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...