Home Away from Home

I'm back in Oklahoma City in what has become my home away from home.  I know more of my teammates names, can mostly find my way around and am a better traveler than the first time I was here.  For my training weeks, I drive to OKC on Sunday afternoon and check into my hotel and will check out on Friday morning.  The first week I was here, there were some problems with the place that we stayed.  I personally didn't experience any problems, but my teammates did so we've moved hotels but we've been told we'll be here all year.  It's nice to be coming to the same place every time.  I told my dad today I've gotten better at being mobile.  Other than the wide range of materials and supplies that are constantly present in my car, I have a set of items that I bring with me for the hotel.  Things like a portable laundry hamper, night light and power strip are all part of my kit.  Between two computers, two cell phones, my GPS and my iPad, there are no shortage of electronics that I charge regularly.  At home I can spread those out around various rooms, here the power strip is a must have!

Here are some pics of my home away from home...

This is the view as you walk in the door.  I have a two room suite.  This weekend has included a lot of catch-up work for me and this evening was no exception, I've obviously already made good use of the desk and chair trying to sort some papers and files.

This room opens to the interior of the building so on the other side of those curtains is a view of the lobby.  I'm actually on the second floor this time so it's a distant view.

My living area includes a nice flat screen television as well as a fridge and microwave.  I made sure to bring a couple of snacks with me this time.  All of our meals are provided, which includes dinner.  Dinner however, is served at 4:00 so it's nice to have a snack for the evening if I want one.  My briefcase and purse are already packed for tomorrow morning and waiting by the door.  Since I have to leave each morning a little before 7:00 I try to be organized the night before.

I have a king size bed and lots of pillows which I like.  Typically I have a book on the night stand, but I haven't unpacked it yet.  My training days require so much concentration and focus that I don't usually have the mental capacity to work when I get out of class.  Unless I have assignments (which will likely be the case this week) I try to do some reading for pleasure in the evenings.  I brought a couple of new novels this week that I'm excited about.  I posted on facebook recently that spending a lot of time focusing and reading during the day keeps me from being able to do that at night.  Too much reading strains my vision.  However, my classes are just listening, so I'm hoping my vision holds up for evening reading.

I have a smaller television and coffee pot in my bedroom.  There is also a continental breakfast where I can get a cup of coffee, so I don't typically make any in here.  Breakfast is served as part of my meetings, but it's nice to have a cup of coffee when you're up that early!  I use the dresser to hold my jewelry (you can see it to the right of the TV), but all of my clothes are in the closet area.  I didn't take a pic of that, but I'm sure you can imagine.  It's a small walk in where the luggage rack holds my suitcase and the clothing bar holds my hang ups.  My laundry hamper and the iron and ironing board that's provided are also in there.

My Sunday evenings here are quiet.  It's time for me to get settled and set up for the week, catch up on some work, or read for pleasure.  My work yesterday and today are things that I would normally spend office time doing.  In the last two weeks however, Carri and I have had very little office time.  During lunch on Friday we decided that perhaps it's time for us to split up to better meet the needs of our districts.  We had said from the beginning that we would stay together as long as possible, but it's getting impossible.  I drove 2,025 miles in the last month.  We've been on the road four or five days a week.  I love our road time and I'm getting ready to invest in audible.com so that I can multitask during some of my drive time, but that much time on the road means office work is done after hours or on weekends and that's exhausting.  Splitting up and only going to our designated districts, instead of trying to go everywhere together will free us up for more office time. 

Our first week we were at the capital, the second week we were at the National Guard Regional Training Center, this week our classes are at the State Department of Education office building which is in the capital complex.  I'm a little nervous this time though and I'm not sure exactly why.  Maybe my nerves will settle when I see everyone tomorrow and get back in the grove of training.  This week promises to be packed with learning, I'm determined to have a great week!