Bye

Well, I can't add photos for some reason, but I'll be back when I find a new computer and update the posting with some pictures.
Yesterday I took off from the Burlington Airport. Nancy, Ian, Cavan, Linda and Big Skip came to see me off. Big Skip and Linda have been great at helping me pack and get ready for this next adventure. I can honestly say that I didn't cry, but after reading the good bye notes from the O'Brien family, I did get a little sad. Ian wanted to see me off, so after waving good bye to me as I entered the gangway, everyone headed up to the visitors tower to wave to the plane during take off. I was very luck to have a window seat that looked out over the terminal and as the wheels left the ground, I could see the hands of my friends and family waving. I waved back, but I am sure that my tiny hand in the 12" window was impossible to pickup.

I thought some of the people on my flight from Chicago to Denver looked like "Ice People", but it wasn't until waiting for the shuttle that I finally introduced myself to them. I already have met a ton of great people and can't wait to meet the rest. After an hour or two wait, the shuttle picked us up and brought us to the hotel. I have to say, this is a great hotel! After getting settled in, I joined a few of my new friends at a Mongolian BBQ for dinner.
This morning I woke up, ate breakfast with my new friends and then headed over to RPSC headquarters. After signing in and receiving an arm band, I got to visit the finance person. I have to say, she is my new best friend. Stephanie gave me $440 in cold hard cash. This money is suppose to be fore meals while in Denver (dinner only), hotel in Christ Church, and any other meals while in NZ. I also found out that if my flight to the ice is boomeranged, I get another $200 a day in NZ. Any funds left over from travel are mine for the keeping. How great is this.
Orientation was pretty basic. You know, company mission, safety, harassment, other policies... One of the interesting things was that if you bring muddy boots into NZ, you could get fined $600 and your stuff confiscated. We also learned that someone from RPSC passing through customs yesterday in NZ was detained after they found "Adult" material in her luggage. The great thing is that the Raytheon Travel rep said if we have any items of that nature to visit the post office and mail it down. I don't know if anyone else gets a kick out of that, but I thought it was a funny story. In a little while, I'll be headed to dinner with a bunch of people and going to bed early so I will be rested for tomorrows departure to NZ.