Poison Poppies

Sleep. Can't seen to get enough of it. The heavy schedule and
repeated delays are getting to me. Last night I was gone by, oh
say 2145. It was too much to keep my eyes open - T.V. on with
no sound, and the laptop fired up. Both went nighty-night, and
so did I.

The nephews come home this weekend. They have been gone for
two weeks. Obviously I miss them, they are anxious to get home
too. Each in their own way are the neatest little kids I know.

A couple of days ago I finally got an email from Sebastian. He is
in fact NOT dead. Like the rest of us, he's going through some
changes. Poor kid. (Although he isn't a kid, he'll be 30 this year!)
Life is never easy, is it?

Today I'm listening to some retro 80's station via iTunes. They
are playing stuff I don't remember, which leads me to believe
it must be a British station. Another song I don't remember is
coming on now. ???

Pete Wadsworth lost my brand-new sunglasses over the weekend.
He was almost dead in the sun. I let him borrow them- and gone.
Now I get to go hunt for a new pair. They were really nice too.
The moral here is don't let Pete borrow your glasses.

Okay- we have too many folks in the shop with no Airport ID's
so I need to go baby sit.

Bennie, Betty and the soft shelled crab

It's been a long week, and it's only Wednesday. No, it's only Tuesday.
I think... yes, Tuesday. I'm tired, worn down, and ready for a break.

Today I met with some old friends in Centerville on the Eastern Shore.
Odd, no matter how much things change, some things stay the same.
It was as if we had just all been together last week. None of us ever
thought we would be so far apart. Florida, Texas (not a total surprise),
and Maryland. funny how we met on such foreign turf! Now, I'm sort
of sad: maybe because I'm so tired, maybe because I know we may never
be together like that again.

Right now I feel lost. I've wasted so much of my life!

Time On Earth

Way back in 1987 when I move to the 'dena (hon), I heard
a song on 98 Rock. It was by a group I'd never heard of
Crowded House. The song was "Better be home soon." It
was like the song was written for me.

Obviously I went out and got the album (Temple of Low Men)
and played it to death. Played it when I was happy. Played it
when I was sad. Then I got their first album, which was self
titled "Crowded House." Played that to death. There are some
incredible songs on it. Finally album number three arrived on
the scene. "Woodface" was another album that was a constant
player. Happy, Sad, hot, or cold it got played.

Finally "Together Alone" came out. It was tuned more for their
native audience in Australia/New Zealand. While there were
songs on it I really liked, it was well, just okay.

Then they broke up. Travis sort of took their place, but I still
played and played the albums I loved. One of the band members
hanged himself several years ago. The whole thing was so sad,
and sealed the fate of no reunion. No going back.

This year they reformed, rebuilt, and rebounded. A new album was
to be released July 10. "Time on Earth" is it's name. I've had it
two days, and have played it to death. One song in particular that
just does it for me is "English Trees." I must say that this album
has made a crap week tolerable, and made me smile more than
any other thing this week (maybe even the entire year)- It's like
welcoming an old friend back that has been gone, as in missing, no
contact, for morethan a dozen years. Funny I can tell you where
each album was purchased. This one came from Amazon!

Today being Friday the 13th lived up to it's reputation. It was horiffic.
The freighter never left. It broke. Twice. The MD-11 left late, while
the arrival was early- and they were on opposite sides of the cargo
area. When I came home I smelled like a combination of diesel,
kerosene, sweat, and turbo-oil. YUM! We're gonna try again in the
morning, so I need to go to sleep.

..........and thank you to you-know-who for making things right today!

Fried Gatoraide

The heat in B-more has been quite intense. Yesterday I went
through 4 liters of gatoraide. Today I have been chasing mechanics
around to get them to drink. I remind them "you're no good to me
dead."

Yesterday morning I thought the house was being attacked.
This morning it was as if a giant robotic woodpecker was attacking.
The roofers were up there working. I had forgotten they were
coming. The new roof will be a lighter color to attempt to deflect
some of the heat of summer. I wanted white. No one else would go
for it. Most of the lights have been replaced with CF bulbs. They
produce less heat in addition to saving electricity. Every bloody
dime counts!

In just about a month I go on vacation (I prefer the European term
"Holiday") to Beautiful South Carolina. The drive is a bear, but ahhhhh
the peace and quiet. The beach, the just "being away" factor.............
The family condo is so nice! There are a few changes I plan this trip.
We'll see.

Okay- the storm us upon us- so I'm gonna pull the plug on this thing!

Hey Groundhog: You're dead!

Yes! I mean that. That bugger ate the leaves off of my pepper plants.
The next day, he ate the peppers. He's nibbled at the flowers too. Now
the question is this: Poison him, or trap him? Either way, he's gone.

The fig tree looks GREAT lots and lots of figs. The kohlrabi all look good
too. Soon, I'll be able to harvest a meals worth. Tomatoes are in top shape
too-------and the farm stand has corn! The fruit this year has been great.
Last week I lived on fresh fruit.

We've all worked really had this week. Today was catch up on paperwork
day. Bills, landing reports, supplies, the whole thing. Fortunately all of it's
done. Thankfully all is gone.

Peter Wadsworth has been a very bad influence on me this week. I'm so
thankfully to him for it. It was good for me. Now if I could have some pizza
or a really bloody steak, I'd be even happier!

Hurry up vacation!

Welcome, July.

No, I don't mean that!

Tonight after sunset the clouds had an odd red glow to them.
It reminded me of the back ground in the "Hall of the Presidents"
in Disney World. It's been a long time since I was there. My
last Did-knee trip was with Seb. (by the way, you are dead, aren't
you??) It's been 5 years since setting foot in Florida, and I was
ready to build there. Now, I plan on looking for something in
South Carolina.

My brother and nephews drove back from Murrells Inlet today.
He was there 4.5 days. Who drives 8+ hours for a trip that short?
I tell 'ya, I can't wait to head there. The beach, the quiet, the local
seafood, and just to be away. It's still a ways off- but I can feel it
coming!

The famous DC-10 (N14075/351) returned to service tonight.
I kind of missed her. Nothing, NOTHING flies like a DC-10.
While I love the MD-11's. . . . the 10 is still special to me. To
think there will never be another tri-jet is really sad. The next
deal will be the 787. The engines on that bird are HUGE! They
have chevron nozzles on both bypass and hot sections. Can't
wait to see one in person!

Okay, be good. More later!