June Gloom in July/August

The marine layer is in again but the ceiling is high enough so I can see planes flying during my morning walk. I slowed my pace from 92 sps (steps per second) to 91 sps. It doesn't seem like much but it really allowed me to finish the walk without stopping to rest.
I passed 3 Minis and 2 CRVs today but only one cat who watched quietly as I walked past. But there was at least one car blocking the sidewalk on each block. I still chuckle when I think of Rick's suggestion that I beat on the hood of the car with my cane and scream at the top of my lungs until they move the car.
Cars blocking the sidewalk may separate us but we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Rock 'n Roll in Fullerton

I had meditated, medicated and finished my walk. There I was chilling out when the Great Earthquake of 2008 hit. It rolled back and forth for a few seconds. Tigger the cat had eyes the size of pie plates and Budda just looked at me as if to say "What the Hell was that?" Poor Shadow, the dog next door was telling the neighborhood that something had happened.
This is the sixth or seventh major earthquake I have had the pleasure of experiencing. It never gets easier. Each tine is a complete surprise. Simi Valley and Northridge in SoCal and the World Series Earthquake in San Francisco in 1989 ( I think) are the most memorable. The SF quake was spectacular because I viewed it from the Headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge from the burning city while simultaneously seeing the fires in the East Bay. The wood frame 2 story house next door to my abode was moving 3 feet back and forth but Sausalito held up pretty well.
No damage from this one that I can see so it was just another E ticket ride in Southern California.
All that shaking reminds me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

What a weekend!

Old friend Mike Story and older friend Tom Conklin, both Finnigan alumni drove down from N. Cal to visit. I have seen Tom on and off over the years but haven't seen Mike in 40 years. We talked about people and events I haven't thought about in years. Mike brought pictures of all the equipment we worked on while we were at Finnigan. All in all a memorable weekend. Thanks guys.
This morning I upped the walking pace from 90 to 92 steps per minute. Not a great change but it forced me to work a little harder. It sure gets tough towards the end of the walk.
The added 2 steps per minute proved once again that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Weaning from the cane and a visit from old friends.

I'm trying to walk further and further without the use of the cane. So yesterday I started off carrying the cane and reached the half way point in the walk and had to sit down for a few minutes to rest... but I didn't use the cane. It did help on the second half though.
Today I started out carrying the cane but a block into the walk Laura (Homeland Security Agent) drove by so we chatted a while. After we parted I forgot what I was doing and walked off using the cane. So I carried it off and on throughout the walk. 42 minutes... not bad.
A visit from Finnigan Founders Tom Conklin and Mike Story is planned for the week end. Although I've seen Tom off and on over the years, I haven't seen Mike in nearly 40 years. I should turn a plane upside down more often! (Just kidding Deb)
Walking without a cane serves to remind me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

June Gloom in July?

It's 8 'clock in the AM and the weather looks like rain. (in California?). Since it's Saturday I have nothing scheduled and with the weather the way it is maybe I'll go to the movies today.
Yesterday I got back to the Pietenpol rib building and glued the top and bottom pieces and a few of the cross pieces in place. Maybe I'll glue some more today.
Sitting here while weathered in reminds me that we're all on this (non) flight together.
Dick

Varations on a theme.

I notice when I walk that each day is different. Some fellow travelers walk/run every other day. Others once a week. I noticed one day last week during which I saw 5 or 6 cats out wandering. Usually I don't see any. Last Saturday it seemed was populated by dog walkers. It can't be the time of day because I leave the house between 7:00 and 7:05 a.m. every day.
I'm carrying the cane for about 30% of the walk now. It gives me a feeling of elegance.
That elegance shows that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Not much changing.

Last week when I visited All Saints rehab, I was driving home on the freeway when I blew a tire. It sounded like a shot gun going off. Praise be to AAA and a plethora of tire stores.
I carry the metronome on my daily walk It keeps me focussed on maintaining a fairly rapid pace. I think I'm using a pace that makes me stretch a little because I have difficulty keeping up the fast pace for the last block or so. I haven't been doing a second walk in the afternoon because it's been too hot. But then WWDD? (See July 6 entry re Dara Torres)

Even when we're separated by thousands of miles, we're all on this flight together.
Dick

All Saints visit

Today was the day for an All Saints visit after my morning walk. Don't ever believe that traffic has been lighter since the dramatic increase in gasoline prices. The 5 freeway was as crowded as ever. The trip to North Hollywood took nearly two hours. But patience finally got me there. John Paul was not in with his normal sartorial splendor but I left word with his secretary to give him my regards as I headed off to the innards of the facility. Before I even got inside there was 'Me amigo' in the parking lot. Then there was the PT lady and David, my soul mate of sorts. Everyone remembered me and my name as El Stupido Piloto. The nurse who carefully removed my trach and there was 'Hey Good looking" and others whose function and service I remembered but my brain failed at remembering names. Oh well win some lose some. A great visit marred only by my consistent blubbering. I really thought that energy was gone but I guess not. Tears of gratitude.
Then a short but good visit with Deb on the way home. Drop off some stuff and pick up thhe residual mail and such and once again "Thanks Deb" it wouldn't have been the same without you.
All in all a good day with good people.
Tomorrow? Who knows what it will bring?

Today was a reminder that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Troubled bridge over still waters.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of a dental appointment. She found I had a bridge broken in my mouth, apparently broken in the incident. No end of the discoveries. We talked about the accident a little and I broke down crying again when we got to the part Deb played in my recovery. Thanks again Deb! I'll get over it some day. How's that for the title of a country song?
Recovery proceeds on course. The daily walk is completed at 90 steps per minute and I am getting stronger by the day.
The increase in strength goes to show that we're all on this flight togethe. Thanks for being there.

Dick

Teleprompting and Dara Torres

I compelted the morning walk at 90 steps per minute but broke no time records.
Several years ago I teleprompted a female swimmer named Dara Torres who was in her mid-thirties then. Names and images of most of the people I've prompted over the years have faded long ago. But I'll always remember Dara. A tall drop dead gorgeous woman. Ordinarily when the person is performing, the crew generally go about their business. When Dara spoke her part, the male crew all lined up to watch like a bunch of horny thirteen year olds. Anyway, I tell you that to tell you this... Dara had won gold medals swimming in the Olympics. Now she was planning a run at the 2008 Olympics in China. Bless her heart. She has won and set new world records in the 100 meter and 50 meter Olympic trials this week. She did it at the tender age of 41! And still looks great. When the going gets tough now I think to myself: WWDD? What would Dara Do? Bye bye Tiger Woods.

For those interested:
She competed in five Olympics: 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008. She will compete in the Beijing Olympic Games in the 100 meter freestyle event.

She has won nine Olympic medals, including four golds, and won five medals alone in Sydney in 2000, the Games in which she was the eldest member on the team with her 33 years. On August 1st, 2007 at the age of 40 (just 15 months after giving birth to her first child), she won gold in the 100 meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, her 14th win at these events. She then followed that up on August 4th, by breaking her own American record in the 50 m freestyle.

Nice people deserve nice things.
Being reminded of Dara's competitive spirit leads me to conclude that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Two steps forward and one step back.

Today was the one step back. For some reason even half the walk was almost too much. Physical or mental? Who's to say. I slogged along at about half speed and barely made it home. Oh well tomorrow is another day.
Last night I was fast asleep at about 2 in the am when a loud blast went off sounding like it was right outside my bedroom it was accompanied by a bright flash. Oh right... Fourth of July (on the fifth).
I'm writing this listening to KPFK and Alive and Kickin'. Bluegrass and Old Timey music. Bless Mary Katherine Aldrin.
Listening to bluegrass music confirms that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth fo July to all you patriots out there.
I set the rate at 93 steps per minute on my walk this morning. The 3 extra steps each minute pushed my endurance but I figure if I can do 93 with a stretch I'll be able to do 90 c0mf0rtably every day.
If we can make it through the day we'll know we're all on the flight together.

Dick

Now I'm really moving along

I've been doing the morning walk at 90 steps per minute. This morning I increased the rate to 93 steps per minute and stressed lengthening the stride while standing more upright. But 37 minutes around the course is a new record!
I had planned on visiting the All Saints Rehab Center today until I realized this is the day before a major holiday. Not a day to transit the 5 freeway. Next week I will go.
Reading the paper this morning I noticed a play being advertised in LA. The name is "Dog sees God". That is a palindrome.
Backwards or forward, we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Pietenpol Progress Ruminations

I've been spending a few hours in the morning working on the Pietenol ribs while it's still cool. Each rib consists of several short internal braces which get glued into two long pieces. Then gussets are glued and nailed in place using small brads at each intersection on one side and repeating the process on the reverse side after the gussets on the first side dry. There are 14 gussets on each side which must be cut from the outlines on 1/16" plywood and each piece having its edges sanded with the rotary sander before being fastened in place. Very labor intensive... very Zen.

Dick

Terra Cotta Warriors.

Yesterday after my morning walk I went to the Santa Ana Bowers Museum at which currently is an exhibit of Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors. These are part of thousands and thousands of individual warriors made of clay sporting the latest in armor and weaponry. All this found buried in remote Eastern China only a few years ago. In addition carts were made and horses to draw them. A remarkable feat intended to guard the Eastern border after the Emperors death. It was a chance to see these rare items seldom seen outside China.
I continue to walk with the metronome in the morning for the full walk and the iPod in the afternoon on a shorter walk. The pace is 90 steps per minute and slowing to 80 steps per minute sometimes toward the end of the walk.
The Chinese Warriors from thousands of years ago standing tall show again that we're all on this flight together.

Dick