Hold off on buying a ticket for now...

So far, I've only heard friends and family say that they WISH they could get time off to come out to San Jose while I'm here. Anyone out there seriously considering it? If so, I'd strongly suggest holding off on purchasing a ticket, at least for now.

As usual, TSA is giving me mixed messages, but the last few days have been even worse than normal. Just to give you an idea, here's a couple of examples...

So I got in to San Jose on Wednesday night with no contact except for a phone call telling me to take a taxi to the hotel and an email saying to be at the airport at 1:00 pm on Thursday. No word on how to get there, if anyone else is going, where to meet, etc. So I call my supervisor to ask for more information, but she doesn't know what's gong on. First she tells me to wait, then calls back and tells me to find the rental car keys and drive myself in. How do I get there? She doesn't know. I get directions and eventually find my way. My supervisor comes out to meet me and we have to go park in the employee parking lot. Unfortunately, there aren't any signs and she's never parked there before either (even though this is her home airport). It took us about a 1/2 hr. to find it, but we eventually we got there.

Believe it or not, that whole mess was the easy part. Then there was the question of what my schedule would be, but first they had to see if I passed my testing. Testing?!? My thoughts exactly. I found out that day that the main reason for me coming here was to do my annual re-certification testing. I was clueless about this and caught a little off guard; especially since I was on vacation for 2 weeks and during that time several new procedures went into effect. "So you ready test?" Uh, not really, but what the hell it's only my job, my opportunity for promotion, and a major factor in determining my raise. Anyway long story a little less long, I managed to pass my testing.

Then my supervisor says that I shouldn't get too comfortable because since I passed, I may be leaving Sunday (as in two days from when I tested). Okay, that's news to me. Either way I still need to work Saturday in order to put in my 40 hr. week. During my tour of the airport, my supervisor as already promised 3 different supervisors on opposite shifts that I could work for them. A couple hours pass and it's time for my supervisor to leave while I finish up my eight hour shift doing training. So since I can't be all the places she promised, when should I work? After changing the subject a couple times and blatantly trying to avoid me, she can't put it off any longer. She tells me to come in at 4:00 am. I didn't get home until 8:30 pm so that was a short night, but I made it.

My first regular day at the checkpoint was okay. It always takes a little time to adjust. Tomorrow there is a different supervisor who I've already heard stories about. Should be another interesting day.

The latest rumor is that we are not leaving Sunday, which must be true since I don't have deployment orders. It sounds like I'll be here a week, or maybe two weeks, or maybe until Sept. 10 like my original deployment orders said. It all depends on what minute you ask.

I'll let you know more when/if I get official information. Hope all's well with you. Sorry about the lack of pictures. So far I haven't seen anything other than the airport and a nearby grocery store. And in conclusion...

Congrats to Phill and Courtney who graduated today from PA school at Chathum University in Pittsburgh! Wish I could have been there to celebrate with you.