NAS Corpus Christi

I arrived Saturday after an 11-hour drive. After an unwelcome goodbye on Sunday, I started trying to settle in. I still need more furniture, but I don't see that situation ending anytime in my 20s. My apartment is REALLY nice. I don't even think I would have gotten it if I'd known how nice it was. Everything looks really new, which is good, but the whole complex has a bit of a plastic feel. They allow smaller pets, so I get to see little doggies running around. No real dogs though. Bumskeez. I've unpacked and organized just enough to make my apartment livable. For me that means my bed is comfy, my computer is connected to the internet, a few choice photos are up, my kitchen is organized, my A/C works, and there is enough uncluttered carpet that I can sleep, read, and watch TV without stepping on anything. I still have much work to do. I'm all finished inprocessing (or checking in, as the Navy like to put it) at the base after three days of listening to repetitive monologues on standards, off-limits locations, all 50-something family help and support programs the military offers, and how the MWR office can probably get me half-price tickets to see Miley Cyrus/! They did tell us we weren't starting until the end of November and they gave us our books which was ... helpful? ... Yeah. Exploring a new city is way fun.

Fun Corpus facts:

Your car wakes up with a protective salt coating every morning.

Stray cats enjoy sunning themselves near abandoned restaurants on the shore.

Some personnel systems in the Navy still refer to Asians as Mongoloid and yellow. (This is not a joke, and I am absolutely not offended, but very amused.)

Upon learning the check-in procedures at a Navy base, your gut reaction is to look around for hidden cameras and Ashton Kutcher whilst you stifle condescending laughter.

Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks are the top 3 most commonly stolen vehicles.

From Wikipedia: There are several distinct cultures in Corpus Christi (Hispanic, military, beach/surfer, oil/industry, college, and cowboy) which blend together to varying degrees.

Despite my acute awareness that my lovely Lydia is not here with me, I think I'm gonna love it.

Sittin, Waitin, Appreciatin'

For the past few weeks I've had no official duties. It's been nice to relax. I'm looking into apartments in Corpus, reading a lot, and spending time with my Loved One. I'm trying to volunteer/shadow at the base hospital. We'll see how that goes. I plan on leaving for Corpus Christi on 15 Oct in order to get settled, go to water survival in Pensacola on 19 Oct, and get back to Corpus with time to prep for starting T-44s on 26 Oct. In the meantime, I get to watch TV, work out, and catch up on my book list.

Change of plan(e)s

My last 4 flights were good memories. They were low-level Out-and-backs to Oklahoma City on Monday and Lawton on Tuesday. I flew my last two with the IP who gave me my dollar ride. The weather was just unbelievable, we flew the whole thing in 2-ship tactical formation and ate Chick-fil-A while stopped in Lawton. Can't ask for much better than that. T-6s ended well.

I had known for about a week that I might get re-tracked to fly T-44s down at Corpus Christi NAS because I struggled so much in T-6s, and I found out for sure yesterday from my Flight Cmdr. I have awhile before the move, but this curveball from life should actually really work to my advantage. The Navy training is a little more self-paced and laid back. I also have a much better shot at actually flying something that being a UAV operator. I'm excited to start something new and live somewhere else, despite the negative. At least Someone sees the big picture. It's lookin' up!