Back!

Wow, well...it's been a long, long, long time since I've blogged. It's not that nothing has been going on, it's just that I have not been very motivated to write and I have been very, very busy.

Here are a few key points from the past several months:

• I got my private pilots license
• I changed flight schools and am now flying in Spruce Creek. It's closer, cheaper and I really enjoy my instructor. He has a lot of real world knowledge and seems to make the instrument training more understandable and manageable.
• I passed my instrument written exam and have just a few more hours before my check ride
• I went on holiday to South Africa...now my favorite place I've traveled to...so much so that I'm going back in 2009 and might possibly buy a house there.
• My grandfather passed away. It was expected, but not really...if that makes any sense. It was also a long, short road. Regardless...I'm sure he's much happier than he was living with a body that was deteriorating and not allowing him to live life as he wanted.

As I mentioned above, it's not long before I get my instrument rating and then from there I will finish up my commercial rating. I think I will probably finish up with everything in January. From there I will have to find some way to build hours in order to get a 'real' flying job. Most people become flight instructors, but this is plan B for me (anyone who has ever driven me around in a car can understand why I might not be too happy being passenger in a helicopter being flown by someone who has no clue what they are doing). At this point I'm hoping for a job flying tours or maybe photo flights...hell I don't know...anyone know someone with a helicopter that might give me a job??

Oh, I'm quite excited about my flight yesterday. It might not seem like much, but I landed at Daytona International Airport at max speed (90k) solely by instrument (ILS)...not looking past the control panel until I was approximately 20ft off the ground. This was the first time I've flown the heli that fast so the approach was a bit more intimidating than normal. I did good though. :o)

Today is NYE so Happy New Year to everyone! Ian's mom will be landing this afternoon for her long weekend visit. We will be going out to the Ranch for a sleep over. Mary Beth is preparing a big Moroccan dinner. Then on Thursday I will be taking my grandmother to a block party/meet and greet in her neighborhood (fun, fun).

I'm looking forward to a very productive 2009. I have lots of things in my life that I want to work on and improve. I know that the resolutions are always the same and usually short lived, but I'm going to try harder and actually ask my friends for help. I'm not a strong as always thought I was.

So, here's to a good new year!! Much love to all!!

I'm going flying, I'm going flying!!

That's right, I'm taking the next step! Monday afternoon at 2:00 I'm heading to the Orlando Executive Airport for my introduction and first flight with Roar (skydiver friend who is also an instructor at the school, Air Orlando). Hopefully, if all goes well, I will start school really soon. I don't know what the admissions is like there, but I WILL start as soon as possible.

I can not express how excited I'm am!!!!! :o)

Dreams, Goals, Aspirations: Ambition

This past weekend was our 6 year anniversary so we packed up the car and headed over to Tampa for a little escape and some roller coaster fun at Busch Gardens. We got a room at a nice B&B and made reservations for dinner at a place on the water (my camera totally hosed me and deleted all my pictures and started to give me an error message so no supporting pics for this blog).

Over dinner Ian and I got in a deep discussion about life and aspirations (mine mainly). I've known for a long time that I'm stuck in a rut. I work in a dead end job that has been sucking the life out of me for years and I don't really have any extra curricular activities that really get me excited anymore. Don't get me wrong...there ARE things that I dream about and would love to do...I've just never been one to follow my heart and that's where this blog is heading. Ever since I graduated from High School I've had a full-time job. I've always been responsible, I've always been good with my money and work hard to have the material things that I want and need. This, I suppose, was the way I was raised.

Whenever I consider things that I can (should) be doing to make my life more meaningful, I usually end up talking myself out of it. Where will I find the time, where will the money come from, what if I fail? I know everyone must ask themselves the same questions when making a big life decision, but I've never gotten past the what ifs. I know it's possible, I see people do it all the time...hell, I live with a man who is living his dream.

So, here it is. For as long as I remember I have wanted to fly helicopters (most of you probably already know this). My dream job used to be to fly for a TV station doing traffic reports. I've since changed that dream because I don't care much for the media or their (lack of) morals. I would HATE to be that helicopter flying around the DZ after an accident or around someone's home after a family member was murdered. Anyway, I digress, I still want to fly. And, one of the best helicopter schools in the country is less than an hour from my house and training takes less than a year...it is expensive though and I may suck at it. But with some help and support of my friends and loved ones...maybe I will make this dream come true. I've filled out the application, started retrieving my transcripts, and plan to sit down and talk to Trond (who is a current student at the academy). The wheels are in motion! Wish me luck! and kick me in the ass if/when I start to run away.

New Years resolutions

OK...so I've never really been one to make (or keep for that matter) New Years resolutions. This year, however, I'm giving it a go. My resolution for 2007 is to cut back on my drinking, go to the gym and lose a few pounds (23 to be exact).

One of the main reasons for the sudden decision to make this change is my grandfather. He can’t understand why I want to lose weight, and goes on to say that I’m “pleasingly plump”, “stacked” (oh yes he did!) and “big boned”. Those terms are nearly as endearing as the term I’ve axed from Ian’s vocabulary, “voluptuous”! My mom once commented to me, “you don’t eat that much, I don’t understand why you are so big…” must be your father’s genes. She always told me that my bio-father’s mother was a large Hungarian woman. Well, I think the genes that I got from my father have contributed to my weight gain, but have nothing to do with the “big woman” genes – my bio-father is an alcoholic.

OK – so until about a year or so ago I never realized how wine can affect your weight. Did you know that there is approximately 605 calories in a bottle of wine? Well, that’s nearly ½ of my daily calorie intake (if I did nothing all day, my body would need approximately 1400 calories to sustain: BMR). So, in all honesty, I’ve been drinking between a ½ and full bottle every night while I sit my fat ass on the couch watching TV (not to mention this is right before bed time!). This is worst that cramming my face full of cookies and ice cream before bed.

Problem #1 one, understood…problem #2…I don’t exercise. When it comes to exercise I am the queen of excuses. I don’t make shit up, but will easily grab on to anything to avoid exercise. I did, however, enjoy running but this came to an abrupt halt a little over a year ago when I started experiencing sever foot pain. Turns out that I have a Morton’s Neuroma. Relief from this ailment has not come easy – I’ve been to the Podiatrist, a myofascial release therapist, had cold laser treatments and most recently “the VooDoo lady” as Mary Beth has coined her. Her technique is some sort of cross between reflexology, acupressure, acupuncture and massage. She literally pokes you with a sharp stick (I thought Mary Beth was just joking when she said that)! The poke is quite painful, but we’ll see if I find relief…will blog more as the treatment progresses.

So, the point of this blog is…after a week and a half of spinning classes, sweating on the elliptical trainer and stairmaster and no wine during the week…I have lost 6 pounds! I’m actually pleasantly surprised and feel like I can get the next 17 off without too much misery! Wish me luck!