Time Drawing Near

With everything happening around me, it's hard to concentrate. It's hard to write code and come up with ideas when thoughts of mobilizing dominates my thinking. As times draws nearer, I'm finding that I'm having less and less time to do things effectively. Conversely, I want to do a good job at work, but I feel guilty as I should be devoting more time studying the region and the issues I'll be immersed in. Even more so, time with my wife, I'm desperately holding on to. Nothing like a mobilization to turn up the urgency for time.

In some sense, I'm honored and looking forward to this mobilization. I'll get to do 'The Job' and serve with other Soldiers, most of whom, I have known for some time now. Yes, BAH, additional allowances, and tax-free incentives are nice, but it's not like I do this for the money.

In another sense, I'm going to hate being away from the wife and home. Honestly, I have a pretty good life as I have a home in a nice community, a decently paid job, and close friends and family. It's going to be hard not being homesick during this deployment. I'm certain that others would feel the same.

As time draws nearer, I feel like I'm pulled in all directions with my head spinning at times. I'm also finding that very few people can really relate to this. These coming months will seem like a flurry of activity. In all this, I yearn for simplicity.

Living in the Clouds

For those of you who haven't seen our new place, let me describe it to you. We live high on a large hill that can see well into the SF skyline or the Pacific. On one side, we're overlooking Guadalupe Canyon, a mountain pass that cuts through the San Bruno mountain. However, we've found that those clear days can be somewhat rare. Almost everyday, the days are very foggy. So foggy in fact, that you may run down a jogger or careen into the other lane if you weren't driving carefully.

What's funny is that when you leave the Top of the Hill, to places like South SF or even Brisbane, the places are sunny. Seems like where we live is where all the clouds hang out and don't seem to go anywhere else. It's like we're living in London or something. It's kind of a novelty, really. Of course, I might be losing my senses because I often forget that it's summer. Yes, it's that serious. Come on over and see for yourself. Bring a jacket while you're at it.