To drink soda or not to drink...soda that is...

in

After waking up early today (around 7:30 AM), I started to get really groggy and tired after doing a whole lot of just busy random work. I couldn't figure out why, but I guess it has been a really busy last two weeks. This week is only going to become a little more hectic with the move back to Daytona Beach. I remembered drinking two cans of Coke Zero last night and downing a bunch of lemon heads for a late night snack. I then stumbled onto these interesting articles. These two articles are quite interesting to those who not only drink soda but consume a lot of coffee. Makes it seem like wine is probably a lot better than any of these beverages. Check them out!

If you drink a coke right now, the effects in various stages

Your Life on Caffeine

AAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

in

I have been sprinting to the finish line for the last two weeks cramming everything that I have learned over the last 2 years for an interview that would result in life changing events. Late night study sessions, application parties, and then multiple sim sessions in the Frasca and MD90; all this for a chance to finally fly instead of be taken advantage by "some other brand." (oh yeah I did...)

For those that have not been following along the last few months, I have lived in Fort Lauderdale, lived in Luxembourg, was homeless for a couple of days, wound up back to where I started, and survived an interview with some well accomplished pilots and a sim check that I was dreading from the first time I heard that it would be in the same simulator that I took my type ride in almost 8.5 months ago!

It was a great experience and I'm ready to finally settle back down and relax. Of course, only for a little bit as there is way too much to take care of in such little time. I wish that I could come home for the holidays, but I haven't been left with much a choice.

I'm finally starting to finish up the final layout to this blog. I'm sorry that I keep on starting new ones, but I thought that it would be a good way of keeping different chapters in my life separate. We'll see if I like this one, but who knows...I might just start a whole other website / domain all together. stay tuned ^_^

updates: links now contain a few from the past blogs with more to come...

TEE NOTICE CADETS for Focus Air

in

I have left Fort Lauderdale, but I still have yet to close up the wounds as it just sucks really bad to be this young and tossed around like some kind uneducated "intern" who was promised things that they couldn't keep.

This is true that this company couldn't really give a care about the program or us. It is a shame on how fast one company in Florida can say, you're awesome and then thanks, and just curb you. They have done their best as they see it, but it was what they though their best was. This isn't how the other airline run a business is it?

TEE NOTICE CADETS for Focus Air

This is to notify you that the following Employees are no longer with the company effective:

EMPLOYEE NAME: Elijah Nicolas

SUPERVISOR: Bruce Wohlgemuth

POSITION: Cadet

TERM DATE: November 24, 2006


ON TO A NEW BLOG ONCE AGAIN!!! sorry to keep changing things on you all... stay tuned for new page...

TEE NOTICE CADETS for Focus Air

in

I have left Fort Lauderdale, but I still have yet to close up the wounds as it just sucks really bad to be this young and tossed around like some kind uneducated "intern" who was promised things that they couldn't keep.

This is true that this company couldn't really give a care about the program or us. It is a shame on how fast one company in Florida can say, you're awesome and then thanks, and just curb you. They have done their best as they see it, but it was what they though their best was. This isn't how the other airline run a business is it?

TEE NOTICE CADETS for Focus Air

This is to notify you that the following Employees are no longer with the company effective:

EMPLOYEE NAME: Elijah Nicolas

SUPERVISOR: Bruce Wohlgemuth

POSITION: Cadet

TERM DATE: November 24, 2006


ON TO A NEW BLOG ONCE AGAIN!!! sorry to keep changing things on you all... stay tuned for new page...

Title Completed

in

I completed the title of this blog over the last week with my first trip to Frankfurt. I enjoyed every moment of it as I got to do normal things such as buy really cheap food (2.20 Euro Dogs and cheap cola), grab a Starbucks (just for old times sake), walk around and shop for electronics although it definitely wasn't Best Buy and just get to see some sights. I even got to see Mr. Bill Gates who stood 3 feet from me but whose guards wouldn't let me take a picture with him at the General Aviation Terminal, FraGas. Oh well, a missed opportunity for a good picture, but its all good I guess.

Frankfurt was an overall good experience. It's definitely a lot more city than Luxembourg but definitely not as quiet. I wouldn't mind living there either, but Luxembourg has definitely grown on me quite a bit.

I uploaded some new pix and there are a bunch of Landstuhl just for you Mar! (they are on page 2 of the Frankfurt Gallery) I tried to take some of the little town and signs mostly. You and Jojo should come out and visit ASAP. It's not that far from Luxembourg at all. Be sure to click on the photo gallery icon on the right side of this blog.

Adelle found some old pix of me and her that we took together our first Halloween in 2002. We weren't a couple yet if not far from, but it definitely was the beginning of things to come. I'll post it sometime later but definitely they were good times.

Bonjour / Au Revoir

in

I had a good drive to Paris from Luxembourg with two crew members which proved to be really fun as we stopped by Reims on the way. I even got to attend a French Catholic Service at Notre Dame Paris!

This was a really quick trip to Paris to swap out Jepp Bags and then back to the Luxembourg Parc Plaza!!! You can barely see the Eiffel Tower in the background, but it's there!
Check out the gallery by clicking on the photo!

Goodbye Hilton?

in

I just found out from the receptionist downstairs that I will be forced out as they are booked for two consecutive weeks. Looks like I'll be transferring hotels once again. Parc Plaza anyone? At least now if I ever decide to drink which is hardly ever, I can walk home just fine.

I read the forecast for this morning, and it had as a description, "possible snow showers," which definitely didn't sound fun. I mean, I love the snow, but living in it is totally different. No there weren't any snow showers and the sun is brightly shinning today, but the temperature is still at a low 4C as of this posting. The ext. forecast calls for a range of 8C to -2C for the weekend and into next week. How exciting!!!

Things are going well. Yesterday was the start of Christmas shopping and decorations here in Luxembourg. There is no sign of Thanksgiving what so ever either. =( I think that we are going to try to celebrate it with some friends over here (Greg and I <-- he's going to cook perhaps) which will bring some festivities to the event. We'll see how that goes. I got to check out some long johns while shopping for more electrical outlet adapters and they were quite expensive at €13.00 for a top and then another €13.00 for the bottoms. They did look a little better than the Hanes one I use to wear as a kid. I wore three layers the other day with a double pair of socks. I think though that a face mask would be key.

I bought some new gel today which is just like the gel I use to get for Halloween! It's sticky as heck. It doesn't freeze your hair over either, but man, I need to get a haircut very soon. €25-30 anyone? I also found out that getting a shoe repaired is €30. It's getting ridiculous to live here with all these minor lifestyle expenses. Another price point for ya: it cost €4.60 to dry clean a shirt and €8 to complete a load of laundry. It's just nutty here! And to think that I am not getting any European Living Monetary Compensation. Umm...what do other companies do? Now, it is true that living in Asia would be much less and yeah that wouldn't be cool if the co. paid us a lower dividend, but I don't think that any co. does.