Thanksgiving Dinner

I came back to work a few days early. I had some extra work that needed to be done, along with I would have been scheduled to travel on Thanksgiving day.

The catering crew did excellent with the dinner. They had all the traditional menu items. Of course, we had what is traditional in the South.

The novel item was a whole pig...... They had it set up on a table with a heat lamp, similar to what you see in a buffet for Prime Rib. I guess I didn't realize how they were planning to display the pig for carving.



There he lies........... Apple in his mouth - Marciano cherry in the eye socket - some type of rice stuffing ... gave the impression of maggots.
Sometimes I just don't get it..........I am just going to stick with "its a cultural thing". Could bring myself to 'get me sum' and went with the smoked turkey. Thankfully they took the feet off!!!!!!

Another Store

When I was in Missouri in July, I posted about the convenience stores they had there.

When I was in El Paso, Texas in September I saw another store......

Liquor Dicks........

Do they not think of this when they do the licensing????

W T F ?

My daughter is posting things on Facebook. She posted this, at the same time she posted a picture of me.

What is that all about????? She says it was just "random"........

Have a seat anywhere........

I was coming home from Houston on Wednesday night.
So very thankful that I got my First Class upgrade... That way I don't have to sit and chant "they are touching me..... they are touching me....ewwwhhhh".
I get on the plane, I am in the third row. I was probably about the tenth or so person to get on. I am getting situated and have a window seat. The Flight Attendant comes by to see if anyone would like something to drink while we finish boarding. My standard is Baileys or Kahlua, helps with the nap I plan on taking for the next four hours....
This young kid sits down next to me, very polite - asked if I would like the isle or am I happy with the window seat. I tell him, that it doesn't really matter to me, if he would prefer the window - I would switch with him. He seems all good - and orders an orange juice.
About five mins into the boarding process, an India (that would be with the dot) in a business suit stops at the isle. Looks at his boarding pass, and says to this kid - are you in 3D?
The kid, gets out of the seat, doesn't look for his boarding pass or question the other guy, and walks straight for the back of the plane.
I kinda give the guy across the isle a funny look - as he does me. Was like "wow glad I didn't switch seats with him, or I would be in the wrong seat". The flight attendant is watching all of this, and comes back over and says to the business man. "Would you like something to drink, or would you like that guys orange juice?"
I guess you never know - if you don't try?????

Back in Baltimore

Back in Baltimore doing my hours for my paramedic certification. I was just here in February, but that was an under the gun thing. I did not have all my hours for my March recertification, so that wasn’t going to happen again. I was going to get my hours done ahead of time.

I was to leave work on a Friday, go home, pack, leave for Maryland on Monday and get here for my class. As it happened. Couldn’t leave work until Sunday, arrive in New Orleans shop for some clothes and leave from there to Maryland. It worked out. The catch was, since there always is a catch. My relief was doing HIS hours and couldn’t come to work when he was suppose to. The person that was going to cover for him, was covering for another position. That left me working, whether I wanted to or not.

When I talked to my relief and ask him when he would be coming to work, so I wouldn’t miss my course his comment was I HATE IT FOR YA. Fuck you buddy. You are going to regret saying that to ME.
I did have a nice time in New Orleans, ended up getting in a lot earlier in the day than I thought I was.

When I got up on Sunday morning, thinking I would be leaving around 1330 hrs. I was getting ready for my day, when around 0630 I was told the first helicopter would be arriving around 0715. Kewl, problem being my relief wouldn’t be at the heliport until noon. Then I was told that didn’t matter they weren’t bringing anyone out and would be evacuating the entire rig, for the hurricane. There would be 5 helicopter that day. I didn’t have things ready to leave in a half hour, and everyone was in a fluff trying to find people and tell them what flight they would be on. Aaauuuugghhhh what a mess!

I get to the beach, a rental car (Volvo station wagon) was there, it was left by a new hire who left the rig on Friday.. Nice car - lots of creature comforts. Meet my love in the city and went shopping. When for a ride to visit some relatives. Went to dinner at the Olive Garden, that was a nice surprise. Hadn’t been out for a nice dinner in along time!

Next morning got ready for my flight to Baltimore. Went through Atlanta, no problems there. Did sit by a young guy that was going home to Charlotte. He had been on a Carnival Cruise line, and they had some adverse weather due to IDA. He was not happy about flying and still somewhat upset about the hurricane thing. It was raining hard at the New Orleans airport, but the winds had not arrived. The air plane ride was uneventful, except. I was stuck riding coach, since I did not check in 24 hours before the flight to secure a first class upgrade. I keep learning this lesson over and over again.

I get into BWI in the evening, and one of my coworkers also was taking this class. She had arrived about an hour before me, picked up the rental car and checked into the hotel. She picked me up at the airport and we travel about 10 mins to the hotel. It was the BWI-Ramada Inn.

The course was being held at the hotel, so they had cheap rooms and an attached restaurant. Last year when I was here, I stayed at the Hilton and the course was held at the UMBC campus. That was really hard to find, traffic was a mess, and all around hated experience. The Hilton had the worst service I have had at one of those hotels.
Why not try the Ramada, the class is right there. I haven’t stayed at too many Ramada’s and really don’t see making it a habit of it.

Clean rooms, however when I checked into my room the heat didn’t work. I called the front desk and they said they would send someone up to check it, I told them I was headed to dinner. When I got back to the room, it was still the temperature of a meat locker - I called the front desk and they said that the heater was broke, and I would need to move rooms.

Back down to the front desk, get a new room key, back upstairs to move it. First thing I checked was the heater, it worked. I was good to go on that one. I started unpacking, went to turn the TV on and it didn’t work. I checked the remote, it was sending a signal. Tried pushing the button on the TV, still nothing. Followed the cord, it was plugged into this mayhem of extension cords. I Called the front desk, they sent someone up to check the TV (carrying an extra extension cord) changed out the cords, plugged it all back up and wa’la I’m in business again.

No place to plug any anything in except into that area or the bathroom. The lights that were mounted to the wall above the bed had no plug in’s either. Lights almost mounted above the bed, one of them was hanging more wires than anything else. Oh well survived. Even thought it meant hanging off the edge of my bed to talk on the phone while it was charging.

Flew back to Oregon on Saturday and thought I had the weekend home, but that was a no go. I had a flight on Sunday to go to Houston for 4 days for another class. Good thing Pepe brought up that he was driving to see me on Sunday or I wouldn’t have been ready for that. Less than 24 hours to unpack, repack and get laundry done. Along with a month worth of mail (still not gone through) and my daughter picking me up from the airport. Whirlwind!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all I can say.

But, I did remember to check in online the night before. Put me on a waiting list First Class upgrade. However, packed flight. I was trying to finish my Baltimore story with people pushing and pulling the airplane seat. Reminds me of one of the guys I work with, he has a very LOUD and gruff voice. Short prison history - it WAS self defensive (I believe him). Anyway, when people touch his seat - he gets all ugly at them and yells “Did you buy this mutherfuther seat? Keep your hands off it or I want my frickin money back!” He will then enlighten them with “if your fat ass cant get around what I PAID for, maybe you should buy a gawd damn row to yourself” I am proud that he can say that, cuz I am feeling it NOW!!

Three rows back in COACH. Good news is there is a bathroom between coach and first class, being on the aisle I get to have everyone rub their asses on me as they board the plane, go TO the bathroom and RETURN to
their seats.

I HATE riding coach ! !

Hurricane IDA

Hurricane IDA.....

Official end of Hurricane season is November 30 - we almost made it..

Last year I was in the middle of Gustaf and Ike. Spent several days on the rig between both hurricanes, with a skeleton crew.

NOT FUN, if you are wondering.

I was to have left the rig on 11-6, unforeseen and welcomed events changed that. I will have to elaborate on that later. But, I am scheduled for a helicopter tomorrow. I have been pacing and worrying if I was going to get off the rig in time to get to my recertification course.

Last night they said they would have a helicopter on sunday. yeeeee haaaa! Now today, they are saying with the path of the hurricane, we will have a full flight. They are sending all 'non-essential personnel' to the beach. This would be any service contractors that we are not currently using.

Far be it for the crews to start messing with me, telling me that they will not bring my relief out here. "We are sending people in, not bringing them out" OH HELL NO!!! Been here 25 days, not funny.