Missed your call!!! =(

Ok, Jess, I just spent about 30 minutes trying to post a blog on here and the whole thing was deleted bc I pressed the back button to look at that pic of the palace! grrr...

Oh well, I'll paraphrase what I said before. First, so sorry and regretful my phone was off the one time you called. it was really dead. Second, I finally got a job and I don't mean subbing. I am a Athletic Assistant for Fairfax County Community and Rec Services. It's great, I like the people here and I have a cubicle of my own, which means, privacy (well, more private than before) and my own desk, computer, phone....everything. It's a commute and it pays about 10k less than teaching, but I am a much happier person. I am hoping I can get a raise or something else will come along that pays more eventually.

I have a zillion funny stories so far since I started. Today is my 4th day so I am still learning quite a bit...I'll just cut to the chase here. Yesterday this guy that sits across from me, Taylor, was on the phone, and you can hear everything that people say, so I guess I should say it isn't that private- but anyway, I hear him say, "...aight man, well I'm getting ready to get on the elevator here so I gotta go...." and really he's sitting at his desk. So I laughed and said out loud, "not that I was trying to easedrop on your conversation, but, that was messed up!" OMG Jessica, why did I have to comment! I just couldn't keep my mouth shut! He didn't care, he actually went on to explain to me how much he hates that guy.

So I told mom about it and she told me how much you hate when people do that to you. hahaha....so today, I promised to never do that again, EVER, and I almost caught myself commenting to Taylor again after he got off the phone about how his wife is a PE teacher! You have no idea how oblivious I am at this type of job. I have never worked in an office my entire life and keep forgetting this a different environment that has different etiquette. Way different. These people have no idea about my "other side"- my rough, loud, obnoxious, crazy, whistle blowing side that used to boss kids around and tell people what to do all the time. sigh....

Well, I can't wait for my xmas present from you...I wonder what it is? Is it perfume?? I like to try to guess it before I get it. I guessed what steve got me and was right, plus what mom and dad got me. I've always been good like that!

By the way, I just introduced some people in my office to sly dial and it's been like a revolutionary breakthrough to them! They are loving me! I just can't remember what the other one was. What was the one called where you can punch in someone else's phone number and call from it?

If you want to email me, my new email is johannapetrosky@gmail.com
By the way, my married name is officially OFFICIAL! (I went to ss and dmv).
We miss ya, talk soon!

Joey

Merry Christmas!

Even Jessica's lizard is in the spirit!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

I'm going to call after I get done typing here, but i just wanted to update the site since I haven't written since Thanksgiving. Time seems to be flying by now, everyone is in the holiday spirit. You wouldn't believe the amount of gifts and food and care packages sent out by people to the troops...we got stockings full of toiletries and food from the American Legion and VFW...cards and letters from students of all ages all over the country. The support we get from home is absolutely overwhelming sometimes. Quite a bit of money has to go in to putting these packages together and mailing them out. It is appreciated though! We had to do a secret Santa gift exchange here and of course I waited till Christmas eve to buy something for my person. I ended up getting her a necklace charm. From my Santa I got some bath and body works candles (mom, for you thats bed, bath and body works candles, Hee hee) and then we went to a Candlelight Christmas ceremony where a chaplain spoke and we sung hymns in the al-Faw Palace--thats what the picture is of. If Saddam could see his palace now--he was probably doing flips in his grave as we sang Silent Night! Dinner was not much, I had pizza and a salad but it will likely be pretty good tomorrow. We will stick to the Air Force chow halls, which seem to have better food.

Im re-reading what I wrote above and I must be tired because Im giving a play-by-play of the whole day! ha ha...sorry! Im definitely ready to come home, its getting cold here and the whole bathroom situation is beginning to drive me nuts! There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, finding my weapon and the magazine and putting them on, finding shoes and a jacket and putting them on too...just because I cant hold it till the morning! Argh!

Well, I will call today, because its Christmas for me right now, but hopefully I can tomorrow also, so I can talk to everyone again!

Love you all lots, miss you and talk to you soon!

Hey All-December Update

December rolled around pretty quickly, it's hard to think that Jess has already been gone over a month and that Matthew and I've been in Washington for 6 months! Kitten seems lonely out here and I do the best I can to walk and play with him, but he lacks all the family visits and his play buddy, Buttons. Matthew and I have been seriously considering getting another pug to keep him company after Christmas, and if you take a look at this week's poll then you'll see why! They're charming and hilarious little creatures!!

Matthew's still enjoying his work and he's become quite the important man on duty. He was on call over the holidays to oversee the painters in the hangar to ensure his planes were painted exactly as his drafting plans specified. He just started his second quarter at school, ending his first quarter with a 3.8 GPA. He's pretty tired most of the time, as he has school till about 10:30 PM on MWF. But, he's really turning some heads in management and he ended this year with a flawless performance evaluation...which should reflect in his paycheck.

Apparently I've also impressed all the right people because on Monday night Matthew and I were invited and treated to The Boeing Suite at the Metallica concert, where we were provided with a plethora of free food and drinks and the best seats in the house! Turns out (I do my boss's expense reports), each ticket was about $400 and we got them for free! I was also just rewarded with a $100 Boeing Pride Award, and I've been recommended to apply for a full time position with Boeing as a Staff Analyst Level 2. Normally, each level takes a year to surpass, so that'd be great news if I could make a level 2 within a few months.

As for non work related issues, we're missing the family/home like crazy! We'll be seeing you all in 2 weeks, and the time couldn't come fast enough.

Make sure to post your updates so we can keep up with everyone...ESPECIALLY YOU, JESS. Love you.

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving here was a nice warm day and the chow hall food served
pretty good food--turkey, stuffing and all the typical foods. Believe
it or not, I even ate some green bean casserole--just checked to see if
I still hate green beans, and I do. Only thing that was throwing me off
was the lack of deviled eggs!! Cant believe they didn't make them! No
cranberry sauces either! Other than that, I had dinner with a few
co-workers, who I had go around the table and tell what they were
thankful for--an Allen family tradition that I cant believe I did, when
I didn't have to! My parents have brainwashed me!! AHHH!! Thanks for
sending the pic of your thanksgiving meal, I miss you guys and its good
to see everyone! That said--Jill, Matthew and Chavonne--where are your
pics??? Im putting you guys on the SPOT!! Ha ha. Sounds like everyone
had a good time though, wish I was there!

Its starting to get cooler here during the daytime even, which will ruin
my Sunday morning breakfast club with some coworkers (over coffee, local
bread and cheese). It's the small things that make a difference! The
coffee joint here, The Green Bean (think Starbucks, but not quite as
nice), is making a fortune off of me! Despite its name (extreme dislike
of that particular vegetable) its the only thing I have spent money on
since I arrived.

As it gets cooler the rain has increased, which stinks because Im still
gun-shy about driving in the mud. Ive learned some tricks though, so
there should be no repeat incidents of that day I got stuck--or I hope
there wont be any repeat incidents!

Whats the deal with all the football talk here? This is crazy. Who
knew my family was so passionate about this?
My time is up now, gotta run. Talk to everyone later, thanks for all of
the emails!!

Redskins racial slur?!!

ok, not that I'm that into pro football or anything (even tho I think most pro football players are crybabies and they think millions of dollars isn't enough to feed their families so they go on strike...cough*T.O.*cough...at least college athletes play for the love of the game so I must contest amongst both the cowboys and 'skins)...but I'm not that into pro football so I won't go there.

and another thing, not that I'm taking sides here or anything, Jill, but I think I would have to disagree with you on the Redskins being a "racial slur". Let me ask this, is the glass half empty or half full? Are the Redskins a racial slur or symbol of success?
Some critics believe it is racist and that's the reason for the name. But, in all actuality, would we really sit down and say...Gee, what kind of name can we give this team that will really piss people off and possibly cause a public uproar....let's go for something racist and catchy! Contrary to popular belief, it was meant to honor the American Indians and by naming a professional team after their spirit, it's a symbol of success, pride, courage and achievement!

But on the flip side of things, if someone named a professional team after me, let's go with "Whitegirl", and they were horrible I might say I was pretty offended. However, if someone was to mention "Whitegirl" and thoughts of a successful professionally structured team with thousands of dollars invested, top athletes, coaches and fans, I might blush and admit, I kinda like the ring of it and would even offer my face as the logo.

The name "Redskins" brings up thoughts of football. It is not used as a racial slur as it may have been in the past, as some want to believe. Let's be optimistic here, the glass is half full!

Almost Thanksgiving!

Hey, whats everyone doing for Thanksgiving...send me whats going on! I miss everyone and its going to be weird eating Thanksgiving dinner with my coworkers at a chow hall. Theres one chow hall thats open all day, so we might go in and eat more than once...only bad thing is, the leftovers are still hot! Thanksgiving isnt the same if you cant have cold turkey later in the day!
Thanks for everyones emails! keep em coming! Also, if you are looking to send anything, theres nothing I really need...so anything that can be shared with the office is good. Food, candy, Holiday decorations, etc. Also, theres a program here called hearts and minds, so if you send me toys or clothes, i can have it given away to the locals that are in need. I will type fast....aggghhh, they are kicking us all out...gotta go