That’s right, I am back in the land of pineapple and palm leaves; and I’m quite happy about it.

Let me fill you all in:

Walked onto the ship way back in August. Road it to San Francisco and did practically nothing the whole time. The only reason they sent me early was to make sure that our equipment worked (I am, evidently, the only one who could do this) – which it did.

San Francisco was cool beans (photo’s galore); saw the sights, ate the sea food, etc. Then we went to San Diego (Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago) and we sat around.

Then we participated in an exercise that was completely convoluted and the most disorganized experience I’ve had in a long time. Might I add we kicked butt too? That’s right, we rocked their socks. We made mad stuffing. We were possum. We made possum-sauce out of them.

And then we went back to San Diego and flew home.

While I was away, my lease ran out and my roommates moved my things out for me. So, naturally when I came back I didn’t have a place to live.

Of course, now things are a little weird for me because I don’t exactly live anywhere… At the moment I’ve crashed at a former roommate’s apartment until I go on leave (more on that later) and the actual deployment where I will miss every major holiday this year.

Before all this however, I need to move all my things into storage, take care of my car (the Jetta… yes, I own that still), and a variety of other brain-numbing tasks that will most certainly render me sick of life.

THEN I get to go home! Unfortunately I have to stay here long enough to take my physical readiness test. Which isn’t too far from now… but just enough to make me anxious and uncaring toward anything work related.

Dates to be determined.

Well, if you all haven’t guessed, I’m back in Hawaii; safe and sound¹. Alas, if you all haven’t guessed, I’m heading out once again… which means HIATUS! Such a dreadfull word, I know, but you’ll all have to make due somehow, without me.

But in all reality, I should be able to post every blue moon, so it won’t be like I’ve dropped off the face of the planet like I usually do when I’m around to post. Should be back around April timeframe, so keep your eyes peeled.

But this isn’t happening for about a week more yet, so you have to deal with me until then. Yes, yes, I tease you all with my un/expected departure. Tough cookies.

In other news, I’ve signed the lease to the new house I’m going to be living in invariably soon. Painfully, I must wait until after I get my car², but I’ll manage somehow.

And with that, I leave you all until next time.

—–
¹Like any of you had a worry.
²Which is in two days, mind you.

I just signed the lease and got the keys to my new Temporary Apartment.
Yay!

I say temporary because I only get to live there for 9 months while it’s real owner lives in Afghanistan. Poor lonely apartment–I’ll keep it company.

I leave you with a song I wrote on the flight to Hawaii:

Broken Blue Ribbon

I will not be a token
I will not let you win
People are not goals
I’m not your broken blue ribbon

This isn’t another foot race
Started off by a gun
But if it’s a race you want
I’ll tell you what you’ve won

A life of discontent
With every trophy in your hall
Another broken blue ribbon
but you won’t pin me to that wall

I will not be a token
I will not let you win
People are not goals
I’m not your broken blue ribbon

I won’t let you win
Another broken blue ribbon