So I just found out yesterday that Customs (sorry, Customs and Border Protection) now requires applicants to take a physical agility test before they get hired. It involves the following: kneeling on one knee for two minutes while you hold your hands out in front of you in the shape of a gun (you know, hands clasped together with your index finger pointing out), lifting a fifty pound box a set number of times and, with cadence played on an audio tape to set the pace, five minutes of aerobic step exercises on a twelve inch high step. I laugh not because this test looks like a joke (although it does) but because I can think of quite a few people who I work with who would not be able to pass it.

Also I've been giving a lot of thought to what I want to do when I get back from my overseas detail. I've decided that, although Customs has been really good to me, the idea of x-raying shipping containers and reviewing shipping bills for the rest of my career doesn't really appeal to me (and this is about as good as it gets as far as assignments go back home at my port). And even though the detail I'm on now put's me in a really good position for a headquarters job in D.C. the thought of placating to upper managment types who have absolutly no idea what actually happens in Customs (at least this has been my impression from my day to day dealings with them here) doesn't sound like fun either. Simply put, or at least what I'll be telling to oral board panel members when asked why I want to leave Customs, I don't feel like I'm really living up the potential I know I can achieve elsewhere. So when I get back I will be applying to local PD's, applying to investigator gigs with other fed agencies and possibly (still a maybe) Border Patrol. I think it will just be a matter of appyling to any of the above that open up and just going with the first one to hire me. I still have another six months out here before I'm back home and you all know I can change my mind more then a zookeeper steps in animal dung. I don't know, maybe it's the ADD, but I'm bored already.

One of the great things about being TDY is the Per Diem. This is money that you get every day for meals and other incidental expenses. Whatever you don't spend you pocket. And usually the amount they give you for food is more then enough so you'll usually make a couple of bucks anytime you go TDY. I get paid, after exchange, about fifty pounds a day to spend on lunch and dinner (free breakfast). Another cool thing about being TDY is that your lodging is also paid for too. So, whatever expenses you have are your own bills from back home. Short story long, I've made a few bucks here already.

Today I balanced my checkbook and paid some bills. Now with what I've saved so far, I've paid off half of my debt. Well, today I paid off the rest. After today, I am now debt free!!! That means my credit cards, laptop and computer back home have all been paid off. The only thing left is my car which looks like I might pay off as well while I'm out here. So, needless to say, I'm pretty stoked right now. Now lets see how long I can stay this way. =)

Yesterday Philly Girl and I decided to head up to London to see Garden State.  It was great to see it on the big screen one more time but London was the only place closest to us that was playing it.  That meant spending $50 on a train ticket to see a movie that would cost $16 to get into (prices after conversion from pounds).  I did have one minor complaint though.  After Redman (as the bellhop) said one of my favorite lines from the movie ("Who here just saw some titties?  Alright, now lets calm down then!") I was the only person in the theater laughing.  I have two theories for this.  One is that the first time I saw it was in a theater  packed with college kids who could relate most of the movie or Two it was a British thing. 

Before the movie we visited the London Aquarium which was so-so and afterwards we went to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner.  And I got to say, after living in a small town where your dining choices are somewhat limited, it was really nice to visit an efficient, large-portion providing american style resturaunt. 

Work is still work.  Not much to say about a job where you review shipping bills all day.  I am looking forward to Xmas in paris though.  And thank God for bit torrent downloads.  I don't know what I would be doing if I couldn't download tv shows from back home.  =)