Friday, September 9, 2016

Spent

160906-N-ZE250-288 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sep. 6, 2016) Spent shell casings from an MA 2 .50 machine gun on the deck aboard USS Carney (DDG 64) after a live-fire gunnery exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Weston Jones/Released)
Though this work week was only four days long, it feels like it's been about a month long. First week back after surgery, in the final stages of a project, trying to not wear myself out too much while still providing quality at work...

Not easy.

While casting about for something to post today, I realized that my brain was not firing on all cylinders. Seems to be missing some "oomph." I can't blame the Muse, she's been carrying me all week. I have been the weak link. I am questioning my return to work. It's not that it was a bad idea, it's just that this grown up stuff is hard. Having to be responsible and all is kinda tiresome when physically you're not at 100%.

But I'm a big boy, it's a short week. I can do this.

But a blog post?

This is all I got, and it ain't much...

ex-Towers (DDG-9) at the end of a SINKEX (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Andrew Betting)
Yeah, that's about how I look, and feel. Perhaps a bit more rust on me, but damn, it's been a rough week.

I'll try and do better tomorrow.




26 comments:

  1. Opening day of Command and General Staff College, the commandant gives his opening remarks about how the upcoming year will require hardwork but will provide opportunities to relax, spend time with family and participate in a widely varied intramural sports program. He then concluded by saying "Remember though when playing sports, You're 36 not 26!"

    So, Sarge, I won't break any secrets, but.... "You're XX, not 26!" Take your time!

    BTW, your "square filler" posts are better than most others "magnum opus" ones. So hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reverse the digits in 36 and I'm there.

      I'm running well below full military power still, no chance of lighting the burners. It's a process. :)

      Thanks Juvat!

      Delete
    2. Concur with Juvat on the post quality!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Ah yes, this I know.

      Patience, you may have noticed, is not my strong suit.

      Delete
  3. All those procedures take a toll before adding age to the equation. On the other hand you are still alive and functioning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, alive and functioning. Though as the week went on, I was functioning slower and slower.

      I figure two more weeks before I am close to 100%.

      But improvement, while slow, has been steady.

      Delete
  4. What juvat said.

    Paul L. Quandt

    ReplyDelete
  5. I feel your frustration. Can't believe how long it's taking my infected achilles to heal. I mean, I had the damme thing opened and drained 72 hours ago! What's the holdup?!?

    As I sit here on my porch sipping really good coffee on a delightfully cool September morn, I realize that I should relax and enjoy. But I'm looking at a big gaggle of turkey vultures swirling in the morning updrafts over a plowed field, and they remind me that the end is closer than the beginning, which makes me feel a bit sick over squandering time.

    Overthinking it I am.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a life-long procrastinator I seldom stress about wasting time. Then again, I've never been a rancher, or a farmer. In those two professions time waits for no one. And there's no one else to pick up the slack.

      I also tend to view this existence as not the "end all, be all." It's just another step on the journey. Where I'm going, I don't really know; what I'll do when I get there, I don't really know. But damn it, I'm going to try and enjoy the ride.

      (I like to overthink things at times. Makes my head hurt.)

      Delete
  6. Always liked those Adams Class cans, btw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. My first ship was DDG-11. The Charles F Adams (DDG-2) will be a museum ship in Jacksonville shortly.

      Delete
    2. To me there's only one thing sadder than seeing one of those old warships being expended in a SINKEX, one sitting in the breaker's yard. At least going down at sea seems more natural.

      Delete
    3. They are lovely ships. I need to visit Jacksonville one of these days.

      Delete
  7. I was just reminiscing about visiting the Rock & Roll HoF.
    I wanna go again.
    I feel fortunate that, among all of my surgical repairs, only one required more than an overnight.
    That was 50 years ago when they kept everyone longer.

    My old ride is somewhere at the bottom of the Indian Ocean ...can't turn them all into museum ships.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fifty years ago, before the rise of the medical insurance giants. Back when actual MDs at the hospital made the decisions, not some failed MD who works for the insurance company because he/she is actually a crappy doctor.

      Rock & Roll HoF, that would be cool.

      My son's first ride lies at the bottom of the Atlantic. (Which reminds of the Donovan tune, "Atlantis.")

      True, can't keep all of 'em.

      Delete
  8. SPENT
    And a leaf blower won't clear your deck ....
    Cheers mate - prayers for recovery continue -

    ReplyDelete
  9. Only your paid subscribers have any claim to expect a daily missive. All of us freeloaders are grateful for whatever shows up on whatever random schedule suits the author(s), not just here but on the other places many of us seem to visit.
    Thanks for what you do. (All of you!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paid subscribers? Perish the thought.

      You folks who come here day after day are family, I like having something new here for you.

      Besides, as much as I bitch about it at times, I love writing.

      Thanks for bearing with us through the fat and the lean.

      :)

      Delete
  10. Even at your youngish age of XX, the body continues to remind us that it takes a lot longer to recover from minor stuff now, let alone what you have recently endured. I think that mentally we still perceive ourselves as 26 and it takes a number of years before we allow ourselves to be disabused of that notion. Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend Chris. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ron!

      (Mentally I'm hovering around the age of 13. The Missus Herself regards that as a bug, not a feature.)

      Have a great weekend!

      Delete
    2. She goes down to a min of 13? Mrs. Juvat is convinced at times that I'm a max of 8! (With episodes of 5 or 6)

      Delete

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