She was born in 1985 at home, in a town of less than 100 people. She was home schooled by her mother. I first met her when she was thirteen years old working with her father. They were helping my father round up cattle. I was amazed at her ability to ride a horse at that age. She rode like she had been born on a horse, moving in symphony with the animal. She was small, cute, and respectful.
February 2005: I have seen this young lady once or twice a year since then. She has matured into a beautiful young women who is intelligent and articulate. She is making her living as a cowboy, or cowgirl; I am not sure of the politically correct term. She has purchased a used Dodge diesel pick-up truck so she can pull her horse trailer. She works six days a week from sunrise to sundown for ranchers around northern New Mexico, including my father. Her reputation is very good and she is in demand for her skills as a cowboy/girl. She can shoot like Annie Oakley and rope like a rodeo star. It will be interesting to watch her life and see what becomes of this very unique person.
I almost forgot something - she does not watch American Idol.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Return from the Frontier
After driving twelve (12) hours, we arrived back into the Valley of the Sun. Our trip was a marathon of driving, limited sleep, and work. I felt like we had to come home to rest. After a visit to the Frontier region of our Nation, it was, however, difficult to return to the land of road rage and fake boobies. One thing I did miss was easy and fast internet access.
In the small New Mexico town where my father resides, computers are not, shall we say, a big thing. Every time I visit my Dad, he shows great interest in my excellent Dell laptop, but does not want to learn about computers.
Well, it would be an odd sight to see a real live cowboy hacking away on a keyboard...
Monday, February 21, 2005
Just a whisper
My brother-in-law (the very same one that had his 50th birthday party in Las Vegas) and I were in the front yard of my in-laws home tonight getting some fresh air. I was sky gazing, of course, and saw an airliner heading west. They were very high and leaving a contrail against the star fields. The nav lights were barely visible, red and green; the strobes twinkling every few seconds. On the ground, I strained my ears to hear the engines, but the gusty wind blowing through the trees was blocking other sounds of the night. Finally, the wind calmed for a few seconds and I could hear just a whisper from the engines.
The realization that I am usually up there looking down at this very spot where I was standing was intoxicating.
It's a pilot thing...
The realization that I am usually up there looking down at this very spot where I was standing was intoxicating.
It's a pilot thing...
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Frontal Passage
I am still in the Oklahoma panhandle visiting my in-laws. Yesterday, the weather conditions were low IFR; cold, rain, fog, mist. Today, the skies cleared, but the wind came. The atmosphere moved rapidly across the plains carrying tumbleweeds and loose paper with it. Visibility improved to the point where I could see more than fifty miles across the prairies. It was a fantastic change in meteoroligical conditions in a very short time span. The power of nature is awesome.
The big birthday party was today and it was a huge success, thanks to my wife and her sisters. They worked their little tails off preparing the super secret event. Except, their Mom knew all the time. Mothers know these things...
The big birthday party was today and it was a huge success, thanks to my wife and her sisters. They worked their little tails off preparing the super secret event. Except, their Mom knew all the time. Mothers know these things...
Thursday, February 17, 2005
The Fruited Plains
The wife of my youth and I made a maximum effort trip to the panhandle of Oklahoma yesterday for a surprise birthday, her Mom's 70th. Most of the family will be secretly arriving in the next few days. We drove 800.9 miles in 12 hrs. and 38 min. Why did we not fly? We considered it, but at the last moment decided to drive. It is about a wash, considering you must change planes twice, then rent a car for the drive to the fruited plains. We have family scattered across the country and have, on two occasions, considered buying a light plane, such as a Beechcraft Bonanza or a Cessna 182, to use on these type trips. Both times, after researching the total cost of aircraft ownership, we dropped the idea. The aircraft itself is expensive, even one that is thirty years old, but the support costs are staggering, to put it mildly.
Today, my wife, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law drove 100 miles for a doctor's appointment. While they were gone, I went to a local cafe, alone, for lunch. There are 1,500 people in this little farming community and everybody knows their neighbors. I had to chuckle listening to the conversations of the farmers and their families. The cook, an elderly lady who was very popular with everyone, was bragging on her granddaughter's show pig that won first prize at a local fair. Two old farmers sitting in the booth behind me were lamenting the grain prices and cattle futures. They, like my cowboy father, live in a completely different world, than I.
Good for them!
Today, my wife, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law drove 100 miles for a doctor's appointment. While they were gone, I went to a local cafe, alone, for lunch. There are 1,500 people in this little farming community and everybody knows their neighbors. I had to chuckle listening to the conversations of the farmers and their families. The cook, an elderly lady who was very popular with everyone, was bragging on her granddaughter's show pig that won first prize at a local fair. Two old farmers sitting in the booth behind me were lamenting the grain prices and cattle futures. They, like my cowboy father, live in a completely different world, than I.
Good for them!
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Sweet Air
I am in southern California today. We arrived on schedule last night at John Wayne-Orange County airport. Readers of this blog know about the very short runway at that airport. It is always a thrill to use the awesome power of maximum reverse thrust and maximum wheel braking to bring the aircraft to a stop on such a short runway. My young co-pilot did the landing, which was excellent. These young people have quick reflexes and agile brains.
After a good night of rest, I walked to a cafe for breakfast. The atmosphere was light and cool, and smelled sweet with roses and orange blossoms. Perfect! At the cafe, my wait person (PC training kicking in again...) was a thirty something female who was obviously cheerful, yet hard working and efficient in her duties. I watched other customers ignore her when they ordered, as if she was a robot. Amazing rudeness! I acknowledged her presence as a living person when she came to my table, then thanked her for taking my order. The food was very good. I told her so, then tipped her 30%. She had that look of a single mom.
The flying scheduled for today is fun flying. We are doing short hops at low altitudes in big airplanes. We finish the four day trip tomorrow morning at 2:00 AM in Arizona.
A short nap is in order, I think...
After a good night of rest, I walked to a cafe for breakfast. The atmosphere was light and cool, and smelled sweet with roses and orange blossoms. Perfect! At the cafe, my wait person (PC training kicking in again...) was a thirty something female who was obviously cheerful, yet hard working and efficient in her duties. I watched other customers ignore her when they ordered, as if she was a robot. Amazing rudeness! I acknowledged her presence as a living person when she came to my table, then thanked her for taking my order. The food was very good. I told her so, then tipped her 30%. She had that look of a single mom.
The flying scheduled for today is fun flying. We are doing short hops at low altitudes in big airplanes. We finish the four day trip tomorrow morning at 2:00 AM in Arizona.
A short nap is in order, I think...
Teddy Bear
I made major points with the wife of my youth on Valentine's Day. I saw a TV commercial for the Vermont Teddy Bear Company which was very well done (probably designed by a psychologist familiar with the idiosyncrasies of male brains, which as my wife would say, is not that difficult), so I called the 800 number and ordered the Valentine Package which included the teddy bear (Lover Boy), a small chocolate bar, and a customized card. The shipping box had an air hole so the teddy bear could breathe (the air hole was even labeled as such). These are smart folks at this company!
Needless to say, my wife was very impressed. I am sure she liked it better than the standard roses, chocolates and card from Hallmark, which is the route I usually take. She even took it to her office and showed her co-workers.
Yep, I have enough "good boy" points to last well into the summer, barring any really stupid moves on my part.
Needless to say, my wife was very impressed. I am sure she liked it better than the standard roses, chocolates and card from Hallmark, which is the route I usually take. She even took it to her office and showed her co-workers.
Yep, I have enough "good boy" points to last well into the summer, barring any really stupid moves on my part.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Cancelled
Every once in a great while, one of my flights will be cancelled at an out station. Today was the day, because of Chicago weather. It was low IFR and rain, which dramatically slows the arrival rates into O'hare. The inbound aircraft was going to be ridiculously late, so the airline cancelled it's flight. Subsequently, we were deadheaded back to Arizona. Tomorrow, we deadhead to Las Vegas to pick the trip up again on day three. Yeh, it's complicated.
The good news is that I get paid to sleep with my beautiful wife. On the night before Valentine's Day, too.
The good news is that I get paid to sleep with my beautiful wife. On the night before Valentine's Day, too.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Rainy Days
Rain, Baby, rain! According to my homemade rain gauge, we have received two inches at my house. We need the water in the Valley of the Sun, so I am not complaining. The weeds are loving it, though.
We lifted off a wet runway on schedule with 119 passengers bound for Chicago. When I raised the nose off the runway, the thrust from the engines blasted the water into a fog and mist which rolled outward and upward, temporarily hiding our aircraft. A few seconds later, we climbed above the obscuration. Really, cool!
My co-pilot is a brand new guy, hot off the co-pilot press, who is young and eager. He has a lovely young wife and two little girls. His airline pilot life is stretched before him as far as he can see. I wonder what kind of machines he will be flying in thirty years. Maybe super-sonic or hyper-planes will be his ride in the future. We are on a four day trip with a lot of flying, so I am trying to help him along as much as possible. This is his first airline job. For me, it is a lot more work, because I have to really watch his actions.
Well, that is what I get paid for....
We lifted off a wet runway on schedule with 119 passengers bound for Chicago. When I raised the nose off the runway, the thrust from the engines blasted the water into a fog and mist which rolled outward and upward, temporarily hiding our aircraft. A few seconds later, we climbed above the obscuration. Really, cool!
My co-pilot is a brand new guy, hot off the co-pilot press, who is young and eager. He has a lovely young wife and two little girls. His airline pilot life is stretched before him as far as he can see. I wonder what kind of machines he will be flying in thirty years. Maybe super-sonic or hyper-planes will be his ride in the future. We are on a four day trip with a lot of flying, so I am trying to help him along as much as possible. This is his first airline job. For me, it is a lot more work, because I have to really watch his actions.
Well, that is what I get paid for....
Sunday, February 06, 2005
RVSM
After groundschool, a huge birthday party in Las Vegas, and being sick for a week, it feels wonderful to be back in the sky again. I am on day #2 of a four day trip which is taking me across the Empire three times. Tonight, Superbowl Sunday, I am in Spokane. The temperature is below freezing with very light snow showers. Brrrr!
On January 20th, the airspace over the Empire changed dramatically. We now have RVSM, or reduced vertical separation minimum. The Europeans have used this successfully for a few years and have discovered no ugly problems, so we have adopted it as well. What does it mean? Basically, it is means more airplanes in the same crowded airspace. Previously, we had 2,000 feet vertical separation between opposite direction aircraft. Since Jan. 20, we have 1,000 feet separation. Yikes! I have been flying the old flight level system for decades, therefore, to me, this is really weird.
I guess an old dog can learn new tricks.
On January 20th, the airspace over the Empire changed dramatically. We now have RVSM, or reduced vertical separation minimum. The Europeans have used this successfully for a few years and have discovered no ugly problems, so we have adopted it as well. What does it mean? Basically, it is means more airplanes in the same crowded airspace. Previously, we had 2,000 feet vertical separation between opposite direction aircraft. Since Jan. 20, we have 1,000 feet separation. Yikes! I have been flying the old flight level system for decades, therefore, to me, this is really weird.
I guess an old dog can learn new tricks.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Part 2: CAF days
The Route:
Monday evening found me at my duty station, Liberal Municipal Airport, twenty minutes early. I was still stewing about the phone call from the Chief pilot on Saturday. Am I the guy? I had just finished preflighting my aircraft when the first customer, Pony Express, showed up with about five hundred pounds of auto parts. I loaded them quickly, then took off for Garden City, Ks. The weather, I remember, was gorgeous for February in the midwest. I landed at Garden City and quickly loaded more freight from U.P.S., then departed for Wichita, Ks. At Wichita, a mini-sort hub for Central Air Freight, some of my freight was off-loaded, then new freight was usually added. I took off for Hutchinson, Ks. At Hutchinson, I off loaded a few hundred pounds, loaded a few hundred pounds, then took off for Wichita again. At Wichita, all my freight was usually off-loaded, then replaced with a max freight load for Kansas City, Mo, the longest leg of my route. Kansas City was the major sort point for Central Air Freight. I usually arrived about 11:45 PM. I had one hour on the ground to refuel, check the aircraft for any damage, eat a bite (if I had an appetite), and get ready for a full load of freight going west-bound. I was unsure, on this night, if I could physically do this job. It was very tiring. I was to find out later that there are a lot of things that keep a night freighter wide awake with heart pounding.
At 12:45 AM, I would depart with a heavily laden aircraft on a westbound heading. My first stop was Salina, Ks. At that time it was one of the longest runways in the Empire at over 15,000 ft. in length. It was an old SAC base during the Cold War. Salina was a quick stop, always, then on to Wichita (I landed at Wichita three times every night). From Wichita, I would fly to Hutchinson for the second time. Then, I would fly to Garden City for a quick stop, before flying the last leg back to Liberal for a 5:30 AM arrival time. Looking back across the years, I just shake my head in amazement. To review, the route was:
Liberal - Garden City - Wichita - Hutchinson - Wichita - Kansas City - Salina - Wichita -Hutchinson - Garden City - Liberal
Monday thru Friday, weather good or bad.
Monday evening found me at my duty station, Liberal Municipal Airport, twenty minutes early. I was still stewing about the phone call from the Chief pilot on Saturday. Am I the guy? I had just finished preflighting my aircraft when the first customer, Pony Express, showed up with about five hundred pounds of auto parts. I loaded them quickly, then took off for Garden City, Ks. The weather, I remember, was gorgeous for February in the midwest. I landed at Garden City and quickly loaded more freight from U.P.S., then departed for Wichita, Ks. At Wichita, a mini-sort hub for Central Air Freight, some of my freight was off-loaded, then new freight was usually added. I took off for Hutchinson, Ks. At Hutchinson, I off loaded a few hundred pounds, loaded a few hundred pounds, then took off for Wichita again. At Wichita, all my freight was usually off-loaded, then replaced with a max freight load for Kansas City, Mo, the longest leg of my route. Kansas City was the major sort point for Central Air Freight. I usually arrived about 11:45 PM. I had one hour on the ground to refuel, check the aircraft for any damage, eat a bite (if I had an appetite), and get ready for a full load of freight going west-bound. I was unsure, on this night, if I could physically do this job. It was very tiring. I was to find out later that there are a lot of things that keep a night freighter wide awake with heart pounding.
At 12:45 AM, I would depart with a heavily laden aircraft on a westbound heading. My first stop was Salina, Ks. At that time it was one of the longest runways in the Empire at over 15,000 ft. in length. It was an old SAC base during the Cold War. Salina was a quick stop, always, then on to Wichita (I landed at Wichita three times every night). From Wichita, I would fly to Hutchinson for the second time. Then, I would fly to Garden City for a quick stop, before flying the last leg back to Liberal for a 5:30 AM arrival time. Looking back across the years, I just shake my head in amazement. To review, the route was:
Liberal - Garden City - Wichita - Hutchinson - Wichita - Kansas City - Salina - Wichita -Hutchinson - Garden City - Liberal
Monday thru Friday, weather good or bad.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Movie Review #2
Yesterday was our anniversary. I told my lovely wife that I would take her to see a chick flick without resistance. When she said she wanted to see the new movie Phantom of the Opera I groaned, albeit quietly. However, I am pleased to report that it was an excellent movie. In fact, it was one of the best movies I have ever seen! The cinematography was beautiful! The acting was top notch! I highly recommend this movie.
I have fully recovered from my cold and am feeling well. This morning I went to the gym for a quick workout. It was embarrassing! It will take me a week or so to come back.
I have fully recovered from my cold and am feeling well. This morning I went to the gym for a quick workout. It was embarrassing! It will take me a week or so to come back.
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