Good Gravy, A little Help Here?

I hate shopping.  I particularly hate shopping for clothes. This is because the fashion industry has joined ranks with the diet industry and, through the insidious use of media, has waged a secret, evil war on my self confidence. Before you start fitting me for a nice jacket that buckles in the back--I say "fitting" …

Dragons, Excitement, and Fortune

Yes, I am fully aware that I am cheating by catching up with my A to Z Blogging Challenge by throwing three letters together like a shame omelette.  As I have not officially signed up to take the challenge, I'm going to give myself a pass this time.  And probably next time.  And the time …

Censorship

I got into an internet argument today about censorship.  Well, originally it was about the Clean Reader app that blocks "offensive" words in books and replaces them with a "cleaner" version but it suddenly devolved into a discussion of the merits of trigger warnings. This gentleman's opinion, if I'm interpreting it correctly, appears to be that trigger …

Bravado

I am a big fan of the fake-it-til-you-make-it philosophy.  As a teenager, I learned that if I looked like I knew what I was doing, no one would question whether or not I possessed a hall pass.  For me, that same bravado has also worked in a myriad of other social and professional situations. For example, …

Appreciation

Happy Day One of the April A to Z Blogging Challenge!  In the spirit of beginnings, I wanted to start this challenge with a newly revamped blog, website, and a thank you.

Guest Post: V is for Vino

Yet another installment from my favorite ghostwriter.  I have a feeling this one may sound as familiar to you as it did to me.  Enjoy!We take so much for granted these days. Turn on the switch and you get light, twist the handle and you get hot water, walk into any kitchen and find a …

Guest Post: “Ustedes Me trae de papel”, Uncle Bill…

A dear friend of mine has offered to "ghost write" my U - Z posts for the A to Z Blogging Challenge so that I can take my time to get back into the swing of things. I don't feel comfortable accepting credit for another's work, so I decided to present this to you as …

U Through Z is for Unscheduled Vacation from Writing due to X-ray Yield Zzzzz…

Well, it was a good run. I'm very proud that I managed to make it to the letter "T" on the "A to Z Challenge" with only a hiccup or two along the way.  I've enjoyed sharing my aviation stories with you, and gained new insights into the ebb and flow of my creativity in …

T is for Training

As the pilot of a jet, I was required to pass a competency check every six months.  Some of the maneuvers I needed to perform were less expensive and much safer to do in a flight simulator.These simulators are incredibly advanced, offering full motion and exceptional graphics which are capable of giving the pilot a …

S is for Snow

There were occasions during my flying career where snow and aviation collided. Ages ago, when I eked out a living as a flight instructor, I was able to earn more money clearing the runways with the owner's decrepit, underpowered, pickup truck rigged with an oversized plow blade and minimal heat, than the way-below-poverty-level income guaranteed …