Here we go... again

Dudes, let me tell you this... I am glad that I am not going on leave to the US. This is why... If I had been told that I would only be able to hang with the bro's for 4 fucking days when I flew half-way around the world, I would have been pissed off till no end. I would have said Fuck y'all, I ain't doin it. 4 Days?? come on. How often do we actually see eachother? I understand family time. Trust me I do.

But I have come to this realization, they can come and see me.

I am regressing back to the childhood on this one. My mom always had to be the one to travel lengthy distances for us to see family. There were no other relatives with little kids at this time, so it would have been easier for them to come see us.

I am now in a position where I have a wee one and people want to see her. Good for them, come see her then. That is the only reason that most people want to visit anyway. Yes, they enjoy spending time with me, but the get to see Lorelei and that is the big factor.

Fuck that shit. For family, you want to see me, make the fucking effort. I am not the one that needs to put out the cash to come see you. For my bro's? In a heartbeat if it meant it was going to be a long while before I see you again. Family doesn't change, they will always be family and they will always be there for you if you are a good family. I am the same way with the fam. Friends are chosen. You can stop being friends without ever telling them that you are not there for them anymore.

Enough on that rant because I am not coming to the US for my mid-tour anyway. I am going to some place where I have always wanted to go. Granted it is not Moscow, but Khaborovsk will do. It is seeing the "real" Russia.

Remember this though... When have you ever had a bad time hanging with the bro's? I can't think of one time. I would pass up sightseeing in a heartbeat to hang with my bro's as much as could. Fuck sightseeing, I would rather see my bro's.

So anyway, I have had 2 interesting days in a row.

Yesterday was the first time I have ever taken the radios from a student. This absolutely crushe the confidence level. He was not doing bad overall. It was just too much for him at one point and he froze up. It happens. Most of the other controllers in the squadron probably would have fucked it up too.

Then, today, I SNPed (Student Non Progression) the same person. This is the first time I have ever done that as well. This was a safety of flight issue. No way around that one, you fuck that up, you get hooked.

Another trainee, yesterday, would have been my first hook, but passed it by a technicality. He had a break in training and basically started over. What is fucked up about this is that the fuy has been controlling since '95. That is longer than I have been in the AF!!! This guy sucks ass at controlling. Am I the best controller ever? No. But I am up there on the scale. This guy should be way beyond my level but it was like having a brand new WD on scope. Man, I hate incompetance.

Anyway, I think I am done for now.

Eddie