The Sketch Newtonian

I'm realizing a lot about myself and the world around me that I might never have picked up on.  Some of it sucks, but that's true when talking about the world. 

For starters, no one ever wants to give up on love.  I think I saw a Disney movie that said love is great "because it's the closest thing we have to magic."  That's a really pretty thing to say, but just as every kid has to accept that the tooth fairy is really his parents sneaking money to him in the middle of the night, we all eventually have to understand the bigger picture.  

Exactly who puts the money under our pillows does not devalue the coolness of the gesture.  It may even make the gesture stronger, as fairies are pretty adept at sneaking around and exchanging teeth for money, whereas parents have to learn that stuff on the fly. 

In other words, we cannot resign ourselves to thinking that love from one person is any better than love from someone else, at least not until we experience both.  In the end, what mattered most was whether or not love was present at all.  Does that make sense?

Posted by Sketch Newton at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Sometimes it's not any fun, but other times I can look at my life and find it hard not to smile.

Why was I up at 4 o'clock this morning?  Easy question-Because pilot training sucks a lot sometimes.  The fact that afterwards a few of us went to McDonalds in uniform to laugh and complain (simultaneously), however, makes me think that this isn't all too bad.

I'm pretty happy that I am a geek.  I'm happy that I can smile simply because a breeze hit my face at the perfect angle.  I like where I am right now even if it's rather overwhelming at times.

But I'm pretty confused about what will happen to me next.

The difference is now I don't see that as so much of a bad thing.  Confusion concerning the future does not mean that I cannot enjoy the present.  It may mean that I am not completely content (which is true), but that's not bad either.  Not wanting to settle for the way things currently are is the foundational motivation for all progress in this world, and a world without progress is stagnant and dying.

THEREFORE,

Confusion causes discontent which in turn causes progress and, consequently, life.

Confusion brings life.  Be happy about that.  I am finding that I am, too.

Posted by Sketch Newton at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Today, Columbus AFB Class 08-05 finished the first phase of undergraduate pilot training (UPT), academics.  We have been testing every couple days, everytime on some new subject we only received a crash course in, in the strictest sense of the term.  Study sessions, reading, sims, reading, study time, test, new subject, reading, sims, study, reading, "You don't know your checklists?!!" reading, test, sims, formal functions, new subject, "Ops limits, too!" and so on.

So how do I feel?

I have never run a triathalon, but I imagine that when you finish the swim, it may come as a shock when they tell you, "Good job!  You really gave it all you had.  Now get on the bike!" or something like that. 

The truth is academics are actually supposed to be the easiest part of UPT (hence the nickname 'slack-ademics').  We still have until February until this pilot training thing is done and we get our wings.  And the flying is not book knowledge, it's that and much more.  The term 'speedbagging' has now entered our vocabulary, and none of us are boxers (if you need me to explain this, I will be happy to in a less public forum).

I admit that I am currently slightly apprehensive concerning the next couple months.  It is going to be extremely tough, and I haven't had to deal with being yelled at on an hourly basis for a couple years now.  But I am excited to finally get to fly jets, as hard as it may end up being.  I guess I have to sike myself back up for this.

Nonetheless, I may be sitting on ice this weekend in preparation for the coming week.  Currently, I am scheduled to have my first flight Monday afternoon, and I will fly everyday for the rest of the week, too.  Wish me luck and pray for me.  I need all the help I can get!

Posted by Sketch Newton at 07:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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