Home Again

It's astounding how quickly most of us acclimated to the computer and are addicted/dependent on it for our daily fix. Of course, some folks need this wonderful tool for their work, others to keep in touch with friends and family and the world at large. When we're offline for a while, it's a horrible period of withdrawal, especially when it's not our choice to be offline.

While we were away I was only able to access my messenger service - no email or anything else. Yep, email box is FULL. I sneaked onto the giant squid's laptop when he wasn't looking but it kept yelling "unauthorized Navy site!" Sheesh! Ya think he knew I was gonna sneak onto his laptop? The man is totally lacking in couth.

His lack of couth on this particular trip started at the airport. While we were waiting for our flight he muttered unintelligible noises about how heavy our duffel bag was... Well, of course it was heavy. I stuffed Butterfinger and Baby Ruth bars in it. Those are very hard to get in Pearl Harbor. I found out the grocery stores carry Twinkies but just in case my research data was out of date, I shipped a dozen boxes to friends so I'd have some when we arrived. Can't believe I had to bring my own Butterfingers. Tsk.

When I told the giant squid... he gave me "that look."

"But the bag will be so much lighter when we fly home," I smiled sweetly - something that is not easy to do when you realize that a descendant of Kubla Khan is flexing his hand as if his palm was itching...

Oy!

"It will be jammed packed with the stuff you buy," he announced and rubbed his palm on his thigh.

Double Oy!

"No, it won't," I assured him and dug into the bag for a Butterfinger bar to fortify myself from any further discussion.

"You're not shopping when we get to Oahu?" he asked with a look of profound shock on his handsome face.

"Of course, I'm shopping. But I'll have everything shipped home."

This may not have been my best answer.

The "look" turned into a frown. Both of his brows arched. He rubbed BOTH hands together.

I dug into the duffel and grabbed 3 more Butterfinger bars.

The ceremonies aboard the USS Arizona were both bittersweet and poignant. The Naval officers were in dress blues; the ladies in dresses, hats and gloves. It was a special occasion and the wall of memory plaques humbled me. I know our Veteran's Day was also a Day of Remembrance in other countries as well. Regardless of which country they serve, we owe the warriors who fought to preserve our freedoms a debt that cannot be repaid.

We stayed with friends who are billeted on Oahu. They have a house on the beach and Cowboy and I jogged in the early morning sun. Weather was lovely; chilly in the early hours but great for a morning run. We stayed on our time so when it was 6 a.m. there, our body clocks registered 9 a.m. A couple of times I stripped out of my jogging clothes...

"What the hell are you doing?" Guess who yelled that!

"It's warm. Got too many clothes on. I was wearing a bikini under the sweats.

"Gonna get your tush warmed, too!" Same Neanderthal yelled that warning.

"Yeah, yeah. You have to catch me first!"

I took off like a bat out of Hell.

HE took off after me like a surface-to-air missile.

Swats... then stuff... ensued.

We can NEVER go back to that particular stretch of beach again.

"Was that behavior unbecoming an officer and a gentleman?" I asked when we were completely dressed and walking back to our room.

"You're my Lorelei," the giant squid laughed. "I was unable to resist your siren's song, not your tush, either. A jury of my peers - Naval officers - will understand that and excuse my behavior."

"What about the swats? Will they forgive that too?" I rubbed my butt to remind him he was an uncouthful being.

"We use to flog miscreants in the Navy," he told me.

"I'm not in the Navy," I protested.

"Thank God for that!" he muttered and gave me another swat.

Just for that, I'm loading up that duffel bag with Hawaiian rocks!

~Sar~

P.S. Got home. Pups smooched me and slobbered on the giant squid. Cats came running, rubbed up against me, yawned, and went back to sleep. (The squid is invisible to them. LOL!)