I was sitting at the kitchen counter the other day poking away on the InterTubes when I got an ear scratch. So I dug in there with Mr Finger and gave it what-fer. As I was withdrawing said digit, I felt something like a hair or string — not an unusual sensation when you live with 2 dogs and a wife. It didn’t come off. No, it wasn’t glued there by some evildoer as a joke. No, it wasn’t just me needing a haircut. It was attached - alive if you will. Yes folks, I had long ear hair.
SONOFABITCH!
A quick trot to the bathroom to examine the situation left me screeching and humbled. I not only had one long ear hair — and not the feathery crap you get on the outside. No sir, this was a full out infestation of 2 inch hairs growing out of my ear canal. Correction, both ears. Thankfully I’ve got my 42-in-1 electric hair shortening kit nearby and fully charged, so removal wasn’t a problem.
Now, I’m convinced I’m not old enough to be experiencing this sick twist of nature just yet, so I’m on the hunt for some sort of environmental trigger that is causing this mutant growth. It can’t be beer, no - God isn’t that mean; maybe it is the lack of coffee - I’ve recently tried to move away from it & to the weaker-on-the-speed scale soda; Damnit, I’m stumped. Life is a cruel cruel mistress.
Yes, yes — I know. I’m posting something here again. You’ll just have to deal.
So — what has been going on? Life, weddings, and more life. I’ll spare you the details for now, maybe I’ll try catching up later.
I’ve caught the flying bug. Bad. I blame his greatness. But to be fair, I think I really caught the bug a few years back while in Boulder,CO for a CFS brewhaha. I’d gotten introduced to the world of build-it-yourself aircraft and well — my “must have every detail” nature got me digging. Long story short: I’m the next Red Baron, just you wait and see. I will flour bomb your house too, or your dog.
Last night I went flying with a guy from work. His hangar was located on “Lighting” at Flying Cloud Airport located in Eden Prairie here in the greater Twin Cities. We climbed into N2307A and away we went. As it turns out, the MSP airspace here is fairly open, you just have to stay below 4000 feet for most of the metro. We flew within 1500 feet of downtown during a wonderful sunset, it was funny how cool the city looks from the air. We cruised out to the MN/WI border near Stillwater where I took over, and then down the Mississippi to Prescott, WI and then did a detour to fly over my home here. We headed south and did some 30 & 45 degree turns, some VOR work, and then used the VFR map to locate our position (god bless MN lakes and perfect compass aligned roads). I managed to get us back to the airport and executed my first pattern entry, downwind, base and final approach with VAPI before Don took over to get us back on tera firma. All in all, a nice 2 hours of flying in a kick of a plane.
Yes, the bug is firmly implanted now. I’ve scoped out a local community college that does a summer ground school course and I’m looking at the FCM airport facilities for other options. Now all I have left is to wait out our lease, buy a new house, fix up said house, upgrade the truck to something from the modern era and viola! I’ll be set!