Semester in Review
Alright, still wrapping things up with the roommate and all his garbage. Good news: I have officially been accepted as an intern at the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. I start as soon as I call them up from getting back from Arizona, and I've pretty well got everything set out so that I can do what needs to get done. Professionally, things worked out nicely...
At work, however, I've learned some things that are rather disturbing. Colonel Koonce is upset because the way some things have been, and thus the mass reorganization. "When you get back from OBC, I'll be expecting you to use that rank of yours..." Crap. Being an OIC of a team is not something I want with school going on in the background. I need to find something more suitable, less depressing, and overall a happier place to be...
Tonight was my last final, and on the way home I got wrapped up in a conference call with Lieutenant Barrera and Lieutenant Bal. These are two folks I'll be going to MIOBC with, and they seem like some very positive people to be around. LT Barrera is a Spanish linguist with the Illinois Army National Guard over an interrogator platoon, and LT Bal is going active duty with an Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fort Hood, Texas. They're both damn yankees, making fun of my accent and saying that awful "eh" and "don't ya know..." That's alright...
We've decided to go with the TDY housing off post, which is nice because that means I get to cook and pretty well do what I want outside of class. Living on post has it's perks, but not that many. Parking sucks at the barracks, and from what I hear, it's not much better than living out of a Motel 6 room. Sure, you get a microwave and a little mini-fridge, but that's about it.
On another positive note, my supervisor for the internship gave me an interview today. I mentioned that I'm an officer with the National Guard and he seemed to be all over it. He was asking me all sorts of questions like what unit I'm with and what I plan on doing after college. "Well, we recruit a lot of our interns, but lately we've been getting worthless folks that I've had to ultimately fire later on. With your credentials, you can pretty well walk in the door here and get a job..." Sweet.
Hanging out with Catherine has been pretty interesting. I'll admit I kinda made an ass of myself the first time I chatted with her, provided that things were a mess from work and at home. After that all ironed out and I got things together with that internship and my plans this summer, I really became a much happier person overall. She's pretty cool, and I kinda like it when people give me random phone calls every so often. Well, this and I could always use a few more friends who aren't compulsive liars, drug addicts, completely ignorant, or alcoholics.
Speaking of which, Jon disappeared on me. I know where he is - he's in Chicago with his mom. That's not what I find insulting. It's more so the fact that bastard didn't call me to let me know he left. He did the same thing when he left for Arizona freshman year of high school. I had to find out from the office why he wasn't at school for two weeks. Now my brother tells me when Jon stopped working for him. Hell, I talked to him at least once a week. What pain is a phone call?
Miss Michigan is back from Iraq (finally) and I talked to her on the phone. It's been about two years since I've last seen her in person, but what I found most interesting is that we'd both end up trying to say the same thing at once quite a few times. It was kinda like an echo - weird... I may end up having to pay her a visit next time I'm up to bug Jon in Chicago.
Apart from all that, I suppose since it is the trend that I've been seeing with finals coming to an end, I should take some time and reflect on what I've learned overall this school year...
-When it comes to finances, trust no one - ever.
-There are not many people close to my age that consider money a personal responsibility, nor what the consequences are when you don't pay for what you take.
-Don't believe your supervisor is always looking out for your best interests. In most cases, he has the right to relieve you of your duties without reason.
-Don't be a doormat. You should never be afraid to tell someone off when they're being a leech and just expecting everything from you like some sort of charity handout.
-Dangerous people need not to visit my place of residence. Particularly drama crazy females, former drug dealer/prostitutes that carry guns, big nasty "friends" that aren't afraid to hit people, and overall negative folk that don't do well for anyone.
-IF I ever have another roommate anytime soon, the telltale sign for him/her to get the hell out is when I either: a) have to enter the house with a loaded pistol drawn to get my stuff while his crazy ex-wife and him are having sex, b)ever have to sleep in my car in an MTSU parking lot in 20 degree weather, or c) have to lie and play diplomat to swing a deal under the table to force them out.
-Don't play with enlisted folk - period. "Being one of the guys" IS fraternization, even off the clock in civilian clothes.
-Iraq deployments change people significantly, usually for the worse.
-I AM an officer in the military, not some asshole that puts up with crap from people with no initiative to consider my interests or my personal being. I may wear many hats, but a pushover is not one role I play. I am in charge of soldiers, but I am definitely not anyone's mom or dad.
- Some people really don't deserve courtesy or respect.
-I am not a puppet.
-Politics suck.
-So do indecisive women that don't know what they want - ever.
-and guys from West Point. The guy I talked to who is in my OBC class was a real dick on the phone - I haven't even met him yet and he's already a prick!
-There is nothing wrong with grabbing a cold one with good friends down at the bar.
-I'm a guy, therefore I am entitled to do guy things.
-Stress of potential violence at home + building conflict + shitbag roommates = me being a wreck and an overall asshole in many ways, shapes, and forms.
-Still haven't figured out what exactly officers are supposed to do in specific. I need more training!
Yeah, I think that's a pretty good summary... Happy days for now, and with the holidays things are going to get interesting. I'm probably going to end up doing a lot of traveling and seeing old friends from abroad. I'm just glad it worked out just fine... Good times, good times...
38 days until MIOBC
At work, however, I've learned some things that are rather disturbing. Colonel Koonce is upset because the way some things have been, and thus the mass reorganization. "When you get back from OBC, I'll be expecting you to use that rank of yours..." Crap. Being an OIC of a team is not something I want with school going on in the background. I need to find something more suitable, less depressing, and overall a happier place to be...
Tonight was my last final, and on the way home I got wrapped up in a conference call with Lieutenant Barrera and Lieutenant Bal. These are two folks I'll be going to MIOBC with, and they seem like some very positive people to be around. LT Barrera is a Spanish linguist with the Illinois Army National Guard over an interrogator platoon, and LT Bal is going active duty with an Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fort Hood, Texas. They're both damn yankees, making fun of my accent and saying that awful "eh" and "don't ya know..." That's alright...
We've decided to go with the TDY housing off post, which is nice because that means I get to cook and pretty well do what I want outside of class. Living on post has it's perks, but not that many. Parking sucks at the barracks, and from what I hear, it's not much better than living out of a Motel 6 room. Sure, you get a microwave and a little mini-fridge, but that's about it.
On another positive note, my supervisor for the internship gave me an interview today. I mentioned that I'm an officer with the National Guard and he seemed to be all over it. He was asking me all sorts of questions like what unit I'm with and what I plan on doing after college. "Well, we recruit a lot of our interns, but lately we've been getting worthless folks that I've had to ultimately fire later on. With your credentials, you can pretty well walk in the door here and get a job..." Sweet.
Hanging out with Catherine has been pretty interesting. I'll admit I kinda made an ass of myself the first time I chatted with her, provided that things were a mess from work and at home. After that all ironed out and I got things together with that internship and my plans this summer, I really became a much happier person overall. She's pretty cool, and I kinda like it when people give me random phone calls every so often. Well, this and I could always use a few more friends who aren't compulsive liars, drug addicts, completely ignorant, or alcoholics.
Speaking of which, Jon disappeared on me. I know where he is - he's in Chicago with his mom. That's not what I find insulting. It's more so the fact that bastard didn't call me to let me know he left. He did the same thing when he left for Arizona freshman year of high school. I had to find out from the office why he wasn't at school for two weeks. Now my brother tells me when Jon stopped working for him. Hell, I talked to him at least once a week. What pain is a phone call?
Miss Michigan is back from Iraq (finally) and I talked to her on the phone. It's been about two years since I've last seen her in person, but what I found most interesting is that we'd both end up trying to say the same thing at once quite a few times. It was kinda like an echo - weird... I may end up having to pay her a visit next time I'm up to bug Jon in Chicago.
Apart from all that, I suppose since it is the trend that I've been seeing with finals coming to an end, I should take some time and reflect on what I've learned overall this school year...
-When it comes to finances, trust no one - ever.
-There are not many people close to my age that consider money a personal responsibility, nor what the consequences are when you don't pay for what you take.
-Don't believe your supervisor is always looking out for your best interests. In most cases, he has the right to relieve you of your duties without reason.
-Don't be a doormat. You should never be afraid to tell someone off when they're being a leech and just expecting everything from you like some sort of charity handout.
-Dangerous people need not to visit my place of residence. Particularly drama crazy females, former drug dealer/prostitutes that carry guns, big nasty "friends" that aren't afraid to hit people, and overall negative folk that don't do well for anyone.
-IF I ever have another roommate anytime soon, the telltale sign for him/her to get the hell out is when I either: a) have to enter the house with a loaded pistol drawn to get my stuff while his crazy ex-wife and him are having sex, b)ever have to sleep in my car in an MTSU parking lot in 20 degree weather, or c) have to lie and play diplomat to swing a deal under the table to force them out.
-Don't play with enlisted folk - period. "Being one of the guys" IS fraternization, even off the clock in civilian clothes.
-Iraq deployments change people significantly, usually for the worse.
-I AM an officer in the military, not some asshole that puts up with crap from people with no initiative to consider my interests or my personal being. I may wear many hats, but a pushover is not one role I play. I am in charge of soldiers, but I am definitely not anyone's mom or dad.
- Some people really don't deserve courtesy or respect.
-I am not a puppet.
-Politics suck.
-So do indecisive women that don't know what they want - ever.
-and guys from West Point. The guy I talked to who is in my OBC class was a real dick on the phone - I haven't even met him yet and he's already a prick!
-There is nothing wrong with grabbing a cold one with good friends down at the bar.
-I'm a guy, therefore I am entitled to do guy things.
-Stress of potential violence at home + building conflict + shitbag roommates = me being a wreck and an overall asshole in many ways, shapes, and forms.
-Still haven't figured out what exactly officers are supposed to do in specific. I need more training!
Yeah, I think that's a pretty good summary... Happy days for now, and with the holidays things are going to get interesting. I'm probably going to end up doing a lot of traveling and seeing old friends from abroad. I'm just glad it worked out just fine... Good times, good times...
38 days until MIOBC