Texas, Days 1 & 2: You Ain't From 'Round Here, Is Ya?
The eagle has landed....
Day two in Texas, and already I find this place to be non-stop comedy. Before I make any observations, let's lay down some foundation:
Left San Diego yesterday at 2pm in a mad rush, as I milked every last minute with the lovely Ace. Get on the plane, and the A/C doesn't work, so I and 200 equally sweaty individuals proceeded to cook in our own juices for 30 minutes. Something about airplanes, they manage to magnify any odor times ten. I think there is a special device on board. Because, I know the guy next to me didn't stink that bad. And invariably, whenever people are sweating, a fat guy will find his way into my "inner sanctum." That being said, the flight ended up being uneventful. I enjoy American Airlines in that they have good foot room and the head rests curl around your head so the moron next to you doesn't fall asleep on your shoulder, leading to the inevitable, "Do I wake him or just sit here and think bad thoughts?"
Got to the hotel in uneventful fashion. I have determined that DFW Airport is the country's biggest nightmare, and makes O'Hare seem like a trip to the beach. Just sprawled out and enormous, when you land, it takes 15 minutes to drive to the terminal. Im not making that up. The hotel is cool, it's a suite. Im sitting at a desk in the main "foyer" which is attached to a kitchen which features two burners, a microwave and a dishwasher and rather large refrigerator. I recently filled it with healthy eats, and am looking forward to some good Suite Cookin'. I think I'll start a web based show called "Suite Cookin with Texas T" where I demonstrate how to make a fine steak dinner with a spatula, a fork and a shallow pan. Mouth is watering already!
Couldn't sleep to save my life last night, but that's as much the fault of time zones as it is the rock hard mattress Im forced to sleep on. Im still not sure who decided a hard mattress is a good thing, but they are clearly an idiot. Got up at 7 am faced with a conundrum - armed with 50 dollars when I checked in for my flight, and due to take a cab to the hotel and a cab to work, I somehow managed the following: Began by giving the check in girl 25 dollars for my oversized bag. I then managed to get a shuttle to the hotel, leaving me with 25 dollars, a 30 dollar cab ride and an 8am start time. Hit the lobby at 7:45 and saw a cab waiting, knocked on the door, and asked the inhabitant if he was headed to SBA....Yes! He was! We proceeded to get lost, but this generous soul with the expanding belly and receding hair line was gracious enough to pick up the tab on the cab (knowing fully he would be able to expense it). A portly and gregarious fellow from Montgomery, AL, Tom isn't much of an athlete, but he became my lifesaver this fine morn. As fate would have it, we ended up carmates, and now share a lovely Kia Sedona whose odor is either new car smell or weed hidden in the dash. I would swear on a stack of bibles it's the latter.
Work should be ok. We spent the morn filling out our paperwork, then got some light training on what we will be doing. Essentially, I will be verifying loans to individuals or businesses related to disaster relief. A loan officer will put together the paperwork, and I will review it for legal sufficiency, and eventually ok the disbursement of the check. Should be good experience, and I really will be helping people, which is a good thing. It's a modern facility, not the usual stuffy and dirty old building that most federal employees get stuck in.
As for Texas. A couple things. First, everyone in Fort Worth is a jerk so far. I swear, I can't drive five feet without getting the finger or honked at. Seriously, I can drive alot worse if you guys like. I have been admittedly hesitant in my driving early on, because it's impossible to find where you are going (nothing is marked, and its all sprawled out), but as I get more aggressive and comfortable, I should get less honks. I doubt it. But off the road, everyone is very nice, and I like that. For being in the middle of Bush-land, the Dallas area is very cosmopolitan, and not too "shit-kicky", if you know what I mean.
Not feeling super humorous today, I miss California and I especially miss my girl. I can't get back to her soon enough. Until then though, it's gonna be TCOB, so thanks to all for your support and making me feel like this is a solid move for me, because it really is. In other news, about 5 years ago, I bought 5 pairs of 78 dollar khakis at Banana Republic for 10 bucks a piece on sale. They were all too small at the time in the waist, and I planned on getting in shape so I could wear them. I wore a pair today, and have successfully doubled my pants wardrobe. And on that note, I am off to the gym!
Day two in Texas, and already I find this place to be non-stop comedy. Before I make any observations, let's lay down some foundation:
Left San Diego yesterday at 2pm in a mad rush, as I milked every last minute with the lovely Ace. Get on the plane, and the A/C doesn't work, so I and 200 equally sweaty individuals proceeded to cook in our own juices for 30 minutes. Something about airplanes, they manage to magnify any odor times ten. I think there is a special device on board. Because, I know the guy next to me didn't stink that bad. And invariably, whenever people are sweating, a fat guy will find his way into my "inner sanctum." That being said, the flight ended up being uneventful. I enjoy American Airlines in that they have good foot room and the head rests curl around your head so the moron next to you doesn't fall asleep on your shoulder, leading to the inevitable, "Do I wake him or just sit here and think bad thoughts?"
Got to the hotel in uneventful fashion. I have determined that DFW Airport is the country's biggest nightmare, and makes O'Hare seem like a trip to the beach. Just sprawled out and enormous, when you land, it takes 15 minutes to drive to the terminal. Im not making that up. The hotel is cool, it's a suite. Im sitting at a desk in the main "foyer" which is attached to a kitchen which features two burners, a microwave and a dishwasher and rather large refrigerator. I recently filled it with healthy eats, and am looking forward to some good Suite Cookin'. I think I'll start a web based show called "Suite Cookin with Texas T" where I demonstrate how to make a fine steak dinner with a spatula, a fork and a shallow pan. Mouth is watering already!
Couldn't sleep to save my life last night, but that's as much the fault of time zones as it is the rock hard mattress Im forced to sleep on. Im still not sure who decided a hard mattress is a good thing, but they are clearly an idiot. Got up at 7 am faced with a conundrum - armed with 50 dollars when I checked in for my flight, and due to take a cab to the hotel and a cab to work, I somehow managed the following: Began by giving the check in girl 25 dollars for my oversized bag. I then managed to get a shuttle to the hotel, leaving me with 25 dollars, a 30 dollar cab ride and an 8am start time. Hit the lobby at 7:45 and saw a cab waiting, knocked on the door, and asked the inhabitant if he was headed to SBA....Yes! He was! We proceeded to get lost, but this generous soul with the expanding belly and receding hair line was gracious enough to pick up the tab on the cab (knowing fully he would be able to expense it). A portly and gregarious fellow from Montgomery, AL, Tom isn't much of an athlete, but he became my lifesaver this fine morn. As fate would have it, we ended up carmates, and now share a lovely Kia Sedona whose odor is either new car smell or weed hidden in the dash. I would swear on a stack of bibles it's the latter.
Work should be ok. We spent the morn filling out our paperwork, then got some light training on what we will be doing. Essentially, I will be verifying loans to individuals or businesses related to disaster relief. A loan officer will put together the paperwork, and I will review it for legal sufficiency, and eventually ok the disbursement of the check. Should be good experience, and I really will be helping people, which is a good thing. It's a modern facility, not the usual stuffy and dirty old building that most federal employees get stuck in.
As for Texas. A couple things. First, everyone in Fort Worth is a jerk so far. I swear, I can't drive five feet without getting the finger or honked at. Seriously, I can drive alot worse if you guys like. I have been admittedly hesitant in my driving early on, because it's impossible to find where you are going (nothing is marked, and its all sprawled out), but as I get more aggressive and comfortable, I should get less honks. I doubt it. But off the road, everyone is very nice, and I like that. For being in the middle of Bush-land, the Dallas area is very cosmopolitan, and not too "shit-kicky", if you know what I mean.
Not feeling super humorous today, I miss California and I especially miss my girl. I can't get back to her soon enough. Until then though, it's gonna be TCOB, so thanks to all for your support and making me feel like this is a solid move for me, because it really is. In other news, about 5 years ago, I bought 5 pairs of 78 dollar khakis at Banana Republic for 10 bucks a piece on sale. They were all too small at the time in the waist, and I planned on getting in shape so I could wear them. I wore a pair today, and have successfully doubled my pants wardrobe. And on that note, I am off to the gym!
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