Taking Care of Business

Busy week, but good.  I had a flight in the Cub with a new guy (to me) this morning.  It started off kind of awkward.  I'm actually pretty good as an instructor in getting people to relax or talk to me, in getting them comfortable, but this morning was just all-around awkward for awhile there.  I couldn't get him to communicate, or relax, anything I'd say would be met with silence...I think by the end it was better, but...that was a lot of work, especially for first thing in the morning!  At least the Cub had gas and started right up, and it was a nice day for it.  I took an unflattering under-the-chin photo while sitting in the plane because I didn't want to point the camera out the window and visibly show I was taking a picture because we were awkward enough already.  ;)

After lunch I had another flight, uneventful.  Another person struggling to achieve solo.  To a point if you get a few of those in a row you wonder if it's you.  I don't think it is though.  Some folks just do not come to this naturally...

Kaylee is doing fine, band day tomorrow is both before and after school, her favorite.  I've got a flight to Indy International with a student who wants to pick up his wife who is coming in by airline.  Steve is on a roll, and I guess I sort of am too.  One guy is unhappy because he wanted me to drive to Indy on Thursday and pick him up, drive him back to Kokomo, then Friday morning leave for Florida with him for a 6.5 hour flight (plus fuel stop(s)), in his Cherokee, let him do the flying (pre-solo student), spend the night in his house with him and his wife, then take an airline flight home on Saturday, and have someone come get me on Saturday...and he expected to just be charged for the 6.5 hours of flight time.  He was "shocked" (his word) that we would charge him for one day of my time, even though it would be quite a bit more than one day of my time, and quite a bit of an inconvenience.  Even though with me gone Steve would have to be the one to take off work and run Kaylee around the whole time, and with me gone I couldn't fly with any other student during our busy time.  So he's been told that he's welcome to find some low time guy who wants to build time to take his plane down to Florida for him, because I'm going to get paid for it if I'm going to do it.  I don't care to take the trip anyway, not with him on board the whole time, me not being able to use the radios (right side doesn't work), VFR only airplane, and not staying in his house vs. in a hotel room, plus an airline flight home, this isn't exactly a trip I was dying to make, in a Cherokee none the less.  Of course he's the offended one, because I cost so much. 

Another person was annoyed because I wouldn't send them off solo in an airplane they had no idea of how to work something rather important on the plane.  In fact, they didn't even know the plane would do this thing. But they were still annoyed at not being sent off solo in it, having no clue.  Gotta love people.

After my flights, I had time to run to Wal-Mart and pick up my new glasses and contacts.  $9 for the frames, a bit more for the lenses, but you know what, they work great.  I'm pleased.

I also had time to run to the clinic and pee in a cup for the next drug testing thing required for Warbird Training Centers so that I can do rides this weekend at Marion.  They were very thorough and conscientious about procedures.  I got it done, at least.

Anyway, it's a busy week, some T-6 flights and rides coming up, to look forward to, and lots of great weather.  :)