Posts by James
Personal Minimums
Timing is everything. I mean, do you ever notice that just when you’re dangling by a thread, nerves completely shot, certain that there’s no possible end to the high speed sprint required just to get through the list for the day, someone crosses your chaotic path and casually mentions the very words you need to…
Read MoreBack of the Bus Glam II
Mid-stride in my lifelong pursuit of becoming a stronger communicator, I’d figured I would share how l’ve learned to respond to the “top ten things not to say to a pilot/corporate spouse riding in the back of a plane”. Before I had tools, practical skills to eloquently handle my tongue, my knee-jerk responses could have…
Read MoreBack of the (air) Bus Glam
When I gave up driving in the front (my lifelong career as a corporate pilot) for riding in the back (now I’m most commonly referred to as the “Red Baron’s wife”–different, but not awful; I’ve always kind of felt a kinship with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.) I expected changes. But I had no idea…
Read MoreDuct Tape Glam
Like most jobs, flying taught me many practical things. Flying for years with Vietnam veterans, however, equipped me with skills I fall back on just about everyday. The Huey helicopter turned jet jocks always said when all else fails grab the thousand-mile-an-hour tape. Practical uses for duct tape: (of the non-flying variety of course)…
Read MoreRodeo Glam
Houston Texas, second day of the month long rodeo, Kid Rock steps on stage in front of nearly 50,000 people, pauses and then recognizes the men and women of our armed forces. When I scanned the crowd, a sea of uniforms climbed to their feat. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, thousands strong, all stood…
Read MoreFlight Surgeon Glam
Midway through my FAA physical (the medical exam pilots need to make their ratings valid) my flight surgeon got a phone call. She apologized profusely and said the number belonged to one of her ex-patients. (Her eighty-two-year-old father). Last year she refused to renew his medical when she discovered he was secretly taking high…
Read MoreAwards Show Glam II
A few of you wrote wanting a little more insight into my night at the National Board of Review (including a picture of my rainbow chin). So here is the long version. Awards show glam–revisited At 6:05 I stepped out of the elevator and hurried across the lobby to the spinning door. (I…
Read MoreNorthern Lights Tracker-Russia
picture compliments of Rolf Hicker The sun has a heartbeat and it pulses strongly every eleven years. Since 2013-20124 are considered to be the window for the next “big-beat” consider the extrodinary aurora activity this year just as heavy palputations.
Read MoreNorthern Lights Tracker-Michigan
Picture courtesy of Google Images Geomagnetic storms are caused by the solar wind (a stream of high energy, high temperature particles that move so fast they can escape the sun’s gravitational pull) This pulse of electrons and protons interacts with the earth’s magnetic field, collides, and then lights the sky with the billiant glow of…
Read MoreNorthern Lights Tracker-Alaska
picture courtesy of Google Images The Cree Indians called the painted sky the “Dance of the Spirits”. Some North American Inuit intrepret the weaving ribbons as football players and claim the spirts of the dead are playing ball with the head of a walrus. (the Inuit must have settled in Oklahoma–everything always comes back to football) In other…
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