Black and Yellow

Last October I went through a local Temp Agency (Premier Staffing) for short term employment. I requested short term, because Gustavo and I were planning on moving to Puerto Rico just a few short months later. The process moved very quickly and I was very impressed by my experience with a temp agency; definitely something I will do again if the need presents itself. They called me in to take some tests: typing, filling, Microsoft Excel and Word, and simple business math. That same day I interviewed with someone who told me it shouldn't take long to get placed since it was a very busy time for them. This was on a Friday.

The following Monday, I got an automated call from Premier asking me if I was interested in working for an international company in a factory atmosphere. The message also said that the position required someone who was open minded, was willing to try new things and able to get a fork truck certification. Well, I have never been someone to turn down a challenge, so I put my name in the hat to be eligible for this position...which was advertised at $10/hour.

About a month later I had my first day at Caterpillar in Little Rock - a plant that makes Motor Graders. The position that they first had me working in is not the one that I am in today. This is a start up facility so I was bouncing around a lot just trying to help out anyway I could and to do what they asked. Soon I fell into my job title as a Logistics Planning Technician. Basically I am responsible for taking the material numbers that the assemblers need in that plant, documenting it systematically so that it can move within the facility, and also finding the correct location and layout for the material to ensure efficiency and ease of access. I actually like the job - even with the earplugs, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and hard hat that I had to wear. I did not like reporting to work at 7am.

In February I was asked to apply for a position with Caterpillar and shortly thereafter they offered me a full time position through Caterpillar with a starting pay rate of $13.32 per hour and benefits. I had to complete the hiring process: health screening, background test, drug test. I was not worried about not passing any of those, but if there was one that I was worried I might fail - it definitely was not the health screening. But, a few days later I did get a call from the corporate nurse telling me that I was not immediately approved due to the nature and seriousness of my migraine headaches.

I can't explain to you how upsetting it was for me to get that news. I have been struggling with migraines since I was 5. Other than those headaches I consider myself an extremely healthy individual - I don't have any major diseases, sickness or cancers, I don't smoke, I rarely drink, and I work out regularly. However, this was the second time in the last few months that my migraines have held me back from being eligible for something - health insurance being the other thing. Maybe it was time to stop looking at myself as healthy but as someone who has serious side effects from headaches. I can't blame my future employers for thinking my migraines are dangerous. Without knowing myself and seeing that they cause blindness and numbness on occurrence...I wouldn't want me working around a factory floor either. Especially for a company that monitors safety so closely.

Anyways, I finally got a note from my neurologist clearing me for employment and had my first official day as a Caterpillar employee on March 8, 2011. The benefits through the company are amazing and I also get time and a half for overtime. Right now I am working a standard 45 hours a week with some Saturdays. It is hard for me to get up in the mornings, but when I think about the money and the people there...it is all worth it. Also, I am making more here than I did at Valdosta State University - which makes me happy all over again that I left there.

During the last few months at Caterpillar, I realized the opportunity that I have working for such a great company - and Gustavo and I started to fall in love with Little Rock. Surprising right? But its Arkansas. So we decided to stay here and see where this new career takes me. I am excited for the future, but it is still a little unknown which is not easy for me to handle. It will be hard to see Gustavo come and go every month to Puerto Rico, but having my own bump cap with my name on it will make the sting a little duller!

fotografia

When I got home from work this afternoon, there was a Fed Ex envelope in our mailbox! Initially I was very excited as it contained a CD with all the photos the professional photographer took of our ceremony, wedding and our little extra photo shoot in the city of Santo Domingo a few days before. The very first thing that I did when I got inside was sit down in front of the computer to scan through the 1500 pictures.

As I scanned through my heart began to sink with each passing photo. They just weren't what I had hoped they would be. As someone who dreams of one day being a photographer, I have a very specific idea of what a quality photograph looks like. And, I wasn't finding very many in those 1500. I kept looking for "that photo" that would one day line the wall of our first home, or be the thank you gift we give our parents...but it wasnt there. I was beginning to think that Gustavo and I just weren't photogenic enough, or maybe our wedding didn't provide the right atmosphere.

My friend Jessica is quitting Caterpillar to try her luck at photography. Sounds familiar right? Anyways I was talking with her about her opinion on handing CD's with unedited photos to her customers. She shed some light and also made me feel better that there is no possible way that the photographer could have edited 1500 photographs in the turnaround time necessary and expected for the wedding industry. I should trust that some of those blah photos where my Groom and I look fantastic can be turned into frame worthy.

I am concerned that it will be difficult to pick out the photos we want printed to complete our package without knowing what they will look like edited. Jessica suggested that we pick out a few, ask him to edit them, send them back, and then make a decision. Great Idea!! We will also be in the Dominican Republic in June so we can pick up the photos then.

And, that is where I have to give a little of advice. If you are shopping for photo packages...make sure you know exactly what you are getting in your package. I personally had my heart set on something that my photographer did not intend to give me. Ask really good questions to ensure you get what you want. Maybe it would have helped if my photographer didn't only speak Spanish and the packages weren't only written out in Spanish :)

Changes

It is interesting to see that I have had this blog since 2005. 2005! In 2005 I was living in Cape Girardeau and life was completely different...not only the name of this blog. Speaking of, the old name, Blonde Blueprints, went out the window with the opening of a new chapter in my life. Flying in Formation signifies a life that I have built and will continue to build with my husband, Gustavo, who is a military pilot. We are learning to live together, while still maintaining our individuality. Hence, Flying in Formation. See, I listen to the endless flying babble.

I always thought that having a blog with a military undertone was a little cliche, but it is who we are, it is who we are going to be, and it is who are kids will eventually be. I never dreamt of marrying a man in the military. In fact, I even said that I would never...but here I am living on Little Rock Air Force Base with the hum of C-130's keeping me up at night. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Speaking of husband, we had our second wedding on the 18th of February in the Dominican Republic. Everything was amazing. We arrived on Saturday and spent a few days at his family's home finishing up some wedding planning before heading to the hotel on Wednesday (the day our family from the States came in). We had a photo shoot during the week, which was eventful since there was no power in Santo Domingo during the time I had to get ready. Then on Thursday night the parties started, and so did the rain. Gustavo's family threw us a wonderful party at their home with great food, lots of beer, and live music. When the rain started everyone started dancing in the rain. Gustavo's cousin's wife, Sarah, said, "a wet bride is a fortunate bride." I could not have felt more fortunate that night after all the dancing in the rain I did.

Which leads me to something my sister told us during the ceremony: "It's not whether you can weather the storm together, its whether you can dance in the rain." The irony in her statement was beautiful since we had just done the exact thing the night before. Since the rain did not stop that next day we had to move the reception inside. I was very sad, but we still had the ceremony outside. But, everything was still wonderful. It was interesting to see all the things that I stressed over for month come together at the last moment, or not happen at all and nothing really mattered. It was all over in the blink of an eye. At midnight, we celebrated our 1 year anniversary!

Gustavo finished up his pilot training this week and will officially be working for the Puerto Rico Air National Guard as a pilot next month. We are going to try and live in Little Rock while he works out of PR. We are not sure how our lives are going to be in this routine, but it is worth a try. We like it here in Little Rock, I like my job, and we never imagined actually living in Puerto Rico. If the time apart gets too much for us then we can re-evaluate our life plan at that time. Until then, here's to being married (again), growing roots and growing together :)