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rubberlegs
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Joined: 09 Jan 2003
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 Posted: 03/21/03 - 11:17 Post subject: travel report (warning long...get coffee first)
I was asked to give a report of an earlier topic - http://runningforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7737
I am not going to post it in race reports though cause, well...the only running wasn't done by me.
It was one hell of a weekend actually. I need to do a little background so I can tell the whole story.
I recently moved from Iowa to Minnesota following my lovely wife who took a job in the twin cities. This involved me finding a new job and also transferring from my Iowa National Guard unit to a Minnesota one (pssst...listen up, that part comes in later  )
Well on Friday night as I was driving home thinking about all of the things I needed to take care of before my 7 am flight to Portland, I receive a call on my cell phone. It was my Iowa unit telling me they don't have confirmation that my transfer is complete and that they have been activated (I had heard this previously), and that I need to contact so and so to start processing to go to war.
Well, that was quite a shocker. I was told by my unit that everything was in order with the transfer and it would be finished up a week or two ago. I was also a bit flummexed that they would call me at 5:10 pm on a Friday night. I almost felt like that was on purpose so that I would have no time to react.
When I got home I called my Battalion XO (2nd in command to the Battalion Commander) who happens to work full time for the Guard and asked him about it. Fortunately he assured me that, as he put it: "you belong to us. If they want a Lieutenant, I'll give them one. But they can't have you." This was quite a compliment, and we're currently trying to get things straightened out with Iowa and the transfer, but the bottom line is, I'm not going to war (I put it that way simply because they do not at this time know their final destination) with the Iowa unit.
A final note on the guard thing, just cause I want to share. I have also been told that I am next in line to take command of the Co B Detachment (part of our battalion). I've been informed that this position is somewhat of a Hooah position, reserved for rising stars. Apparently I've given them a positive impression of myself in the 4 months I've been drilling with them.
Ok, on to Portland. (unfortunately, the boring part)
Having caught my breath and gotten my bags packed, I head off to Portland on Sat. am. The flight went find and I checked into a very nice hotel in downtown Portland, but by the time I had gotten to my room, I wasn't feeling so hot. In fact I had the chills.
I ended up spending the whole weekend locked up in my room being sick. My fever broke Sat. night, however I'm still suffering from a head cold that I can't seem to shake.
I did however get to watch a war protest that marched the streets of Portland and wound right by my window. There were many, many people (easily over 1000, hard to guess total) and some creative signs. My favorite as Lesbians Against Bush In Afghanistan (LABIA), or something like that. Regardless of ones personal belief's about the war, it warms my heart to be part of the government that protects the publics rights to express their opinions.
On Sunday I intended to do that St. Paddy's day run that John had been so kind to point me to. I was really disappointed that I was sick and could barely breathe. Obviously running would not be the best plan. Luckily for me, that since I couldn't go the race, they brought the race to me!
Yep, once again, the festivities were right below my window! I spent the morning watching the runners from the window, silently cheering them one. I was on my cell phone with my wife and we had a lot of laughs as I described the crazy costumes that I saw running by.
Well, I guess this wraps up my story. I returned to the Twin cities on Tues night, took wed and today off of work trying to recover. I'm starting to feel more normal, but I haven't run in over a week and it's starting to bum me.
I hope I haven't bored ya all!
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16451
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 11:26 Post subject:
Well dang RL, what a rough time. No puke and no emergency room, I don't know if we can count your time as sick days Good luck on the guard promotion! Glad you're stayin' stateside.
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runswithscissors
Member
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 8797
Location: In a badger state of mind
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 11:26 Post subject:
Great report, RL! Just sorry to hear you were sick. Being ill on a trip has to be one of the worst things EVAH!
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 11:31 Post subject:
Yeah, it sucks you were sick, Portland is a great city!!! Maybe next time....although at least you had some entertainment. Fingers crossed for you on the hooahh.....sounds like that'll be quite an achievement!! Let us know when it comes through.
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airehead
Oompa Loofah
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Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 18788
Location: Between here and eternity...
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 11:40 Post subject:
Sorry you felt so crummy!
Good luck on the command position! Hooah!
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 11:42 Post subject:
LABIA is classic
And a rising star...awesome. See what riff raff does for your resume 
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16218
Location: unknown zone
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 14:33 Post subject:
what a disappointment after all the planning to go to Portland and get sick...
Good luck with the promo though.....
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shelflifers
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Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Posts: 18633
Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: 03/21/03 - 14:38 Post subject:
Bet it was fun watching the race from your window! And kudos to you for not, out of your envious rage, dumping hot wax down upon them... 
yeah, and it does stink that you were sick so you couldn't take Portland in...what hotel did you stay at? Was it near the 'Square'?
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rubberlegs
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Posted: 03/22/03 - 17:30 Post subject:
| shelflifers wrote: | Bet it was fun watching the race from your window! And kudos to you for not, out of your envious rage, dumping hot wax down upon them...
yeah, and it does stink that you were sick so you couldn't take Portland in...what hotel did you stay at? Was it near the 'Square'? |
I stayed at the Benson. A very very nice hotel that I couldn't have afforded myself, but has a very reasonable convention rate, $105 per night. I have no idea if this is near the square, as I don't know what/where the square is.
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