"Witch of Portobello" by Paulo Coelho

I've recently finished reading Paulo Coelho's 2007 novel about an orphaned gypsy girl who is adopted by a wealthy Lebanese couple. I quite enjoyed it, and in fact was somewhat moved.

To learn more, and to see if you might want to add this book to your wish list, listen to the author himself by clicking on the following June 09, 2007 NPR Interview.

Feedback for Peers Part II

Missilier--He is a laid back guy (in a good way) who doesn’t sweat the small stuff, and performs well under pressure. He has gone out of his way to assist others and even offered up his truck to those who don't have transportation. He is an excellent team member, and I consider him a friend.

JSTARS Pilot--I withdraw my initial DG vote for him becasue: 1. He is a micro-manager that holds everyone to "his" standards which may or may not be the best. 2. His loud praise of others in front of the team seems very insincere especially when it comes in Maj Z's presence. He seems disingenuous in his overly supportive tone. 3. I am a people-person, and have learned about him, his wife's profession, his daughter's name, his past AF struggles, etc., but he has spent zero time learning about things that are important to me, even when I've opened the door. On to the positive: 1. He can always be trusted to do the right thing. I believe that his integrity is uncompromising. 2. He is highly ambitious, and I see a bright future for him as a leader in the AF. 3. He is very dependable and caring. He is an asset to the AF

C-17/Global Hawk Pilot--He is extremely intelligent and a critical thinker. He has earned my respect. His non-verbals aren't as noticeable, and I believe he has grown from a group member to a team member. He's still a smart-@ most times, but I think that he'll get better with age. He can sometimes be an @ because he speaks (whispers) before thinking about how his message will be received (hurtful to others). He might not care. Anyway, it bears mentioning that he was undefeated in "ALL" his Project X tasks. That isn't a coincidence. He is a great problem-solver, and I loudly acknowledge his strengths. He has grown on me, and I would gladly go to war with him. Despite being highly critical sometimes, he is one of two flight peers that I could enthusiastically follow. He will make a great leader in the AF. He needs to enhance his soft skills, but he truly has my DG vote!!!

Comm Officer--He is the peer that I can most relate to and admire. He's a no nonsense, let's get to business, accomplish the mission, kinda guy. He's ambitious and an achiever. He sets out to accomplish something, sees things through, and attains his goals both personally and professionally. He doesn't tolerate those who don't pull their own weight and holds himself as well as others accountable. He is a quick study when it comes to people. His soft skills are stellar, and they'll serve him well as he rises through the AF ranks. He is dependable, caring, intelligent, and selfless. He truly exercises sound judgment, and I have no doubt that He will be successfull both in the Air Force and in his civilian life thereafter. He is one of two flight peers that I could enthusiastically follow. I would like to have seen him take on more responsibilities in the flight, but he has my DG vote "hands down!"

JAG Officer--I'd like to know his IQ only to confirm what I already know, it's HIGH. My proverbial father once told me something like this, "A man's wisdom alone guarantees nothing. A man's labor alone will bring him success. But a man who combines wisdom and labor can achieve limitless things." Make sure that you're doing both.

HC-130 Pilot--He isn't the most motivated person in the world unless golf is involved. He is however very intelligent, trustworthy, exersises sound judgment, and a great member of our team. I see great things in his future whether he decides to stay in the AF or goes to work for FedEx.

Acquisition Officer--High energy, dependable, caring, willing to assist, likeable, easy-going, easy to talk to, a friend.

Intel Officer--Smart, dependable, eager to assist, caring, trustworthy, warm.

EWO Officer AC-130 Gunship--AEF warrior, shared experiences and knowledge with flight. Andy sometimes has a hard time deciphering when someone is joking or being serious. He otherwise has a great sense of humor and is great team player. He's a great officer that exercises good judgment. It's been a pleasure getting to know him.

Personnelist--Highly spirited and engergetic. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She is witty and lights up the room. I've very much enjoyed my interactions with her. She has a promising career in the AF, and I expect to hear great things from her in the future.

Flight Nurse--Witty, endearing, warm, friendly, sagacious. She is an asset to the AF. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience and is a helluva officer. I'm proud to serve with her.

Reserve Pilot C-130--Peacemaker…You couldn't find a modicum of friction between him and any other flight members, even if you tried. He is FAO-ready and has diplomat potential. He is gregarious and posesses a high degree of decorum. He is truly an asset to the AF and his reserve unit.

Mx Officer--If the baby is ugly, He will call it ugly. He has the necessary people skills to be a great FGO and above. He has a great sense of humor and knows how to lead. I expect to hear great things from him in the future. He exercises sound judgment and is well-liked.

Lebanese Officer

For the past month I've sat in a captain-filled auditorium; we number in the hundreds. I've listened to guest speakers ranging from Tuskegee Airmen to Middle East Scholars, from Generals to Chief Master Sergeants. Several rows ahead of me, to the left, has sat an International Officer from Lebanon. I don't know his name, and if I did I couldn't spell or pronounce it. Anyway, he has on numerous times stood up in front of a patriotic and possibly intimidating crowd. In his sometimes indiscernible English, he has clarified positions and at times challenged opinions altogher. Those topics of course have been related to Mid-East conflicts.

I had never exchanged words with the Lebanese Officer, never exchanged non-verbal pleasantries...Until today. We exited the auditorium in mass after a lecture, and 30 feet into our languid walk I decided to say something. Understanding that at times he may have felt isolated, I thanked him for being involved in our studies, attending our school, and being immersed in our culture. "I hope that you've had a good experience," I said, "and despite any cultural or philosophical differences that may have arisen, I wish you well." I reached into my flight suit and pulled out a squadron coin. I presented it to him and thanked him once again. He thanked me and asked for my name; I obliged. The Lebanese Officer reached for the patch on his flight suit, yanked it off, and handed it to me. It was the Lebanese flag (pictured here). I thanked him, we shook hands, and parted ways.

Who knows if I'll ever see my Lebanese counterpart again? If I do, I sincerely hope that it again be on the fields of friendly strife.

Brian Kinney Encounter

It's quite amazing to have someone come up to you and say that years ago you did or said something that made a difference in their life. It happened to me today. He approached me. I could recognize the face, yet my memory failed me. After a handshake however, it all came back.

Brian Kinney is an Air Force Personnel Officer at AFIT (Wright-Patterson AFB). He and I spent some time in Alabama in 2003 at Air & Space Basic Course. It was sometime during those several weeks together that I gave a financial planning brief to my classmates. It turns out that those few hours spent explaining the different investment options manifested themselves in Brian taking charge of his financial future. To my pleasant surprise, five years later, Brian is about to graduate with a Masters degree in Financial Planning, and he thanked me for inspiring him.


Well, this is a feel-good message because the encounter helped me re-prioritize. You see, life isn't about how expensive your house is or how fast your car drives. Life isn't about having the biggest toys or slaving for the next promotion. Who cares if you live in a trailer or have a townhouse in NYC's Upper East Side? Caviar or grits, opera or Kid Rock? Life is truly about how people will remember you and how you may have influenced their lives. The latter holds true, especially so, for those that you most love. The encounter with Brian allowed me to refocus on the important things that I sometimes lose sight of: being a good friend, a good husband, a good father. Brian Kinney, good luck! And it is I who should be thanking you.

Buffalo Wild Wings

I'm not particularly fond of buffalo wings. In fact, that's an understatement. Nonetheless, I accompanied some friends to a nearby Buffalo Wild Wings on St. Patrick's Day Weekend. Although my buddies consumed some 150 wings between the lot of them, I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich (a safe choice, you would think). The dish presentation was good, nicely grilled boneless chicken breast, apparently marinaded in mesquite flavoring, on sesame bun, well-done with a dill pickle on the side and lightly seasoned potato wedges. I took a bite of the sandwich, it was cold. It wasn't the best tasting sandwich, and it didn't even rival, Chick-fil-A at half the price. I was too hungry to complain to the waiter, and already 45 minutes had lapsed between the time that we were seated to the time that we were served. I chose instead to round-off a sleep-deprived week with a pitcher of Blue Moon. My buddies truly enjoyed the sloppiness of the many differently flavored wings that were piled up on the table's center, messy indeed especially with the shortage of napkins. The moral of the story is to avoid glancing through the menu when you dine at a place known specifically for its wings. Get the product that is advertised on their logo.

Feedback for Peers Part I

I'm currently working on an assignment that requires me to provide feedback for each of my 13 peers. The latter has proven itself to be quite challenging considering the limited time that I've known my flight members. Nonetheless, I gave it an honest go. In an effort to protect myself from complaints and potential civil liability, I've decided not to include names but only their profession. These are only initial observations based on my limited interactions with them. I'm likely to be wrong on some but may be dead accurate on others. I'll revisit this topic in the future as I'll also be required to provide End-of-Term Feedback.

Missilier--I am unable to fully evaluate attributes with limited time of acquaintance. He is a thoughtful and caring peer. He is willing to assist others and share his experiences in a way that fosters team-building.

JSTARS Pilot--He is kind and sensitive to others. He is caring and enjoys helping others. He is always seeking to improve a process and can be counted on to always do the right thing. He is intelligent and well organized. Consider for DG!

C-17/Global Hawk Pilot--He is an excellent critical thinker and great problem-solver. However, his criticism of others through his non-verbals is obvious and undesired. Also, his whispered breaths of disdain can be alienating. By accepting people, regardless of strengths and weaknesses he could successfully inspire trust. He is very athletic and a go-to guy for Project-X events.

Comm Officer--He is a great officer! He's an active listener and genuinely cares about people. I trust him to make the right decision. Although quiet, he is selfless and inspires trust. He is a peacemaker and dependable, a great team member and leader. Consider for DG if eligible.

JAG Officer--He is a great officer. He is perhaps a little too confident in his skills, but hey, he's a lawyer. He does inspire trust despite his profession. He is caring and looks out for others. He seems intelligent and demonstrates a willingess to assist others. I'm glad to have him on our team.

HC-130 Pilot--He is a good officer. We have learned a lot about his experiences. He is quiet, but a critical thinker. He solves problems easily and is able to lead.

Acquisitions Officer--He is clever and a great team-builder. He encourages others and raises their chin. He has great people-skills and is liked by everyone. Sometimes you have to repeat a task for him to fully grasp the undertaking, but once he has it, he executes efficiently. I would like to see him more actively learn about people so he can better assess their strengths and weaknesses.

Intel Officer--He is a very caring person. He is dependable and thoughtful. He is always willing to help others. He seems to be an Exemplary Follower, but I would like to see him step up more as a leader.

AC-130 EWO Officer--He tries to think a little too much outside the box instead of sticking to the ROE on tasks. An attempt to cut corners sometimes wastes precious time. His leadership style gives birth to creative input from other flight members, and he is always willing to assist others. It is very easy to make friends with him, but he must be careful that he doesn't lose the respect of others by the time that it's his turn to lead. He could face challenges. AS has high energy and takes charge in tackling tasks.

Personnelist--Her spirit is contagious. She's always smiling and seems to genuinely care about flight members, her profession, and the Air Force. She makes good decisions and is trustworthy. She seems to gel well with everyone on the team, and she makes it easy to communicate with her. I think that she has great inter-personal skills. She's an asset to the Air Force, and a strong member of our team.

Flight Nurse--She is astute and makes a good officer. She makes herself accountable for her actions yet praises others publicly. She epitomizes the term team, and is always willing to give a helping hand. Her ability to think critically makes her a key member of our flight.

Reservist, C-130 Pilot--He is an extremely intelligent officer. He is an eloquent speaker and communicates effortlessly. He is an efficient performer and easy to get along with. He has a great sense of humor, is dependable, and a key member of our flight. He has a tendancy of not thinking before speaking.

Mx Officer--He shoots from the hip. He calls it like it is, and is mostly tactful in his delivery. He seems trustworthy and makes himself and others accountable. He is a great officer, and we need more like him in the Air Force.