That time of year

This should say it all

Til next time…

Wednesday fun

The traffic going down there was all right. I had a mission to visit a few places.

The first location was closed and couldn't make it to the third, but #2 made me feel like a kid in a candy store.

I parked the rental car and walked onto the apron. It almost felt like I was visiting a normal firehouse until I looked down on the concrete next to the flagpole. In the right stall, the number was faded almost unreadable. The left's paint job was slightly better.

I was there. I had actually made the trip. I rang the doorbell and got no answer. I assume the crew had to be on a run, especially when I saw the ambulance turn the corner.

These 3 pics were not downloaded. They were taken with my cell phone camera.

Until next time…

Little White Crosses

I finally got out of LAX and flew in a puddle jumper to an airport that was small—and I do mean SMALL.

120 miles into my rental car journey to Ft. Irwin, I saw quite a few white crosses on the road going to post. Each had a date stenciled from a fatal accident involving a Soldier from Ft. Irwin. All the while I had the cruise control set at 55 watching traffic blast past me on the hilly road.

The sights were quite humbling. A reminder to pay attention to the road. No one wants another cross on that road with 21 NOV 11 stenciled on it.

Until next time…

Annual Training Adventures...the start

Even though I retire on New Year's Day, I still have one final annual training to do before I can switch my nice ID card for one of those fancy red ones that say RETIRED. Only one day in and it's one complete adventure already...

Leaving Peoria was ok, nothing major there.  Got to O'Hare and was real close to the small USO that was inside security. Actually, it was half of their employee lounge that was donated to the USO for Soldiers and their families. Watched some of the packers game and got on big plane going to LAX.

Got off the plane at LAX and was hit with my first WTF of my trip.  Why for they have VERY LARGE Christmas tree in concourse already decorated?  We happen to forget about a holiday there??  One involving a turkey and all the trimmings--one that cause a large nationwide triptophan OD??????

My connecting flight--on a completely different airline--was delayed. No problem, it's the nature of the beast sometimes.  Finally got on that little rubber band puddle jumper and started toward the final airport where my rental car was waiting for me.

SURPRISE

"This is your first officer, we're unable to land due to the weather and are turning around and heading back to LAX."

WTF

So we turned around and headed back to LAX. We hit the ground and I got a phone call from a pretty well understanding OIC wondering where the hell I was at. When I told him that my plane had just returned to LAX from ALMOST landing in Inyokern, he asked "why the hell were you flying into Inyokern instead of Ontario?"

Shit, I don't know.  I'm just going by the itinerary that the fine travel folks had set for me.  Again, reaffirming my absolute LOVE for DTS .

I got off the plane and got my boarding pass for the RESCHEDULED flight that I am on. I was also offered a hotel coupon for a discounted stay. With traffic snarled and the express  lane backed up all the way to ground beef, I decided to use the map app on my phone and plotted a course to my final bed down place for the night.

I walked my tired little Soldiering for the last time ass to the the Bob Hope USO at LAX. Although, it had me going about four blocks up one street TURNING AROUND (as in Rear MARCH) and coming RIGHT BACK DOWN THE SAME STREET before turning and going about two more blocks to my destination.  I could have (and did) avoided that step and went the two blocks after the left turn and walked through the door.

I have to give props to these folks.  This USO facility is nicely laid out, comfortable, and the coffee was free flowing.  It is DECIDEDLY one of the better USO facilities that I have been in! I crashed out on one of the couches and was out cold until my first alarm went off at 4 (PST). I killed it, went for a smoke and crashed again until about 6:30.

While I'm thinking about it, there's a nice little link in the corner of my blog page. I normally don't ask for people to go out of their way to donate money or time, but these are some fine folks and what they do for Soldiers and their families is nothing short of outstanding.

Now to get my jacket and laptop bag and start back toward the terminal.  I should be through security by the final boarding call.

Until next time...

The OPORD that I can actually write

This past week, along with the new background for the blog, I received what could be the nicest piece of digital paper ever.  ALMOST better than the orders I got for EMSWorld Expo.

I received orders transferring me to the RETIRED RESERVE starting New Years Day.

With my unit celebrating the holidays next month, I figured out that my retirement party is going to be the Saturday night of drill this month.  So I pulled out my old “Sergeant Major Eats Sugar Cookies” format cheat sheet and began typing out the OPORD.

I never thought that I’d actually be attending (much less planning) MY OWN retirement party. I finally figured out that after 21 years, it’s time to give the reins over to the younger folks so they can try to be better than I was and not make the mistakes I had made over my career.

Also, for the simple reason of “because I can”, I’ll be bringing out the kilt for one more time this year.  It’s getting a little too cold to wear it.