July 29
Welcome to my day from heck, here it is in a nut shell I hope you all enjoy.
My day started off at 5am; I took a walk down to the first floor of my apartment building and decided to use the gym, for an early morning workout. After which I felt great like I could take on the world. I walked into the office around 7:30, which was very early for me; since I am not required to be there before 9:30. Hence, here is where the story begins. The work assignments I had for the day were intense, but I took on the challenges and came though swing. At around 2:30 one of my supervisors walked in and gave me weird look and said a certain phrase. The one when you hear someone udders it, It’s never a good thing. “Promise you wont be upset”, but we having be working on the wrong parts of the communications plan and they are all due today. Do you thing you can do a weeks worth of work in 2 ½ hr.” at that point my right eye started to twinge. And I started to break out in a cold sweat. So I sat down and told myself that I could do this. Before I began working I went and got a drink went to the bathroom and stretched my legs and began to type at break neck speed. With sweat pouring off of my brow I managed to redo a weeks worth of work in just under 2 ½ hrs. As I printed out the reports and took them to her. I noticed a strange look on her face and with that strange look on she udder that certain phrase “Promise you wont be upset,” but I miss read the due date and they are all due on the 31st . Look on the brightside at least you have them all done. At that point I looked at her and said “I won’t be in until noon tomorrow.” She then looked at me with a smile and said “I guess I could look the other way on this one”
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
What a week Part II
July21
****This post is a little more personal in nature, but nevertheless relevant to my experience and time down here****. Well we are coming up on the three quarters mark down here and I can’t speak for everyone but it’s a safe bet to say that I think we are all looking forward to going home. I’ve run into most of the other Cal U interns and we are all pretty much enjoying the time down here in our beautiful capitol mostly everyone of us has experienced something that has changed us in one way or another. I can tell you that mine has changed me in ways that I am just now starting to realize. Primary my outlook for my career in Emergency Management has changed, a higher degree is no longer an option it is a necessity!!! Mostly everyone I work with has a graduate degree or higher. So I am now in the process of looking into grad schools as well as funding to do so. The biggest change that I have gone thought is with my personal life. Being this far from home has given me a new respect from where I come from and my family which I have taken for granted for too long. Also this experience has allowed me to get back in touch with someone very special to me, she has been there for me throughout the ups and downs of my experience down here and pretty much for the last three years of my life. But it was just recently that I have seen it for what it, for once I am looking forward towards my future instead of looking at the past. Needless to say what I have taken away from my experiences down here is take nothing for granted and I will forever remember that.
****This post is a little more personal in nature, but nevertheless relevant to my experience and time down here****. Well we are coming up on the three quarters mark down here and I can’t speak for everyone but it’s a safe bet to say that I think we are all looking forward to going home. I’ve run into most of the other Cal U interns and we are all pretty much enjoying the time down here in our beautiful capitol mostly everyone of us has experienced something that has changed us in one way or another. I can tell you that mine has changed me in ways that I am just now starting to realize. Primary my outlook for my career in Emergency Management has changed, a higher degree is no longer an option it is a necessity!!! Mostly everyone I work with has a graduate degree or higher. So I am now in the process of looking into grad schools as well as funding to do so. The biggest change that I have gone thought is with my personal life. Being this far from home has given me a new respect from where I come from and my family which I have taken for granted for too long. Also this experience has allowed me to get back in touch with someone very special to me, she has been there for me throughout the ups and downs of my experience down here and pretty much for the last three years of my life. But it was just recently that I have seen it for what it, for once I am looking forward towards my future instead of looking at the past. Needless to say what I have taken away from my experiences down here is take nothing for granted and I will forever remember that.
What a week Part 1
July18-21
Let me start off by apologizing about the hiatus in posting, I have had a busy two weeks. Initial I had been in and out of the hospital for the past two weekends. For a supposed blood clot in my legs…. Don’t worry everyone it just and old injury that well isn’t so old anymore. I will know more once I get back to good old PA and Get an MRI done. next one thing that I did learn about my internship, intern or not my placement was really worried about me. When I got back for the ER the second time that wanted to know if I want to work from my apartment for a couple days. Which I thought was very thoughtful; Aside from the hospital situation I had an awaking thanks in part to this opportunity. I came to a realization that I have to start getting all aspects of my life on track besides my career. If it wasn’t for the long lunches with my supervisor “Auntie Debbie” as she called herself would have never come to that realization. Stay turned for part 2
Let me start off by apologizing about the hiatus in posting, I have had a busy two weeks. Initial I had been in and out of the hospital for the past two weekends. For a supposed blood clot in my legs…. Don’t worry everyone it just and old injury that well isn’t so old anymore. I will know more once I get back to good old PA and Get an MRI done. next one thing that I did learn about my internship, intern or not my placement was really worried about me. When I got back for the ER the second time that wanted to know if I want to work from my apartment for a couple days. Which I thought was very thoughtful; Aside from the hospital situation I had an awaking thanks in part to this opportunity. I came to a realization that I have to start getting all aspects of my life on track besides my career. If it wasn’t for the long lunches with my supervisor “Auntie Debbie” as she called herself would have never come to that realization. Stay turned for part 2
Friday, July 17, 2009
My Midterm Evaluation
Well, as I had recently stated, I have reached the midpoint of my internship and I have some good news. I just got my midterm internship evaluation and, well, it was better than I expected. I had received an overall score of 3.6 on a scale of 1 – 4, 4 being the best. My supervisor told me that there should be no reason why I shouldn’t be able to hit that 3.8-4.0 range by the end of my internship. She told me that most of the reason why I was at 3.6 was that most of the grading criteria that I am to be graded on I actually haven’t experience yet ... like how I handle pressure and that sort of stuff. She told me that in the second half of my internship there will be that kind of test coming down the pike, so stay alert. I told her that I am ready for it. As always, stay tuned as I will bring that to you as it happens. Stay well everyone.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Midterm Update
July 10
Well I have officially reached the middle of my tenure down here in the D.C area. It has been a very interesting ride to say the least. During my stay I have seen so much, learned so much and changed my outlook on things. One of those things that I have seen is that the Pentagon while also being the nerve center of our defenses is also a one stop shopping area. During one of my informational interviews I had the privilege of interviewing one if the chiefs of emergency management for the pentagon protection force. As he put it “there is no reason to be in the dog house with your wife while you are working here we have everything in here from a CVS to florist.” That was putting it mildly was so awe struck. I felt like a freshman walking onto campus for the first time. What I have learned. If I want a job at the Pentagon, It’s going to be a long road getting from here to there. From, what I had gotten out of the interview is that I am going to have done something that I always wanted to do but never had the driving force to do as… Yep…. I am going to do the impossible get into shape and try to get into R.O.T.C when I get into grad school then hopeful with any luck come out as a Second Lieutenant. Then serve four years. Well we shall see where that leads. I will keep you all posted on that aspect.
Well I have officially reached the middle of my tenure down here in the D.C area. It has been a very interesting ride to say the least. During my stay I have seen so much, learned so much and changed my outlook on things. One of those things that I have seen is that the Pentagon while also being the nerve center of our defenses is also a one stop shopping area. During one of my informational interviews I had the privilege of interviewing one if the chiefs of emergency management for the pentagon protection force. As he put it “there is no reason to be in the dog house with your wife while you are working here we have everything in here from a CVS to florist.” That was putting it mildly was so awe struck. I felt like a freshman walking onto campus for the first time. What I have learned. If I want a job at the Pentagon, It’s going to be a long road getting from here to there. From, what I had gotten out of the interview is that I am going to have done something that I always wanted to do but never had the driving force to do as… Yep…. I am going to do the impossible get into shape and try to get into R.O.T.C when I get into grad school then hopeful with any luck come out as a Second Lieutenant. Then serve four years. Well we shall see where that leads. I will keep you all posted on that aspect.
Fourth of July fallout
July 6th
Well I am glad I got out of dodge for the 4th. First off let me say that if it wasn’t for the fact that this opportunity has freed my mind I would have had a great time with my college sweetheart with whom I recently got back together with. It was a great time spending the fourth with her and her family, swimming all day camping out all night and just relaxing on the 5th. However I found out that I was the only one out of my closer circle of friends that had a decent holiday. Let me start off by saying when I got back on the 6th I found out that one of my roommates and a sprained wrist one had food poising. The next laughable event was seeing that one of our classmates tore his rotate cuff after playing football. He slipped on a bunch of ice that someone had dumped out of a cooler that was the funny part. The last big fallout from the weekend festivities was that the power in our apartment was out for most of the 5th. Just one last reason that I was glad I had gotten out of dodge. Well until next time stay turned.
Well I am glad I got out of dodge for the 4th. First off let me say that if it wasn’t for the fact that this opportunity has freed my mind I would have had a great time with my college sweetheart with whom I recently got back together with. It was a great time spending the fourth with her and her family, swimming all day camping out all night and just relaxing on the 5th. However I found out that I was the only one out of my closer circle of friends that had a decent holiday. Let me start off by saying when I got back on the 6th I found out that one of my roommates and a sprained wrist one had food poising. The next laughable event was seeing that one of our classmates tore his rotate cuff after playing football. He slipped on a bunch of ice that someone had dumped out of a cooler that was the funny part. The last big fallout from the weekend festivities was that the power in our apartment was out for most of the 5th. Just one last reason that I was glad I had gotten out of dodge. Well until next time stay turned.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I am getting out of Dodge!!!
July 1st
When I was at work one day in June, I asked my co-workers, "What you are doing for the 4th of July?" My supervisor said, "Are you kidding? I have lived here for 20 years I am getting the hell out of here." I thought to myself, "wow, okay," but as I took a couple seconds to reflect, Charlotte who is going to be our ON duty officer, said if wasn’t for working she would leave too!!! Then I said, "Well in that case, I will be leaving on the 1st." Which leads me today. I am getting ready to pack as I type. I am going home for the 4th. I plan on spend my 4th up in Erie, PA with a special someone. I will write more about her later but needless to say, I do need a vacation. Well, I hate to cut this short but I have to get packing if I want to beat the holiday rush… see you all on the other side. Have a great holiday!!!
When I was at work one day in June, I asked my co-workers, "What you are doing for the 4th of July?" My supervisor said, "Are you kidding? I have lived here for 20 years I am getting the hell out of here." I thought to myself, "wow, okay," but as I took a couple seconds to reflect, Charlotte who is going to be our ON duty officer, said if wasn’t for working she would leave too!!! Then I said, "Well in that case, I will be leaving on the 1st." Which leads me today. I am getting ready to pack as I type. I am going home for the 4th. I plan on spend my 4th up in Erie, PA with a special someone. I will write more about her later but needless to say, I do need a vacation. Well, I hate to cut this short but I have to get packing if I want to beat the holiday rush… see you all on the other side. Have a great holiday!!!
Hey Bob, Do You Want to go Sky Diving?
June 30th
Well, you know the old saying all work and no play… Well, it's true. I had just got done talking to my roommates, and after all we have been though down here, we thought, "You know, we should have fun." Let start this story off by saying you only live once. That being said, let the story begin. So, I am sitting in the in the living room trying to relax when my roommates are talking very loud, and I said, "Guys, whats up? I am tring to relax." Tek stops and looks at me and says, "Dude, when are you bringing your car down here?" I told him after the 4th of July. He looked back and said, "Let me ask you a question… now we are being serious… "Do you want to go sky diving?" I stopped look at him dumbfounded and said, "You know, yes why not, you only live once." So, Tek and Patrick have looked into it and I guess that we are going some time at the end of July. I promise that I will post a pic if we indeed go.
Well, you know the old saying all work and no play… Well, it's true. I had just got done talking to my roommates, and after all we have been though down here, we thought, "You know, we should have fun." Let start this story off by saying you only live once. That being said, let the story begin. So, I am sitting in the in the living room trying to relax when my roommates are talking very loud, and I said, "Guys, whats up? I am tring to relax." Tek stops and looks at me and says, "Dude, when are you bringing your car down here?" I told him after the 4th of July. He looked back and said, "Let me ask you a question… now we are being serious… "Do you want to go sky diving?" I stopped look at him dumbfounded and said, "You know, yes why not, you only live once." So, Tek and Patrick have looked into it and I guess that we are going some time at the end of July. I promise that I will post a pic if we indeed go.
Well, Has it Been a Month Already?
June 26th
Well, I have survived one whole month down here in Arlington, and you know what? I could actually live here permanently. I could do without all the walking, but then I wouldn’t have lost at least twenty pounds. To give you a little window into my world: My commute is less than two blocks, my apartment is less than three blocks from a metro stop, I am four blocks from a whole food store, and I am a block away from the police station and a subway shopJ. I have experienced a lot down here: The metro accident at D.C, a shooting, and a guy getting smacked by a car right in front of me and walking away from it. To quote a friend, “You know for all of us interns being down here, our chance(s?) of going home in one piece are slowly diminishing throughout out the summer.” I, for one, hope to make it back in one piece. I mean, my life is finally getting straightened out. This experience has taught me the most important lesson: self reliance. As I look back, I can’t help but look how far I have come and eagerly look forward to still what’s ahead.
Well, I have survived one whole month down here in Arlington, and you know what? I could actually live here permanently. I could do without all the walking, but then I wouldn’t have lost at least twenty pounds. To give you a little window into my world: My commute is less than two blocks, my apartment is less than three blocks from a metro stop, I am four blocks from a whole food store, and I am a block away from the police station and a subway shopJ. I have experienced a lot down here: The metro accident at D.C, a shooting, and a guy getting smacked by a car right in front of me and walking away from it. To quote a friend, “You know for all of us interns being down here, our chance(s?) of going home in one piece are slowly diminishing throughout out the summer.” I, for one, hope to make it back in one piece. I mean, my life is finally getting straightened out. This experience has taught me the most important lesson: self reliance. As I look back, I can’t help but look how far I have come and eagerly look forward to still what’s ahead.
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