Nomad Life - Day 39

I awoke, refreshed, at 0530 and started teleworking very soon after eating a light breakfast (snacks).  Mollie was up and about about an hour later and we talked a bit while she was getting ready for work.  She made some sandwiches for herself and Alex and even made one for me to eat later (while I was still working from their apartment).  We talked about my upcoming week in Virginia Beach and Erin's wedding celebration (scheduled for Friday).  At 0730, Alex and Mollie left for their jobs and I stayed behind (with the dog), working on my computer.  The morning flowed along smoothly and Maple kept me company during my meetings.  I took a short break for lunch (sandwich and snacks) at around noon but kept on working until 1300.  After packing up the car and reluctantly saying goodbye to (a sad) Maple, I departed Mollie's and drove to the nearby FedEx shipping office.  When I arrived, I sent my old work laptop back to the logistics center (1305).  From there, I got on I-95 and headed south - along the way, I listened to audiobooks.  I then switched to I-295 and, finally, I-64.  It was another beautiful day (sunny, 70s, breezy).  Traffic was light and, with the exception of some construction between Richmond and Williamsburg, I made very good time.  Sadly, this "easy" drive took a nasty turn just before I arrived at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.  I ended up parked (literally, and with the engine turned off) for about 30 minutes because of a blocked lane and/or closed span of the bridge.  Eventually (1545), the road opened up again and I was able to cross from Hampton into Norfolk - whew!  Seeing additional (rush hour) traffic building, I got off the Interstate and took US-60 (Shore Drive) towards the west.  That road was full of potholes, parked vehicles (blocking lanes) and several long traffic lights but it beat the idea of sitting in a traffic jam.  By 1600, I reached the gate for Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and, a bit later, I was on base.  To reach my lodging, I drove through a pretty residential area that I vaguely remembered from my summer military training (see 1989) - the kids were out in force and it seemed like a good place to grow up.  I had a reservation for the Navy Lodge and was able to get quickly checked into my room - immediately, I resumed my telework day.  As I was wrapping things up, Erin started to text me (about plans later in the week) and I asked her if I might be able to come visit her.  She agreed and, after I ate some some dinner (rice dish) I prepared in my room, I departed the Navy Lodge just after 1800.  Along the way (Independence Boulevard and Virginia Beach Boulevard, I listened in to my Knights of Columbus Council Monthly Business Meeting and got some gas at an Exxon station on Rosemont Road (1825).  Backtracking to the north, I hung up on the telcon early and found Erin and Austin ready to receive me as their guest.  I'm not certain, but I might have been the first out-of-town visitor they've had since they were married last week...  Erin offered me some apple cider donuts (mmm...) and we played with Kiki, who'd started out very suspicious of me before giving me her undivided attention for the rest of the evening.  We took a walk in the pleasant evening air and I got caught up on all the details about Erin's grad school projects, her new internship, wedding reception plans and other news.  We ran into some young parents who were teaching their kids to ride bicycles and it brought back memories of our own family's experiences in the same neighborhood - Kings Grant / Little Neck is a wonderful place to raise children!  Back at Erin's house (after reaching my 10K step goal), I ended up staying for more conversation until almost 2100.  We made plans for activities later in the week and I then drove back to the Navy Lodge.  The main gate was closed by then but I found another way onto the base - I reached my room again by 2120.  By this point, I was quite tired and hoped to go right to sleep.  Only then, though, did I figure out that I'd forgotten to do my Duolingo for the day - the resulting exercises and some late night reading kept me awake until just before 2300.  Very glad for my comfortable room and bed - this should be a great week!