Continued VA Beach Fun

So Saturday night was a blast. John, Beth, and I ended up extremely drunk, stumbling back along the boardwalk after an awesome thunderstorm. When we got up on Sunday (finally) we were all ridiculously hung-over and tired. We ate mini-quiches and baba ganouche (sp?) left over from the party the night before for our breakfast. Once we had properly sated ourselves, we drove to the base. Joe had left a performer's parking pass for us, and John still had his Navy ID, so we drove right up to the flight line and parked by the hangars. Thank God... I couldn't have walked far in the state I was in.



We started out in the Fed Ex tent, scarfing hot dogs and potato salad, then they pulled us down to the Executive Chalet, which is where all of the 'big boys' on base and their families were. I was psyched about that because I thought I would be able to get some good shots from an area so close to show center. Then, a guy organizing the air show came and grabbed us and the other pilot's family so that we could be right on the flight line for Joe's final flight. We were right next to the announcer's platform, right where all the planes taxied by. It was great!



Joe's last flight was a really cool experience. The only disappointment was that during the portion of the show where the announcer switches the mic over to the cockpit, they had some problems, so Joe didn't get to do his last 'shout-out' to the crowds. No worries... we had our shout-outs on Saturday. How much fun is it to have your name called out by a guy sitting in the backseat of an F14 going about 300mph? Super cool.



After the flight, they sat at the end of the runway for a while. I got kinda pissed because they delayed their final taxi and last pass in front of the crowd for some bullshit Hummer giveaway. We had to stand there and wait about 15 minutes while some schmucks tried their keys in a Hummer to see who won it. Who cares? We're waiting for the final F14 demo EVER! GET OUT OF THE WAY!! They finally got to taxi up to us and had their 'wetting down' ceremony where all of the guys in the squadron shower them with champagne as they climb out of the jet. It was great to get to see that. I got some pretty good shots, but a guy I know from an aviation photography website sent me some even better pictures of the final ceremony. The funny thing is, they were taken by his 10 year old son!



As soon as the ceremony was over and we got to talk to Joe, we had to jump in the car and get to the airport as fast as we could so that John wouldn't miss his flight. I had to wait about an hour for mine, but our timing was pretty good. My flight was uneventful, really. I sat next to this girl that was very odd. She just kept pulling snacks out of her bag in between naps... Pringles, Capri Sun, more Pringles, Zebra Cakes, Twizzlers, another Capri Sun, MORE Pringles. What's up, piggo? When I got back to my truck in remote parking, guess what? It wouldn't start. My battery was completely dead. I had to go back to the little bus terminal and call the courtesy patrol. They came out with the magical little black case and jump-started my truck. I made it home just fine, thank you.

See pictures of my weekend here.

Monday morning, I woke up feeling like complete and utter ass, so I called in sick. My roommate needed me to move my car from behind hers in the driveway so she could get to work. The moment of truth. My truck just baaaaaarely started. I was afraid to risk it not starting again, so I pulled it back into the driveway, ran inside to put on some clothes, and drove to Wal-mart. Do you have any idea how much fun it is to sit in the Wal-mart automotive waiting area for a couple of hours while you are breaking a fever? Let me tell you, it's great.



So I laid around most of Monday, feeling like crap. I called in sick to class so I wouldn't have to drive all the way up there and sit for 3 hours. Tuesday, I attempted work. I ended up having to leave around 11:45, because I just couldn't be there anymore. Same story for Tuesday afternoon... more laying around, more sleep. I made it through work on Wednesday, but skipped class again. I still feel junky, but at least I'm not as nasty-feeling as I was.



That's my story. Nothing too exciting, but enough to keep me busy. More later.