Novender

Here's how we ended our last November as a 3-pronged family unit:
Monday: Drove to the Pentagon clinic to learn that a) my Mr. Mushroom condition is improving, so assuming my liver was alive (they took blood to test) I could take more medication and b) no, we can't discuss your back right now, but no, the Air Force doesn't have a permanent waiver and I'm not going to Medically Board you.
While waiting for my medication in the lobby, learned of the shooting of Redskins player Sean Taylor.
That night, Dad came over to help distract Ryan from our chosen task of decorating the Christmas Tree, since that's just not a job for a 2-year-old. We were still plugging along at 8:30, so Dad tried to put Ryan down, but he cried too much for comfort. And Dad doesn't yet know Ryan's current favorite Daddy songs, "Cheese" and "Timber" (from 'Whose Line is it Anyway?').
Tuesday: Turned on the radio in the driveway and learned that Sean Taylor had died. Broke the news to Ainsley. Absolutely senseless. A gloomy day round here.
Cyber Wednesday: Ryan didn't go down for a nap, so he was out by 7:15, giving me time to do some on-line shopping while Ainsley started wrapping Christmas presents. Anything we can do to knock out usual December tasks pre-birth-day.
Thursday: Drove to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to chat with a guy who knows assessments and can teach me a thing or seventy-two. Helpful. Some of this stuff is starting to make sense. Unfortunately the top-level (OSD) guidance changes next year, so I get to learn something else.
The in-laws were in from their nine-day jaunt to Seattle for Thanksgiving, coinciding with Dad's usual Thursday night visit and a fortuitous water aerobics cancellation for the wife that left us with a full table at dinner (salmon, rice, green beans, the best Ambrosia-stolen berry salad on the planet). The next generation talked death and taxes and offered to pay for Ryan's college. Or at least that's how I interpreted it, and I'll hold them to it.
Fryawnday: Ryan woke up pissed (har!) and cold at 1:11am, so while Ainsley changed his bedding, I rocked him back to sleep in my arms (with "Timber", natch). But there was a cat where my pillow used to be, and a pregnant woman "J" pillow where my back usually is, so it took a while to contort myself into a comfortable sleeping state.
I believe I've participated in a Video Teleconference before, but usually a bilateral one -- today I got to sit in on one with SOCOM, PACOM, SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM, and some JWAC organization I don't understand. Then we took our branch NCO out to lunch since it was his last day. Apart from them putting mayonnaise on my sandwich like I un-asked, it was fun, good to get out of the office.
At home, Ryan is battling a new cold and fever, so it took some hugging, snot-rubbing, and Muppet Show-"Manamanah" on YouTube to get him calmed down after waking up from his nap in a foul mood.