Here I am in Baltimore

I could swear that I once promised myself I'd ne'er return to Baltimore, or more specifically, DINFOS, yet I find myself here again.
I'm alive and doing well. I just made it into BWI and am waiting for my rental car to be ready. Once I get it, I will attempt to drive to Ft. Meade and check in...and prepare for the next 20 days.
The trip to Seattle was long, but I was entertained with watching movies almost the whole trip. Once I arrived in Seattle, I called home both to Indiana and to Vanessa. I then spent the next FIFTEEN HOURS getting rested (I actually got 2 hours of sleep), checking email, and watching movies - in between smoke breaks. I'm still at one every 2 hours, though the flights made it more difficult. Once my layover was nearing its end, I boarded my flight from Seattle to Charlotte. Many of the Marines I flew from Yokota with were on the same flight. In three consecutive rows, we had each military service represented. Air Force (me), Army (passenger in front of me), Navy (passenger to my right), Marine (several passengers in my row), and Coast Guard (retired, one row back and opposite side of the plane). We talked the ENTIRE SIX HOURS from Seattle to Charlotte. So, by the time I got off the plane, I was tired from lack of sleep, and trying to bring my IQ down to the lowest common denominator (I'll let you decide which service it was). Once in Charlotte, I headed for the nearest bar for a smoke and some coffee/breakfast (note: in Japan, it was near 8pm) and got to my next gate to wait for an hour. I boarded the plane for Baltimore and in less than an hour and a half, I arrived in my current location.
Interesting side note: while flying up the coast and into MD, I watched the sun dance on the many lakes rivers and streams. It seemed as if God was asking me to take note of his creation called Earth by having the sun's reflection dance across any reflective surface. Sometimes I saw simmers of light at a parking lot or small creek lit up, but other times, it seemed like lightning, the way the reflection followed a river or urban area with several reflective buildings and traffic. It was a neat sight to behold, indeed.

So here I am, waiting and hoping the next month will be worth my time. I already know where I'd rather be, and that's with Vanessa. But, since I can't be there, I'll make the most of my time here, all the while keeping her at the front of my mind and heart.

If you're reading this, ULI - my Butterfly!