Well, I find myself sitting in front of the computer here at work at 0100 in the morning on a night when I'm not even on watch. I'm actually on one of the standby alert crews and I had a perfectly good episode of house interrupted by the cell phone calling me into work. You should see the smile on my face!
Anyway, as some of you may have noticed, I've placed a link to the Allen family blog that Tricia is maintaining from Guam. You should check it out. It makes for wonderful reading and I promise that is more interesting than my ramblings. They even apparently met the Broncos' cheerleaders the other day. It figures. I was living in South America the two years they won the Super Bowl and now when they decide to randomly visit Guam (GUAM!) it happens to be while I'm off island.
We're not entirely destitute out here. Just last week Scarlett Johansen was here at Camp Beuhring signing autographs and taking pictures with the troops. Unfortunately I was on 1st Up duty (no more than 200 feet away from our helicopter for 24 hours) so I wasn't able to go admire her....acting abilities....in person. Some of the guys went up there, though and said that she was very nice.
I was supposed to fly today. Twice! Unfortunately, due to mechanical problems those two flights turned to none. I was going to say they quickly turned to none, but the truth is that when you spend 11 hours sitting around the squadron waiting for the word that your helicopter is ready to go time really doesn't go by that quickly. I did get to watch the 2006 remake of the classic horror flick "The Omen". I'm never sure why modern film makers think that it's a good idea to take an absolute classic, throw modern actors into it, then re-film it almost scene for scene. It wasn't a bad movie, I'm just not sure why they made it. It was really nowhere nearly as scary as the original. I'll have to watch that one again sometime to be sure.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Another week gone by.
Well, it's been (roughly) one week since my last post. It's been a fairly fun-filled week, but I'll get to that later.
First, I need to quickly address some issues I've been seeing in my email and in the comments section of the blog. This may be unpleasant, but it has to happen. I do not now, nor at any time in the future will I have the mustache again. I am as clean shaven as the day I was born. It's not that I have anything against mustaches. Frankly there are a few people out there who look good with a little under-nose hair. I think my step-dad looks great with it. Many of history's greatest tyrannical dictators just wouldn't have been the same without theirs. Stalin even famously had a guy imprisoned for making reference to his. Unfortunately, I happen to fall into the other 99.87% of males who suffer from the malady of "if I grow a mustache, I will only end up looking like someone who would attract a police escort within 100 yards of a junior high." Most men with this unfortunate condition are also cursed with a family who is supportive enough to stand behind them quietly while they go through their little Burt Reynolds stages. Thankfully, I am not. I did find it odd last time that all of the 'stache supporters were anonymous (with the exception of Michenna, but I'm pretty sure she just liked it because Tricia didn't) while the haters were very public and open with their opposition. So long story short (too late!) the 'stache is dead.
Next item for the soapbox: I really appreciate everyone writing to expound on my virtues as an essayist. However, as everyone who really knows me will know, I am a shy, introverted person by nature and tend to get uncomfortable when praised so lavishly. Regardless of how true it may be or how deserved such praise (and much, much more) really is. I guess in other words, you're making me blush and it's embarrasing.
All right, on to this week's activities. On Monday night we went out on a training flight to try to hone my tactical flying skills. Unfortunately we were forced to return to base about a fourth of the way into the flight because for some reason the fuel fumes in the back were bad enough that our second crewman was feeling nautious (sp?). Now, the 60S is a beautiful piece of fine machinery and for the most part is fairly fume-free, but there is always some smell since the aerodynamics of the air flow around the engine tend to push the exhaust fumes directly back into the cabin in all but the highest-speed flight regimes. This time, however it was a little more than we were used to dealing with. So we turned around and came home. No harm, no foul.
About 2 hours later I was called back in from my trailer because the 1st Up crew was launching on a medevac and we needed to go stand 2nd Up while they were gone. The medevac they launched on was from the clinic right next to the trailers so the helicopter flew right over me on their way to the pad. I decided to stop to watch them land -- I know I do it for a living, but it still gives me a thrill to be around these machines. I quickly realized my mistake as I watched the dust cloud from the rotor-wash come screaming toward me and ended up swallowing about a pound of the desert's finest. It was still cool to see them land, once I could see again.
At about 2300 they informed us that we would have to come back in again the next day at 0500. This time we would actually be the ones flying into Iraq to do the medevac. Now, I love flying, but doing so while sleep-deprived is not high on my list of favorite activities. Thankfully the flight was uneventful and I was able to go home and sleep afterword. Then last night I was on the PM watch and got to watch the Kentucky - Tennessee basketball game on TV. I really didn't care who won, but it was good background noise and it turned out to be a great game.
While I was on watch I was unable to feed my latest addiction. As you may recall from my first trip to Happyland, we fight boredom here with no less resolve than Davy Crockett at the Alamo (the heroic Davy, not the cowardly one some historians think may be more acurate). During the last trip I got caught up in "Battlestar Gallactica" and "Entourage" to pass the time. This time around I got my hands on the first season of "House" and may never be the same. If you've never seen it (as I hadn't before I got here) I would recommend giving it a try.
All right. That's my update for now. So until next time something exciting happens, I hope that you're all doing well. Take care.
First, I need to quickly address some issues I've been seeing in my email and in the comments section of the blog. This may be unpleasant, but it has to happen. I do not now, nor at any time in the future will I have the mustache again. I am as clean shaven as the day I was born. It's not that I have anything against mustaches. Frankly there are a few people out there who look good with a little under-nose hair. I think my step-dad looks great with it. Many of history's greatest tyrannical dictators just wouldn't have been the same without theirs. Stalin even famously had a guy imprisoned for making reference to his. Unfortunately, I happen to fall into the other 99.87% of males who suffer from the malady of "if I grow a mustache, I will only end up looking like someone who would attract a police escort within 100 yards of a junior high." Most men with this unfortunate condition are also cursed with a family who is supportive enough to stand behind them quietly while they go through their little Burt Reynolds stages. Thankfully, I am not. I did find it odd last time that all of the 'stache supporters were anonymous (with the exception of Michenna, but I'm pretty sure she just liked it because Tricia didn't) while the haters were very public and open with their opposition. So long story short (too late!) the 'stache is dead.
Next item for the soapbox: I really appreciate everyone writing to expound on my virtues as an essayist. However, as everyone who really knows me will know, I am a shy, introverted person by nature and tend to get uncomfortable when praised so lavishly. Regardless of how true it may be or how deserved such praise (and much, much more) really is. I guess in other words, you're making me blush and it's embarrasing.
All right, on to this week's activities. On Monday night we went out on a training flight to try to hone my tactical flying skills. Unfortunately we were forced to return to base about a fourth of the way into the flight because for some reason the fuel fumes in the back were bad enough that our second crewman was feeling nautious (sp?). Now, the 60S is a beautiful piece of fine machinery and for the most part is fairly fume-free, but there is always some smell since the aerodynamics of the air flow around the engine tend to push the exhaust fumes directly back into the cabin in all but the highest-speed flight regimes. This time, however it was a little more than we were used to dealing with. So we turned around and came home. No harm, no foul.
About 2 hours later I was called back in from my trailer because the 1st Up crew was launching on a medevac and we needed to go stand 2nd Up while they were gone. The medevac they launched on was from the clinic right next to the trailers so the helicopter flew right over me on their way to the pad. I decided to stop to watch them land -- I know I do it for a living, but it still gives me a thrill to be around these machines. I quickly realized my mistake as I watched the dust cloud from the rotor-wash come screaming toward me and ended up swallowing about a pound of the desert's finest. It was still cool to see them land, once I could see again.
At about 2300 they informed us that we would have to come back in again the next day at 0500. This time we would actually be the ones flying into Iraq to do the medevac. Now, I love flying, but doing so while sleep-deprived is not high on my list of favorite activities. Thankfully the flight was uneventful and I was able to go home and sleep afterword. Then last night I was on the PM watch and got to watch the Kentucky - Tennessee basketball game on TV. I really didn't care who won, but it was good background noise and it turned out to be a great game.
While I was on watch I was unable to feed my latest addiction. As you may recall from my first trip to Happyland, we fight boredom here with no less resolve than Davy Crockett at the Alamo (the heroic Davy, not the cowardly one some historians think may be more acurate). During the last trip I got caught up in "Battlestar Gallactica" and "Entourage" to pass the time. This time around I got my hands on the first season of "House" and may never be the same. If you've never seen it (as I hadn't before I got here) I would recommend giving it a try.
All right. That's my update for now. So until next time something exciting happens, I hope that you're all doing well. Take care.
Friday, January 18, 2008
5AM and All's Well
Well loyal readers. I know that you breathlessly anticipate every word my nimble fingers type on this here blog so I try not to disappoint. Tonight I've been on watch all night. It's been a quiet night which seems to be the kind I always draw. I'm by no means complaining, but I'd like the opportunity at least once to wake everyone up by yelling "medevac, medevac, medevac" into the radios.
For tonight's entertainment, since there was no football on, we began the evening by watching some of the first season of lost. After that we progressed to "The Manchurian Candidate" and now "3:10 to Yuma" which I've already seen. There are certainly times when fighting terrorism takes a back seat to fighting boredom.
I take great comfort in the fact that in about 3 hours I will be sleeping peacefully back at my trailer. This will throw my sleep schedule off, but I'll get over it. I probably won't get breakfast today, but I don't get breakfast any day to be honest. Unfortunately it comes down to one of two scenarios. Either I have to be to work really early in the morning in which case I opt for the extra 45 minutes of sleep I would have to sacrifice in order to eat breakfast or else I don't have to be to work really early in the morning in which case I don't wake up in time to eat breakfast. All right, all right. I can hear those of you out there who know me shouting that I haven't actually eaten breakfast since the first President Bush was in office and you're right, but I'm desperate for something to write here.
Ironically enough, right as I was finishing up that last paragraph, AW2 Crisp (the enlisted watchstander) walked in with a box of breakfast burritos for me. Very nice! It's giving me a chance to try the bottle of "Kick'n Kajun" Habanero Hot Sauce that I've been eyeing on top of the squadron fridge for a while. I haven't the faintest idea how long it's been sitting there, but hot sauce only gets better with age, right?
For tonight's entertainment, since there was no football on, we began the evening by watching some of the first season of lost. After that we progressed to "The Manchurian Candidate" and now "3:10 to Yuma" which I've already seen. There are certainly times when fighting terrorism takes a back seat to fighting boredom.
I take great comfort in the fact that in about 3 hours I will be sleeping peacefully back at my trailer. This will throw my sleep schedule off, but I'll get over it. I probably won't get breakfast today, but I don't get breakfast any day to be honest. Unfortunately it comes down to one of two scenarios. Either I have to be to work really early in the morning in which case I opt for the extra 45 minutes of sleep I would have to sacrifice in order to eat breakfast or else I don't have to be to work really early in the morning in which case I don't wake up in time to eat breakfast. All right, all right. I can hear those of you out there who know me shouting that I haven't actually eaten breakfast since the first President Bush was in office and you're right, but I'm desperate for something to write here.
Ironically enough, right as I was finishing up that last paragraph, AW2 Crisp (the enlisted watchstander) walked in with a box of breakfast burritos for me. Very nice! It's giving me a chance to try the bottle of "Kick'n Kajun" Habanero Hot Sauce that I've been eyeing on top of the squadron fridge for a while. I haven't the faintest idea how long it's been sitting there, but hot sauce only gets better with age, right?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Medevac. Taste it again...for the first time.
Well, last night was my first medevac since I got here. It was ten o'clock at night and I was just about to ponder the depths of reality and the insides of my eyelids when my crewchief walked into the room and said that we were getting ready to launch. There was a soldier at one of the bases in Iraq who was having some eye problems and needed to be moved to a larger hospital to get treated.
So I jumped out of bed and threw on my long-johns (it was about 2 degrees C) and my flight suit. I then grabbed my helmet, body armor, M-16, 9mm, and night-vision goggles and stumbled out to my awaiting chariot. By this point in time I looked like a cross between G.I. Joe and that poor little bugger from "A Christmas Story" who can't put his arms down for all the layers he's wearing. Once at the bird, I started up our auxilary generator and started to get myself settled for a long night. I was flying with our Executive Officer (2nd down on my chain of command below only the CO) so I was being very careful not to mess anything up.
About 10 minutes later we launched into a starry desert sky for the first leg of our journey. The skills that I had developed on my last trip out here (flying in formation, etc.) proved to be very perishable and the late hour was not helping much. I felt like I was about 30 seconds behind the aircraft and trying to catch up. Thankfully, the XO was anticipating this and was carefully watching to make sure that I didn't do anything too crazy. I felt like I had gone from the IR list straight to the varsity team.
The flight was pretty uneventful and the soldier got to where he needed to be safely. We had a pretty kicking tailwind on the way back home so I was able to get back to my bunk and continue my comunion with my eyelids before too long. And commune I did.
So I jumped out of bed and threw on my long-johns (it was about 2 degrees C) and my flight suit. I then grabbed my helmet, body armor, M-16, 9mm, and night-vision goggles and stumbled out to my awaiting chariot. By this point in time I looked like a cross between G.I. Joe and that poor little bugger from "A Christmas Story" who can't put his arms down for all the layers he's wearing. Once at the bird, I started up our auxilary generator and started to get myself settled for a long night. I was flying with our Executive Officer (2nd down on my chain of command below only the CO) so I was being very careful not to mess anything up.
About 10 minutes later we launched into a starry desert sky for the first leg of our journey. The skills that I had developed on my last trip out here (flying in formation, etc.) proved to be very perishable and the late hour was not helping much. I felt like I was about 30 seconds behind the aircraft and trying to catch up. Thankfully, the XO was anticipating this and was carefully watching to make sure that I didn't do anything too crazy. I felt like I had gone from the IR list straight to the varsity team.
The flight was pretty uneventful and the soldier got to where he needed to be safely. We had a pretty kicking tailwind on the way back home so I was able to get back to my bunk and continue my comunion with my eyelids before too long. And commune I did.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Back...to the Desert
That's right. I'm officially back in Kuwait now. The Air Ambulance det is pretty much the same as when I left it last. Because I was already out here once I don't have to do all of the area flights again in order to be on the alert so I'll be starting to fly the alert early next week. I would be on it sooner, but I'm trying to squeeze it so that I'm on the ODO watch tomorow night so that I can see the football games. One of the advantages to being the guy who writes the flight schedule every day, I guess.
Anyway, this time the government travel folks were generous enough to ensure that we spent some quality time in exotic locations on the way out here. I got to spend a joyous 12 hours in Nagoya, Japan. The good news about that particular stop-over is that we were able to leave the airport and see a little bit of the town. Of course, the fact that I could write every Japanese word I know on the back of a postage stamp definitely limited my ability to see a whole lot. We basically stayed within about a 100 yard radius of the train station for fear of getting so turned around that we wouldn't be able to make it back.
After our time in Nagoya we hopped on our follow up flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The flight was an overnighter where I spent 13+ hours cursing my inability to fall asleep on airplanes and perusing Emirate Airlines movie selection.
Aside - American air lines (not the company, just American carriers in general) can't hold a candle to the foreign air lines I've been able to fly since I got out to Guam. If you want good food, friendly service, and comfortable seats I highly recomend the foreign guys.
Anyway, I watched "3:10 to Yuma" shortly after take-off. It wasn't a bad movie as far as Westerns where very bad guys and reluctant good guys spend 90 minutes shooting at each other are concerned. I'm not entirely sure what the plot was, but I think it had something to do with water and trains. Or maybe it was horses and milk...In all fairness, I was watching the airline-edited version (which had some of the best dubbing I've seen) so for all I know they cut out the scene where the plot was explained. Anyway, it was very well made and the acting was quite good.
When we reached Dubai, we were ecstatic (sp?) to find that we would be enjoying another 8 hours in that fine city before we took off for Kuwait City. We were somewhat less thrilled to learn that we wouldn't be allowed to leave the airport because they only allowed that for people with greater than 8 hours of layover. Luckily, after wandering aimlessly through the terminal for about an hour we found an Irish Pub in the middle of the airport and were able to pass the next 7 hours there. It was quite the authentic Irish pub, except for the fact that it was decorated for some reason like a fishermen's wharf and the three beers they had on tap -- not for me, but the other pilot I was with was getting his last rounds in since Kuwait allows no alcohol -- were Dutch, Australian, and German.
After that, it was pretty smooth sailing to Kuwait. One thing I am greatful for is that we arrived in Kuwait at 4:30 in the afternoon which is infinitely better than getting here at 4:30 AM like last time.
Anyway, now for the desert. The hot, sandy wasteland that I left (see my previous posts referencing various things melting to various other things) is now a cold, wet, sandy wasteland. The temperatures that we used to see in Celsius are now available to us in Farenheit. I. E., instead of being 45 degrees C (about 113 F) in the afternoon, it now peaks at about 45 F. And it rains. I think I prefered it when it was hot. At least the heaters in our rooms work well.
Well, kids, that's about all that I have for now. I've gotta get back to writing the schedule, or at least pretending to.
Anyway, this time the government travel folks were generous enough to ensure that we spent some quality time in exotic locations on the way out here. I got to spend a joyous 12 hours in Nagoya, Japan. The good news about that particular stop-over is that we were able to leave the airport and see a little bit of the town. Of course, the fact that I could write every Japanese word I know on the back of a postage stamp definitely limited my ability to see a whole lot. We basically stayed within about a 100 yard radius of the train station for fear of getting so turned around that we wouldn't be able to make it back.
After our time in Nagoya we hopped on our follow up flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The flight was an overnighter where I spent 13+ hours cursing my inability to fall asleep on airplanes and perusing Emirate Airlines movie selection.
Aside - American air lines (not the company, just American carriers in general) can't hold a candle to the foreign air lines I've been able to fly since I got out to Guam. If you want good food, friendly service, and comfortable seats I highly recomend the foreign guys.
Anyway, I watched "3:10 to Yuma" shortly after take-off. It wasn't a bad movie as far as Westerns where very bad guys and reluctant good guys spend 90 minutes shooting at each other are concerned. I'm not entirely sure what the plot was, but I think it had something to do with water and trains. Or maybe it was horses and milk...In all fairness, I was watching the airline-edited version (which had some of the best dubbing I've seen) so for all I know they cut out the scene where the plot was explained. Anyway, it was very well made and the acting was quite good.
When we reached Dubai, we were ecstatic (sp?) to find that we would be enjoying another 8 hours in that fine city before we took off for Kuwait City. We were somewhat less thrilled to learn that we wouldn't be allowed to leave the airport because they only allowed that for people with greater than 8 hours of layover. Luckily, after wandering aimlessly through the terminal for about an hour we found an Irish Pub in the middle of the airport and were able to pass the next 7 hours there. It was quite the authentic Irish pub, except for the fact that it was decorated for some reason like a fishermen's wharf and the three beers they had on tap -- not for me, but the other pilot I was with was getting his last rounds in since Kuwait allows no alcohol -- were Dutch, Australian, and German.
After that, it was pretty smooth sailing to Kuwait. One thing I am greatful for is that we arrived in Kuwait at 4:30 in the afternoon which is infinitely better than getting here at 4:30 AM like last time.
Anyway, now for the desert. The hot, sandy wasteland that I left (see my previous posts referencing various things melting to various other things) is now a cold, wet, sandy wasteland. The temperatures that we used to see in Celsius are now available to us in Farenheit. I. E., instead of being 45 degrees C (about 113 F) in the afternoon, it now peaks at about 45 F. And it rains. I think I prefered it when it was hot. At least the heaters in our rooms work well.
Well, kids, that's about all that I have for now. I've gotta get back to writing the schedule, or at least pretending to.
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