AnnaMae makes me happy!

My friends Matt and Karin's daughter makes me feel so happy. I miss my friends.. but I also terribly miss being a part of their daughter's life. I am so happy for digital video. I give thanks that Matt and Karin document so much for us all to see. Any time I feel down I watch AnnMae discover the world with fresh eyes. Reminds me that the world isn't harsh... it's beautiful. Us adults screw it up. The joy of a human discovering how paper crumples is such a beautiful thing. I can live so far away and still watch her grow... damn that makes me happy to be on this planet today. So don't you think she is a doll. Just look at her smile... damn she is adorable. Nice pig tales too might I add! Although we might have to curb that shoe habit... like mother like daughter. OH WELL!

Cross Country flight from Alexandria, LA to New Orleans, LA

So yesterady I flew from my dad's house to my mother's house. Almost 200 miles. It was my most challenging flight to date. I left Alexandria at 7 am and flew for 4.9 hours with 4 stops at various airports.



I landed in New Orleans around 2pm. At one point I realized my fuel consumption was higher than expected so I put her down on a farm to refuel.



Around noon the air got hot. When the air gets hot thermals create quite a lot of turbulence. To add to my challenges I encounter quite a bit of prop wash while flying under Class B airspace in Baton Rouge. Class B airspce is reserved for Commercial aircraft. Nothing like getting whipped around from turbulence created by a commercial jet. It's kind of like flying a kite in a hurricane. Curious how comfortable I am becoming as a pilot. I never got scared... but hooted and hollered a lot like a Cowboy on a bucking bull. Lots of woohoos to say the least. My arms became increasingly tired fighting the controls to stay on track. Quite the work out. Like being in the Gym for several hours. Getting close to New Orleans I flew over the mighty Mississippi river.



As a kid I was alwasy scared of the river because if you fall in chances are you will meet your maker. So it was quite cool to be flying over it in a kite with a lawn mover motor. I buzzed huge tankers coasting down the river. I flew over giant bridges that seem mammoth from the ground.



Finally on arrival to my destination I was tired. The airport came into view. Crap! the runway looks similar to the tiny tree lined runway at the Flying Crocodile hotel. This was gonna be a challenging landing from rotors swirling off the trees and I was worn out. So I turned final.. I could see my mom at the end of the runway. Was she gonna see my drop this trike in a sloppy set down? Surprisingly my skills are getting quite good. I set her down gently despite rising and dropping in the wind. Ahhhh I made it. It was a good accomplishment for my ego. I think my smile says it all. That is not the peace sign I am flashing... it is "V" for VICTORY! And you can see I am quite tired.