As Promised, Finally (UPDATED)

Whew what a week!
I did quite a lot this past week, and most of it was either very exciting or very... interesting, I'll call it. I'm not even real sure where to start, so I'll go with the classic chronological approach.

Let's see here...(thumbing through my date book, well okay, sliding through my phone, but it's the same idea)

Friday
Friday night I went to my first Seattle Mariner's Game with a friend. We had some really awesome seats when it comes to seeing the field. The inherent danger of getting a line drive foul ball to the face really made me pay attention to every single pitch. In the rare case that my eyes would wander every single seat had a little reminder "Please pay attention to the game as foul balls and bat pieces may fly out of play and those of us here at the stadium would like you to know this prior to the legal trouble you will attempt to start should you get hit with stray debris" or something along the lines. The details matter not in this situation.


Second, only to our view of the game, is the wonderful selection of society with which we had such a view. Sitting to the right of us was, no joke, Will Ferrell's inspiration for the character of Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights. He, of course, knew every player on the field and yelled to them like the old friends that they were. He yelled at his kids 5 seats over to get the beer man to come back. He was thrilled to see the things he had in common with his favorite player, Ichiro; they both get pumped up for the game by listening to rap music of course... (Christopher, I wish you could have met this idol of a man)

In front of us was a different character all together. This guy had to be at least 6'5" and was wearing a shirt that displayed his upper muscles well. When he took his seat, I told Molly that I didn't care if she secretly wanted the Rangers to win, she best not mention that fact to this man. She agreed. Much to my surprise, he sat down, put his arm around the seat next to him (a girl he doesn't know), and turned to talk to us. Targeted. We were now his new best friends. He wanted to know where we were from, what we did, where we went to school. All of this discussion worried me because I was still afraid of the foul balls and the fowl flying over head didn't look very friendly. Later, he wanted to know Molly's name, but didn't bother to ask mine (Stephanie Tanner, "How Rude!"). Things started to get a little fishy when he asked for more details about where Molly lived and I was no longer jealous that he didn't have my name. As the game ended, I exited the seating row, and this guy leaned across the row to whisper something to Molly. I heard her say, "Um no, I think I'll pass," and then she ran out of the row. "Get me out of here!," she said. I'll not share with you exactly what he said, unless you ask, but I'll let you know that I've catagorized this guy as the craigslist special, CREEPER .

Saturday
I drove to Tacoma, continuing my seach for the perfect furniture, but didn't see anything that I absolutely had to have. Returning to Bremerton, I got my hair cut, learned far more about my hair stylist than I really wanted to know, and went to a coworkers place for drinks and socializing.

Sunday
On saturday my dad suggested I look for furniture at a store called It's Bedtime in Silverdale. Following the directions of my trusty iPhone, I found myself staring at a lot full of pine trees. I wasn't too far from Ashley's, so I drove by there. When I say "drove by," I mean that quite literally. I pulled into the parking lot, saw an eager salesman waiting at the store door, and drove out of the parking lot. I wasn't in the mood to be pressured. Upon exiting that lot, I saw National Furniture, a smaller store in a shopping center which was formally dominated by Circut City (only a ghost remains). I figured whynotgosee (yes, one word). The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to get space from the sales people. The second thing I noticed was the bedroom set that I absolutely had to have. The third thing I noticed was the sale price. I called my parental unit to discuss briefly my decision, although they no longer care too too much since its my money.

I called a sales person over to my location and he began his spiel. He started in asking me questions and trying to make a personal connection, telling me about his son and how much he likes to snowboard. I recognize these tactics from my days behind the coffee counter. Rule number something-or-other, "make the customer feel at home, they're more likely to buy more and come back often." Poor guy was wasting his skills, I was already sold, but I let him go for a bit. Finally he took a deep breath, "... so what's going to fit in the room?" That was my cue. "I want that." (putting my arms out to encompass the bedroom set I was drooling over) He wrote up the paper work and ordered my new furniture. I ran my card, signed my name, and walked out exhausted. Spending money, especially your own money, is tiresome!

Despite my sleepiness, I went to the mall for a bit since they don't exist in Chicago and I kinda wanted some new shoes.

Monday - Wednesday
I'm grouping these three together because the do that in my head too... :-/
Two people in the office were on leave for the week which meant Joe and I had desks with computers to call home for the week. With our newly found access, we also recieved real work. I'll do my best to explain what I did with out the acronyms that befuddle me every day. Basically, I was given job orders that referenced specific standards, technical manuals, and drawings. I was tasked to then use the multitude of computer programs now available to me to track down these references, make sure they fit the job order, determine which drawings applied, order material, and submit the job order to the next person down the line.

Wednesday, I came in early, eager to attack the 7 folders still sitting on my desk. I walked into the shipyard around 6:15 in the morning. This was an experience in and of itself. I'm used to walking in with a line of people out the gates, playing a game of frogger to get across Farragut Ave (the main drag of the yard), and dodging in the shop door before the huge crane gets too close and my hard hat will be required. 6:15 in the morining is a different story. I could hear the seagulls letting the world know they were awake. I strolled down Farragut and saw one guy I know. When I walked into the shop, it was relatively quiet. Only a few other people were in there. A couple of machines let out slow whines of air as their owners shook them from their slumber. Rumbling awake for another day in a line of 40-50 years for some, the machines took on their own personas. It was a very surreal morning. It was something I could get used to; I just need the work to justify it.

I finished up all those folders shortly after lunch and discovered that I was perhaps too efficient for my job at this time.

Thursday
I called the furniture store on thursday to confirm that all of my furniture had in fact made it from Tacoma to the store in Silverdale, and Coworker Joe and I rented a Uhaul truck to go over and pick up all of the stuff (he purchased stuff from there too, I wasn't just abusing our friendship). We were quite amazed by our 3-D tetris skills because everything* seemed to fit right in the pick up like it was designed for this load of stuff. We drove my stuff to my place the three of us (me, Coworker Joe, and Marie) moved all the huge boxes into my apartment. I then followed them to their place to move their furniture. The next stop would be dinner at the wonderfully delicious Toad House Pizza.

*prior to dinner, I went home for a bit and decided to unpack and set up my bed while I waited for Joe and Marie to check on a futon they were purchasing elsewhere. Turns out everything didn't fit in the truck and the missing piece was my headboard. :(

Friday
I had computer training all day on Friday in order to learn a program that is pretty essential to my job. I also sent a pleading letter to one of my other coworkers, Melissa. Melissa is the proud owner of a HUGE truck and was delighted to run up to silverdale and help me grab my missing headboard. Dinner was with Joe and Marie again because Joe was really excited to show off his cooking skills. Following dinner I schooled them in the art of Phase 10. It just wasn't fair.



Unfortunately along with all of this beautiful furniture came the packing material. Try as I might to keep it all contained, I could not. The most surprising thing I discovered, is that it is next to impossible to get the styrofoam and wrapping back in the box it came out of despite the removal of the furniture that previously inhabited the box. I think I am now doomed to chase little pieces of styrofoam around my apartment until the day I move out. (some of it will probably manage to follow me beyond that I am certain). It sticks to you when you don't want it to and it repels away from you when you try to collect it.

I promised but...

A few things came up which made taking the time to invest in a well written blog became impossible, namely furniture issues. So, I will not promise, but I will do my best tomorrow.
Love, Lydia

I promise

It's been a week. I know. I know. I know, but today, I promise.

I made it!

I told you all earlier about my transition from unemployed, homeless, college graduate to employed renting college graduate, but, as my dad pointed out, my transformation didn't really count until the wee hours today. Today I got my first real world direct deposit (they don't really do the check thing so much anymore).

In other news:
I haven't attended the Kitsap 25 morning meetings much this week because on Monday all 790 pounds of my worldly belongings arrived at my front door (well actually they carried them in through the back door). Included in this delivery was my bike, so I have subsequently ridden my bike into work and back Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

I was pretty excited to unpack and make more of a home here in my super sweet rental, so I grabbed my box cutter and went to town. I put away dishes, too many sets of twin size sheets, clothing, and plenty of shoes. Each time I opened a box, I quickly assessed contents and filed it in my brain under the appropriate heading. Perhaps unfortunately (depending on your interpretation), I had to categorize too many boxes under future library or wizard's den. Those of you who have seen the sign outside my dad's office will appreciate that last title most. So now I've got a pile of boxes in my now-living living room with no real home, for I don't have any bookcases. Sigh. I guess I really am my dad's daughter.

In a related subject, I achieved the impossible on the phone last night with said wizard:

"I would really like to get a book on finite element analysis."
silence.
"I, erm, I don't think I have one on that..."

Okay, so that's not a direct quote; I edited it a little for humor's sake. The point is this: he doesn't have a book on that!! I guess I'll just be forced, wrist-twistingly forced, to pick up the slack. So if you are reading this and you have book suggestion, let me know.

Additionally I am thinking about overhauling my bicycle. Partly because it needs a few adjustments, partly because I love to take things apart and also because it's easier (and hopefully cheaper) than overhauling my dad's Honda. Just kidding dad, that idea never crossed my mind.

So I feel today's post has been quite unfocused and a great deal of rambling, but having fixed my internet, I wanted to say hello and pass on some good news. In return, I'd really like an update on your lives. Leave me a comment, drop me an email, tweet, send a facebook message, or even send me a beautifully composed hand written snail mail letter. I love you all and miss you dearly.

Yet Unknown Local Artist

Because my walls are so obviously blank, I decided today to add some color. As my rent agreement says I cannot paint the walls directly, I chose to support a poor local artist in my decorating process. Based on my purchase and some of her previous work, I really wouldn't advise she put all her heart and soul into art as a career. That aside, I like this piece (a selection of four canvases that go together) and I think its modern style as well as the color selection will go well with my intended decoration scheme for the my living room.

Below is a picture of my wall with added paintings. I am desperately in need of a level because I can't tell if the artwork is aligned properly. There is a seam in the wall that may or may not be level, there are four rectangular canvases that may or may not be level, and there are straight lines in the paintings that may or may not be parallel to the canvas edges. You can see my concern I am sure.

If you are in search of a touch of modern art, as you see above, let me know and I will contact my artist friend. (I got a discount by promising to advertise a little :D )

$10 Humor

I spent my Independence Day contributing to the local economy. I probably aided a few foreign ones as well because most, if not all, of my purchases were manufactured elsewhere. I set out intent on finding an area rug as all the floors in my apartment are hard wood and I would like to make some distinction between walk way and living room (especially now that I have cable!) I went to a number of different places in search of the perfect pattern as well as the best price. I visited Lowes, Home Depot, Pier One, Target and almost made it over to Macy's before I was just too tired to carry on.

During my travels I followed the direction of a talented streetside advertiser with the ability to flip his sign behind his back to Ashley's Furniture. They were having a CRAZY sale, or at least that's what they said. My guess is that we (me and Ashley) define crazy differently. My experience there was a new one. I had never been stalked and been somewhat okay with it. "John" was just there to help me or answer any questions I might have. I think this is why people go car shopping on Sundays... "John" was very helpful in pointing me towards the free coffee, cookies, and expensive over fluffed seating arangements, but alas, I just didn't find what I was looking for at Ashley's fine establishment.

One of the last places I visited was Target. They carried the same floral rugs that I just didn't want. I really wanted something to make my living room more of a place for the living, so I began to look at other options for contributing to the economy. I found two floor lamps that would add the light my mother said I really needed and a side table that could serve as an entertainment center until I upgraded to a bigger TV and more entertainment. Said table could then transition back to its original purpose.

Much to my disdain, I could not locate the light bulbs in Target and I didn't feel like asking for help. I conceded to visit just one more store. Enter Fred Meyer's, or as I now affectionately think of it, Walmart On Crack. Seriously. Fred took a Kohl's, a Home Depot, an Albertson's, an Ashley's Furniture, and Shane Co threw them all in a warehouse and put a cute strip mall out front. Not only did I find the light bulbs I was looking for, but I discovered that they were having a CRAZY sale on area rugs! (Crazy the way I define it, not the way Ashley does)

The pictures below show my living room designed for activities of the living sort. In them you will see my crazy cheap area rug, one of my new lamps, my miniature entertainment center, and my modest, minimalist, $10 chair that "John" and Ashley just couldn't provide. (Thanks for coming through on that one Target!) You'll notice too that in the second photo, Julia came by for visit in the form of one of my favorite movies.

Go Big Red!

Yesterday we went on a field trip to Bangor Naval Base and Intermediate Maintenance Facility which is very close to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. We work very close with the folks over there. Typically submarines will pull in there and use their dry dock for smaller repairs and tune ups.

Originally due to some misunderstandings I was scheduled to have my belongings delivered to my house yesterday, but boy am I glad we cleared that up. The trip was something I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on. Joe, the instructor, served for 30 years in the US Navy and was at the end of his career Chief of the Boat (COB) on a few different submarines. He also worked over at Bangor for sometime. Needless to say, he knew quite a few people around the base and had a little pull when it came to getting us some backstage passes, so to speak.

Once we made it through security, which included a full vehicle search, questioning and wanding of all individuals involved, we parked the van. Equipped with our trusty hard hats, safety glasses, and steel toed boots acquired the first day of work, we walked over to the dry dock. Sitting in front of us was the USS Maine.

She's HUGE!! We spent the last two weeks watching videos and powerpoints full of pictures of these vessles, but none of that could really conceptualize the enormity of these submarines. Sure I worked at MSI guiding tours on the U-505 for a summer, but lets be fair the U-505 was a bath toy compared to the USS Maine (I sure hope she's not insulted by my direct conversation about her size. I know girls can be sensitive about that...) (Photo: navsource.org)

After Joe went aboard and talked to the appropriate man in charge, we descended down the 63 feet of stairs to the bottom of the dry dock. So, as strange as it sounds, the USS Maine, a submarine, was then towering over us. We walked around toward her bow, all the while Joe was yelling and pointing out different characteristics, but I'll be honest with the ear plugs and loud machinery, I didn't catch much of what he was saying. Arriving beneath her forward starboard side ballast tanks, Joe pointed up a ladder, yelled something and motioned for us to climb up. Up we went. We climbed into one of her ballast tanks. All 14 of us climbed inside this comparment and had plenty of room to spare. I now have a physical understanding of just how we make such huge chunks of metal float!

Then came the task of climbing back out of the dry dock... Joe told us many times the past two weeks to make sure we have all the tools we need when going down into the dry dock, and I now also have a physical understanding of this fact.

As we continued around the water front we came upon another submarine in for minor adjustments:All my friends and family members from Nebraska, I think you might appreciate this boat the most. Sitting there along the pier was the USS Nebraska, an Ohio class, Titan Submarine. I didn't know before yesterday that there was a boat with such namesake, but I know now. To make it better, hanging alongside the bridge out to the sub was a sign stating the boat's name complete with the University of Nebraska N and "Go Huskers." (Uncle Curt, I think there may be a Corn Husker fan out there that has one-upped you this time)(Photo: navsource.org)

Joe pulled his strings again, and after another wanding, we got to go onboard this submarine. Joe wanted to make sure that we got to see a submarine when she was in basic working order, for when they come to see us at PSNS there is often quite a bit of disarray inside as repairs and changes are made. Continuing with the theme, there was more Nebraska decor inside the boat. Every trashcan had a big red N stuck to the outside. While the ohio class submarine is quite large, the inside follows submarine suit in being quite small and cramped. My support for the brave men of our United State Navy was once again renewed when I looked into their tiny living spaces. 8 men to a room, and extra mattresses crammed into walkways too! We also looked behind some machinery to find a few more mattresses which Joe told us was for women visiting for ship checks, such as I might do in the future. I definitly look forward to this opportunity, but I will tell you that I have a closet bigger than that space.

Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures or bring you all onboard with me, because I would really like to convey the sense of awe and understanding that I think my words fail to express.

The USS Nebraska in Port at Bangor Naval Base
(Photo: navsource.org)

GO BIG RED!