Recently in OEM Category

It finally happened.  Thursday afternoon my supervisor called me to grill me about what I had done during the day and to harrass me, basically.  I finally just told him that I quit and that I'd turn in my resignation on Monday.  I actually feel better now, more relaxed.  Good news is that I've already got people helping me look for jobs in Idaho and Washington.  Of course, I've applied for other jobs overseas as well.  I'm sure that something will turn up. 

 

 

This past Saturday I had to attend a special event held by the Sheriff's Department in Lakewood.  It would have been really easy if I only had to drive from Long Beach to Lakewood (the neighboring city) but I had to drive to East Los Angeles, pick up the RV that we call the Alternate Emergency Operations Center - or AEOC - and drive it to the Expo.  I wasn't too happy about only getting about an hour's worth of driving lessons.  I kept telling the Assistant Administrator - aka Cara Roja due to his terrible rosacea - that I needed more in-depth training because the vehicle is fully equipped with a long, telescoping antenna and satellite dish, making the vehicle quite top heavy. Cara Roja didn't listen, told me that I was getting the exact same training as everyone else, then sent us (Anne Maria and me) on our way.  Anne Maria has had experience driving that type of vehicle when she worked at other organizations but this RV is different.  So we took off for the event, praying that we wouldn't be caught in a bad rainstorm on the way there or the way back. 

I managed to get there okay but had a little trouble parking so a deputy sheriff parked the beast for me.  He laughed because our vehicle is miniature compared to the Fire Department and Sheriff's Department vehicles.  I know that their vehicles are much, much bigger but they have special drivers with specialized driving licenses for those monsters.  The problem with our lack of training was that we were unable to get all of the TVs and computers working.  That kind of ruins the effect for the people who want to see a fully working office.  Anne Maria and I tried to make up for it.  At least we got the camera working and were able to project the images to the TV screen out front.  After that, it was all charm and smiles.  The event was really successful.  So many people showed up and saw the helicopters, fire engines, horses, and everything else.  Then the rain started at about 1:30, an hour and a half before the event was scheduled to end.  Given my inexperience driving the AEOC, I decided that we should pack up and head out before the sprinkles turned into a torrential downpour.  Anne Maria saw that I was nervous and offered to drive but I decided to face my fears and drive the beast back to the office.

Things were going fine until I thought our siren lights were on.  I had to pull off the freeway and have Anne Maria take a look.  Nothing.  Of course, getting back on the freeway was not easy but we managed.  Thank goodness I had a passenger with me.  Then, just after getting off the freeway near the office, about a mile away, a loud, siren alarm, in full stereo effect, went off inside the vehicle.  Imagine an ambulance siren inside your car and your head!  I pulled over and we checked out the issue:  the jacks that we have to lower when we raise the antenna and satellite dish.  One of them was somehow dislodged.  We tried to fix it, failed, then decided to get back in and drive the last mile back to the office anyway.  The whole way we had to endure that blaring siren inside the vehicle.  The stereo effect meant that we had equal blasts in each ear.  We both had massive headaches and ringing ears by the time we got back to the parking lot.   Cara Roja will definitely pay.

I definitely needed a drink after that.  A whole bottle of tequila was warranted!  However, Anne Maria thought that a few Sprinkles cupcakes would help make the day and weekend go better.  Recently, I told her that I was kind of done with Sprinkles but as soon as she mentioned that there were special Academy Award cupcakes available, I suddenly started to salivate and decided that $13.00 wasn't too much for a few cupcakes.  The only issue is that the store is in Beverly HIlls, quite a distance from East L.A., depending on traffic, of course.  So I followed her first to her place downtown so that she could drop off her car and carpool in my car.  Then I'd drop her off in L.A. then drive back to Long Beach.  At least we would have company on the drive.  The 4 miles to her place turned into at least 7 due to traffic and detours.  I kept checking her license plate to make sure I was following the right car and not being taken on a wild James Bond or Jason Bourne journey by someone trying to shake her tail.  We got to Anne Maria's place then I drove us to Beverly Hills.  I was going to consume massive amounts of pain killers to dull the throbbing in my ears and temples but, just my luck, I had forgotten my extra strength Tylenol that I always (except last Saturday) carry.  

When we arrived in Beverly Hills, we were shocked to see that there was a super long line outside of Sprinkles that snaked down the sidewalk.  I started to say that maybe we should choose another dessert place or just go eat but Anne Maria was not going to let me talk her out of it.  So she got in line while I went across the street to a French bakery for provisions.  Yes, I had to buy food and drinks for the queue to buy food and drinks.  Go figure.  It felt like we were in line for a ride at Disneyland.  We even starting bonding with other people in line, joking around with them.  I eventually had to go back to the car to get an umbrella due to the rain.  Some people dropped out of line but not the diehards.  We ended up waiting nearly 2 hours!  The wait was so long that the couple behind us problably broke up over the ordeal. The guy said he wanted to leave, the lady swore at him a lot then left with him. Too much time spent together, I guess.

I decided that I'd have to buy at least 4 cupcakes to compensate for the time spent waitiing in line.  I had to order two of my favorite: coconut, and I also bought one peanut butter-chocolate (surprisingly moist and delicious), and one banana with chocolate frosting.  They were all delicious.  They contain no preservatives, just all natural ingredients so they should not be stored.  I kept one for 2 days and ate it this morning.  It was still quite tasty and fresh. 

After Sprinkles, we were hungry for dinner so we decided to go to California Pizza Kitchen, another addictive food establishment.  The food must contain crack; it's so good and you want to eat there every day.  An hour later, we got to one in downtown L.A. but there was another long line!  We couldn't believe it.  15 - 20 minutes later we managed to get a table.  Then the orders were wrong..... Arggggghhh!  At least the spinach artichoke dip was delicious.  We were both so tired by the time we finished eating that Anne Maria asked me if I'd be okay to drive home.  Then on the way out of the parking garage, the electronic ticket taker said that we owed $8.00!  Fortunately, there was an attendant nearby who let us pass.  I dropped Anne Maria off at about 8:30 (a long and eventful day) and made my way home. 

I didn't talk to Anne Maria on Sunday but I know that she was sitting at home that evening in front of the TV watching the Academy Awards, eating her Sprinkles cupcakes just like me.