We’re all familiar with the saying, and how true it is in the military. I remember spending Friday mornings working our asses off just to finish the daily chores and runaround before lunch. The possibility of an early release hanging over our heads for a slightly longer weekend was more than enough motivation to a couple joe’s to get the connex swept out, or the Humvee PMCS’d, re-parked, or re-straightened. Most of the time, it didn’t matter. We spent more time waiting for a release formation that was not early than we did hurrying up. Not that I mind sitting around, I’d just preferred to be sitting around at home in shorts than in boots at work.
Much of last summer was a lot of hurrying up. It was the first time in my life that I could remember all my plans coming to fruition without some sort of FRAGO. Not to say it was easy, cuz, to tell you the truth, I hate Algebra. For six weeks straight, from Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 13:00, I was in Algebra. None of it made a lick of sense. We covered two chapters a day where the regular semester pace was one a week. But, as painful as it was, I got through it, just in time to take Statistics and Speech for the next six weeks, but twice as long in class, per day.
This summer has been the complete opposite. I had considered taking the intro Literary Journalism classes at my new University this summer, from out of my own pocket, which would also stretch my GI Bill money, and hasten my degree progression—but Mrs. 13 talked me out of it. Since I started school, I have been going and going and going like some repetitive, coked-out Energizer Buzzy. I haven’t really had any breaks, aside from Christmas break, and with the baby due in early August, Mrs. 13 told me to relax and enjoy a fun summer. I’ve done just that.
On Monday, we went to an Angel game. They lost 11-1, but it was still a great time for Hot Dogs and Nachos. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we put in new laminate wood floors, considered buying new furniture, but then settled on a new 2-piece couch cover that gives the kitchen/living room a whole new look and feel. Thursday, we went to Disneyland, which, as Annual Passholders, never gets old. Yesterday, we spent some time at the pool, then later barbequed with some friends, had a few beers, played some Wii, and passed out early, though well-rested for a Saturday morning at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and a picnic lunch at a lighthouse in Long Beach.
Best of all, there is no hurry. There is no pace aside from that which we dictate. The June Gloom has lifted, I can see the Mountains over my patio, and the weather is back to the typical, awe-and-jealousy-inspiring that non-SoCal’ians can only dream of.
Is this how the non-military folk do it? Am I normal, yet?
Coming up: friends visiting from Idaho, definitely more pool time, then three days backpacking in the Sierra Nevada’s (with camera!) with my new REI backpack!! After that, just waiting for our little lady, Evelyn, to decide she’s ready to join our family. And that, I don’t mind hurrying up and waiting for.
(I don't do digital, but I decided to not bring the camera with me this week. Instead, enjoy these lo-res crackberry images!)
4 comments:
Define normal.
Your description of slowing down sounds like an awful lot of work. Have you considered taking a nap after breakfast? z
My partner's from that area of CA, and when we go to visit his family we take his kids and nephews to that aquarium. You're right, it's a nice one.
Being from the midwest it always shocked me that his brother and sister-in-law would just have a pass to Disneyland and just decide to go one day. It's a definite SoCal perk. Glad to see you're taking advantage of it!
Normal? When the baby comes, you'll be back to normal ;-)
Are the people in the photos you and yours? Beautiful!
That little boy is too sweet.
Z,
I can't nap.
Liz,
Disneyland is great--definitely a perk of the region! We usually go there just for dinner. :)
Jean,
That be us. We have just a few more weeks until "she" comes. I suppose normal, by those standards, will be no sleep? More busy than I am making myself now?
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