Two things .. one, there aren’t any pictures in this update, so don’t bother looking. It’s still far too cold to go out sight seeing. I’m going to FORCE myself to at least take the camera out to Songtan this weekend though, as I have four day off due to the holidays. Two, I’m going to be working on the website here shortly doing software updates. Things may be a bit fubar for awhile, so don’t be surprised. I’m going to try to be smart and not nuke everything this time.

I was standing outside watching the helicopter lift off earlier today, when I saw these odd looking things on the other side of the runway. They looked like abandoned cranes or something at first. On closer inspection, they were actually Patriot missile launchers, pointed north. It was one of those “oh crap” moments you get from time to time in the military, when the reality hits you of what your job actually is. Yes, I’m an aircraft maintainer. Yes, 99% of the time we go to work and come home like any other Joe in the world, albeit one who wears a somewhat funny outfit on a day to day basis. However, it’s that little 1% (a lot more than that actually for many of us) that makes all the difference.

I was struck by another thought yesterday as well. Those of you that have cats, have you ever noticed when you move them to an unfamiliar location what they do? Almost invariably they stalk around for awhile, yowl a lot, and eventually hide under a piece of furniture they find familiar. It hit me, I’m that yowling cat right now. My dorm room is my familiar piece of furniture, and darnit, I’m quite comfy in here. Much like it does with the cats, this should pass soon enough.

I will say, that familiar feeling of detachment is starting to set in. You know what I’m talking about .. that sense you get after you move somewhere new that life wherever you were is starting to move on without you. It’s not anyone’s fault, that’s just the way things work. But it feels weird none the less. I was checking my Little Rock work web mail account for the last few weeks, but I’ve stopped as none of the emails mean much to me now. When I talk to folks back home I find myself wanting for topics. It’s amazing how localized small talk really is, it’s almost as if we all develop our own constantly evolving personal dialects within our circle of friends and family. Once your no longer attending the daily language lessons, everything starts to get a bit muddled. I think that’s ultimately what makes holding on to those you leave behind difficult, actually. After awhile, you just run out of things to say.

Anyway, I miss everyone terribly. I’d love nothing more right now that to be in down town Little Rock with everyone going to the same three or four bars, talking about the same junk, and having the same old good times. All I can say is I’ll be home in July, be ready!