Getting to Texas and Starting Work

25 JAN 2012

I’m must gong to admit it. I started this journal upside-down and backwards. I sketched my new pelican case which I thought turned out well. I even did it in pen. The rounded edges were tricky to shade, but I like the result.

Packing has slowed. I have most of the stuff and I’m constantly thinking about things I might have forgotten to write down. I need a) a container for my clothes and b) to wash EVERYTHING I’m bringing. Therefore I need to stop wearing clothes I’m going to bring. It’s not like it’ll be a tight fit, but I kinda wanted to travel light in case I have to take off with somebody. Good idea, Novak.

I’m interested to meet my roommates. I am curious to see what their faces look like when I show up with two guitars, an amp, and a banjo. I’ll be quiet... Oh man. I wonder how I’m going to smoke. I guess I can roll a couple skinny joints..

The drive will be exciting. I’ve been looking forward to spending time in the car with music and audio books. Although 40 will be tedious. I don’t know what to expect with Cousin Charlie. No idea at all. Because I don’t know them. Oh boy, more people to explain bird jobs to.

29 JAN 2012

SF à Needles

Leisurely wake up/breakfast/final pack. Stopped by Levi’s and got stupid on some Candy Jack from Green Door. Totally missed the I-5 turnoff AGAIN. Listened to the Ricky Gervais Show, the “audiobook” collections on a certain topic and the actual radio shows. The shows are pretty boring.

A thought inspired by Karl Pilkington: We’ve figured out all the ways to cook stuff. Baking, cooking, frying, nuking, etc. There’s no more. I you want to invent a new way to cook your eggs, you’ll have to wait until they figure out antigrav cooking techniques…

Long drive. Back hurt. Lots of badlands. Denny’s was bomb.  Cool server, Daniel, knew what was up. Motel 6 wouldn’t let me illegally DL the Millennium trilogy or stream TV shows. So I watched Paul. Fitting. ABQ2M

30 JAN 2012

Needles à ABQ

Up and at’em. I was out on the road @ sunrise. I totally mistimed my Innout craving. Missed the one in Barstow the night before so the only other one on the way was Kington this morning. They’re not open at sunup. Trip went pretty well. Hit a jay along the way. Got stupid AGAIN. For instance, I was smoking as I was speeding and passing a cop. When I tried to ditch the evidence, it all blew back in the window. Luckily I was only like 5mph over so nothing happened. Shit.

Petrified Forest was neat. I did a quick loop and took lots of pics. It really is impressive. Can’t believe it, they still look like trees.

I fade between extreme anxiety and not so much that. It’s partly about being outside California. I feel defenseless. Especially concerning MJ. I guess I’m not too worried about work or my roommates.. but maybe I should be, I can’t fuck any of it up. Gotta be responsible…

Got Mexican @ Taqueria Mexico. Derish!

31 JAN 2012

ABQ à Amarillo

Wow. Slept in. Til like 930. Checked out UNM. Center of the universe my ass. Go Lobos..eh. go GAUCHOS. Got some metal banjo picks that I have no idea what to do with. The drive was easy. I opted for the bowl over the jay. No reason to get that stupid. Texas now.  Easy does it. Gran Torino over a Race 5. The movie was kind of funny actually. Meeting fam tomorrow. Let’s see how it goes.

1 FEB 2012

Amarillo à Ft. Worth

Woke up early and hit the road. Not too bad. Got some music in and a ton of the RGS. I’m starting to think in their voices. Got into Ft. Worth around 130. I kicked around at the water garden for a while. Neat water features. My favorite was the Active Pool. It was essentially a hole in the ground lined with waterfalls. It even had a series of bench-like steps that went all the way to the bottom. Pretty damn cool. The “Aerated” Pool was pretty much the Zelda puzzle where you walk on water jets.

Then I watched the cattle drive at the old Stockyards. 15 longhorns. Not a lot but boy those steers’ horns are impressive.

Arrived at Mila’s and Charlies at 5PM. Didn’t think Mila was a Filipina name. Oh well. LUMPIA AND BBQ for dinner! They’re really nice folks. Lotta church figurings around and great plants. They picked off a ton of chili peppers for me to bring to Copperas Cove. It’ll be nice to visit these guys while I’m here. Move in tomorrow. Computer will be there when I arrive yeaaaaaaa.

6 FEB 2012

Man, the drive to Copperas Cove was so foggy I had to go 40 in a 70.

June. That’s what I named my truck. Also known as FWL 16, or Whiskey 54, or a 1997 Mazda pickup. She’s even an automatic. Beautiful. I called June because when I opened the door to look inside, the floors were covered with juniper leaves and twigs and dust. I cant wait to take her for a spin on the base. It has all my gear in it and is ready to go!

Melanie moved in 3 days ago. She fits in nicely in the room. Spacious closet, room dominated by the bed and dresser. The roommates are cool too. Kelsey moved in first. Very nice, agreeable and enjoys music. Melissa moved in just before Melanie. Melissa is also nice but has a funny sense of humor. Good. Looks like if I can keep this up I’ll have a good relationship with my roommates.

We have coworkers in our apt complex too. Very Zany. Simeon and Julie were the ones we met first. Simeon’s Minnesota accent is thick and I originally thought it was a southern accent. We brought over some beer and guac for a pregame to the Super Bowl. We watched the Bowl at a bar in town. We won at chickenshit bingo! Yea. That. Talked to some locals at the bar. They thought we were literally foreigners. Jeeze we stick out like sore thumbs. Oh well. They’re nice enough.

It’s cool we’re in a city, unlike Bloomfield, pop 1000. It’s 30K in the Cove alone. Base is boomin too. Lots of nice cars! Saw two hummers and 2 Zeniths right next to each other at the gate. Melanie says it’s because the soldiers get paid while they’re overseas and don’t really have an outlet to spend money since the Army takes care of most things.

Extracting tomorrow!

7 FEB 2012

First day in the field. Becky drove us out. Me, Melissa, Kelsey, Nathan, Jie, and later, Julie. Down the road to Manning Mountain. Holy shit! Bazooka ranges and Middle Eastern urban assault courses. It looked like Call of Duty. Offroaded to a pretty spot with feeders and nets. Caught Chipping Sparrows, Slate-colored Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinches (tiny!) and a Field Sparrow, Brown Creeper, and Black-crested Titmouse! Watched Breaking Bad with Mel. Fuckin Freng! With the BOX CUTTERS! FTK(ill)!

8 FEB 2012

Today was a driving day. We split up into groups that felt like bigs and littles in fraternities.  I went out with Becky in my little June buggie. Becky drove for the first half of the day and showed me the ins and outs of the study site (Manning Mtn). She tested me a little on orienteering, but it wasn’t so bad. We pulled over for lunch and I found out she’s read of Steve Rothstein’s stuff (cowbirds). I got to drive for the second half of the day. HOOBODY! I got to go all around our study site. Just about every drivable trail. It was fun! Didn’t know I was going to be in a ro-de-o show (Simanek gets the reference)! West Spur is essentially a steep hill which Becky tested me on twice. I kicked assss. Passenger seat tomorrow and probably more walking trails.

Man I want to go up in a helicopter like the “bigs” get to. Spot me some hogs.

10 FEB 2012

HAROOROOROO! Did my driving/walking tour of Manning with Julie yesterday. It was good hanging out with Julie. We gabbed about politics, which was welcome in what is sure to be relative political isolation. Went out for okay Mexican and Big Beers at Mexicano Grille with Simeon, Julie, Melanie, and Melissa. Good fun but I cringe when the others talk so loosely and loudly about TX and Texans. It don’t want any trouble..

Today we did more mist netting. By now I know that all banders have their own style of extracting and banding, so I’m being a good boy and shutting up and listening. Nobody wants to hear what the rook thinks he knows. After work we went tot Wild Wasabi for Korean food and sushi. We had to split tables because they couldn’t accommodate all 8 of us at one table. That gave Melanie a chance to meet Jie, who was at our table. We came home and watched the Fox and the Hound. Sad. Cute. WEEKEND! But what to do? Baseball.. Goodwill..