Wow, thanks for the welcome back, everyone! It's nice to be here
Looking forward to some riding now that I have my toolbox and pump - I drove to Bremerton and picked up my final shipment myself today (there was a paperwork problem that was delaying the shipment, but I adapted and overcame like a good Chief should
). Hopefully tomorrow I'll meet up with
Patrick who's in town and do some riding on Friday.
Gaucho777: thank you!
Gary: good for you! I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in what you come up with after playing with your new Dremel. Please do share when you get the chance!
BG: oh, it'll still be the same - I suffer from incurable OCD and have spent 26 years in the military, after all!
Scott: yes, and I'm already getting to the models. Will keep me really busy come winter! But the "big adventure" has turned into a few smaller ones as the medical appointments put paid to my original timeline. Oh, well - there's still Cino in September. And Sacha will be here in about a month!
Chrome Molly: thank you - I like a minimalist look (except for behind closed closet doors, of course).
Patrick: thanks - looking forward to meeting up with you in the next day or so!
Italuminium: thank you. Most of the boxes have shoes, and most I can actually fit into, which is a bonus. But I like collecting shoes as well, and there are some tiny pairs there.
Thrifty Bill: if I ever get out your way, you're on. One blonde floozie is all it will cost you (Scott would get that one...)
Will: definitely! Hope we can get John, you and
Saguaro all together for a few miles. You can mount up on your new Tommasini!
RS: Sacha comes out in July, so the place, while nice, isn't yet a "home", but I'm not complaining. Everything fits, so that's a real bonus!
decotriumph: thank you! And you know, I'm going to be thinning the herd a little in the coming months...
Tim: exactly! Although I'm not sure if I was already OCD before I came in or developed the character flaw over the past 26 years...
dailycommute: well, I'm single now so I don't have the issue a lot of you guys would probably have, but I've gotta agree with you - they integrate well. As far as the closet, the colors were accidental, but I do keep long and short sleeves separate, and of course my old uniforms will have their special place separated from everything else. I'm sentimental like that!
Kactus: thanks! And it's funny you say that - I moved some stuff around and was able to fit the Davidson in the closet! Might be able to get one more in there, too; hope we can get together for a ride sometime out here.
Tom: derned if you're not spot-on about that - I forgot all about updating my locale! Thanks for the reminder.
Pastor Bob: yes, as
Kactus notes, Bangor WA over on the Kitsap Peninsula. Although after reading so many Stephen King novels, getting to Maine someday is on my Bucket List.
Sofia: thank you!
Robbie: ha ha, actually it's probably not as bad as that. I had the distinct pleasure of Transitioning one of my IT1s (who had just arrived last July) to Chief while doing my last Season. He took over for me and I've been in constant touch - he's doing a great job and is the go-to man for the upcoming CSI Inspection. I left behind a well-trained and motivated crew, and it seems they're carrying on as if I were still there - that's the best compliment they could give me, you know? I'm going to have to watch out for that accountability thing in the real world, and that's sad, but... As for the DD214, going to have to do that - and put an original in a safe deposit box, too, I reckon. Believe me, they made it VERY CLEAR that it needs to be registered and not to lose it or else! I got that message loud and clear.
MA: thank you - nice to be back, and nice to move onto something new. It was a great ride, tho!
Saguaro: thanks! I've been coordinating with Will and spoke to John before I left last time, so I think we'll do it. Looks like we'll have two Tommasinis on that ride.
satbuilder: I would have to say yes, although slamming around London back in the mid-90s was an experience I'll never forget. I mean, I grew up here so I have fond memories of learning to ride and taking my first medium-distance rides back in the day around here. Then I made a number of summer vacations here with a bike, and finally, when I got stationed here in 2001, I just went all over. Got some great riding pals, super scenery, temperate weather (well, at least in the spring and summer). So, yeah - I like the riding here best. And I'll post up some more pics of the gold Mexico here in a day or so for ya!
So, a few more days of getting some minor things done with the car and having the shippers pick up their empty boxes, then I jet off for Phoenix on the 21st. Looking forward to riding some with my pals in the Valley of the Sun!
DD