Another day...

Well I woke up this morning in Spain. I woke up confused. I forgot which day it was...I forgot why I was in Spain...it was a weird feeling. After the shower, and watching some news; it hit me really hard--I am here to train in military airlift operations so that my country's leaders can use me to win elections, bring stability to far reaching regions, and deliver lethal forces to areas that are threatening to our freedoms. Or at least those seem to be the reasons for today. I guess that could always change...we have to be prepared for anything our government decides is legal and worthy of military force. Anyways...as noble and heroic as it sounds to be "Guardians of Freedom" it is a little depressing to constantly see military be used as pawns in a political election, and all the devastation and evilness that exists in the world. Why can't we all just get along???? Some days it is just hard to wear the uniform; have no opinion; just follow orders. The protesters don't help, the elections don't motivate, and the media is far from encouraging. Oh well, I will continue my training and see where I end up...I have nothing else to do anyways.

My first C-130 flight...

Yesturday I accomplished my first C-130 flight mission. It was a training mission with various lessons to accomplish for all aircrew members. I didn't know exactly what to expect since it was my first actual flight, and it was surprising to say the least. We started our flight a little behind schedule due to maintenance issues which grounded us for about 2 hours...and that was boring just sitting and waiting to takeoff. Once we were airborne, we were to join a formation in flight but found ourselves about to collide into another aircraft. To avoid the collision, the pilot immediately nose-dived into a sharp turn which made my stomach leave my body and my mind to wonder if my time on earth was about to end...needless to say since I am writing this, the pilot gained control and we continued our training mission. We continued practicing different operations, which I can not discuss in detail, but there was so much going on I couldn't keep track to what the heck we were doing; all I could here is the pilots, navigators, engineer, and towers talking about coordinations and countdowns to turn...I figured out fast when I would hear "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, turn"...that meant to "hold on!"...the turns are not easy, I got thrown a few times in the back.

My instructor told me I did good for my first time, but I know I did horrible. There is about seven different people talking on one interphone system, and it is hard to keep straight to what is expected of me in the back of the plane. There are numerous "checks" I am required to do to confirm aircraft status, but the crew moves so fast threw the checks I had difficulty keeping up. So, I need to study some more and help prepare for my second flight Monday. Although gliding across at 1,000 feet is very awesome, it is more work than I realized...and will require time for me to master the skill of aviation operations. Wish me luck for my next flight...I need it.

What the internet says I am...(politically)

You are a Social Liberal (63% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (38% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Study...it never ends

Its been awhile since I have written anything in this blog...I am so not committed to this!

Lately my life has been filled with many training requirements due to a life decision I made back in July of 2006. In July, I decided I would give the US Air Force six MORE years of my life to do a new job I am very excited to do. While I am still very excited to do it...I am a little bored with training. It was fun at first learning about the new job in Texas, learning water survival techniques in the ocean off of Florida, and then exploring the mountains in Washington and ending up as a "prisoner of war" only to be tortured for 44 hours straight...but it was an experience none-the-less. But now, training just seems boring...learning the details of the job, learning the technical aspects that require thinking, etc., etc. I just want to fly around the world...not work! Oh well--I knew this was part of it, it is my fault. Only a little over 3 months left here, and then I get to move on to actually working...no more training, yahoo!

Well, I need to get another cup of coffee, and get back to my studies. I have another test tomorrow! Until next time...

FEAR

I am afraid of being average.
I am afraid of being bored.
I am afraid of not knowing myself.
I am afraid of hurting someone.
I am afraid of over committing myself.
I am afraid of disappointing those I love.
I am afraid of poisonous snakes, spiders, and cats.
I am afraid of Coca Cola.
I am afraid of an angry Marine.
I am afraid of burning alive.
I am afraid of being devoured by one of Gods wild animals.
I am afraid of believing in marriage.
I am afraid of crushed dreams.
I am afraid of nuclear war.
I am afraid of civil war.
I am afraid of civilization.
I am afraid of being stuck in PMEL. (My current job)
I am afraid of a guy named Duffy.
I am afraid of the influence of alcohol.
I am afraid of knocking up a chick.
I am afraid of ignorance.
I am afraid of innocence.
I am afraid of closed minds.
I am afraid of extremist.
I am afraid of cancer.
I am afraid of loosing my sight, hearing, smell, taste, and/or touch.
I am afraid of hell.
I am afraid of variations of heaven…how many virgins do we really get?
I am afraid of slavery.
I am afraid of will power.
I am afraid of freedom.
I am afraid of dictatorship.
I am afraid of global warming.
I am afraid of Hillary Clinton.
I am afraid of choking.
I am afraid of gang members with guns.
I am afraid of my truck breaking down in the middle of the desert.

Sometimes I am just afraid to go to sleep…which is why I am writing a list of my fears to clear my head…ok, I will try and sleep now…it’s just that I am still afraid and not sure why???? Maybe it isn’t fear of sleeping, rather restlessness and boredom…which is one of my fears. Yes, exactly…that is it!!! I AM BORED!!!!!!! Oh well, tomorrow will be “funner.”

9/11 History, Remembrance, Reflection...

Commentary by Maj Gen Bedke of the Air Force Flight Test Center:

Men and Women of the Air Force Flight Test Center—

The Even Bigger Picture—A View of our World from the Perspective of the Near Past

Five years ago, it was early September, 2001. I ask you to remember that time as you were living it. Life was good…we were at peace…Ina and I already had our tickets for the big trip to Istanbul, our tour through Turkey and the cruise among the islands of Greece, all to start on 20 September.

There were no warning signs that things were about to change…at least, not unless you counted the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen 11 months earlier…or the simultaneous attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998…or the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996…or the car bomb attack on U. S. servicemen in Riyadh in 1996…or the explosion in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in 1993…or any of a number of things that I could mention that would take us back to “the beginning.”

Ah, perspective. That first week in September, was the beginning still ahead of us? Or had it occurred in the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993? Or was it the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979? Or was it…the Crusades, as some would have it? Or was it the rise of the original Islamic Caliphate? Or was it…well, you get the idea. Ask a dozen intelligent people, and you’ll get two dozen answers to that question. But in each of those answers lies a different perspective about when it started, why it started, who is to blame, and most important, what we should do from this point forward.

For what it’s worth, here’s my thought: We’re entering tough times. We’d better not succumb to either of two evils.

We’d better not pretend this will be easy, that we can’t make mistakes, or that this is a war we are guaranteed by God to win. Turns out, the other side is thinking the same way.

But we’d also better not decide that life is so bleak that we have no hope of winning, and we’d better cut our losses and end this thing while we’re behind. Because the other side sees this as Total War: Assimilation or annihilation—those are the choices they’re offering.

So, remember the first week of September…but don’t dwell on it. Because there is no going back—not for you, not for your family, not for your children’s children. This is the world you’re in…so what are you going to do with it?

Road Map vs Compass

So...its been awhile since my last posting. I apologize to all my dedicated readers; all two of you. I needed to take a break from life and write down a few thoughts to help clear my head, it is in overload capacity at this very moment.

After experiencing food poison Wednesday and being laid up for 48 hours, I still managed to run the "3 mile fun run" in the Mojave Desert for a military fundraiser on Friday--and about died after that. I also attended my classes this week that just started up for the summer, while experiencing my fever, back aches, and other body irritating experiences that come along with being sick; it was interesting. But the sickness, work and school isn't really what is making me stop to clear my head--it is the fact that most people I have run into this week have all asked the same question, what are you going to do when you get out of the military? I say I'm still figuring that part out, and they just look at me like that is a bad answer, and then go on with how difficult life is and I need a plan...thanks for the encouragement asses!

So do I really need a plan? I like to think not. Yeah, it would be nice if we all knew what our plan was for the future, in fact, it would also be nice to know the exact date I die so I can plan more effectively for retirement, but something tells me no one really knows that, or at least no one human that is. I can't predict the future, and I can't really land a job 8 months out from my separation from the military. But what I can do, is know who I am, what I stand for, and my life interests I plan to pursue--and when opportunities come around and compliment "who I am" then I will have the ability to make a decision. Is that difficult for people to accept? I don't see the problem with that, but some people still think I need at least a 5 year strategic plan detailing every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day, of every week, of every month, of every year! No, no, no. My 5 year strategic plan is this: "Lord, if it is your will, please let me be alive in 5 years...thanks...Amen."

Time is a ticking, and I have 253 days left on my enlistment...hmmmm, what to do next? Not too sure yet, but I am sure the Good Lord will let me know when it is time for me to take my next step. A few things are in the work, and we will see which opportunities are opened up for me to take. Will it be door number 1, number 2, or mysterious door number 3????? I might just keep the 50 dollar cash prize and pass up the doors ;)