Hathorns in CO!

...Till the shine wears off

2009-12-13T20:45:00.002-08:00

Dear Camp Shelby, MS:

When having quarters at 0730 is considered "sleeping in", we've gone too far.

0545 quarters one day.

0600 quarters the next.

0430 quarters the next.

0530 quarters the next.

0615 quarters the next.

See where we went wrong? Lest I've lost my ability to count, that's only one week. Considering that we must wake up about 1 hour (on the average) to load out and prepare for the day's missions, it comes as no surprise that tomorrow's 0800 quarters call is appreciated. And my training is also 100% complete.

While it can't be discussed what exactly I trained on, I can safely say that the majority of it was NOT mission critical stuff. I rest well tonight, knowing that I will not be donning my flak vest and kevlar helmet, standing in one of many of your expansive and isolated fields all day, rain dripping down my back and front, soaking me through and through.

It has been interesting, Camp Shelby. Though our relationship has been strained from the beginning, I feel as if you have taught me a lot about who I am and what I am able to tolerate. I will not miss your dreary, always-a-rainy-day feeling and overall soggyness (yes, that's right, soggyness). But the times weren't all bad. Like when we finished training early on sunny days and I just lounged around with you, counting the minutes... But overall, you will not be missed by this sailor.

I'm coming home.

Death and all of his friends

2009-12-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

When one has time to think freely and openly, over a long enough timeline, the possibility of death peeks its head out of some distant forgotten corner of the mind. Not thoughts and contemplations of suicide, or even how one might die, but something different: One might stand with a mental Rolodex of their life's memories and rifle through them, good and bad together, as one whose life may end sooner than they think. It's not something individuals ever talk about, but I am sure that it has conceivably crossed everyone's mind.

What would my mom/wife/husband/dad do without me around?

How would they be alright/able to cope?

In what way would they remember me?

Would they feed my cat?

The old civilizations of the world celebrated the separation of life and spirit from mortal body that we know as death. They congratulated those who had ended their time on this planet and moved on to some higher level of existence. The afterlife, after all, if presented to be glorious and at least, in one way or another, an improvement on our experience here on Earth is without a doubt something to celebrate achieving. I mean, let's be honest: Death is certain. But a lot of people on our planet today are too smart for the 'afterlife' school of thought.

I have specific feelings about my life as it has evolved to this juncture in time. I value my time on Earth, and when my Father wants me back, it will happen. I love my wife and daughter, my family, my friends, my job. I love my car. Life is a wonderful thing.

In Memoriam

2009-05-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

Reticent in tongue,

But vociferous,

man's heart,

Today they live on.

Three cheers for Memorial Day.

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist

2009-05-22T01:06:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine studied for 2 weeks and spent one extra week in shipboard walk-throughs to prepare for his enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) qualification. Obtaining the qualification takes a passing score of 80% or higher on a (at this command) 100-question test, and passing an oral board administered by various shipboard personnel. After one unsuccessful test attempt I helped him study for a few days and my friend then managed to pass with an 83% and achieved satisfactory results on his board as well. He is now allowed to wear the designator pin for ESWS on his working and dress uniforms as proof of this achievement.

Am I proud of my shipmate? Certainly. But a selfish humor within me caused me to call the validity of his ESWS pin upon examining the actual test he took and after speaking with him in some detail about his oral board. He said 7 different people showed up, asked him 5 questions each, and that was it. The test was also full of simple short answer questions and, barring the fact that it was 100 questions, looked pretty easy. When I remember the time I spent preparing for my ESWS test (200 questions) and my oral board(s), my real exception to their ESWS program comes to light.

For us on active duty, it was difficult. Very difficult, very long, and unforgiving. You begin by learning to a great extent the inner workings of every aspect of all ship functions, such as engineering, supply, personnel, aviation, navigation, operations, combat systems, and so on. You do this by standing Under Instruction (UI) watchstations and getting them to sign off a qualification book to prove you have assimmilated the requisite knowledge to the appropriate level. Then once you feel you are ready, you turn in your book, which is then verified, and you are allowed to be proctored the aforementioned test. After the test, you go through 3 oral boards, and the failure of even one board nullifies your test score, and you have to retest, meaning you had to select a different test out of the 10 randomized versions. The first board was usually scheduled for 2.5 hours. The second, or "murder board", was not only scheduled for 3 hours and usually ran longer (mine was 4.5) but was sat by only senior officers and enlisted as well (Senior/Master Chiefs, the XO and CO of the ship, and various departmental Commanders [Papa Raynor] and Lieutenant Commanders). The third usually lasted less than 2 hours. To describe the amount of time it took me to feel prepared to test and board with confidence, I would use the word tremendous. 2 hours a night studying, standing different watches twice a week around the ship, and getting a stack of papers about 2 inches thick signed off by the watchstanders I was with. All that and more was my preparation for what ended up to be about, oh, let's say, about 7 months.

7 months.

Debasement?

Possibly.

Congratulations, nonetheless, are due to IT2 (SW) Sitzman upon the occasion of successfully completing the requirements to be designated an enlisted surface warfare specialist, and tomorrow, with the ship's crew as audience at Captain's Call, it will certainly be my personal pleasure to present him with his letter of designation and inaugurally pin the emblem on his chest.

Machinist's Mate,

Second Class,

Surface Warfare,

Donny R. Hathorn.

MM2(SW) Hathorn

Annual Training for FY '09

2009-05-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

The amount of anti-depressant advertisements they show on TV here is amazing. It has been sunny for the weekend, and the rain is supposed to resume on Monday. It's a change from Ft. Collins, but I'll be glad to be home. It'll still be a week this Tuesday, but I can make it.

You know, one day I was at the Air Force base for Drill Weekend, talking to this guy who plays basketball:

And I told this fella that we (in Colorado) needed him to step his game up if we were to go anywhere in this years NBA playoffs. So he did.

Sorry Dallas (and Kim)... Time to go home.

Sun 03	@ Denver Conf. Semi-Finals	L 95-109
Tue 05	@ Denver Conf. Semi-Finals	L 105-117
Sat 09	vs Denver Conf. Semi-Finals	L 105-106
Mon 11	vs Denver Conf. Semi-Finals	W 119-117
Wed 13	@ Denver Conf. Semi-Finals	L 110-124

Kidd should be ashamed. But you gotta pay respects to Dirk, 30+ points a game. The big man, however, can't win by himself.

This guy that I know...

... and his whole team really gave the Mavs more than they can handle. But the Nuggets won't hold the Lakers, I think. The Lakers will spread Denver's defense and play the paint.

A good snow (prank)

2009-04-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile...

A buddy who has been perpetrating pranks on me involving my car was finally served his come-uppance. He puts a car jack under my car in the front, lifts the front wheels off the ground, and moves my car around places. He even moved it in the backyard one day after tearing down part of the fence. It was hilarious!!

After a few good snows, pranks were in the air. He was shoveling his walk one night while we were getting a 6 inch snowfall, and I was harassing him because he had been drinking (he isn't a church member), and he is my neighbor, and as we all know, harass and neighbor are very similar words in the language of Donny. So after harassing him, I went in, and so he shoveled his walk onto my steps. It was a pile about 2 feet high, and the width of my steps.

So I got payback for all the car pranks.

Do the Japanese translation where you yourself are strange!

2008-12-27T22:29:00.000-08:00

Step 1:

Open internet browser and go to http://babelfish.yahoo.com/.

Step 2:

Enter a phrase or quote of your choosing into the "Translate" box.

Example: (English in the "Translate" box)

That is one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.

Step 3:

Open the menu below to choose a "Translate to-and-from" language.

Step 4:

Pick "English to Japanese".

Step 5:

Press "Translate".

Step 6:

If done correctly, your English should now be translated to characters of Japanese in a thin box above the place you entered your original phrase or quote. Highlight the text and copy/paste into the "Translate" field over your original phrase or quote.

Example: (Translated and copied over)

それは人のための1つの小さいステップ、人類のための1の大きな飛躍である。

Step 7:

Open the menu below to choose a "Translate to-and-from" language.

Step 8:

Pick "Japanese to English".

Step 9:

Press "Translate".

Step 10:

If done correctly, your Japanese should now be translated to Engrish in a thin box above the place you entered your translated phrase or quote. So, laugh and rejoice.

Example: (Translated to Engrish)

That is big leap of 1 for step and the mankind whose one for the person is small.

Merry Christmas,
Donny

It came hence from the hot oven

2008-11-23T17:58:00.001-08:00

I had been looking for a good recipe for bread, and I think I found a good one, finally! It's one of those all day recipes, because it's a double-rise yeast recipe, and with mixing, kneading, rising, rising, and baking, it takes about 3 hours. It's good, though, nice and crusty, but soft in the middle. I think the total cost for all ingredients might have been a dollar.

Where did the recipe come from, you ask? Well I'll tell you: My mom's "Betty Crocker's Cookbook" with the "red pie" cover, dated 1969. That's right. A 39-year old recipe is still the best ever.

Donny

Sandra was tagged

2008-11-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

This is Donny. Sandra isn't here, so I will act halfway in her stead and will post only 3 lesser known things about myself. This might take a while because as everyone already knows, I LOVE to tell stories.

1. I can say the alphabet backwards in less than 4 seconds.

I learned in 8th grade I could do this when the teacher challenged our whole class to learn it, and while all the other kids were sitting there trying to get it right, I mastered it (and I won the candy bar).

2. I drowned to the point of unconsciousness when I was 5.

My brother and I were playing in a pond behind the house in Etoile, TX we lived at. This pond was pretty big, about an 1/8th mile circle, and we thought for the longest time that the pond was a lot deeper on the backside edge of the circle. I think our reasoning, as little boys, lie in the fact that the back of the pond was the furthest point away from the house and our mom, therefore in the event of an accident, it would prompt the slowest response time. Without going into greater detail, we generally avoided the far side of the pond. But one fateful summer day, my brother and I were chasing each other and I ran towards the back thinking he wouldn't follow me. Well, he did, and so I went further towards the back, and my feet hit a slippery rock, and I couldn't balance on it because I really couldn't swim then. So I sorta flailed on this algae-covered rock before falling over and sinking like a stone into this deep water that we had theorized was there. I remember seeing the sun through the translucency the water's surface created, and the sun getting dimmer and dimmer and dimmer and then: lights out. I was resuscitated and upon awakening, my chest felt as if it was made of lead. I shortly found out that all the water in my lungs was to blame, as I heaved it up for what seemed to be an endless amount of time. Then, I took a nap.

3. I can unicycle.

Not like a pro can, but I can get on them and ride for a considerable amount of time. I was at a friend's house and he pulled a unicycle out of his garage which his son started riding around. I said, "That can't be that hard". Well, I have never hurt myself riding on the one-wheelers, and still can ride them pretty well.

There ya go. I tag my wife to write the other 3.

Donny

Proposition 8

2008-11-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

This is Donny. I will probably get some bad responses for this, but I have to get this off of my chest.

I don't particularly believe that homosexuality is right.

Another thing I don't agree with is our Church meddling in state affairs and thousands of members donating millions of dollars to state affairs. It makes me a little uncomfortable to realize this.

If our church lost it's Tax-Exempt status, it wouldn't hurt us at all. I believe the member's donation was misguided and this is shedding an awful light on our church, which already faces enough bad press without this addition.

I don't agree with the decision to support this initiative to the fullest, and I apoligize to anyone who takes my words as blasphemous or insulting.

Craigslist is like Wikipedia.

2008-11-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

The majority of the time, you have to be a bit careful about "good deals" on Craigslist. I don't know about this one... I think my weariness is due to the link he posted up. Hmmm... Anyone else see how this doesn't add up?

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/ele/907842676.html

-Hathorn

Guilty!

2008-11-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

I accidentally did something terrible today. My poor husband is in Denver drilling with the Navy Reserves and is now probably curled up is his hotel room bed snoozing away near an alarm clock set two hours earlier than it should.
The phrasing "spring forward, fall back" for some annoying reason makes me think the exact opposite of what is intended. My thought process: to spring is to gain, to fall is to lose. But that is just not how it is. I am so sorry to my sleep deprived husband, hopefully you will listen to my message (Donny always has his phone on silent) early tomorrow morning and easily fall back to sleep.

He just really liked my car's bumper

2008-10-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

A gentleman driving behind me today, I believe, really wanted me to understand that he is an ex-Military servicemember, because it looked as if his plates were mounted higher than normal, and he was viciously tailgating me.

This picture represents his immediate future, providing he continues in these same habits.

Chocolate Avenger, Pt. 2

2008-10-19T20:06:00.001-07:00

Need I say more?

What Are You Guys Talking About?

2008-09-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

I sincerely thought the fellas at work were merely taking a jab at me regarding my financial institution of choice, seeing as how I had heard strange remarks (for a few weeks) from various members of my shop about this certain financial institution (that I happen to do business with). I heard the horrific tale unfold on the radio, yet I persisted: It's got to be a joke. The guys in my shop as well as 3 different Disc Jockeys on 3 separate Denver radio broadcasting frequencies know that I am somewhat paranoid in this time of economic turmoil, $700 billion bail-out plans, and a left-wing congress, not to mention the death of the Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore.

Rose... bud...

Current Value = $0.16 per share.

Ps: For those that missed the final moments of Citizen Kane, it's the name of a sled he had as a little boy.

Fun with Food

2008-09-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

So there sat Sandra, Maddie, and I, peacefully on the bed, eating Golden Oreos. But not the normal ones that are 'golden', the ones that are chocolate-filled with vanilla cookies. Maddie extended her hand, as if to say, "Father, might I have a nibble of cookie?", and as we all know, a 1 year-old in want of a cookie could melt the heart of the Abominable Snowman (it's about a 15 on the 10-scale of cuteness). I held out for as long as I could, which happens to be the approximate time it takes light to travel 1 foot (science guys and gals, here's your chance to reply with the ACTUAL TIME it takes light to travel 1 foot), so needless to say, she received a cookie in short order. I turned to talk to Sandra about how wonderful our daughter is whilst our dearest began consuming the cookie. We turned back to Maddie and saw the following:

This took every bit of the time it takes light to travel 932625 miles, which happens to be about 5 seconds. I was stunned. Zero to cookie smear in 5 seconds. This girl has got to be extra-terrestrial.

Or maybe, just maybe, she is Human, Evolved. (Wo)Mankind 2.0, if you will.

No one can resist the snaggle-tooth smile...

...Or Chuck Norris.

Funny Face

2008-09-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

One of Maddie's favorite baby books shows a baby opening and closing his eyes. After reading it one night, she just started blinking to make me laugh. What a funny girl!

A House of Order

2008-09-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

Madeline has found a fun, new game. She fills containers full of toys or other household objects and then dumps them out on the floor. From playing this game, she has become interested in our clear recycling bin full of cans and cartons. Needless to say she enjoys knocking this bin over to examine these treasures more closely. Today I opened the pantry to find all of the empty Gatorade bottles neatly placed back in the pantry next to the full ones. I don't know if being a neat freak is genetic, but I would not be surprised.

Baby Book

2008-09-03T15:52:00.001-07:00

I am finishing the last page in Maddie's baby book today. It is kind of exciting and kind of sad at the same time.

Madeline's One!

2008-08-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hello All! Since I have never posted before, I guess Madeline's Birthday is as good time to start. Donny got to stay home from work (yeah!) and that means we have a car! We started out the day with a yummy breakfast, after our first attempt at baby cereal pancakes failed. The pancakes sounded like such a good idea when I read it on the side of the cereal box, but Madeline was not fooled. She wanted the eggs and pancakes Donny and I had. After getting dressed and naps, we opened presents!

Baby Cereal "Pancake"

Breakfast and the Classic Maddie Point!

She loves her Baby Ballerina from Grandma!

Modeling some new swag

I sold the truck.

2008-05-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

I sold my 1998 Tacoma yesterday. I loved that truck, but it was time for it to go. I keep justifying it, but it still feels strange, not having it around. I must've made 20 trips up to MD to see Sandra before we were married in that truck, and we left the church in Frederick, MD on our "honeymoon" (we got a hotel room in Frederick and watched T.V. for our first night as a married couple) in that truck. Lots of good memories were spawned from that truck... Offroading, road trips, driving really way too fast in a truck with oversized tires, teaching Sandra how to properly work a clutch (VERY good time, full of laughs)... Every time she stalled it, she would panic, and say, "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I didn't break it, did I? Is it ok? Donny I don't want to do this I'm nervous... I'm gonna break your truck." She did learn very well how to drive it, and when I came back from being out to sea for a month, she was great at clutch driving. She still is, too.

She's a Beaut, I tell ya. But she's someone else's, now. And their money was a Beaut, and it sure is mine, now, as well.

Check this out...

Just wanted to let everyone see updated pictures of the Bean.

Donny

2008-02-18T18:53:00.001-08:00

Just lounging around.

Whatever you do in life,

2008-01-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

Remember these simple rules:

1. If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
2. There is no 'ctrl' key on Chuck Norris' computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
3. Apple gives Chuck Norris 99 cents every time he listens to a song.
4. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
5. Chuck Norris CAN eat just one Lay's potato chip.
6. Chuck Norris is suing MySpace for taking the name for what he calls everything around you.
7. Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table of elements because he only recognizes the element of surprise.
8. Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
9. Chuck Norris doesn't shave; he kicks himself in the face. The only thing that can cut Chuck Norris is Chuck Norris.
10. Contrary to popular belief, Chuck Norris, not the box jellyfish of northern Australia, is the most venomous creature on earth. Within 3 minutes of being bitten, a human being experiences the following symptoms: fever, blurred vision, beard rash, tightness of the jeans, and the feeling of being repeatedly kicked through a car windshield.

Breakfast. Yum, yum.

2007-12-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

I made breakfast this morning for Sandra and I. She's really the best wife the world could ever know. Level-headed, beautiful, funny, and light, yet satisfying. She's amazing.

It snowed again, for about 24 hours yesterday, and is still snowing a little bit. That means Igloo.

Seriously.

Maddie likes oranges.

The week, in short.

2007-11-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

What a week.

So much food, such a short period of time. Sandra and I ate Thanksgiving meals 3 times. 3 TIMES! We ate at our friend Cassie's place first, for lunch. She had a bit of a get-together in Denver, so Sandra, Maddie, and I went down. Cass, Sandra, Chris, myself, and Cass' new room-mate Melinda and her beau Jason ate lunch then played Cranium for a few hours. Then Sandra, Chris, and I drove back north to my folks place in Windsor, CO, and ate dinner, after which, Chris and I proceeded to build an Igloo.

Seriously, people. An Igloo. I'm working on getting pics of it up. I'll post one up If I can.

After the Igloo, we went home, woke up Friday, drove out to Winter Park (!!!!!) and ate a FEAST with 13 old high school friends on a Thanksgiving retreat to go snowboarding.

I shall post Igloo pics ASAP.

Donny

What I did today.

2007-11-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

As my first blog attempt, I hope it's as cool as my dad's!!!

My daily happenings:
I cried for about 2.5 hours, drank an abnormal portion of milk, and went to the bathroom a lot.

Plus I spit up and cooed a bunch, too.

Love,
Madeline

First try.

2007-11-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

I never thought I would blog. But here I am.

Donny