Most of the jets ended up leaving around the 22nd of April except for 2 that were having major maintenance done on them. I was picked to stay behind and bring one of them back as well as our XO, Maj Tre "Cheez" DelPizzo. At this point the last thing I needed was another week down there but I knew there would be a couple more fun times to be had. I really wish I was able to recap some of the more fun moments from the trip but those who know me know that I black out after about 3 drinks. Key West was no different. This picture defined our trip to Key West that is for sure!
Well it was finally time to get out of FL. One of jets were ready to be flown to make sure it was good to fly back to AZ. I took the jet up to Tampa and across to Miami and back to Key West and it performed as planned. Cheez took the other jet up and it was ready to take back as well. We left on the 29th after a solid 35 days in Key West and I could feel my liver rejoicing as I left the ground. I think my Iphone was as well after I lost the first one on April 5th and had to fork over another $500 for a new one. (Thank God ITunes saves all of your contacts!) We flew one leg and decided to stop in Pensacola for the night. When I was a student in flight school there was a place called The Fish House downtown that was an ok place for dinner but not much nightlife. Turns out this is now an amazing place. Wednesday night at The Fish House will be a night I hope to experience many more times.
We left the next morning and planned to make a stop in Midland, TX for gas and lunch and then we would finish the trip to Yuma. After a quick trip to TX we ate some lunch and were getting ready to make the final leg. About 8 minutes after takeoff I realized I proved once again I was an absolute idiot! I left my Iphone (Less than 25 days old) on the fuel tank of the jet when I took off. Though this was not the first time I had lost a phone (obviously) it was the first time I had lost a phone completely sober. Turns out I dont need a drop of alcohol in my system to be a complete moron. My phone was found 4 days later. At least half of the screen was on the runways anyways. Apple will officially never go out of business as long as I own an Iphone.
Well we made it back to Yuma at last and I couldn't wait to finally sleep in my own bed. I got home, took a shower, and laid down on the couch to catch up on TV. WAIT.... remember I am a complete moron. I never paid my cable bill while I was in Key West so my cable was turned off. Yes this means internet as well! So here I am laying on my couch with NO phone, NO cable, NO internet... I thought to myself this is a good chance to get caught up on my prereq reading for Expeditionary Warfare School. I grabbed the book Landscape Turned Red about the Battle of Antietam and turned to page I. Wait a second no page one? I haven't read a book in like... maybe 3rd grade. What is with page I, II, III... to damn XIVX or some shit??? Apparently at some point since gradeschool it became important to write a 600 page preface to the book thanking everyone from your Grandma to your pet toad. Needless to say I never even made it to the "actual" page 1. I only made it to like XII before I passed out on the couch. I woke up about 9 hours later at 4am and was able to get 30 min of sleep in my bed before going to the rifle range. Yes I am a Marine Captain going back to the rifle range so I can get one last Expert Rifle Award for my uniform. I would have to wait until Friday night before I would get to sleep in my bed finally.
I spent the next week of work with 3am alarm clocks so that I could be at the armory by 4am everyday to draw my weapon. The idea of trying for a 4th Expert Award seemed worse and worse everyday. At least now I had yet another Iphone and cable coming once again. Amazing how relaxing that weekend was though without any modern technology whatsoever except for running with my IPod. It was a ridiculously long week but worth it in the end as I secured my final Expert Rifleman award of my career.
On May 6th I received an email from Pokerstars that I will talk about in my next blog. This one has been ridiculous enough as it is. I guess that happens when you wait two months in between posts.
Now I am sitting in Raleigh visiting two old roomies from college, Greg and Lindsay. Tomorrow I will be heading up to DC to start the search for a place to stay for the next year while I attend school in Quantico and party it up at Jon Schaafsma's wedding in VA on Saturday. I only have about 3 more weeks left in Yuma when I get back and prob about 1 or 2 more flights left as well. It has been a great time but I am SOOOO ready to get out of Yuma.
