Hooray! Yesterday I made it back ashore in Okinawa, Japan. I apologize for the lack of post the last few days; I was too busy packing up the shop to spend time on the internet. The once we were done packing, the computer was packed up (duh), and that made it kind of hard too.

Debark was a pain, as always. I wasn't on the flyoff list, so I was senior man from the shop bussing off. I had to keep things running as the aircraft took off, wave after wave. Which is harder than it seems, because we need to keep spare flight gear ready to go at a moment's notice for all the waves, yet get it aboard one of the aircraft on the last wave, at the last minute. I even needed to use some of the spare gear when one of the crew chief's had a helmet lose comms. It's nice to be needed.

The birds gone, we cleaned our workcenter yet again, then waited on a petty officer to come down and sign some paperwork to officially turn it back over. Then we weren't allowed back up there, so we spent a couple of hours chilling with all our seabags on the hanger deck. We were chased onto the flight deck just before the ship moored, so the customs crew could come aboard. In formation, I got randomly picked for additional screening. I don't know why, but they picked a lot more people this time than ever before. The dog finished with the bags, including,  I was told, making a large puddle in such a way as to make is clear it knew it wasn't supposed too, but couldn't hold it. I and the other searchees went back to get our bags and dump them for inspection.

I had over the max bag allotment. I had three seabags and a garmet bag, which is authorized, because I'm one of those overacheavers that takes ever damned thing on the packing list. We're also supposed to have only one 'carry-on' bag, but I had two- a laptop backpack and a sling pack for my camera. I sure as hell didn't want to dump and repack all five bags. So I just grabbed my clothing seabag and my camera bag, took them over the customs area, and dumped and searched them. The agent asked where the hell all my combat gear was, so I put on my best Dumb Airwinger face and lied to her face about it. This was not one of ethical high points, but I was trying to conserve energy and water.

Because, cut off from our shops, we couldn't get any water. After the search, we had to wait another hour, while all the other MEU groups got off the boat. (All our non-junior officers had already flown off, so we had no one senior left to speak for us.) Hauling all the bags down to the pier and stuffing them into an undersized truck to take to base is heavy, thirsty labor. Then it was pack aboard the busses, a hour ride back to base, and unload the truck. I was in Bus One, and the other two busses didn't even arrive until we had unloaded and sorted all the luggage. When they did arrive, we hasseled the other guys, even though it clearly wasn't their fault.

We and our luggage get dropped off a quarter mile from my barracks, at a point somewhat central to the three different barracks that we are spread out amongst. So I took one bag and humped it over, feeling my dehydration levels getting dangerous. But hooray! At the barracks were some of the guys that had flown off, plates of food, and coolers of drinks! (Food and drink courtesy of the squadron spouses and the Family Readiness Officer). I grabbed a ice-cold 16.9 oz water bottle and chugged it, after which I began feeling better. I lugged all my gear up to my room, with the help of one of the guys that had flown off in the morning, who owed me a favor anyway, although he volunteered to help lug without my asking.

Did a quick sort of my luggage, got my compter updating, and checked in with my WoW guild, then I passed out. When I woke up a little while ago, I realized that I had slept carefully in the center of the bed. Whenever I rolled over, I carefully scooted to remain in the same place. Six weeks on a bed two feet wide and seven feet up give one a few safety habits.

So here I am! I think tonight I'm going to find a restraunt that serves delicious food.

Posted by: Boviate at 08:10 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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