Axe's "White Label" line changes everything

Ahh, yes... Axe... The beloved body wash and body spray of middle schoolers across America... Well perhaps with the release of the "White Label" line, Axe may change their image and reputation altogether. In my last review, I referred to Axe's smell as "douchey" - and by that I mean extremely overpowering and obnoxious.

When I was shopping for deodorant the other day I saw this new deodorant from Axe and was intrigued. I almost didn't pick it up, as I saw the brand name and dismissed it right away, but there was something about the new design I couldn't ignore. I was pleasantly surprised when I took a sniff of the "Forest" scent as I picked up gentle mixture of pine tree and lavender. Most angsty teenagers will probably turn their nose away to that description, but the mixture of lavender and pine is a very gentlemanly smell that only a man could appreciate.

The deodorant goes on smoothly and doesn't clump up, and so far it does not seem to irritate my skin at all. And as I said before, the scent is very mild and is barely noticeable after a few hours. Hats off to Axe for this one.

USS California comes home from deployment

Today I had the honor of seeing the USS California come in to port from their six month deployment. Seeing a submarine coming down the Thames River is just not something you see every day (well, unless you live in the Groton area, I guess) and it was definitely a surreal experience.

I was very proud to be there alongside the families of the sailors and welcome them back on to solid ground. =)

Naval Funeral Flag Presentation Ceremony

Being part of the funeral detail was a huge honor for me. I attended two different funerals and helped fold and inspect the flag and then present it to the widow(s). It was a very humbling and surreal experience for me to present a flag to the widow of a fallen United States sailor. Hopefully I will be able to do more of these in the future!

If anyone is curious, this is what the flag presentation ceremony looks like:

Oreo Truffles

Making Oreo Truffles with the Mrs before I head back to school tomorrow. Here are my wife's secrets to making perfect Oreo truffles

Ingredients

1 Package Oreos (brand name)

1 Brick Philadelphia Cream Cheese (brand name ONLY)

1 Bag (11.5oz) Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips

1 Tsp Cooking Oil

Directions, Part I

Blend Oreos and cream cheese until completely black

Ball up into teaspoon size balls

Stick a toothpick in to each ball

Directions, Part II

Place in freezer until frozen all the way through (~30 minutes)

Melt Hershey's chocolate in a bowl

Add a little oil

Roll the truffle in the melted chocolate, using the toothpick as a handle

Placed the truffle on wax paper

Place in freezer for approximately 5 minutes

Remove truffles from freezer and remove toothpick

Use additional melted chocolate to cover the hole where the tooth pick was

Place back in freezer until chocolate hardens

Enjoy!

A Sailor's Christmas

For most of my life, the Christmas season has been about exchanging gifts (and family, too!).  My perspective on Christmas shifted radically after the birth of my daughter, though, as I cared less about receiving gifts and just having a day off from work and being with my family.

Now as I celebrate this Christmas as a sailor in the US Navy, my perspective has been shifted even more radically. I was truly blessed to have this leave time where I could come home and be with all of my family. I know that this is a rare exception as I just graduated boot camp. This time next year I'll most likely be out to the fleet (depending on the length of my A school) and I'll inevitably be out on a deployment.

Whoever thought simply being home for the holidays would be considered a luxury?

Sandia Man Cave

This past Saturday my wife and my in laws decided to take a short trek up to the Sandia Man Cave. It's quite a coincidence as I recently asked my friends for some free or inexpensive things to do in the Albuquerque area and my good friend recommended I check out the Sandia Man Cave.

Inside the cave, looking out

I should warn those looking to make the trip that the caves are off NM-165 which is not a paved road. It's a dirt road which is pretty smooth in most areas, but there are some definite areas where I had to slow down to a crawl. We were driving my Ford Five Hundred and I didn't want to bottom out. So, heed with caution if you're in a low car or it's been raining.

Some websites say it's a .47 mile hike but it felt a little longer than a half mile. It's a gentle climb up to the cave and will give you some breath taking views of the surrounding area.

One thing my dear friend failed to mention is that upon arrival to the cave, you must go up a spiral staircase that actually hangs out over the ledge. There is nothing underneath you as you climb up the stairs except air. That being said, the staircase felt very sturdy and I just didn't look down as I went up the stairs.

Hopefully you enjoy my photos I snapped during my hike and if you're in the area, it's worth checking out. You will give some incredible vistas of the Sandia Mountains and Las Huertas Canyon. You can view more photo hosted on my other blog at Wordpress.com!

Views: Sandia Man Cave by Jordan Meeter

7 days to boot camp

7 days until I ship out to Navy RTC in Great Lakes, IL. The reality is definitely starting to sink in. This morning I could feel some emotions welling up and my throat started to tighten up. This coming week I'm definitely going to be spending as much quality time with my wife and my daughter as possible!