Week 11 of SBOLC III

Another week closer to home. Overall just not an exciting week.
We spent 3 days going over some of the software tools that are being used in the JNN System. Then the other 2 days were devoted to radios of various sorts and sundries. God, the Army has a LOT of radio's, all fulfilling a certain niche. On the plus side the mostly all seem to work the same way and a fair number are programmable by a computer (entering in comm plans by hand is tedious). Some of them are pretty cool and have some neat capabilities, but I must say for a bit there we pretty much fell into the mode of, "oh look, another radio." I would like to say that enthusiasm is high but I would say that a lot of us are watching the clock/calander intently and am ready to do our time and go home.

On the plus side, we ran Willard Hill (evil .5 mile section of trail with a truly nasty grade) for the last time on Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday it was sleep in time (oh, I mean individual PT time). We have the final APFT test on Tuesday and I get weighed (or in my case, taped) on Monday morning. Other than completing the field exercise this is the last graduation requirement.

Best sign I have seen all year!

1109 Restaurant, Downtown Augusta, GA

Really... I love this sign! And the food and beer aren't all that bad either.

Another year older.

How come I am always on (or just ending) military duty on my birthdays? I really need to have a conversation with Uncle Sam about that one...

Is it appropriate that I feel 2-3 times my age right now? That of course is my own fault, choosing yesterday to do the 25k Death March. But one does feel that you can feel that specter of age looming in the background, as it takes longer and longer to recover from this sort of abuse. Luckily my feet aren't as bruised as they were yesterday, but most of my lower body is seriously feeling beat up (in particular my glutes and my shins).

I do feel lucky that my parents choose to come down to visit me this weekend! It was definitely a nice "pick me up", since it spans the time since the 4th and until I can get home. I know that I spoiled but I feel blessed that I can see my parents (and almost all of my immediate family) all the time when I am at home, so going without is somewhat sad at times.

I felt that I learned stuff over the past year, got do some neat activities and see neat places and I hope that I can apply that to make the next year of my life even better.

Now I need to go take a nap (or is that birthday nap? I love how I can just add birthday to everyday activities once a year) because I am still short on sleep thanks to yesterday brilliant idea.

PS to the family that read this, replying to this post does NOT replace giving me a phone call today.....