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.

the car

So of course it being Saturday that means my son gets up nice and early, this day being no exception, 0630.  So I take him off to his Tae Kwon Do class and keep hoping for the call from the dealership saying yes it really is only the battery it will cost 100 bucks you’re good to go but of course things never go like that. 

After Tae Kwon Do we’re of to the other house to do laundry as usual.  Due to the car issue I have decided to return quiet a few of the items I purchased from Aveda just in case the car tag is ridiculous.  But when I go to return the items, they don’t want to refund the money for everything so I only end up getting $65 back and the rest of the stuff is a credit.   So when we come back from the mall, I finally get the call from the Toyota people and yes it was the battery BUT they checked my brakes and I have zero brakes in the back and only about 45% in the front so of course they are advising new breaks cost $290, then they said that the power steering fluid area has some red fluid it in the container and it is suppose to be clear. 

I advise them to change the brakes.  They say the car will be ready at 1330 but I have to take my son to a birthday party at 1300hr so they will have to wait.  Off to the party we go and of course while I am there I start thinking about the car problems.  So even though I just had the power steering fluid flushed in February (I checked my receipts when I got back to the other house, also had to check when the brakes were done because I knew they had been done recently but they ended up being the front ones done in Oct)I have to get it done again because someone is an idiot, cost $ 126, on and did I mention the battery cost $119.  Basically when it’s all done current cost is $578.95 but of course they have recommended new tires soon (I already knew that), new timing belt and water pump and brakes in the front, cost don’t even want to imagine. 

So when talking to them at the b-day party, I start to ask why do I have to change the timing belt and water pump because I bought the car certified and I thought that meant they had replaced all the usual stuff. NOPE not the case, the only thing they do to make it certified is whatever has to be done according to the owner’s manual at the current mileage the car is being sold at.  So in other words it’s a big waste of money because certified vehicles usually cost about 3 to 4 grand more than non-certified.  It’s all-good though they when I bought my car and I gave them my trade in they gave me a lot more than it was worth so I guess we both came out even.  They screwed me I screwed them, but that was two years ago so it’s irrelevant now anyway.

So after the birthday party and going to get my car on our way home I have to fill up ($63 of course) and as I am pumping right in front of the gas station I see this car hauling ass in the fast lane but there is a car that looks like he is trying to pulling to the gas station form the fast lane and next thing you know, big crash.  The lady in the car gets out and starts cussing the dude out.  The cops came pretty quick and she was still cussing, the cop had to tell her to get back in the car several times because she kept interrupting when he was questioning the guy calling him a liar and all this other stuff.

Anyway even though I saw the crash I didn’t see everything that happened before it, so I didn’t bothering giving a witness statement.  Then I start explaining to my son how lucky we are that the car had only broken down and no one had hit us.  He mentioned the lady cussing the dude out and I was trying to explain to him sometimes accidents happen and getting upset doesn’t help anyone.  No one in the accident was hurt and there was only minor damage to both cars.  Of course this lead to a discussion on what about if you’re in a hurry or late for work and I of course try to explain that rushing somewhere isn’t worth getting hurt or dying.  Then I explain why I cuss people out sometimes, it’s not because they are hurrying, it’s because they are not driving properly, like not using their turn signal (which is one of my pet peeves).  I explain that using your signal lets other drivers know what you are doing and gives them time to react if they have to.  

The class continues and it doesn't end there

OK so the day has already started out bad.  We are sitting in the boring class and of course certain people had to reseat themselves to sit behind K & I.  I don’t like it when people sit behind me, especially since I had my things sitting behind me and now I had to move them beside me. 

Yesterday didn’t end that well either I went off to go shopping after I picked up my son from school which probably wasn’t the best idea since I was already tired and still trying to recover from the boredom.  I digress, so as I am in the process of going to the first store a good friend of mine that I haven’t seen in 7 years calls me up to let me know he will be in town for a week so I am a happy camper now, but this of course distracts me so I didn’t notice that I was charged for something I shouldn’t have been at he first store.  Also after looking at the receipt from the first store I realize the nail polish I loved in Canada and therefore bought there for $11, only cost $3.99 here, what the hell.  So then I move on to the next store where there are no issues on the quick return (I am still on the phone during this time).  Now I move on to Home Depot and of course this is where things go array but I don’t realize it until later.  Then I’m off to the Auto parts store because the other day some lady behind me pulled up beside me to let me know my brake light was out. My original reason to going to the store was to get windshield wiper fluid so as I  am pulling out of the parking lot to go to Wal-Mart, I realize I bought the bulbs which was a secondary item but forgot the wiper fluid. 

So we finally get to Wal-Mart and off to the toy department we go and the whole time I am reminding myself not to forget the wiper fluid.  Also need to remember to get K to check to make sure the brake lights are now working but so far I have forgotten every time we were near the car. 

By the time we get home I am now exhausted and only have enough energy to heat the rice I cooked the other day and then stuff my face with cake.  I finally get my son to bed and decide to re-pot the plants into the new pots with the new soil.  After I finish and as I am putting the soil away I realize that I am officially either an idiot or blind, on the bag is a big pot with an X through it, the soil is not to be used for potting.  (I’m voting for the blind) WHAT they make soil that can’t be used in pots are you for real.  So now of course I have to go get new soil for POTS.  I knew I shouldn’t have gone to Home Depot, I don’t like the store to begin with, should have just gone to Lowe’s.

Now I am trying to decide where in ABQ I’m going to live.  I really want a house so I can have a little garden but the majority of house rentals are in Rio Rancho which is about 18miles from work but still under consideration as gas is cheaper there.  I could always have a little box of soil (I will have to make sure it is a type that can go in a box) on a patio or balcony but it would limit what I could grow.  On the other side of that I would be in a good school district AND close to work approximately 5 miles or so.  I am hoping to make a trip out there before the move if all goes well J

I couldn’t wait until the class was done so I could head to the mall for some alone shopping.  It’s funny how the little things can be a lot harder when you have a child to amuse with you.  Alone shopping is such a treat; of course I usually buy too much stuff and end up returning all of it J

I went to my high school alumni website site last night and it’s amazing how it has been up-graded. http://www.kahsalumni.org/  It’s nice to see old classmates giving up-dates.  I also went to another alumni site where it’s a little more personal, people can comment on your picture and send you notes ect. It’s just getting started, I think once it’s in full swing, it will be great too. http://ktownraiders.ning.com/

After the class finally ended and almost on time too, 1300hr or so, K & I head back home.  And there I finally remember to get her to check my break lights and all is well.  So off to the mall I go and end up spending much more at my Aveda store than I had planned.  Then I stop at the mini-mall area up the street.  I go into Barnes & Nobles to get some more books for the Book Fairy to drop off, then to Rack Room Shoes to see if I can find anything new, then to Target to get the wrapping paper for the birthday party.  Now I pick my son up, then we head to Lowe’s to get the Potting Soil to replace the non-potting soil I accidentally bought the other day. 

Here is where the day starts to get to sucky, we pull out of Lowe’s and are on Route 1 and of course there is a red light.  As I look at my dashboard, lights start going on, and then the car dies.  What the hell….. Yup in the middle of rush hour and in the fast lane I am now stuck unable to move.  It took the tow truck an hour to get there but at least 45 minutes into the wait some really nice men push us out of the main road and onto a side st.  When I called Toyota to get the tow they said the Tow truck driver would get us home but of course when we get to Toyota (5 minutes before closing) the driver says they don’t do that.  So now I have to go in a figure out how the hell I am going to get us home. I manage to talk the guy there to give us a loaner, thank goodness. The guy at Toyota said it probably is just the battery and he will let me know tomorrow.

At least I got my coupon from Starbucks for my free drink.  See being a rewards member does have its benefits.