prepheckt

Note before reading....there is really no point to this story besides the fact I'm tired of filing paperwork, and I'm bored...now on to the ramble. So there I was...of course....I have to get up extra early to go run with my squadron before work...so I show up just after sunrise...which is pretty because it's reflecting off the ocean as I drive in to work so as a result I am partly mollified to the early hour so I bust out my sunglasses and take off my glasses, (I really need to get contacts...just haven't gotten around to it yet) and it's announced that we're running on the beach....a moment of indecision ensues....which is made worse by the presence of sand crabs...which blend into the sand fairly well and because I can't see real well, I might step on one....well I decide to run with sunglasses, which is a good thing because he sun reflects quite brightly off the sand...(and in so doing, saved me from going blind) so we start running, and I learned one thing very very quickly....running on sand sucks...I now have mad respect for anyone who does that on a consistent basis. So I in my infinite cunning and (truth be told laziness) decide to run in the surf....a very cute blonde joins me...for some reason the the theme from Chariots of Fire starts running through my head....I have no idea why. The second important thing I learned is that running through the surf means you're going to get wet (in addition to sweating like crazy because of the ungodly high humidity). It wasn't all bad, because the girl running with me was getting wet too. On another note, as I was running, I kept looking out at the fuzzy horizon, and I can understand the force (if you will) that has called men and women out to sea since ancient times, and the desire to see what is over the next horizon (at least in the short term, I'm sure it gets tedious after awhile). I also started seeing parts of Master and Commander in my head too...not sure why... "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Also for many American ones. The Art of War is required reading at both our Army (West Point) and Air Force Academies. I'm not sure about Annapolis. This is true, I read Art of War freshman year at the AFA in my Military Strategic Studies class. I'm almost positive it's required at Annapolis too. If it isn't, I'd be surprised. "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

I agree with Sunny....what was the lady waiting for a papal edict or something? If she didn't want it "cut yet" she can keep it away or put a note on it. It's not like you can read minds or something. Was it good though? That's the real question.

Yea speakth sooth pixie...but is a cool dog just the same.

Are we doing a climbing thing again this year? Just wondering. Not much climbing in Florida d'oh! "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

High: Living in Panama City, near the beach Low: The freakin' humidity! "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

I was at the dz this past weekend, and the FAA came around, so of course, everyone was a paragon of virtue....but they started checking reserve repack cards? How common is this? I've never even heard of this happening...Anyone? "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

On a related note, always and I mean always wear hearing protection when going to a rock concert. I went to see Hoobastank over the summer...I couldn't hear anything for two days....which kinda didn't help me when I got pulled over that night because the police officer kept having to yell really loud to overcome the ringing in my ears though I got off with a warning.

Yes, I also am fond of both varieties of Life cereal...I actually have a box of that at home as well.....

It shall be so....is there anything else? Maybe some dog buscuits for Az?

So there I was....walking through Wal-mart, (I had to get some bread and eggs) when the urge for Fruity Pebbles struck me as I was walking through the cereal aisle....big mistake. So I start buying cereal like no other, I ended up with every cereal listed above plus a large box of Honeycomb in addition of the two large boxes of Kix I already have sitting at home. So...what's everyone's favorite cereal? "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Will do! Hell they've put up with me (as well as the rest of the denizens of Eloy) for the last three years, it was the least that I could do. Have they consumed all the food or is there some left? ....This could happen...what would pixie like? Assorted chocolates? Hummus? Chai?

I did, but I killed it (three rabbits, which we named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) with a stick. I was in survival school. It was either kill them or starve....rabbit tastes good. "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Each high risk activity has a set of questions and "rules" to do it safely...for example, the skydiving brief has equipment safety, turns, (which I'm going to rewrite, cause they they have no idea as to what they are talking about) and situational awareness...etc. Nice try, but no, it is Air Force related though. You are right, I didn't get a BASE one, because one has yet to be written. Yes...yes it is.

I'd thought I'd give an update (like anyone cares) So there I was...driving from Eloy, AZ to Stoneville, NC...after saying goodbye to B^2, and revealing a surprise for Airspeed, I left at 7:15 AM Eloy time and arrived in NC at 5:30 AM two days later. I spent a week with a friend of mine. The first thing I noted about NC is the fact that it was so green. The second was the humidity. I also thought it was nice to be able to walk barefoot without ending up in the hospital as I would have in Arizona. Also along the way, I lost my government credit card somewhere in Little Rock, AK.....oops... Considering that is what I was using to pay for gas and hotels that wasn't good...so I got a few extra days to get a new one. Last night in NC, I don't really remember much because my friend Mike took me out...I remember playing foosball, drunk dialing people, and then heaving my guts out somewhere along Hwy 68...I think....after recovering the next day, I finally show up in Panama City on the 29th of July, it's a nice day, so I get put up in a hotel for 10 days to find a place. I also go take care so some uniform stuff so I can sign in. At this point it's also raining and me without .Taking the advice of a lieutenant, I go to my squadron to get some patches for my uniform, unfortunately, I don't have an umbrella, so I have my commanding officer see me wander in a soaked t-shirt and shorts. Good thing I got a haircut befoe I went in there. Fast forward a couple of weeks....after a frantic search for an apartment, I find one, which is good and bad because apparently I have to got for training in Alabama for 6 weeks so I have to pay rent for a place that I'll barely see. (I still don't have any furniture yet either) Also, I as came out of the base library, I find out we might to evacuate because of Hurricane Bonnie....so I have no idea what I'm doing. What is also doubly bad, is that I live next to a harbor....which I hadn't realized...I was a little overwhelmed by everything..but my situational awareness is not the best at this point. By this point I've learned two things about driving in PC, the minimum safe speed is 15-20 MPH faster then posted speed limit, and if you switch into the opposing lane, you have to drive like James Bond. A little crazy, but fun...but I digress. I'm told to go home and wait for "a call"...which never came. The local paper said "Hurricane Bonnie does drip tease", which is true enough, because I looked outside my window it looked fine. I live on the other side of PC, so it's a thirty minute commute to the base. Then I find out we have squadron PT every Thursday...WTF over? I didn't join the miltary to exercise. I don't expect to end up on the front lines of battle someday, I expect to gain enough proficiency with Microsoft Office to defend my country from my cubicle, if they really want to train me, they should have me learn Javascript (if you can tell me where I paraphrased that from I'll buy you a jump ticket) I finally got put somewhere to work, essentially I file paperwork for a week till I leave. So I'm addressed as "LT" or "lieutenant" which translates roughly as "hey FNG, or dumbass" which is essentially true...oh well, everyone has to pay their dues. I do in two to three hours what takes everyone else up to a week. So I get bored very very quickly just sitting around reading waiting for something to do. A bored 2nd lieutenant is almost as bad as a bored skydiver. My "boss"(I don't really have one) says I'm not allowed to get into any shenaigans, evil or otherwise. Essentially I go work when I feel like it and then leave when there is nothing to do......or just take a really long lunch break.. One thing I seem to have a problem with is having people who are old enough to be my parents call me sir and salute me, especially because I was taught to address my elders (anyone over 25) with sir or ma'am. It still freaks me out a little. Ever since arriving here, I seem to be reading fiction dealing with the ocean and sharks, which might explain why I have been hesitant to go swimming in the ocean. Also I've been reading alternate history. Guns of the South is a great book, (so far) (Up until now, I've been exploring PC and the beach....I found some good sushi restaurants). To keep myself busy, I've been going to the gym....and on the weekends I've made it out to Skydive Tallahassee (which is a great dropzone btw, despite the two hour drive) The FAA showed up and spot inspected reserve repack cards, has anyone had that happen before? But in order to go skydiving or any "high-risk activity" I had to get briefed for that activity. So I got briefed for all of them, with the exception of auto racing...so I am allowed to ride a bronco should I feel the need. So as a result, I'm the crazy LT. So far, everything is going well.

"Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Prepheckt ( I have to come home, otherwise I'll get disowned)

Moving to Florida....living on the beach "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Well this has been an experience. After graduation from the Academy (I gave the President a high five, which was cool) I moved to Eloy on the 6 June to live out my dream that I've had since I started skydiving, which was to live on a dropzone with no worries after graduation. It has been totally kickass. In order to save money, I moved into the bunkhouse (which is free). I have been jumping, climbing, talking with the people here and taking trips around the country. I've climbed in Calfornia and seen it from the sky. I will be going to North Carolina very soon to visit a friend. Now with my impending departure next week to Florida looming before me, (the humidity there is going to kill me). I realize I really am going to miss this place. I'm going to miss the people (B^2, Airspeed, Greg Gasson, Airgord, NWS01, Mujie, MyOwnWay, among others) I'm going to miss the sight of a desert sunrise (which I still have yet to get up and see). I'm going to miss the sun setting over the mountains, as the twilight makes the sky seem as it was on fire, during the day, the sky so bright, it is almost white; the feel of warm desert wind on my face, the sky at night with stars shining so brightly, it makes the the night only seems darker and the perfect stillness that accompanies it. Many a night I'd go up to the beacon tower and just sit and think and listen to music (which is a luxury I never had the time for at school) or walk around the grounds. Sometimes I'd go in the pool and immerse myself in the water and float...alone....one perfect moment after another almost without end. I'm going to miss the smell of the dust of the desert, and the warmth of the desert sun, and the sight of desert thunderstrorm clouds being lit up with flashes from lightning, the feel of warm desert rain as it pours from the heavens. I'm going to miss my family, who I've just gotten to know again, after being away for so long. I realize my newphews and nieces are growing up faster then I ever thought possible. Before I know it, they'll have lives of their own. I realize I am moving away from the only home I've ever known. I now must become part of the world that I have only yet glimpsed, and am scared, but excited at the same time. I will test whether I have the skills necessary to survive, and whether I learned the right lessons from school as well as life. Does it really matter more whether I can do calculus or be a friend to someone and brighten their day in whatever way I can? What have I really learned at the Academy. Do I have what it takes to lead people my age or men and women who have been in the Air Force almost as long as I've been alive? Either way, I hope I can be worthy of those under my command. We'll see. Will I be able to apply those lessons? Will I grow into an adult my mom can be proud of? I have no idea. All I know is I will be giving it my best shot. "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

I'll also be there with a Skyvan from Eloy....anyone want to jump?

No kidding, one of my instructors this year had us read an article from Playboy for class (Presidential Power and Miltary Leadership)....seriously... "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Warranty? I bought the 4 year warranty from Besty Buy for my TRV-33, they said I could pretty much do what you did and get a new one. "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

Saturn's density is lower then that of water, so if it were placed in a bathtub, it would float. "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

You're right, but there is one major difference then what you discribe....you and everyone else gets to separate your professional life from your personal life. In other words, you don't live in your office..I do....I'll make it through....somehow, it would be a waste to quit now, not to mention the $350,000 it cost to get me this far... "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes

That's part of the problem, the weather has been absolutely beautiful, and everyone has cabin fever....I do have money, but I can't spend it, graduation is going to be expensive. I have to buy tickets to our graduation banquet for my family and friends, stuff like that. "Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes