Say hello, everyone, to PN3 Tracey.

Since I did end up getting the AAP candidacy from my "A" school, afterall, and have now been here at my command for over 4 months (the minimum time required for my CO to observe me and whether or not I ought to be acceleratedly advanced), I am now a third class petty officer. This means roughly $150 more per month as well as more responsibility and respect. I am no longer the lowest man on the totem pole at work, and in fact I am technically directly over one of my other personnel in my office. Not that I personally would have that change much of our working relationship (since she has been here for a year, she still knows a lot about the command or our way of doing things than do I) but it seems that I am being pruned for Naval Leadership of various forms, and thus it IS going to change our working relationship, because I am being taught to "excersize my crow", meaning use my authority, minimal as it may be.

I am still answering the phones as PNSN instead of PN3 as often as not, though today (being on duty and thus having abundantly more calls to answer) has been helping to switch the habit over. And I do walk with more pride now.

My only uniform to be ready for the change so far is my dress blue, which means that I've been wearing that (you know, the black one that looks like a flight attendant instead of the other black ones that look like something else I will not -- for fear of offense to others -- post here, or the blue ones called utilities that look like gas station attendants) this past weekend as well as today, and I guess I'll be wearing it tomorrow, too, since my utilities won't be ready 'till sometime tomorrow.

It's nice wearing my updated uniform with the new designation on it. I feel like Lady in that scene from Lady and the Tramp when she's trying to get Jaque to notice her new collar.

Along with my updated rank is a certain amount of updated permission to live off base if I can get some other paperwork in line. My command has already approved it, it's just that the barracks staff -- although the barracks is overfull and they have been having to turn people away since just after I got here -- have this caccoon of red tape around them that I'm having trouble breaking through. But I should be able to move into my own apartment off base and collect the housing allowance for it within the next two weeks, hopefully. And believe me, the housing allowance in my case is more than substantial to pay for any expenses I'll have.

So, good news for my life in the Navy. Some still in process, but much further along than it was a little while ago.

And I am doing quite well working independently, for the most part.

Oh, and the Swedish Chef figure puppet I got during my trip to South FL for Christmas/New Year's now sits on top of my computer, smiling at me in his silley, Swedish way. I LOVE the Swedish Chef.

Thank you for your (continued) prayers and friendships. I miss everyone.. everyone that I know is most likely reading this, everyone I used to get to communicate with on a more regular basis.

I am learning the value of handwritten letters and cards much more, since I am not spending as much time emailing and whatnot. I still procrastinate on writing and mailing them off myself, yes. But it's something tangible to keep and to put up in my barracks room when I receive them, and if I'm sending them it does feel wonderful to drop it in the mail.

And my tax return this year is something like double or triple what I've ever gotten back in years past. Probably closer to triple.