Yeah...the year does get gloomier

So, I just found out this morning that I did not make the Direct Commission. Apparently, the regulations had been changed and we were not told. The old regulations stated you needed 60 credits in order to apply, which at the time I had like 80 credits. Now they are saying you need to have your Bachelor's Degree to Direct Commission, which I will not receive until Feb 2012. I am currently at 93 credits, needing 27 more to get my degree. I am not going to double up and put a bind on myself just to try to make it happen faster. My plan right now is to apply for my E-8, Master Sergeant and see if I get that and be able to stay in this unit and keep my job. I am waiting for the Personnel Section to get back to me to see if I can do this. So another waiting game. Just watched THE LINCOLN LAWYER last Thursday. It was a pretty good movie. Trace Adkins had a small role as a biker. Pretty good plot, but kinda slow at parts. I have THE FIGHTER to watch at home tonight. Still trying to get SKYLINE. Thinking about going to see BATTLE:LA or whatever it is called. That's it for now.

More fun than a barrel of monkeys...

Still nothing new to report on anything. Haven't been able to rent some new movies I wish I could see due to finances since the IRS took my tax return. However, I did notice my school sent me a nice check so that may change this weekend. I'll finally be caught up on bills again. I am currently in my 10th to last class, Dependence of Man on the Environment. It is a 4 credit class to where all the others are 3 credits. So far, this is the hardest class I have had with the most homework as well. I still have a 3.80 GPA. All of my classes except 2 were A's. I got a C two classes ago because I didn't do any papers due to my wife being hospitalized and my last class I received a B just because I didn't put too much effort in the course as I have become burnt out on school. This class seems to be going well so far as I enter into week 2. After this class, I only have 9 classes to go before I graduate.

Military life seems to be going ok as well. Still waiting on the results of the Direct Commission. A lot of my time right now is spent on M-F going to work, going home, jumping on FB and playing my games. My computer at home has become so slow, it takes forever to do some of these games. Think I need to upgrade. It is a laptop I bought when I came back from my deployment in 2006. So, yeah, time to upgrade.

Weekends are usually spent at home watching movies, FB'ing, or sitting around since I haven't had funds to do too much. However, in a week and a half I am going to NASCAR for the weekend for the Nationwide and Subway 400. One of my Soldiers offered me to come and hang out in the Miller tent for the weekend on the inside track. Which means I will be in the circle and able to meet the drivers. I've been to a couple of races before, but inside track is going to be more exciting than the other times. I'll also be camping out there for the night. It will be fun.

Kids are doing well with school and haven't had too many problems with the oldest. He returned to school about 3-4 weeks ago and is doing well with it. At home, there aren't as many outbursts as there were in the past. The hardest part right now is just keeping all three of the kids from fighting daily when I get home.

I know, I live an interesting life. A few years ago, I would have a story to tell everyday. Since I moved a few years ago, I do have stories, just not enough to tell one everyday. I think i am finally getting old and not getting as wild and crazy as I used to. I went from drinking daily, spending about $150 a week to drinking maybe every two weeks and spending about $12-$30 a month.

Well, that's all I got for now.

arrrggghhhh

That is how I feel today. I started my class yesterday...Dependence of the Man on the Environment...or something like that. It seems like a lot of work from what I looked at so far. Been doing good on not drinking. I went from spending about $200 a week down to about $6 every couple of weeks. Had a couple of 40's last night and I am regretting it this morning. Have drill this weekend so it is another 13 day work week. Finally decided to shave last night after growing it out for a month. Still need to get a haircut before this weekend. Still no news on the Direct Commission. I was told it will be about May-Aug before I hear anything. Still working on my credit. A few things have finally dropped off my credit report so I am hoping it is enough to get me qualified for a house now. We will see. I have seen a few houses that my sister has e-mailed me that look good, price is good, but it is all a matter of the credit and if they are still available.

Haven't really seen any good movies lately. Well not good enough to post about. Still been watching them, but they just haven't been that good. There are a lot of good movies coming out this year and next year that I am looking forward to, but there are others that are coming out that makes you ask...WHY? Like 21 JUMPSTREET, another TERMINATOR, another INDIANA JONES, EXPENDABLES 2, I mean come on...let's do something original.

Well, other than all that, nothing new going on in my life. Just trying to get through today.

February already?

This year has gone by pretty fast so far...or at least January did. Was sick a couple of weeks ago. Not my normal sickness. When I get sick, I am usually sick for like 12 hours. This time it lasted 5 days. Finally, I went to the Dr. on the last day and they didn't know what was wrong and just prescribed me Amoxicillin, Cough medication, cough syrup with codeine, and two different inhalers. So I filled the prescriptions, went to the store, got a bottle of rum and I was good the next day. Go figure. Even the Dr. told me in the old days, just mix Jack with Tea and you get better. See, alcohol is a remedy.

Still attending school to get my Bachelor's Degree. Getting ready to finish Informal Logic before going on to the next class. Wow...10 more classes and I will have my degree. Scheduled to graduate right now in Feb 2012.

Looks like I will have to wait for the announcement for my Direct Commission. The board ends today, but I was told I will not find out if I made it until May-Aug time frame. Have nothing scheduled this year as far as going anywhere. That is good for now as I need a break. Thinking about taking some real vacation time later this summer and heading back to Indiana with the family. Depends on finances. Looking at buying a house here real soon. My credit should be where it needs to be next month. Once qualified, I will be looking. Then maybe a few months later get a new vehicle, get lower payments than I am paying now, so I have a better vehicle to drive back to IN with. We'll see.

Everything else has been going ok. Haven't been on here as much as I used to since joining Facebook. It seems I can put out more faster there. Plus I have just gotten involved in a lot of the games on there. Work has increased since I first took this job, so time has been taken away from there as well. So, we'll just have to see how often I post here this year.

Still breaking in the New Year

Well, this year has somewhat started off good. We were just recently qualified for medical assistance to help out with last year's medical bills, but it is only from Dec on. We are currently doing an appeal to go bak to October to cover the wife's medical bills and ambulances. I don't have $50,000 to pay those.

My packet for Direct Commission has been sent out and the board will be held Jan 24th. I won't know the results until sometime in March. I tell you what tho, if I do get it, does that mean there is something terribly wrong with the Army?

Started back to school last week and I am currently taking Informal Logic. Interesting class so far. My projected graduation is Feb 2012. I am starting to get a little burned out from school now after doing it for the last year and 4 months. Hopefully I just stick with it to the end.

Nothing else to post right now.

Burn out

Wow, I guess it has been awhile since I posted. I guess I got all caught up in the Facebook and Farmville thing that I neglected my blog. I see I haven't posted since just before Thanksgiving and the next post was from my bro..thank you. Well, the Italy trip went fine, I guess. We worked 6am-6pm M-F and worked a few hours on the Saturday we were there. I was able to go to Verona and sightsee. Was able to see the House of Juliet. If you have seen LETTERS TO JULIET, it is very similar, but they do not hang letters on the wall. Instead, there are two walls that people have signed. I also went to Venice. Although both places I experienced in the evening. The sun was setting at 4:30 while I was there and both places we got there around that time. It was still nice to see. They have Christmas Markets, which is where the townfolk basically go to the streets and set up booths to sell items that are handmade or that tourists would like to buy. No, I did not do the gondola as they wanted 60 Euros to ride it which comes out to nearly $100. I'd rather walk, thank you.

I also experienced some real Italian Food. My first dish was the Lasagna. I think I like the Americanized lasagna better. It was good, but just small portioned for what I paid. Pizzas, spectacular. They use a thin crust and their cheese is magnificent. The only thing is if you ask for sausage, it tastes like bologna and looks like pepperoni. Nonetheless, is was still good and priced fairly. The last dish I had, can't remember the name of it, but it had like rigatoni noodles, sauce, and meat. It was a huge plate with melted cheese on it and cost really low. I was surprised I was able to eat it all, but it was great.

Next year I will be trying to go to Korea. Haven't been there yet, but want to experience it. If I can't do that, I will try Japan. If I can't do either, I may just go back to Germany. I love it there.

I also just found out yesterday that my packet is going to the board later this month for direct commissioning to become an officer. Originally I was told last month I would not make this board and would have to wait until May because I was waiting on a document. I just received it last week and turned it in and was called last night saying I will make this board. I just won't find out the results until March-April timeframe. Wish me luck.

Christmas and New Years went fine. Yes, I did drink on New Years. I bought an 18 pack and only drank 13. The next day, I threw the remaining in the trash and decided I'm done. Hard alcohol just makes me sick and stupid and beer takes too long and makes me spend money. So I may drink occassionally, but not like I used to.

That wraps it up for now. Got school work to get back to. Informal Logic began yesterday and I only have 10 more classes to go after this one. I am scheduled to graduate with my Bachelor's in Feb 2012.

It's Alive!

It's been too damn quiet over here lately, so I will post some drivel for those that actually read this blog. Stuman has been away to Italy as part of his US Army Reserves duty, but is due home any day now. Though, he may prefer to stay there.... makes me wonder if it is cold there this time of year, too....

Anyways, look forward to hearing everything he can tell us about his trip. All that boring stuff that he tells his wife. Not that good stuff that happened, because he would probably get in trouble if she knew.

The past couple years or so, Stuman has been to Germany a few times, and usually brings me back a nice authentic stein. He called me up about a day before leaving for Italy, asking what I would like. I told him a few times, he doesn't have to get me anything, but he kept demanding he wants to get something. He felt Italy probably would not have steins. I mentioned more than likely not, as they are a wine country, and whatever you get, don't make it wine or wine-type glasses. I can't stand that stuff. I think it came down to whatever he wanted to get that he thought I would like.

Last year (well, I think it was last year - maybe the one before) it was from Germany, and was a stein, plus a nice bright orange shirt that read something about Oktoberfest (where 125,000 barrels of beer are drank) or something like that. I am too lazy to go to the dresser and look. Sis got a belt, like a shotgun shell one, that instead of shells, held the airline-sized bottles of German liquors. It was empty shortly through the year.

Welp, I should mosey back over to my place. Like I said, he'll be home anytime now, and will hopefully have pictures too.

PeacE

yet another hurdle...

Don't know what it is, but I am sure it is coming. I had my credit pulled and found out I am only 3 points away from qualifying for a house. So I am working with a credit clean up business to improve it drastically as the higher my score is, the less I pay for interest. Finished my last class with a C. It was math. It wasn't hard, but the hard part was trying to focus on the class while my wife was hospitalized the whole time. I could have had an A if I did the four papers that were due, but I didn't do them. I guess I did just enough to pass it so I wouldn't have to withdraw or pay the money back. There goes that good GPA. Oh, well, I can always opt to retake it at my own expense before I graduate, but the GPA really doesn't matter to me as much as the actual diploma.

Getting ready for my trip to Italy coming up real soon. Getting pretty excited about it as well. Work has been going well and there has been a lot of improvement with the wife since she has been out. The oldest is doing better as well and is currently being home schooled. We are heading up to the FIL's for Thanksgiving, but it will be a short trip. Enough to get out of the city and maybe see some snow.

Somehow we have another dog. It looks to be a 3-4 month old golden retriever. My wife went to get my daughter at the bus stop and found it. No collar or anything. So they posted found dog posters around the neighborhood, but heard nothing yet. Hoping we don't get stuck with it. Gotta have the family stop picking up strays...lol.

Watched The Christmas Blessing which is the sequel to Christmas Shoes. It was pretty good. Also watched Woke Up Dead with John Heder...not that good. Charlie St. Cloud with Zac Efron was pretty good. Scott Pilgrim VS. The World looked like someone was on acid when they made the movie. That's what I have been watching this weekend. Still have The Last Airbender to watch. Blockbuster has changed their policy from 5 to 3 days, but not their price. Wondering if I should still continue to go there. I hate red box because sometimes I get a movie and don't watch it for a few days. I don't like Netflix or Blockbuster online because I don't like automatic withdrawals from my account. I know, nothing makes me happy. Well, that's all I got for now.

Yes, I am still alive

This has been the worst month this year (October). As my wife was in and out of the hospital from 30 Sep up until last Friday. She is doing better since she has been out. Took the oldest to the psychiatrist and we are still waiting on a FINAL DIAGNOSIS, but it is believed that he has Autism, maybe even Aspergers. He is currently on medication which actually has helped his behavior quite a bit.

This Thanksgiving, we will be going up North to the FIL's as we normally do from time to time. Looking forward to getting out of town and hopefully relaxing a bit. My math class will end next Monday, but don't think I will finish as well as all my other classes. I have 4 assignments I am behind on since I haven't had time to do them with everything going on this past month. He is giving me until Monday night to turn them in with no deductions and they are only about 1-2 pages each, so it is not that overwhelming, but still.

Medical bills over these last couple of months have me overwhelmed. We applied for SSI for my wife and was denied. They say I make $400 too much per month, but they go by gross income and do not include bills. Still waiting on a determination from ahccs. My personal medical sucks as it is a $3000 deductible. I am in the process of trying to change it right now to benefit us later. The medication and doctor visits alone cost me over $1000 a month for both the wife and the oldest. I just need to win the lottery.

Next month, I head off to Italy for two weeks. It is a much needed vacation even though it is still a work trip. Don't know what we are doing for New Years yet, but I am debating on heading out of town just to get away and not be around a bunch of drunk and crazy people. Just don't know what I am going to do over the next couple of months, but hopefully, everything will work out.

Friday?...where did my days go?

I can't believe it is already Friday. I just lost track of days this week with everything going on. Took Monday off because the kids were out of school. tuesday wife was supposed to get out, but didn't get out until Wednesday. Thursday morning, 2am took her to er because she had some bacterial infection in the intestines. Took her to the dr later that evening for her appointment after being released from the hospital. Her meds from the last two days have totaled over $300 dollars. The new medication she is on is expensive and she is court ordered to take for a year. I think i need to change my insurance company next month.

The oldest had a visit from the school psychologist yesterday and was evaluated. The pshycologist was impressed and stated that he was above average for his age and didn't understand why he wasn't applying himself and going to school. So we are going to try to work on doing homeschool for him for a little bit and maybe get him into going back to school. We're still not sure what his problem is, but at least now I know it's not that he doesn't understand it or have a learning disability. It seems to me it is either anxiety or behavioral.

This math class I am in now, when I looked at the book before it started looked hard, but as I am in week 2, it's not so bad. I guess I will have to see as it continues. 3 more weeks to go and then I have a long break. i was supposed to start my next class Nov 16, but I asked to put it off until Jan because the last couple of weeks of that class, I will be out of the country and no internet access. So, might as well start over in Jan. It will of course push back my graduation date, but I want to apply myself and get good grades and not settle for a grade just to graduate faster. That is why I am only taking one class at a time instead of more.

Well, I reckon that is it for now.