Like all car projects, the engine swap in the DeSoto took a lot longer than we expected.  It was supposed to be a relatively straight-forward project.  Someone told my dad about a certain model of car we could use as a donor because the front suspension would bolt under the DeSoto frame really easily.  Once we ripped the two cars apart, we found that was not the case.  My dad did a very impressive job of cutting and fabricating a significant section of the DeSoto's frame to make the new front end fit.  We put in the new engine, front suspension (with disc brakes), transmission, steering box, etc.  We also switched out the rear end and steering column to modernize all the driving equipment in the car.  I guess modernize is a generous word considering the donor car was a 1985 Plymouth Gran Fury.

After a ton of work and even more frustration, we finally got the engine running, and the car driving.  It is now put together well enough to sputter from one place to the next, but it's still not quite driveable on public roads.  The engine needs a serious tune up, and the steering system has so much slop, the driver just gets to put in a vote about where the car is going.  I hope to get it down to Florida soon so I can finish it up and make it my daily driver again.

Graduaton was another interesting experience.  In the month or so leading up to graduation, the Academy has about three times as much for you to do as is humanly possible, so about twice as much as normal.  It also turns out to be an expensive time with surprise expenses like $90 for a diploma and tickets to dozens of different things.  But I think it might be kinda like recognition: they give you one last dose of hell before everything gets a lot better.  They say graduation day is happiest day of your life after your wedding.  So far, I believe it.

Two days after graduation, my roommate from the Academy got married so I spent two days stateside before going across the pond.  It's still weirding me out to think that my friends are getting married.  The even weirder part is that he and his wife have managed to get pregnant (yes they were trying) already.  I forsee many sleepless nights in his future as a newborn combines with pilot training, and his first year of marriage.  But I bet after that ordeal he and his wife will be able to handle anything.

My Europe trip was a blast.  I went with two friends of mine and traveled through England, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and Scotland.  We would usually spend about 3 days in one place before moving on, but I think I would go slower if I ever did it again.  Toward the end of the trip I slowed down a lot and that turned out to be a lot of fun.  Part of that may have been that it was more of an adventure to travel alone too.  After a while, it got really easy to meet new people from different countries and learn about their lives.  I would highly suggest a Europe trip to anyone who is considering it.  And if you do it, take it slow.  No matter how fast you go, you won't see as much as you want to; so you might as well take it easy and get a close look at what you do see.

Once I got back stateside, it was a rush to gather all my stuff together and move it 1500 miles across the US.  Florida has been very welcoming though.  It's obviously very warm and humid here, but I'm still surprised by how relaxed the whole state feels.  I don't know how to explain it really, but it feels like I've found home.  I wouldn't go so far as to say I "belong here" but that's pretty close to what it feels like.  And since the AF got rid of casual to save money, I'm one of 50 new LT's they don't know what to do with.  That roughly translates to a lot of downtime.  I'm definitely not complaining because it means I have had time to move into my house and unpack everything just the way I like it.

I've had time to shop for really good deals on furniture with my housemate.  I've even been able to buff the paint on my El Camino back its former shiny glory.  I've been thinking of selling it, but I can't make up my mind.  I know it would be practical to get something modern and cheap with good gas mileage and air conditioning.  But the elky has been handy for moving furniture around and it's a blast to drive.  Right now I'm leaning toward putting it up for sale with a  high (but fair) price so it wouldn't sell too quickly and the dough could help me through the goodbye.

I thought I would get bored with the downtime, but I haven't been too busy for about 3 weeks now and it's still going well.  It seems like a preview of retirement, and I like what I see.  So while I wait for ASBC, IFS, and pilot training; let me know if you're going to be in the Pensacola area or if you're in the market for a 1972 El Camino SS.