How to do a Gov't Move...

1. Pick a Date. 4 weeks ago, I decided to move in 6 weeks - around early to mid December. I waited 4 weeks to receive PCS (permanent change of station) orders which basically says the gov't has money to pay for my move. I received my PCS orders on 23 November - the day I left for a week to spend Thanksgiving in FL. Tomorrow is 1 December. I think my move will occur in mid December. Maybe.

2. Just Walk-In and Make Your Arrangements. Upon receiving PCS orders, I drove 45 minutes through AM rush hour traffic on the Beltway to an Army base with a JPPSO (joint personnel property shipping office).

To drive into the Army base, you need (among other things) a drivers license and your vehicle registration. Of course, my vehicle registration was at home (since I just registered my car over the summer and never bothered to put the document in my car).

After telling me there was no way to drive my vehicle on to the base, the employee at the Visitor center looked oddly at me when I asked if I could just walk-on the base. Did she think I was going to drive 90 minutes (round trip) just to pick up a piece of paper when I thought I would be onsite for a total of 2 hours?

So I walked. 15 minutes in the crisp fall morning - it was a pleasant walk although I felt very idiotic as vehicles zoomed pass me (as they had all the appropriate paper work). There were no sidewalks until you were well inside the boundaries of the base. Stopped for a coffee then walked another 5 minutes to the JPPSO office.

I had called ahead last week and told that it was a "walk in office." At reception, the woman gave me a form that took me one minute to fill out. I gave it to her, along with 4 copies of my PCS orders. She said I needed 5 copies. I told her that someone I had spoke to on the phone said I only needed 4 copies. She backed off of that requirement (I'm sure she realized there was a photocopier somewhere). She asked me if I had ever done a government move before. I said no. She said to come back at 1400 the next day for a briefing.

I didnt' realize it would be "walk-in service" and then "walk-out to return another day." But there was no room for protest. Nothing else could be done today. I walked 10 minutes back to my car (found a short cut) and drove back into DC.

To be continued...

Unchanging Scenery

Some pics before my scenery changes.

The commuters.


The Building Museum looming over me as I emerge from the Judiciary Square Metro Station


F Street Sunsets - 20 second glimpses as I cross the street to descend into the blackhole of the Judiciary Square metro station.


Bethesda Metro Station - Walking up the escalators at night.

Good Fortune

This is the coolest fortune I've received in a long time.

My Small Corner of Temporary Serenity...

Before (Oct 2002)

This was right after I moved in. Notice the air mattress tucked in the corner of the photo and the curtains that are being held together by a document binder-clip.

During ( Nov 2004 - last week when the painters were here)

Notice the chaos.

After (Nov 2004 - Designed to Sell)

Notice the two-tone paint job, the absence of cardboard boxes, and that the bookcase next to the printer isn't overloaded with three-ring binders of financial papers, school papers, etcetera.

The condo will go on the market sometime this week. I have engaged in some draconian purging of possessions, given away hand-me-down furniture and done some serious cleaning. It doesn't feel like I've only been here for two-years. Actually I've only been here for about 18 months since I was gone for 5-6 months this year.

But there are negotiations in the works for the last unit in that lovely condo building in Portland, OR. Stay tuned.

Good Omens.

I normally don't even pay attention to these sorts of things but this election seems so different. I'm looking for any omen of things to come:

1 November 2004 - Washington Post:

The Redskins, with a late touchdown that might have given them the lead called back because of a motion penalty, lose to the Packers, 28-14.

Why is this important? Read on...

From 31 October 2004 - Washington Post:

First, watch the Redskins today. Ever since 1936, the year before the team moved to Washington, the last home game before the election has predicted the winner. If the Redskins win, so does the incumbent party in the White House; if not, not. This rule has held good for 17 straight elections.

First the Red-Sox win. Now the Redskins lose. Omens and superstitions. History will be made regardless of its consistency with omens and superstitions.

And lastly, an interactive electoral map that is somewhat useful and illuminating (for me as I don't watch much political news on TV). I can't believe that Oregon - my new home to be - is actually a "weak-Kerry" state. It's probably indicative of a rural/suburban/urban divide.