While part of me told myself to get up and grab my armor and weapons as quick as possible, the other part told me to roll over and go back to bed until the base alarm was sounded.
But then I realized that it was just a pretty wicked thunder storm! Guess my lazy part got to win that battle of wills by default. Lol!
I should be home in less than 3 weeks. God I can't wait!
My application for my next contract has picked up momentum. My fingerprints and security clearance are being processed and should get myself a class date for training shortly after their done. As soon as that happens, I'll know exactly how much time off I'll have to unwind between work. But I still expect to get the whole summer off.
"I'm gonna go ahead and make an executive decision. Each day that you're here past the 8th, you'll earn double time."
This put smiles on our faces.
Without getting too deep into the math, that's $4336 for 7 days (only 5 is actually spent working). Surprisingly, it turns out this is even better than the typical bonus for staying back a week.
Now, part of me still wants to get outta here on the 8th. In part so that I won't have to miss out on my plans. But mainly because as of yesterday, I have paperwork to fill out to start working my next contract. And the sooner I get it all filled out, the sooner I get a class date, the sooner I actually get hired, and the sooner I start getting a pay check. Plus I REALLY want to make it back for my tattoo appointment!
But I talked to the CEO again after the big meeting. According to him though, while I can leave whenever I want, I'll be forfeiting the end of contract bonus since if I do. His reasoning? As I'm not seeing the contract out it to the bitter end, which is now the 15th, I don't get the bonus. Even though we've been told for quite a while now that our obligations end on the 8th.
So... Leave a week early? Or stay the week and receive a total of $17,942.45?
I think I'll stay the extra week...
But while at work my entire shift got an email saying that we'll all have to stay an extra week in this shit hole. Pretty much screws up my plans for visiting a friend in Abu Dhabi, my next tattoo appointment, and the trip to Indiana.
But really, each of those plans just get postponed.
And on the plus side, an extra week is supposed to mean a $1000 bonus + overtime. I say "supposed to" because it looks like the company is gonna try and weasel their way outta that.
I'm sure I'll add a couple stops before I set out, but it's just the major stuff for now; visiting friends mostly but also a couple destinations that I never tire of/have always wanted to see. Funny though how only one stop is to see family...
Maps says "5 days,16 hours" but naturally doesn't account for sleep, refueling, stretching the legs, and fun with friends. So I'm thinking it'll be more like two weeks.
Of course, I haven't decided if I'll actually do it. But it would make for a damn fine adventure I think!
So the bullshit continues as the contract comes to an end.... But when we got word that we may not get our bonuses next month, that have been promised to us since last year, an entire shift almost didn't go to secure the embassy! But things were worked out and just one more month to go!
Still in the process with the recruiter from another company. Dept of State bios, security clearances and shit like that takes time...
In the mean time, I worked with a CIA guy yesterday. We chatted and it turns out he does the same thing I do but has all the training as an CIA Agent, just without the "agent" status. He told me they're hiring and that I should consider applying. But I want to get an least one GOOD contract under my belt first.
Anyway...
With a long vacation just around the corner, I find myself with a list of things I wanna do. First, I'm gonna spend one last weekend in Dubai with friends. Next, I've already signed up to run another Tough Mudder. This one is in Indiana. And of course, lots more work on my sleeve.
But the biggest inkling I have rolling around in my head is to throw some saddlebags on my motorcycle and ride across the country visiting friends I haven't seen in a while and seeing places I've always wanted to.
Laters!
Not only did he NOT come to the embassy, he never even intended to. But did that stop the people who run things around here from running around in a panic? From making things complicated? From making us on the guard force miserable?
Nope...
God, I can't wait to quit this job!!!
I'll try to keep this simple. Contracting for the government can be complicated, frustrating and idiotic.
But here's a funny and somewhat accurate insight to what this business is like:
So, the company coming in to take over security for the embassy (Aegis LLC) continues to adamantly say that they ARE 100% taking over in June. Many didn't believe that it was going to happen, myself included. Hell, the last company that was in their position was saying the same thing up until two days before the change over. Then they bailed!
The biggest problem these companies are having is finding people to actually do the work. Only a small percentage of the guys here plan to transition to the new company and, being that this business is all about networking, word through the grapevine is that virtually no one going through Aegis's training course is able to pass the Dept of State's physical fitness standards.
However, Aegis just announced that the Dept of State has granted them permission to sub-contract security contractors from other companies until they have the personnel they need. This makes it more likely that they will at least be able to take over, in name anyway.
At first, I considered making the transition to Aegis myself. But since then, the company and their staff has continuously proven themselves to be fucking idiots; constantly losing guys' paperwork and avoiding answering questions during Q&A meetings with us. And that's if they even know the answers to begin with. But besides that, working for the embassy SUCKS! It's all about image, the biggest threat we face comes from the people we work for, and the fucking diplomats we're supposed to be protecting that they're superior, don't have to follow security procedure and look down on us as if this was us:
The final straw was when I received an email from an Aegis rep I'd never dealt with before telling me I needed to edit and resubmit my security clearance paperwork. FOR THE THIRD TIME! And that if I didn't do so in two days, they would withdraw my processing.
My reply:
"Thanks for the follow up.
However, you are the third person to tell me that I need to make more corrections when under the impression I was already done, the last time being on March 7th. Since this is the first I've heard from anyone since then, you may feel free to discontinue my processing.
Best of luck in the processing of others. Perhaps they'll have the time and patience to be given the run around.
Respectfully,
Zale Mills"
But I do have a plan once the contract ends. I've just finished the initial hiring process with another company working here in Afghanistan. So by the time I'm done here in June, I should have a class date for pre-employment training.
Although, I'm still looking at a good month or two of down time in between. And I plan to enjoy it!
I could go on, but pretty soon I'll start ranting about the bullshit that we have to deal with. So I'll stop here for now.
WARNING! This won't be brief...
As many of you know, I celebrated my first day back in the States by going to Columbus, OH for the SG Spring/St Patty's Party. And I shit you not when I say this, but if that was the only night I had off and I needed to be back in Afghanistan by that Mon, it would have been worth it!!!
Took over 20 hours between 5 flights to get there. But at least I wasn't as tired as this guy:
I had a blast meeting so many lovely ladies and cool hombres! I just hope I didn't make (too big of) an ass of myself. If only I didn't have a tattoo appointment that I booked months ago that Monday morning, I would have loved to have stayed at least Sunday.
The pictures I took with Radeo, Ackley, and Essence with the intension of making people I know who are fans of theirs insanely jealous... Worked like a charm! Mwahaha!
The following Saturday I drove down to DeLand, FL to go skydiving. I've always wanted to get into the sport but as with most goals of mine, time and/or money was always a problem. After 5+ hours of ground school to prepare me for my first jump, I was ready! The weather... Not so much. It was too windy! I tried waiting it out, but with no luck. So I drove back up to Jax.
But this was the Drop Zone:
Shortly after getting home, I got a call from my friend Mike inviting me to a Sharks game, Jacksonville's arena football team.
I did my best to make it a short night as I was going to drive down to try skydiving again. Still, with no luck. The winds started off high right off the bat. Another day of waiting it out and three hours on the road for nothing.
Monday though, was a beautiful day and I was able to knock out my first two jumps (levels 1 and 2 of an Accelerated Freefall Course)! These were the basics, experiencing freefall, pulling my own chute, and turning my body with the wind.
Finally geared up with the other two students and one of the instructors:
Tuesday I was able to get three jumps before the wind picked up again. The first of which (level 3) involved the instructors letting go of me for the first time. The second jump (level 4) was with just one instructor and again he let me fly assistance free once we were out of the plane. The last for the day (level 5), I actually left the plane BY MYSELF! That's when shit really got fun!
On Wednesday I drove down again for what I hoped would be graduation day from the . Sure enough, I knocked out levels 6 and 7, which evolved 360 turns, and flips while in freefall. It really does feel like you're flying! Since I had the gear already rented to me, I made 4 more jumps that day! I couldn't get enough!
Once the planes shut down and the bar opened up, I stayed and bought the instructors some drinks.
One of the girls from the DZ gear store:
And fun time were had by all! One dude I was chatting with was describing a rough day at work, "I said to myself, 'if I don't get outta here and jump out of a plane, I'm gonna kill myself!'"
I laughed and pointed out the dramatic irony...
It was getting late and I didn't feel like driving home yet again for just a few hours of sleep just to come back again in the morning. So I got a bite to eat, got myself a hotel room, and knocked out 5 more jumps the next day.
I meant to get some video/pictures of at least one of my jumps but with the chaos being caused at the drop zone by 200+ people from all over world trying to break a record for the amount of people in formation during freefall, I didn't get around to it.
On Friday the 29th I flew to Dallas for Tough Mudder Dallas 2012. One of my original flights was cancelled and rescheduled, which put me into Dallas later than I hoped. Mucking up my plan for a good diner and a full night's rest prior to the event.
My hotel:
If that weren't the only hiccup, parking at the event the next morning was so backed up that the line stretched 3.2 miles down the road and it took me over an hour to drive just one mile! By the time I was over a hour late for my 10am start time, I joined others who had decided to just walk the rest of the way.
What did we care? We were about to run a 10 mils obstacle course! So I paid some woman $10 to let me park my rental car in her yard and commenced the 1.5 mile hike.
Come to find out though, what was advertised to be 10 miles turned out to be damn near 12! Oh well...
Over all, the event was really fun. Exhausting... But fun! The obstacles themselves were cake to me, but I've never been a great runner. Getting too pumped up at the start and going too hard too fast didn't help either. I burnt myself out in the first mile. And I won't lie, I walked a fair amount after that.
Still, I finished. Not everyone could say the same. They were only half way through the first day before they had sprained ankles, heat strokes, and even a heart attack that was air lifted out! I did get sunburnt though...
I've already signed up for the one in Illinois in June!
Again, I didn't get any video/photos since I left my camera in the car and the event photographers weren't too interested in me as I wasn't part of a team. 
But here's someone else's video from the event:
And now... NEW WORK ON THE TATTOO!!!
While I was expecting two 6 hour sessions, what I got was half that. Still, my artist finished most of the shading the first sitting and started color on the next. I'm loving how it's turning out and continue to be eager to see it finished!
During the many cumulative hours of road tripping between Jax and DeLand, I got quite addicted to this song:
Why? It's a catchy jam of course! Why else?! Oh... Well, my girl and I did break up shortly after I arrived back home.
Before i say anything else on the matter (which wont be much anyway), keep in mind that I'd been single my whole life up until we started dating. Having said that, it was pretty much a mutual break up. I knew I couldn't be the guy she deserved with my being away 80% of the time and tendency to be emotional distant and she was frustrated by a guy who only knows how to live as if single.
Still, I always thought I was lucky to be with her and will miss her. Which is also why the song brings this to mind. We were friend for years prior to dating and my greatest fear is losing her all together. Guess time will tell...
Just like I did last time, I spent a couple night in Dubai before coming back. This time though I actually played in the giant "indoor amusement park" in the Dubai Mall with my friend and coworker Jeremy:
Virtual bowling sucks, btw:
But I won stuffed goodies at the strongman game:
Fun time was followed by one last good diner with a nice view:
Well, that pretty much covers my vacation. Except for some random photos!
And to talk briefly about work now that I'm back:
1) After being back just a couple hours, I came pretty close to quitting this job and giving up a $13K bonus I'm about to get when I learned I was about to get screwed over, AGAIN... And in the same way as before. But the company resolved the issue.
But damn it felt good to put my foot down a basically telling them to "fuck off"!
2) The transition to the new company in June continues to appear iffy and rumors are flying like crazy. This much is certain, if this new company continues to act like idiots and show their ass, I'm not gonna stay with them.
Of course, one of the rumors is that they are fucking up on purpose because they wanna back out and not take over. So they have to at least make it appear as of the are trying.
Ah... Contracting to the lowest bidder. Fun times!
3) I shaved!
I look weird...
But at least I have 9 weeks to relax from such a busy, fun filled time running around. Although, I now realize just how many sets are in MR and on the main page that I missed. Got a lot of ogling to catch up on!
Stand by for a massive journal in the next couple days of all I did and the photo dump to go with it!
In the mean time, I leave you with THIS:
