Life on the Night Shift

I have been on the night shift for 8 months now and it has been very difficult to get use to. It's crazy to think that I still haven't been able to adjust. Airport Operations at Denver International Airport (DIA) is a 24 hour operation. Our shift bids are based on seniority. Since I am still "new" I will most likely be on night shift until the Army tells Joe and I where we will live next. So here is a little glimpse of my life on the night shift! I work Wednesday - Saturday from 8:00pm - 6:00pm.

2:00pm 

My alarm clock goes off.... I try to work out first thing in the morning (my morning). I usually hit snooze. 

2:05pm

I get up, look at the yoga schedule for the day and see what class I can take. I like to take the 2:30pm -3:30pm class. I frantically put on my yoga clothes, brush my hair and teeth and go to class. If I miss that class, I either  a) watch TV and fall asleep again b) go for a run or c) clean the house and then take a nap after.  

4:00pm

On a perfect day, I would take a shower and do my hair at this point. But most days, I just take the shower. Then I straighten up the house because Joe comes home around 6:00pm. 

5:00pm

I make dinner. While dinner cooks I get dressed for work and just "relax"

5:55pm 

Joe comes home and I have dinner made for him. It has been a recent goal of mine to cook more. I try to cook 5-6 times a week. So far so good! We sit down together and eat. 

6:15pm

I frantically get up and finish getting ready for work. 

6:30pm

I leave for work. Yup... that's right, Joe and I only see each other for 35 minutes on a good day when I work. A lot of the time, I won't see him at all. 

7:45pm

I arrive in my work parking lot. I drive an hour and fifteen minutes to work. I do it so that I can have a job in aviation.

7:53pm

I clock in. I am scheduled to work at 8:00pm and I like to arrive a little bit early.

10:00pm

The swing shift goes home and the airport is now my responsibility (well mine and the small group of us lucky people who get to work at night) This is when things really starts to pick up. Most of the departments go home at this time so a whole lot of things that normally don't fall until airport operations gets dropped on us. Airport paging and customer service phone line happen to be 2 of the things that keep us busy.  Some joke that OPS stands for other peoples S#!T. 

10:15pm-01:30am 

This tends to be our really busy time, for some reason this is when all of our emergencies happen. This is when people need medics, people lose kids, people lose items, people call our customer service line to blame me for their flight being cancelled.... on a side note, the airport is never responsible for a cancelled flight or you getting bumped. We can not give you free hotels. It is the airlines responsibility....rant ended. 

01:30am-03:00am

This is when all of the crazies call. Like mothers of 23 year old sons, who are cold in the terminal and need a blanket. Or people that just want to talk and keep call to just talk. 

03:00am - 05:30am 

This is the time I like best on midnight shift. It is nice and quite. But sometimes, this time seems to drag. 

05:30am - 05:59am 

Ah finally, time to get ready to leave.... or at least at least it should be. This is when people(my coworkers) decide that they need ME to help them do all of their morning tasks. Like close runways for inspections or issue a NOTAM (an online airfield notice to pilots). 

05:59am - 06:05am

My morning relief finally arrives and I get to go home!! Well kind of, I first have to make the hour and 15 minute drive home. 

07:20am

I'm home! The drive is long and I am tired, but I made it. 

08:00am 

I'm in bed and hopefully asleep by this time. 

And there you have it my day in a nut shell. 

Have you ever worked on the night shift?

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Airport Ops

I have officially been employed by the City and County of Denver for a little less then 2 months! I am so excited to let you all know that I am signed off of training! The training for my airport operations job is 2 weeks of classroom training followed by a minimum of 6 weeks on the job training. Out of the 3 people that I started with, I am the first person to finish my training!! I am so happy to be done and I can't wait to see what else Denver International Airport has for me to learn.

What is airport ops? We are the team of people that run the airport. We respond to medical, security incidents, and anything that has to do with the day to day or long term operation of the airport.

Here are a few pictures of my amazingly, fun job! I know aviation is not everyones cup of tea, but I hope you enjoy! All the pictures were taken with my lovely Canon Rebel T3. I am trying to figure out how to work it. :)

These photos are just a glimpse of a day in the life of an airport ops person! I am so lucky and blessed to have a significant other in the military and do what I love! I hope you have a fantastic Sunday!

What is your dream job?

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Working Out and Work - H54F

I have had a pretty good week full of working out and work. My two favorite things! I always love posting these weekly recaps, they remind me that my life isn't that boring (well maybe it would be boring if you didn't like your job or like to work out). 

1. This past Saturday, I got up nice and early to tackle a 6 mile run. Although 6 miles doesn't seem like a long run to some people, it was a big achievement for me. I am training for a marathon and didn't let the 28 degree weather be a factor for me. I bundled up and hit the road. I am slightly worried about running in the snow. Anyone have any cold weather running tips for me?

2. I love my job! There is nothing better then seeing a 787 taxi by only a few feet away from you, while drinking a pumpkin spice latte! It really is starting to feel like fall here! Driving around the airport is awesome, maybe it's because I love aviation or maybe because I am a nerd, but I am so happy I get paid to do something I love. 

3. This week I went to the incline on Sunday morning with Mal and then again on Thursday morning! I felt so defeated (and out of shape) on Sunday that I needed to go again on Thursday. I went alone on Thursday and was a bit nervous that I wouldn't be motivated enough to do it alone, but I beat my previous time and didn't feel so out of shape! I am going to try my best to keep this a weekly tradition, in hopes that I will acclimate to the elevation quicker and that it will help with my running. p.s. Mallory and Dan win fit couple of the year. They are both so inspiring and I am happy to call them my friends! 

4. I spent most of time off this weekend (My weekend is Tuesday - Thursday) studying for work. My job has a minimum of 6 weeks on the job training program and I can finally see the end. I am scheduled to get signed off this Monday!! I can't wait, but I am also slightly nervous. 

5. I took a little break yesterday from studying and I went shopping. I may have gone a little bit overboard with the new nail polishes, but you can never have too many....right? Plus, at $4 a bottle I couldn't pass up the great deal. I am loving the way that I store my nail polishes, I got the idea from Pinterest and I have been storing all kinds of things in really cute glass jars! 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

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This week I am linking up with

High Five for Friday & Five on Friday

Things I am loving about Colorado

I have been in Colorado for over 30 days now and I am really enjoying it. Here are a few things that I am currently loving about Colorado:

• I am loving the mountains. It's so nice to look out my window and see Pikes Peek or go from a run and have trees all around. I am so blessed to live in such an amazing place. 
  
  
  
• I am loving driving in less traffic. Living in Los Angeles was great, but the traffic was horrible. It is amazing how much traffic can affect your mood. Last weekend I went back home and realized that traffic gives me so much stress. It is so nice to come to Colorado and have less traffic. I drive 70 miles to work and I don't mind the hour drive because I am actually  moving. 

• I am loving my new friends. It is so nice to move some where and have friends instantly. That is kind of what happened to me here in Colorado. I had my Blogging friends Mal and Kaitlyn. Plus, I had a few other friends in the area. Some through mutual friends and family. Mal has been my go to friend her in Colorado, we have had many dinner dates, watched a movie, and just hung out. I am sure we will continue to be great friends. Kaitlyn has been amazing, she was my resource on Colorado before I even got here. Once I did get here, she invited me over to meet some of her friends. 
  
  
  
• I am loving my new job! I had been stressing about not working once I moved out here for about 6 months. Joe assured me that everything would be ok if I didn't have a job but I need to work for my sanity. I love working, it is part of who I am. I received the call almost 2 months ago and within a few weeks, I was moving to Colorado. Denver International has been amazing. I have learned so much about airport ops and my co-workers couldn't be any nicer. I am also loving my 3 day weekends! Working only 4 days a week is awesome. 
  

I am excited to explore Colorado even more, once Joe gets back in November. This will be our first home together and I can't wait to make a ton of memories and share some of them along the way. 

Do you know of anything fun we should do in Colorado?

What do you love about where you live?

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Sunday Social - Fear, Dreams, and Reality

This Sunday, I am linking up with A Complete Waste of Makeup for her Sunday Social! 

1. What is something you’ve always wanted to do but are afraid of?
Run a marathon. I have ran a 1/2 Marathon and will be running one in 2 weeks, but the thought of doing that race then, doing it again (26.2 miles) is frighting. But, Joe and I will be running our first full marathon  Jan 12, 2014. If I am going to do it, I am so happy that Joe will be by  my side. 


2. Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is an interesting question, if we are able to stay in Colorado for 5  years  it would be working to be an AOM (Airport Operations Manager), living in Colorado, and hopefully I have started a family. But, realistically I have no idea where we will be in 5 years. The Army is a funny  thing, you never know when they might say you have to move. If the Army decides that Colorado is not in my future, then I still hope Joe and I will have a family of our own and I can find a job in aviation wherever we might be. 

This is me as an AOM ;)

3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2013?
This one is so easy!! I CAN NOT wait for Joe to come home. He is currently deployed and this has been the hardest thing that I have had to deal with as far as relationships go. It's so easy to forget the little things like seeing your significant other everyday. I can't wait until he is safely home. 

4. What are your hopes for your blog?
I write for my, Joe, my family and friends, and my readers. I hope that I will continue to be active in documenting my journey and that writers block won't visit me too often. I hope that I can share my life experiences with people and help them, be it small or large. 

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city?
Nope, as I said above the Army gets to decided that one for us. Sometimes I wish that we could just buy a house and I could focus on my family and my career, but it's kind of growing on me that we will have  many adventures to come. 

6. What is your morning routine?
My morning routine has changed a bit. Now, I wake up at 5, take a shower, get ready for work, leave my house by 6:30 to get to work by 8:00. Yes, my drive is an hour and fifteen minutes. It's tough, but I love my job and am so happy that I was able to find a job in my field where Joe is stationed. It makes this Army thing a little bit more enjoyable. 

Do you have a  5 year plan?

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I'm so thankful it's Friday!

This week has been so hectic. I'm still trying to get adjusted to life in Colorado, I've been struggling with the deployment, and I have started work at my new job!

1. Last Saturday Kaitlyn was kind enough to have Mal and I over for a BBQ and to watch some football (all though not much football watching had happened.) it was so nice to be able to meet other military families. Also, it's amazing how we all have so much in common. I'm happy that I have been able to meet these lovely bloggers in real life! 

2. It was my first day of work. I'm am officially a Denver International Airport Operations Team Member! I'm so blessed to be able to find a job in my industry and near Joe. 

3. On Wednesday I went to my first City of Denver company picnic. I meet the Blue Bear, meet a bunch of co-workers, eat free food, and watch some planes land. 

4. I have been exploring the airport all week with training and I got to ride in one of our firetrucks. 

5. It's finally Friday, this week has been very tough. We are finally less then 100 days until Joe comes home, but this week it feels like he is never going to come home. I have been feeling extra lonely for some reason. It also doesn't help that this new schedule is messing with our communication schedule. I have been very spoiled and I get to talk to him at least 2 times a day for as long as I need to. But now, I'm lucky if I talk to him for 5 mins a day. Even though its been very tough, I'm very happy that Joe has been super supportive through all of this. I know that we are making the best decision for us. Last night I was able to Skype him for 30 mins and it reminded me that I have an amazing man by my side and he makes me so happy. So I woke up this morning happy as can be. 

Have a great weekend! 

What's for Lunch? - Food Truck Addition

As my days here in LA begin the dwindle I want to take advantage of what is here. So today, instead of sitting at my desk for lunch I went for a walk to go to eat at the food trucks! I'm not talking about your average food trucks, here in LA we have food trucks for every type of food you can imagine.

Even though I try to my best to eat healthy, I'm a foodie at heart!! I love trying new things and food trucks give me that opportunity.

Today I had a two sliders, one Thai Pork Belly slider and another Thai Sweet and Spicy  slider with a side of curry fries. Everything was AMAZING! The fries were from one of my favorite trucks and the sliders where from a new truck. I'm so lucky to have such great food just a short walk away from my office. 

This great food truck experience makes me want to go one last time to Food Truck Friday!! It's where over 40 trucks meet near my house! I think a food truck review is on order ;) 

Have you ever had food from a gourmet food truck? 

What's your favorite food truck food? 

 

 

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