Nasty weather!

Good riddance to Tropical Storm Debby. The past two days have been horrible, our region is still flooded on many rivers and roadways. We got stuck at the Yacht Club last night after dinner by rising waters flooding the road in.

The good thing about all this rain is that the drought should be over. The bad thing is all the damage to roads and structures, especially trees that fell over from wind and over saturated  earth.

Ah well, we must endure. One does, doesn't one?

If this is as bad as our hurricane season can get, I will feel fortunate. But we are still annoyed by the lack of sunshine!

 Have a nice rest of the day.

Second Tropical Storm in a month!

We are soaked to the bone out here. I know the Barco has a leak in the master cabin, so I will stop by to clean up and standing water from this latest of storms. Ugg Effin' Lee!

Needless to say, the Airplane gig was cancelled. And I have been asked to clean up some oil, so I got that going for me today.

Note to self; Reseal living room bay window. The towels on the sill are soaked.

Stay dry out there!

Walking weekends

She Who Will Be Obeyed is able to walk (for short durations) without aid of her walker or crutches. This is only while wearing special support shoes, but we will take this advance and (ahem) run with it!

The visits to the physical therapist has given her some real confidence and we are grateful for being a few weeks ahead of the planned progress. It's a competitive thing with SWWBO, she always has to win.

Sunday at 0900, "Pacific Princess" will be hauled outside and will finally fly away from NAS Jax. Afterwards, a barbecue to celebrate. Something fun to look forward to, and it's always fun to play with airplanes.

Who wants to chip in for buying this plane? Just joking...

Today we have a 0900 Physical Therapy appointment and then later I will putz about and prepare for the weekend fun.

Have a nice Friday!

Fifteen Gallons of Oil

25-60 Multiviscosity oil, that is. From the fine people of Phillips Petroleum, poured by hand into a large funnel.

I was standing on the foothold on the port side of the engine, balancing on the wing root and pouring oil into the engine sump. The crew chief was servicing the brake system by bleeding and adding more hydraulic fluid. Bob supervised with coffee in hand as we moved quickly through the paces. After I was finished, I picked up the empties and gathered rags. I placed some spares into the gunner turret space and we locked up. "Pacific Princess" shall fly on Sunday, sometime around 1100. Afterwards we will burn meat on a grill celebrating the launch and return to flight of the Avenger.

There was a shirt waiting for me, I guess I am considered a small part of the crew. Cool!

Another fine week that starts with cooler weather!

Big bird cleaning itself in the morning sun.

Cool outside with clear skies. I love these mornings, it feels like one can accomplish anything while still feeling fully energized. In my case, I will drive She Who Will Be Obeyed to the office and then make tracks for the Air Station, where I get to help out around that nice airplane.

Wish I had $200K... If any of you happen to be interested, let me know. A part of aviation history can be yours at a very affordable (Not to me) price!

Airplanes are fun but really, they require more care and upkeep than children. You can slough off the maintenance on either boat or airplane, but if you neglect your boat, it won't try to kill you. Not for a while, anyway. An airplane would be a huge extravagance that I would not ever be able to measure up to and actually keep flyable.

I still haven't gotten around to varnishing the hand rail on Barco, inexcusable.

Since I was outside with the camera, I took a few other photos;

Our tomato stalk gave us three tomatoes and shed its leaves. It still grows. I think of Charley Brown's Xmas tree.

Pepper plant has one pepper.

One Honeydew in progress.

Pepper plants from seeds we retrieved from store bought peppers.

Cantaloupe seedlings, from yesterdays breakfast. I wonder if we will get to see any melons? Why do I keep mentioning melons?

Have a nice week!


WAVE OFF-WAVE OFF-WAVE OFF!

Just got off the phone with my buddy Bob; Tuesday at 1000 we meet at the Hangar and I will be adding 18 gallons of fresh oil. I wonder if I can get a pump?

Still a fine day, airplane or not!

Dudley DooRite day

The Family Wagon is having problems again, so we brought it in to the Dealer for some stern lecturing and adjustments. The Dealer told us it would be a while so they gave us a nice 2012 Mercedes C250 Coupe to drive as a temporary replacement. One must endure... Mustn't one?

Anyway, driving the Spousal Unit into work this morning, she lowers the visor and a check falls out. Insurance payment to some Restoration Company, to the tune of $431.00.

I got home and looked at the map on Yahoo, the company is about two miles away, I could send it via a Gubmint Uniformed Messenger. No, I bet the Company really needs the bucks now and no telling how long the Post Office will sit on this little check. So I drive there to drop it off, like a good Doo-rite. Once I arrived, nobody was there (strange) but I called the number posted. The "Dood" answers like he just woke up. At the crack of 0930. I asked if he was the "Company" and he realizes that this is a professional call and not some fifteen year old chick calling to find out if her virtue was still there... 

Sorry, I digressed a bit, can't help what I think while conversations are going no effing-where.

So Mr. Groggy apologizes for not answering with Company Name. I tell him I have a check that I found in a Loaner Car from Mercedes, ring any bells?

I grew weary with the direction this was all going, even though the entire conversation was 25 seconds looong. I asked where I could leave the check where it would not go walkies (The Neighborhood is less than savory), and I was directed to the Gutter Installers located across the street.

At least the "Dood" will probably eat this week, after cashing the check at one of those check cashing joints that rip off the poor. One does what one can to support society, I suppose.

So endeth the feel good story for the day.

TBM-3 Avenger recap

My friend Bob was nice enough to invite me to wipe oil and gather tools in support of doing run checks for his 1945 Grumman TBM-3 Avenger. Oh yeah, too cool!

I got there around 1030 and the prop turns were underway. I passed up a couple gallons of lubrication oil to the assistant mechanic and generally made myself sort of useful. It was a great feeling to be back in a Navy Hangar doing flight line type of stuff, just like 30 years ago.

Turns complete, oily mess has leaked on the deck.

Gun Turret needs a seat with a crewman!

I passed oil and gathered empties

Just two car batteries to keep the electrical system working.

Oil everywhere!

Radial Engine. The Harley of the skies.

Navy Tow Tractor

Everybody stopped work to watch a piece of aviation history in motion.

The Owner is getting tired of waiting...

Finally on the Flightline!

 What a great day. It was like being 19 years old, again. The Navy folks didn't talk to me but I know they were wondering who I really was. (Running back and forth with rags, wearing a very noticeable swiss watch and wearing old Raybans...) It was a great day for this old guy!