*giggle*

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Above the flight yoke in picture #2 is a bank of switches for L-R magnetos, main/alt power, avionics power, fuel pump, de-ice, pitot heat, engine cowl, panel/beacon/navigation/strobe/taxi/landing lights and the big knob is for landing gear... I must have two flanking monitors now...

Big Day, Big News

Making good progress on my resolutions.

#1 - I haven't purchased any "additional" meats during my grocery store trips! "Additional" because I have some left over stuff in the freezer that I eat once a week. It hasn't been difficult at all to not eat meat. And there is an added benefit of getting to savor lots of fruit. I thought it would be difficult to maintain on a trip to O'Charley's with my mom and sisters. Turned out to be an easy test...although EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THE MENU HAD MEAT. No kidding, every one of them. I had to special order spaghetti.

#2 - I got my job certification score and I passed the practical with a 96%! I sent feedback that it should have been a 99% due to missing a few vague questions, but am happy that I passed the first engineer certification. Next trip is back to San Diego from February 1st through February 6th. If I pass that, I go to Baltimore from February 22nd through February 27th for my final training class.

And most exciting...I'm going to flight school in March 2009!! I found a place that immerses you in training for 2-3 weeks. It costs $4,500 for hotel, plane rental, instructor, materials, your FAA checkride and written test fees. I will only earn a Sport Pilot license, but that allows me to do most of the flying I'm interested in. I can only fly during the day, in 3 mile visibility, no adverse weather and with only 1 passenger. The Sport Pilot license can later be upgraded to the Private Pilot license through bridge training. Sport Planes Florida

FIRST!

Welcome to 2009! (Yes. Yes I did back-date this post)

How I spent my New Year's Eve:

New Year Brings New Resolutions

I don't usually make yearly resolutions. Probably because I'm not one for traditions that seem baseless IMHO. I have a difficult time accepting that I have to do something just because everyone else is doing it and I thereby rebel against it. Like taking off your hat in 28 degree weather at an NFL game during the national anthem. Say what? How about we excercise some common sense here and show our love of country with caps on, eh? Whoa, tangential discussion.

NE-way, as the central theme of this blog is self-improvement, I think I will mark the start of 2009 with some resolutions. Here goes:

1. Put actual effort into finding a long-term companion. A lady and/or a dog. Online dating and the Humane Society here I come.
   Speaking of such, there is a beautiful, 1 year old, stray golden retriever at the city pound that might fill the second role. Either that or I may look into becoming a foster home for the Humane Society. (btw, I totally refrained from using the venacular for "female dog" in my and/or statement above. Although phunny (read again, insert venacular), it would have had an adverse effect on my finding the first of my list.)
2. Put actual effort into my career. I can not coast through a private industry career.
   What we believed, is true. Working in the private industry is much more difficult than working for the public good. It was easy for me to excel at the university with little effort. My perception of my performance out here in the private industry was shattered last week when I failed 1/2 of my job certification test by 1, single, solitary point. What happened? I thought that I knew it all. I thought that I would coast through certification. I didn't check my answers before blazing through to the next. Luckily, the first 1/2 (knowledge) and second 1/2 (practical) are averaged together. I am confident that I corrected this behavior on the second 1/2 of the test, but won't know until the instructor grades it.
3. Put actual effort into eating healthy.
   As I noted in an earlier post, I'm going to try to eat, mostly, sustainably. Can I block my predatory instincts and only...hmm, scratch that, "mostly" eat food that does not necessitate the death of the provider? "Mostly", because this resolution only applies when I eat at home. I will not be able to resist well seasoned meats when at a restaurant or at one of Steve's spring-time bbq's...damn you fatty, bloody, seasoned goodness. Hopefully, I won't be caught in a pasture munching on cow shoulder. What? It's still walkin'!
4. Put actual effort into flight training.
   I'm restless and need exhileration. I need to expand my horizons and see the country. I need to fly across Alaska and island hop in the bahamas. I'm starting flight training this spring. I have to budget $250-$500 a week for this though. Oishaboi. I'm going to start with setting up a flight station at home. I talked to the school in Nashville that I want to attend and the instructor says he definitely sees a difference between those that practice at home on a simulator and those that do not. One pilot friend of mine says that Microsoft Flight Simulator is so aerodynamically realistic that he would trust someone trained exclusively on it to take off and fly...but not to land. I have the rudder pedals. I'm going to buy Flight Simulator X, a flight yoke (with fuel/air/flaps levers) and an instrument switch panel.

Let's see, I'm sound financially, I'm content socially, spiritually I'm good, health I expect #1 will have an impact on. Hmm, just a few resolutions for now. There may be more as I encounter life's hurdles.

Truck Mod

The one thing I have always hated about my truck is the interior. There is hard grey plastic everywhere. It is just so *blah*. Here, take a look.


Sure, it's great if you need to pull in a hose and spray it down once a week, but i'm an "every-other-quarter type-of weekend-warrior". I need something softer, something to commute in luxury within. Here, take a look!


I'm wrapping this up at 1:30 am and I'm tired. Hopefully, it won't look as cheeky as I think it does right now. Some parts I really like, the center console, steering wheel, overhead bin and window/lock facings for instance. Other parts, not so much. Like the air vent surrounds. Still, it looks much better than the *blah* of before. Besides, the glue is soo strong that you are more likely to break the original interior before you would get the dash kit back off!

Landscaping In Progress

Due to having a sewer pipe crack within my basement cinder block, I had the opportunity to trim some bushes so that the excavator could get to it. I've been wanting to trim my spherical bushes into canopies for awhile now. Here is how it turned out! My next steps are to add mulch, some shade tolerant hostas, tall ornamental grasses, bulbs/perrinials/annuals and perhaps a japanese maple on the right.

The tricks of the mind

I got an amazing night's sleep and in my clarity of mind woke this morning contemplating life's mysteries. I've come up with some great conclusions.

Does the soul have fingertips? How might the spirit touch in absence of body?
Does the soul have vision? How might the spirit see without eyes?
Does the soul have voice? How might the spirit communicate without tongue?
Does the soul have ears? How might the spirit feel sound waves in absence of a tympanic membrane?
Does the soul have mind? How might the spirit process these senses?

Our perception of spirit is an after-image of the body, yet if a soul exists, the traditional form of flesh would serve very little functional purpose. Really any shape (such as spherical) would serve little purpose. Which is why I find it hilarious when ghost hunters claim they felt the touch, slap or punch of a hand.

What is the soul? Is it the self-awareness of touch, taste, sight, sound, smell? Why am I self-aware of only one body? What if self-awareness is a trick of the mind to preserve the body? One physical brain, one self-aware body.

Will another brain fool me into being self-aware again? I believe so. I'll be aware as me, as she, perhaps even as it. I'll be self-aware of here, of over there and perhaps even out there. I'll be self-aware of now, of later and perhaps...

Hating on Rollercoasters

I hate rollercoasters. Especially those giant wheel ones where you sit in a basket and it slowly rotates you to the top and then down the other side. I once told a friend that adrenaline is a benefit for most, but it just makes me nauseous. I feel the same about hot/spicy foods. For many people hot/spicy foods release endorphines. Not I. It just hurts.

Well rejoice! Today I noticed that I'm not totally impervious to endorphine releases/adrenaline rushes! While talking with another engineer about a corporate server issue, I surprised myself by verbalizing and realizing that my sub-concious has known and enjoyed them for more than 10 years. Tricksy sub-conscious, always hiding things from me.

I get my euphoric feeling when I am resolving computer issues. Everything else fades into the background and the issue becomes more focused. I get the warm blood rush over the skin, the increased heart rate, a lucid and logical thought process, the acute senses and fast reflexes. I can visualize the code flow floating just off my nose. I've done this several times in my current job and discovered software bugs with very little experience and no formal training. I now know what my super power is and what I must do. Now, what is my kryptonite (rollercoasters?) and who is my Lex Luther (Sam L. Jackson?)...

Postscript: Why Sam L.? Because I would look totally awesome sword fighting him in black leather on my rooftop during a stormy night.

As long as he doesn't strap me to a ferris wheel, I think I can win.

Must. Stop. Drinking. Lucas. Kool-aid.

WHY DOES LUCAS FEEL THAT HE MUST WHORE OUT MY FAITH IN HIM TO PRODUCE A GOOD MOVIE?!?! *pant* *pant*

I used charter on-demand to watch "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" today.

Flaw #1, no yellow, opening text scroll and the film starts on terra firma. wait. what. Strike one. How could you possibly get into the mood for star wars without reading scrolling text about the current state of the universe followed by red/blue lasers on a black backdrop?!? Fine. Hmm, it takes place between Episodes 2 and 3. I came into this thinking that it was the bridge between 3 and 4. Nope. The Emperor is still in charge of the galactic senate. Count Dooku is still the second Sith Lord. Skywalker is still a good jedi...and in the first 10 minutes he is given a Padawan. wait. what. Ok. Maybe the padawan that we haven't heard mention of in episode 3, 4, 5, and 6 is killed by the end. Nope. They are good friends throughout and the friendship and trust only grows until the credits roll. Fine. So what's their adventure in this flick going to be. Let's see, Jabba the Hutt's baby, Punky Muffin, has been kidnapped and the jedi agree to rescue it. wait. what. How does he let this stuff through? This is a plot a 15 year old role-player could have thought up. I can't go on.

My recommendation. Pirate this movie. Pirate it hard.

I'm going to go rinse with some Peter Jackson.

Consuming Life

Does anyone else find it odd that most life survives by consuming the life of others? Somewhere right now, a falcon rips open the belly of a rabbit. A cheetah digs its claws into a fleeing impala. A dolphin feeds on a bait ball of sardines. Even the deer uproots vegetation to quiet its hunger. Only the plant survives by not ending the existance of another. Can a human survive on by-products alone which don't kill our sustenance (milk, cheese, fruit/vegetables, sunlight)?

Phantom Sensations

Ever feel that phantom cell phone vibration? I wonder what causes that? Is it the anticipation of a call, the longing of contact with another person? I must really need interaction as I'm starting to hear my GPS randomly tell me to "Turn Left" while driving even though I don't have a destination programmed in. Is my GPS leading me to my destiny? Perhaps the next time I hear the phantom instruction I will follow and see where it will lead!

Today, it is finally tomorrow.

I am a level-capped procrastinator. Every task that I need to do now, I put off until tomorrow. You know, the problem with this is that, with very little work, tomorrow never arrives (see what I did there?). Projects and tasks can get pushed back to tomorrow ad-infinitum or until the very last minute where I have to scramble to finish (or worse, abandon the project). I've lied to myself for many years thinking that I work best under-pressure. In actuality, it cripples any natural talent that I have. Imagine all the evil good that I could accomplish if I started projects early and reviewed/modified/grew the task over time! The world would see my genius and dispair rejoice! An illustration of my indispensable greatness! (click the zoom button to read)

WELL, NO MORE! Tomorrow starts TODAY! Well, it really should have started yesterday, but I decided to put it off until today (really...yes, I have a real problem...) Regardless! There will be no more looking forward to 5 pm or towards making it through Wednesday, or with an eye on Friday. Instead, I will turn my focus about and look backwards. What did I accomplish over the last hour? How did that help me reach my life/career/hobby goals and objectives?

Here are my goals and objectives:

Life:

• Maintain a clean and healthy home
• Be good to family and friends
• Stay financially sound and on track for retirement

Career:

• Provide excellent customer, technical and peer support
• Pursue educational and advancement opportunities

Hobbies:

• Enjoy the journey in Lord of the Rings Online (No way I would give up my #1 hobby!)
• Rebuild my Honda del Sol
• Learn to play Saxophone
• Start Flight Training

A life a little more done

I had an epiphany while emailing a friend today. A tough, but rewarding career is really the perfect career. A tough career will keep you from becoming bored and complacent. A rewarding career keeps you looking for new challenges. I currently have a tough and rewarding career. Yay for me!!

I give up

I purchased a fun sized bag of doritos while out during lunch today. I've noted it before, but decided to look at the serving size again. Hmm, fun sized is enough for 4 people. 11 chips per person. No way there were 44 chips in a fun sized bag of doritos. NE-way, my next thought was, you know, let me just eat 11 chips and put the rest away for an afternoon snack. 20 minutes and one bag later I realized fighting the junk food industry is HOPELESS! These dang manufactures intentionally make junk food addictive. There is no way to escape the marketing they spend BILLIONS on per year, but then to load products with seasoning, and salt, and sugar, and crunchy-goodness, and possibly heroin is just criminal. TV and junk food. Corruption of mind and body. I wish I could quit you.

Considering a companion.

I've been wondering over the last 6 months if I needed another living creature in my house. Something besides the spiders that I capture, release, only to capture again. This afternoon I went to the Humane Society with the intention of only getting the application and determining the cost. Let me tell you that Humane Society workers know what they are doing. After I remarked that I'm considering adopting, there was no sales pitch, no here are the costs or an introduction to what the Humane Society does. It was, "Let me show you the puppies." You know, the ones in the small cages with eager but sad puppy dog eyes. "Hold on." I said, "First, let's talk about the application process." So after explaining how adoption worked, I decided to take a quick peek at their dogs.

Miissssssttaaaaaaaaakke. I was greeted by a 10 month old, pure bred chocolate lab that bounded upon the cage door when I walked around the corner. Do I need a dog? It would be nice to have something to motivate me to walk/run everyday.

Do dogs like seaplanes?

I shall call her Seawolf...

http://www.iconaircraft.com

It only costs about $3,000 to get a sport pilots license. The restrictions are speed (<130 mph), altitude (<10,000 feet), weather (only on clear days), time of day (no night flights). There is no restriction on range. I think this would be awesome to fly up river and camp every night over a week.

Reply to all...

Ever accidentally email a company of 40,000? I didn't, but someone else did today. What's remarkable is what happened next... A string of "reply to alls" that 1) notified the user that they "replied to all" and 2) asking the user not to "reply to all", which lead to others "replying to all" asking those users not to "reply to all"...this could go on forever. I'm starting to fear for this organization.

Google Reader

http://reader.google.com

Anyone else use this? It rocks! About a year ago, I found that I was wasting alot of time browsing to my favorite sites sequentially. Google's RSS aggregator allows you to point to the RSS feeds of all your favorite sites (including blogs). You then only browse to Google Reader to see articles. I found today that since Google owns Blogger, any blogs your 'follow' are automatically added to Reader. Here are the sites I keep up with through Reader.

IGN PC - http://scripts.ign.com/rss/ign.PC.2.0.xml
Gamespy PC - http://scripts.gamespy.com/rss/gamespy.PC.2.0.xml
Massively MMO Gaming - http://www.massively.com/rss.xml
MMORPGDOT - http://www.rpgdot.com/team/rss/rss13.xml
Tobold's MMO Blog - http://tobolds.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
MMORPG - http://rss.mmorpg.com/rss/mmorpg_news_rss.xml
Kill Ten Rats - http://www.killtenrats.com/?feed=rss2
Heartless Gamer - http://hgamer.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
AFK Gamer - http://afkgamer.com/feed/rss2/

Life Lessons

• If your lawn mower is sputtering, the gasoline station probably isn't cutting the gas with water. You should check your air filter for obstructions.
• If there is a thick, fishy odor coming from your dishwasher, it probably isn't the dishwasher. You should check your p-trap.

Now if I could only sticky this.

Hmph...who knew

...that this self-motivation stuff is deceptively easy. The tricky part is...well, getting started. (See what I did there?) I patched my roof today! I can cross that off the undone list. I think I am self-motivated enough to watch Cops and America's Most Wanted now.

WHOOPS! Right after I let Jen's dog out.