Wednesday was my first day at work. It was nothing spectacular as I was just getting paperwork done and making some basic (and simple maps). I got in at around 9 and left around 1. I got health and life insurance forms filled out chiefly and tried to get accustomed to the system at the office of where files are, what I need to do in certain situations, et cetera. It was much like the first day of class in college. The next two days he was out of the office, but left me stuff to do. The next week was the same, except the Bay St. Louis office (one person) was in town. She comes up for a week once a month apparently. That added some excitement, but otherwise everything was normal. This week, Mike was out most of today (Tuesday) and will be out all day tomorrow (Wednesday) again, at the coast. I’m not sure if this barrage of meetings is normal or if it’s unusual. I mean, I think he’s going to be in Hattiesburg interviewing a person to fill another position with the company on Friday in conjunction with another meeting in the area. He seems like a busy guy.
The first day after work, I got home and realized that my AC didn’t seem to be blowing cold air. I let it run for a while because it was, after all, 100+ outside. After a little while, I came to the conclusion that something was out of whack, and reported it to maintenance. This was about 1:30 or so. About three, I feel some cool air coming out of the vent in my living room while I was lying on the couch taking a nap. (If you’ve been here, the AC vent in my living room is position in relation to the couch that the air pours right onto it towards the outside wall. The next day I again got home at around noon and it wasn’t blowing cold air anymore. So I again reported it to maintenance. Then it blew cool air again. Friday was the same story. A few minutes later, the maintenance guy knocked on my door and explained the problem to me.
Apparently there is some sort of major Freon leak in the line. They tried a fix on it and would see if it would work over the weekend. It did, and it worked on to about Thursday with no problem. It goes on like this all of last week. It goes bad, they come out and fix it. Apparently they are trying to isolate the problem. Thursday and Friday of last week they shut power in the building for some reason and it apparently trips the Freon tank hooked up to my unit outside to turn off and it gets to be 85+ in my apartment because, well, it’s hot outside and my AC isn’t blowing cold air. They come back each day and get it pumping cool air again.
Yesterday I got home, and it was blowing cool air, but not a lot of it. I report it before the office closes, then go out to get a hair cut. I come back with dinner, eat it, and about 7pm the maintenance guy knocks on my door and explains the status. Apparently some piece of the unit that costs $700+ has gone bad and will have to be replaced. He said that he has been working most of the day on AC units in the complex (I figure HVAC folks are making a lot of money during this heat wave). So at least I have a status update. I really can’t complain because when it doesn’t work, I’m not at home, and when I get home and it’s hot in the apartment, I report it and they get out fairly quickly to work on it and it’s plenty cool by the time I go to bed. It’s just frustrating. I’m sure I’m not the only person dealing with it. I also pointed out some of the other maintenance problems I have, but he said the apartment was so backed up with AC issues in the complex, that they’ve had to prioritize, which is just as well. That the vent fan in my main bathroom is on the fritz too is of MUCH less importance to me than getting my AC working in this blasted heatwave. That’s just a bit of an eyesore, versus something that could, in theory at least, endanger my health.
One more post will include impressions of Christ Pres, and Oxford in general (both good thus far). That will probably be the final post about my first few days in Oxford and I can get onto a “regular” posting schedule.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Oxford Pt. 2 (more to come later)
This is after my first night in my apartment up until my first day of work. This does not include the AC saga, which about an hour ago had another chapter added to it. They’re working on it, to be fair, but it is getting frustrating. I’ll be glad when it is resolved. That portion deserves its own post. The next post should include my first few days of work, my first full week, and church at Christ Pres.
Mom and dad went back to the Days Inn up the road for the rest of the night. Paul and I did some shopping at Wal-Mart for a couple of items (some bleach and cable cord for my TV). We got back and he helped me do some more unpacking and straightening. He found a place for the coffee table that was out of the way, but still useful (I have a couple of books I’m reading on it now, tissues, and a big and old Britannica World Atlas). Obviously very tired, we went to bed probably 11ish. Both of us got up about 7:30 or so and got showers then instead of eating some of the relatively healthy food Mom bought us the day before at Wal-Mart, Paul insisted on going to a Shipley’s Donuts just up the road. He claims they’re better than Krispe Kreme. I beg to differ, but will admit they are good (for instance, I never saw a “Bulls Eye” donut at a Krispe Kreme…but nothing can beat a fluffy, hot/now donut at Krispe Kreme).
He ducked out at around 9am because he had to work that afternoon. Mom and dad stuck around for a little more time as we turned the truck back in and I took them on a nickel tour of the city. When turning the truck back in, it was a madhouse. It wasn’t any of the local Penske’s fault, it was just the nature of the business in the town it was in and at the time of year (a truck rental place in a predominantly college town right before classes start). They ducked out right before lunch and I unpacked and straightened for the rest of the day and watched a lot of TV (I didn’t really feel like straightening…I was pooped out). I also called to schedule getting my cable internet hooked up. The date they gave me was the 22nd. They ended up coming on Saturday—they called me on Thursday afternoon to reschedule, so it was no big surprise.
Mom and dad went back to the Days Inn up the road for the rest of the night. Paul and I did some shopping at Wal-Mart for a couple of items (some bleach and cable cord for my TV). We got back and he helped me do some more unpacking and straightening. He found a place for the coffee table that was out of the way, but still useful (I have a couple of books I’m reading on it now, tissues, and a big and old Britannica World Atlas). Obviously very tired, we went to bed probably 11ish. Both of us got up about 7:30 or so and got showers then instead of eating some of the relatively healthy food Mom bought us the day before at Wal-Mart, Paul insisted on going to a Shipley’s Donuts just up the road. He claims they’re better than Krispe Kreme. I beg to differ, but will admit they are good (for instance, I never saw a “Bulls Eye” donut at a Krispe Kreme…but nothing can beat a fluffy, hot/now donut at Krispe Kreme).
He ducked out at around 9am because he had to work that afternoon. Mom and dad stuck around for a little more time as we turned the truck back in and I took them on a nickel tour of the city. When turning the truck back in, it was a madhouse. It wasn’t any of the local Penske’s fault, it was just the nature of the business in the town it was in and at the time of year (a truck rental place in a predominantly college town right before classes start). They ducked out right before lunch and I unpacked and straightened for the rest of the day and watched a lot of TV (I didn’t really feel like straightening…I was pooped out). I also called to schedule getting my cable internet hooked up. The date they gave me was the 22nd. They ended up coming on Saturday—they called me on Thursday afternoon to reschedule, so it was no big surprise.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Oxford Pt. 1 (more to come later)
Here are a few highlights of my first two weeks now here in Oxford. Nothing terribly exciting happened, I’m still technically getting settled in, but I am beginning to slow down and relax from what amounted to nearly two and a half months of moving. There will be two more parts so I don’t overwhelm my alert readers. I’ll try and have the rest out by mid-week.
My dad and I got to Oxford with on a Sunday night and stayed at a Days Inn right near my apartment (about 1/3 of a mile). We ate Subway that night and watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban around his laptop. Not the ideal watching environment, but I couldn’t argue with the company. I got up the next morning early, got a shower, got breakfast, then went out to get my proof of income and the keys to my apartment. I let dad sleep in until he woke up since he hadn’t been feeling well for a few days before hand and he didn’t’ need to come out with me to do anything unless he wanted to. I got all that stuff taken care of and got to my apartment about 9:30 and unloaded my car, all the while trying to visualize where things would go. The AC was running full blast. The doorknob had condensation on it when I first got here (more on the ongoing AC saga later).
I got back to the Days Inn and rested for a bit in a cool room. Then my dad and I took the truck, parked it in a good spot (the ramp on the sidewalk), and did some light fairly leisurely unloading and unpacking. Given that it was in the already in the mid-upper nineties at 11am, we took frequent water/Gatorade breaks. We were awaiting some more help in the form of my brother in law (strong legs and strong back) and my mother (for logistics). They arrived about a half hour late because they took a wrong turn around Tupelo. It was no big deal for me and dad because we had a nice cool apartment to rest in.
They arrived at around 12-12:30p. We did some more unloading with the stronger back/legs and more logistical support. We then all decided we were hungry and I ordered some delivery from Roly Poly. That took about a half hour to get here, and was a welcome break for us all, because we had sustenance, and also some furniture to put the food on whilst we ate.
We did some more unloading then took a bit of a rest. Then my brother in law and I took a nickel tour of the city while my mom and dad rested and did some unpacking and straightening for me. We were waiting for some muscle from the church (Christ Pres) to arrive at around 6pm. They arrived promptly on time. Two former marines, and the starting center for Ole Miss’s football team.
Paul and I had gotten some recommendations on where to eat that night from a librarian while we were scouring the town for a map (as it turns out, we should have just gone to the C of Commerce, but we didn’t know where that was at the time…for future reference, it’s where Sorority Row intersects Jackson Ave.). Yes, we stopped at a library. I swear, these librarians are like geographers and maps. At any rate, we decided on a place called “Ajax”. Sort of a southern cusine type joint. Fried catfish, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, veggie plates, and much more. You get the idea. It was right on the Square, at the heart of downtown Oxford. It seems like a nice enough place, and I think it’s going to be the place that Mom and Dad, and Paul will want to go if/when they ever come to visit. There are other places on the Square to eat, but I haven’t yet had enough time to explore (for instance, there’s an Italian place named Old Venice, where I ate on Monday that has a good pizza and was allegedly voted Mississippi’s best pizza the past three or four years).
My dad and I got to Oxford with on a Sunday night and stayed at a Days Inn right near my apartment (about 1/3 of a mile). We ate Subway that night and watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban around his laptop. Not the ideal watching environment, but I couldn’t argue with the company. I got up the next morning early, got a shower, got breakfast, then went out to get my proof of income and the keys to my apartment. I let dad sleep in until he woke up since he hadn’t been feeling well for a few days before hand and he didn’t’ need to come out with me to do anything unless he wanted to. I got all that stuff taken care of and got to my apartment about 9:30 and unloaded my car, all the while trying to visualize where things would go. The AC was running full blast. The doorknob had condensation on it when I first got here (more on the ongoing AC saga later).
I got back to the Days Inn and rested for a bit in a cool room. Then my dad and I took the truck, parked it in a good spot (the ramp on the sidewalk), and did some light fairly leisurely unloading and unpacking. Given that it was in the already in the mid-upper nineties at 11am, we took frequent water/Gatorade breaks. We were awaiting some more help in the form of my brother in law (strong legs and strong back) and my mother (for logistics). They arrived about a half hour late because they took a wrong turn around Tupelo. It was no big deal for me and dad because we had a nice cool apartment to rest in.
They arrived at around 12-12:30p. We did some more unloading with the stronger back/legs and more logistical support. We then all decided we were hungry and I ordered some delivery from Roly Poly. That took about a half hour to get here, and was a welcome break for us all, because we had sustenance, and also some furniture to put the food on whilst we ate.
We did some more unloading then took a bit of a rest. Then my brother in law and I took a nickel tour of the city while my mom and dad rested and did some unpacking and straightening for me. We were waiting for some muscle from the church (Christ Pres) to arrive at around 6pm. They arrived promptly on time. Two former marines, and the starting center for Ole Miss’s football team.
Paul and I had gotten some recommendations on where to eat that night from a librarian while we were scouring the town for a map (as it turns out, we should have just gone to the C of Commerce, but we didn’t know where that was at the time…for future reference, it’s where Sorority Row intersects Jackson Ave.). Yes, we stopped at a library. I swear, these librarians are like geographers and maps. At any rate, we decided on a place called “Ajax”. Sort of a southern cusine type joint. Fried catfish, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, veggie plates, and much more. You get the idea. It was right on the Square, at the heart of downtown Oxford. It seems like a nice enough place, and I think it’s going to be the place that Mom and Dad, and Paul will want to go if/when they ever come to visit. There are other places on the Square to eat, but I haven’t yet had enough time to explore (for instance, there’s an Italian place named Old Venice, where I ate on Monday that has a good pizza and was allegedly voted Mississippi’s best pizza the past three or four years).
Monday, August 13, 2007
Pictures pt. 3 of 3.
1. Looking outside from my dining room.2. My outside storage area.
If you have any special requests for pictures, I will try and honor them. I'll also try and get some pictures out and around Oxford once the temperature drops to below...say...95. A future post (probably tomorrow) will chronicle my first week in the home of the University of Mississippi.
Pictures pt. 2 of 3.
1. Dining room2. Kitchen/laundry room (in the background).
3. Living room
4. Office/guest bedroom/(future) reading room. This room requires some more work, to be sure. Hopefully I can have it ready by Oct 13 (Ole Miss/Bama game).
5. My bookshelf (not sure why I took it, but whatever).
Pictures pt. 1 of 3.
There will be two more post, since apparently I can only upload five (5) pictures at once.1. My bathroom
2. Another shot of my bathroom
3. My bedroom
4. My closet
5. My deck
Friday, August 10, 2007
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. For the longest time, I hadn't a thing to post about, then when life got exciting, my neighbors internet got real spotty and knowing I was soon to leave, I didn't feel like trying to find a remedy for the situation.
Alas, now that I am gainfully employed, I can afford my own internet, and that is set to be installed tomorrow between 1 and 5. I even got a wireless router so I can use my internet anywhere I see fit.
To make a long story short, I should have more to post about, and a more reliable connection with which to post at some point between 1 and 5 tomorrow. Keep an eye out. I'll sent out an e-mail when I become an active "Blogger" again.
It's 9:59...t-minus 1 minute until "Good Eats" on Food Network. Must go!
Alas, now that I am gainfully employed, I can afford my own internet, and that is set to be installed tomorrow between 1 and 5. I even got a wireless router so I can use my internet anywhere I see fit.
To make a long story short, I should have more to post about, and a more reliable connection with which to post at some point between 1 and 5 tomorrow. Keep an eye out. I'll sent out an e-mail when I become an active "Blogger" again.
It's 9:59...t-minus 1 minute until "Good Eats" on Food Network. Must go!
Monday, June 18, 2007
I used to live here...
I was just forwarded these pictures. They are interesting, to be sure. I'm surprised there wasn't more rot in the studs...
Sunday, June 17, 2007
This is more for Kelly's edification than anyone else's, since everyone else (except for one of my former professors, apparently) who reads this blog has already seen it. This was mailed/postmarked exactly one month after my graduation and arrived in Prattville (don't ask how...since I told them to mail it to K&P in Northport on the commencement confirmation) and arrived in Prattville on Thursday, June 14th. It is now framed in a frame that is the same model of my bachelor's degree (purchased at Michaels) and is hanging where my bachelor's used to hang (I would hang both, but since it is so close to the time when I'm going to move, I see no need to hammer another hole into the wall yet.
So this is what I have to show for my two years of work, studying, research, etc. Now I have two diplomas/degrees, and no job. Hopefully I'll work on the latter before too terribly long.
Friday, June 08, 2007
More pictures
Again, I haven't a clue as to what I am doing here, except posting pictures. Here are three more (and the last three) "highlight" pictures. The first is a picture of a fully grown asparagus plant in a garden behind Stonewall Jackson's home (the building you see is the home. I couldn't take pictures inside, nor could I get a good angle on the outside to actually get a shot of it), the second, a picture of Read Mountain from a scenic view pull-off along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the third a view of the Roanoke Valley (though not the city of Roanoke, however) from the top of Roanoke Mountain. This was a little trek off the Blue Ridge Parkway (part of the parkway, just off the main road) up about 1000 feet from the parkway along a road that was about 6in. wider than my rental car--a Chevy Impala. I miss a turn, I either hit rock and swerve into a 1000 foot fall to the parkway, or just plunge headlong 1000 feet to the parkway. I lose either way. Since neither happened, fortunately, I won and my reward was a nice view of the valley.
Roanoke/Lexington Pictures
I actually have more pictures than I am about to post here (23 I believe), but I'm just posting the highlights here. Enjoy!
Not being as familiar with posting pictures as Kerry, I don't know how to get these in the correct order. I'll post more pictures later in the day. A couple more from the Lexington area, and a couple from along the Blue Ridge Parkway outside of Roanoke. You should be able to tell which are which based on my description.
VMI Parade grounds, two shots of Stonewall Jackson monument statue/grave, and the VMI historical marker mentioning Jackson, Matthew Fontaine Maury, as well as George C. Marshall.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Roanoke Trip (pictures later)
I am sitting in the fabulous Charlotte Douglas International Airport right now in one of the rocking chairs in one of the many atrimus that dot the airport facility. My flight boards in a few minutes for Huntsville after which I have a two hour or so drive back to Tuscaloosa.
The trip went well, and Roanoke is a lovely town. I think I could be happy living there if I were to get the job. It was no more than 80 when I was there and the temperature when I left my motel this morning (about 5:45am EDT) was cool enough that I could see my breath. The last time I was able to do it this late in the year was when I was on Mt. Fuji, and that was in late July. Granted, it was probably unseasonably cool (they're talking about mid 90s on Friday and Saturday), but hey, when I was there it was VERY comfortable.
I have some pictures to post. Mostly of Lexington, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway (in fact, ALL of those), which I will later today/tomorrow.
(the remaining is typed some 30,000 feet above western North Carolina as they started boarding when I was typing)
I didn't get to go to Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee because 1). There was a baccalaureate service going on that was making use of the chapel and 2). The museum level (which contains R.E. Lee's remains) was closed anyway due to the addition of a new museum exhibit, or something like that. I got to walk around the campus a bit, however, just not near the chapel.
I did get to VMI and the Cadet Museum, as well as the George C. Marshall museum, both on VMI's campus. There was housed 1). The raincoat Stonewall Jackson was wearing when he got shot and 2). The uniform he was wearing on his three most legendary moments (marched out of Lexington in April 1861, nearly got captured by union troops, and when he got his nickname "Stonewall").
I also got a private tour of his house in Lexington, and walked to his grave, which is housed at a Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Lexington (Lauderdale ARP Church is the name, I believe).
I've been up since about 4:15am (CDT) and am slated to get back to Huntsville in just under an hour now.
The trip went well, and Roanoke is a lovely town. I think I could be happy living there if I were to get the job. It was no more than 80 when I was there and the temperature when I left my motel this morning (about 5:45am EDT) was cool enough that I could see my breath. The last time I was able to do it this late in the year was when I was on Mt. Fuji, and that was in late July. Granted, it was probably unseasonably cool (they're talking about mid 90s on Friday and Saturday), but hey, when I was there it was VERY comfortable.
I have some pictures to post. Mostly of Lexington, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway (in fact, ALL of those), which I will later today/tomorrow.
(the remaining is typed some 30,000 feet above western North Carolina as they started boarding when I was typing)
I didn't get to go to Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee because 1). There was a baccalaureate service going on that was making use of the chapel and 2). The museum level (which contains R.E. Lee's remains) was closed anyway due to the addition of a new museum exhibit, or something like that. I got to walk around the campus a bit, however, just not near the chapel.
I did get to VMI and the Cadet Museum, as well as the George C. Marshall museum, both on VMI's campus. There was housed 1). The raincoat Stonewall Jackson was wearing when he got shot and 2). The uniform he was wearing on his three most legendary moments (marched out of Lexington in April 1861, nearly got captured by union troops, and when he got his nickname "Stonewall").
I also got a private tour of his house in Lexington, and walked to his grave, which is housed at a Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Lexington (Lauderdale ARP Church is the name, I believe).
I've been up since about 4:15am (CDT) and am slated to get back to Huntsville in just under an hour now.
Friday, June 01, 2007
One year ago today...
One year ago today (well, technically at about 2:30 tomorrow morning based on information available on the picture in iPhoto), I snapped one of my greatest pictures ever. My only regret...I wished I had snapped it at a higher resolution on my camera. I have a framed copy of it after playing around with it in Photoshop a bit, but it's not great when blown up. Just don't look at it too closely, and all is well...
I'm also including a link to a GoogleMaps air/satellite photo of the resort where I snapped the picture. You can't see much, but you'll have to trust me on this one. Click this for the image
Here's a link for the resort's website too.
Monday, May 14, 2007
APP
So all my grades are in...
Adv. GIS--A
Non-Thesis Research--P
Ind. Research--P
So for the first time EVER, I got an A and two Ps. ("P" is good).
It doesn't appear as if there will be any problem getting my diploma on time this go round.
Adv. GIS--A
Non-Thesis Research--P
Ind. Research--P
So for the first time EVER, I got an A and two Ps. ("P" is good).
It doesn't appear as if there will be any problem getting my diploma on time this go round.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Everybody's working for the weekend...
http://www.ua.edu/commencement/images/commmay07.pdf
Page 20...second from top on left side.
Eight people graduating with MS degrees in Geography. Keep in mind, when I got my bachelor's, there were eleven TOTAL between Bachelors and Masters in Geography.
Page 20...second from top on left side.
Eight people graduating with MS degrees in Geography. Keep in mind, when I got my bachelor's, there were eleven TOTAL between Bachelors and Masters in Geography.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
A few pictures.
The first is a picture of the Int'l Speedway as best I could frame it from the parking lot of the motel. The second a shot of Daytona Beach's, um, highway. (i.e. Driving on the beach). The third a shot of the Daytona Beach Pier (about half the size it was prior to Hurricane Floyd in 1999). The third a shot down the boardwalk between the palm trees.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
In Orlando
So I'm sitting in Orlando's airport right now, by a fountain, being overlooked by the Hyatt Hotel on site. It's two hours or so now until my plane takes off. Here are some observations from my trip to Daytona Beach:
- Daytona Beach has a large race track.
- The beach has a lot of sand, but it's hard and flat
- (Look both ways before crossing the beach...since part of the beach is a road and parking lot...and no, I did not almost get hit).
- The sea breeze was nice, but I imagine it could get rather warm down there.
- The job seems fine, and they seem interested in me. I could see myself living down here/there, but it's not my first choice. It is fairly centrally located and I could live farther in in Deland or out in Daytona Beach.
- I'm still holding out hope for Wendell NC, Savannah GA (though I think that may have passed me by), Chesterfield Co. VA, Tuscaloosa (there are apparently a lot of applicants for that job...), and Matthews NC.
- It cost $3 in tolls to get from Daytona to Orlando (and vice versa).
- My bag nearly ended up going on a trip to London, England this afternoon. Details at eleven (or later, whichever comes first).
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
One more...
So I have one more lecture in my college years. My Tuesday night class is not meeting this week as Dr. Han is out of town, indeed, nearly out of continent at the national AAG conference in San Francisco this week. April 24 is the next class meeting. May 1st the class has project presentations. May 8th (I believe) is the final exam.
It's almost monumental in my life, but I think circa 8:30pm next Tuesday will be just that.
No job search update...
Tuscaloosa still hasn't posted the job officially, waiting to hear back from Savannah/Atlanta, Volusia Co. (need to get application in), and going to work on the Matthews NC application hopefully a bit this evening.
It's almost monumental in my life, but I think circa 8:30pm next Tuesday will be just that.
No job search update...
Tuscaloosa still hasn't posted the job officially, waiting to hear back from Savannah/Atlanta, Volusia Co. (need to get application in), and going to work on the Matthews NC application hopefully a bit this evening.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
I was right
It's official now, Dr. Han will be the new head of the Geography Dept. as of August. Again, it doesn't impact me a bit, but it is now officially what I expected. (Recall post from 2/17).
http://www.as.ua.edu/geography/news.htm
Born 1961--so just turned 46--still fairly young.
PhD from Nebraska in 1994, Assistant professor at UA 1994 - 1999, Associate professor 1999 - 2005, Professor 2005 - present (all post PhD teaching positions at UA). He's been setting himself up for this position for a while now.
http://www.as.ua.edu/geography/news.htm
Born 1961--so just turned 46--still fairly young.
PhD from Nebraska in 1994, Assistant professor at UA 1994 - 1999, Associate professor 1999 - 2005, Professor 2005 - present (all post PhD teaching positions at UA). He's been setting himself up for this position for a while now.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
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