Oh the places you go...

Summer, season finally....

2009-11-15T09:23:00.020-07:00

The humming bird action gets a little crazy in the morning and the evenings when these guys get hungry. You get an alpha male being a jerk running others off, one for each feeder. It gets interesting...

Busted, he later made an unintentional (riiiight), attempt on my life during his dogfight.

Warning: These are not Hummingbirds, they're worse.

Airshow ghosts of years past and the crappy ones of the present. The November Issue.

2009-11-15T08:43:00.015-07:00

Why do I need airshows when I get shots like this one my own?

Yeah sure, I get to get on the tarmac and see some of these.

And the coup de gras...

So what?

I've missed a couple of years of air shows. Had we not been completely disappointed in their flying schedule, we may have attended. However, this year seemed to provide a somewhat 'good' schedule, so we went. And we stood in line. In line some more. Missed THE biggest reason to actually go this year due to being in line. Stood in line fuming. In line some more, and more, then bus. Two hours later we step on to magic land. Hour and a half later we departed magic land, oh so disappointed.

What I was able to scavage out of the show.

BTW, If anyone can name these aircraft you'll get a million points towards nothing.

Ibiza. What do you eat with that?

2009-08-10T21:42:00.043-06:00

Back when I was a young aviation pup, 6 years ago or so, I had a professor who flew for NetJets, a company who flies around pretty people. We had the opportunity to go see one of their downed craft over at McCarren, on the side where all the pretty peoples' pretty jets sit (and where I was mere minutes away from seeing Brad Pitt at one point in time). Anyway, the jet this "professor" flew was a Gulfstream IV, hereby known as a G-IV, aka, my baby. It was propped up on jacks but it was there, waiting for me to exhale. He instructed us so each take a few minutes, climb in and check it out. I was amazed and felt blessed upon. As I lowered myself into the very cozy but somewhat militaristic seat, cogs were turning and dreams being made (as a cloud building, if you will). That was for you Beck.

That was thee very first corporate jet I ever sat in, and was nearly my last until by some divine happening brought me back into the game. Ever since that moment, I have been in love with my baby, and have aspired to one day fly it. I always have had trouble identifying when some thing would be enough, you know, when I 'made it". But in this world, flying that jet would be it for me. I could at that moment die truly happy.

Throughout the day and from some conversations that took place, my motivation has been renewed, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have real hope that one day I too could push a button and fly the plane. Opportunities are coming, and hard work may just pay off.

I see jets often, big ones, little ones, ones that make me drool. I'll look at a seemingly size able and capable jet and think its big. But this morning when there was a very sizable and capable one on the tarmac sitting next to my baby, there was no comparison, the G-IV is a monster. I judge jets by engine size and whether I could sleep in the engine compartment, usually a single sleeper.

I deduced this morning my baby could sleep a family of four and a half. Dog included.

... and that little winglet is about as tall as I am.

You just can't trust rookie photographers...

Anything that cruises at 450kts and can put me up to 8 miles above mother earth, I'm down. And VIPs, with that new job and all, you guys could easily afford $36mil, right? Ibiza, here we come!

BTW, Blanding, UT
Durango, CO
Monument Valley, AZ

Misplaced paragraphs, I don't care.

Where in the world is Carmen Lorena?

2009-06-16T21:38:00.006-06:00

Alright folks, we're going to play, "Where am I?"

Step one: view picture

Step two: guess the area

Step three: be told by the administrator you're wrong

Step four: never find out where these pictures are from

Freakin VIP

2009-05-08T22:02:00.003-06:00

Yes, this is how mine turned out, my first two pictures were so awesome, they decided not to post them.

Rules-

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search (http://www.flickr.com/).
b. Using ONLY the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Mosaic Maker. Change rows to 3 and columns to 3 (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php).
d. Save the image and post it on this note.
e. If you're tagged, pass it on.

The Questions-

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite color?
3. What is your favorite food?
4. Favorite drink?
5. Dream vacation?
6. Favorite hobby?
7. What you want to be when you grow up?
8. What do you love most in life?
9. One word to describe you?

It's about time, in more ways than one.

2009-05-08T21:31:00.008-06:00

First off, to my nephew, little man Kellen: Hello. Welcome.

Tessa, you look like you have to sneeze, and no, you didn't leave Bolt at my house...

Secondly; I finally, through some divine being, was able to fly in a G1000, all glass cockpit aircraft. It's amazing how great some simple things are when you're deprived for two years.

Rolling into some runways...

...and yes, it's about time for all of these to happen, including another post of mine.

'Bout Time

2009-04-09T20:55:00.005-06:00

Been a while since I've really been on a good flight lately, being laid off really put a damper on things. However, I have returned.

Had a great uneventful trip up north.
Utah Lake

Turned around and had another one to revive my true Taco Tuesday roots in Lake Powell,
this is no Del Taco folks...

I'm getting that itch to be on the lake again...

Easy as...

2009-02-26T15:56:00.001-07:00

...pie.

Provo on a Sunday afternoon.

Blast You VIPPERMAN!

2009-01-29T20:32:00.003-07:00

I've been called out, three times now, why must you make me think?

1. The first time I broke someones window while playing sports outside was a couple of months ago, I still maintain a non-guilty plea based on a witnesses statement, "there was already a crack in it".

2. I over analyze and think waaay too much about certain things. Geez, you'd think I'd have things figured out by now...

3. As an infant, my sister, at the brave age of 7, fought off a cow that was sure to eat me whilst on Assay Creek.

4. I like to keep everything else in my life, other than my room, clean.

5. I've beat Halo 3 a few times, it's a double digit number.

6. Totally have seen Air Force One, yes the real one.

7. Decided not to eat McDonald's for at least a year, despite the rumors of Ronald and I's engagement and ultimate break up.

8. I fear success and ultimate happiness, do they exist in my world? Who knows.

9. Women's shirts and pants are often too short for me, and frankly, I'm pissed.

10. I never really imagined completing college or getting married, that *might* coincide with #8.

11. I'm absolutely sure to rearrange the order of these notes before submission, can't have too many short ones together.

12. I loath country music and Carson City, the same amount.

13. I love my 80's music and ice cream.

14. Pretty sure I'll never get good enough to do things I want to do on a longboard, wakeboard, surfboard, and snowboard. I'm destined for mediocre and I hate that. But I can sure grease the hell out of 10 knot crosswind.

15. I used to yell into the country side on Becky's bridge by her house, unknown to her. Ha ha.

16. Buried my volleyball knee pads in lava rocks during 8th grade, that may have been the REAL reason why I didn't play. Ha ha. I do enjoy some beach volleyball though.

17. One day, I'd love to have more than $100,000 in student loans. I can eat, sleep, and breath sarcasm all day.

18. People underestimate my remembrance ability and abuse it.

19. I want to visit, and possibly move to Iceland despite their recent government problems, I'm going to pursue gnomes.

24. I don't want to count to 25.

25. I've been faster on a motorcycle than in any of the planes I've personally flown.

I got a new moving prop picture capturing device

2009-01-17T19:04:00.002-07:00

Oh the joys of taking pictures with a cell phone.

It never gets old.

JP-7 Preferably

2009-01-15T10:55:00.005-07:00

Citation into PHX

This is what I'm aspiring to, if the economy and world will give me a chance. Hell if I can get into something with cup holders and something that takes some form of Jet fuel, I think I'll be ok.

Willkommen 2009

2009-01-04T11:56:00.002-07:00

You know what 2009 will bring? A pile of poop. Ha ha, just read it.

#764

2008-12-18T21:23:00.005-07:00

Deadly icicles outside my window, pretty awesome, I know.

On the ice in the Arctic of Utah.

Reason #764: Hangar space.

Snow days snow days!

2008-12-17T23:27:00.005-07:00

There is something serene about the lights of Vegas at midnight, even if it was captured on a cell phone. Anyway, we desperately needed to go to Vegas before the "storm" hit, so the night before it's arrival we fled, as bumpy as it was. After being denied into Mccarren, we ended up in Northtown, we flirted with the idea of hitting Nellis AFB, but at this point I just wanted to go home.

Thankfully on the way back, we had an awesome tailwind, which bumped our ground speed up to 168 knots, that's 193 MPH for you groundies. You never get that in any normal conditions with the can I fly, we usually average 100, 110 knots on a GOOD day. Which should tell you how fast the winds were, cold front pushing it's way through. Oh, and never mind the blur, cell phone and turbulence.

Anywho, since that first initial storm last Saturday, every other day we get a gorgeous dump of new powder, usually around 4 inches. I made a snow angel before work yesterday and plan to make another in the morn. Ah, gotta love global warming, eh? If I haven't said it enough, this storm is awesome! They closed Vegas airports for a bit and diverted them up to SLC, we had an emergency divert come in to Cedar on their way to Northtown due to low fuel, ceilings were dropping fast, they made it just in time. Good times. Oh and they canceled school in St. George because Vegas is having the worst snow fall in 30 years (3 inches so far), they're just anticipating. I do love it, it's so exciting.

In case anyone was serious about my new VLJ (my toy, very light jet), the Eclipse. You can pick them up for around $1.2 mil, not bad considering they are worth $2.6. I'm just saying (clearance sale, they filed Chapter 11). But if you're REALLY REALLY serious, I'll take a Gulfstream, $20 mil on a good day, or a little cruiser Cirrus for $400,000. I'm pretty picky about colors too. I'll give you a ride, for free. Just pay for fuel. Ha ha.

Enjoy your holidays folks.

My list

2008-12-04T11:32:00.009-07:00

What I want for Christmas, any takers? They'll be on sale. December was lonely.

2008-11-29T20:12:00.008-07:00

I don't know how many of you have had an opportunity or patience to watch clouds build, generally they're slow and subtle. But on a moist and convective afternoon, anything is possible. The best seat in the house is obviously a mile above beloved earth, and only a few thousand few away from it. I could stare at clouds for hours watching them build, expanding effortlessly. Like smoke billowing out of some center, core of billowing possibilities. And of course it's miraculous ability to exude that very pillow, fluffy shape. As soft as they look, they're one of the most dangerous, like murderous bunnies.

The sultry air of the Tucson valley, yes sultry. Not sexy, just hot and sweaty.

Oh and I don't know what you all do on Thanksgiving besides eat your heart out, but we roll with fireworks, good ones. Come 'round for Christmas, we do the same.

#382

2008-11-19T19:38:00.012-07:00

On occasion, I find myself in odd places, not unlike I'm used to or expect when I travel. I love these places. I find better amenities elsewhere other than my home. For instance, the big screen tv with Dish, and my choice of four couches. Around the way, sleeping rooms (I avoided using restrooms due to the nature to think toilet), with an all comfy recliner and lamp stand, and hey, some of them have a bed.

Upon awakening or television rehab recuperation, I mosey over to the kitchen, with a refrigerator and a soda machine, can't get any better. Oh, free coffee and hot cocoa.

After wetting my whistle, I have a chance to do some dishes or use a highly technological looking Hamilton Beach toaster for my Pop Tart from home.

Finally, I make my way to the real restroom, you can't see much behind the free Listerine, but this room is very nice and has a shower in it, other places I've been to have provided toothbrushes and lotion, it was great.

Anywho, reason #382 in the count as to why I love to fly, great home getaways, places I'd almost pay to be in and use but get for free. Why? Cause people think I fly the big jet out front, haha. One day, one day. I've always said I feel like a glorified trucker.

Do I like to brag? Not really, it's just really fun and cool. I am willing to share.

#136, I get paid to do it...

Cloud Chasing

2008-11-11T21:35:00.002-07:00

My morning started out like this. Fog, a great threat to my flight which relies on VISUAL clues to accomplish maneuvers. It was moving easterly very slowly and then overtook my current position, my house. Feeling somewhat disgruntled at the situation, I continued on to work facing the inevitable, no flight.

It looks like smoke really, and I don't despise fog or any low cloud for that matter, it just ruins everything I ever try to do...

As it turns out, conditions permitted flight through these low clouds. Generally for our little carousel planes, flight into clouds usually is impossible due to the height of the clouds (and the lack of performance of our plane to go that high), or the fact that the low clouds are either associated with thunderstorms (summertime no-no), or icing (wintertime disaster). Occasionally, the planets align and fog is brought in with warmer temperatures, thin layers, and little icing. Horrible for visual flight, but perfect for instrument. You have to meet certain restrictions to LEGALLY fly into clouds and actually log it, kind of like chasing a unicorn, very coveted time for little pilots like we. Anywho, we did what we had to do, got a clearance and off into the great beyond we go! (I don't really like to use exclamation marks, this may be the only one, so enjoy it, gots to be proper sometime.)

This may be a long story, it was exciting and many picture were involved, enjoy.

This is how empty my paper started...

...and this is how full it became. When on with a controlling center, you have to abide by all of the rules and regulations and be in constant contact with people, a lot is being said, advised, amended, and informed to us, this paper has very little to do with that, ha ha. I was just a ghost writer on this trip. Most of what you see was time, position, and conditions of our flight. Decode it, I dare you.

Popping into the layer, enjoying the ride, taking in the scenery.

The other side of life, the escape, the getaway. I've seen those mountain tops hundreds of times, changing with the seasons, but seeing it on the other side of life, truly amazing. We only had about a 500ft layer, no ice, no turbulence, perfection.

We did end up getting some ice on the tires and struts around ten thousand feet in a thick cloud, was a bit bumpy but that's to be expected. 10 minutes in cloud will sometimes make you forget any training you ever had, it's funny really...

Many photos and a missed approach later, we come on in, clouds lifting, blue sky dominating, and our roller coaster coming to an end. It was a great morning to say the least.

It's a bug...

2008-11-04T18:33:00.001-07:00

Guess who likes airplanes (for a 3 year old anyway)? Yup, my niece Tessa, actually her younger sister Skye does as well, but she didn't accompany me to the airport to gawk at my colleagues' flat tire on the taxiway.

The Fourth of November, catchy ain't it?

2008-11-04T15:27:00.001-07:00

Yup, I voted this morning. It is my first Presidential vote, I wasn't peeing my pants in anticipation, however I do enjoy checking the race now and again during my movie marathon. Yes, it is a very important election, I will be anxious to see what will happen when the candidate I didn't vote for win, if he does. Maybe they'll change my views. But I will not, unlike many others in this country, be absolutely outraged if I don't get who I really didn't want in the office in the first place. Neither of them are absolutely fantastic, but it's what we have to work with, maybe I should have voted Green. Ha ha, I think they were both women, scary stuff...

Anyway, back to my first presidential vote, I had no idea I would wait as long as I did. The last vote I did cast I was in and out quicker than fast food, this time, a little longer, to the tune of going to Olive Garden on 'friday date night' in St. George, waiting for a table AND possibly ordering, yup, about that long.

All in all it wasn't bad in line, someone made a comment about being in the right line and I responded with a cafeteria quip (we were in a middle school). It was a nice chuckle had by all involved that ended and was never brought to life again, so then it got boring and I proceeded to do what I always do in public places, people watch, it was enjoyable. I learned that Fiji is the quintessential paradise/beach spot, even though the couple only made day trips there, they were on a cruise. When I go, I'm doing it full force, no cruise ship involved during my awesome vaca.

Approach

2008-10-09T20:06:00.002-06:00

It gets exciting even the third or fourth time.

One of the coolest trips ever (for me anyway)

2008-09-16T20:06:00.001-06:00

For our commercial ratings, we usually do a day VFR cross country to a little airstrip on the north end of Lake Powell. If you know me at all, then you hear of Powell all the time, so it must be pretty spectacular, right?

We usually start here.

And enjoy some changing scenery from mountains, to harsh desert. Then we arrive.

And here is what we have to work with, haha. Yes really. It's all in good fun, a little raised blood pressure, adrenaline rush. Yeah, it's awesome.

In the moment, you don't realize all of the hazards, but it's totally worth it.

The wingtips hang over the edge, there's a turn in the runway, and then there's this, the best part... It doesn't look like much, but there's a very rocky and prominent ridge on the other side, so we end up flying in-between these rock structures in order to land.