*blink*

in

I'm just coming back from a three day trip which ended up being pretty fun. I have to say that flying is still definitely exciting and fun especially when you have a great captain. Three day trips I find are a lot better than being out for four. I found that on my last roundtrip yesterday (ATL-AVL-ATL) I started to actually deteriorate a little bit in terms of preciseness and accuracy. It wasn't anything to make the flight bad, but my expectations of myself and those from my captain just seemed to be getting lost. I was missing a couple of call outs and I guess I could feel myself slacking off even though I was trying to stay on top of the ball. It was getting annoying, but I'm just glad that I'm resting it up.

The last roundtrip to Ashville, North Carolina was pretty fun. It was a short flight so I thought that I could handfly the whole thing. It ended up being quite a lot of work and afterwards, I found my right hand a little blistery from gripping the control yolk too hard and that I was sweating a little bit more than normal. There was some good weather and build up along the way making things a little bumpy and the fact that the airport was a little hidden away in the mountains, etc., made it feel like even more of a challenge. I'm still in the learning phase, but I was definitely more comfortable than ever before. I'm no 100% confident pilot ready for an upgrade, but I got some good words from the captain and that made me feel a little better about the whole thing. I even got some of those words on paper for the May Evaluation worksheet. =)

I've been thinking a lot lately about the Guard / Reserve and it seems like right when its out of view, something just brings me back into it. This time around, I'm going for an honest effort here to get myself back into shape for the interview in December as well as mentally prepare for all the various tests that I'll be doing. I have a good schedule in front of me today: work out, buy a study guide book and begin at least 50-100 pages of it, finish up the book that Justin is letting me read ("blink" the power of thinking without thinking) and getting ready for what might be another exciting night in Lithia Springs.

links...

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Well, my friend Jojo finally just sent me some of the links that he religiously checkout every time he opens up a web browser and I found an awesome picture of a pretty nice looking athlete. You have to check it out at http://withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=2811. I have to say that I'm pretty impressed and don't feel guilty to think that she's hot because she just turned 18! But man...I'm sure that after a few more records in college, she'll definitely be attracting some seniors when she steps on campus. Anyways...

Flying my trip today was pretty fun. I have to admit that I'm feeling really good about flying here at ASA lately because I've been blessed with having some awesome Captains while some of my other colleagues aren't that lucky. I was able to execute a night visual approach with a little more confidence but I was still a little behind (or at least I thought I was) in spotting where the runway was. That led me to keep the automation on a little bit longer until I was aware of my situation but everything turned out well. My speed on was target and my two landings today were great. I feel like I've gotten over the hump or plateau that I had a couple of weeks ago where things weren't going well. It's all good now though and I'm happy. I find that I'm heading in to Cincinnati more often these days and it's funny that there are quite a few ASA pilots hanging around the terminal. It seems like we are all getting more than 1 hour layovers and have time to get something to eat which is awesome. We all happen to congregate around the Subway / McDonalds tables. Look me up if I'm in CVG when you are!

I'm starting to feel like I'm saving more money by bringing my lunches and I've been into the commuting the day of my trip. So far so good from San Diego as I'm not getting too tired and I'm loving the fact that I'm able to see my friends and girlfriend on a more regular basis. I haven't been able to see my folks that often though as I'm only there for a very short period anyways. I'm hoping to be home this weekend for Mother's Day and the Padres game.

I was able to see the Padres beat the Braves in ATL which was awesome. They lost tonight though. Oh well...tomorrow should be awesome with Maddux vs. Smoltz. I'm happy for Nicolas Sarkozy in France. That should be awesome esp. with the fact that he wants to change the French and American relationship a little towards a more positive one. I'm also starting to exercise on a more regular basis and my diet is getting better. Things are good and so with that, I'm going to sleep now!

Commuting back and forth...

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It's nice to be able and come back to San Diego when I'm done with a 4 day trip. The only downside was that during this last commute I didn't have my Bose Headphones to drown out the engine noise. It really does make a difference in terms of fatigue and restlessness. I able to get some sleep though and it helped out. I came home to Lisa's place, hung out for a bit and then we headed out to get some awesome sushi at Niban! I love that place. I wish that Atlanta had some affordable food like that. I was able to save quite a bit though not eating out while on this trip and just eat out of my lunch pail. I of course packed quite a bit and couldn't help but eat a lot of it during the first day of my trip. I was just non stop.

I got to swim one night and then the next day, I ran 2 miles and biked another. It was definitely a good workout. I'm starting to feel a little lose around my waist again and it's definitely going to help me stay away from the freshman pilot 20. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but I flew with a Captain that started out at ASA weighing in at 180 and 6 years later, he's weighing in at a heavy set 230. That's just not healthy. The time that we have in between flight to eat fast food really just ruins out diet and intake but we have to do what we can to keep healthy. I don't think that it's that cool seeing a really heavyset Captain let himself get away with it. The industry has definitely turned us into a group of people like that, but I'm not going to let it get to me.

I'm going to try to watch the Chargers Mini-Camp practice at 4-6 today. I didn't make the early one though because I just didn't want to get up. Hopefully I get to see some drills run. I got the new jersey last week and I'm just excited to wear it! I've been reading a lot more Charger news lately which is really getting me excited about this season. I hope that it ends with a Ring! The new jerseys rock by the way especially when put together with the white helmets! I'll be going back to ATL tomorrow and should be back at the Loxford Lounge for a bit. See you guys there!

a Crazy 10 hour duty!

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It all began with last night's debacle in trying to depart Atlanta for Wilmington, North Carolina. I dutied in early and decided that since the screen said that the aircraft was at the gate, I would show up early and get going. I showed up to the spot at 2030 (8:30pm) and didn't see anything. I went back in the Crew Lounge and tried to find more out but didn't get anywhere. Finally, I got a call from Flight Ops and they told me to call the tower to ordered up a shuttle to transport us to the aircraft at Delta North which was on the other side of the airport. After a 3 different phone calls, a shuttle ended up picking us up 1.5 hours later. It was ridiculous! Then, we got to the aircraft, and there was no cleaning done, the aircraft was filthy, didn't have any catering, the lavatory was broken and deferred and the aircraft needed to be turned around. I was beginning to feel like it wasn't meant to be. I got the chance to taxi on Atlanta's new Taxiway Victor which is pretty out there on the departure end of 26R and 26L. I'm just going to make this story short, but after it was all said and done, we needed to get de-fueled, catered, cleaned up and boarded. About 3.5 hours after our scheduled departure, we finally left ATL for ILM. We made up a little time, but I got to sleep around 3:30AM. It was almost like a nap. I didn't have to meet the crew until 12:00 for the shuttle over to the airport which was okay but of course, the morning was a little rocky. I started up waking up at 1 hour intervals again from 8-10, then I setup my final alarm for 11:00. My phone's charging port is a little loose, so every time my phone vibrates, it comes loose and it just deactivates the alarm. It really stinks because that's what probably happened. So, I woke up at 12:00 exactly. I through my pants on, packed up and left for downstairs. On top of it all, there wasn't any power to the entire building because of the electrical shutdown they had planned and I had to find the stairs in the dark, ended up at the side of the hotel, ran to the lobby and forgot the lunch box. I went back upstairs to grab it, and it was all good. I thought that I lost my pajama shorts but I found them when I went to use the restroom. I ended up wearing them underneath my uniform pants! That was fun.

Well, after a 4 leg day, ILM-ATL-PIA-ATL-ATW, I'm resting in the Hampton Inn waiting for a 1500 (3:00 pm) departure. I went swimming tonight by myself and will try to work out tomorrow. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I was able to get some good sleep on the Tempur-pedic Mattress in Wilmington. You have to love the Hilton there. The Hampton is nice because they have breakfast in the morning. I can't wait. I just have to wake up now. =)

Diet for today: Banana, Apple, Orange, Nature Valley Granola Bar, trail mix, small bag of hot cheetos, peanut and butter jelly sandwich, waters, Zesty Lemon Pepper Starkist Tuna Packet. It was a good day but too bad that I dont' have that much left for the next two. I have to restock on the fruits or something tomorrow morning. Till then!

and I'm back...

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Hawaii was an awesome trip. I have to say that I did just about everything that I did when I went there in 1996 with my high school band. It was nice reliving the experience but I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in how "modern" and "mainland" Waikiki has turned out. We got to our hotel rather late in the night, but when we arrived, it seemed as if I was just back in Fashion Valley Mall. There's new construction everywhere, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach and just about every other high end retail store on the main street that parallels the beach. It's isn't what it use to be but of course nothing is, yes I know. Next time I head in that direction, I definitely want to check out a volcano and head to the big island or Maui. I heard that it's nice to really venture out and get away from it all.

I just got back from a Nap to Florence, South Carolina. It was a nice trip but drama with the van driver was quite interesting. Let's just say that we might not be using their services again because of how awkward or threatened we felt. Just plain rude. I am reserve again next month holding a Nap line. I'm on reserve in other words from 1900-0000. It's kind of nice that way because I get to "commute" in the same day from San Diego.

I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to play Pokemon DS. It would be easier if I had the books that I've been meaning to read here with me in ATL, but they are all still in Florida. We'll see in the next few weeks. Chargers are making some good draft picks. A little interesting in the WR choice, but I'm sure that AJ know more than I do. The Padres are doing alright. Trevor Hoffman blew a big game, but I'm sure that it'll all start to click again.

I got my tax return of $600.00, but of course that basically funded this Hawaii trip. I'm still in debt and I just have one more month until my loan repayments start kicking in. I'm a little scared, but I'm sure that I should be able to work it out. I haven't gotten a chance to fly out of LAX yet as all my other 6 roommates have including a couple of other friends that I went through training with. It's kind of ridiculous how I can't get it even though I'm there. It's a little disappointing but what can you do. Here are some of the details. I'm in San Diego calling scheduling that I'm available to fly out LAX. They instead tell me that there are no trips available, have one of my friends deadhead out to LAX, take a trip the next day and I have to fly back to ATL to do a trip there. Even when I call and tell them both our employee numbers and ask for a trade, it doesn't happen. It's a little frustrating, but like I said earlier, what can you do?

I'm just excited that I actually got what I requested which was the Nap reserve in May. I am now #362 out of 510 which is pretty neat. I hope that I'm able to get a line next month, but it's all good. Alright, well, I'm finally going to get some rest. C'ya!!!

don't forget to check out trelijah under the links for some more updated pix and just random notes. I'm thinking of just combining the two blogs already. We'll see. I'm also thinking of just using WordPress, but I don't want to bother yet. We'll see. I just want to do everything and can't make up my mind.

getting home...

in ,

is impossible when you are on reserve. You're days are switched out all over the place and its just hard to finally get some flight scheduled are ready to fly home. It's definitely going to be a little harder, but its all good still. Adelle and I are still going to try to salvage what we have this up coming week and see where it takes us. I should be taking a flight directly from ATL to LAX then to HNL. We'll see how it works out.

Oh yeah, I'm in Cedar Rapids right now on a trip that I didn't think that I was going to get. I tried to get it swapped out but we're hurting so much in scheduling that they needed everyone that they could possibly get. We need pilots like every other regional out there.

Tonight's flight was pretty cool. I'm still trying to perfect the visual approach, but I still end up trying to figure out why the Approach Mode in the FCP (Flight Control Panel) didn't activate the 2nd time we pressed it. I ended blowing through the localizer, but made an awesome recovery and landing. It worked out pretty well, but like I've said before, it's not to my standards at all. The 10 knot crosswind landing though was pretty sick. It was a 90 degree and just blowing 30 knots up until 500 feet. It just all came together really well. I love flying by the way!