See ya!

Back in the states for good as of Feb 15th 2009! I'll be living in Denver! I wont update this blog anymore but will leave it up.


Later Gator :}

A post on career progression.

I posted a reply to a thread on jetcareers.com to a question about career progress. I decided to share it with you all. (the thousands of you! ha!).....



Here is my past 10 years summarized...

MiddleSchool and High School, I weigh about 280lbs at my heaviest weight, in 9th grade, thinking about skiing, not flying. Some kid in my junior H.S. class is a pilot, but I am not interested and dont even listen to him when he wants to talk to me about it. I rememebr saying "no I'm going to be a Heli-Ski guide".

Talked my H.S. superintendent that I need to take off 4 weeks before and after x-mas break (for a total about about 6 weeks off) to go out to N.M. and study snow avalanches at Taos for my Senior Physics project. Somehow, I convinced him and spent a month out there teaching skiing. Got an A on my paper a few months later.

I know I need to be in shape if I want to be a mountain guide so I start working hard on it.

On graduation day, I weigh about 220lbs.

Summer 2002-fall 2002 University of Akron.

Winter 2002/2003 Ski Instructor Snowbird, Utah. After a season of skiing i weigh in at 195lbs. Decided my idea of being a career mountain guide/heli-ski guide wasn't smart..saw old instructors who had been doing it for years...they didnt look well. wanted to find something with was hands on, not in a office, but required lots of skill and hard work......

Summer 2003 Bought private pilot package from local club before taking first flight. Flew butt off for a year, got private at club in Ohio, commerical, multi and instrument at skymates in texas, CFI and CFII back in Ohio at part 141 FBO.

Summer 04 First flying job, back up to 250lbs! but a lot of it was muscle...still very fat....was at the Arnold Convention (weight lifting) in Columbus when I get a call for the job... flew C206 jumpers in Cape Cod for 3 months, Flew a ton! company imploded,

then 4 days later scored job in C206 flying jumpers in Colorado, again, flew my BUTT OFF, was their only pilot and was flying sunup till sunset, 5-6 days a week. several months later, at 950 hours, scored PIC gig in DHC-6 Twin Otter flying jumpers in Tecumseh Mi.

(I was a skydiver, and saw an ad in a jumper forum. I didnt think I had the experiance but I decided to call and tell them I was interested in next summer, after I had more hours....on the phone the owner said "well how many do you have now..."950" ....hrmmm can you be here in one week?" Later, I found out that the drop zone owners where I used to jump knew I was looking and had already called this guy to tell him about me.bada boom bada bing, job scored).

Fall/winter 05 Kent State.

Summer 05 - back at MI job flying jumpers in Twin Otter. down to about 230lbs.

December 2006 Graduated Kent State with B.S. Aeronautics. 230lbs.

Jan 2007 Ameriflight Ground school, flew BE99 in SLC.

*****Total Debt at this point = 80K (18K of credit card, 36K flight loan, 31 education loan) Total minimum loan payment around 700/month thanks to high interest CC.*******

October 2007, 220lbs. Going bankrupt at AMF so quit after 8 months and took job as Captain on BE350 for charter/management gig near NYC. Making well above average for position. Paid off all credit cards in 6 months. Working out hard and eating as best as I can.


July 2008, weigh in at 205lbs, owner sold king air 350, i saw the writing on the wall well beforehand and had next job lined up. ****Total debt at this point around 63K******

July 2008, King Air captain in Africa and Saudi Arabia flying scientific research/weather mod flights. Making extremely good money,

Jan 28...still in Saudi******current debt at 35K******

Finally figured out the nutrition side of the equation, after 10 years of trying, and am now at 178lbs!. About 10lbs away from seeing my abs. Should be debt free in 4 months.


Places I have lived....

2002 Ohio, Utah
2003 Ohio, Utah, Ohio (twice)
2004 Ohio, Texas
2005 Ohio, Massachusetts, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio (Twice)
2006 Ohio Michigan
2007 California (5 weeks), Utah, Pennslyvania
2008 Pennsylvania, Mali (africa), Abha. Saudi Arabia
2009 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia then Abha, Saudi Arabia

...all in all, not to bad of a run so far as the career goes, but personal life has suffered.





Current plan is to stay overseas till my debt is paid off and I save a little up. That should be mid summer time 2009.

I really am not sure where I will go after this. Saudi is not a long term option, but the economy is definitely affecting my career goals after this job.

So far I have made all decisions based on advancing the career. Friends? Girlfriend? Family? I left them all, repeatedly, to chase the career.

I have been doing a lot of soul searching, and am not sure I will continue with the career. I have been entertaining all sorts of ideas, from going back after my mountain guide/heli-ski career, to sticking with aviation, to becoming a firefighter.

But, honestly, those feelings may just be my way of coping with the reality that my entire life has been my career....for years and years and years...maybe once I find a more permanent solution..ah crap, I already know there is no permanent solution in aviation...

I'm hoping my next job will be a keeper. I want to hang my hat somewhere, set up shop, make little people...and get a dang dog!

I am taking the AFOQT in a few weeks, and if I get into an ANG or AFRES UPT slot, that will answer a lot of questions about the future.

My brother is a Metro captain for AMF in SLC, I am hoping he can get hired over here in Saudi, pay off his debt, and then perhaps we will move on from here together (we both want to start a business together).


Another thought....


I have absolutely nothing tying me down anywhere...no house, no apartment, no girlfriend, no wife, no kids, no dog,... and I lost my last good friend a few months ago.

I want ALL those things, but this is one time in my life where I am free of them, and I might as well take advantage of it.

to that end...



I am also thinking that if I last here till this November, I will quit then, be debt free with big savings account, and just head East on a big pilgrimage... see the world, travel by foot, car, thumb, airplane, boat, etc and just see everything that I can. Then, make it home to Utah by Jan and ski all winter long....after that...who knows.

100lbs and other goodies.

Terry, our VP of meteorology, taking a picture of the meeting place for the Hash run. Notice the wild camels in the background.

These are members of the Hash group (called the Third Herd Hash Harriers) who did something wrong at the last meeting (like forgetting to sign in, or leaving trash behind). They get to wear a toilet seat and then have water dumped on them.We were seeding at night, and I was trying to get a picture of the heavy rain speeding past the ice lights. It was a difficult shot (as you can see!).
Look near the bottom and you can see the camel trail, first constructed by hand hundreds of years ago.
Down into the canyon we hike! If your a climber you might be salivating, but the rock is sandstone.....
Near Riyadh, these rocks have been molded by water. With the local climate, it is hard to believe.
A runners Dog. He did quite well on the steep and rocky terrain.
I've named this guy Bob. Here, after getting it translated I found out he is saying "one inch closer and I'll spit in your face".




It is only 3 weeks till I return to America! I can't say that Saudi has grown on me, but I do feel more in touch with the realities here. The benefits of taking this position have proven to reach far beyond professional development, or financial gain. Gaining a more in depth global perspective, especially considering current events in the region, has been an eye opening experience. My perusing of Wikipedia about the history of the Middle East and Africa has hardly made me an authority on the subject, but meeting the people here has--if nothing else--given me a profound sense of thankfulness.

A good example of that is the Indian worker who cleans my apartment building. His name is Abdul and he is basically an indentured servant. In exchange for a measly sum, he comes to Saudi for years and years to support his family back home. He has neither the means nor the authority to leave but once every 6 or so years, and then only for a few weeks. I can't imagine how bad things must be back home, for him to give up so much.

Another example is the Sushi chef in downtown Riyadh. I forget his name, but he too is here for many many years away from his family. He cannot leave until he fulfills his several year long obligation (that he incurred for the airfare to Saudi). The money he is paid is barely enough to support his family back home and he is trapped in an endless cycle of service obligations. You see, his employment agency might agree to send him home in say, 5 years, but for that airfare, he would incur another service agreement of several years.


So, its been a while since my last post, how about an update of the 3 goals.


1. AFOQT - I am really cracking down on this now. I have been studying consistnatly and have narrowed down my weak spots to 2 or 3 areas. I feel confident that I will be ready for the test when I return home.

2. Financial - Still chugging along here. I haven't paid down my loan anymore than the minimum payments, instead choosing to save the cash. No job is stable in this economy, so I want to make sure I have options if the bottom falls out. After another paycheck or two, I will start dumping payments every 2 weeks into the loans. It looks like I will be at a positive net worth by June, just a month or so longer than originally predicted (I have incurred costs for my 3 week vacation, and some ski equipment bought).

3. Fitness - I am KICKING ASS. A few days ago I hit a big milestone when I dipped under 180lbs to weigh in at 179lbs. This 100lbs lighter than my heaviest weight of 280 reached many years ago, and 30lbs lighter than I was 7 months ago. I am about 10lbs (6 weeks) away from seeing my abs!



Overall things are progressing nicely, and I feel confident that this venture oversees will be a success. Austin (my brother) will hopefully be able to get hired and join me in Saudi sometime in March or April. If he is successful, I will stay with him here for 4-8 months. If he wants to stay past next December, he is on his own! Hopefully he can get hired.

A letter to my parents

Sent an email to my parents today and I thought that I would post it.


I saw you on skype but you didn't answer when I sent you a text message. Don't sweat the small stuff. Does it really matter that you burnt cookies? A lot can be said for how the decision to take this job might have/will turn out, but so far I am benefiting in ways I did not anticipate. Between poverty in Africa and oppression/closed minded thinking in Saudi, I find myself much more thankful for my situation. Next time you burn cookies just remember I love you mom :}

The longer that I stay over here, the more I become aware of the differences and similarities between other cultures and the US. Today I was reading the Arab newspaper...what mind trip.
Between their stories on terrorism, editorials/viewpoints on U.S. actions (and US news reports that seem to always be false according to them), and articles about Arabs that study abroad, I am constantly shocked and saddened by how behind their way of thinking is.

Some examples...one of the quotes of an Saudi girl studying abroad "when we approached the immigration counter in Holland, the officer told my escort that he could not submit my passport himself and that I had to hold it while going through customs-- I felt so free and liberated to be given this responsibility" Wow. Thumbs up there girl, you get to hold your own passport...how could you possibly conquer such a mountain for women's rights!.
Another story was about a girl whose father beat her and slit her throat. The reason? She enrolled in college against his will.

Worldwide humanitarian organizations run up against red tape and walls put up by the US when trying to confront Saudi on its arcane laws--because we need their oil we force the international community to look the other way.

The more I stay over here the more I both love the US and feel so lucky to be born there, and simultaneously grow respect for those who point out our shortcomings and hypocrisy. We are great, and probably the best, but we are far far far away from perfect.

I think I am going through some kind of beginning life crisis. In the past few weeks I have considered everything from graduate school (topics range from MBA in Entrepreneurship to a MA in Classics or Philosophy) to becoming a fireman, to training in helicopters, to taking that job in the channel islands between France and the UK (they emailed me yet again! ...The exchange rate has shot up on the weakened dollar and is now 1.55:1. So instead of a 52K job it is now a 64K/year job. I imagine I could go over there and keep the money in a UK bank until the exchange rate was favorable. Still not near the money that I'm making here.).

Austin said that these thoughts are just a product of the stage I am in of this career...and he may be right. I long for the day when my career is not my life. Still though, I am trying to heed the advice of the older pilots and I'm not sure that in the long run, that a typical airline or corporate aviation career track will allow me to have the things that are important to me, namely geographical stability, geographical specificity (living near the mountains/good skiing), both of which will allow for another important facet of happiness---long term relationships, community, etc. I've been over all sorts of scenarios...none of which are perfect even on paper let alone how the plan is likely to turn out if actually followed.

The owner of the company flew over here from Fargo and spoke to us. They are planning on hiring a few pilots, so I think I can get Austin on. It would be so much better over here if Austin were flying with me. [for those readers who don't know me, Austin is my brother and is also a pilot].

I'm still watching a lot of movies, and I started a study regime for the AFOQT. So far, the plan is working out, and I still feel I made the right choice in turning down the other job offers.

I haven't done any x-mas shopping or anything at all, so I hope no one there got me anything besides you helping to pay some of my SlingPlayer. I have an X-mas/birthday gift for you and dad, but shipping it is too risky, so you will just have to wait till Feb when I get back.

Check out my blog for my new post.

www.captainallen.blogspot.com



Merry X-mas


Allen

Ho Ho Ho!

This dude was herding his camels across the desert.
More of that dudes camels. I haven't seen two hump camels here...I think you have to go to Egypt for those?
Setting sun in the desert.
The sand is difficult to walk on. Some of it is wind blown and crusty and easily supports your weight, then on your next step you fall into very fine soft loose sand. It was quite a workout!
Out far in the distance you can see a city. Its the industrial city and I think it is south of Riyadh. Although by this time I was pretty mixed up in direction.
Marcus (Australian) and Brook (US), who fly with my at Weathermod.
Its always much farther than you think! As soon as you get to the "top"...ha, there is another ridge.
Pretty cool shot.
Me thinking what a sandbox! "where was this when I was 5 years old". If only it were white, fluffy, and cold.
The saudis that live in the city come out to the desert on the weekends. Those that can afford to build a place do so, but most haul huge trailers with big tents, generators, tvs, fridge, etc behind their huge honkin suburbans.
Terrorist camp.... Ha, not really funny but we laughed.
The picture above was taken in flight, and below is ground level of the same building. It looks mirror like in the day time, but at night it just looks like a regular building. The light at the top changes colors every few min to red, blue, yellow, green, etc. I think its called the Kingdom Tower.
As if this place didn't have enough problems, they decided go with hitler shoes. Just a random piece of trash laying around (there is a lot of it, even if there is a trashcan nearby, they will just toss their trash on the ground).
Another, rather crappy shot of the tower with the blue light this time.
The moon, and two planets. Pretty neat once in a lifetime event! It was pretty hard to get this shot without a tripod. My camera doesnt do well with high ISO settings...
This is part of the opertions center. From here the meteorologists monitor the weather and direct the cloud seeding and research flights.

Wow, I cannot believe it is already Christmas time! It certainly doesn't feel like it. It gets a little chilly at night (sweater weather) but is far from the Christmas weather that I am used to!

I am about 1 week away from my 3 month mark and it certainly has gone quickly. Riyadh has turned out to be much better than Abha, with expat get-togethers and lots of nice restaurants (and sushi bars!) to help me try and forget where I am. I am still spending most of my time sleeping, working out, watching movies, and surfing the net but I have done a few cool things in Riyadh....

Desert hiking. There is a international running/trekking group called Hash Harriers. One of the organizers here in Riyadh is a husband of a German diplomat and he just signed up for another few years service here! Ack! Apparently they like it here. Anyway, the hike was pretty neat. (see pictures above) The sand is incredibly fine and gets everywhere! My running shoes were packed full of it. I took the shoes off but the guide said that scorpions burrow just below the surface of sand. I put them back on right away!

Also I took some pictures of the Kingdom Tower and the Freedom Tower (ironic name for this place, should be called the Oppression Tower). The colors in the crescent change from blue to white, green, purple, red, and yellow. There is an observation deck at the top, sometime I might try and go up there. (see pics above)

So, how about my goals? You may recall I had 3 goals; 1 Fitness, 2 Financial, 3 AFOQT.

Lets start with 2 Financial. You really never make as much money as you think you will! Still, I'm not doing too shabby. When I arrived in Saudi my net worth was approximately negative 64,500 dollars. As of last pay period date (Dec 6th) my net worth was negative 48,500. Today's date is Tuesday December 16th and this Saturday I will be worth negative 44,500.
18 months ago my debt was over 80 thousand dollars, so it feels pretty good to have it down to almost 1/2 of what I used to owe.
Estimating all this is difficult due to bonuses and changes in pay depending on where I am living, but I estimate my net worth on Feb 15th when I return home to be around negative 30K. Much more palpable!

Next up lets talk about number 3, the AFOQT. This one looks bad, but honestly I just don't want to peak too early. I haven't done more than a few hours of studying for this test. I started in earnest, but I was afraid of getting burned out and then ending up taking a huge break before I came home. Today, Dec 20th, I am starting a study schedule of 2 hours of studying per day. I am going to continue this until Feb 14th and am going to ACE that dang test when I get home!

And onto number 1, Fitness. I am doing awesome! My progress over the last few years has been in the right direction, but filled with hitting walls, mediocre progress, and always missing one or more of the required elements. Although I'm sure that having plenty of free time has helped over the last 2 and a half months, most of my success is due to getting serious about consistent calorie control. I've been using Fitday.com to ensure I wasn't overeating. The amount of exercise and intensity has actually reduced, but I'm getting much better results. It simply doesn't matter how much or how hard you exercise if you are eating more calories than you burn....you won't loose weight.
I started at around 205lbs when I arrived over here and this morning I weighed 187. 18lbs lost so far. My goal is 175 by feb 15th, and I am on track to make it. Even the new pants that I bought before I arrived (my old ones were too big from weight loss over the last year) no longer fit and need a belt. Feels good.
At my heaviest I weighed 280lbs, so in total I have lost 93lbs. Good Lord!!
So far, I still can't see my abs. I am thinking that I might not even see them at 175. Its really hard to predict though, because I have never seen them before and I am not sure how big they are, and so I can't really predict what the rest of my body should look like when I'm getting close. I can feel them and can tell that I have an 8 pack under there... I think I will be close at 175, but probably still a little too fat. We'll see.



Saudi is still purgatory, but Feb 15th will be here before I know it. I hope you all have a great Christmas!

Allen

Cliffs, Baboons, and More!

On Sunday I am moving up to Riyadh from Abha with the rest of the crew. I decided to do some sight seeing. I've been here for a month and a half and I am just thankful that I have this opportunity when the rest of the aviation world is struggling. I am paying down my flight loan debt at a rapid pace and I'm really starting to get into the grove over here. Riyadh should be even better

Riyadh has a huge expat community. Saudi Arabia pretty much outsources everything and there are lots of europeans and canadian workers here (especially for healthcare positions).

I've been in country for about a month and a half and just finalized my plans to return on Feb 15 for a 6 week break!

Here are the pics...enjoy!


My diet.

Ya know...this picture pretty much summarizes Saudi Arabia. Rofl. The sign says "Emergency Gate Do Not Obstruct"

Look at those teeth!
"Yea, I'm the man around here." I named this guy Godfather. He keeps an eye on my thoughout our stay.
The dad just bopped the little one on the head. Mom isn't too pleased. I'm not sure what the little one did but I think it had something to do with wanting to leave Saudi and go back to a Zoo.
Awwwwwwwwww.
The silver one keeps staring at me. Seriously...he would walk up to my window and just stare, then go back to the wall and keep looking. I think he was mad that I looked at his 3 wives without their abayas on! Ha!

Anyway, I was in the right passenger seat taking pictures to the left (my back was to my door). I had a 1 banana left and it was sitting on the dash. So I'm snapping away and my door opens. I hear my door open and turn around....this gray monkey opened my dang door and was staring me in the face! It scared the living crap out of me!
He wanted that last banana and he was going to get it!

We locked the doors after that.
Get away from my banana!
Ski lifts ski lifts! Ah hell, its just a cable car :{.
Not bad. I could use a mountain bike about now! This is looking down into one of their national parks. If you flew straight out from here you would hit the Red Sea in about 40 miles.
The houses are mostly cinderblock construction. They all have huge 20ft+ walls around them so that the women can walk around their house without covering up. They are definitely very colorful! There is even a rainbow colored road that I will try and get pictures of. This is on approach to Kamish Air Force Base.
Driving in Saudi is probably the most dangerous part of being here. People think nothing of passing on blind corners at 75+ mph. It's hard to swerve when your choices are turn right into the cliff or left into thin air.
See the next explanation....
This is pretty cool. Right where the cloud meets the ground, there is a huge drop off. Thousands of feet down. As air moves towards this obstruction it has no where to go but up. The rising air cools to its dew point and voila! Clouds!

Can we say paraglide? I need to get my equipment over here!
Scientific probes underneath the wing of the King Air 200.


Next blog post after I move to Riyadh. Later!

Camping, Saudi Style

Another pilot and I were invited to accompany the General of the Saudi Air Force base to a get together. Saudis are very big on family and community. One of the other Air Force brass has built a place for he and his family and friends to congregate, eat, and talk.

The place is literally carved out of a small rocky mini mountain. We were traveling on the highway in between steep rock walls when our lead car pulled over. We werent sure what was going on until we saw a cavern blasted out of the rock that allowed a road to be built up through the mountain. After passing through it, we drove up to the top where he had bulldozed a huge flat area. On one side of the parking lot was the male building and on the other the female. The builds had two rooms and an outdoor deck. One room was for eating and the other for the aftermeal get together. The food was cooked on an open fire (looked like our barb-be-cue pits built with brick). We ate..

and ate...

and ate.

Salmon, Halibut, homemade bread cooked over the fire, lamb stew, fruit, etc etc. It was a feast!

It was pretty interesting watching them cook the bread. They had this large plate shaped iron skillet with a long handle. They would put the dough on the plate and hold it over the coales. After it had cooked some (and stuck to the plate) they would turn it over and expose the bread itself to the hot coals. It tasted like our pancakes. Yummmy.


Im sorry about no pictures but I didnt think to bring the camera! They invited us back for more, so next time I will be sure to get pics.

___


We went flying yesterday and I took some pretty cool pictures of the terrain. I will post asap! ;]