First solo in a fighter jet!

Today I had my first solo flight in the T-38C. This is our life support equipment room where all of our gear is stored. We get suited up with everything we need to fly and then step to the jets.

The T-38 ejection seat does not have a parachute, so we have to carry one. It weighs about 45 pounds and is a pain in the ass to haul around when it is hot. It isn't too bad in the plane, but it pulls you down in the seat when we pull g's.

Once we get to the jet we do a full walk around just to make sure everything looks normal. On this flight I noticed the jet had some old tires on it, so I had the crew chief change them since my landings are not that great right now. A blown tire on landing is not a good situation to be in.

It takes almost 20 minutes to get strapped in and ready for start. There are a ton of checks that need to be completed, and you definitely don't want to miss any step, so I am constantly rechecking what I already checked twice. And I still miss checklist items.

This is a good picture of our up front control panel (UFCP) and heads up display(HUD). It takes a while to get all the info in it, but once you do all of our primary flight instruments are all there at eye level so we don't have to look down while flying. When we pull a lot of g's looking down is not very comfortable, so this is a tremendous help. This is the exact same HUD that is in the F-16 fighting falcon.

Once all the avionics stuff is set up and radio calls are made it is time to check all the control surfaces. Here I am checking the flap-elevator (slab) inter connect to ensure it is working. If this were to fail on approach to landing I have 3 seconds to apply the correct procedure before the plane flips upside down and I am going to eject straight into the ground.

Taxiing out to the runway. This jet has afterburners so take off happens pretty quick and the airplane accelerates like a bat out of hell, nothing compared to what I will be flying in a year, but it hauls ass. We pull the burners out only half way down the runway, and we are at 300 knots by the end of the runway, which is 12,000 ft long. It's fast! It is a constant acceleration that shoves me back into the seat, and never stops until I pull the throttles back.
The flight went well, had a couple of really nice landings and some really crappy ones, but I am back safe. I almost GLOC'd myself (G induced loss of consciousness) in the practice area doing aerobatics. Pulled too many G's with no anti g straining maneuver ( flexing your butt) doing a cuban 8, but I recovered the jet at the first signs of high G and everything was cool after that.

T38 Dollar Ride

My First take off in the T-38 going 300 knots (350 mph) My first attempt at landing, getting a little squirley

The wings on this plane are very small and produce very little lift. More people have been killed landing than any other phase of flight. The plane on approach is always about to stall, so it shakes violently all the way down to the ground because of the separation of airflow over the tiny wings. It makes landing interesting. Our IP's are always telling us to be careful and maintain airspeed or the plane can flip over instantly and we would both be killed. I love this job!

Approach to land at 170 knots (200mph)
Things happen pretty fast in this jet! My first couple of landings were pretty bad, but I started to get used to it. We land so fast that any mistakes are multiplied and you can't salvage a bad landing. By my third flight I am not able to land that great, but safely. I finally had a good landing, but I almost took my IP and myself off the end of the runway because I did not get on the brakes soon enough. Definitely had the pucker factor! (Anus Clenching)

FYI

We just want to let you all know that our computer has been down. We think we had a virus or something, so Jeff deleted everything off of our computer and updated the Anti-virus stuff. Jeff still has some other stuff to do to the computer, but we should be up and running this weekend.
Don't ask, I have no clue where we got it!

Yearly Family Vacation

Here we are again to celebrate and remember my Grandpa Less who died in January of 04.

We spread his ashes in Cayucos, CA in 2005 off the pier as he wanted it. This place has been a vacation spot for our family as far as I can remember. The ocean is where my heart is and hopefully one of these days that's where we will settle.

Morro Bay Rock

Jackson playing football with his Uncle Scott and Uncle Jeff.

Looks more like keep away!
I wonder what he was thinking about?

Little toes
I think this is what he was thinking!
He eventually fell in and was soaked!

to be continued..........

Zoo

Spending the day at the zoo with a 2 year old is by far more fun then going to a candy store!

Jackson was so interested in seeing all the animals and hearing them make some kind of noise. We stood in front of this tigers cage for 15 minutes just watching him pase back and forth. The apes were fighting and trying to establish territories in their cage and this little guy just wasn't to sure about all the ruckus or was just down right ready to eat one of them! The apes are right next to the tiger.

Jackson watching the elephant
This is a barn owl, she was very pretty.
What a small boy
Here is one of the apes, I think the lady said this girl was the newest addition to the zoo.
She looked so sad.
We had a great day at the zoo with my dad!

Jackson's 2nd Birthday

Well, as most of you know! Jackson turned 2 years old on March 8th!

We had a joint birthday party with my BFF Nicole and her son Carson. Carson and Jackson are BFF's as well and are only one week apart. Jeff and Carson share a birthday as well!

We had the boys birthday party at Pump It Up this year with friends and family. I was so thankful to have had it at home in California, I always feel so bad that everyone misses out on Jackson's everyday life. It was very important that we got to share his 2nd birthday with everyone! So thanks to those who came!

This is Jackson and Carson's cake

Nicole and I with our boys

Jackson climbing to the top

Here we are again with my niece Ashley

Jackson and Jeff

Happy Birthday to our Bundle of Joy! I can't believe he is 2 and terrible! LOL I am just kidding! He is definitely a boy and that is for sure! I also can't believe how much he is talking and pronouncing words after his birthday. He was talking a lot, but since turning 2, he is just a sponge and so eager to learn. Oh what a year it's going to be!

California Bound

As most of you know, Jeff and I left Columbus Feb 20Th and headed to California. Jeff stayed for two weeks and I am still here. I am leaving Monday the 30Th and my mom and sister Debbie will be driving back with me. Jackson has become the little world traveler lately.

While Jeff was here, we got to visit with some friends we didn't get to see on our Christmas vacation. Jeff got to play golf with his friends and my dad a lot. He even took Jackson one day!

I do have to say that Jackson loved it, but boy was he pooped!

We also had Jackson's 2ND birthday party here in Fresno with all of our friends and family. I will post pictures in a different blog. The day after Jackson's party Jeff returned to Columbus to start phase III of his training. We were sad to see him leave, but he needs/needed the time to get adjusted to his study schedule and classes.

Since Jeff left, Jackson & I have been on the run. We've been here and there visiting with friends and family. We also went on our yearly family vacation to Cayucos. We took our BFF's with us this year and we had so much fun. We also visited family in Bakersfield and LA. Although our visit was short in Bakersfield, our visit wasn't long enough in LA. Jackson had a blast at his Grandma & Grandpa's. We went to Huntington Beach and drove along PCH to see all the old beach towns. (Newport, Laguna, etc) He also got to go swimming and play at the park. All he had to say about the weekend was "Grandma's fun, swimming fun." He loved it there!

We are finishing our last 2 day with Family and one last day of rest before we hit the road! I will post a few more blogs with pictures of our vacation.

Track Select/Red Carpet Day

Jeff"s first phase plane T6

Jeff's next plane to train in T38
Jeff & I in the T6 Flight Simulator

Art flying in the T6 Flight Simulator

Jeff's buddies

Shocking The World

09-13

What does a Stay at home Mom do?

I just read a friends blog and couldn't agree more with her and the article she found.
I always hear, "oh, it must be nice to stay home," or "you have all the time in the world." I could go on and on, but one thing is that I always try to manage my time the way I can. If it's returning phone calls, emailing, or just watching TV, then I've got some me time in. I always tell Jeff that it's pretty sad that I have to pay someone to watch Jackson so I can either go to the gym or just have quiet time. Some people just don't understand the demands of being a parent!
Luckily, we do have some great friends who do understand!

Please read the link to even understand my posting! I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it!
http://stimets.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html
Thanks Lindsey for your post!
Please remember to click on the article to make it larger and more readable!

Update on Mr. Jackson

Today we went to the doctor off base and saw a pediatrician, yeah! Finally someone who knows something about kids! She was worried that he could possibly have strep, but the cultures came back negative. Jackson even got a finger prick (blood test) for strep and that was negative.
So he just has a virus, which means no antibiotic. She told me to give him some Imodium for the diarrhea and a prescription for Promethazine gel. (anti vomiting med) We shall see how he does with this.
The last few day.
Saturday: Vomiting most of the day/diarrhea, very sleepy (midnight vomiting)
Sunday: Normal Jackson/diarrhea (midnight vomiting)
Monday: Some vomiting/diarrhea, very sleepy
Tuesday: normal Jackson/diarrhea (midnight vomiting)
Wednesday: normal Jackson
We are in the routine of midnight baths and I have used a whole bottle of Tide (42 washes) in the last week on puky bedding and towels! When will this end?????????

There's A Bug

(my boys on the couch)

Ok, so Valentine's Day was a bust, but we did get to spend it together cleaning up vomit! (laugh out loud!) We did have Jeff's parents here and unfortunately were not able to do much with them the last day and a half and we feel really bad about that.
Yesterday Jeff woke up feeling bad and well, lets just say Jackson has passed his bug to Jeff. All I can say is "I hope I don't get it." I thought Jackson was getting over it and we even went to the park. Well, last night confirmed that the poor boy isn't. He was throwing up again at 1 am and it was so bad we had to strip his bed and give him a bath.
My boys are both on the couch and I am feeling great, but tired!
Day 3 and we will see what happens!

We will post Jeff's Track Select and Red Carpet day as soon as he is feel up to it!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! We are spending it in doors with a sick baby.

The poor guy has been vomiting most of the day and sleeping on and off. Thank the heavens for buckets!

We hope everyone is having a great day and eating lots of chocolate for us!

Goodbyes

We are officially apart of the Air Force Family. I have had to say goodbye to a couple people already and I was sad to see them go, but very, very sad to see The Koegels leave. I know that there will be more goodbyes, some of which will be sad and others will be just as sad as last nights goodbye.

Last night we went out to dinner for one last hooo-raw!

Jacie & Johnny's son Brayden!

He is such a sweet little boy, Jackson is going to miss playing with him.

Jackson drinking Sprite from a wine glass!
Jacie & I

Group picture

We wish them the best of luck in Klamath Fall, Oregon. Johnny is off to F15C's, we hope they will join us in Fresno when his orders are up! (Fingers are crossed)

Kids Part II

Here is Mr. Jackson today! He decided to go and get his bucket and use it as a stepping stool. I have already hid every type of toy/stool like object that he could use just for this very reason.

I was vacuuming while this was taking place. I have now figured out that I have to stop what I am doing every 30 seconds or so to check on him. I knew he was up to no good, so I left the vacuum running and went and got the camera to find him pushing the buttons on the microwave. Yes, it was plugged in and after I took this picture I unplugged it!

Needles to say, I reprimanded him and hid the bucket!

I really think my gray hairs are coming soon!

On a better note!

Here is Jackson craft project from school today! It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! LOL
Good job buddy!

Jeff and I put Jackson on a waiting list for school today at the CDC. He only goes 1 day a week at the moment, but after he turns 2, he is able to attend on a regular bases. So hopefully we will be going in April some time and it will be on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. This would be so helpful while Jeff is in T38 training. God only know how much he'll be around!

I need me time!

Total Boy

We are officially interested in shaving cream now! I was waiting for the day when he would want to try some on. Well, here it is!

I think you got some in your nose, Mr.
(Jeff helped Jackson and Jackson helped Jeff put some on too)

OK, now this is my favorite!

Jeff was in the our room tonight watching his show while I was in the living room watching mine. While we were watching our shows, Jackson kept running from room to room and playing, when all of a sudden he decided to go in his room. I didn't think anything of it, I simply thought he was in the our room with Jeff.

Jeff comes in to the living room and tells me to come and look at Jackson. Jeff's laughing so I didn't think it was going to be all that bad! Well, this is what I find!

Yes, that is diaper rash cream and he threw all of his diapers on the floor. I think he was just about to pull everyone of his wipes out of the container as well. That cream was everywhere!

I've been saying that it only takes a second for you to turn your back and they are in to something. I guess I should take my own advise! BOYS!!!!!!

The funny thing about this is that Jeff and I had a really good laugh and when I went to get the camera, Jackson simply says "CHEESE!"

We thought that was the funniest thing ever!

Tagged by Jacie.....

I haven't been on top of these things lately, but I am sure your all dying to know more about me!!!!
I was tagged by my friend Jacie to blog about my top 10 pet peeves.
Here it goes........

1. Slow Drivers
2. People not using their turn signal
3. The clicking of a writing pen, the ones that have the spring loaded ink. Jeff will sit and continuously click it while he's thinking. Drives me crazy!
4. People slamming doors
5. Talking on the phone when there isn't anything to talk about
6. Dirty ears! I always have to clean my ears when I get out of the shower.
7. People touching my feet
8. I have a hard time with people who confide in you and ask for your help and opinion, but do the complete opposite, but they totally agreed with you the whole time your giving your two cents. (not sure if this is considered a pet peeve, but this one is the worst for me.)
9. Not making my bed
10. I have to shower everyday, A MUST!
11. Not having enough strength to open containers. I get so pissed, I sometimes wish I could throw the damn things at the wall.

That was kind of hard!

I tag Lindsey, Elizabeth, Traci, Crystal, Katie, Anne, & Justin!

Jackson Vs. Window

Last night was interesting to say the least. I was in doing the dishes and my friend Lindsey was in our spare/computer room looking up the weather. Her son Owen and Jackson were jumping on the bed and Jackson decides to bang his head on the window. She said he only did it a couple of times and the last one was so hard that Jackson broke it!

He is fine and the child didn't even cry. She brought him out to me and he had a little piece of glass in his forehead, but no tears and a gooses egg on his hair line.

I really don't know what to say about this, but just wanted to share. I am glad that he wasn't hurt and I'm sure I would feel a lot different then I do now, but what a lesson.

The view from the right side of the bed

from the left side
2 hours after his accident! How can you stay mad at that face!

Do I see a problem child here?

First Day of School

Thursday morning and we are ready for MDO class! Jackson attended his first day of school yesterday. It's called a Moms Day Out Class, it was more for me but also for him. It was from 9-3 and they got to play, do arts and crafts, eat lunch, take a nap and play some more. He had a really good time, but they did say he cried for the first 45 minutes, he kept saying Momma Dada!

When I went to pick him up yesterday they were on their way out to the play yard. I talked to one of the teachers and she said he did really well, he didn't eat much of his lunch but had a couple servings of apple sauce. Which is surprising because he won't eat apple sauce for me.

They then took a nap after lunch and it's just like nap time when I was in school. A little cot and a sheet. She said he cried up until 1:45 and finally fell asleep! He got up at 2:15 and was the last to wake up. He isn't very good at the sleep thing lately, but I am very proud of him for his efforts!

On our way out the door yesterday morning

His classroom
When I picked him up yesterday
Playing outside before we left

Playing in the sand

I do have to say that yesterday was a good day, but I missed him terribly. I found myself looking at the clock every five minutes, but I managed!