Started the Year Off on the Right Foot

For the last few years, a bunch of friends of mine and I celebrate the Badgers bowl games at Potowatomi. One of the guys has a VIP pass so we go to the VIP lounge, watch the game, drink a little beer, and then claim a table in the poker room for some $3/$6 or $4/$8 to claim best poker player of the year. Trash talking is encouraged.

Sadly, I didn’t win the “PPotY” this year but I did manage to earn a significant “trade surplus” at Poto thanks to video poker.

The only bad part of the day was the Mighty Badgers losing to to the dog-ass Vols. Maybe it was payback for the Wisconsin brigade helping W.T. Sherman wipe out the Tennessee gene pool awhile back.

A Busy Day

Well, it was a busy day for your intrepid blogger. At 0800, on 12/7/07, we fired up Big Pilot’s fine Meridian (BP1) and went to South Dakota to pick up some guy who needed to be carried on a stretcher to The Mayo Clinic. Turned out, he had a broken leg and was suffering from some kind of weird infection. Oh well, no oxygen needed and he seemed to be in pretty good spirits. The weather was a little bumpy but he was so hopped up on something, that I don’t think he noticed. His wife was a nice lady and didn’t seem too concerned. I would guess we’re going to pick him up in a week or so.

Later in the afternoon we took a little girl home to Northern Wisconsin who had been here in Milwaukee for some pediatric heart surgery. Judging from her level of energy, the surgery was a success. Mom and Dad just looked very relieved. We had to de-ice in Northern Wisconsin which always makes me a little nervous but in BP1, we can get way above the weather so it wasn’t an issue. I had flown the little girl and her parents here in AB1 about a month ago. She was kind of disappointed she couldn’t work the landing gear on the flight home (when I picked her up with her parents, it was a clear and a million day). But with the goofy weather (not to mention two fat guys in the cockpit), it wasn’t a do-able on the flight back.

After securing BP1 at his home base, we went to Panos’ Char House for a couple of drinks, a VERY good steak and a nice bottle of red. It’s days like this that really put you in the mood for Christmas. So here’s a little Christmas music courtesy of Mannheim Steamroller.

And another one courtesy of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The little girl in this vid reminds me of the the Gutsy Little Broad.

Link here…sorry, can’t figure out how to get it to WordPress.

This is Very Cool

One of the things I miss not being in the left hand seat on a regular basis are the views. Shamelessly stolen for your viewing enjoyment from FL390, one of my favorite flying blogs.

Position: 50 north of Littlerock… Eastbound
Altitude: 39000 feet
Groundspeed: 540 kts (621 mph)
Destination: Mylanta (KATL)

The sun is behind our tail sitting on the western horizon. Our A320 is awash in orange light. I can see the leading edge of the night sky rolling over the eastern horizon, just below the moon and behind the storm. We will penetrate the night’s veil in 100 miles and be underneath the star dome. I love the eastbound transition from day to night because it happens very quickly.

Sometimes, you miss the little things.

This is Pretty Funny

I’m not a big fan of “Get Fuzzy” but I thought this was pretty funny. Published 8/7/07

All Harry Potter All The Time Part II

I finished The Deathly Hallows early this morning.

Parts of the book were a grind and some parts were “page-turning”. Overall a very enjoyable book.

The only downer was that it is the last book of the series. What can I tell you? I’m a Harry Potter fan.

All Harry Potter All the Time

Just got back from the new Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). I liked it a lot. Like the first four, it helps if you’ve read the book. Trying to compress x100 pages into 138 minutes means you lose a little continuity, unfortunately. I don’t think it would kill the audience to sit through an extra fifteen minutes or so for a little smoother transitioning and background detail

As a Harry Potter fan, however, I did read the book so my theater experience was a happy one. I have only one other minor complaint. The special effects were a little disappointing. How about using Industrial Light and Magic (George Lucas) for the final two films? But like I say, this is a minor complaint.

The movie is darker than the others but there are some clever, funny one-liners that caught me completely off-guard to lighten things up a little.

Well worth your time as a summer movie…but read the book first.

The countdown begins for “The Deathly Hallows”.

Have a Happy 4th of July

A special 4th of July greeting for all the men and women in that shithole known as the Middle East.

I know it’s not enough but a big “Thank You” for all you’re doing.

Many Thanks

Thanks to all the vets past, present and future who helped to keep us free.

Time for a Laugh

Courtesy of The Lost Nomad, a few pics for a few laughs. Living in Wisconsin the socialist nanny state of Pol Pot Doyle, we need them.

It’s all work safe. Family safe, too.

Gutsy Little Broad Update

Due to weather, we didn’t get out until today, March 7th. Wheels up at 1000. I took the “GLB” and her mother home today on a “clear and a million” flying day to her home town, a small town in a state southwest of here. A very nice 2.25 hours in the air on the outbound leg.

As is usually the case, I had her put up the landing gear (when the time is right and IF the takeoff looks smooth, I put my hand on theirs and they move the gear switch to the “up” position.) She handled it like a pro…she was a little nervous the first time. It looks like they had a good time shopping, based on the weight of the flight.

Anyway, I flew VFR (visual flight rules) so we could take a scenic route over Madison to the Mississippi, down the river until we took a right to her hometown. At her little muni airport, staffed by very nice people, (thanks, Boats) there was a big crowd of people with a big “Welcome Home” banner. Very cool. Brought a tear or two to my eye as I taxied in, I must say.

The coolest part (for me at least) was that everyone thanked me (after they paid respects to the GLB) and then the GLB’s mother (a very good-looking woman) gave me a big kiss but THE BEST part was the big hug and kiss on the cheek from the GLB. I put my shades back on so no one could see I was tearing up. (I’m a sucker for happy endings….plus, cool pilots like the Asian Badger are never caught dead without wearing shades within 100 yards of their airplane, even in the dead of night )

Anyway, I had a very pleasant lunch with the aforementioned Boats (a retired Marine aviator) and, after stories and topping off the tanks, I flew back, a happy AB indeed.

I felt so good I was going to buzz Dad29s house but the landing was to the East and I was coming in from the West, I couldn’t do it. (Dad lives East of Crites.)

I was a little pissed off…I was in such a good mood, I wanted to buzz SOMEBODY. If I knew where Chris of Spotted Horse lives, I would have buzzed his house, since he lives to the West of Crites. So if you’re reading this post, consider your dwelling buzzed at 200 knots, 500 feet over the top of your roof.

One of the best days I’ve had since the misery of the November elections.