Update ... finally.

I'm still at Altus AFB in Southwestern Oklahoma. It looks like I'll be here until mid-September (or this Wednesday if I win the 97 million dollar lottery).

It's incredibly hot during the day here. Instant melt when I step out the door. I do so hate to be cooped up in the air conditioning, so I open the door and turn off the a/c until I just can't stand it anymore. Which is usually noon.

I bought a Sugar Glider. It's a little marsupial critter. Kinda like a cross between a flying squirrel and a kangaroo mouse. She's funny. I haven't named her yet, but I think it's hilarious that a little 4" critter thinks she's bad enough to attack me. Can you imagine the audacity it takes to be only a few inches tall and want to attack a big human? I need to find the perfect name for her. If she were male: I'd name her Quixote! She spreads her little arms out to her sides to look bigger and chatters at me. She's starting to settle down, I'll be handling her within the week, I'm sure.

We are working from 4:00 pm until 2:30 am, and this schedule is kicking my ass. I'm having a hard time making myself sleep past 7 am, but I know that if I don't; I'll be crashing midway through the night. I have to drink a 5-hour energy shot at 9:00 every night to refresh my energy.

Uncle Chuck called me this morning and asked me to call my Grandmother. He will email me her contact information. That seemed kind of strange to me. I didn't think that she even really cares that I exist. But apparently she wants to hear from me...
That's just odd.
I keep up with my Uncle Chuck, and let him know how I'm doing and where I'm working, etc. I figure if anyone inquires as to my whereabouts, he'll get to answer that I'm fine. Regarding the tad bit of affection that I have for those people who are related to me by blood; they know me not: nor I, them.
Uncle Chuck is the one exception, however. He and I have forged a good friendship and I am proud of that. I actually LIKE him.

I know some of you would argue that "blood is thicker than water", and that concept should inspire in me some sort of unequivocal loyalty, but I've been alone in this world for 25 years to forge my own way. No friendly advice, no safety net, no big brothers/cousins to defend me... the isolation has made me a stronger person, no doubt, but now my independence has become an ingrained habit. Hard not to be skeptical of those who want to cleave to me when I'm finally succeeding. I always remember that I was 15 years old when abandoned to make my own way. Just a few months into the 10th grade...
I'm not a resounding success, by any means, but I'm doing just fine. I COULD have wound up toothless with 5 children living in a trailer in the hills and soaking up welfare, or a strung-out junkie on the streets of some big city. That would be the average expectation.

Why, Yes, I DO have abandonment issues... how did you guess?

Okay, this is creepy. Roy Orbison just came on the radio singing "Crying". Ha ha ha. Time to pull my head out of this little pity party.
Frankly, I have no regrets.

C'est la Vie.

Today should be interesting. My Harris contact is coming in from Italy to see how we're progressing. I have no idea when he'll be here. I should take my shower and be dressed and ready for a phone call at any time.

I think I'm in the market for a motorcycle. Rob sent me some links to some cheap but nice bikes for sale in the area. I could pick up a nice little cruiser for $2500. I'm thinking about it. I'm only apprehensive because I would have to transport it in the back of the van while I'm hitched up to the RV.
The gross weight of one of the smaller 250s is about 350 pounds. Plus 1000 pounds on the hitch with the RV. Think my 3/4 ton can handle it? Maybe. Then again, I wonder if extending the frame on the back of the RV for a bike carrier is plausible.
I definitely need to figure out the logistics of this little venture before I just "up-and-buy" a motorcycle.

Anyway, I need to get moving and get ready for my day.
You have a great one.

MsAmber