Summer Time, Season of Change

Well it is finally feeling like summer here in Moscow, daytime temps are upper 80s to low 90s.  We've been grilling and going to bar-b-ques and enjoying this nice weather.  But it is the season of change for the State Department, summer time is the main transfer season.  People who's tour is up head off to their next adventure and new people are arriving to start their time here in Moscow.  Lots of new faces wandering the halls.  But it is fun to meet with them and learn about where they've been and share a little of our Moscow experiences with them.... BRB gotta check the shashlik ....

Now that was quick for you, took me about 10 minutes.  Isn't technology great, but I digress.  So, now we have some new neighbors next door and new families are moving in, mostly now in August.  A lot of people like to try to get to post before school starts, well for obvious reasons.  Now old faces are gone and new faces have taken their place.  Hard to believe we have less than a year left here ourselves.  This time next year I'll be in training back in D.C. before heading off to Jeddah.

So I bet your wondering how the shashlik is, well it was pretty good.  I tried making a marinade, it was pretty good, but the beef we got was way to tough, though the chicken was just right!

Okay, I guess I really don't have to much of a point to this blog entry.  Mostly, I wanted to share a bit of the changes we have going here and to let everyone know we're still doing pretty good.  I'm biking into work 2-3 times a week which is really good exercise for me.  It takes about 40 minutes or so a nice ride in the morning and then back home in the evening; taking advantage of the nice weather we've got right now.

Well, that's it for tonight.

Chow.

Send Off From the States

Well we've got about a week left before we head out to Moscow.  But we are planning a get-to-gether with two classes after mine.  So that will be a nice send off for us. 

But wait there's more...

Today we had a 5.8 earthquake.  Things shook a bit, it was a little nerve racking, it's been a very long time since my last quake, and this was the first for the wife and daughter.  Since it's not a common event, the news has had LOTS of coverage of all the little pockets of damage in the area.  So we are watching Harry Potter now :)

But wait there's more...


Now they are calling for huricaine Irene to move up the coast and give us a little wind and rain before we head out...  Something is telling me it's gonna be long cold snowy winter.
Well guess I'll get back to Potter....  Dumbldore dies soon...

What would you do for an iPad2?

Would you sell a kidney so you could buy an iPad and iPhone?  This seventeen year old Chineese boy did.  Me I'll stick to the old fassion way:
1. Get a job
2. Work
3. Get a pay check and then
4. Convince wife I "Need" one.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13647438

Smithsonian

Yesterday a group of us went out to see a couple of the Smithsonian museums.  We hit one of my favorites, the Natural History Museum and the National Gallery of Art.  Here are a couple of pics from our time out.

I have to say I'm really looking forward to my future assignments and seeing the sites, but there are many great places to see and things to do right here in good old USA.

Two Weeks Down

Well it's been two weeks now, and I'm more familiar with writing cables, Employee Evaluation Reports, T&A (no... Time and Attendance).  I've learned more about myself and playing nicely in the sandbox.  We were introduced to the diverse cultures out in the world and the Embassy as well as the diverse missions to the international community.  All in all this was a pretty good week.  I've still got a bit of home work to finish, but there's always tomorrow right. 

So today our class is having a barbecue, another opportunity to build relationships that will most likely stay with us throughout our careers.  I am really reminiscent of military life, the similarities of common goals, experiences and hardships brings people together in a very unique way. 

So where will the Foreign Service need me after training?  Heck I don't know yet :(  But... Tuesday May 10th, is Flag Day.  We will be called up individually and given the flag of the nation we will be going to.  We've all turned in our "Wish Lists" and are just waiting on the powers to be to assign us where we are needed.  Did you catch the fact that our wish list doesn't really impact where we will be posted?  In reality, we've all had one-on-one meetings with our Career Development Officer (CDO) and after those discussions, It seems that many of us have aligned our lists to reflect the conversations we had.  Regardless of where we are assigned, we will all be serving our nation and doing our part.
This weekend I think I will try to head out to the Mall and be a tourist.  There is so much history here and so little time to take it all in. 

News Report!

Just wanted to share some of the news stories breaking...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html?hp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13256676
http://www.npr.org/sections/news/?ft=1&f=1001

Just a reminder to those abroad, be safe, be vigilant.

One Week Down

Well it's been a full first week of orientation.  Learning a lot about the State Department and the Foreign Service.  I'm stoked to be part of an organizations that does so much good in the World.  I've got some incredible class mates, many who already have embassy and/or overseas experience.  We've had presenters from different levels at the State Department and have gleened a little insight into what they do and how it supports the Mission abroad.  I got my bid list, sorry can't disclose the details, but I'm excited about the possible locations me and the family will be heading to.

Today is laundry day, I really miss my laundry fairy...

Also there are a few of us heading to the Mall and the National Holocaust Museum.  Since we are here we want to take in as much of the local history and culture we can.  This is a practice we plan on following where ever we wind up calling home. 

Time to check the "whites"

Getting Settled In

Starting to get settled into my new place, it’s a studio apartment.  Not bad, I just wish the wireless was a little faster, but hey I’m a geek right.  Those of you future students coming on, make sure that you stay at Oakwood, so far the customer service has been excellent and the places are nice.  Okay now I need to make a shopping list.  Can’t afford to eat out for every meal, prices are a little higher here than central Iowa.  Coffee is number one on the list!  Let’s see my room is on the second floor with a nice little patio as well. 

This is the view from the kitchen

 This is the view from the sliding glass door

So here are a few pictures of my room.  As you can see Tom the Tabby is on the bed.  Funny story behind Tom, I should start with we have a couple of cats and one of them would usually sleep with me at night.  He would lay next to me with his head on my arm and expect me to pet him all night.  Well you get used to the warm little fur ball next to you at night and the purring is actually a little hypnotic… but back to the point, many years ago I was away on a business trip and one night I was talking with my daughter on the phone and she asked how I slept.  I said it was okay, I missed Snickers (the cat) sleeping next to me.  So, when I got home at the end of the week, Jolene and Crystal had gone to Build a Bear and I had Tom the Tabby waiting for me.  So happens that I was on travel over Father’s Day and Tom was my Father’s Day/Welcome back gift.  So now whenever I travel anywhere I always take Tom with me!
Tonight we have a welcome reception for the new class, officially the 120^th Specialist Class.  So tonight I will be able to meet some of my class mates.  I’ll share how that goes later.

Addiction...

Okay I'm sure most will agree that addiction is a bad thing.  I'm going to start here and now admitting my addiction.  It all started with a reasonable use and quite frankly "everyone was/is doing it".  Soon after though I found my daughter mimicking my actions.  This in itself should have been a HUGE RED FLAG.  But who's it really hurting right?  Besides I can stop anytime.  Of course don't ask my wife that, she would probably disagree.  And now, yesterday I was able to get more action for free!  Free now it's even cheaper.  This has definately impacted me, it has given me more options than just the slaughter of egg stealing pigs.  Now I must liberate birds that have been caged in Rio.  If you haven't figured out my addiction, it is to the Angry Birds app.  So simple a game, yet so addicting.

What games have you addicted?

New Title

As with most things this blog is evolving.  Now we've got a new title.  I feel "Milestones" is more appropriate to how I see this blog developing.  It's still a little rough around the edges, but I'll keep refining it and refining it till it gets to the "Goldilocks" point.

Stitches still in

Well I went to get my stitches out this morning at the VA hospital.  For those of you that don't know I had about a half an inch taken off of my right middle finger.  Car door a long time ago didn't heal right... so anyway I had the end cleaned up a bit.  Well guess it needs a little more healing.  The fact that I keep bumping it doesn't help either. 

It really is amazing how much you use the tips of your fingers and how often you impact them on one thing or another.  My mischievous nature and need to fiddle with things doesn't help either.  On a good not it doesn't hurt no where near as much as it initially did.  Itches mostly and I hear that's a good sign regardless of how miserable it makes me.

Wandering Mind

Well it has been a couple of day since my last post.  My finger is doing better and I get my stitches out on Thrusday.  Finger tip is a little sensitive in a couple of spots and I'm not really looking forward to getting them out.  Well at least not the process of taking them out.  I think I have all my paper work filled out that I need to send to HR and I'll get that shipped out tomorrow.  I gave my notice this past Friday at work and it wasn't that bad, though I only told my supervisors and a few select others, I wonder how long it will take to circulate through the rumor mill?

I've seen this video a couple of times now, originally shared with me by someone going into the same class as me.  The satire is great and honestly, could fit into just about any job/employer.


Well thats enough wandering for now, enjoy.

Lots To Do

Well I know its been a bit since my last post, time really gets away when you get busy.  Lets see we are getting the house ready to go on to the market.  Selling our house is our biggest worry right now.  Not really a good time to try to sell.  Anyway, I tiled the bathroom.  First time event for me.  All in all I think it turned out pretty good.  Lets see, umm this next update requires a little history ... when I was in the army I lost part of my right middle finger to a car door.  I lost about a half an inch, pretty much down to where the fingernail starts.  But, I don't think the doctor got all the nail bed out because it kept getting infected and cleared up over and over again... after about 15 years, my wife got tired of me complaining about it and made me go to the doctor and get it checked out.  Well I procrastinated to long and an infection developed in the bone... So now I'm down to the first knuckle (from the end, still have the majority of my finger).  The good doctor at the VA did a fine job and I'm sure it will quit hurting when the pain goes away.

Okay well that leave the kitchen tile, yeah we hired a contractor to take care of that.  All the tire has been laid today and it looks really good.  Tomorrow he'll get it grouted and put all the appliances back.  We have lots of little things to do to finish getting the house ready.  Tomorrow I'll be giving my notice at work, it should not be much of a big deal since I'm already in the government it will be more of a transfer than quitting one job and starting a new one.

Lets see, lots of paper work to fill out, nothing new there.  It's pretty exciting and stressful.  I love moving, but hate the process of moving.  But we are going to take this opportunity to scale back on our worldly possessions and donate the rest to charity.  You know "I's" are really hard to type... gonna have to get used to that again.  Stitches come out on St. Patrick's Day, so stitches out then Green Beer!

Okay,  this is starting to feel like random thoughts streaming out so I'm gonna wrap this up for tonight.

Anticipation

Have you ever wanted something so bad you can taste it?  I know its a cliche question, but there is something to be said for cliches.  I digress, but that's the purpose of the "Random" blog entry right?  So, I think the trigger for me to create this specific entry is a frustrating day at work.  I've only been here 3 hours.. wow has it been three hours already? Anyways, it's already been a frustrating few hours, trying to get work completed, submitting documents, getting request to change said document with no reasoning.  I am the type of person that definitely more productive when I know the WHY.  I know I won't always get it it, but you know it's good to know the reasoning behind a decision and like I said I'm more productive with it.  Everyone needs a reason to do what they do... right?  I could go on and on about what frustrates me at work today, but I know everyone has days like this.  So more to the point, for me anyway, it is all compounded by the fact that I am greatly anticipating the call/e-mail saying I'm on the register and invited to the next class.  Still waiting on final suitability review ...  So close yet so far away... Yes another cliche, but again I find it very fitting. Well, the day to day frustrations of my current job  will continue and I will remain in great anticipation of a positive contact from HR. Well I think I've rambled on enough for now.