Operation Nova Aquila Update 4

For those who don’t know, that is what I have decided to name my time here in Australia. Four months of my time having been here complete, it’s time for another update.

Before I continue with this month’s update, here is a brief clip from the classic, the Great Escape:



Tom, Dick, and Harry

Those who have seen the movie know that all though they started putting all their effort into Tom (east from 104) they had to close Tom down when the goons found him, and had to move all their effort into Harry, which ended up being the tunnel they eventually escaped from. And for those of you watching closely… YES, that was in fact a young version of “Duckie” from NCIS who was responsible for hiding dirt.

I bring this talk of tunnels to help explain my current situation. I have about a month left in Leeton, and not long after that left in Australia. I now have to look at my objectives with realistic eyes.


Therefore, I am categorizing them as follows:

Dick: giving up completely on due to circumstances, NOT because of lack of interest.

Tom: I will get really close, but it just is not going to happen.

Harry: Successful completion!


Objective 1 (Lose weight): Harry

I have not lost any inches off my waist since the last update. I was beginning to lose morale very rapidly until one day when I was getting into the shower I looked at my arms, legs, and body in general. I started keeping track of the measurements of other areas. I am literally… “working my ass off”. My biceps are growing slightly. And best of all… my moobs are at least a cup size smaller.



Objective 2 (Find job): Harry

I have consistently been working with Ray the last month, and will continue to do so until I leave Leeton at the beginning of May.



Objective 3 (Get Ripped like Jesus): Tom

I am getting thinner, and my muscles are growing, unfortunately, I do not see myself coming home ripped like Jesus, but as long as I don’t come home looking like a Southern Baptist pastor I’m ok.



Objective 4 (Save Money): Tom

I have successfully saved enough money for my Central America trip in June. Beyond that though… I’m still pretty poor



Objective 5 (House Makeover): Dick

I have been successful in helping Paul out with “The Swamp” (the shipping containers). I am usually far too tired when I get home from work to do much else. I have one day a week off, a piece of which is spent at Mass/Maccas and then the remainder resting.



Objective 6 (Quit Pepsico Addiction): Harry

With the exception of today, I have been doing fairly well with the jonesing. Today though… I had three Pepsis. It was a horrible day, but that still doesn’t excuse what I did. The headaches are not that bad, they are getting better, as far as headaches go. Kind of sucks though spending most of my days lately with small headaches.



Objective 7 (Learn new life lessons): Harry

A few of them to report this month…

1. You cannot change any one that does not want to be changed. Just like the lesson with the sheep, even if you are leading them to an area with better grass, they will still kick against it every step of the way.

2. Not even our allias fully appreciate how much the United States does for other countries.

3. NO job is below ANYone. Certain things will always need to be done, often it takes a brave person to do so. I hate to say this, but when I came to the conclusion that I just need to enlist instead of waiting until I got my bachelors so I can be an officer. I felt defeated, as though I were failing myself. As if I was settling for something less than what I can be. I still want to be an Officer, but now, after all these blue collar jobs… I am actually proud of the thought of being Enlisted. That will make OCS an even more special accomplishment when it finally happens.



Objective 8 (See all states/territories of Aus): Dick

Only states I will get to check off as completed are the ones I already have with the family. New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.



Objective 9 (Re-learn how to ride a motorcycle): Dick

I have no useable bike, nor do I have the time to complete this objective.



Objective 10 (Drive manual left handed): Tom (arguably Harry)

Working on the farm with Ray, and with the boys working on their license, I have had the chance to get practice. I am getting much more use to clutch. Now all I have to do is remember to shift with my right hand instead of left when I get home.



Objective 11 (Dive in GBR): Dick

Not going to happen… THIS trip. I am however going to try my very best to dive in the 2nd largest reef in the world when I go back to the Mother land in June. The Reef will now just be another reason for me to come back besides having family here and Ayers Rock which I also will not get to see or climb.



Objective 12 (See one other country): Dick

Same as the Reef. No time. No money.



Objective 13 (Learn Estonian): Dick

With the Estonians now in Griffith, it won’t happen. All I can hope for is that I retain what I have already learned.



The lights of home are beginning to appear on the horizon, just like when you are driving north bound on the 101 just past Los Alamos and you are driving on the tops of the rolling hills with the vineyards on both sides of you and you are about 3 hill tops away from that last final decent down into the valley from where Orcutt hill is. At the same time however… New South Wales and the savory taste of Kangaroo still lingers. I am becoming more and more torn with each passing day between my love of one of our greatest allias, and the calling of Home.



I leave you today with this thought from the American industrialist Andrew Carnegie which I think best suits my new classification system of my Objectives:


“Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital. The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket.”