Where the hell is that guy? Still in Suffolk? I thought he deployed to Africa.

Hello All,

It has been a couple of weeks since I posted and I apologize.  I always have good intentions of posting every week and usually follow through.  The past few weeks have been pretty busy as I have been preparing products for this 2 week mission rehearsal exercise and conducting the training at the Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, VA.

As expected, traveling to the U.S. sucked as it always does when your starting point is Africa.  Traveling actually went about as expected.  It took 30 hours of elapsed time with a long layover in Paris.  Got in late to Dulles Airport and missed my flight to Norfolk and a bag was unaccounted for at that point also.  It was determined that my bag was on a later flight which was no big deal as it was just stuff I didn't need in Africa and was hauling home.

I must say, it was an unexpected treat to be back in the U.S.  My room at the Hilton Garden Inn is as nice a room that I have experieced in the last 4 months.  It was also great to eat somewhere besides the chow hall in Djibouti.  Over the course of the last couple of weeks I have eaten Italian, sushi, Mexican, Thai, and Fire House subs (I had some hot sauce so hot it made my eyes water!) 

I have also taken the opportunity to drink some bourbon which I can't do in Djibouti as it is against base orders.  Something about "good order and discipline", whatever that means. 

My brief and training package was well received.  Some days were slower than others as our job was to act as subject matter experts and be available to assist the new staff as required.  The comments from the training audience at the end of training after action review overwhelmingly concured that those who traveled from DJ were the greatest value added to training.  I will consider that a mission success.

The biggest treat of the trip was goin' back to see my woman in Sneads Ferry.  It was such a morale booster to be able to see Jodi!  The house was decorated for Chirstmas and everything looked great.  She made sure that there was nothing to accomplish around the house so we could just spend time together.  The time went by fast and it was just as hard to leave then as it was 4 months ago.  Well, two more months and I will be home again back to my ever lovin' wife. 

Don't expect to be doing anything out of the ordinary around Christmas.  We always have Sunday off but will also get Monday off.  I plan on being on a dive boat for Christmas this year as well as the Monday following Christmas.  I have determined a long time ago that the less time you can spend in your CLU (room) the better.  By the time I depart base and return after diving, the day is mostly over.  If I wasn't doing something the day would really drag. 

So, I would like to wish everyone an advanced Happy Chanukah (first night is Tues, 20 Dec) and Merry Christmas.  You will be in my thoughts as I am floating around the Gulf of Aden on 25 Dec. 

On duty in Africa,
Michael