Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Weekend fun...

We had our granddaughter Kalleigh stay over night last Thursday and Friday. Then our other granddaughter Natalie was also with us Saturday night.

Natilie just LOVES Kalleigh! Would NOT let her be alone for one minute. They had a great time together. So much so that Natalie ignored her daddy. Didn't want to have anything to do with him while Kalleigh was here with us. We took them shopping and got them identical outfits to wear to church Sunday. They were twins. LOL!!! At least that is what they were telling everyone.

We also bought a new 22" LCD monitor for our desktop computer. It is BIG!!! But Susan really likes it and so do I.

Time to go back to work Thursday. November 1. Yes I said November 1!!! Only 2 months left in this year!!!!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WESTLEY !!!!!!


Happy birthday to my oldest grandson Westley Dylan Twente. He is 15 years old today.

In Missouri 15 year olds can get their learners permit to drive. Shannon is taking West to take the written exam tomorrow.

Then as long as he has an adult over 21 in the car with him, he can learn to drive for a year. Then when he turns 16 he can take his driving test and get a restricted drivers licence until he is 18 years old. The restriction between 16 and 18 is that he can't drive between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am.

So another teenager with a learners permit on the road and streets of St. Charles county.

We are taking over his car tonight. He is inheriting the 1994 Mercury Tempo that Scott was using for a while. Scott got it from Granny B (Susan's mother). Good car for a 15 year old to learn to drive in.

Monday, October 22, 2007

FAA Physical Passed....







Here are some pictures of our hot tub room. And yes we are originally from Kansas City. I have even worked part time for both the Royals and Chiefs.

Went to get my FAA physical this morning and passed with flying colors.

Turning cold here with rain this afternoon.






Saturday, October 20, 2007

Honey Do Day

Feeling better, but still have a nasty cough. Running some errands this morning, then cleaning up the Hot Tub Room. Closed the pool last month, now getting cooler, so time to get the hot tub going. Nothing like coming home from work and relaxing, and soaking in the hot tub.

AHHHHHH......

We have a room in the basement, next to the basement walkout doors, where the hot tub is located. We have Kansas City Royals memorabilia on two of the walls. And Kansas City Chiefs on the other two walls. Will take some pictures and post tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Still fighting the flu

Well here it is Wednesday. And I am still fighting the flu! As soon as one symptom goes away another one surfaces. I can't win for losing! We had the DirecTV guy here this morning to help repair and setup 2 of our units. WOW! what a mess. Cables everywhere. Took both of us to get everything figured out and then fixed. Good news is that after 2 hours of tracing cable we got all units working like they should.

Every time I try to do something around the house the flu knocks me back down again. This is getting old, fast.

Raining today so no yard work until tomorrow.

Hope weather and health improve tomorrow.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

FLU

Sorry that I haven't posted in a couple of days. But with the funeral then me getting sick, I haven't had the time or strength.

Still weak from all the diarrhea and coughing and sneezing, and vomiting and aches and fatigue.

Got a call last night from my best friend Bob Radtke. He is with the FAA (Federal Aviation Admiration). I know it is an oxymoron. My best friend working for the FAA, but we go way back to 1986 and TWA overhaul base in Kansas City, where we met. Bob lives in Helena, Montana. He and I went to a 3 day seminar in Oklahoma City to get our IA certificates a few years ago. IA (Inspector Authorization) is an addium to our A & P Mechanics licences. It authorizes us to perform and sign off annual inspections and major engine overhauls on aircraft airframes and powerplants (engines).

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Laid to rest

We had excellent weather today for my mother-in-law's funeral. The minister at the Faith United Methodist Church did an excellent job with the funeral message. We had about 100 family, friends, and neighbors of hers, stop by and pay their respects. Which is saying a lot, because most of those she knew have already preceded her in death.

She was the last survivor of her generation. My sister-in-law is now the old (new?) matriarch of Susan's side of the family.

Susan and I would like to thank all of you who read my blogs and have remembered us in your prayers the last few days.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Alma Earlene Barnard 1921 - 2007

It is with great sorrow and sadness that I share with you the passing of my mother-in-law, Earlene Barnard.

She had been in poor health the past 9 weeks. Susan has been in Kansas City every other weekend for the past 3 months.

Mom passed at 8:30 pm Sunday night the 7th of October. Both of her daughters (Susan and Kathleen) were with her. She went peacefully to be with her maker, and her husband Maurice Russell Barnard, who preceded her 12 years ago.

Visitation and funeral services are to be held tomorrow at the the Methodist Church in Grain Valley, Missouri.

She is survived by her 2 daughters, Kathleen Barnett, and Susan Twente and her husband Ronald, 3 grand children, and 6 great grand children.

I was in route from JFK to Cairo, Egypt. I was informed by scheduling as i was clearing Egyptian customs. 12 hours later I was on a KLM flight to Amsterdam, then a connecting flight on Northwest Airlines to Minneapolis, MN. Then another connecting flight to Kansas City, Mo. I got into Kansas City at 3:00 pm today.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON......

Ok, 32 years ago today it was a Sunday night in Wichita, KS USA. My wife went into labor at about 8:00 pm and hours later at 6:00am the next morning, we had to wake her up to push!

Now mind you that she had no drugs, in natural labor and they had to wake her up to PUSH! CRAZY! But Shannon is here and that is all that matters.

Now, Shannon took her own sweet time on coming into this world. 3 weeks late! But hey, she wanted it to be the right time. I was one of the first husbands to be in the delivery room and not out in the waiting room. Susan and I were one of the first to try the LaMaze (sp) method of birth delivery.

Now here we are 32 years later, 2 grown children, and 4 grand children. And the oldest grand child went on his 1st date last night!

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Where I have been..

I have add a new feature at the bottom of my blog. You can zoom in or move the highlighted area around to get a better view of where I have been. Please send me your comments and suggestions on this new feature or anything else that I might be able to improve. Thanks for logging in and sharing my adventures with me.

Scheduling called....


Scheduling called last night. Here is what I will be doing this weekend, if the trip doesn't cancel.

10/6 Saturday. Leave at 9:30 pm EDT, JFK to IAH (Houston, Bush Intl). Then go to hotel for 12 hours for crew rest.

10/7 Sunday. Leave at 11:00 CDT. IAH to CAI (Ciro, Egypt). Then go to hotel for 20 hours for crew rest.
10/8 Monday. Leave at 9:30 pm Local. CAI to VHHH (Hong Kong). Then hotel for a couple of days of crew rest and SHOPPING!

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Grandkids at the park

Last weekend we took the 3 younger grand kids to a new park not far from Shannon's house. Susan, Shannon, Frank, Natalie, Kalliegh, Brad, and myself had a picnic then let the kids play fro about an hour.

Natalie thinks the sun rises and sets with Kalliegh. All three had a great time and didn't want to leave.

Scott was umpiring 4 little league games that day and Westley was at an all day cross country meet.

Not much happening today in NYC. Just waiting for scheduling to call with a trip.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

New York, New York...

Ok, here goes...

Sunday at 7:15 am scheduling called and said they had a trip for me. But I have to leave at 3:10 pm that afternoon for NY. I get to NY and they tell me that the trip was cancelled. But, they want me to take a limo from Newark to JFK and ferry a plane (N704CK) back to Newark, then take another limo BACK to JFK and ferry another plane (N714CK) to Oscoda, Michigan.

I take the limo Monday afternoon to JFK and get the first plane (N704CK) and ferry it back to Newark. But, wait....

The "plan" has changed again....

Instead of taking a limo back to JFK, we are going to ferry another plane (N747CK) from Newark to Oscoda. Good news! (for a change).

We fly to Oscoda, then drive a company car (ex-police cruiser) the 4 hour drive down to Ypsilanti.

Get up this morning and run over to the office at 10:45 to see what scheduling has planned for me. At first, they don't have anything for me, but as I am standing there talking to them (time is now about 11:30 am)they change their mind. They assign me a trip out of JFK to fly to France, tomorrow morning. I rush back to the hotel, pack and get a ride to the airport for a 1:45 flight from DTW (Detroit) to JFK.

Get to the motel at JFK, call scheduling to let them know what room I am in, and guess what......

The France trip cancelled!!!!!

So here I sit until further notice.............