Camel Day

The weather didn't allow my poor student trying to get ready for a checkride to go fly this morning.  This is worse because tomorrow I'm gone all day on a MBros flight, and Fri-Sun is an aerobatic competition going on out at Kokomo, making it tricky to be able to go fly.  Her checkride was Sunday and she's moving it to Monday.  On Friday she moves to Terre Haute to go to flight school at Indiana State University. She needs to pass this ride the first time...

My second student for the day hadn't flown in a month, since his first solo, but he came back today and did just as good as ever, so I sent him back out on his own.  His grandparents were there.  His grandma was so nervous she sat in the car and refused to watch.  His grandpa was also very nervous, and sat outside the FBO next to me, half watching and half afraid to.  I talked to him the whole time, and explained to him what his grandson was doing and why and when, and told him what nice landings he was making, and he was feeling much better by the end.  Later the student told me that his Grandpa didn't even want him to drive the four-wheeler or the jet-ski, that he was nervous about anything like that, so this was way over their comfort level.  Hopefully at least Grandpa is a little more comfortable now though.  :)

One student the other day said "I haven't been out here for awhile, but I do fly the computer simulator a lot."  I said "How does it compare?"  He said "The airplane's easier than the computer."  A little while later, as he wasn't putting any rudder in or out of turns and we were sliding around the sky, I said "The computer doesn't give you much help with your feet though!  Rudder, man, use your rudder!"  He laughed and said it had rudders but it didn't have any feel to it so you just ignore it for the most part.  No sir!  ;)

I'll end on an extra long quote.  There was an article titled "27 Problems Only Introverts Will Understand."  Several of them made me nod or smile, and after reading that, there's no doubt that while I've changed over the years, I'm still an introvert at heart for the most part.

1. When you need to take breaks and recharge after socializing for too long. (Totally.)
2. When people mistake your thoughtful look for resting angry face. (All the time.)
3. When spending a heavenly weekend alone means "How was my weekend? Great! I didn't see anyone for two days!"
4. Having visitors is tiring because it means you have to be "on" at all times.
5. Too many obligations + no alone time = a total grump. (Again, totally, yes.)
6. When you're asked to do a group project and you know you're going to hate every moment of it. (Absolutely, also compounded by the problem of group dynamics where only one or two people usually do all the work, and since I actually wanted the good grade, it would be me.)
7. When your ride to a party/event doesn't want to go and nobody understands your distress. (This is why to many things I'd drive myself.)
8. When you hear "Want to hang out?" and your palms start sweating because the answer is "no" but you don't want to hurt their feelings. (Yep.)
9. When you hear "Are you okay?" or "Why are you being so quiet?" for the umpteenth time. (All the time).
10. That feeling of dread that washes over you when the phone rings and you're not mentally prepared to chat. (This is why I don't answer my phone.  Gotta love texting and voicemails and email.)
11. When you're like a cat--"I want to go out!" and once out, "I want to go back in now!" (If you saw the picture that went with this, you'd laugh too, but it's also true.)
12. When you want to get something done, but you can't because everyone else is talking.
13. When you get called out for daydreaming too much. (Hello, sixth grade!)
14. When you carry a book to a public place so no one will bug you, but some people take that as a conversation starter. (That does bother me. When I'm reading, I don't like being interrupted, particularly by strangers.)
15. When someone interrupts your thoughts and you get irrationally angry. (Well, not usually, but sometimes.)
16. You know this to be true: "I'm not mad, depressed, or anti-social.  I just need to not talk to anybody for a little while." (I'll toast to that).