As things are kind of settling into a routine here of work, activities, and play, I probably won't be writing daily in the blog. Maybe kind of a weekly thing with interesting stuff that happens over the week. So keep checking even if you haven't heard anything for a while b/c that just means the norm is going on.

11-7-11

Because of a high cross wind, one of the hercules (LC-130's) had to land out in the emergency landing area way out on the ice sheet. I was the driver picked to take the delta out there to get the passengers and crew. It was pretty sweet b/c it was just this plane that landed way out in the middle of nowhere with nothing else around. The pilot told me that when they landed they only had about 10 minutes worth of fuel left. Pretty crazy.

11-8-11

Some Italians flew into today on an airbus before being helicoptered off to their base. I was in charge of keeping them in order while waiting for the choppers and shuttling them around. They're a very happy and jovial bunch. We didn't share much of the same words, but they were quite excited and threw out a big cheer when I showed them where they could get coffee.

11-9-11

Some pickleball and basketball this evening. A group from the NYANG (new york air national guard--the ones who fly the LC-130s and C-17's around here) stopped by. A bunch of tall black guys. We thought we were going to get dominated, but we held our own.

Shuttle Bill told us a funny joke that I thought was worth repeating.

In the line of people waiting to get into heaven is a shuttle driver (shuttle bill) and a priest. It is the priest's turn next and he approaches St. Peter. St. Peter says, "you have live a very good and pious life, giving your life to God for over 40 years. You shall be rewarded." He pointed through the pearly gates to a nice cottage with a small tract of land and said, "This shall be yours" Next in line was Shuttle Bill. St. Peter said, "you have lived a fairly decent life. A bit heavy on the swearing and too much fun with the ladies, but you shall be rewarded" He pointed throught the pearly gates towards a huge palace overlooking a lake with maidens waving from the windo. "This shall be yours" St. Peter said. The priest couldn't help but overhear. He went up to St. Peter and said, "I don't mean to question God's judgement, but how can this man get the beautiful palace when I get but a mere cottage even though I served the Lord and His people for all my life"
St. Peter answered, "Well Father, when you gave sermons, people slept, when shuttle bill drove, people prayed"