my movers are awesome

Today is the first day I am dealing with movers and it was a good day.  I take my time get to the POD storage facility expecting the movers to get there around 9,10 or 11 but what a surprise to me they're already there when i pull up at 0807.  Great now let's see how long I will be stuck here, total 3 hours NICE.  I have a lot of running around to do.  GA requires kids to have their dental records to enroll so I have to work on that, get some food as we have none in the hotel, try to get my hair done sometime while i'm here (i know not really important but it will be the last time i can get it done as i haven't found anyone better that Tracy anywhere).  I also want to go get a pedicure sometime in the near future from my favorite spa here, G'day as again she is great, plus I can't find the color she uses anywhere I will have to buy some off her.  I decided also to stop by Toyota and see how much the timing belt and water pump are going to cost ( i have already mentioned the ridiculous price they want to charge in another blog but as a reminder they want about $850-900). So I stop by the Toyota place I use to use and low and behold they will charge me $600, I have to find time to get that done here.  Also I found out that the power steering fluid is suppose to be red so the other place got one over on me when they told me it wasn't suppose to be and i paid them to flush it and fill it.  That seals the deal I wont go back there again.

Side note, the damn Langley Inns, SUCK, the TV remote did not work, the room is really badly designed and the DVD player doesn't work.  Boy was K mad at me, cause he wanted to finish watching the movie we were watching in the car and he couldn't when we go into the hotel room.  oops.  And the internet sucks too.  

I asked the movers if they could load my stuff tomorrow so that we can get out of here on Wednesday with plenty of time to get to DC as K is testing for his white belt in Tae Kwon Do and that starts at 1700hr ( I want to take off from here nlt 1100hr).  If it goes like today (please please let it), we'll be on track.  I also arranged for the car to be taken car of in the morning tomorrow (so much for having the credit card paid off between tires and this plus a few other things it's right back up there, damn it, at least i had one statement with a zero balance).

I also managed to get in a pedicure appointment for tomorrow at 1300 (hope the car is done in time) and the dental records will be ready after 1400hr.

I hope to up-date tomorrow after I see how everything goes.

GO HEELS!!!

We made it to Chapel Hill and back even with all the traffic.  Oops did I skip ahead.  This weekend was Carolina Kids day with the football team so of course we had to go.  We went to meet the basketball team last year and it was great.

Ok so we head out around 1100ish a little later than I wanted but the thing doesn't start until 1645 so plenty of time right, WRONG.  I swear DC has the worst traffic ever and it NEVER ceases.  It took us almost 2 hours for approximately 20 miles.  I could just see us getting later and later.  Even after traffic let off a little it still was just damn congested most of the way until past Richmond and then I had some space to make up for time lost and boy did I ever :)

We made it right on time :) Go ME.

So of course there is mass crowd bigger than the basketball one I think.  It's wasn't as organized as the BBall one though so who knows.  We finally get the few free things and some snacks and head out to the football field where the inflatables are and there is already a ridiculous line but of course we have to wait in it since K loves the inflatables.  While he's in line I go off to the on-field tent that is selling UNC stuff I of course have to buy.  I get some good deals actually so i'm pretty pleased.  OK it's finally time to get the autographs and now the masses gather at the ropes ready to  bombard the players.  Holy cow are there a lot of players like 65 or 70.  K was getting impatient as was I.  So now he heads to the QB and gets most of them to sign and then off to WR table, as we're going through there though one of the coaches says we have to go to the other side of the tables and so K is like i'm done and wants to go back to the inflatables.  Fine by me, i'm ready to get away from all these peoples.  So now the lines aren't as long and he gets to do the ones he wants.  Finally around 1930 I say it's enough and we head out, I still want to hit the student store.  By the time we get there, there is only 15 minutes left until closing and they have turned off most of the lights WHAT, i can barely see what i'm grabbing.  So I buy a bunch of random stuff in random sizes, and hurry out of there.  The bill, $436 odd dollars way over budget.  Good thing is though, when we get to the hotel and i try the stuff on and check some of the stuff out, there is at least $150 going back.

Did i mention the hotel is only 2 miles from DUKE, i thought we might get booed at while driving around there, luckily when we're checking in the receptionist admits she too is a UNC fan and we are safe.  She was great.  Of course we are hungry and she recommends the restaurant across the street.  Did I mention Sye was with us on this trip.  K's godfather.  Anyway so we headed across the street and order some chow, while waiting for the found K is exhausted and falls asleep in my lap, oh how sweet.  Sye suggests I get some champagne as i'm not driving so of course you can only order champagne by the bottle and i get what he recommends.  It wasn't bad, not that i can remember the name.  Of course being the person I am I finished the whole bottle myself, he had a pitcher of beer he was working on.  We had a great time chatting, just like old times.  So just before we're leaving the restaurant and i took my last sip out of the glass (by the way how do you have champagne in a restaurant but no champagne glasses, i had to drink form a wine glass, is that even legal :)  And of course since I'm in a goofy mood, i decide to end the night Indy still, there is a part in one of the movies where he goes to get an artifact from his old girlfriend and she has a bar where she is having a drinking competition and every time you finish a shot you have to turn the glass upside down so that the shot counts, so as we are about to get up to leave, I turn the glass up side down and the bottom pops off the glass, WHAT.  So we now scurry quickly out of there.  On the way out Sye says to the waitress it wasn't me and she just had a confused look on her face.  We were cracking up the whole way back to the hotel.

So the next morning we get up and of course have to head back to the student store so I can return some stuff but now that I can see I start all over again and end up buying more stuff anyway.  I love the student store though and you can't buy on-line from them so I have no choice right.  Anyway we finally hit the road and everything is going well until we hit Richmond.  I decide I want some Carrabbas and head into town and Sye's not hungry and goes shopping by the mall right by it.  I am hoping to convince K he doesn't want McDees by going there because I know he likes the food, it didn't work, he doesn't get McDees very often so there was no way he was giving that option up.  Anyway once we are done traffic is still bad, once we finally get out of Richmond traffic shortly after we hit DC traffic of course.  We finally make it back home and I get to go through all the stuff again YEAH.

That's about it.

GO HEELS!!!!

Started out bad but ended not so bad

Ok i'm finally back at work today just long enough to get some bad news.

So everything was looking like it was on track, I got the information on my move for Alexandria and I heard my RPA (whatever that is) is going along nicely.  I then let the boss know my last day will be Tuesday based on all the move stuff and he comes back with a not if the job offer doesn’t come through, ok so now I’m paranoid.  Does he know something I don’t.  Damn it to hell, what’s next.  So now I’m trying to get everything in order anyway just in case everything falls into place because it’s better to be prepared and not have to be then to be scrambling.  Of course I only have an hour because we have to go to Ft Meade for our APAC tour and I’m running out of time.  Then I realize I don’t even know where we are going, no address or anything, lucky the Maj emailed me back in time with directions, it was close. 

So now I’m running out the door because with DC traffic you never know if you’re going to get to where you need to be on time if you don’t leave extra early.  As I am stuck in traffic on my way to MD, I get a call, it’s the official job offer BUT they weren’t aware of my GS 11 pay.  They ask me to send an email accepting the position naming the salary I am expecting.  Have to make sure that’s in writing, but of course I can’t do this until way later in the day as I have no access to a computer while heading to MD.  I’m anxious to get that email out so the paperwork can start rolling.  I finally get back from MD around 1400hr and I still haven’t eaten yet, stupid DC traffic and shoot off the email.  Thank goodness the person is still in the office and she replies with a confirmation of the salary I wanted GS 9 Step 7 and the position.  So it looks like things are flowing.

Oh yeah did I mention my boss is going to be gone the next week so if there is a glitch I’m in big trouble.  Hope nothing goes wrong between now and then.

What, I'm posting this at the dealership cause they have free internet

OK so here’s the up-date for now.  I moved out of my friend’s apartment and into the hotel.  It is not a great hotel but it could be worse. At least there is a separate bedroom and a full kitchen but this morning there was an ant in the bathroom.  WTH on the 8^th floor, how did it even get up that high.  Did I mention my legs are killing me?  I’m trying to figure out in what part of the move did I use my leg muscles so much that they are sore.  And of course my back wasn’t doing well either.  Oh we had a king size bed in the hotel and I still haven’t figured out why I still end up with barely enough bed to lay on when K is in it with me.  I pushed him all the way to the other side before I went to be but when I got up this morning I was almost hanging on for dear life to stay in the bed.  The breakfast that comes with it isn’t that hot either and I don’t mean the temperature; I mean as in not that many choices and no good ones on top of that.  At least at the Comfort Inn you can make your own waffles J

Anyway yesterday was also my last day with Kristen, work is going to be so boring without her there.  I wont even have anyone to walk to work with my anymore L

This week hasn’t gone to well.

Anyway, even though I turned down the Korea job, the hiring official emailed me asking me if I was worried about being essential personnel as a single parent, and granted yes I was but that’s not the only reason I turned down the job.  I am also worried about the health of both my parents and want to be able to get to them pretty quickly.  I just thought it was really nice of her to email me and try to help me through the EE issue.  I haven’t had a chance to email her back and let her know that wasn’t the only issue.  I really would have liked to go to Korea.  On another note, the AF job I was so excited about is still wanting to know if I am interested, and even though I am, I am excited about going to Ft Gordon, and I am just not prepared not to give it a try.  I am really sad about turning the AF job down I have wanted to work for them so long but in the long run I think it is a better choice even though one of my co-workers said I would get along great with at least one of the people in the AF shop L Damn it sometimes too many choices is not a good thing especially when they are all good.

Let’s move on to my car.  Oh yeah it’s time to talk tires.  So after extensive research on Consumer Report (I love that site), I decided on getting the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S P215-60R16. I already know Michelin is not going to be cheap but I didn’t expect my bill to come to over $700 and I went to Sears (Costco was actually more expensive tire price wise anyway). And I still have to get my water pump and timing belt changed.  I haven’t asked how much that’s going to cost yet, because I may not like the answer.  Last time I had it done on my Honda it was about $500-600 so I’m hoping that it’s about the same for the Camry.  We shall see.  If I get a chance I may have time for an oil change today (then I can ask how much the other stuff will cost).

So back to Sears, so far (and I am actually still at Sears while writing this) I have not been pleased with the service.  My car looks like it is just sitting on the lift with nothing being done to it.  They know I’m waiting, even if I am a little doped up from my back meds.  I just want to lay down on their floor and go to sleep J they need cots for their customers who have to wait longer than 2 hours (by the way that’s what they told me it would take and it has already been at least an hour and some change).  Oh did I mention when I asked the guy about giving me a discount based on other services I had had done at Sear within the last year (this is what they told me before to keep my receipts so that could be subtracted as a savings) he said no and said I gave you a rebate for you to mail in (like he’s doing something for me, it’s from Michelin not them). I am regretting coming here, I should have gone to CostCo and paid the little extra.  (At least I could have walked around the mall and even gone to Starbucks to get some tea).  Oh well too late now.

Ok so by the time I actually post this I will have left Sears but all this still applies. (They could at least have free wireless internet, it’s not like they are close to anything else so nobody would sit outside trying to steal, I mean borrow it).    After I get my bill, I see why it’s costing me so much, the dude tried to be sneaky and add some extra warranty to the tires for almost another $60 WHAT, I made them give me a refund so now the cost was $650ish and I should get a $56 rebate.  Now it’s actually costing what I expects $600.

So now for more bad news, the cost for my Camry’s timing belt and water pump approximately $850-900.  Should have stuck to the Honda, yeah right.

One good thing about this Toyota dealership, they have free internet access for their customers.  I was reading some reviews about this one and they weren’t that great but the service I have received so far has been pretty decent. J 

Since I am writing from the dealership, you guessed it I am getting my oil change done.  Looks like the timing belt is going to wait until next week though or at least once my voucher gets paid (if I'm lucky it will be next week).  I may even get it detailed here because one thing the reviews did say was that the person at the dealership did a great job.  I will post a pic if it looks awesome after the detailing see if it's worth the hundred it will cost.

Finally things are getting rolling

So even though I got my orders on Friday I couldn't get an appointment with the Transportation office until today.  And I wasn't even sure I was going to get there.  While there the fire alarm started to go off at least 5 times, WHAT THE.... but it didn't so I was able to have my appointment and of course nothing can ever go smoothly.

Since I am have a split pick-up I was told I might have to cover partial costs on one of my shipments WHAT!!!!! They are always trying to get you to pay for something.  Because my time frame is so short it was very hard to book.  I needed 3 days back in Hampton which it turns out will start the 25th of August or something like that and then I need one day here in Alexandria.  Of course these days are not confirmed as the transportation office I went to can not make those decision since they control neither spot.  I am hoping those days work out or else I will be stuck here in the DC area longer than I want to be :(

I wanted to go down to Gordon for a house hunting trip but time is so short that there is almost point.  After this week I only have next cause the one after that is all packing and traveling.  And this weekend will be filled with our trip to UNC to meet the football team.

Go Heels!!!

So I will be holding my breathe until the dates are confirmed.

On  a sadder note,my roommate and friend, Kristen, has her last day tomorrow.  I will miss her very much.  But I still want to push her off our balcony, she is going to Germany and I'm not.  But it should give her about a year to find me a position there :)  So work it girl.

Maybe if all goes well, I may see her one last time when she flies out of Atlanta (that means all my moving stuff has to go well)

So that's it for today not much exciting I know.

Tight Pic

I came across these pictures and I really liked them.  I wish I could catch something like this on my  camera. (the picture below is the one i really liked but i couldn't get it big enough to really enjoy)

Finally some good news

After standing my ground with the boss, 20 minutes later he hands me a perfect (ok not perfect but good enough) job in Augusta, GA. I'll be working ComRel which I really like so it's not a bad offer. A hell of a lot better than Albuquerque. The schools are much better here according to test results, YEAH.

So these may not be as great as Panama City but I figure I have to keep reminding myself of these few facts, Augusta to:

Chapel Hill, NC 301 miles (4 hours)

Atlanta, GA 148 miles (2 hours)

Ottawa, Canada 1081 miles (16 hours)

Orlando, FL 398 miles (6 hours)

Jacksonville, FL 257 miles ( 3 1/2 hours)

Washington DC 546 miles (8 hours)

Fort Campbell, KY 456 miles (7 hours)

New Orleans, LA 611 miles (9 hours)

Montgomery, AL 303 miles (4 hours)

Columbia, SC 72.5 miles (1 hour)

One bad thing is, schools start Monday the 11th so by the time we get there and settled in my son should be about a month behind. Guess he'll be doing some extra homework :) (am I evil or what I've had him doing homework all summer haha) But the good part of this means they end 22 May and tickets to Germany should still be cheap then.

Back to a good thing, did I mention cost of living works nicely for my salary. In other words I can afford a nice little 3 bedroom (about 1400 Sq Ft) down there. Yup, that's right GUEST ROOM.

I have also been told I will need to take up golfing as it is a big golf city or something like that. I have already discovered where the tennis courts are and how much lessons my K will cost, same goes for swimming.

Did I mention Augusta has a Riverwalk, I loved the Riverwalk in San Antonio, I hope Augusta's is just as nice.

There is no zoo which is a little disappointing but I hear there is a good one in Columbia, SC besides we can go to Orlando for a weekend and swim with the dolphins.

Now for more bad. I looked at a calender and things are really getting tight. If all goes well and the paperwork I need comes by Thursday I will be very lucky to get out of here on time, if not who knows exactly when I will arrive down there. That's one thing I can 't control, time and paperwork so we'll see what fate has planned.

I think that's enough of an up-date for now. I am excited so I'm sure there will be more to come.

Decisions: pros and cons

First off, I know it has been a while but such is life. It has definitely been a busy time though so it’s time to up-date.

I want to say I went to go see the Dark Knight movie, but I guess since everyone has been hyping it up so much, I didn’t think it was as good as everyone said. Anyway, I could have waited to see it on DVD.

Now I have had the perfect job offer and I don’t know what to do. I have been offered a job to work with the Air Force in Florida, Panama City to be exact. I have been trying to get a job with the AF every since I got out 6 years ago and it is very hard to get in the system. On the same day I was offered this position I received another email in regards to a position with the AF in Florida. So I am sitting there emailing the person saying I have already forwarded the paperwork their human resources person has requested. But then she emails me back in regards to an interview. Now I am confused, as I have already been offered the job. Come to find out there are two jobs at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, one that I have for sure and the other I have to interview for.

Also on the same day I receive an email about a job interview in Germany but it’s not as a PAO, it’s back to being what I was in the AF, a broadcaster. But I will do the interview anyway just to have options you never know and it is Germany so it would be nice to go back home.

Then the next day I receive another email about a job in Korea asking if I am still interested and would I like to interview. Of course I say yes because as above you never know, it’s nice to have options.

Of course all these options cause a big problem COST.

I'm going to leave it here for now as you never know what the next day holds.

A pretty boring day

Yeah it is Sunday and Army Wives is on tonight but before we get to that.  We are going out to see Speed Racer again with a good friend of mine who is moving back to CA, she didn’t like this area either.  We’re going to a spot that serves you dinner while you watch the movie.  We use to go to the Cinema Café all the time in Hampton but I hadn’t found one in this area.

I forgot to mention that on Friday after getting the loaner, we went grocery shopping at Safeway and I was able to use a $10 coupon I received in the mail from them and it worked no strings attached.  I was expecting there to be some kind of special requirement like buying only Safeway products.  I have 3 more coupons like that and I can’t wait to use them.  Oh before you think there are no rules attached there are, you have to spend 50 bucks but that’s not that hard in a grocery store when you are buying expensive ass fruits and vegetables.

Anyway so after getting home from the movies, my son barely made it to the bed and it was only 1830.  He’s still sleeping I hope he makes it through the night, only problem was I had plans to see a friend I hadn’t seen in 7 years oh well such is life.  There is always tomorrow. 

I am currently watching Army Wives and it’s getting interesting.  I think the new chick’s husband is doing something on the side to have the expensive stuff that they have, at least that’s how they are playing it out.

Tonight’s blog will be short.

Oops I forgot, I finished my book “Double Take” by Catherine Coulter, it was really good and very long but worth it.  Now I will start in the last one I took out, an Anne Perry book, they are completely different than the rest as it is set in a way back when time before cell phones and all the other fancy stuff like cars lol.

Commercial is over, got to go.

Damn him for being married

but he's still hot.  Coby Bell, if i could find me a cop that looked like that i'd be good.