Byvshyj CCCP

[ Wednesday, August 20, 2003 ]

 
Yahoo, my first paycheck has been direct deposited! Now my checking account has caught up to my credit card--and soon to surpass it.

As is customary the day before going to training, I got off early. I did need the time to pick up my prescription downtown and get a haircut. I told the girl to use the clippers on 2 for the back and sides (usually a 3 or 4) and to spike the top. I haven't tried to spike my hair since college, but since I'm going off to law enforcement training I thought I should get it pretty short. When she finished I laughed at the fuzzball my head had become--all the hair was standing on end. Oy. It'll look alright when it grows out a bit.

The plane lifts off in nine hours, twenty minutes. Time for bed.
S [12:00 AM]

[ Monday, August 18, 2003 ]

 
Golley, there's a lot I could write about but where's the time? I have to get packing. Nevertheless. . .


The blackout: I was driving home on Fort Street and came upon a string of non-functioning traffic lights. "Detroit, they don't know how to manage their power in the summer," I thought. But then WWJ's news chopper reported lights out in the NW portion of the city. Right after, they reported the power was out in New York and other cities. Then I got scared. Didn't we all? I didn't feel better until they started reporting it was a surge in the grid that triggered the shut-down.


I was headed to the Secretary of State to transfer title of my car to my father. The cell phone wasn't placing any of my calls. I realized even if the power was on by the time I met him, the office would have already closed. I turned toward home. It took an hour and forty minutes. I felt lucky. In some of the northern suburbs they had true gridlock (ha, ha you monied sukkaz!).

With the landline, we got through to Dad and told him to pick up my sister who's pregnant. She bought grilled chicken, italian sausage, and sweet potato.


I had to get to Westland (20 mi) where I promised someone I'd take care of her dog starting that night. I was kinda hoping she'd cancel her trip, but no. Going up Telegraph in the dark I was surprised by some of the places running off generators: a distribution center, the car yard where trains drop off new vehicles, the truck stop.


Power was restored at home by 11 that night, which was important since Mom doesn't handle humidity well. At my friends house the lights went on after twenty five hours--not too bad. We were told we might have to boil water until Wednesday, but that advisory was lifted this afternoon. Oh yes, we didn't have running water during this outage because even the pumping stations were affected. Have you considered how "going to the bathroom" works without water? Yuck.
*****

So we did the title transfer today.
****

Wednesday I fly to Jacksonville. Then a shuttle bus will take me to training. I heard we have to do 100 push ups a day. That may be a bit hard, even if it's split in cycles of 25 push-ups, 25 sit ups, 25 jumping jacks. Good thing I've made it to the Y semi-regularly this past month.

S [8:02 PM]

[ Wednesday, August 13, 2003 ]

 
On my drive home yesterday I lost use of the transmission's top gear. After changing clothes, I checked its dipstick and thought I was misreading it. I took it to my Dad to ask what he saw: an eighth of an inch at the very tip. I could probably just have the (very) leaky gasket replaced to get it running, but I don't have time before training to shepherd it through a repair-shop. I'll give it to my parents and let them take a tax credit for donating it to charity. I buy one when I get back. I can use Dad's car 'til I leave. Yay.
****
As yesterday, I got to spend some time "out on the line," which is much better than sitting at a table all day. A truck broke down in the tunnel which caused traffic to be routed over the bridge this afternoon. I watched someone efficiently screen the cars during this overflow.
S [9:26 PM]

[ Monday, August 11, 2003 ]

 
Work was pretty dull for my first day at the bridge. The supervisor forgot about me until the afternoon, then still did nothing. I sat in a chair all day. The only exciting thing was when one vehicle plate came up as armed & dangerous and everybody ran outside to that lane. It turned out to be a guy with a similar name.
******
After work I bought a Samsung SCH-A310 at Radio Shack. It was about $100 less than the Verizon store.
S [10:28 PM]

[ Sunday, August 10, 2003 ]

 
I went shopping today but got nothing that will really help me when I go away to training; well, maybe the jeans and piece of luggage I bought to replace what the Chicago baggage handler stole.

I'm going to get a cell phone this week. I'm looking at maps and plans. It's all a bit much but Verizon or Sprint may work best for me. Neither has coverage in the middle of Kentucky--my car better not have trouble there as I pass through.

I had the tires rotated and the breaks checked, and an oil change and a transmission flush yesterday. The gasket still needs to be replaced on the trans. Unfortunately, that will be the last bit of prep done before the long drive--the tendancy to overheat will not likely get touched.
******

Had good night out Friday in Windsor with Nicholas and Mike. Ate at The Blue Danube then went to a bar. There were swarms of American teenagers on the streets. No surprise since the drinking-age is ninteen. But slightly annoying.
S [9:50 PM]

[ Wednesday, August 06, 2003 ]

 
Looks like I'll be dogsitting the weekend before I go away to training.
***
It was a little slower day at work but at least we make a brief visit to the bridge. This time we weren't bumping into people in the ridiculously small workspace. I met the Russian-speaker yesterday; made some stupid grammatical mistakes. But what can I expect? I haven't really spoken it in, jeeze, eight years. Bozhe moj, uzh davno.
S [10:00 PM]

[ Friday, August 01, 2003 ]

 
Each day at work has made the job seem cooler. I only hope to make the right impression on coworkers and superiors.
S [4:25 PM]