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