Last post on US soil

I have to make this quick. My world is spinning 1,000,000 miles an hour right now.  I'll have more time when I'm in the desert.  Right now the more time I spend on this the less I have with Kristen.  And no offense..., but I'd rather spend it with her. 

OK..., my flying/deploying stuff first.....

I had my checkride on Monday.  I passed, Q1 (grade), its the best you can get.  I say it like it's awesome but you're expected to get a Q1 all the time so I guess its not that big of a deal.  My next flight will be downrange in the sandbox.  Which is awesome!  Also, something to think about, my first non-graded flight will be in the combat zone.  I don't think to many people can say that.

At first I was scheduled to deploy on the 26th of Apr, Tuesday, but I couldn't make the flight.  Then I was scheduled to deploy on 5 May.  But then today I was told I am leaving on 2 May.  Crazy that it keeps changing but I think this one will stick.  So I'm taking 2/3 days off.  My mom and Paw came to visit today.  I am driving back to New Orleans to see my dad and hang out with Dallas and Kristen for a few days.  I'll miss them the most.

Kristen always has an animal somewhere close by

Me and Matthew (future brother-in-law)...

We went to New Orleans last weekend for a day and a half.  We drove to Baton Rouge to visit my Paw, Aunt and cousins on Saturday.  We saw Kristen's family on Easter in the early afternoon and then my dads side of the family in the afternoon.  It was pretty emotional when we left.  That sucked.  I kind of like just slipping out the back door and leave for 6-9 months rather than do all that again.

The rest of this blog is not in exact chronological order....I just didn't have time to put it all together.

Relaxing with the wifey.....

Dallas cooling off @ the lake

Dallas was allowed to come to BDubs with us one night on the patio.  It was really nice of the manager to allow it.  She got petted by everyone leaving.

SPOILED!

Dallas likes to visit us in Mississippi because she gets her own bed.

I saw this truck right in front of the hotel when I left one day..... ouch.  Click on this sentence to see a video of me driving by it....kinda boring....OK, really boring.  Just click on this sentence if you want to be bored for a few seconds.

Kristen's dad took Bryce fishing.

This is me telling Dallas bye.  I thought that this would be my last goodbye to her before the deployment but it's not going to be!  I'll see her tomorrow again!

This is my my Mom and Paw visiting us today.  It was awesome that they OK'ed us going out to the jet and taking pictures in front of it.  That's my baby.  It'll be me and her everyday for the next 6 to 9.  Got any questions about the plane or the mission....?  I did too.  Google it.  Haha.