Jlog

In an effort to not be so mainstream, I have decided that I will no longer refer to this media as my blog (weblog). From this point forward, this will be my jlog. Webster won't be adding it to the dictionary AT ANY TIME now or even in the distant future, but I think it's my own little creative way to share my thoughts, experiences, and misguided views of the world that I experience.

It's raining Slurpee

Crazy days in Logan! This week we had a weather phenomena that had most elementary and pre-school aged kids concerned. Early Tuesday morning, as we sat around the breakfast table we noticed some form of precipitation falling at our house. Parker thought it was raining but Hunter wasn't so sure. Hunter said that it sounded like 'heavy rain'. So we opened the door to the back deck and analyzed the situation. Parker decided that it was too cold and insisted that the door be closed. Hunter on the other hand, looked outside, took a small sample from the ground and proudly announced, "Dad, it's raining Slurpee." I've read a number of meteorology books and have yet to come across such a term, but it appears that this is what was happening. At this point, both Hunter and Parker were trying to decide if they should start scooping up the Slurpee on the ground and put it in the freezer. Parker then decided that he didn't want to because he only liked "red" Slurpees. This statement spawned a debate between the two boys as Hunter insisted that "blue" and "yellow" Slurpees tasted much better then red. Kids Rule!!!!! This would have been a great teaching moment. "Freezing rain develops as falling snow encounters a layer of warm air deep enough for the snow to completely melt and become rain. As the rain continues to fall, it passes through a thin layer of cold air just above the surface and cools but only partially freezes again." Fortunately, the nerd in me was suppressed and the three of us had a great breakfast conversation about which Slurpees are best.

Office with a view

The greatest perk of my job is the things that I am able to see. There isn't a sunrise or sunset that goes by with out me looking and just saying, "Wow!" If you can't tell, I'm quite the cloud junky. From a technical aspect, the better I understand what clouds are showing/telling me the better I can safely operate my flights. More often then naught, I just stare in amazement at what water and unstable rising air can create. Don't worry, I pay attention to the plane. Most people only have the chance to see the bottoms of clouds. I get to the the top, bottom and inside of clouds. For the record, the inside of clouds are pretty boring. When's the last time you were excited driving through thick fog? Most people look at clouds and think of lightning and turbulence. The truth is, most clouds don't generate lightning and if you read the clouds right, you can get a good idea of where the bumpy air will be. Unbeknown to most passengers, we as pilots, spend a good bit of time doing what we can to avoid flying in clouds. There are times when you can't avoid them, but most of the time, especially in the summer, we spend a lot of time zig-zagging around clouds; almost like a video game. While being away from home is no fun, I find great solace in being able to enjoy the beauty of nature. They amaze and yet they humble me. I see how small I am compared to the planet. Next time you are on a flight, even if you don't have a window seat, spend some time looking out the window at the clouds. Look at the shapes and contours. Clouds are the both the great providers and the great destroyers; what a double-life.

How the Holt boys roll.

Going to a large theme park such as Sea World can be very demanding on young legs. There are so many things to see and do and it is imperative that the boys learn how to make the best use of their time. We don't always have time to sit eat or rest.

Tanner has it made in that he gets chauffeured everywhere. But when Parker needs to sit and it and there is a dolphin show that we have to get to, what is he to do? Hitch a ride with Tanner. Luckily Hunter had the energy to push the stroller. Both boys were proud of the boys' ingenuity. Yes, we looked white trash, but we got the job done and had a great time doing it.