2008

What is a year without a recap? The theme of 2008 is Army.... Given that I spent 5 months on active duty for my Army training this Summer, combined with the trepidation before and recovery from it been the prime factor for this year.

Obviously I feel great relief that I finally went to and completed BOLC II/III (though of course it now leaves me open to being grabbed for a deployment, though that is pretty low priority right now given my states current plans). I got to meet some great people, have some fun times (and lots of VERY boring times (I played a lot of video games, watched a lot of TV, saw a hell of a lot of movies and drank a crapload of alcohol)). Interesting note? My BOLC II/III post

Relationship-wise I have a lot of ups and downs. Lots of first and second dates, lots of emails written and lots of anxiety and talking about myself (well, I do have a blog so obviously I like talking about myself and sharing my opinions). I got the "friend zone" speech twice and, as the icing on the cake, basically got "dear john'd" (or Jodie'd as we would say in the Army) this Summer. I am on an "up" right now, with my Match profile happily deactivated and no concerns about the midnight kiss tonight.
I can't have a blog with a title like mine and not go into my favorite subject, Movies, TV, Video Games...

• Movies - Quite a year. I think I saw more movies in the theater this year (thanks Army) than I have since 2000. My choice for movie of the year is simple, my brothers would not be surprised given that he has always been one of my favorites, Iron Man. Really, of all the movies this year this is the one that stood out.
• TV - Sigh... The damage that the writers’ strike wrought on this industry is still not easily calculated. So many freshman shows from last year took irreparable damage, including my much beloved Pushing Daisies. I think the damage will still reverberate for a while (Chuck and Terminator).
• Video Games -
  Big news was that I bought a Wii and wrought destruction on my parents house. Best game? Shocker I know... Left 4 Dead I mean, c'mon!! Zombies, teamwork and fun? Really no question. Most novel? Endwar. Fascinating user control (controlling the units with voice? sooo coool.....) and of course gives me a good Army fix.

Well, I am going to keep it somewhat short. I think I touched on the high and the lows and I am ready to move on to the next year....

Happy New Years everyone! I will be partying it up with my GF at the Gaylord at some big party this evening. I hope you have a great night and an even better New Year!

I am vain...

I just caught myself polishing the German Badge that I was awarded last night as I walked past it...

That big badge on left (my right) above my name tag is the Gold Badge.

I think I will post a comparison photo later in the week as a pictorial example of why I like the above uniform so much better than the current Green Army Class A/B. The only issue I have with the uniform above becoming the standard is the new class B Uniform, which makes our Soldiers wearing it look like TSA Baggage handlers (see below)

And on another completely unrelated note, I got me some dates lined up! After the unfortunate slow communications fade that was pulled on me by the girl I was seeing before I left for this Army stuff (really, if you have seen someone for more than a month... can't you at least send a note saying it is over? I just find it really cowardly to do that and actually lowers my opinion of those that do it) I am back into the dating pool... yah... (note my enthusiasm)

As a nice corollary for the slow fade I have been told that the girl got back with her ex from 1 year ago and that they just got married... (It's been less than 2 months since I last saw her). Very soap-opraish.... Not like me at all.

2007

Happy New Year. I hope that everyone had a fantastic New Years Eve. I know that I did.

Well, its coming toward the end of the year.... time to add up the year:

• Finally got my Masters Degree in Computer Science
• Finally commissioned (after a 2+ year process to obtain it). Got the specialty that I wanted and am finally drilling with my unit.
• Switched my position inside work.
• Countless first & second dates.
• Met some great people, both via the Army and via the Blogger-verse.
• Fell in love and unfortunately fell out of love (Met a great woman, had a fantastic time, but it didn't work out (so sorry R))

Overall - A great year. I achieved a lot of goals and while I suffered a few misteps (like I so should have stopped taking classes after I got my degree... afraid to check my grade in that class) I really feel that I am moving forward.

Is it sad that I am afraid that 08, contrary to what someone said yesterday evening (where she said it would be two thousand and great), doesn't look like its going to be as good as 07. Unfortunately I have to head off for 5 months of Army training (most of it looks pretty worthless unfortunately) which means that much less time to spend with Friends and Family (sooo going to miss spending time with my nephew, Conor. It also means that it is unlikely that I will meet my special someone.... hard to meet someone in the first bit when you are disappearing for 5 months.). At least I get a break from school.(I was driving last night and was grinning when I remembered that I dont have any more classes/homework/tests).

The Perils of Modern Dating (aka Facebook can create awkward situations)

So dating in the 21st Century is a lot more complicated than it was in the past. And so was breaking up (the main focus here).

Somehow I believe that it was a little harder to be able to peer into the lives of the people that you dated back in the days before Facebook. You definitely didn't get situations like I just had happen:

I broke up about 2 months ago with a girl who I had been dating for 5 months. I kind of dragged her onto FB but she seemed to take to it. Photos were taken, tags added. When we separated I a) wasn't really thinking and b) didn't listen to advice. I should have cleared the photo's (not delete them, just from FB and moved them to my private file store) and dropped her as a friend (not a forever thing because I want her to be my friend eventually) as otherwise you can see way too much of what is happening in the other persons life. I think they had it easier in the old days.... take the photographs down, avoid the places where you may run into each other... its a lot harder in this electronic land.

As I started heading back out there I realized (after much needling by my roommate) that I really needed to move the pictures off my profile (because it's just awkward to still have pics up of last GF's.... it can create issues for anyone new that you are dating). So I did... and then I got the email questioning why I had removed pics of her (as well as one where I went to see a chick flick, querying whom I had gone to see it with). Ugh... so awkward. I should have done this stuff in the first place and now I am prolonging her hurt. So many considerations... so complicated.


I am not even going into the new issue of "When to remove your profile from dating sites.." that has come up more than once in the past few years.... too early you look desperate, too late, not into her enough... Argh....

So this was an "off" weekend?

One all too fun HH (many thanks to the great hosts, particularily Arjewtino and I Now Pronounce You)... I think I was fine until I mistakely took the offer of a shot from the lovely jess of what? the curtains? Loved the shot, not the effects (which involved getting on the wrong direction orange line traing, then missing my stop by one when I finally got turned around).



After slowly waking up the next morning, a quick lunch with my ex (not sure I have had the chance to use that term before), then off to the DC United game where I chilled with my nephew. An early bed (or couch), a mid-sleep wake-up and movement due to the loud return of my roommate and then a late morning. Then 2 (yes, 2) dates on Sunday. Apparently I deal with a breakup by throwing myself back out there... everyone has their own way of recovering I guess. I did get to see Gone, Baby, Gone and LOVED it. really depressing.. really made me appreciate my life....

Blogging and Dating Ethics

So lets say that I read a bunch of blogs... a looot of blogs... I have too much free time at work at times.

And as noted I am now single and looking around (browsing through Match and other big dating sites).

I see a picture that seems familiar. A quick click over to Bloglines to confirm my thought after I read her profile (which seems very familiar... everyone has a writing signature that when writing personal stuff is readily detectible after reading a few paragraphs). So I confirm that she is blogger that I have enjoyed reading.

Whats the ethics here? I know that it would make a poor opener when I send the email but assuming of course that my email doesn't disappear into the ether and I actually get a date, when would this come up? Just idle speculation at this point but...