Twenty years ago, on a little island in South Carolina, I was yelled at by a loud, intimidating Drill Instructor. He told me to get off his bus.
I ran off that bus, sped over to the yellow footprints and stood on them, at the position of attention.
I didn’t move unless told to move, I yelled until my throat was sore and my voice was hoarse. I ate faster than I ever had before. Ran faster than I ever had before, and my feet hurt more than they ever had before that. I cleaned harder than I ever had before. I moved faster than I ever had before. I also woke up earlier than I ever had before.
I was broken down over the next three months and built back up.
It was a very memorable part of my life, and I proudly earned the title US Marine.

The following 4 years were truly memorable. I’ve made many friends brothers and sisters over the last twenty years and have also maintained relationships with my brothers who stood on the yellow footprints that same day. Like John, Jeff, and Mike.

Here I am twenty years later, thinking about what it would have been like to be retired today, at 38 years old.

Aside from this being a test, I don’t know what to write about.

Paris Day 0
We left the house about 7am on Wednesday. Long term parking was very convenient. American Airlines curb side checking is either very selective or racist. They let white people cut in front of us, not once, but twice. Jaime was going to get angry, which is a shock, because it’s normally me.

Our flight to Dallas went off without a hitch, though the flight was packed and I’m a little too large for the seats.

In Dallas, we ate at one of the expensive airport restaurants. It was alright. What sucks is everything is on the other side of the TSA security checkpoint, so we had to go through it a couple times as we went outside to smoke.

We finally we boarded the plane to Paris. It wasn’t packed so Jaime and I got to stretch out.
FACT: even if I’m laying across three seats, I still am crammed and can’t sleep. I think the old man in front of us shit himself too. It was foul!

We flew opposite the earth rotation, so we saw day and night, then day again fairly quickly. We are 8 hours ahead of everybody in Arizona.

My super awesome headphones broke at the jack, that sucks bad. I had to use some crappy iPod earphones. It’s such a long flight.

Paris Day 1
Once in Paris, small shock to our system, it was freezing cold. we took a cab to our hotel. On the way we caught a glimpse of the sacre cours and saw the arc de triomph.

For a four star hotel, our room is very small with a leaky sink. I pity those fools in three star or less.

the location of our hotel gives us quick walking access to everything. We walked around after our nap then grabbed some dinner at the pepiniere brasserie. We snapped a few pictures.

Coffee here comes in tiny cups.

I didn’t think the food was that amazing or tasty. Could be the place.

Paris Day 2
Wow, what a day!
Though, we woke up extremely early (3am), we had a great breakfast at the hotel, and then walked our feet off.
We saw the Madelaine. A huge columned church. The columns made me look small.

We went to the Musee l’Orangerie which is French for “Claude Monet’s Purpley-Blue Painting”
Don’t get me wrong but it truly should be called that. A large museum built specifically for two room large painting. There is some other stuff there too, like Picasso’s works.

We then walked over to the Musee du Louvre.

It’s definitely a must for everybody. No matter if you are into art or not. There are many things to see. Just outside is a small arc, which is massive. Once inside the glass pyramid, there are many areas you can go. There are numerous paintings and statues and artifacts from the whole worlds history. While there, we ate lunch, just a baguette and another sandwich. We walked our feet off. So much that we took a cab home.

We were so tired, we took a long nap. When we got up, we didn’t want to be late for our tour of France via double-decker bus, that we nearly ran the mile to the bus stop.

After the tour, which was amazing and recommended for anybody new to Paris, we walked about, found a cafe called Coupe d’Or and we both had a nice little meal of rotisserie chicken and fries, for a late dinner, I think the waiter was hitting on my wife. Which he should, she’s pretty sexy. We then went home.

I had my first glass of wine tonight, wow it was good and warmed me up. I must have been drunk because I tried to convince Jaime that we should run a sixty mile marathon. I think she talked me out of it.

Paris Day 3
I finally slept in. It must have been the walking or whatnot. I woke up at 3, but then went back to sleep until 8.

We ate breakfast and I was amazed at how hard it was to get coffee. They forgot the first time, then later, I had to ask a couple more times to get a refill.

Breakfast is very filling here. It must be the selection but after breakfast, I’m good until late dinner (8pm late).

Today Jaime looked like a hot French model. Le yumm!!! I’m such a lucky guy. We went to the Eiffel tower today and WOW, it’s impressive. We took some pictures then made out under it.

Our camera battery died so that kind of sucks. We took the rest of our pictures for the day on her tablet. (not in the current linked photo album)

We toured the museum of architecture which is just amazing, the level of detail is awesome. http://www.citechaillot.fr/fr/musee/

After, we walked home and on the way we saw the flame of liberty which is a replica of the flame the statue of liberty has. It might be smaller because it was not impressive.

Once we made it back to the hotel, I think we were done for the night. We hit the hotel bar and even ate there. There wine is good, I didn’t try to convince Jaime of more marathon running or other silliness I think. The bartender was nice and we struck up some conversation with him.

Paris Day 4
Well, I got up at 3 again. I was even the last to fall asleep last night. I did get to fall back asleep and we went to breakfast as usual but a little later then hit up the Pantheon and the tons/crypts underneath, the bath-house and the little museum they had, the Eglise Sulpice, the Luxembourg gardens, the musee d’orsay and the famous coffee place called les deux magots.

The Pantheon wasn’t that wonderful to me, truly only because I don’t know enough about the history or the people who are buried there. It was pretty though. There was a giant clock of sorts on the ground in the center of the room and a metal ball suspended by a super long string. As the ball swung, it would swing over the right time. Magic? Mystery? No! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foucault_pendulum it’s science!!!

The Cluny Museum bath-house had pretty cool statues and truly made you think of the days when a bunch of dudes would get together, get naked and chat.

The Eglise (church) Sulpice was quite nice. Being a Sunday, we went to church and I lit a candle for my mom, I also told her about it on Facebook!! I’m a good boy!

The Luxembourg gardens were very beautiful, the toilets were out of order though and I had to go! But I can hold it forever and after walking the whole park, we headed to les deux magots for some cappuccino, some hot chocolate and a Napoleon.

The two coffees and the Napoleon were about 25€. Roughly $33.

I’m definitely glad that we fill up on breakfast at the hotel.

Paris Day 5
We woke up sort of early and had breakfast, then after we got ready to go, went to the Arc de Triomphe which is amazing, huge, and has a lot of steps.

We went to the the Eglise de Notre Dame. Pretty cool, I feel that the one in Montreal is prettier, but this is the original.

We went back to the Louvre again, I brought some sticky notes and wrote our names on it and put it under a bench. Haha, my name is at the Louvre!

Paris Day 6
Galleries Lafayette, which is like a huge overpriced mall, like the Fashion Square in Scottsdale. We then went back to the Louvre and looked for some Royal Jewels and crowns and such but couldn’t find them, we basically got lost in the Louvre, that sucker is huge. We bought some little things at some shops near the Louvre. Later on we bought a bunch of souvenirs. We bought a lock the other day and we placed it at the bridge on the North of the Musee D’Orsay. If you are ever there, look for our lock!

We went back to the hotel, on the way, we stopped at the Monoprix, which is like a great, big, Walgreens. We should have stopped there our first day for sandwiches, fruit, and souvenirs. Seriously!

A vehicle came to pick us up to take us to the Moulin Rouge (french for Red Windmill) and ate dinner there. We met a couple right next to us who let us drink some of their Absinthe. Right out of their glasses. Strong stuff. The show was awesome! Sorry, no cameras = no pictures.

Paris, Bon Voyage
Early the next morning began our long journey home. I can’t believe that my wife got us this trip. She planned out everything in detail. I love my wife so much and can’t thank her enough for the experience of a lifetime.

Looking for pictures?
If you have an iPad, use this link.
We would appreciate comments on the pictures.

• Spent time with John Rivera and Family!
• First time snowboarding
• We got tattoos!
• Jaime got a raise!
• Made a shit ton of cakes!
• Reunited with Corey Roque
• Booked the Castle at Ashley Manor
• Had a fancy Binkley’s 30 course meal
• Attended a wedding
• Bachelor & Bachelorette Party!
• Carmelo got a new job, like a boss!
• Had our own wedding!
• Went to Jamaica!
• Got an iPad2!
• Had a house painted
• Had a new A/C installed
• New Dishwasher!
• Bought a huge dining table
• Had new carpet put in
• Moved into said house in the middle of summer
• Bought a huge bed
• Bought new TVs
• Bought Damien new furniture
• Went Wakeboarding!
• Got a Galaxy Tab
• Went to Vegas!
• Saw Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Went to Rocky Point!
• Got a new sink and faucet
• Carmelo got ITIL certified, like a boss!
• Got motorcycle up to par
• Cleaned Garage!
• Had Thanksgiving!
• Had a house party for our birthdays!
• Reunited with Steven Kennard (and Skip by accident)
• Had Christmas with Family^2!
• Identified noodles Carmelo loves! (Hong Kong Style!)
• Bought a Jacuzzi!
• Got tickets to Paris!

Yesterday for Christmas eve, my brother and soon to be sister-in-law come over and we ate and then did a video chat with mom and the rest of the family in Montreal.

For Jaime and I’s first Christmas together as a married couple did we ever spoil each other!

I got Jaime a Spa!
Jaime got us tickets to Paris!

Merry Christmas everybody, Merry Christmas!

My mom, Uncle Dave and Aunt Nervie came to visit. It was a quick weekend! I cooked sinagang and it was delicious. We also made a bunch of lumpia. When everybody came over, Jaime invited her half of the family to come over as well.

Later that night, we migrated over to my Pat and Courtney’s place and spent the night there. The next day we went to church, then chilled for a bit before heading to C-Fu for some yummy chinese food (that is where the picture is taken). Then, as quick as everyone got here, they left. We dropped them off at the airport. It was a very good quality weekend of family fun. I really enjoyed it.

It was very good to see him and meet his mom whom he was visiting for Thanksgiving. We hope it will be the start of many reunions.

I just finished my lunch today and it was just as good as it was for dinner yesterday. I’m very happy and thankful of my life right now.

In other awesome and exciting news. I’m also done with Christmas shopping! I’ve been buying things online for the last few weeks, like a boss!

Damien and William shooting dog poop with their airsoft guns from atop an RV thats still in my yard for some reason

I’ve been married to Jaime for half a year already! This year is flying by! To celebrate, we went out for Sushi. I love my pookie schmookie!