"My name is Jake... and I'm a blogaholic"

So, I am in the Atlanta airport as I type. I think this is evidence that I have a new addiction with this blogging stuff. At least I am no longer in denial, that's always the first step to recovery. I spoke these words this morning. "My name is Jake... and I'm a blogaholic." It seems I'm not the only one though. I've been thinking about possibly starting a 12 step group. I know at least a few others on my sidebar that are probably still in denial, and a few who I know would join. Apparently, there is a lot of money in this business too from what I hear, maybe I could become a recovering blog addict who does speaking gigs for crowded audiences all across the world. I don't know how this all began, it happened so fast. I used to look at the internet in awe of all the info, and like a sponge, soak up the knowledge. Now, it's like some old book on my shelf and I feel like saying, "the internet? yeah, I've read it." There are also so many facets to the internet, blogging is merely the gateway drug, kinda like the internet equivalent to Marijuana. Have you heard of Myspace? Yeah, that should be called MyCrackSpace. Then there's the internet dating thing. I haven't done that, nor do I plan on it. No really. Most of the people who do would never admit to it, but everyone is definitely doing it. I go to school with a bunch of guys who utilize it all the time to meet up with gals in Raleigh/Durham. I simply refuse to give in. I think it would be the equivalent of Crystal Meth on the internet, freaking dangerous territory. I don't think one can return from such a move. I shall be like the Last of the Mohicans as far as that is concerned. Call me old-fashioned, but that's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Probably in about ten years I predict it will no longer be so taboo, well I suppose it's not taboo, but it certainly is the skeleton in everyone's closet, at least they treat that way. Okay, enough about my thoughts on internet drugs. I now digress.

So, the last weekend in Belcourt, ND was mostly uneventful. However, there were a couple of things I saw that I would have never thought I'd see. Take for example a local bar. This bar had two things that I don't think I'll ever see again. 1) a drive thru window to buy beer 2) a place to tie your horses down if you decide to come on horseback. Yes, I watched two guys ride their horses to the bar, tie them up, and then later that night they rode their horses back home from the bar. Isn't that crazy? I also noticed that the days are really long here. It gets light at around 4AM and then it doesnt get dark until about 11pm, really strange stuff for a kid from Mississippi. I certainly rubbed elbows with the locals on a regular basis, and of course I met a few gals. One in particular, I hung out with quite a bit. She is a dental assistant, and quite the looker, but of course, there is just so much baggage. Not that everyone doesn't have baggage, but this girl had a boyfriend and a child that I didn't find out about until recently. It seems that I always run into such situations. I meet the craziest girls. The last rotation I asked out a fine young lady who ended up "having a girlfriend". Yeah that was awkward. She wasn't gay, she was bi, but "in a relationship" What the hell? -over. I hope this is entertaining to all of you, I'm in a good mood and thought I'd share some candid humor.

I'm really glad to be back in civilization again, I just checked my voicemail and had about 20 messages. My phone hasn't had a signal in 4 and a half weeks which makes for a lot of pissed off friends. So, now I'm about to kill some more time making phone calls. The experience overall in Belcourt was great. Everything from the medical training, to the hanging with the local natives (literally) was fantastic. However,I wouldn't recommend it for a vacation. Oh yeah, did I ever mention I stayed in a Casino Hotel? Let's just say I got to refine my Texas Hold Em skills which I haven't utliized since Fraternity Poker night in college. Good times. I'll post some more serious stuff later. I find out where I'll be stationed tomorrow- pretty exciting. Hopefully I'll get 10th Group in Colorado or Germany. *fingers crossed*.

Geronimo!