Lee Hoover » My Life

So Much To Do…

Lee Hoover — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:43:32 +0000

I’m back to working five days a week (I just worked three the last two), and with it comes an increase in stuff. By stuff I mean stuff to study. Today a new online course begins with (why not?) three weekly assignments, I have a speech CLEP on Friday, and I still have to study for a promotion test next month; by study I mean a couple hours a night spent…studying. Oh yeah…I also have a full-time job. Is it possible for the brain to explode?

I’m not too concerned about the online course. It’s a simple communications course, but because it’s online I have to ensure I stay on top of the course materials. If not, things can go down hill quickly. The speech CLEP is a different story. I’m stressing out big time and not even sure why. It’s not the speech that bothers me, it’s the way I have to deliver it. I am handed a topic (any topic) and I have ten minutes to prepare a speech on it. What if I have no idea what the topic is, or don’t have an opinion? I’ll be in some trouble…let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Let’s hope I succeed. If I do I get my Associates Degree…finally.

Studying for promotion isn’t difficult, just boring and time consuming…but worth it. Steph laughs at how busy I am and says I should just do what she does and after work just come home and relax. I probably should. But then she says that’s why she married me. So maybe I shouldn’t. Who knows. Either way I’m looking forward to March when most of this will be out of the way. Of course, by then I’m sure I will find new and exciting things to wrap my head around.

New Years Resolutions

Lee Hoover — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:59:45 +0000

It’s that time of year again, the time when people everywhere look ahead to the following 365 days and decide what it is they want to accomplish. Usually it’s to lose weight, eat better, work harder…or less; for me it’s usually nothing at all. I’ve never made New Years Resolutions before, but this year I thought I’d join in on the craze. After all, there are quite a few things about me that need improving. I thought I’d share them here because, well, what better way to ensure you accomplish your goals then to post them for the world to see? So without further ado…here are my New Years Resolutions for 2009.

1. Eat Right/Get to the Gym

Yes, it’s typical. I know. But I suppose there is a reason it’s one of the most popular resolutions: most of us eat terribly. I have survived 29 years without counting calories, drinking energy drinks like water, and eating junk food whenever I wanted to. I wonder how many more years that can last? Even worse - and something I was unaware of until recently - married men eat more. I’ve never eaten like I have this holiday season. Praise my beautiful wife for spending hours in the kitchen cooking up some delicious grub, but even she admits: we should probably watch what we’re cooking up.

I get picked on quite often when I mention my need to eat better and work out more. Usually I’m looked at oddly and then reminded of my rail thin figure. But hey, I like my figure - and I’ve notice it changing with age. Everybody was skinny once, is it wrong to want to stay this way? I never thought eating right was a big deal…but come News Years day it will be.

2. Build A Stronger Relationship With Christ

This is probably something we could all do, but if I take a personal reflection on my own relationship with Christ I know I need to work at it more. Please don’t misunderstand me: my faith in Christ is - and always will be - true and strong. But my passion for prayer and bible study - two very important elements of the Christian walk - has wavered a bit. I’m not sure why, perhaps it is because the Lord has blessed my life in amazing ways and when everything goes right we seem to forget why. The truth is we should continually pray and thank the Lord for the good times as well, something I have failed to do.

I like to compare the passion of the Christian spirit to a campfire. If you constantly attend to a campfire the likelihood it goes out (unless you don’t know what you’re doing, like me) is slim. If you keep supplying it with the necessary sticks and leaves it will continue to burn strong. However if you walk away from it for awhile, perhaps forget about it as you head to the river for a swim…it will die down. In the same way, if we feed our spirit with prayer and bible study we will remain “on fire” for the Lord, but if we forget, or fail to make time, that passion will easily die down. It’s just something I’ve noticed when I take honest look at my Christian walk and something I know I need to work on.

3. Become a Better Leader

I’ve been blessed in my Air Force career by making rank fairly fast. The good thing about this is the increased opportunities, and of course, the better pay. The bad thing (for me) is the increased responsibility for leadership. I have to admit: I’m a terrible leader. When it comes to leading a team I’m more likely to push them aside and do the task myself than lead them to victory. In the face of failure, I’m more likely to get frustrated and vent than I am to calmly react and inspire. This isn’t a good thing in any career, but in the military the effect is magnified. I’m studying right now to hopefully make the next rank this coming year and I know that if I do, the need to change my ways when it comes to leadership will be even more pressing. So why not start now? I should have started two years ago.

I don’t know exactly how I’m going to do this. It’s not like there’s a class you can take and all the sudden you’re a great leader. But I do have ideas on how to be a good leader. I’ve seen good leadership. I’ve seen bad leadership. I just need to take a good look at my actions and learn from them. I need to to map out a plan to succeed, because if I don’t - if I just let myself react - it probably won’t be as a leader, not a good one anyway.

So there you go. My 3 resolutions for the new year. They’re important to me and I know I will make a serious attempt to accomplish all three. At least until February. Isn’t that how’s it done? Like I said, I’ve never done this before so I’m unsure…

Where Am I?

Lee Hoover — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:20:17 +0000

Things are looking a bit different around here. I finally got rid of the old look, which I liked but was driving me crazy. I really didn’t like having to find thumbnails for every post, etc. Now I can have more freedom to just post whatever without worrying about a photo to go along with it.

It should be fairly easy to find your way around. The links at the top will direct you to the different photo galleries and videos I’ve posted and the links at the bottom will direct you to a variety of other sites. If you haven’t already make sure you subscribe by leaving your email in the box on the sidebar.

One other thing, I’ve gotten rid of all the book reviews I posted here. If you like to read them, or others, you’ll have to head to Paperback Frenzy. I didn’t see the point in having them in two places.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is enjoying the last few days of 2008!

Hello From Uruguay

Lee Hoover — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:44:18 +0000

I’m still hanging around in Uruguay; I’ll be here for a couple more days. It’s been fairly busy, but I suppose that’s a good thing. Today I spent the morning aboard a C-17 with Uruguayan troops doing static-line jumps. It was pretty fun to be there and experience that, to see the faces on the Uruguayans; you could tell they were enjoying it. It was early day, so the morning sucked, but thankfully I was able to get my work done early and head to the town center for some shopping, which is good because I was able to pick up some goodies for a few people.

I’m looking forward to getting home. I’ve been out of it since I’ve been here. Not sick, but not healthy, just woozy and tired. Still having fun though. I thought I’d post a video because I haven’t done that in a while.

Enjoy, but don’t laugh.

Still Traveling Man

Lee Hoover — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:51:11 +0000

This morning I arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay and will be spending this week here, leaving on Friday morning. I have to say, Uruguay looks pretty cool so far. I am staying at a hotel that overlooks the beach, although the beach, after being to Hawaii, is nothing to write home about. It’s actually fairly dirty, even the water is brown. I’m about to head out and try the food, which I’ve been told is great.

As far as Chile goes, I’m glad to be out of there. Not because of the city…the city of Santiago was amazing. It was actually much richer than I thought it would be. The buildings were all tall, and banks were everywhere. It actually reminded a bit of Istanbul. Some say it’s like New York, just to give you an idea of how “bustling” the city is. 6,000,000 people live in Santiago, so it ought to be.

Unfortunately, when I come to cities like this, I come for work. And the week spent in Chile was just a headache. I don’t want to go off about certain people or issues here for the world to see, but I will say certain people sucked the fun out it. So, I’m glad to be away from (that or those) people and here in Montevideo.

I did manage to get my hand on some Chilean wine, which I’m anxious to take home and share with my beautiful wife who, by the way, won $100 on Halloween for having the sexiest costume. And I wasn’t there…figures.

Traveling Man

Lee Hoover — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:01:39 +0000

The Chile I Probably Won't See

I’m back on the road, doing what I believe is the best part of my job: covering the news in foreign countries. I arrived in Chile this morning and will be here for a week covering Operation Southern Partner.

The goal of OSP, of which this is the first, is for USAF Airmen to “work alongside military members from the Air Forces of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, while accomplishing more than ten outreach and community relations projects.” I’ll be in Chile and Uruguay covering the events there. Unfortunately, I won’t make it to Argentina. I guess I’ll just have to vacation there someday.

Getting here was a little crazy. Our aircraft was delayed a day and a half (did I say delayed? I meant broke…) so we spent quite a bit of time waiting in a terminal. Once the plane found its wings we left and spent 22 hours total flying. Not a lot of fun, but worth it once you get here and experience a new place. I really can’t complain. Actually, I can. I miss Steph. I forgot my camera. And I have to share a room. BUT…at least it’s a 4star hotel.

I’ll see what I can do about posting some updates, at the very least some links of what I’m doing, while I’m here.

Wedding, Honeymoon, and Pillows

Lee Hoover — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:12:54 +0000

So, big news, I am married. In case you don’t know me, or know me, but didn’t know, that might qualify as big news. If not, it’s old news. I was married almost two weeks ago and have since enjoyed a week long honeymoon in Hawaii.

I must admit, the wedding was awesome - beautiful even - but through no fault of my own of course. All I had to do was pick the music and make sure the photographer and DJ showed up. Stephanie did the rest and put all her energy into it for 9 months. At times I would pick on her about how focused and organized she was, but in the end it was definitely worth it. Keep in mind, I could be a little biased. But just to prove it, I’ll have pictures up here as soon as I get them from the photographer.

A Sailboat Off the Beach

The only thing about the wedding that went a little wacky was the reception. We had planned on the food being served as our guests arrived and while we were taking photos. We wanted to show up (after every one had begun eating), enjoy our first dance (that was a bit too long) and then open the dance floor. When we got there, the guests had yet to be served. So it threw everything out of whack…but I’ve been told everybody enjoyed it and nobody cared, so I guess that’s a good thing.

The honeymoon was, how can I say this? Freaking Amazing. I was a little worried about it. I had made the plans and reservations while I was in Afghanistan and had about 8 months to worry that it wasn’t going to be good enough, that is was going to be nothing but expensive and boring. It was the complete opposite. We spent 5 nights and 6 1/2 days at the Mauna Lani Resort with a room overlooking the beach on the Kona coast of the big island of Hawaii. You can see some photos here.

One bonus was that the big resort was practically empty. When we arrived on Monday night it felt like nobody was around. We enjoyed a late dinner that evening and only one other couple was in the restaurant. Throughout the week more people arrived (there was a wedding on the day we left) but we were told the hotel was still only at 30% occupancy. It made for a very relaxing week with no worries about getting chairs on the beach, etc.

A Fun Pic of Us Snorkeling

The best part to me was the snorkeling. I had never been snorkeling before, wasn’t sure if I’d be able to, but I pulled it off. We walked about ten minutes south to a different beach that we were told had great snorkeling and we weren’t disappointed. We saw about 20 different types (and colors) of fish. We enjoyed it so much we decided to get an underwater camera and go again the next day. It was just as great the following day, but the pictures didn’t turn out so great…oh well, what can you expect with a disposable underwater camera? We also enjoyed a very relaxing couple’s massage at an outdoor spa; every night was spent at a very nice restaurant where we ate and watched the sunset, except Friday night which was spent on a sailboat sailing the ocean as the sun was setting. My time on the boat was mainly spent trying not to throw up. I failed.

The worst part, of course, was leaving to go home, but all good things come to an end, and by coming home another good thing has begun. Steph has been moving into my place, which at first was a little frightening (not because I didn’t want her here, but because…well, guys will understand), but I have to admit, it’s a much better place with her here. My bedroom now looks a bit like Ben Stiller’s in Along Came Polly, which means I have about three times as many pillows as I used to have, but the bed is comfortable.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be updating this site anymore. Not that I was ever always updating it, but now I have more things to worry (and write) about than myself. I’m sure I’ll find my way here though. I’ll have some dumb thing that gets me going and I’ll feel that it’s my duty to tell the world how I feel and so I’ll write about it…unfortunately. I will keep reviewing books, in fact I am hoping that soon I will begin a new site with a couple of friends that is nothing but book reviews…we’ll see.

Until then, thank you to all who shared the wedding experience with us. It was an amazing time and the only disappointment was that it went too fast and we didn’t have time to say good bye to everybody we wanted to say good bye to. Other than that, it was a blast. So thank you.

Two Random Photos

Lee Hoover — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:40:45 +0000

I took a few pictures for a photo contest my apartment complex is having. The contest is called “My Life at the Springs” so I’m guessing the photos are supposed to be sort of random. I figured I’d give it a shot. The worst that can happen is an eviction notice, right?

Here are the pics, if I take more I’ll add them here…and let me know if they suck. That would be good to know…

I Burnt My Eyelids

Lee Hoover — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:11:14 +0000

I’ve heard if you like your job 51% of the time you’re doing pretty good. Well, for me, I like - actually love - my job about 60% of the time, so I guess that means I’m doing real good. I get to do something different every day (almost), I get to travel the world, I get to be on tv - which is something everybody secretly desires (I’ve learned this by sticking a camera in many faces), but I also have to deal with nonsense every once in a while, and that’s where the 40% comes in. Take last week for example…

Last Thursday afternoon, as I was packing my stuff to go home for a long four day weekend, I got pulled into my boss’ office and experienced a moment from Office Space: “Umm, yeah…I’m gonna need you to come in tomorrow…,” except it went: “Umm, yeah…I’m gonna need you to go home and pack your stuff, we’re sending you into a hurricane.”

Now, this is my job so I can’t complain too much. One of the reasons I love what I do is the opportunity to travel and experience different things. A part of me was even excited. I hadn’t done the traveling news stuff in a while, so I was kind of anxious to feel the “go-go-go” rush of it all. Plus, I had never been to mississippi, so why not? (there are many reasons why not, humidity for one). But another part of me was a bit unsure. I had never been in a hurricane before. All I know of hurricanes is what I see on the news and to be honest, I didn’t want any part of it.

But I went; I spent two days in Mississippi and spent most of the time trying to keep my shirt separated from my body or watching the news from under my covers, listening to all twenty news anchors tell me the storm was conveniently heading right towards me. So they moved us - I think that’s why - to Baton Rouge, where as the hurricane approached I cuddled up on a floor in a big conference room. We were then forced into “lock down mode” in an old convention center to wait out the storm, which wasn’t that bad anyways.

The second half of the story - similar to the first - is long and boring. A bit of destruction, power lines down everywhere, trees ripped up from the ground, and of course no power. The last three nights we were without power, which meant no restaurants were open, which meant no food, except MRE’s and/or crackers. Yummy. The worst part of it all however, was we were without stories, news stories that is.

A week spent in this nonsense and we had three stories. It wasn’t for lack of trying - we called at least 20 people a day, the problem was everybody had a different answer or a different direction for us to run. We also had three or four different people to answer to, none of which knew what they wanted. Talk about a headache.

Anyways, this is all to tell you that I got home yesterday and after unpacking went to the pool to relax and catch some rays. I forgot to put sunscreen on my face, and since I don’t wear sunglasses unless I’m driving, I burnt my eyelids. It actually looks quite funny.

Olympic Fever

Lee Hoover — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:47:12 +0000

I can’t remember a time in my life that I’ve sat down and actually watched a lot of the Olympics. I know I’ve seen a few events, but it has never been something I made sure I was tuned in for. I think that might change this year. Actually, I know it. I am going to watch these Olympics. As much as I can.

Perhaps it’s because I have a new HDTV and the Olympics are better when I feel like I’m in the pool or on the court with the competitors. Perhaps it’s because I sat down and watched the opening ceremonies and was blown away by the presentation and entrance of all the countries (a few of which, I had no idea existed). Or perhaps it’s because I got all excited and proud when the American team entered the stadium. I felt like cheering out loud, but didn’t want to be as rude as the family living above me.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to watch live - I’ll probably be able to catch a bit as I eat breakfast in the mornings - but I’ll definitely be watching them in the evenings when I can. I hope you are able to do the same.

Lee Hoover » My Life

So Much To Do…

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