Happy 6th Anniversary you sexy beast! This photo I took the morning after I bought it. I had to catch a cab from Bangor WA to the Bremerton Ferry. take a ferry ride to Seattle. Then walk to the train station and then hop on a Amtrak to Portland. Dad came and picked me up at the station in Portland and drove me he 20 miles out to my hometown of Hillsboro. We went straight to the guys house and took a quick look around, test drive and paid the 1000 cash for Shipwrecked.
Drove it home a mile to my parents house and parked it on the street. My parents next door neighbor is a tow truck driver and said after had put the tires on that if the truck was still on the street by the time she got home she was going to tow it away. I don't know if she was joking but looking back on that now I would have punched her in the face. I have always liked her and her family but dang= that is illegal..
Anyway. You have watched the life struggle of getting this truck ready and running. I am still working on it but struggling for freedom.
Long story - I had another promotion interview yesterday. A panel of 4 Chief Warrant Officers (CWO 2, CWO3 and 2 CWO 4., 1 Commander (o-5) and our Command Master Chief (E-9).
I was first up for the interview again this year. I had gone through this last year and was feeling way more relaxed then than this year.
Wearing dress uniform, I report to the conference room and wait.
Called in, the officers introduce themselves.
There were many questions (I hate to be questioned- its just part of my personality profile and I despise too many questions.)
Two particular questions that I keep dwelling on are.
1. We see you are close to the promotion predictor from last year. What are your intentions regarding this. (Meaning am i willing to take any job if offered up because i am not actually scheduled for commission so if I get a call and a ultimatium-what would I do)
I answered "I am #21 on last years list for CWO but I am also #21 for the E8 list from this year- I am unable to make this decision right here and now because I do not know. The answer is not going to be made lightly." The CDR popped in cause he could hear the stress in my voice and answer for this. Said there was no right or wrong answer. I just reitterated that I cant make it right then and there. A lot needs to be decided.
The second question that I keep thinking about is "What have I done over the past year to make myself look like a better candidate for the board". My answer was absolutely frank. I looked right at them and said "NOTHING". "I have done nothing extra to make the review board see me in a different light." the board members had a shocked look and you could see they were like WTF! Why are you here then. I said- I am very involved with the Students, the command financial specialist program, an association president. I schedule the mentor program (partof my job) and I do it because it is what I do. I dont do anything for an advancement or promtion. I do it because it is just what I do.
That was the end of the interview at that point and I felt emotionally wrecked after it. I felt like I was making a huge mistake because of how I answered the questions.
I talked to my dad and my best friend and they agree I was honest, not rehearsed and genuine. If they dont like it then they can suck it. I have too many decisions to make on too many details that arent readily available.
I may even turn it all down and retire.
PS. I got through that whole interview and went back to my office and looked down at my feet. I had my left sock on inside out.
