Bad Ideas

So I've had a few bad ideas as of late I wanted to document for future reference, if need be.

Hypothermia/Frost Bite: A few weeks ago when snowshoeing at the yurt (both GREAT ideas) we were looking to fill up our water bottles. We studied the maps and made our way to the spot where, if there was non-frozen water to be found, it would be. It definitely looked like a snow covered stream, so poking through to solid ice with my stick, I VERY CAUTIOUSLY stepped onto the ice, stomping several times with increasingly more force until I felt confident to walk out. I made it a good 6 feet, "I think we're good" and sure enough the very next second as Kari put o

ne foot on the ice we both sank past our knees. Kari responded better than I could ever coach someone to, and within 15 minutes we had a fire going in the sun, warming/drying/laughing. But a lesser survival expert could have very easily found the

mselves in a bad situation.

Blistered Feet: I've been reading a lot about the benefits of barefoot running (crazy sounding I know but if you really wanna know i'd love to explain) well, obviously it was way too cold in CO to try it out, but Georgia was perfect! So I set out ignoring the first rule 1. START SMALL, admittedly because I thought this was written for pansies, I'm a redneck from AR, I can take it. About a mile out, distracted by the beautiful spring weather with all its blooms, I didn't notice the blisters forming on every toe and pad. Walking the mile back with blood squishing up between my toes I definitely noticed. A lesser redneck would never run barefoot again, we'll see.

Sun burns: Unknowingly I found myself on the eve of the last ski day at Steamboat which is "crazy dress up day" Without an awesome outfit like Laura's kilt or

a football uniform, I opted for the only thing I had, a pair of swim trunks, and my black bear hat. I HATE putti

ng stuff on my skin, sunscreen, bug repellent, lotion, anything. Needless to say I had some pretty awesome burn lines the next day. A lesser skier would've busted and had road rash

to add to sunburn.

Dehydration: Traveling so much lately has distracted me somewhat from my running regiment for my first marathon. I've only been doing the saturday long runs, with out the small inner week runs. I completed 18 miles fairly easily then missed 2 weeks all together. Yesterday was a good 30 degrees warmer than any of my runs to date, I pre-placed some gatorade, but it wasn't enough. Only 13 miles in I found myself bonking. I took a few walking breaks, but who can let a cute run pass without a bit of rejuvenating effort. This happened enough times to completely drain me, I started cramping/tightening up and in one of the girl induced sprints I tweaked something in my right hammy, even making walking a pain. This is the closest I have ever been to passing out from what I think was dehydration, it was terrible, I laid down next to a lake cuz I thought it would be a peaceful place to die. I was pretty confident in the marathon 2 weeks ago, I wouldn't say I'm panicking (because I don't believe in panicking) but I'm pretty concerned... (lesser comment TBD after May 9)

1st 1st Impression

While I haven't been gone that long (I was home over Christmas) I've only spent about 10 days south of the Mason Dixon Line since I moved to Fort Collins last July. So spending this week in Atlanta in the heart of spring was an awesome culture reshock, and the first time I've ever visited the south from another area.

We rolled in about 10:30 Sunday evening first noticing the perfect temperature and abundance of tanned skin and pretty smiles. Driving to our hotel, I realized how much I missed cruising with the windows down feeling the coolness as you pass over creeks and the sweet smell of spring buds. Next stopping for food we quickly realized we had jumped from a 3% African American city to a 55% city. Mind it was 11:00 Easter Night, and this place was packed! What the heck was going on? But the BBQ and sweet tea soon made it all common sense, why wouldn't everyone be here.

Anyway, our car reminded us the need to crack your windows, then we received a lesson in the amount of pollen spreading in early spring. It was fun to see how much coverage we could get INSIDE the car from a 1 inch gap in the window, also neat to see hand prints on the car where oil collected more pollen. Standing under an oak with the sun angle just right it looked like it was raining. We couldn't stop commenting on how green it was, the perfect temp, the sweet smells, the dog woods, bradford pears, and red-buds all in bloom, how inviting a little pond looked for fishing. (2 of us are from AR, and a third is a redneck) I've also noticed I don't have to constantly force drink water to keep from becoming like dried beef jerky, but it also takes twice as long to dry off.

I think I saw a couple tears today while discussing what time we were flying back and the fact that they just got a couple inches of snow the other night...

Ode to the Mighty Herk-a-lerc

Oh mighty Herk,

You are more perfect than a spork,

You soar far above the clouds if they are low,

With strong tailwinds no one calls you slow,

You are awesome for adventures,

But not for those with dentures,

Oh mighty Herc.

I bet most of you didn't know I am an amazing poet, my sis rubs off on me from time to time.

I've been meaning to do this for awhile now, but it keeps slipping my mind. The C-130 is seriously one of the coolest planes in the AF's inventory. Funny thing about it, I distinctly remember on casual (waiting for flight school) returning from my first C-130 ride, calling dad and saying I still didn't know what I want to fly, but it wasn't the herk. By the time I left my mind had definitely changed and became my top choice. (you can read a previous post about how that happened. The C-130 is by no means the poster child of the AF, but it definitely is the workhorse along with the newer more luxurious C-17. And you wouldn't think so, but the 40 year older herk is FAR more gas efficient.

This past week I got to go Norfolk VA, Gitmo Cuba, St. Croix and back again, with a really fun crew, on a routine run to deliver supplies, mail, etc. Apparently this was a very common thing before the wars kicked off, but since then we have been pre-occupied. As we were making the return jump to VA I laughed and realized I needed to document how awesome the trip was. I'll try to be unbiased as well though.

I'll start with the obvious niceties of the plane that make it the ultimate roadtripper:

- it has a small oven, so toasted sandwiches, pizzas, and cookies are common

- we have water heaters, but usually prefer the cool drinks from the cooler

- after all that you'll be happy to know we have a sit down toilet

- we have 2 crew bunks, but can put in more litters for more nappers, we take turns for napping

- we can put music over the interphone

- we can bring our own ride by loading up a truck

- there are regular plug ins so guitar hero has been played in the back on longer trips (it was monopoly on the lap-top this trip)

To be unbiased: (with the secret pro behind the con)

- the auto-pilot is pretty shady so flyer beware (we actually get to FLY the plane)

- we couldn't climb above 30K because we didn't have necessary equipment, most of the time we can't climb above 24K the plane just can't take it

- we have 4 huge speed brakes called propellers, in strong winds we barely move

- we can't refuel in flight (the last three combine to mean we get to make more stops, seeing more of the world and stay over night in St. Croix)

- in the back you are either freezing or sweating depending on the location of your seat (both warm and cold blooded people are happy)

- we don't have fancy computers to communicate over the ocean, so we make hourly position reports to verify we are still there (you get to say hello to lots of different people)

- no fancy computers for navigation and systems monitoring (we carry a larger crew to party with, always a pro)

We also flew a retired family from VA to WY to go skiing (space A). It was funny to bring the kids up front and see them very unimpressed with the flight deck. Even more funny to hear them screaming in the back as we practiced a rapid descent into an assault landing.

Good first day back

I know I still need to chronicle the adventure that was making it home in time for Christmas, but for now I just wanted the thank God for the beauty of this place and for the joy of fellowship with solid Christian friends. We were getting a thin fresh coat of snow last night as I went to bed so the drive this morning was gorgeous. Just like the post-cards of sparkling frost covered hardwoods and white-tipped evergreens that look more blue than green. The sun was starting to come up and put its first rays on the tops of the mountains giving them a pink glow. The antelope were still somehow surviving the plains, but the buffalo must have been hiding from the snow. Then tonight I got to eat a made from scratch dinner and play games with a couple of really solid believers I work with and one of their wives. Its amazing what a blessing it is and how much joy it brings to be able to instantly connect with people, have that much in common, and build a friendship around that kind of foundation. I came home on a strange high, it was a good day.

Shortest Day Ever

I spent today farther North than ever before and it is the Winter Solstice (Dec 21) so I saw 6h 58m 38s of sunlight (actually never saw the sun despite being up and outside), officially making it the shortest day of my life. Since we were broken we hopped a train to Glasgow for my first international 24 hour period not in uniform. It was pretty awesome. I really enjoy my crew, spending time with them is always fun. (mom doesn’t allow always and nevers) so I have to caveat that with the fact that on every deployment you hit an irritable wall in which all you require is the most impossible thing to find: time and space alone. Sadly I wasn’t immune to this nasty disease and didn’t always have my party pants on, but I apologized, asked forgiveness and everyone forgave me, so I guess we’re ok.

ANYWAY, Iraq doesn’t get you in the Christmas mood nearly as much as you might think, and that bar is probably already set pretty low, so it was pretty exciting driving to our hotel last night seeing well lit Christmas trees in windows and snow on the ground. The Christmas carnival in the main square today helped too, but hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” in one of the shops is exactly what I needed to set me over the top (so I’m listening while I right this). While we were enjoying some haggis, napes & tatties my AC brought to fact that we weren’t flicking flies off of each other and our food, there wasn’t a constant burning poo smell in the air, and he didn’t have to get dressed last night to walk to the restroom.

Better than the scenic train ride across the highlands was learning that some of the guys had flown the other plane to pick up the spare part and maintenance already changed it out and it was ready to make the hop across the pond. They are pretty amazing, just another advantage of the 130, we can carry our own repair team.

Happy Birthday

The Air Force gave me one of the best birthday presents a guy could ask for: A ride out of a combat zone that will eventually take me home (fingers still crossed). It may have had a slightly delayed T/O for weather at our destination taking it to the 20^th instead, but hey.

It was kinda weird getting ready to leave, suddenly things annoying as sandpaper toilet paper weren’t that bad. One Army Lt we saw often in the gym (on a 15 month deployment) couldn’t believe it. When I told him, he just stood there staring off into the distance repeating “WOW” over and over. He never stopped, I finally had to walk off and leave him in his own world of disbelief. Its funny how quickly you create a bond with TCN’s (third country nationals that work on base, mostly from India) you could easily note the tone of longing for home in their voice as well. We have it very nice in the Air Force, I am extremely thankful.

We hit up the capital of Hungry for a gas stop (geography quiz for the day) on a divert from what was our primary stop due to the same poor weather. Brian sent me an email asking if I was ready to trade blowing sand for blowing snow. I thought he meant Cheyenne/Ft. Collins, little did I know he was psychic and knew we would be sledding down a snow covered taxiway. It was so powdery my head had a hard time convincing my eyes it wasn’t sand. It was odd being inside a clean hard walled/floored building again with restrooms big enough to turn around in. We hit the sky again on our way to our next stop and I quickly became educated in the amazing 20* temp change from the top to bottom litter in the back of the plane (four high bunked cots we snooze on). At one point my face was almost sweating while my feet were going numb. Upon landing we received the best news you can get when trying to make it home for Christmas “Your plane is broken and won’t be able to fly tomorrow, maybe longer since getting the part could take awhile considering the weather and time of year.”

Whoops

I don't know what happened, but I just realized I haven't posted at all in Dec. I guess nothing new or exciting has popped up. We still have over a week here but flying is about to finish up, since we brought in all of our own support we have to take it all back with us. This differs from most deployments where there is a constant 130 asset and we just rotate out as crews, so there are some logistic situations to work out.

The Harlem Globetrotters were here last night, they are hilarious and put on a very entertaining show, I just can't say enough about those who come out here and do show after show for very little pay, for small crowds that are far less than motivated to give positive feed back.

Lastly, I have had several people ask about acronyms they have seen, so here you go:

DFAC = Dining FACility

NVG = Night Vision Goggles

WX = Weather

UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

ATOC = Air Transportation Operation Center (best guess) the people who give us our cargo/pax

Pax = passengers

if there are any others just let me know and I'll get 'em up here