Memorial Day

Steve and I woke up fairly early this morning to meet Chuck at Missy's Cafe. I had a carrot cake pancake. I think it comes with three, I asked for just one, and they're not huge, but it was still plenty, and it was really good. Steve worked outside most of the day, I worked on stuff inside most of the day, Kaylee came over and we cooked up big thick burgers on the grill, I made up some mac and cheese, got out some Amish potato salad, and we were off with a really nice late lunch. Kaylee and I hung out most of the afternoon, and she worked mixing songs like a DJ. lol 

I decided I'd like to go fly the Champ. I'd gone back and forth, but I'd kept putting it off waiting for a better time or better day or a time when I was already out there or whatever, and time kept going by. Tomorrow didn't look good in the afternoon, the morning I'd probably be busy with BOB, so I just packed up and went out tonight. The last time I flew the Champ, a week ago, had been the first time I'd flown it in 5 months. I was left dissatisfied, because it wasn't until the last 30 minutes that I started feeling it coming back. Everything was fine, but not great. I was over-correcting on my feet. I was landing fine but not consistently nor getting greasers. I was just starting to feel like it was dialing in when I had to quit because I was out of gas. So tonight I went up again at 6 pm, and flew for an hour and a half. The winds were just gusty enough that it makes it kind of hard to get a decent greaser, but I hit it with the crosswind from the left and the right both, did three points, and wheel landings, and one-wheel landings, and engine out landings, and I did it until I could do three in a row of each that I was satisfied with. That's why it took me 1.5 to get done. lol If I did two good ones then a meh one, I started counting over. Once can be an accident, twice can be a coincidence, three in a row is on purpose. By the time I finished, I felt satisfied, felt 85-90% in the groove. Ready to get back in the T-6 for the first time in 6-8 months too. Kind of needed that, I wasn't satisfied with the last time, so this time I'd say I was. I ended up pulling the engine to idle mid-field on Runway 5, circling around and landing on the spot I picked out ahead of time, with an excellent crosswind 3-point landing to smile on. Topped off the plane, put it away, and drove home relaxed and content.

The message about Dad today was that he's in kidney failure. Nephrologist did an ultrasound of the kidneys and is going to confer with another doctor and get back to them. There is an icky liquid coming out that is from the kidneys not keeping up with handling the built up fluids. I'm not a doctor, but I do know that sepsis is dangerous and organ failure is usually the domino to the end. If they can't get the kidneys functioning again, they won't be the only organ to fail, until liver, heart, etc. do too. I'm guessing his odds of survival have just dropped significantly.

Back to here, we had left-over giant hamburgers for dinner, watching a movie or two, and getting ready for the coming week. Working on scheduling, maintenance, flying for the upcoming week, billing, etc.  Tomorrow is hopefully cowl up and run BOB, top off the Cheyenne and get it ready to pick up Andy in Marco Wed. Maybe fly with Loren in BOB too if the wx holds out.