Crosswinds and Potholes

(Warning, this paragraph may contain a lot of Pilot Talk) I took the opportunity yesterday to get in another flight lesson. For obvious reasons, flying more often is improving my skills and is actually helping to get my Private Pilot Certificate in fewer lessons. The weather was great and since I've been working a lot, I thought I would cut out of work early and go fly. Once I made it to the airport, I noticed the winds picked up. Hey, no big deal, I need to get used to flying in windy conditions. So far, I've had great luck with perfect weather. Great lesson! We took off out of Lancaster, did some IFR practice, turns around a point, slow flight, irregular attitudes, simulated engine out procedures, stall recovery and then landed at Smoketown Airport for some gas. That landing was with a very strong crosswind. This time....I landed the airplane well, especially given how much left rudder I was using during my slip. We picked up some gas, did a couple short field takeoffs and headed back to Lancaster. My landing at Lancaster was very smooth compared with my flying last week. God...I love this stuff!

On my way back from having a great lesson, I had my Sirius radio cranked and was listening to some great 70's Rock. The main road around here has had a detour due to construction for quite sometime, so I took a back road which has become very popular. With timing against me, I came across a very deep pothole on the side of the road at the exact same second as a FedEx truck was on my left side and it forced me to hit the Pothole. First came the notorious "Bang" and then the ever present pull to the right when a passenger side tire blows out. I pulled the car into someone's driveway and proceeded to change my tire. First, I couldn't get the old tire off the car. I got the lugs off, but the wheel appeared stuck to the car. After a series of kicks, it did loosen up and I put the spare "Dounut" on. The spare tire was also flat! I carry an air pump in my car because I'm smart like that and within a few more minutes, I was driving again. The blown tire was ruined as it had a hole in the sidewall. The wheel was also bent, so that needed to be replaced. Plus, the tires in the front were getting worn anyway...why stop at buying only 1 tire when I could pay for 2? Simply put, that takes away some hefty cash from my, "I wan to fly fund."

You know how sometimes you just end up with songs, words or phrases in your head and you have no clue as to why they are in your head at that given moment. For all of you "Clerks or MallRats" Movie Fans....."Snoochie Boochies"