This weekend marks two very important milestones in my life. The first comes tomorrow when I will officially reach 13 years of service in the United States Air Force. It seems like just yesterday I was stepping off the plane in San Antonio for basic training and now here I am, rapidly becoming one of those crusty guys I used to joke about when I was an Airman. Indeed, the last few years have left my very frustrated and burnt out with the Air Force. Yet, I cannot help still being proud of these last 13 years. 13 years is a long damn time to be doing one thing. There are times I still have a sense of wonderment that I've been doing it this long. Tomorrow also means that I've got 7 years left until I'm retirement eligible. While the Air Force has been good to me, I'm starting to concentrate more now on getting my ducks in a row for what I'm going to do post-Air Force. This doesn't mean I'm giving up with the Air Force and won't bust my behind as I always have. It just means I'm done doing it for my career. My only hope now is to set as many Airmen and junior NCOs on the right path as possible so that they can do my job long after my crusty self is gone. Still...13 is my lucky number, so who knows. Maybe this year will be better than the last few. We shall see.
Even more important than my Air Force anniversary date however, is Sunday. This will mark 6 years of marriage to Kristin (the story of how we met can be found here). Just like my years of service in the Air Force, I look back and can't helping wondering where time has gone. I guess the saying is true that time flies when you're having fun. That's not to say that our marriage has always been a bed of roses. Honestly though, who's ever is 100%? I don't think I've met a couple yet who has. It is certainly true though that I grow more fond of her with every day, week, month and year. When you first meet someone and fall in love with them, you think that is the ultimate level of relationship. As the years go on though you learn that you can indeed grow even closer. I was definitely blessed that Kristin came my way. Her more laid back demeanor has always been the perfect compliment to my...well...less than laid back demeanor. Every day is a new adventure and I could never imagine (not that I would honestly try) life being any other way. There are so many things to do and adventures to have with her and I can't wait to do it all.
I love you Kristin. I look forward to many more years with you!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Virginia Visit Recap
Last week, I had the chance to spend some time in rural Keysville, Virginia by myself. While I definitely missed my wife and daughter, it was good to be out on my own for a little while. This is particularly true since I had been laid up in the house most of the two weeks before due to my surgery. My main reason for heading down there was to visit with my mom. While her and my stepfather have been married for the past 26 years, his declining mental state has left only a shell of a marriage for the last 8 years or so. My mom has tried a million different ways to deal with and accomodate him, but a person can only take so much. To that end he moved out a few weeks back. Now, there are still some bumps in the road ahead as they move from separation to divorce, but I have to say that I have not seen my mom as happy as she was that week in a very long time. She had so much energy and was constantly smiling. It was great to spend a lot of time talking with her and catching up. Something that we have not been able to do without distraction in a long time. We hung out, we listened to music and enjoyed many meals together. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad to see my mom happy again after so long.
Normally having to do the convincing, mom actually asked me to take pictures of her after her haircut.
While I was staying in Virginia, I received an e-mail from some great flickr friends, Todd and Bill stating that they were traveling to Florida for the funeral of Bill's dad and were wondering if they could stop in on me and the family in Maryland. Before I even had a chance to respond back and tell them I was in VA, my mom said, "Tell them they can come stay here." I'm so very glad that she did. I've known Todd and Bill through flickr since 2007, but we had never met in person before. When they arrived at my mom's one evening, I have to say that we all sat around and talked as if we had known each other all our lives. We talked about photos, music and the pending trip of my family up to Rochester to visit the pair at their home. I'm really looking forward to them meeting Kristin and Katrina as well as seeing them both again.
Todd giving some attention to my mom's pit bull Shiloh, while Bill talks with my mom.
A shot that Todd took of me the morning that he and Bill left to finish their journey to Florida.
Another big highlight of my trip was heading west to Roanoke for the day to hang out with Roanoke firefighters, Lieutenant Rhett Flietz and Captain Willie Wines, Jr. Rhett runs the sites VA Fire News and The Fire Critic, while Willie runs the site, Wooden Ladders and Iron Firemen. I've followed Rhett and Willie's sites for a few years now starting out with VA Fire News back around 2007. I had the chance to meet them in person during the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Firehouse Expo this past June in Baltimore. Later on September 11th, I had the chance to actually climb with them at the Greenbelt, MD event. Since I began following their blogs, Rhett and Willie have been a big source of inspiration when it comes to being the sort of firefighter I want to be. Not that they are the be-all or end-all in firefighting, but when it comes to tradition and the true meaning of Brotherhood, I feel that they really get it.
Anyway, these two guys both had a lot going on. Rhett had just got back from Aruba and Willie as always had farm stuff to take care of. On top of everything, both of them were gearing up to head to the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Despite that they had all of this going on, they both took the time to show me around Roanoke Fire-EMS stations both old and new. We even made a trip to the Virginia Museum of Transportation where I had not been since I was 17. Later that evening, Rhett grilled some steaks for us back at his house and the three of us stayed up until the wee hours talking about anything and everything. It was truly an awesome day.
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Willie wearing Rhett's old leather helmet while Rhett wears my Irish flat cap.
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A shot of the Roanoke Fallen Firefighter Memorial in front of the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
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Willie's office at Roanoke Fire-EMS Station 13.
Last, but not least, I did find the time to do a little exploring around my home turf. In all the years since my parents moved us to Virginia, I've been to the tiny town of Victoria many times. I had always known it was a railroad town, but didn't realize just how much of a railroad town until last week. While exploring the park where the Virginian Railway mainline used to run, I discovered a restored Virginian gondola sitting in the middle of a field. As I got closer to photograph it, I realized that what I though was a field was actually the old foundation for the roundhouse that used to reside there, and that the gondola was sitting on the concrete pad that used to be one of the engine bays. The foundation of the turntable is still there as well. It turns out that town was actually created by the railroad to house offices and housing for the families of railroad employees. Unfortunately, when the Norfolk & Western acquired the Virginian, the mainline through Victoria was considered to be redundant and ultimately it was abandoned. This definitely froze Victoria in time.
A restored gondola sits on the site of the former Virginian roundhouse in Victoria, VA.
All in all it was a great trip back to my home state. Until next time...
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Normally having to do the convincing, mom actually asked me to take pictures of her after her haircut.
While I was staying in Virginia, I received an e-mail from some great flickr friends, Todd and Bill stating that they were traveling to Florida for the funeral of Bill's dad and were wondering if they could stop in on me and the family in Maryland. Before I even had a chance to respond back and tell them I was in VA, my mom said, "Tell them they can come stay here." I'm so very glad that she did. I've known Todd and Bill through flickr since 2007, but we had never met in person before. When they arrived at my mom's one evening, I have to say that we all sat around and talked as if we had known each other all our lives. We talked about photos, music and the pending trip of my family up to Rochester to visit the pair at their home. I'm really looking forward to them meeting Kristin and Katrina as well as seeing them both again.
Todd giving some attention to my mom's pit bull Shiloh, while Bill talks with my mom.
A shot that Todd took of me the morning that he and Bill left to finish their journey to Florida.
Another big highlight of my trip was heading west to Roanoke for the day to hang out with Roanoke firefighters, Lieutenant Rhett Flietz and Captain Willie Wines, Jr. Rhett runs the sites VA Fire News and The Fire Critic, while Willie runs the site, Wooden Ladders and Iron Firemen. I've followed Rhett and Willie's sites for a few years now starting out with VA Fire News back around 2007. I had the chance to meet them in person during the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Firehouse Expo this past June in Baltimore. Later on September 11th, I had the chance to actually climb with them at the Greenbelt, MD event. Since I began following their blogs, Rhett and Willie have been a big source of inspiration when it comes to being the sort of firefighter I want to be. Not that they are the be-all or end-all in firefighting, but when it comes to tradition and the true meaning of Brotherhood, I feel that they really get it.
Anyway, these two guys both had a lot going on. Rhett had just got back from Aruba and Willie as always had farm stuff to take care of. On top of everything, both of them were gearing up to head to the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Despite that they had all of this going on, they both took the time to show me around Roanoke Fire-EMS stations both old and new. We even made a trip to the Virginia Museum of Transportation where I had not been since I was 17. Later that evening, Rhett grilled some steaks for us back at his house and the three of us stayed up until the wee hours talking about anything and everything. It was truly an awesome day.
Willie wearing Rhett's old leather helmet while Rhett wears my Irish flat cap.
A shot of the Roanoke Fallen Firefighter Memorial in front of the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
Willie's office at Roanoke Fire-EMS Station 13.
Last, but not least, I did find the time to do a little exploring around my home turf. In all the years since my parents moved us to Virginia, I've been to the tiny town of Victoria many times. I had always known it was a railroad town, but didn't realize just how much of a railroad town until last week. While exploring the park where the Virginian Railway mainline used to run, I discovered a restored Virginian gondola sitting in the middle of a field. As I got closer to photograph it, I realized that what I though was a field was actually the old foundation for the roundhouse that used to reside there, and that the gondola was sitting on the concrete pad that used to be one of the engine bays. The foundation of the turntable is still there as well. It turns out that town was actually created by the railroad to house offices and housing for the families of railroad employees. Unfortunately, when the Norfolk & Western acquired the Virginian, the mainline through Victoria was considered to be redundant and ultimately it was abandoned. This definitely froze Victoria in time.
A restored gondola sits on the site of the former Virginian roundhouse in Victoria, VA.
All in all it was a great trip back to my home state. Until next time...
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Inside Looking Out
Via Flickr:
Longing to be outside with my camera and frustrated that I cannot be for now.
As some of you may or may not know, I had surgery on my right shoulder last Monday. I've been having problems with it ever since I dislocated the thing back in 2010.
The surgery was definitely a necessity and I'll be glad for the chance to have my arm back to normal. In the meantime however, it is oftentimes frustrating that I'm limited right now in what I can do. Picture taking is one of those ventures I'm definitely limited in at the moment. Again, I know this had to be done and for the most part, I've been in good spirits. I sometimes get a little down about it, but that is to be expected I guess.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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