go, no go

Since we only have to show up in time to prepare for the flight now-a-days and can leave after we debrief, I've stumbled onto freedom I'd forgotten about. Last week a buddy had his last flight and convinced me to stay out till 2:00 eating sloppy joes and watching movies (thinking I wasn't on the schedule for the next day). I got a call at 6 from my buddy asking if I could come in and help him plan his first nav ride. I definitely didn't mind (still thinking I could go right back home back to bed) but since I was there, when a jet became available they threw my in to fly at the last minute. I franticly rushed to get a plan together, checking what I needed against where it was available and if that agreed with weather & birds (bird status controls our life). 90 minutes later I was told to forget it, they were gonna put somebody else there, and the cycle of panic continued to that student. But now people knew I was there and had nothing to do, so I got to guard the snack bar for the rest of the day. And my day off became an 10 hour day. Not whining (cuz it resulted in me being able to make a plan in a snap and forced me to study) but it was funny, and is typical of the mood shifts.