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