by MustBTVDay twenty of furlough. I woke early, grabbed my keys, and headed out to drop off Ol’ Blue for the final round of her 60,000-mile maintenance. She’s earned it. After all the miles, adventures, and questionable road snacks, she deserves a tune-up more than most members of Congress.
The morning, however, took a dark turn. AWS went down. The digital backbone of civilization collapsed, taking with it the app I use to order my coffee. I was forced to walk inside, stand in line, and speak to another human being, a horror I thought we’d left behind in the early 2000s. I ordered my Venti White Chocolate Mocha like a caveman discovering fire for the first time. The barista smiled. I think it was pity.
Back at HQ, the Air Command and Staff College coursework marches on, still fully operational despite the ongoing government shutdown. Bureaucracy may sleep, but academia never does. It’s the final week of the course, which means more reading, more writing, and more pretending that “strategic reflection” isn’t just me staring into my coffee and hoping the essay writes itself.
Remington is thrilled to have us home again, though she’s been sulking since Ol’ Blue left for the shop. Mittens sits near the laptop, judging my study habits, while Tabby has relocated to my backpack like she’s daring me to leave again.
Morale check: steady with minor frustrations. Truck in the shop, coffee restored, coursework relentless. The Living Room Republic remains online, even if AWS doesn’t.
