Sleepy Valley

Ever want to just move off to some remote piece of land and just be content with what you want to do and not have to deal with the pressures of work/society, etc.? Well, I'm sure everybody does sometimes. I tried to get out today and went on a little trek about an hour from my house in the Dolomite mountains. Winding through the mountains we stumbled on a little trailhead for mountain bikers and hikers and nearby was this little valley. I thought it looked so neat--framed by the jagged rocks and the now red-brown trees. The grass field was so green--it almost looked fake. But my favorite was the little stone mountain hut/house sitting in the middle of it all. I'm sure my sister, Meredith would have loved it too.
So anyway, I'm quitting my job and moving in there. Just kidding--even though it would be so cool.

quote I should apply

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
Johnny Cash

Quote

Robin Olds is very famous in the fighter pilot community. A hero from Vietnam, he's regarded as one of the "wise men" of fighter aviation. I read this quote the other day again and thought that it might explain some of my weird tendencies--as well as that of some of my co-workers:

Fighter pilot is an attitude. It is cockiness. It is aggressiveness. It is self-confidence. It is a streak of rebelliousness, and it is competitiveness. But there's something else - there's a spark. There's a desire to be good. To do well; In the eyes of your peers, and in your own mind.

I think it is love of that blue vault of sky that becomes your playground if, and only if, you are a fighter pilot. You don't understand it if you fly from A to B in straight and level, and merely climb and descend. You're moving through the basement of that bolt of blue.

A fighter pilot is a man in love with flying. A fighter pilot sees not a cloud but beauty. Not the ground but something remote from him, something that he doesn't belong to as long as he is airborne. He's a man who wants to be second-best to no one.

- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Around the world and back again

(Sporting our Croatian Soccer Colors)
Ciao,
It's around 530am and I'm awake because I came home yesterday and crashed around 8pm--so that gave me a lot of sleep. I'm not flying today (otherwise I wouldn't be writing this...because I'd be getting ready for the flight). Some of my friends joke that I "stress out" too much over my flights...and I agree, but it's probably not changing anytime soon.
Anyway, Leslie Allen's words about updating my blog kept ringing in my head this morning as I decided what to do for a couple of hours before work. So here it is.

Post desert happenings: I got on a medivac flight out of Balad to Ramstein AB in Germany. From there we made it to Italy. After getting some blood drawn and my house "powered up" I jumped on a flight to the U.S.. I landed in Nashville, where my older sister, Meredith showcased her standard awesome hospitality and fattened me up with good food and gave a nice bed to sleep in. I visited with her husband, son, my Mom and my younger sister.
All my college friends were in town for the big wedding of Chris and Cristin. The wedding was awesome. I was still jet-lagged. It was actually too much though, because I didn't have time to visit with all my friends. It actually pissed me off that I had to "time-manage" who I got to hang out with. Whatever.
I then jumped on a plane to Vegas. Went through a 2 week course on beeps and squeaks of hi-tech aircraft electronic warfare stuff and then jumped on another plane back to Nashville. I wanted to go visit my friends Mark and Leslie down in Memphis, but didn't have time since my Grandmother is sick and I needed SOME time to visit with her, etc. I got a chance to go fly fishing for a little bit in North-Central Tennessee and a chance to look at some waterfront/rural properties for sale as well.
I missed TN a lot...and the convenience of the U.S. I love Europe and the chance to see everything is great--but I eventually want to get back to the U.S.
I jumped on a plane back to Italy. I landed in Venice and the next day I was back at work getting ready for my first FLUG (flight lead upgrade) sortie. That's been the #1 priority for the last 3 weeks. Everything else has fallen out of my crosscheck (laundry, dishes, haircuts, etc). I've remembered to take showers though (most of the time).
I did take a cool trip the other 3 day weekend with "Trigger", "Rex" and his Italian girlfriend, Daniella. We went to Zagreb, Croatia which is about 4 hours from here. It was awesome. There was a world cup qualifier soccer match going on and we actually got in for free. (Don't ask how). It was Croatia vs. Sweden and Croatia won. It was an amazing experience---nothing like any American sporting event. Luckily I didn't get mauled by any soccer hooligans. It never got too out of hand. But my friend Rex did.
Well, I'm out. I've got to find a clean flight suit for work.
Ciao
Ed