Two More Weeks! Yayyyy!

Had a final meeting yesterday. My boss, the COTR, the heads of the Billings OPC, and myself had our MOU meeting yesterday. Everything is good. I have to babysit the system until the 15th of October, then hand the baton to the onsite tech and I'm outta here.
Isn't that awesome?
The honchos are all getting on their planes this morning and leaving with a warm fuzzy that it's all handled.

This morning, I woke up with my right eye swollen shut and a bit of an allergic reaction. They just changed my sheets yesterday, and they might not have rinsed all the soap out. I usually react to laundry soap, so I think that's the problem.
Funny. The timing is perfect.

Well, I gotta go.
Have a great day.
MsAmber

Saturday in Billings...

I went in to work this morning. I hanged (hung?) both alarm panels and discovered that the manufacturer did not include power cords. Lovely.
So I set out phones. I actually set out more than half the entire clinic. So it was a pretty productive day.
The switch tech got his remote access device working, and ran a few of his cables - dressed them in perfectly. I couldn't be happier with the quality of his work. I made some changes to his database as I was setting phones, so he's going to work on the programming from his motel room tonight and tomorrow.
Everything is progressing just fine.
I still need his alarm contacts so I can put them in the panel. I have the alarm cable from the rectifier bay, and I have the link cable to the remote ran already. Just need power cords and the alarm system will be functional. Easy cheesy.

I went shopping today. Yeah, I know. Booo.
I bought a dress on sale at Dillards: 70% off. Bought two new brassieres at Victoria's Secret (not on sale). Then I went to Pier One and bought a lap tray for working on my laptop in bed, and a smelly thing to make the motel room smell good. Oh yeah, and a new coffee cup with lid. I'm drinking Chai tea in it now. The microwave soup cup that I had bought to drink coffee in just isn't working out. It's too big. I will use it for soup, and my new coffee cup for coffee. So kill me already.
Yeah, I know. I'm saving up for a truck. I'm sure two bras and a dress isn't going to break me. I need to put my blinders on until I buy that truck though.

I had a pretty good day. At least I wasn't bored, sitting in my motel room stirring up trouble on Craigslist.

You have a great evening.
MsAmber

Oh my dear blog, how I've missed you...

This has been an exciting week. I'm here in Billings working, as you may already know. I got my power plant built. I have the electrician running my circuits now, maybe tomorrow I can fire it up. I can't wait for it to come alive. My back has been aching for days now after stacking those batteries. But thanks to Icy Hot patches - or as Chad calls them: "Aphrodisiac pads", I can nearly walk straight again. I go around all day and I keep getting a whiff of mentholatum. It takes a while to realize the smell is coming from me. Ha ha ha.
All the ladder rack is up, my power cables are ran. I'm waiting for the electrician to finish before I connect the battery leads to the rectifiers. But it's all assembled and bolted down - ready to go.
I bought a 5-wide punch down tool. I've always wanted one of my own - so now I have it.
I drove downtown and parked at the corner of Montana and 27th. I started walking... I saw that there were people so I went that-a-way. There is a Farmer's market. They were just closing up, so I asked somebody where the car show was. They told me to jog over 4 blocks and turn right and it's at the end of the street. OK.
I walked 31 blocks to the car show. Then I had to walk 31 blocks back to my truck. Oh my. My feet were sore and blistered from that. Like a dummy, I wore my cowboy boots. It was fun anyway - I took hundreds of pictures.
I found a thrift store that I like. I bought some books and a new (used) set of laptop speakers. I also found a pawn shop that I like, and I bought a DeWalt reciprocating saw. I determined to quit spending money now, since I still have to buy a truck. So, I spend every evening now reading in my room or messing around in the Rants and Raves section of Craigslist. Those guys are always good for a laugh or two. Most of the time they just look for ways to offend, hoping for a good argument or an insult session.
I was staying at the Extended Stay hotel, but that was costing me $381/wk, so I found a cheaper place. The only problem is the train tracks. Those trains run all the time and blow their horns constantly. I'm learning how to tune it out, but I just hope I don't get so deaf in my sleep that I can't hear my alarm clock. "Life ain't nothin' but a funny, funny joke." (John Denver song - Thank God I'm a Country Boy)
Landlady called me yesterday and asked me for $100. I put a check in the mail to her. I don't mind helping HER out, but I guess I do resent being asked for money. Usually I'll call her and volunteer, this time she called me and asked. If the vagrant son wasn't in the picture, I wouldn't resent it - but I know the reason she is broke is because she's supporting him. He confronted Chad (who was house-sitting my place) and asked him for money last week. What a freaking loser. I wish he would drop off the planet. Do us all a favor.
I just get so mad when I hear anything to do with Larry. He's just three months younger than I am. I want to scream at him: "Get a job, quit sucking Tit!" He makes life miserable - for her and me, and I'm just a tenant. Did I tell you he threatened me again, the day before I left for Montana? Yeah, he "KNOWS people" and will "take care" of me.
My evil daydreams are carrying me away again. Change subject.

I told Chad that if he's feeling up to it, I would appreciate him moving my trailer to his place and maybe re-packing my wheel bearings and fixing the mushy spot in the floor. I may need to take it to Fayettville, NC next month when I'm done here.
If not, I'll re-pack the bearings before I take off. I know it needs done anyway.
Hey Chad - this isn't a "girlfriend deal" - how much to do the job? I'll pay you.

I think I'm starting to acclimate to this elevation. I haven't had an episode of heart palpitations in about a week. I still see wigglies in my peripheral vision sometimes, and that's a little disconcerting, but I'm starting to feel more energetic than I did when I first arrived. I do hate the fact that I'm in a more Western time-zone, so getting used to the time on the East Coast will be interesting. I don't get out of bed until 6:00 here, which is 8 on the East Coast. Damn.

Well, I've written enough for now.
You have a great day.
MsAmber

Friday Morning in Billings

I wrote a blog entry last night, but I must not have published it.
I wrote a comprehensive, inspired dissertation wherein I solved all the worlds' ills. It's a shame it's lost forever. I certainly can't remember what it was...

I got my batteries in. It's an 880 pound stack. Each battery is 220 pounds. These are just little baby batteries. Certainly easy enough to maneuver compared to the big honkin' things we usually install. Today I'm hoping to receive my rectifiers and inverter bay. I'll be ready to rock-n-roll then.

I have a three-day weekend coming up. There is a classic car show going on downtown I was thinking of checking out. I'm also going to move to less-expensive accommodations. I would like to buy a truck real soon, and the more money I save the sooner I can realize this.

Anyway, that's about all. If I think of the solution for all the worlds' ills again, I'll be sure and save it this time.

Have a great day.
MsAmber

Today was ok.

I assembled the racks and got them square. Staged and inventoried the equipment that has arrived already. Bought plywood and painted it.
...and then stood around all day.

The floor crew is sealing the tile and I had them bump my area up in priority because I will be bringing in heavy equipment to install soon and I need them to be done with their work in my switchroom and a path to the outside door.

I'll probably be standing around all day tomorrow also. I don't have much to do until equipment comes in, and I have to be there to receive the equipment...
I'm always bored and impatient until stuff starts to happen, then I have lots to do and not enough time to do it in.

Fun, fun.

MsAmber

I'm just a little bummed tonight

Sergeant St. Ann called me today. I've been blocked from joining the Army. Many years ago I had an episode of depression. My Dr administered a test, and prescribed Cymbalta. I took the anti-depressants for a year or so, then I just quit taking them. Partially out of embarrassment for having to take a daily medication, and partially because I couldn't afford them.
When the Army requisitioned my medical records - they flagged the Depression diagnosis as the reason for my rejection. I tried to argue it, but they won't budge.
So, I'm not going into the Army after all.
That's a shame, because I would have been really good at it.

Well, here I am in Billings Montana. I met my POC today and we did a walkthrough of the facility. I met the electrical contractor and I got him started on making me a bid for some electrical circuits and conduit that I need. I looked at the materials that have already been delivered. I have enough stuff to get me started. This will be a fairly easy job. It's only 300 phones, and the power plant is small also. I can handle it by myself.

I think I want to go to the bar down the street and drink a beer. Just one.
I'm feeling a little stir-crazy.

Have a great night.
MsAmber