Coast Guard Swim Test

Got up early and drove in a steady rain to Ellington Air Base to take the annual Coast Guard "Swim Test." I was part of a Air Force Auxiliary Squadron that is starting to get to know the "Coasties" (as they call themselves) to work with them under a "MOU" (Memorandum of Understanding).

The Coast Guard flies over the Port and Coastal areas while the USAF Aux flies over land only - but we both do search and rescue.

The test is swimming 50 yards (150 feet) in a pool with flight suit and flying boots on. You can either have a "PFD" (Personal Floatation Device) or not. I went macho and said I'd do it without the buterfly wings. So I jumped in the 10 foot deep pool and went for it. The first half was easy but the last half of the pool, with the heavy flying boots full of water was a struggle. I kept getting slower. There was no time limit thank god and I finally grabbed the edge at the end. Next time, forget macho.

Then there was a raft test you have to take only once to qualify. It looked easy but pulling yourself into a small raft half submerged is tricky. Finally I hurled myself in and the guy said: "You passed." I realized I'm out of shape. It took a long time for me to get my wind back.

Headed home and showered off the clorine. The sun then broke out in the afternoon so we had 60's instead of the deep freeze hitting up north.

Yesterday I became an official independent candidate for Congress via a filing of a document with the Secretary of State. The temp website is at: http://FjetlandForFairElections.Bigstep.com

The incumbent has been in power 20 years, as long as Saddam. It's the 21st Century and American democracy could use some fresh ideas and new leadership. We just fought a war to end a one party state in Iraq, yet our own politicians are trying to create dominance by one party here. That leads to abuses as we've seen in Iraq and countless places like it.

So, I'm doing the American thing, trying to keep our democracy alive by running for office. The odds are very long, but great things have happened with long odds. Columbus discovered America when he was supposed to fall of a flat earth. NASA put men on the Moon after many a rocket exploded on the pad. Regardless of the outcome, it's the journey that is important.

We are still a high priority terrorism target.