I have been gone from Puerto Rico since January 2, 2009. I traveled to Indiana to help train and mobilize several units from the National Guard. Through the past few weeks I have been actually working out in the field—something I have not done in a while—and dealing with the most outrageous behavior I have seen in years but besides that…Let me tell you about Atterbury, Indiana.
Atterbury is approximately 50 miles south of Indianapolis—in another words, in the middle of nowhere. There is absolutely nothing there. I stayed in a hotel that had nearby restaurants thinking that I could walk to them if I get snowed in or hungry. Little did I know that on the day that I needed them the most, the were all close due to the weather.
Throughout the last 30 days that I have been here, there was only two days in which the temperature was above 30 degrees. I witness freezing rain, snow, and cold as hell wind chills that once brought the temperature to –18 degrees. The little car that I rented while I was here had a permanent sheet of ice on it that would not melt, not even the drive from Atterbury to Indianapolis.
I volunteered to support another battalion from the brigade because I did not want to sit around doing nothing. Again, I put my foot in my mouth and threw myself under the bus. Immediately after volunteering, I found out that my stay here—in this winter hell-land—would be extended for one day and that I would have to come back for another week after a short 4 day break at home. Damn it! Why didn’t i remember the wise words once given to me when I joined the Army? “Don’t ever volunteer for anything!”—a wise drill sergeant told me once…but of course I always want to do my own thing so I guess I can say that I had it coming.
I have 11 soldiers working for me but I am not able to take care of them as I would like to but I try to do my best. My authority is being crushed by a higher ranking person so I guess I just have to do my best for now. I did take them out to eat to celebrate the first step forward in the long 5 steps program that we have to take. I appreciate having them and their positive attitude have made things a little easier for me.
So, I am heading home now for my little break. I will be hosting a Super Bowl Party and then I will come back to this crap hole for another week. Just enough time for me to sleep away my exhaustion from being busy at home and then….I will return to, yet, another party….MY BDAY!!!
PEACE!!!
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