| No, seriously |
[Oct. 30th, 2009|09:30 am] |
When I said it was better than sex I wasn't exaggerating.
Here's an A6 doing one of my favorite things up in the Cascades.
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| Does that qualify as hitting on me? |
[Oct. 21st, 2009|03:50 pm] |
I went to the bank today and the teller, a cute young lady with a severe haircut and obvious proclivities that mark her as at least sympathetic to awesome people (if not one of them - you can't just tell by looking), totally hit on me... I think.
She started out by asking how my day was going, which is what you do if you're a bank teller. It's small talk so I don't have to focus on the fact that I'm watching you hit keys and slide checks through a scanner. Most of the time they don't care but I always answer honestly. I told her my day was going great, I love the weather, and I think I'm going to get some lunch so that's always a happy event.
She then told me her day was dragging and she really wanted to be out looking for Halloween ideas. She wanted to know what I was going to be for the holiday and told me what she was considering. She then told me I look like Robert Englund "in the really cool way, not in the burned up face kind of way" and that she bets I could pull off Freddy really well. My transaction ended about the time I was relating earlier what I was doing for lunch. I was getting antsy to get out of there.
Does that qualify? I never know about these things. In any case, she was very pleasant. And I look like a murderer. So I've got that going for me... |
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| a pilot's life for me |
[Oct. 19th, 2009|10:50 pm] |
I had an unexpected drop in today in the form of an old friend. He's an airline pilot now and found himself routed through Seattle and forced to take an overnight. Fortunately, he knows somebody here and gave me a call.
We bummed around, talked about what we had been up to lately, and covered a wide range of subjects. He has been a friend for a long time but we don't see each other much, so this was a nice way to catch up. I was co-best man at his wedding some 8 years ago so we were pretty close. While we aren't as close now as we were then, we fell right back in to the old patterns and comfort with each other.
T'was nice.
G'night! |
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| Ultra massive black holes |
[Oct. 15th, 2009|07:26 am] |
This this probably information that black hole buffs already know, but it's presented in awesome ways. It's about 20 minutes and filled with beauty and wonder.
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| Dream snippets |
[Oct. 14th, 2009|06:59 am] |
I rarely write down my dreams. Often they fade within minutes after I wake up so if I don't do it immediately they're gone... and I don't really get up in time to have a spare half hour each morning. This morning was different - I woke early, got up and then paused by the computer on the way to the shower. I decided to write what I had last night, so here it is.
( Cut for longness ) |
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| A million words - by Dave Barry |
[Oct. 3rd, 2009|12:10 am] |
A friend brought this to my attention tonight. She thought of me when she read it and thought I could maybe use it. I don't think she knew just how close a lot of this got to my experience.
It has been 6 months.
( A quick read ) |
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| Attention! |
[Oct. 1st, 2009|06:59 pm] |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) daemonwolf !
Merry Christmas.
I'd post a picture of the cake I got for you but it's what they call "obscene". I'm sure you can imagine it well enough. |
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| Drive by updating |
[Sep. 29th, 2009|03:26 pm] |
I'm back from California! It's hot! Ick.
Thank you, Seattle, for having cool air and protective clouds. Your greenery is also much appreciated.
UPS: I do not ever use you if I can. I am held hostage when others do. Your customer service people are brainwashed but I am not fooled. It's sad that I have to escalate any situation to have your packages actually delivered to a place where I can get them without spending an hour in my car and 30 minutes in a line. The amount of suckitude associated with sitting in my front lobby for 45 minutes while waiting so you wouldn't "miss" me is not to be underestimated. I'll send you a bill for my time later, when I control the Earth.
How is it that I still have playa dust on things? I've washed and washed but I'll never get clean... never....
Speaking of, I am going to do that BM update. Serious. I guess I'm still so traumatized by it that I'm avoiding going back there in my mind. I dream of it and wake screaming in the night. I'll tough through for you though, my dear internets. For you. |
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| Ted: How I harnessed the wind |
[Sep. 23rd, 2009|10:24 am] |
You're going to need to watch this. It's just under 6 minutes, you have time.
Inspiring is not a good enough word to describe this young man's story.
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| Retriever tackle |
[Sep. 9th, 2009|09:31 pm] |
I'm too tired to get back in to the BM write up but will do so shortly.
I just got home from a nice night with some friends I haven't seen in a long while. We ate and talked and drank tea, so it was on par with excellent.
I parked about a block from my door and was walking in the dark down the sidewalk. About a block past my door a golden retriever was walking with her person. She saw me and jerked the leash out of the lady's hand, turned around to pick up the leash, and then ran full-tilt at me. I put down what I was carrying and received the (gentle at the end) charge and proceeded to receive lickings while administering scratchings. Eventually there was a massive belly rub. Her mom was surprised that she picked me out in the dark at such a long distance, especially since I was wearing all black and under no lights.
I get dogs. I think they get me in some ways. I like it. |
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| Burning Man Report: Part 1 |
[Sep. 8th, 2009|09:00 pm] |
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This is going to be a fairly long post and will certainly qualify as tl;dr for most who don't want to read this newbie's report on his Burning Man experience.
( words aplenty )
More soon!
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| Has its perks... |
[Aug. 25th, 2009|04:41 pm] |
So my job wears me out sometimes. I find myself in faraway places when I'd rather be home... but there are some serious up-sides to doing what I do.
Last weekend I flew out to Philly after spending most of the week in Vegas to escort two aircraft out to Seattle. Since flying in the flat lands is very different from the mountains, these guys wanted me to come along and show them how to pick their way through the high stuff, how to watch out for odd air currents, dodge thunder storms... that kind of thing.
On day one we circled Mt. Rushmore at a couple thousand feet while taking pictures, then did some formation flying. I had the other guy put his autopilot on to hold his plane steady while I hand flew in a little closer. The next day, shortly after leaving Jackson Hole, we did it again but on the other side. I had been sitting right seat and put the other plane off our left, so I was looking through and around my student. As such, I didn't feel comfortable getting our wingtips closer than about 10 feet or so. On the second day, I switched sides and got in a fair bit closer, ultimately having our wings about 5 feet apart. The fellows in the other plane took some photos, here are a few of them.
( Picturtes below the cut ) |
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| Returning on a jet plane |
[Aug. 21st, 2009|10:06 pm] |
Well, not so much but it's still pretty fast.
I got up at 2:30 am, Pacific time, after airlining to Philly last night. Five hours of sleep? Not bad when one considers all things.
Then we flew. And flew. And flew. And during most of that we wrangled thunderstorms. There is at least one more pilot who knows that when I tell them that seriously, flying high and avoiding the buildups is a good idea because I've fucked this up so many times before you wouldn't guess... well, he should believe me. It's a little stressful letting people make mistakes so they can learn from them, particularly when turbulence is involved. It was a good lesson.
Then we landed in Indiana and took on some fuel.
The other ship's crew knew I grew up somewhere around South Dakota and asked if we could stop in my old home town. I called Mom and she was able to get off work. We flew four hours to get there and she hugged me and all of my 3 other people for bringing her son home, even if for just a bit. A couple of power bars and we were off again, this time to see Mt. Rushmore.
We got in close and decided to do a little photo op. I did a very slow and tight circle around the Heads at about 7,700 feet while the other guy slowly crept up on me. When he got to within about 300 feet, he held that rough position and had his passenger take some photos. I was not satisfied.
We departed Mt. Rushmore and headed for Jackson Hole, WY. I told the other crew to put their airplane on autopilot while I hand flew in to a very tight formation. They took lots of pics - I'll get some and post later.
Right now I'm exhausted beyond coherency. I have no idea how much of the above will make sense but it's a start at logging what I did today. We talked about belief in god over the radio and made fun of an airline pilot. He had it coming.
Tomorrow... the world! |
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| Where have you been? |
[Aug. 19th, 2009|09:39 pm] |
I dropped off the face of the earth again! Yay!
( Read more... )
And now, my dear internets, I need to sign off for some much needed sleep! |
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| Oh good... |
[Aug. 12th, 2009|10:49 am] |
Surprise trip to LA!
Be back... um... ? |
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| Important note |
[Aug. 11th, 2009|10:38 pm] |
I ate waaay too much tonight.
It isn't my fault. People raided my house and mercilessly cooked for me. Then they made me walk to this coffee shop? And they made me get some OJ and Espresso Chocolate Bundt Cake.
It was brutal. I barely survived. |
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| A nice return |
[Aug. 11th, 2009|07:38 am] |
Rain! I needed that. Three days in Vegas and returning to this kind of weather? It seals the deal on my love for this city so quickly that it happened in the past. Like 15 years ago.
I'll sit this morning and sip my cup of tea while enjoying the draft from my cracked open windows and the view of greeeeeeeen everywhere outside. I'm going to be late for work. |
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| Fluff |
[Jul. 31st, 2009|08:38 pm] |
I love my condo. It's nice and cool and now that the heat of the day has gone, I've got both my windows wide open... it feels like that whole wall is open with the blinds up.
My Friday night will now consist of me hanging out in a home which makes me feel peaceful and relaxed. I'll take it. |
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