Day 11 & 12: Lesson Learned

It was finally Friday of Week Two. The week had flown by, with relative ease. I should have figured something was going to happen.

We finished our communications training, boarded a bus and headed for City Hall. It was time to get our official city badges. After we waited for all 32 of us to get our badges, we sat on the front steps, waiting for the bus. As I looked at 11th street, I glanced down at The Times Free Press Building. It was hard to believe that less than a month ago, I was working in that building. As we sat there, I also glanced at the parking deck in front of us. That was the parking lot that (both times) I paid to park in before my written tests. It made me realize that I really have come a long way.

We boarded the bus and headed back to the training center. Just in time for PT.....

Since it was Friday, we got in our lines and did our exercises. After a brief introduction on how to breathe properly we headed out for our mile run. We formed our battalion lines and took off. Around the 1/2 mile mark, a group of 7 folks started pulling away from the rest of the group. Once this happened, my running teammate and I realized that we were all alone. The front group was setting a rapid pace, but the folks behind us were so far behind, that we would have had to stop for them to catch up. We opted to catch up with the front group....wrong choice.

Our training instructor was not pleased and told the 9 of us, that we would be paying for lack of teamwork on Monday.

Over the weekend my parents surprised me with a quick visit. It was nice to see them and to have them at Kolsten's Birthday Party.

As Monday rolled around, my main concern was the test. I wanted to make sure I was ready. And I was....I missed one question.

After the test, came our punishment for Friday's scandal. All 9 of us had to do jumping jacks, and we got a nice piece of jewelry to go along with it. I think we did around 250 or so....

We started the next chapter on building construction, washed the USR gear and trucks, and started pt. This time I remembered to hold form and stay with the group.

Lesson learned...Never leave your teammate behind...and I have a nozzle around my neck to help me remember....