As it has been tradition, this is the post where I take a moment to write down all the things that have happened to me in the past year since my last birthday. Last year didn’t happen, because I was on a boat at the time. So, without further delay, I’ll just jump in…

• I set foot in Tasmania
• I crossed the Equator and the International Date Line at the same time
• I earned my Surface Warfare designation
• I got orders to Florida to teach technical school
• I moved for the 7th time
• I was able to let go of my extra baggage
• I stuck up for myself against my manager
• I was transferred to another department
• I bought a piano
• I met an Admiral for the first time
• I shook hands with an Admiral for the first time
• I briefed an Admiral for the first time
• I made a better brief for the Admirals (and it was made standard)
• I became the tour guide for the Navy
• I became a personal secretary and gofer
• I proved to the “powers that be” that I’m actually useful
• I loved my work for the first time
• I dropped my orders to Florida
• I decided to get out of the military
• I finally switched to Apple
• I went to Disneyland
• I saw the Le Brea tar pits
• I was offered a job because of my utility
• I was released from the military

My Birthday was rather uneventful, but I liked it nevertheless. Dinner, would have had to have been my favorite. I had Shrimp Alfredo, and for desert… cheesecake. Not just any cheesecake, my friends, but COFFEE cheesecake.

Oh the yum.

As per tradition, it is now time for the year review. So, without further delay I give you the list of things that has happened over the past year.

::I moved for the 5th time
::I fixed my old car that broke
::I was promoted
::I went to Japan 3 times
::I went to sea 3 times
::I had the best clam chowder. Ever.
::I leaned the sacred joy of Coldstone Creamery¹
::I bought a new car
::I started my own cartoon
::I went to the Philippines 2 times
::I proved an entire ship wrong
::I bought my first suit. It was tailored
::I went to China
::I bought my second suit. It wasn’t tailored.
::I was promoted (again)
::My old car broke (again)
::I started my 8th book
::I went to South Korea
::I ate shark, roe, escargot and octopus (all at the same sitting!)
::I finally got to drive my new car
::I got my first wedding invitation
::I re-dubbed my first cartoon
::I cooked an *actual* dinner (for other people) for the first time.
::I made/had coffee cheesecake for the first time

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¹Banana flavored ice cream with peanut butter cups, marshmallows and caramel swirl.

It’s my BIRTHDAY! Who knew?!

That means a couple of things, 1) I’m now 21 (scary). 2) I’ve been in the Navy for a year (also scary).

To carry on a tradition, I’m going to list the things that have happened over the past year. I did this two years ago and wanted to do it this past year (but for obvious reasons couldn’t). So without further rambling:

:: I went to Boot camp.
:: I told my Boot Camp Chief that she was unprofessional.
:: I graduated Boot Camp and was promoted.
:: I saw Chicago, IL.
:: I saw Atlanta, GA.
:: I saw Pensacola, FL.
:: I lived through my first hurricane.
:: I started “A” School.
:: I lived through my second hurricane.
:: I learned the awesomeness of a Peanutbutter, Banana & Chocolate Fudge Milkshake.
:: I lived through my fourth hurricane.
:: I lost my domain.
:: I lived through my fifth hurricane.
:: I graduated “A” School and was promoted.
:: I bought another domain.
:: I started my 6th book.
:: I started “C” School.
:: I started my 7th book.
:: I got my domain back.
:: I became an Uncle.
:: I had my first holiday away from home; Thanksgiving.
:: I graduated “C” School with Honors.
:: I saw Houston, TX.
:: I went home for the first time in 7 months.
:: I met my Nephew.
:: I got a technological crack-baby (aka picture phone).
:: I saw Honolulu, HI.
:: I bought my second car, 1995 VW Jetta.
:: I had sushi for the first time.
:: I had my first accident (not my fault).
:: My car broke (not because of the accident).
:: I had my second holiday away from home; Easter.
:: I went to a circus for the first time (Cirque Hawaii).
:: I saw a Spam Jam for the first time (not by choice).
:: I had my first alcoholic beverage.