Home for Christmas

On Tuesday, December 21, I flew home for Christmas. The flights were rather uneventful, except for the annoying girl behind me who wouldn't shut up about how she moved from Alabama to San Diego to start a church. She clearly did not pick up on social clues, either, because it was pretty obvious the person next to her wanted nothing to do with that conversation. After a stop in El Paso, then a layover in Dallas, I was on my flight to Birmingham. My dad came to pick me up at the airport, and brought Layla with him! I missed my little girl.

I didn't do any Christmas shopping in San Diego, because I didn't want to check any luggage, so I had to do all my Christmas shopping last minute in Birmingham. I hate Birmingham Christmas traffic; it's miserable. With two days to get all my shopping done, I thought I did a pretty good job. All my family was taken care of, and I could get my friend's gifts after the holiday when I saw them next.

Went to the Christmas party at BJ & Ruby's house, and convinced Callie to go along with me. Sorry, Callie, now you'll be expected to be at all future parties. Just ask my mom. We got there a little late, right as some people were leaving. The first thing Janna said to me was, "You smell the same!" So, that was nice. At least I got to see the Hagemans & Heards for a minute. After BJ reprimanded me for not updating my blog while I didn't have Internet service, he made me a drink. I wanted vodka, but they didn't have any juice for mixers, so I decided to come up with my own concoction: vodka & Kool Aid Jammers tropical punch. And it was good. For my refill, I upped the ante to whipped cream vodka & said Kool Aid Jammer. Delicious. Christmas morning, I didn't have a headache from the alcohol as much as I did from the copious amounts of sugar I drank.

Next on the adventure list was having a reunion with Audra & Callie. Lunch started at 1:30, and we left around 5. We had so much to catch up on, and ok, gossiping about people we went to high school with. Some of them we found on twitter, too! Anyone from c/o '02 reading this?

The next day Callie & I met up with Coach Hogan, our jv volleyball coach. It was amazing seeing her, and she looks exactly the same! When we played for her, she was pregnant with her 2nd daughter (and still playing on the court with us), and now that daughter is in 7th grade! How wacky! It was so good to catch up with her, and I really hope we get to make that a regular reunion.

I got to see a lot of people, but I also missed some folks. I'm really bummed about that. Layla is flying with me to San Diego, and she's never flown before. I'm quite nervous about it. Hopefully she's getting some sleep down in cargo, and will be happy to see me when I pick her up in San Diego!

The weather is supposed to be awesome in San Diego this week, so I'm thinking of taking Layla to the beach. If I do, I'll definitely take pictures.

I won't be home for a while, so I'll really try to stay on top of updating this thing. Love you & miss you all so much!

Short-Term Goals

I thought I'd update you all on a list of my short-term goals while I am here in San Diego. For those of you who know me (and perhaps those who don't), this is a pretty extensive look into my personality.

1. You have to show your ID & car pass every time you come on base, and my goal is to get to know the guards at the gate & make them laugh with my musical choices each morning. Yesterday I listened to Meatloaf's "I Would Do Anything For Love" and got nothing. So this morning I upped the ante and listened to Seal's "Kiss From A Rose", hoping they'd appreciate the wordplay. Nothing. That's some of my best stuff, too. So this goal isn't off to a great start, but I'm hoping once I'm more familiar they'll begin to appreciate my efforts.

2. I want to learn the face painting techniques they use to disguise themselves. If I get to do this, I'll post a picture.

3. There's makeshift volleyball courts (both court & sand) on base, and yeah, I wanna play.

That's all I can think of right now. Also, I go home for Christmas tomorrow, and I'm excited!

Meg McSwain Is No Friend of Mine

You know who sucks? Meg. My supposed "best friend" has not read my blog once. AUSTIN READS MY BLOG! I don't even care, Meg. I don't even care. Your move, McSwain.

I Leave The State & All Our Coaches Leave, Too. Coincidence?

Yesterday was my first day at work, and I spent all morning trying to set up my email.  I haven't used a Windows computer in about 5 years, boy was my face red.  Anyway, today I decided to decorate my little cubicle, and by the time I'm finished it will look like Auburn exploded in here.  I plan to get a big flag & put it up in here too.  When I opened my drawer this morning, I found a Tennessee football magazine; a little gift from Scott, who got his PhD there.  Cute.  I told him I could have returned the favor by putting my Auburn magazine in there, but it was too important to me to just give away like that. 

Met some people, saw some things. Can't tell you about them.

That's really all I have.  Getting cable/internet at my apartment this weekend.

Stennis Trip

For the past two days, Ryan & I have been working at Stennis Space Center with SBT-22. These guys are the SWCC operators, which stands for Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman. These are the guys the SEALs call when they need to be extracted under heavy fire. They are badass.

Knowing very little about the SWCC before I got here, I didn't really know what to expect. They're incredible. Everyone we met, both UPitt employees & military employees was nothing short of amazing. Fortunately, we will be working with both SWCC & SEAL out in Coronado, so I hope that we will have the same experience these UPitt guys have had down here.

I'm also a little clearer on my biomechanics role within the lab. In the past, the motion analysis testing has been the only one where the guys have gotten zero feedback from the UPitt testers, and unfortunately, it's one of the most interesting tests. Previously, the data has just been collected at the remote labs & sent back to UPitt for processing. Now that UPitt is going to have a total of 6 working labs, they simply will be unable to process the data themselves, so I will get to have a hand in the on-site processing of our motion analysis data. Ideally, I will be able to process the data, explain to them what the numbers mean, and if any intervention is recommended, send them over to our physical therapist. The best part of that is, the guys we'll be seeing in Coronado are students, so the earlier the detection of improper mechanics, the better. Hopefully these guys will have fewer injuries down the road because of the work we're doing in our lab.

Here's a really good video on SWCC

Too Much Seltzer Can Really Ruin A Good Punch

Well, this is my last official day as a Birmingham resident. I'm sitting in the airport, just said good-bye to my dad, making this the 2nd time I've cried in an airport in the last 2 weeks. For vastly different reasons each time.

I had a wonderful farewell, thanks to Janna & Austin for throwing me an amazing going away party. Everyone was there, it was wonderful. Janna & I took the liberty to make the punch. To quote Janna, "I think it's funny that I pulled up the recipe like we were actually going to use it." How cute. From what I can remember, the recipe called for champagne, pomegranate juice, citrus vodka, and 1/2 cup of seltzer. The seltzer is the only ingredient we measured, because "too much seltzer can really ruin a punch." We eyeballed all the other ingredients, adding to the recipe as we saw fit. And it was delicious.

Callie brought our Pizitz yearbooks, and everyone agreed with me that a certain someone had a crush on her in our middle school years. If only we could see the future, Callie. If only. Callie says she peaked in middle school, but I'm pretty sure we peaked in high school. It doesn't get any better than wearing SCUBA goggles & life vests to school. You're absolutely right, too, if we Romy & Michelle'd our high school reunion, no one would be surprised at all.

Carrie apparently almost died in the fire. I'm glad she didn't, because that really would have taken all the attention away from me. It was my party after all. We also tried to do "Light as a feather, stiff as a board" to Carrie, but no one was taking it seriously, and that really pissed Janna off.

A very big thank you to everyone who was at the party, Janna & Austin, Callie, Michael & Cassidy, Matt & Carrie, Michael & Christy, Matt & Kristie, BJ & Ruby, Sharon, Carly, Ellen, Paula & Ashley, Sarah, Tara, and Ryan. I love you all so much, and will miss you terribly.

Try As They Might, US Air Did Not Defeat Me

It's gonna be a long one, folks, so buckle up.

It's 5am & I'm sitting in the Pittsburgh International Airport. Why? Glad you asked. My original flight was at 7:05 Tuesday evening, and the shuttle was supposed to pick me up from the hotel at 4:15. Fast forward to 5:15 & the shuttle finally arrives. Another hour & 45 minutes later, I get to the airport. Horrible weather & a wreck made it damn near impossible to get to the airport. So while I got to the airport in time to make my flight, the kiosk wouldn't let me check in because I had to check a bag, & you have to arrive at least 45 minutes before your flight to be afforded such a luxury. So I get in line with all the other people who have missed their respective flights.

The extremely nice & super helpful US Air agent (I hope you're picking up my sarcasm here...) tells everyone in line that if their flight hasn't left yet to step forward so she can quickly check us in, so to the desk I go. Then she says, "You have to check your bag 45 minutes prior to your flight." Back in line. I'll just directly quote the conversation that took place between the woman in line behind me & said helpful agent. Woman: "So what does that mean?" Agent: "You have to check your bag 45 minutes before your flight." Woman: "So, what do we do?" Agent: "You have to check your bag 45 minutes before your flight. I don't know how else I can say it!" Um, you can say we're all missing our flights, please & thank you.

I'll skip over the part where the airline's 800-number tried to get me to pay $800 to get re-booked, and go directly to my encounter with previously-mentioned agent. She was able to book me on the next flight to Charlotte, the connecting city for all flights to the South, but it isn't until 6:35 Wednesday morning. She can't check my bag the night before, so I have to keep it with me. I ask if I'll be able to get through TSA with my oversized bag, she doesn't know. So I try to go through the security line, where my bag wasn't the problem, but my boarding pass marked for 11/23 was. Apparently TSA can't let you through without a same-day gate pass. "Just go ask the airline for a gate pass with today's date on it. It should be easy," he says. Ha.

So I go back to the US Air desk, and have the same woman as before. She tells me they don't give out gate passes, so I'd have to sit outside security until midnight. So I go back to TSA to see if there's ANYTHING they can do to let me through. He tells me I should go argue because the airline should take care of me if they're expecting me to spend all night in the airport. I agree.

So I go back to the desk to try my luck with a different airline agent. While I'm waiting, the super nice & extremely helpful agent goes up to both the other agents working, turns her back to me & tells them not to give me a gate pass. Really.

Back downstairs I go to talk it over with my new TSA agent friend. I tell him what happened, thank him for being so helpful, & tell him I'll be in the only bar that's outside security if he gets off before midnight & will gladly buy him a beer. All the while starting to cry out of frustration. So he tells me he's gonna see if there's anything he can do for me because the woman at US Air was so absurd, and that he would come get me in the bar if he was able to get me through.

So I get into the bar around 7:50, they close at 8. Perfect. So I quickly order 2 20oz Yuenglings. After I thank the bartender for staying open past last call for me, I go back to wait my turn at TSA. Miraculously, he lets me go through. I asked if it was inappropriate to hug him & again offered to buy him a beer. He just shook my hand & told me to enjoy my flight. So, if you're out there, TSA friend, THANK YOU.

So I slept for about 3 hours spread across the chairs, trying to avoid the immovable armrests. I finally made it on my flight to Charlotte, I've never been so happy to be on a plane in my life. Then it's on to Birmingham where I plan to sleep until the Green Bay-Detroit game Thursday morning.

Flying to Pittsburgh

Left San Diego this morning, headed to Pittsburgh, by way of Phoenix. While waiting for my flight, I was able to meet up with the fourth researcher; we'd been scheduled on the same flights. So here I am, wearing my Beat Bama t-shirt (as it is Hate Week), and he tells me his dad is a Bama fan. Did I mention he's from Maine?! I asked where his father grew up, he said Connecticut & Maine. I asked if his father went to Alabama. I'll let you guess the answer to that question. I'm moving across the bloody country to be working with the son of a Bama fan. He doesn't really care about college football (CAUSE HE'S FROM MAINE...), & my neighbor is still an Auburn fan (hopefully alum), so I guess that makes up for it.

Unbelievable.

During my stop in Phoenix, I was able to find an Arizona State shot glass. The cashier asked me what I thought of the game last night. I asked, "What game?" Apparently Arizona & Arizona State played this weekend. I had to politely explain to him that I simply collect college shot glasses, and that I went to Auburn. I thought that was clear from my t-shirt. Evidently not.

So here I sit on my flight from Phoenix to Pittsburgh, unable to sleep. Actually, there's no wireless on this flight (how primitive), so by the time this gets posted I'll likely be cozy in my hotel bed. I hope my hotel has free wireless. I doubt I'll be able to do anything in Pittsburgh, unfortunately, because most of my time will be spent at the NMRL, but I'll try to snap a few pics on the shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, Go To Hell Alabama

SS Midway

Having finished apartment hunting, we were able to sightsee today. We went up to Encinitas to have breakfast, and then we went downtown to see the SS Midway, which was retired in 1992 & turned into a museum. It was so cool! It was an unguided tour, with headsets, so you could set your own pace. If any of you are out this way, I definitely recommend going to the museum. Of course, if you are out here visiting me, I'll definitely take you!

Headed to Pittsburgh tomorrow!

The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

Got so much done on my first full day in San Diego! I was able to find the area I want to live in, Chula Vista. It totally reminds me of Agrestic from seasons 1 & 2 of Weeds, it's so cute. Oddly enough, when I came out of one of the possible apartments, an Auburn wreath was hanging on the door across the hall! We're EVERYWHERE! It almost makes up for the cold War Eagle reception I got in the San Diego airport to the guy in the Auburn hat & bookbag. If you're reading this, guy from airport, you kinda suck. Don't represent Auburn so far away if you don't want to get "War Eagle'd".

After the apartment hunt, I went to the Naval Amphibious Base. While I was waiting for my escort onto base (I don't have my clearance ID yet), some SEAL trainees ran by carrying the inflatable boats over their head. Those things weigh about 150 lbs, and there's about 6 guys to a boat. I was later told they were just running the mile or so to the Chow Hall for lunch. They've also only had about 4 hours of sleep total since Sunday evening. Hell Week.

Once I got on base, we went over to the UPitt Human Performance Lab to see where I'll be working. There's nothing in it yet, so it's just an empty 3-room office space right now. Hoping to get all the equipment in there & start testing by the new year. What will I be doing between December 8 & then? Good question. Don't know, but I'm fired up to get out here & start working. They're providing us with our own Internet service, so we don't have to be connected to the Navy's network, which is great. It's also what they called an "unsecured" area, meaning I can have my cell phone on me.

After the lab we went over to the Special Warfare base, which is "secured", so I couldn't take my phone. Of course, this is where I wanted to take all the pictures. Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say & not say about that area, other than I got the tour, saw where the students & active-duty SEALs train, & leave it at that. There were close to 100 helmets by the bell, under the sign that read "THE ONLY EASY DAY WAS YESTERDAY." Intense motivation for the guys who haven't quit. Hell Week secures Friday at lunch, so I think it's safe to say the guys who haven't quit yet are gonna make it through.

There's only 4 UPitt employees working in Coronado, one of whom I haven't met yet. The three of us went to dinner tonight, where I was told that as the only female investigator, I'll have to hold my own on base because there aren't many women around, obviously none in the SEALs & SWCC. I can fake being a hard ass, I think.

I just discovered I can't post pictures on my blog from my iPad, so all the pictures I take will have to be on Twitter for now & I'll post them when I get home.

Also had my first run-in with the time difference between here & home, sorry Janna.

All right, I realize this was a longer post with no pictures, so if you made it through to the end, thanks.

Day of Travel

About an hour from landing in San Diego. Flying all day kinda sucks. This may seriously hinder how often I come home. Left Birmingham at 12:55 CDT, landed in Charlotte at 3:15 EDT, had a 3-hour layover (ate California Pizza Kitchen--to prepare, & got 3 new shot glasses!), & left Charlotte at 6:15 EDT. Scheduled to arrive in San Diego at 8:35 PDT. I had already changed my watch to Pacific time, & my phone wasn't connected to the Internet, so it was still reading Eastern time. Needless to say, when my iPad changed time zones an hour into my flight to Mountain time, I had no idea where in the hell I was.

Anyway, on my flight the man seated next to me was in the Navy who was kind enough to help me narrow down my list of possible housing options. He eliminated most of them based on the fact that the neighborhoods are very unsafe. So my instincts are clearly right on.
Tomorrow I have a tour of the base & lab, & I found out it's Hell Week for the SEAL trainees. I keep hearing that I'm heading for a major culture-shock. I'm both nervous & excited about it.

Sorry there's no pictures, but there's been no pictures to take yet. Pictures tomorrow.

The Lone Survivor

I bought this book on Sunday night so I'd have something to read on my flights, but once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.  This book is incredible.  It's the story of a Navy SEAL who, along with his 3 teammates, goes on a mission to find one of Al-Qaeda's leaders, only to be bombarded by the Taliban.  His 3 teammates are killed, and all 8 soldiers on his rescue mission are killed, but he survived.

The story starts out with his training to become a SEAL in Coronado.  At first, I was unnerved by the amount of abuse these guys take.  I almost wrote a blog entry last night wondering whether or not I could handle being around it; those of you who have met me know my disdain for authority figures abusing their power.  However, as he's telling the story, I came to realize that their form of training is necessary, because it allowed for his survival in hostile Afghanistan.

It was written in 2007, and the author is from Texas, so it is a little conservative for me.  But at the same time, it's almost impossible to disagree with the reason everything went wrong for them out there.  I definitely suggest you read this book.  It's very intense, and therefore a very fast read, and tell me, is there anyone out there who isn't simply awestruck at the world of the Navy SEALs?  If you say no, simply put, you're a liar.

And now, I need a new book to read.

My Cool New Job

One of my favorite pics of Pittsburgh

I'm employed by the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Sports Medicine & Nutrition.  They are contracted through the Department of Defense to conduct research on injury prevention in the military.  I'll be working at the Naval Special Warfare Human Performance Laboratory in Coronado, CA.  Basically, I get to work with the Navy SEALs & SWCC.  Super cool, right?

Before I officially move to San Diego, however, I am going to be doing a LOT of traveling between San Diego, Pittsburgh, & Mississippi (yeah...Mississippi...), for orientation and training.  I'm terrible at remembering to take pictures, but I will do my best to take pictures & chronicle the fun happenings of starting my new job.

Want to read about it? Go here: University of Pittsburgh Neuromuscular Research Lab