Week 48/49: turkey and travel

 It’s such a weird time of the year. In the army right around this time all units are crossing their t’s, dotting their i’s, and getting everything wrapped up ahead of the American Ramadan where no shit will get done between December 15th and January 4th. Doubly weird in Colorado because half of the working days get canceled or transitioned to telework (playing Xbox while muted on an opsync). Most units don’t schedule important shit between thanksgiving and new years because the give a shit is so painfully low…then there’s mine that sends me to the midwest for a planning conference that could’ve been a series of emails. What’re you gonna do. That’s the main reason i missed my entry last week, by the time i remembered i do regular journal entries i was coming back home before flying out to Chicago for the weekend. Anyways, so where were we?

Right so the thanksgiving week was another run of the mill work and fitness week for the first half before we rolled into my Super Bowl. I may not be my mom or Alex but i still consider myself to be a little skilled in the kitchen and more than anything i love to cook. It is easily one of those things that i may have loved to do while drinking but i had no issue getting in to it sober because i just love it. Pies, turkey brine and butchery, you name it i fucks with it and it was rad. Liz actually liked my cooking too which doesn’t often happen so win win. Then we transitioned to decorating and Christmas movies…call me crazy but for the first time in about 8ish years it felt like my favorite holiday again…that’s a nice touch.

Also did you know that you can turn a pre-lit tree into a normal tree by spending three hours undoing tiptoes and bread clips removing lights from the tree? Because i learned that. Long story short Loki had progressively adjusted the lights over the years to the point that the whole thing went out this year…and a scout is thrifty.

Last week was a work trip to Indianapolis, an army trip for Liz’ deployment to Chicago, and the beginning of Deadcember. Work is work is work but i wouldn’t mind going back to Chicago, that shit was tight! Cold as fuck but we went to the bean and a jazz show, a Christmas market and a Chicago dog place. There wasn’t enough time to call myself traveled of the Windy City but this trip solidified I’d like to go back. We also established that Ohio education isn’t adequate in American history because how have you never heard of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871?!

Still don’t know when my transition is happening to the real world, still not sure what I’m gonna do with my life after, and still keeping my head up and doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. It’s all anyone can expect of us anyways.

I’ll leave you with this. The holidays can be hard for just about anybody but even more so for those who struggle with depression. Call your fucking friends man, whether you are doing great or doing terrible, just open the communication going into the end of the year and start of a new one. It’s important as we get older to continue fostering the friendships we’ve built (because making friends in your 30s is hard) and on top of all of that…it could save a life. I know already I’ve been up and down over the last few weeks but yall keep me sharp and stable. Love you guys, not wrapping this story up any time soon.

NFCWFH / IGY6 / 988 / SCW / 317