<3 ~~ ~~ <3

*UPDATE* Had to fix Zing's picture, XD That creepy lady image wasn't suppose to be it.

And I will post a goodbye photo of myself so that we can see if there are any changes after my experience. :3

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The last time I posted I stated I had 34 days left, it doesn't even feel like 2 weeks! Time flies super mother fuckin' fast when you're leaving to the navy!

WAIT WHAT!? (To those who are a tad slow XD)
YES! I am leaving for the Navy I've sworn in since Dec 2nd. Don't worry though! I shall return!! I won't disappear for ever!

When will you be back? ;3;
I'll be back around the week of April 23rd. Kinda rough to say, but I mean yeah I'll have no online contact whatsoever while I'm away. ;3; Just roughly 8 weeks.

What about Black Tourney?
Why do you think I finished round 5 so flippin' roughly? XD I did my part and from the looks of it- I'll be back during the start of Finals, I'll be doing a spectator most likely even if I lose round 5.

Things I would like to say...

There is so much that I could say as of now... sadly with today.... let's see, I've got- 5 hours left. :<

I wanted to thank you to all of my friends that have supported me, said their goodbyes, and wished me the best of luck. I truly can't thank you enough. It makes this new step in life for me that much easier and more fun. From going out to dinner with me and I had another one with 6 non DA members. :3- to even making a series of images just for the sake of my leave... Speaking of which- I shall show you all!!!
My new friends that I've made through Black Tourney, are such awesome buds, there's a particular group that I've been able to chat with for a long while, and I couldn't be any more grateful to them... Check it out!

:













These 7 lovely people worked together to form this behind my back, I had no idea at all that they had this in mind. Thank you so much all of you, I couldn't appreciate it more. You are all are amazing. :3 I laughed, I cried, I wondered how this all happened, and I thank you all for it. I'll miss you all, and shall return.

And just to show! That a little BT spectator has also included his own little piece for me. Thank you again. :3



I'll miss you all so much, wish the best for me. :3

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Clubs that I am in:

My Fantasy Club:

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My online family so far- *if you wish to be part of it in some way note/comment me X3
My little sisters- for a long time. X3
My daughter- *proud mother* XD
My brother-
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<3 ~~ ~~ <3

Just an update and things for those awesome buddies of mine who'd like to know. X3

Navy
So just yesterday I took a practice fitness test to see how fit I currently am. And this is how I did by Navy Standards.
Push-ups: 35 (within 2 min.): - which is considered "Good" but I would like to get up to "excellent" at least.
Curl-ups: 71 (within 2 min.) - also considered a high "Good", and I would certainly like to raise it as "excellent"
1.5 Mile Run: 10 Min. 06 Sec. - This is considered "outstanding" which I am proud about. X3 Especially since the last time I ran a mile was during my junior year.

I'm currently trying to remember stuff that is crucial like my 11 general orders, sailors creed, ranks, ect... kinda got most of it down... but yeah in my first few days at boot camp I will have both tests and if I do well enough, I'll raise up to E-2! Which will save me 9 months technically if I hadn't have passed it! ;D So I really do plan on working hard to give myself a great start.

Black Tourney Round 4 and Future Rounds
Currently I haven't finished the sketches but I will finish this round for sure... although with the deadline being the 7th of February, I'm really going to have a tough time finishing Round 5 before leaving. However, I've been working with the judges, especially sweet ol' and she is helping me out about how the deadlines are going to work for the semi finals, and finals ( In case I do make it.).
But I want to give a big shout out to everyone who have been supporting me and following my entries, you don't know how much it helps me to keep on going. Thank you.

Everything else?
Not bad I guess- just not good either, work is typical, home=typical. So I can't really say much. I've just been putting as much as I can into the Navy and into the Black Tourney. Although I do have to say I've missed my friends back in Palatine, but all of them are busy with College. :<

Games
Star Ocean: The last hope for Xbox 360 has been pretty kick ass, I'm lovin' every minute of it. XD
Left 4 Dead 2: I love the opening to this game, it's pretty sweet. XD My twin bought it 'cause he's obsessed.
Dead or Alive 4: Just havin' plain ol' fun with this game. X3


Skype
So yeah I've started to go online again, so if you have an account feel free to add me, 'Nicole Mattera' :3.
I don't bite online. X3

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Clubs that I am in:

My Fantasy Club:

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My online family so far- *if you wish to be part of it in some way note/comment me X3
My little sisters- for a long time. X3
My daughter- *proud mother* XD
My brother-
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<3 ~~ ~~ <3

Yep, thanks to I've been able to get myself a UStream Account! Watch me~! ;D I will update my journal when I am offline/online.
So if it still says LIVE/ONLINE come and see me! Chat with me too! XD See you there! And if it says OFFLINE well, check again later~!

[link]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clubs that I am in:

My Fantasy Club:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My online family so far- *if you wish to be part of it in some way note/comment me X3
My little sisters- for a long time. X3
My daughter- *proud mother* XD
My brother-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<3 ~~ ~~ <3

That's right, if you'd like to request a Pokemon picture of any sort . Now is the time to do so. :3
If I get these all done quick enough, I will most likely do 5+ more! So if you miss your chance of being the first top 5, send your request anyway and I'll list you for the possible requests. Be sure to mention any details about your Pokemon request (like a particular Christmas theme).

1. Tentacruel doing something festive. X3 DONE!
2. Torchic in a Santa hat! :3 DONE!
3. Vaporeon~ the rest is up to me! DONE!
4. A Surprise. X3 DONE!
5. Her beloved Linoon, Haiyaku, with a Santa hat and a cute jingle bell necklace.

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6. Shiny Eevee and Shiny evolutions all with Santa hats and a festive background. :3
7. Delibirds around a Christmas tree wearing festive outfits.
8. Emily, with her Techno and Beat~ *Christmas decorating theme*
9. one or more of Sandy's Pokemon, the rest is up to me. XD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clubs that I am in:

My Fantasy Club:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My online family so far- *if you wish to be part of it in some way note/comment me X3
My little sisters- for a long time. X3
My daughter- *proud mother* XD
My brother-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<3 ~~ ~~ <3

Whether if you are doing anything fancy with 50+ people or just having a simple turkey dinner with the family. Tell me this...

What are you truly thankful for? Be honest with me. :3
I feel that a lot of people only think about the stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and everything else in the middle of the meal.
As great as the food... it can be replaced, unlike other things in our lives.
I don't mind if you're only thankful for one thing, or have 20 things to say, feel free to share.

Oh but you can feel free to mention your favorite/least favorite food on Thanksgiving. Here's mine-
My Favorite: Chicken stuffing and dark turkey meat.
My Least Favorite: Pumpkin Pie, Mashed potatoes w/ gravy, and most casserole dishes. ( I know I suck XD)

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I'm thankful...

... for all of the support I've been given through friends, family, and online buddies~ whether if it was through art, or life's little troubles, I'm grateful for it all. You'd be surprised what I keep in mind and think back about the comments, opinions, and support. Thank you so much you guys.

... for who I've become, as I continue to live my life; working hard and doing be my best for my mother as though she was still here to give me that warm hug and tell me how proud she is of me. It's been 12 years, and I miss her so much. I'm grateful for the life you have given me mom.

... for my father, as strict as his morals are, as crooked as he may seem. He's my beloved Dad. Everything he does, or says, whether if it is the hard truth or his brutal god-honest opinion. He truly cares for me, I love him so much. I wouldn't be as tough if it weren't for him. I pray for him to have a long lasting life, and for me to be there for him.

... I am thankful to be qualified for the Navy, I can't wait till I get the chance to see what is available for me to pursue as a career. I would hope I can become in nuclear research, or in medical. We shall see within a week from now. :3

... I am finally thankful to have him, Alexis Ibarra, in my life. As corny as it may seem for me to smother him with kind words acting as if I'm blinded with affection. It's not that, but I'll save you guys the trouble. I love him, and am grateful to have him in my life.

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So yes, please share... what are you thankful for?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clubs that I am in:

My Fantasy Club:

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My online family so far- *if you wish to be part of it in some way note/comment me X3
My little sisters- for a long time. X3
My daughter- *proud mother* XD
My brother-
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