About 200 feet in front of me, a hawk (maybe an eagle, I am not much of an Ornithologist), circled. It peeked over at me lazily as if wondering what I was doing and why I was up there. I hit the throttle to gain altitude and avoid the magnificent creature, but for a brief moment, I was reminded that I am doing something I have always dreamed of, soaring with the birds.
There are a bunch of good pilots that will fly often on Saturdays with good weather at a sod farm in Eagle Mountain. I actually took two trips, each for a bit under an hour. After the flights, we landed, chatted and had a small bbq. What a great time. I always learn a lot from the other guys. Even though most of them are a lot older than me, I don't feel like an outsider. There are such a limited number of people that fly PPCs that there is a pretty quick connection with others that own one. It is always fun to talk about little "events" or mishaps that have helped shape our experiences.
Sorry no pictures of the flight, I actually brought my camera, but when I took a test shot, it gave me a low battery warning and wouldn't take it. I thought it had a few pictures left in the battery, but I think the cold was too much for it.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Life is about the Journey
I am frustrated. I don't know exactly why. I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like there is something inside myself just waiting to be let out. Perhaps it is due to the stagnant economy, the fact that I am not in school anymore, or just loneliness. Whatever the reason, I need a kick in the pants. Not at groin level, mid-thigh would be fine.
I once heard Dennis Miller give a comedy routine (not appropriate for small children, or adults for that matter), that talked about how life was full of tiny doses of happiness. I think there is some truth to that, but I find that I need something to look forward to so that the daily routine has meaning and purpose. Whether it is a trip or event, those moments of hope give me a reason to stay motivated and happy.
I once heard Dennis Miller give a comedy routine (not appropriate for small children, or adults for that matter), that talked about how life was full of tiny doses of happiness. I think there is some truth to that, but I find that I need something to look forward to so that the daily routine has meaning and purpose. Whether it is a trip or event, those moments of hope give me a reason to stay motivated and happy.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I guess I started a blog
Why a blog? Why now? I have been a little too isolated lately and maybe this is my little attempt at sharing. It is cathartic for me to write down my thoughts and I am too lazy to keep a hand-written journal. This is also a way to track my progress and goals. Really though, I think the reason is that after a dozen or so years, I am no longer in school and I don’t feel productive if I don’t have some essay due.
First of all, a bit of a warning to anyone that reads this. I am not known as the most sensitive person. I will often use caution in what I say verbally but I do not plan on withholding as much in my writing. My reasoning is thus: I figure that this blog is mostly for me. In person, if you find me offensive, you may hesitate to end a conversation; whereas in reading a blog, you can always decide to stop reading. I won’t be offended…really. I won’t even know if you read it or not.
I do want to pre-apologize if I offend anyone personally. For instance, I am likely to mention my ex-wife. I don’t mean any offense if I paint a picture that isn’t perfectly rosy, but let’s be honest, we aren’t married now for a reason, but after 10 years, she was a big part of my life. No going around that one.
With that, I want to share what I am doing these days. The most important thing is just trying to stay ahead of things with the girls (I often refer to my daughters Abby and Ellie as “the girls”). I am not always the most patient person, but I do try my best. I am trying to focus on each day; I think I will go crazy if I think about how much I will affect their development over time. Luckily, they are very patient and forgiving. They like to play and constantly seek my attention. I love it and yet am overwhelmed by it. Part of that is because of my attitude and a consequence of not being more social with other people or families with children. The girls have befriended our new neighbors. There are three girls and one boy ranging in age from five to fourteen and they think it is fun to ride bikes together. It is a good start.
I have been exercising more than I ever have before. At first I think it was a way to release some emotion after my ex’s separation, but now I have really started to enjoy it. I look forward to the days I can go and play basketball or even go to the gym. If you have known me very long, you will understand the magnitude of this change of attitude. It has done me some good as I have lost about 15 pounds and have leveled off at right about 200 lbs. If I am exercising at home it is mostly in the form of jumping-jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, or even yoga poses while listening to either Nirvana or Metallica (When is the last time you heard that played in a yoga class?). Someday maybe I will even alter my diet. I have given up soda, not so much because it is bad for me, but mostly because I am cheap. I will still drink it if it is offered freely.
The other big change in my life is that I have started flying. About eight or nine years ago I took some flying lessons in a Cessna, but I gave it up after not having the time or money to continue it. Airplanes are expensive to own or rent, let alone maintain. About nine months ago I found a new hobby flying powered parachutes (PPC). What is a PPC you ask? It is a small go-cart like device with a big fan on the back that propels it forward. The wing is a parachute. It lifts off the ground similar to a regular airplane on a runway, although we often use farmer’s fields instead of pavement. It flies around 35 miles per hour. It is a fun, inexpensive, relatively safe way to fly.
I guess that is a good start for now. In the future I intend on writing about more specifics but I wanted to at least give some background because I haven’t been very good at keeping in touch with people and letting you know what is going on. I have lots more on my mind, but if I share everything I know you will surely be disappointed, so I will wait for another moment of introspection to continue and share.
First of all, a bit of a warning to anyone that reads this. I am not known as the most sensitive person. I will often use caution in what I say verbally but I do not plan on withholding as much in my writing. My reasoning is thus: I figure that this blog is mostly for me. In person, if you find me offensive, you may hesitate to end a conversation; whereas in reading a blog, you can always decide to stop reading. I won’t be offended…really. I won’t even know if you read it or not.
I do want to pre-apologize if I offend anyone personally. For instance, I am likely to mention my ex-wife. I don’t mean any offense if I paint a picture that isn’t perfectly rosy, but let’s be honest, we aren’t married now for a reason, but after 10 years, she was a big part of my life. No going around that one.
With that, I want to share what I am doing these days. The most important thing is just trying to stay ahead of things with the girls (I often refer to my daughters Abby and Ellie as “the girls”). I am not always the most patient person, but I do try my best. I am trying to focus on each day; I think I will go crazy if I think about how much I will affect their development over time. Luckily, they are very patient and forgiving. They like to play and constantly seek my attention. I love it and yet am overwhelmed by it. Part of that is because of my attitude and a consequence of not being more social with other people or families with children. The girls have befriended our new neighbors. There are three girls and one boy ranging in age from five to fourteen and they think it is fun to ride bikes together. It is a good start.
I have been exercising more than I ever have before. At first I think it was a way to release some emotion after my ex’s separation, but now I have really started to enjoy it. I look forward to the days I can go and play basketball or even go to the gym. If you have known me very long, you will understand the magnitude of this change of attitude. It has done me some good as I have lost about 15 pounds and have leveled off at right about 200 lbs. If I am exercising at home it is mostly in the form of jumping-jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, or even yoga poses while listening to either Nirvana or Metallica (When is the last time you heard that played in a yoga class?). Someday maybe I will even alter my diet. I have given up soda, not so much because it is bad for me, but mostly because I am cheap. I will still drink it if it is offered freely.
The other big change in my life is that I have started flying. About eight or nine years ago I took some flying lessons in a Cessna, but I gave it up after not having the time or money to continue it. Airplanes are expensive to own or rent, let alone maintain. About nine months ago I found a new hobby flying powered parachutes (PPC). What is a PPC you ask? It is a small go-cart like device with a big fan on the back that propels it forward. The wing is a parachute. It lifts off the ground similar to a regular airplane on a runway, although we often use farmer’s fields instead of pavement. It flies around 35 miles per hour. It is a fun, inexpensive, relatively safe way to fly.
I guess that is a good start for now. In the future I intend on writing about more specifics but I wanted to at least give some background because I haven’t been very good at keeping in touch with people and letting you know what is going on. I have lots more on my mind, but if I share everything I know you will surely be disappointed, so I will wait for another moment of introspection to continue and share.
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