Category Archives: Uncategorized

When he was dangling from the rope, blacking out, slipping away…

…when he remembered Nancy, how she was counting on him, how he had to keep fighting for her, no matter how easy it would be to just let go. No matter how much he had earned it.

This too shall pass.

Change the way you view things – there’s some really weird crap all around us!

Yeah, I know how the math works. It still catches the eye. And our gas is still about 50% more expensive than it is in 90% of the country.

Here, have a critter rerun:

Like watching an F-18 fly by on a high speed pass at 0.99 Mach, it seems that July has gone. I would feel better about that if it didn’t feel like we’re on a runaway train and the trestle and bridge have been washed away somewhere up ahead.

Here comes August…

Duck!

Actually, I think the black ones are grebes. But shouting “Grebe!” doesn’t make any sense.

 After two and a half weeks away from the hangar, it was good to be back in the early morning coastal fog, with the oil, gas, and prop noise.

Of course, then I saw my desk.

Check back later to see if it’s still good to be back.

The hits just keep on coming!

I don’t know what’s going on with United Airlines, but The Long-Suffering Wife’s flight’s been cancelled. She flew into Newark from Los Angeles and now a 2:34 layover turned into a 4+ hour layover into “We have no clue when or how we’ll get you there.”

Being as we’re in the middle of a family medical crisis, this was sort of the last thing in the world we needed.

Thanks, United!!

The only option to driving to Newark to pick her up (7+ hours each way) is to get her into Albany (3+ hours each way). So I have about ten minutes to get going.

Thank goodness I got a nice rental car!

…Except she just texted that the 20:05 departure to Albany is now delayed until 20:41. Which is exactly how the problem started manifesting on the now-cancelled flight to Burlington.

Is there some systematic failure that United and/or the Air Traffic Control system is having?

At least if the Albany flight gets cancelled I’ll be about halfway to Newark.

Can you say, “Charlie Foxtrot?” Sure, I knew you could.

…when any sane person would have been catching a quick four or five hours of sleep.

 Looking north toward Chicago

 First crack of dawn from 37,000 feet.  The river valleys in Pennsylvania fill with ground fog until thr sun can burn it off.

 The sun peeked over the horizon as we came into New Jersey  The closest I’ve ever been to Manhatten.

Wasaaay too much going on, waaaaaay too little sleep.

[[2015-08-08-1008 PDT EDIT: This was supposed to post on the evening of Wednesday, July 22nd, as I was heading off to Vermont. I just noticed that it was still sitting in “drafts.” Stupid internet. Stupid iPhone.]]

LAX is lovely at dusk, the big jets taking off into the orange dusk. 
The really big jets are especially beautiful, looking like they’re heading off toward Venus hanging out there over the ocean.

The über boisterous teenage group, apparently all hopped up on sugar and/or hormones, may get old real quick. The teacher/chaperone has pointed out to them a couple of times that they need to keep it down to a dull roar. Would anyone like to guess how much good that did?

It might be 80+F and muggy outside, but it’s a meat locker in the terminal. Pro tip: no matter the outside weather, always have a jacket or sweatshirt.

Our plane is now scheduled 54 minutes late arriving here, yet they say our flight will only be delayed 2 minutes. Must be that “new math” that’s been all the rage.

The redeye flight awaits. I’ll look and feel my best when I get to Burlington in the morning. If we’re late enough to miss the connection in Newark, I’ll look and feel even better when I get there tomorrow night.

EGBOK – Everything’s Going to Be OKay. Even if it isn’t. Especially if it isn’t.
I’m working on my calm, peaceful, zen thought processes. Ooommmmm…

It was mentioned a year ago that today, the day after the moon landing anniversary, is my wedding anniversary to The Long-Suffering Wife. Since the 46th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing was yesterday, the 14th anniversary of our wedding must be today.

It seems that we have made it through another year and my job performance review must have been good, because she’s still here. (Gotta keep filing those TPS reports!)

Here’s a picture of us, taken by my friend Maria Mangano-Read in Durham earlier this year.

We are a cute couple. And no one does snappy repartee like we do when we’re on a roll.

It’s good to be on a roll. Let’s keep going, dear. Love you!