I Thought Birthdays Meant Older AND Wiser

Not the best way to start a birthday...

So, last night, as usual, I forgot to wash my PT uniform until just before bed. This is par for the course, as the last thought on my mind when I get home is doing laundry, honestly. This isn't a lazy guy thing, I just know that I have clean clothes to change in to when I get home, so little thought goes into the mostly empty laundry basket. But, usually before bed, my thoughts turn to anything special I need to remember or plan for on the next day. PT is one of those things. So, just before bed I'll throw my PT clothes in the machine with whatever other clothes are in the basket that can be washed safely with my uniform. Then I'll ask my wife if she can throw them in the dryer when the cycle is complete. My wife usually does laundry as necessary for us, but since I need PT clothes almost every day, I make a point of at least getting them into the machine and started.

Well, last night, I was so tired, I drifted off to sleep before my wife got home from work. When she came in to tell me about her day, I woke up enough to chat with her for a little bit, but I didn't remember to let her know I had clothes in the washer (the cycle was compete by the time she got home, so she never heard the machine). She went into the living room and worked on her homework and watched a little tv to unwind before she came to bed, never knowing that I had a wet uniform in the washer.

So I got up this morning and didn't have a clean, dry uniform to put on. Now, this isn't a show stopper. The Army requires that I have multiple serviceable uniforms and I do. But, we're only required to have one cold weather set and that's what was in the washing machine. I do have an extra jacket, but it's my old one and the zipper tab is broken and the liner is shredded, so it doesn't provide a lot of warmth. I got dressed, cursing myself the entire time, and headed out into the cold Monterey morning (we had frost this morning and my windshield had to be scraped). It wasn't snowy or anything, but it was chilly with just my PT shorts and jacket. Fortunately, Thursday is gym day, so once we all met up, we moved into the gym and worked out indoors.

On a positive note, I only have one class today and I'm taking off early after that. It is my birthday, so I don't feel too much guilt skipping out of an afternoon sitting in the office with nothing to do. We're getting close to the end of the second semester and most of my specific MLI requirements are done, so I'm just helping out here and there with the general classes.

When I mentioned to the MLI that shares an office with me that it was my birthday (I haven't been keeping it a secret, but I also haven't gone out of my way to tell people), he wondered why I was even here today in the first place. He offered to take my class, but he is actually taking a test this morning during the class hour I'm scheduled. But, he also offered to take my lock up duty for me today. I mentioned that I didn't want to ask anyone originally, since I'd forgotten until this week that I had lock up and my birthday, but he told me it was no problem. So, now, I'm going to be leaving at lunch and not have to worry about getting back here tonight to lock up. My wife got the day off from work and our original plan had us eating an early dinner so I could get back here in time. Now, we don't have to worry about that. Very cool!

So, it didn't start out so well, but it looks as if things are getting better as the day goes on.

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