Break

We started the day Friday with homemade biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs with cheese, and orange juice, with Steve's parents joining us, and had ourselves a tasty brunch.

For awhile that afternoon Kaylee was sitting over there reading her book intently, I was sitting on my end of the couch reading my book intently, and Steve was on his side of the couch watching tv/napping intently. It's comfortable, sitting there in one room in quiet camaraderie, each doing their own thing, but together.

Kaylee has run out of books to read again. She hasn't learned yet to ration what she's got until she can get back to the library--not that I blame her. I'm still wondering if we should look into a book reader thing, like Nook or Kindle. but I think I'll chew on it a bit and worry about it after the holidays. :)

For dinner I'd gotten a whole uncut fillet at White's Meat Market, which Steve fixed up. It was Really Good. I had rolls, corn, fresh salad with veggies, and baked potatoes baked up slowly after being sliced and coated with a little butter and salt.

Unfortunately we got a text about a local plane crash while Steve was working on some food, so I went on the hunt to find out who. It ended up being the Cirrus over at Marion that one of our guys flies. Fortunately it was not him in the plane, but sadly the man who was in the plane had his two daughters, 19 & 20, and one of their boyfriends on board. He was a new private pilot, and he was taking one of his daughters back to college in Illinois. She didn't have to be back until Monday. The weather wasn't supposed to be very good Sunday, so it looks like he was trying to get them back a day early. Of course the weather wasn't very good today, either, up there. He ended up "scud running", flying around below too-low clouds, the weather was officially IFR up there, and witnesses saw the plane come out of clouds (he was not on an IFR flight plan and I don't think he was even an instrument rated pilot) shortly before they hit the ground. The parachute on the Cirrus didn't save them, and neither did all the fancy gizmos on the panel. You can't save people from themselves with buttons. He really didn't want to drive her up there 4 hours. What a hassle, right? So he launched in bad weather with a plane load full of innocent passengers. When he got in trouble, he didn't call up Chicago and ask for help, because he could handle it himself and didn't want to get in trouble. Or he was just too far behind to even think of it. He didn't turn around to the better weather back here in Indiana, because he was So Close to where he was going, and the hassle. And the links of the chain built to the end. None are new reasons for someone to crash, but it's more painful when they take their whole family with them. That poor mom. Furthermore, this was the third accident, and the second fatal accident, both on holiday weekends, by this same group of guys in the last three years. There are some good people in there, but that doesn't mean some self-evaluation of skills, training and judgment didn't need to be done much earlier. I feel so bad for the guys over there, and worse for the families of the guy who took too many chances...

Moving on, our Saturday was just right. Other than me not feeling the best, we had a truly delicious dinner with good company, hung out and talked and relaxed and enjoyed having a quiet holiday at home. Kaylee played her guitar for her grandparents, showing them the amp and the wobble bar too, Steve & Kaylee did a little jam session on the guitar and piano, and I loved listening to them cracking up and having a great time. I can play most anything piano by reading music, and Steve can play by ear. I always thought his talent was cooler. ;)

Steve and Kaylee have been wrestling today. She stopped the show for awhile when, under assault with sloppy kisses, she yelled "FLAG! There's no KISSING in wrestling!" Cracked us up. We are just spending the day munching on excellent left-overs, hanging out, and later this evening will be the dreaded homework finish-up (WHO gives kids homework over Thanksgiving break, you meanies!) For now we're watching the Colts lose, though they're doing better so far today anyway, sorting through books, reading, playing, and relaxing for the last day 'off'.

I just got an email from someone inviting me to attend a formation ground school they're hosting in February "towards getting a card". Let's see, that would be the how many-ith time I went to one of the ground schools? What good will that do me without the flying? I hate wasting my time and money...

Anyway, it's been a great weekend. I hope all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving break as well, and took the time to really contemplate those things for which you truly are grateful...