Dateline: Omni Resort at Championsgate, Orlando FL, 28 April 2005
Spent Wednesday writing and penned 3k. Didn't really work.
Submitted the offer on the house, took off on plane to Orlando, fixing the text some on plane and feeling pretty good after long talk with Mark (2300-0015), while I drove rental to Tampa and found my hotel there, provided by Special Operations Command (a nice La Quinta on Dale Mahbry Blvd up from MacDill AFB). Got to sleep about 0130 and then this am Tech Sgt picks me up in van and drives me onto MacDill and to SOCOM HQ.
Set up in same conference room we used to brief out to Deputy Commander last summer on Strategists' Panel. Then I spend 10 minutes just before I speak with my host, the Major General who runs ops and a bit more here. Very nice guy. Caught me at 0200 the night of one of the hurricanes down here while I was on CSPAN. He set me up for the day to brief his staff.
So I go about 100 minutes that morning, doing Q&A until they have to pull me off. The General and I catch retired Gen Jim Dozier's talk at U Tampa on terrorism. You might remember Dozier's ordeal at the hands of Red Brigade. Still used as a c-terror instruction case for US Gov travelers overseas. It was a real pleasure to talk with him.
Stuck in gate traffic on way back, had lots of time to speak with the MGen, who's just got his third star and would appear to be going places. He is a real fan of the book in the best way.
Back on base, I go another 100 minutes with senior staff from the General 's three op-oriented directorates. Great Q&A.
Got another nice Gen Doug Brown SOCOM command coin. This one will go to Kevin. It's one of the nicest I've ever received, with some of the center carved out to shape the specifics of the shield.
After long day with so many special operators, when I had to remind myself that whenever I referenced SOCOM, I was actually talking to SOCOM, I'm done at around 1700. Then back in car and drive to Orlando to drop off car. Then cab here.
Feeling beat. Will grab a bite and get up early to go again on text. Want to turn in bulk of it to Warren tomorrow when I get home. But think I'll be working it still Sat morning some.
But I feel somewhat better after last talk with Mark. Feel like I know what I want to write. The MGen today was helpful in that regard. He's briefed my subject a number of times and provided some good insights. My MGen did a lot of business in Afghanistan in OIF. Like everyone else here, a very impressive guy. I felt very honored to have him as a fan of the book. It was great to reconnect to a solid military audience all day long again.
No word yet on our house offer in Indy. Expecting a counteroffer.