Winding Down

Got over to Fort Rosecrans on Sunday, it was kind of emotional, always is.

LUSH and the kids got into town Sunday. Oddly enough Big Time's cousin was in town, so we rendezvoused with her and her husband for lunch. As the hotel is right next to Little Italy, we got Italian. If you ever get to Sandy Eggo, go to Bencotto's Italian Kitchen, unbelievable pasta.

I had the Tortelli di Zucca, which is hand made ravioli filled with butternut squash, parmigiano and amaretto, served in creamy butter and sage sauce with crunchy bacon. Trust me, it's to die for.

Afterwards we had gelato, of course. Bobboi Natural Gelato, again, to die for. Both of these places are in walking distance of my hotel.

After stuffing ourselves we went out to Point Loma, to visit with Hizzoner. On the walk back to the hotel I spotted a carrier. Couldn't make out the number so I zoomed in with my cell phone camera.

"Great job, Dad. Ya know you need both numbers, right?"

Argh. Later on LUSH got a better look, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is what she saw. Alrighty then.

Anyhoo, we stopped by to pay our respects to Lex. After a few moments of trying to contain myself, I went over to look out towards North Island. I turned back, once my emotions were in check, to see this ...

Isabelle praying for Lex.

I tell ya, I nearly lost it. LUSH and Big Time are raising their girls right.

Sigh, still hurts all these years later.

RIP, brother.

Went down to Pier 12 afterwards so LUSH and the kids could see my workplace out here. No pictures. (Hey, Security!) Alexandra mentioned that it was very futuristic looking. It really is.

John Blackshoe wondered how she rides, very well according to the crew.

While her sister, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), looks rather worn and tired, USS Michael Monsoor looks like she just rolled off the showroom floor. Her crew are proud of their ship, and it shows.

USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) during her acceptance trials in February of 2018
(Source)

Heading home on Saturday ...

I'm going to miss all this.

Day Off? Whuzzat?

The Night Life from my hotel window

Okay, the first three trips out here to Sandy Eggo were fast and furious, a day off was a rare thing (usually we had Sunday off, usually). But things moved fast and you really didn't have time to get bored.

As my colleague V said, "I'm out here to work, I'll take time off when I get home."

Amen to that.

But this trip is something of a mop up, clearing up a few things in order to get this system ready for prime time. We're just about there, things are a little more relaxed right now.

We had Saturday off.

You heard that right.

So, you're working Sunday?

No, no we're not, we're looking at the rare circumstance of having two days off, in a row.

Went to Shakespeare's on Friday night with a big chunk of the team. Kind of a bonding thing, kind of a hail and farewell kind of thing. A couple of folks are retiring in just a few months, so this team, as currently constituted, will soon be a thing of the past.

Great folks all, I shall miss them. It's been a rough ride at times, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Juvat will be along on Monday. Not sure if I'll get anything out there on Tuesday, LUSH and her kids are rolling in on Sunday (tomorrow as I write, today as you read). You might say that I'll be kinda busy.

You wouldn't be wrong.

Ciao.