Happy Birthday, Mom!

So, 39 again, eh? Congratulations on cheating time.

Maybe for my next 39th birthday, you can slip me the secret.

I love you, and I am looking forward to seeing you here this evening.

It's Monday? It can't be Monday again, already!

Well, I guess anything is possible. It is very easy to lose track of things as simple as the day of the week out here, especially when you work 7 days a week, and there's nothing to hold your reality up against for a comparison to check. Say, for example, the nightly news or a daily newspaper.

It has rained every day for the last 5, and even though there are brief hours where no rain falls, nature is cruel in it's humor. The rain will stop, people will remove their jackets and rain gear, and the sun will greet us through broken clouds. Just as we get to the point where we trust the day has dried out...it begins again. Without warning, the fairly cloudless sky opens up and presto!

We'll be watching a huge bank of ominous clouds to our north, or west (sometimes to the south) slowly lumber across the sky, when we get blindsided by a sneaky wind slick of wet from a completely different direction.

That's something that bears mentioning...the ever-blowing breezes/gusts. I love it. My office takes full advantage with it's three walls of windows surrounding my desk, so almost without exception, I can expect to enjoy a breeze all day, any day. A major plus when your job means being cooped up inside at a PC all day.

So, Monday can just pull up a chair and sit down, I am ready for it...again. I guess

If I have to.

Flying out of formation

Closing in on 3 solid weeks here in Grayling, and sometimes it feels like more, other times it seems as though it has passed all too quickly. But mostly, honest truth, it’s been rough.

It’s the first time I have been away from the boys since my Greek travel, and then they had folks with them in my absence so I didn’t wonder and worry. My time then was spent doing so much, and moving around every moment, that despite not having them with me to share the sights and sounds and tastes, I managed to get through every day quickly and happily. These days have been lonesome, and sometimes miserable.

It's easy to fall into routines and get used to noises, conditions, etc, but it is tough to do without things you take for granted every day when you are home and surrounded by your own familiar elements...newspaper, nightly news on the TV, access to the internet whenever you feel compelled to write or connect. The comforting purr of your cat, the freedom to leave a door open for the fresh air, full-sized windows.

I believe my job duties have much to do with my attitude for the moment. I am out of touch and discomforted right now, but soon things will be righted. The camaraderie I see all around does not extend to me much of the time, for many reasons, so I feel I am that one lone goose you occasionally see flying overhead.

In lieu of a blog today....

...I am including a link to a local news station story of the happenings in Grayling, out "in the box," just so you can get a better understanding of exactly what it is, and how high tech - and important - this training "production" is.

Click on the link marked "watch video" to the right of the page, just under the photo.

http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=159699 Thanks for the interest.

A note home

Hope you got that early start you were looking forward to. You probably found out that there was no heat to worry over - but I venture you encountered members of your other concerns (those wacky vacationers that clog the roads).

Wanted to write you yesterday, but the storms here were vicious and unyielding, and I worked right up until the last minute. By the time they ended, I was comfortably in for the night, and there was no way I was heading back to COB FOB at 9pm to send email! Call me lazy...I can take it. [wink wink]

Lots of wind, lots of drenching, lake-creating rain - which darn near washed away one or two panels of floor in our wardrobe tent! There were MANY lightening strikes - one started a pretty rousing fire not too far from here.

I am having fun despite missing the boys like crazy, and would love to see you on your return trip. Let me know if you have any interest in coming on base and I will let them know. Need to do it well in advance, so notice would be good.

The fun is tempered by loneliness and after-hours boredom (I have stuff to do, but would rather do it at home - my billet is dark and brings me down), and I forgot to bring the AVI cable that lets me download images from my DV camera onto my PC, so I can't even edit together a simple show to put out in my blog. Mostly I write or lay in bed and watch movies or walk a bit here and there. I spend time listening to the birds and the deer crashing through the woods just beyond the fence. Sometimes the darlings wander onto the lawn on the camp side, and spend as much time watching me as I do them.

Last night, after the storms, two deer went careening through the brush, making an awful racket, running, jumping, racing... and then, one of them stopped dead in his tracks and stared at me. No blinking, no twitching - just staring. I spoke to him and moved forward one step at a time. He remained still and seemingly calm. I went back into my room to get my camera, fully expecting to hear him tear away in my absence, but he didn't! He repositioned himself only slightly, and watched me. The minute I raised the camera up and powered it on, he strode into the tall grasses just far enough away to make getting a decent image rediculous.

I liked your email regarding the critters you encounter (your grape stealing robins and fastidious sparrows that remind me of home), and I wanted to respond, but when I am here...I am fully engaged (unless I swipe a few minutes for myself to decompress and connect with something off base and less camo).

Like now. Spoke with the boys last night, and Brian is planning on driving down to Gram's on Sunday, and he will have Karl with him. Don't know what time or for how long they will stay, but if you call them beforehand, ask Karl to bring his memory stick to show you some of his class work, and Brian should show off his sketches and shading for his class, too.

Thanks for your email, it helps me to have something to look forward to.

Please give Gram a hug for me, and hug yourself pretty good for me, too.

Lots of love,

me

D+4

Some folks are asking specifically what it is I am doing in Grayling, aside from getting paid. Describe your job...your day. In a nutshell, here is a brief description of the mindset for the next 2.75 weeks (and for the past nearly 3.5 weeks):

You must be able to interpret a lot of acronyms on the fly, and be able to think in military time. You must be able to let your mind scramble and tackle many issues at once, listen to every conversation and filter out extemporaneous info, and then act on the important needs. You must be able to take any alteration to the matrix (a very detailed planning strategy/diagram) or problem with a grain of salt and find a work-around in short order. You need to be proactive and be able to follow directions – ask questions where something isn’t clear, and not waste any time or syllables in communicating. My job is a mix of everything, but mostly stationery desk work – which I am not fond of.

Not.

Not fond of, at all.

I am good at it, but I would rather be more involved in the creative portions…or the action, instead. My job this time is crunching numbers, filtering information, creating and keeping detailed notes and disseminating information. I am a bookkeeper. I am what would be considered the Line Producer (or at least one half of an LP) in a film production.

This is not a film job. The military is filming portions of it for use in training further down the road, and to help secure funding to make this happen all over the US for months to come...but it isn't anything the general public will ever see. It isn't top secret, but it isn't for the eyes of the general public - for reasons I will explain another time.

I began as a Casting Associate, and once that chore was over I was moved to my duty position of Reports and Records. I am, as they say, “Tank’s Girl.” He is the Project Manager and I am his ‘assistant,’ for the most part. But that isn't my title - I don't do coffee!!

My boss, Tank (Terry), is a good man (a retired First Sgt.), and has brought his daughter Sara, along, so that she can work a bit (and capitalize on some $$) before beginning college in a few weeks. By all accounts she is having a good time, and learning a lot about production work, and what it is her dad does for weeks on end when he isn’t home. A military production is far different than a film or TV production, but there are so many similarities that the production folks are right at home working within the confines of the military big brother watching and dictating.

Sorry to cut this short, but there is a raging storm coming up and I need to pack and hit the road and get away from the metal trailer I am sitting in. I promise to give more details shortly.

Thanks for looking in, I miss you all.

Wahoo....D+2

Well, it was inevitable. Our first injury out in the box. While I do not have the particulars, the injured person is asking for our fearless, inexhaustable, capable, wonderful "Curly Fry" to go with them to the hospital. To this point in time, the injuries have been nothing to speak of - mostly spider bites and stupidity - so I will let you know what comes of it all tomorrow.

On a brighter note, I did manage to get some good sound and video of one of the outfits during their morning run. Some of the cadence they yell out is especially funny, but I missed the cannon fire at 6....DRATS! and I was out there, too. So, tomorrow I will get that sound.

Missing the boys like mad, and I want to pet the cats. Tried to convince a squirrel to let me cuddle it a bit, but they aren't so friendly as it turns out, so I'll have to tough it out for the next 3 weeks.

EOD

End of day, and despite the fact I worked my fingers to the bone, I still did not complete the budget scrub. There are too many pieces, too many copies of originals, and a haphazard way of tracking them - which is part of my job - to make sense of the chaos.

To make matters worse, there are way too many non-financial-minded folks, who try to give you what you may need, but not timely or in a good order....so it is time-consuming undoing all of those Gordian Knots.

Add to that frustration of the endless interruptions and the noise of steady traffic in and out of the trailer all day - and you have the equivalent of a day at the beach with a roomful of kindergartners.

Fortunately, I have been blessed with a new friend and his extreme generosity. Mustafa has given me the use of his Prayer Room whenever I need it, and it is heaven on earth! He is one of our Interpreter/Liaisons during the exercises, and he is an incredibly interesting soul. More about Mustafa another time. For now, I am off line and out the door. I have promised myself a trip to town for dinner and a break, then back to my room for a night of a new LO:CI! I can't see that at home, and it is a new season episode!!!

It doesn''t take much when you are far from home and on your own.

Squishes.

DAY 1! Only three weeks to go.

So this was D day - day 1 of the event. I awoke to the sounds of sweet little birds, as usual, but very quickly I heard the hoo-rah chanting of drilling troups coming from somewhere on base. Before I knew it, they were jogging past my billet in tight formation, and I couldn't get my camera out fast enough.

I have since adjusted the volume so that the sound will be enjoyable for you, and not just a memory for me. Tomorrow I will be 100% prepared for the event. This was also the first time I had the pleasure of hearing the cannon fire at 6:00h. What a racket! I wonder if that is only done when there are the number of dignitaries on the base, as there are currently. Lots of Generals, Brig Generals, etc.

The morning meeting wrapped hours ago, and I managed to get the report written quickly for a change. This is something I like to get accomplished right away so as not to lose anything in translating notes later. Plus, there are needs to get it done sooner rather than later, and I managed to find a very quiet location to in order to get it done!! It was heaven. My usual spot is noisy, noisy, NOISY, and with constant interruptions. I will get you a walking tour soon.

For now, thanks for stopping by, and be good.

Love to all.

D minus 2

I haven’t fallen off of the face of the state, but it feels as though I have. I arrived in Grayling two Mondays ago, and after finding my way to the base, I hit the ground running. I began my stint performing PA duties – lots of moving and organizing, making lists and writing inventories (which was appropriate, as my second duty here – my chief duty - is as the Records/Reports person). You may think of me as the Bookkeeper if it helps. I work for the head honcho – the Project Manager, and his name is Tank.

As I said, I worked as a PA for a bit, but quickly moved to my first true position as a Casting Associate, working with the Casting Director. Yup, this is the second time I‘ve held that moniker, and this opportunity provided more of an education and true intelligent methodology over the last turn. We spent four days bringing people in for paperwork and look-lou’s – that is to say, decisions were made on the spot as far as who to hire, who to keep in the wings as replacements just in case, and who to send home without a second thought.

The days are long, despite the one hour lunch we supposedly get. Aw, there’s a bunch of garbage the state needs to hear, and companies tell them via timecards…remind me to tell you some day. But 12 hour days are long no matter how you break them up. We are fed breakfast – if you want to drive to the hotel in town very early to have some. Because of our start time, breakfast is served at 4:30 and ends at 6 (for us). I have since been given a bit of a reprieve, and my day begins at 7:30, but that is to facilitate being able to write reports from the end of day information which can only be gotten from the Dept Heads (DHs) and Field Directors (FDs) once they come back from the box.

So, my fate for the next few weeks is sealed.

This morning, I woke feeling pretty well rested for a change, but for some reason my eyes and brain conspired to get me out of bed and up to COB FOB early.

When I left my apartment it was sprinkling, so no walking. Driving the mile and a half to the trailers saw it become heavier, but it wasn’t until I was in the parking lot that I looked at the car clock – and to my surprise it said 6:29. I thought, this has to be wrong somehow, and I leapt from the car and bounded up the stairs. Not wanting to be late for the morning meeting I skipped clocking in, but found nobody in the meeting area. I turned on my cell phone for the time, and voila! 6:30!

At that time, Tank walked in and looked at me funny. I grabbed up my bag and keys and said “See you in an hour.” He broke out in laughter and I hot-footed it to my car.

The weather here has been cooperative and lovely, as far as I am concerned. No rain to speak of, even though it’s been on the weatherman’s tongue the majority of days, but there have only been two days with any measurable rainfall – today was one of them. Every day we’ve had a constant breeze or full blown wind tunnel-type gusts. Feels great, and is it ever welcome when the sun beats down. There have been no delays in building and prepping the villages, and all other components are assembled and ready to go. Even the non-working hooptie is working now. The last two days there have been pushes to the box – dry runs for the teams to practice all their duties and test time frames.

So, we are a go. Day one is Sunday, and as tired as we are, everyone is excited for it to begin. Adrenaline levels are sky high and rising, and it is still a huge jumble of choreographed chaos. This is the fourth exercise this team has put together, and as familiar and knowledgeable as they are with the processes and requirements, there is always something to improve, work around, fix and deal with.

It is a military production; run very much like a film production, but using military guidelines and on their bases and within their restrictions.

I will write more in a day or two, but for now it’s time for me to move on in another direction.

What's happening?

Here is a letter response to my mom that will let you know a little of the comings and goings for me here in Grayling.

Hey there -

I just so happen to be on base today - at least for half of it. Our base location is referred to COB FOB (Civilians on Battlefield Forward Operating Base). When our COBs are in action, the area they report to is referred to as "the box." Being "in the box" is to be in the action area where the scenarios take place.

The last few days I have been in town at the Ramada working on Casting, but that has ended, and I am now back at the main location. We hired 90 folks to fill in as villagers (Iraqis and Afghanies, or Is and As) around our I and A real interpreters and role players. There are trained combat people (Nat'l Guard) who will pose as insurgents for the final bit of realism to keep the training as close to real as can be.

The hours are long, and you are working even when you are not working. They talk about this stuff non-stop, some of it reminiscing, and then it DIgresses into a meeting. Luckily, I am not needful to take part in these conversations, so I walk away. Currently, we are gathered for the morning management meeting, which was pushed from 8 this morning to 9...changes always at the last minute. Then, we were told it had been cancelled, but it is going to happen (soon)....but right now they are having fun gabbing about silliness.

Uh-oh, finally meeting time.

They just broke the meeting and we are running to catch up. Crazy crazy. This afternoon we are supposed to have an all-encompassing team building activity, beginning at one pm. Mandatory, and we have to have socks! That was the biggest worry, as they want to take us bowling. (Shhh...that's a secret) Oh for crying out loud! LOL

We will have dinner at the restaurant attached (paid for by ACS), the team building exercise (bowling) and a meeting. So, this is going to be a day.

From tomorrow on it will be a strange and frantic scenario every day. Still meeting everyone who has already landed, and as more of the team continues to arrive (on different days), I have new folks to meet and remember. My job expands to include (eventually) what I will need to accomplish, but it is still undefined 100%. I have had three hats thus far, but I will have only one to wear very soon.

My email capability is not constant, nor is consistant when it does work. When I have been done with production work each day (no time to do anything personal), I want to do a little for myself - update my blog, send email, pay a bill....and I am usually thwarted. By the time I get back to my berth (Eagle's Nest), I am too wiped out to do anything but sleep - or think about sleeping. The days will be getting earlier and earlier, and we will need to convene and be ready for the activities by 4:30am-5am soon enough, so for now these early breakfast drives to town, early meetings which follow - and all else - is a good prep tool.

To answer your questions, yes my car is with me. If I ever have any further issues, the production people are offering their car as a way for me to get around. Took mine to a mechanic earlier in the week (last week, now) and they sort of fixed the trouble, but it is something I am not concerned with for the moment. It runs. Things are going well in this regard. The long drive home will be the issue for the poor old thing. Will deal with it as the time draws near.

It is now much later, as I had a meeting with the Lead Coordinator (Gin, short for Virginia) regarding how we are to handle expense related things - reimbursing for out of pocket for supplies, etc. Lots of etc's. I think we came to a couple of good solutions and now need to implement them, write some from scratch, reinforce other rules which already exist, and so on.

Production people working on a military project. Lots of loosey goosey.

Just went to the mess tent to get my lunch. Today is the first of the catering meals, and it is good. Happy me. Sage stuffing stuffed chicken, mashed spuds and brocolli, and a fair salad. Filling and warm and I didn't have to travel for it. I am not sitting with the others just so I can take advantage of my free time....for once. This is the first real chance I have had to write an email and be alone without falling asleep. Last night I did laundry and found out I wish that I had taken an empty apartment on the top floor instead of where the Specialist put me. If I had known the layout, I would have jumped on the 2nd floor offer in a heartbeat. Ah well. Yes, I could move, but I have so much stuff to have to worry about, it is almost not worth it.

Although, if I had been on the second floor I never would have seen my visitor (who is now a regular morning plus). There is a deer who comes to graze and nose around each day. Last night she was wandering close by, and this a.m. standing next to the car when I came around the corner of the building. The first morning I woke up to a thumping on the door, only to find her there when I opened the door to inspect the commotion. It startled each of us, and she scampered off about 40 feet, and then turned to snort at me and flip her tail furiously. I simply laughed and spoke to her, then she trotted off. This morning I passed 4 large turkeys on the way to COB FOB, too. Quite a collection of critters.

Does the company feed me? Yes, finally, but only two meals worth in a day. I was told to save my receipts for reimbursement and we would get further word about how to proceed. Then, two days ago I was handed $195 in cash to cover the 6th through the 10th - which came out to $39 per day. So, yea! It actually covered my meals and then some (including my gas to get here). Since I am considered a "local hire," I am not covered for travel, so the $195 was a blessing - more than anticipated. From here on out, we will be fed a hot morning meal (provided you get to the hotel and present your day chit before 7:30am). For me it's a 6 mile drive (one way), so not too bad. Just need to adjust my wake-up time to allow for travel.

My dinner will be up to me - except for tonight - but meals are not an issue.

My bunking/billet: Yes, as comfy as can be for what it is. No bed bugs, no fleas, and the Specialist told the housekeeper to clean it once more for spiders, etc before I unpacked. The housekeeper is efficient, but not the tidiest. She is on time with the clean towels (I brought one from home), but the little things are up to me. Again, no big deal there. I do have a microwave, which is almost bigger than the frig, but they work, and that's what matters. I am content with a salad for dinner, or a bowl of cereal and some crackers and PB. Picked up fruit and veggies at a little produce store, so I snack that way. I turned the frig up too low at first and froze my gallon of milk the first day. Had to thaw it out before I could use it! Still have floating milkbergs in the container, though.!

The room is plenty warm enough, and have only closed the windows one night since I arrived. There is a thermostat, should I need it, but so far the weather has been lovely. You can tell the MI people from the rest by shirt sleeves and jackets versus not. Lots of jokes about the weather, the sunrises and sunsets, etc. It is a good bunch of mooyaks, and most of them have worked on other training events together, so they are all friendly and familiar to each other.

I get what you are saying about the $, and I understand the desire for the OT at the hospital. Not written in stone that those folks who glommed it at won't decide down the road they would rather have it off, thus leaving it available for you. You never know.

Glad to read you are having lovely critter visits, too. I think even Karl has begun watching the comings and goings at home from his bedroom window. Mostly the birds, but he saw a racoon on the back patio the day before I left, and I missed it. Have been told there is a bear in 'village 6' hear, which is not close to me, but leaves us all a little wary and a lot more cautious about the kits and supplies, etc.

Love you, and will write more later,

me

Happy Birthday, Karl!!!

20!

An important milestone for any teenager: to no longer be a teen. To cast off the last remnants of childhood and adolescence as you approach adult status.

To be able to answer any one's query of your age without having to also use the suffix "teen."

Of course, the last momentous right of passage happens only 365 days from now - when you pass completely into adulthood at the age of 21.  

Every child seems bent on becoming 21 - the 'magic' age.

Well, my advice to you, Karl, my lovely youngest child, don't be in such a big hurry to grow up.  You will have the rest of your adult life to wonder what happened to your youth, and ask yourself repeatedly, "Why was I in such a hurry to grow up?"

Don't be!  Don't be in a rush to see the next 60 to 70 years unfold.

In the words of Simon and Garfunkel... "Slow down, you're movin' too fast. You've got to make the mornin' last."  Personally, I believe they were talking about life and our early years.  Make your morning last, Karl. We have all the time in the world for the rest of your life.

Happy 20th birthday, my young son.  I love you.

Happy July 4th everyone!

Happy birthday, America, you young whipper snapper, you.  

233! Huh.

It's amazing, but you don't look a decade past 195.

Now, get off my lawn!

What's it all about, Alfie?

Days are ticking by, and over the last week I have finally begun to receive more than just work to do - meaning: I have finally been sent my deal memo and all of the many other forms necessary to sign when joining a production.  Except, with this being a production for the armed services [read: government], there is a mountain of work behind the usual non-compete form and deal memo, behind the right to work form and tax form, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera  (as Yul Brenner would have intoned).

I am nearly ready to go.  My goods are mostly assembled, and all of my laundry is done, save for the bits I brought with me to Gram's.  I am mentally ready (nearly enough, I suppose), and despite the fact I am leaving with heavy concerns surrounding the boys and things that need doing, I am excited and eager.

My reservations and eagerness are equally matched at this point, and I am anxious over things at home that are in need of immediate attention...but now I have to focus all of my attention forward to my time in Grayling.

Currently, I am at Gram's, working on the last couple of days on my calendar.  An aunt phoned from St. Helen this afternoon to say she saw the casting "article" for the production I am working with in her local paper.  So, if she spotted it, then there are many more folks in MI who are excited, curious and wanting to get busy with this.  It could be a zoo on the 9th, or it might be a bust - we shall see.

There is still the matter of the car issue for Brian, but I can't focus on that right now.  

My biggest regret is how little time and attention is left to concentrate on Karl's birthday after all is said and done.   He turns 20 in just a couple of days, and I won't be able to make it special in any way, shape or form for him.  

For now, I am concentrating on tying up loose ends - as well as I can from a remote location - and preparing myself for the last several hours I will have at home once I am relieved at Grandma's on Sunday.  It will be a sprint to the finish line, and then sleep (perhaps), and then 230+ miles to work and my next six weeks or so.

I feel like Gulliver, Alfie...what's it all about?

OK, July, get in here!

Don't just stand out there in the rain, looking all sad and droopy. I think you owe us some fireworks - now get to work, please.

                Ahh........now that's more like it!