I packed my laptop bag last night and got my [tag]digital camera[/tag], [tag]business cards[/tag], and did online check-in. I got in to work early to get some hours in before heading to the airport. My wife is picking me up so we can keep my car at home.
We’ll stop at Subway on the way to TIA and I’ll scoot right through security with my carry on and start blogging and playing [tag]World of Warcraft[/tag] on my 4 1/2 year old laptop. The graphics and memory suck and it’s died with a full motherboard replacement twice while under warranty. No warranty now, so I’m going to run it until it dies.
I’ve got my latest [tag]Clive Cussler[/tag] paperback, Black Wind, for my reading pleasure on the plane (when I’m not sleeping). I had a hard decision between [tag]Ted Bell[/tag] and Cussler, but I went with the lighter one. Sorry, Ted. Speaking of Ted, that’s what I’m flying, so watch the news to make sure I get there okay. I convinced (not really) my wife that if anything happens to the pilot in any situation, including her biggest post-9/11 fear, when we regain control, I can land the plane.
Now we’re getting off-topic, but this is my blog, so you’ll keep reading. / sly grin. I’ve been flying flight simulators for years. I was landing F-16s, F-14s, 747s, Cessnas, and all kinds of WWII planes 8 years before I could get behind the wheel. I learned the mechanics and glide slope and instrument panels, and studied flight for endless hours as a boy in rural Ohio. When I was 15, my neighbor let me take the stick on his experimental plane and fly it around for about 30 minutes.
When we moved to Tampa, one of our good friends at church was an engineer at a flight simulator company, and he invited my dad and me in to fly one of the big cargo planes. At 16, I landed that puppy every time; and then I got a job at that same company (where I am now) and landed it again whenย I got another shot at it,ย so I don’t see an [tag]Airbus A300[/tag] being a problem.
I’ll send you all a happy “hello” again from Chicago.
Jesse,
Have the best of times!
Thanks, Karin! You’ll be seeing some good stuff after this weekend. ๐
Land that bad boy on the high way. Just think of the publicity you will get!!
“Today in Tampa: A man landed a plane on the ECH(Eastern Coast Highway, hey gotto be one some where). The man also has an online Journal called Gitr’s Blog.”
1 million hits in 2 seconds…..the server would have apoplexy.
You will make millions from the clickies.
Clive Cussler…..man we could be brothers. I have all but a few of the first books by him. Great reads all. I have a lot in common with Al Giordino. Though I’m pushin 6’5″ 315lbs.
I’ve been reading Cussler for about 4 years now. I usually get his books at B&N on the “former bestseller” table in hardback for $5. Best deal in town. I love how he takes you away and makes you think that you can pull off that crap. Go, man, go. I love it in the story when it gets to the point where you know he should die, but he always pulls something out of his butt to save the day.
I’m torn between Kurt Austin or Dirk Pitt being my favorite series. They are both men’s men.
Ted Bell’s ‘Assassins’ really got me into the book. One night I fell asleep reading at a point where the bad guys were about to assault the hero’s yacht at night. My wife (girlfriend at the time) got off at 11:00 at night and called me on her way home to stay awake. I answered the phone and said the best line ever:
“I can’t talk right now. There are men in black wetsuits scrambling aboard and will kill us all if they hear me. /click”
She called back and rapidly got me out of my sleep. ๐
/snork
I think both heros have something to love. Its like they are twins that were raised different. I would think an double dou with both teams…..would just……rock…./shiver. With all four of those guys…..well I know who I would be behind if the decided to take over the world.
Well Mind there is no ECH that I know of but there is a giant toll road that runs from the I10 all the way down to Miami land the Plane there it will be worth it.