We finally got to see the Monk play baseball last evening. The season is already half over and most of the time we were out of town. This year they are playing coaches pitch. Up to now it was really "T"-ball. The level of play has truly gone up a notch. The kids look more interested and serious. It's fun watching 8 year olds play ball. You can really tell which ones have watched professional games on TV. They imitate what they see. It is so funny to see them pounding the home plate or swinging two bats in the on-deck circle.

Ashley is one of three girls still playing in the league this year. Most of the others have dropped out. Although she went zero for two last night at the plate she is more than holding her own and leading her team in runs scored. There are just a few more game left to play. I'll try to make them all.

Today is confederate memorial day. I wonder if there are going to be any reenactments at some of the local battlegrounds? It's interesting to me that in these days of political correctness congress doesn't dare mention the civil war today, but they take the holiday never the less. I have no agenda in saying that. It's just a statement of facts.

Mothers day is Sunday. I will be very busy, completely involved in the special services at our church ( NewSpring ) As Jane Alluded to in her blog. there is a BIG surprise coming, and everyone will want to be there.

Because of that I am having my mother over for her "Mother's day" dinner tomorrow night. So I need to run. I am cooking what I hope is a feast worthy of my mom. I need to go do a little pre-preparation.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the crowd we had at our airshow.

Anderson is a small city. But I think everyone showed up to see the Snowbirds fly. The highways were backed-up and You couldn't see all the cars.

Mom, Dad and I got there early and spent some time looking at the planes on display. Then there was a very good radio controlled plane "airshow". By late afternoon the wind was picking up and I was concerned but just before the scheduled takeoff time the winds moderated. And after playing of the U.S. and Canadian National Anthems the Snowbirds taxied out for a wonderful 45 minute demonstration of precession flying. Equal to any I've ever seen. Oooh's and Ahh's and clapping was thunderous.

What a great time we all had.

I hope they return soon.

I didn't expect my dash over to the airport to last nearly twelve hours. There will be an airshow here at Anderson on Wednesday. The main act is the Snowbirds team from the Canadian Air Force. The first two planes of the team arrived earlier than I expected. That is what I dashed away for.

I got to the field and took a couple photos of the advance team on the ramp and one of the pilots told me the main body of Tutor jets would arrive in about an hour. So I figured I'd go by the hanger while I waited and look at our progress. We are replacing the fuel bladder ( tank ) in the port wing of our plane. It is a big job.

When I got to the hanger my partner in the plane, Sam was there. Sam is a licensed aircraft mechanic also, so I stayed to help him with the tank.

The nine remaining Snowbirds arrived in a diamond formation and made several passes over the field. Then they flew around the area getting a feel for the landmark for tomorrows big event. It was great. Like having my own private close-up airshow. I got a lot of photos which I'll share shortly.

After the arrival excitement passed we got back to work on the plane. Eleven hours and 53 minutes later I got home. My loving, understanding wife was already in bed, but not asleep.

Airshow tomorrow ( Wednesday ) See you there around 3 pm.

They're Here

Gotta run over and see them

Back with info shortly

Cinco de Mayo

Happy 5th of May

Since I was a teen living in Southern California I have celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Our school band always attended a big festival, parade and fair. Held in the desert town of Indio California. It was so much fun. Fair midways, rides, exhibits, lights sounds. Ladies in colorful dresses dancing. Mariachis strolling around playing lively tunes. And the food. Oh the food. But my favorite was the ostrich races. The held camel racing too, but come-on. A kid riding ( ok holding on for dear life ) on the back of a giant bird. That's funny stuff.

Cinco de Mayo is not an America Holiday. It should be. And it is not the Mexican Independence day holiday. It should be. That in fact is 15th of September ( 1810 ) .

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a smashing military victory over a large force of Mexican army traitors and the French soldiers at the battle of Pubela, East of Mexico City in 1862.

Enough history, today is the 5th of May. And I am celebrating it. Tonight I am cooking a Mexican Dinner with all the trimmings for Kristie and myself. But right now I am playing some Latin Music and having tacos.

Join me.

VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!!

If you see in the news over the next few days of a perfectly good house collapsing and trapping a couple inside that would be me.

The Carpenter bees have arrived. They are everywhere. Buzzin' about, drilling neat little round holes in every wooden surface. My deck rails were the first target of choice. I'd been told they would not chew into pressure treated wood. I guess the rail proved that wrong. Now they have attacked the window facing around the kitchen window. Yesterday I turned the water hose on one and I could just hear him in my mind as he went down. Little alarms going off "Mayday Mayday we're going in" . But as soon as he got out of the water stream he was back to normal.

I swatted several in the past couple days and plugged the holes. But they return within minutes. Spray doesn't work.

Hey maybe I could make a pact with the fire ants to provide protection.

4/12/2008

We started our vacation by flying out of Greenville on Delta, connecting in Atlanta (surprise) then a direct flight to Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, California

Our GSP to Atlanta flight departed early. Don’t they all? So we drove to Greenville and spent the night at a hotel that offers a park and fly option. Pay for a night and leave your car at the hotel. Ride the shuttle with the same flight crew for our flight and go through security at a small pleasant airport. From baggage check-in to gate was three minutes. The average time in Atlanta is near two hours every morning. Plus Greenville is so much closer to the house.

The only drawback for us was this trips first flight was E-A-R-L-Y. We departed GSP at 6 am for the 35 minute flight to Atlanta. Then after an hours layover and a huge 20 something ounce cup of Seattle’s best it was on to the John Wayne Airport in California.

Kristie and I made it back from our vacation, to knee high grass. It must have rained a lot while we were gone. In the few days since we returned things have been, well ….wild.

First there is the whole jet lag thing. Then there is the fact that we always need vacation after our vacations. We go at it hard. So we were tired. Then both of us caught colds in California and honestly we have been nearly whipped. About all we felt like doing after a couple days catching up on work, weeding out and answering emails, phone calls and trying to unpack was collapse on the couch in the evening.

Since we returned we’ve been faced with sad news …a lot.

One of Kristie’s key employees brother passed away on this week. On the next night a good friend of our lost his father to cancer. Then the very next day another worker in Kris’ office has a death of her Aunt. Three visits to the funeral home in three nights. We are now on a first name basis with the staff there. They say these things come in threes. I hope that is all for a while.

Please remember these families as you pray.

Happy Birthday Kevo

Today is the National Day of Prayer

Created in 1952 by President Harry S. Truman.

It is held the first Thursday of May every year.

People and whole communities gather for prayer. Remember the country, our leaders both local and national especially in these times. Pray for our troops. I bet you know several in daily harms way. Pray for your friends and your family. Remember those hurting and in need. Don't forget your church and it's pastor and leaders. And our mission friends. Remember yourself too. And above all pray with an ear open to hear Gods voice.

What a great time this would be to renew your commitment of a daily quiet time with God

Anderson University professor Jim Motes had a great quote in the paper today, “To not pray is to not have a relationship.”