Part of being on Livejournal is inevitably gaining a number of LJ buddies. Unfortunately, as time wears on, it's easy to forget where all of them came from. Post this in your journal and have your friends respond with how they recall first 'meeting' you.

Hmm.  Wonder who'll respond to this one.....

Anyrate.  I love getting time off.  Of course, I earned this day....having to go in to work on Valentine's Day (a Saturday, the more important part).  Which, yes, I know, I'm in the Air Force, need to be ready to go at a moment's notice to work.  That's fine...but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck occasionally.

Thankfully, it was a short day, so I was done by 8:30 in the morning, after which, vegged around for a while, went to pick up lunch from Logan's Roadhouse (a steak kinda place), picked up Christina's Valentine's gifts (a necklace, a picnic basket with chocolate and a polar bear with a heart, and a swan vase with a blooming red rose), then came home.  After which, Christina went to the mall to pick up my gift, The Force Unleashed for the Wii (YAY).  Sunday was mainly do some cleaning and such, and Monday was the glory of no work (I love being off for all the federal holidays).  Working midshift this week and next, and when I talked to the 3 in command of the shop this morning after I got off work, he said to go ahead and take tonight off in compensation for having to work this past Saturday.  Sweet.

Sammie says "Valkyrie" when she tries to say "ice cream".  Seriously.  It's cute.

Watchmen in less than 2 weeks....I can't wait.  It's gonna rock.

Okay....think I'm gonna watch Spongebob with Sammie for a bit.  (Hey, she loves the show.  Cries when it isn't on TV.  Really need to find something else she can watch...)

So, turned 28 on Thursday.  I still can't believe that I'm 2 years away from 30.  Hell, I still didn't feel much like 27, to be honest.

Birthday was good.  Christina took me out to the local hibachi for some sushi and hibachi, twas good.  Had gotten my present over the previous weekend (Chrono Trigger DS, rock on).  After lunch, got dressed and went to work, where I got off a couple of hours early because I went in a couple of hours early for an appointment.  All in all, quiet but good birthday.  (Oh, and if you tried calling and couldn't reach me, sorry....my phone's down at the moment.  My bad.)

Anyway, since it's been a while without updating, let's go into the latest happenings.  Which, honestly, isn't THAT much.

Found out I made Staff Sergeant in August, so that's good....I sew on rank in April or May.  More money, slightly more responsibility.  Plus, the utter satisfaction of hearing everyone say, "YOU'RE going to be an NCO?  Really?"

Went through Airman Leadership School in November/December...that was fun.  Ended up getting Academic Achievement (highest GPA in the class).  Good to know that at least some brains are still left in my head.  Also, I think I'm better at volleyball than I used to be....was a big part in the students winning over the First Sergeants in the traditional game.

Got visitors just before the New Year....Dro and Phieffe came down to visit.  That was awesome, it's been so long since I've seen those fuckers.  We had a good time, played some basketball, took them to a strip club (which they loved...said it was way better than the ones back home on price alone), and generally acted like goofballs with them for a few days.  Look up "Dro TV" on Youtube.  You'll see.

New Year is going okay so far....been on swing shift, which as far as actual work goes, is probably my favorite shift.  Downside is I never get to spend much time with the girls during the week, but hey.  It's not permanent.

Speaking of not permanent, tried of recent to get a new base.  Yeah, DENIED.  Because I made Staff Sergeant, there's less slots available, and because I'm also in my second term of enlistment, I don't get priority for moves (people in their first term of enlistment do).  So, have to see about reapplying for it in 6 months.  Or, alternatively, if my medical re-eval goes well (which, it should....my sugars have been under AWESOME control), I could see about trying for an overseas base with a big medical facility (which includes Ramstein in Germany, Aviano in Italy, and Kadena in Okinawa), or even do a year in Korea then get my pick of base.  That's kinda in a holding pattern at the moment, though, so we'll see.

One of the cats is preggers.  We've been kinda lagging on the fixing, and Gallileo grew up enough to knock up Bella, so yeah.  If anyone wants kittens, we'll save you one and you can come pick it up.  Um, somehow.  Yeah, okay, I know it's a long shot, but I had to try.  Don't know many cat lovers out here.

In other pet news, we have a bird now.  Christina picked up a little 'keet up on impulse (hey, for 20 bucks, sure, why not?).  Course, there was a miscommunication, and one of the cats got to the first one.  We managed to get a new one for no charge, though, so it's not totally horrible.  Still has no name yet, so any suggestions would be hot.

....and she's trying to train the bird to attack me.  ::sigh::

Sammie's growing SO much.  Course, it comes with the requisite being more difficult.  She's taken to sneaking into our bedroom at night and freaking me and Christina out of our sleep.  She's a handful, but she's bright like mad.  Already started counting a little, knows some of her colors.  She's gonna be a handful.

That's about all the news fit to print for the moment....now it's time to clean house, maybe play some Wii Fit and Robotech: Battlecry, and maybe get Sammie's ears pierced.  Ta for now.

This weekend's gonna suck....working twelves at night tomorrow and Sunday.  Granted, I did get today and Monday off, and will be getting this coming Monday off, but still.

And I'm working at my (yeahright) favorite place to work, the cargo yard loading cargo.  Thankfully, they moved me to a job that WON'T cause me to have a near nervous breakdown.  Less responsibility rocks in this case.

Nice calm day today....reading, running around for a few errands on base with Christina, and nappies and reading on the comp.  Picked up the Goblin Princess (my nickname for Sammie.....a cookie to whoever gets the reference that I meant) and Jason and brought them back to Fernandez Home Base.  Quiet afternoon....not many of those lately, to be honest.

Maybe, in the course of staying up tonight so as to prepare for a nightshift tomorrow, I'll watch Battle Royale (got it offa Netflix...yes, I've never seen it, but that's why I rented it).  Oh, speaking of Netflix, any recommendations on movies to cue up?  And to stall Anne Marie: I already have Dexter season 1 cued, I'm not adding BSG right now because I have too many series lined up and I'll never get to it any time soon.  I'm looking for movies/anime/cartoons that aren't going to require 7 sendings to get all the way through.

Speaking of movies....I don't know how this happened, but we're going to be going to see The Dark Knight in IMAX in Dallas next week!  (Actually, I do know how it happened....Christina got wind of the fact that they're doing Half-Blood Prince trailers during The Dark Knight in IMAX, and that was enough to convince her.  Me, I wanted to go see it anyway, and so did Jason...the IMAX thing is just a bonus.)  So a day trip next Saturday to Dallas-Fort Worth will be in order.  IMAX, then lunch at Mimi's Cafe and a side-trip to Borders (BORDERS!  THEY HAVE A BLOODY BORDERS!  HELL YES!!!) for a nice time.  Yay.

Had a realization this past week....coming up in August is the 20 year anniversary of Mom's death.  Just weird thinking that 20 years ago was when Mom died.  Then I think about how many other things happened 20 years ago that don't seem like that long ago...and I stop thinking about it because I feel old.

Also up in August: finding out whether I made Staff Sergeant or not.  Cross your fingers for me.

'Kay, I'm good for now.  Ta ta kiddies, don't forget to say hi.

I know.  This is a problem.  I wander off (usually to the couch) and not post.  Really need to remedy that.

Anyway.

The big news, which I'm sure has trickled down by now: I'm married.

Yes.  Me.  Married.

Cringe in terror.

Seriously, I'm happy.  I found the One, and got over my stupid self and fears of commitment (and fears in general).  Still weird as hell.  I don't think I'd ever been so nervous as that day.  I just kept pacing the courthouse nervously till we went in.  One of the part-time deputies was outside manning a desk, and he kept trying to chat me up to get my mind off my nerves.  (Didn't work, of course.)  Christina was gorgeous in a Chinese-style burgundy dress, and I wore my blues.  Short but sweet, we just had our friends Katy and Nate there as witnesses.  Afterwards, we went out to lunch at Johnny Carino's (think Macaroni Grill, but not quite), then we went to veg out in a hotel for the weekend.  All in all, not bad.  And yes, before you ask, down the line we're gonna do a big ceremony.  Just have to hash out the where and how (and yes, you'll all be invited).

All in all....married life isn't bad.  There's this feeling of completeness that I don't think I've felt before.  It's weird, but right.  I think the weirdest part is seeing Christina sign "Fernandez" as her last name.  Just strange.

In other news: office job is still boring.  Thankfully, long weekend, so I didn't have work Friday or today.  Course, it's back to the word processor mines tomorrow, so another productive day of trying to reach people to inspect their walkie-talkies and not succeeding.

Nice weekend so far....went out to dinner on Friday, had steak, then went to watch a fireworks display out by the park/zoo.  Afterwards, hung out with a couple of friends and had a beer or three.  Good times.

Um, let's see.....beyond that, it's been business as usual.  Sammie's cute, cats on crack....oh!  The large one, Bella, is preggers.  Unfortunately, we haven't had the chance to fix her yet, so now she's about to drop a load of mini-kitties.  I'd ask if anyone wants, but I don't know how I'd get it to most of you.

Did my heart good to see the Yanks on TV yesterday....I was spoiled in Jersey with YES.  At least I got to watch them beat the Sox, praise Mo.  And seriously, what's up with Giambi's Super Mario mustache?  Did he lose a bet?  Was his slump THAT bad?

Watched Get Smart on Saturday, too.  Funny as hell.  I think they did a great job of updating it for modern times.  And Anne Hathaway was yum.

Just getting over a flu, immediately followed by strep throat.  (Though, now that I think about it, they could be the same thing, with the sore/swollen throat lingering long after the achiness and pounding head.)  My diabetes is well under control....my 3-month A1C came back in normal, non-diabetic range again.  (For the laymen: it's the three-month average of my blood sugars.  Good for a diabetic is around 6.5-7.5, and I'm in the 5.5 range.  Yay me.)  And, under the heading of strange medical stuff....talking to my docs, they think (about a 90% surety) that I don't have something I thought I did, and may never have had, given my description of past symptoms.  (If you want clarification, just message me...there's a reason I'm not going into specifics.)

On the note of "I'm getting too damn old", Kathy (my little sister) has her first boyfriend.  Very nice fellow, apparently.  I gave her the stern lecture and the lingering threat of dropping a bomb into his lap should she be hurt, which I'm sure she won't pass on to him.  Actually, no I didn't, I just told her to be careful and be sure she was happy.

Hopefully soon, I'll get a chance to get out of Texas.  Putting in for...well, if not greener climes, at least different.  I need to get the hell out of here.  Going on 4 years of Texas is damn near enough.

And with that, I bid adieu.  Talk soon, honestly.

Now, I say this off the bat: Anne Marie, I don't give a flying fuck about hockey anymore this year, but good luck to your Wings.  May Osgood be OsGreat (and not have a repeat of the '96 Finals when the Devils ran rampant on him for 4 games).

Tonight was nice....after Christina went for her facial this morn, she came home and dropped me off to help Dillard move on base (and I continue to be astounded by housing that is COMPLETELY FREE IN ALL ESSENTIAL UTILITIES AND RENT), then came back to watch The Sammie.  She was kinda cranky, as 2 year olds tend to be, but she's teething, so it's alright.  Fed her, played with her, then napped her, then when Christina came home after taking pro pics (and apparently they're really nice), we went so she could get some beer (and I could get some Woodchuck) and then went to hang with her best friends.  I watched the Squirt, fed and bathed her, then put her to bed (y'know, she really is the cutest child on Earth), then played some video games while drinking some fine Vermont hard apple cider.  Now, just chillin'.

Random notes: Haven't seen Indy yet....is it worth it?  While I'll still want to go see it, wanna know if I'll enjoy it nearly as much as Last Crusade (which happens to be my fave).

Super Smash Brothers Brawl is a whole pantheon of gods.

So's Final Fantasy 6, which I'm playing the Advance version of.  Up to just before the Floating Continent.

Got a couple of new icons.  God, I missed LJ.

Massive Attack, "Teardrop", is my new current favorite song.  Yes, I've been watching too much House lately. (But, really, is there such a thing as too much House?)

Speaking of Brawl, any of my fellow Wii-ers out there wanna share their favorite Brawl-ers?  We all know mine (Samus and Zero Suit Samus).

I love my fiancee.  Just wanna say that.

Okay.  Done.

1. The phone rings; who do you want it to be?
Ewww.  Phone.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Yeah.  That's the beauty of those stations out in parking lots to return your cart to.  I've pulled cart duty in the past too, and it blows goats.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
Depends.

4. Do you take compliments well?
I'm still weirded out by it sometimes, but I'm okay at taking them, I guess.

5. Do you play Sudoku?
Nope.  Don't know that I'll ever start.

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?
I doubt it....I mean, I'd try, but I just don't know.  If I had my backpack on me, maybe.

7. Do you like to ride horses?
I've done it maybe like once.

8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Does preseason football camp freshman year count?

9. What was your favorite game as a kid?
Trivial Pursuit, Stratego, Risk, Monopoly

10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married, would you go for it?
....I plead  the 5th.

11. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?
Yeah.  Hell, I kinda am.

12. Do any songs make you cry?
Wind Beneath My Wings.  And occasionally Poe's "Haunted".

13. Are you continuing your education?
Yup...learning a new job week after next, and also scoping courses to knock out for my college degree.

14. Do you know how to shoot a gun?
Yes...33 out of 50 shots last time I tested.  Yes, me, knows how to shoot a gun.  Scary.

15. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed?
All living beings in the house.  DS and Zune and anything that would be in my backpack.

16. How often do you read books?
Constantly.  Right now, just finished reading through Sandman: Endless Nights (I really need to start reading the whole Sandman series), and Heroes: Volume One, and just started Dark Lord: The Rise Of Darth Vader.

17. Do you think more about the past, present or future?
Before, used to think about the past constantly.  Lately, I find myself more towards the future.

18. What is your favorite children's book?
Harriet The Spy and the My Teacher Is An Alien series

19. What color are your eyes?
Chestnut

20. How tall are you?
5'11" and change

21. Where is your dream house located?
Not so much where, though one of those nice houses on Boulevard East in Weehawken with the gorgeous view of the NYC Skyline would be nice.  More a house I can design and lay out from the basement up.

22. Do you have a secret fetish?
Nope.

23. Have you tried sushi?
Have I tried sushi, you ask.  Of COURSE.  It's my fave.

24. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
Yeah, I have.

25. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
A couple of days ago, actually, for lunch.

26. When was the last time you were at Church?
Um....probably while I was in Honor Guard, for a funeral.

27. Where was the furthest place you traveled today?
Haven't left the apartment today.

28. What was your favorite job?
This one, no question.  But, if we're talking besides the Air Force, then probably when I worked at Powerleap with all the computers.

29. Do you like mustard?
Has to be brown, dijon, or honey.  None of this yellow mustard crap.

30. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
Sleep, though most people would expect me to say eat.

31. Do you look like your mom or dad?
Apparently, Dad.  But I think I have Mom's eyes, though.

32. How long does it take you in the shower?
Generally around 5-7 minutes.

33. Can you do the splits?
I used to, back when I was in Tae Kwon Do in grade school.

34. What movie do you want to see right now?
Indy.  Narnia's a close second.

35. If you could fast forward your life, would you?
Nope.  Enjoying the ride way too much.

36. What did you do for New Year's?
Oh, I don't remember....I think we just stayed home.

37. Do you think The Grudge was scary?
Haven't seen it.

38. Could you relate to a character in Mean Girls?
See previous answer.  Though I doubt it, because I'm not a chick.

39. Do you own a camera phone?
Yeah.  Though, you know, I've never purposefully bought one with a camera, they always just had one.

40. Do you have an "ex box" with pics and letters from past lovers?
Nope, I don't.

41. Was your mom a cheerleader?
No.  I don't even know if they know of the concept in Cuba.

42. What's the last letter of your middle name?
What middle name?

43. Do you like your middle name?
See previous answer.

44. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
I'd like to get 6-8, but I usually average about 3-5.

45. Do you like care bears?
Duh.

46. What do you buy at the movies?
Normally I try to smuggle stuff in, but if I can't, a hot dog and a large soda.  Hate popcorn.

47. Do you know how to play poker?
Yeah, I learned down here.

48. Do you wear your seatbelt?
Yup.

49. What do you wear to sleep?
T-shirt and underwear, sometimes basketball shorts too.

50. Anything big ever happen in your hometown?
Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr duel.  Also, Edgar Allen Poe set his "Murders In The Rue Morgue" there.

51. How many meals do you eat a day?
Can be anywhere from 2 to 5.

52. Is your tongue pierced?
Negative.

53. Do you like funny or serious people better?
It's all about the funny.

54. Ever been to L.A.?
Negative.  Though I do wanna go just to finally see what all the fuss is about.

55. Did you eat a cookie today?
Nah.  I'm out of Chewy Chips Ahoy.

56. Do you steal or pay for your music downloads?
Yes.

57. Do you hate chocolate?
Are you kidding me?  I love the stuff.

58. What do you and your parents fight about the most?
Not much, lately.  Though, there are huge blowups between my aunts and my Dad, again.  I'm staying right the hell out of it this time.

59. Are you a gullible person?
Yeah, I'm sad to say.  Wish I wasn't.

60. Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy?
No, though it did take me a good while to realize that.  But, I'm happy with the one I've got now.  :)

61. If you could have any job what would it be?
Either pitcher or first baseman for the Yankees.

62. Are you easy to get along with?
I'd like to think so.

63. What is your favorite time of day?
Hmmm.  Probably just after I get home from work, after I get out of my uniform and just plop on the couch.

So, since there seems to be a request to see Christina's bling. (And since she has been snap happy with the camera) Here are some photos of us and of course the ring.


The photos are huge. And Christina says ignore how fat and ugly her hands are.

Malcolm Reynolds. No question. He's the new Han Solo.

I know I've been scarce from LJ for a good...what, 8 or 9 months now? Whatever it is? But, yes, I am still around. Lots has happened in that time, but I just haven't posted for one reason or another. Let's start with the biggest news first.

I'm engaged.

Just popped the question about 2 hours ago. Christina was on the couch, not feeling well. I went to sit by her head, and she slipped her hand into mine. I turned her hand over, placed the ring box in it, and asked her if she'd marry me. She said yes.

We're getting married in June, and will be planning for a big formal wedding down the road, probably around a year and change or so. But, yeah. That's the biggest news right this moment, but far from the only.

As regarding staying in the military, there's good news there as well. They gave me a return to duty to stay in, and I re-enlisted for 5 years right after they told me I could. So I'm staying in, and glad for it. I think I've finally found something that I enjoy doing, and can be happy doing for a good balance of my life. Of course school and such will still be going down, but it'll be kinda like icing on the cake.

Course, there is a (minor) downside to it. Due to my not being able to deploy, they have to move me out of the shop, so now they're shifting me to an office job. It's a job that's usually done by people 2 ranks higher than me, so there is that, being given the chance to do good at a responsible job. I'll miss my shop, but I'm trying to take it positively.

Life's been moving on and on for me. It's kinda hard...I keep wanting to look back and grab on to my past (like I always have been, to my detriment), but I finally am at a point where I know I can't. I need to look forward. Maybe that's part of why I've been so scarce. It kinda hurt to come on to LJ and see everyone moving forward, and I would keep wishing for it all to be like it was before, or something. I think I'm finally to the point where I can look forward, and not hurt looking at the past. Just...look at it with fond remembrance, and move on.

Well...all that and I keep thinking people don't like me because of stupid shit I've done. But, I'm getting over myself on that note, too.

But, yeah, in a nutshell that's what's going on. I'm gonna be a married man soon, already pretty much a father, got job security, looking at nice homes on base (oh yeah, forgot that part, they're building AWESOME on-base housing that I'm putting in for)...guess I'm finally, truly, growing up.

Still miss all you guys, though. And I know I'm horrible at keeping in touch with people I should...but hey, that's why I jumped on to start posting again.

I have some things to say, and someone to apologize to.

I've been dating Christina for 6 months now. In those six months...I have managed to do her wrong, terribly.

To many friends of mine, I have said negative things about her. I've led many people to believe that she was this bad thing happening to me. I've called her a nag and controlling and jealous and unreasonable in certain demands.

I had no right to.

Basically, the whole time, I was saying those things because I've been a coward and a two-face. All she ever asked me was to be faithful to her and show her I loved her. I responded by going behind her back and emailing other women and telling my friends that she was being controlling as a justification to myself for what I was doing. I bold-faced lied to her, about many things. I lied about not having gotten an STD, and may have given her HPV as a result. I lied that I wasn't still talking to females. I lied that I didn't give the moral call codes for Nikki to call me, instead of giving them to her, while I was overseas. All she ever did was react to things she had no confirmation for, only suspicions. She desperately wanted to believe I wasn't lying to her, and I betrayed that.

Because of my actions, some of my friends, up to and including some of my best friends, believe completely untrue things about her. Because I lied to them about her being controlling, because I was too much of a coward, too weak, to admit that I was the one that was doing wrong, that I was the one with the problem. I've lied to her, I lied to my best friends, I lied to my family...I essentially lied to everyone, simply because I was too selfish and self-centered to admit that I was the one that was doing wrong. And, as a result, I've had friends and aquaintances of mine slander her and call her all manner of names which she doesn't deserve.

For that....Christina, I am sorry. More than I can ever say in any words.

And, to my friends, I'm sorry I abused the trust you had in me. I took advantage of sympathetic ears to slander a woman that has been nothing but good for me, that has even with these things I've done brought out other parts of me that show me that I can be a good man. For that, I'm sorry.

That's it. No rationales, no excuses. I merely wish to confess to what I did, and to apologize. No flowery promises of doing better, no "woe is me" shit. I did this, I screwed up, and I'm simply admitting it, and apologizing to someone who didn't deserve a second of what I did to her.