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
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