Year of change
Quite the year 2010 promises to be!
March I get married
June I graduate from college
August I report to Officer Candidate School for the Navy in Newport, Rhode Island
And then depending on the needs of the Navy, I'll either end the year with some time in Cincinnati or spend some time at Information Warfare Basic Class in Pensacola, Florida
There are two types of change occurring this year. One of exciting uncertainty and the other of perfect clarity.
People always ask me what I'm going to be doing as an Information Warfare Officer. I always tell them the truth ... "I honestly am not 100% sure. But the uncertainty of the job description is one of the attractions." For the past few years I have always made it a point to write at least one post each month. I honestly don't know if this blog will survive past August 1st, 2010. I have no idea what is truly in store for me. This would of course fulfill the exciting uncertainty role.
As to the change that has perfect clarity, I don't feel the need to make this a mush fest blabbing on about my feelings for the future Mrs. Melissa Pawlak, but let's just say that I have never known anything on this world to be more perfect than the time I spend with her. In the craziness that will surely ensue this upcoming year, I know that whether I am sitting right next to her or on the other side of the world, she will be my constant. This upcoming March when we each say our "I do's", that moment will be the best change of my life.
For no reason other than just wanting to look, I was scouring Google for poems on the topic of "change". I came across a poem titled: "My Comfort Zone" written by an anonymous author. Here is an excerpt that I liked:
I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.
And for moments when I am not nearly as excited about change, here are a few Bible verses:
Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; His wisdom cannot be measured. (Isaiah 40:28)
Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. (James 1:17)
Happy New Year everyone. I am excited 2010 is here and am ready to get started.
Ready, Set, GO!
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Wisdom teeth funnies
Yesterday, January 2nd, morning I got my five wisdom teeth taken out. That's right, I had five. On the left side of my mouth I had an extra, I can't remember if it was on the top or the bottom though. It was the first time I was put on general anesthesia. Apparently I really enjoy the sensation 
This is the story, retold from my Mom telling me.
Before going to the surgeon, I took a 'happy pill' which started me off a little loopy. When I sat down in the chair before they stuck me, I saw the unit next to me had a flat line and joked with the nurses about "well that's not good". As soon as I was stuck, though, I was out for the count.
The surgery took about an hour, and all went fine. When I woke up in the recovery room, I was really blurry (I only remember parts of this). I remember seeing the blood pressure device on the wall and deciding that I needed to take my blood pressure. I'm not sure how far I got before the nurse took it away from me. But then I soon spotted a pen and decided my hand needed some art work. I was able to draw a car before the nurse took it away from me. By that time, they called my Mom back to the room where the doctor patted Mom on the back and said "Good luck, he's a live one." Hah. And the nurse told my Mom that she had to take everything away from me that I could get my hands on. I had other opinions telling Mom in more sorrowful tone that with regards to the nurse, "she doesn't want to interact with me."
After seeing Mom and asking her to take my picture, I was still not content. I needed a new pen and asked for on. The nurse told me I wasn't allowed because I would draw on myself. So I went to search for my own. I got down on all fours and crawled around the room looking for another pen while the nurse, my Mom and anyone else who was around just watched and (I'm sure) laughed. I finally got a pen and started drawing on a tissue that I got from a tissue box. I drew a little scuba diver and a plane. While the doctor was in the room, I made him guess what I drew on the paper until he got it right, the scuba diver. He then told me that I wasn't allowed to scuba for at least a week, at this I apparently got very sad.
It was soon time to go, though, and Mom handed me my shoes. I couldn't figure these out for the life of me. I held them above my head and just stared at them, twisting my body trying to figure out what to do with it. But eventually, I'm not sure how, I got my shoes on and was in somewhat ready state to leave.
Once in the car, I was freezing cold. Mom says I was shivering so much. Right across the street from the doctor is a Target. I of course asked Mom if we could stop by the Target so I could get a blanket to warm up, and "soooooo soooft" pillows. But of course, Mom said we had those things at home and we didn't stop.
The entire time in the car I would burst out in random song with whatever Broadway musical was on the CD player and kept watching myself in the mirror. I had blood all around my lips and kept telling Mom that "I look like a cannibal!" I also complained that Melissa wouldn't want to kiss me with blood on my mouth. She informed me that I probably wouldn't be doing much kissing tonight when Melissa came to visit, which my response was a sorrowful, "awwwwww pleeeeease? just a peck???"
Eventually we made it to the CVS drive-thru to pick up my pain meds. We had to wait a little while because they didn't have the perscription ready. Every time the pharmacy girl came to the window I would lean forward in the seat with my bloody face, wave and say hi to the girl. Of course my Mom is just laughing at me this entire time. I also thought it would be better to go inside CVS instead of waiting in the car. So I battled Mom with the locks and got my door open at one point, but Mom managed to keep me in. I got pretty upset and told her that Dad would let me go inside, and I didn't even have my cell phone to call him to tell on her for not letting me go into CVS.
Eventually I must've give up because I was tired. I randomly said aloud, "SLEEPY sleepy sleepy" and then immediately fell asleep. I think my Mom just stared in amazement not knowing what I was going to do next. I said something in my dreams about "it not being there" and when I woke up, three minutes later, Mom asked me about "it". Apparently I was dreaming about wine tasting at Kroger.
At other points in the car I told Mom that "I flat lined" during the surgery (must have been thinking about the flat line before I got knocked out). And I must've been enjoying myself because I also told her "I want to do this every week!"
Finally, we were home. When we got in the house, I was worried about getting blood on my white tshirt, so Mom offered to go upstairs and get me a different shirt. I wouldn't have any of this though, I could do it on my own. So I went upstairs telling Mom "I'm ok" but she went along. I got a black tshirt and saw my snorkeling Curious George on my desk that I got for Christmas. "GEORGE!!!!" I grabbed him and started heading back to the stairs. While Mom was holding my arm I told her "I'm ok, look I'll run down the stairs!" And this is where she kinda freaked a little bit I'm sure. Somehow I made it down the stairs in one piece and stopped by the piano to show Mom once again "I'm ok". It took me a few moments and a few wrong notes but eventually I started hammering out a pretty solid Fur Elise (Beethoven). With a still bloody mouth, I soon made my way to the couch which I haven't left much in the past 24 hours.
My phone was sitting next to the couch where I left it that morning. I picked it up and before turning on the screen, and said loudly, "let's feel the love!" I flipped on the screen and saw I had a missed call from my brother, Dan. "Awwwwww, Dan!" So I of course had to call him back and leave him a voicemail. I think he called Mom as well, so she called him back with explanation after my phone call. I also apparently called Melissa, but I don't remember leaving the message that she later let me listen to.
And that about sums it up I believe. I had Mom tell me everything I did again so I could write it down and write a blog post about it. Everyone I've told so far has gotten a good laugh out of it, so I hope you get the same. I haven't really had any pain, and really no swelling, but I'm still taking it easy on the couch. Lots of HGTV, History Channel and National Geographic. Good times.
I'm thinking next time I go under general anesthesia, I'll have a list of people wanting to pick me up afterward. Maybe I can charge admission?
I have a plane ticket
I just purchased a plane ticket to take me back home to Cincinnati over the 4th of July weekend! Mason fireworks on the 3rd night are definitely on the agenda.
Updated homepage… again!
I have updated my homepage yet again... so check it out!http://www.pawlak.ws(and as pre-notice: the URL for all this fun will probably be changing again soon)
How easy it is to steal bicycles…
I came across this video through the NYNerd blog and found it very interesting. This guy was curious how easy it was to steal bikes after having his lifted so many times. He takes his bike with different 'thief' equipment to different well known places in NYC during morning rush hour and chains up his bike. A few minutes later when all new people are around he comes to the bike with different methods, whether hammer and pick, hack saw, bolt cutters, or other and 'steals' his bike. Some people take notice but no one acts any concerned or does anything really. Interesting video, enjoy: