Twice at work today so far “hey man big plans for Valentine’s Day?” Me looking behind me because clearly they can’t be asking the perennial bachelor that is moi, that question. Because the answer is sled drags at the gym and grocery shopping.

I stretched before and after my leg workout today. I feel like such an adult.

Guess who went to get dressed this morning for drill and realized his boots were 3 hours away at home? Fortunately my XO keeps a spare pair in his office. This is what I get for not loading my car the night before.

This is Violet, her mom brought her to work today. Can report she is as adorable as she appears. Though her mother says she regularly beats up her big brother.

Oh also this was the brisket as I pulled it. There are no post slice photos because it didn’t last long enough….

This is Lola, her parents brought her to the bar to socialize her and she is clearly a classy lady because she gave me the gentlest head nudge to get some pets.

Soon.

The tailor shop I picked up some pants has a dog and he brought me his stuffed monkey to play with. I am now late for another appointment but honestly worth it.

@wrenispinkle.bsky.social good news. I recognized when a woman was flirting with me tonight and asked for her number. Though she overheard me describing the eagle shaped award I got tonight and thought I had an actual live eagle in my car so….

Another awards dinner. At least this one has a cash bar.

Just finished the new Dresden Files book. Loved it. It fleshed out some characters in delightful ways and introduced some new ones. Excellent pay off in the last few chapters in several ways.

If I were a new hire still in the academy and a grand total of two weeks of employment I simply wouldn’t introduce myself to the cranky sleep deprived looking man drinking coffee alone in the break room by saying “hey bro what’s up I work with you!”

New Dresden Files book dropped today. Don’t call, I’ll be busy until I finished it.

And off to the emergency vet because someone is peeing a little blood. Cool

A woman at the bar asked if I was in my 20s and I’ll take it

I heard it’s #flannelforearmfriday

I’ve had this baby 4lb brisket in my freezer for like over a year. Decided to smoke to celebrate no more night shifts for a year.

If it’s light it means I can have more right?

The Mississippi. Every August when I was a kid I looked forward to the annual tug of war festival with Iowa across the river.

@jbythekilowatt.bsky.social do lots of mounted deer heads and weird statues qualify this as a dive bar?

Working a day shift today since I have drill this weekend. Running on 4 hours of sleep, strong espresso, and trying to find my sunglasses, because I am clearly no longer a daywalker.

Hey Andy? Yes other Andy? Do you think the woman at the bar who asked to see your tatttoos and helped unbutton your shirt might have been in to you and you should have asked for her number? ……. Damnit

Went to my friends 40th birthday party. Enjoyed drinks and even sang some karaoke with a few others. It was nice to forget everything else even if it was only for a few hours. I think I’m going to try and do it more. Small concerts or comedy shows etc.

I am sorry to report my long term battle buddy in combating exhaustion and tiredness, my trusty Nespresso machine has crossed the mocha bridge to the machine afterlife. It did manage one last brew today before finally passing and I savored every drop.

New guy at work: Wow those fireworks are crazy tonight. Me: my man that is fully automatic AK fire down the hill. Haven’t you at least seen Heartbreak Ridge?

Welp, time to get ready for work. If tradition holds this 12 hours should be an absolute shitshow. Im guessing I’ll need at least one uniform change before the nights over.

Everyone please enjoy this blep from Bruno the most photogenic of the German shepherds in my extended family. He doesn’t even have to be asked to pose, pull out your phone and point it towards him and he poses all on his own.

Literally as I went to get up to get ready for work she sprawls and demands attention. Good thing I learned how to get ready in under 5 minutes in basic.

Joy is finding that the new Dutch Bros coffee is open till 11pm on weekends and you can get tasty hot Americanos when it’s cold and damp.

Sadly the educational gifts from Highlights I ordered for my niece and nephew won’t be here in time for Christmas. So now I’m wrapping the plan B Lego gifts and knowing my name will be cursed later by my sister/brother and their spouses later. It makes me chuckle.

Work is not going well and I’m going home. Fuck this day.

Kumail Nanjiani’s standup on Hulu is hysterical.

Tattoo complete. Now that the Batmobile is done planning for the city streets and other details to go around it can begin!

It’s 4 am, I’m leaving work and while I’m only going get like 6 hours of sleep it’s ok because it’s new tattoo day and the appointment is why I have to be up at 11.

Ope I got a little to honest in my feedback for the Admin at work in my eval and now it’s a problem. Apparently, I dont understand that change takes time and the multiple examples of problematic behavior I brought up are just outliers and not indicative of an organizational culture issue.

Why do I live somewhere where the air hurts my face part of the year? Thank god for extra waffle top and bottoms and wool socks..

Also I forgot. Yesterday after the commissioning ceremony was over, one of the brand new 2LTs came up to thank me for speaking and asked if I’d commissioned in the late 90s or early 2000s. I know I hadn’t slept well the night before but late 90s? Really?

Ah yes the delightful time of year where it’s below zero outside so I have to wear layers to stay warm but turn the ac on in the car so I don’t sweat all night.

Managed to not trip or otherwise embarrass myself while speaking at the SIUE Army ROTC commissioning event today. Though I fear my references to Saving Private Ryan and Fury were lost on the new young LTs. They did give me a nice little wooden plaque that I’ll have to figure out to display.

This evening I’m reminded that if you’re a 5 and a 10 is flirting with you it’s probably not for your benefit. The guy across the bar has clearly not heard this advice.

I’m on a boat!

Time for the dinner cruise.

So life is rough.

A random guy from 11th CAV (back in the day) saw my CAV SQDN shirt last night in the hotel bar and now we’re best friends

Hearing Christmas music in a hotel bar in Florida when it’s 80 and sunny out is just weird.

I only got to the airport an hour early today but I also got compliments on my chore coat so it’s not a bad start to the day.

Squadron Ball complete and now to get four hours of sleep before I fly out in the morning. Neat.

It’s my squadron’s military ball this weekend. Which means it’s time for my favorite thing which is giving soldiers/spouses awards and catching up with friends. Also the beer in a Stetson thing, but mostly the awards.

Did someone open a tomb or something? Because work is just ridiculous tonight.

Training a new guy at work on Black Friday weekend during a winter storm watch. I can literally feel my blood pressure rising.