12.31.2007

2007 Year in Review 01. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? Traveled to Fort Jackson and yelled at Privates for two weeks. Never did that before. I also rode a horse on the beach. I've never done that either, and always wanted too. 02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I always make resolutions, or rather goals I would like to see accomplished. It gives me some direction. I did ok I think. 03. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, my sister and a few of my cousins. 04. Did anyone close to you die? My sister's daughter Olivia, we only knew her for a few short hours but it was enough time to bond. 05. What countries did you visit? No world traveling done this year. 06. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Lack of injuries. 07. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 16, which was the day I graduated Drill Sergeant School 08. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Probably graduating Drill Sergeant School. 09. What was your biggest failure? Hmm, I don't think I really had a lot of failures this year. I did pretty Ok, so I guess one failure was not getting my 90s in each event on the PT test to get Commandant's List at DSS. 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I break something every year. This year I broke my foot. I also had a pinched psyatic nerve. That thing sucks. 11. What was the best thing you bought? I spoiled myself this year. I bought a Wii, a DS, and a new Laptop. 12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? I'll say my sister, it's been said before by many but she is a rock and an inspiration to me. 13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? I wouldn't call my reaction appalled or depressed, rather more like a psychotic rage at times, but it comes with the territory when you deal with Privates. Nah, I had good soldiers, so I don't think I really had issues with anybody this year. One of my coworkers gets on my nerves, but I usually brush him off and it pisses him off. No wait, I got one! My stupid laptop and it's desire to crash and burn on me, and taking about a dozen different writings I had been working on with it (I got it back though! Yay!) 14. Where did most of your money go? Um, hmm. I paid off my car this year, got all my bills paid off, rent, a Wii. Actually, for a while I was making enough money to get by and have a little fun on the side so I wasn't hurting at all this year. I probably should have more money in the bank then I do but I'm doing alright. It didn't help that I had to take care of my foot out of pocket. Little piddly expenses here and there. No ferrets though. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Drill Sergeant School. I just wanted to get this done and over with and it is so gratifying to get out of Drill Sergeant Prepatory Program. 16. What songs will always remind you of 2007? They Tried to make me go to Rehab and I said No, No, NO! 17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? I think I'm happier. I'm pretty content right now where I'm at in life. ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner. I feel pretty good right now, though I have a little more toning up to do. iii. Richer or poorer? Hmm, about the same. Maybe even richer because I don't have the debt (er, unless you count student loans) that i did last year. 18. What do you wish you'd done more of? I wish I got more comics up then I did, I pretty much abandoned it this year. But the computer dying kind of killed it. I also wish I could have not broken my foot so I could have done more athletic activities earlier this year so I wasn't a fat cow going into drill sergeant school. Oh, I should have played more video games. I still haven't beaten Legend of Zelda; Twilight Princess. 19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Sat around on my butt with a broken foot. 20. How did you spend Christmas? The same way I did last year. With the family, watching movies, singing Karaoke and playing white elephant games. It's becoming tradition. 22. Did you fall in love in 2007? I am incapable of falling in love. Unless you count material possessions, which I don't think this applies. 23. How many one night stands? 24. What were your favourite TV programs? Heroes, Lost, and Avatar the Last Airbender 25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't have any animosity against anybody this year that I didn't have last year. 26. What was the best book you read? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I don't read a lot, I know. I write more then I read. Gastroanomolies by James Lileks is a good read too. 27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Regina Spector. 28. What did you want and get? I got my Wii, I wanted to go horseback riding on the beach at a full out run and got that, and if I wanted something bad enough, I just went and bought it. 29. What did you want and not get? I spoiled myself this year and got something if I wanted it. However, my wants have remained fairly modest in that I didn't go into any huge spending sprees. I would still like to own a horse though. I had to get rid of my little fuzzbutts before I went to DSS. I was disappointed to have to see them go, I was quite attached to them. 30. What was your favourite film of this year? You know, there was a bunch of fun films this year but nothing stood out so far that was absolutely outstanding to me. Still, I loved Enchanted and Hot Fuzz (see previous blog post on this topic) 31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I got a turkey dinner. I turned 27. Oh, and a couple of CDs and some other little things. I bought myself a Nintendo DS and a new Laptop. 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Going to DSS in March instead of August, you know, not having broken my foot would have been fabulous. 33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Kami Style. Comfortable. Casual. T-shirt over long sleeve shirt. 34. What kept you sane? I'm not sane. But not having to worry about money helps. 35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I don't really follow celebrities that much. 36. What political issue stirred you the most? Er, um, huh? I guess anti Hillary issues. I can't stand her. 37. Who did you miss? It would have been nice to see my sister's family some more, and I keep meaning to head down south to see some of my friends that I haven't seen in years. 38. Who was the best new person you met? I met some pretty cool people at DSS and BNCOC, and my short time on the trail. I can't say one specific person however. 39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. You learn more by doing things then actually learning about it in school. Case in point, Drill Sergeant School. 40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Hey hey, You you, I Don't Like Your Girlfriend! (ok, not really, I hate this song) Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 8:57 PM - |

New Year Traditions Well, last night we celebrated our yearly tradition of eating steak one night early (because the steak house in question is closed on Mondays). I had a nice chunk of Medium Rare Porterhouse that I ate about half of and saved the rest for today (still pretty darn scrumptious!) You know the expensive steak restaurants that you only endulge in every once in a blue moon because if you ate there regularly you would be broke and about the size of the cow you were eating. Having Sunday night off was a nice change, and going out with the whole fam damily is always nice, some premium bonding time speant eating lots and lots of meat. Another one of our little traditions that I've known for as long as I can remember is the New Years Baby. We would stick our shoe by the door and when we woke up New Year's Day the shoe would be full of all sorts of goodies brought by the baby (usually a couple candy bars, a magazine, a staple goodie has become a magazine.) It's just one of those fun things you do as a family that you look forward to sharing with your own children. Should I ever have any. Well, in the meantime, i'll enjoy the nieces and nephews and watch them take part in the celebration this New Years. Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 5:14 PM - |

1.01.2007

New Years Resolutions 2006/2007 It's a new Year! Let's see how I did on Resolutions for 2006. Run Bloomsday Yep! Ran Bloomsday this year and am actually wearing the t-shirt I got for completing it. Unfortunately, I can't do it this year due to the conflict with Drill Sergeant School. Find a Dojo and get back into some kind of Martial Art. Karate Kenpo. . . however, see next resolution. . . -Stick with said martial art unless I get an acceptable reason to get out. Stuck with it all right. . . for a whole two weeks. I was actually doing very well until I slapped my chin into a tree snowboarding, and then I had to take a break. . . and with Yellowstone and life, I never went back. Buy a car (guaranteed to get this resolution done) I got home from the military on a Friday and bought a new car the next day. -Make it a dependable, economical, inexpensive car. 2003 Mazda Protege. I think it fits the bill. . . Make a final decision with the army. Stay in? Get out? New MOS? ??? Made a decision. Found a unit I love, a job I love and reenlisted in September. Leave for school in March. Get back into Painting. Grr. . . this is a repeat resolution I'll do this year, becuase I REALLY want to get back into Painting. Get Creature up and running again. Its up and running again, yes, but kind of in an on again off again state. . . *sighs* Go to school. :D -Make a decision on a major. Currently, it's animation. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick to this school or not. . . more for this year's resolutions. Look through these current prospects and make a decision if there is anything there or not. -If there is, explore it more. -If there isn't, work on new prospects. -Work on that dating issue altogether. This one was kind of hit and miss. I did pretty good at the beginning of the year, but a part of me is thinking that I'm destined to remain perpetually single. . . New Zealand/Australia. Somehow, someway. I hope. This was kind of a minion thing, my Minions at Silent Running were trying to get me to go down under and I really wanted to go but a few things came up. I didn't have anybody to go with me and I didn't want to travel to meet what are undoubtedly nice but still strangers in a strange land by myself. My trip to Yellowstone took care of my summer plans. Availability and funds didn't allow for it. I would love to someday make it down there, but I think I've kind of lost my Patron Goddess status (and haven't heard from Murray in a long time) and I don't have the minion force I once did. And I can't afford to make a trip down under at this time. Unless I do it work study or something, which I am considering. Pilgrimage to Utah to visit friends and family and check out famous Utah powder conditions for Snowboarding Purposes. Never made it. . . *sighs* Other then coming back from Kosovo and going to Yellowstone, my traveling was very negligable this year. NanoWrimo in November. Maybe. HAH! I do better just leaving this one off from now on. I write novels on my own time all the time. And school doesn't allow for me to do this. Website. Just, well, it needs something else. Facelift maybe? Who knows? It's kind of part way there. . . I need to finish it. -More in line of a webserver change. Went from Yahoo to Bluehost in February or March I think. I do like my current webserver quite a bit. So, I accomplished Ten, I failed at four, and I'm kind of on the border of two. I would say that this year was pretty successful with the resolution type thingees! And now what do I want to get done for 2007? Earn My Hat -Have all six modules down before I leave for Drill Sergeant School. -Better be in better shape then current over the next two and a half months. Make E6/ Staff Sergeant (I wasn't ready in 2005, I've felt ready for a while now though) Make a decision with School. (stay with current school? Find a new one?) Get Back Into Painting (repeat resolution) Pay off all current debt (car, best buy card main ones) with an exception of student loans. Roadtrip. California and Utah primary destination. Get a better sleep schedule (one where I'm not as prone to sleeping in so late.) Keep ferrets from having to go to the vet for Earplug removals and things of that nature. this list is prone to being added to as I think about other resolutions I would like to accomplish this year. Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 11:35 AM - |

2006 Year in Review 01. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? Not as much as last year, but working in Yellowstone is probably the main item of note. 02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I did fairly well, accomplished about ten or so. Yes, I'll make more, they're just something that I like to look back on at the end of the year. 03. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not this year that I can think of really, other then a few of my cousins whom I haven't seen in a while. 04. Did anyone close to you die? Not this year. 05. What countries did you visit? Kosovo, Iceland and the United States. My traveling was done primarily last year. 06. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More motivation and sleep discipline. Should get that in Drill Sergeant School. 07. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Not so many that really stand out this year. December 3rd, because I got hit by two people on the same day. 08. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I guess getting back to school was. 09. What was your biggest failure? I regret not sticking it out in Yellowstone. But I wouldn't have had the opportunity to spend the rest of the summer at home with my sister and her family who I *never* get to see. I hadn't really got to bond with her kids before and I got quite attached to them so it's kind of a wash. 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Does the headfirst crash into a tree via snowboard that required 14 stitches count? 11. What was the best thing you bought? My car and my ferrets. :) Go a year without a means of transportation and you tell me how important a car is in America? 12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? I hate this question. . . 13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? A couple of people's did, one would be roommate comes to mind. 14. Where did most of your money go? Where didn't it go? Car, TV, New Bed, Computer, a lot of things. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Yellowstone. I was so pumped for this. 16. What songs will always remind you of 2006? A lot of songs did, though a lot of them were also throwbacks of 2005 that I hadn't heard until 2006. But I don't listen to the radio much so I can't say any particular song does. I actually followed American Idol this year, maybe one of those songs might make me think of 2006? I work in the music department regularly and I have no idea of how to answer this question. *sigh* 17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? The whole year, happier. This time compared to last year, sadder. ii. Thinner or fatter? About the same, though a little thinner. I REALLY need to get into better shape and be more active. iii. Richer or poorer? Poorer. I came off a deployment last year where I had nothing to spend money on. Now I have bills and rent and I'm in school again. 18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Painted, been more active, yadda yadda yadda. 19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Slept less. 20. How did you spend Christmas? Very lowkey, with family. It was very nice. 22. Did you fall in love in 2006? I don't think the word 'love' can be applied to me. I love people like my family and friends, but I don't think I'll ever get this 'love of another human being in that intimate kind of way' down. 23. How many one night stands? *grumbles* Why does this question have to be here? It is stricken from all future surveys of this nature. 0. 24. What were your favourite TV programs? Last year this time, I didn't watch TV. I watch it a lot more now. But rather more on DVD then actual TV. So, let's list them off, shall we? Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Smallville, Avatar the Last Airbender, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney programs from the late 80's early 90's as well as numerous cartoons, The Glenn Beck Program. . . 25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I didn't have anybody to hate this year. I did loathe a couple of people while I was at Yellowstone for a bit at first, but I got over it. 26. What was the best book you read? I'm trying to think of anything I read this year. Which is kind of sad, because that must mean that nothing stood out in my mind so nothing I guess. 27. What was your greatest musical discovery? *sighs* I guess I'm not hip enough or with it in this arena because I honestly don't have any clue what band I discovered this year that really stands out to me. 28. What did you want and get? A new TV, Computer (had to get it for school) and Car big ones. 29. What did you want and not get? A horse. I almost bought one a couple months ago but wisely refrained. Good job. I also wanted to get a Wii and a new camera. Again, wisely refrained at this time. I'm using these as rewards for myself this year when I accomplish certain goals, like Drill Sergeant School. 30. What was your favourite film of this year? Little Miss Sunshine was probably my favorite. 31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Lowkey, had to work and do homework first, and then I spent the next day *thanksgiving* with the family and celebrated my day as Kamacka. My birthday as well as two of my inlaws are one after another and so we have come to be known as one entity at this time of year as we celebrate all of our birthdays at the same time. 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I'm not exactly sure. I was kind of mellow and low key this year. I guess if I could have gone to Drill Sergeant school earlier and gotten it out of the way. 33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? T-shirt and jeans, though I'm better this year then years past as I actually wear T-shirts that fit me now. 34. What kept you sane? Having my own place, and my own space helps. Living under the parent's roof was a little grating at times because I didn't have my own area and I couldn't get to anything for the first part of this year. *GAARRRR!* Yes, very frustrating. 35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ok, next year, the word 'fancy' will be stricken from this particular question. 36. What political issue stirred you the most? Hmm, none really. I didn't really get stirred by much of anything politically this year. Did I? *thinks* I guess the war did. 37. Who did you miss? My grandmother. . . 38. Who was the best new person you met? Probably some of the people I met in Yellowstone. 39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Don't dwell on the past, its done. Learn from it and move on. 40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. *has to think abou this, never been good with song lyrics.* Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 11:33 AM - |

1.01.2006

Celebrating New Years Well, this wouldn't be a proper New Years post without me telling everyone all about my New Years, right? Oh yes, it was one of those novel things I can tell people about years from not. I was on Guard Duty. I will not explain the circumstances of what I was guarding or what not, but Guard Duty came and me and my battle buddy ordered pizza and watched the Kosovars celebrate with Fire Works. And Tracer rounds. I think a few people shot up flare guns. We watched from the distance and observed. It was a quiet moment. No big ball dropped in Times Square. Our New Year came a full 6 hours ahead of Dick Clark. I had half a mind to call home afterwards and tell everyone I was calling them from 2006. Eerie, the Future! Mwahahahahaha! It doesn't really feel like 2006. I spent a grand total of seven and a half days in the states last year. Today was spent doing another MASCAL excercise. This was kind of a final thing, more for practice then anything. I was in shock again, kind of the mental patient thing though I downplayed the whole psycho aspect. In the end I went into a Asthma attack and that ended the whole play thing for me. I got a lot of compliments for staying in character, though I'm not really asthmatic so I couldn't tell you how to work it in the real world. Dinner was Crab Legs. Messy. Sometimes, on special occaisions they will spoil us with a special treat. Like Crab Legs. They did a good job cooking them. Unlike July 4th where they butchered the Lobster. That was a crying shame. Here's looking to a promising 2006. Happy New Year to all of you back in the states and around the world. I'll be home soon. Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 12:21 PM - |

New Years Resolutions So, every year I make New Year's Resolutions. This last year, how did I do? 1) Get out of debt - (piece of cake!) This was one of my motivating factors for deploying. I wanted to get in control of my finances. I have most definitely succeeded in this endeavour. 2) Drive on the Autobahn in a Porsche. Um, in a Porsche? Whas was I thinking? But I did drive the Autobahn in a BMW! 3) Max APFT. Hah!!! (failed) a) this will require me to work out regularly. I hear Bondsteel has some good gyms available. Hah hah hah *cough cough* Um, failed this one too. But I did pick up Kajukenbo and a few other ways of working out. I definitely intend to keep it up when I get back to the states. 4) Upkeep webspace from Kosovo For the most part, did this, at least with the Blog I did. Can't say the same thing for a lot of the rest of the sight. And as much as the army tried to shut my blog down, I kept it going. 5) Learn how to edit videos. I learned how to do this, but I didn't do what I wanted to do, which was my motivation for learning it in the first place. 6) See Prague, Budapest, Norschwanstein, etc. . . Um, scratch Prague and Neueswchwanstein, but I did see Budapest and the etc. . . part. So did my mom. She had fun. So did I. :) 7) Don't get Shot. Um, this is an unnecessary resolution for Kosovo. I'm more likely to get shot by friendly fire. Honestly. 8) Make a decision on what I want to do when I come home. *sighs* I'm still not sure. So this is a failed resolution. So, that's the status of Last Year's Resolutions. I need to make a new set. Yay! Now, let's see how well I keep them. Check here same time next year. Run Bloomsday Find a Dojo and get back into some kind of Martial Art. -Stick with said martial art unless I get an acceptable reason to get out. Buy a car (guaranteed to get this resolution done) -Make it a dependable, economical, inexpensive car. Make a final decision with the army. Stay in? Get out? New MOS? ??? Get back into Painting. Get Creature up and running again. Go to school. -Make a decision on a major. Look through these current prospects and make a decision if there is anything there or not. -If there is, explore it more. -If there isn't, work on new prospects. -Work on that dating issue altogether. New Zealand/Australia. Somehow, someway. I hope. Pilgrimage to Utah to visit friends and family and check out famous Utah powder conditions for Snowboarding Purposes. NanoWrimo in November. Maybe. Website. Just, well, it needs something else. Facelift maybe? Who knows? -MOre in line of a webserver change. Eh, that's enough off the top of my head for now. Will give myself a week to add too/change current resolutions and then they are in stone. We'll see how this year goes. Labels: List, New Years -Risawn: # 11:57 AM - |

2005: Year in Review 01. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? Ooh, a lot of things! Some of them I'm not at liberty to talk about :P Traveled Europe should probably top that list however. 02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Um, this is a subject for another post. See Here. 03. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not anyone this year that I know of real close, well, other then some cousins of mine, whom I've lost track of. 04. Did anyone close to you die? My grandmother passed away about two weeks ago. 05. What countries did you visit? Hmm, let me see. Germany, Kosovo (part of Serbia), FYROM, Greece, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland. And if you count it, I hung out in Iceland for about two hours. 06. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? How about a life not jurisdicted by the United States Army? And more time in the states! 07. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? There are a few dates, May 2nd was the LIT concert, December 1st was my last straw with my NCOIC, January 8th was the day I left the states, January 27th was the day I arrived in Kosovo, June 1st was the day me and Nate made it official, September 3rd was the day we broke up. Every day from September 24 - October 12, which was Leave time and spent in bliss, September 22 I got in a car accident. Um, I got a lot of dates actually. 08. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Seeing as much of the world that I did. Also, the Schutzenschnur was a thing that I wanted to do. Also, doing as much extracurricular activities as I have accomplished, like the DANCON and Big Duke. Things like that really. 09. What was your biggest failure? My work output this year should have been a lot better. I blame myself and a certain somebody that will remain unnamed, but they know who they are and they know that I can't stand them. In fact, putting up with them and trusting them for as long as I did will be my biggest failure. I also had planned on doing a lot more then I ended up doing. Like maxing out my PT test. I didn't do to hot on that portion of my New Years Resolutions. Again, another post. Will get there in a minute. 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? How about I finally talked to somebody about my mental state? Other then that, nothing serious. I stressed my leg playing Volleyball and couldn't run for about three weeks. 11. What was the best thing you bought? My Guitar. Though I didn't keep up with it like I wanted to, I plan on doing that when I get back home. I also love my new WACOM drawing tablet. :D 12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? Certainly not mine. 13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? One person who shall remain nameless but goes above and beyond in this area. 14. Where did most of your money go? My bank. And there it shall stay until I go home and buy that car. Otherwise, my vacation to Europe. Which was worth every penny. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Er, Deploying to Kosovo? (hey, this was left here from the last year I did this! Also, Greece, Bulgaria, going on Leave. . . 16. What songs will always remind you of 2005? I've been so out of the loop that no song really reminds me of 2005. Most songs I hear are from years past. I guess that one song "Don't you wish your Girlfriend was Hot like Me", but I won't even mention what picture in my head this song evokes. 17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? I'm doing wonderful now. But I was doing pretty good this time last year too. Although I was kind of sad to be leaving my family for a year. ii. Thinner or fatter? About the same really. I want to get into better shape. iii. Richer or poorer? Definitely Richer. Something about a deployment pads your wallet a bit. 18. What do you wish you'd done more of? I regret not going to Bulgaria twice. I should have gone again but what's done is done. And how it worked out, well, I couldn't have gone a second time. 19. What do you wish you'd done less of? I could go on. But perhaps my blog is not the place to discuss this. 20. How did you spend Christmas? I slept in until Noon. And then I went to church. Opened one gift from my roomie, who's a sweetheart (and Ironically, she's Muslim.) 22. Did you fall in love in 2005? You know, I'm not sure. . . yet. 23. How many one night stands? (I'll keep last year's answer) I think I need to get laid before I think about this. 24. What were your favourite TV programmes? Hehe. BWAHAHAHHAHAHAH!!! What TV Programs? Who am I kidding, when have I ever sat down and watched TV? Well, anyway, I've been busy collecting the Seasons of Sliders, Twilight Zone, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I stand by my love of Mutants. 25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? My goodness, I can not for the life of me think of a more appropriate question then this one. I normally do not hold ill will toward people and think that Hate is a very strong word but. . . YES! 26. What was the best book you read? Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Shut up now, I'm a Harry Potter Fan. 27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Rockabilly and All Girl Cover Bands. 28. What did you want and get? If I wanted it, I bought it. 29. What did you want and not get? Freedom and a change of wardrobe. 30. What was your favourite film of this year? I liked Domino and Just Like Heaven, but I am so out of the loop that I can't accurately answer this question. 31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Surprisingly, not much. I think they allowed me to sleep in. And I mailed stuff home. 25 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being in another section and under a different person then who I was under. 33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Green, brown and tan. Black Combat Boot. Accessorize with M16. M16 goes with everything. 34. What kept you sane? Um, this question doesn't apply to me as I am most certifiably insane. But otherwise, my shrink. Literally. 35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Who uses the word 'Fancy' in this society. For some reason, I'm not into any celebrities at the moment, or for that matter, at all during this year. You know how many movies I watched? Well, not very many. 36. What political issue stirred you the most? Anything that dealt with Kosovo. Which is mainly a non issue to the rest of the states. 37. Who did you miss? Everybody back home in the states. My friends and family mainly. THis is a stupid question in my circumstances. 38. Who was the best new person you met? Nate. And all of his buddies. And some of my foreign friends. And a few others that choose to remain anonymous. 39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. I learned how to stand up for myself and not take shit off nobody. A valuable lesson indeed. I will definitely retain this one. 40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Jet Plane by John Denver. Well, part of it anyway. Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 11:10 AM - |

1.01.2005

Traditions In my family, there is a tradition that as a child I didn't think to much about. I just thought everybody did it, much like I thought most families were like mine and most people thought the way I did back then. We celebrate the New Year's Baby, where we leave our shoe by the door on New Year's Eve and the next day it is filled with all sorts of goodies. Strangely, though my grandfather who started it in our family is Swedish, the tradition is actually Greek (though the Greeks leave their shoes by the fireplace, and it is St Basil who brings the goods at midnight). However, the New Year's Baby originates from Greece as well so it all fits. I celebrate a Greek Tradition and I don't have an ounce of Greek Blood in my veins. My mom (who's birthday happens to by New Year's Eve), had trouble finding a shoe to put my loot in. So she used a combat boot this year. Very fitting :P Since Serbia is close to Greece, maybe I'll still be able to celebrate next year as well? Labels: New Years -Risawn: # 1:48 PM - |

The Quintessential New Year's Post A year ago, like every year, I put up a list of New Year Resolutions. Let's see how I did. 1- Get Website back online Well, at the time, I had completely deleted my website. It was part of my way of coaping with the fact that the army was toying with me at the time, the whole "you're deploying to Iraq, Wait, we changed our minds." I was a bit frustrated, and I took it out on my website. It was zapped from the face of the internet. I actually put it back on shortly after New Years, however, it was deleted again sometime in September, but that wasn't quite my fault. a) get it functional and half way interesting That is up to debate. 2- Find a decent paying job. I work at a slighly above minimum wage job, which actually pays pretty well considering Washington minimum Wage is at $7.10, however, this was not accomplished do to the fact that the army was, well, toying with me and their decision on whether or not they were going to Mob me. I was slated to go somewhere a half dozen times and I didn't feel it necessary to find another job. THis was accomplished sometime in November, when the Army said 'we got a job for you' and now I'm on Active Duty. Much better pay. 3 - Get at least CUSA and CAP1 paid off. Done. Then my Sister Used the CUSA and I added more to CAP1. But they were both paid off at one time this year. 4- Run Bloomsday this year. No, I mean it! Ran the bloody whole thing. Was hurting for a week. 5- Move out on my own, one way or another. Eh, army killed a lot of my motivation to do this, because I didn't know what was going on. Hence, never moved out, well, until about November. 6- Jump a snowboard. I'm getting into intermediate/Expert area, but the snow isn't the greatest here, usually it get's icy. When you fall on ice, it hurts, so I don't really focus on dare devil tactics. I can't afford to get hurt. HOwever, toward the end of last season, I had successfully gone Airborne many times without falling, but I have yet to catch serious air. The snow hasn't been great this year so far either. I'll be missing the rest of the season. 7- Read one new book a month. Did really well for about, oh, four months, then I got distracted. 8- Sign up for Martial Arts (I've always wanted to take a class) I still vow to do this one day. I wish I could have when I was younger. 9- BNCOC Army terminology, tried to sign up, the Training NCO wasn't very cooperative however. I think he had more on his mind. 10- Speak acronymics less. HAH! 11- Rekindle friendships with Suzanne, Andrea and Marnie, Carla, etc. . . Attempted to with Suzanne, however she moved and I never got her phone number, mission accomplished with Andrea and Marnie, lost Carla's information. Damn. 12- Date at least once a month (I mean, I really just need to take a chance on the opposite sex!) This is really quite a lost cause on me. 13- Break some bad habits of mine. I'm trying to remember what those bad habits were. 14- And of course, it wouldn't be a new years resolution if I didn't include Lose Five Pounds. a) Then Tone Up Body b) And Run more. A lot more. c) And work out more in general. My weight has continually fluctuated by a margin of five pounds. And its right after the holidays, so I'm on the upper end of that scale. As for working out, well, that's a lost cause as well. So how did I do? About fifty/fifty. And what do I have for this year? 1) Get out of debt - (piece of cake!) 2) Drive on the Autobahn in a Porsche. 3) Max APFT. a) this will require me to work out regularly. I hear Bondsteel has some good gyms available. 4) Upkeep webspace from Kosovo 5) Learn how to edit videos. 6) See Prague, Budapest, Norschwanstein, etc. . . 7) Don't get Shot. 8) Make a decision on what I want to do when I come home. Hmm, simple, let's see how I do? (of course, Resolutions are always up to change) Labels: instalaunched, New Years -Risawn: # 1:05 PM - |