Mellow On Ice

Mellow On Ice, originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern.

I am not a heavy drinker by any means. That being said, I do enjoy having a nightly cocktail to mellow out with. While I did have access to alcohol in the desert, it was not convenient to get and trying to get a decent mixed drink was a challenge to say the least. Having returned I am enjoying the fact that I can have a drink when I want in the comfort of my own home. *raising glass* Cheers!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Getting Back On The Horse

As I wind down the last week of my year-long deployment in the desert there are many things I'm looking forward to. First and foremost is getting back to my wife and daughter. After that I'm looking forward to everything from simply being back in the U.S. to not having to eat chow hall food again for awhile.

One thing I'm definitely looking forward to is getting back to firefighting. After a year away from it, I certainly find myself missing it. While I cannot particularly say I've missed hearing my pager wake me up in the middle of the night, I do miss helping people at their worst and the camaraderie I have always enjoyed from being a part of the organization. With that excitement though comes a bit of apprehension. I'm very nervous about getting into it again after such a long break from it. While the basics have certainly not left me, I know that there are things I am going to have to refresh myself on. I guess this is where experience helps though, however little I may have, in identifying what areas I need go over again. Many things from what is where on the apparatus to where this and that rural road are at are going to need to be refreshed. While I'm sure I will do okay, there's still a part of me that worries. That is just part of my nature though, not wanting to disappoint and always wanting to make sure I do the best job I can. It is going to be interesting for sure. While I am certainly not a rookie anymore, I see already that there will be a few times where it feels like that. Make no mistake though, my looking forward to getting back into it far outweighs any apprehension I have.

Of course, in another 5 months or so I get to start all over again anyway when I move from South Carolina to Maryland.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Break On Through To The Other Side

Break On Through To The Other Side, originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern.

When I was setting up to take this shot, I could just hear the Doors' music in my head.

You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah

Taken at Souq (market) Waqif in downtown Doha, Qatar.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Going Home Soon

I know. It has been some time since I've posted here. Taking two college classes and trying to get things ready for my departure has kept me fairly busy. As I write this though, I am only 21 days from leaving the desert for good. It is hard to fathom that a year has come and gone already. I am so ready. My wife and I have both been troopers throughout, but we're definitely weary of it now. I miss the hell out of my wife and daughter. I don't think families are really meant to be apart this long. I know so seeing how many families have been struggled with almost a decade of constant deployments for some. Material for another post I guess. In the meanwhile, it's time for this Airman to get his butt home. And finish my two classes before I do so I have nothing to worry about for my first two weeks home other than catching up with Kristin and Katrina. See you all on back on that side of the pond.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

May They All Come Home Soon

It has been some time since my last post. Guess I haven't had much to say lately. I definitely do now though.

Because of almost 10 years of bloody conflict and lives lost in Afghanistan, we tend forget after awhile that America's sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and friends are still being constantly put in harms way. After constantly seeing the list swell with casualty after casualty, I too had become desensitized to what has continued to go on. This week I was given a very real reminder.

The night I landed at Kandahar Airfield, I stood by the flightline and watched as the plane that brought me there was loaded with seven, flag-draped caskets. The day before we landed, 7 of my brethren from the Army paid the ultimate price when a roadside IED went off not far from the base, tearing through their humvee. Even Kandahar AF itself is not immune to attack and I bore witness to three separate rocket attacks while I was there.

Regardless of your politics or thoughts on whether we should be there or not, I ask that you keep my brothers and sisters in uniform in your thoughts and prayers. May they all come home soon.

A Look Back At Katrina

Even though I see her on webcam once a week and in the many pictures that Kristin posts, I know I'm still going to be blown away by how much Katrina has grown in the almost 7 months I've been gone.  In thinking about this I've been looking through a lot of older pictures and videos of her.  Remembering when she was just a wee little thing and how she's rapidly becoming not so wee.

Here's one of my favorite all time videos of her, taken about a month before I left for the desert.



That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing: "Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria" by Brand X

One Week To Go

Officially on the home stretch towards my 15 day R&R back home in South Carolina.  I am so ready (been ready for months actually) to see my wife and daughter.  I absolutely miss them like crazy.  I'm also ready to relax and enjoy a few other comforts and hobbies while I'm home.   6 June here I come!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing:  "Journey From Mariabronn" by Kansas

And God Preheated The Earth

And God Preheated The Earth, originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern.

As the sun rose over the desert this morning (it's evening here now) the temperatures were already in the low 90s. In another month or so we'll be having days where it's 120 degrees in the shade.

In the meantime I look forward to a break from all this in 12 days when I head home my mid tour leave.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current Song Playing: "Lets Work Together" by Canned Heat

Little Lady

Little Lady, originally uploaded by TommysGirl429.

I miss this little girl sooooooo much. I can see her changing in pictures, but know I'm still going to be surprised when I see her in person. I cannot wait. 15 more days till I get to see my ladies.

Photo by Kristin.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing: Sounds of the toilet flushing...

End Of Class

They say that all good things must come to an end.  Tonight brings my final exam and the end of my math class.  I can honestly say that I have a new appreciation for math that I never had before.  This class has also awakened a desire to continue my education further.  In about two weeks I'll take the CLEP or DANTES test for public speaking and that will complete (provided I pass the aforementioned) the requirements for my Associates in Electronic Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force.  It will be nice to know I've completed that before I go on R&R.  This way I can start on courses for my B.S. in Fire Science Management when I get back out here.

Speaking of R&R, that is another reason I have enjoyed taking this math class. It has made the last 8 weeks go by pretty quick and put me that much closer to going home for my 15 days.  I only have about 3 weeks now to try and keep busy before I get to see my ladies.

So here's to getting home soon and also to continuing my edumacation!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing:  "Starship Trooper" by Yes

Staying The Course

The advice in the title is something I am trying desperately to follow, but as the time slowly creeps closer to going home for my 15 day R&R I find myself getting more and more anxious for the time to pass.  I desperately need to see Kristin & Katrina.  Being away for this long is definitely a lot more difficult than I ever could have imagined when I undertook this venture.

As much as it sucks though (no better way to put it), I know that this is ultimately for the betterment of the three of us.  Kristin and I have been tired of living in debt.  We're now on our way out thanks to the extra money that this deployment brings.  For the first time, we're feeling that burden slowly lift. 

Another way this makes life better for us in the long run is that it gets us an assignment to Maryland.  It has been a long 6 years in South Carolina.  Overall, SC has been a great place to live, but 6 years at Shaw AFB has left me wanting a change of scenery.   In addition to needing a new assignment, after living outside of the Mid Atlantic region for a few years, I'm ready to be back.  Kristin and I both are.  It's where we're from and were we feel at home.  Of course, wanting Katrina to be close to her extended family is a big reason as well.

So I'll stay the course (have no choice anyway at this point...lol) and look forward to seeing my family soon.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing:  "Daydreamer" by Maze of Time

Razor Sharp

Razor Sharp, originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern.

Just doing a little messing around with Macro photography in my attempt to keep busy.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing: "Shoehorn With Teeth" by They Might Be Giants

The Meeting of My Better Half

Since today is mine and Kristin's 4th wedding anniversary I thought it fitting to tell the story of our meeting and courtship.  Some know the story well, but for others this will be the first time.

I met Kristin Marie Ashley on Halloween night, 1998 at an on-campus party of then Longwood College (now university) in Farmville, VA.  I was brought to the party by my friend Charles who was a commuter student at the school.  There was quite a few people at the party and a funk band on stage was pumping out Parliament tunes.  While there we met up with a female friend of Charles, who had a friend of her's in tow.  This friend was Kristin.  I remember my first impression was that she was gorgeous and had a killer smile.  I also remember being a little nervous to talk to her.  I had just turned 18 a few days before and here I am talking to a college girl.  Granted she's only a year older than me, but she was there at college and I was merely some "townie" (even though I wasn't from Farmville, but farther to the south in Keysville) who had just graduated from high school earlier that year.  Most of the rest of that night is a blur, but I do remember sitting next to and talking with her later that evening after a large group of us ended up hanging out in a cemetery after the party.

As luck would have it I would see her quite a bit over the next few months.  At the time though it was because she had started dating my friend Charles (he's still a very good friend to the both of us).  None the less, we always enjoyed talking when we did see each other.  As fate would have it, Kristin wasn't the only person Charles was dating at the time and after a few short months, Kristin found herself single again.  At this time though I was now dating another Longwood student, but always enjoyed running into Kristin here and there.  My time left in VA was also running short as I would soon be heading to Air Force basic training in the spring (1999).  I did enjoy my first kiss Kristin before I left though.  I'll never forget that night. :)

So basic training and  tech school came and went and again.  While home on leave after tech school, and before leaving for Okinawa, Kristin was one of the first people I went to visit.  Actually saw her a couple of times during those two weeks.  2 years in Japan went by and we stayed in touch off and on during that time over the net.  Taking some vacation time between Japan and my next assignment in NJ I again hung out with her a few times.  It was during this time that I started thinking about how much I really enjoyed being around her.  It was not meant to be yet and a few months after getting stationed in NJ, I found myself dating a girl up there.  Kristin and I kept in touch online though off and on throughout that year.  Around the end of 2002 we probably stopped chatting for a bit as I got ready to head to Korea in early 2003.

The real start towards our marriage came in the end of 2003, beginning of 2004 when we started talking online again.  It was during this time when that I began to realize that through all the years gone by , here had been this wonderful woman, right under my nose.  The more we talked, the more I started to feel that this might truly be the person I'm supposed to be with.  So one day I decided it was now or never and asked if she thought we should give each other a serious chance.  To my extreme happiness, she said yes.  I also made it very clear to her that I was not going to be dating her simply to date her, but that it would be working towards something serious.  I think the closer we got to my leaving Korea, the more I realized that she was, in fact the one I was supposed to be with.  I knew even before we started dating that I was going to ask her to marry me, but knew it was best not to rush into anything, regardless of thinking it was meant to be.

Her and I pretty much agree that the first day I met up with her in VA while I was home on leave in February 2004 after Korea was the start of our dating.  The next year in 2005 I proposed to her at the Carraba's Italian restaurant in Columbia, SC after an engagement ring managed to come as the topper to a piece of cheesecake for dessert.  We were married that next year and the rest, as they say, is history.

I love you Kristin Warshaw.  Very truly and very simply.  Now, always and forever.




That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing:  "Baal T'shuvah" by Michael Hedges

More Messing With Macro

Vitamin M, originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern.

So if there's one thing I've got plenty of out here when I'm not at work, it's time. In finding ways to occupy my time, besides my math class and making figurines out of hardened dryer lint, I've been delving into the world of macro photography. It's still a work in progress as I mess around with different things, but it's definitely opened up a new world of possibilities for my photography.

If there's one thing I've got plenty of to photograph right now it's 800mg tablets of Motrin, or Vitamin M as we refer to it in the Air Force. It's the military's cure for all ailments from a runny nose to a limb hanging by a thread. More to come from the macro world soon.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing: "Sir Psycho Sexy" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Back To Back Anniverseries

As we wind down the month of April, I look forward to next week and the coming anniversaries of two very important events in my life.

The first comes on 28 April marking 11 years of service to this great country of ours.  While that's certainly a huge chunk of time, it still feels like yesterday that I was stepping off the plane in San Antonio, TX about to embark on something that would radically change my life forever.  Through good times and bad.  Through 4 assignments and various trips around the country.  I'm proud to have worn the uniform of the United States Air Force for these last 11 years and look forward to the experiences that the next 9 years will bring.

Airman Basic Warshaw trying to be serious around his Uncle Wayne after just graduating from Air Force Basic Training. June 1999.

The day after though, 29 April, is the most important anniversary in my life.  This is the day 4 years ago that I married my soul mate.  This marriage was the culmination of 8 years of friendship (with two years of dating towards the end).  They often say that when looking for a companion, we miss that which is right under our nose.  That would definitely describe how things were with Kristin and I before we decided to start dating.  Finally towards the end of my tour in Korea in early 2004 I finally pulled my head out of my backside (Kristin always laughs when I put it this way) and ask her if we could start dating.

Never before had I met anyone who completed me so perfectly.  Kristin is one of a few people (I know my Momma is reading this...lol) with who I can completely and totally be myself, no matter what.  There are so many things we have in common, yet many things we do not at all and that's what makes our relationship so good.  I certainly didn't want a carbon copy of myself.  Regardless of what we do it's always a good time.  Whether wandering around the Irish countryside in search of castles and other ruins to check out or simply sitting on the couch watching a movie together I just love being with her.

Being out here and away from her makes me feel like I left half of myself back in the states.  Spending our anniversary apart this year is definitely a bummer,  but I keep going because I know I have her love and she has mine.  It's definitely for her and Katrina that I do this.

I love you my sweetheart.  Very simply and very truly.  Now until the end of time.


That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing: "Dance on a Volcano" by Genesis

It All Adds Up

Ah, Thursday night.  That means two things:  pizza and math class.  As far as the latter goes, I'm now a little more than halfway complete and I have to say that for the first time EVAR I am actually enjoying math.  Anyone who has known me for awhile could tell you that I have always hated math.  I'd use it where I absolutely had to since it cannot be escaped, but beyond that I wanted nothing to do with it.  For some reason though this class has allowed me to actually enjoy it.  I think that a big part of it has to do with the fact that I'm taking this for something I want to accomplish (finishing my associates) as opposed to being forced to do it when I was a kid.  Another factor is probably my crazy Bulgarian math professor and the way she is not only able to break it down so I can understand it, but that she can do so while injecting humor and keep things lighthearted in the classroom.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad that I can actually enjoy this and enjoy school period.  It's given me the drive to not only finish what I need to for my associates, but to also start working towards my bachelors.  The journey has definitely begun.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing:  "Baker St. Muse" by Jethro Tull

Change Of Scenery

Change Of Pace, originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern.

In line with the changes I've made to the layout of this blog, I figure it was only fitting to post a picture of...well...change. :~)

In addition to the change in design, I plan on trying to post here a little more often. It's difficult for me though sometimes to gather my thoughts together after a sometimes mind-numbing 12 hour shift. So goes life in the land of the eternal Groundhog Day (if you don't get this, watch the movie of the same name). I suppose at the very least I could always make my night off a regular night to post. Then I can simply supplement that with any random thoughts that my wandering mind may hatch.

In other news, I'm now only 45 days away from seeing my wife and daughter. I miss them terribly and this whole separation thing became old some time ago. This short term of suffering will most certainly provide my family with a better life in the long term, but boy does getting there suck. C'est la vie. June will be here before I know it. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Current song playing: "Scheherazade" by Renaissance

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Originally uploaded by TommysGirl429

My little sweetheart singing. Even though she doesn't know (or can't say) all of the words it still sounds just as beautiful to me as any song out there.

Video by Kristin.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Command Center

Command Center
Originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern

Where the mischief...err...magic happens. Just messing with my camera while I wait to talk to my wife and daughter on Skype.

Rip It...Rip It Good

Rip It...Rip It Good
Originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern

When a problem comes along
You must rip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must rip it
When something's going wrong
You must rip it

Rip It sugar-free energy drink. This and water are the lifeblood of my deployment.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Another Evening In The Desert

Another Evening In The Desert
Originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern
Waiting to get picked up for shift change on a rather bright afternoon here in Southwest Asia.

A Retarted Notion

I'm sure by now most of you have read or heard about the backlash from President Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel's use of the word "retarded" in describing certain Democrats. Some people, including former Alaska governor Sarah Palin are calling for him to step down from his position.

Before I go any further, I would like to make it very clear that I am not a fan of the Obama administration, and especially not a fan of Rahm Emannuel. Frankly I would love to see him resign, but his use of the word "retarded" is not even remotely close to a reason for him to do so.

I think ordinary Americans have put up with enough hypersensitivity from special interest groups, who try to control how normal people speak. Even in the last 20 years, words like "fat," "gay," "black," and "he" (rather than "he or she") have transformed from objective descriptions to sensitive and politically dubious terms.

The word "retarded" literally means "slow." "Retarded" has been used to describe people of very low intelligence, to suggest they process certain information slowly. No one seriously argues this is false or a mischaracterization. Rahm Emanuel was conveying, with exaggeration, that some liberals were failing to grasp obvious truths. He meant precisely to criticize them for being "slow," or "retarded."

Some groups are angry Emanuel used the word "retarded" as an insult. But he used it to convey an absence of intelligence -- and isn't that what "retarded" legally means? Won't it always be a little insulting to suggest low intelligence? Is intelligence now an off-limits topic? These special interest groups only want us to use the word "retarded" with winces and sympathetic smiles on our faces, amid platitudes for those less fortunate. At this point, how can we criticize anyone, without offending some group with similar characteristics? I propose that, rather than supervise others' vocabularies, these groups should be a bit less sensitive.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

My Daughter, My Life

You don't realize what you've got until it's gone.

We've all heard that saying many times before, but until we come face to face with a situation like it, we don't quite realize how it will impact us.  I'm facing that situation now being deployed far away from my daughter Katrina for the first time since she was born in 2008.  As she gets ready to turn 2 years old at the end of February, I can't help but reflect back on my life with her so far.

I consider myself to be a pretty involved Dad overall.  I absolutely love Katrina and love to spend time and do things with her.  I've never ignored her or left her to fend for herself.  That being said, I keep asking myself, "Have I always treated her as the biggest part of my life that she is?"  Thinking back, I realize that many times I've been just above the bare minimum when it comes to my responsibilities as a Dad.  Looking back over the last two years I realize I've been very selfish with my time.  All too often I forgot that with a child, it really is no longer my time.

Now this is not to say that wanting to do something for myself was wrong.  As human beings, we all still have wants and needs.  Even when a child enters the picture, parents still have the need to do things on their own.  There is nothing wrong with that and it is quite normal.  The problem I have discovered though is that I was too often putting my wants and needs over Katrina's and because of that , I've missed out on a lot of opportunities to spend time and bond with my daughter.  Being deployed now and so far away from her, there is nothing I wouldn't do to just be there spending time with her right now.  Unfortunately, in order to make life better for her and my wife Kristin, I cannot do that for awhile.

So what do I do then?  I cannot get back the time that has already passed.  I also cannot wallow in pity and regret as that doesn't do anyone any good.  For the time being, I will be as involved as I possibly can while being so far away.  My weekly webcam chats with Katrina and Kristin certainly help and I think they are good for the both of us.  Going forward I have also pledged to my wife (and myself) that things will be different when I return home in November.  Not having her near me has brought back into the forefront of my mind just how important she is to me.

After all, since she was born her life became mine.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Dedicated to my Katrina.  Daddy loves you!

To Make Katrina Laugh

To Make Katrina Laugh
Originally uploaded by VirginiaSouthern

All I need to do is be my goofy self.

Enjoying a webcam chat with Kristin and Katrina. It's the high point of each week for me.

Responsible Use of Time vs. Responsible Use of Energy

I read an article in the Air Force Times this evening about initiatives the Air Force is rolling out in an attempt to conserve energy. Many of the plans make a lot of sense and I am fully behind them. Ideas such as finding ways to conserve jet fuel while still ensuring pilots get all their required training and using solar panels to help power airfield lighting, hangars, etc. are both excellent ideas. They would not only benefit the environment around us, but in the long term would net financial savings as well. In this day and age where tax dollars are spent by the truckloads, anything we can do to give the tax payer the best bang for their buck is fine by me.

What I am not behind is the plan to create a CBT (computer based training) to teach Airmen how they can be better at conserving energy. In this day and age of ever increasing deployment lengths (6 months - 1 year are becoming the norm) and increased taskings, this is yet one more thing to throw upon our Airmen who already have a lot on their plate. It also seem to be contrary to the Air Force's AFSO21 (Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century) credo of doing less with less.

Isn't there a way to to incorporate energy saving tips into everyday training? Or how about making this a point of discussion during existing squadron/flight/workcenter meetings or the mandatory feedback sessions that all supervisors are required to conduct with their subordinates. I would bet money that the majority of Airmen are more apt to understand and put those things into practice from face to face discussions then from clicking through yet another boring CBT. With all the CBTs that the Air Force now requires us to take, many personnel (I'm one of them) simply just click through without really reaping any benefit from them. In many cases (while extreme, they are not uncommon) Airmen are spending more time on CBTs and additional duties than concentrating on their primary specialty and that is absolutely unacceptable. Bottom line: Teach our Airmen how to conserve energy, but do so in a way that doesn't bestow any more of a burden on them than they are already carrying.

Another concern I have with the proposed CBT is that it is yet another movement away from face to face interaction between supervisors and subordinates. There is a disturbing trend in the Air Force to fix every problem by sitting an Airman in front of a computer. For those that weren't aware, promotion selection announcements are now made through online notification. Granted, unit leadership is stil encouraged to make face to face congrats, but the days of your unit commander/First Sergeant surprising you with a set of stripes seems to be headed for the history books. More and more we are creating supervisors who have absolutely zero idea how to interact with their Airmen because most everything is being accomplished through computers. Phone calls and face to face conversations are becoming a thing of the past because it is so much more "convenient" to simply send an e-mail.

If the Air Force was looking out for the best interest of it's personnel, then I, as a supervisor would receive training on this from my boss and in turn pass the knowledge onto my subordinates. After all, it is MY responsibility to ensure the readiness of my subordinates. There's no better way to gauge the effectiveness of the training then through personal interaction. A certificate received for completing a CBT tells me nothing more than you completed the CBT. It tells me absolutely zero of what you actually learned and retained.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.