Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Day 28
It is 9 am here in Ft. Lewis and I am recently returned from the Soldier Readiness Center, SRC. They are they ones that clear us for mobilization. Yesterday my Company Commander spent all day at the SRC figuring out what the problem was clearing me and 11 soldiers of the Brigade. He did all the leg-work so today all I had to do was sign my name on a sheet and I was cleared. I am back to being depolyable and will resume training this afternoon. I have an interesting appointment at 1000 today with the Regional Analyst at the Vaccine Agency. His job is to interview people who have had adverse reactions vaccinations and enter the information into the big computer in the sky, looking for patters and re-occurrences. After that, I can start training, again.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Day 27
Nothing new to report, and I mean nothing. When I last I posted it was the 21st and I was intending to do HUMVEE rollover training on the 22nd, but I'm not yet medically cleared. So, since the 22nd I've been sitting in the supply room, the room where I sleep, watching the weapons, while everybody else trains. We've got a group in Ft. Hood, Texas, and I'll be cleared by the time they return and will finish my training with them.
So, day by day; 22nd, sat in the supply room and read; 23rd, sat in the supply room, played computer games, and read; 24th, sat in the supply room, played computer games, and read; 25th, sat in the supply room, played computer games, and read; 26th, sat in the supply room, tried to figure out how to use my MP3 player, and read; 27th, my supervisor returned early from training and I got to use the computer lab. I found out Friday night that they're not going to let me continue with training until I have one more EKG test. I guess the previous 8 EKG's I've had in the last two weeks, showing no problems, weren't good enough. Oh, one more time into the electric shock room, dear friends, and all will be well. Really, nothing new.
So, day by day; 22nd, sat in the supply room and read; 23rd, sat in the supply room, played computer games, and read; 24th, sat in the supply room, played computer games, and read; 25th, sat in the supply room, played computer games, and read; 26th, sat in the supply room, tried to figure out how to use my MP3 player, and read; 27th, my supervisor returned early from training and I got to use the computer lab. I found out Friday night that they're not going to let me continue with training until I have one more EKG test. I guess the previous 8 EKG's I've had in the last two weeks, showing no problems, weren't good enough. Oh, one more time into the electric shock room, dear friends, and all will be well. Really, nothing new.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Day 21
It's been 'a day'. There have been classes in which I've had to fight to stay awake, and there are more later today. Tomorrow looks interesting; HEAT training. I'll let you know how it goes. It is what it is.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Day 19
I'm in the computer lab for some work stuff, again, so I thought I'd take time to post some stuff. Remember, as you read these two posts, I am ok.
Day 18
It’s Saturday the 18th and it’s been one of the better days. It’s been one of the better days as yesterday I saw the doctor and got a clean bill of health. I went back to the hospital and was seen by a cardiologist. It turns out I had an allergic reaction to the smallpox vaccination. It gave me something called Pericarditis. My pericardium became inflamed and is putting slight pressure on my heart. For the next four weeks it’s going to feel like I am having a heart attack most of the time. But there is nothing wrong with me. I will continue with training for mobilization and when the pain gets to be too much, I’m supposed to rest until I can continue. I will still mobilize. So, I got to sit though 17 classes I’ve missed this week and am almost up to speed. I have 4 more classes to attend to catch up with everybody, and I’ll get those done in the next few days. Other than that, it’s just been paperwork, laundry, and manning the supply office. Still, no regrets. This is a good thing.
Day 14
Well, here it is, about 9 pm on the 14th, and it’s been an exciting day past 24 hours. Yesterday, while sitting in a class on communications equipment, I started feeling poorly. Then I had difficulty breathing and starting getting tingly. The Ft. Lewis hospital looks nice and the people are mostly friendly, but don’t let them try to stick you with a needle; they blew a vein in my arm when they tried to put in the IV line. I spent about 22 hours in the hospital under observation for possible heart related problems. In the end, they found nothing wrong with me, other than the cigarettes. So, I get to quit again. I got to lie in a bed with a microphone and camera constantly monitoring me, and with a nurse in the room no more than 30 feet away, and with 12 EKG monitoring devices hooked to me, and with an automatic blood pressure cuff that thought I was a camel and had to pump up the pressure to 750 PSI every time, and with that little pulse monitor on my finger. And they kept coming by to take blood every couple of hours. I was in the bed from 2 pm on the 13th until 9 am on the 14th, but I know I didn’t get much sleep. The morning of the 14th, after they got me out of bed at 0900 they put me on a treadmill to give me a stress test. They found no problems. I got back to the company area and went on light duty. I have a follow-up appointment at the Troop Medical Clinic, TMC, tomorrow morning. More drama to follow, I’m sure.
Day 18
It’s Saturday the 18th and it’s been one of the better days. It’s been one of the better days as yesterday I saw the doctor and got a clean bill of health. I went back to the hospital and was seen by a cardiologist. It turns out I had an allergic reaction to the smallpox vaccination. It gave me something called Pericarditis. My pericardium became inflamed and is putting slight pressure on my heart. For the next four weeks it’s going to feel like I am having a heart attack most of the time. But there is nothing wrong with me. I will continue with training for mobilization and when the pain gets to be too much, I’m supposed to rest until I can continue. I will still mobilize. So, I got to sit though 17 classes I’ve missed this week and am almost up to speed. I have 4 more classes to attend to catch up with everybody, and I’ll get those done in the next few days. Other than that, it’s just been paperwork, laundry, and manning the supply office. Still, no regrets. This is a good thing.
Day 14
Well, here it is, about 9 pm on the 14th, and it’s been an exciting day past 24 hours. Yesterday, while sitting in a class on communications equipment, I started feeling poorly. Then I had difficulty breathing and starting getting tingly. The Ft. Lewis hospital looks nice and the people are mostly friendly, but don’t let them try to stick you with a needle; they blew a vein in my arm when they tried to put in the IV line. I spent about 22 hours in the hospital under observation for possible heart related problems. In the end, they found nothing wrong with me, other than the cigarettes. So, I get to quit again. I got to lie in a bed with a microphone and camera constantly monitoring me, and with a nurse in the room no more than 30 feet away, and with 12 EKG monitoring devices hooked to me, and with an automatic blood pressure cuff that thought I was a camel and had to pump up the pressure to 750 PSI every time, and with that little pulse monitor on my finger. And they kept coming by to take blood every couple of hours. I was in the bed from 2 pm on the 13th until 9 am on the 14th, but I know I didn’t get much sleep. The morning of the 14th, after they got me out of bed at 0900 they put me on a treadmill to give me a stress test. They found no problems. I got back to the company area and went on light duty. I have a follow-up appointment at the Troop Medical Clinic, TMC, tomorrow morning. More drama to follow, I’m sure.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Day 12
I have the day off today and finally got some laundry done and have some time to check my emails. I know I've already said it, but I am in the HHC Supply section as a supply sergeant. We have weapons in a storage area with no alarm, so somebody has to sleep with the weapons every night. After I did it my first night I volunteered to sleep with them every night. It's quiet, quiet, and quiet. I love it. The only thing about it is there is no shower so I've got to wait for somebody to relieve me before I can leave the building to eat and shave and get to class on time. We'll figure it out.
Yesterday I was on the SRM, small rifle marksmanship range. We fired live rounds into targets from a standing and kneeling and walking stance. Too much fun!! It's too bad I couldn't qualify for the last couple of years; it would have helped with my zeroing. I put about 50 rounds into the paper before I got that stupid thing where I needed it. It is what it is.
I made some notes two nights ago; here they are.
The end of Day 10
It’s 10 pm here in Ft. Lewis on Friday the 10th of October. As a member of the HHC Supply office, we need to have a person sleep in the same building as the weapons. Tonight is my night. I am going to sleep on a cot in the supply building, guarding the weapons with my life. Hey, at least I have a private room for the first time in a week. Too bad there are no curtains on the windows.
I know I posted for day 5 day 6, but I’m going to try to run a recap of the week, since I didn’t get to post every day.
Monday 6 October; arrived at the brigade area, got a bunk, and went to CIF, Central Issue Facility, to get my body armor and new chemical protective suit. It rained. Did I mention that it rains in the Pacific Northwest?
Tuesday 7 October; spent all day at the Soldier Processing Center, checking paperwork and getting shots. That night I had a class on Call for Fire, CFF. I learned how to call in an artillery attack. Not that I’ll ever use it, but it was fun to learn. It didn’t rain. Later on that night it rained. I got assigned to the HHC Supply office.
Wednesday 8 October; spent the morning learning how to apply field dressings and treat wounds. We got done a bit early so I started to pack my foot locker to be shipped ahead of us. I worked in Supply receiving weapons from about 200 people. It was a nice day, but later on that night it rained.
Thursday 9 October; what the hell did I do yesterday? I don’t know, but if I remember correctly, it rained.
Friday 10 October; got removed from the training schedule for a day so I could stay in supply while the other NCO could run some errands for the Brigade. Spent all day helping out people with their needs and their questions. Overall, a productive day.
I understand I’m back on the training schedule for tomorrow and will start training again.
My mantra; it is what it is. Whenever people start complaining to me, I just try to tell them that the bosses and supervisors and command staff have to deal with not just the unit, but with the training brigade here on Ft. Lewis, and with the company that’s actually in charge of our training, and on top of that, they’ve got to take care of us. I’m not sure if it’s actually helping them to see this with a better attitude, but I can try.
I remember now why I hated Basic Training and AIT, I mean besides the obvious. I am not a person that lives in a barracks. Everybody snoring and tooting and moving all night means I don’t get much sleep. And then I’m in a building with all the people who have the same rank as I, so you know we’re all up in the middle of the night peeing at least once, so it’s more noise. And the other reason; there are some people here who are depriving their village. Enough said on that.
I will take some pictures of the area where we are and of the inside of some of these old buildings. I think I’ve said that we’re living in World War II era barracks, and I had a thought; the old 164th Infantry of the North Dakota Army National Guard was stationed at Ft. Lewis for a year or so before they deployed to the Pacific. I need to get these pictures back to North Dakota so the guys from the 164th can look at them and see if they were in barracks like these. These buildings may be old enough that they may actually be the same buildings. It’d be nice for the 164th guys to look at the pictures and let me know.
I had an odd thing happen to me while in-processing. I got pulled into the main office to do some special paperwork. This is a bit strange so please read at your own risk.
For the North Dakota Army National Guard to mobilize me, they created a detachment of my unit, the 188th Army Band, giving it its’ own UIC, unit identification code. I am in the 188th AG Band, Forward. They put me in this detachment and then mobilized the unit.
So, I had to do paperwork with the Army stating that I was in this unit, and the unit was then attached to the 287th Sustainment Brigade of the Kansas Army National Guard.
Thing is, when I signed this official Army form from the US Army, my signature block reads;
SSG Hugh Grindberg, USA
Commanding
So, I am technically, by policy of the US Army, a detachment commander. Granted, I am in a detachment of one person, but I’m still the commander.
Now, if I am the commander of this unit, isn’t there a regulation somewhere that says I should be promoted as the commander while in theater? If the commander of the main company is a Chief Warrant Officer, doesn’t that mean that I should be a Warrant Officer 1 or a at least a Sergeant Major or a First Sergeant? I don’t know how, but I want to look into this and see if there’s any way to get something out of it. Even if they don’t or can’t or won’t promote me while I’m overseas, perhaps the document that I have that says I’m a commander of a detachment will count for command time somewhere down the line, at least on paper; maybe for promotion points or something. I need to look into this.
Alright, it’s 11 pm and I have a private room and need to make most of sleep. I need to have the supply room door open at 0530 tomorrow so I can issue MRE’s. It’s the Columbus Day holiday weekend, so maybe I’ll get some time to write some personal emails, or maybe I’ll just end up in class.
It is what it is.
Yesterday I was on the SRM, small rifle marksmanship range. We fired live rounds into targets from a standing and kneeling and walking stance. Too much fun!! It's too bad I couldn't qualify for the last couple of years; it would have helped with my zeroing. I put about 50 rounds into the paper before I got that stupid thing where I needed it. It is what it is.
I made some notes two nights ago; here they are.
The end of Day 10
It’s 10 pm here in Ft. Lewis on Friday the 10th of October. As a member of the HHC Supply office, we need to have a person sleep in the same building as the weapons. Tonight is my night. I am going to sleep on a cot in the supply building, guarding the weapons with my life. Hey, at least I have a private room for the first time in a week. Too bad there are no curtains on the windows.
I know I posted for day 5 day 6, but I’m going to try to run a recap of the week, since I didn’t get to post every day.
Monday 6 October; arrived at the brigade area, got a bunk, and went to CIF, Central Issue Facility, to get my body armor and new chemical protective suit. It rained. Did I mention that it rains in the Pacific Northwest?
Tuesday 7 October; spent all day at the Soldier Processing Center, checking paperwork and getting shots. That night I had a class on Call for Fire, CFF. I learned how to call in an artillery attack. Not that I’ll ever use it, but it was fun to learn. It didn’t rain. Later on that night it rained. I got assigned to the HHC Supply office.
Wednesday 8 October; spent the morning learning how to apply field dressings and treat wounds. We got done a bit early so I started to pack my foot locker to be shipped ahead of us. I worked in Supply receiving weapons from about 200 people. It was a nice day, but later on that night it rained.
Thursday 9 October; what the hell did I do yesterday? I don’t know, but if I remember correctly, it rained.
Friday 10 October; got removed from the training schedule for a day so I could stay in supply while the other NCO could run some errands for the Brigade. Spent all day helping out people with their needs and their questions. Overall, a productive day.
I understand I’m back on the training schedule for tomorrow and will start training again.
My mantra; it is what it is. Whenever people start complaining to me, I just try to tell them that the bosses and supervisors and command staff have to deal with not just the unit, but with the training brigade here on Ft. Lewis, and with the company that’s actually in charge of our training, and on top of that, they’ve got to take care of us. I’m not sure if it’s actually helping them to see this with a better attitude, but I can try.
I remember now why I hated Basic Training and AIT, I mean besides the obvious. I am not a person that lives in a barracks. Everybody snoring and tooting and moving all night means I don’t get much sleep. And then I’m in a building with all the people who have the same rank as I, so you know we’re all up in the middle of the night peeing at least once, so it’s more noise. And the other reason; there are some people here who are depriving their village. Enough said on that.
I will take some pictures of the area where we are and of the inside of some of these old buildings. I think I’ve said that we’re living in World War II era barracks, and I had a thought; the old 164th Infantry of the North Dakota Army National Guard was stationed at Ft. Lewis for a year or so before they deployed to the Pacific. I need to get these pictures back to North Dakota so the guys from the 164th can look at them and see if they were in barracks like these. These buildings may be old enough that they may actually be the same buildings. It’d be nice for the 164th guys to look at the pictures and let me know.
I had an odd thing happen to me while in-processing. I got pulled into the main office to do some special paperwork. This is a bit strange so please read at your own risk.
For the North Dakota Army National Guard to mobilize me, they created a detachment of my unit, the 188th Army Band, giving it its’ own UIC, unit identification code. I am in the 188th AG Band, Forward. They put me in this detachment and then mobilized the unit.
So, I had to do paperwork with the Army stating that I was in this unit, and the unit was then attached to the 287th Sustainment Brigade of the Kansas Army National Guard.
Thing is, when I signed this official Army form from the US Army, my signature block reads;
SSG Hugh Grindberg, USA
Commanding
So, I am technically, by policy of the US Army, a detachment commander. Granted, I am in a detachment of one person, but I’m still the commander.
Now, if I am the commander of this unit, isn’t there a regulation somewhere that says I should be promoted as the commander while in theater? If the commander of the main company is a Chief Warrant Officer, doesn’t that mean that I should be a Warrant Officer 1 or a at least a Sergeant Major or a First Sergeant? I don’t know how, but I want to look into this and see if there’s any way to get something out of it. Even if they don’t or can’t or won’t promote me while I’m overseas, perhaps the document that I have that says I’m a commander of a detachment will count for command time somewhere down the line, at least on paper; maybe for promotion points or something. I need to look into this.
Alright, it’s 11 pm and I have a private room and need to make most of sleep. I need to have the supply room door open at 0530 tomorrow so I can issue MRE’s. It’s the Columbus Day holiday weekend, so maybe I’ll get some time to write some personal emails, or maybe I’ll just end up in class.
It is what it is.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Day 10
I'm trying to download PureEdge Viewer into my laptop so I can do some office work here, so I have a few minutes.
Below are a few notes I make over the last few days.
I don't know if I mention it in my postings, but did you know it rained in the Pacific Northwest? Me neither.
Day 5
Woke up this morning in beautiful Ft. Lewis. I’ve been told that the unique thing about Ft. Lewis is when you get up on your first morning, you step outside and the first thing you see Mt. Rainier in the distance. I’m sure that somewhere behind one of those clouds is a beautiful sight, but this morning, not so much.
The trip here was uneventful, if only a little bumpy. How I do love flying. I had a few hours in the Cities and spent most of that time in the Armed Forces Service Center. Nice Place! Matching leather couches and high back chairs, free internet, free food and sodas, and quiet. They’ve got showers and bunks for a longer layover. If you’ve got your military ID on your person, and if you have time between flights, I recommend hanging out there.
They’ve got me housed, for the next couple of days, in a World War II era barracks in a room about the size of my bathroom. I’m not complaining; it’s clean and a private room. This’ll be the last time I’ll have privacy for a while. We have today off and start our in-processing tomorrow. I arrived here with one other soldier from North Dakota, Major Mike Bannach. He lives in Fargo and is the Executive Officer of the Medical Detachment of the North Dakota Army National Guard. My sister, Katy, teases me about all of the acronyms the military uses. As I know she and other non-Army people will be reading this, I’ll do my best to spell out things, rather than use the acronym.
Did anybody tell you it rained in the Pacific Northwest? I know. Me either.
Day 6
Got up from my tiny hotel room in the World War II barracks and started in-processing. I met the brigade staff and moved to the unit area. Turned out they arrived the same day as I and were housed three building behind where I was staying. I got bedding, a foot locker, and moved into different World War II barracks. I hung around for an hour or so and then we moved to get more field gear, including our body armor. We arrived at the Central Issue Facility at 1245 and I got into the building at 1615. Did I mention in rains here in the Pacific Northwest? At least we were under cover. I still don’t have a section or assignment. It’s just about 9 pm and the next thing I have to do is paperwork tomorrow; the bus leaves at 1400. All this free time is kicking my butt. The barracks are old and old, and we’re housed in this area by rank. Everybody staying in this barracks are all the same rank as me.
Did anybody know it rains in the Pacific Northwest? Me neither.
Below are a few notes I make over the last few days.
I don't know if I mention it in my postings, but did you know it rained in the Pacific Northwest? Me neither.
Day 5
Woke up this morning in beautiful Ft. Lewis. I’ve been told that the unique thing about Ft. Lewis is when you get up on your first morning, you step outside and the first thing you see Mt. Rainier in the distance. I’m sure that somewhere behind one of those clouds is a beautiful sight, but this morning, not so much.
The trip here was uneventful, if only a little bumpy. How I do love flying. I had a few hours in the Cities and spent most of that time in the Armed Forces Service Center. Nice Place! Matching leather couches and high back chairs, free internet, free food and sodas, and quiet. They’ve got showers and bunks for a longer layover. If you’ve got your military ID on your person, and if you have time between flights, I recommend hanging out there.
They’ve got me housed, for the next couple of days, in a World War II era barracks in a room about the size of my bathroom. I’m not complaining; it’s clean and a private room. This’ll be the last time I’ll have privacy for a while. We have today off and start our in-processing tomorrow. I arrived here with one other soldier from North Dakota, Major Mike Bannach. He lives in Fargo and is the Executive Officer of the Medical Detachment of the North Dakota Army National Guard. My sister, Katy, teases me about all of the acronyms the military uses. As I know she and other non-Army people will be reading this, I’ll do my best to spell out things, rather than use the acronym.
Did anybody tell you it rained in the Pacific Northwest? I know. Me either.
Day 6
Got up from my tiny hotel room in the World War II barracks and started in-processing. I met the brigade staff and moved to the unit area. Turned out they arrived the same day as I and were housed three building behind where I was staying. I got bedding, a foot locker, and moved into different World War II barracks. I hung around for an hour or so and then we moved to get more field gear, including our body armor. We arrived at the Central Issue Facility at 1245 and I got into the building at 1615. Did I mention in rains here in the Pacific Northwest? At least we were under cover. I still don’t have a section or assignment. It’s just about 9 pm and the next thing I have to do is paperwork tomorrow; the bus leaves at 1400. All this free time is kicking my butt. The barracks are old and old, and we’re housed in this area by rank. Everybody staying in this barracks are all the same rank as me.
Did anybody know it rains in the Pacific Northwest? Me neither.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Day 4
I don't intend for this to become an every-other-day type of thing, but it sure seems to be starting that way. On day 3 I woke up in Fargo, did my last paperwork thing with the Band, renewed my divers license and drove to Dad's. I stopped by the Barnes County School to give Navin a man-hug, but he was touring a corn maze with his kids, and getting paid for it. Ah, the life of a teacher. Last night I briefed Dad on some of the things he may find in the mailbox and finally packed my Army clothes. The airline only allows three bags weighing no more than 50 pounds apiece. When I checked in I claimed them as 49-3/4 pounds each. Yeah, right. To get them closed, Dad and I used ratchet straps and pipe clamps to get the tops close enough to fasten. The final bag ended up being wired shut. I warned the TSA folks about it and told them that if they open any of them for inspection they're on their own to get them shut again.
It's been an extremely hectic couple of weeks, but now that I've checked my baggage and have my boarding pass, I've got nothing to do but wait. Dad got me to the airport 2-1/2 hours early, so I guess I'm already in training for the Army version of hurry-up-and-wait. Training when you don't even expect it. The last couple of days, being on the road, Devils Lake to Grand Forks to Fargo to Goodrich and finally to Bismarck have been the perfect early fall days. I couldn't have picked a better time to leave North Dakota. The weather has been almost completely cloudless with just enough wind to help keep the flies from becoming too much of a nuisance. The leaves are turning from green to yellow and orange but have yet to all fall off of the trees. I'll leave here with the memories of the 'perfect North Dakota day'. Clean, clear, calm, and best of all, no NDSU banners or signs. It's still not real, but something tells me that'll change in a few hours.
It's been an extremely hectic couple of weeks, but now that I've checked my baggage and have my boarding pass, I've got nothing to do but wait. Dad got me to the airport 2-1/2 hours early, so I guess I'm already in training for the Army version of hurry-up-and-wait. Training when you don't even expect it. The last couple of days, being on the road, Devils Lake to Grand Forks to Fargo to Goodrich and finally to Bismarck have been the perfect early fall days. I couldn't have picked a better time to leave North Dakota. The weather has been almost completely cloudless with just enough wind to help keep the flies from becoming too much of a nuisance. The leaves are turning from green to yellow and orange but have yet to all fall off of the trees. I'll leave here with the memories of the 'perfect North Dakota day'. Clean, clear, calm, and best of all, no NDSU banners or signs. It's still not real, but something tells me that'll change in a few hours.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Day Two
Day Two!? Where'd day One go? Oh yeah; now I remember. In the office at 0545 to get the last of the work items completed, such as end of year, end of quarter and end of month, and to do some personal stuff.
I said my final farewells and left Camp at 0945. At 1000, I sold the house, paid the mortgage, water, sewer, electricity, filed the deed at the courthouse, stopped the house insurance, and had to go back to camp. I'd forgotten my satellite radio. I got out of Devils Lake at 1145. I put the last of the boxes in storage when I got to Grand Forks and then had a 3 pm appointment; more on that in a minute. After my appointment I had a very tasty meal with wonderful company at Don and Sandy's place. Good eats!! We watched the Cubs lose the first game of the series and then we finished off the night with a few libations. Today I ran the last of my errands in Fargo and now it's a good meal at Johnny Carino's and then a few more libations. I need to go to war to get some sleep!
Back to the story about my 3 pm appointment, no pun intended. Don's wife beat up on me!! (I felt like yelling, "I need an adult! I need an adult.") I had my back waxed. Now THERE'S something new. I'm not sure that I could focus past all the pain, but I think every time I yelled, or kicked, or flinched, or complained, Sandy giggled. Don't hold me to this, as it was hard to focus on anything other than the hot wax being coated onto my baby-soft skin, or maybe it was the strips of hair being yanked out by their roots, but I'm pretty sure I heard laughter, and I know it wasn't coming from me. After a few therapy sessions I will tell about the nose-hair wax job I got right after my back quit bleeding. You know this waxing thing was invented by a woman.
Today went well. I paid off the car and bought some small personal stuff I needed, got my gas mask from the Band, and now I'm sitting here blogging to you good people.
I said my final farewells and left Camp at 0945. At 1000, I sold the house, paid the mortgage, water, sewer, electricity, filed the deed at the courthouse, stopped the house insurance, and had to go back to camp. I'd forgotten my satellite radio. I got out of Devils Lake at 1145. I put the last of the boxes in storage when I got to Grand Forks and then had a 3 pm appointment; more on that in a minute. After my appointment I had a very tasty meal with wonderful company at Don and Sandy's place. Good eats!! We watched the Cubs lose the first game of the series and then we finished off the night with a few libations. Today I ran the last of my errands in Fargo and now it's a good meal at Johnny Carino's and then a few more libations. I need to go to war to get some sleep!
Back to the story about my 3 pm appointment, no pun intended. Don's wife beat up on me!! (I felt like yelling, "I need an adult! I need an adult.") I had my back waxed. Now THERE'S something new. I'm not sure that I could focus past all the pain, but I think every time I yelled, or kicked, or flinched, or complained, Sandy giggled. Don't hold me to this, as it was hard to focus on anything other than the hot wax being coated onto my baby-soft skin, or maybe it was the strips of hair being yanked out by their roots, but I'm pretty sure I heard laughter, and I know it wasn't coming from me. After a few therapy sessions I will tell about the nose-hair wax job I got right after my back quit bleeding. You know this waxing thing was invented by a woman.
Today went well. I paid off the car and bought some small personal stuff I needed, got my gas mask from the Band, and now I'm sitting here blogging to you good people.
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