MIA Much?

Hey Friends!

I've abandoned this blog... and started a new one :) Check me out here!

Be Ready and then Some!

A few things to check off my bucketlist:

1. Sit in the driver's seat of a firetruck.
2. Hold the Jaws of Life.
3. Hold a fire hose.
4. Wear turnout gear.
5. Ride in an ambulance, sirens, lights and all.
6. Take a spin on a gurney.

Yep, just a regular week at work!

Jack on a Saturday

Yesterday, I made a new adventure... to Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. I'm a whiskey girl. I find it funny, because my mom likes wine, my dad likes beer, and I like liquor. Odd.

Jack on the Rocks

My former boss, Ruth, is a squire there at Jack's and often frequents that lovely place. This time we went in honor of Jack's birthday. Let me just say, it gave me a greater appreciation for what I drink. It's also made me love it even more. The entire time I toured there, all I wanted was a whiskey sour. It was fun to see the wood that became charcoal, how three ingredients can have such a high proof... fun stuff like that. It was even neater to see the barrel-houses where they store all the whiskey. It was amazing to learn the history of the distillery, learn the difference in between Gentleman's Jack, Single Barrel, and the good ol' No. 7. I'd love to know what the 7 stands for, by the way.... ,maybe it's for Jack's many girlfriends.

It was a great time to be had. I completed my trip with Jack Daniel's t-shirt (I just couldn't resist) and just had the barista at Starbucks complement it... too bad it didn't get me a free pumpkin spice latte.

Me, Ruth, Diane, Brent, Chance, TK, Rachel, Scott and Shep in front of the original distillery office.

The two ladies (aka Shep and TK) thinking on Jack's grave.

TK playing checkers with Jack

This was for TK

You're So Selfish

I'm coming clean with y'all. The number one thing about myself that annoys me to high heaven is I get selfish in conversations.

Seriously.

Whenever someone asks me how I'm doing, how's my week been, etc., I answer their question. And leave them hanging, forgetting to ask them how their life's been. Selfish.

I've only realized it lately. How sad and miserable is that?

For example, I'm all caught up in the fact that I can't find my Raybans or iPod charger, while one of my closest friends tells me that someone she was interested in is pursuing other roads and is heartbroken to say the least. How bad of a friend am I?

Or a coworker who asks me about life and I go on a rant about how my mind's going to mush. And do I ask him about his life? Only 5 minutes later when I realize that I was (shock) selfish and didn't ask him the same question back.

It's not like it's a repetition thing, just doing the "good thing." It's the honest thing. Since they cared enough to ask me about my life, I should ask them about theirs. It's the honest, right thing to do.

Just a random thought from me to you :)

Back to the Real World

Well, it's started. I'm officially back into the swing of things with school and such. I'm refusing to take more than 12 credit hours from here on out because of all the lessons I learned from last spring. I also didn't realize last spring just how much side work education majors get.

It's a semi-ok semester from what it seems. Of course, I've only just started as of this week. So things could change. But when my art teacher tells me that I have 2 minutes to draw Medusa's Bad Hair Day, I think things will be just fine. What's amusing (but really not because I remember being in their shoes) is the new students at Athens that have 104329823 goals to achieve. For example, background checks, TB tests, meeting with advisers, staying afloat and not drowning in work. Some haven't even decided WHICH degree they want. A guy was telling me he either wants biology or elementary... and I thought, "buddy, those pre-requisites are completely different!"

On top of school, there's still work at Camp. I'm super excited though, because next week, I have training for Be Ready Camp. Be Ready is held by the State of Alabama, where 6th graders come and learn how to be proactive in a national emergency. At the end of the week, we simulate a disaster where they triage, treat wounds, rescue, etc. I'm so excited for it! I loved working with the middle school kids I had this summer, so this is a treat to me.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Dear Summer,

I really don't want you to end. I've had so much fun and don't want fall to come around.

This is hard to say because  I LOVE fall. I love the smell, the colors, the change of season. I love going to my little college with leaves falling all around me. Yet, you've been amazing this year and it's safe to say that you're my second favorite... maybe even vying for my only favorite.

You see, I've met so many great friends at my amazing, spectacular job. We've had the best weekends ever by going downtown and going... broke. Or going down to the river making fun of all the people that are parking there and, well... we'll let that one be.

I'll miss the nights of telling kids to be quiet and get to sleep... the odd peacefulness of the lake... resetting kids on flight sims because they're taxiing way.too.fast... getting free popcorn at IMAX...

You see, you've been very good to me, dear Summer... the weeks are winding down, you've passed by way too fast. Now friends are leaving and going back to their schools; I, too, start school in a month... and even though technically you don't end until September, it feels like you're leaving now.

Star Wars and Free Tickets

I have to say that my number one annoyance about working at a place with a museum is asking for a hook up to cheap (or free) tickets. Or trying to get a discount for their kid to go to Space Camp. I know I have the coolest job ever (even though I'm so tired I forget how excited I was when I got it) and that I work at a neat place.

But I really CANNOT get you free tickets to Star Wars. I can't even get my family free tickets. And I refuse to let people to take my family passes to get discounts. So don't ask.

Ever.

Granted, Star Wars IS really cool, I'll hand that to you. I'd much rather take my kids to that exhibit that go operate a simulator. Even though I'm not a Star Wars nerd by any means whatsoever, it's neat to look at. But I still won't buy you tickets. You can buy them yourself.

So don't ask. Ever.

The end.

Call Signs

I've failed to tell about my call sign. It's Jitters. Yes, Jitters.

As in, too much caffeine.

The day I got it was the first day of training. Some people already had call signs, but we had half an hour to knock out a few call sign "omni omni vortex"-ing. I was one of the first to go up. I really had nothing to tell about myself. That is, until I mentioned that I can't go without coffee, coke, or chocolate. And then... someone yells Jitters. It clicked.

There's also a Starbuck, Flash, Shadow, Shimmy, Tag-a-long, Maestro, Shep, Trailmix, Speedo, Judge, just to name a few. We have some really weird call signs at AC, I won't lie. But the stories behind each one is awesome.

AWOL

The last time I blogged was... months ago. I've had 70+ hour work weeks and the last thing that I've thought about is my blog. Until now, that is.

I feel like the summer is winding down but we're not even a month into summer. I took the summer off from school because I was just burnt out and didn't want to look at a book, Microsoft Word, or Blackboard for a very long, long time. Sadly, I had to register yesterday for fall semester so that I don't lose insurance. I have to re-take 2 classes, then added on Art Connection and Children's Literature.

The funny thing is that I've ignored my blog because I've been burnt out on this, too. It took watching You've Got Mail to get me to realize that I've have a blog, am stuck at 28 followers, and feel like I'm doing nothing with my life. Yesterday was the first time that I actually cooked in months too. I've been in this funk lately where I am just apathetic about what I used to do. Sad right? So I hoped that changing my blog up would inspire me, which it did. Slightly.

I had my 21st birthday last week. It's so weird being completely legal now. I don't have to worry about people checking IDs and such, I can throw it in their face and not be concerned.

But now, I'm going to finish You've Got Mail and dream about New York at Christmas. I love Tom Hanks. 'Nuf said.

Busy Busy Bee

I've successfully completed training for Aviation Challenge. It was no small feat by any means, just so y'all know. I'm completely exhausted from it... and that could be due to crawling through the woods for 3 hours Friday night and a bunch of water training. BUT it was the best week I've had in a LONG time :)

I'll be honest, I was really missing Space side the first couple days because I already have my buddies there and knew what to do. So learning a new thing, making new friends/coworkers... kinda scary.

I've met a bunch of new people that are here to be counselors this summer. I've been somewhat disconnected from the world. I had a heart attack when they sounded the sirens for the Mach 3 kids that were doing a completely realistic mission. I felt like I was transported back to the 1940s the minute I heard it.

I flew flight sims, attacked enemies, learned land survival... but... here's the best part... I watched Top Gun. Ahhhhhhhhh... granted Tom Cruise was a little more attractive then than he is now.

Needless to say, I'm tired. I pick up my first AC team today which will be mega fun :)

Check Six

Starting on Sunday, I'll start cross training for another camp at the Rocket Center. While I'm so excited, I'm really anxious at the same time. I won't lie, I'm a super girly girl. Y'all know that.

Now, I've really been looking forward to this coming week for the past 8 weeks... now I'm nervous. Strangely enough though, to me, it feels like home. There's planes and hangars which is what I grew up around... it's a by a lake, trees everywhere, and even though there's an interstate less than a mile away, it's super peaceful down there.

Anyway, so this weekend I part with nail polish, pretty watches, and blow driers and become one with camo, ball caps, and bdu's. And yet, I'm excited :)

My Summer To Do List

1. Get tan
2. Get natural blonde highlights
3. Watch all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls
4. Turn 21
5. Read novel after novel
6. Relax

What's your summer to do list?

In the past month...

1. I've had teams come and go. I've seen all sorts of kids...
2. I've worked over 60 hours a week and I LOVE it.
3. There's never a dull moment in my life.EVER.
4. I've made some great friends and tend to hang at their place til all hours of the night (even when we have to be at work at 6am.)
5. Cute men galore.
6. I'm ready to train for Aviation Challenge... there's nothing better than wearing BDUs in 90 degrees and humidity. No really, I'm excited.
7. I'm going blonde from the sun. And getting lots of freckles.
8. I HAVE been reading everyone's blogs. I'm so excited for everyone's new events in y'all's lives.
9. I finished the semester on a sour note but it's ok... I can always retake classes.
10. After working at camp, I don't want to teach in a school environment. I love love love the non-traditional classroom setting. The thought of being in one room with standards to meet drives me nuts. But we'll see what happens...
11. Finally, I am not that white anymore as I was in the above picture... thank goodness.

A Rant About... Facebook

To whom it may concern:

www.facebook.com

1. No, I won't join your group about you losing weight when I don't really even know you. Nor do I care to read about it in every stinkin' status you post to the point that I hide you from my feed. I don't care about how much you ran, downward dogged, swam, or biked. Got it? Awesome.
2. I don't care about how much you miss your Brocky or Pumpkin, etc. I'm sure your man loves how demasculate him in your status. Oh, I'm also sure he loves your clingy status.
3. That's great you have a new tat but really? Tinkerbell? On your shoulder blade? Let's think outside the cliche' box, shall we?
4. Make up your mind about your relationship status. You either are together or you aren't. To me, there's no such thing as "it's complicated."
5. Statuses every 5 minutes? Really? Even Twitter considers that annoying.
6. Don't complain about your missing dog when you're on Facebook all the time. Clearly you don't miss the poor thing that much if you aren't out searching your tail off for your "best friend."
7. If no one comments or likes your status, it clearly is not that "cool or neat."
8. Don't give long winded, complicated statuses either! 
9. How can you possibly be a fan of 104 different pages?! GOOD GRIEF, CHARLIE BROWN!
10. No one is interested in your drunk pictures- especially with a keg. I mean really, we're NOT in high school anymore.
11. Finally, little children... aka 15 year olds I do not know at all... don't add me as a friend. We might have gone to the same high school, but I still don't have a clue who you are!

The Dixon Ticonderoga

This is a completely random post but as I was about to start doing homework with my Dixon Ticonderoga, courtesy of my boss, I had a flashback to a presentation we had in training at work.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Dixon Ticonderoga.

See this isn't just any pencil... it's the perfect blend of graphite and clay... Now I could go on, but only Redbull can do it the right way. She's only slightly obsessed with these pencils. When she taught, she'd lend these to her students. Lended... and in borrow. Thanks to her, I now know the real reason it's used on standardized tests, the ACT, and the SAT. I also have sort become attached to it. It does have the perfect eraser.

And no, I'm not sucking up. And no, I do not know the point to me blogging about the Ticonderoga.

Just a few suggestions on what NOT to say to a teacher...

1. Your job is so family friendly- it's a great job for a mom. 
2. You must have it easy breezy.
3. Your degree is so simple to get!
4. You're off at 3pm. I wish I had it that way at my job.
5. You don't take your job with you wherever you go.
6. Who the heck are you to judge my parenting?
7. Why aren't you babying my baby?
8. Why did you give them an F?
9. My child would never hurt a thing...
10. You don't get paid a lot do you?

Now. I've heard all these quotes and then some... and I want to put my reaction to each line but I resisted... y'all can do that yourself :)

i am alive! i am! i am!

I've been absent for about 11 days... I have been exhausted every single day. I completed my intense training on Tuesday to my uttermost depression. I was so so so so sad. But-

I came away with an award for having the "Right Stuff", an award we give to a certain member of teams for having what it takes to be an astronaut (based on the book and movie.) It's pretty much the TOP award given. I was really shocked. I thought someone else was getting the award until my boss said, "she's the perfect blend of elementary teacher and rock star." I went blank. Honestly blank. And then I had to give a speech when I was on the stage. Yikes.

I loved my team, I love love love love my job. I love that I'll also be training for Aviation Challenge and Day Camp. I love that tomorrow I get to go in and help design shirts for this summer. I love it all.

And now, I'll leave you with some awesome pictures :)

Since I've been gone...

1. I've been going to 12 hour training days at the Rocket Center. You read that right. 12.
2. I'm so excited to start this job already.
3. I could tell you anything about space if you asked me to, down to what goes in the external and solid fuel tanks on the shuttle. 
4. I've been getting behind in school and will attempt to rectify that today.
5. I get to wear a flight suit that's bright blue
6. I made a kid go nuts unintentionally last night with my Space Camp shirt. We talked about our favorite simulators and the Star Wars exhibit.
7. I've been learning how to operate the simulators (oh so fun.)
8. We've talked about registration, homesickness, kids on behavior medications, special needs, and issues that happen in the pre-teen age.
9. We've discussed everything under the sun (no pun intended.)
10. Finally, did I mention I'm ready for this job to start already?

Team America to the G

Stressed, yes. Worth it, yes.

I'm officially a Space Camp graduate. I also think I'm the youngest one in the group.

My group is great. We've already gone from 14 to 13 people... the training is hardcore and there's never a 100% pass rate. Talk about added pressure.

I am so glad to be working in a positive but nonetheless exhausting new working environment. I stress exhausting by the way because that's what I am. Our trainer is awesome. I know that I'll be able to handle these crazy shifts but man am I tired.

We're getting a Star Wars exhibit in June to the museum which is definitely neat but it's not free to the staff of the museum (bummer.) It will also get in the way of teaching to the little chilluns about Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the STS program (I'm already speaking the lingo!) but I love a good challenge like that. I won't lie, I'm a little on the stressed side. I'm basically taking a semester-long course on the Space Program in what lasts less than three weeks.  Our group has already talked about having study sessions, teaching in the museum at midnight (no joke), and pulling each other along for the ride. Easy? No. Teamwork? Yes. Some people don't want to do it, but I sure want to keep this job, as do others in the group, so we're going for it.

The best part is that I've developed a love for rock climbing, even with my massive bruise from the wall on my arm. What's even better is that we found out we can climb it when we're not on the clock whenever we want. How cool is that?