On December 20th I drove down to Florida to spend a couple of weeks with my youngest brother, Jake, at Florida International University. It was great getting to see him because it has been a long time since we spent any time together.

We went out to bars and clubs every night for two weeks. My typical day (night) involved going out at 11:00 PM and returning at 6:00 AM after a stop at waffle house or IHOP. I'd then sleep until the early afternoon, and, as they say on the shampoo bottle, "wash, rinse, repeat".

I am definately getting too old to keep partying with kids more than ten years younger than me but I have to say it was a great stress relief and a good break from the routine I have lived for the past year.

As for training, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am done with my flight training and am now certified to fly Blackhawks. All that I have let to do before graduation is two weeks of survival training and then additional month of classroom and field problems. I expect to graduate and get my wings at the end of February.