Carter, United

Pluggin'along

2010-01-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-08T02:51:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-06T20:52:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-04T01:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-11-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-11-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

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! :)

Heart attacks and such....

2008-10-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

So, this past week has seen it's share of difficulties for me. It all started off with one of the few friends I have here in Denver not being able to hang out with me for awhile because he's going out of town. Anyways, I have had so much on my mind lately that I guess, culminating with this last Monday night, it just got to be too much.

I was over in Lakewood, Colorado (about 20 minutes from where I live in the Denver(Stapleton) area) visiting another friend at about 7 p.m. when a very unusual pain started gripping my chest. I've always had some form of heart problems, and I thought this was just more of that. It became very difficult for me to breathe, and then it felt like my heart was going to leap out of my chest. I actually had to grip my chest and groaned like I've never had to. It was quite unusual. Anyways, that lasted for about 4 minutes, and my friend became super worried for me, and I said it was nothing. I WAS worried, but thought it was just an intensified pain like I had experienced so many times before. Anyways, about 45 minutes went by and I decided to go home where it happened again! This time for about 5 minutes.

I told my friend, who I was now talking to online, and he wouldn't take no for an answer this time, and called 9-1-1. I never, EVER like a fuss being made about me, so this wasn't entertaining. The ambulance finally got there, and took me to the University of Colorado Hospital. I was attended to by several doctors, none of whose names I can remember unfortunately. I tried describing the pain to the doctors and nurses when guess what...it happened for a third time! This was the longest one, and while ti was happening, I distinctly remember the Dr. saying, "Carter, you're experiencing a heart attack right now etc...". They never ended up needing to use the defibrillator which I was thankful for. After it was all said and done, and they had done as many tests as they felt they needed to, they put me on Bayer heart aspirin, and an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor called Capoten. I've been moderately ok since, although it does feel like my heart is significantly weaker and I only say that because now when I go up and down the stairs, it just feels like it takes a lot more. I'm really not trying to feel sorry for myself.

I'm glad I was able to receive excellent medical care, and am trying to get on the Access system which will pay for some things retroactively. Hopefully that will work out. I am honestly just thankful to be alive. I've been calling them 'mini' heart attacks, only cause once again, I don't like a fuss being made about me. I honestly don't know how small they were though. They felt pretty big.

I'm thankful to have wonderful parents, and some friends here who care for me. I'll be taking it easy till November 10th when I start my new job at United. :)

Denver

2008-10-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

So, blogs are a lot better with pictures, which unfortunately, I don't have right now. My camera is working fine, but no cord to connect it to the puter. Anyways, so I was in Ohio a little over a month, and lost my job due to a work-related accident that really wasn't my fault anyways. Some CuCN, or Copper Cyanide was spilled all over me due to the fact that the place I was working didn't require me to be wearing an apron. Long story short, I had to go to the hospital that night and the next day, they told me I was too much of a liability. Now, I could've fought it by saying it wouldn't have happened had they just required me to wear an apron, but I lacked the motivation.

So here I was , back at square one with no lease, and no job and could literally live anywhere. So I decided since I had a couple good friends in Denver, and that it was closer to home, that I'd go there.

I love it here so far, as the weather is ideal (although a little cold) and I was able to get a job with United Airlines like I wanted to. I live in a nice house with two moderately cool roommates, and start work on November 10th. I'm pretty excited, especially for the fact that I'll be able to fly home for the holidays for free like I really wanted to!

The drive out here to Denver was pretty interesting. I started leaving Bellbrook, Oh at about 10 in the morning on September 30th, and got about 5 minutes away from home when my steering and tires started acting really funny. Long story short, I had to buy two new front tires, costing me $200. About an hour later, when that was done, I hit the road. Not much to tell in between, because I drove all the way through the night while talking to people on the phone, and listening to NPR on the radio. I got to Denver at about 4:00 a.m. the next day which was of course October 1st. I went to visit someone before going to my new home, and ended up getting home at about 5:30 a.m.. I was exhausted, went right to sleep, and woke up in the afternoon in my new home and have loved it ever since.

I'm trying to get a new cable for my camera to my computer so I'll be able to upload pictures once again.

Vegas to Ohio

2008-08-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

The drive out here was pretty amazing. It all started on a Wednesday
morning from Las Vegas where I was living with Matty. So, I started
packing that morning and got done around noon. I called Ben (my best friend, and now roommate) and we both
decided it'd be better if I left as soon as possible so I could get
there earlier. Well, I started thinking about it, and decided to leave
that night around seven. I loaded all my stuff, kissed Matt goodbye,
and started driving just after seven p.m. I took I-15 north and got to St. George, UT about two
hours after that and pulled off the highway on my Uncle Phil's exit to say hi and so he could make sure I was ok cause I was already tired. We talked for about 10 minutes, and then I hit the road again.
I went another couple hours north, and turned right onto I-70 towards Denver which, by the way, I was planning to sleep. Well, long story short here, I got to Denver about 9 the next morning Denver time which was 13 hours after I left Vegas! Right as I came over to Rockies, I called my friend Aaron who I was going to be staying with to ask him directions, but he didn't answer then, or the next 9 times I called lol. Anyways, I looked up his address on my phone and the map quested it on my phone, and showed up at his house. I knock, and some random guy answers the door :). I say, is Aaron home, to which he replies...."who are you?" I say, I'm a friend of his, and he's expecting me. He tells me to wait while he goes back and asks, and he comes back and says....I'm sorry but he says he doesn't know what you're talking about. I say.......that's ridiculous and I force my way into the house. I go back to his room, and start jumping on his bed and he wakes up, sees me, and says......"what do you want?" Ha ha, he was kidding of course. The random guy was relieved to discover he did actually know me, and we proceeded to catch up. It wasn't until about noon I actually managed to get some sleep. I then woke up at 3, which of course was three hours later, and drove Aaron to work. I then hit the road just after that for my next stop which was going to be Wichita, KS.
It was supposed to be an 8 hour drive to Wichita, and then, after some rest there, a 13 hour drive to Dayton. I was about 2 hours out of Denver and it was about 6 p.m. at this point when I decided to not stop in Kansas at all and drive the entire way through to Dayton! I was fine driving until about 2 a.m. when I started to get REALLY tired. I tried calling a couple people to keep me occupied but no one answered. I didn't have my ipod, and no cd player in the car so I was stuck with radio the whole way! Anyways, I ended up just rolling down the window, and counted the miles I had to go until St. Louis. I knew if I could make it there, I'd make it the rest of the 6 hours no problem. I got to about two hours outside of St. Louis, and I just had to pull over. I went to a motel to see if they had hourly rates, or just cheap in general, but to no avail. I stretched my legs, took a deep breath, and got back in the car.
By now, it was about 5 a.m. Friday morning and after stretching my legs, I knew I'd make it to St. Louis no problem. Ended up rolling in there about 7:30 and called my friend Shanita from my old job in Phoenix who lived there to see if we could meet up. Unfortunately, she couldn't, so I just kept on driving, and crossed into Illinois. I took a wrong turn as soon as I got into the state, and went about 30 miles north on I-55 when I should have kept east on I-70. Anyways, I realized my mistake, turned around, and before long was back on the right track. It didn't take long to pass through Illinois and Indiana and before I knew it...I was in Ohio! Finally, after 20 hours of straight driving from Denver, I made it to Bellbrook , OH! Home finally! I'll add some pictures later as I can.

San Fran with co-workers and Alex

2007-03-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

So I go to SFO (San Francisco) or SMF (Sacramento) every weekend. Well, some co-workers of mine who don't travel as much as I do decided to be brave and spend one of their weekend days getting a tour of SFO with me. Let me just tell you, we had a blast. Our flight left from PHX to SFO at 805a on Monday. Joyce, Jenn, and Chris (let me tell you, he is AWESOME). Once again, I go every week to see Alex, who they got to meet on this trip, and they loved him of course. Here are some of them:

Joyce

Chris

Jenn

Alex

We had an amazing time while we were in SFO. Jen, Chris, and Joyce got into the city and immediately ended up in Union Square where Jen and Joyce were looking at shoes. Chris was outside on the curb with Jenn while she smoked and Joyce was looking at shoes. She kept showing them more expensive shoes through the window. The first pair was $400 and she kept showing them shoes that incrementally increased in price. The last pair was $800 and my thought was "HOLY JESUS" that is more than I make every two weeks after taxes.

Alex and I met up with them and we took the Muni down to Fisherman's Warf where we wandered around until we met up with Jesse

Chris' friend for lunch at Scoma's. That place was amazing. There was a lunch special for 21.95 which included soup or salad, the entrée with steamed veggies and dessert. The food was amazing…..I had this awesome steak with cauliflower, zucchini, squash, and broccoli along with garlic mashed potatoes. They served lunch with this awesome sour dough that was delicious lathered with a ton of butter. Dessert was this flourless chocolate torte with raspberry sauce. If you ever get the chance to go to this restaurant I believe it's off of pier 47.

Once we left lunch, we got to hit the touristy area and did pier 39. Alex and I took some really good pictures while we were there.

After that we hit Starbucks and got back on the cable cars and headed back toward BART. Thank heavens Chris, Jen, and Joyce's flight was running late, because so were they. Their flight was supposed to leave around 610p but they didn't even get to the airport until 615p and the flight was oversold. After hoping to heaven that Joyce, Jenn and Chris would get on, we were bumped off of the flight. We had to figure out what we were going to do that night. Jesse offered them to stay with him in the Castro but the first BART train didn't run until 5a and their flight was at 6a. They ended up getting a distressed passenger rate and stayed at the SFO Marriott.

They got back to PHX at about 9a the next day and thank heavens cause Chris had to be at work at noon. It was a crazy trip but I tell you, it was the best day trip that I have ever been on with co-workers. There's nothing like good work friends. I was lucky and got to stay another one and a half days with Alex. He's the best!