Live from Tormville!

*Happy Sigh*

I almost didn't bring my camera last night. True story. 

Last night was beautiful. As I was standing on the side of the road, I said out loud a few times: THIS is why I have a hard time leaving my camera at home. 

This next week isn't looking too promising for flying, but we flew twice this weekend - and we've already flown more this year than last year. Last year was a record crap weather year for ballooning. 

Always great. 

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We had a good week last week. I felt like we made a real dent in summer projects. I even gave in to the kids one afternoon and decided that - okay - we WILL have a garage sale this year. They've been begging for a few years now, but we've had them before and they are a. LOT. of. work. 

BUT. 

My donations got us absolutely squat on our taxes last year, so that change tipped the scales. Last week was spent on the boy's room and a few other nooks and crannies. We're looking at a one day sale sometime the weekend of Melonfest - so a month away yet. Lots of time to gut some corners

As for this week: 

• Some Rest & Relaxation
• More Purging
• Another week of Swim Camp
• Fiddle Lessons (we only go every few weeks in the summer) 
• More Steps/Walking
• Completion of that new crown in my mouth. 
• Even more purging
• That should do it. 

Happy Monday! 

 

Igniting Summer

Hello summer! 

Thursday was our last day of school. 
Thursday evening - I headed out for ballooning - the first time (for me) of the season. 

It's going to be a fantastic summer. 

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I hit the ground running this morning.  I wrote "SLEEP IN" on the weekly calendar, but even as I wrote it - I laughed. 
I'm simply not capable. As the summer goes on, the time will drift from today's 5am wake up to a lazy 6am, but I'm a morning person. 

I love the quiet, the jump start, the calm, and the way my brain calculates so much better than it does in the evening hours. 

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There are only a few light things on today's plan and schedule, which is how most of our summer is laid out this year. 

There is no karate for the boys this summer - the first time in four years

No camps this summer - the first time in, gosh - twelve plus years. 

It opens our days up for more possibilities. 

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I had the kid's make their summer manifestos a few weeks ago already. 

Today I have to sit down and make mine. It's in my head, but I prefer to have it jotted down in a journal. 

I'll share more on those tomorrow. 

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A favorite moment from last night's ballooning was when the balloon was on the ground and we were chatting with the land owners.

Him, pointing to his son:  He just got home. He was doing cement work all day

Me:  Oh yeah?  Well I worked in a kindergarten classroom on the last day of school. 

It was a hands down win. 

A flight on the second of July

I may be a little behind on my blogging, but at least I kept this one within the right month. 

On the second of July - we flew. 

We took off from the high school right behind Jerry. 

The high school. Our district has a Freshmen campus and a 10-12 building. They are within walking distance from one another as there is some crossover for some classes. Wendy will move up to this building in September.

One of our seven elementary schools. We're due for some reshuffling soon. We've had changes in enrollment and new roads put in, but haven't redistricted in years and years. Now there are building use committees and parent committees all in place to help put forth a plan by December for the following year. It'll be an anxious year wondering where we'll all end up as employees and students, but it's needed. 

Thompson Lake. I need to get the kayak out there some day soon. 
It'll be easier now that we got Wendy's van aka: kayak hauler up and running again. 

Our pilot. 

On this flight he used the phrase, "oh-oh"  and  "this isn't good". 

I didn't ask why. 

At this point I texted my mom and said hey! Look north! 
And she waved. She told me again last night how amazed she is how quickly she feels at home here. She's lived in the area before, raised in Redford and again when we moved down just before my high school years, but she'd been up north since 1988. We're glad she's here now.  She's been having pairs of grandkids spend the night all week - most recently Wendy and Elizabeth who got her playing with both snapchat and karaoke apps. 

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As for other stuff: 

• Today is day 36 of our 87 days of summer. 
• It feels busy from here on out. 
• I bring Wendy to soccer camp tomorrow afternoon. Due to her ribs still healing from popping so much, we've decided that she'll opt out of the goalie training and just work on field techniques. We also decided to start with a physical therapist. Hoping to get a referral at their annual sports physicals the following week. (We have one we like, but need that insurance referral) 
• I talked to Allan this week - he's still working a lot of overtime, but hopes to take two weeks off before school starts and come home for a few days before heading back to buy books and find his classes.  
• Greg is home again this weekend, and is up early changing the oil on both the vans. 
• I was surprised how early he was up, but as he reminded me - he's been going into work much earlier (ten hour days) so it was really sleeping in. 
• I was able to, with a stroke of timing and luck, book a couple nights in Boyne again this year.  It's become an annual. 
• I had hoped to get to the Tall Ship Festival in Bay City this weekend, but I don't think that's going to pan out. 
• This will be the first year in a long time though that we'll be in town for the Fowlerville Fair - so that should happen. 
• It's also been our odd job summer. Wendy's had three different odd jobs so far, and the boys have a two week watering job starting next week. We went yesterday to learn the operation. 
• My mom and I went to the Friday night concert last night, but it was chilly and started to rain. They had to pack up early. 

Time for me to go make something of our day. 

Happy Saturday

be good

Sunday Flight

There was ballooning last night. 
I still have to share last week's ballooning photos (been a little photo lazy lately) but we'll just go a little out of order for fun. It'll do my ocd tendencies some good as it's been a bit out of control lately. 

I very nearly didn't bring my camera last night. I was feeling lazy and of the mind that I've taken pretty much every photo I can think of over the last six years. At the last second I grabbed it, thinking that I'll be mad if I bump into some school kids and don't have my camera to get their pictures for the back to school bulletin board I'm planning. 

I didn't see any school kids, but I ended up being glad I had my camera along. 

We launched from Three Fires, and landed on some Kellogg property, with reluctant agreement from the property owner. They've not had good experiences with balloons before, but by the time we left we had them realizing that not all balloonists are alike. 

This is the shot that had me glad I brought my camera along. 

I love field landings and sun. 

A good end to the week. 

Today I've got my Monday going on. 

be good. 

splash and dash

I didn't get home until late tonight and I still have a lot to do before Wendy's confirmation tomorrow - so just a quick share from tonight's flight. We were right above Jerry when he performed a splash and dash on Thompson Lake. 

Gorgeous night for flying. 

More later - stuff to do, stuff to do....

Christmas in the 'Ville

It took us five years and Laura's truck, trailer and determination to get us to take part in the Christmas in the 'Ville event - and now we're determined to come back again. We'll admit to being thankful to have picked the warmest year for our first run, because even though it was the warmest year - it was still very cold. We definitely learned where to make changes for a colder year. 

This cute thing was pulled by the Grinch, but the rim cracked on the basket just before the parade started.  It got put in the back of a pick-up truck and the Grinch rode solo on his mini-bike, in charge of signaling the beginning of the pilot's flame waves. 

We were placed just before Santa Claus. The parade organizer was well aware of our crew's behaviors, and this was the best way to keep us in check. It may or may not have worked. 

The placement also gave us the advantage of some of the best view of the front of the parade.  

There was a Hawaiian theme going on, but some of the crew didn't get that memo until the day of, so our costumes were pretty non-existent, with the exception of our fabulous pilot. We're taking over his email next year so we'll know the theme a little earlier.  

This was fantastic. 

The crowds were amazing. From the crowds came so many shouts of  "Merry Christmas!!", "Thank you for doing this!!"  "Fire it up!!" "Sharyn!!!"  [I know a lot of people] and "Happy New Year!!" 

Truly awesome and heartwarming. 

My body, however, took four hours to warm up afterwards. Even the after-parade soup from the post-parade banquet couldn't make a dent in the chill that took over. We'll definitely be more prepared for a colder year. 

Best crew ever. 

Thanks, Rick, for taking our photo! 

Oh, and mom - Rick may have overheard me mentioning that you're coming for Christmas. I wish I could have captured the way the alertness took over. His eyes got big and his head popped right up.  Rick is wondering if you'd have room to bring down a couple dozen of his favorite pasties. (Tony's) He'd pay me and I could paypal you.  Let me know.  ;)  

 

It had been awhile

There was ballooning that week I was in Boyne. I sent Denny a picture of my toes up at the pool when he asked if I could crew. 
There was ballooning the night that I had to attend the volunteer meeting for Melonfest. 
There has been less ballooning this year overall due to the weather. In short - I've not gone much, so it was good to be back on chase crew duties last night. 

It was a fast flight, but not a bad landing. 
It's all good

Happy Sunday! 

 

flashback to balloonfest part II

 We met at the field at 6pm Sunday night for the pilots meeting. 

Fingers were crossed that the ground had dried enough to allow the pilots to drive on it for a launch, and it had. Yay!  The pilots and crew want to fly every bit as much as the crowd wants the balloons to fly. 

Some views from the field:

This was the most well attended Sunday night flight that I've seen. The Saturday washout really had people hoping for some Sunday action. 

Remember that construction sight landing?  Yeah?  So does the balloon. 

 There was a little crowding going on on the field while trying to avoid the wetter areas, so in true Denny form - we were the last to leave the ground. 

Right behind Sarah. 

Bye Rita! Bye Denny! 

The crowd always cheers when the balloon takes off. 

The goal was to get as close to the target as possible, but whoever was manning the target was a little confused, and had pulled it up before the last balloons got there.  She may have thought it was the first three balloons to the target on not the three closest balloons. Not sure - I never heard, but had the target been left, I'm sure we were in for the win. 

It was a beautiful flight to chase. 

On the ground and re-fueled - we got back to the launch sight and our cars right around 10:30. I felt bad as I had read the hours of the carnival and relayed to Allan that they'd be closed when he got off work at nine. He'd been hoping for some carnival food and a few rides. Don't tell him. 

They were still open, and all the rides were running - most with just a few people on them at most. No Lines! 

Now I can start sharing U.P. photos. 

Tomorrow. 
be good. 

Happy Monday!

• Happy Monday! 
• It was a busy weekend
• While Balloonfest was nearly a rain-out, we did fly Friday morning and then again Sunday night
• My mom came to town Friday
• We went to the rainy airshow Saturday afternoon. It was fun, but we got cold. and wet. 
• She's leaving tomorrow. 
• I'm pondering the idea of driving her back home myself - it's nearly 3pm, and I haven't decided yet if I'm going to
• Blogging is my procrastination technique
• We were out all morning at the funeral she came to town for
• Greg was in St. Ignace for his car show weekend. He got home last evening, and left again this morning - to Chicago. He has no idea if he'll be gone for three days or two weeks. 
• Allan has enough time off this coming week to keep my dog alive, should I decide to head north. 
• I have a lot of pictures to share -- I just have to decide what I'm doing and if I have time to share them yet 
• Brian learned the unicycle, finally, this week and Mark learned the ripstick. 
• Wendy knocked a few items off her summer manifesto - ride a ferris wheel, and we took a yoga class last week
• Allan has been working on his brakes all week. Between him, me, youtube and long distance calls to Greg - we still haven't quite worked out the problem, but we're getting there. We've got one more trick in the bag yet to play. 
• Procrastinating over. out. 

Pre-Balloonfest Flight

The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest here in Howell begins tomorrow - Friday June 26th. Fingers crossed for flyable weather.  Morning flights are between 6 and 7am - so as my friend and fellow crew member Laura said - watch for us while you're enjoying your morning coffee. Or be bolted out of bed by the sound of the burner outside of your bedroom window.  

Last night was a perfect night for flying. Five of us took off form the freshly mowed high school lawn. 

It's not like us to be first in the air. But I liked it. 

My new lens (10mm) and my new glasses (transitions, again - but different than my last ones it seems) were providing me a few challenges. I like a challenge. 

Always fun to fly over Thompson Lake. It was active last night. I texted my brother at this point to let him know we were close to flying over his house, but he wasn't home. 

Denny commented that we are always flying over someone that I know. 

This is true. 

I wish I could have switched from a wide to a zoom for this one. The boy on the tube was about four years old and he was craning his neck for all it was worth to try and look up inside the balloon directly above him. It was priceless. 

We had a gentle landing, but right in new construction. We have a little dust to show for it - on us, and the balloon, but the bonus is that we had a lot of helpers to pack the balloon up. 

And we used every one of them. 

See you at Balloonfest!