Thankfully, there's no bad news to report today.
I woke up at 5am, showered and got into my blues. Today my class visited the Armed Forces Information Service (AFIS) headquarters, and we had to leave at 6am to beat the Beltway traffic. It sounds exciting, but AFIS houses all the broadcasting folks that I work with on a daily basis anyway, so mostly, it was "death by powerpoint" listening to the same things over and over.
I got home just a little while ago (5:30pm my time). I'm going to take a nap. I was falling asleep in the room, but luckily, I only got tired toward the end of each presentation. It gave me enough time to ask questions, then as my eyes started feeling heavy, I'd shake myself awake mentally, and we'd go on break within a few minutes.
- - - -
I have a phone number!
Call me at 410-674-7700 ex. 2139.
I'm in room 39, just in case you get the front desk.
I'm typically in my room from 5:30pm Eastern Daylight until 6 the next morning, so if you want to call, that would be the best time.
Vanessa, that's 6:30am - 7pm for you. If you call, I'll wake up and talk, even at 2am. Hell, I've stayed p that late for the past two nights anyway. I miss you so much. It's still hard to sleep without you beside me, and I think that's one of the reasons I'm not sleeping well. It's not your fault, I'd just rather be curled up with you than alone in a big bed. I thought I heard your voice today (one of the people in the AFIS building had a similar laugh to yours, and it sent both shivers up my spine, and a smile to my face. That's what you do to me. ULI!
I Love you so much!
11 April 2006
Fear and loathing
Okay, Today was my first day of the Broadcast Manager Course. I'll get to that later, but first, let me tell you about the fear I felt yesterday.
YESTERDAY
I picked up my rental car and drove to Ft. Meade. I went straight to the lodging hotel, but the girl there told me there was "no room at the inn." That made me a little nervous, so I called the military action number my orders have on them in case of an emergency like this. The person on the other end told me there were no availabilities at any of the hotels the Army has agreements with in the area. So I went off base to try my luck, and it just so happened that right across the street from base, was a little hotel. I went there and asked if they had any rooms. the Indian (from India) guy behind the counter had a hard time understanding me. I couldn't figure out if it was because I talk too fast, or because he was drunk (this was at 1:00 in the afternoon). He showed me a couple of rooms and told me they had a daily or weekly rate. I figured I'd take the weekly and try to find a different place to stay. I agreed to a room, but the second I stepped in, I felt VERY uncomfortable. I left the room, and saw my fellow tenants. Not to be judgmental, but it seemed like a crack house filled with tenants. Of the two men and two women I "encountered," all four were either drunk, baked, or seriously underrated (one woman looked like she had just rolled out of bed, but I saw her get out of a car that drove away...you draw your own conclusions (again, it was 1pm). I felt uncomfortable just thinking of leaving my bags in the room for fear someone would break in. I left. I immediately drove back to base and called home; something about that place scared me to death, and I didn't trust my neighbors. Mom gave me some good advice about leaving, and I took it. I tried to find another place, but just wound back up on base, frustrated and scared. I even tried to go to the church and beg a priest for sanctuary, but no one was there (no priest on Sunday?). Then I contemplated just sleeping in my car for the duration of class, but knew it would be difficult, and how would I iron my uniforms, or shave in the morning? So out of desperation, I drove back to the lodging to ask if they might have something open in the future. Once I got there, a different person was at the desk, so I told her I was supposed to be in class starting the 10th, and she looked me up in her file. There had been a power outage earlier that knocked out their computers, so she had a printout of their guest roster. I WAS ON THE PRINT OUT!!! I got my room key and felt SO much better! The next few minutes were filled by first, thanking God, then unpacking the car (comfortably), thanking God more, and then returning to the hotel across the street. I told them I wanted to check out, but the renter agreement said anyone who rented weekly wouldn't get any money back (Mom had told me to check out and call the credit company to hold or contest the charge). I explained as best I could to the drunk Indian that I had gotten a room on base, but he wasn't cooperative. He called his brother who spoke a little better English to talk to me. I told him the same thing, and he pointed to the rental agreement. I told him what I had to, and he finally agreed to refund my credit card, but I'd have to pay for one day. I paid cash and got a receipt for the credit card refund. I then drove back to base and called home again, thankfully and happy. That pretty much ended the day.
This morning was the first day of class, so I set the alarms for very early in the morning and went to sleep. I woke up to the sound of chirping birds. I looked at the clock, and looked again just to be sure I saw the right thing. 8:45am. 8:45?!?!?!!!!! Class started at 7:55. Shit, shit, shit. I would find out later that the alarm volume had been turned down by the previous occupant, but at the moment I was busy flying through my morning routine, shaving, getting dressed, and rushing out the door. I got to DINFOS at 9:05. I immediately reported to the guy in charge of the classes, and luckily, he was in a good mood. It seems there was a problem with another student as well. He had to check in to his detachment (2 hour process) so the class figured I was doing the same thing and waited on me. WHEW! Class started, and over the next 5 hours, we learned about our career field, and what we can expect for our final graded assignment (a 10 minute briefing on an AFN detachment to our teachers, who will pose as a Wing Commander). Tomorrow we're heading to D.C. and the AFIS (Armed Forces Information Service) headquarters to meet the people in charge of us all. So I have to be in school at 6:00am tomorrow. I have reset all the alarms, and asked for a wake-up call.
So that's what's been happening with me. I'll have a class schedule for you all tomorrow so you know what to expect.
YESTERDAY
I picked up my rental car and drove to Ft. Meade. I went straight to the lodging hotel, but the girl there told me there was "no room at the inn." That made me a little nervous, so I called the military action number my orders have on them in case of an emergency like this. The person on the other end told me there were no availabilities at any of the hotels the Army has agreements with in the area. So I went off base to try my luck, and it just so happened that right across the street from base, was a little hotel. I went there and asked if they had any rooms. the Indian (from India) guy behind the counter had a hard time understanding me. I couldn't figure out if it was because I talk too fast, or because he was drunk (this was at 1:00 in the afternoon). He showed me a couple of rooms and told me they had a daily or weekly rate. I figured I'd take the weekly and try to find a different place to stay. I agreed to a room, but the second I stepped in, I felt VERY uncomfortable. I left the room, and saw my fellow tenants. Not to be judgmental, but it seemed like a crack house filled with tenants. Of the two men and two women I "encountered," all four were either drunk, baked, or seriously underrated (one woman looked like she had just rolled out of bed, but I saw her get out of a car that drove away...you draw your own conclusions (again, it was 1pm). I felt uncomfortable just thinking of leaving my bags in the room for fear someone would break in. I left. I immediately drove back to base and called home; something about that place scared me to death, and I didn't trust my neighbors. Mom gave me some good advice about leaving, and I took it. I tried to find another place, but just wound back up on base, frustrated and scared. I even tried to go to the church and beg a priest for sanctuary, but no one was there (no priest on Sunday?). Then I contemplated just sleeping in my car for the duration of class, but knew it would be difficult, and how would I iron my uniforms, or shave in the morning? So out of desperation, I drove back to the lodging to ask if they might have something open in the future. Once I got there, a different person was at the desk, so I told her I was supposed to be in class starting the 10th, and she looked me up in her file. There had been a power outage earlier that knocked out their computers, so she had a printout of their guest roster. I WAS ON THE PRINT OUT!!! I got my room key and felt SO much better! The next few minutes were filled by first, thanking God, then unpacking the car (comfortably), thanking God more, and then returning to the hotel across the street. I told them I wanted to check out, but the renter agreement said anyone who rented weekly wouldn't get any money back (Mom had told me to check out and call the credit company to hold or contest the charge). I explained as best I could to the drunk Indian that I had gotten a room on base, but he wasn't cooperative. He called his brother who spoke a little better English to talk to me. I told him the same thing, and he pointed to the rental agreement. I told him what I had to, and he finally agreed to refund my credit card, but I'd have to pay for one day. I paid cash and got a receipt for the credit card refund. I then drove back to base and called home again, thankfully and happy. That pretty much ended the day.
This morning was the first day of class, so I set the alarms for very early in the morning and went to sleep. I woke up to the sound of chirping birds. I looked at the clock, and looked again just to be sure I saw the right thing. 8:45am. 8:45?!?!?!!!!! Class started at 7:55. Shit, shit, shit. I would find out later that the alarm volume had been turned down by the previous occupant, but at the moment I was busy flying through my morning routine, shaving, getting dressed, and rushing out the door. I got to DINFOS at 9:05. I immediately reported to the guy in charge of the classes, and luckily, he was in a good mood. It seems there was a problem with another student as well. He had to check in to his detachment (2 hour process) so the class figured I was doing the same thing and waited on me. WHEW! Class started, and over the next 5 hours, we learned about our career field, and what we can expect for our final graded assignment (a 10 minute briefing on an AFN detachment to our teachers, who will pose as a Wing Commander). Tomorrow we're heading to D.C. and the AFIS (Armed Forces Information Service) headquarters to meet the people in charge of us all. So I have to be in school at 6:00am tomorrow. I have reset all the alarms, and asked for a wake-up call.
So that's what's been happening with me. I'll have a class schedule for you all tomorrow so you know what to expect.
09 April 2006
Here I am in Baltimore
I could swear that I once promised myself I'd ne'er return to Baltimore, or more specifically, DINFOS, yet I find myself here again.
I'm alive and doing well. I just made it into BWI and am waiting for my rental car to be ready. Once I get it, I will attempt to drive to Ft. Meade and check in...and prepare for the next 20 days.
The trip to Seattle was long, but I was entertained with watching movies almost the whole trip. Once I arrived in Seattle, I called home both to Indiana and to Vanessa. I then spent the next FIFTEEN HOURS getting rested (I actually got 2 hours of sleep), checking email, and watching movies - in between smoke breaks. I'm still at one every 2 hours, though the flights made it more difficult. Once my layover was nearing its end, I boarded my flight from Seattle to Charlotte. Many of the Marines I flew from Yokota with were on the same flight. In three consecutive rows, we had each military service represented. Air Force (me), Army (passenger in front of me), Navy (passenger to my right), Marine (several passengers in my row), and Coast Guard (retired, one row back and opposite side of the plane). We talked the ENTIRE SIX HOURS from Seattle to Charlotte. So, by the time I got off the plane, I was tired from lack of sleep, and trying to bring my IQ down to the lowest common denominator (I'll let you decide which service it was). Once in Charlotte, I headed for the nearest bar for a smoke and some coffee/breakfast (note: in Japan, it was near 8pm) and got to my next gate to wait for an hour. I boarded the plane for Baltimore and in less than an hour and a half, I arrived in my current location.
Interesting side note: while flying up the coast and into MD, I watched the sun dance on the many lakes rivers and streams. It seemed as if God was asking me to take note of his creation called Earth by having the sun's reflection dance across any reflective surface. Sometimes I saw simmers of light at a parking lot or small creek lit up, but other times, it seemed like lightning, the way the reflection followed a river or urban area with several reflective buildings and traffic. It was a neat sight to behold, indeed.
So here I am, waiting and hoping the next month will be worth my time. I already know where I'd rather be, and that's with Vanessa. But, since I can't be there, I'll make the most of my time here, all the while keeping her at the front of my mind and heart.
If you're reading this, ULI - my Butterfly!
I'm alive and doing well. I just made it into BWI and am waiting for my rental car to be ready. Once I get it, I will attempt to drive to Ft. Meade and check in...and prepare for the next 20 days.
The trip to Seattle was long, but I was entertained with watching movies almost the whole trip. Once I arrived in Seattle, I called home both to Indiana and to Vanessa. I then spent the next FIFTEEN HOURS getting rested (I actually got 2 hours of sleep), checking email, and watching movies - in between smoke breaks. I'm still at one every 2 hours, though the flights made it more difficult. Once my layover was nearing its end, I boarded my flight from Seattle to Charlotte. Many of the Marines I flew from Yokota with were on the same flight. In three consecutive rows, we had each military service represented. Air Force (me), Army (passenger in front of me), Navy (passenger to my right), Marine (several passengers in my row), and Coast Guard (retired, one row back and opposite side of the plane). We talked the ENTIRE SIX HOURS from Seattle to Charlotte. So, by the time I got off the plane, I was tired from lack of sleep, and trying to bring my IQ down to the lowest common denominator (I'll let you decide which service it was). Once in Charlotte, I headed for the nearest bar for a smoke and some coffee/breakfast (note: in Japan, it was near 8pm) and got to my next gate to wait for an hour. I boarded the plane for Baltimore and in less than an hour and a half, I arrived in my current location.
Interesting side note: while flying up the coast and into MD, I watched the sun dance on the many lakes rivers and streams. It seemed as if God was asking me to take note of his creation called Earth by having the sun's reflection dance across any reflective surface. Sometimes I saw simmers of light at a parking lot or small creek lit up, but other times, it seemed like lightning, the way the reflection followed a river or urban area with several reflective buildings and traffic. It was a neat sight to behold, indeed.
So here I am, waiting and hoping the next month will be worth my time. I already know where I'd rather be, and that's with Vanessa. But, since I can't be there, I'll make the most of my time here, all the while keeping her at the front of my mind and heart.
If you're reading this, ULI - my Butterfly!
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