aridhol's Journal: A year and a half

Um...wow. Have I really been away from Slashdot that long?

Well, what's happened in that year and a half?

Boot camp. Well, since I'm Canadian, I guess it's Basic Military Qualification, but the same thing. It was a challenge, but I felt like I was pushed through. We graduated two full platoons, which is unheard of. The military had too much invested in my platoon, so they weren't nearly hard enough on us or our sister platoon. I know this through word-of-mouth, as a platoon-mate's father is good friends with our company commander. But I had that feeling all the way through. Kinda dampens the pride of accomplishment.

School. Yup, still here, doing my final semester. Sometime next month I should get my posting message, then it's off the the "Real Navy". Or some watered-down version thereof, as I await yet more training.

Divorce. It's official. I'm divorced. Which leads me to...

Girlfriend. Been with her since last Remembrance Day. She has a four-year-old daughter who sometimes loves me sometimes hates me, depending on how long it's been since she's seen her father. Not too surprising an attitude for the kid. The current plan is that the g/f and daughter will follow me to my posting as soon as custody is handled. Although, I don't know if it'll happen, we've been kinda rocky the last couple months. I guess the future will tell there.

Operation ALTAIR . My brother recently deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard HMCS Ottawa. If everything goes to plan, he'll be back in March. If not, well, with an entire family in the military, we'll probably have other things to worry about.

Well, that's a quick summary of the time since I've been here. Apologies for the extended absence.

Welcome back!

[MonTemplar]

I'm not actually here much these days, but I do follow the goings-on in journal-land via the My Amigos RSS feed. :)

-MT.

Welcome back ...

[tomhudson]

Well, what's happened in that year and a half?

There have been a few *changes* ... (at least nobody's ever accused me of having a boring journal :-)

On "the military + school" - congratulatons on finishing BMQ.

On "the divorce" - my guess is it was like the Molson's commercial - "Ex says it all."

On "the g/f" - if it works out, great. If it doesn't you'll get the chance to see if its true about how women like men in uniform (every problem is also an opportunity).

Re:

[aridhol]

If it doesn't you'll get the chance to see if its true about how women like men in uniform

Around here, it's at least somewhat true. I know I've turned down my fair share of opportunities to play along with the uniform's reputation. Besides, a uniform is a ticket off this rock.

Re:

[tomhudson]

a uniform is a ticket off this rock.

Spoken like a true Newf. We were discussing that over supper yesterday, and the best time to visit is over the Christmas / New Years holidays - its one solid party. My sister says she'll never go back for more than a week a year - "If you don't fish or golf or drink like a fish or golfer there's nothing to do."

Re:

[aridhol]

Christmas/New Years - the time I probably _won't_ be here, 'cause I'll be home visiting the parents. This will be the first year my entire family isn't home for Christmas, since my brother will be in the Persian Gulf. That'll put a bit of a damper on the festivities I think.

I may be here for New Years though. One of my classmates is getting married on the 29th, so I may be back in the barracks to ring in 2007.