So...the FOURTH time is the charm!

Ok...being the rather astute student of War that I am ( believe me on this one...) I thought that my Air Command and Staff College National Security exam should be the proverbial "walk in the park". Heck, I aced the first exam (Leadership and Command) with a 90 percent without cracking the book open. My other Professional Military Education courses (Airman Leadership School, NCO Academy, the Joint Senior NCO Academy) were passed with flying colors (with again minimal looking at the book...I retook NCO Academy because I was being a smartass and decided to go for speed...instead of accuracy) .

So everything was/is my favor to just blow through this exam right...

WRONG!

First attempt...

took it...no preparation...

Failed. (66)

Ok...no big deal...I can prepare...
no test is going to lick me...

Second attempt...Failed (68)

Grr.....grumble...grumble...grumble...
this is stupid...
I should have passed this....
Ok....no big deal....

Third Attempt...
significant studying...used highlighters....
Failed (68)

WTF Man!!!!

Took several months away from book...
disenrolled and re-enrolled in course...
Fourth Attempt....

Scheduled test...with firm test date.
Opened book...read book cover to cover...
slept with book...took copious notes of study questions
Day before test...sleep lots before test.
Day of test...final study review...read responses to questions
Took test. Grumble...grumble...grumble....aced test.

About fricking time man!

On to the next module!

Round 5...or Bill, Ted, and Bob's Excellent Adventure!

Ok...since I've gotten two pieces of excellent news this week...I felt that today was going to be the day it all came crashing down. So much so, I really didnt get any sleep last night ( which makes me a happy camper at Chemotherapy...let me tell you...). Anyways, I went to Chemo fully expecting the worst. So you can expect my surprise when the nurse told me the new marker number.

Or from our friends Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted "Theodore" Logan, tell me a number you thinking of from 0-100 when outside the Circle K.

Bill and Ted: "69!!"

(Well 69.9...but I'm rounding down today. )

The marker is down from 356 on March 3rd to 176 in April and now down to 69(.9) today.

Strange things are definately not afoot at the Circle K today.

Promotion:

Effective 28 April 2009, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel...which was certainly a welcome surprise since I assumed I wasn't eligible until December. Which means I really need to get my rear in gear to get Air Command and Staff College done. Especially if I'm planning on starting Air War College in September. Should make for a fun conversation at work since I work for an AF Lt Col and his boss (the Group Commander) is also an AF Lt Col both of which are slated to start War College in the Fall. Looks like I have my own built in study group. :)