their lives, etc. It gives me hope that my own children will grow up and move on with their lives. And maybe even find a place of their own!

I don't think I told you all about my son. He went to Cal State U Monterey Bay and managed to flunk out, lost his financial aid, got fired from his job at Chipotle, knocked up his girlfriend and had to move back home. Well, I guess he didn't HAVE to move back home. I just couldn't picture him living in his car in Monterey. (That would be my car that he is paying me for.) My daughter didn't pass any of her classes at the local community college. She did get a job over Christmas. They are both at home, he's working at Starbucks, but could be working at Genentech,. He's got 2 AS degrees and an AA, which is fine with Genentech. She says she is applying for jobs, and she may even go back to school.

If I didn't have such a low opinion of the military I might advise either of them to join. But I spent 20 years, my husband spent 20 years, his father spent 30 years in service so I think my family is done with that. Plus, I don't trust the military with my daughter.