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

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

I passed everything in the semester that just ended. I managed to pull in an 82% average, even though I spent more nights with a karaoke microphone in my hand than a textbook.

New semester starting in 5 days. After that, I'll probably need to hit the books a little more often. But I probably won't ;)

I had to do a presentation in Comm Skills today. We had to take an object and describe it in a technical paper, then give a presentation on it. Examples given were screwdrivers, hammers, toothbrushes, etc. I thought I'd feel like an idiot standing in front of a class of techs and describing their everyday tools, so I decided to do something different.

I stood up in front of the class today to describe a shinai (kendo sword). I figured it had a few advantages:

from the spinning of my head.

Went out last night. Met A, W, and C at a karaoke bar.

Things progressed.

Now I'm confused about last night. I know that C is (was?) interested in K, my roommate. I know that K is not interested in C. I know that they haven't talked about it since Thursday, because K has been studying his ass off. It's not a case of C being rejected by K.

It felt so right dancing with C. I enjoyed being there. She seemed to enjoy it.

I made up my mind to tell my roommate. Dammit, something is gonna happen on my terms.

Went to the meal hall for breakfast this morning. The dining area was empty except for him. Take deep breath, brace myself, walk in.

Before I get a chance to say much more than "Hi", he tells me that he knows. He spent last night trying to think of a way to tell her he's not interested, without fucking up a group of friends.

I called today to confirm the movie plans.

She wants to "chat".

She comes over tonight. With her friend. Bad sign.

It's not working out between us. I can deal with that, it's normal.

She's interested in my roommate.

She says she doesn't want to do anything that'll hurt us (roommate & me). She doesn't want to strain our friendship.

She's leaving it up to me to decide whether to tell him; she claims she'll abide by my decision.

Dinner went well. Due to timing issues, the movie didn't happen, so we went out to a local karaoke bar, where she awed the audience and I made their ears bleed :-S

Thanks to Sol, John, Sam, and Insane for your support in my pre-date journal. You were all right - it was nothing to be afraid of. Don't know what I was all worked up for.

Forcing myself to sit down for a minute, stop pacing.

Why am I so nervous? Is it because this is the first her-and-me only date? Is it because this is my first "first date" in eleven years? Or is this normal?

Why do I see Murphy staring me in the face every time I turn around?

The world can't possibly come crashing down around my ears tonight. So why does it feel like my smallest mistake can make that happen?

One hour, 33 minutes 'til the restaurant reservation.

I did my CF express test this morning. For the majority of you who are not in the Canadian Forces, it's your standard-issue PT test:

• Do a shuttle run - CD goes "beep", run to the other line. Get to the line before it goes "beep" again, then return to first line at the "beep". Every minute the time between beeps decreases. Keep running after six minutes to pass. Commonly referred to as the beep test. Status: Passed, barely.
• Grip test. Hold a

Went to a hockey game on Friday. After the game, my classmate W, his girlfriend A, some other guys and I went to a local bar for some karaoke.

5:30 in the morning. After-hours clubs fuck you up. really.

Got hauled into the lecture hall on Thursday. Actually, the entire class did. Seems a guy in my class was an undercover cop. Busted a second-year student for selling drugs. Also went to several parties, and took names of underage drinkers and the overly rowdy. Chief tore us all a new asshole.

Well, I haven't been on /. in a while, but I'm still alive and studying (the main reason I'm not online).

Woke up this morning, considered putting on the uniform but decided to wait until after breakfast. After trudging through knee-deep snow (the plough came in behind us), we got to the meal hall, where we heard the wonderful news on the radio.

MUN is closed for weather.

Flew home for Chrismas. Flew back on New Years Day.

Long flight. I left home at 6 AM on the first (Pacific time), arrived in Newfoundland at 2:30 AM (Newfoundland time) the next day.

My luggage didn't.

So, along with half the people on my flight, I go to the baggage claims desk. I get to the front of the line, and give the guy my info. 2 boxes, 2 bags. OK, we'll trace them and get them to you ASAP.

Well, here I am in Newfoundland. I've actually been here for almost two weeks, but we only got computer access today.

It's snowy, blowy, and cold here. I'm looking forward to going home this weekend :)

Turns out that the military won't arrange my flight, but they will pay for it. And, since I'm flying across the country, they'll pay my entire expenses (lesser of my expenses or $1900, and my flight is $1400, so I get it all).

I found out today that the military has not, contrary to promises at the recruiters, arranged for flights home from Newfoundland for Christmas. And, with the current schedule, it's dicey whether I will be able to make it home at all.

This fucking pisses me off. We were told at the beginning that we would be sent home for Christmas. For the last week, we've been trying to get information from the Admin types, so we can book flights before they're sold out.