Backing Up
Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 04:22AM When I went to Calgary last December, I wrote a post on the first day I was there. Since returning home I've been frustratingly unable to get into the damn MobilePro. Today, determined to conquer, I finally worked out that the backup battery was dead.
*sigh*
Here it is.
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December 11. 3 pm Calgary time.
After hopping in and out of bed to write down addresses, ziploc bag my "liquids and gels", pee, annoy Magpie, miss Cabot, pee, get Cabot's heated electric blanket so I feel less alone, fall asleep finally about 2 am, wake up at four wrapped up in a stinking hot blanket and sweating like a maniac, I finally only sort of fully awoke at 6:45 to a knock-knock-knocking on my door.
My ride to the airport. The one I should have been up for at 6 am.
While Elmer paces in the living room I rush madly, giving my hair a quick wash in the sink, slapping on some clothes, chugging down a half cup of black coffee, shrieking at the bags under my eyes (nay, all over my face), throwing some food at Magpie and ungracefully shoving whatever was piled beside the suitcase INTO the suitcase.... we were on our way.
I didn't check email. I didn't empty the coffee grinds (hellooooo mold), I didn't say goodbye to the Maggot. I didn't do a final check of my stuff, my house, my list, myself.....
I'm discombobulated.
At the airport, I at least was ready with my little bag of restricted products but I almost walked away without Micha's borrowed winter jacket and my passport. I had to take off my boots after the security guard noticed they were steel-toed.
What now?
Okay, now, bear with me here as I'm sort of tired but I wear these boots ALL THE TIME. And yanno, maybe I shouldn't since they're my military dress boots. Did you pick out the important word there? Kay, since I have no patience right now, I'll tell you. DRESS boots. ie: you wear them with your dress uniform. For me that would be Remembrance Day and one or two yearly mess dinners.
Steel toed? And not only that but yanno, I never noticed.
My combat boots aren't steel toed. Would that maybe make a little sense? Considering they're for uh... combat?
I do have to say, to get this fully into the light, that at this point in my 'career' not one damn thing the military does or doesn't do will ever make the slightest bit of sense to me.
I have a list.
In fact, I may be able to squeeze out a 10 point list for every single week I've actually been in the military.
T2 says there's a book in there somewhere. But only with a more sympathetic government.
I arrived in the airport at 11 am but after only two cups of coffee I needed more! and a couple of cigarettes. Plus, yanno, some quality time in the bathroom with spackle and paint.
Considering all the people I'm meeting work until 430 ish, I got lots of time.
On the airporter at 1230 on the way into Calgary proper I thought I may stop by and get one of the girls at my old hairdressing place to wash and style the mess on my head since I was starting to feel like maybe I'd not washed out all the conditioner and was pretty sure that there'd been a truck on the plane and it'd hit me.
That helped. Although I certainly wouldn't have erm... styled my hair the way they did.
Then down to the bank and over to the Jugo juice to get "whatever would wake me up". One 'banana buzz' later and I am shaking like a leaf whilst visiting my old boss - the afore-mentioned T2.
Who's shorter than I remember.
I am now ensconced at my own big table in my own little room in the James Joyce pub on Stephen Ave, having a grasshopper, being far too bright and cheerful with the staff and finishing off a bowl of Irish lamb stew.
Except for the luggage I'm wheeling around behind me everywhere I go.... it feels a bit like coming home.
Reader Comments (3)
military made by far the more sensible choice. just for safety, let alone the reality that 99% of the time you'll be hiking not spinning through the air post-explosion.