Quote of the Week

"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior." - Henry C. Link

Yule!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Quote of the Week

"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs." - Anonymous

Reunions

Tonight as I arrived home from work I witnessed something special. I was exiting security on my way to the Metrolink along with a crowd of passengers, when the young lady in front of me threw her arms up and ran towards what appeared to be her parents. "Welcome home," her mother exclaimed.

I wonder how many times scenes like these play out in airports across the world. How many grandchildren have run out of security to leap into their grandparents' arms? How many service men and women have come home to their loved ones? How many happy reunions does aviation make possible?

The best part: I get to be a part of making these moments happen.

Paradise Lost

My career was dealt quite a blow today.

President Bush signed into law an edict proclaiming that airline pilots would be allowed to fly until they turn 65. Prior to this ruling, the mandatory retirement age in the industry was 60. With no mandatory retirements for the next 5 years, the upward mobility of my career has all but been frozen.

This dream of flight comes not without its nightmares...

Quote of the Week

"To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act." - Anatole France

A Sigh of Relief

As the revelation of the Mitchell Steriod Report loomed yesterday morning, rumors were rampant that All Star and all around good guy Albert Pujols would be implicated. St. Louis, already gun-shy after Mark McGwire's awful testimony on Capitol Hill, braced for impact...

Over 70 names were divulged in the report, along with details regarding their purchase and use of various performance enhancing substances. El Hombre was not among them, and Redbird Nation released the collective breath it had been holding.

The accomplishments of Albert Pujols are not Ruthian. They are not comparable to Mays, or Mantle, or Cobb. The accomplishments of Albert Pujols cannot be compared to anything in the history of the game because they have never been seen before. No one in the history of the game of baseball has begun their career with 7 seasons of .300 / 30 / 100 production. Not Musial, or Williams, or Aaron.

I hope no one ever again compares Albert's accomplishments to those of Barry Bonds.

From the Airwaves

Recently heard on Chicago Center's frequency:

Controller - "American 1234 increase speed to 310 or better."

No Response

Controller - "American 1234 increase speed to 310 or better please."

No Response

Controller - "American 1234 how do you hear this radio?"

No Response

Controller - "American 1234 how do you read?"

American 1234 - "From left to right sir, how 'bout you?"

Quote of the Week

"Wise men say, 'only fools rush in.'" - UB40

No, this is not a fake picture...

From the "It could be worse" department:

Quote of the Week

"I have seen the future and it doesn't work." - Robert Fulford

What an industry

Yesterday my employer was put up for sale.

It's an interesting feeling to have absolutely no idea what the future of your career might be. Just 24 hours ago everything seemed very stable. Now it's anyone's best guess...

The same thing happened to Continental Express, and it didn't work out so well for them...

ReRun

It is yet another holiday, and yet again, I am alone in a hotel room, far from family and friends. I suppose I'm starting to get used to this feeling. However, the fact that tonight's Thanksgiving dinner was comprised of chex mix didn't help matters. The only thing open nearby was a sports bar. Go figure.

Still, I have many things to be thankful for. Not least of which is the fact that I continue to live my dream of flying airplanes for a living.

In order to achieve your dreams you must make sacrifices...

Quote of the Week

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." Verbil Kent (from The Usual Suspects)

From the Airwaves

Recently heard on Jacksonville Center's frequency:

Virgin 1234 "Jax center, Virgin 1234 heavy checking in with you at 360"
Jax Center "Virgin 1234 heavy, roger."
Unidentified voice "Perhaps if you weren't so heavy you wouldn't be a virgin..."

Thanx to Russell for this contribution!

Quote of the Week

"Son, in 35 years of religious study I have come up with only two hard, incontrovertable facts: There is a God, and I'm not him." - Fr. Cavanaugh (From "Rudy")

Send the Volley Cheer on High

The mystique of the University of Notre Dame is something that has always captured my imagination. I have never been a student there, or even seen the school in person until Saturday. Somehow though, through a combination of the almost mythical football program and my Catholic disposition, I have always felt a fondness for the Golden Dome.

Back to Saturday. Thanks to the generosity of my good friend Caroline Cole, I was able to purchase two tickets for the Notre Dame vs Air Force game at Southbend this weekend. Needless to say, I was extremely excited. The anticipation of the event had been building now for several months, as I had never been to a college football game of any kind, nor been to the campus of Notre Dame. The day came, and it did not disappoint...

I worked until Friday afternoon and then spent the night in Chicago at my buddy Jim's house. Jim, an Irish Catholic, had at least a passing interest in the game, but perhaps a greater interest in seeing the school itself. We drove to South Bend on Saturday morning and ventured into the campus, where we met Caroline. She proved to be a mediocre at best tour guide... However, we were shown around part of the campus as well as inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Basilica was a busy place, no doubt due to the well documented struggles of the Fighting Irish...

Despite a miserable season, Notre Dame Stadium was packed full for the game. Most fans in attendance left disappointed... The team, as has become habit this year, played poorly and lost by a rather large margin. The experience, however, was incredible. Our seats were right behind the student section, and watching nearly the entire student population act as one cheering on their Irish was reason enough to be entertained.

After the game, Caroline escorted us to the dining hall where a "candlelit" dinner was served to all students and anyone else willing to pay for the meal. The dining hall and the food were imaculate, making the food I ate in college look as though it came from a dumpster...

Well there is a rather straightforward description of my one and only Notre Dame experience. I still haven't figured out a good way to put into words my emotions and feelings during the visit. The Basilica, the Grotto, the stadium... Perhaps I was on sensory overload. There, in a place where some of the finest thought from some of the finest Catholic minds is produced, I simply could not take it all in.

Many thanx to Jim for his hospitality, generosity, and willingness to drive.

Many thanx to Caroline, who made this small dream possible.

Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame!
Wake up the echoes cheering her name!
Send the volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky!

What though the odds be, great or small,
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching onward to victory!

I Should Have Called in Sick

So day two...

Two more airplane swaps due to maintenance, and we fell so far behind that I lost my Memphis overnight. So instead, I hustled over to United for the last flight home, and here I am. I guess I can't complain too much, I do get to sleep in my own bed.

Tomorrow of course, I have to be absolutely certain I'm at work on time... Just so I can go to Marquette, Michigan.

Livin' the dream...

Cold Bucket of Water

This was my first day back to work from vacation, and it was not exactly a triumphant return. The day started with a maintenance problem which led to an airplane swap. Later, we went to JFK, which was, as always, challenging. (New Yorkers! Ugh!) Then there was holding into Cleveland thanx to freezing rain, low visibility, and obscenely high winds. Toss in a 2 hour and 35 minute delay to O'Hare, and you've got a day served straight from hell. Great way to get welcomed back to work huh?

As I descended through the clouds and torrents of rain into Cleveland, with the wind whipping about at over 40 MPH and the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I knew there was nowhere I would rather be...

Back to Work

Vacation is over.


More's the pity...

Quote of the Week

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot.
I know of no reason the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot." - Lancelot Andrewes

Renewal

Tonight I returned to the field.

Two goals and an assist later, our team walked away with a 5-2 victory.

I played a slow game, but I suppose it was effective. There were, of course, several occasions when I lost my temper.

Two goals should have been 4...

Culture

On Friday night I attended the finest concert of my life. A friend of mine invited me to the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and it was wonderful. Most of you would probably not have pegged me to be a great fan of classical music, and you'd be right; It is not a passion of mine. However, the music, coupled with the conduction of the orchestra and the musicians created an amazing visual and audial experience.

It was quite amazing to watch Maestro Slatkin conduct the symphony. The level of coordination and complexity would boggle the mind of even the greatest football coach. The individuality of each musician was also quite intriguing. Beyond the obvious differences between the instruments each musician wielded, there were other, more subtle intricacies. Some of the protagonists where extremely animated in their seats, bobbing and gyrating along with the music. Others sat almost motionless aside from whatever actions were absolutely necessary to manipulate their instruments. The precision, detail, and teamwork required to produce the beautiful melodies was astounding, and the fact that it came from a large group of diverse individuals made it even more impressive.

I have decided that I will make a concerted (pun intended) effort to attend the symphony on a more regular basis.

Who wants to join me?

Quote of the Week

"When you're part of a team, you stand up for your teammates. Your loyalty is to them. You protect them through good and bad, because they'd do the same for you." - Yogi Berra

Goatee

I'm sporting a goatee these days, much to the consternation of my 8 year old niece. Basically, I'm on vacation and don't feel like shaving my chin. Therefore, I'm not going to. I'll have no choice but to remove the hair when I return to work, but such is life. In the meantime, I get to be lazy. The sacrifice is I don't get kisses from my niece...

Quote of the Week

"No more important duty can be urged upon those who are entering the great theater of life than simple loyalty to their best convictions." - Edwin Hubbel Chapin

I Can't Win

I walked away from the game of soccer because after playing I usually felt disgusted with myself and frustrated.

Tonight, despite only watching the game, I still walked away disgusted with myself and frustrated.

After watching the squad suffer a rather ugly 10-1 loss, I couldn't help but notice the fact that the team was better off with me on the field than without me. I realize, of course, that I have just made an enormously arrogant statement, but I'm trying to be real here, so bare with me.

Despite the current state of disrepair my soccer skills are in, the simple fact is that I remain comfortable with the ball at my feet, and perhaps the one thing that I have not lost as I have aged is my vision upon the field. My lack of speed or stamina not withstanding, I am undoubtedly still an asset to the group of players I left behind.

The realization that the team is clearly worse off without me nearly made me sick to my stomach. The reason: I hung my teammates out to dry by abandoning them. I know, I know, that sounds really melodramatic, but it's true.

Now I am faced with a difficult choice:

Do I continue to wrestle with my explosive temper and frustrations in a return to the field?

Or do I turn my back on my teammates and walk away.

Two roads diverged in the wood...

VACAY!!!!!

Vacation is here! So far I have plans to travel to Belize, Asheville, and Seattle. Further plans TBD...

41!

Why am I excited about a number, you might ask...

Because that was my score over nine holes today at the Forest Park Golf Course. The best nine holes I've ever played in my life.

Next week I'll probably shot a 54...

Quote of the Week

"I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you."
- Dr. Seuss

Alas

"El futbol no se juega con los pies. Se juega con el corazon." - Bora Milutinovic

If you can't translate this, too bad.

That quote is exactly the reason I have retired from the game of soccer. Those of you who know me know that I am a passionate person. In a lot of ways, about a lot of different things, I'm all or nothing. Futbol is one of those things that is driven within me by passion. Unfortunately, I am desperately unable to disconnect that passion and simply enjoy playing the game. My intense desire to compete at my highest level leaves me frustrated and angry these days.

If I were to measure the player I am today against the player I was 5 - 7 years ago you would find that the younger me was a far superior futbolista. I was quick, agile, talented. Today, I find myself becoming slower, heavier, and less fluid.

In my heart I am still the athlete of 5 years ago. On the field, however, I am a former athlete.

I will miss the game.

I love the game.

Ends

And just like that, it's over.

It's October, and I am not running my hands over freshly printed playoff tickets. There will be no fall electricity this year. No throngs of red-clad faithful filling the downtown streets as the weather cools. For the first time in three years there will be no magic in the air in St. Louis as the leaves change.

Pitchers and catchers report in late February. It can't come soon enough.

Despite the difficulties, the frustrations, and the futility, we will be there, red-clad and rejuvinated when the season begins anew in April.

Here, in St. Louis, we pledge allegiance to the St. Louis Cardinals,
and to the republic for which they stand:
Cardinal Nation, united, undaunted, and always faithful.

We were with you all the way in 2007, and we'll be with you all the way in 2008.

Go Cardinals!

Help

The Cardinals are playing out their last few meaningless games. The warm weather is fast coming to an end.

I need a pick-me-up.

Vote Now!

www.vote756.com

Quote of the Week

"A ship in a safe harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is built for." - William Shedd

Anonymous

I look forward to hearing from you, Anonymous.

Thank you for taking the time.

airworthiness145@gmail.com

Reminders

It took just a short while for three seperate people to tell me how foolish I was to abandon hope in my love life. Others followed suit outside of this blog. Nearly all of them posed a very simple question: What do you think God wants for you?

Why is it so easy to lose faith in the plan that God has for your life? I wonder often if I am simply a man of weak faith. Perhaps others were blessed to be constructed of stronger stuff.

Whatever the case, I suppose all I can say now is this: I am not renewing my search. However, I am not shutting the door either.

Whatever, whenever, and whoever the Lord has intended for me, so be it. His will be done.

Good Bye For Now, Dear Friend...

Tonight I attended the last Cardinal game that I will see in person this year. It has been a difficult season, to say the least. Lack of pitching, injuries, etc etc...

It is with great sadness that I walked out of Busch Stadium tonight. Knowing I would not step back through those magical gates or gaze upon that emerald diamond again until April nearly brought a tear to my eye. It was with even greater sadness, considering the outcome of tonight's game. (Swing the bat, Russell!) I will not watch a baseball game in October at Busch Stadium for the first time in 3 years, and that saddens me most of all.

Until next year, dear friend. I will likely pass by your wonderful facade in the offseason to see how you are doing. We will be together again soon...

Dear Anonymous

In light of my earlier posting and your response I suppose it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the history of pain that I have inflicted upon my former love interests. Whether through cowardice, or disrespect, or whatever other mistakes I have made, there can be no doubt that I have left an unfortunate tale of woe in my wake as well.

I continue to wonder at your identity, Anonymous, and though I wish I could make this statement to you more personally, I suppose this medium will have to do.

I don't know who you are, or what I did to you, Anonymous, but I'm sure your negative thoughts about me were justified. For whatever suffering you endured at my hands please accept my apologies. Your well wishes are truly appreciated, and prove that you must be an extraordinary person. Thank you.

I suppose, in the end, that I should address this posting to all the various women who deserved so much more than I gave to them. Chris, Becky, Patti, Andrea. Other names may escape my mind at this time.

Please accept my apologies, ladies. Know that without fail you have all been in my prayers.

And to you, Anonymous, I will once again ask that you reveal yourself. You deserve a better apology than I can provide here. If this place is too public for your taste, then I ask that you email me. If you do not have my email address, ask and I will provide it for you.

I hope that I will hear from you soon.

Quote of the Week

"I have spent nearly all the love that I have on death and unrequittance. What little I have left I will save for the sky. Women, it seems, are not worth it."

Tired

I give up.

I have exhausted all the patience that I have for the games, lies, and various other misfortunes involved in the world of dating. The results of my searching have led me to nothing but heartache and deceit. Anger, sadness, disillusionment. These are the words that best describe the history of my love life.

"La donna e mobile cual pluma al vento..." Woman is as fickle as a feather in the wind. How true it is. One minute you might capture their imagination, but the next minute you mean very little to them. Rest assured that answers or explanation are not forthcoming. You will merely be left to wonder what went wrong, and why you weren't good enough. Interesting that this seems to be a recurring theme this week...

As I opened this posting, so I will end it. I give up. I no longer have the heart to pursue the opposite sex. The only thing I have found in that pursuit has been pain and frustration. Though I may end my days alone at least I shall have peace.

Anonymous

Today, a comment was left under the posting entitled, "What Really Matters."

It was an insightful bit of thought, and I'm curious to know who posted it...

Who are you, Anonymous?

Pilot Talk

Most of you probably already know I like nicknames. In fact, if you're reading this blog, it must be because I know you, and chances are I have a nickname for you. (Isn't that right, Fish, BenDo, Russell the Love Muscle, T-Fany, Dre...)

Today I want to talk about aviation nicknames. Pilots are, as most of you know, an irreverent group of individuals, so it should come as no surprise that we've come up with some creative, slightly inappropriate nicknames for many things in our business. I'm only going to serve you up a small taste of the many aviation nicknames that float around in my world...

Airplanes

First and foremost, obviously there must be nicknames for the machines we drive. Here are some of my favorites:

Fairchild Metroliner - Aliases: The San Antonio Sewer Pipe, The Free Caster Disaster.
This aircraft was manufactured in San Antonio, and had a screwy free castering nose wheel steering system that led to several losses of control at high speeds. A true marvel of Texas ingenuity.

McDonald Douglas MD-80 - Alias: The Long Beach Death Tube.
Designed and built in Long Beach, CA, the MD-80 earned its nickname after an Alaska Airlines flight plummeted into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California due to a pitch trim failure.

Boeing 737 - Alias: Guppy
Look at it from the side. It's pretty obvious...

Boeing 747-400 - Alias: The Whale
It really is that big...

Any aircraft built by Airbus Industrie - Aliases: Scarebus, Skytrash, Eurotrash
This family of airplanes, designed and built in Europe, gives its central computer more authority than it gives the pilot. We don't really like that much...

Boeing 777 - Alias: Bigfoot
The triple 7 has the largest main landing gear assembly in commercial aviation.

Douglas Company DC-9 - Alias: Greasy 9
They're old, they're worn out, and Northwest refuses to retire them, despite the grease and oil that constantly leaks from their rusty innards.

Airports and Cities

It should come as no surprise that we've aptly (and detractingly) created nicknames for some of our least favorite locations...

Newark Liberty Airport - Aliases: The Sewer, Sewark.
It smells like New Jersey. 'Nuff said.

New York LaGuardia Airport - Alias: LaGarbage.
It smells like New York. 'Nuff said.

Philadelphia, PA - Alias: Filthydelphia.
The people are rude and the town sucks.

Cincinatti, OH - Alias: Cincinasty
Not much fun here either.

Pensacola, FL - Alias: Penis
We're not a very imaginative group...

Chicago O'Hare International Airport - Aliases: O'Horrid, O'Horrible. O'Hell.
One of the most delayed airports in the world.

Rochester, NY - Alias: Crotchester
No reason other than it sounds funny.

Rochester, MN - Alias: Crotchfester
See above.

Airlines

It's a world of tough competition in the airline industry. Therefore, we rip on each other.

Chautauqua Airlines - Aliases: Shitty Taco, Shanequa, The Infection.
Other than Chautauqua people, no one else likes Chautauqua. Can you tell?

Delta Airlines - Aliases: Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport, Diverts Every Leg Through Atlanta, Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive.
Pilots like acronyms.

USAirways - Aliases: USscareways, U're Still Alleghany In Reality Why Alter Your Signs.
Like I said, acronyms.

American Airlines - Alias: The Sky Nazis.
Perhaps the most anal, controlling airline in history.

American Eagle Airlines - Alias: The Hitler Youth.
See above.

Trans World Airlines - Aliases: Terrorists Welcome Aboard, Tourists Washed Ashore, The Worst Airline.
More acronyms.


Well, those are all the nicknames I can come up with right off the top of my head for now. I'm sure some of you other pilots who read this blog will feel compelled to add to the list, so feel free. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my layover in Miami, otherwise known as little Havana...

Quote of the Week

"Quereme asi, piantao, piantao, piantao. Trepate a esta ternura de locos que hay en mi!
Ponete esta peluca de alondras, y vola! Vola con migo ya! Veni! Vola! Veni!" - Horacio Ferrer

ReRoute

Sometimes you just never know who's going to pop into your life.

Those unexpected twists are what make life interesting. This particular one makes me smile...

Go in Peace

Today, the world is a lesser place.

Grandpa Murphy has left us to claim his rightful place among the Angels and Saints. Grandpa had two biological grandchildren, but treated all of the rest of us with much the same love. There was never a dull moment around this bright, enthusiastic, extraordinarily funny young man in his middle 80's.

We will miss you, Grandpa. Give our love to Shaun. We will pray for you and your family.

Quote of the Week

"At the core of every true talent there is an awareness of the difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that by persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized." - Eric Hoffer

What Matters

How do you treat people? Are you honest? Are you kind? Are you respectful?

When everything boils down there are really only two important things in this life: Faith in God, and the manner in which we treat each other. By each other I mean ALL of each other.

Treating other people well is extremely difficult, when you really stop to think about it. Then again, almost anything worth doing is a challenge. Just as in any other challenge, your odds of success are directly tied to the amount of effort you put in.

I'm not sure what possessed me to philosophize on this topic tonight... It's probably because the effort I put in is lacking. I suppose I could make excuses about how passengers treat me, and how the rude drive thru attendant treats me, etc, etc, etc. The focus, in reality, should not be on how they treat me, but rather on how I treat them.

Perhaps if I treated them better they'd return my effort upon me.

Women

What goes on in their minds? How can it be so different?

Most importantly: How come they never see fit to tell us about it...

Quote of the Week

"The cost of optimism is disappointment."

Brothers

Sometimes there's nothing better than some time spent with a really solid friend. It's the kind of time that can put your mind at ease about things. It's the kind of time that reminds you that someone cares. It's the kind of time that helps you put things in perspective.

Tonight, for the first time in a very long time, I remembered what that kind of time was like.

I still miss you Bohrer. Thanx for your prayers bro.

Addendum

24 hours has taught me an important lesson: Optimism is every bit as fickle as oppurtunity.

Me? An optimist?

Those of you who know me would probably never use the word, "optimist" to describe me. In fact, Kate once gave me a book entitled, "Pessimisms" as a gag gift for my birthday. It still sits on my bookshelf...

But this week I am an optimist. I suppose if you were to look at the history of this blog my optimism would begin with a post from July 29th entitled "Life." The topic of that post then led me to author the posting about opportunity on the 30th, and then later the discussion of baggage on August 3rd. All a string of events that brings me to the here and now. And to optimism.

I wonder if optimism is less a state of mind and more a feeling. Many people are fond of pronouncing the phrase, "you can choose to be optimistic," but can you really? My experience teaches me that optimism is not a choice. The choice to make the best of things and putting your best foot forward despite circumstances is not optimism, and neither is that fake smile on your face. Those things are part of perseverance. ( No doubt they are important too, but not to this discussion.) Optimism is the heartfelt belief that a certain series of events will lead you to something better. The important word in that sentence is, "heartfelt." No matter how hard you try, you can't trick your heart into believing something it doesn't want to.

So there it is. I am optimistic today. Cautiously optimistic, but optimistic nonetheless.

From Iowa, to the grasping of an opportunity, to an honest examination of what it means to have baggage. Then the sudden realization that I am nurturing the heartfelt belief that this certain series of events will lead me to something better.

Life is interesting indeed...

Quote of the Week

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Search

Some people will search forever. Some people will search too hard.

Some people will quit.

Some people will find what they're looking for.

How many people have a choice?

All of us.

Quote of the Week

"This is not a black and white world.
To be alive I say the colors must swirl,
and I believe that maybe today,
we will all get to appreciate,
the beauty of grey."

- Live

Baggage

Every single one of us, beyond a shadow of any doubt, has an interesting story to tell. Very often some of the most interesting stories come with what many people refer to as baggage. Baggage never has a positive connotation. I find that very interesting.

Often our lives are defined by "baggage." Events we had no control over, mistakes we made, misfortunes that have befallen us; all are merely ingredients needed to help form us as the people we are. Truth be told, it is not our baggage that defines us, but rather the manner in which we chose to handle our baggage. Some people allow their past to bury them. Some people never learn and are doomed to repeat their old failures. There are, however, a fortunate few who realize that their "baggage" is an oppurtunity to grow.

There is that word oppurtunity again. It is becoming a theme...


"In the clearing stands a boxer.
And a fighter by his trade.
And he carries the reminders,
of every glove that laid him down,
or cut him, 'til he cried out,
in his anger and his shame,
'I am leaving! I am leaving!'
though the fighter still remains."

- Paul Simon

Identity Crisis

I'm in Bloomington, IL on my overnight, and across the street from the hotel is a restaurant called, "Carlos O'Kelly's."

Carlos O'Kelly's is a self-proclaimed "Mexican - Irish fusion."

Mexican and Irish together? Carlos O'Kelly's? Am I the only person befuddled by this mixture?

I didn't go in. I chose a sub from Blimpies instead.

Go in Peace

Dear Bill Walsh,

Thank you for many years of exciting football. Rest peacefully. May the wind be always at your back.

We will pray for you and your loved ones.

May you forever pace the sidelines for your beloved 49ers.

Oppurtunity

As many people are fond of reminding me these days, I am becoming an old man. 30 is just around the corner. Funny, other than an extra inch or two on my waste and perhaps an ache or two that has arisen, I feel pretty much the same as I did 5 or even 7 years ago. My soccer skills have deteriorated significantly, but that's another story.

What strikes me today is this: What can we say about our lives other than they are typically defined by the choices we make, and those choices are usually a matter of either grasping or turning your back on oppurtunity. Oppurtunity is a fickle thing; here one day, gone the next. Unfortunately, oppurtunity is also often difficult to see. How many of us can look back upon those rare moments of significant oppurtunity only to realize they passed us by with only a whisper, and we never noticed. Very often we find ourselves with both eyes on the future at the expense of the subtle but perhaps life-altering oppurtunity that taps us on the shoulder in the present. I fear that for many of us life is what is happening while we are waiting for life to happen.

These ruminations are perhaps the result of my impending passage into that stage known as "midlife." As I age I wonder about oppurtunity. How many good ones I've missed, how many more good ones God will lay in my path, and how many I will notice.

I hope that one day I will look back at my life and know that it was defined by the oppurtunities I embraced, and not the ones that passed me by.

Quote of the Week

"What is life but a series of inspired follies? Never lose a chance: it doesn't come every day." - George Bernard Shaw

Life

Life is interesting. Somewhere in the history of this blog that phrase has been discussed. It is true again this week.

"Is this heaven?"

"No. It's Iowa."

- Field of Dreams

Quote of the Week

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." - Kahlil Gibran

T M I

The 200th posting on this blog is about Russell's ass. What has the world come to?

Russell's wife Staci is a lovely gal, lots of fun to hang out with. Tonight, while I overnighted in Charlotte (where Russ and Staci live) we went to dinner along with the Commie Pinko (Russ's mom). Staci became quite intoxicated during the course of dinner, and as a result, she divulged some rather unfortunate information. The nature of this information is even more unfortunate when you consider that we were, in fact, dining at the time. Staci saw fit to inform us that Russell has an acne problem. Not just an acne problem, but a gluteus maximus acne problem.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Russell has zits on his ass.

Thank you, Staci, for enlightening us over dinner...

Memories...

"Here I am locking horns with a stallion
failing to hold my head up I go back again.
Pillar of Davidson, feeling too hard to go down,
cheaper than all the souls he will walk upon.
Deeper and deeper in love so I hold my head up,
cheaper than all the souls he will walk upon.
Pillar of Davidson, feeling too hard to go down."

- Live



I miss you Bohrer.

I Love my Job

It Could be Worse...

I've had some pretty rough days lately, but nothing that can compare with this...

Quote of the Week

"This too shall pass." - Truism

Epiphany

Anyone who knows me or at least keeps up with this blog has no doubt noticed my sour mood of late. I believe I've discovered the root cause of my ills.

It's easy to point at my personal life and pick out an issue here and there that is, as yet, unresolved and stressfull. However, while these issues are important, they are not the most pressing issue leading to my ill state of mind.

The leading cause of my brooding is work. Now before you get too excited let me make it very clear that I still love my job. Unfortunately it has been at least two months since I've had a good week at work. Between uncooperative weather, untalented captains, and broken airplanes it seems that my summer has been snakebitten. It is perhaps ironic that my troubles at work began at almost exactly the same time as my troubles at home. When it rains it pours...

So why is it so critical that work be in order? I suppose it's simple. Flying is what makes me tick. It's the fuel for my engine. It is my passion. Very often it is a therapeutic release from the rigors of life at home. Unfortunately, when things at work are not going well, I get niether the release from the tyranny of my other life, nor the refreshment from endulging in my passion. The combination results in my foul mood.

Today was a wonderful day at work. Good weather, functional airplanes, and a captain who is a joy to work with. Today I feel refreshed, and renewed. Today I feel recharged. The sky's endless emptiness has once again filled me, and lightened my dark demeanor.

A couple of good, solid weeks at work coupled with my upcoming personal retreat, and all should be right with the world once again.

Pray for me.

Quote of the Week

"We can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown." - Claude Bernard

I've Seen Better Days

In response to the earlier posting entitled, "Refreshment Necessary," a decision has been made. Many thanx to the anonymous poster who offered their opinion (was it you, Russ?) but I have decided against Vancouver. In fact, I have decided against every city I previously mentioned.

Daytona Beach, FL will be my refuge. There I will have 24 hour access to a Basilica Church, as well as private beach front property.

A word to all: As of the moment I arrive in Daytona on July 21st, my cell phone will be turned off and I will not venture near a computer until I leave on the 24th. If you need me very desperately, call Dr. Dre. If you don't know who Dr. Dre is, or you don't know how to get a hold of him, then you're out of luck.

Pray that I survive intact until my upcoming recess. Once I'm there, pray that I find some focus and peace.

Life

Between the silence of the mountains
and the crashing of the sea,
there lies a land that I once lived in
and she's waiting there for me.
But in the grey of the morning
my mind becomes confused,
between the dead and the sleeping
and the road that I must choose.

- Justin Hayward

From the Airwaves

Recently heard on Chicago O'Hare ground control:

Controller - "United 1234 taxi across 32L at T10, lineup in the 9R pad, all eastbounds, westbounds, and southbounds are stopped."

United 1234 - "Cross 32L into the pad, United 1234. Can you have a Snickers delivered?"

Quote of the Week

"You have suffered enough, and warred with yourself. It's time you won." - Glen Hansard

Refreshment Necessary

It has become obvious that an escape from my current reality is necessary. In order to accomplish this respite I have decided that very soon I will flee my life in favor of some relaxing location far from Chicago's O'Hare airport and St. Louis.

Savannah? Seattle? Jackson Hole? Sarasota? Vancouver?

I find this to be the most likely scenerio: I will pack for several days, and when work has finished I will simply gaze upon the departure information board and select some random city that sounds relaxing.

Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

Quote of the Week

"Mi Buenos Aires querido,
cuando yo te vuelva a ver?" - Carlos Gardel

Frustration

We lost to the Royals again.

Someone make the pain stop!

Quote of the Week

"Too much love will kill you just as sure as none at all." - Freddy Mercury

From the Airwaves

Recently heard on Chicago Center's frequency:

Controller, "Ah, Airshuttle 1234, say airspeed."

Airshuttle 1234, "Well sir, you told us to do 280 knots, so that's what we're doing."

Controller, "Are you sure Airshuttle? You seem to be catching up to the guy in front of you."

Airshuttle 1234, "Well, the doohicky with the numbers on it says 280, but then there's a lot of doohickies up here..."

It's Alive

A passenger boarded my flight this week, and like many before her, commented on how small the aircraft was. The flight attendant jokingly responded that the plane's feelings would be hurt if she talked about it in such a fashion. They passenger's reply: "It doesn't have feelings."

Perhaps if the traveler in question wasn't a redneck from Mobile, AL she wouldn't be so ignorant of her situation.

The fact is, the airplane is a living, breathing organism, not very different from you or I. It breathes oxygen which it circulates throughout itself in life-sustaining fashion. It burns sustainance to keep itself alive and moving. It has a skin that expands and contracts, and protects its delicate interior from the harsh elements. It has a skeleton, designed to withstand impact, give the organism it's shape, and strengthen the overall entity. It has joints built to move its extremeties thus allowing it to move with more agility. It has a vascular system. Tubes stretch throughout its entire body delivering precious fluids to the vital organs that could not otherwise perform their duties. It has a nervous system. A brain consisting of several "lobes," some monitoring the performance of it's many parts, others making decisions and performing calculations. Several long spinal chords relay messages from the many parts and pieces up to the brain. The airplane reacts to pain and danger. It recognizes and informs the brain of impending disaster. The airplane has a heart. The great thundering engine, churning within itself and pumping life throughout every part of the being.

The airplane has a soul: The pilot

Debacle

We lost to the Royals 17-8. How does anyone lose to the Royals 17-8?? Unbelievable! Just kill me!

Wisdom

A orillas del Rio Piedra me sente y llore.

Quote of the Week

"I dissaprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire

Have Faith

My Redbirds are starting to show some signs of life...

Don't stick a fork in them quite yet...

Patterns

February and April came and went, and June has begun. All three months serve as little more than reminders that certain wounds simply do not heal. There will always be scars. Perhaps it can be argued that the true measure of a man's life can be found in the manner with which he carried on his life despite the disfigurements which fate has brought upon him. Perhaps it is true that some wounds will never stop bleeding.

Quote of the Week

"I have known today a magnificent intoxication. I have learnt how it feels to be a bird. I have flown. Yes, I have flown. I am still astonished at it, still deeply moved." - Le Figaro

The Pact

Well, the pact trip actually occured several weeks ago now, but since I've barely had enough time to breathe in the interim I haven't had the chance to address it until now. It also means I don't necessarily remember everything, so you'll have to settle for less detail than before.

This version of our pact trip took Russell and I to Kansas City in search of what my often loquacious but seldom eloquent friend referred to as, "Mega Cow." For those of you who don't speak Russell, that means a great steak. Did we find "Mega Cow?" Yes, yes we did, but more on that later.

We arrived in Kansas City early on Tuesday the 15th of May, and proceded to the rental car station. Thrify was out of economy cars, so we got a free upgrade. It was not until we reached the parking lot and cast our gaze upon the replacement vehicle that we decided the upgrade was anything but. Russell and I made our way through the streets of Kansas City for a 24 hour period in a vomit-yellow PT Cruiser. It may very well be the ugliest form of transportation ever known to man kind. With no recourse, we slung our bags into the back of the Bilemobile and set off on our day. After checking in at the hotel the next stop was the Airline History Museum located at Kansas City Downtown airport. The guided tour of the museum was affordable and entertaining, and included the priviledge of boarding one of very few airworthy Lockheed Constelations still in existance. The tour guide himself was slightly off, but that is to be expected from someone who was even older than most of the museum pieces he was describing.

Next stop, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, located in Independance, MO. Truman, of course, is famous in history for assuming the reigns from FDR during the waining days of WWII and subsequently authorizing the use of the atomic bomb. The library is exceptionaly well laid out, and is a fitting tribute to a man who led our country with courage and honesty. At least there was one democrat in our history who actually had a spine...

Having had our fill of history, Russell and I proceded to the Zona Rosa, which is a very nice outdoor mall with several fine restaurants. We had a date with "Mega Cow" at the Hereford House, which is perhaps the most famous steak eatery in a city famous for steak eateries. As Russell and I soon found out, the fame is well deserved. We began the evening at the bar waiting for a table, and while Russ sipped a Vodka Gimlet, I chose a Boulevard #41 ale. We split some excellent fried calamari, and then were shown to our table. I selected a bottle of Trapiche Malbec to accompany our dinner, which is a full-bodied semi dry red from Argentina. It was a marvelous bottle to go along with our marvelous meals. Russell opted for an 8 oz bacon wrapped filet, while I dined upon the 6 oz filet topped with a miniature crab cake. Needless to say, dinner was amazing, and dessert was also exquisite. I say dessert was exquisite, but I don't actually remember what I had. I just remember it was delicious. Not to worry though, hopefully Russell will leave a comment on this posting to refresh my memory. Total bill for dinner: $156.57

Well, as tradition dictated, our dinner conversation hovered around what city we would next invade in a future pact trip. We figured August or September would be the time frame, and the current leading contender is Nashville, TN, although Atlanta, GA has an outside chance.

The Box

Ever wonder what really goes on in an airline simulator?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE1rE2vxUyM&mode=related&search=

Quote of the Week

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not."

- James Gordon, M.D.

Raincheck

I'm remarkably busy this week. Check back next week for news on the latest Pact Trip, and a little something on one of my favorite hobbies...

Quote of the Week

"I will try not to worry you,
I have seen things that you will never see,
Leave it to memory me. I shudder to breathe."
- R.E.M.

Where have you gone, Albert Pujols? Cardinal Nation turns its lonely eyes to you...

Not only are my beloved Redbirds losing, they're losing big. They can't hit, and they can't pitch. It's a good thing they can still play defense, or things would be even uglier than they already are. Someone has to step up, because Chris Duncan and Braden Looper can't do it on their own. A little support would be much appreciated...

Paging Adam Wainwright, Adam Wainwright, please report to the pitcher's mound, and don't forget your stuff...

Paging Albert Pujols, Albert Pujols, please report to the on deck circle, and don't forget your bat...

Paging Jim Edmonds, Jim Edmonds, are you still alive?

Quote of the Week

"It was a grand trait of the old Roman that with him one and the same word meant both honor and honesty." - Unknown

Eating on the Run

Ahh, airport food. The staple of my diet, and probably the biggest reason why I'm starting to get fat. (Lack of exercise not withstanding.) There are, believe it or not, some really great places to eat at our nation's airports. Here's a quick rundown of some of my favorites:

Chicago O'Hare:

If you're the kind of person who throws caution to the wind, try the buffalo chicken burrito from the Burrito Beach, located in the H concourse food court. Spicy chicken, black beans, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa! It's tasty and it's enormous, but be warned: violent diarhea WILL ensue! I recommend you stay away from this time bomb if you're about to board a transcon...

If the incredible exploding asshole just isn't your thing, take a stroll to the Mediterranean Grill located next to gate F4. It's a hole in the wall, but they'll cook you up the best gyro in Chicago, complete with tomato, onion, tsatsiki sauce, and (of course) rotisserie meat goodness. This meal also has it's drawbacks, however. There is enough garlic included to kill an entire platoon of vampires, or the person sitting next to you on your next flight. I recommend breath mints, and luckily, the grill sells those too.

Dallas / Fort Worth Intl:

A tasty breakfast can be had at DFnW for a surprisingly cheap price at the Texas Stadium Bar and Grill, located in concourse B. The scrambled eggs are fluffy, the bacon is crisp, and the OJ is fresh squeezed. The breakfast tacos, by the way, are the best I've ever had. It's also a place to people watch. I once sat down for breakfast at 8:30am, and the gentleman at the table next to mine had 6 empty Bud Light bottles in front of him...

Cleveland Hopkins:

The "On Stage Cleveland" restaurant centraly located between all 4 concourses at Hopkins is a bit pricey, but the food is excellent. I tried the grilled chicken caesar salad, and have yet to taste it's equal. Be forwarned, if you drink ice tea (you know, regular old fashioned ice tea?) you'd better get it at the food court next door. The only thing On Stage Cleveland has to offer is $8 bottles of Republic of Tea. I might pay $8 for a beer at the baseball stadium, but for ice tea?

Evansville Regional:

Usually, tiny airports have awful food choices. Evansville, however, is a gem. Meals and More serves hot and cold sandwiches and meals, and sells local memorabilia. Skip the local junk and head for the sub sandwiches, prepared in front of you with surprisingly fresh ingredients and even more surprisingly fresh bread. It's 40% better than Subway, 20% better than Quizno's, and cheaper than both.

Miami Intl:

If you swim to this country from Mexico, you're breaking the law, and we don't want you here. It doesn't matter how good your tacos are. If you swim to this country from Cuba, you're a political refugee seeking asylum from an oppressive government, and we'll welcome you with open arms. Especially if you keep bringing recipes like black bean soup, bistec empanizado, and platanos fritos. Sample a few of these delicacies at La Carreta Cuban Grill, located at the concourse D security checkpoint. If you don't have much time, skip the buffet line and head to the back of the store for the A La Carte station. There you can order a myread of sandwiches, but the best one is, (what else?) a Cuban.

Chicago Midway:

The best airport sandwich in the country can be enjoyed at Pot Bellies just past the security checkpoint at Chicago's Midway airport. Be prepared when you get in line, as the employees will shout at you from great distances to get your order, and if you're not paying attention you'll look like an idiot. (This never happened to me, for the record.) My favorite is the Italian sub. Pepperoni, salame, capricola and mozzarela with your choice of veggies and condiments. Add a bag of chips and a soda, and then pray that the good Lord will open up a place for you to sit in this popular eatery.

Orlando Intl:

Try out Miami Subs, airside 30-59. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's a chain, but it's pretty good food for not a lot of coin. I'm a big fan of the cheesesteak myself, which comes with grilled onions and peppers. Besides, the other option is a whooper... with cheese...

Raleigh Durham Intl:

Maui Taco is a great place for lunch or dinner, located in terminal C. I never thought I'd see tacos, hawaiian style, but this place pulls it off pretty tastefully. (pun intended.) The fish tacos are excellent, and you can have any burrito or taco you ask for topped off with pineapple chunks. Don't wrinkle your nose, just try it!

Boston Logan:

Legal Seafood, the same chain that made Clam Chowder famous in Massachusettes, has set up shop in both the C and B concourses, though the one in B is just a cafe. In the C concourse you can peruse the entire menu, complete with a full wine list. The seafood is fresh and prepared perfectly. You'd better have plenty of time though, because it's not exactly fast food. Give yourself at least an hour before boarding, and don't you dare leave without trying the "chahdah," as the locals say.

Well, that's it. Yeah, I know, it's a short list. That's because airport food as a whole sucks. So does exercise. Between the two of them I'll be fat in no time. Have I missed your favorite airport dinning establishment? Leave a comment and tell me where it is!

Quote of the Week

"Some people come and some people go. Sometimes people who should stay end up going, and sometimes people who should go end up staying. Sometimes we have a say in who stays and who goes. That's usually when we screw it up." Anonymous

Go in Peace

Dear Josh Hancock,

You wore the uniform with pride because you knew what it represented. No matter what the circumstances where when you took the ball, you always gave us your very best effort. You were a part of something magical here in St. Louis.

Thank you, Josh, for your grit, and your hustle. We will remember you fondly, and we will pray for you and your loved ones.

Rest peacefully, and root for your Redbirds.

Quote of the Week

"Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable,
and lightness has a call that's hard to hear,
I wrap my fear around me like a blanket,
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it,
I'm crawling on your shores...

...There's more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in a crooked line,
and the less I seek my source for some definitive
the closer I am to fine."

- Emily Saliers

Who Put the Holes in the Bats?

In what alternate reality are we living when the great Albert Pujols is hitting near the Mendoza line after improving this week?

Is the world coming to an end?

Is the planet turning upside down?

Are the laws of physics no longer valid?

Does it not say somewhere in the book of Revelation that one of the signs of the second coming would be when Albert Pujols can no longer hit? I swear I read that somewhere...

We must hope that Albert awakens from his slumber. For the time being, he remains a hibernating monster. When he arises, pitchers will run in terror...

Quote of the Week

"Aviation is proof, that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible." - Capt. Edward "Eddie" Rickenbacker

New Beginnings

Nothing like a new place, some old friends, some new friends, and a party to make you really feel like it's finally your home...

Quote of the Week

"Too many people are thinking of security instead of oppurtunity. They seem more afraid of life than death." - James F. Byrnes

Quote of the Week

"It is the excitement of becoming - always becoming, trying, probing, falling, resting, and trying again - but always trying and always gaining." - Lyndon B. Johnson

"Life is Interesting."

One of my best friends is fond of using the title of this post when talking about life, and I've always thought it was a neat way of looking at things. Not good, not bad, not indifferent. Life is interesting. Interesting implies a lot of different things. Several other ideas and thoughts pop into my head when I consider what interesting means. Things like suspenseful, exciting, complicated, intriguing.

Sometimes in life different things and people enter and leave. Circumstances change. Doors close and doors open. The best part is, we get to make our lives as interesting as we want to.

Take an adventurous step forward today.

And a voice cried out from Heaven saying, "It is done."

The move is 100% done and over with. There are decorations on the walls, all of my possessions are inside, and all of the furniture is here and in its proper place. It feels weird to be done, since all I've done with almost every free moment I've had in the last several weeks was move or organize. Now that I don't have anything left to do here I feel sortof useless.

I'm just glad it's over!!!!! Now I can sit on my couch and watch ESPN in high definition all day long.

"And the Lord saw that it was good."

Countdown

Opening day is so close I can almost taste the hot dog and $8 beer...

Listen to What I Mean, Not What I Say

There is a long posting on this blog from January 1st of 07 that I would like to revisit. Click on the following link and scroll to the bottom of the page featuring the posting titled "The Truth Hurts." http://redbirdaviator.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html

Now that we're on the same page, let me continue just a bit on that line of thought about our good friends. My first observation is that speaking is terribly easy, while doing is another matter entirely. Phrases like, "You're very important to me," and "I love you," are easily thrown about. Unfortunately, any prudent individual would not take these statements at face value. The famous cliche says that actions speak louder than words, and that is indeed the case. All the "I love you's" in the world don't make up for actions that clearly tell the other, more factual story. Let's keep in mind that these actions are rarely huge injustices. In order to truely understand how a person feels about you, you must pay close attention to detail. It's not in their speech, and it won't be posted on a billboard. Somewhere, between the lines, lies the truth. It hides amid basic courtesies that are not extended, subtle rudeness that can go undetected, and a general disregard for your priorities and commitments.

My second observation is this: No matter how badly you want it, or how hard you try, you will never change anything about your friends. It's not your job to create change in them. It's your job to accept the person they are. It's also your job to make sure you understand how they feel about you so you can make sure your expectations of them aren't too high.

Some very close friends are worthy of your highest expectations. Be carefull not to place those less worthy friends on the same level. It will lead you to dissappointment, and they probably won't care.

It is an unfortunate truth of the human condition that trust is not always requitted, and honesty is not always valued as highly as it should be.

Jargon

They say that every workplace developes its own language. A mix of plain English, slang, technical terminology, and (usually) some well placed curses. Obviously the same can be said of my workplace, where we load up on the slang and technical terms, and especially the cursing... I decided that today I'd give you a small glimpse at the lingo flung around the airline world, and add the translations.

Lets start with the kind of stuff you hear on the company operations frequencies. These frequencies are not monitored by the FAA and exist in order to allow pilots in their airplanes to talk to operations managers in order to coordinate services. Most of these discussions occur on the ground at the gate. Here are some examples:

Example #1

Pilot - "Ops, this is 4123, we need catering and lav service at G10."
(The pilot is requesting that the flight attendant's galley be restocked with soda and whatever else she may need, and that the bathroom needs to be cleaned.)

Ops - "Roger."
(Ops is telling the pilot that they don't care.)

Example #2

Pilot - "Hey ops, 4123, still haven't been catered or had the lav service."
(At this point the flight is 10 minutes from departure and nothing has been done.)

Ops - "I'll call them again."
(Since the problem didn't take care of itself, Operations will call for the first time.)

Example #3

Pilot - "Ops, 4123 is on the ground for G6"
(This flight has just landed and the pilot is inquiring whether or not gate G6 is available.)

Ops - "G6 is occupied, go to the box for 10 minutes."
(Ops informs the pilot that G6 is still occupied and the wait will be at least 30 minutes.)

Example #4

Pilot - "Ops, 4123 the flight attendant counts 29 people and we have a close out for 28."
(Before the flight departs the number of passengers onboard must be verified. The pilot is informing operations that either the gate agent or the flight attendant doesn't know how to count.)

Ops - "Roger."
(Ops informs the pilot that they don't care.)

Example #5 (This example is actually heard on the deice frequency)

Pilot - "Iceman, aircraft 623 for flight 4123 at G6 needs deice."
(The pilot is informing the folks in charge of dispatching deice trucks that they need to be deiced.)

Iceman - "Copy, copy."
(Iceman informs the pilot that he doesn't care.)

Pilot - "What number are we for deice?"
(The pilot is saying, "we know you don't care, but do something, please!")

Iceman - "Ah, you're number 8."
(Iceman informs the pilot that he has no idea what number they are, and that it will take at least an hour for a deice truck to arrive.)

Now we'll move on to the kinds of exchanges you might expect to hear on air traffic control frequencies. These are the official frequencies used by the FAA to ensure the orderly, expedient and safe seperation of air traffic. (Editors note: Sarcasm is difficult to convey in print.)

Example #1 (This would be heard on clearance delivery, the frequency used to coordinate routes and departure times.)

Pilot - "Clearance, Eagle Flight 4123, what are the delays for O'Hare today?"
(The pilot is asking how long they will have to wait before air traffic control will allow them to leave, due to the flow of traffic.)

Clearance - "There are no delays to O'Hare."
(This is a lie.)

Example #2 (Also from clearance delivery)

Clearance - "Eagle Flight 4123, clearance, I have some bad news."
(Ha ha! You're screwed!)

Pilot - "Go ahead for Eagle 123."
(Oh shit.)

Clearance - "O'Hare is groundstopped, update on the hour."
(You're stuck here for a very long time.)

Pilot - "Ok, roger that."
(DAMNIT!)

Example #2 (This would be heard while the flight is in the air, either on a center or approach control frequency.)

Controller - "Eagle Flight 4123, the weather at Green Bay has gone below minimums, say intentions."
(The controller is informing the pilot that the weather is so bad at Green Bay that the pilot can no longer legally attempt a landing. He wants to know what the pilot's backup plan is.)

Pilot - "Roger, standby."
(The pilot has no backup plan.)

Controller - "Roger."
(you're an idiot.)

Example #3 (Also from center control)

Pilot - "Ah, Cleveland center, Eagle Flight 123, we're level at 370 and it's continuous light, occasional moderate turbulence."
(The pilot, who is maintaning 37000 feet of altitude, is experiencing a crappy ride.)

Controller - "Eagle Flight 123, we've had reports of a bad ride at 370 for the next 200 miles."
(You're stuck with your crappy ride for a while.)

Pilot - "Is there a lower altitude with a better ride?"
(Get me outta here before my fillings are rattled out!)

Controller - "Well sir, it's been reported smooth down at 250"
(There's smooth air at 25000 feet)

Pilot - "Ah, 250 is too low, sir."
(If I go that low I'll run out of gas before I get where I'm going.)

Controller - "Sorry Eagle, that's the best I can do for you."
(I don't care.)

Pilot - "Roger, I guess we'll ride it out."
(Thanx for nothing, asshole!)

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into the aviation world. Always remember, your safety and security is our number one priority at the airlines. Please remember to fasten your seatbelt, and turn off your damn cell phone when the flight attendant tells you to!

Quote of the Week

"Joy, sadness, fear and anger are all very simple. Love is the only complicated human emotion." - Anonymous

And I'm Spent!

The move is over. When I say over, I mean 99% of my worldly possessions are within the confines of my new condo, and 80% of what is here has been placed in its permanent spot. There is very little left to do, which is refreshing when you consider that I've spent all of my time off the last few weeks having different appointments fullfilled, patching holes in the ceiling, buying, moving, and assembling furniture, and connecting wiring for various purposes. The fruits of my labor are now nearly complete. A large amount of credit must be extended to ER, who was always there when I needed him and his pickup truck.

Now aside from moving in a recliner and putting some decorations on the walls, the labor is basically complete.

Glory Hallelujah!

Quote of the Week

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." - Dr. Seuss

Prima Nocte

Tonight I will sleep in my new condo for the first time. Notice, I have not declared myself moved in yet...

Quote of the Week

"The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real estate, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith." - Bertrand Russel V. Delong

From the Airwaves

Recently heard on Chattanoga ground frequency:

Unidentified - "Ah, this is 1546 headed for Atlanta with Zulu."

Controller - "1546 who are you?"

Unidentified - "My name's Steve sir..."

Controller (laughing now) - "How's it going Steve? What I really want to know is, which airline's name do I put in front of your flight number?"

Bliss is Near

I turned on the tv in my hotel room the other day and behold, there was baseball!

Only 25 more days...

Quote of the Week

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting." - Paolo Coelho

From the Airwaves

Recently heard on O'Hare ground control's frequency

Controller: "Airshuttle 1234, just need to confirm your routing, I didn't get any paperwork on you. Confirm you're cleared to the Austin-Straubel Airport via the O'Hare one departure, radar vectors Badger then direct?"

Airshuttle 1234: "Actually sir, Airshuttle 1234 is headed for Green Bay today."

Controller: "Ah, Airshuttle 1234, Austin-Straubel is the name of the airport in Green Bay. I have to clear you to an airport as opposed to the city itself, that way you don't try to land on main street."

Quote of the Week

"It is mutual trust, even more than mutual interest, that holds human associations together. Our friends seldom profit us but they make us feel safe." - H. L. Mencken

"I find your lack of faith disturbing" - Darth Vader

I was walking through Borders Books yesterday with a friend, and I came across a book titled, "Letter to a Christian Nation." Curious, I stole a closer look. The piece is written by an atheist who published it in order to detract as much as possible from Christianity. Despite great temptation, I decided against setting fire to it there in the store.

I have never understood atheists or agnostics, despite a certain level of personal experience with the latter. Perhaps it is poetic justice that I use a different word that begins with the letter A to describe people who think in suchs ways: Arrogant. I am quite simply baffled by the arrogance required to state openly that if something is beyond the realm of human understanding it must, therefore, not exist.

I hope you will join me in praying that these people learn humility.

Quote of the Week

"Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price." - Amelia Earhart

What's in a Name?

Due in no small part to a request from a dedicated reader, several old essays will be appearing on this blog in the near future. Some of you may recognize the work. I hope you enjoy it again.



Has anyone else noticed the fact that in today's profesional sports very few athletes have nicknames anymore? There was a time in the sports history of this country when just about every notable athletic figure was labeled with an alter ego, but those times have sadly passed. Gone are the days of the Galloping Ghost, the Sultan of Swat, and the Monsters of the Midway. Today's superstar sports figures play out their careers under their God-given names as creativity melts farther and farther away. Sure, some exceptions remain, but even those exceptions are, for the most part, lame. Take Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez for example. The Detroit catcher merely borrowed his nickname from "Pudge" Fisk of the Boston Red Sox. Or how about Fred McGriff, "The Crime Dog." What the hell does that mean, and what does it have to do with his ability to play baseball? (Those of you wondering if he's a convicted fellon, your answer is no, he's actually a pretty OK guy.) As I realized that our society had all but forgotten the sports nickname, I began to wonder what makes a great nickname, and then, who had the best nicknames in sports? Here are some of my thoughts:

What does it take to have a great nickname? There are two determining factors. First, does the moniker sound good? The great majority of all good nicknames make use of alliteration or rhyming to capture the imagination of the sports fan. Examples include "Dizzy" Dean, and Dick "Night Train" Lane. Second, great nicknames describe the subject accurately. Whether it be a certain personality trait, or a facial feature, or more commonly the attributes brought to the field by the athlete in question. Examples of this include Frank Thomas, i.e. "The Big Hurt," and Joe Montana, i.e. "Joe Cool." More often than not, the greatest of all nicknames combine both elements. Take for example Christian Okoye, i.e. "The Nigerian Nightmare," or Ted Williams, i.e. "The Splendid Splinter." So this of course begs the question, what do you have to do to get a nickname? Usually you think of the great players having famous monikers, but that's not always the case. You have to look no farther than relief pitcher Dave "Longball" Veres to see that. How many pitchers do you know that are nicknamed after an important OFFENSIVE category? You don't even have to DO anything to get a nickname. Sometimes your physical features are enough to earn you a new name. I played high school football with a guy we used to call, "Schnoz." You do the math. You don't even have to play a sport to get a nickname. All you have to do is be a fan, as evidenced by the "Dawg Pound" at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

So all that having been said, who out there was dubbed with the best nickname? There are so many good ones it's hard to choose, but here's a top 26 list I've put together. In some cases I don't know much about the athlete, but the nickname was just too good to pass up.

26. O. J. Simpson, "The Juice" - Appropriate thanks to his initials, "The Juice is loose!" was heard on more than one occasion when Simpson terrorized defenses in the NFL, and then again, over and over again, after his jury found him not guilty.

25. "Mean" Joe Greene - "Mean" Joe Greene was one of the most feared defensive players in the history of pro football, and his nickname was well earned. Known for taking pleasure in the pain of his opponents, Greene may also have been the nastiest athlete to ever live.

24. Henri Richard, "The Pocket Rocket" - I don't know much about this hockey player, but doesn't that sound awesome?

23. Reggie White, "The Minister of Defense" - What else would you call an ordained minister who holds the NFL career record for sacks?

22. "Super" Mario Lemioux - "Super" Mario was super and then some during his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.

21. The "Cardiac" Cardinals - This nickname went along with the football Cardinals during the only season they made the playoffs in St. Louis. The "Cardiac" Cards made a name for themselves by pulling several games out in the last seconds throughout the year.

20. Walter Payton, "Sweetness" - Payton may be the greatest running back of all time, pure "Sweetness" for anyone that watched him play.

19. Joe Montana, "Joe Cool" - One of football's greatest come-from-behind quarterbacks, "Joe Cool" never lost his cool while he marshalled his troops.

18. Gerhardt "Der Bomber" Muller - This German soccer player holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup competition with 14. "Der Bomber" is also the only player to ever literally tear the net from the goal posts during a game with a shot.

17. Stan "The Man" Musial - Simple, tells the story. Stan Musial was THE man in baseball during the 1940's and 50's.

16. Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown - "Three Finger" Brown was a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who, oddly enough, had just three fingers on his pitching hand.

15. The New York Yankees, "The Bronx Bombers" - The Yankees are baseball's most storied franchise, and the "Bronx Bombers" moniker was placed on them in the days of Babe Ruth and Lou Gerhig when they were (as usual) almost unbeatable.

14. William "The Refridgerator" Perry - Perry weighed in at well over 350 lbs, but the amazing thing about "The Fridge" was his quickness and strength, which allowed him to dominate the interior line of scrimmage.

13. Earvin "Magic" Johnson - Johnson's feats on the basketball court were magical, even if his off-court HIV news overshadowed the end of his career.

12. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson - "Shoeless" Joe was made popular by the book of the same name, and later the movie "Field of Dreams." Despite his unceremonious dumping from pro baseball, "Shoeless" Joe is one of the most recognizable nicknames in American Sports.

11. Pete Rose, "Charlie Hustle" - Pete Rose played the game of baseball the way it should be played: at full speed and with reckless abandon. It's time he took his place in the Hall of Fame.

10. Ozzie Smith, "The Wizard of Oz" - "The Wizard" earned his nickname with his spectacular circus defensive plays at shortstop. 13 consecutive Gold Gloves is still a shortstop record.

9. The Chicago Bears, "The Monsters of the Midway" - No defense was ever more fearsome than the "Monsters of the Midway" of the mid 1980's, which featured stars like the "Refridgerator" Perry, Mike Singletary, and Richard Dent.

8. "Broadway" Joe Namath - When Joe Namath led the New York Jets to the Superbowl championship he was larger than life. He was outlandish, outspoken, and creative, just like Broadway.

7. Christain Okoye, "The Nigerian Nightmare" - Okoye, a native of Nigeria, made a name for himself in the NFL as the bruising fullback of the Kansas City Chiefs. Opposing linebackers surely had horrible dreams about their meetings with "The Nigerian Nightmare."

6. Ted Williams, "The Splendid Splinter" "Teddy Ballgame" "The Greatest Hitter Ever" - So great were Williams' accomplishments on the field that three nicknames were necessary to cover his grand stature.

5. Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky - Maybe we should change this to, "The Greatest One, Ever."

4. Red Grange, "The Galloping Ghost" - Grange was a college and pro football standout, but I remember him best for his cool sounding nickname.

3. Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, "Pele" - The most famous athlete in the world, arguably the greatest soccer player ever. No one knows what "Pele" actually means, but everyone knows who you're talking about.

2. George "Babe" Ruth, "The Bambino" "The Sultan of Swat" "The King of Clout" - "The Babe" is undoubtedly the most famous baseball player of all time.

1. Dick "Night Train" Lane - "Night Train" Lane was the most feared defensive back of his era, and were it not for Ronnie Lott, he might still be the most fearsome defensive player ever. Known for devastating opponents with his clothesline manuever, (which was later banned) Dick "Night Train" Lane must have the coolest nickname in the history of sports.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I'd love to hear what you think about the list, or any other comments you've got. Got a favorite nickname I didn't mention? Send it to me! Lemme know what you think! As for what nicknames the author has had during his athletic career: In kindergarden and first grade I was known as "Booger" to my teammates. I had a propensity for picking my nose during practice and games. In high school football I was dubbed, "Greased Lightening" because I was, "Fast as lightening, but hands like grease." My inability to catch a football forever doomed me to a career playing defense. It was in high school rugby that I got the only flattering nickname of my sporting career. They called me "Rot" which was short for Rotweiler. According to my teammates I was small, but vicious. Finally, in college intramurals Tim "Are You Serious?" Fisher dubbed me "The Postman." Official stats were not kept, but it is estimated that in 35 intramural soccer games I hit the post 567 times, while scoring 15 goals.

How about some other nicknames from folks who might read this blog? Here's a quick list:

Christine "Awkward" Sturm - If it's on a table, or in Christine's hands, chances are it'll find the floor sometime soon.

Jenn "The Gimp" Bunt - Head, shoulders, knees and toes, something was always wrong with this girl. How she missed a hat trick from 3 feet away on an open goal is still one of the mysteries of the universe.

Mary "Oh So" Close - Actually, Mary's shots usually wound up pretty far away from the goal, but it was still fun to call her "Oh So" Close.

Fr. Tim Daly, "Dr. Dre" - Fr. Tim has a doctorate from the University of Alabama, hence the "Dr." part. He also taught in Ecuador for a couple of years. Father became Padre became Dre. Now he's "Dr. Dre" The rappin Priest.

Tim "Are You Serious?" Fisher - No one phrase could ever be more associated with anybody's voice.

Mark "Dude You're Scaring Me" Green - I still have nightmares about that night...

Rob Ortmann, "Rob-bot" - Rob is a cleaning machine!

"Touchdown" Kate Puleo - I bet Kate dinner that I could score more goals than she could score touchdowns during our respective intramural seasons. In her first game "Touchdown" Kate scored twice, while I scored once, seperated my shoulder, and was out for the year. It cost me $20 at a nice Chinese place.

Andrea Brancato, "Mrs. Robinson" - Self explanatory?

Scott "Clear Skies, Calm Winds" Stevelinck - Grow a pair and learn to fly.

Steve "Warsaw" Kozlowski - How much more Polish do last names get?

Katie Rintelman, "SAS" - You're freakishly tall Katie...

Quote of the Week

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona." - George F. Will

Lactose

Very few things capture my heart and imagination like baseball does. Today, I'd like to talk about something in the game I don't understand.

Why is the fastball so often associated with cheese? Some of you might be scratching your heads right now, but let me refresh your memory with some terminology:

Actual terms used to define a fastball:

Cheese - A straight, 4 seam fastball
Cheddar - A 2 seam fastball with downward action
Spicy Cheddar - A 2 seam fastball that runs in or out
Stinkin' Cheddar - Any fastball thrown outside the strikezone
High Stinkin' Cheddar - A fastball purposely thrown above the shoulders, in order to entice a hitter to chase it

The fastball also has some fun nicknames:

The Roquefort Rocket
The Brie Bullet
The Parmesian Pellet
The Camemberg Cannon
The Feta Fireball
The Mozzarella Missle
The Gouda Gun

What is so interesting about cheese that the most common pitch in baseball is associated with it? I have never understood this relationship, which is not to say I have never used these terms. If you step back and think about it momentarily however, it is rather amusing. Imagine yourself watching a baseball game for the first time, and someone next to you shouts, "Throw him the high stinkin' cheddar!" The TV announcer might say something like, "Boy, that last pitch was some nasty cheese."

Ah, the nuances of baseball. They will soon be with us once again...

Make it Stop

If anyone has the power to end this month, please feel free to do so...

Dearest M

Someone posted a comment earlier today and signed their work as "M." (See "Momma's got a brand new bag")

I'm not sure who you are M, but I'm fairly certain you don't head up Mi-6... I'm also fairly certain that you either don't know me, or you don't know me very well. Please read the entry you commented on more closely. At no time did I claim not to grieve for love once lost. I am merely stating my confusion, and offering up an alternative.

Do not presume to be able to tell me I do not know what pain and suffering is.

Almost There...

Spring Training starts on February 14th this year. Valentine's Day.

I can't help but consider this to be ironic. I dread the coming of Valentine's Day every year. This year, perhaps more so. February is a difficult month in my life, and the coming of Spring Training each year is typically the only thing that gives me respite from the myriad other things that I can't get off my mind.

I cannot loathe the 14th of February this year. Pitches and catchers report, and the sign that baseball will soon return warms my heart despite the fact that this year's particular version of the nightmare on Valentine's Day fast approaches.

I hope the good outweighs the bad this time around, but I'm not terribly optimistic.

Pray for me this month...

The Trinity

Over the years many people have asked me what being Catholic is all about. Usually, the folks who ask believe the answer to be, "the rules." A structured faith, what a concept...

The answer, in my opinion, is contained in three very simple words: Faith, Love, and Hope.

As Catholics, we are called to be faithful. To believe in the Lord, and to trust in his plan. We are called to accept his will before ours, and trust that he will lead us wherever we should go, whenever we should be there.

As Catholics, we are called to love. We are called to imitate, as best as our human condition will allow, the Love that Christ showed us. To love our neighbor as ourself, and to love the Lord above all things.

As Catholics, we are called to be hopeful. We hope that one day we will be face to face with the Lord. We hope that all those who went before us await our arrival in paradise. We hope for better things in the Lord.

Most Christians who read these words will agree with them. Unfortunately, too many Christians, many Catholics included, treat their faith as a fearful thing. Nothing torks me like listening to a Christian propogate the faith using fear as a motivator. It sounds something like this, "If you want to avoid the flames of hell, you'll accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!"

Fear has no place amongst Faith, Love, and Hope.

Quote of the Week

"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better." - King Whitney Jr.

The Mind Killer

Of all the things in life that can motivate a person, fear is perhaps the most effective. The most amazing thing about fear, is that it motivates you to do nothing.

I'm not talking about the acute fear of being immediately, physically threatened. That kind of fear is fleeting, and clearly motivates almost anyone to quick action. I'm refering to a much more subtle, insidious condition of constant, paralyzing fear. The kind of raw emotion that makes even getting out of bed in the morning difficult. Everyone, at one point or another in their life, has faced this fear.

It would be wonderfull if we could snap our fingers and banish all of our terrors. Unfortunately, this problem is much too deep and complicated for a simple fix. Perhaps the most difficult part is defining the true issue at hand. Perhaps fear is not, in and of itself, the problem.

Every human being has fear, and anyone who tells you they have no fear is just afraid that you might think they are weak. Fear is a natural emotion, a useful barometer of our limits, and sometimes it can even be a fun rush. Fortunately, the good Lord gave us a tool against fear: Courage. Let us be clear on this much: Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the ability to act in the face of fear. I imagine we all wish we could be more courageous people. I wonder, however, if we have it within us to grant ourselves that wish...

I suspect that courage, or lack thereof, is the simple result of attitude. Perhaps even a conscious choice. A person in fear has two basic options: they can choose to succumb to that fear and be a coward, or they can choose to be courageous and fight their fear head on. A person can take the attitude that says, "It's too hard to try," or a person can take the attitude that says, "I'll never give up."

Which person are you?

Quote Of The Week

"In life we don't get what we want, we get in life what we are. If we want more we have to be able to be more, in order to be more you have to face rejection." - Farrah Gray

From the Airwaves

The other day at JFK we landed right behind Pakistani flight 711. That's right, the flight from Pakistan to New York, on Pakistani Airlines, is number 711. I don't care who you are, that's just funny.

A Roof Over My Head

When I set out to find a condo to purchase everyone told me it would be so much fun, and so exciting! What a crock of shit.

Buying real estate is a stressfull, complicated experience, and don't ever let anyone tell you different. There are 8 million different places to look at. 10 million different loan options. Interest rates, downpayments, percentages, amenities, appliances, etc, etc, etc. It's not exciting, it's nailbiting. It's not fun, it's more like torture.

Making decisions that will affect your entire lifestyle, financial security, and general state of mind for the better part of a decade is starting to stress me out... Can you tell?

Quote of the Week

"A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer. He asked her what she was doing. The little girl explained: 'I'm praying, but I can't think of exactly the right words, so I'm just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me, because he knows what I'm thinking.'" - Charles B. Vaughan

Momma's Got a Brand New Bag

There is an interesting social dynamic that occurs quite often between two people who used to date each other. Invariably, one or the other person will find a new mate, and very often, this will cause great consternation to the person who is still single. I am terribly confused by this reaction on the part of the still single individual.

I bring this up because I recently found out my most recent ex has kindled a new flame. The circumstances surrounding our parting some 6 months ago are superfluous to this musing, so I'll spare you the details. All you really need to know is this: The sum of her shortcomings is not equal to the sum of her talents, and even so, she is not the one for me. She is, however, deserving of a quality of life that has so far been denied her for various reasons. When she told me of her freshly inspired love life she was very cautious with what information she would divulge. It became clear after only a few moments of conversation that she fully expected me to either be angry or disheartened by this developement.

Here is why I am confused: It is terribly common for the person who decided upon ending a relationship to suddenly become jealous when another individual takes interest in his or her ex. There is a clear inconsistancy in this logic. If you broke up with someone, why would you care if that person has moved on? The fact that your ex has found a new love has not in any way changed any of the reasons you broke up with them. The addition of a significant other to your former significant other does not affect their personality or attractiveness in any way whatsoever. Why then, is it so often a difficult pill to swallow for the ex who is still treading water in the singles pool?

In some scenarios, I can understand the presence of resentment. An individual whose love is unrequitted will be understandably upset when their ex moves forward in a new relationship. However, the dumper never has the right to be upset when the dumpee moves on. You made your bed, now sleep in it.

There is always something positive, pure, and poetic about every relationship. No matter what the circumstances of the death of that relationship may be, nothing can take away the fact that two people shared something special between them if only for a short time. I suspect that pure selfishness motivates the often bitter precedings that follow a breakup. Think of the phrases so often used after a split occurs: "How can I live without you." "Who will take care of ME now?" "I don't want this to end." "Can't you see it MY way?" "Don't you love ME?" Perhaps we should all strive to face the end of our relationships in the same way we face the end of the life of someone we know. We remember the departed's shortcomings, celebrate their outstanding qualities, learn the lessons they leave us with, and above all else, hope that they will move on to better things.

Quote of the Week

"A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame no one but himself." - Louis L'Amour

Never Forget Your Roots

I sat next to a very attractive young blonde recently on my way to Chicago, and struck up a conversation with her. She was a very pleasant, well spoken conversationalist, and I was enjoying our talk until the following exchange took place:

her - "So how were your holidays?"

me - "Well, I worked all of the holidays."

her - "Do you always work holidays?"

me - "I worked all the important ones this year: Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years."

her - "Easter? Are you a Christian?"

me - "Yeah, I'm Catholic."

her - "Catholic? That's not Christian. Don't you worship the Pope and Saints?"

Rather than try to assuage her ignorance I simply unbuckled my seatbelt and moved to a different seat on board the aircraft. Unfortunately, after having had nearly this same discussion with several different Protestants, I no longer have the energy to challenge her reply with the facts of Catholic teaching.

It confuses me that so many Protestants have such a disdain and hatred for the Catholic Church despite the fact that every single Christian Religion on Earth is somehow or another rooted in Catholicism. Truth be told, of the 2000+ year history of Christianity, Protestants have only existed for about 500 years. Despite this fact, so many of them take far too much pleasure in condemning Catholics. In my experience, the great majority of their malice towards the Catholic Church is rooted either in arrogance, or ignorance, two words that too often go hand in hand.

Protestants refer to their movement in the early 1500's as the "Protestant Reformation." Catholics refer to the event more accurately as the "Protestant Revolution." I say more accurately, because at its core the revolution was mostly a political event marked by many rich midevil lords revolting against Papal taxes and indulgences. One must remember that the Catholic Church of the period was a powerful and currupt political machine, and therein lay the seeds of the Protestant Revolution to a far greater extent than any dogmatic difference of opinion. The movement gathered strength as more and more land-owning nobles seperated from the Catholic Church in order to avoid paying taxes to Rome. The teachings of Martin Luther and others like him would merely be historical footnotes were it not for the politicaly motivated support they received from powerful individuals interested entirely in personal and financial gain.

The end result of these bitter precedings from 5 centuries ago is that too many people who call themselves Christians carry themselves with a remarkably aloof attitude. Too many factions of what was once a unified faith have taken it upon themselves to refer to themselves as the only path to salvation. Too many hypocrites run around asking truly faithful people if they have been, "Saved." Too many people are too quick to cast judgement because of a 500 year old feud during which it was fashionable to hate and mock the Catholic Church.

Not enough people remember where they truely came from.

Quote of the Week

"Religion is meant to be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions." - Anonymous

What Is, Was, and Will Be

Many people try to look back at the year that was right around New Years. Personaly, I like to wait until the year is over, take a few days to decompress after working the holidays (as usual) and then take stock.

2006 was a great year:

Congrats to Russ and Staci, and Ron and Christine! Here's to happily ever after!

Congrats to the St. Louis Cardinals! WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

Congrats to my employer! It must be nice to make money for a change...

Congrats to the St. Louis Swingers! FALL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS!!!!!


2006 had its lows like any other year:

Tailwinds to the crew and passengers of Comair 5191

Tailwinds to Scotty, we miss you in the crew room

Still no sign of my future wife...


Some of you may remember (and the rest of you can look back and see) that last year I set but one professional goal for myself. That goal was to be hired by Continental Airlines. As the clock stroked midnight and ushered 2007 into the present, I was somewhere over northern Michigan headed for Marquette in my Eagle EMB-145. Apparently God had other ideas for me...

As for 2007, it has already been a busy year. So far I've been junior manned, been to Dallas for GPS training and a checkride, and found out that Rob has an interview. I hope the rest of the year doesn't race by at the same breakneck pace the first few days have established...

Quote of the Week

"A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities." - William Arthur Ward

The Truth Hurts

Good friends are hard to find, and sometimes even harder to define. Therein lies the rub. One can go for quite a long time before discovering the truth about one or more of their "good" friends.

In the most basic of terms, and at the risk of using a cliche, good friends are always there for you. It is an interesting and selfless phenomenon to see someone drop whatever priority they may have in order to tend to the needs of their friend (not their relative, mind you). Friendship, after all, is mostly about your friend, and not so much about you. Perhaps the most perplexing part of this dynamic is the fact that, "Being there," doesn't necessarily imply some great need on your friend's part. Usually, "Being there," is mostly about the little things. In fact, almost all of the time, it's the little things that count the most. Everyone has those friends who are there for you when something tragic happens. Great tragedy is easy to see, and it pulls at the guilty conscience when ignored. Any friend can tell that you need a shoulder to cry on or a pat on the back during times like these, and it's easy to be there for someone when these things happen. The best of friends, however, are the ones who know when you need them despite the absence of tragedy. The tone of your voice, or the slightest change in your demeanor trigger them into action. It's much harder to be there for your friend during the mundane, trying times that hit each and every one of us each and every week. It's an investment of time, and perhaps resources, and it happens so often. Flowers and a hug when someone dies is easy. A calming presence and the reassurance that someone cares after a long day at work is much harder.

Unless someone reading this blog is remarkably lucky, all eyes that peruse these paragraphs will call to mind 1 or 2 good friends that are there for you not just when it's most needed, but also when it's most warranted and wanted. 1, perhaps 2, amongst all the friends that you know. That is why these friends are so dear to us.

That is also why it is so crushlingly dissappointing when someone you thought was such a good friend turns out to be terribly average.

All of us could use another good friend, but how many of us are willing to be a good friend?

It is a time for resolutions...