It is a different world.
I have in my hotel room most of the notes and scribbles I had before I disappeared from civilian life. Some of the things I wanted to code have magically appeared on CPAN under the names of new authors.
Now that I came back, I realize another benefit of the Army. If the Army takes me away for 15 months, someone else will do the things I meant to do, and then I do not have to do those things.
Thank you, Army!
