Adventures in the Military Maze

My adventure today started with navigating the bureaucracy of the Air Force by picking up a signed copy of Rob's rips (pre-orders) so I could take them to customer service (an ironic name) and turn in my passport application (only taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30am to 10:30am). Sadly, my application was not typed (no one said anything about typed!) and I could not complete any bureaucracy at that time. The customer service lady who takes the application has the extraordinary talent of not listening to you at all while she explains in detail things you already understand while not answering your question you just asked. I left and actually had to let out an "AARRRGGGHHH!" when I got in the elevator.

I like to think of the military bureaucracy as a maze I have to figure out... "oh, this is a dead end. turn around and try again." In the right frame of mind, it can be a really fun challenge!

Additionally, we just studied about patience in our Bible study (something our culture practically teaches us to be without) and every once in a while we need to exercise our patience skills like working out our muscles, and the military is like my own personal trainer.

After the elevator, my day rapidly picked up. I typed the application, made it to my appointment across town, made some phone calls on my way there and back, picked up my library book that had just come in, and visited the farmers' market, among other things.

I love when this particular farmers' market is here (on 98 by the county fair grounds, for you locals). The prices are great! ($2 for a whole bunch of green beans, $3 for an equally whole bunch of potatoes, and $3 for about 6 huge tomatoes). Also, the people just know stuff. It's awesome! I asked about the tomatoes because Rob loves them here. He says he's never had a tomato that tasted this good, not even from the garden. So... I had to ask what kind they were. I learned that they're called "Better Boy" tomatoes (but I only learned this after having the poor man repeat it at least 8 times until he spelled it because I couldn't catch his southern twang accent! - Rob understands this accent perfectly.) He also said they may taste different because of different soil. Interesting. I also learned that the tomatoes in the grocery store are picked green (no surprise there) but that before they set them out, they gas them with something that makes their color change to red!! (gasp! No!) I'm never buying tomatoes in the grocery store again!... well... I won't like it when I have to! They also know me now because I bring my own bags, isn't that cute?

I also dropped by the kennel we're taking Gus to this weekend in order to, you know, take in his paperwork, but really I wanted to see the facility. Wow! Very nice! I'm actually a little jealous of him staying there because he's really going to enjoy it! It's Naju, for you locals.

Finally, I stopped by the customer service on the base again to try and turn in my paperwork (even though it wasn't in the hours specified, Theresa gave me the go ahead to turn it in if she was there - very gracious). And, VOILA! They knew me and sent me straight back to see her where I turned in my correctly typed application, all my forms, I.D., and a blood sample (just kidding). HALLELUJAH!!! Victory!! I practically danced out of the office.

And to top all this, I had the top down on the Miata today. I love my life.