Last Few Days in NJ

I've decided to blog my adventure in Flagstaff where I'll be attending Northern Arizona University for 4 months, studying in a Wilderness  First Responder Course and then a Park Ranger Training Program for the National Park Service. I've never blogged before, I'm sure I'll pick up ways to make it prettier as I go. The idea came from my friends and family who've always showed me their undying love and support, particularly in these past few weeks.  This is all for them.

Last Days in NJ:

Even though the Saturday before Christmas was one of the top 3 nights of my life thanks to all of the surprises and beautiful people I got to see, I’ll start this journey with my last week in NJ…or as I like to call it…the most frustrating week of my life!

Yay Christmas! Most wonderful time of the year? Maybe the most wonderful day of the year! The last good day of 2010; Christmas came near the tail end of a 10 day stretch at work that included staying after hours the day before Christmas Eve to chase an off leashed fox-like dog  around the park..stopping when she found her way to her owners car.  Considering I pursued her for a mile, and it was Christmas….and it was past my work time…I didn’t cite the frightened owner. Christmas Eve & Christmas Day came, both after long days of work but I got a fantastic double whammy present while at work from Laura…a surprise Laura/Indy visit and an iPOD TOUCH!  After work it was off to Bayville for a Ward family Christmas and it felt like it my birthday…sorry Jesus…as Jazmine Williams exclaimed “I can’t believe Jeff is still opening presents!”  Hey, when you’re going away for 4 months and you need actual survival gear, these things happen.

The next day was nothing short of dreadful.  It started out ok as I came in for my last scheduled late shift at Holmdel Park but by 10:15AM, Snowmagedon was on!  I think anybody from NJ would agree it was probably the worst snow storm they’d ever seen in the Garden State, but that didn’t matter…the park had to be open!  I can’t believe some idiots actually wanted to come in the park during that hell storm, not smart & totally irresponsible.  To add to the already nerve racking whiteout conditions, the ranger I’ve dubbed as Second Guess Sardoni (no 67 days into his Park System career) was arguing and questioning every safety measure I was trying to take to make sure we weren’t stranded at the park. I finally got SGS out of there and I wasn’t too far behind after cleaning my car.  Luckily, my hero and best friend Chris Rath lived about 5 minutes away from the park…on a normal day…this was no normal day.  

Considering I have yet to obtain my 4Runner and I’ve recently dubbed Holmdel, “Hilldell”, I was very nervous driving little Matrix to Rath’s..but made it there in about 20minutes…passing 2 cars that were stuck trying to get up the same hill I was traveling down. Ate some DiGornio (sp?), we sat on opposite ends of the couch playing Angry Birds on our Droids, and alternated turns playing Mario on Wii & NBA Jam on XBOX. 

Rath: What time you thinking about heading out tomorrow?

Me: IDK like 4:30

Rath: What time you have to be at work?

Me: 5.

Rath: (are you crazy stare) Yeah that’s not happening.

Boy was he right.  Outside at 330am shoveling snow that is nearly up to my 6’4” waist and I couldn’t move my car 3 feet after an hour of shoveling.  “Dude, you’re leaving anyway. You should just quit because there is no way you’re getting out of here today.”  Oh it was tempting, but I reached out to my boss to see if he could pick me up…thinking the roads would be better than this development.  Found out that nobody could get out and I was instructed to standby.  My boss ended up picking me up on Highway 34 later that day and when we got into the park, we found out that it was probably the first day in history that Holmdel Park wouldn’t be opening!  But that didn’t mean we didn’t have to kick snow removal into overdrive.  Two rangers slipped & fell in parking lots, one went to the hospital.  I got a plow truck stuck TWICE, snapped on the very man that interviewed me for this job, aaaannnnddddd lost my radio in a snow bank.  The other ranger who fell was posted in a truck at the front gate, turning back all of the eager beavers that actually thought they’d be able to get anywhere on a sled that day.  The ranger informs the parents that the park was closed for the day, they turn around, and a child in the back rolls down his window and yells “Fuck You” as they drive away…hahaha priceless.

I did do one of the coolest things I’d ever done that day. We needed to turn the parking lot lights on for the overnight crew to continue plowing but there were two problems in completing that task. 1.) The switch was in a fenced off construction area. 2.) There was no shoveled out walkway to the locked gate we didn’t have a key for to get to the switch.  So, as much of Park Rangering entails, I had to improvise.  I had my co-worker drive a bucket loader over to the fence and pick me up over the fence.  I was roof level when I plummeted into a snow bank.  We were dying laughing.  I got into the room, flipped the switch, and saw my loader driving away. “How you gonna get out?”  “I didn’t think that far ahead!, Meet me back where you dropped me.” I had my boy Simpson lowered the bucket and I grabbed the hooks on the outside of the bucket as he tried to lift me over the fence…there wasn’t enough clearance, I was able to pull my snow soaked 275lb body into bucket and enjoy the ride back down to earth. 

The day was ending, but all day long I complained about the puddles of snow gathering inside my boots. Rath’s lot hadn’t been touched so I was there another night.  Got dropped off and immediately said “Dude, I need a shower.”  The shower didn’t help.  As we watched Michael Turner nearly cost me one of my 3 fantasy football championships, I felt myself start to get colder and colder.  Before I knew it, I was wearing 2 thermals, two 2 sweatshirts, long john underwear, 2 pairs of sweatpants, a knit hat, and 3 blankets….and was still shivering and shaking!  “I think I’m gonna puke”.  Took a Dayquil and fell asleep right before midnight.  Woke up at 2am, sweating my ass off but still had uneasiness in my stomach, ran into the bathroom, knelt in front of the bowl and well….fill in the rest.  It was awful but I still had some fun with it, I took a picture of the mess as a receipt for what I was about to do…CALL OUT OF WORK ON A SNOW DAY!!!  That’s like one of the 10 Commandments I think.  After my business in the bathroom, the migraine came & I texted my boss to tell him the news.  As I did that, I looked outside the window & saw my car still could not be moved…at 2:30 in the morning!  Little did I know that this was kicking my most frustrating week ever into high gear.

I spent the next few hours in an almost helpless state on Rath’s couch, around noon I decided it was time to try to get home, since the plow guy finally came & Rath moved my car out of my spot. I couldn’t keep my head upright for more than a few minutes.  I was on my hands and knees trying to get dressed but would have to stop every once in a while for a lay down break.  I finally get on the road and I’m halfway home when Papa DuB calls me to inform me that the company that was carrying my car to Flagstaff was 86’n their 24 hour notice policy and implemented a 2 hour notice policy.  So already feeling like death, I had to rush home, and empty out my car.  I contacted the office for the company and they informed me that I was able to pack <100lbs of personal items below the window line of my hatchback, but I had to meet them in Princeton…about an hour away on a good day.  That wasn’t happening.  The driver made it to my neighborhood but couldn’t get on my street, so I drove out to meet him in a shopping center around the corner and I had to walk back home.  One thing crossed off my list.

I had one more day of work left which was supposed to be followed by a going away party at Sports Zone.  Super Ranger Scott Augun picked me up on his way to work, with all of my uniform pieces and a bag of clothes for the after party, but when we got there he stated, “I don’t know how you’re getting home.”  The dude is a known jokester but with the snow being the way it was and everybody having to work longer hours, I figured the party was scrapped. I spent the morning sanding the lots and access roads then monitored the 6 people on the Sled Hill.  It was time for break. At break, I discovered that I had my exit interview at headquarters in an hour and then they’d probably be sending me home for the day. My boss informed me that he was leaving early that day and offered to take me home…okay I guess there really isn’t a party.  I cleaned out my locker, threw all my stuff in a truck, had my exit interview, and turned in my badge and uniform.  While dressed in street clothes, I picked up 10 bags of de-icing salt for the park and returned to the park.  I was then informed that I could work the rest of the day but with only jeans and my “You’re not that bad, I’m just that awesome” t-shirt on, and the fact that my ride was leaving, I figured it was in my best interest to use the remaining 2 hours of personal time and head home at 12:30.  This may sound mean, but thank goodness a little kid got hurt on the Sled Hill.  My boss and the two rangers I was closest to were handling the first aid call, so I got to hang out in our break room until they returned. 

While waiting for my boss it suddenly dawned on me, I DON’T HAVE MY HOUSE KEY!  I took it off of my key ring when I gave my keys to the car shipper and never picked it back up.  Think quick. Call Katie, she works around the corner and has a key.  James was using her truck to take his kids down to NC since 1.) His car got buried by plow snow and the battery died and 2.) the kids’ flight was canceled due to snow.  GREAT! Now I’d get home and be stranded and I still wouldn’t have been able to say by to my boys who I considered brothers…okay maybe close cousins.  My boss offered to take me out to eat and then Augun would be able to take me home at 2:30, my original end working time.  That worked out, I was able to say bye to my boys who were going to talk to me in the days “before I left” (still no phone call), and got home.  I won’t explain to you how I got into my house but let’s just say I’m a lot more nimble than I look.

From that point on it was get ready for Flagstaff.  My room looked like it belonged on an episode of hoarders so I tried making headway there, then I got to chatting with my future landlord, Jane, and explained to her that I’d have to mail her money for the car but I should be there before it got there.  Immediately after talking with her I receive a phone call that the car would be delivered that night or the next day.  The journey that was supposed to take 5 days to complete was nearly over in 2.  Dude must’ve been speeding!  I panicked and tried to get a hold of Jane, I had no idea what to do but it looked like I would be wiring her some money, $700 in fact.  Needless to say it wasn’t the most comfortable situation I’d ever been in.  I contacted the car shipper dudes and informed them that I wouldn’t be in town until Sunday and there was no way I’d be able to give them the remaining balance in person.  Luckily there was a way to wire them money directly and I could cut out the very understanding and accommodating middle man.

 

The next day, I dropped my wonderful younger sister Maureen off at work, then headed to the bank to wire the trucking company the remaining balance.  I just pull into the parking lot when I get a call from Emmanuelle, the man handling my case, thanking me for sending the money and verifying that the car would be at Jane’s by 7o’clock that night. Confused and assuming daddy took care of it, I asked for an e-mail verifying that the funds had been received. “No problem, give me a half hour.” It’s been 3 days, still nothing.

I ran to the UPS Store and got boxes and I was determined to start packing.  The only problem was, I was up to my ears in dirty laundry due to my inability to take on working nights, finishing up Christmas shopping/wrapping, driving to different holiday parties, overcoming Mother Nature’s big F-U to NJ, and getting the sickest I remember ever being.  I packed, unpacked, and re-packed my 3 boxes for shipment, my carry-on, and huge duffle bag several times.  My progress was stopped by having to run out for a few errands, things left to pick up, picking Maureen back up from work, going to Walmart where only 2 registers were open for a line of 30 people, and getting home to work on more packing.  Packing took until the next day, New Year’s Eve, trying to plan your life for the next 4 months and squeezing your XXL everythings into boxes was a daunting task.  To make matters worse, I ran out of packing tape in the middle of it all and had to run to two stores to get it.  As I’m just about done packing, Jane calls and explains that I needed to call the truck driver because they couldn’t get into Flagstaff and my car wouldn’t arrive until the 4^th or 5^th.  1.) My Wilderness First Responder Course starts on the 4^th and it goes all day long.  2.) FUCK SNOW! 

It’s now just about 3 o’clock, I lug all of the boxes and some mail-in gift return boxes into the Equinox and head over to the UPS Store.  That same UPS store is in the very same Shop Rite parking lot that is getting mobbed by last minute New Year’s Eve party planners, but I drive by the store and see that all of the lights are and park the truck.  I wiggle the first box out of the back of the truck, walk up to the store front and see the metal cage that protects the registers has been shut.  Right in front of my eyes I see a sign.  “Store closes 3pm on New Year’s Eve. Closed New Year’s Day.”  ARE YOU F_CKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!  There’s a dude standing behind the counter just watching me struggle with the massive box as he tries not to make eye contact with me.  At this point I am emotionally and mentally drained. 

“I don’t even wanna go anymore.” I childishly explained to Laura who was getting set to see me that night for a New Year’s Eve party. I could mutter nothing else to her on the phone, I didn’t want to talk to or see anybody. I couldn’t help but wonder if all of these events were a sign that maybe I shouldn’t do this; but anybody who knows me knows…I don’t listen for Sh_t.  So I tried gaining control over the things I could control.  I had a lot of cleaning to do in my room, I made a big mess in our den while packing, I still had to finish packing my carry-on which included packing a medicine/toiletry bag, make out envelopes for Maureen to send me my mail, and I had to write out and mail fantasy football checks. (No I couldn’t win ALL of the cash prizes haha).

I was able to get enough done that I felt comfortable going out to Laura’s friend Dawn’s house for a New Year’s Eve party but we were so wiped out that we bailed before the ball dropped, made it to her house in time to watch it drop with her parents, and then fall asleep right after midnight. I was probably one of the happiest people in the world to see 2010 go, but then it came time for the really hard stuff…saying bye to Indy.

The next morning it was almost as if the most beautiful German Shepherd in the history of the world knew something was going on.  At one point she laid on the edge of Laura’s bed, I knelt on the floor in front of her and this is the exact conversation I had with her:

“Okay now Indy, daddy’s gotta go away for a little while.  There’s some things that he has to take care of .  When he comes back we’ll be that much closer to getting a house of our own, a new brother or sister for you to play with, and you can play with them in the back of my 4Runner…it’s ok the window goes down.  Now while I’m gone, I need you to watch over mommy and grandma.  Make sure they’re safe and be here for them when they’re sad.  Daddy loves you and he’s going to miss you so much.”

She initially let me hug her, it almost felt like she hugged me back but then she jumped right into the playful mode that makes me fall in love with her all over again with every time I see her “being a kid”.  I was trying to be sweet and emotional, she almost broke my nose and gave me a concussion hahaha. That crazy puppy that mommy used to think would bolt if she ever got out the front door has grown up so much. She walked with me out the front door, followed me to the car, and looked for any door to open to let her in.  She said bye to me then followed mommy back into the house. I miss her so badly and it’s only been 2 days.

That night I finished wrapping everything up. Maureen planned a spaghetti dinner and Katie, James, Brian, Elena, Rath, Lindsay, Lisa, and my god kids all stopped by to say bye to me. Rath left but we didn’t cry like we did going into our freshman year of college haha wussies. The siblings & The Others ate and then played a few games of Uno, one of which might possibly qualify for some sort of world record, and then it was time for the goodbyes.  It was emotional for everybody but everybody’s loving words were very encouraging. Laura passed out, Maureen was going to bed, and my brother-in-law Matt asked me one final time not to go and then said he was going to get up at 330 with us and say goodbye.  I took a few more minutes to finish my envelopes and packing the various electronic device chargers I had. When everyone was sleeping, I stayed up and stared at my walls, watched Laura sleep, and just wondered what I was getting myself into.  Leaving a full time job with benefits, leaving all of my friends and people I love, leaving my animals.  The thoughts of failure collided with my believing that I got this and that I’ve been through tougher situations than this before.  I got nervous because I have been slacking in getting ready physically in the last few days. I still had a resume to write.  I hope everything goes okay with the flight.  How will saying goodbye to Laura go? Hopefully she won’t come close to knocking me out like Indy did. Only I would leave NJ after this blizzard for the only part of Arizona that actually gets snow. Will I get a job after all of this? Where will I end up? Can I make it until then financially? Can I just relax and do what I do…handle my business?  That’s when it hit me, at 1AM the morning I’m flying out to Phoenix, I’m about to handle my business…and I drifted off to sleep…..