I know that I have a lot of updating to do on this blog but I have been really out of town and so, so, so busy with the new job so far and looking for a house. Too busy for blogging. Someday....
Just a quick note for today:
We had an ice storm last night. When I woke up this morning the world was a sheet of ice. I've never seen anything like it. I had to let my car warm up for 10 minutes before I could even start chipping the ice off of all my windows. And the whole ground was ice. SOOOO Crazy! I was late to work but it worked out just fine. What happens is that we get some snow and it gets really cold. But then it starts raining and freezes on contact. It's "common" out here but ...wow. Every day a new experience. But I am safe and grateful that I was riding the metro today.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Battle Rages On.
It's true what everyone says - bedbugs are hard to get rid of. Two visits from the pest control people just didn't do it. While I was in California Maryland was having below freezing temperatures. Carl decided to take apart the bed and put it out on the deck for a few days in hopes of freezing them out. (or freezing them to death) He had just the mattresses in the middle of the floor surrounded by a moat of bedbug dust. Unfortunately, no pictures of that.
When I got home we decided to bring in the frame and try to get back to our normal lives. Carl had doused the frame in bedbug dust outside. If the freezing didn't work - hopefully they'd dry out from the dust.
We got a steamer because Carl concluded (and I agreed) that if they didn't actually die in the cold out on the porch, that when we brought them in and steamed every nook and cranny - that for sure the drastic change in temperature would put them to rest. So, we cleaned off the dust, brought each piece inside, and carefully steamed each possible bedbug hiding place.
When all was steamed and cleaned, we put the bed back together. We didn't want to take any chances though so we put a fresh layer of powder all over the place.
Sweet, Sweet Sleep! Keep your fingers crossed that they don't come back!
When I got home we decided to bring in the frame and try to get back to our normal lives. Carl had doused the frame in bedbug dust outside. If the freezing didn't work - hopefully they'd dry out from the dust.
We got a steamer because Carl concluded (and I agreed) that if they didn't actually die in the cold out on the porch, that when we brought them in and steamed every nook and cranny - that for sure the drastic change in temperature would put them to rest. So, we cleaned off the dust, brought each piece inside, and carefully steamed each possible bedbug hiding place.
When all was steamed and cleaned, we put the bed back together. We didn't want to take any chances though so we put a fresh layer of powder all over the place.
Sweet, Sweet Sleep! Keep your fingers crossed that they don't come back!
Monday, January 19, 2009
New Job - EFV
My first two weeks of my new job were spent traveling to warm, sunny places while D.C. was freezing. It was great. I spent my time in places like this...
I spent a week in Florida with a group of marines and some fellow Alion employees. It was nice to get to know some of the people in the Orlando office - especially since one of them I'll be working with every day - albeit at a distance.
Marines are quite interesting. I got a more than healthy dose of swears and spit cups. Almost all of them chew. Ick! But they were knowledgeable and that's what we needed them for. Excerpt from email during that week: "Some are old and work in management or training but there are about 6 or 7 that are young. They look like they just walked out of a commercial. Short haircuts, bulging biceps.." They love energy drinks and everyone speaks almost solely in acronyms. Steep learning curve.
The next week I flew out to Camp Pendleton in California (near San Diego). This time we were working on base. That was pretty cool. We were working with a different group of marines but we did have a couple of repeats. It was interesting going on all of these "business trips". It was mostly like I imagined business trips....but in some ways more liberal. We had a good time though and I was glad to have my own rental car. I toured the city one evening and it was nice to be alone.
The most exciting part of the Pendleton trip was actually getting to tour the EFV and go out on the ocean during some test runs. Here I am on the boat with my favorite marine - Master Guns. He was super nice to us and fun. He even had us over to his house for a BBQ and to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Here is a little video of the EVF in action. This is where it is coming off of high water speed. I did not include any video or pictures of the dolphins or seals but that doesn't mean we didn't see them. The wildlife was almost as good as the EFV!
I'm back at the office now working inside - no more warm weather. I'll get to travel again in the next couple of months and I'll look forward to it. For now, I'll just be at my desk and making the long commute and working to help those marines have the best darn training possible for their new vehicle...and waiting for my security clearance to go through.
I spent a week in Florida with a group of marines and some fellow Alion employees. It was nice to get to know some of the people in the Orlando office - especially since one of them I'll be working with every day - albeit at a distance.
Marines are quite interesting. I got a more than healthy dose of swears and spit cups. Almost all of them chew. Ick! But they were knowledgeable and that's what we needed them for. Excerpt from email during that week: "Some are old and work in management or training but there are about 6 or 7 that are young. They look like they just walked out of a commercial. Short haircuts, bulging biceps.." They love energy drinks and everyone speaks almost solely in acronyms. Steep learning curve.
The next week I flew out to Camp Pendleton in California (near San Diego). This time we were working on base. That was pretty cool. We were working with a different group of marines but we did have a couple of repeats. It was interesting going on all of these "business trips". It was mostly like I imagined business trips....but in some ways more liberal. We had a good time though and I was glad to have my own rental car. I toured the city one evening and it was nice to be alone.
The most exciting part of the Pendleton trip was actually getting to tour the EFV and go out on the ocean during some test runs. Here I am on the boat with my favorite marine - Master Guns. He was super nice to us and fun. He even had us over to his house for a BBQ and to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
We went out on a chase boat alongside the EFV while it was out. We watched it get started up, get to high water speed, and a few other things. While we were out there on the ocean I was thinking, "I'm getting paid to go boating. Awesome."
Here is a little video of the EVF in action. This is where it is coming off of high water speed. I did not include any video or pictures of the dolphins or seals but that doesn't mean we didn't see them. The wildlife was almost as good as the EFV!
After we got back to dry land I asked if I could get a tour of the EFV. They were more than happy to accomodate. Here is me inside. I asked if I could take a few pictures of the inside and they asked what I wanted them for. I told them about my job and what we were working on - but truthfully, I wanted pictures so everyone would think I was cool. They have nothing to do with work. After checking with a few people - I got the final OK to take a few pics.
I'm back at the office now working inside - no more warm weather. I'll get to travel again in the next couple of months and I'll look forward to it. For now, I'll just be at my desk and making the long commute and working to help those marines have the best darn training possible for their new vehicle...and waiting for my security clearance to go through.
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