Pluggin'along

Today was another productive day! Until recently, those have been pretty few and far between, so I'm making a big deal out of it :). As per my most recent post, we spent some time looking at house options, what costs would be with certain upgrades etc. We're both terribly excited and can't wait to see what the future holds. I finished the very last of the paperwork for my student aid, which was just a form asking that any excess awards be disbursed to me. Simple enough. We're opening up a CD (certificate of deposit) to hold all the money we end up saving so by the time we're ready to use it 25 months from now, we'll have made just a little extra. We don't plan on it being much, but every little bit helps.
Now, on a lighter note, I tried my first rye bread loaf today. Let me tell you, did not work out so well. I don't quite know where I went wrong, and I'm going to have to do a little research. It didn't rise more than maybe an inch, and didn't bake thoroughly. I got pretty discouraged so I decided just to do what I knew how to do best, and that was a simple wheat loaf. Just took it out of the oven, and the whole house smells great, as it usually does several times a week. About a week ago, I gave a white loaf to my neighbor Bob (one of my regular bread customers), and it ended up being too much for him to finish by himself so he gave his mother the lion's share. Well, not 2 days later Bob knocks on our door and hands me a lovely thank you card from his mother who said it was the best bread she had ever had! I thought that was exceptionally kind, and was definitely an ego boost. Bob's neighbor Pat also loved the bread and said it was the best she had had as well! Way to go on the recipie Mom :) because I'll cherish it forever! Now, I'm going to let the new loaf cool on the rack, and let the Melatonin I took about a half hour ago work it's magic on closing my eyelids. Good night world. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Buying our first house

John and I decided today that with the money I'll be saving while in school over the next 2 years, and what he can save himself, that we'll have enough in 25 months for the down payment on the house we want to build! We're very very excited about the prospects but realize there is yet a lot of work to do. Having discovered what we can save over the next 25 months, our next step will be to talk to an investment banker and a mortgage broker to see what they think we ought to do next. If you have any guidance or suggestions, they are most appreciated as this is obviously my first home-buying experience.

Finally

I'm glad I finally have a set course in my life and that I'm finally realizing dreams of mine. It was just four days ago that I was on Le Cordon Bleu's website exploring the various opportunities afforded to me there, then one day later going in for a tour and filling out my application. Having been accepted that day, I paid my application fee then set up an appointment the very next day for filling out my financial aid paperwork. Unbeknown to me, the Veterans Affairs Department was more than willing to fund almost my entire tuition of $40,550.00! I only needed to take out one small student loan in order to be fully funded so in that single financial aid appointment, I was able to complete every step necessary to start when classes start! I'm so excited and can't believe it's happening finally! I've been trying to go to secondary school ever since I graduated from High School in 2003. The military didn't help me much as far as having time goes. Ever since getting discharged, I needed to focus on employment. Having recently become unemployed John and I agreed it was time to focus on careers. I'm excited to start next month and also can't wait to see what the future brings.

Life direction

All too often, one can get off of the path that one should be on. Whether it be academically, occupationally, or morally (and not in that particular order). Usually it's not terribly difficult to regain control and get going in the correct direction again. As for me, however, I'm finding it increasingly difficult. There are several life experiences I could recall where I could say it, particularly, was the cause of such straying, but I suppose that's irrelevant. The point is, I'm off my path and I'm writing this because not only do I need to say it out loud, but I feel I'm not too far from getting back on the straight and narrow (figuratively for me of course). In August of last year, I was very fortunate to have met, who in my opinion, is a fantastically wonderful person. As they do naturally in the course of a relationship, our feelings for one another have grown exponentially since our serendipitous meeting. It's because of this person that I feel inspired in every facet of my existence. It's ONLY because of this person, that I feel motivated towards dreams or goals again. For too long have my proverbial wheels been spinning, but now this person is the traction I've needed, the compass I require, and the companion along this aforementioned path that I desire.
Now you have some idea of where I'm coming from to help you understand the rest. At first, I mentioned various ways in which one can stray off their paths. Mine has been particularly occupationally. After serving in the military, I have had only two jobs I can say were career worthy. I worked for US Airways where I worked my way for a year and a half up the various corporate ladders until reaching a fairly respectable position, only to leave after having made some foolish decisions. Immediately following that occupation, I began working for Mesa Air Group in what was, once again, a fairly respectable capacity. I left that job amicably, but for a ridiculous (in hindsight) reason. I say in hindsight because you don't realize how ridiculous some reasons for doing things are until after it happens. This was DEFINITELY one of those times. I moved away to Las Vegas as mentioned in an earlier post. Long story short, It's been a year and a half since leaving Arizona, and not only have I been back for 10 months, but my life is absolutely NOWHERE! Or so I thought until recently.
As some people know, I have a natural ability for doing certain things. Cooking being one of the lesser known of these. Since living with this wonderful person I mentioned earlier, I've found myself cooking more and more, and getting better and better at it. I've always enjoyed cooking and baking, but never thought it was anything special until getting complimented over how much the dishes I prepared stood out as exceptional. One of my former relationships was with someone who was a pastry chef and I had a fairly strong desire at that point to pursue something culinary, but ignored those feelings. Now that they're back in no small part due to this person, and ever so much stronger than they were before, I feel it is the perfect time to jump on this opportunity to do what I love doing and do well naturally. I'll need some education in the field, and then, with any luck (or maybe just perseverance) I'll land myself a career enabling me to provide well for my family.
Now to semi-move on, there are other things I've noticed about myself lately that, without this new influence in my life, I'm convinced I would've overlooked. I've always known I had a natural ability to use my hands constructively; Whether it be playing the organ/piano, or building things. About a month or so ago, I had the idea that we needed a new piece of furniture to hold all our shoes, belts, ties etc. as what we currently had didn't suffice quantitatively. I took out a pen and pad, and sketched out my idea of what we needed, and I'm proud to say that for the last two days I've been building that exact piece of furniture and will be finished with the building and staining/finishing tomorrow! It's a 6'x4' credenza stained a deep mahogany with 4 large shelves, one smaller shelf, and room for draws to be added later which I'm very excited about! My point that I suppose ties everything together is that this new influence in my life is inspiring me and encouraging me in ways I didn't know possible! I'm undertaking tasks I wouldn't have otherwise, and am finally starting to realize some potential!
Now to DEFINITELY move on, I've found myself over the last two months to be obsessed with baking for some reason. I've been baking a loaf of bread (Mom's recipe) almost daily! Whether We end up eating it, or I supply our neighbors with bread as is most often the case, I've found it to be a great tool to de-stress, socialize, and hopefully somehow enrich other people's lives. One unifying factor in most things I do I think is trying to better other people's lives. Whether it be playing my arrangement of the hymn that touches them most deeply on the piano, or by supplying them with something that perhaps reminds them of home, or by being there for them when the need a friend, I feel I have a different purpose now than I felt like I had before.
I'm sorry if this entry seems a bit self-aggrandizing, but I feel so fortunate to be getting some direction back in my life and am proud of my recent accomplishments as It's been awhile since I've felt useful or productive. I owe my new direction in life to a certain John Solis. John, thank you for being there for me whenever I needed, and even when I didn't.
.

Flights

Carter's Flight: IAD-JFK

March 10th, 2009
United Express Flight 7199
Aircraft type: Canadair Regional Jet
New York, Ny Kennedy (JFK) to Washington, DC (IAD)
Departs: 0930
Arrives: 1055
Seat #: 9D (Economy)

Carter's Flight: LAX-JFK

March 9th, 2009
United Flight 82
Aircraft type: Boeing 757 (Premium Service configuration)
Los Angeles, Ca (LAX) to New York, Ny Kennedy(JFK)
Departs: 2215
Arrives: 0628
Seat #: 11D (Business class)

Monday, March 9, 2009

Carter's Flight: DEN-LAX

March 9th, 2009
United Flight 1223
Aircraft type: Boeing 767
Denver, Co (DEN) to Los Angeles, Ca (LAX)
Departs: 1832
Arrives: 2000
Seat #: 3H (First class)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Carter's Flight: IAD-DEN

March 8th, 2009
United Flight 103
Aircraft type: Boeing 777
Washington, DC Dulles (IAD) to Denver, Co (DEN)
Departs: 1222
Arrives: 1417
Seat #: 1A (First class sleeper)

New job, and SNOW!

So, the new job with United is going GREAT and while the hours are a little unusual (3:30 p.m.- midnight), I'm finding it enjoyable. This is the last day of my first week there. People have no idea or respect for what it takes to work for an airline. The hiring process alone is so excruciating. Sooooo many background checks, and fingerprinting, and tests that have to be taken etc. Every time you move to a new airport, you have to learn the whole station again, and take all the airfield exams. Oh well, it's worth it.

So I never realized just how huge Denver International Airport was until I had to drive the whole airfield the other day for my competency test. It's HUGE! I'm also excited for the new types of planes I'll be predominantly working with. While at US Airways, it was mostly average sized Airbus and Boeing aircraft such as the A319, A320, and B737. Here, I work with the Boeing 757, 767, 777 and 747! All VERY large aircraft! I never realized just how big the 777 was until I was right up next to one last night. The are enormous, especially for a two engine aircraft. It's a fun new learning experience. I'm WAY ahead of the others in my training especially since I have airline experience, and already know all the city codes. The class I'm in is made up mostly of people who will be my subordinates :) That's always fun. I digress.

So I got of work last night right at midnight, got home about 12:25, and then went to bed. I was woken up by one of my roommates around three and he was telling me to move my car to the back, under the tree cause we were then getting our first major snow of the season. My car had been parked for maybe two and a half hours and already had a couple inches on it! By about 7 it had snowed over 4 inches! I love this weather! Anyways, I'm excited to see where this job, and this weather bring me next!

November...

So the last few months have brought so many changes and uprooting to my life, that I think I'm going to kinda play it cool for awhile. Perhaps it's all the changes that facilitated the heart attacks mentioned in my earlier post.

Anyways, so here I am all settled in and cozy in Denver, CO and I'm really liking it here! This is my kinda town. I mean, Greer, AZ (where the cabins are) has always been my favorite place in the world, and now to live in a place that has similar weather and scenery is just heaven! Everyone here is super nice, and I can't wait to see what this winter brings. The only other place I've lived in that might have prepared me for this winter is Germany. I hear even Germany is mild though, compared to Denver's blizzards. I also hear it's kinda hit or miss as far as how cold or bad it just might get. We'll see though.

My new job with United Airlines was awfully difficult to get, and I hope I keep it for awhile, and can eventually get full time. At least I have full time benefits! I'm sure Mom and Dad will appreciate the flight benefits so they can go visit Adam, Jessica, Gage, and the new little one when he comes! I only hope they come visit me too! :)