The book of Jedidiah

The day was 19 Oct 2006. I woke up in the morning and glance at the sky. Not going to happen, I thought. It was going to be another day of briefing which ends up wasting time. Ceilings of the cloud base was 500 ft, near the minimas for an approach. Besides, it was a single radio plane with no radar, very risky I thought. Instructor was trying to calm me down cause it was my last flight. I didnt need to be calmed down, I wasnt even excited. It’s not gonna be my last flight today, maybe tomorrow. "Since it’s your last flight, I will try to make it happen for you", he reassures me.

Taking that with a pince of salt, we carried out the brief. As usual, we sat around for a while after that to see if the weather will give way. Seems pretty ok, so we luanched. So I had to be lead even on my last flight, great. Went into the area, carried out the series of turns that often made me wonder where I was. Set up a few defenses and offensives moves. And then came the most challenging part, the fights. Did the best I could trying to kill my playmate. Had early terminations due to impending weather. Nevertheless, finished what we came to do. Rejoined and contact approach. As i was making the call, I realised, it finally happened, so unexpectedly. That was my last flight. As we descended towards the airfield, i wondered who will be there to celebrate it with me, since I didnt tell my friends it’s gonna be my last. The surreal experience that it was the flight that ends all flights in my training.

Touchdown, and made the usual radio calls. My instructor then took over the comms, which was out of the norm. "We have one completer," he announced over the squadron frequency. At that instance, I knew I had done it. I have completed what I have set out to do. Taxing back to the line area, i saw a bunch of guys waiting. Thank God they were there to witness it. Everyone came, even the juniors who had reached Pensacola for less than 2 weeks. Climbed out of the plane with my instructor. He snapped my nametag away and threw it on the ground. The old is gone. From his pocket he took out a new nametag that has wings above my name and punched it unto my chest. The new has come. Followed by that were the buckets of ice cold water prepared by my dear Singaporean friends. And champange of course. It was a wet and cold experience. Not forgetting the rotten eggs they brought along. It was worthwhile after so long. I was winged.

Went to debrief after finishing the rest of the champange. Only time you were allowed to be semi drunk for debrief. My instructor was pretty sure whatever he said, I was not going to remember nor will I care. So he made it very sweet and short. After that i realised I did not bring any change of clothings since I thought it was never going to happen. Haha.

The next day was the formal ceremony. And three days later, I finally left the USA after 1 year and 5 months. And 2 days were spent in the air before I finally reached home. It is finished.

2 months have passed since that day. So now, it is the begining of another adventure together with her and Him.

    On wednesday, I had my last T39 flight. It was supposed to be with my Personal Advisor but it didnt happen. Not a very eventful flight but nevertheless it was the last time Im going to be at the right seat of that mean lear jet looking sabreliner.

I remember a year ago Jeremy had his last T39 flight and I said he should be happy since its so close to being home now that he is going to the last phase: T2 phase. He gave a very cold answer and said theres still so much to go. At that point of time I really couldnt understand…It just a month more and he will finally get back, y was he still sounding so unexcited. Now I can fully understand it. Didnt felt anything too when I landed. Just maybe one more month. But theres still so much ahead.

By the way, Zolenski got winged yesterday. My formation partner in T6 got winged…so wierd seeing a pair of wings on her nametag. I guess she felt the same way too. Its been a long long time. All these while working for that wings but when u get it, its so surreal and u wun feel a thing. Wierd…

Kesmond is going to wing soon by next week. Hes leaving by this month. Hard to accept that fact….and next month the 3 of us will be gone too. If the weather cooperates that is. (took a break)

(back from break) Back from Orlando for the 3rd time. Went to sea world with Zolenski n Ajax. I never imagined I will go Orlando 3 times in my life. Didnt visit Disney this time but went to see Shamu at Sea World. Thank God its free for military coz 60 bucks wasnt really worthwhile. Killer whales, dolphins , seals are pretty amazing. Had a fun time there. Ate a lobster buffet which was kinda expensive. I still prefer singapore style crabs. Also found a dim sum restaurant. It was good…better than the one I tried one year ago in Orlando too. Brought back chao shao pao for my frens. Im such a nice senior…haa..brought back a shark fin dumpling for Chee…Hes anti shark fin, pro shark diver….He fell into my trap and ate it…haha…im evil…I dun think its real shark fin though…

Anyway, I think thats the last time I will go to Orlando…kinda sick of it already…long 8 hours drive too…But I had fun everytime I went….

Back to reality: 9 more simulator , 12 more flights ….. A whole new plane, whole new EP. 1 month to complete. That means 1 month to Singapore, family and frens. Tomorrow is Kesmond’s last flight. Got to throw rotten eggs at him after he land. Just realised after so long, the time will actually arrive for us to get winged. Its not forever even if it seems so. My next post will be after my wings. Til den, see you guys real soon.

Its been a month since the last update…Had a bad start in Air to Air…but its not the begining that matters but how it ends. Yes, as the title suggests, I finally stepped out of US. Before anyone starts to organise parties to welcome my return…the title is alittle ambiguous.

Felt sick with cold for a week and had to start a new phase of training, wasnt pretty. However, its not so bad, with less practice, I seem to do better. Maybe I should revert back to being more relaxed so my life is balanced. Departed Pensacola on friday morning and flew towards Buffalo, NY. Found out "Buffalo Wings" was invented in Buffalo, no wonder. Maybe u have heard abt Buffalo, but what was more interesting was its where Niagara Falls is. The best deal is, I didnt stay in Buffalo. After landing, raja and I drove up to Canada and thats where we stayed. Too bad kes visa is expired, so he couldnt join us. At least we got to land at Buffalo so that wan qiu did not end up being there alone.

Spent afew hours crossing the border, could be 15mins but there was a huge jam. Nothing surprising but it was worth the wait. Finally got out of US! Got another stamp in the passport, have not used it for some time. Was so happy when I saw speed limits in km/h….Stayed at marriot hotel which was just beside Niagara Falls. The world’s widest waterfall . Pretty awesome. Took maid of the mist ride which took us near the  american falls and the horseshoe falls. American falls belongs to US, nothing we seen abt niagara falls. Its rocky and faces the Canadian side, ironic. The horseshoe falls is what we have seen on TVs…it sits in the middle of US and CA. Theres always cloud and mist in the middle of the horseshoe shape due to the falls. Quite cool huh. On the Canadian side, theres Casinos, Hotels, Tourism pretty much like a place of attraction to suck up all the $ from tourists. On the american side, its a state park and a Observation tower that people can view the American falls from the side. Total contrast…US can actually make lots of $ from that place but I dun think they are using much of it.

Niagara falls is a romantic spot but too bad we(other than kes) dun haf gfs here…haha…Anyway, I can go on talking abt it, but too lazy. It was fun and awesome, especially since its training, its free. Not really free though, we had to "work" to bring ourselves there. Went back to buffalo on 2nd nite and ate at the bar which invented Buffalo wings. Not too bad but hooters wings are as nice too. Nothing really "wow:…..Came back to Pensacola again in a single flight coz our plane was dying. This could be my last Cross Country in T39 unless they let me fly another one since I couldnt finish my flights due to the plane.

So much for now…thats all folks!

Alritely, Its time for an update. 9 July 2006 is the day. I have been here for more than a year. Really its been a long time. Also been in flight training for more than a year. Thank God, I passed all my flights so far and got done with Air to Ground phase. They used to give out wings to USAF strike guys after this phase. Which means to say, I could have gotten my wings if it was the old sllyabus and if  Im a USAF strike guy. Too bad Im not…So I get the honor of going all the way in the programme for another 4 months? But its great since I be moving on to air to air phase. Always wanted to figure out air to air stuff coz thats what computer games are about. Maybe I can do better in those boring realistic computer games that only geeks might play. Wow, I just realised I spell "honour" as "honor"…Im getting americanised…

Anyway, there was the independence day but no alien came, so fear not. Went to Atlanta for a road trip. Got to ride in rollercoasters and view the world’s largest aquarium. They had 3 whale sharks in there. If u have seen Sci Fi movies like Star Wars, the whale sharks look like a mother ship with several smaller fighter escorts around it. Literally, Im serious. Visited the coke musuem which was a dissapointment. Coke was invented in Atlanta by the way. Not really an ultra fun road trip but was something special coz Zolenski brought her giant terrier along. Ajax is one huge dog and I like to disturb him as much as he likes to disturb me. So fair and square.

Hmm, did i mention there are a few new faces lately, all girls…gfs of my friends…so life is more interesting. Have to witness their blissful faces while wondering why am I here alone. No more gaming on Friday nites now coz their gfs are here. Im a lonely boy now on Fris…furthermore theres always children church at that time, making it worse.

Less than half a year, I will accomplish what I have set to do and return. Havent been really able to keep in contact with my Singapore friends. It will be wierd when I go back I guess. Many things must have changed.

The last post was when the 2 new guys came. In a glance they haf been here nearly 2 months. Already soon to be done with their API. Its really fast. Time seems to be moving but my stay here seems not. I expected to be home 6 more months since March. Its June in 3 days, seems like theres still 6 more months to go. Its really wierd.

But anyway, I had a proper break for the first time since Christmas. Memorial day marking the start of Summer days combined with other reasons gave me a break of 7 days. Its day 4 now. haha. Really didnt haf the experience of just relaxing for a very long time.

On Fri, we revisited Biloxi, once famous for its casinos. When we were there, I was shocked the damage katrina did but even more shocking is there wasnt much sign of repairs. A fire hydrant by the road was pouring out water, no traffic lights, collection of metal concrete on roadsides as if they had been through World War. The force of nature is certainly a force to be reckon with. Its been 9 months since Katrina, and things still look as gloomy. This is not a 3rd world country we are talking abt but the US. Imagine how things are in Thailand and Indonesia.

Anyway, some of my frens went to Orlando to visit mickey while the rest of us went Biloxi for the casinos. My objective was to haf a seafood buffet there, but the casino that i went too was totally torn down to rubbles by the hurricane. So I had to make do with the remaining casino there. Not too bad…really had a good meal with top grade food. After that, I had to do the painful job of witnessing my frens gambling again. There was an old man who was betting 400 per round. He was quite interested when he knew we came from overseas. Being friendly, he gave us each 25 bucks chip and bet on it. The round won so we each had 50bucks. I dont gamble, but by just standing there, I won 50 bucks. Its amazing ah? Its like $ dropping from the sky. So u know whos it from. Seah and I went home while the rest tried their luck til the next day. We had to go home coz tomorrow I had an appointment for retail theraphy at Destin.

Destin is about 2 hrs away from Pensacola. It is the true Florida. Entirely different from Pensacola, if my training was there, I think it wun be so painful. Haha. To start with we went to the outlet stores where they sell the usual stuff. Polo,CK,timberland, Guess, u get it. Normally when its holiday, theres a sale going on something from 30 to 70% Not forgetting theres always military discount which further gives us 10 to 15% discount. I dun even like shopping in Singapore, but I like it here. Can u imagine a ger who comes here? Probably go crazy. Retail Theraphy at Destin works. The funny thing is I spent more money not on myself but on someone else. Where the heart is, there the treasure will be.

Also watched the X men 3 at Destin. To those who haven watched it, this gonna be a spoiler. So skip this if u dun wana know. Kinda dissapointed at how the make the Pheonix to be. Also the death of Cyclops, Prof X and a few more. I think X2 was the best of the trio. Which is a little extraordinary coz trilogy usually go downhill from first episode. Anyway its good entertainment. Never felt this good since for a long time.

Den came Sunday, which require military guys to be in uniform in my church for memorial day. So I wore my no.5 for the first time. Den came the anthem of the various forces such as US Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard..since Im not part of the US military, the 2nd in command of my church had to invite me up without an anthem being played. Abit paiseh. Anyway, later he came to me and told me hes going KL to preach and den to Singapore in 2 weeks time. Man…cant I just tag along? haha….Also an old man came to me after service and told me there were Singaporeans in my church during the time of revivial. I am quite surprised he knew I was from Singapore. Anyway, when I say time of revivial, it was that day when God showed up at my church in 1995 Father’ s day. Pple came all around to Brownsville to experience the presence that was so strong and a revivial broke up during tat time. So my church is always refered to that, something that is unique and identity to it. Quite interesting huh?

Went for italian dinner for Sarah’s birthday and watched over the hedge. Very entertaining. Nearly crash again today for the 3 or 4 th time….a car just turn across my lane and Thank God I brake soon enough and avoid any form of injury or death. man, got to be careful on the road. Tons of morons out there who will get u killed.

Alritely, update again when I can. To the question on when I will be back. I seriously dunno, so when Im back, I will tell u. haha.

Finally the new guys are here. Always seem that it will be a few months before they come here, now they are already here. Sean whos my ADA junior finally got here…I can understand the agony in waiting just to start the training here…

Brought them around Pensacola, buying groceries, looking for cars and coaching driving. Things seniors do for junior batches…kinda funny when I brought them to the supermarket and ask them to buy stuff for themselves. They were kinda lost…I never went to supermarket to buy foodstuff for myself too when I was in Singapore too…always have a mum to worry about that. But life here got to be independant…At least they got a rough idea wat to buy to last them a week. I realised now I know which stuff is cheaper at which place…for eg..milk is cheaper in base than walmart…and drinks is cheaper in walmart etc…kinda like an auntie…haha

Was planning on bringing them to take their driving license after teaching chi yu driving for 10 mins. Yupz, 10 mins is all it takes to learn driving for me…I learnt in from Kesmond in 15 mins…haa…Just as I was about to go, my car temp was red on the gauge….man…and smoke was coming out…It died on Good Friday with Jesus…but Thank God, its now working…without the cooling fan…but as long as I secure the air con, it wun overheat now…Hmmm, also brought them around to look for cars…its fun to look for cars…hopefully they get wat they want…

Basically these few days just helped them to set up their life in Pensacola, open bank accounts, yada yada…Like what I did one year ago…haa..Having 2 new guys here is much more fun…I realised I been through quite abit here already when I look at them…

Today is Easter…was late for Church for 30mins…man…Easter svc here aint much different from other days…but my fren invited me to their home for lunch. Everyone was dressed quite formal and seem to have plans for lunch somewhere. Its like a tradition…went over to my fren place for lunch…not bad…Had my first Easter SUnday in America…Nearly got into accident on my way back but Thank God somehow I didnt. I realised I been near death situation for a few times…Man…And I wasnt scared….must be the training I recieved day in and out everyday….U never know when the plane will stop flying..haha…just got to stay cool and handle the emergency…

Hmm…going to be 1 month in 86…that means 5 more months to wings? dunno leh…pple seem to be pushed back now…prob might be another 6 more months…this 6 months seem to stay stagnant…kinda frustrated…hmm, okie…nothing much to write…tmr got to wake up early for FOD walk…got test too…again…I love tests…haha…

After using mostly my brains for a year and nearly neglecting the physical apsect of the body, I found out I was exhausted after running 400m. Thats serious. Just a year ago I was able to get IPPT Gold! Now Im really weak. Probably worse than when I was before I entered NS. Got to work hard to get back to where I was from now on. Im gonna make IPPT Gold as my goal before going back home. Seah and Raja must be luffing now when they hear this.

Kinda tired now, just spent 1 hr plus cutting and pasting charts for my flights. Really hope some kids can help me out since they do so much of art and craft. Its been 2 weeks in 86. Everyday I got to tell myself it isnt so bad. Haha. Well, 86 workload has eaten into my life real bad. No longer be able to go for youth service and also cant hang around after church on sundays. Got to go Simulators on sundays. I use to sleep at 10.30 everyday and now got to stretch it to 12. Working 6.5 days a week. Only day of rest is friday nite. Its kinda sad.

I didnt even go to Kesmond place for Dota yesterday. Hopefully things get better but I know it isnt. Its okie…least I get 5 mins of time to update this blog.

Its April already. 2 new guys are coming next Wednesday. Cool…no longer same faces…least 2 new faces…When the other new guys come in June…it means I have come here for 1 year. It also means Im very close to home.

For those who still remember me, and are wondering when Im coming back, it will take about 6 more months. Arent u all excited to see me back again!? haha…Easter is coming ah…dun even know if it is a holiday for us. Probably still have test that day, awesome. Going to be numb of sufferings soon.

Got to keep fighting on! Enjoy your job as a receptionist bean sprout!

Havent update this blog for some time. Since Im still free now, shall try to update it. Anyway its 25 Mar 06 here. One year ago I think I was busy training on the parade square waiting to get comissioned. This year I just graduated from my intermediate phase of training and finally going on to advance phase. From here on it normally takes about 6 months to wings. This 6 months is going to be intense and most likely strip me of any free time or even time to go to church. looking at my frens who are already in advance, I feel sad for them living such a life. haha. But 2 days later, I will be in the same predicarment. Its okie. Just think of home and keep it moving. Its been 10 months from home. Doesnt seem long numerically but it is.

Well, sometime flight training seems tough and u will wake up someday thinking why u chose this path. But sometimes cross country flight to places like Denver make u realise its great afterall. Got to see snow the first time in my first and play sleding. The mountains are really unbelivable. Snow white majestic peaks. And its part of training! Isnt that wonderful. Last weekend was St Patrick day and it is a big thing in the east coast. We had a major cross country flight to a place call Savannah. No idea where it was. But if u had watched the movie "Forest Gump", the famous bench where Tom Hanks sat on was in situated in Savannah. He was there to find his beloved Jenny and later realised they had a boy. So that is where Savannah is. Went to search for the bench but found out its a prop and is no longer there. Haha. Anyway, the focus was St Patrick day, an Irish festival normally celebrated by drinking, drinking and again drinking. Well, kinda American way of life. People getting drunk and doing stupid things. I was duty driver on the big night, having to fetch alcholol saturated people. My instructor was dead drunk and his cell phone died before he was able to tell me his location. Spent 3 hrs walking back to the hotel. haha. Hopefully he doesnt get a new callsign for that. haa

Hmm, alrighty, nothing much to write about alr..haha…til next time…byebye!

Today is a friday and I have been on a break for more than a week. Suddenly, without maps to prepare, without jet logs to fill up, without flights to mental fly, I feel as if I am very slack. Too slack in fact. Anyway, since 7 Feb I completed training on my first aircraft, now waiting for a new start in another.

This week on Monday was my birthday. First birthday spent overseas I think. 19th Birthday was spent on tekong field camp. That was horrible and also valentine day with my rifle. This year birthday was uneventful…interesting thing is seah’s birthday is exactly the same day. He is 7 years older than me. And we are both here. He is abit more sad, he had test and had another test on 14th.

But though got no present, but at least got pple wish me Happy Birthday. haha. I got no birthday card also…haha..even more sad….but my pri sch classmate, Chao Hui drew me a card in photoshop or something…It is really creative man! I just got to talk to her again this year after losing contact for 14 years. It’s really amazing how she can remember me…Thank you policewoman!

Birthday was already unspectacular, so Valentine Day was even worse. But it’s okie, past 21 years been like that. Actually having a birthday so close to Valentine Day isnt that good… Pple are more focus on Vday…and saving up $ for their girl/boy friends…haha..guys are more interested in spending their hard earned money on girls…girls wun possibly buy presents in a season when they shud be on the receiving end…The only good thing is when 14th hit, they might remember they forgot about my birthday…thats y I always get so many belated Birthday wishes…dun blame them, thats how the brain works…links…the brain links many events together, one will trigger another…learnt that in some speed memory class in pri sch…

Hmm, its going to be Mardi Gras this coming tuesday I think. Yup yup, I know you will look at me with shock…Mardi Gras!?? isnt that the event we roughly know about where gers go wild and flash themselves to receive Mardi Gras beads…Think that its the same Mardi Gras we are talking about. But I dont think gers flash themselves in every state, at least maybe not here.. New Orleans is famous for that but its been destroyed…On Wed, over dinner with some church frens they talk about Mardi Gras…so they ask if i know what it was…I was like…hmmm…mayb the Mardi Gras i know is different…furthermore its with church frens…so how could it be the same Mardi Gras? so not to be mistaken, I told them "no, I dun"…Im glad I said no coz my fren went about explaining it to me. Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French.

"Lent", a period of 40 days(not including Sundays) before Easter. Also a preparation period for Easter. I guess when Lent starts, all such behaviors end hence also known as "Ash Wednesday". So Mardi Gras is the last day before Lent starts. It became an excuse for people to drink excessively and party and also for gers to flash and feel popular on that day. I never knew it had to do with Easter or even Lent. Kinda shocked, but we learn new things everyday. It is supposed to be celebrated for lent is coming which means Easter is arriving.

Didnt you learn something new reading my blog? haha….alritely, got to go running!

Another aerorplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

By Michael buble…or bubble to some Singaporeans..haha..maybe he faced the same fate as me once before…the song is so apt….

Its 23 Jan 06 now…28 of Jan is the Chinese New Year Eve right? Well, though theres no holiday here, but we are going to have our own reunion dinner. And I be providing Abalone…not bad ah…sent over by my mum…But the thing is I dun really know how to cook it…so lets hope it doesnt get ruined. See…philip shouldnt wing so early…so at least Lynn is here to cook for us…hahaha…life without a female here means no good food…y? I tot chefs are men…

Anyway, thanks to Samuel, Andy, Jiarong, Matt, Grace, Irene, Yvonne, Stella, Melissa and Ginny..i received ur letters today…esp thanks to the edited Star Wars "poster" hmm…after 5 months finally I got your letters…haha…thank you thank you…Well, i miss u guys…and Im very glad E222 is growing…Im coming back soon…less than a year….and yes, we can surely have dinner at expo…and u guys can bring me to our new building…and to our new cg…and i can be a new comer again..being treated nicely and all the newcomers’ gift…haha….well mayb half the cg wun even know who I am…

Also thanks to Jac Jie for ur Christmas card! Hey jie, u seem very busy…but anyway…i hope your pilot bf will be back from france and happy reunion with you soon ya? haha…And thanks to Samuel again and Irene and Sharon for my Christmas present…Hey its my best Christmas present! coz only got one Christmas present ma…hahhaha….Hey sam, u going to Aust soon…take care of urself and Gentle Giant…

Going to finish flying a single engine plane soon…Moving onto Jets for the first time in my life…Going to take alot photos for my last flight…haha…Trying to motivate myself to carry on for the next 9 months?

Wait for my return…