Back to normal again...

So it has been a while since the last post because things have been very busy. I've finished the April Board and don't have that to do again until August so it'll be downhill for a few months. I did make it out on the helicopter again and that was a good trip to see Lake Abbe. Not much else to really talk about as far as whatnot going on around here since it's fairly routine. Things are starting to heat up a bit and I'm sure it will be 140 degrees before I know it.

Another Sunday flying around....

So I was in my office until 3 a.m. working on next Saturday's Board presentation. Writing a report and working on PowerPoint slides is not what a person should be doing on a Saturday night but it was a practical option so I could go out and have some fun on Sunday instead of working..... and yes, I'm the one who swore to never use that PowerPoint crap but unfortunately the Navy and everyone else is addicted to that stupid crutch.

So after a generally bad week and several instances of nonsense, I got to have some quality time with friends today. he day started with some time at the pool and a little sun. Then a brief visit to the office after which our favorite new pilot took us out and about again on a flight across Africa and we saw some new sights. Amazingly nobody on the flight manifest got sick this week... obviously we were disappointed not to see that scene.

So now it's an evening at 11 Degrees North while I wait for my clothes to dry... and I had to rewash my uniforms because the cheap Government ink pens will explode if you wash them in your uniform pockets..... First order of business tomorrow will be to throw away all of those cheap things so the next time I leave one in my pocket it won't ruin my uniforms again.... I'm hoping the re-washing takes the ink out but it looks pretty hopeless.... I'll claim it's part of the camouflage patter I suppose.

Sunday Helo trip

So we headed out today on a helo with Major Fuentes. Trulea and I got hooked up on a ride and some of the folks from my office rode along in order to get some overhead photos of some construction projects that are going on at Camp Lemonnier. We headed out around 1:00 this afternoon and had about two hours of flight time.

I think three of our passengers ended up getting sick so I'm not sure how much fun they had. We got to take different positions and hang out on the back of the aircraft,,, fortunately we were tethered just in case we fell out. Hanging out the back over the desert was definitely a good time.

We also headed out last night to the French Market for some dinner at La Pergola and shopping at the market. We also went to the Super Marche and I finally got a lamp and extension cord. Another good night,,,, I hope the good week continues

Thursday Moving Day!

So on Thursday I got the keys to my new trailer. It was a good day when I got the news and got my key around dinner time. I didn't waste any time flying across the base on my Kawasaki Mule utility vehicle to see my new space and start the packing.

I got to the new place and took one look at the mattress and chair and wondered what had been going on in there before I took occupancy. The mattress looked like there were a few springs with some dirty fabric stretched over them and the chair was filthy. The Chief had warned me about the mattress and offered to have a new one delivered on Saturday but I opted to take care of it myself. I put the old mattress and chair in the mule and drove them across base to my old CLU.

Once the door opened the frenzy started and in a short time I was packed. I loaded up my sea bags and threw the mattress and good chair on the mule and headed across base..... it was a cross between Sanford and Son and the Clampets.... no doubt a sight to see since the mattress was two fee wider than the mule on either side. It took two trips to get all my junk across base.

A good scrub of the new spot and I was unpacked quickly. The bathroom was scrubbed down and I have an Air Force Master Sargent on the other side of the bathroom that we share. So now I'm settled and I have trees in my gravel front yard. Life is good today.... and still not getting shot at.

Easter Sunday

So after 20 days without a day off I managed to escape for a night. I got one of the base vehicles which was a Toyota SUV, stick and diesel so driving was not the normal vehicles I'm accustomed to having. Needless to say, anyone who know me can guess what happened on the way out.... I got lost and I suspect that I ended up in one of the Red zones where we're not supposed to be. I can't confirm where I was but let's just say I'm not too interested in going back there anytime soon if I can avoid it.

So we made it to the 5 Star hotel in this Fourth World country and it was nice to get back to some civilized conditions.... just laying around on a comfortable bed and having a bathroom that doesn't have to be shared with the general population was good.

So the evening consisted of the Sky Bar, the casino and the night club. It was a good time being out with the gang and just relaxing away from the Camp. Sunday was a good day after waking up and taking some aspirin we headed out to the pool; it's a great infinity edge pool right on the edge of the Red Sea. For being forward deployed to a combat zone,,, this is a pretty good deployment. Next Sunday should be a helo ride with the Marine Expeditionary Unit.