Prov 16:9

This post is a recap of where I am and how I got here, most of you already know this, but I need to keep reminding myself of how awesome this is and how little I had to do with it.
So as of 15 Aug I am living in Fort Collins CO with and adventure wonderland out my window (literally) flying the most rewarding mission in the AF in my dream aircraft whose home is... u guessed it, Arkansas. I decided to do an entire post dedicated to the Herc cuz I started digressing. So how did I get to this point you ask, you have to ask cuz I did a bad job of updating my blog, i just checked and there is a huge hole from T-6s to T-1s and then another hole to now.

You have 4 checkrides in T-6s, I successfully hooked every one of them. When I tell people that they usually aren't paying attention and it takes a second for it to sink in, then they turn there head swint there eyes and say "i didn't think you could graduate if you did that" its pretty funny to watch. God's hand has been all over my training. The commander told me the previous policy had been such, but his was different, considering my bout with airsickness, my last failed ride being fairly commical and my flight commander had nothing but positives about me, he let it slide. Needless to say I didn't get my first choice of the fast track to C-130's after T-6s and instead went to fly the T-1 which typically leads to another cargo or tanker. T-1s went much better for me, nothing steller, but I didn't hook any of the 3 checkrides and once again I had positive critiques. Toward the end of T-1s we recieved a list of what aircraft would be available to our class. We rank our choices and our flight commander ranks us. The first person getting their first choice, the second gets their choice of whats left and so on down the rankings. Much to my disappointment I didn't see a C-130 on our list and wasn't really surprised, it had been 3 years since the last C-130 was handed out, so I ranked FAIPing high on my list. First Assignment Instructor Pilots stay at the shcool house to instruct right after training and recieve their actual assignments later down the road. I thought if I could do this I would have another chance at picking up a C-130. Assignment night came, and rumors had been flying for the past 3 weeks about who would be FAIPed, one of us wanted it and two were being threatened with it. They make a big party out recieving your assignments and they put up funny slides making fun of you, then present your assignment in front of the full banquet room. They had gone through the entire class except the three of us, everyone knowing the FAIP position still lingered. Then there were 2, my roomate and good friend Joe & were all that remained. He knew I really wanted to FAIP everybody there did, and we all knew Joe would make the best of it, but really wanted something else, and he deserved it, he had done the best throughout the program. BUT they need the best to stay and teach others to fly, and the room fell silent as he was FAIPed. I didn't really care what happened after that, I knew what was left, and I too would make the most of what I didn't want, and when they said "Lt Tharel in which aircraft will you be singing the praises of AR next?" i was indifferent to turn around to see the slide, but I felt a collective gasp from the crowd I turned to see what I thought was a cruel joke (my hands are shakeing a little as i type this). I looked at my flight commander who knew what I was thinking and smiled reaffirming he wasn't kidding. My flight partner through T-1s picked me up and spun me around like we were married (I owe a lot to him, we are complete opposites, but he did more to help me through and pass those rides than anyone, he was more excited to hear my first checkride score than his own and more excited to see my assignment than his own.) I don't know if it really hit the entire evening all I remember is repeating "I can't believe it" the rest of the night.

This is an extremely long post to say I had an idea of what was going to happen when I started flight school, resulting in me getting C-130s to fly around the mountains. Everytime my plan was squashed I adjusted and came up with another plan, and everytime it didn't work (mom says not to use always and never so this is prolly an exageration) but it sure happened a lot and in every area of my life including relationships. But God knew what he was doing and was able to make me happy in the end, and I can thankfully say I DID learn His lesson to be content in every situation and know that what ever the result, it will be better than you planned. So here I am living the dream...

adventure weekend

7 - 9 Aug This past weekend may possibly be the most action packed weekend of my life. Friday for work I drove out to the drop zone to catch sandbags from the herks and chase antelope (always a good time) while there I got a call informing me I needed hurry back from work to make the Rockies game in Denver. I met up with a friend from college who had visitors from back east along with other friends (all new to me). The game was a lot of fun, home team won, big philly cheese steak sandwich, almost got a foul ball, good times, great oldies. Afterward, to avoid traffic we went to a lounge downtown which turned out to be more of a small dance club since they were under renovation. It was our group and a large group of cougars celebrating a birthday. Never being the shy one on the dance floor, i figured we might as well combine the two groups. The night continued with an action packed game of go-fish until we finally conceded to sleep around 4:30. 4 hours later we departed for the head waters of the Arkansas river for some white water rafting. Our killer team was selected by the head raft guide because he knew we would dominate, look at us, who wouldn't. It was a lot of fun, but I seriously think I could've canoed most of what we did (with a couple exceptions). By the end we had mastered the art of spinning while traversing the rapids. Colorado camping in the short tree plains is quite different from woodland arkansas camping, but smores remain the ever sturdy foundation to any good campout. The next day brought a 6 hour accent up my first 14er, it took the rest of our party 3 hours up, but someone has to be the gentlemen who stays with the lady for her safety (i know most of u are prolly thinking i'm just a biggo flirt/lady's man and must have been a little smitten, tomato tomoto) Either way, the weather held off and we were able to take our time and have the summit of the highest point in CO (2nd highest in the contiguous US) to ourselves... and a mountain beave. The weekend was topped off by a burger n shake for the long drive home, bed by 2:30, worthless the next day.

random thoughts on nature inspired by a 3 year old

This is an email I sent mandy the other day after Meg called to ask why God made bugs, and she asked me to put it up here, it is a pretty good insight the randomness that goes through my mind:

Hey, ever since meg asked why God made bugs I've been remembering how complex and wonderfully made nature is. My first instinct was bugs are only there to be part of the food chain and to break down matter, they are like tiny natural recycling units, pretty unimpressive, but I couldn't really explain that to her. Its amazing how everything ties together for His purpose and glory. The colors of the trees, the shade they provide, even more important the oxygen, all come from soil made from other trees that have been broken down by bugs, same with flowers their scents and colors, mostly pollinated by flying bugs from one flower to the other. Bugs are the food for fish that provide so much entertainment and food for us (and bears). Then when I went for a run a raccoon ran in front of me to the creek, which reminded me they eat grasshoppers and other bugs, and then my mind jumped to birds! Everyone loves their colors and sounds and they eat bugs. Then today I stopped to watch a herd of antelope that had settled down next to the road, the first thing you notice is how big their eyes are and long their eyelashes are. They live on the plains where there is no cover to hide and the wind is constantly blowing dust & snow. Their defense is eyesight and speed they can see something around 10 X's ours and those lashes allow them to sit and watch through the harshest winds. Anyway you can tell I really love nature and all God's attention to detail, it just amazes me how many things tie together in an eco-system and how vast his perfection is. sorry this email doesn't really have a point, but you can thank meg for reminding me how awesome God is - love ya, jobo

I started writing this one when I first moved out here, so it should be back dated to July 15.
I guess since i moved to a different state I DO need to keep this a little more up to date for my niece and nephews who I'm sure will be reading every word (although ben did get X & O on the barbie letter ID game, maybe he's been writing too many love letters to girls... whatta playa) Anyway the move to Fort Collins was fairly uneventful, God has little blessings everywhere in many different forms which will be listed in the following. I hate packing (and am not very good at it) luckily Lincoln is bossy enough to make john and I get a majority boxed up on Thursday, and Patrick was good enough to finish off the minority along with loading the uhaul on Friday. Saturday highlights included farewell crackerbarrel breakfast with the Harris's (Laura is that possesive or plural) seeing Buffalo just outside of Booneville (which Megan says is good luck) after picking up some huge Walnut boards saved from the new city lake (thanks Mr. Watts) which will hopefully become a blanket chest to match my walnut head board (thanks mom&dad from when they moved to CO). Saturday was one last tour around Fayetteville/UofA reminiscing on all the things that "haven't always been there" with a Penguin Ed's dinner (thanks Mandy&Brian). As if the days could keep getting better, Sunday brought Eli's dedication (how awesome to be present and able to commit to pray for all of my niece/nephews as they grow in the Lord) followed by a lunch with the whole family then off to Tulsa to hang out with a great friend and use her place as base camp before the long haul on monday (thanks kari). Wes wussed out on driving the big rig, i guess it takes a real bearcat, but he made the 1000 mile 6.5MPG journey exciting with an unplanned detour through Enid, at least I have now seen 2 of the 3 UPT bases. (sidenote: we accidently got Premium gas once and got 9MPG) Kansas is cool for 5 minutes, but once we got into western Colorado i felt like I was in Lonesome Dove. We pulled into our campground just in time to see the brightest double rainbow (thanks for your promises God).

For realz

11 Aug Tuesday morning I had my first flight at my permanent base (Cheyenne WY), new planes, new terrain, new crews, great morning. I rode up with another co-pilot, and along the way the sun started peeking over the distant horizon on the open plains. As we crested one hill the orange beams started breaking through, down the ravine it disappeared, then up the opposite side to find a half full sunrise lighting up the buffalo herd bedded down near the water of the next valley.

I got to the squadron to find 3 crews in their desert flight suits loading up there deployment bags and going over last minute checks to make sure they were ready to head out. I had forgotten today was the day we sent the third rotation over to swap out crews. To everyone else it was something they saw every other month, but for the first time guys I work with were going to do this stuff for realz. It was pretty exciting, and at the same time brought me to the reality that I'm not just training for the fun of flying around anymore. I'm not trying to add any undo drama to the situation, but it was pretty awesome.

The flight was amazing, the H3 model of the C-130 (what I am in now) is light years ahead of the old E models flown for training in Little Rock. It has a "glass cockpit" and flight director/auto pilot similar to that of the T-1 I flew in Columbus, very nice. We flew over the plains to the drop zone, further over some foothills & hogbacks to Laramie to do some tough-n-gos. Coming off the runway we chased some antelope which are as numerous as chiggers back home, and about as annoying to the locals. My instructor gave me a tour over northern Colorado's mountains and across his ranch. Again the difference between training in school and preparation for deployment could be seen in the discussion that followed the illumination of a "check engine light" and general techniques handed out. I can't think of any aspect of my job I'm not excited about (maybe the computer based lessons on information assurance). Life if good.

ye of little faith

13 Aug Thursday evening after work I booked it home to join the local kayak club on the Cache La Poudre river just outside of town. Luckily earlier this year I had a run in with a tree (post for later) that resulted in my purchase of a "slighty" used canoe, but more importantly an awesome friendship with a former river ranger that taught me how to handle a large canoe better than most posers with a little sporty kayak. When I pulled up with my canoe I was being stared at like a hippie in boone-town, and everyone was pretty standoffish, but not bashful with constant comments on how "technical" this float was going to be and how many rocks were exposed, i guess their friendly way of showing doubt. The stares continued through the subsequent rapids as they prepared each time to have to throw me a rope and catch my boat, but they quickly turned into stares of pure amazement as they realized I still hadn't flipped and many of them had. They started cheering as I squeezed tar-baby (my canoe's name due to the black patch on the bow) around bolders and into eddies that could I barely fit in. So they opened up and let me in as one of the cool kids. I guess I should've let them know up front that I 1) am from arkansas, and everyone knows arkansans have jedi like domination over water ways 2) was trained by one of the best canoers ever (seriously he has his own documentary, well kinda). Its also funny to note how people become a lot more friendly and talkative when they find out you fly planes, which I noticed on another float trip 2 weekends earlier where the same group suggested I do a section further down with 2 other older gentlemen. I love just telling them i'm in the AF and let the trip go longer until they reask what exactly I do, and note the differences. Its ridiculous. Anyway the float WAS one of the most difficult ones I've done, but it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot about the differences of the rivers out here vs. back home. And to the groups defense they had no idea what my background was, there have been people lost on this stretch, and it is a ridiculously large canoe for that river.

Natural State vs. Natural City

15 Aug This morning while eating waffles I looked out my window to see my neighbor the red fox (click attached photo and zoom in) then a buddy and I went for a short hike on the edge of town where we saw over 50 prairie dogs, a vulture sitting on a dead tree like the ones on Jungle book, some deer, and a BIG-o rattle snake (see fuzzy photo from my phone). We had just seen one of those informative displays for snakes, and I wasn't sure if it was real or part of the display, but upon closer inspection from its 6 the big daddy awoke with a lightning fast spin around to me and rattled, my heart stopped for a few seconds and every brezze in the leaves I heard the rest of the day was another snake in my mind. When we came back by he was joined by two smaller rattlers, I decided to assume they were real as well without closer inspection. It was pretty awesome for a morning IN TOWN.