So you’re probably wondering how I’ve been doing. Let me ease your mind. Training at the academy is going well. I had Day shifts 7-330p Mon - Wed and had evening shifts 330p-12a Thurs & Friday and all this week. So far its been all academics and we will get in on the hands on stuff in about 2 weeks. Getting up at 530a is a little rough but I am managing. There is a shuttle bus that transports us to and from the apartment to the academy.

The first morning here, there was some white stuff known as snow on the grass and cars. The later half the week was mild with highs in the 50’s and 60’s. One dissapointment is that beer in OK is 3.2% alcohol. However, we found liquor stores and bars that do sell normal beer. Yay. Last night, a group of us from our class went to bricktown in downtown Oklahoma city. Very nice area. [1] www.bricktownokc.org. Kathy and I are sharing a 2 bedroom furnished apartment. Its not the ritz but it’ll do.

Monday morning I was sworn in as a Federal Employee. Yay. Which means I have benefit options. Yay again. I also talked to my ATC manager at PBI. My last day at the academy is Thurs, Jan 17th. Friday Jan 18th is a travel day. I don’t the weekends yet. Monday Jan 21st is a holiday. So I report for work at PBI on Tuesday, Jan 22nd at 730a. This should give me plenty of time to move into my unknown apartment and get somewhat settled in. The PBI manager seemed pretty cool too and he will be sending me a CD containing PBI’s SOP’s (standard operating procedures) and some other stuff that I requested. Also, while at the academy, we only have off on Christmas and New years. Unless the president of the academy declares Monday Dec 24th a holiday, we have to report into work. Which means it is very unlikely that I will be able to fly into Chicago for Xmas.

Today has been a lazy day. Watched football and currently watching the bears game. Tonight or Monday, we will be heading to Walmart for groceries. One nice ammenity here at the apartment complex is that they offer courtesy cars free of charge. They also offer car rentals for $9/day. Not bad at all. Later tonight, I will be reviewing the academy airport diagram and aircraft types. Now that I have settled in here, I should be able to update a few times per week again. Stay tuned.