Alabama!!!

I made it to Alabama! I have been here since this weekend and the adventure has begun. Let me give everyone a brief update as to my training schedule. I am here for flight school for about 18-24 months. Yeah, I could be here for two years. I won't be in a training course the entire time. As a matter of fact, I'll spend more time out of training than in training. I can't complain too much, I'll be getting paid the entire time.

Right now, I have one to two month wait to start the first course. Flight school is backed up that we get here, do all our in-processing and then wait. We show up to physical training in the morning and then a formation at 1100 then done for the day.

So, I am going to take up some hobbies like golf and tv watching. I am really debating on getting my masters done here while I have the time.

Because I have so much down time, call/email me and come out to visit. I would love for everyone to come out. This also means that as long as I have leave, I can make it home to visit. Yay!!!

Love you all and good bye from Alabama

Training Updates

Hey guys.
Thought I would give everyone an update on how things are going out here in the wonderful south. Dad and I had a great time traveling across the country. We were able to hang out with a buddies parents in Hico, Texas. We had some amazing food, good company, and an overall good time. I was also able to meet up with the old college roommate down in New Orleans. Let me tell you, Bourbon Street is something else. I think it puts Vegas to shame.

Anyways, I'm out here in Georgia doing some wonderful Army training. This first week has been a little difficult getting things organized with a bunch of people who don't know each other. We have had some late nights and early mornings, but that's the Army. Funny thing is my roommate is one of the guys I taught while I was recruiting for the Guard. He was one of the students and now he is my peer. The Army is a small place.

Well gotta go. We have to be up at four tomorrow. Love you guys and miss you tons.

Bear

New Adventure

So today is the day. I have started off on the new chapter in my life. My dad and I drove from Atascadero to Flagstaff today on our way to Ft. Benning, GA. I am really excited and especially nervous about this new chapter. I am very grateful that so many of my friends were able to make it out to the house for a farewell. I truly am a lucky man. So thank you all who made it and I know the ones who were unable to attend, your thoughts were with me.

This morning was tough saying goodbye to my mom, dad, brother, and N. I am just thinking of this as a long summer camp, (really long) and hopefully it will be over soon enough. But I am excited to have some fun.

Well, I will see you guys when I see you. I promise to keep this updated to let everyone know how i am doing.

Love you Bear

Clothes!!!!

Packing is one of my least favorite things to do. You start out trying to be organized and keep everything in the same themed box but by the end you are so frustrated and rushed that you are throwing things into random boxes just to get it packed away. I am doing my best right now to stay on the organized portion of packing but it just it's a lot of work.

I have separated my piles of stuff into four different groups. I have Georgia, Alabama, California (storage here at home a.k.a parents house), and Thrift Store. Going through all my clothes is a lot more difficult than I expected. Through my college years I have accumulated some many articles of clothing. The hardest part is the shirts from events or camps that I wore once and probably won't wear again but I don't want to throw away because of the sentimental value. Slowly but surely I am breaking down and really giving away the stuff I will just never wear again. My mom had a great idea of taking all the old shirts and making a quilt out of them to keep them around without having to wear them. Good Thinking Mama Bear!

Well I better get back to organizing. I just needed a little break from the large mental task.

Later

The Island

I had the opportunity this week to spend some time out on Catalina with some of the greatest people I know. For those who don't know, I have spent anywhere from a week to an entire summer in Catalina since I was twelve years old. I started there as a camper and eventually worked on staff for the Boy Scouts for eight years. It truly is my home away from home. The island has provided me so much and has shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned how to interact with peers, elders, and those younger than me, developed my love for teaching things I am passionate about, and created life long friends who will be there for me as I am there for them.

So, needless to say I wanted to soak in the island before I left to go back east for my training. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. I arrived to open arms, hospitality, and weather to be envious of. Although it may not sounds like a vacation but I spent the three days I was there building a deck site. I enjoyed every second of the hard work mixed with our philosophical conversations (country music being one topic). I definitely could not have asked for a more perfect send off.

Slacker

So... I decided that it has been way too long since I have written on my blog. It was so easy working at ROTC because I was on a computer 75% of the day and I could just write when I felt like it. The last five months I have been working maintenance and really don't feel like writing a blog when I get home or I am doing stuff until late and just don't get around to it. Well, here I am. Thought I would give everyone an update on how things are going and what's new with me.

First off, I only have two more days at work. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I really enjoyed the people I was around and I learned a lot but I can now say that I do not want to do maintenance as a career. I think I might go crazy. The physical work was rewarding but it just wasn't mentally challenging to me and I found myself engaging the residents in in depth conversations to get a mental workout. I do have to thank my supervisor for teaching me some many invaluable lessons about simple maintenance. I feel so much more educated and comfortable with being able to troubleshoot and fix problems. They may not have the prettiest outcomes but they work. I feel that when I own my own home I will be able to perform the simple tasks like electrical and plumbing. So, thank you Mission View and the wisdom you have bestowed on me.

Another new aspect of my life is that I have a girlfriend. WHAT!!!!! I know isn't that crazy to think. Nicole, (that's her name) is amazing. I love spending time with her and she has made my completely happy these last few months. We are both not stoked about the fact I am leaving but we are going to do everything we can to make it work. She truly is a blessing in my life and I don't know what I would do without her.

Finally, the news everyone knows. I am finally leaving for training. I report for BOLC II on April 5th. My dad and I are going to start our road trip out there on March 31st. We are going to hit Hico, TX and New Orleans, as well as a few other stops along the way. The trip won't be exactly the same as the one Ben and I did, but it will still be a blast. I will be at Ft. Benning, GA for seven weeks and then going to Ft. Rucker, AL for the duration of flight school. I am super excited and can't wait to start training. I am also a little nervous because it's been a while since I have been in the Army School mentality. So hopefully is comes back quickly. When I am out in Alabama my buddy Dustin and I are going to try and live together. He will have started flight training about a month ahead of me so we will be there together for awhile. Should be good times.

Well, i gotta run. I hope this catches some people up on my life and I hope to continue to update as my adventure begins.

Love you all