I recently returned from a trip to Aviano, Italy for another consulting job with the USAF. I left the Norfolk, VA Airport on Feb. 12th via Delta Airlines. I flew to JFK Airport in NYC and after a 45 minute lay over, I departed via another Delta flight to Venice, Italy. I arrived in Venice on the morning of the 13th. My luggage didn't come out with all the other passenger's. When I inquired at Lost and Found Luggage, I was informed that my luggage was still at JFK as it had not been scanned in time for the flight. (What do the TSA people at Norfolk do? Do they just send it on ahead without checking it? I don't think so.) So I was told that my bag would arrive on the same flight on the 14th. To get to the Aviano Air Base, you take a 45 minute car ride at 110 mph on an Italian Interstate. After working for the rest of the day on the 13th, I rested and on the morning of the 14th I called the airport to check on my bag. The recorded message said, "we are still looking for your bag." The real-live person I finally got to speak with said, "oh, your luggage will not arrive until the 15th, that flight only flies ever OTHER day." The clothes I left home in on the 12th were starting to get a little ripe. Well, I needed to be in court on the 15th. So I went to court still looking like when I arrived on the 13th. Of course everyone thought it was funny. I even joked that I just stood my clothes in the corner each night and just climbed back into them each morning. We called the airport and "viola!" my bag had arrived. But my consulting ended on the 15th and now I needed to make arrangements to go home. The next flight home was on the 17th. (Remember, it only flies every other day.) So we told Lost and Found Luggage to just hold onto the bag. Then I was taken to the Air Base Exchange where I bought pants, a shirt, underwear, socks, a razor and shaving cream. After I showered and put on clean clothes I knew exactly what that old TV commercial meant when the man said, "Wow, I feel clean all under." So on the 17th, I went to Lost and Found Luggage at the Venice Airport, claimed my bag and walked directly to Delta Airlines where I handed the bag right back to them for the trip home. The only good thing I can see from this scenario is the fact you don't have much dirty laundry when you get home. Needless to say, I will pack differently the next time.

Just when I thought I was finished with my military and government service, a mailing comes along which leads me to beleive I must still have it. I served in the US Army from January 1967 to January 1970 as an Army E-5. This included a year in Vietnam as a POW interrogator. In fact, here is a picture of me from 1968 -



Well, last week I received a letter in the mail which leads me to think I must still have some value to my country. It looked like this -



Inside the envelope was another card asking for pertinent information about me and offering a $10,000 enlistment bonus. It must be serious because that is how much they offered me in 1970 to re-enlist. So I filled it out -



Notice my note to the right, "Just send the money, my wife needs a new jetski." Then I mailed it. Let's see what happens. Stay tuned.

I just returned from Germany where I assisted the USAF in a matter. Normally they house me in base lodging, but there was no room at the inn this time. So they found me a room at Hotel-Rosenhof in nearby Landstuhl, DE. It was my first experience staying in a German hotel. They have nice rooms and an outstanding restaurant. I highly recommend them. You can find more information at: http://www.hotelrosenhof.com/

And no, they aren't giving me a discount for the plug!