What Was It All For?

Right out the gate let me tell you that I have been living with chronic depression and anxiety for, well, most of my life. Despite the jovial, irreverent facade most people see during the day, the core emotional reality I experience nearly all day long, every day, is a dark melancholy, a Black Hole. No … Continue reading What Was It All For?

Nuovo Inizio

SUFFOLK, Va. (Feb. 20, 2017) - It has been a highly kinetic week at work before this holiday. I’m not merely the chief of production at my command; I’ve taken over as chief of operations too. The assumption of additional responsibilities happened while I was in Naples, so I had to hit the deck plate … Continue reading Nuovo Inizio

Across the Pond 2

(Written Feb. 12...again!) I'm sitting in Washington Dulles International Airport. Flew a Lufthansa Boeing 777 across the pond, and it was one of the most comfortable flights I have taken. Unlike my trip to Italy, on this trip the plane was only half full, so instead of being packed in next to four other men … Continue reading Across the Pond 2

Preparing to Fly

(Written Feb. 12) - Sitting in my room. Packed up, TV is on, and I'm finishing my coffee. Soon as I finish this, I'll pack up my computer, go down and check out. My buddy Gary picks me up at 1130 to get me to the airport. I hate endings. I hate vacation endings. I … Continue reading Preparing to Fly

Walking the Path of the Past

(Written Feb. 11) - Last full day in Naples; fly out for Virginia tomorrow. This has been a very hard trip in many ways. Partly by the news of not getting into William and Mary, partly by the reality of having to start planning for a different future, and partly by the simple fact that, … Continue reading Walking the Path of the Past

Walking the Path of God

(Written Feb. 9) - I'm batting out the notes for these things the day of the event, but then polishing them up after the fact. I don't want to publish lousy grammar...especially as I've spent seven of the last ten years of my naval career teaching writing! Today my multimedia workshop students were cut loose … Continue reading Walking the Path of God

Italia in Pictures…

A few images of Italy so far... Morning over Vesuvius, Feb. 2. Albus the crab and Lego Football Dude at Castel Nuovo in Naples, Feb. 2. Shamrock motif tile floor, Herculaneum. Feb. 4. Mosaic tile wall of Neptune and Amphitrite, Herculaneum. Feb. 4. Aragonese-Angevine Castle, Gaeta. Feb. 5. Gaeta. Feb. 5. Christian carving heading down … Continue reading Italia in Pictures…

Monte Orlando

(Written Feb. 5) - I'm trying to catch up a bit. Sue me--I'm busy continually overcoming my own mental health issues while seeing the world. After all--why else join the Navy? Certainly not for the easy working hours! I'm staying on board the Navy's support site in Gricignano di Aversa, outside Naples proper. Today I … Continue reading Monte Orlando

Agoraphobia and Herculaneum

(Written Feb. 5) - Granted I'm here to teach a couple of courses. The students come first, the exploring comes second. However, those moments do come! Yesterday (Feb. 4) my friend Gary loaned me one of his cars. The last time I drove in Europe was when I was stationed in Spain from 1998 - … Continue reading Agoraphobia and Herculaneum

Parlando a Napoli (Speaking in Naples)

I'm in Naples...or else I chose the wrong title for this entry. My arrival here was smooth and highly eventful. My contact and shipmate, Gary, was so intent on making sure I was taken care of he showed up at the airport a full 24 hours BEFORE my flight was due to arrive...indeed before I … Continue reading Parlando a Napoli (Speaking in Naples)