Status and Support

[Eireann]

Thank you so much, that's very helpful.

[Cap'n Frances]

Ensign would be the rank you would expect the new graduates to receive. In the current U.S. Navy there are few special programs that will give someone a higher rank as soon as they are commissioned. In my Officer Indoctrination School class (a weird name for the school the Navy has for doctors,nurses, lawyers, etc. who have just been commissioned), there were some prior enlisted who were commissioned as lieutenants junior grade because they had master's degrees. I was commissioned as a lieutenant commander because I was an MD with 6 years of postdoctoral training. We also had one commander who had been a doctor in the National Guard. But those are all weird cases and not likely to come up in your story.

[Eireann]

And once again thank you for your help too. It's much appreciated!

[Alelou]

I'm actually nearly done with a chapter of North Star at last. I was embarrassed when I reread it over the weekend and realized how long it had gone without an update, especially after such a cliff hanger.

Also, I think your snarkfest inspired me, Putaro!

Also, I need a distraction. Tomorrow my husband and I officially separate on the same day he retires. It's amicable, but I'm still feeling sad. He's heading off to Texas and Puerto Rico for a couple of weeks and then comes back just to help us move.

I'm still waiting to hear if I got the house I bid on today, but no news is bad news when you don't hear back quickly from one of those. Not sure it's really bad news, though, since I'm not in love with it.

Lots of stuff going on, that's for sure.

[putaro]

You have our support Alelou, such as it is. Looking forward to the next chapter of North Star!

I am the reason for Weeble's slow updates on Jupiter Aligns for Mars. I need to get his next chapter beta'd and back to him this week (Action This Day was what Churchill used to say. I think I'm settling for Action This Week). Also, I have a couple of chapters of The Ocean of Night almost finished that should wrap up the Edos arc and get the crew back on course. Plus product releases, product announcements, demos, investment meetings, baseball coaching, daughter's karate...

[Cogito]

to Alelou.

[Alelou]

Thanks, guys.

Just went to look at the most wonderful house in the city my college is in -- fell in love -- discussed how to make the offer -- then discovered that the driveway the realtor and I had parked in wasn't the house's. The garage located behind the house belongs to the neighbor (resulting in a really weird lot shape). There is no driveway.

AND there's a pool I don't want. But no way to get to the pool filled in with a new garage without going down the neighbor's driveway.

Dang it.

Oh well.

[panyasan]

Hopefully you get a good house and a great home soon, Alelou.

And a new chapter of World of Ice is now being beta-ed as we speak! The chapter has a great portion of TnT sweetness, just for you folks!

[Cogito]

How is it that I'm only just noticing the double entendre in Eireann's signature?

_______________________

Don't Mess With My 'Ship.

[panyasan]

I tried to read the reading on Eireann's small signature, but I can't figure it out. What does it say.

[panyasan]

I tried to read the reading on Eireann's small signature, but I can't figure it out. What does it say.

And now I finally get Cogito's remark. I always loved Eireann's larger signature With "Don't mess with my ship". I can imagine Malcolm wanting to defend Enterprise. But he also seems not to like "messing with his ship" - the one with Hoshi I presume.

[Cogito]

I've stared and stared at that little profile picture too, trying to make out what it says. What it might say, is:

It's not the Weapon that scares 'em ...

... It's the MAN.

Which is probably not what it actually says, but it works for me!

Excellent news about World of Ice, btw.

[Cap'n Frances]

Goodluck with the house hunting and the other transitions in your life, Alelou.

I'm glad to hear that another chapter of World of Ice mat be coming soon.

[Alelou]

I did buy a house after all -- much smaller, but it has a garage AND a driveway and it's in excellent shape, and it's in a nice neighborhood without a lot of traffic. And now I'll be a city girl, which is fine. I like Troy.

Moving in early June, probably. Lots to do between now and then...

Especially the grading of those research papers I'm desperately procrastinating at this very moment.

[Eireann]

Yay, I have a great ENT friend in Troy, Alelou! You ought to meet up! I'm so glad that you finally found a place you can be happy in. I wish you all possible happiness in this new phase of your life!

With reference to the earlier debate about my small signature, what it actually says is 'It's not the weapon that scares me ... It's the man'. So you nearly got it right, Cogito! I'll have to have another go at it and see if a different font makes it more legible, but I was very new to the science at the time!

I always wondered if anyone got the double meaning in the banner wording - hurrah! Of course it means both ships - Enterprise and Hoshi!