Journeyman Lineman Test!

I am SO excited to be writing this post so I apologize in advance for the excess use of exclamation points and smiley faces!! :)

To be able to sit for the journeyman test with mountain states you have to be a 7th step apprentice.  Brandon wasn't scheduled to turn 7th step until the end of June which means he wouldn't be able to test until August.  After he went to Aprils upgrade class he felt ready and wanted to test.  He emailed Don asking if he could test in April..as in 6 days away.  Don said he would look at his file and see if they were able to step him early.  They were not able to step him in time for April but they were for June! The countdown began until Friday June 13th! I knew it was friday the 13th immediately but I didn't tell Brandon....Tuesday before he tested he goes "I'm testing on Friday the 13th?!" haha I just laughed.  As Cayla pointed out, it was also a full moon so it balanced everything out.

He didn't want me to tell anyone he was testing, aside from Cayla (thank you!! I COULDN'T have made it through without you and Brandon knows this :) )  and obviously the guys in his class knew, which I completely understand. There is enough pressure as is, he didn't need the whole world knowing.  It was REALLY hard and I just wanted to shout it from the rooftops cause I was so excited!  It was a long few weeks, the days seemed to drag and I thought we would never get to single digits until test day.  Brandon practiced pole yard, did hookups on his whiteboard until the sharpie wore off from writing on it so much and always had a book in his lap.  I don't know how he remembered anything with Bashlyn climbing all over him.  We left the house a few times to give him some silence, going to the park or grocery shopping :)

Wednesday morning Brandon left to go to his hotel for studying and peace until the test.  It was a little weird sending him off alone.  Since we've been so far away from class for the last year, I usually always go with him to class or upgrade class so he doesn't have 4 hours of driving alone.   Watching him drive out of the park, I knew the next time I saw him, our lives would be totally changed! I talked to Brandon Thursday and he said he got the best nights sleep he has in well...10 months! LOL! Not gonna lie I was a little jealous! My time will come though, someday I'll get a full nights sleep :)

Friday morning Bashlyn and I did our best to sleep in, take our time packing and drag our feet as long as possible before we left for the hotel.  Brandon was able to get a late checkout so I just had to be there by 2 to pack up the room.  We left about 10 and made it to the hotel around noon.  We hung out in the hotel until 1:58.  I decided to go to JC  Pennys and look at everything in the store to distract me...yeah that took me a whole 22 minutes! Brandon was told by one of the instructors that if pole yard goes well, somedays they are all done by 1 and other days they are there until 6.  There were only 5 guys testing so Brandon and I thought they'd be done by 3 with so few guys testing.  I felt like I did ok stress wise (Cayla might disagree :P) until 3 came around and I hadn't heard from him.  I didn't have a lot to distract me or do because I wanted to be right next to class so as soon as Brandon called me I could see him within minutes! Bashlyn and I went to the park, subway, starbucks, washed my car, the gas station and just hung out in the car, face timed with my mom but time was just not moving.  By 3:30 I couldn't take it any longer and drove by class.  Brandon saw me drive by and called me.  He said they were just waiting on their tests to get graded and was hoping he'd know within the hour.  4:30 rolled around and still nothing.  At this point I was about to have a breakdown, Bashlyn was DONE being in the car and I couldn't keep her entertained anymore.  Tears of frustration, worry, pressure, nerves, excitement, they all started flowing.  Brandon called at 5:32 and said "Journeyman Lineman" ahhh I started crying and said  "I'll see you in 2 seconds!" I raced into the yard, jumping out of the car and giving him the biggest hug ever!!!
My biggest piece of advice to you linewives about to go through test day....Don't expect to hear from your man until 6 at night....it doesn't matter if there are 5 or 20 guys testing, it WILL be an all day thing.  Save yourself some of the heartache and stress and just know it will be all day.

After we got the great news he passed, we made our way to Arvada for pizza and drinks.  Chance was with Brandon in the afternoon while he was waiting for the test results, thank goodness since it took forever! We all went to Beau Jo's pizza and had delicious pizza, margaritas and beer.  It was the perfect night, the best way to celebrate and just chill after the day.  Thank you Chance for being such a big support, we can't wait to come see you while your home! Saturday Brandon and Chance were going to go Skydiving but the place he wanted to go in Denver was booked and the other place in the springs didn't answer their phone! I was bummed cause I know he really wanted to do that and it would have been so fun for him :(

I cannot even begin to express how proud I am of my husband.  I met him shortly after he finished Avista Line School and I watched him apply for numerous apprenticeships with utilities and the JATCs.  We drove all over the Northwest for orientations and interviews only for it to not turn into anything.  The Day he got the call for Mountain States was amazing cause we knew he was "in" now it was just a matter of putting in the time until Journeyman.  Well my love you put in the time and then some! During your apprenticeship you accrued 7,812 hours and 782 hot hours.  You have worked your ass off, with great crews and some not so great crews, just trying to get through the day to day.  You have excelled on every job and you are a hand guys would love to have on their crew.  You have made great friends and brothers throughout your apprenticeship and I am happy to have those friendships for the rest of our lives.

Today you went to work for the first time as a Journeyman Lineman.  At the end of this week we will be driving HOME to spend 3 weeks with our friends and family.  Cheering our friends on through ironman, catching up with everyone at your top out party, spending the 4th of July on the beautiful lake and watching one of our great friends get married.  We get to live LIFE with our friends and family, something we haven't been able to do in almost 3 years.  Bashlyn and I are so excited to have so much time with you! Then we will make the big drive down to Southern Cali and start our next adventure! I love you so much and I am so lucky to have you!