upDATING

So I have a ton of random thoughts. Like I tend to start sentences by saying so.. or yeah... But before I get into anything major, I'd like to start off by saying that yep, I'm finally dating someone. A girl I've been after off and on for about 4 years now give or take (ok, so she was gone on a mission for a year and a half, but whatever, it sounds better). That's all I'm going to say about that, that and it's great and wonderful, and really really hard at times. Totally worth it though.

Utah won their BCS football game against Alabama, a team that was ranked #1 for about 5 weeks of the 12 week regular season. I was slightly conflicted about it since I've been a 'Bama fan for a long, long time. In fact, that's where I spent a good amount of time in my younger days, and that's where my parents now live. Speaking of Alabama, that's where I recently spent Christmas. My parents just moved there, so the house is new to just about everyone. All my siblings, minus my older brother (and his wife and kid) came home, and it was really great to see everyone. Granted, my family being who we are, kinda had some um, shall we say difficulties in getting along and playing nicely with everyone. Some people need to get over things and figure out a way to love one another, that's right, I'm calling you (more than one you here) out. You know who you are. Swallow your pride and make an honest effort. Or else. Just remember I love you, and since I'm your older brother and I've already made all those mistakes before, so I know what is right and wrong. Trust me. While we may not know how to make Christmas last all year long (it's a lack of application, not knowledge), we sure did get it right for at least the day. As my parents had just moved, there were still plenty of boxes full of my junk to go through. I threw away quite a bit of stuff, but I think I have about two full boxes of books sitting in their garage. I loved being at home, as weird as it was with a new house that didn't quite feel like home yet. I got to see my dogs, who showed their love to me by shedding over everything I owned. Toby, my beagle/terrier mix took to his old habits of ignoring everyone else who was up, so he could wake me up to put him out. I guess I'm loved.
A few other interesting developments... The Army, rather, the commander of my current Army unit, it seems, has been trying to prevent me from dong my Warrant Officer training. If I do this training it gets me out of going to Afghanistan with my unit. Granted I sent myself to about 6 months of training so I could be prepared to do the job they wanted me to, I was going to be one of the top 5 people in terms of responsibility and importance over there (wtihin my unit), and I felt genuinely bad about changing my mind to go, but i realized that if I didn't take my chances when I could, the Army would never let me do what I want. So in the seeming spirit of vindictiveness and in reaction to my sudden bolt for the door, they have been trying what seems like very underhanded things to keep me with the unit and force me to go overseas. Things seem to be in my favor at this point, but we'll see what happens.

Over the course of the past few weeks it has become apparent that I need to move out of my current house. I really like the place I'm in now, the price is ok, a bit much, but its a really nice place. However, the living conditions haven't been very conducive to what I'm trying to do, and it's been causing a strain on a relationship I value more than I think the other person realizes. I think the distance that my moving out would create would be the best thing for us.