We have Dates

Sort of. First rule of the Military, things are always subject to change! Always! And we only have two of the four dates that we need.

Jared found out today that he leaves on Monday for Florida and water survival school. Nothing like last minute notice eh? It wouldn't really be a big deal, except that he'll miss his brother's assignment night next Friday. And in all likelihood I'll be missing assignment night as well since I'll be in Kansas picking him up from the airport. (Water survival is only four days).

The other date we got was our report no later than date for Travis. Which is April 16, 2010. (As you can see by the ticker at the bottom of the blog). In all likelihood the exact dates we will be moving will be different, earlier, but that's what we know for now.

The dates we are still waiting on are his land survival school and his C-17 co-pilot training.

4 DAYS ?!

Being able to say those words in relation to Jared's UPT graduation is simply incredible! I spent a weekend doing a whole lot of nothing (aka. reading, watching football and eating ice cream). Now that it is Monday morning it's time to shift gears and start getting ready for the arrival of our families in two days! We are so excited! I just can't believe this part of the journey is really almost over.

UPT Complete!!!

Yesterday was the last official day of pilot training. Jared flew his last ride in the T-1, his last UPT check ride. He passed with flying colors, a 1E! That is basically perfect. I am so proud of him! Neither one of us can believe that it's really all over though. Now we only have 4 more days until our families will be in town for graduation, only 6 more days until Jared gets his wings. We are so happy and excited!


Still waiting on orders ...


So in celebration of being done Jared and his brother are golfing on this beautiful, sunny fall day. I went to the farmers market this morning and very shortly will commence baking some brownies.


Thank you so very much everyone for all your prayers, support and encouragement these LONG last 14 months! It feels wonderful to be at the finish line.

"I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor." Ecclesiastes 2:10

Research

So much research ... well I suppose I can't say so little time because I have no idea how much time we actually have. But you get the picture.

Travis has three surrounding cities that I have heard of (from various Air Force connections) and looked into: Fairfield, Vacaville and Davis. Fairfield is the city where the base is actually located. I've been told it isn't the greatest place to live, a bit "ghetto" to quote several people. Vacaville is the next town over, and from what I hear, is where most people living off base live. They have a lot of parks, a new library, an outside downtown area that is host to various musical events and a farmers market. The other town, a bit further out, is Davis. It is home to the UC Davis college campus, very bike friendly, has another farmers market, and obviously lots going on due to the college. Our first choice would be to live on base, but we don't know how long the wait is currently, so we are trying to be prepared for off base living.

I have not seriously looked into jobs yet, but there are several hospitals close by (including one on base) and a children's facility in Sacramento. My priority when I do start a job hunt in earnest will be flexibility. Living so far away from home, I want to be able to take any chance we get for visiting and run! Besides, money is so overrated.

A friend of ours from Dover, a C-17 pilot, and his wife just moved to Travis this summer. So we have a small connection there. Jared is very happy about that. From him we have heard the squadron is a young one, but very good. That the weather is wonderful. And that they are gearing up for a deployment in March. I doubt Jared will be ready to go that quickly which means if they keep the deployment schedule the same, Jared's first deployment wont be for some time. (Currently they are deploying for 4 months and then can't go again for 18). But of course there will be plenty of TDY (week long trips) in the meantime.

So, that's what we know for now. We have a moving brief on October 8th, slightly humours since we don't yet know when we are moving.

The next big event is for Jared to pass his very last check ride of pilot training this Friday! Then it's on to graduation weekend. Both of us are very excited and anxiously awaiting it!

The C-17

I thought I would post a few pictures from the 2008 Vance AFB Air Show. These are all of a C-17 that was here. It is the second largest plane in the Air Force. Pretty impressive! There are lots more pictures on facebook from that air show as well. I am so impressed that my husband will be flying this plane in a few months!

C-17 cockpit
C-17 on the flightline

C-17 flying over Vance AFB

We Survived Assignment Night

It seemed like assignment night would never come. And now it's already Sunday and assignment night was two whole days ago. Unbelievable!

The day started in the early hours for both Jared and I. Not because we had to be up particularly early, but because we couldn't sleep. Jared spent his morning in the flight room in meetings. I spent mine over at Megan's house. They just moved to the new base housing and I got the grand tour. It's very nice.

Then Jared, Andy and I went out to Subway for lunch. Neither Jared nor I were particularly hungry, but I thought we had better eat something.

At 1:30 we had a photo op. for the entire class, plus all spouses/significant others, on base. So I got to dress up in Jared's flight suit and we took all kinds of pictures right out on the Vance flight line. I have all of them on facebook, but I added a few on here as well. That turned out to be really fun and killed a whole hour of our extraordinarily long and anxious day.

At 3:30 Kimberly and I headed over to Mandy's house, another wife in our class, and had some wine and chatted. Jared was content to stay home and play video games; preferring to "blow people up" to relieve his stress and nerves.

We all met back up at 5:00pm at the Vance Club to claim prime seating and continue our waiting. I honestly think that is the most discomposed I have ever seen my husband. He was pale and clammy and looked like he was going to be sick. Not that I was much better myself. I thought I might easily end up passing out. It was a wretched day, and that last half hour was the worst bit.

But we survived the 30 minutes and then it was time for assignment night to begin! One by one assignments were handed out and I got a little less nervous. Thankfully there was no teasing with fake assignments being put up before the real one this time. Then I saw our number one choice, C-17s to Charleston, go to someone else. I started to panic again. We were going to FAIP, we were going to be stuck in Enid, I just knew it. Then it was suddenly Jared's turn. And suddenly we weren't FAIP-ing, we were getting a C-17!!!! He did it, his dream plane, his number one airframe!!!! And we were going to live in ... California?!?! Travis, AFB popped up on the screen. Shock. I knew of course we could go there, but I hadn't really ever thought about it before.

Jared came and gave me the customary spouse rose and a kiss. And I don't remember what anyone else got after Jared. And all I could think of was having to tell my Mother I was moving to California. I was moving to California?!

We stayed at the Club for a while, talking, giving and receiving congratulations. I was so happy, but so shocked, and terribly light headed! Jared and I finally made a beeline for my car and sat in the Club parking lot for some unknown amount of time calling family to tell them our big news. Mom, as I knew she would, cried. But even she was congratulatory and excited for us, and happy. And then as Jared was driving us home I started crying. "I am happy Jared, I'm excited, I am so proud of you!" all through a sea of tears. California was just so terribly far away and foreign sounding. I still can't picture pale, quiet, conservative, noon-outdoorsy me in California.

Andy took us out to our favorite local Italian restaurant to celebrate. And as I ate my stromboli I kept thinking, holy cow! I'm going to live in California ... for 4 years!

We went to our classes after party. Just long enough to be seen, congratulate people, to be social, and then we went back home for the night.

Saturday I poured over the website for Travis AFB, our soon to be new home. I looked up city websites, real estate, jobs, etc. It all started to look a little brighter. After all we'll be close to San Francisco, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, Monterrey. The weather is supposed to be temperate, Mediterranean even. We'll be close to fresh seafood, and fabulous produce, cultural events and real libraries. Jared looked up plane tickets and found them for $200 from Akron-Canton to San Jose, which is an hour and a half away.

So, we are still in shock. I think until we are really and truly done with pilot training and headed out of Enid that it won't sink in. Jared has five more rides left, one more check ride. We have graduation left. And then there are three more training events he's still got to get through. But sunny, Northern California is on the horizon. And I'm praying for peace and courage as we get ready to make this next move, take this next big step.

We are so happy and grateful that all the hard work has paid off and that Jared has his dream plane. We are almost done! It seems like just a few days ago that we got to Enid and thought this would never end; funny how time has gone by. We are hoping for lots and lots of visitors in California!

Jared and posing by the plane he is currently flying: T-1 Jayhawk
Jared's class: Vance JSUPT Class 09-15

Fun pose in the wing of the T-1

Jared and I just before assignment night started

Nervously awaiting his assignment

Which was Travis AFB flying the C-17!! Congrats Hubby!!!

Tomorrow

Please note the tickers at the bottom of our blog. I believe it says 1 day until assignment night. And, not that I've thought much about it, we only have 15 more days until graduation.

I am praying that today goes well, that it goes quickly, that Jared and I can manage a decent night's sleep. Basically I'm praying for today to be over.

Jared at least will have a fast day until around dinner time. He is flying a co-pilot out and back with Tim. So they will head somewhere, have lunch and then be back around 6:30. I wish I could go as well! I am working today, and if our documentation system is as messed up as it was yesterday then it will take a large chunk out of my day. If not, I am going to do a bit of shopping and maybe even venture to the gym on my own this afternoon.

Dinner is Jared's favorite, and ultimate comfort food, Luke casserole. I am also going to make cupcakes for a treat. Hopefully the college football game tonight is a good one so we have something to distract us!

And then it will be tomorrow, and we'll know.

T-minus 3 days and counting

Today has been a good day. After living in Enid for over a year I finally made it to the gym on base. Totally pathetic, I know! But Jared didn't have to go in to work until this afternoon, so we went together this morning. It was not nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be. And I rather enjoyed the weight machines and elliptical. Maybe i can motivate myself to head back tomorrow afternoon.

Jared and I also ran some errands together this morning. He took me to the clinic so I could get a prescription. Then we both did the weekly grocery shopping at the commissary. It was fun not having to go alone, and even more fun not having to carry in all the groceries by myself! By the time we made it back home it was lunch time. So we called Andy and the three of us had some yummy BLTs.

I was supposed to work this afternoon, but things got moved around and I'm not working! I will be Wednesday and Thursday though.

We have yet another grey, gloomy day here in Enid. No rain, just grey. I wish it would rain if it was going to be so ugly! But I've got some Yankee Candles lit, and dinner is homemade chicken and noodle soup. So it is rather cozy in our little house despite the weather.

Only three more days to go... unbelievable!

T-minus 4 days and counting

"Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting." ~Dr. Seuss

THE paper chain of pilot training is down to three little links!

Jared's down to six more flights!

Lets Go Bucks!

Tonight is the Ohio State v. USC game. It is a huge game. We will, obviously, be watching every second. Jared already has college game day on! I am going to make swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes tonight. We are having a few people over for the game, so that should be fun! I've also got 5 chip cookies and various other munchies ready.

The other game to watch today is the Michigan v. Notre Dame match up. Hoping Michigan kicks Notre Dames butt! That's the afternoon game though, so we've still got quite a while to wait for all the games to get going.

No farmers market run today; it's raining and grey and humid and just plain yucky outside. A great day to start burning the fall scented candles, curl up inside with football jerseys and blankets, have some hot tea, fill the house with yummy cooking smells, and cheer on our teams!

In other news we've got less than a week until assignment night. This time next week we'll know...