Falcon Girl

Why yes Poppa- my bum is intact and very nicely at that- I haven't had any complaints lately about it, and judging from the nice little boys who like to follow me around, I am guessing they like the view of it!

Falcon Girl

..."You can be a victor without having victims".
Hit the nail on the head Skygirl...I think I'm with you. Seems like all our favorite Knights of the posse are not around much, and some creepy ones are not appreciative or lighthearted enough to want to come here to have a bit of fun and unwind. Work is either fun or drudgery- it depends on your attitude. I like fun!
I don't frequently post to too many of the other threads because I don't profess to be an 'expert' of anything, and try only to put in MHO when it may help someone or make someone giggle or smile...too much seriousness around to get caught-up in the kind of negativity that is on the rise here...not what I expected to see rise here at all!
I have great respect for all the pilots on this forum who give their advice and encouragement, knowledge from years in the air (books and sims) and putting-up with mentoring us pain in the bum youngbloods; I love lurking around and absorbing their wisdom and courage for expressing it. One of my most favorite is CalCapt (who I think of lovingly as Charlie now)- he sets a great example here- he breathes life, amusement, knowledge and true fun into this place- serious when needed, truly concerned for others, and able to cut loose and have a good time. Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others. So many lovers of aviation here are looking for advise on how to go further, but so many doomsayers to discourage them?? Harry Truman once said, "The best way to give advice to someone is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it". I will forever be indebted to one man I hardly knew who did just that, I will remember him until the end of time- but I guarantee I will forget all about people like 'Dots' in a few days.
I fly an average of 900-1000 hrs per yr, and I still love what I do and feel blessed that I get to do it every day- when I don't enjoy it anymore, I will find something else I love to do. I choose to spend the limited and very valuable hours of my life coming to this site, tapping away at a dinky laptop (sometimes even the irritating TREO), sometimes sitting in my aircraft on a ramp or in some God forsaken hole of an FBO- all to connect to other lovers of aviation- to experience or to bring some smiles, not to be insulted or make someone feel bad. People gravitate and gather where there is excitement, but only stay where there is fun and acceptance. When I hear a great old radial engine overhead, I always have to stop and watch it until it's out of site...enjoying the beauty of it, amazed at the miracle of the early dreamers who made it happen out of sheer perseverance from within...but once it's gone, I'm on the go again, grateful for the brief interlude of simple enjoyment. I don't usually stop to watch C-172's.
Seems like some people here have been unnecessarily mean lately- is it just here that they think it's okay to bash people? They should remember that very astute quote, "MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER JUDGE YOU OR REMEMBER YOU BY WHAT YOU SAID OR WHAT YOU DID, BUT HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL". I'm sure there are some crusties and grumblies out there who will just think that's sappy, but I think that it's a positive and reassuring motto to keep in mind everyday, whether you are sending your thoughts out into cyberspace to someone who doesn't have a face, or the person making your Starbucks in the morning. Would you want someone talking to your child the way you're talking to someone here?
K...off my soapbox now...

Crashman

...sometimes it's not easy, being a girl in this environment.
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LAfrequentflyer

I fly an average of 900-1000 hrs per yr, and I still love what I do and feel blessed that I get to do it every day- when I don't enjoy it anymore, I will find something else I love to do. I choose to spend the limited and very valuable hours of my life coming to this site, tapping away at a dinky laptop (sometimes even the irritating TREO), sometimes sitting in my aircraft on a ramp or in some God forsaken hole of an FBO- all to connect to other lovers of aviation- to experience or to bring some smiles, not to be insulted or make someone feel bad. People gravitate and gather where there is excitement, but only stay where there is fun and acceptance. When I hear a great old radial engine overhead, I always have to stop and watch it until it's out of site...enjoying the beauty of it, amazed at the miracle of the early dreamers who made it happen out of sheer perseverance from within...but once it's gone, I'm on the go again, grateful for the brief interlude of simple enjoyment. I don't usually stop to watch C-172's.
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Well said...Thanks for sharing...

-LAFF

Crashman

But never forsake your ideals, and remember who you are...
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Crashman

and always remember you have friends -
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Crashman

then the triumph will be yours. In the end. --The Flying Pig
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surreal1221

Wow. . .this thread just keeps getting better

Av8trixx

Thanks Falcon Girl! Right back at ya! Love your posts on this thread!!

calcapt

Let me share if I might a great day yesterday. It didn't involve one thing about flying or aviation - it was just a great day. After sleeping in, I got up and had a great breakfast of cheerios. I went outside and although it was raining I thought about how beautiful all the green things around me were and felt lucky to be part of it. I built three new shelves in my garage so I could find my tape measures when I need them. I then went in and had an ice cold Coke and maybe a pretel or two. I took my grandaughter on my polaris ATV in the rain to see some horses and cows and even saw a couple rabbits along the way. We both got soaked but I was grateful for the time I got to spend with her. After warming up and a warm shower, we then went to a museum at the local college and learned about wolves, armadillos and other interesting animals. After that we went and visited a good friend who is a train engineer in the train yard. He let me and my two grandkids into the train engine and actually let my five year old grandson drive the train down the tracks a little. It was so cool. After that we had dinner overlooking the river and fed some ducks and then went to see Disney's new release "Cars" which is adorable. I then came home and put two very tired and worn out grandkids to bed and one tired calcapt wasn't far behind.
All right calcapt, what is your point here? Here it is: Life is not about who flies the fastest jet or whose airplane weighs more at takeoff. Not who flies for Airline A, B, passenger, cargo, corporate, military or a ramp agent. Life is about making today better than yesterday. We are all in some stage of struggle and so why do some of us choose to make someone else's day more difficult to compensate for our miseries or failings? It was rainy yesterday and I could of easily *****ed about the miserable weather and stayed home all day and watched whatever was on television. I chose not to do that as I was determined to salvage the day and It turned out to be a magical day. Not because of me, but because I made my mind up early that it was going to be a great day. Remember the mind over matter thing? I think many of us have so much, yet choose to see the negative in life. Building one's own self worth never works by tearing down others. Next time you are at the airport, tell the guy out polishing his old 172 what a nice plane he has, and ask him about how he got started flying. Don't feel the need to tell him you are a big time airline pilot or fly airplanes ten times the size of his. Make this his day not yours, and it will amaze you how much better you will feel. Nobody on this forum has to compete to be accepted. We all love airplanes and the feeling we get talking and being around them. But I am here to tell you that airplanes are not who we are. We are about smiling when it rains and laughing when we have every right to cry. I challenge you all to take a walk in the rain and have a Coke for breakfast. Go pet a horse and see a Disney movie with a young friend. Go learn about coyotes and compliment a guy buffing floors that those are the shiniest floors you have ever seen. That's what life is friends - nothing more. Please thoughtfully consider your posts here and keep in mind we are all here to take steps forward not backward. Sorry for the lecture, just thought some of us needed to think a little more before we post and I include myself in this group.