There were various messages on the answerphone (I never listen – if it is important someone will either call back or send me an email) related to my optometry appointment. The first couple of messages were reminders and George had mentioned Landstuhl. No clue, appointment is local.

I had myself up, oriented and headed out the door in plenty of time. There was no traffic going in the kaserne gate which should have been a warning in and of itself. The parking lot was empty. Almost totally empty – the way it never is other than 0300 in the morning in the old days when there were no inpatients and the CSM was enforcing the parking rules on the staff.

Sign in the clinic? Open at 1300.

Wait a minute! It is Monday. There is a huge screen TV on the wall with some kind of nonsense about American Football. And the penny drops.

This is Superbowl Monday. Not Sunday- mind you that was yesterday. But for Europe which is six hours time ahead of the US East Coast it means that anyone who stayed up for the game would be bleary eyed and unsafe to be in PT formation at 0545. Hence – Superbowl Monday in USAREUR where the world doesn’t kick off till 1300 on that single day each year.

Anyway – I got up for nothing. But while I was up I detoured to the train station in order to review the bidding at Jack Wolfskin. It is the end of the winter sales. Nothing I wanted. Oh – if I needed a new jacket or some ski pants it would have been a great trip, but I am looking for my size in interesting tops or midrange weight hiking pants to replace the pair torn in Alayna.

Sleep and reading sound really nice right about now!