"Skyhawk 4601D Radar Contact"

I've been doing some flying lately, which is always a wonderful thing. Recently, I've been enjoying short hops to local airports. This past weekend, I took Sheri up on one of my area hop style flights. We started at Lancaster (LNS) then we hit Smoketown (S37) followed by Harrisburg's Capital City Airport (CXY) and then York/Thomasville (THV) and finally back over to Lancaster. We had a push to talk button failure on my yoke (control wheel) and I had Sheri take over while I did some troubleshooting. Don't ask me how the hell I fixed it, but I did. I do know this, it wasn't a matter of the mic plug not being secure. Ahh...old planes! While we were up, Harrisburg Approach Control had us fly right over Three Mile Island. My Grandfather likes to say that he was lucky to have his license and live in southern Connecticut because there was so much to see. He might have had Martha's Vineyard and Block Island....I have Three Mile Island....YEAH!

Some dickhead hit the back of my Nissan Maxima in the parking lot of Circuit City. I was in the store with Sheri as we were discussing the benefits of an HDMI cable vs standard RCA cables. Apparently, some fuckhead thought it would be a great idea to bump my car while they were probably backing out of a parking space and have the courtesy to drive off without leaving me a note that at least said, "I'm sorry." With any luck, a skunk will sneak into his/her house at night, climb into their bed and bit them on the nutsack/labia then spraying a foul stench while running out of the room. Sure, I'm generally a forgiving guy, but at least take credit for your own art work.

Elite Operations is doing just dandy. It looks like I might be picking up some extra work from Southwest Airlines and ATA in the next few weeks. I'm still debating things like a logo, and website with email. It's kind of nice to only have one email address, even if it doesn't come off too professional.

I was in the mood for a little change in my TV viewing the other day, so, I went to Comcast and picked up an HDTV Cable box and signed up for the HD service. Though I must admit, HD is awesome....I'm not sure it's worth the price. I may be going back to old world 1999 style viewing because I'm cheap.

I also had the chance to visit with my good friend, Chris Rotunda and his family. Dolores had her baby, Matthew, who looks just like Chris and Sarah, their first looks just like Dolores. Beautiful family...Congratulations Chris. I brought some gifts with me that Criag and Amy dropped off for them...and something from Sheri and I. I didn't realize it until I got home, but the card that went with the gift that Sheri and I gave them....is still sitting in my back seat. Smooth....Very Smooth. Anyway, for anyone who might read this blog and know about Chris's "Betsy"....She's been sold. I'll never forget the Friday night that I got a call from Chris and Rob who said, "Meet us at the Mount Washington Tavern" after work. The place was one of our favorite drinking establishments in the area. I got there around 945pm and saw Betsy parked out on the street about a block away from the Tavern....and There were Chris and Rob....drinking Peroni's in the car....drunk. They were kind enough to wait for me who officially became the designated driver. That night, after a few too many beers(for them), we left the bar and on the way back to Betsy, Rob picked up a blue rock that was used by a store owner as a door stop and we got into Betsy and I drove my boys home. That blue rock sat next to a tree in front of our apartments for the longest time. Chris still doesn't remember that rock being in his car, nor Rob and I being the ones responsible for placing that peculiar blue rock in the front yard near the tree.

My training program for Bob C. and Andy has come to a close. Andy has been out in the field working and loving his new found career. He's been working well so far.....even done some nice crisis management. Bob made it to California in like 3.2674 days. I swear, I'm not sure if his gas pedal ever came off the fire wall. I really enjoyed training those guys. It's been a while since I had to train someone on how to handle flights....very refreshing. Speaking of Bob....ok...different Bob....I flew over his place and his side business establishment.

If you have not had a chance to check out Jeff Conlin's website recently, it's time to take another look. He's riding a bike across the country and blogging the entire thing. Very entertaining. God Bless you Brother.

By the way....my favorite last name of a passenger on my weekly African flight...."Paging passenger Darko"

Suprise....Who knew I was so blind?

I mentioned in my last blog that I was busy. I thought I knew what busy was....and then...the month of June hit. Without going into too much detail about how long my days were, how many flights I handled, how many times I drove to Washington Dulles or how run down and sick I ended up.....I'll just say that life is GRAND and I love the fact that I get to enjoy every moment of it.

I've been flying lately, the weather has been hazy, but still VFR. The air on these hazy days is about as smooth as glass. Too bad I can't spend even more time at the controls. The busy schedule has hampered me from doing as much as I would have liked to do.

Big News - Sheri, my wonderful...beautiful...loving wife, threw a surprise birthday party for me at Moondancer Vineyards this past weekend. At no point did I even have a clue that there was going to be a party, much less who was going to be there. I had tears in my eyes because I was s touched to see Rob and Jean, Craig and Amy, Eric and Michele, my mother and Joe, all in one location at the same time. Not only was the music catchy, but she had the thing catered with some kick ass food. Shock....Absolute Shock is the best way I could describe my emotions that night. I did end up drinking too much and around 4am, I was hugging the bowl and releasing some of the booze that I had sucked down. Craig and Amy along with their beautiful daughter Kora, were guests at my house....Again...a very awesome surprise. There were some who I wished could be there, but due to their own schedule conflicts, couldn't make it. I wish I could've seen Jenn, Chris and Dolores, Bob and Susan, Deb and Dan too.

Having such wonderful people in your life just makes living each day feel as if I'm the richest man alive.

In other news, there is a new corporation that is now in business...Elite Operations Inc. Elite Ops is a product of my labor and I'm looking forward to sitting at the helm and growing this business into a strong company with a reputation for providing excellent service to it's customers. Elite Operations was established and effective on July 1, 2007. Today....a small charter service vendor, tomorrow...we'll own an American auto maker and next week, Sheriair will take to the sky. OK...a bit much...but it's a neat thought.

Sometimes you wake up in the morning and reflect on your life and without much energy, you take what you have for granted. We all do it. Days that you're able to break away from the manner of thinking where you take life for granted, and you really focus on what you have and how your life really is......My God.....life is a beautiful gift.

Not sure when I'll blog next. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. Until next time. God Bless.