Great Day for two reasons, sad day for one

Today has been a great day! First, I discovered a large deposit in my checking account from the VA for underpayments for my disabilities. I got a letter on Friday telling me the Dept. of Defense had underpaid me by around $100 and that the VA also underpaid me. I expected about $300 but I was very happy and surprised to find it was significantly more than that. So, I am not getting a job after all!

The second reason it was a great day is because I voted in an election in person for the first time in my life! I joined the Air Force when I was 17 so although I have always voted it was by absentee ballot. I usually only voted for president, govenor and US Senate and House of Representatives. I was a resident of Idaho for all my life until July 2005. I didn't feel I knew enough about local and district candidates to make informed decisions on who to vote for so I always just skipped over that section. I have been doing some research and today cast my vote for all the offices! I am a Democrat primarily, however in the local elections I felt that the Republican candidates, for the most part, were better qualified to fill some of the County offices so I voted a mixed ticket. We have the new electronic voting machines and I really liked them. Much better than the punch card and paper clip I've had to use in the past!

The reason it is sort of a sad day is the only aircraft I've worked on that wasn't in the boneyard, is now destined to retire in the next few months. I have worked on the EF-111A, F-111A, F-111F, and F-111E, plus the F-117, aka the Stealth Fighter. All of the F-111 models have been retired for about 13 years, and now the F-117 is going too. Guess that's a sign of my age! Oh well, they all served well and I'm proud to have been part of their history. As in everything else, it's time for a new generation! Click on the title at the top of this post to read the full story.