I know! Shazam! Pow! Blim! Blam!
As I see it, it's a fortunate time for you readers, as you get to reap the pictorial bounty of such lofty, federal government-funded adventures.
But at any rate, this year's two-week "training" stint has us in southeastern Arizona, not far from Old Mexico as it were. Fort Huachuca, to be exact. Yes I know. Quite a silly name for a U.S. Army installation. But if we look to Old Man History, he'll tell us a tale.
You see, the fort is named in honour of famous General Q. Sternbeefer (God rest his soul) whose dying gasps of choking on an overly cooked chimichanga sounded not unlike the word "hwaa-choo-kaaa..."
Hence, Fort HUACHUCA. No lie. Really. Honest. Just ask Old Man History yourself.
But you know, me and fellow band nerds will be chillaxing here for a couple weeks, hammering out some phat Sousa tunes and doing some real armying here and there (though let's not get the idea that we're working that hard out here).
And I have to say it's always a unique social dynamic, the one where you remove individuals from their everyday responsibilities, families, friends, lives and stick 'em together for two weeks. Kind of like a two week vacay from acting normal/adultish in some ways.
People aren't afraid to let their hair down, basically. No kids around. No spouses. No significant others. That kind of thing. Curious how those environmental elements play into our actions. But usually it makes for a pretty fun atmosphere, honestly. Hmm. An interesting behavioral psych study, certainly.
But let's not get bogged down in idle trombonist ruminations, shall we not?
"NO! For the love! Just show us the pics!," the people cry.
Indeed. Let us just get on with it then.
Welcome to Fort Huachuca, er'body.
Love the scenery down here. Seriously just amazing. Fort Huachuca is 1.5 hrs southeast of Tucson, only a burrito's throw from the Mex border.
Desert sunset panoramic. Fellow adventurers take warning: it is DARK in a desert after sundown. Geez. Just FYI.
From the plane coming in to Tucson.
Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista panoramic. Quite the scenic valley community. About 100k peeps in all I think.
Unwinding.
Zoom blur hiking action.
This just tastes like lemonade and smells like citronella candles, no?
Local wildlife. Thankfully no rattlesnake encounters yet.
Moonscape outside the hotel.
Backseat peeps. Kind of unintentionally awkward in the end. I'll take it.
Army regulation mustache. Haha. Nasty good. Originally more of us were gonna cop the 'staches for these two weeks. In the end, seems I'm the only one who delivered. I recommend growing one if you don't want to take yourself seriously. I can't look in the mirror without laughing. We'll see how long it lasts...
Sleepy saxophoner in flight. I couldn't resist.
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That is one awesome 'stache, chubby. ewy.
Love the stache!!!
Sweet mother of stache!!!
For three years I try to convince you to sport the 'stache, and you do it for these army DBs after a week?
I'm feeling the zoom blur. The mustache? Not so much...
Jeeves did not reply. Speech seemed to have been wiped from his lips, and I saw, as I had foreseen would happen, that his gaze was riveted on the upper slopes of my mouth. It was a cold, disapproving gaze, such as a fastidious luncher who was not fond of caterpillars might have directed at one which he had discovered in his portion of salad (...).
"You hurt and disappoint me, Jeeves," I said, siping a couple of sips and getting suaver all the time. "I could understand your attitude if the object under advertisement were something bushy and waxed at the ends like a sergeant's major, but it is merely the delicate wisp of vegetation which others have for years been winning the applause of millions."
Here's to your delicate wisp of vegetation and the applause of millions. I stand with Jeeves, Wooster ole chap.