This is not an April Fool entry

[aadler]

 
So, I’m finally in the system and moving.

Open Cut — On the Move

As always happens, there were some last-minute quirks that had to be ironed out. Since I’m now technically assigned to another company, the unit administrator who had been handling my paperwork wasn’t authorized to make my travel arrangements, so it was necessary for us to go through a couple of extra steps, and I had to call the travel company twice to confirm that my itinerary was suitably authorized. Then, when I got to the airport at 4:40 AM (after staying up all night; I seldom sleep the night before I begin a new assignment), it was to learn that Dallas had been hit with major weather delays, so there were no planes from Dallas to take me back to Dallas; they routed me directly to Atlanta, where I caught the connecting flight to the airport just outside Fort Benning.

The man I’m assigned with (call him SSG Vega: not his real name) came onto the second plane just before take-off; unfortunately, as we ascertained on arrival, his luggage hadn’t been quick enough to keep up with him. We rented a car, and then drove around Benning trying to find the proper place to report. Found it, were told we actually needed to report somewhere else. Found that, we weren’t on the list for lodging, but were given a room anyway.

That was yesterday.

There’s a briefing we’re supposed to attend at 1300, but no other duty until tomorrow. I’ll spend the time reviewing for SERE (Survive, Escape, Resist, Evade) qualification, and eventually I’ll have to get a human rights briefing out of the way, but the rest of the week appears to be standard deployment routine.

Close Third Cut

Susan is at a weekend retreat at an abbey.

My son got back from Jamaica right before I left. I spoke to him briefly on the phone, but then had to get back to my travel preparations. I wasn’t able to reach him yesterday; I’ll take another try later today.

I expect to have time now and again to work on my story for remix_redux. I have Internet access here (as expected), but don’t know for sure that it’ll be available at my new duty location, so it’s a good idea for me to finish before I arrive there. A week should be enough, if I maintain a steady output.

Okay. Back on the pony. Let’s ride.