As Bushie's World Turns (The Update Thread)

[Joe Biden 2020]

I also just realized I could fax from my home computer and scanner, so I just sent him my app via fax!!

[Joe Biden 2020]

Would you look at that... Through all the commitments I have already secured, I have my trip pretty well paid for already.  In fact, I have over $3,200 at my disposal if I need it.  The airfare is $1500, the trip itself is $850, spending money/visa money is $200, passport is $135.  All together that is $2685.  The deposit is $250, so that brings the balance down to $2435.  The passport is $135, so balance is now $2300.  My grandmother will give me $300 at the beginning of December and the beginning of January, so balance is now $1700.  I will contribute $200 in December, January, February, and March, so that's now $900.  I have secured donations from my brother and his wife for Christmas and my missionary friends from China also for Christmas, probably $100 each.  The balance is now $700.  My grandmother will give me another $300 at the beginning of February to bring it down to $400.  I will contribute my own spending/visa money, so that's now $200.  That leaves my mother and dad only having to contribute $200.  That's not even including if my church can help me out some.

Um... $150 for spending money?

Ah... ha... when it comes to spending money always over estimate.

It may be more than that, but I've got extra money available should I need it!

[Joe Biden 2020]

He did receive the application this morning and is reviewing it.  The next three days I'm going to pour over the budget quite a bit and look at the website more and get more ideas of what to do.  I'm about to show the website to my mother this evening for the first time and let her look at it.

I do want to thank the forum, for the most part, you have been very receptive of this idea and I haven't heard any scathing criticisms of this adventure.  Even the negativity I have received hasn't been mean or nasty and I have pretty much just laughed it off.  I think this is the first adventure I've taken in the past two or three years that the forum as a collective group actually approves of.

[Joe Biden 2020]

There were really no further developments today, nor will there be the rest of the weekend because of Thanksgiving.  However, I did show the Maisha website to my mother last night (I'm spending 3 nights with them), and she was impressed by what she saw.  She said it will certainly be different for me, but she thinks it will be good for me to go out there and experience a whole new culture.  I have 113 days until I leave, which is about 3 months and 3 weeks.

[Joe Biden 2020]

BUMP...

There is a Kenya update that i forgot about when I updated Wednesday Night.  This is also a work update combined into one.

One of my coworkers is considering my offer of a schedule swap with me effective Saturday, December 31, 2011, taking my 4/10 schedule (6:00-17:00 Saturday-Tuesday) and me taking his 9:45-18:45 M-F schedule.

What this schedule would do for me is two-fold.  (1) It would give me my Sundays back and allow me to worship at church every week like I long to do.  (2) It would also allow me to take fewer hours of leave when I go to Kenya.  The trip is Friday, March 16 - Sunday, March 25, 2012.  Under my current schedule, I would have to take minimum 60 hours, probably 70 hours because of jet lag recovery on Monday, March 26, 2012.  By switching to a regular Monday-Friday work week, I would only have to take minimum 48 hours possibly 56 hours with the same jet lag recovery.  That would give me more leave for the remainder of 2012, especially if I encounter icy roads in January, February, March or December.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just filled out the passport application and will turn it in along with the appropriate fees and get the passport photo taken this coming Wednesday, November 30, 2011!!

[Joe Biden 2020]

BUMP...

There is a Kenya update that i forgot about when I updated Wednesday Night.  This is also a work update combined into one.

One of my coworkers is considering my offer of a schedule swap with me effective Saturday, December 31, 2011, taking my 4/10 schedule (6:00-17:00 Saturday-Tuesday) and me taking his 9:45-18:45 M-F schedule.

What this schedule would do for me is two-fold.  (1) It would give me my Sundays back and allow me to worship at church every week like I long to do.  (2) It would also allow me to take fewer hours of leave when I go to Kenya.  The trip is Friday, March 16 - Sunday, March 25, 2012.  Under my current schedule, I would have to take minimum 60 hours, probably 70 hours because of jet lag recovery on Monday, March 26, 2012.  By switching to a regular Monday-Friday work week, I would only have to take minimum 48 hours possibly 56 hours with the same jet lag recovery.  That would give me more leave for the remainder of 2012, especially if I encounter icy roads in January, February, March or December.

Haha, the update is back baby.  Honestly though, you CANNOT miss work for some snow my man and no motel stays either.   Good luck in the planning of your trip.  

If there is a motel stay to be had, it will be because my employer would put me up there so I can be closer to work.

And, yes, the update has returned by proxy.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I wouldn't  expect nor ask for a motel stay, Bushie.  I also wouldn't express any trepidation about driving in the weather to your co-workers or bosses.  It is a phobia that is best expressed to the forum if at all. 

From my experience, any weakness is typically used against you in the workplace. So I wouldnt even use a jet lag rest day excuse for that additional day- just say you are getting back that day.

I definitely don't mention either scenario around the workplace.  I'm trying my darndest to get on permanent in January, and I'm not going to let anything ruin it.  January happens to be my supervisor's projection of when to get me on permanent.  I don't know if that's early January, mid January, or late January.

[Joe Biden 2020]

If there is a motel stay to be had, it will be because my employer would put me up there so I can be closer to work.

Do employers really do that? It seems like it would cost more than whatever they gain from your working that day.

I know quite a few around here who do that.  I've heard the motel Dell uses is a Holiday Inn about 1.5 miles away down the same road.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I wouldn't  expect nor ask for a motel stay, Bushie.  I also wouldn't express any trepidation about driving in the weather to your co-workers or bosses.  It is a phobia that is best expressed to the forum if at all. 

From my experience, any weakness is typically used against you in the workplace. So I wouldnt even use a jet lag rest day excuse for that additional day- just say you are getting back that day.

I definitely don't mention either scenario around the workplace.  I'm trying my darndest to get on permanent in January, and I'm not going to let anything ruin it.  January happens to be my supervisor's projection of when to get me on permanent.  I don't know if that's early January, mid January, or late January.

Cool man and good luck.  What are your rules for asking time off?  I personally wouldnt ask for the time off until you have to and you have a permanent role.

I did go ahead and ask for the time off because it is our spring break week and he only allows 1 agent off per day, so I had to get my dibs in early.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm having so much fun looking at possible flight paths going to and from Nairobi. Interesting cities showing up such as

Memphis, Tennessee;
Atlanta, Georgia;
Detroit, Michigan;
Chicago, Illinois;
Newark, New Jersey;
Dallas, Texas;
Detroit, Michigan;
Los Angeles, California;
London, England;
Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Istanbul, Turkey;
Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Frankfurt, Germany;
Zurich, Switzerland;
Brussels, Belgium;
even Addis Ababa, Ethiopia showed up.

Some extremely long flights and layovers await. Up to 16 hour flights (Dubai to Dallas) and up to 12 hour layovers.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It is being planned by an organizer.  They will book the flights the second week of January.  In fact, I'm going to talk to the trip organizer tomorrow in his office and officially put down my deposit.

I am still a temp, but I have been told that I will be on permanent before February 1.  He's just waiting on one thing right now, and that may not come in until late December or January.  Once he does that he will submit the req order to open up my position, but I will be on permament by February 1.  I've already told my supervisor about the trip and he is okay with it.

I'm changing my schedule at the first of January to a Monday-Friday schedule so I can take fewer hours off.  I would only be taking 56 hours with that schedule as opposed to 70 hours with the schedule I have now.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I went up to the church office and talked to the trip organizer this morning for about 5 minutes and put down $300.  I also applied for my passport in Downtown Oklahoma City.

I now have $1200 left to put in toward my airfare within the next 5 1/2 weeks by Saturday, January 7, 2012.

[Joe Biden 2020]

How will this affect your love life? Please fill us in on all details.

Since I don't have a girlfriend right now, this won't affect it at all.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I went up to the church office and talked to the trip organizer this morning for about 5 minutes and put down $300.  I also applied for my passport in Downtown Oklahoma City.

I now have $1200 left to put in toward my airfare within the next 5 1/2 weeks by Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Do you live far from the passport office?  Why go out of your way to apply for something you can do through the mail?  I had to go in person once but my flight was in two days.

Am I misunderstanding you or are you really paying for this trip in cash.? Seems rather inconvenient/archaic.

I only live 7 miles from the passport office, so it wasn't too bad of a trip.

We're not paying just in cash. There will be other methods of donation by different people.  Cash/Check will be the most common, I imagine, but there is a website I have directed my family and friends to make tax-deductible donations toward my trip.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Suze Orman while obnoxious I have to agree with her DENIED DENIED DENIED!!!!!  Bushie, you have to help yourself before you help others.  Do you have a sizable savings account?  A 401(k) or Roth IRA?  Dude, seriously this is PAINFUL to see.

If other people are chipping in, it's really not that much money.

Correct, Xahar.  Through the commitments I have already received, I pretty much
have my trip paid for except for maybe the $200-$250 spending money/visa money, and that will be quickly covered, as well.  All of this is with minimal investments from myself.

Flyers, I understand where you're coming from, and if it weren't for these financial commitments from friends and family, I wouldn't even think about going.  I would probably just stick with my original March plan and go visit my niece in Florida.

I was confused- I thought you went to like the US state departments passport office, but they dont even have a regional office in OKC.  I just recoiled because I remember waiting in a 4 hour line.   That is why I just print out my application and mail in my pics now.

Thanks for explaining.  I'm just so used to putting down a c.c. these days for everything.

Hopefully, the organizers can get you a good flight with a short layover.

Yeah, I just went to the Downtown Oklahoma City Post Office and was only there for 30 minutes as I had printed out the application and filled it out from home before hand.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just had a nice contribution to my account.  My friends from college who are missionaries to China and are home in Enid, Oklahoma for 5 months have put $250 in my account.  With my deposit, I am now at $550 already in my account.  I am $2000 away from having my trip completely paid for and have that much, if not more, in commitments!

[Joe Biden 2020]

A little update.

My fundraising is off to a wonderful start! As of yesterday morning, I had $550 in my trip account.  By last night, I had $800.  By tomorrow night, I will jump to $1800.  By the end of this week, I will be sitting at $2100 raised.  That will leave only $500 left for the trip plus my 2 shots at the end of February.  That will include $250 spending/visa money.  I think I'm the fastest fund raiser in the group!

[Joe Biden 2020]

Wait, this is 12 pages now? Is it the new Update thread?

Welcome to Update Redux!!  Eventually, I may update things other than just Kenya.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just crossed underneath 100 days until the day I leave for Kenya begins.  I've already got $1800 in the bank for my trip and I've got another $600 coming within the next 4 weeks, bringing me up to $2400.  That will leave me with just spending money and shot money, which may be a grand total of $300 remaining.  The good news is, I have that $300 coming in February.

In other news, if you've been following facebook over the past three weeks, I've been on a mission to lose weight.  I had lost a total of 13 pounds at my best, and I've been hovering between 10 and 13 pounds lost for pretty much the past week.  As of this morning, I am sitting at 11 1/2 pounds down.  It would have been at least 12 1/2 pounds this morning, but I had an Oreo Cookie and Milk snack last night.

What I'm doing, though, to lose weight is when I get a hamburger, I'm leaving off the cheese, leaving off the fries, and either get a Diet Dr. Pepper or return home and get a Coke Zero.  I've switched primarily to Coke Zero since it has no calories.  I have maybe one regular Coke or Dr. Pepper every 3 or 4 days.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It would have been at least 12 1/2 pounds this morning, but I had an Oreo Cookie and Milk snack last night.

What I'm doing, though, to lose weight is when I get a hamburger, I'm leaving off the cheese, leaving off the fries, and either get a Diet Dr. Pepper or return home and get a Coke Zero.  I've switched primarily to Coke Zero since it has no calories.  I have maybe one regular Coke or Dr. Pepper every 3 or 4 days.

Dude, skipping the cheese isn't really going to make a ton of difference when you're still having a hamburger.  Stop eating burgers generally, and IF you're going to indulge/reward yourself...go all out.  But don't justify eating bad food because you've made it slightly less bad.

Start cooking for yourself. 

A hamburger without the cheese and the fries just turns into a glorified sandwich.

I don't eat those as much as I did and I do have dinner at home most nights. I maybe get a hamburger such as that every three or four days.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bush, I read a bit more and appears you haven't left yet, or perhaps are still in Kenya.  My only advice is that you should sit in front of the fan for 5-10 minutes after showering.  This is a 'universal male practice' in the tropics, and circumvents the problem of ringworm or jock-itch to which the dweller in humid climes is so prone (and in particular, if I may say so, a fat bastard like yourself).

Haha, I'll make sure to do that.  FYI, I don't go to Kenya until March 16.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bush, I read a bit more and appears you haven't left yet, or perhaps are still in Kenya.  My only advice is that you should sit in front of the fan for 5-10 minutes after showering.  This is a 'universal male practice' in the tropics, and circumvents the problem of ringworm or jock-itch to which the dweller in humid climes is so prone (and in particular, if I may say so, a fat bastard like yourself).

Haha, I'll make sure to do that.  FYI, I don't go to Kenya until March 16.

Sterling fellow!  I wish you all the best. 

Thanks, opie!

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm sitting at 98 days until Kenya and amongst my trip mates who have not raised as much money as I have so far are already starting to feel the trip get closer and closer.  The air fare money ($1500) is due by Saturday, January 7, 2012.  I have already raised $1800, so my air fare is taken care of and I'm well on my way for the last $1100 which includes the actual cost of the trip, the spending money, and the visa money.  All of that is due by the first week of March.  The rest of the group is already starting to feel the time crunch.  I'm not feeling it as much, since I am 3/4 of the way done in fundraising.

Personally, I'm going to take the rest of December to enjoy Christmas and New Years and then the first week of January, I am going to start looking over the list of what I need to pack and take an inventory of what I do and do not have and then start buying what I don't have.  They recommend really trying to pack as early as March 1 to give us plenty of time to figure out what works best and what doesn't.  I can keep in mind that they do have laundry service at the mission center where we will be staying, so I don't have to take as many clothes which will save room in my suitcase.

[Joe Biden 2020]

14 weeks from right now, I will probably be on the plane doing some pond hopping headed to some airport in Europe, most likely Amsterdam, Brussels, Zurich, Istanbul, or possibly London-Heathrow.  I will likely leave the Oklahoma City airport around 11:00 or 11:30 Friday morning, March 16.  I'll likely fly into either Washington-Reagan or Dulles, Chicago, Dallas, or Newark for my American layover. The European layover will be in the cities I mentioned above.  I should return to the Oklahoma City airport around 8:30 or so Sunday night, March 25.