OVER & DONE; WELL-DONE

6-7AUG08. WED-THURS. I can hardly believe it, I'm finally done!!!!! I'm writing this blog from the comforts of my home. Will be on Leave (PAID VACATION) until 22SEP08. WoW!!! Departed from Gulfpost MS bright and early this morning for New Orleans, LA. Of course I now had to hand in my Medical, Dental and Service Record. So, it was kinda a repeat of the last few days.....Again. Still, after it was all said and done, I'm finally home enjoying it all; TV, Icem A/C, and the love of my family and friends. What we do from here is anyone's guess. At the moment, Terri has me fixing some computer gripes. Like I can remember the computer configuration after 1.5 years. This, combined with several major network items changed. Still, I gotta finish my Travel Claim for the Navy. My heart-felt thanks goes out to all those folks who have helped along the way. Jeff, Tom, Moni, Janet, Pat, Don, Sharon, and way too many to mention. Thank you all and God Bless.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

5AUG08. TUESDAY. Well, I believe I'm just about through with Medical and Dental. Tomorrow I will sit down with the Doctor for results of the Labs as well as a reveiw of all the paperwork. Also, this will be an opportunity to reveiw the "Personal" Records. The guys I'm doing this Demobilization Process with were Mobilized and went to Texas for 5-months. That was it. How would you like that deployment?? So, I can see some light at the end of the tunnel. I only hope it's not the headlamp of an oncomming train. Will update soonest. Doug

GULFPORT MISSISIPPI

4AUG08. MONDAY. Well, here I am in Gulfport. Got here around 11:00AM. Filled out some medical forms and was told to come back tomorrow at 6:00AM for labwork and other medical stuff. The guy running the show said I should be out of here around Thursday or Friday. And, I might be entitled to "Respite Leave" above and beyond the week or so that I may get. Either way, it's all good. Will update when I can. Doug

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO??

1-3AUG07. FRIDAY - SUNDAY. Ryan and I managed to get out of Fayettville, North Carolina around 11:00AM. So, we were onlty able to make it to Atlanta before we decided to call it quits. We messed around in the Pool and cooled off from the journey on the Road. The "Plan" was to hit the road again around 8:00AM puttting us in Pensacola around noon. Well, I coldn't sleep worth a darn. Managed to wake up around 3:30AM and couldn't get back to sleep. I got to thinking, why not leave around 4:00AM. That's what we did....Got into Pensacola around 7-8:00AM. Had the remainder of Saturday for decompress a little and shift some vehicles around. Sunday we had a Family get-together at my Brother in-law's house. Had a blast grilling, swimming, and doing nothing.... Will drive to Gulfport on Monday to "De-mobilize." Sadly, I havent seen a dentist in a year and a half. Will get that out of the way as well as see the Doctor. So, in the end, I know there will be a lot of waiting, lines, and the general military "Hurry-up and Wait". Will update when I can. Doug

BUST

31JULY08. THURSDAY. Today was such a bust. But, we made the best of it. Tried to hit the Aquarium only to find it was 117 miles from the sign which advertised it. Of course the sign was 42 miles away from the hotel. We decided the cancel the drive. Instead, we decided to hit the Civil War “Tour”. Sadly, this consisted of a bunch of markers along the roadside. We canceled this trip and decided to hit the Lake instead. After driving back and changing clothes, we hit the lake. Thunderstorms popped-up about an hour after we arrived at the lake. You guessed it, the closed the lake. So, we decided to hit the hotel and pack for our trip tomorrow. That’s the latest from North Carolina. Doug and Ryan

CIVIL WAR TOUR

30JULY08. WENSDAY. Called work while enroute to a couple of Civil War Museums. The first place was the Averasboro Battlefield. Our initial impression was the not too good. However, once inside we were overwhelmed with the artifacts that was inside. And, upon exiting we bumped into an older gentleman who not only grew up in the area, but contributed many of the artifacts he found as growing up. These included Rifles, belt buckles, bullets, etc. As we were leaving, he gave Ryan a couple of pictures of the sites for “Show & Tell” (if he ever has one again). After this Battlefield and Museum, we went to Bentonville Battlefield. Boy this paled in comparison to the Averasboro Museum. Still, it was fun just the same. Well, just another day here until we leave….Finally. Will update when we Can. Doug & Ryan

COOKING WITH STEAM

29JULY08. TUESDAY. Well, talked with the people at work and now I only have to call in daily. So, the intent is to mess around in the finest of fashion with Ryan until Friday. Afterwhich, I hope to hit the road putting us in Florida sometime Saturday. So, what have we don productive today? Not a darn thing. Went to the Lake (it’s closed until Thursday). Same deal with the Pool. Changed about mid-day and hit the movies with Ryan. We say the Get Smart Movie. After the movies we caught a ballgame from the local team. It was a truly enjoyable time. Oh, I almost forgot, we hit the Transportation Museum this morning as well. Kinda for a bit of North Carolina History. And, I bring Ryan kincking and screaming to each museum…Tomorrow, we’re gonna try to hit the Averasboro Battlefield Complex. Will let you know how it goes. Doug and Ryan.

LONG WEEKEND x2

28JULY08. MONDAY. The folks I’m working with gave me a good deal today. They let me “Call-in” as opposed to going into work physically. So, they gave me the day off. Ryan and I started to go to the lake (again) only to find it closed Mondays. Not easily dismayed, Ryan and I went to the Pool instead. Of course the pool was closed as well. So, we licked our wounds and saw the Movie Wall-E instead. Not too bad of a movie. After which we hit a restaurant and did some Putt-Putt – yes again. After we got to the hotel, a message was waiting for me on the phone. The folks called me from work to tell me I can take tomorrow off. So, Ryan and I will hit the Transportation Museum and go from there. Will update when I can. Doug and Ryan

LONG WEEKEND

27JULY08. SUNDAY. Well, another day gone by. Ryan and I went to the Smith Lake again. After arriving, we found the place was closed due to weather. The intermittent Thunderstorms were the primary factor in shutting the place down. So, we decided to go see the new Batman Movie instead. What a long movie…. 2 ½ hour long…..Certainly well worth the Six Dollar Tickets. The folks at work gave me tomorrow off. So, Ryan and I will try to hit the Lake again…If the weather cooperates. Will Update All when I can. Dug & Ryan

FUN IN THE SUN

26JULY08. SATURDAY. Ryan and I went to Smith Lake today. It was an opportunity to mess around in the water and escape the heat. Oddly, the weather was not too bad today. Skies were overcast with temperatures in the 70s. Not the near Hundred-Degree weather that we have had over the last week. I’m telling you it was nice to mess around with Ryan, wake-up late, and just do nothing important at all….. After we cooled down, we did some Putt Putt Golf Again….It was fun. Well, the Museum of Transportation we were to see tomorrow will be closed. So, we’ll have to wing it. Will update when I can. Doug & Ryan

CHUTE JUMP DONE & OVER

25JULY08. FRIDAY. Got up at 400AM, Briefed jumpers at 600AM and was done 3:00PM. We managed to Jump about 80 Jumpers this morning. What was nice, is I saw a bunch of friends in the crowd… Got Caught up and did some small talk during the wait for the Lift. After the jump, Ryan and I caught the movie Step Brothers. Pretty Funny. Initially, Ryan and I were planning on seeing the races. But, we found these races were only tuning runs; one of several scheduled this month. So, we passed on that idea. Now, we’re watching another Will Farrell movies (by coincidence). Tomorrow, we’re slated to go to a lake and get some Sun & Fun – with emphasis on both…. Well, that’s the latest. Will update when I can. Ryan & Doug

CHUTE JUMP PREP

24JULY08. THURSDAY. Today I got tapped to help with a Parachute Jump. Fortunately, I was able to wrap things up at about 300PM today. Tomorrow will be a long day. It’s to be the day a few folks jump. Still, managed to run around with Ryan a little. We hit the Bowling Land, Arcade, and attempted a movie. Still, I have a pretty early morning, so things will wind-down relatively early tonight. Out “Plan” is to hit a lake this weekend and beat the heat. Do some swimming, and getting some sun on this albino body I have. Noticed, I said we’d go to the Lake this weekend. I have the weekend off. Whooo Hooo. Will update when I can. Doug

HEAT INDEX OF 106 DEGREES

23JULY08. WEDNESDAY. The Rain and Gusting Wind came and went yesterday with minimal damage. We went through the local neighborhood and saw a couple of trees down. Today there were also some significant Thunderstorms in the afternoon. It’s almost funny because the Temps here are hovering at 101 degrees with the index at 106 degrees. The inclimate weather put the squash on the majority of activities we tried tonight. We tried to see the North Carolina Swampdogs (a local baseball team) only to find the Game was cancelled. We tried to play a game of Putt Putt Miniature Golf, only to find the place closed (after the rain). Lastly, we tried to watch the Zhone movie with Adam Sandler, only to find it was not playing (despite the advertisement in the paper). So, we went to the Hotel Room and watched the Deadliest Catch. Will update when I can. Doug and Ryan.

WEATHER WARNING

22JULY08. TUESDAY. Well, just got a call from Papa and Nana. They are headed for Pensacola, Florida tomorrow. I asked Ryan if he wanted to hitch a ride home with his grandparents. He respectfully declined. So, Ryan will continue to stay with me for a little while more. I got off work at about 3:00PM. After that, I picked-up Ryan and we toured the Cape Fear Museum and Poe House. Both of which were pretty neat. Also decided to watch the Incredible Hulk tonight. The Show starts at 7:30PM. Lastly, we were amazed at the National Storm Center warning of 59MPH Gusting Wind and Quarter-sized Hail. All are encouraged to seek shelter. Damage is expected in mobile homes. Too Funny. So, we’ll see what happens. Will update when I can. Doug & Ryan

HOT TIMES IN FAYETTEVILLE NC

21JULY08. MONDAY. JSOC let me off work at 1:30PM this afternoon. This gave me an excuse to Grab Ryan and watch a Movie. Actually, we were just trying to beat the heat. It was hot outside, I mean hot. After the Movie, Ryan and I went for 18holes of minature golf. The sun was finally going down. The minature golf place was pretty neat. Well, that puts us at the hotel at 8:00PM. Will update when I can. Doug