Coming up the mountain today, heading home, came across this accident. Apparently, this young lady is not use to her car doing a little fishtailing. It just goes to show,, this kind of thing can happen at any time, any where. Stay frosty & Focused.
I think that this young lady's boyfriend and I could right side this small car, however, they didn't want to try it.

We are expecting some bad weather this evening, and into tomorrow. Maybe the last of the snow/cold weather for this time of year. So ready to start on the garden, and springtime thermals.

1st things first. Monday morning, I have an appointment with the Dr. to do an arteriogram, possible balloon/Stent. After they inject the dye into my system, they will know if they can do it then, or have to get serious about it. Hopefully, it will stay as an outpatient procedure.

This is the most serious procedure that I have ever had to undergo. Just happy they found it when they did, and that work is kind of slow right now. Hopefully, before we get busy again, I will 100 % and back on my feet again !

I took this picture today while I was in the waiting room at the doctors office. For a while now, I have been having some problems with my left leg. Pain, numbness, etc.... I had been to every type of doctor on the planet. Today was my last specialist to go to. It was a vascular doctor. They found out what my major malfunction has been. I have PAD. Peripheral Artery Disease. A disease that involves the hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a build up of plaque in the inner lining of the arteries. I have two arteries (Femeral?that go to either leg)that join with the Aorta? and the clodacation is at that junction. It's in both sides. The % of blockage is high enough that the Dr. scheduled surgery before I left his office.
PAD cannot be cured, but it can be managed. The main thing, is that after this procedure, I will be able to walk, dance, tote my glider for more than 3 minutes at a time, and I wont take the chance of loosing any limbs.
The treatments are going to be either: Angioplasty, or balloning with stents. Which ever,, the problem will be fixed ! Keep me in your prayers please. I truely believe in the power of Prayer!
Today is 30 days without a cig. Go figure. Should have quit 30 years ago. Some of us aren't the sharpest tool in the shed. However, I did quit BEFORE the Dr. told me that I had to !!!! 1 for me!

This is a different kind of post for me. Most of the time, I try my best to keep it positive, informative, funny, or just wrong. This one is about disappointment. The picture below is another example of the way things are in today's society. Prebul has been a much respected name in the automobile industry here in Chattanooga, and other places. They had 5 dealerships in all, which employed 250 people.
They are No more. They are shutdown. Everyone is out of work. The reason? Dishonesty. Without putting myself at risk of being sued myself,,,suffice it to say that 32 Million dollars isn't where it needed to be. Subsequently, everyone gets to look for new job. It's been in all the papers, so I'm not spreading a rumor. I was there today, and saw the remains first hand. The only good thing, all the mechanics where able to get their tools out of there, before the bank put a lock on all the doors.
My Dad told me an ole' saying once, and I think it's appropriate to share it at this time. The world has gone to Hell in a hand basket. I'm seeing more signs of that, all the time.

On a positive note~~ it's been over 3 weeks since my last cigarette. Who would'a thunk it ?!

You may have to enlarge this one to see it. It's the sign as you come into Wallaby Ranch, Florida. I was out of town for a week this deployment, and this was the highlight of the trip. I'm only going to post part of them on here, because of the space. However, I will post all of them on my face book page.
When I arrived, there were 4 pilots in the air still. This was the first one that landed, and I was able to capture it. They were not having fun, thus the reason they came down when they did. I bet the buoyancy/shear ratio was 8 or above. It was rockin' in the Lz, to be sure.

Beside the pool effect, this one will show you part of the LZ on this side. To say their landing zone is huge,,,,,would be an understatement ! If you can't hit this landing zone,,,,you don't need to be in a hang glider !

This is the off season for most of the flight parks in the US, however, there are still folks hanging around, catching flights, and basically enjoying the camaraderie.

Where ever there is flying going on,,,you will find Mike Barber, seen here petting his,,cat.

One of the other places that I was able to stop at, was New Smyrna,Fl. The best beach,sand wise, that I have ever walked on. The sand is so fine,, you are allowed to drive vehicles on them.

Where ever there is oceans & sands, you will find these guys.

I enjoyed this shot because of the handrail going into the beach itself.

This is a shot of the USS Alabama in Mobile. I know it doesn't help much, but you can at least say that you've see it.

Cape Canaveral from across the bay. I didn't have enough time to take the tour, so this is as close as you can get. I thought this was nice since it has the moon at the top.

I wanted to take all the folks that's written to me in support of my quitting smoking. It's been 16 days since my last puff/drag/inhale of the poison. The patch is really working for me, or maybe it's just that I am ohhh sooo ready to quit. Nothing before now has worked. A 30+ year habit is hard to break,,but like anything else,,, everything has it's season. Thanks again guys.

Will try and make this as short as possible, and not get gabby.
I left heading out for work down in Titusville, Florida on Monday. After that, I had to head back to Gulfport, Mississippi for Weds/Thursday AM testing. I just found out a little while ago,,,after I finish with Gulfport, I'm heading to Tampa, Florida. I hope to get home sometime Friday. Of course, that all depends on what tomorrow brings.
So thankful for the work, right now ! Especially, since it's a heck of a lot warmer here, than at home !!!!! There is a freeze warning for tonight here, but it sure beats 14 degree with 20 mph winds at our house !
I have alot of good pictures to share when I get home.

The traditional Rick Sr. & the Ladies picture. The off times are hard on us hang glider pilots, however, we always seem to come up with something to bide the time, and get together with friends.

Part of the food. I had another pot of chili also. Almost all the food was gone by the end of the game.

Sr.'s dog, Bailey, getting into the 3d viewing during the game tonight.

Bailey wasn't the only one that got into the 3d viewing during the game/commercials tonight.

It was a great game, and kind of stressful for some. This was the massage line to relieve some of it. I can't tell you what was said, but as you can see,,,it was funny! Good time had by all !

Thanks Rick,,,Hope we can do it again next year !