Well, C-5M school has started. This is just rediculous. I'm 30 years old and have never been "out of school" yet in my life. Aghhhhh. This C-5M school should just last about two weeks so that'll be over before I know it, but I'm probably starting my masters in the fall....... Aghhhhhhhh..., MORE SCHOOL!!! Haha.
Back in the classroom......
I have the unfortunate distinction of being in the last class of "M differences" before the Air Force signs off of in and accepts it as the official course/syllabus. So, with that there are all sorts of eyeballs on myself and the other dude with me going through it right now. basically, whatever we say in our end of course critiques will be the barometer if this is THE course or not. Not a huge deal to me really, but it is to the civilian company that will get the contract for it. So I feel like a gerbil with probes on it inside of a science experiment right now and all the scientists looking through the one way glass to see what my reaction to different things are. Haha. Funny stuff.
The main differences for the C-5M as compared to the C-5B are the new engines! They are beasts!!! The power that they produce is just crazy co mpared to the old ones. Basically, if I lose one engine now (left with three good engines) the jet performs like the B model (with four good engines).
Siding going up
Siding up
Siding going up
Siding up
Stucco going up
Stucco going up
Siding almost all up in the front
Our house is coming along. This week the AC and heat people finished up on Tuesday. Then electrician came and did his thing on Wednesday and Thursday. And finally, the siding people were there on Thursday and Friday. The siding is all finished and stucco people have all the stucco up, just not painted. The bottom four feet or so of our house will be stone and that has not been started yet. But it's coming soon.
I have my pre-drywall walk through scheduled for this Wednesday! So that means my house will beginning to look more like a house sooner than later!
It's kinda hard to see, but the rear tire is leaning in like something really heavy is in the trunk. But there's nothing in the trunk, it's just bad rear struts......
This week sucked for vehicle repairs. I brought Kristen's car in because the tires were sounding louder than normal. And I put the recommended air in them and it was still making the same loud noise. And that's abut the extent of my mechanical knowledge so I brought it in to the base mechanic. I got the tires rotated, balanced and aligned. The mechanic then told me that I really need new rear struts!!! Aghhhh. So I ordered those and will have them put on Kristen's car late this week. That will be a total of $550 that I used to have in my checking account that I don't have anymore. THEN..., the very next day Kristen, who has my truck right now, got a check engine light on the dash. She brought it to the Chevy dealership and they told her it was a return line from the gas tank. So there goes another $350. Aghhhh..., but oh well. I guess the trade off is that we haven't had a car note in over three years so that's a good thing.
My buddy Mike went on his first C-17 trip this week. He's somewhere out there having a great time doing the "mission"! HUA! I can't wait to do the same.
I may see Kristen this coming weekend..., not sure yet with M school and all though.
Erin and Nathan!!!! Awwwwwwww....
Josh with with one of his many awards......
I have some amazing cousins. First is my cousin Nathan. He's engaged to his dream girl Erin, and started a great new job. I'm pumped up for him. Nathan is the man! Second is Josh. He just graduated high school this past week. He's going to Ave Maria University in Florida on scholarship and will play football there. He's a great guy also. I have so many things and people in my life to be thankful for. I was really raised the right way by my two parents and I have a great extended family as a backbone also! Gotta show some love to the home team.
Dallas, outside with Kristen sitting in a chair like she's a human
Not too many changes on the house this week. The plumbers finished up with all of their pre-drywall stuff and the A/C & heating people were in there at the end of the week. They should be finished on Tuesday and then the electrician will be there starting on Wednesday. So the house is getting there..., just very slow. I put a call into the entire food chain at my builders company and let them know that I am keeping daily tabs on what gets done in my house, and that I want it finished ASAP! So we'll see where that gets me.
This past week has been some inprocessing in the squadron and stuff. Not to much going on though. I'm starting M differences school to tomorrow (Monday). That should take about two weeks. I think that it's two days of computer lessons, two days of classroom, four sims and two plane rides....... so we'll see about that also.
View from the restaurant in the outfield
Our seats
This weekend I went with 12 other pilots in my squadron to Washington D.C. for the night. One guy is getting married in a few weeks and one guy is getting a divorce in a few, so we partied for them. We drove up there (about a two hour drive with traffic) at 3:30 and checked into our hotel. From there we took a few cabs to the baseball park where we watched the Washington Nationals lose to the Baltimore Orioles. It's been a few years since I've been to a baseball game and I shouldn't wait so long in between games, it was fun! Football is the best sport in America right now, but it's too cold during the season, soccer sucks, basketball is thugs and hockey is just Canada trying to get green cards. Baseball may not be the most entertaining sport but it does have the best weather. From the game we went out to a few bars.
This was really all I saw of D.C. in the daylight...
They made a heart cloud
There's FRED
A view from inside the cockpit looking out with the visor (nose) up.
KC-10 refueling plane
The F-22 has got eveyone's attention
AC-130 gunship. I've worked with these dudes...., and they DO WORK
A T-1!
Most of the group woke up and went just west of Baltimore to watch the Preakness (second horse race in the triple crown), but a few of us decided to sleep in a little. We woke up and ate breakfast at Le Madeline in Georgetown. Georgetown is so pretty. Then we drove to Andrews AFB in D.C. to watch an air show. That air show is billed as the largest D.o.D. air show and IT IS! There were so many planes on static display. The Blue Angels were the feature act but there was a whole days worth of flying to watch. I was there with two dudes who are just starting the journey I started almost two years ago (the MC-12 then C-5 thing). So I made sure to check out the C-5 with them because they'd never been close to one yet. The stairs to the cockpit were down but there was a Major guarding it so no one would go up. I walked up to him and told him that I'm a C-5 pilot and that I'd like to go up. He let us right up, it felt so cool. I felt a little bad because now the Major had to fend off a small crowd that wanted to know why they're not allowed to go up there but we were..., haha.
Blue Angel #7 (the two seater "media jet")
By time the Blue Angels were starting their engines so were we. We had had a long 24 hours and were exhausted, hungry, sun burnt and dehydrated. We stopped at a Chik-fil-A on the way back and not much else was said. I slept on my buddies floor as soon as I walked in the house for almost three hours. Haha...., good times.
Guess who's plane did a few touch and go's at Dover this week? Pretty damn cool huh?
In a nutshell, I graduated C-5B school, my sister got married, I drove to Dover, my sister became a doctor and Kristen had another bachelorette beach party weekend. Haha, so yeah, a lot has been happening lately.
Fisrtly, I graduated C-5 school!!! Yaaayyy! I'm a C-5 pilot now! I love that plane. It flies real nice. My checkride was bot too eventful, which is a good thing. Off to the C-5M now.
Me and my favorite girl in the world
Kristen, Me, Mia and Mom
Me, Brooke and Kristen
My Dad and I
Next, I left San Antonio on Wednesday afternoon. I had my sisters rehearsal dinner on Thursday night. It was so much fun seeing all of her friends and our two families together. It was a beautiful night and the food was great..., you couldn't have asked for more.
My uniform and Mia's dress
Kristen and I. I love her.
Me and Mom. She's so darn pretty huh?!
Paw and Mia AKA: The Bride AKA: My sister "sissy"
Granny and Grandpa
Mom and Bill
Mia about to walk down the aisle
LeBlanc side of the family
Next, was the wedding day. Wow what a day. There was so much going on that day that I'm sure I'll forget a ton! I met Matt downtown and we went to Margaritaville. The other groomsmen met us over there. We kicked back a few beers and all had lunch. It was pretty chill and Matt didn't seem nervous at all. From there Matt, Mons (his brother) and I went back to the hotel room to get ready. My sister asked me to wear my military mess dress (formal attire), and I couldn't have been happier to do so! That was exciting for me because I had just earned a few medals from my deployment and I couldn't wait to show them off (even though no one would know the difference..., haha). From there we took a bunch of pictures in the hotel lobby. Then Mia and I got into the Rolls Royce for the ride to the church. Mia didn't seem nervous. The car ride to the church almost seemed normal (besides the police escort and all). The wedding processional was normal. Next was the bride....! I had to walk her down the aisle so I was nervous. The music played and the doors opened. Everyone was looking at Mia, I was so happy for her!! I almost cried about three times while walking her down the aisle so who knows what kind of faces I was making. I gave her away to Matt at the alter, it was a sad and happy moment. Matt is a great guy. The rest of the wedding went pretty normal. The priest was awesome. He memorized the gospel! I've never seen that before so that was cool. And then Mia passed out. I was a groomsmen so I sat at the front which let me tell everyone "hi" as they walked past me after communion.
Oh, did you want to hear more about the bride passing out? Haha. Yeah, I thought so. So, there I was, sitting and paying diligent attention to the priest. I noticed Mia's maid of honor put her hand on Mia's back. Then I saw Mia wobbling. Uh oh...., she was kneeling down, and had been for the entire ceremony wearing a hot dress and having all eyes on her... So, I know she could be feeling weak. I got out of my seat and took two steps forward and knelt down. The groomsman who I was sitting next to looked at me and asked what I was doing. But at this point I was focused on Mia. And then I saw her get more wobbly, but start to fall forward. I got there as quick as I could and supported her. She was out cold! I lifted her up a bit (I was supporting all her weight). Then she started to come to. I felt her muscles start to take back over her balance. Her eyes opened, and she asked "Where am I"? Holy crap.....Haha. She was fine after that. She sat in a chair and the wedding continued. But it was definitely funny to say the least. Good times.
Mia's cake made by our Aunt Gaylynne or just "Nanny"
Photo booth
Kristen, Me and Woody
Bride and groom leaving
Dad and I
Bill and my Mom getting DOWN!
The reception was even better. The wedding was on Cinco de Mayo, so you know the party was going to be on like donkey kong! And it was! Good times....
Lots of fun with the wifey on Bourbon St.
Everyone doing their best Mia impersonations. Hahahahhaha
The wedding after after party was with some of my Aunts, Uncles and cousins..., It was so much fun. We stayed out later than anyone else guaranteed!
The day after the wedding I started my rive up to Dover. It's a 20 hour drive if you go straight through so I drove four hours the first day, and slept in northern Mississippi. I drove 12 hours the second day and slept in eastern Virginia. And finally four more hours on the third day and arrived in Dover.
The first thing I did was go and see our house. It's so exciting to be able to walk through it! It's going to be great when Kristen and Dallas get to move up here.
Inside Mike and Tori's house. It's nice.
The hotel here is all booked up for the foreseeable future so I didn't really have a place to stay. Our friends Tori and Mike are letting me shack up with them for the time being while I sort stuff out. They just moved in to their new house about three weeks ago in the same neighborhood as us. They built a huge four bedroom house and it's just them..., so they have three extra rooms. Their house is really nice.
Trial run before the big "unveiling" the next day
"Goose" and "Maverick"
Mike is in a different squadron than me and his squadron had a "Top Gun" themed party. And there was a prize offered for best dressed. So, Mike already looks like Tom Cruise so it wasn't going to be difficult. Him and his buddy decided to make a F-14 Tomcat (like the one "Maverick" flew) with some of the empty boxes from Mike's recent move. We spent three to four hours making this "costume". It was really funny. Unfortunately, Mike and his buddy lost to someone who just wore a towel and mirrored sunglasses. It's not a big deal though. The winner got a t-shirt with Val Kilmer on it and second place got a neon fanny pack, so no big loss....
Tha beach....., boiiii
Kristen and Kara
I hope/think she's doing the "Bernie"
Yes, my wife is throwing up the westbank "W".
I had to emphasize her in this one... It's to funny. It's like she's in her own little dancing world! Haha. Which reminds me baby, we need to go out dancing again ASAP!
That's pretty much the short version of what happened last week. Now onto last weekend..... Kristen had a another bachlorette beach weekend this past weekend. This time it was in Destin, FL. It sounded like she had a great time and got to soak up some sun. Which I'm jealous of, but am glad that at least Kristen was able to get to have a semi-vacation.
Where's "Waldo"?
Yeah Mia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahem...., I mean Dr. Munson
Also, my sister walked finished up her pharmacy school and is now a DR.!!!!! Holy crap. I wasn't able to make it there unfortunately but I was thinking of her on Saturday. I'm so proud of her!
I start C-5M difference training this coming Monday the 21st. That should take 2-3 weeks. Then I could fly anywhere in the world at a moments notice, and I can't wait.
I hope to have Kristen and Dallas up here with me by the end of June and hopefully the house won't be too far behind that. But...., it's a great thing. Everything is starting to come back together. I can't wait to live with my wife again!!! I love you Kristen!!!
Mia, remember that time that you got married and you passed out on the alter? Yeah, that was funny.
Sooooooo, when are we movin' to Deleware?
PS. I have no internet right now so for me to do this blog I had to "borrow" the base hotel's connection. Hopefully I'll be 100% connected to civilization by next week. Till next week....
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