Week 1 Completed!

Well it's hard to believe, but I've completed my first week of work. It was great! I loved every minute of it. My starting week has been action packed with a freezing rain event and now a winter storm event. I've definitely not been bored, and still have a huge list of tasks to accomplish. I'm getting the tasks down, one more day of "training" before I'm alone on the shift the Saturday before Christmas. I've even gotten into answering the phone, which was probably the scariest task I've taken on. It's gotten less scary the more I pick them up. I'm still unsure about some questions, but that will come with experience. I already got better between today and yesterday. It's crazy...I don't hesitate to pick up the phone, but still get unsure about some of the questions. That's ok...it's only my 3rd day on the floor and really 1st answering the phone. Sooo anywho.

Snow is here...how much will we see here in Wichita? It's been snowing off and of since 6pm. The question will be how much will accumulate overnight. Places not that far north and east of here have gotten 7-9 inches so far and it's not over. We haven't gotten near that much yet, only an inch or so.

I'm planning on totally relaxing tomorrow! Just because I CAN! I haven't just relaxed in forever! Sleeping in and not having any expectations, is a great feeling! I'm going to enjoy day's off.

I signed the lease on my apt today, it's great! I went and looked at it before I signed the lease and it looks good. Clean and no big problems. It's defiantly the nicest place I've lived in. I can't wait to get my keys on Sunday! Then have my stuff next week! YEA! Just one week away!

Picture of the Day....


Russian Palace along the canals in St. Petersburg. It's hard to explain, but all of the streets that lined the numerous canals all had buildings like this. The buildings just looked like a continuous block of buildings for miles! It was very interesting!

Snow anyone?

Snow's in the forecast! Area's around Wichita could receive up to 6 inches of snow. It's insane how much Winter has blown in with mucho gusto! I finished my second morning shift. I did it myself with guidance from Chris, which was my goal. Since I only have 2 more days of training, I've got to get it down. I've made myself a checklist so that I can be better prepared for that time. Still loving it.

This snow, however, has really timed itself terribly for placement and whatnot for travel for my parents this weekend. Of course the system will follow them, if only they could get south quicker and have it not take as long. That's the issue.

Tomorrow I will sign the lease for my new apt. I'm so excited! I won't get the keys until Sunday, but heck! I'll almost have it tomorrow! Mine! Mine!! Mine!!! My own place to live! Then in another week, I'll actually be able to live in it! Very very exciting!

Another video...the Ice storm in OK...This is amazing and deadly!

Killer Ice - Watch more free videos

Be careful and much love!

In the Christmas spirit?

Things are going well in my neck of the woods. It's still hard to believe that I'm working, it will take a few weeks for it to become less of a novelty. I'm working each day, but I'm getting to do what I love, where I love and it just feels like a gift each 8 hours. Definately a different feeling than I've had before other jobs. Don't get me wrong, I have not disliked any of my jobs, but I LOVE this one!

A snow storm on its way to the area, we'll see how that hampers things. I've definately gotten my share of winter weather since moving back to the Plains. This storm could interfere with my parents travel to North Carolina. I'm hoping it won't, and it shouldn't to much...but it could be interesting. It will be interesting to know now, which route I'll need to take to get back to Wichita. I want to go north because it's shorter, but the snow and weather may push me to the south, driving on I-40. Only time will tell.

Kristone had this up, and I LOVE it, so I had to post it too...check it out, this will replace the picture of the day today. Enjoy

Love

Day 2 and the ice that didn't come.

Today...day 2 of my new career was good! I arrived and was immediately taken from paperwork to on the floor where I participated in the freezing rain and ice storm event. That was wonderful! I was thrown right into it. The hubub quieted down pretty quickly around 9-10am, and then I worked on AWIPS and my paperwork for the rest of the day. So overall the day was amazing! I feel less like a visitor in the workplace and that I belong, which is really really nice.

Tomorrow morning I start shift work, the 6-2 shift with the current Intern as my trainer. Should be fun. I'll be getting use to the 6-2 shift as it's what I'll be doing for the next 3 weeks when I'm in town. Very exciting.

Wichita didn't get the much ice, and what did accumulate on the trees, melted by late afternoon with the 33-34 degree temps. However, Salina, Hutchison and north of Wichita did get a lot of ice and have a lot of power outages and tree limbs down. Tonight it was still misting and it's about 28-29...so it will probably be freezing again, but the worst is gone and Wichita was spared.

All in all a great day and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the week. I best head to bed though so that i can get up at 4:30am. Fun times! HA!

Picture of the day....

The Blarney stone at Blarney Castle. See the window and the shadow of people above it. That holds the Blarney stone. You must kiss the blarney stone while hanging upside down to have the gift of eloquence. I've done that, hopefully I have eloquence.

Much Love

Day 1....The Job starts out with a big freeze!

I made it to Wichita!!!!

I got into town around 5pm Sunday night. The roads turned out to be not to bad, and I'm glad I waited till Sunday to leave. Anywho, I got into town and had some dinner with Mary-Beth and someone else from work. I'm staying with Mary-Beth who is a journeyman forecaster and has been oh so sweet in giving me a place to stay for the first week of my time in Wichita. So I unloaded my car on the icy pathways and got my room sorted out.

Sleeping last night didn't work for me, my mind kept thinking about things. I was tired, but so anxious. So don't know how much I slept, but it didn't seem like much. I got up and got ready and headed right on into my first day as a Meteorologist!!! YEA!

My first day was good! Filled with paperwork, but good. I met a few more forecasters and learned a bit about things I'm going to be doing in the next couple day. Wednesday I begin the shift work. This is such and amazing opportunity and I'm blessed to have it! I'm so excited, yet it doesn't seem real. I'm sitting there in the office and I still feel like a visitor. No one does anything to make me feel that way, it's just that I've been in and out of offices since 2002, but I've always been a volunteer or visitor. I've learned so much today, and tomorrow bodes to be the same. Good thing I like learning.

Tomorrow will be interesting....as you've probably heard, Oklahoma was slammed by an ice storm sun night into monday morning. Well Wichita is in for that tonight(mon to tues morning). So it will be interesting to see how getting to work in the morning goes.

It's exciting to begin my career as a Meteorologist in the middle of an Ice storm. Crazy times!!!



Picture of the day....

In honor of the Oklahoma Ice storm and the pending/current Ice storm in Wichita, this is a picture of the amount of ice that Kearney got last New Years. Good luck those in Oklahoma, and also those in Kansas!

Much love!

Why should I be in Wichita?

Picture it.....you are starting your new dream job in a city 350 miles away in 32 hours, Where would you be? Prepping for the new job? or sitting 350 miles away from it because of a winter storm. So I had planned on driving to Wichita today, but the winter weather has struck me down. My dad came home and told my mom the roads were bad...so she really wasn't happy that I was leaving. I finally decided that I'd wait until tomorrow, get up early (because by this time it was 1pm and I'd be driving at night) and drive slowly. So I'll be driving in daylight and hopefully make it to Wichita with 14 hours or so to spare. What a doozy. Then Wichita is in for Freezing rain for a few days! They are getting it now. All very exciting, and annoying. It did give me a day to get some other things done without rushing. I've got my car gassed and loaded. I just have to get ready, zip up the suitcases and head on my way...well more or less.

It's hard to believe I'm starting my job in just 32 hours, especially when I'm sitting 350 miles away from it. Oh well, it will all work out! I'm excited and anxious for the next few days! Hopefully I'll have internet when I get to Wichita so I can write about the first day of my future!

Much love!

Travel Picture of the day....

My other favorite federal employee. I got to see Amy in Washington DC the weekend I got back into the USA. I haven't seen her for more than 2 hours in 7 years! We had so much catching up to do, we didn't get it all done. I loved every minute of it though! I hope I can see her again around Christmas!

Moving on

Well the time has come for me to move to Wichita...my new adventure will start soon. I leave today, after wrapping some presents and packing up my car, for Wichita. It's extremely hard to believe that I am starting a job on Monday. Not just any job, but my dream job! Which I don't think helps its feeling like reality. This whole job thing will be an adjustment. I've been a student for so long. I know how to do that. I do look forward to this adventure and know it will all work out.

It feels weird partly because I'm not moving into an apartment before I start. I've never just moved somewhere without settling in, at least somewhat. So it just feels like I'm going to Wichita. I think that aided in my procrastination in packing.

The snow that has fallen and continues to fall in Nebraska, along with the freezing rain and sleet and ice that is in Kansas will make for an interesting drive tomorrow afternoon. Keep me in your thoughts as I travel these difficult roads and pray they will be somewhat cleared.

Wichita, here I come!!!

Much Love




Travel Picture of the Day....

The Beatiful Ring of Kerry. Ireland is a beautiful country. I can't wait to go back! If you go, rent a car and drive through it. It's an experince you'd love! The Ring of Kerry is an exciting circle of roads around the small peninsula of Kerry. There are many tour busses and tourists that travel this road, and at times it's barely wide enough for 2 cars, let alone a car and a bus. An adventure around every twist and turn.