Very good weekend

On Saturday, Patrick and his fiance Meghan had a his/hers shower. Hard to believe he's been with us for the past 6 years. I must be old fashioned because I felt out of place given that only women held bridal showers and men stayed out of the way. I am so going to be that crotchety old man screaming at the kids to get the hell off my lawn.

Patrick and Meghan should be off to a good start in their new apartment once they move into their own place in August. They received plenty of kitchenware and cookware. They will be getting married Labor Day weekend in Grapevine.

On Sunday I went up McKinney Airport to go flying. I took the flying club's Piper Arrow up to 10.5K looking to clear some building afternoon clouds. It was a pleasant 100F on ground with a nice dropoff to 58F at 10.5K. I had planned to fly down to Limestone County Airport some 90 miles due south, but had to turn around 30 miles short due to a wall of clouds with extensive vertical development - saw some anvil tops among them. You don't want to fly into one of those. Made my way back north for a planned fuel stop in Sherman Texas due to cheap gas (relative term in aviation at 3.45/gal) but had to stop short due to t-storms. Tucked tail and headed to McKinney (where gas in 5.40/gal) with a wall of dust, wind and rain in the rear view mirror. Put N8185E back in the hangar to the sound of distant thunder. Overall a hot, but enjoyable afternoon and a great way to close out a momentous week.

She may not look like much but the old gal gets the job done. She's a bear to get started in hot weather and in need of a good wash and paint job. I plan on taking the family airplane camping in October. If everything works out I will take the Arrow and the family to the Recklaw Flying - reklawflyin.com.

Here I am threading between cloud banks on my way up through 9,000 feet. In spite of the steep up-angle the Arrow was only managing 300 ft/min climbs. This Arrow is definitely not turbo charged.