Happy 4th!

I will take a break from posting about updating the website and take the time to wish everyone a happy 4th.  Not too sure what is in store for me today, my 24th birthday, most of my friends from base went home.  I will probably end up at the beach at some point.

My Blog Is the Unpopular Kid?!? What?!?

I ran across this article on CNN.com, aparently it's suggesting that my blog is boring... interesting!  Instead of just calling me boring they have suggested ways to improve me blog... Okay I'm listening?  To sum it up this is what I need to do:

1. Pick a specific item to post about, narrow down my topic.

2. Join a blogging community that share the topic that I picked.

3. Redesign my blog.

4. Learn grammar and proper english.

Lets see if it works. As I accomplish these four tasks I will update you.  Don't expect a miracle over night, step 3 is suggesting I learn HTML. That could take me years and on top of that if I have to relearn step 4 I am way behind the learning curve.

Family & The Beach

My mom, Jesse, Ara and her friend, Emily, are down here on Camp Lejeune for a little beach time on Onslow Beach.  They got here on Tuesday around noon-ish and they will be here till Sunday before the head back to the Land of Lincoln.  I am super happy that they came, it's always nice to see family, especially when they come to me.  I do not forsee myself making that drive back to Illinois for years. 
...

[The two pictures in this blog were took yesterday at Onslow Beach. Top right: Ara and Emily about to get thrashed by a wave; Bottom Left:

Not Original... But A Start

So I still can't think of any ideas for things to draw... so I went on google.com and searched for pencil drawing tutorials.  I came across this one.  I decided to try and copy this man's picture and this is what I ended with.   Not too bad, but not nearly as good as his.  I have come to the conclusion I need some more art supplies to get the effect on some drawings that I want.

Drawers Block!?!

Not sure if there is such a thing but since drawing that last picture I have run into a empty wilderness.  I can not think of any idea that I like.  I have started drawing a couple pictures in the past couple days, however after getting like an hour or so into the drawing I became unsatisfied and tried to think of other ideas.  I really wish I could get an idea and make it stick on paper the way I see it in my head.

Slow Start To Leave

I have not done too much while I have been on leave.  I have watched a ton of movies and played an equal number of video games, on top of that I have done a little drawing.  I have decided I need to do more drawings and read more books.  I am on my way, here is a drawing that I did yesterday...

Case Of The Mondays!

If there is one day during the week that I absolutely despise, it is Monday.  It is a day that I look forward to being over with and for many reasons, here are just a few...

Their is hardly anything to do, the things that need to get accomplished never seems to get accomplished regardless of how much effort you put into it, the day seems to stand still, it means five straight days of work until the weekend, it is usually the earliest morning of the week, and it keeps on going.  I think the people in these videos would happen to agree with my hate for Mondays, enjoy!



*** Leave starts Wednesday-- this Monday should not be too bad.

New Template Editor

As you can see I have tested out the new template editor.  This is just a real quick run through, because I do not feel like reading through all the edjustors.  Let me know what you think.  Not too much going on... three days till I start my 15 days of leave. SO HAPPY! 

...7 Days and Countin'

This week has started quick and alot is getting accomplished it is a good thing too, because I have about seven days until I get a much needed fiftneed day vacation (annual leave).  I have rented a beach house for a couple of family members that are coming down.  The best part of this upcoming leave is that I am staying here in the area... okay, I guess vacations are for get aways and stuff like that, but sometimes what is really needed is just some time away from the workplace and stressful environments.  It makes it even better that I am able to do it here and do not have to waste time and money to travel anywhere besides maybe too and from the beach.  I sure do enjoy the summer!

Summer!

Once again it is summer time and fortunately this year I get to enjoy the summer time in North Carolina.  I have not got out to the beach much so far, but mainly due to having a cast on.  This year will be my first complete summer in North Carolina.  Last summer I was wearing 80lbs. of gear in 130 degree heat in Iraq.  I can not say that I mind switching from wearing a full combat load to a pair of board shorts and hanging out on the beach.  I have decided to take up surfing-- not sure when, but at some point this summer I am gonna get a board and start.

[Top Left: Emerald Isle; Top Right: Iraq/Syria Point of Entry; Bottom Left: Iraq ; Bottom Right: Emerald Isle]

Field Day

Every Thursday, for most units in the US Marine Corps, is field day.  What does this so called "field day" consists of?  That is simple!  It is one day of the week designated for cleaning.  Basically after we are released from work, all those marines who live in the barracks commence cleaning their rooms.  At a designated time, the night of field day, those marines NCO's or SNCO's will inspect each room and critique discrepancies with the cleaning.  The following morning the Unit Command will go through each room in the barracks and pass or fail the room.  Those marines receiving a failed room inspection will redo field day everyday until they pass, starting on Friday. Not a big deal, right?  It should not be but it always seems to present a problem.  For some reason their is always one or two marines that just can not manage to pass a field day inspection.  Even though the night before and morning of I had told those marines what needed to be cleaned.  Sometimes I feel I am talking to a brick wall.  They sit and nod at everything you say, but deep inside I know that they are not retaining any information I am telling them.   ARRRRRRRRGGG!

Back To Tattoos

After looking at the tattoos I have, a lot of ideas came across my head on what I want to get done in the future.  I got big plans for tattoos in the near future.  I am working on one drawing that I hope to have done soon so that I can get it tattooed on my left ribs and stomache and I also want to add on to the lettering that goes across my chest.  The chest addition I am not even going to try and explain, the tattoo artist is running with what I mentioned to him.  He said he is gonna draw it on me and then tattoo so once I decide to go get it done I will post pictures.  I am hoping to have these two tattoos done by my birthday.  So I have approximately a month to prepare for them. 

It seems like every year around this time I get in a tattoo frenzy, and I get a lot of ideas.  The drawings that result from those ideas are on my body now.  I am not really sure when I will stop, I definitely am not trying to be tattooed EVERYWHERE.  Today is my last day off before I go back to work. YUCK!  Gotta head to formation, so I am out.

Marine Corps Flag Drawing

On Friday, as I was driving off base from work and to the start of the Memorial day 96 I saw a Marine Corps flag and the United States Flag crossed and suddenly I had an idea for a drawing.  I have worked diligently on this drawing since Friday and I think I am finally done. I don't want to shade it too much and ruin the picture.  Tell me what  you think, constructive criticism welcome.

Tattoo's

I am not sure what it is about tattoo's,but I just can not get enough of them.  I currently have nine tattoos, its not really that many... I have big plans though!

Over this weekends time off, I have got a lot done.  I started this drawing and everything I have done with it seems to be exactly what it needs.  All I need to do is some accent shading and I think I will be done with it.  I will post pictures of it when I am complete.  I also managed to catch my laundry up!  It has been a while since the last time I had no laundry in the hamper.  I am a little confused what to do now, maybe I will wear 3 outfits today so that the hamper is no longer empty.

No More Cast... Atleast For Now

Back in December I managed to break a bone in my hand after punching a door while I was in a drunken' rage.  I ended up in a cast for about six weeks before it was removed.   The six weeks went by fairly quickly, however, anyone who has ever had a cast one before knows how inconvenient the thing is.  

...

About four weeks ago, during morning PT I managed to re break my hand in the exact same spot leading to yet another cast.  Having the cast on once was bad enough, but this second time straight up sucked!  I had the cast on for four weeks and on Wednesday I had it taken off.  I will need to do two months of physical therapy and then most likely surgery to put two plates where the bones broke, which will help prevent any future breaks. 

I am off work until Wednesday and it is beautiful outside, I think it may just be a beach day!

IED Encounter

I finally got a copy of the F18 video of my teams encounter with an IED in Iraq.

Monday... UGH!@#

I do not know what it is about Monday's, but it is by far the worst day of the week.  For one, everything goes by ten times slower than any other day while I am at work and when I go home it goes ten times faster.  Nothing ever seems to get accomplished either!  There is only one thing to look forward to on Monday and that is the day to be over.  Maybe Monday sucks, because the weekend never seems to be long enough.  Regardless of the cause, Monday sucks!  Hoooray for Tuesday!

Photo Editor

Just recently I purchased a new laptop, nothing fancy, but something to allow me access to the internet.  It come with an extra twenty or so programs.  This photo editor program caught my eye and I have had fun messing around with it.  As I design more pictures I will post them for everyone to see.  This is what I have so far, just a little family collage made of pictures I found on my facebook picture albums.

From SCRATCH

I decided today, kind of a spur of the moment deal, that I was going to erase all my old blogs and start from scratch.  I am hoping that I am able to manage the upkeep of blogging.  For those of you that do not know me, my name is R.J. (Ryan Jamison... I get asked what "R.J." stands for enough) and I am a 23 year old U.S. Marine.  I have experienced many things in life and know I have decided to share that with you all.  I encourage everyone to comment and ask any questions you may have. Enjoy!