I finally got confirmation yesterday that I'll be going home Tuesday (yippee!!). I immediately booked a flight home, and I'll be back in time for lunch. Now for the bad news; after a week to rest and recuperate, I'm coming back. Three more weeks in Hell Houston; imagine my delight. Then again, I did volunteer for this duty, and there is plenty of work to be done. This is what I'm being asked to do, and so I shall continue doing it until my services are no longer needed here. It's going to put a helluva crimp in my social life, and the irony of that is not lost on me. Still, I'll have to hope for a little understanding, because these really are unusual circumstances. Absent that, well...I'm not really quite sure what will happen. Apparently, there are still a few things even I can't control.
On top of this, there's noise being made about bring me back for a third three-week rotation. I can't even begin to process that possibility at this point, and most of that's out of my control, anyway. I have no idea what the future holds, and I really only control what's happening right now...and even that just barely. There are some advantages, of course. I can use the (not insignificant) additional pay to pay some bills (Moving and getting divorced aren't cheap. Who knew??), and my per diem essentially means that I'm not spending any of my own money on food. And my electricity bill will be pretty low...since I won't be home to use any. No, I'm not thrilled about coming back, but I'm here for a reason, and having lived here previously, I can add a lot that no one else on our team can do. I figure that's got to be worth something...and frankly, I'm glad to be able to help. What I'm doing here is pretty small potatoes in the overall scheme of things here, but it is nice to know that even my tiny little contribution can put someone in a better position than they were before they met me.
The real down side of all this is that it's not doing my personal life any favors....
Still and all, I hate this (&^%$#@ place. Being away for a year and then returning has only cemented that conviction. I realize, though, that not liking a place doesn't mean not being able to work there. I'm here to work, and I'll continue to do so professionally and to the best of my ability...all while hating every minute of being here in this miserable, barely habitable hellhole.
Oh...and it really does keep getting better. Now I have to figure out how to vote absentee in Oregon. Elections are vote by mail throughout the state, and I'm going to be here through Election Day, which I'll probably miss my ballot when it's mailed to me. I AM voting this year; I just don't know what I need to do in order to make that happen.
