If you don't have anything nice to say....

So my mother always said if you don't have anything nice to say then you shouldn't say anything at all. Judging from my lack of posting you can imagine that there has been nothing too positive as of recent history.

Last week one of my worst nightmares came true... one of my caps popped off of a tooth. So I go to the dentist on base and asked if there were any cosmetic dentistry supplies in the clinic or if they did that kind of work and I swear the looked at me like I was crazy. I then explained that I had popped a cap and needed a repair. The dentist was able to reapply but I'm certain it's not the quality I'm used to and who knows what he used or how long it will last but I'll be in for repairs as soon as I get off of the plane next year.

So as if the nightmare of the tooth wasn't enough.... how could things get much worse??? Well let me tell you. There I was at the ATOC getting training so I can drive on the flight line if I need to at some point in time. There were maybe 40 folks in the class when all of the sudden "The Big Voice" came on. Keep in mind the big voice is for the playing of the morning colors and emergency messages for the Camp. The next thing I hear is my name being called out and summoned to the XO's office immediately.

Well imagine back in high school your name gets called over the intercom to go to the Principal's office and everyone in the class turns and looks at you. The Marines were sympatheitc and wished me good luck as I exited the room. As I did my "walk of shame" across base to the XO's office, I was wondering which of the horrible things I had accomplished this week had been discovered. Crossing the horseshoe, my colleagues looked in amazement and asked what I had done since I was only the second person EVER to have been paged over the big voice.

When I arrived the XO was on the phone and motioned for me to take a seat. I maintained my look of innocence just in case and as to avoid any self-incrimination of my deeds. The next thing I knew there was a string of colorful discussion that left me confused. It turns out I wasn't in trouble for doing my job but there was something totally outside of my work stream that needed to be fixed. While not my job I was glad to be needed for something rather than being busted for something else and I of course happily agreed to do what I could to fix the problem.

Things have definitely been busy and it's not getting any easier to do the job at hand. Every day is a little bit more of a chore but hopefully when I leave it will be more on track and the person following me will have an easier time of it.

I still intend to get a nice gift for myself upon returning home!