Brighid Skamarakas

Spring Break - Friday

Brighid — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:10:44 +0000

So, after sitting in the car for way too long, we finally get down to Ft. Lauderdale and to the dive shop. This is the first time I have been back since we moved away five years ago.
So, I get to the dive shop and find out I not only have to turn in the chapter reviews from my dive manual, I also have to take an exam. I ended up passing with something around a 91 and I get my gear. Later I join everyone else at the hotel - Courtyard right on A1A. We were on the ninth floor and had a great view of the ocean and the beach from a huge wall-length window. There was a full moon over the water that night which was really pretty. We ate dinner at a little Italian beach bar - fried calamari, shrimp scampi bruschette (sp?) and pizza margherita. The pizza was okay but the appetizers were very good - especially the shrimp. If I remember the name of the place I’ll add it later.

Who would win in a fight?

Brighid — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:23:12 +0000

Chesty Puller or Patton?

The Marine’s Hymn

Brighid — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:22:29 +0000

The U.S. Marine Corps is the United States’ military band of brothers dedicated to warfighting. The proud Brotherhood of Marines is guided by principles, values, virtues, love of country, and its Warrior Culture. This brotherhood of American Patriots has no song. Instead, Marine Warriors have a hymn. When The Marines’ Hymn is played, United States Marines stand at attention. They silently show their pride in their fellow Marines, their Corps, their Country, their heritage, and their hymn.
     The Marines’ Hymn is a tribute to Warriors. Marine Warriors stormed fortress Derna, raised the American flag, and gave us “the shores of Tripoli.” Marines fought their way into the castle at Chapultepec and gave us the “halls of Montezuma.” Marines exist for the purpose of warfighting. Fighting is their role in life. They “fight for right and freedom” and “to keep our honor clean.” They fight “in the air, on land, and sea.” The Marine Corps is Valhalla for Warriors. U.S. Marines need no song. They have a hymn.
     Ironically, no one knows who wrote the hymn, which was in widespread use by the mid-1800s. Col. A.S. McLemore, USMC, spent several years trying to identify the origin of the tune. In 1878 he told the leader of the Marine Band that the tune had been adopted from the comic opera Genevieve de Barbant, by Jaques Offenback. Yet, others believe the tune originated from a Spanish folk song. Whatever! Regardless of its origin, The Marines’ Hymn has remained a revered icon of the United States Marine Corps for almost 200 years.
     In 1929 The Marines’ Hymn became the official hymn of the Corps. Thirteen years later in November 1942 the Commandant approved a change in the words of the first verse, fourth line. Because of the increasing use of aircraft in the Corps, the words were changed to “In the air, on land, and sea.” No other changes have been made since that time. When you have attained absolute perfection, there is no need for further modification:

From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of UNITED STATES MARINES.

Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze,
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job –
The UNITED STATES MARINES.

Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By UNITED STATES MARINES.

Sir Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister, became an ardent admirer of the U.S. Marine Corps. In the company of guests of state, he often demonstrated his respect for U.S. Marines by reciting, from memory, all three verses of The Marines’ Hymn.

Skippy’s List

Brighid — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:21:06 +0000

I was on the www.strategypage.com humor page the other day, and someone had made additions to this publication “Skippy’s List” So, naturally, I went and found it online and I have to link to it here, because it’s insanely funny.

http://skippyslist.com/list/

Rifle Creed

Brighid — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:19:22 +0000

Required knowledge for all Marines - Every Marine a Rifleman

It was written following the attack on Peal Harbor by MajGen William H. Rupertus

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I WILL…

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. WE WILL HIT…

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. WE WILL…

Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. WE ARE THE SAVIORS OF MY LIFE.

So be it, until victory is America’s and there is no enemy, but peace!

SICK

Brighid — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:42:28 +0000

I’ve had a headache since Sunday, so I went to the doctor’s yesterday and apparently I’m not dying, it’s just a really bad sinus infection. He gave me a nice strong antibiotic that’s kicking in (I know because I took it without eating this morning and felt like my digestive tract was being disintegrated from the inside.) and I’ll be back to school tomorrow. This has put me out of PT, which really sucks, so I’ll be working extra hard to make up for my down time.

Being sick sucks. And what’s worse, is I really only get sick once a year, and it’s when everyone else around here is dying, and no amount of orange juice with calcium and vitamin D can save me (I know, I bled through a gallon of it last week).

I’m moving back to Florida.

Screw you guys, I’m going where I don’t get sick.

My height

Brighid — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:38:57 +0000

Ummm…….despite what my father seems to think, I am not insanely short.

The minimum for females to join the military is 55 inches. I am 63. A whole eight inches taller than the minimum. Eight. Count them.

Just thought I’d share.

Sea Cadets

Brighid — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:31:37 +0000

I had my first drill last weekend. I had a great time, met some cool people. My next drill is February. I’ll pick up uniforms the week before. Daddy is considering volunteering as an adult officer, so that should be fun. Not only is it a great experience, but hopefully it will help my NROTC resume a bit. I’ve heard the program has proven useful to cadets who later went into the military. I guess we’ll find out!

pirates of the Caribbean: at world’s end

Brighid — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:26:27 +0000

I did not see this in the theatre as I did the other two, because I was in Europe when it came out. Nevertheless, I asked for it on DVD for Christmas. Several people said it sucked, and even more did not like the complicated plot. I stand by all three movies. This one’s plot is the most complicated, but nothing us left irritatingly unanswered and it is just as entertaining as the other two, if not more so. I think this one is the best of the three. I didn’t wish for Will Turner to get lost or killed in this one, either.
Five stars and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t get any award recognition

the iPhone: One Month

Brighid — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:19:55 +0000

Well, I’ve had my iPhone for a month now. I really like it. The camera has great color quality, it’s easy to organize, and it’s a got a frickin iPod + video on it. I set it up to my home Internet connection, and so far Internet has been tested as far as Florida with speed and success. One downside I discovered today is that the iPhone does not support A2DP, which means I cannot stream music through a Bluetooth device. So, I’ll be listening to music with the wires for now. Overall, I like this the most of all my devices.

On a side note, when we established the account, we did the pre-paid GoPhone plan for the first month until my parents got their new phones on AT&T and set up a family plan. It was a bitch to move it from GoPhone to the family plan and keep the same number. Just a warning.