anyone lived in a pretty how town...

This poem perplexes me... I suppose that's part of the appeal of it. Thanks Ms. Whiteman for turning me (back) on to it!!!

anyone lived in a pretty how town...

ee cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

Stuck in Germany

...so I'm stuck at the R.O.B. (Rhine Ordnance Barracks) in Germany which is pretty close to Ramstein Air Base.

I don't think it's possible to sleep more than 4 hours at a time here. I went to sleep at 11pm and was up, wide awake, at 3:15am. I've got almost 4 hours to kill before breakfast. (This is a repeat from yesterday morning as well).

We've been here for 3 days now and could push out for another 4 or 5 days before we actually fly out.
PLAN B is for us to take a BUS (yes I said Bus) from here to Kosovo. That works out to 1,085 miles with 18 hours of straight driving - from a "car's" perspective so I would imagine that it'll be longer in a bus. When leadership asked us (the 43 of us) if we minded sitting on a bus for up to 36 hours, they got a bunch of blank stares... primarily because I don't think any of us could imagine sitting on a bus for 36 hours.

On a side note, I'm FINALLY back to working out after my 14 day hiatus due to leave. I only biked for 30 minutes yesterday and it was ROUGH. Will bike again today.

2-week R & R

whirlwind tour! (from April 28th to May 9th)

Wed - landed in Lexington in the evening, went home and wrestled with the babies
Thur - Elijah missed school to play with Daddy, bought Elijah his first bicycle (w/training wheels). a bright yellow one.
Fri - Nicole and I went to Newport on the Levee and ate dinner at Brio's, an italian place (phenomenal steak!) spent the night at Embassy Suites
Sat - Nicole and I walked around a rainy Covington (next to the river) and had lunch at 10 West before coming back to Versailles - church at Quest in the evening,
Sun - picked up the truck and had Life Group with Jon Weisner - Elijah & Kylie LOVE the truck.
Mon - Grilled out burgers with the family and almost set the entire house on fire! (time for a new grill... or perhaps a new griller-outer)
Tues - Date Night to Azur restaurant with Nicole and drinks with CJ and my brother Chris (great to catch up)
Wed - Played all morning, lunch with Brian Stakelin & Jon Weisner, then Church
Thur - Elijah went to school & after that the family went to the Louisville Zoo and Lynn's restaurant in Louisville
Fri - playing on the slip n' slide - Elijah & Kylie climbing ladders with Daddy & out to eat with my mom, David, Chris and the family at O'Charlies in Frankfort for Mothers Day
Sat - cold, rainy day (intended to play in the pool) went to Shilito Park in Lexington and played all morning, Church in the evening
Sun - board the plane...

POST-TRIP:
Sun-Mon - trans-atlantic flight delayed from 4:30pm to 11:00pm. Hung out in the USO.
Mon - missed bus from Frankfurt to R.O.B. due to delay... had to get on another bus going "close" to my destination, make a series of cryptic phone calls from a random guard shack and explain to the R.O.B. where I was & why I was there - then waited for Junior to come pick me up in the yellow bus (literally).
Tues - Channel Flight delayed. Went to the airport at 5am to find this out, only to turn around and come back to the ROB... only to turn around AGAIN and go back to the airport, to get delayed again and then come back to the ROB. It was fun.
(will post pictures and video of everything once I can pull them off my camera!)

Cigarette Packaging Repost...

This is a re-posting from Nicole's cousin's blog... "Hello & Wave" by Eric Mayville (http://hello.ericmayville.com/)...

This is mainly for my Mom... thought she would get a kick out of this (:

Excellente Packaging!

2-week R & R

Currently at the R.O.B. (Rhine Ordinance Barracks) in Germany... on day 1 of my journey back to the states for my 2 week leave from this deployment! I should be getting in to Lexington, Ky around 7:30PM though it'll feel like 1:30am due to the time change (: I'll be on such an adrenaline rush seeing my family that it won't matter I'm positive!

This'll be a welcome 2-weeks home. I wasn't able to sleep last night due to the excitement and I'm SURE I won't be able to sleep tonight!!

Can't wait to see how big my little ones have gotten and how amazingly beautiful my wife has grown.

Elijah & Matt 19:14

This is ABSOLUTELY a blessing to me...

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Kosovo - Strpce Valley Sunset

We flew to the Italian Camp "Villagio Italia" last night for a mission and got to eat a nice italian dinner and walk around the camp...

This valley "STRPCE" is one of the ways to get to there... we were flying thru at sunset.
___________________________________
Below is NOT the restaurant at Villagio Italia... (:

On Wednesday night, we left Bondsteel and had dinner in town at one of the nearby restaurants, "The Castle". It was a kind of bed n' breakfast - so we asked to see the hotel rooms.



The room below is 25 Euro a night. (crazy!)

"When the Unqualified are Qualified"

Excerpt from the book: "Messy Spirituality" by Michael Yaconelli

-When the Unqualified are Qualified-

"Walking by a pet shop on his way to school, a young boy stopped and stared through the window. Inside were four black puppies playing together. After school he ran home and pleaded with his mother to let him have one of the puppies. 'I'll take care of it, Mom, I will. If you can just give me an advance on my allowance, I'll have enough money to buy one with my own money. Please, Mom, please.'

The mother, knowing full well the complications having a new puppy would bring to a busy household, could not resist her son. 'Okay, you can get the puppy, but I will expect you to take care of it.'

'Yes, Mom. I will.' Filled with excitement, the little boy ran to the pet shop to buy his new puppy.

After determining that the boy had enough money, the pet shop owner brought him to the window to choose his puppy. After a few minutes, the young boy said, 'Um... I'll take the little one in the corner.'

'Oh no,' said the shop owner, ' not that one; he's crippled. Notice how he just sits there; something is wrong with one of his legs, so he can't run and play like the rest of the puppies. Choose another one.'

Without saying a word, the boy reached down, lifted his pant leg to expose a chrome leg brace to the owner.

'No,' he said firmly. 'I think I'll take the puppy in the corner.'

It turned out that what disqualified the puppy from being chosen by others is what most qualified him to be chosen by the little boy.

It's amazing how few of us believe in the unqualified grace of God. Oh, yes, God loves us, as long as we're clean and whole and fixed. But it turns out that what disqualifies you and me from 'spirituality' - the mess of our lives and our crippledness - is what most qualifies us to be chosen by Jesus."

("Messy Spirituality" was one of the books given to me by Charlie, one of the guys in my life group at Quest - Thanks Charlie!)

Children 18:3

Children 18:3 - Homemade Valentine

Elijah Robert playing in the backyard - again, another video by my wonderful sister-in-law, Ange!

A precious video of my 2-year old daughter, Kylie Sophia, playing in our backyard - put together by my wonderful sister-in-law, 'Aunt' Ange!

Pictures from April-ish 2010.

Dennis awarded me the "172" hour accident free flying award... as he didn't want me to feel left out from those who were receiving their 500hr award. (I was party to one of the infamous Hunnicut incidents about 172 flight hours ago).


...a classic example of "construction" in Kosovo. The top floor of this building is made up by sticks.


Miles and I next to a foreign military vehicle.


Parking in Kosovo can be difficult sometimes... so we celebrate small victories (:


Marcus and I flew some peeps into Camp Casablanca - Austrian/Swiss base camp.


a unique piece of artwork at Camp Casablanca.


a swiss military vehicle


I think this is where they hold church service / mass... a cool place to worship! (also camp casablanca)


a working swiss army knife holds the door shut...


Marcus and I next to some more interesting artwork at Camp Casablanca.


Jeff and I were sitting in refuel... decided to take a picture (:

Amazing Grace & The Tax Collector...

The Parable of the Pharisee & The Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14 New Living Translation

"Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector.

The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'

...But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

These are two of my favorite things to help keep my relationship with Christ in perspective... Amazing Grace, written by John Newton in 1779, and Luke 18:9-14 "Jesus' parable of the Pharisee & the Tax Collector"

A real, authentic relationship with your Creator is the only thing that matters. Everything else simply falls into place when you keep this perspective. I am this tax collector each and every day.

When the rest of the world fails you (as it constantly does) there is one constant and that is Jesus Christ.

Crazy Dream.

See if I can type this out quicker than I'm forgetting it...
(-obviously there's always more to a dream, but this is the nuts & bolts)
Elijah (my 4-year old) and I were driving around in a car - talking and joking. We suddenly we crashed into water - a pond or lake - and sunk 50 or so feet. I was desperately trying to get out of the car AND get Elijah out of the car (because obviously I wasn't leaving the car without him). After struggling and struggling, I finally get him out. I'm completely out of oxygen and he's already passed out and I'm swimming and kicking like crazy to get both of us to the top. I'm confident that we're both going to survive but panicking at the same time because.. well... we were fifty feet under water and I had no more oxygen!
We finally made it to the top and Elijah was revived. We left there and found Nicole and Kylie (my 2-year old) and they wanted to go see the crash. When we got there, the car was only sitting in 2 inches of water- and had always been in only 2 inches of water.
So we sat there, trying to figure out how I had floated 50 feet in the air to get to the top where the lake should have been and where the shore started (as it was some type of sudden drop-off).

That's pretty much where it left off, as Nicole called me on skype and woke me from my slumber - which is always a pleasant surprise.

Ironman Training + flying (a LOT)

This Ironman training isn't going how I'd like it to go (: I'm refusing to get worked up about it though as I DECIDED to sign up for this race as something to look forward to and not a burden!

I'm not planning on winning it, just finishing and as I see it... I've got 16 hours and 15 minutes (if I'm the very last person in the water) to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles.
Yes these individual events are broken down into mandatory finish times... but big picture is over 16 hours (:
I still, as of yet, have no concrete training plan - only a mental picture of what it "should" look like. Right now, I try to alternate running and biking and going at least an hour when I do get out there. Also trying to incorporate some upper body strength training but have done something to my back or ribs or something and have decided it's best to lay low on the strength training until I'm better healed (that is EXTREMELY frustrating).
I have 18 days before I go on my two-week leave and need to make the most of my time as well because I KNOW I won't be doing training when I'm there.
Since making Pilot-in-Command, I've been busier than I was whilst TRYING to make PC. I get Tuesday and Wednesday off - but prior to that will not have had a day off in 13 days... due to both running flight operations and flying a bunch. I've logged more flight time in a week than I did the previous month almost. This is good and I'm really enjoying it... but ultimately it equals less training time.
Will post pictures very soon.

Corrie Ten Boom

Quotes by Corrie Ten Boom.

"There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still."

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength"

First flight as PC

Please play video while viewing pictures (yes. it's necessary.)

-My first flight as a PC included losing navigation equipment, almost going inadvertant IMC (into the clouds) and Jack Daniels Whiskey, though we survived to fly another day.

(You'll have to ask me about the Whiskey...)


First Flight as Pilot-in-Command... 866 with Miles, Matt and Billy. This was 1st platoon, Bravo Company all the way. The Platoon Leader, Assistant Platoon leader, most senior crew chief and newest crew chief in the company (used strategery and designed it this way) (:
2 hours flying a VIP around.


Immediately after the first flight... you can still see all the lights on in the cockpit + the red button (don't EVER touch the red button)


Blackhawk 100 feet overhead... I love helicopters.


We had a mission with the Croatians. They fly the MI-171sh.


We were waiting on our passengers to come back...


Notice the castle ruins in the background...


This is my fourth flight as PC... we're waiting on the Sergeant Major of the Army to get done with his meeting - got a coin from it!





My turn to park the aircraft (:

(it's harder than it looks to put that sucker on the line!)

Kylie and Elijah are holding Daddy's "Army" cups and taking them to the park. That's where I'll be headed in 35 days - to the park with my beautiful wife and my two little ones!

Can't wait!

PC status...

Well I'm officially a PC in Bravo Co 2-147! I got signed off by my SP (Standardization Instructor Pilot) and today - my Company Commander.

I have my first flight with my "assistant" platoon leader - a relatively new Pilot this Wednesday. We're doing a relatively easy mission for my first flight and I'm going to go have lunch in Film City.

Will post pics of my first flight! (:

(sigh) time to move on to something else. ... ie. Ironman Training (:

Checkrides complete.

I got instrument "PC" checkride complete last night!

Now, all I'm waiting on is the commander's signature to sign me off as a Pilot-in-Command.

It's ironic, because I feel that this is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders - when in all actuality it's quite a bit more weight put ONTO my shoulders with the added responsibility now.

Regardless, I'm excited at the chance...

In other news, I'm cycling back to days (off of night shift) starting Sunday. Think I'm going to pull an all nighter just to reset myself. I was up until 6:30am this morning and slept in until 1pm... I'd just like to get the transition over with so am electing to go to bed Saturday night (:

...we'll see how it works out.

instrument checkride?

...still not done with my instrument checkride.

I passed my NVG checkride a week ago- and was signed off as a capable Pilot-in-Command (hesitate to even mention the latter... so as not to jinx myself and have to come back and explain WHY I still haven't made PC, if I continue to blow my Instrument ride).

I had my instrument ride with a different IP (Instructor Pilot) and was "spun up like a top" as he described me. It was the fifth time I'd tried to take this ride - being cancelled due to weather the previous times - and I think I'd gotten checkride-itis. Needless to say I didn't 'pass'.

Now, I'm in a progressive checkride, meaning that I'm being evaluated over several flights. This is fine by me... but stressful none-the-less. I'm ready to move on to something else!!!

I don't THINK I'm flying tonight, but who knows... likely it'll be tomorrow night.

Hopefully, we'll be done by then (:

Seventh Day Slumber - From the Inside Out

Family

Ugh. I feel like I've been swamped at work.

-Trying to get my checkrides complete (and wanting to do well).

-Sudo-commander for the next week and all the extra responsibility that comes with that.

-trying to make progress on the distance learning captains career course

-continuing to run and oversee daily operations in the unit

I haven't REALLY talked to my family in two weeks... just short stints of time. That takes a toll on my emotional energy - when I get to talk to them, it recharges my batteries.

really engaging Nicole and getting to hear my little ones voices. Kylie's vocabulary is getting so big - she's only 2 and we're already talking about playing "Basketbowl" (definitely with Nicole's slight country accent) outside.

(also not training like I should be the last two weeks... it's probably safe to say, I'm lucky to even make it to the gym most days).

Some days, you just gotta be defiant. Things need to get done - and you have to do them.

NVG Checkride

1 checkride down... 1 to go. I just took my Night Vision Goggle Checkride (imagine flying at night, looking only thru the hole in a toilet paper roll).

In a few days, I've got my instrument checkride OR whenever the weather allows...

We started at 6pm and ended everything (oral evaluation & flight included) around 2:30am.

During my NVG checkride, I had all my radio switches turned down, had the guy next to me flying like he'd never been in a helichopper before, went simulated inadvertant IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) or accidently flying into the clouds - did a bunch of simulated emergency procedures - screwed up a lot of things and answered a lot of questions wrong... but it's not a real checkride until you've decided you failed it.

I passed. (:

In other news... yesterday was mid-50's and beautiful. Today: looks like we're in a Christmas snow globe. There's several inches of snow on the ground and it's still coming down. Pretty, really... but still represents the fact that we're not out of winter yet (sigh).

Checkride-itis

I take my Night Vision Goggle (NVG) standardization ride tonight. We're required to take 2 checkrides once a year in our aircraft. One under goggles, and one on instruments. I don't get nervous TOO much... but I do get nervous about this more than anything else (: It's what aviators affectionately refer to as "checkride-itis" where you become stupid, can't remember ANYTHING you've studied and can't fly the helicopter with any skill what-so-ever.




In the last 2 or 3 days, I've brushed up on:

-regulations & Publications
-local requirements for this airspace
-aircraft systems, avionics & mission equipment
-operating limitations & restrictions
-aircraft emergency procedures
-aeromedical factors
-aerodynamics
-night mission operations
-tactical and mission operations
-night vision goggle operations

(**for those of you in Army Aviation, you may recognize this comes directly from TC 1-237, The Aircrew Training Manual)

Well, I'm now 5 hours from checkride. probably ganna study a little more and then shoot myself in the face.

My little girl's birthday!

It's Kylie's 2nd birthday today... guess how old she is?!

I think it was a blessing today for the whole family to celebrate her birthday... they had a party in the morning for Kylie and in the afternoon had Papa's visitation. This kept the family in good spirits. Wish I could have been there...

Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl. I'll be home soon.

Kosovo Extracurricular Activities

Thought I'd share some of the things that have been keeping me busy while deployed that didn't include helichoppers...



We had about 6" of snow and once it started warming up the snow slid off the roofs and hung there for quite a while...



While Maj. Gen. Tonini was here, we watched the UK Basketball Game...


This is "Gabby the cat" whom we've adopted in our hangar (where we keep our aircraft). He lifts everyone's spirits...


1SG takes everyone out-to-eat and bowling on Wednesday evenings... this is the craziest bowling alley I've ever been to.


We've had several EPIC games of dodgeball since being here... the picture says it all.


"Trunk's Beefcake" (that's what's on the plate... beef & cake)


killer game of dodgeball...


This is where we were volunteering with a local highschool - helping to teach english. Today we're playing dodgeball with them (Christmas Eve). Trunk is attempting to destroy someone's face with a dodgeball.


everybody gets to learn CPR (and how to use a defibrillator)

CLEAR!



I participated in the DANCON March at the end of November - -16 miles with a 23lb rucksack up some serious hills.
I finished with a bunch of international participants and we got our picture taken.

Long story short, my face is on some billboard at the French Camp (I think) in Northern Kosovo.


I play the drums (or handbells as my commander likes to say) for the weekly protestant worship service on Sundays. We make a "joyful noise" more than anything else. (note: the bells on the glass don't help my case in the "handbell" accusation - of course it's unrelated).


This is an entrance to Kosovo's largest cave - a big tourist attraction (when KEK isn't cutting power to the country). It's got nothing on Mammoth Cave though SIR!


We learn how to fight fires!


A bunch of us enjoy a night out on the town in Film City. Here, we're dining at "Tokyo"...


These cigarettes kill me... in Europe, they come with SERIOUS warning labels. Not the pansy ones that we have in Amerrrica.


Coolest Lego I have EVER seen.


This was a very confusing time for me. We were flying thru Croatia and stayed the night at a couple of different cities... we knew we were going to stay in Zagreb and in Dubrovnik (both major cities in Croatia). Well our hotel in Zagreb was named...(see below)... so no one REALLY knew where we were.


While we were in Vienna, Austria - Mike, Marcus & I got to help celebrate their independence day. Behind me is an Austrian Blackhawk on display.


Four of the RLO's (as we're called by those in our unit 'Real Live Officers'... not like the Warrant Officers - please reference the sarcasm) show off a little bit for all the aircraft coming into refuel.


This is a favorite pas·time for a lot of the guys. I prefer to watch the hilarity ensue.