Another Phase Comes to a Close...
IN as they call it is now over other than the test Monday. More of the same, not a whole lot to share. Lots of by hand calculating, conversions, plotting, ratios, working with charts (not maps mind you, apparently that's a swear word around here) and various other tasks. Spent all day today reviewing, then reviewing what we reviewed, then reviewing what we should review on our own again before Monday. Insanely boring. This test should be my best shot at 100 so far, as it's mostly problems, and the only way you miss those is by careless mistakes. We'll see what happens.
Big ol party goin on in the quad, celebrating another classes drop night. One of the guys here actually bought a bus, one of those short ones that seats like 10. Literally a yellow school bus. I dunno how legal that is, but he has it decked out with a massive audio system, and has it parked out there just blasting music, pretty good stuff. Finally been getting some beautiful weather, so it has been close to 90 daily and around the 70s at night. Makes for good nighttime running, although I've slacked for a couple days due to a weird sleeping schedule. I've talked to the gf at least once a day via the webcam, which really does wonders for morale. I've always been a morning person anyway, so getting up early to talk during her lunch break works out fine.
Oh and my appointment for my waiver got moved up to June 2nd instead of the 17th, which is now before the June 10th cutoff for me having to be off DNIF status and able to fly. So that's one problem handled, but I'd still have to get the waiver approved and turned around fast enough that it is back here within like a week instead of months like some of them take. So it's still an unknown factor, but it's no longer a sure thing that I'll be rolled. It would be great if I didn't, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Wind, Oh How You Give Me A Job.
Believe it or not, I've actually had fun during the last two days of class. They've entirely consisted of CBT or Computer Based Training which is of course my preferred method of learning, and better yet we've been learning how to do a truckload of calculating, something I've always been good at and picked up quickly. On Monday we learned about 30 different kinds of conversions that we can do with our little whiz wheels, all of which made total sense to me. I breezed through all the quizzes at the end of the sections, rarely making a mistake other than a random careless one due to the speed at which I was working. My plan on the test is to do the entire test twice without looking at my answers from the first time the second time through, that way odds of a careless mistake are miniscule, and who knows if I can manage to get the other half of the test that isn't problem solving down pat I might end up with my first 100. From the sound of the other section a couple days ahead of us it supposedly gets much harder sometime in the next couple days, but I'm not impressed thus far. I'm really happy about the way things are going though, and feeling confident about the rest of the course. This is supposedly the time people start getting weeded out, and I can already see that happening in some respects, but it's going to have to get a lot more challenging before I'm worried about being in that boat.
Unfortunately still no news about whether I'll get rolled back, which would really be disappointing. They're already spoon feeding us it seems like, and I wouldn't really gain anything from doing nothing for six weeks. All it would do is delay my career some more, although I'll still get paid in the meantime. I like the situation I'm in, and I tend to be resistant to change at times. Guess I'll have to work at that.
We finally got my webcam working through my multiple firewalls, so my girlfriend was able to see me for a brief minute or two before I had to zip off to class after lunch while she was volunteering near one of the computer labs there. She seemed quite pleased, and I'm more than a bit bitter that vice versa still isn't possible because she's still waiting on the password to be able to log in to her new internet. It's been like two months that we've been waiting on this, and it really would help a lot to be able to see each other on a regular basis, even through a computer.
Managed to get off my ass and go running tonight, and also managed it Sunday, so trying to get into the every other day thing again before I attempt to take it even further in a few weeks. Quite a bit out of shape, just a three miler leaves me pretty breathless.
And in other random news, two rather strange hits to this blog have come from someone connecting through www.house.gov and www.doj.gov. That's right, the House of Representatives and Department of Justice's websites. Wonder what they found to be so interesting. Guess that's why I don't discuss politics. :)
Believe it or not, I've actually had fun during the last two days of class. They've entirely consisted of CBT or Computer Based Training which is of course my preferred method of learning, and better yet we've been learning how to do a truckload of calculating, something I've always been good at and picked up quickly. On Monday we learned about 30 different kinds of conversions that we can do with our little whiz wheels, all of which made total sense to me. I breezed through all the quizzes at the end of the sections, rarely making a mistake other than a random careless one due to the speed at which I was working. My plan on the test is to do the entire test twice without looking at my answers from the first time the second time through, that way odds of a careless mistake are miniscule, and who knows if I can manage to get the other half of the test that isn't problem solving down pat I might end up with my first 100. From the sound of the other section a couple days ahead of us it supposedly gets much harder sometime in the next couple days, but I'm not impressed thus far. I'm really happy about the way things are going though, and feeling confident about the rest of the course. This is supposedly the time people start getting weeded out, and I can already see that happening in some respects, but it's going to have to get a lot more challenging before I'm worried about being in that boat.
Unfortunately still no news about whether I'll get rolled back, which would really be disappointing. They're already spoon feeding us it seems like, and I wouldn't really gain anything from doing nothing for six weeks. All it would do is delay my career some more, although I'll still get paid in the meantime. I like the situation I'm in, and I tend to be resistant to change at times. Guess I'll have to work at that.
We finally got my webcam working through my multiple firewalls, so my girlfriend was able to see me for a brief minute or two before I had to zip off to class after lunch while she was volunteering near one of the computer labs there. She seemed quite pleased, and I'm more than a bit bitter that vice versa still isn't possible because she's still waiting on the password to be able to log in to her new internet. It's been like two months that we've been waiting on this, and it really would help a lot to be able to see each other on a regular basis, even through a computer.
Managed to get off my ass and go running tonight, and also managed it Sunday, so trying to get into the every other day thing again before I attempt to take it even further in a few weeks. Quite a bit out of shape, just a three miler leaves me pretty breathless.
And in other random news, two rather strange hits to this blog have come from someone connecting through www.house.gov and www.doj.gov. That's right, the House of Representatives and Department of Justice's websites. Wonder what they found to be so interesting. Guess that's why I don't discuss politics. :)
Sunday, May 16, 2004
A Trojan Tragedy and a Television Travesty...
Woah gettin all creative with the blog titles. Okay let's see what's been the happenins.
Finished API in JSUNT, took the test on Friday, and managed to miss one that I really shouldn't have missed. So thus far I've missed one on all three tests, putting me somewhere in the middle of the pack most likely. The good news I've been waiting for is that we're finally starting the IN phase or Introduction to Navigation, during which we finally start crunching numbers, spinning the whiz wheels, and working problems for more than half of the eventual test for that phase. This is what I excel at, and what I feel will be a great place to catch up.
The bad news is I found out Friday unless I get my appointment moved up, I'll definitely be rolling back to another class after being put on medical hold. I find out Monday most likely if they're able to bump me up somehow, if not I'll probably be chilling out for three weeks doing nothing again. It'll be a bit depressing to leave the group of people I've hung with for my entire Air Force career thus far, but I guess that's what happens whenever you PCS to a new base, so I might as well get used to it. More about that on Monday or Tuesday when I find out what the deal is.
We'll cover next American Idol, which yes I must admit I've been watching these last few weeks. Actually not watching since I have no TV, but I've been downloading the episodes. AI is particularly annoying about their commercials, especially during the results show when it takes them an hour just to let you know who got eliminated. And speaking of which, I really have to comment on what a travesty it was. Latoya London's version of "Rain on my Parade" is easily in my top three songs from the show during all the seasons combined, and easily the best of this season. I haven't a clue how she got the boot, and it's quite sad. Nothing against the other three, but she was top dog. Prior to her belting out that one my favorite had been Diana, and I guess we'll have to see if my original choice ends up holding up. I'm actually glad I already knew she was rejected before I watched the show, or I probably would have been floored. America gets 1 out of 7 M's for screwing that one up.
On a more positive note, this weekend's fare was the epic Troy. I went in expecting a Gladiator style action flick, and I got all that and more. Peole I know had given it medicore ratings, and so I was expecting some decent stunts and action, but I totally disagree. The panoramas of this one are amazing; the CGI is top notch. They obviously used truckloads and truckloads of extras, but on some scenes in particular you can't even tell whether it's just a TON (or actually several tons) of them or they've actually been backed up by CGI for the most part. I must draw particular attention to the hand to hand combat scene between Hector and Achilles, basically one of the climaxes of the film. The choreography of the battle is superb, and puts together a fabulous sequence. You can see the actors' faces for basically the entirety, which means they must have spent a hell of a lot of time practicing, because it is entirely believable and very powerful. We all know I love dramas, and this one is way up there. Some plot elements don't make much sense, such as an entire battle between armies shutting down for a battle midway through between two major characters, as if the other thousands of people would just pause the bloodshed and watch and then continue, or as in the case of the movie call it quits for the day. Other than that though, great drama, some great acting by some power players, a very believable Achilles by Brad Pitt who must have put on 20 pounds of solid muscle for the movie and looked it, and an equally impressive soundtrack that wasn't overbearing except when it was supposed to be, which is something you don't always see. A solid 6 out of 7 M's for this one, first time in a while I've seen that quality in the theater. And to think it's only the beginning of the summer season...
Woah gettin all creative with the blog titles. Okay let's see what's been the happenins.
Finished API in JSUNT, took the test on Friday, and managed to miss one that I really shouldn't have missed. So thus far I've missed one on all three tests, putting me somewhere in the middle of the pack most likely. The good news I've been waiting for is that we're finally starting the IN phase or Introduction to Navigation, during which we finally start crunching numbers, spinning the whiz wheels, and working problems for more than half of the eventual test for that phase. This is what I excel at, and what I feel will be a great place to catch up.
The bad news is I found out Friday unless I get my appointment moved up, I'll definitely be rolling back to another class after being put on medical hold. I find out Monday most likely if they're able to bump me up somehow, if not I'll probably be chilling out for three weeks doing nothing again. It'll be a bit depressing to leave the group of people I've hung with for my entire Air Force career thus far, but I guess that's what happens whenever you PCS to a new base, so I might as well get used to it. More about that on Monday or Tuesday when I find out what the deal is.
We'll cover next American Idol, which yes I must admit I've been watching these last few weeks. Actually not watching since I have no TV, but I've been downloading the episodes. AI is particularly annoying about their commercials, especially during the results show when it takes them an hour just to let you know who got eliminated. And speaking of which, I really have to comment on what a travesty it was. Latoya London's version of "Rain on my Parade" is easily in my top three songs from the show during all the seasons combined, and easily the best of this season. I haven't a clue how she got the boot, and it's quite sad. Nothing against the other three, but she was top dog. Prior to her belting out that one my favorite had been Diana, and I guess we'll have to see if my original choice ends up holding up. I'm actually glad I already knew she was rejected before I watched the show, or I probably would have been floored. America gets 1 out of 7 M's for screwing that one up.
On a more positive note, this weekend's fare was the epic Troy. I went in expecting a Gladiator style action flick, and I got all that and more. Peole I know had given it medicore ratings, and so I was expecting some decent stunts and action, but I totally disagree. The panoramas of this one are amazing; the CGI is top notch. They obviously used truckloads and truckloads of extras, but on some scenes in particular you can't even tell whether it's just a TON (or actually several tons) of them or they've actually been backed up by CGI for the most part. I must draw particular attention to the hand to hand combat scene between Hector and Achilles, basically one of the climaxes of the film. The choreography of the battle is superb, and puts together a fabulous sequence. You can see the actors' faces for basically the entirety, which means they must have spent a hell of a lot of time practicing, because it is entirely believable and very powerful. We all know I love dramas, and this one is way up there. Some plot elements don't make much sense, such as an entire battle between armies shutting down for a battle midway through between two major characters, as if the other thousands of people would just pause the bloodshed and watch and then continue, or as in the case of the movie call it quits for the day. Other than that though, great drama, some great acting by some power players, a very believable Achilles by Brad Pitt who must have put on 20 pounds of solid muscle for the movie and looked it, and an equally impressive soundtrack that wasn't overbearing except when it was supposed to be, which is something you don't always see. A solid 6 out of 7 M's for this one, first time in a while I've seen that quality in the theater. And to think it's only the beginning of the summer season...
