January Cleaning

Disney's Aladdin is on TV as I am writing this... what a classic! Hopefully it doesn't distract me too much from much-needed cleaning, since I've been fairly productive so far today. This is only the third day I've had off from work this month, so I'm enjoying it even though I have a lot to do around the house. When you're at work all day every day, the house goes downhill pretty fast.

I'm not going to lie, work has made life not so much fun this month. It's frustrating, because I used to love going to work, and now I dread it. And I hate that. There is so much pressure from so many people to fix everything before the inspection. I can't focus on anything else, though there is so much I want to do outside of inspection prep. I want to do new things with my people, get them involved with the flying squadrons, give them the opportunities they deserve... but we can't do any of that now. It's depressing for me and I know it is depressing for them. Somehow we just have to make it through the inspection... somehow.

Two days before Christmas, Martin's house flooded after a pipe burst in his attic. It was a huge mess, and the landlord's insurance company is still working to determine the extent of the structural damage. In the meantime, he can't live there, so he has been staying with me since Christmastime. That has been nice, because at least I have had him to come home to after long days of work. However, he left on Thursday for a 3-week TDY with his squadron, so I'm on my own again for a while. I'm looking at it as a positive thing, though, I have a list of things I want to get done before he gets back. Finally getting all the Christmas decorations away, knocking out another SOS test, and at least making some headway in the "box room" are at the top of the list.

Another goal is to catch up on posting pictures on Facebook, since I hadn't done that since the TACEVAL. So far, I've made albums from Top Gear Live in London (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=610344&id=701905001&l=32dce4d42e) and our tropical vacation in Tenerife, Canary Islands (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=610724&id=701905001&l=305d74bd13). More to come!

On another positive note, it's getting lighter here! We're getting about 3 minutes more of daylight every day, which doesn't sound like a lot, but is definitely becoming noticable. When I drive to work, if it's not too early, I can see the beginning of the sunrise. Better get back to cleaning, but not without one more thing...

Good List:
1. Sleep. Especially chances to catch up on it.
2. Warm chocolate chip cookies.
3. Fantasy football playoffs! I'm second in our league (and beating Martin!) with two weeks to go. Come on Steelers and Bears...
4. Glee on British cable. I don't have to wait until the DVD for Season 2! We're a few weeks behind, but at least it's in progress. :)
5. Cassette tape MP3 adapter for the Honda. Yay music in the car again!
6. Long hot showers.
7. Vodafone Passport. I can talk to Martin while he is TDY in Italy and not pay an arm and a leg. :)
8. Chicken tikka naan from my local kebab shop.
9. Making plans for after the inspection.
10. Old and new friends in OCF Bible study. The group dwindled a bit last summer/fall, but the family is getting stonger again. :)