(no subject)

[aadler]

– – – – – –

Bad news, good news, other news. Cuts to spare the flist.

First Cut — Bad news

I had drill this past weekend with my unit, and learned that the situation regarding DLI isn’t quite what I thought. I had been under the impression that a DLI slot had come available and been offered to me, whereupon I accepted. The fact was that the call I got was asking if I wanted to be submitted for a slot, and when I agreed, they started the paperwork. Only it hasn’t been turned in yet, or even completed.

I had believed I was already scheduled for classes, and been making decisions and arrangements based on that belief. The current situation is essentially the worst of both worlds: I don’t have a slot, but still have to set things up in case it comes through at the last moment. Annoying and disheartening.

Close First Cut

Second Cut — Good news

Three actual parts to this.

First: During the same drill, we went out to the firing range to re-qualify on marksmanship. Because we had excess ammunition, I was actually run through three times, and qualified on all three occasions. And this was with pop-up targets coming up randomly at different ranges, simulating field conditions, indicating that I can still — probably — hold my own in a combat situation. (Of course, if I can hit targets that quickly, at those distances, it means other people could hit me under the same conditions. Something to keep in mind.) I have seven years to retirement, and it appears I’ll be able to continue holding up my end until such time.

Second: Our unit commander crossed my path at one point during the drill weekend, and paused to ask if I was still interested in DLI. When I replied that I definitely was, he said to get the training NCO and the language NCO to jump right on getting me a slot. With our commander backing me, I’m at the top of the list from our unit; so, even though it’s unlikely that I can manage the October start that I thought I already had, November or even January is something I can reasonably hope for. That will give me a little more time to arrange things, a little more time to get back in shape. Not too bad.

Third: I’m now doing my two-mile run almost a minute faster than qualification time, and this under conditions slightly more stringent than I’ll face in testing. I’m at 100% for sit-ups, now past 80% (and continuing to improve) for push-ups, and close to 70% for the run. If, on arriving at DLI, I can test at 270 total, I’ll be allowed to maintain physical training on my own rather than with a group, which not only would allow me more control over my schedule but is the way I do best insofar as keeping up my personal fitness. Since my overall score is now 250, I still have work to do … but it’s no longer a matter of whether or not I pass, it’s how well I can do.

Close Second Cut

Third Cut — Other news

My ex-wife, Susan, continues to attend Catholic inquiry classes. My son is accompanying her, and has decided also to drop in on the campus Catholic ministry group a few times a week. Though not the sole reason, I think he’s inclined in that direction because they do a Rosary at their meetings, and (though my children did not in fact become Catholic) we did Rosaries together whenever I had them for visitation, so that it has familiar and positive associations for him.

I bought and watched the second seasons of Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Veronica Mars. DH is an admittedly guilty pleasure for me, but I offer no apology for the others. Did all three in a little over a week and a half, dispersed through unit drill and a visit with Susan and our son. Basically, I used every bit of my free time in DVD viewing. Now it’s over, and I can move to other pursuits.

My niece is getting married at the end of the month. While I was in Iraq, she wrote to me more often than my own children did, so I feel some loyalty to her. She’s eight months younger than my daughter. I have two brothers, and I was the first of the three to produce progeny, but current events suggest that my younger brother will probably have the first grandchild.

Close Third Cut

It was while I was in Afghanistan that I first heard of Joss Whedon’s proposal to do a Buffy Season 8 — of full canonical status — through DarkHorse comics. I keep trying to track that, but have had no further word on it. Like many Buffyfic writers, my reaction is mixed: on the positive side, new Buffy has to be considered good news; on the negative, there’s no telling if I’ll like where they go, or if the new developments will Joss me in a way I’ve craftily contrived to evade until now.

Trekkies kept happily making fools of themselves until television finally produced a new Star Trek series. Then another, and another, and another. I don’t know if that will happen with the Buffyverse (doesn’t seem impossible, given the success of the show and the number of people still loyal to the concept), but the point is that the unrepentant silliness of the Trekkies resulted in something concrete, years after the object of their devotion had been deep-sixed by the networks.

Basically, it means that love is never wasted.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Well, perhaps not such bad news...maybe you have some lifetasks to finish before you go into DLI?

And go you for speed!

[aadler]

The issue is still ongoing, and looks favorable right now. My run-speed continues to increase, though. It’s as if everything broke loose at once. I’m ten pounds below my maximum weight, I’m qualified physically, and I have people pulling for me at my unit. I’m feeling pretty optimistic at this point.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

I know the DLI news is disappointing but things still sound pretty hopeful on that front. I'm impressed with how quickly you're meeting your fitness goals. Bravo!

I've watched Lost from the beginning. I think it's one of the best written shows on television at the moment. I'm really hoping they can maintain this level of quality through a third season.

The Buffy verse idea is certainly possible although I find it unlikely. I always look forward to Whedon's writing so I'm very interested in the Buffy season 8 comics. Since I tend to take a point in the series and au off it I'm less concerned with being Jossed. :) Your last line is a universal constant I believe. :)

[aadler]

I’m impressed with how quickly you’re meeting your fitness goals.

Not that quickly. I started as soon as I got back into the States, and it took the longest time to start showing any appreciable improvement. I’m very glad now that I didn’t wait until the last minute (or even the last month) before addressing the situation.

I’ve watched Lost from the beginning. I think it’s one of the best written shows on television at the moment. I’m really hoping they can maintain this level of quality through a third season.

I was captivated by Lost at the beginning, but frankly wondered — before I started watching the second season — if I’d still be interested after seeing it. I’ll have to say at this point that I’m definitely willing to keep following it. They kept the things that made it work in the first season, brought in some new issues, and expanded that world to the point where it’s still interesting and not just more of the same. The biggest problem is in the basic premise: the continuation of the series depends on the people never getting off the island, but the viewers will eventually tire of being kept hanging. Will the producers answer this by showing a clear progression toward resolution (and then delivering), or by shifting the emphasis toward survival and relationships rather than rescue? We’ll have to see. Abrams made a success of Alias, but then let it decline in the later seasons, so his track record is mixed. Only further developments will settle the question.

The Buffyverse idea is certainly possible although I find it unlikely.

I don’t see it as being very likely right now, because Joss is so firmly committed to a number of other projects. I cited Star Trek because I’m hoping for something like that: a fresh look at this world, within the next ten years, probably with few or none of the original cast/characters but with the fundamental premise and spirit continued. There are many people who loved Buffy/Angel enough to commit themselves to such a project; it wouldn’t even have to involve Joss himself, though his blessing would certainly be necessary and some critical observations from him would be very valuable.

I always look forward to Whedon’s writing so I’m very interested in the Buffy season 8 comics.

As I said, I’m ambivalent about that. It could be wonderful or awful. I love Buffy overall, but I’m a long way from agreeing with everything Joss did within it. So, waiting with some nervousness.

Since I tend to take a point in the series and AU off it I’m less concerned with being Jossed. :)

It matters to me because of the underlying principle behind my Backstage Series. That’s my personal contribution to Buffyfic, and I hope to keep it canon-consistent for as long as possible.

[sroni.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen anything past the second season of Lost, and I have only seen a few episodes of Veronica Mars... pout mode.

I wish I could be there for the wedding, but... well, first of all, my unit would kill me for leaving them a two person unit for however many days, and second of all, I can't afford the tickets. So, either way, it's a no-go. I will admit that this summer, I could have asked to be put on a unit close to home, naming the wedding as the reason, but... I really felt the call to come here, so come here I did.

I'm glad things are going so well (and interestingly) with you and Mom. I wish I were there for that, as well. About the rosary: I know that I have good memories associated with it. (I do, however, try to block out passing out and having a seizure during one. Funny how that works.) A few years ago, when I was really tired, and feeling the need to pray, but not really able to come up with words, I just did the rosary, over and over, not using that as a substitute, but as an aide for it. I trusted God to see what I was needing to say, while making the effort to communicate. Heck, I still do it, just... rosary-less.

I'm praying about the DLI. I love you, Dad.

[aadler]

1. I understand your decision about the wedding. When I first accepted assignment to language school at Fort Bragg, I knew my mother’s health was declining and there was a distinct possibility that she wouldn’t survive until I returned (as, in fact, she did not). At her funeral, I said that I was doing what she had taught me: that I would not want to prevent my children from growing, just to keep them physically closer to me. You’re following the path of your growth, and you may regret the cost but you decided in advance that it was worth it to you. I honor this.


2. Your brother clarified to me that he’s feeling an exhilaration at discovering that campus Catholics have the same values and seriousness that he does, but he also confirmed that the power of the Rosary is a significant attraction. I remember, when your mother and I were flying back from the Alaska cruise, we were jammed into these horrible cramped seats and it was a six-hour flight; she was getting so distressed by the physical discomfort that she was approaching hysteria (and I’m not putting her down, I wasn’t doing a whole lot better), and the only thing I could think of — the only thing available to me at that point — was to begin leading her in a Rosary. We focused on that, and it carried us until we were able to change our positions. Not exactly a spiritual breakthrough, but it worked, and one of the reasons it worked was that it had real meaning for us.


3. I appreciate your prayers. And I love you, too.