Info dump

[aadler]

 
All right: after my last post, over two weeks ago, I went into a long period of saying nothing at all. Some of that was mood, some of it was situational, and then for awhile there it was a matter of having so much I wanted to say that I needed time to figure how to get it all in.

So, catch-up as follows:

Open first cut — Military Issues

My tour at JRTC was canceled. I was to have left on the 21st, with three or four other guys from my unit, but the whole deal was scrubbed between my accepting and the scheduled departure time. I got the news when I stopped in at home station right before drill to check on some things; the training NCO thought everyone had been notified already, but I learned in time to forestall any steps that would have caused me or my family direct inconvenience.

We spent the entire three-day drill weekend getting immunizations and listening to briefings and doing paperwork (with the inevitable PT/APFT activities worked in there). Prepping a unit for mobilization is a long process, and they’re trying to get as much as possible finished in advance so we can use the time remaining to get in theater-specific training. Technically, according to the status-of-forces agreement just reached with the Iraqi government, all American combat troops are supposed to be out of Iraqi cities by June 30th, which is before our scheduled arrival … but we’re still shaping to go, so perhaps we’re technically not in a combat mission, or even combat status.

That could be a good thing. We might — might — have even an easier time than I had in Afghanistan. (On the other hand, we got two seriously wounded in Afghanistan, one of them eventually invalided out of the service.) The surge strategy paid off big-time, and the benefits could resound down to us as well as to the nation of Iraq as a whole. I’m all for having an easy, relatively safe tour …

But deployment is still months away, and the world never holds still for long. The state of things could change entirely before time comes for us to ship out; for that matter, the global situation could shift sufficiently to move us into an entirely different mission in a different part of the world. We prepare for what we can see coming, and TRY to be ready for the unexpected that always crops up.

Finally in this category, there’s a possibility — a small possibility — that, if my Arabic self-study carries me far enough, I might be able to go to Fort Bragg for a two- to three-month ‘refresher’ course before we deploy. That would be a really good thing, if I could do it.

Close cut

Open second cut — Personal and Financial Issues

The alternator problem with my car, while we dealt with it quickly enough, wound up — with towing charges included — costing us almost $500. Coming right after the European trip, that used up all our available “cushion” money, so that Susan’s next paycheck wasn’t much more than enough to cover immediate expenses. Then we got hit by another unanticipated cost: Susan ordered some books from Amazon for her doctoral course, using my Amazon account, and not being completely familiar with how things worked, she inadvertently included everything I’d stuck back in the Wish List until more money was available. So, another $180 gone. Finally — last straw — Susan had to renew her nursing license before her birthday, which was an unavoidable $75 at a point where we were already trimmed down to the bone. We’re living on ramen noodles and rice right now, waiting until our next pay (mine and hers) comes in on Friday. We’ll make it, but Thanksgiving Day will definitely be nontraditional.

My daughter, sroni, wants to go to New Mexico to take part in a friend’s wedding. That might be difficult. It might turn out not to be possible just now.

*               *               *

Last week, Susan got news that her favorite aunt had died, and we made a two-hour drive to attend the funeral. It wasn’t untimely (the woman was past 90), but it was still a blow. She was the widow of the twin brother of Susan’s father, and Susan remembers her visits to them and their kids, when she was a little girl, as the happiest times of her life. Originally, there were six brothers and sisters in Susan’s father’s family; all of those six are gone now, and Susan’s mother is the only one of their spouses still alive.

She and I are the older generation now. How did that happen?

It just does, I guess. Because, the week before that, I learned that my niece — the one born six months after my daughter — is pregnant for the second time. Among me and my brothers, she produced the first grandchild, and now she’s doing it again while I’m still waiting for either of my kids to find someone they’re willing to marry.

(Number Six on “Ways You Know You’re Getting Old”: when you catch yourself scoping out guys, because you have a daughter of marriageable age.)

Close cut

Open third cut — Fanfic Writing Issues

Yesterday, after TWO MONTHS of inactivity, I resumed writing on “Queen’s Gambit”. I promised sroni that I’d finish it by the end of the year, and at the rate of one page per day (which I can surely exceed), I’ll reach the end before Christmas. And about time; she turned in her draft on my return from Afghanistan, and that was two and a half years ago, during which time I’ve written six other stories. Once I do that, she can jump in with other ideas she has for the ‘Queenverse’ … but I don’t know if I’ll work with her on any of them, it just takes too long.

On the other hand, working with her definitely excites my creative impulses. Right now, on top of all the other stories I’ve planned but not yet written, there are two that started off as general impulses, and then expanded during free-flow discussions with her. Neither are that great as story ideas, but each has lines that are just too priceless not to use, so eventually I’ll have to do those stories as well. See what happens when you have kids?

Close cut

Thus in my life as it currently stands. More to follow.

Comments

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

It's horrible to be hit with a financial crunch this time of year. May an unexpected windfall come your way.

Better that you are scoping out guys for your daughter than threatening to lock her in a tower. :) The current generation is marrying much later so she's nowhere near unusual yet. Of course, that comes from someone who didn't meet her husband until she turned 30. :)

[aadler]

I was 29 myself, and in later years I’ve come to feel that it’s counterproductive to delay marriage past a certain point. Worked out for me, long-term, but I don’t see it as being too good for society as a whole.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Funny how nobody in the media seems to be talking about the Surge, now that it's proven to have worked ...

On a related note, I personally think everyone in our nation's military during a time of war should have the highest salaries of any working man in America. Sadly, Obama wouldn't take my call on that issue, but it sure would have helped your financial troubles a bit.

[aadler]

My own economic libertarianism argues against that. It’s like the situation with teachers: we talk about how important they are, but let’s face it, prices (in this case, how much it pays to buy a teacher’s labor) are better regulated by supply and demand than by some external determination.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Sadly, economic libertarianism seems to be going out of style at the moment. Because hey, why have the freedom to pursue happiness when we can suck off the teat of taxpayer funded socialism?

I think the people who are directly responsible for giving us the freedom to bitch should get some extra fiancial benefits. But as you say, it's all about supply and demand. For instance, I'm a volunteer firefighter. If no one volunteered to do that job, communities would have to spend millions more dollars hiring full time firefighters; but despite all the demands of today's societies, there are still people willing to do it for a pittance. By the same token, if people are willing to pay our "heroic" sports and entertainment stars millions, who can blame them for taking it?