Long silence ends

[aadler]

 
My life has taken the oddest turn since I got back from deployment, though it may require an insider’s perspective to recognize it as odd. Back in 2004, on my return from Iraq, I only took a part-time job because I anticipated the assignment to language school which did, in fact, come about. Because of that, there was no regular job awaiting me when I came back from Afghanistan, and — since the odds of my going to the Defense Language Institute for a 17- to 19-month assignment are fairly good at this point — I’m satisfied for now to live off my savings. Because of those things, I have absolutely nothing to do during the day; yet, the day seems to somehow get filled anyhow. The difference is that I can’t necessarily describe exactly what it is that occupies my time.

There are odds and ends. I’m signed up for WriterCon, along with my son, and just today made hotel reservations. (Open note: the hosting hotel being full, I had to take substitute lodging at the Crowne Plaza a mile down the road, at a gulpworthy per-night rate; if anybody knows a better approach, or is willing to offer me aid in getting my arrangements changed, I’d jump on it.) My daughter is due to arrive for a very brief visit in a bit over a week. I’m still waiting for sroni to finish “Queen’s Gambit” so I can begin my contribution to that, and I’ve downloaded the text of her first story (“God Save the Queen”) with the thought of doing the same kind of collaborative revision on that one.

Meanwhile, there is a well-stocked public library ten minutes from my current lodgings, which gives me easy access to the Rosetta Stone language tutoring programs the Army makes available online to all its members, and my stepsister agreed to let me use her library ID so I can — if I wish — spend as much as four hours online each day. If I ever get caught up with other tasks, that would mean I could devote up to an hour to my regular online scans and readings, then allocate an hour each to Persian Farsi, Arabic, and Spanish. (I also have a date with a Russian lady in Tulsa this Thursday, and for that purpose I checked out a 2-CD beginning course in conversational Russian.) From the same library, I’m working my way through I, Claudius on videocassette (DVDs not available), something I’ve wanted for years to do. Plus, I need to file two years’ worth of income tax returns, arrange the Alaskan cruise to which I referred in a previous entry (as soon as some items in my ex-wife’s schedule get clarified), and check back with an Army facilitator in regard to a three-day reintegrating-with-society program in Chicago that I’m more than willing to attend in return for free lodging, free travel, and actual pay. Oh, and my niece is getting married in September, and I’ll have to do one thing and another for that.

All right. Maybe you don’t actually have to be me to see how things got hectic even though I don’t have any statutory duties right now. It still feels funny to be so busy even though, theoretically speaking, all my time right now is free time.

Comments

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Free time is an illusory thing. Especially being away so long things pile up. I get the impression you're someone who stays busy rather constantly, has at least a year's worth of projects he'd like to get to someday and is always learning. Sounds like a healthy attitude toward like, if you ask me, if a little hectic. :)

Have you talked to the Writercon hosts? They mentioned arranging special rates for those who couldn't get lodging in the convention hotel.