Fanboys

In an email from several nights ago, "Watching Fanboys right now! I have been waiting over two years to see it...will give a review on my blog. That is certain!"

I can't give much of a review. I was so let down by this movie. Only a couple of items to note...

1. The cast diverts from their trip to steal a copy of Episode One to go thru Riverside, IA to bust some Trekkie balls.
2. The best catchphrase of the movie is used when they do attempt to kick Trekkies balls due to their calling Han Solo a homo. It is..."Get the hell out of here you Kirk-lovin' Spock suckers!" Beautiful dialogue.
3. Skywalker ranch is guarded by the dudes from THX-1138.
4. I was able to gorge myself on hotdogs and ramen. Not just any ol' hotdogs and ramen. This was hotdogs with Heinz 57 and ramen made with paprika, basil, and dehydrated onion!
5. That is all.

You will all have to watch it for yourselves, but I felt really let down. Kinda like watching a Brett Ratner film.

May the Force be with you.

Trek Premiere

Well, Buddy and I did it. We travelled 15 kilometers with a 40 lb pack and had enough energy to stop into Coconut Moon (our local beach bar) for a couple of beers! None the worse for wear, but Bud is completely exhausted.

Highlights:
Impromptu wedding
Oki Hollywood
Crazy dudes with windmills on their backs
Surf town
Tacos
Beer and beef sticks
Oki/US culture

The true highlight would really have to be that when I went in to Family Mart to get Buddy a beef stick and me an Orion. I took a moment to use the restroom and I left my camera next to the sink. When I had gotten outside I realized I had forgotten it and was on my way back inside to retrieve it when a nice young Okinawan lad found me and returned it with what appeared to be an apology. I can only interpret that due to the look of concern on his face. Could that happen in the US?

Please take the time to enjoy our photos here on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=84825&id=672758511&saved#/photo.php?pid=1966062&id=672758511&ref=nf

SLAP CHOP!

I had no intention of needing or getting one of these, but now after seeing this...
I think it will fit in my backpack!

Beard Song

Another song from Rocky and Balls I need to learn; a song about beards written by Hannah Rockcliffe (Rocky) and Sophie Madeleine (Balls).


I feel it is in keeping with my adventure; the long beard that is grown while you search for meaning while you wander. Forrest Gump, Jesus, and Frodo come to mind.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost"--J.R.R. Tolkien

Urban Trek Premiere

Impressive. Very impressive. Your skills are complete young Robertson...

I must say, this is inspirational and motivational. Good thing I finally got my tent today and can officially "hit the road" on Okinawa for this long holiday weekend. I will head north and see how it all goes. It will be interesting and exciting, especially since Buddy is going with me. I will also have pictures of this experimental and premiere Trek once I return. I am not going to take the computer with me this first time out.

Dev, thanks so much for the inspiration and your personal comments you sent today. It means a lot to me. I need friends and family for encouragement right now. Also, thanks to Lubi, Ken, and Wayne for their concern and offers of support. I appreciate ALL who are in my life and provide guidance, support, and love.

It isn't as easy as I thought it could be and actually, I have some reflecting to do this weekend and must follow that up with a life decision shortly after which may affect my journey. I will end the suspense by clarifying that this change would adjust the Trek to only 6 months instead of 12. What is the positive side of this? This would cause me to backpack Europe instead; easy trade off, I think, and it would be bring me back to HI to go to work in a great job with a great friend of mine. Now if only I can convince Lubi to come back to HI around the same timeframe... The glass is always half full.

Live long and prosper.
May the Force be with you.
Semper Fi, Mac!
CROM!!!

Rocky and Balls

CAUTION: Saccharin Warning!

This is my latest greatest inspiration for ukulele. I MUST learn to play this well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vVdWHADKto
Make sure you brush your teeth after you watch...it will cause tooth decay!

Ukulele

I received this surprise in the mail along with a few other items from HI (I miss HI) from Lubi. '60's Uke-In, surprisingly, is full of songs I have wanted to learn to play on the ukulele. Every evening, I take my music, my dog, and my uke to the beach to practice. The gift will help...I need it.

I already have one experimental song (Somewhere Over the Rainbow) on my YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQn1xAdV04M
I will update with a newer/cleaner version that I have been practicing. This is based on Lubi's "encouragement" for me to sing in a lower octave. The Japanese love my soprano tones, but Lubi doesn't like it. She prefers the contrast between my deep voice and the high tones of the soprano uke. I have to say it is difficult due to the truly high tones of the ukulele.

Dev, Ricky J, and Christian have also been providing inspiration in their collective attempts to put together some kind of ensemble. How we are going to do this is still a mystery, but it is fun sharing everyone's music. I am working on some other material that I will post online in the very near future. (Adrienne, be patient, I know I owe you a version of Margaritaville, but I can't promise it will be in my underwear.) Stay tuned to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/robertsondb for updates!

On a lighter note...

This IS my dog, Buddy, as conveyed by Walt Disney Studios. (Bolt ©2008)

I think a royalty fee or legal action is necessary...

The Wrestler and Retirement

Here's to Randy the "RAM" Robinson (and to Mickey Rourke), for making his own choices and creating his own personal journey!

Adrienne's review: "I loved it. His journey was his own. You feel for the father/daughter dynamic but I choose to love my father for who he is and not what everyone else expects him to be or wants him to be. Kind of felt the same way here. He messed up with her but why have expectations from someone who has never fulfilled them in the past. I guess that's hope, huh? Anyway, two thumbs up here."

Her comment, "his journey was (is) his own." is exactly how I feel about my retirement and my plans after. I know I am not perfect, have made mistakes, and probably have (or will) hurt someone along the way. Additionally, I know I haven't always made the best decisions in my life, but those were choices I made. The purpose for this journey is to find out what I am capable of.

I think this is the perfect time to describe my thoughts on right and wrong. I don't know if these two words should exist. Why not just good or bad? Instead of a right or wrong decision, why can't it simply be a good or bad decision? If you say "right or wrong" you are automatically creating a judgment. If you state "good or bad" then you imply a personal choice not relating to anyone else and only based on your personal experiences and/or thoughts. Additionally, once you make a choice/decision and you take action, it can't be taken back...no such thing as "do-overs" in real life. So, does that automatically make it a "right/wrong" as opposed to a "good/bad" decision or does all of this simply depend on the outcome or perspective? Hmmmmmmmmmm. I live my life with no regrets. This is only possible based upon my personal philosophy of choosing "good/bad" over "right/wrong".

On to the review...the Wrestler did make bad decisions, but that didn't make him right or wrong, good or bad or even evil. He just lived his life. However, he neglected many "good/bad" things in his life and chose what he perceived to be "right." Is that how a man should be judged? Shouldn't a man be allowed to live his life without judgment?

"Do not judge a man until you have walked a day in his shoes."--anonymous

Sure, he had his faults and issues, but that is his personal burden to bear. Again, we delve into judgment. Should anyone really concern themselves with choices someone else has made or may make in regard to how it effects them and only them?

"What other people think of you is none of your business...mind your own business."--anonymous

Of course, he had problems which occurred because of his choices, but whose burden is that to bear? Is it his family, friends, and acquaintances obligation to bear any of this responsibility or to concern themselves with what he has done, is doing, or is going to do? Don't we all have enough issues, problems, concerns, and worries of our own without having to take on any additional responsibilities?
"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back."--anonymous

The following are comments on his decision to sacrifice all (his life) for what he knows he is good at. The dilemma is that this is all he honestly knows; he doesn't know or choose to explore that which he may be capable of. He never truly expanded beyond, took any risks, or attempted to discover something else inside him. This truly is a tragic tale of lost opportunity. Instead of realizing the obstacles in his life and taking chances, risks, and looking for other opportunities or making choices to effect his situation, he chose the path of least resistance by continuing to pursue that with which he is familiar and knows he is capable of accomplishing. Ironically, all of this is encouraged by the "crowd." This is all an example of what true potential might have prevented by his realization of the other options he had in front of him. His ulitmate failure to realize any opportunity saddens me. (disclaimer: in keeping with my previous statements, this is not a judgment of the Wrestler; man or character, but simply my own personal observation in relation to myself.)

* Note: In attempting to find the graphic on this post, it took 15 minutes to find the correct representation I feel conveys the true emotion of this film and my post. The graphics used in the mass media for "The Wrestler" is of The Ram hanging his head, exhausted on the ropes...I don't see it that way. I see it as my blog portrays, as a man undaunted and unafraid taking on any opponent by leaping from the top rope (the DVD graphic was the only representation I could find). Of course, this is just my observation, but I do find it very interesting.

Lastly, I have thoughts on expectation. "If you have expectations, expect to be disappointed."--DB Robertson

Grandpa's Dream

There has been a lot of discussion lately about a business that our Grandfather, Basil, has been proposing and wanting to do for years. Now, he has finally committed to making it happen.

It is about garnering acres of land in SD and raising pheasants there and allowing hunters, for a fee, to freely hunt on this wonderful estate. We all believe in Grandpa Basil's dream and want it to succeed and will support where we can. Personally, I will have a very short period of time while I am at home after retirement to assist and have "enlisted" family and close friends to help out. They have all produced amazing results. Many thanks to (in no particular order) Adrienne, Lubi, Ken, Dev (all graphics credit), Ricky J, and Christian. Grandpa, we all need you to provide some guidance at this point.

From Christian, " If you use Pheasant Haven, you pick up all the mis-typed searches. :) Maybe avoid the cutsie names. It should be something that appeals to hunters, and inspires visions of bagging plenty of birds. Also, maybe it should feature Grandpa's name: Basil P. Robertson's Blah Blah Blah. When you attach a name, it seems to add authority and "experience."

...and Adrienne," I agree with Ruck... I like Basil P. Robertson's Pheasant Haven (or Heaven). Market it as if he's been doing this pheasant crap for YEARS and is an expert passing on his know-how's to out-of-state hunter's with big pockets :)

...and Dev, "I’m inspired by the heritage of the Robertson family and leaning toward a Native American theme… Plus think about the image/logo possibilities!!"

...and Ken, " For many reasons (a white boy who has only driven through SD once and has never seen a pheasant in the wild) I’ve not been adding my 2 cents, but I think Dev and Adrienne are on the right path. Combining the Robertson’s Native American roots with the type of hunters you wish to attract should be the way to go."

...and my 2 cents, “So you want shoot pheasant?” Is this in keeping with the native accent, eh? Huh, ennit. Can we incorporate that?!!?!??! “Shoot pheasant, ennit?...aaayyyy!”

Here is a list of proposed names for "Pheasant Heaven" (working title):
Blotan Hunka - (War Leaders/Chiefs) www.blotanhunka.com
Skope Mahpiya – (Crooked Sky) Pheasants www.skopemahpiya.com
Siyosa - (Pheasant) www.siyosa.com
Heyata – (Out in the Country) www.heyata.com
Kokoyahala – (Rooster) www.kokoyahala.com
Gun Arrow www.gunarrow.com
Pheasant Quest www.pheasantquest.com
Sundog Hunts www.sundoghunts.com
Broken Wing www.brokenwing.com
Bird Journey www.birdjourney.com

Pheasant Shoot

Pheasant Fisher

Pheasant DreamHunter's Dream

Basil's Pheasant Farms

Robertson's Hunter's Haven

South Dakota Skyland Farms

Skyland Pheasants

Robertson's Pheasant Thunder Farms

Skyland Thunder Pheasant Farms

We are all committed to providing assistance where required, but it is obviously up to Grandpa Basil to realize his dream and put all the pieces together to ultimately make it happen. Again, "Ask. Believe. Receive."

Coincidence?

Alright, I don't believe in coincidence. However, Albert Einstein said, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." --Albert Einstein (The World As I See It)

I don't believe in God, but let me tell you this story...

I have a new Marine, that will be referred to as the Idiot from this point on. He is the most inept Jarhead I have ever experienced in my career (hence, retirement).

Moving on...this young lad had mistakenly received an email from a Gunny somewhere in 29 Palms, CA. It was regarding a band trip they were coordinating. My young idiot received this email and decided to reply to it but not attempting to be tactful and explain that he probably received it erroneously, he decided he would flex his "power" (?) and explain to this senior Marine that he works for a General in 3rd Marine Division and, " why in the hell would he care about his band's plans" (add whatever expletives you desire). This is the most amazingly idiotic and disrespectful thing I have seen in my career; let alone the first utilizing email.

The Gunny, being the professional, decides to contact me to find out what is going on. I reply to him and his officer in charge that they can be assured, it will be handled. The idiot is now going forward with non-judicial punishment or "NJP" (the military utilizes this to enact swift and just punishment and to avoid long legal delays.)

Now, on to the story. It starts the day I drove Lubi to the Naha Airport...

For some reason, I started talking about an old girlfriend that I had dated on Okinawa in 1999 (Diana); she worked with the Marine band on island. I happened to log onto Facebook and she started chatting with me. We start catching up on the past and how we are all doing in our lives. I then tell her about my retirement and backpacking trip. She explains that she lives near Chicago in MI. I ask if there is anything to do there (duh) . Of course, she says there is plenty and that actually this upcoming weekend, she is going to see a Marine band that is performing. WHAT? I had to ask, "The 29 Palms band?" She says, "yes." Holy shite! So I then ask about the Marines that I had spoken with via email in regard to the case previously mentioned. She knows all of them and she plans to see them this weekend! What are the odds? ASTRONOMICAL!

Now, add to this that Lubi and I also talked about a young Marine Sergeant that I worked with way back in 2001 that helped her repair her old junker car (it needed a C boot and U joint.) This young lad, Sgt Henry, helped out and fixed all for some beer and pizza, if I recall correctly. Anyway, on our drive to the airport, I mentioned his name and I hadn't thought of him in years. The same day I spoke with Diana about the band, I received a phone call from a Gunnery Sergeant Henry. While I was driving Lubi to the airport, he called asking about me!

I don't know what any of this means. Probably nothing, but "coincidence is god's way of remaining anonymous."

Second Thoughts?

Lubka reported back to me today from HI that a very good friend of ours is concerned with my decision to take this journey. I feel it is probably for several reasons.

1. My safety.
2. I should be responsible and go to work while I am still young.
3. There are great job opportunities out there for me RIGHT NOW!
4. He would really like to work with me in HI.

I can't argue any of these points. I just feel I have to do this before I make any decision. It isn't rational or inspiring or thought provoking for anyone other than me. And at this point, that's all that counts (other than my loved ones supporting me in this crazy decision.)

To add to the confusion and second guessing, I had an old Marine officer (I used to work for and now retired) stop by the office today from HI. He offered me a job with another contracting company. This makes the fifth job offer I have had without even looking for work (seriously), so I think it is safe to say, I will find work after my Trek.

I appreciate everyone's concern, but this is something I need to do. I have had hours of processing and thinking about this decision and I can't say that I am certain, but I can say it is what I WANT TO DO. For the past 22 years, I have done what I HAD to do. Now it is time for me to take the time to decide, "WHAT DO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP."

Lubi Leaves

"Just got home and am about to go to the beach with Buddy. We all miss you already. It’s been a sad day. I just realized when I got home that Spider-man and Wonder Woman won’t be drinking out of their coffee cups soon.

Good to hear you are doing ok. (Lubi left sick) The lounge isn’t too bad. (Narita, Japan)

We will be back a little later. Need to play some “I miss Lubi” music at the beach. (on my Uke)

I LOVE YOU!!!
Darin"

Lubka left today for HI, but she will return to Okinawa soon. She will return for the job that she loves so much that deals with energy conservation and also challenges her talents and abilities as an engineer. Her return signifies the true beginning of this Trek. It is going to happen in a very short period of time and I hope all are prepared. Ha.

Adrienne's Offer

“Plenty of room at my place in Minneapolis. HOWEVER, if you have the time and want to get in touch with your native roots, I'd suggest purchasing a Harley-Davidson by next June and joining the Hoka Hey Challenge Ride from Key West, Florida to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. www.hokaheychallenge.com”

My initial email reply was, “Will be looking to stay somewhere or maybe even get a ride into city limits. Don’t know MPLS that well. Do I need a gun? That’s one of the first questions I get asked about my trip, ‘are you going to have a gun?’ No. I won’t need one. It’s not that kinda trek. It’s neither a real wilderness adventure with lions, and tigers, and bears, (oh my) nor is it a true urban adventure involving living with the homeless and destitute. Hell, I don’t even have a cardboard sign!"

Now after more thought about the Hoka Hey, perhaps I could make that ride in Jun 2010 with my best friend Kenneth, if he’s up for it...

Urban Trek: Leg 2

So the next portion of the Trek is from Minneapolis to Chicago. This is where the trip could become problematic due to the weather and timeline. I am trying hard not to have an agenda or burdensome requirements, but getting caught in between MN and IL somewhere during Oct-Dec could be disastrous. I like my fingers and toes how they are and also attached, not frozen and falling off.

If I I start my Trek in mid-August that would place me in Minneapolis by the end of the month. I then would have the entire month of Sep to reach Chicago. This is a very short timeline, but hopefully, it will be a beautiful Indian Summer and afford me a small buffer.

Now I have to plan the third leg of the Trek. That will be in an upcoming post.

Walk, Forrest, Walk

My brother, Christian, had a comment for me today, “Are you gonna grow a big gnarly beard? In the near future, I've got something to show you that you may/may not be interested in - as long as you're on a type of introspective journey. For some reason, this is what I picture when I think about your trek.” (see picture)

For some reason, almost every time I comment on this trek with someone, inevitably Forrest Gump comes to mind. I don’t plan to run coast to coast over and over and over again. It is a reflective trip, but I don’t think it will be too “Forrest” like. His brain and pause for reflection is much different than mine. I DEFINITELY don’t plan to walk INDEFINITELY.

Working Title

My cousin, Devlin, read my blog and replied in an email, “I have become your first follower… Hurray for me!! Everyone else can just get in line… ha!” I guess now, I have an official blog.

Additionally, he commented on the working title for my blog, Trek and subsequent book by providing a link to Amazon.com. I have provided a picture in this posting identifying what book already has this title. Very funny.

So now, because of a dancing hamster (the Pussycat Dolls also have an album) I must create an additional piece somewhere in the title of my book.


Are there any suggestions from my followers? Oh, Dev is the only one. Hopefully, that will change.

Urban Trek

I guess it would be fair to say that this journey is more of an urban trek than a backpacking adventure. The intent is to go from town to town until I reach FL. This trek should take me 6 months.

The first leg of the Trek will start in Sisseton, SD and then head east into MN, arriving in Minneapolis within the first week (appx. 200 miles). This is all based on a very loose plan, loose in the terms of I am racing the weather south. Other than that, I am at the whim of the moment. I have no plan, no agenda. I am tired of following schedules. We will see what results.

Additionally, I plan to sojourn on with the intent of using little or no money. I have what I need on my back, short of food, which I intend to source without having to pay; ideally, it would mean working for my supper. Meals are important, but the journey and discovery are more important.

What are people really like? Are they inherently good or evil? This is a lifelong question spanning human history. By no means have I intended to embark upon a Homeric Odyssey, but I do have my own questions that I must have answered.

Thoughts

I woke up last nite with a thought on my mind that I couldn't put out of my head.

"The older I become the more I realize I don't know as much as I thought I did."

This thought has been prevalent recently due to my reflection on my retirement. I know a lot about being a US Marine, but feel I am lacking in other areas/aspects of my life. Time to learn some new things.

Ultimate Assistant

This is my assistant in the planned attempt to write my first book. The book will be comprised of excerpts from this blog written during my backpacking trip. I am sure the title of this new book will be the same as this blogsite, "When I Grow Up."

I expect this new little Acer "netbook" to be of ultimate assistance while I travel from town to town. I will hopefully get on the internet with it when I stop to rest and upload to this blog to keep all informed of my journey. I will always ensure to include photos.

It actually is a powerful little machine with 160 gigabytes of memory, 2 gigabytes of RAM, and an Intel Atom processor. It is capable of handling all my internet and word processing requirements while also maintaining my iTunes files for entertainment purposes. This machine provides all of this on a 10 inch screen with a weight of only 3 pounds. This will be much easier than trying to lug around a desktop or a notebook.

The Beginning

It has been a month already since Lubi and I made the decision for me to retire from the United States Marine Corps (official date of 30 Sep 2009--exactly 22 years and 16 days from 14 Sep 1987 when I stood on the "yellow footprints" of MCRD, San Diego, CA.) We went over all the options to ensure we would be able to enjoy life and it was a simple decision considering how miserable I have been over the past several years.

It hasn't been due to being in Okinawa, Japan for the past several years, constantly away from friends and family. To the contrary, we enjoy Okinawa living well enough. It has to do strictly with the work I have been doing. For years, my fellow Marines that had made the decision to retire would constantly state, "when it's no longer fun anymore..." They were SO correct. I know that it is time.

The title of this blogsite is, "When I Grow Up." What do I want to be when I grow up? That is the question at hand and in order to answer it, I must ask myself several other questions.

1. Who am I?

2. Why am I?

After many discussions with Lubi, we decided the best way to do that was not to take another government job and go right to work, but rather take some time off to think. I am hoping in my "walkabout" to answer the not so obvious two "simple" questions so that I can move on to something interesting, entertaining, and enjoyable in my next career. I look at the Marines as not simply a closed chapter, but a closed book with the intent of starting a new one with all new chapters. Some of the characters will remain the same, but that will be where the similarities end; this is not a sequel.

Stay tuned for further postings. I hope to make an entry a day to keep myself focused and inform anyone who may be interested in "growing up" some insight and assistance in their endeavors. I will close this post with a mantra for this adventure--"Ask. Believe. Receive."