Drill

Many years ago, 1988-1994, I spent one weekend a month in a green uniform with USARMY (Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet) patch above one breast pocket, and Souilliere over the other, a beehive on my sleeve. Those weekends were, for the most part, boring beyond belief, loosely filled with busywork, round-robin 'classes' on military skills (Step 1. Gather equipment and materials) and hiding out from the people supposed to make us at least appear busy. All day Saturday and Sunday, with the occasional Friday evening drill for added tedium.



(Yes, it does look like a turd.)


We spent a lot of time shooting the shit, gossiping, reading, and if we found a really good hiding place, napping. Studying for those of us in school, although we certainly tried, proved most difficult. Hard to spread out, interruptions, most of all the idleness of 400 people makes concentrating nearly impossible. I don't know why.

And after two days of this, we would go home completely exhausted, physically sore and mentally numb. Losing that weekend made the following week such a slog.

Sometimes, we did have SOMETHING to do. Such as set up the hospital out at Camp Williams, which took all day. Then, when told we got to go home as soon as we dismantled it on Sunday morning, we worked madly, and always got it away in no time at all, whoosh. No one sat nor hid, amazing what motivation does for teamwork. Paperwork weekends weren't better than idle ones, since they wound up nearly as empty. Vaccination weekends meant everyone felt ill and feverish on Sunday, and the lying down hideyholes were well taken.

The Pioneer Day parade was a refreshing change, especially since I could walk home from the park at the end of the route.

Today, we had one surgeon, Dr. Slow, in two rooms, and more than enough staff. With the long gaps between turn-overs I only had one lunch to give.* Total of four cases, finished the second one at 1400. I brought a book, but found I couldn't focus on it. Took me a long time to do the crossword in the paper, and couldn't solve the sudoku. After the last case started, I clocked out. Now I'm feeling worn out, having done buggerall.


Oh, and swearing, that was baseline.

*How many?