Chanute AFB Illinois

25 Jul 2019 1 Comment

by Chris M. Day in 1980s, Career, Food, Health, History, Life, Military, Travel

I’m coming up on the 34TH Anniversary of my graduation from USAF BMT. That stands for United States Air Force Basic Military Training. I was stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas from June 13TH 1985 (early in the morning – like right after Midnight) to July 29TH 1985 (at dawn). It was the roughest and toughest 46 days / 6½ weeks of my life at that point. (I had just turned 18.)

On July 29TH 1985 (a Monday) I boarded a plane (with others) from San Antonio Texas to Champaign County Illinois. I got food poisoning on the plane. That was when full hot meals were still served on airplanes. After landing we were transported from the airport to Chanute Air Force Base (near Rantoul Illinois). Everyone else was taken to their respective squadrons for in-processing. I was taken to the Base Hospital where I spent a couple of days and nights recuperating.

On the 3RD day I rose again – out of my hospital bed fully recovered, and I was released to my squadron. I moved-in to my dormitory room – my home for the next 3 months. School started soon for me. I would soon learn how to be an Aircraft Maintenance Systems Analyst (think “Statistician”). I was in a class of 4.

Today – 34 years later – I am an Analyst / Statistician, and I work for the United States Air Force.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2004

12 Jul 2019 Comments Off on My Top 5 Hits RETRO – 2004

by Chris M. Day in Animals, Career, Driving, History, Life, Military, Music, Radio, Travel Tags:

Every Friday night I post the Top 5 of one of my classic hit music charts based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from either 10, 15, 20, or 30 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).

It’s the 2ND Friday of the month, so I go back 15 years ago. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday July 11TH 2004:

  1. “Ocean Avenue” – Yellowcard
  2. “Meant To Live” – Switchfoot
  3. “The Reason” – Hoobastank
  4. “Hey Mama” – The Black Eyed Peas
  5. “Pieces Of Me” – Ashlee Simpson

15 years ago this weekend seems so long ago. I had recently flipped away from electronic dance music and returned to my roots in calmer pop music. I actually don’t remember much about 2004, and I really choose to not remember much about that year. It was a forgettable year. I wasn’t happy at work, and I wasn’t particularly happy at home either. I came home to my cat every afternoon, and he adored me. He was my best friend at the time. I still miss him over 12 years after his passing. #Boots

It’s interesting what I discover when I review old E-Mails. 15 years ago TODAY – the 12TH of July of 2004 (a Monday) I drove about 650 miles from a hotel very near Walt Disney World (like a mile away) to a suburb south of New Orleans. I was TDY (military term = temporary duty) at NAS JRB New Orleans during that week. According to my extensive records I filled-up with gas twice that day during my drive westward, and I paid $1.959 and $1.919 per gallon for gas.

It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday afternoon and Monday night with two more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for going RETRO with me !

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Nostalgia

11 Jul 2019 1 Comment

by Chris M. Day in Bible, Career, Christian, God, Military, Ministry, Scripture

I’m feeling rather nostalgic this week.

Yesterday – the 10TH of July – was the 9TH anniversary of the passing of my Dad. He slowly began exhibiting the effects of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) during the latter portion of 2006, and it eventually crippled him. He passed on to Heaven after 4 years of bravely battling the disease. I believe that in his final weeks of life he repented to his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, and God immediately rescued and saved him. That’s why he’s in Heaven today – watching from up above – cheering on his wife, his two sons, his daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters.

As long as you’re still breathing it is not too late to ask God to take control of your life. He will do so immediately, and He will give you a new life – a life that will last forever because it comes from the eternal living Word of God.

Today – the 11TH of July – “7/11” – is the 25TH anniversary of a career change at work that I didn’t see coming until the moment it occurred. It actually began the worst 13 years of my (now) 34-year USAF career. It was also the worst 12 years of my life, and I say 12 years because just after the start of my 13TH year during that time-period I hit rock-bottom, and God rescued and saved me. He lifted me out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground, and He steadied me as I walked along.

God also flipped my career almost a year later, and I’m getting ready to observe the 12TH anniversary of the best era of my career (by far).

The 13TH anniversary of the start of my salvation through Christ is 40 days away. That’s the day that I’ve been celebrating above all ever since. That’s the day that my #CountUp began.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Weekend Kickoff Mini-Thoughts

27 Jun 2019 1 Comment

by Chris M. Day in Career, Football, God, Home, Life, Military, Music, Politics, Sports, Television, Travel, Weather

Let’s try this again – a rapid-fire session of thoughts in my mind right this minute:

  • Yesterday was not such a good day at work.
  • It only takes one person and a minute to ruin a whole work day.
  • I know that today will be a much better work day.
  • I know that God is always in control no matter where I go.
  • Sometimes during those not so good work days I forget that God is with me.
  • The past 12 years of my 34-year USAF career have been the best 12 years.
  • Is it a coincidence that Jesus Christ rescued and saved me 13 years ago ?
  • No coincidence, as God doesn’t do coincidences. He does intentionals.
  • Back on the homefront I enjoy relaxing in my 77°F living room.
  • I’m feeling good with my air conditioning taking care of business.
  • All of my modern technology is right here where it belongs.
  • If it’s summer then I’m watching “America’s Got Talent” and “Big Brother”.
  • I’ve never missed a single episode of either show since the beginning of both.
  • I’m also addicted to “Live PD” on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • There was a political debate on the NBCs last night.
  • I don’t get political online or offline.
  • As an apolitical person I’m in the minority fringes both online and offline.
  • I have very solid political beliefs, but I choose not to share them with anyone.
  • I’d rather talk about the weather.
  • I’m a weather expert, so I know what I’m talking about there.
  • I’ll even talk sports with you. Hail to the Redskins !
  • I’m so looking forward to the start of the NFL season.
  • I may go to a game this season – my Redskins against the Cowboys in Dallas.
  • 33 years ago tomorrow I attended the first concert of my life.
  • I was 19 at the time, and this young teenybopper was at the final Wham! show.
  • That was at Wembley Stadium in London England.
  • Google it. It was June 28TH 1986, and I was there singing and dancing.
  • I’ve been to 100+ concerts since that first one – an average of about 3 per year.
  • My two years of living in England as an 18 to 20-year-old were wild and crazy.
  • I haven’t been back since.
  • July starts in just 4 days.
  • 2019 is almost half over.
  • This whole decade of the 2010s (or #TwentyTeens) is almost over.
  • Will we all see better in 2020 ?
  • Will we all have the vision to love each other in 2020 ?
  • Will we change the world in 2020 ?
  • Time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ – into the future.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Happy Flag Day

13 Jun 2019 Comments Off on Happy Flag Day

by Chris M. Day in Holidays, Military Tags:

sailors-and-flag-1800x1200

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

This Friday June 14TH we observe Flag Day here in the U.S.A. It commemorates the adoption of our flag on this date in 1777.

This week I celebrate my 34TH anniversary working for the United States Air Force. #AimHigh

Here’s what I looked like 34 years ago:

AB Chris At 18 At Lackland

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Happy Anniversary Weekend !

29 Nov 2018 Comments Off on Happy Anniversary Weekend !

by Chris M. Day in Career, Military, Travel

This is a huge anniversary weekend for me. I’ll observe one in this blog post, and then I’ll observe another one in tomorrow’s blog post, and then I’ll observe yet another one in Sunday’s blog post.

On November 30TH 1987 – the Monday after Thanksgiving that year – I boarded a plane in the Washington D.C. area (my original hometown) – for Miami Florida. I had never been there before, and I knew very little about it other than the fact that the weather would be much sunnier and warmer than the Washington D.C. area. I arrived in Miami that night, and I awaited my military transportation from Miami to Homestead AFB. It eventually arrived, and I arrived on the base during the wee early morning hours of December 01ST 1987. I was Active Duty in the USAF back then – an A1C / E3.

Hurricane Andrew destroyed Homestead AFB on August 24TH 1992, but then it was partially rebuilt. (Its geographic location ultimately saved it.) I returned to the base almost 19 months later upon its grand reopening as Homestead ARS (and then Homestead ARB). I still work on the base today. Nowadays (and for the past 11 years) I crunch numbers and count money.

So Happy 31ST Anniversary to me at the airbase near Homestead Florida. I arrived when I was 20½, and now I’m 51½. I wasn’t expecting to spend most of my life working there, but that’s what’s happened. I thought that I had seen the last of the airbase after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, but here I am 26 years later. I think I have another 5 good years in me before it’ll be time to pack it up, retire, and move away from this Homestead.

All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Honoring My Fellow Veterans

08 Nov 2018 Comments Off on Honoring My Fellow Veterans

by Chris M. Day in Holidays, Military Tags:

It’s the start of a fresh new weekend, as weekends always begin on Thursdays here on my blog. This is a holiday weekend here in the U.S.A. Veterans’ Day is this Sunday November 11TH, and since it’s a Sunday this year the federal holiday will actually be observed on Monday November 12TH.

To all of my fellow Veterans I wish you a safe and secure holiday weekend. Have lots of fun, and take advantage of some of the discounts and freebies out there at stores and restaurants. Thank You for your service to our country !

Vets

My Thursday night blog returns in 3 weeks on Thursday November 29TH 2018.

All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries.

Previous Older Entries