Bryant Park: Monday Night Movies

Bryant Park plays movies every Monday night during the summer, and although it was almost 100 degrees this Monday, my friends braved the heat and went to see "The Magnificent Seven". It started out well, smuggling wine and laughing at the guy in front of us doing crunches in the middle of the lawn (I am not kidding!). But with the heat and the crowded lawn, it got a little unbearable until the sun went down.

After the sun went down, we all had a great time, but as you can see Elizabeth and Dave didn't quite enjoy the movie as much as I did! Night night!!!!

It's Britney B*tch!!!!!

Photos from the Brit Brit concert at Madison Square Garden...

Blackberry Oath

I recently crossed over to the dark side and got a Blackberry. Why? Becasue as annoying as it is to have an electronic leash, it is even more annoying and stressful to return to the office to find angry emails from people who think you are ignoring their requests, 5 million emails that now need to be sorted through after a vacation, or an email that reads,"Hey I had free tickets to this or that, but you never responded, and now I'm taking someone else." Argh!!!

However, I have realized that unbenounced to me I have become one of "them". I found myself commiting Blackberry sins that I always get annoyed at other people for doing. So I have decided to stop the madness, and climb off the slippery slope that is Blackberry addiction. So with my blog as my witness, I do solemnly swear to adhere to this Blackberry oath:

I, ___insert your name here___, do solemnly swear to use my Blackberry respectively, and adhere to the following electric leash rules:

I will NEVER check my email/facebook status/ google alerts while I am on a date. Looking down the whole time while trying to flirt with someone is REALLY hard.

I will NEVER check my email while I am mid sentence with a friend that I have not seen in over three months.

I promise to keep my facebook status updates to a maximum of twice a day, and NEVER Facebook/tweet everyday occurances such as eating, sleeping, working out or using the restroom.

I will NEVER google every factoid that comes out of someone's mouth. If there were 432 lady bugs found in a Central Park bathroom, I will not google to find out that in actuality there 433. I will let others be right sometimes. (Or at least think they are right.)

I will refrain from playing brickbreaker during innapropriate times. Unless I am about to beat my high score, and then no rules apply.

I will not check EVERY SINGLE alert that pops up on my phone. Facebook does not need to be checked everytime someone writes on my wall.

I will use my Blackberry as a phone.

I promise to NEVER BBM someone who is sitting right next to me. The person must be AT LEAST out of yelling distance.

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This is just a start. Feel free to use this oath for your friends that are OBSESSED with their smart phones. Iphone users could use this oath as well. Of course, they are incredibly more annoying on their own... don't get me started.

Dagwood Challenge

Exactly how dramatic can a sandwich be? I found out this past Sunday the answer to this question. While at home for drill with the 121st ARW, I went to lunch with seven of my collegues at a little place tucked away on South High St. Ohio Deli may look like a quaint hometown establishment, but those walls hold a lot of drama thanks to their "Dagwood Challenge". The Dagwood challenge dares diners to eat the Dagwood sandwich, a pound of Ohio Deli's delicious fries and a pickle in under 30 minutes. Just for the record "Man vs Food" star, Adam Richman, finished the challenge on his show in just under 20 minutes.

That fateful Sunday, three members of my team stepped up to the challenge. The Capt. and two Senior Airmen tried their luck with the sandwich stacked with turkey, ham, roast beef, two types of cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onion and garlic mayo. That sounds like a great combination, but on a sandwich that measures over six inches tall and two and half pounds,it doesn't make for such a tasty treat... especially when you have to eat it at warp speed.

As the race began, you knew it was going to get interesting... Everyone had their own strategy. Tilson was set on eating as fast as he could, Megimose had his sandwich taken apart piece by piece, and Capt. was just laughing at the size of the sandwich well into the two minute mark.

Here is Tilson at the 5 minute mark...

And here is the Capt. at 5 minutes... See the difference?

As these Airmen in uniform, on their lunch break, devoured these ginormous sandwiches, people in the packed restaurant started to take note. The guy at the table behind us shouted out tips for beating the sandwich, the two boys next to Megimose shouted out encouragement to him as he ate, and the old couples sitting beside us looked in half terror, half amazement as these competitors chowed down.

As the competition continued, Tilson finished at just over 17 minutes, and the Capt. threw in the towel, but one Airmen brought the drama finishing just a second under the 30 minute limit. At the end, the little boys were giving atta' boys with every last fry, and poor Megimose was trying to stomach (literally) the pound of fries and all of the cheese he left for the end. This was something I couldn't watch. Cheese and fry handfuls are just a little too much for me. As he finished that last bite and stood up, belt buckle bursting open, the whole restaurant stood up and cheered. You would have thought he won a gold medal.

Don't give up! You can do it!!!

(The little boys at the next table did ask for a picture with Megimose... their hero!)

Tilson at the finish... Smiling on the outside, crying on the inside...

The Capt. at the finish... It's okay ma'am...

So we learned a few things at this lunch. 1) Roast beef is not delicious by the handful.. and neither are fries after a pound. 2) The man who holds the record for eating this thing in four and a half minutes is amazing. and 3) If we are attacked by giant sandwiches, America is safe...

Yankees vs. Red Sox game

Here are my roomates and me on the Jumbotron at the Yankees game last weekend. I am blowing kisses. Ha! It was so much fun! Shortly after this, a bat boy got hit in the nose by a fast ball, and two people in front of us passed out becasue of the blood. It was crazy!
I couldn't help myself!!
I will miss my roomies when I leave! :(

West Point Hooah!

This is my castle I worked in all last week. Okay maybe it's really just a portion of West Point that looks like a castle. While I was there I got to observe an emergency response drill, see how they produce their paper, sit in on a weekly staff meeting (that was crazy!), go see where they take the cadets out in the woods for training and visit their radio station WKTS (awesome!). It was definitely a great experience, and a lot different than what I've been doing in the city!
If you have not visited West Point, you should. The architecture, historic sites and view of the Hudson make for some great tours. It's a beautiful campus overflowing with top brass and cadets. It could be slightly different than my college experience (where's the kegs and eggs?). I really loved being around the tradition and beauty that fills West Point, but I have officially realized that I am not bad ass enough to ever go there!!!

It will also have you saying: GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!

PS. NEVER stay at the West Point Motel... bed bugs, smoke/feet smell and an overall creepy ambiance. Have you seen Psycho? Kinda like that. I stayed there for approximately 15 minutes before I went back to on-post housing!

Just Beachy

On a long break from work recently I went on vacation, worked at RODEO 2009, and worked at West Point... What a blast. It was good to get out of the office, and the city, and see some new things!

While at the beach, Outer Banks, N.C., we visited the local pier. While we were there, a guy caught a king mackrel, which I guess doesn't happen all of the time. Isn't it refreshing to see people work for their food? I thought it was interesting to see someone catch what they were going to eat, and know EXACTLY where it came from. Obviously this didn't sink in very well, because immediately after this, I went to lunch at a place nearby.. at a place where I didn't "catch" my food. ;)


You know what they say... If you give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. If you show a man how to fish... he can make fish sandwiches for everybody else too lazy to fish! Ha!

What Not to Wear II

This was on a NYC subway, and this outfit just had to be documented. Ma'am, could you please refrain from wearing all of these items together EVER again? Leopard shawl, cheetah belt, snake shoes, snake arm jewelry, genie pants and you can't see, but there were mesh gloves included in the outfit... this truly is an interesting town with some very eclectic people...

Air Mobility RODEO 2009

I know I have been gone for awhile, and some may be worried... Okay maybe just Grandma, but let me tell you my friends, I have been to the place where dreams come true, where air forces are made or broken, and where the total force aspect of the U.S. Air Force is in full effect! I was at the RODEO competition at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. This week long competition showcases the best of the best from many air mobility wings all over the U.S. and abroad. It also welcomed seven teams from air forces around the world. This biannual event gives units a chance to showcase their heavies including KC-135, KC-10, C-17, C-5, C-130/C160 aircraft.

Now, some who have heard of the RODEO may say that it is an all out party, and that it is a waste of money BUT I disagree. This event is BIANNUAL and it is one of the only opportunities for air mobility Airmen to interact with other units and international teams outside of a contingency situation, meaning that they are not at war/getting shot at. And it is quite cheap. The Air Force is frugal these days.. (hello F-22!) The international teams learn how Americans do their job, and we can dually learn from their experiences and techniques. Also it gives American forces the chance to interact with their counterparts, and learn from their experiences. The Guard in Reserve are included in this, which gives it a total force spin, and reminds the active duty folks that the Guard and Reserve are a major asset to the mobility command. My unit actually won best KC-135 aircrew!

I did have a blast. Yes, I worked 12 to 14 hours a day, and yes I was exhausted, but I somehow traded sleep for a good time a couple nights that I was there, and it was great! I learned that the Germans call their aircraft "Else", and she is a C-160 or as they call her C-one-sexy. They were hilarious. The Belgians taught me that the way to a woman's heart is through Belgian cheese and chocolate, and the Koreans taught me that nothing cures a long day at work like a good dance party... and NEVER drink souchu... gross.

It was an time, and a great opportunity to make new relationships with people doing the same job we do all over the world...

And by the way Altus AFB, Calif. makes the best margaritas... ;)

Fallen but not Forgotten

Today Michael Jackson was put to rest, and it was indeed a sad day for many who idolized the pop icon. I can not say a bad thing about him. He was extremely talented, and although his later, more eclectic years caused a media sandstorm, he will be missed by all who loved his music.

What I do not agree with however, is how incredibly important and vital interests in the media have been put on the back burner because of his death. A serial killer on the loose, the economy in shambles STILL, a Soldier kidnapped by the Taliban and lets not forget the 30 members of our armed forces killed in Iraq and Afghanistan this month. It just goes to show the shallowness of America's value system. No disrespect to the Jackson family, but our country should be mourning those that gave their lives for our ideals, and not idolizing a fallen pop star. Thank you to these servicemembers for their service. Your selfless sacrifices will not be forgotten. God bless your families in their time of need.

Members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Iraq this month:

Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
Specialist Charles D. Parrish
Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
Captain Kafele H. Sims
Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:

Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.
Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.
Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.
1st Sergeant Blair, John D.
Sergeant Smith, Paul G.
Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua
Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.
Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.
Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.
Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.
Lance Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.
Major Barnes, Rocco M.
Major Jenrette, Kevin M.
Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.
Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.
Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.
Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.
Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.
Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.
Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.
Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

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