After three weeks of acclimating myself to and dealing with temperatures around 90 degrees and humidity that often hovered around 60%, things are a bit different here in Portland. It was 34 degrees yesterday morning, and there was ice on the windshield of my car when I left to go to the gym. The high yesterday was right around 50 degree, and yes, it rained (how stereotypical). I've gone from wearing short-sleeve shirts on Monday to wearing a sweater and jacket two days later. I do like the change, though. In a couple days, I'll have re-acclimated myself, and it will all be good. Then on Wednesday, I head back to Houston for three weeks...and I'll have to break out the short-sleeve shirts again.
After three weeks of 12-15 hour days, it's more than a little odd having an entire week off. I almost don't know what to do with myself, but it's a nice dilemma to have. I've been able to get back into the gym, catch up on some reading...and yes, pay attention to the bills that came in the mail while I was gone. Other than that, it's fun to wake up and not have to be anywhere or deal with anyone if I choose not to. Outside of going to the gym, my days have been pretty much a blank. It's good for now, but by Wednesday I think a week will be long enough and I'll be ready to get back at it. This doesn't mean that I'm looking forward to three more weeks in Houston- I'm really not- but this is what I do, I'm good at it, and my services are required there. It doesn't get much simpler than that.
I suppose I should be thankful that my personal situation makes it relatively easy for me to pick up and leave with short notice. No family, no pets, and no significant personal attachment mean that I have the flexibility to disappear within 24 hours, which is what's required of me once I receive notification. I'll be returning from this deployment on November 4th, which will mean that since the beginning of June I'll have been gone for nine weeks. I've even heard rumblings that I might be sent back to Houston yet again, but I'm not one to traffic in rumors, so I suppose I'll deal with that when and/or if that becomes a reality. When it comes to that sort of thing, I don't really have a lot of control over what happens to me...and I did volunteer for this, so if I go, I go willingly. Nonetheless, I am tired of airports, hotels, and restaurant food. At some point, I'd like to stay here and actually see if I might be able to develop something resembling a social life...and perhaps even find an apartment I can actually enjoy living in. Ah, well...all things in due time, eh?
Yeah, I know...it's not easy being me sometimes....
