The first month of 2011 is now in the history books. Life is pretty much the same here on Kwajalein, though there's always the usual irritants that people love to complain about. Let me count the ways...
In a cost-cutting move, the express bus service from the technical area to downtown was eliminated. So, if you have an appointment downtown or at the medical or dental hobby shop, you either walk or ride your bike. God forbid you get caught misusing government property by driving a golf cart or a vehicle for personal business!
We filled out a couple of surveys... one to gauge the quality of housing and another the quality of AAFES on the island. Anyone wanna guess where all the negative responses went?
Drive a boat on island? Don't touch a drop of alcohol - the slightest amount on the breathalyzer gets you a BWI (Boating While Intoxicated) conviction. No one to staff the recompression chamber? You can't scuba dive. (That brought the diving community to arms.)
The powers-that-be are encouraging Kwaj Five-O to write more tickets for the most insignificant violations. Smoke too close to a building? BAM! Leave a package unattended on your bike, even if you're just stopping briefly at the shopette? WHAM! Forget to use proper bike signals when turning? Sign on the line, please. They may not amount to much, but collect a few too many and you might get a bar from the island! No wonder the general attitude around here is downright bitter and cynical.
While I don't have a problem with following regulations, sometimes I wonder why the head shed just throws up another restriction without carefully thinking it through. Eventually the rule is changed quietly and without fanfare, which proves my point.
I'm beginning to get tired of serving on the chow hall committee. Improvements are suggested, applied and just as quickly forgotten.
OK, now that I've vented my spleen for the month...
I didn't get picked up for staff duty at the CAP Pacific Region Staff College. No biggie... it's all vacation time for me come next month. I will apply for CAP National Staff College in October. Means I'll hafta travel to Maxwell AFB in Alabama. I'll find some way to do my RSC staff duty, as that and NSC is all I need to complete Level V and the Gill Robb Wilson award.
Took the Amateur Extra licensing exam last night, but didn't pass it. It's not easy. I was busy at work and with other extracurricular things that I really didn't find much time to study. No worries, it'll be offered again.
Gonna be a busy weekend in the kitchen at Vet's Hall. The usual 'supper for the drunk and wasted' on Saturday, and we're doing the same on Sunday night for a concert by one of the most popular bands on island, the Zooks. And on Monday morning, making the Super Bowl breakfast. I might wind up crashing in the Vets' Hall couch in the social area Sunday night!
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