2/5 more weeks!

Two Fridays till drop and five Fridays till I pin on my wings and become a pilot in the greatest Air Force in the world!!!

Well, it seems this pilot training thing is coming to an end soon.  I have just eight more rides left!  I had four rides scheduled for this past week but for one reason or another I only flew one of them.  This Monday I have two rides scheduled and then if I fly every possible day I should have my final checkride at pilot training two Tuesdays from now.  I'm excited and ready.  It's been such a fun ride so far here in the Air Force.  I am proud of everything that I have done the past few years getting ready to come here and especially this past year.  There were sometimes where I thought this ride could be derailed but we (Kristen too) kept on going and we're almost there!  We are so pumped up to see where the next chapter in our lives will be.....and what plane we will be flying!  I could not have made it this far without the help of Kristen.  She's awesome.  And I'm lucky.

OK, so I'm excited!

This past week I flew a AR (refueling) mission.  Our planes don't have the ability to give or receive gas but most probably the planes that we'll be flying after pilot training will so we start the foundation of it here.  It's so cool to be so high in the sky and be just feet from another plane.

Our "dream sheets" are due next Sunday to our flight commander.  It is basically a list of the planes and bases in order that we want out of pilot training.  It's called a dream sheet for a reason though.  We all signed up here to be Airman first, officers second and pilot's third.  There was no plane guaranteed to us when we signed on the dotted line.  We get what the Air Force needs.  Also in saying that...., if you are ranked near the top of your class then your flight commander will probably "go to bat" for you and help you get the plane that you always wanted.  To be honest though.  There is no bad planes out there right now.  No matter what all the airframes are out there doing the mission.  We'll all get a chance to go and play in the "sand box" soon enough.  So I have my rankings almost finalized but I would really be happy with almost anything.

I saw this article in an Air Force magazine this week.  It says that on Aug 31, Sgt. Joseph A.Bovia, 24 years old, from Kenner, La (really close to home) was killed in Afghanistan.  I'm in training right now and it's kind of fun and games.  We don't see the "real" military here on this base because not many people deploy from a training base.  But soon I'll be out there too.  This kind of article always makes everything that I'm doing a little more real and it helps me stay focused.  The job that pilots do out there is tough.  We fly into hostile areas through bad weather with not just our lives in our hands, but others as well.  We train/work hard.  Being a pilot is also very exciting and inherently very dangerous.  There is a lot that can go wrong at 20,000+ feet, and at 300knots it can happen very fast.  It's good to get a little scare sometimes to keep you on your toes.  It keeps your my mind sharp and reminds me to always be ready for that emergency in the air that I train for all the time.  You never know when something can go wrong and you have to rely on your training.  I'll just leave it at that.

There are people in the sand box right now doing more dangerous things than we would ever think of doing all in the name of our freedom.  They come back home and don't ask for anything .  They look just like the rest of us.  They could walk right next to you and you wouldn't even know it.  Our country is bad ass.

My NOLA Visit…

Well, I’m back to good ole Del Rio after a two week visit to New Orleans!!!  Two weeks may sound like a long time to most people, but it doesn’t seem that way when you’re the one visiting.  There’s never enough time to do everything, see everyone, or eat at all your favorite places!!!  It’s funny because I get a little stressed at times trying to decide who to do what with and where to go and when.  The problem I run into is that everyone works!!  So when I’m there for that many days, I really only have two weekends…and everyone wants to get together on the weekend!! Haha!  Everything usually works out!!  I’m not complaining, I’m grateful to be pretty much “fully booked” every time I visit!!  I wish I could see everyone every time I come to town, but it’s really hard.  So, if I’ve missed you this time, I’ll catch you next time ; ) And don’t hesitate to call if you know I’m visiting….

I did so much and ate so much during my visit!!  I’ll tell all…if I can remember that far back!!  I left Del Rio on a Tuesday and spent the entire day in my car with Dallas.  It took us about 10.5 hours to get to my parent’s house.  My mom cooked cabbage (I love cabbage!) & she made a cheesecake…my favorite!! 

Wednesday was a l-a-z-y day for me!  I was a couch potato all day long!!  Wednesday night my mom & I met Mia & Alex at Sake for dinner!!!  We don't have sushi in Del Rio.  It was fun hanging out with my sis-in-law & cousin Alex!!  On Thursday I went to lunch with my friends from Stewart Enterprises I used to work with.  It was my friend Lisa’s last day so it was good to catch up & share her last day lunch with her…we ate Crawfish Raviolis from Cheesecake Bistro…& we had White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake!!  It was just as I remembered...delicious!  After lunch, I went back to the STEI building & said hello to some friends & ex co-workers of mine.  I was there for 3.5 hours!!!  I told them I should’ve been paid for a full day of work!  It was really nice talking with everyone there!  On Thursday night, my mom & I got mani’s & pedi’s…she treated me (thanks mom!). 

On Friday, I went to lunch with my friend Crystal at La Madeline…we used to go there for lunch all the time when I worked at STEI.  Good times!  On Friday night, my mom, dad, & I went to dinner with family friends Becky & Tommy.  We went to Zea’s – mmm mmm good!  We were there a while & then sat on the outside furniture reminiscing about old times for an hour or so…I love old stories!!

On Saturday, my mom & I spent the day together & shopped around Oak Street & went to a few places we unfortunately don’t have back in Del Rio.  It was a nice day!! 

On Sunday, we (mom, dad, Becky, Tommy, & myself) drove to Mississippi and launched Tommy’s boat and ventured out to Ship Island…a little beachy area in the gulf.  We had a great time!  The weather was beautiful & we saw porpoises swimming around!  I’m still like a little kid when I see things like that!!  Oh!  Funny story…so we were sitting on the beach & we were watching this little girl catching things in a net with her dad.  Well, they caught a needlefish & she put it in her bucket that was filled with water.  After she caught that fish, she left her dad in the water to do all the work while she watched the fish in the bucket.  She picked up the poor fish like every minute & held it & looked at it for about 30 seconds each time she took it out the water.  It was so funny…& sad all at the same time!  Then her sister joined in…they took turns picking it up, looking at it up close, & putting it back in the bucket!  The poor fish was being tortured!  Then the dad caught a few more fish…and those kept jumping out of the bucket!...I think the needlefish was telling them to jump for their lives!!  It was cute because they were having a blast!

On Monday, Labor Day, we all just hung out at the house & took it easy all day & that evening we walked down to Ms. Candice’s house & went for a swim…with Sandi (my mom & dad’s new puppy).  Sandi is a yellow lab, my mom found her close to the house about a month or so ago & she was skin & bones.  The vet said she was a healthy dog, but she’s starving to death.  Well, she isn’t starving any more!  She’s filled out & happier than ever & she loves swimming!!!

On Tuesday, no one was available for visiting so I just unpacked, washed clothes, & hung out with the dogs.  That night I went to dinner with my friends Dori & Val.  I used to bartend with them at Jiggers.  We went to Copeland’s & had a great time!!  After dinner, I went to the bar my friend Kim works at & visited with her for a little while.  I have no clue how I bartended for so long…I couldn’t take the smell in there!!  When I left, I reeked!  Oh well, the money was good!

On Wednesday, I rode with my mom to her office – we had plans that night & didn’t want to have two vehicles – I do have to say, I was so car sick!  Haha!  I’m used to going 30 mph in the city of Del Rio, or 20 mph on base!!!  I’m not used to traffic, stopping & going, switching lanes, etc.!!!  As a matter of fact, I was driving my mom around a few days before & I stopped for 3 seconds at a stop sign (which is what we do on base)…& she was like “you’re not in Del Rio anymore! You’re going to get rear ended!”  So, it took me about a week or so to get used to driving around the city again…it scares me!  Over here everyone is laid back...with nowhere to go apparently! 

That day, I visited with the Oddo’s & Uncle Jack at Majestic.  I missed Mr. Pete though :( Later that afternoon, Mia & I went to Granny & Grandpa’s…I had a few peanut m&m’s on Coy’s behalf!!  After visiting with Granny & Grandpa, I picked my mom up from work & we went to dinner with a few of her work friends at New Orleans Food & Spirits…fried shrimp, crawfish rolls, & miller light!  What more could you ask for?!  Everything was yummy!! 

…Then we got SNOWBALLS!!!  Oh how I’ve missed real snowballs!!  In Del Rio, we have shaved ice…they’re so crunchy.  AND, since we’re so close to the border the only toppings you can get are la lachera & chili powder!  Hah!  So it was really nice to have a cherry with condensed milk...well, not “a”…I actually had like 4 or 5 during my time there!  I know!!!

Thursday…WHOOOO DAAAATTT!!!!  My friend Kara invited me over to watch the game and so did my Aunt Charlet & Uncle Kenny.  So, I went to Kara’s before the game started and visited with them for a little while & then I went to my Aunt & Uncle’s to watch the game with my mom & dad!!  It was great because they wanted to order pizza, but the pizza place didn’t have the order ready…or they were really busy & didn’t get to it yet!  Long story short, DiGiorno never tasted so good!!  Thank goodness my aunt & uncle had a frozen pizza in their freezer!!  Haha, and my parents picked up some boneless wings from Rally’s & also brought a Black & Gold King cake…and my Aunt whipped up this yummy spicy buffalo chicken dip.  It was the best dinner!  Honestly, I got there after everyone else & I had no clue it was DiGiorno until they told me!!  The SAINTS won & the night was complete!

On Friday, my mom, dad, & I went to the shooting range.  I’ve gone with my dad before, but it’s been a while, and it’s never too late to brush up on your shooting & aiming skills!  It was so much fun!  The people who worked there gave my mom & I t-shirts so the casings wouldn’t go down our dresses…and my t-shirt said top gun!  Haha.  It is a little scary in there when you’re shooting next to complete strangers who also have loaded weapons.  When I was a really little Buzzy (as my dad would say) I knew my dad’s guns were a “no no”.  And when I was old enough to understand he taught me all about his weapons & weapon safety.  I mean, I was probably not even 10.  I got my first pellet gun when I was 9!  

Well, at the shooting range, in one of the other lanes, a guy was there with his girlfriend, I guess.  And they were pretty dangerous.  I mean, she was shooting all over the place, & he wasn’t teaching her a thing!  It was the first time I was ever nervous around guns.  Luckily no one was hurt….but it made me extremely thankful that my dad taught me how to aim & what you do & don’t do, etc.  

Many people don’t like guns…but I think it’s a good idea to have a little bit of knowledge on how to handle them just in case you do decide to purchase one in the future.  I’m sure this was that girl’s first time shooting…and she thought it was funny that she was 100% missing the target…totally not a laughing matter!  Oh well, they weren’t there for that long, and we had a good time!!  I still learn from my dad…even at 27 years old!

Oh!  If you know my dad, you know he's always on the phone!!!  So, while in the shooting range, his phone rang....& he answered it!  My mom & I were cracking ip laughing!!!  There were people in the other two lanes shooting & he was on the phone!!!  So funny...and so my dad!  I guess it's a good thing...he always answers!!!

On Friday, Coy’s mom flew into NOLA and we all went to dinner.  Mrs. Dianne misses her shrimp, so we went to the seafood place by the Esplanade mall (I can’t ever remember the name).  We had boiled shrimp & crabs!!!  Also a delicious meal!!!  It was a short visit with Mrs. Dianne, but I’m glad we were able to get together!!

On Saturday, I went to lunch at the best Mexican restaurant ever!! Caretta’s!!  I met a few friends I used to dance with for VooDoo…Bridget, Rachel, & Courtney.  We all drank a margarita (except Bridget...she's expecting!) & had a blast catching up with each other.

On Sunday, I took my Godchild, Bryce, to Jaeger’s.  There’s an appetizer there called “Cindy Fries”…I brought him there the first time I came in for a visit & we were wondering who Cindy was…so we decided to name them “Bryce & Nanny Fries”.  We decided that every time I visit we’ll go to Jaeger’s together for Bryce & Nanny fries!!  Sunday night I just hung out at home & we ate some home made chili for dinner!!

On Monday, I ran around all day running last minute errands for my departure on Tuesday.  I also stopped at Tastee’s & picked up a McKenzie’s Blackout Cake for an early birthday celebration for my mom.  Her birthday was not until that Thursday.  So, Monday night, my mom, dad, & I went to Copeland’s to celebrate her birthday & then we had Blackout Cake when we went home!!  I’m so glad Tastee’s has continued our McKenzie’s favorites!!!

 

On Tuesday, I drove home – made good time & picked up some Taco Bell in Uvalde (an hour from Del Rio) for dinner….Coy was pumped!!

So, I had an awesome time while in New Orleans and I saw many friends I didn’t get to see the last 2 times I visited, that was nice.  My mom always sends me back to Del Rio with some goodies!!  I love bringing home goodies!!!  Mama Oddo sent me back with 4 bags of candy corn for Coy!!!  So he was pretty happy about that!!!  

Well, we have 3 more weeks until Coy drops and 5 more weeks until he graduates!!!  We are both so excited!!!  I am so proud of him and all of his accomplishments!!   Where will we go next?!!!!!  We can’t wait!!!!  Until next time, thanks for reading my post!! 

~Kristen

P.S. Happy Anniversary this month to Granny & Grandpa!!!

& Happy Birthday to...Mr. Charles, My Mom, Chantel & Brennen, cousins Erika, Hank, & Josh, Nanny Gay, Ms. Candice, Dori, & Mama Oddo!!!       

           

Kristen is coming home in two days!

I'm still alive. I lost about 9 pounds, have dirty clothes, sleep on the couch and forget to shower sometimes since .  Haha.  No, seriously I'm doing OK.

Kristen is driving back on Tuesday and only then will all of my planets once again be back in alignment. Whhheww.......I miss her (and Dallas too)!  We've been talking on the phone, texting and even skypeing occasionally (that's the picture above).

It sounds like Kristen has been having a good time back at home with her family and friends.  She'll be posting some time during the week and she'll let you know what she's been up to....

I am so jealous of all the good food she has been eating over there.

She'll be driving back on Tuesday so my countdown has officially begun.  Now I have to start cleaning up this place and make it look like it did when she left me two weeks ago.  Haha.   I have been vacuuming, cooking, washing clothes, taking out the trash and cutting the grass.  Wheeew.  usually I just take out the trash and cut the grass.  I kinda liked it better that way.

I had two more formation flights this week that went well and one, and final more formation flight tomorrow morning.  Then I have just four low levels, four air refueling, two co-pilot, and one checkride left!!!  That's just 11 rides!!!  Whheeeeeeeeeeeew!!!

A bunch of my flight mates watched the Saints game this Thursday at the base bowling alley.... I was fun.  The Saints won of course!

On Friday my flight met up at the base golf course to catch up on how everyone is doing and drink a few beers and Budweiser had the coolest cups there that I had to take a picture of....

Today my flight got together for a flight photo.  It is pretty hard to get everyone to come to work at 5pm on a Sunday just to take a photo but it happened...!

I have three flight scheduled for this week.  So by time I write the next blog I'll just have eight flights felt.  And this week my flight commander is going to be giving us our dream sheets (what planes and bases we want) to fill out and hand in in three weeks.!!!

Until next week..... see ya'

Kristen left....started formation....Labor Day weekend

     Kristen left me.....!!!!!  She left last Tuesday morning to hang out in New Orleans for a few weeks.  Calm down, calm down.  I can take care of myself.  Besides, she left me with a list of food that he had prepared for me or stuff that I can prepare in minutes...... Haha.  Does she not think that I can take care of myself?

     She bought Dallas some doggles in New Orleans.  Dallas won't ever have to squint her eyes again when she goes on walks. Haha.

     I flew my first formation ride this week in the T-1.  It was pretty neat.  It's way different in the T-1 than the T-6.  I use autopilot now while in formation which is pretty funny.  We spent three hours in the MOA (Military Operating Area) doing form.  It was a LONG flight.  I have a total of four of those then I have four air drop flights and four low level flights......, and then...., I'm done.  Wahooooooo.....!  So I'm buckling down in the books till the end and finishing strong!

     On Friday I left with a few of my classmates to San Antonio.  We stopped at Big Lou's Pizza.  We were told that we have to go there.  The pizza was freakin' HUGE!  It was $90 for the pizza, but it fed twelve of us.  Good times.  If you're ever in san Antonio...., and hungry for pizza, Big Lou's it is.

     From there we went to a country western bar.  We stood out like a sore thumb.  Imagine eight clean cut military (non-cowboy) dudes strolling into a country western bar.....Haha.  It was awesome.  We got some drinks and headed to the dance floor of course.  We ended up having a great night filled with country dancing.

     The next morning we drove to Austin. We stopped at a mall and bought some western boots and then drove to the hotel.  Then we walked to Buffalo Wild Wings and watched some college football.  We watched a few games and then headed out to 6th street (LSU won!!!).

     This is a picture of a see through dance floor.

     6th street was crazy!  We went to the Iron Cactus for dinner (awesome), then we hit the clubs.  It's was funny hearing the theories of some of my friends.  They said that the college kids can't keep up with us when we walk in the bar.  We have jobs, health insurance, and money in the bank.  So once we walk in all the attention is on us.  Huh, I thought the attention was on us because we were pilots.  Haha (pilot joke).  Anyway, we did a crazy shot called a 'bear fight'.  It's a series of three shots in a row.  For all 11 of us to do it it costs $300!!!  Ridiculous!  It was fun though.  It's not something I'd do every weekend for sure. For a video click here.

     On Sunday we went to a non-denominational church called the Austin Stone.  It has been a while since I've been outside of a Catholic mass.  It was fun.  Then sometime in the afternoon we decided to drive back to Del Rio.......  Now I need to get back to studying and get ready for the week.  It ain't over till the fat lady sings (and she's warming up her voice right now).

     Kristen left me a list of food that I can quickly make. Haha.  I don't know if this is an insult or her just being extremely nice.  Does she not think that I know how to fend for myself?  Haha.  I love it!