Aaaaarrrmy Training, Sir....

I have finally gotten a chance to sit down and write a bit...

September 10th, Dad got in really late! So, while he slept in, I went to Reno to pick up David from the Greyhound Station. It was soooo great to see him! We made sure to pick up In n Out for my parents on our way back to Y-town. When we got there, mom and dad had already started unloading the truck. It didn't take too long to haul everything out of the trailer. We started putting things away where they belonged. We had to take dad and David to our Mexican restaurant for dinner. Sopapilla!!! :-D

September 11th, was more unpacking and putting everything away. We pretty much got everything put away. The bookcases are all built and everything where it belongs in the kitchen. So, when I get home from army time, things will be very easy. All I will need to add is food. At 6pm, I dropped Jake off at he's boarding place. I packed and got ready for my army trip.

September 12th, I woke up early and rolled out of Y-town with David around 7:15 am; we drove to Reno and I dropped him off at the Greyhound station before I parked at the airport. I got through security quickly and then had to wait forever because I was flying Southwest. Ugh... I hate not having an assigned seat! I ended up between two skinny dudes. The guy next to the window and I had great conversations from Reno to Salt Lake City and then onto BWI. I continued onto Norfolk. I got in around 9:30pm. I had about 8.5 hours on the same plane... it was rough. Apparently it was just as rough for the flight attendants because their jokes just got worse and worse. I tracked down my bags then went to find a cab to get to Little Creek (a Navy base) I ended up with the scary cabby... He had only one arm and had no idea where to take me. I had to call my friend Tim to come find me. I had to do late check in, but finally made it to where I needed to be. The rooms we are staying in are really amazing! Kudos to the Navy! I get my own room with an amazing bed and an amazing amount of pillows!

Monday, September 13th, I woke up crazy early to get to weigh in at 0600. Luckily, class is literally right across the hall from where I get to sleep. Weigh in was a pain :-( I've put on some weight so I had to get taped which was a blah. After weigh in and a bunch of paperwork, I had breakfast and then was back for more paperwork. We did the traditional break the ice stuff and got to know each other. We talked a lot about the "new" MPT concept the Army is going forward with and how we will be implementing in our class. I somehow ended up Class Leader too (which means I have way more responsibility than I want!) In the afternoon we started to learn ceremonial mace work. Then we all brainstormed and created our MPTs. I'm in a woodwind choir (2 flutes, 3 clarinets, 2 saxes and me on bassoon). We also have a trombone quartet, a brass quintet, a percussion ensemble and a ska band. We have to perform an hour long recital next thursday (its our big group project). I spent the evening starting to arrange music for our new ensemble.

Tuesday, September 14th, we had PT at 0600 (well, actually PRT, since the army has a new program...) Its a bit weird, but I guess I will get used to it. I of course, have to lead the formation and be responsible for everyone (being Class Leader sucks...) After showering, chow and morning formation, we did ceremonial conducting. We have to conduct right handed (stupid Elizabeth Green!) Then we had a meeting with the Commadant of the school of music, a command sergeant major. One classmate was talking about how soldiers want to listen to new and popular music but its inappropriate for us to play due to the content. The Commadant said that we were playing for warriors so it was ok if our lyrics got a bit violent. I pipped up and said that a lot of new music was misogynistic and with all the issues with rape, that having songs about banging bitches was not appropriate. It sort of slipped out. Luckily he didn't blink an eye. The rest of my class all were shocked though. I spent the night arranging Lady Gaga music for my woodwind choir.

September 15th, we had formation at 0800. We were supposed to have our formation for the national anthem. I had everyone at parade rest for a couple minutes. No anthem... finally the cadre came and said apparently no music this morning. So, 28 people got to stare at my ass for way too long. The day continued with conducting, MPT rehearsal, lunch, mace work, and more learning thrown in there. That night, I arranged a couple different variations for the Army song including a waltz version, a blues version and a version with the bass like of Kashmir. The jokes about "banging bitches" has continued. Quite a few people have wanted to name their MPT that or the Sergeant Major's banging bitches...

September 16th, we started the day with PRT led by our first student leaders. It was a running day with Indian Runs. I joined the fast group and fell out :-( It made me feel pretty crappy actually. We did more conducting and mace work. Then we started learning how to use Finale (which I have a good base in already). I also got to have a lesson with the bassoon professor here. I really enjoyed the lesson. Its been too long since I've had lessons. She said she was excited to have a student that was actually excited to play music. I really hope I can get another lesson before I go. This was the first night were I didn't have any arranging to do, so I was completely lazy and just watched tv.

September 17th, today, we woke up and did PRT. It was a muscle day. PRT consisted of in 1 minute you do 10 pushups and then in the next minute do 10 situps. Repeat 10 times. OUCH! Needless to say, I am sore as hell now. Today was more lessoning. Tomorrow we have tests on our conducting and our mace work. I feel pretty confident, but who knows?

New Beginnings!

Some major life changes have occured:

• Graduated with my Masters
• Got a Job!
• Moved to Nevada for said Job

On July 27th, I got a phone call from my new library asking for a phone interview which was conducted on July 30th. They called me back the same day saying they wanted me to do an interview in person. My interview in person was on August 26th. August 27th, my new library called me and offered me a job :-D! My job starts on September 27th, which seems like alot of time to move unless you factor in the Army class September 12 - 24th.

So, I packed up all my belongings, loaded them up in my dad's trailer (with the help of Laura, Beth, Brian, Dave, Laura and Matt!) Everything was loaded by September 2nd!

September 3rd, my sister threw a Going Away Party for me at her place. Lots of drinking and playing with fire commenced.

September 4th, I went to the Michigan State vs. Western Michigan Football game to cheer my Spartans to victory one last time in person.

September 5th, Mom and I left Saline, MI at 5:30 a.m. and drove 1,200 miles to Cheyanne, Wyoming. Looooong drive.... even with 2 drivers... We stayed the night at a La Quinta which are pet friendly.

September 6th, Mom and I drove the rest of the way to Reno, NV (another 950 miles) This included a stop at Rubio's in Salt Lake City!!! The hotel we stayed at in Reno was not pet friendly, so we snuck Jake in and out of the hotel wrapped in a blanket. He was not amused! We went out to In n' Out for dinner and it was packed! It was filled with dirty hippies who apparently had just gotten back from Burning Man that is held out in the middle of the Northern Nevada desert. Mom tried to explain what Burning Man was to me; it sounds like a hippie art fair/orgy. The best part was that most of the hippies had their iphones, coach sunglasses and expensive, gas guzzling cars.

September 7th, Mom and I drove down to Y-town and checked out the town. We looked at 4 different places to live. 2 were very nice; 2 were incredibly scary. We settled on one and started doing the paperwork! Mom and I decided to try a hole in the wall Mexican resturant for lunch and it turned out to be amazing! They had sopapilla and they put carmel sauce on it. Heavenly. It was funny because the owner looked at us and said, "you aren't from around here... I know everyone from around here!"

September 8th, we snuck Jake out of the hotel for the last time. It is really amazing all the hiding places in a small hotel room that he can find... We drove down to Y-town again. I was in a suit and Jake practically insisted that he sit on my lap the entire way. Cat hair and nice suit is not a good look. I went in early and filled out all the paperwork for my new job with HR. Then I went into my library and met my boss. I am going to be working 4-10s! Then I went and signed my lease for the house I am renting. Its a really huge house! (Pictures coming soon... I swear...) Seriously, more space then I will ever need but it will cost me the same amount to rent this house as it did to rent my apartment in MI. And, my new house is 1.2 miles from work. Thats right, I can walk to work! And walk home for my lunch break. Granted, nothing is very far in a small town, but this is fantastic after my nearly hour long communte one way that I am used to. Mom and I moved into the house, with what little belongings we had. Jake spent the next couple hours hiding behind the refridgerator. For lunch, we went back to our Mexican find. The owner said "Hi strangers!" We spent the rest of the day getting all the utilites and whatnot switched and turned on. We had subway for dinner - I told mom that we shouldn't eat at our Mexican place for both lunch and dinner even though it is that good! I worked my way through some stupid online army classes until late. We slept on a blow up bed that we bought and froze all night.

September 9th, today, I woke up and went running in my new neighborhood. Came back to a really cold shower since the gas isn't turned on yet. Mom and I went up to Reno and ran some errands, including buying a new printer and a washer and dryer (for dirt cheap!) We, of course, had to have some sourdough jacks from jack in the box with mini churros. Tomorrow, Dad is coming with the trailer full of all my stuff (yes, I have way to much crap!) and David Pelletier is helping me unload.