0A = ARUNK

The grueling month of May is drawing to a close. I for one will be glad to close the books on it. One day off, several 14+ hour days. We've only had one nasty delay, so that hasn't been too bad.

With the warm weather has come humidity, haze, and heat. It also brings the honeysuckle to bloom. I never recall it smelling so sweet in my life. Almost intoxicating. I've enjoyed it coming home from work late at night, but never like this! Perhaps this is the first true spring we have had in many years.

Memorial Day is done. Summer has "officially" begun in Baltimore. Ocean City estimates the number of visitors by the gallons of waste water they process. 1994 was the last time there were more visitors. I've never been an Ocean City person. Absolute no interest in spending time with a bunch of white trash from Glen Burnie.

I'm still looking for an employee. I have serious doubts that I'll get one in time.

Be good my children.

How late is late?

Today I'm recovering from a 26 hour delay, four hours of sleep, and several unwelcome phone calls. Not surprisingly it has changed the weekend. Tonight's turn has become a late night arrival
tomorrow- and a departure on Saturday. Tarnation!

It's been a while since posting last. This last week has been kind of a blur. Flights every day, as in more than one... odd hours, delays, and little sleep. The reality that there probably won't be a day off for the month. About 30 minutes ago I woke up from having fallen asleep by accident. So I should close, and get ready to go back to sleep.

What a dead boring life.

HELP WANTED, apply within.

Finally, I can hire someone. YEAH! Now, who? I've talked to one person already.

Three weeks of training in Leipzig, Germany. Training is paid as long as you pass.
10 year background check, and drug/alcohol testing. Interested?

They Gypsy Moths are here. My white car looked "like a Dalmation" according
to a friend this morning. I washed off the stuff with the hose- but need to wash
and wax the baby. The mats need to be washed (simple green them first)- and
a good vacuum job too!.

Three months and a week. Then I get to go on vacation. The drive is a bear, but
I do love South Carolina. Can't wait! The beach, the burn, and the fun I'll have!

Be good!

Busy, Busy, Busy

May is a full month here at the pit. Flying every day for the rest of the month save two. The "help" I'm getting is, well, not really help. Oh well.

On a sad note, Gail from US Airways has died. I didn't even know she was sick. There was never
a time I saw her that she didn't have a kind word, or something funny to say. She was such an
asset to that company. Gail lost her fight against cancer on May 2. I'll certainly miss her. Rest in peace friend.

Mr. Muskrat

Today I saw my first live muskrat. He was less than amused with me than I was with him.
His loss. The wildlife in the area is coming out of their hiding from winter. There was a button
buck, a doe, and a great blue heron in the park today. The tide was wayyyy in, the bay calm
as a pond, and no shipping traffic to be found. Imagine three hundred years ago when the first
explorers saw the Chesapeake Bay. It must have been awesome. I wonder who said " hmm, an
oyster, let me open it up and slurp it down." No thanks. Too bad most of the oysters and their
prowess for filtering the water of the Chesapeake are gone. Several years ago the Magothy River had a large population of false mussels. The water was incredibly clear thanks to their effort.

A visiting mechanic asked if the neon sign in my office was real. Please. What would life be without neon? I've flown half way round the world to see neon. There is a guy in the town I
live in that "rescues" old signs and restores them. Gotta respect a fellow for that. He must
spend a fortune on some of them.

I look and feel old today. Oh well!