I was supposed to have last Friday (19FEB) off from work, to head home to see some friends and family. Thursday around 1430 or 1500, Chief came into my office and asked if I had any appointments the next week. I told him no, then he said that I would be going to DC for a few days... I ended up not getting my day off, I went into work to set up my rental car, hotel and orders. I ended up working 6 hours. Mary was not happy.
We got on the road late and made it to her parent's house around 5 or 5:30. We met with our friend Brandi at Mello Mushroom pizza! Maddox was a typical 2-year old and didn't want to eat and was being clingy. We still had fun. After dinner Brandi came over to Mary's Parent's house to hang out and have a couple of beers. While Mary was putting Maddox to sleep, they both fell asleep. Mary felt really bad, but there was no way I was going to go wake her up. Sorry Brandi.
Saturday we met with a few of our couple friends and their kids. All of the kids played upstairs, the wives gossiped in the kitchen and all of the husbands were out back drinking... it was good times!
Sunday we headed home and Monday I headed to DC. Tuesday I walked to the Naval Yard (with a stop at 7Eleven for coffee, of course). I met a couple of people and made some contacts. Wednesday was much of the same. Thursday I headed back to Hampton, after I turned in my rental car, I registered to take 3 classes for the next 8-week session.
Friday I got to work. I had over 300 e-mails to check... oh joy. One of those e-mails eluded to the fact that I might be going TDY for 6 weeks. When I saw that e-mail I started trying to find out if I had a date to go to ALS (Airman Leadership School, a school we have to go through before we can sew on SSgt). I had a date to start ALS in April. I went to go sign they paperwork for the class and the Commander stopped me and said that I wouldn't be going to ALS yet. He said that I would be going on the 6-week TDY, in his words: "It's good to be wanted." A couple of hours later I got an e-mail saying that I had orders to Korea. My report no later than date is a week before our second child is due. Im working with my Chiefs to try and get that pushed back some, we will see what will happen with that. Since I have a 6 week TDY coming up, ALS (another 5-6 weeks), and then out processing: I think they are going to try and find my replacement in the up coming week so that I can train him or her before I leave in a couple of weeks.
So a slightly crazy Friday for Mary and me. We are starting to figure out what all we are going to have to do to be ready to leave! So exciting, and stressful at the same time!
