Things are different now.

So it's been a long time since I've written in this thing, and the only reason I even feel compelled to do so again is because of the relatively few number of hits I've actually received on this blog... and I'm really bored at watch right now too.

I haven't really been up to much. I decided I would focus on my military career as much as possible for awhile since I had finally established myself here in Italy; it definitely paid off! For my evaluation in March I was selected as the number one "Must Promote" which was fairly amazing. Next came with a short deployment aboard the USS MOUNT WHITNEY that I was selected for my command's Junior Sailor of the Quarter, which is to say the least a big deal! I did not end up winning, but if you had told me a year ago that I would have even been selected I would have told you to stop sniffing markers. After that I had another deployment to the ship, but when I came back is when things really started getting interesting.

So go back to November with me and I'll tell you a story. My friend Nick and I went to school together at Dam Neck and now we're at the same command. Tragically, he has to live in the barracks on base, which here is not that desirable. So one night I told him we would go out to a club down the street from my house, called Rico's, and we would both get absolutely hammered! So we go to Rico's and drink... a lot! I win about three games of pool in a row, very rare for me considering I'm pretty terrible, and we recommence the drinking. Although now at the bar next to where we were co-located were two very pretty women.

Me being the outgoing and eccentric person that I am, I have no problem meeting new people and talking with perfect strangers. Nick however is a more introverted fellow, so I after I preceded to pour just a little more alcohol down both our throats I tell him he should talk to them. When Nick says no, I don't back down. So over the course of an hour I try to have Nick strike up a conversation, with myself becoming louder and drunker by the jaeger bomb, eventually I got tired it and started talking to them myself. The rest of the night gets pretty fuzzy and I don't even remember walking home.

So later the next day I get a phone call from a number I don't recognize. Now, normally my policy is not to answer the phone if it's a number I don't know or am not expecting. But I figured "Hey what the hell, this could be fun," and answered. "Hello?" I was answered by eastern-European accented English. It was the woman from the night before, Agata, and she was wondering if I was free the following week for some karaoke. Being the true-to-roots Japan sailor that I am I quickly respond with a "Hell yea!"

We went out a couple of times, always with her friends, and could tell she she was interested, and I was kind of interested too, but I wasn't looking for a relationship. I had about two-and-a-half years left in the Navy and I wanted out with a clean break and no attachments. This is where I decided I would focus on my career as mentioned above, no distractions, a clean break.

Fast forward to the end of my last deployment.

After dropping off a buddy whose car was getting repairs done I head straight for the fridge where I had strategically placed a six-pack for my triumphant return home. Before I could even open the first frosty, foamy and full-bodied beer, I get a text message from a number I was pretty sure I knew. It was Agata, and she wanted to know how things were going because we hadn't talked in a long time. I answered I had just disembarked from the ship in Gaeta only mere hours ago. I thought the timing might be more than coincidence, so we agreed to go out that Friday.

And from their our relationship has grown into something wonderful that I haven't had in years. She is probably the first nice girl I've been with since before I moved to Japan! Now I'm no stranger to dating foreign women, I know the dangers short and long term dangers of falling into the trap of a woman who would marry you for nothing more than a shot at getting out of whatever shit-hole she happens to be in exchange for some usually meaningless sex and sometimes a baby or two. Believe me I've seen it before and I'll see it again. It's what many sailors face at the end of a long and often brutally ending relationship.

However Agata reminds me of a me that trusts people, and still has faith in the human race. You know, before I departed for the real world. But with the economy as bad as it is (and I REFUSE to believe its as bad as CNN says it is because the media is full of lies and propaganda) I realize now that re-enlistment probably isn't such a bad idea. And along with that reconsideration comes a lot of others, like maybe a good relationship with a nice girl is just what I need right now. So I'll continue to see Agata (duh!) and enjoy the oh-so delicious Polish food she and her mom make for me.

Peace Out!