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.