If You Have To Ask How Much Gas Costs Per Gallon, You Can't Afford To Fly

It was great seeing the boys!!

My UCSF Soph son, Kevin, and his galpal, Abi, needed to get to Fresno for the family Turkey day. They could have taken the bus, train, bummed a ride, flown commercially, rented a car. But since I needed to practice my instrument approaches in the twin, and since I wasn't familiar with the NorCal airspace, I decided to pick them up.

On Thanksgiving morning, I flew up to Palo Alto (KPAO), IFR. I am glad it was a relatively nice day. The final approach in to the airport was rather rushed and I had my hands full flying, navigating, copying last minute route changes, changing frequencies, talking to controllers, reading approach charts, and all of this in a cloudy environment.

At the airport, my number one son, Corey, who lives in E. Palo Alto, met me for a quick coffee at the clubhouse on the golf course adjacent to the airport. Soon, Kev and Abi arrived, and we then returned to Fresno (KFAT). The flight each way was about 50 minutes, consuming about 25 gallons each way @ $4.50 per gallon or about $112.50, not too bad, but not good either.

celebration

celebration

Tornberg Travels

Tornberg Travels

Online (Virtual) Communities Research Website

Online (Virtual) Communities Research Website

WEIGHT-LOSS

WEIGHT-LOSS

Internet Secret

Internet Secret

Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line"

A lot of great characters get lost in the mad rush to tell an epic story that spans decades and lotsa girlfriends, etc. THIS is a must see movie. You are the fly on the wall who really gets into the inner workings of a tormented, emotionally abused child, just like the rest of us...except they don't make movies about us. This is why the movie is so powerful: we see through Johnny's eye's, that which we have all experienced, and as adults must deal with. Demons, both large and small, are with us forever, and how we tame them is a measure of our maturity, compassion, forgiveness, and love.

I hate to admit it, but more than a tear or two welled up through touching portions of the film. Maybe those were the sore spots in my deeply repressed subconsciousness, seeking expression.

I felt glad for Johnny. He turned things around and found peace and comfort, finally. Some of us never do.

Afterwards, Patty and I went to Kabuki, a small chain of SoCal restaurants, and a new JA restaurant in the NEW Terra Bella Mall in Surf City on Beach and Edinger. The Century Theatre we went to is in the same center. The food was great, and the sushi was 50% off. Ellen, we have to go there instead of that tired old mediterranean restaurant you like. (Ellen is my sister who visits my office to kill company time)

What a nice way to come down off of a hectic Thanksgiving week.

George's Shish Kebab Restaurant in Fresno (559) 264-9433

Fresno people are "up and at 'em" early. But first, they must eat. They go to this popular Lebo-Armenian eatery in West Fresno. It's one of the top three restaurants for great Fresno food in the westside (others: Cuca's and of course, the Basque Hotel).

I try NOT the drive/fly back to the OC until I've eaten my fill here first. It won't leave you hungry after a few hours. Their hours are short: 0630-1500 Hrs , M-F, 0700-1500 Hrs, Sat, Closed Sundays, Cash only, unless they know you. Also, William Saroyan, Fresno's Poet Laureate and food expert, watches over you and yours, from the north wall.

On Saturday, before we ventured home at 258 mph in my twin Seminole, we ate a hearty breakfast, then ordered two, lamb shank lunches to go (enough for 5 people). When we got home, our son Kyle and his buds, Michael and Aaron, came over to feast with us on lamb.

We made the guys work for their meals: They had to assemble an elliptical machine in our gym room, AFTER they lugged it upstairs. Whew!

Thanksgiving At Aunt Ruth's

After Dad, the Oldest of the Old Timers, rendered his prayer, everyone dug in as if they hadn't eaten since the day before, and as a matter of fact, they probably hadn't. You know, why spend money on food for 24 hours before a major feed. One is amazed at the variety...Turkey/Sushi, Baked Ham/Raw Fish, Sweet Potatoes/Pickled Cucumbers, Mashed Potatoes/Fried Rice, Pumpkin Pie/Sweet Rice Cakes...That's our family for ya!

The kids played with their hi-tech, nano-something handheld games, the oldsters reminisced, the GenYs and Xers played cards and board games, the Yuppies exchanged notes on private schools, universities for their kids, and their investments. There was something for everyone. I just know ONE thing: I NEVER want to sit at the main table....People who sit there seem to be gone within a few years...I sit at the YuppieScum Table, for whatever that's worth.

When we got back to Dad's house at 9 PM, we ordered a large Pizza. We were hungry. Go Figure.

Thanksgiving Eve in Fresno

Tradition is is just that. The expectation and anticipation of the worn-in, warm and fuzzy familiar annual machinations of the same. We must all look forward to this day with great enthusiasm since we make great sacrifices coming from all points of the compass to assemble at Granny's, or in my case, Aunt's home.

Pat and I flew to Riverside from Long Beach to pick-up Kyle after his last class at UCR, then we were off to Fresno, deep in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Dad picked us up and we went to our family's fav restaurant, the Basque Hotel, where my sis and her family were waiting at the old, long, dark mohagany bar. What a great time...a few $2 drinks at Fermin's Bar, then dinner at Margaret's side (Hubby and Wife Owners). We were sated after two hours of drink and gluttony. This was as good as any Thanksgiving, and we still had Thanksgiving to look forward to the next day at Aunt Ruth's!!

Flying Above It All

Flying over Southern California is freedom at its best. You're freed from man-made inconveniences and given the wings to be a Condor.....soaring, but at 200 mph.

I just had a wallet busting experience two months ago: Two tired engines on my 1979 Piper Seminole were scheduled to be rebuilt. Ten weeks later, it was done. However, a 25 hour break-in period is required. That means I have to get in the cockpit and fly with no particular mission or destination in mind.

The maiden flight was with my flight instructor friend, Jaeseong. It was an overcast, IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) day, so we filed VFR to IFR On TOP and flew a racetrack pattern over Long Beach Harbor and Catalina, 3 times. The engines purred as we skimmed the cloud tops in solitary bliss. On days like this, there are NO other small planes on training flights or joyrides, just us and a few commercial flights into John Wayne or Long Beach. There are few awe-inspiring moments better than breaking through and skimming dark cloud layers and tops into a beautiful, brilliant, clear blue sky. Upon break-out, the clouds appear like marshmallow sand dunes with white billowy mounds and darkish valleys. Higher, the scene morphs into a sea of white with the tops of the San Bernadino Mountains poking through. This is what Pilots' Heaven looks like.