54 days left on deployment. I cannot wait. But like my dad always told me, "You're going to have to". So on that note, time to continue to make the most of being here (so far I think I'm doing a great job). I know I've done a crap job at keeping up with most of the detail that happens here on the ship and on shore. Sorry. Sometime I'm just taking it in, other times I feel like it's really not that big of a deal and then others I'm just too tired/lazy to write it down. Amen for my great picture taking skills. No thanks to gov't computers and the rules against using thumb drives to upload pictures. Darwin will be here soon (7 days exactly)...and I will get back to uploading.
This third and last mission in Ambon Indonesia has been slow so far. I'm sure later I will kick myself for using that word but honestly I don't care. We have a mission here, it's to help as many people as we can. If this means I have to work a little harder because I have 10 patients...then that's what I'm here to do. Please forgive me if I start complaining in 2-3 days...I'm already on my 3rd night and have quite a few more to look forward to. Actually I've been on night shift the whole time in Indo. When we transit between mission sites it's only a day or 2, so not enough time to switch back to day shift. No worries...only downfall is the ridiculous delirium I enter at about 0430 every morning and the following diarrhea of the mouth (just a figure of speech...maybe it's a medical thing). I get sooooo hyper when I get off shift and everyone is around and up and ...yeah. I am going to start working out after work every morning just so I can sleep. On a very positive note, I am reading a lot more since I can't sleep. Just finished
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Loved how it was written, not so in love with the story line. Just a little too much for me. Next is
Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love). I am already half way through it since I actually started reading it a few months ago. But I am going to start over and read it cover to cover.
Back to the good stuff...
I've made some more life decisions while enjoying the separation of deployment. Without the standard stresses or responsibilites I have been able to really reflect on what I want to do with my life and what makes me happy. Part of pursuing this happiness will be going back to school. Hopefully I can start in the Spring (I will be getting back too late in the fall to pick up any serious credits)... Also I will be up for orders in the fall so will hopefully have an idea of where my Navy life will be headed. This deployment was a test for me. I wanted to see if I could sacrifice the time away, and although I'm sure this is the easiest deployment I will ever be on...I could do it again. Especially if that meant securing the benefits the military has to offer for me and my family. Ask me again tomorrow though...and after I have a child...and after I've deployed to the sand. Semper Gumby, right?