Day 70

It was a quiet Saturday but yet, a busy one. Busy all morning in the office with the 70+ projects I am managing from "cradle to grave." That's a phrase commonly used in managing these "erector sets" which essentially means from the beginning conception of the project to the delivery of the products to do the project. I have oversight on it all and today's the day that I assemble the report that gives updates on all of them about where each one stands. I give that report to all the points of contact and also dig into the ones that are "problems children" that I need to get involved in a little more deeper. Sometimes it means holding someone accountable for not delivering as promised or making calls, even to other parts of the country, to find material that I could get and bring in for an emergent project. I am finding the more I do this, the better I am at it and that I really do have a good talent at this kind of work. Not sure if you'd call it project management or what...as I've never been a project manager. I think I'm managing over $20 million worth of stuff in the pipeline...and more daily.  Perhaps a good bullet for a future resume? Perhaps. Managing "stuff" in a warzone for warfighters and sourcing those items from all over the world is a pretty cool thing to hang my hat on...especially if I succeed.  I'm also working a side project which I'll talk about some other time. If I can implement it like I envision, it will save taxpayers (like you and me) millions...upon millions.  The task? How much can I accomplish in the relatively "short" time I'm here? (of course, "short" is all a matter of perspective, isn't it?!)

Back home today, my dad is back in the hospital. I am growing more frustrated with the seemingly bogus prognoses that he gets. First, he's given a "clean bill of health" then is back within 48 hours with the same symptoms. More tests, more tests...and as I go to bed here tonight, he's admitted and I haven't a clue what's "really" wrong. I really hope his Father's Day is spent at home where he belongs with an answer to his problems...lots of lower abdominal pain which radiates everywhere. Lots of nurses in my family including Dorothy, my mom and my youngest brother so hopefully, we get an answer soon. Keep him in your prayers, will ya?

Tonight, I was a slug. The winds were very high and I nearly lost my hat tonight while walking out to pick up my laundry. Sorry...I'm not running in this. It's not the wind itself, it's all the crud it carries and pelts everyone with. So, I grabbed some dinner and ended up in there for about an hour talking to one of our civilians that I work with. He is a retired Navy guy who now works for the agency I am here for. It was great to hear his story about his Navy career and a chance to just listen to someone tell their story. Back home, I listen to Dorothy when she needs an ear and to others like co-workers when they need to talk. I'm a great sounding board and never pass it on. Being out here has removed that from my life and phone calls don't quite cut it for sharing. So, it was nice to just let someone tell me their story tonight...and laugh a little bit along the way.

Well that's about it for tonight. "The Sixth Sense" is on TV and I may or may not watch the rest. I just want to go to sleep and get to Day 71. As I type this, I'm leaning towards getting up super early, running 3 miles to the start of the Father's Day 5K, running it, then running back. I don't have to be in the office tomorrow until Noon so I have all the time in the world but I'll sacrifice my one day of extended sleep to do it. The race starts at 5am and registration is from 4am - 4:30am. That means I need to be running by 3:45am. Yikes. Check back tomorrow!

To all you fathers, Happy Father's Day! To my dad, "Happy Father's Day! I love you and appreciate everything you are and stand for. Please get better soon!"

Goodnight, everyone.