champing at the bits

i performed a bit of a walkabout today, beginning at the sat-phone company (whose service was surprisingly quick and painless) and then moving along to the clinic to organize blood tests.

there were a few of us who needed to speak to the stand-in for the sister-in-charge, and she didn't have the confidence to look us in the eye and give us an idea of how long we'd be waiting... so it took about fifteen minutes of aggravated dark humour (mostly from the others - i wasn't particularly stressed, without coffee and after twelve hours fasting i'm a zombie) before i discovered that she's actually quite sweet and capable.

the queue for the newly authorized tests was intolerable, so i walked back to get my phone, then back again to join the line. i'm smarter than the average bear, apparently - i was armed with my wired magazine so i had something to read until i approached the door :)

the drawing was quick and painless - for me. the medics were having a hard time because some girl kept fainting on them... when they finally let her go it was only to be dragged back a couple of minutes later when she'd passed out outside :/

i was hungry and looking for a shinto breakfast, but they weren't open yet so i bussed to base with my belly rumbling. there's no real food being served on base due to passover constraints, so we ate out and i was bowled over by the traditional lack of service.

we arrived back for an hour's meeting (that, for the first time, actually took about an hour) which was boring and almost pointless. i reiterated my point about the bad software when it was done, and when our SC started saying that it couldn't be as bad as i described one of the section's big boys piped up: "actually, he's right".

as annoyed as i usually get when people don't do the right thing (like speaking out for the truth), i'm really grateful for the vindication!

i had about an hour to sort things out (and i got quite a bit done) before setting off to see my previous team's new officers get their ranks. it was wonderful seeing everyone and it only highlights the difference in attitude: even the people i don't know well from my old base are friendly and interested, and the people i do know well are like old friends. on the new base the people i know well are afraid to get close to one another, and the people i don't act like a bunch of pricks.

so much fun was had by all, and then i had to get back to work... only by the time i arrived in our building i had to pack up and leave. moving around my current base is a serious mission.

i was going to train with the kid this evening, but i suddenly realized how tired i am... and still hurting from two nights back.

i watched rocky balboa - a solid finish to the series. this and the new rambo bring a fitting close to the two stories, and ol' sly has taken the opportunity to provided a couple of pearls in an entertaining fashion and deserves a standing ovation.

i loved the dog reference.

post shower, post 'net, i'm exhausted and i'm going to bed.