andveryginger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andveryginger) wrote2007-07-03 08:01 am
andveryginger) wrote2007-07-03 08:01 am
Entry tags:
Rumors of my death...
...I know I use that one a lot, but when you have weeks -- sometimes a month -- between postings, it seems appropriate. =)
The past week, as some of you might have guessed by the way I totally dropped off the radar, has been more than a little nuts. DH and I took the time to go back to the inlaws' place and get the rest of our boxes and suitcases. We still have a lot of unpacking to do, but it's slowly taking shape. It would move faster if we had more furniture to actually put things on!
Thursday, I went back to work. It's a little different job than what I was doing -- one that will actually require real analytical work, and not just lots of admin support. I'm working with the Houston-Galveston Area Council to develop an implementation plan for their regional interoperable radio system. It's going to be an interesting accomplishment, not unlike getting the agencies in DHS to cooperate with each other. On this lower level, however, things seem to run a little smoother. There's already a history of cooperation, however rough, and I think most of the jurisdictions understand there's a larger picture at stake here. Course, I've only been here four days. I'm sure that opinion will change frequently over the next year or so.
And just as an aside? It's actually quite nice to not need a security clearance just to get in the door.
The new job won't be too bad, I think, if a little stressful at times. I'll be working 9 9-hour days over a two week period, and getting a regular day off -- an RDO as it was called in DC circles. Looking forward to that. I didn't get it last week because we had a communications meeting. Meh. Just as well. I think it'll make next week even sweeter. =)
As far as the weather, we're not building an ark...yet. I am, however, beginning to worry as the animals line up, two-by-two. The afternoon thunderstorms, I'm beginning to get used to again; it was the nasty, nasty storm yesterday morning that annoyed me. The 35 minute commute I normally have was about tripled -- it took me about an hour and a half to get to work. Ugh. And the rental car I'm driving sooo does not have comfortable seats. Given the drought conditions elsewhere in the country, I wish I could wave my hand and send them some of our rain.
In other news, we did finally cave and buy a new car. It became necessary when we moved out of a town with decent public transportation to a town that has really crappy public transport. DH and I had been poking around, trying to find a good, used car for about $12k or less. When it became apparent that we weren't going to find something reasonable to drive for 25,000 miles every year for that price, we upped our range a little. On Sunday, we drove a 2003 Accord that we both really liked -- leather seats, power sunroof/locks/driver's seat, dual climate control, automatic transmission, etc. It was priced at $16,900. That was when we stopped and said, "Wait a sec. If we're willing to spend that for a used car, what does a new one cost?" Looking around, we thought we might be able to get a decently equipped 2007 for about 4k more. We were right, thanks to the loverly salesman our dear friend,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
temero, recommended. So... if all goes well, I'll be picking up my shiny new car today. If not, probably Thursday. Despite the fact I love the new car, I shudder to think what it's going to be like with two car payments. ::sigh::
While I'm on the subject of expensive toys... I finally went an ordered my bow a week or so ago. As I mentioned, I'm picking up the Hoyt Trykon Sport in "black powder coat." I placed the order for my arrows, sight, and peep on Sunday, as well as one for an armguard. I still need to settle on what type of rest I want to buy. I want to shoot target, possibly competitively, and for that, it's recommended you get a drop away rest. I wasn't thrilled with the one I used at the pro shop, while I was trying out bows. Perhaps because it wasn't tuned to my specs, the arrow seemed to rest at a downward angle; I can only assume that does bad things for accuracy. On another of the bows, I used what's called a "Whisker Biscuit." I liked the fact that it cradled the arrow, and I felt like I shot better with it. In the end, I have to go with what I'm most comfortable with. Since I'm a beginner, though, maybe I can learn to better deal with the drop away? ::shrugs:: Going to at least try and give it a fair shake.
Anyway... that's the news for now. As you can see, a lot going on. Things are beginning to settle in, but it's going to take longer than I thought. ::sigh:: As much as I love change, I really hate the upheaval sometimes.
ETA: For the record -- princess seams suck. Especially if you're about 15 years out of practice. Meh.
The past week, as some of you might have guessed by the way I totally dropped off the radar, has been more than a little nuts. DH and I took the time to go back to the inlaws' place and get the rest of our boxes and suitcases. We still have a lot of unpacking to do, but it's slowly taking shape. It would move faster if we had more furniture to actually put things on!
Thursday, I went back to work. It's a little different job than what I was doing -- one that will actually require real analytical work, and not just lots of admin support. I'm working with the Houston-Galveston Area Council to develop an implementation plan for their regional interoperable radio system. It's going to be an interesting accomplishment, not unlike getting the agencies in DHS to cooperate with each other. On this lower level, however, things seem to run a little smoother. There's already a history of cooperation, however rough, and I think most of the jurisdictions understand there's a larger picture at stake here. Course, I've only been here four days. I'm sure that opinion will change frequently over the next year or so.
And just as an aside? It's actually quite nice to not need a security clearance just to get in the door.
The new job won't be too bad, I think, if a little stressful at times. I'll be working 9 9-hour days over a two week period, and getting a regular day off -- an RDO as it was called in DC circles. Looking forward to that. I didn't get it last week because we had a communications meeting. Meh. Just as well. I think it'll make next week even sweeter. =)
As far as the weather, we're not building an ark...yet. I am, however, beginning to worry as the animals line up, two-by-two. The afternoon thunderstorms, I'm beginning to get used to again; it was the nasty, nasty storm yesterday morning that annoyed me. The 35 minute commute I normally have was about tripled -- it took me about an hour and a half to get to work. Ugh. And the rental car I'm driving sooo does not have comfortable seats. Given the drought conditions elsewhere in the country, I wish I could wave my hand and send them some of our rain.
In other news, we did finally cave and buy a new car. It became necessary when we moved out of a town with decent public transportation to a town that has really crappy public transport. DH and I had been poking around, trying to find a good, used car for about $12k or less. When it became apparent that we weren't going to find something reasonable to drive for 25,000 miles every year for that price, we upped our range a little. On Sunday, we drove a 2003 Accord that we both really liked -- leather seats, power sunroof/locks/driver's seat, dual climate control, automatic transmission, etc. It was priced at $16,900. That was when we stopped and said, "Wait a sec. If we're willing to spend that for a used car, what does a new one cost?" Looking around, we thought we might be able to get a decently equipped 2007 for about 4k more. We were right, thanks to the loverly salesman our dear friend,
temero, recommended. So... if all goes well, I'll be picking up my shiny new car today. If not, probably Thursday. Despite the fact I love the new car, I shudder to think what it's going to be like with two car payments. ::sigh::While I'm on the subject of expensive toys... I finally went an ordered my bow a week or so ago. As I mentioned, I'm picking up the Hoyt Trykon Sport in "black powder coat." I placed the order for my arrows, sight, and peep on Sunday, as well as one for an armguard. I still need to settle on what type of rest I want to buy. I want to shoot target, possibly competitively, and for that, it's recommended you get a drop away rest. I wasn't thrilled with the one I used at the pro shop, while I was trying out bows. Perhaps because it wasn't tuned to my specs, the arrow seemed to rest at a downward angle; I can only assume that does bad things for accuracy. On another of the bows, I used what's called a "Whisker Biscuit." I liked the fact that it cradled the arrow, and I felt like I shot better with it. In the end, I have to go with what I'm most comfortable with. Since I'm a beginner, though, maybe I can learn to better deal with the drop away? ::shrugs:: Going to at least try and give it a fair shake.
Anyway... that's the news for now. As you can see, a lot going on. Things are beginning to settle in, but it's going to take longer than I thought. ::sigh:: As much as I love change, I really hate the upheaval sometimes.
ETA: For the record -- princess seams suck. Especially if you're about 15 years out of practice. Meh.