A brief history of how I got here and what I've been doing since (beginning with the most recent events – to read the whole story, start at the bottom)...
- November 2006
» Took leave as one of my best friends, Trees, arrived from the states. Toured Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, as well as Rome. Then departed for 8 days in the U.K. London was only an afternoon, then we departed for Scotland on one of the most incredible trips of my life. Edinburgh; Inverness (River Ness & Loch Ness); Thurso, Gill's Bay, Scrabster (North Sea); the Scottish Highlands; and Stirling (Stirling Castle, William Wallace Monument, Falkirk, Bannockburn). Incredible...
» Booked tickets to return to Scotland for 90 Euro over Thanksgiving...
- October 2006
» Spent a lot of time standing duty at work.
» Attended the fabulous 80's party at Rob & Cindy Fluck's house, dressed as Napoleon Dynamite. Some said the costume was really too authentic...
» Halloween night, Nic threw a costume party for everyone at Old Wine. It was a bit difficult to get people out because it was a Tuesday night, but I of course made it, dressed as Marty McFly from "Back to the Future".
» Designed the American Soccer Club, Naples website.
- September 2006
» Returned to Kaiserslautern, Germany, for 2 weeks of work on a joint exercise. One of the most painful experiences of my life, although I did learn a fair bit. Still, not worth the pain...
» Also returned to Gran Sasso, this time with 8 people in tow for what turned out to be one of the greatest and most difficult hikes I have ever participated in. Everyone did great and made it through without getting injured...barely!
» Continued forming the American Soccer Club up and started having regular practices, etc. NATO official league play begins in November...
» Traveled to Milan for a long weekend to take the GRE at Milan Polytechnic, the only facility in Italy capable of administering the GRE. Found a truly great sushi bar and loved the city. Photos are now posted up on the website...
- August 2006
» Got sent on temporary duty for 1 week (academics) to Kaiserslautern, Germany, home of Ramstein Air Force Base. There really is so much to be said for German beer...
» Began putting together the American Soccer Club in Naples, Italy, along with Trey Carter, Dave Moffat, and Jason Israel.
» Played a soccer friendly against a team from Nisida Correctional Facility in Naples, Italy. A great match.
- July 2006
» Parents' finally came to visit me somewhere! Trip itinerary included Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Rome, Siena, Florence, and Venice. Watched Italy win the World Cup while waiting for my parents in the airport! Needless to say, the ride home was interesting...
» Spent a lot of time at the beach with Marco and Pasquale in Miseno. Bellissimo!
- June 2006
» 9—10 first trip to Gran Sasso with Paul Slaybaugh. Photos on website!
» Ponchapalooza! on Saturday the 16th. Many people, many drinks, much fun!
- May 2006
» Acoustic gig at Black Stuff with Brett.
» Website updated with new photos of Naples, Siena, and gigs.
» American/Italian night at Old Wine in Bacoli.
- April 2006
» Another trip to Rome with "Balls" Slaybaugh and Trey.
» Several great trips to Old Wine in Monte di Procida and gatherings at my house.
» Plans unveilved for the upcoming Ponchapalooza.
- March 2006
» Website finally set up. Photos added. Trip to Rome with Trey.
» Another gig with Brett, this one at Tommy's Pub in Monte di Procida. Met Fabiana, a waitress there. Stunningly incredible would be an understatement in the extreme.
» Trip across Italy with friends from the states Alyson, Sheila, and Shannon. Naples, Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice, and Pompeii. St. Patrick's Day spent in Florence at Boccadama and Lion's Fountain Pub. Liver in bad shape.
- February 2006
» FINALLY got ADSL internet service at my house in Bacoli.
» Skiing in Roccaraso with Bogey and Trey. I am completely hooked.
- January 2006
» New Year's, Rome.
» Snowboarding trip to Roccaraso, Italy, for a day with my friends Paul "Balls" Slaybaugh and "Bogey" Andy Bogie.
» My brother, Todd, arrives for a 2 week visit. 2 days in Rome, 1 day in Assisi, 2 days in Florence, 1 day in Siena, Pompeii, Sorrento, and trips all around Naples.
- December 2005
» Moved into my house in Bacoli, Italy.
» Ordered ADSL internet service.
» Took a trip to Bologna, Italy, for a Coldplay concert. Couldn't get in. Partied all night instead at the University of Bologna.
» First music performance in Italy. Acoustic show at Black Stuff in Monte di Procida, with my buddy Brett.
- November 2005
» Trip to Pompeii, Ercolano, and Sorrento.
» Discovered O'Croinin's, Black Stuff, Old Wine, Dream View Pizza, and many other places.
- October 2005
» Birthday at home in Tucson, Arizona, with just about everyone.
» Moved to Naples, Italy. Reported for duty to COMSIXTHFLEET.
» Trip up to top/crater of Mt. Vesuvius.
» Purchased Italian 1996 Alfa Romeo 155.
- September 2005
» De–commissioned VF–101.
» Last Ashtanga Yoga class, Virginia Beach.
» Trip to Mt. Pleasant, TX, for week and a half.
- July 2005
» Captain of the awesome Gunfighter Soccer Team, Virginia Beach.
» Certified PADI Basic Open Water Scuba Diver / Certified NITROX Scuba Diver.
- May / June 2005
» GBU–38 JDAM Testing & the flight that will live in infamy...
- March 2005
» After discussions with Kato, I receive orders to COMSIXTHFLEET Naples, Italy.
- February 2005
» Trip to Naples to visit friends Ponch and Allison, and check out the scene...
- January 2005
» On det with VF–101 to Key West, Florida, when I have an afternoon conversation with my detailer (Kato) in which he tells me he has a slot open in Europe if I want it. The possibility of living in Naples first surfaced.
A brief history of how I got here and what I've been doing since (beginning with the most recent events – to read the whole story, start at the bottom)...
- November 2006
» Took leave as one of my best friends, Trees, arrived from the states. Toured Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, as well as Rome. Then departed for 8 days in the U.K. London was only an afternoon, then we departed for Scotland on one of the most incredible trips of my life. Edinburgh; Inverness (River Ness & Loch Ness); Thurso, Gill's Bay, Scrabster (North Sea); the Scottish Highlands; and Stirling (Stirling Castle, William Wallace Monument, Falkirk, Bannockburn). Incredible...
» Booked tickets to return to Scotland for 90 Euro over Thanksgiving...
- October 2006
» Spent a lot of time standing duty at work.
» Attended the fabulous 80's party at Rob & Cindy Fluck's house, dressed as Napoleon Dynamite. Some said the costume was really too authentic...
» Halloween night, Nic threw a costume party for everyone at Old Wine. It was a bit difficult to get people out because it was a Tuesday night, but I of course made it, dressed as Marty McFly from "Back to the Future".
» Designed the American Soccer Club, Naples website.
- September 2006
» Returned to Kaiserslautern, Germany, for 2 weeks of work on a joint exercise. One of the most painful experiences of my life, although I did learn a fair bit. Still, not worth the pain...
» Also returned to Gran Sasso, this time with 8 people in tow for what turned out to be one of the greatest and most difficult hikes I have ever participated in. Everyone did great and made it through without getting injured...barely!
» Continued forming the American Soccer Club up and started having regular practices, etc. NATO official league play begins in November...
» Traveled to Milan for a long weekend to take the GRE at Milan Polytechnic, the only facility in Italy capable of administering the GRE. Found a truly great sushi bar and loved the city. Photos are now posted up on the website...
- August 2006
» Got sent on temporary duty for 1 week (academics) to Kaiserslautern, Germany, home of Ramstein Air Force Base. There really is so much to be said for German beer...
» Began putting together the American Soccer Club in Naples, Italy, along with Trey Carter, Dave Moffat, and Jason Israel.
» Played a soccer friendly against a team from Nisida Correctional Facility in Naples, Italy. A great match.
- July 2006
» Parents' finally came to visit me somewhere! Trip itinerary included Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Rome, Siena, Florence, and Venice. Watched Italy win the World Cup while waiting for my parents in the airport! Needless to say, the ride home was interesting...
» Spent a lot of time at the beach with Marco and Pasquale in Miseno. Bellissimo!
- June 2006
» 9—10 first trip to Gran Sasso with Paul Slaybaugh. Photos on website!
» Ponchapalooza! on Saturday the 16th. Many people, many drinks, much fun!
- May 2006
» Acoustic gig at Black Stuff with Brett.
» Website updated with new photos of Naples, Siena, and gigs.
» American/Italian night at Old Wine in Bacoli.
- April 2006
» Another trip to Rome with "Balls" Slaybaugh and Trey.
» Several great trips to Old Wine in Monte di Procida and gatherings at my house.
» Plans unveilved for the upcoming Ponchapalooza.
- March 2006
» Website finally set up. Photos added. Trip to Rome with Trey.
» Another gig with Brett, this one at Tommy's Pub in Monte di Procida. Met Fabiana, a waitress there. Stunningly incredible would be an understatement in the extreme.
» Trip across Italy with friends from the states Alyson, Sheila, and Shannon. Naples, Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice, and Pompeii. St. Patrick's Day spent in Florence at Boccadama and Lion's Fountain Pub. Liver in bad shape.
- February 2006
» FINALLY got ADSL internet service at my house in Bacoli.
» Skiing in Roccaraso with Bogey and Trey. I am completely hooked.
- January 2006
» New Year's, Rome.
» Snowboarding trip to Roccaraso, Italy, for a day with my friends Paul "Balls" Slaybaugh and "Bogey" Andy Bogie.
» My brother, Todd, arrives for a 2 week visit. 2 days in Rome, 1 day in Assisi, 2 days in Florence, 1 day in Siena, Pompeii, Sorrento, and trips all around Naples.
- December 2005
» Moved into my house in Bacoli, Italy.
» Ordered ADSL internet service.
» Took a trip to Bologna, Italy, for a Coldplay concert. Couldn't get in. Partied all night instead at the University of Bologna.
» First music performance in Italy. Acoustic show at Black Stuff in Monte di Procida, with my buddy Brett.
- November 2005
» Trip to Pompeii, Ercolano, and Sorrento.
» Discovered O'Croinin's, Black Stuff, Old Wine, Dream View Pizza, and many other places.
- October 2005
» Birthday at home in Tucson, Arizona, with just about everyone.
» Moved to Naples, Italy. Reported for duty to COMSIXTHFLEET.
» Trip up to top/crater of Mt. Vesuvius.
» Purchased Italian 1996 Alfa Romeo 155.
- September 2005
» De–commissioned VF–101.
» Last Ashtanga Yoga class, Virginia Beach.
» Trip to Mt. Pleasant, TX, for week and a half.
- July 2005
» Captain of the awesome Gunfighter Soccer Team, Virginia Beach.
» Certified PADI Basic Open Water Scuba Diver / Certified NITROX Scuba Diver.
- May / June 2005
» GBU–38 JDAM Testing & the flight that will live in infamy...
- March 2005
» After discussions with Kato, I receive orders to COMSIXTHFLEET Naples, Italy.
- February 2005
» Trip to Naples to visit friends Ponch and Allison, and check out the scene...
- January 2005
» On det with VF–101 to Key West, Florida, when I have an afternoon conversation with my detailer (Kato) in which he tells me he has a slot open in Europe if I want it. The possibility of living in Naples first surfaced.