Since this is my first one...

strykerpaul

Shared on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 14:03

I thought that I should probably give a little more background info, since I'm sure there won't be too many readers here. LOL

I Guess things from my profile could use a little expansion:  I am indeed a flight instructor, but it may not be what many people think.  I started my career giving instuction in smaller aircraft.  I work at one of the largest aviation training companies that will remain nameless.  Several years ago, I had an opportunity to transfer to our facility in Orlando which I did. (worked out well, at the time, my wife was pregnant with Zach (our first) and had been placed on bedrest for the remaining 4 months of the pregnancy.  I would have meant that we would have lost most of her teacher's salary for 7 months (ouch!) and this new position for me would cover the deficit.)  The site that I'm at now deals with training pilots in business jets.  Over the past four years, I somehow managed to show someone that I was a goos fit for managment and now run one of the largest departments in our building.  I have close to 20 people on my staff and two sims to manage.  The headaches associated with this are sometimes extreme.  It pays the bills and for the most part is never really boring.  I get to meet all kinds of different people from all over the world and train them for the different types of operations that they do.

The wife (Cat) and  have been married for 7 years and have known each for 12.  We had what most would conside and obscenely long engagment (4 years) sothat she could finish school on her parents tab before we got married.  We have two sons (Zach and Josh - 4 yrs and 19 months rescpectively) a dog, 3 cats, 3 hamsters and more fish than you can shake a stick at.  Cath is a school teacher (1st grade).

I live about 90 min (110 miles) from and make the commute daily.  One of my recent posts, I commented that Cat has not ever really seen me drunk before.  There lies part of hte reason.  I drive 3 hrs round trip each day on top of the 8 to 5 routine.  It would be much more difficult to do that hung over.  The other part is that I made a personal rule for my self in college.  I drank quite a bit then (didn't we all) and made the mistake of doing one of my cross country flights hung over.  If any one knows a pilot, then they would know we are typically control freaks by nature.  Needless to say, I did not really enjoy the feeling of being hung over while trying to navigate all over the state.  I vowed never again and have stuck to my rule that if I fly the next day, I don't drink.  Because of this, I have become quite the lightweight when it comes to drinking.

I have always been quite and avid gamer.  Never said that I was real good, but do enjoy the rush.  I have multiple gaming systems (xbox, xbox 360, had a ps1, have a ps 2,3 and PSP.  There is also the computer)  Unfortunately, never seem to have the time to complete a lot of the games I play before the new thrill comes out or daily duties interfere to the point that I practically need to start over to remember what's going on.

Then came HALO.  The first game that I think I finish all the way through.  Had to have HALO 2 and got the 360 when heard that H3 was coming out and would only be for the 360 (its sickness, sue me).  First time I ever played any multiplayer was during the H3 public Beta.  Had a blast.  Met up with a couple of gamers that semmed close to my age and were more interested in having fun than putting down others that were playing for lack of skill.  While waiting for the H3 release, I tried doing a little H2 multiplayer, bit quickly lost the taste for when when I was verbally bashed for not having hte skills that others did (what did they expect - I'd only been playing MP for a very short time. Didn't know the maps, spawns, etc.)  H3 was great at first, but with the seemingly limited time that I had, my rank never got that high.  Next thing I knew, I was being bashed by teenieboppers who have all day to play.  Sure, I would get my licks in now and again, but it got old fast.

After the profile of 2o2p on the Bungie site, I visited the site and soon started looking a clan to join.  The rest as they say is history.  It is nice to be involved in a group that is more interested in playing and having a good time than really putting down those they are playing with.  Sure there are lots of verbal jousting going on, but none of it is really hateful.  My wife calls it 'my old farts club' but that's ok too.  She also seems to understand that I need the temporary break from reality ( and sanity) just keep from goign too far off the deep end.

Look forward to hours of game play, watching others spout off and occasionally get stomped (the 'issues' with Kid vs. others is quite amusing), and adding my own sarcastic remarks to the forum from time to time.

Holy Crap this seems to be a really long one.  Like many other, I'm sure some of these will be long, others short.  It's like being around a lot of old friends.  Some times the conversation is short in passing or take all night with a 6pack to just mull over life's events. 

Comments

Devonsangel's picture
Submitted by Devonsangel on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 14:06
Welcome to this side of the community!
Automan21k's picture
Submitted by Automan21k on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 14:26
yes, nice ot have you here...and yet another person I can bug as I approach my Private Pilot training!!
CMA's picture
Submitted by CMA on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 14:46
welcome in man, If you are interested in playing halo check out the halo forum sticky threads and get on the aaa 2o2p h3 gamer tag friends list. We use it as a list of people from the site who play halo 3. It is a great way to meet new people to game with.
DixieBelle's picture
Submitted by DixieBelle on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 16:35
I'm a teacher, too. I'm an old K teacher turned Pre-K. You'll have to let your wife play UNO with us one night. It will change her perception of the "old farts club" tremendously, of course then you may be out for another 360-- that's what happened to Rogue!

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