Bitter Effing End

Well, this part of school comes to an end. I am burned out, unmotivated, and left humbled. Turns out I have bitten off quite a bit and still not finished. I am convinced that I could spend a lifetime learning this radar and still not know it all. I fought this course to the bitter end and I must say that the exams were brutal. Yes, I did fine, but only with a whole lot of effing studying. Every bit and more of the certifications and licenses, independent study, and college courses I took were used in this course. If I hadn't had them, I would have been back in Indiana much sooner explaining to my boss why I failed this course. But I know that I have exactly 4 weeks to work with the system before shipping off to another course on an entirely different system. I think I'm gonna be busy.

Lucky for me, I enjoy the math of this next course so I should be able to get the concept easily enough. After that? Another course, more equipment. I just hope that my notes are good enough to get me by when I have a problem with this radar years down the road.

I know I mentioned it before, but I really do enjoy the diversity of America. I guess my time in the military really made me appreciate people from different parts of the country. If only I had time to live in all of those parts for just a few years, I bet I would have some adventures. Of course that still is an option.

Good thing they make good beer here, cause I don't know if I would have made it otherwise. Good nite!

Three Weeks

Let's see, where to start...been awhile... Gotta pretty good group of guys in my class. I love the diversity of it. We have people from all over the U.S. I'm telling ya, if you want an eye opener, work for the federal government and you quickly realize your little town is not the world. Most of us have military service in common. I'm a bit biased here, military service should be a prerequisite for this responsibility. Of course, we do have Air Force pukes who always seem to have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. But I guess even some of those guys are alright.

One irritating bit, as always, there are a few who rub you the wrong way. We have two far right christians in our group that are constantly voicing their distorted viewpoints. I really wish these people would go out and get the facts regarding the founding of this country(amongst other things). There is no mention of god or jesus or even the bible in the Constitution, so why do they persist in saying church and state should be together? The founders didn't want it, why change the law of the land? They don't know this. But, not all is lost. I brought this to their attention and they so far have shut their silly mouths. Hopefully they are pondering this and the other truths we have brought up. I doubt it, but one can only try.

I went out drinking with a couple of fellas from the New England area. I really like to listen to them talk. I wouldn't mind living in Massachusetts or Maine. I like the history of the place and the people.

I'm busy as hell in this course, you really have to pay attention. I'm glad for this, as there should be a standard we are all measured by. I usually have to take my work home with me. So far, my average in the course is 96.67%. I'm trying to keep it that way cause there is an instructor position opening up that sounds interesting enough. It all depends on how ambitious I am. It would include a promotion and a pay raise to almost a six figure income. Tempting as it is, I would have to move to Oklahoma and be bound here for 3 years. Of course, I would have to finish my work in Evansville first, but the selection process would give me enough time. This would provide a way to finish an engineering degree and then go somewhere else. Something to think about either way. Right now, I'm trying to keep up and just entertaining the idea.

The Wild Turkey

Two years ago I worked with some of the best people the United States has to offer. It doesn't feel like it. So for you guys and gals still pullin' hovers on and off the ice, wherever you are, I salute you with this bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed. You are greater people than I will ever be. I'm still working for you, just more behind the scenes. May your landings never exceed the speed of gravity, your autos always kick ass, and your beer always stay cold. Smooth tailwinds. I miss you guys. In the words of LZ, "Keep your head on a swivel".

AVT3

Fat, Dumb, and Gassy

I always hate the first few days of traveling. Seems like wherever I go, the first night I don't sleep well, the rest of the week I am adjusting to the local bacterial flora (i.e. gassy and nausea) and weather. I really like to travel and see new places, but this sux. Yes, yes, I know. Getting paid extra plus gettin paid on Uncle Sam's dime to sit in a class room or screw up a RADAR and let some instructor tell me how and why I screwed it up in the first place.
Of course, I have a little extra time on my hands, so the last few days I gave my body the extra punishment that I always wish i could. Well, for what? I have barely eaten anything all weekend and for anyone that has ever lifted weights you know that you have to eat like a fat man. If you don't, you get so effing hungry you start behaving like a crack whore who hasn't had it for a bit.
So I'm stuck in this nice apartment somewhere in OKC starving to death and having hallucinations about eating but not too much cause then I go and dry heave for a bit and try to keep some fluids down. It'll get better, I just have to fight through the first week. Anyone else got any bitches?
Other than that, it turns out I am not as smart as I thought I was when it comes to digital electronics. So I'm gonna take my fat, dumb, and gassy self and hit these books tonite anyway and hope I can focus enough to get through them.
The best part of this last week was getting a very nice pay raise courtesy of Uncle Sam for selling my soul to the government by accepting more workload.
I really enjoy what I do. I think that by travelling it makes me appreciate the real world. I love the diversity of people and mentality of those I get to interact with. It's something you don't get when stuck in southern Indiana for months on end. There's a wide world out there and I encourage everyone to see and live in it.

Cold

Alright people from southern Indiana and surrounding areas, if you have not lived north of Detroit, you cannot bitch at me for wearing shorts in this weather. So waah.

Radar School

Evidently 82% is a hundred. This is derived from the square root of the actual decimal equivalent divided by the tangent of 30 degrees azimuth minus the Doppler shift of an aircraft at a ground speed of 100 nm/hr (radar frequency is 2770 MHz) divided by k= -5.95 times the 3^rd harmonic of 350 Hz divided by 12,547,905.27 Kelvin times the radial velocity 86.60nmi/hr of said aircraft equals 1.00000001 or 100%. Thus, as a government employee, I am authorized to attend ASR-8 and then Mode S school in lovely OKC.

Yes, I am a nerd. Sometimes.

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2007

Thank-you, Resolutionists! Your breaking of your 2007 resolution to get back in shape from last years many trips to the donut shop or Wackdonalds is much appreciated. Now, I can almost work out in complete privacy without your dim-witted asses getting in my way. Perhaps next year you should spend all that money on a piece of exercise equipment for your home-only to sell it the following year in your annual garage sale!

XOXO,

The ugly guy in the bandanna and tanktop.

Driving

Evidently Louisville drivers don't appreciate it when you get in front of them to pass a slower semi-truck. They also don't seem to appreciate when you play an imaginary violin with an imaginary sad-sad song while they are hurling insults at you.

Long Time, No Post

Greetings my readers of 3(including myself). Not much going on here at home, but a bit at work. Gearing up for all you happy holiday travelers to ensure you get there and back safely. Don't thank me, your government thanks me every two weeks.
Here is a great link if you are not a hypersensitive religious puke with nothing to do but ponder your effing creation. Oh, and you might need a sense of humor.
In other news, I passed my 16 hour exam in just under 8 hours. Watch out DFB, you're on my 22/04 approach now, bitch. No whining either, you are being recorded.
I'd type more, but I have to go make a pilot.

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Sun Music

Have you ever heard the sun?

Veteran's Day

I start this Veteran's Day tomorrow with a heavy heart. Veteran's Day began after WWII to remember our fallen soldiers and veterans from the war. Now, it's about all vets, and some say not just those in the U.S.

One of our most recent soldier’s deaths made the news at CNN: Army Sergeant Willsun Mock, a 23 year old man from Kansas. I didn’t know this man, but he was obviously a patriot and a true American. Many might not agree with the Iraq war. Nevertheless, I will never quit supporting these brave men and women. Their value to this country is greater than anything many others including myself have ever given. Following are some quotes from this great warrior. The full article can be read here.

"I think not only me has changed, I think that everybody that was there, enemy, friendly, everybody walked away changed."

"Nobody wants to die out here even though the soldiers would for our country. Any of them would -- that's not a question."

"’It would break my heart to see one of my brothers in the military serving in a place like this,’ he said when asked why he would stay in the military. ‘I would much rather myself suffer than one of them, and they have kids to think about, and I'm a little young for that right now. And it's good serving with the men; it's good serving for this great nation.’”

"Every time we lose soldiers and we have our ceremonies here for the fallen comrades and they play the taps for those men -- that's probably the moments that will stay in my mind more than ever."

I stand in the shadow of them all. SGT Mock, and all of them over here and abroad, is a giant to the rest of us. There is nothing greater, and I am humbled everyday by their deeds and sacrifice. I can’t complain about my life, not ever, in the 28 years that I have been so lucky to have. Many of those from World War I to our current situation in Iraq, never got that much.

Remember our vets tomorrow. From the iron men, wooden ships, and cloth airplanes of World War II and before, to the rock-solid men and women now serving our great nation. Never forget them.

Semper Paratus,

A humbled sailor from the United States Coast Guard

Space Needle Pix

Some came out a little blurry cause I had to tweak the camera a bit to get anything good.

Jet-lag again

Made it home. Had some delay at O'Hare, but what can you expect. If things worked out the way you planned it, well, this wouldn't be life.

Travel tip of the year:

Sit down to pee while in flight.

AVT3

Space Needle

Well, I was going to upload some pix that I took while on top of the Space Needle, but I forgot the cable so this won't be as exciting. Did manage to celebrate Halloween-naked. Ok, j/k. Really, I am driving a pumpkin-mobile. I asked for a Sebring, was told I was getting one, then I got an orange chevy compact HHR. I think someone thought I was a pygmy. But, it's all good cause I'm too ugly to pick up chix and it was the week of Halloween.
I just completed a bit of PT on some poor excuse for exercise equipment. What can you expect? Most people are at the hotel happy hour sucking down free drinks. Oh well, make it a light week and I don't miss the eating all day long to catch up on protein loads. Sometimes you just have to be a fat, outta shape American.
It's absolutely beautiful out here and the weather ain't too bad either. Mt. Rainier is just over the horizon and although I don't have alot of time, It's still a great view. That's about it. School makes me realize I'm not as smart as I thought I am. I can keep up with the course, but I have a lot of work ahead of me. A lot. Such is life. Catch ya'll later.

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Jet-lag

Made it to Seattle. Got upgraded to first-class cause they didn't have any more seats. *sigh* It was horrible, lemme tell you. We flew over the Rockies which was pretty cool. Long flight, though. I'll post some pix as I get 'em.

My layover was in O'Hare. Luckily, J.P. went there too, so I got him to buy me some chow (He gets to see Unca Dubya over in D.C.). I like airports just cause of the diverse people you get to see. We definitely aren't all the typical Tri-Stater we sometimes think we are. I'm glad I travel like I do. I think if I didn't, I wouldn't appreciate all the different people and different backgrounds. I fear getting the tunnel vision that some other folks get cause they just don't realize who and what else is out there.

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Seattle

Woo hoo! A break from work. I get to go to Seattle this coming week. Ok, not necessarily a vacation, but at least they can't call me in!

Guardian

Well, Hollywood did their best to portray the CG. Not a bad film. I give it a B+.

T-minus 5 days

Who wants to dress in full flight gear to go see this??

View from the Top

Well, there it is, ladies and gents. All this just to change a light bulb. Only 250 feet in the air and not a bad view. Actually, this tower was more stable than the usual 100 footers.

Jarheads

So I met a Marine who served on a Coast Guard cutter. He even bought me some beers. He even knew Coast Guard history so I spat out some Jarhead Hx. I guess some Marines have their shit together. Semper Fi.

TK