Catching up

Well, it has been a while since I posted anything on the blog, so I'll do a bit of catching up on this one. As you probably know, we left Poland the end of March this year and I went to Holloman AFB, NM while Stacie went to WA state. She took lots of pics and was making me jealous as she enjoyed the fresh mountain air while I suffocated on 100 degree dust clouds. I ran into a couple friends in NM and got to fly the mighty F-4 Phantom as well. Strapping on a classic war machine was a rare opportunity and it was definitely a thrill.

The RPV training in NM was bearable as I learned to fly the MQ-9 Reaper, a Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) that carries missiles and bombs. It is probably the most widely used RPV today and is definitely a booming weapon system. If I can't fly fighters, this system will keep me in the forefront of warfighting and may open up future jobs in the civilian sector. In any event, that training ended 25 June and I made my way to Las Vegas. On the way, I picked up my truck and the Comet in Pheonix, AZ that my good friend Ray had been keeping for me while we were in Poland. It was great to see him again and great to drive in a big truck on big roads again. Gotta love the good ole US of A!!

Stacie came down from WA once I got an apartment for us. We are fighting the banks over a new home and there is still a long road ahead. Seems having an impeccable credit rating, solid financing, and a strong desire to buy a home is not enough these days. You have to pay over asking price, wave the appraisal, and sign an "as is" agreement if you want to move quickly. I wonder why the economy is so slow here . . . . hmmmmm.

As I was settling into our new life in Vegas, I came upon a new toy. Not exactly the kind of thing that fits into our life right now, but you only get one shot at life. So, now we are the happy owners of a 1966 GTO. Of course, it isn't really a GTO on the inside. It has all sorts of modern upgrades and performs much better than the original ever did. The wife required air conditioning and seatbelts, I required lots of horsepower and modern suspension. Everybody got what they wanted and now I just need an extra spot in the garage . . . I'll be working on that one.

We are very happy to be back in the states. The kids are having a great time with all the swimming pools, playgrounds, and other kids their age. It is amazing how much of a difference it makes to have good friends to share good times with. Poland was a unique experience, but not one I would repeat, especially seeing how the kids have responded to life here.
Well, there's lots more going on, but I'll cut this off now so I don't get too long winded - the wife will let me know if that happens . . . . I hope this finds everyone in good health/spirits and when we finally get a home of our own we will be expecting a constant flow of visitors. 'Til next time.