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Next week we are having a Phase II exercise. This means we will be simulating actual warfare conditions, right down to the simulated (but still dangerous) ground burst explosives, the non-simulated (but reputedly dangerous anyway) MREs (Meal, Rejected by Ethiopia), and full chemical warfare ensembles, including the hated mask and garbage-bag booties.
Why am I thrilled about this? For the first time in 20 years, I DON'T HAVE TO PLAY THAT GAME! A-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I final outprocess on Wednesday and thenceforth become a civilian-in-waiting (I don't turn into a REAL civilian until February 1, 2000). I'll have to find a REAL job that doesn't include working for an organization that can't make me stay unless I want to. If the boss asks "Been putting on a little weight, have you?" I can answer with impunity "Yeah! What of it?" If the boss strikes me as a complete ass, I may (at my discretion) tell him precisely that without risking jail. (Mind you, my current commander is perhaps the best commander I've had, but I have had a few in the past who required great diplomacy and tact on my part just to say "Good Day, Sir.")
Civilian life looms and I greet it with some trepidation and a great deal of enthusiasm!
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Actually, could you keep the mask and garbage-bag booties for me? I am mad for devilment this Hallowe'en.
Anyway, welcome to the world of the relatively carefree. No more burnishing your boots to a laquered finish, no more field ratioins when on exercises.
(Crap, I might be making you feel nostalgic.;-) But seriously, I sincerely hope you get great benefit out of this newest part of your life. You've always had this forum's support. Best of luck.
------------------ "Fire, Fire!" said Mrs O'Dwyer. "Where, where?" said Mrs O'Hare. "Down in the town." said Mrs Brown. "Lord bless us and save us" said old Mrs Davis. "I never knew a herring was a fish."
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
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Gaseous Anomoly: A full chemical Warfare ensemble (mask, hood, activated charcoal-impregnated foam rubber-and canvas oversuit, gloves, and overboots) is a highly expensive outfit. If I "lost" them (and they didn't want to press charges for misappropriation of government property), I would be out-of-pocket for several thousand dollars' worth of equipment.
The mask alone costs something like $500.
Besides, the neighborhood kids have seen either their own dad or mom wearing the same outfit, or at least a neighbor's dad or mom. There's a lot of military folks in this town. Almost nobody would be scared except the little tykes you wouldn't want to scare anyway.
I'm planning on dressing up like Herman Munster, but I want to find some big plastic wingnuts to put on my neck instead of bolts. Either that or I will get a big zipper and put it around my neck (as if that were holding my head in place). I'll wear a sport coat and a long-sleeved tee-shirt with blue jeans and combat boots. I may look like a "heavy" monster, but I don't want to look too scary.
One year I dressed up in a black canvas rain slicker with a 2-piece cat-face mask and black gloves. Just answering the door I scared one kid so bad he squealed, turned 180 degrees and ran right into my parked car. Fortunately he wasn't hurt, but his mom nearly wet herself from laughing so hard.
--Baloo
P.S.: Don't even ask about the reaction to my "ancient Scotsman" costume. Suffice to say I don't have the legs for it.
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I think Erector Set- type things have big plastic wing nuts.. but you probably have to buy the whole set.
My Halloween get-together was cancelled.. I'm the only one of my friends who could make it, and the hostess is sick (one of those long-lasting colds), so I won't get to use my costume this year (you don't trick-or-treat much way out in the country, when you have to walk a half-mile between houses.)
I had a black shirt and pants, with two yellow strips of fabric down the middle, and ting plastic cars taped on either side of the line.
Yep, I was going as a highway.
Congrats Baloo. Don't tell off your new boss right away. I hear unemployment is pretty unpleasant.
Ancient Scotsman costume? *looks at his kilt and claymore* WHAT costume??
------------------ 'In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to Liberty; he is always in allegiance to the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection of his own." ---- Thomas Jefferson
[This message has been edited by First of Two (edited October 26, 1999).]
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