Now that there is only thirty-one days before I go on home leave (yes, I'm keeping track of it on my 'short-timer's calendar!) comes the fun part: what to do with myself with almost six weeks of leave back on the mainland!
First order of business is officially making myself a permanent resident of the state of Nevada... get my driver's license, insurance, car tags and voter registration. Then I've gotta go through my stuff that made it through the move and get it placed in storage. I'm probably going to go the self-storage route and have the rental reimbursed by the company. Once all that is done, then I'll have time to kick back and relax like a local Las Vegan. Might go to Nellis AFB and shop at the BX. (Contractors stationed overseas are extended unlimited BX, commissary and MWR (morale, welfare and recreation) privileges.) I'll be sending much of what I buy stateside via mail to Kwaj.
Late in the evening of July 14th, my mother, younger brother and I will be taking the red-eye nonstop to Fort Lauderdale for the Rockin' 80s-90s Pioneer reunion; a multi-year class reunion for alumni of North Miami Senior High School. Will probably do some sightseeing in the area, since it's been more than five years since I was in the South Florida area. Hopefully, I might take one last drive by the old senior high school, slated for demolition this summer (a new high school to replace the old was built two blocks south and opened in the fall of 2009). Back late in the evening of the 19th.
Capping off the tail end of my home leave is flying back to Honolulu and spending four days as a tourist before getting on the Island Hopper back to Kwaj. Touring Pearl Harbor, Waikiki and a few other places on O'ahu is in the works.
I also received word that as of July 1, I'm eligible to pin on the grade of major in Civil Air Patrol. Guess I've gotta go to the military clothing sales store and buy me a new service cap for my service dress uniform. (Majors and above have four clouds and lightning bolts - the Air Force equivalent of 'scrambled eggs' - on the visor of the service cap; brigadier generals and above wear six. They are commonly known as 'farts and darts' in the Air Force.) After that it's four long years before I'm eligible to pin on the grade of lieutenant colonel, which is the highest grade a regular senior member can attain in CAP, unless selected to serve as a wing commander; that position is for a full colonel. (Even then, the first year of wearing Lt Col is a probationary period, after which it is up to the region commander to make the silver oak leaves permanent.)
The general officer grades in CAP are practically impossible for an average member to earn; only the national vice commander (brigadier general) and national commander (major general) get to put stars on their shoulders. If they successfully complete their term of office, they keep the stars.
And now, back to work... it ain't gonna do itself!
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