Saturday, October 06, 2007
I'm all messed up. I was freezing cold the entire time we were at the AOPA Expo today (even though I thought it was a perfect temperature on Thursday); I alternated between super-hungry and stabbing at, not eating, my food; and I was so sleepy when we got back from ION that I feeted around on the floor with the thermostat turned up to 76 wearing fleece PJ bottoms, fleece socks, and a cashmere sweater zipped all the way up to my neck. I listened to Themetime whilst doing so, to be more productive, but I kept fast-forwarding through at least half the songs. Bob did make me laugh out loud twice, though. (The flute playing, throughout which I was cracking up helplessly with my hand over my eyes, and his laugh after the Victoria's Secret joke.)
Posted at 9:52:00 PM by Laura W. Petix.
The Kings' seminar was really good! I was surprisedly impressed. They are pros! Dean shook Martha's hand as we were walking out, and told her he trained with them (their DVDs) for both his Private Pilot and Instrument, and got a 98 on both. Later I saw John and Martha about to pass us going the opposite direction on the elevator and I squeezed Dean's arm to alert him. General Aviation celebrities! Rod M. was good (I liked his suit and his tie), but the guy that did "Flying into Canada" was awful. It was painful. The whole rest of the Expo was great, though.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The new Connecticut Science Center looks like it will be cool. It's neat how all those different area businesses are involved! I didn't even know about it, but I noticed the sign when we were driving by the future location, on the way home from the AOPA Expo.
Posted at 9:56:00 PM by Laura W. Petix.
The Expo was good, and I liked the new Connecticut Convention Center a lot (especially the ALB carpet). It's right on the river and has cool views, and even though it's in downtown Hartford, it's really easy to get to, right off the highway.
We checked out tons of cool exhibits (Jeff from Oxford Aviation was there, and he recognised Dean!) and then Dean went to the Painting Your Aircraft, Interior Renovation, and Owner's Role in Aircraft Maintenance seminars, while I went to Pinch-Hitter (which was two hours) and Fly-In Destinations in the East. I didn't even get lost! I took lots of notes at Fly-In Destinations, but I knew practically everything already at Pinch (which kind of surprised me, and also made me feel good). The speaker kept telling jokes nonstop, and I was wondering when he'd get to the actual serious Pinch content. I guess I did learn a few things near the end, like exactly how ATC would respond if there was an emergency and I called them on the radio. My favorite part was actually talking to the pilots sitting next to me at the seminars, and checking out people's badges to see where they were from. People came to the expo from all over the country. I liked wearing my badge around my neck, too. :-) (Even though Dean forgot the W because he filled out the form quick.)
It was super warm when we left. We walked around Hartford and had dinner outside at Spris. With the balmy darkening air, swimming-poolside moist from the nearby fountain, it felt like Hawaii. Spris is really downhill from when we used to go... they got rid of all the weird foods on the menu, and I ordered a cheese plate but the waitress couldn't tell me what any of the cheeses in it were (isn't that half the point?), but the profiteroles were still wonderful (improved, in fact), and eating outside on Dean's birthday was pretty amazing.
We're going back to the expo on Saturday, to look at the rest of the exhibits and go to Rod Machado's Yoke and Pedal: Techniques for Safe Flying, The Kings on Risk Management, and Flying Into Canada.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Oh no! I just noticed Smead's trying to grow a second set of summer fronds! He spent all spring/summer outside, as soon as the weather was warm enough, and he grew a perfect set of three fronds. They're the nicest ones he's ever had in his life. But I brought him inside a few weeks ago because it was starting to get too cold, and now he's starting another set. Don't do it, Smead! You need light for good fronds! I think I'm going to have to nip things in the bud.
Posted at 5:14:00 PM by Laura W. Petix.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Hee hee hee... I think I've created a monster. I left a message for F., and he called me back after lunch:
Posted at 12:55:00 PM by Laura W. Petix.
Me: "Hi F-----!"
F: "This isn't F-----, this is Cappuccino!"
Of course, his most famous message is permanently saved to our voicemail, because it's so fun to listen to: "Hello, this is F-----, [phone number]. I liked that coffee so much, I'm gonna get a double cup next time! Okay? Anytime! Thank you. Bye."
(And no, I did not take him to Starbucks. I took him to Daybreak Coffee Roasters. It was good, too!)
(By the way, the reason I abbreviate F. and V.'s names is that I'm not allowed to discuss personal details about them with other people, as per the confidentiality agreement I signed when I volunteered. That's all.)
Monday, October 01, 2007
Wow! I had the most surreal dream about snorkeling ever last night. It was wild. It would be impossible to even begin to describe all the creatures I interacted with. They were everywhere.
Posted at 11:51:00 AM by Laura W. Petix.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
I forgot to mention, as we were flying into Barre, and again as we were flying away, we could plainly see the huge Rock of Ages quarry from the air. As we were leaving, Dean circled around it so we could get a good look. It was very cool! My family toured it once it when I was a kid (I barely remember), when we went to Vermont to visit Uncle Donald's family. At the burial service, A. Myrna mentioned that they got a granite headstone, of course (rather than marble), coming from Barre.
Posted at 12:53:00 PM by Laura W. Petix.
I was hoping to finally write my entry about the Bash tonight, but I wrote about the funeral instead (see below). Well, I'm glad I did, because Thursday slipped right out of my head as it happened (I'm amazed I was able to remember as much as I did, to write that), whereas every detail of the Bash was emblazoned into my brain for days afterwards. Not sure if it still is, or not. I feel like my brain is holding onto it until I write it down, and then it can let go, but I don't know if that's actually true! Hope so. I sort of wonder if I subconsciously don't want to write about it, or something. (Because I want it all to myself.) Maybe. Or maybe it's just Too Big and I haven't had the right moment yet, where I'm really alert and stream-of-consciousness-y, to do it right. But I know if I don't do it soon, it won't stay forever.
Posted at 1:57:00 AM by Laura W. Petix.
