Doylestown, PA (USA)

I didn't mean to get up early this morning - especially after yesterday's magical mystery tour... I was supposed to fly, though, and I wanted to make sure I was ready for the afternoon departure. Went over to hangar around 0800 and found out the plane was broken. This gave me some time to attend training, though, and give Ollie a little help with work. Ray stopped by with some questions, too - and it ended up saving me some headaches that I would have had next week... Lunch time snuck up on me and Ollie offered to have someone pick up Lee's Hoagies for us (mmmm). Around 1230 I went back to my room to change into my dress uniform. It was then, after there was no way to do anything about it, that I discovered that my shoes had "failed". This is one of the commonly known problems with the shoes the Navy sells us - the soles always end up disintegrating. I've had three or four pairs like this in the last 20 years. I had hoped that I could pick up new shoes at the Exchange - but the place was nearly empty (in anticipation of the closure). So, I had to walk over to the hangar in my nearly soleless shoes. No one noticed (remember that quote from "Shawshank Redemption" ?) but I was leaving a black-dust trail everywhere I went. The Change of Command ceremony (1400) was good again (I was here for the last one they had in AUG 2009) and was over in about 45 minutes. All three guys in the leadership (Scott, Wade & Chip) served with me in Atlanta - and the guest speaker (Sean) used to be our Boss. Afterwards, I was walking back to the room to get out of uniform when one of the guys ambushed me and we went to his office, where nearly all of the "old" guys were assembled. Cups were in short supply, but everyone was enjoying some whiskey and telling stories of the good old days. Before I knew it, it was 1700... I said goodbye and walked back to my room to change (and throw away my shoes). About an hour later I drove up to Doylestown (PA-611 north) to Scott's house for a small party (celebrating his successful tour of duty). Directions were OK but I still got turned around in the dark with the hard-to-read signs and country roads. Ended up being a little late. The party was catered with Moe's (Mexican food) - fitting, actually, since Scott loves that place... I spent several hours there - chatting with his family and some mutual friends of ours from Atlanta. My Boss was there, too - and I had a chance to speak with him without his secretary getting in the way... Around 2030, folks started to leave. I had also been invited to Wade's party - across town. Luckily, I had asked the front desk to give me some directions between the two points - so I found the Crossroads Tavern in Hilltown with minimal backtracking (US-202 south to Hilltown Pike). I made it in time to see most everyone, but they were wrapping up with plans to head back over to Doylestown (!) for more festivities. I stayed for awhile at the tavern - a great local pub/watering hole - chatting with Craig and Ray. Left around 2300 and managed to find Willow Grove again (County Line Road worked well)... Watched some TV before going to bed.