Special K

Today was definitely a throw back Thursday, or as the young hip kids would say "#tbt". 

Things started off with my inspection. And where else but Hangar K where medevac was starting to grow roots and take her thrown as Hangar Queen. 

Inspection went well, other than emergency equipment not installed. Luckily the interior was one of the many that we have approved so I could evaluate most of what I needed to and can rely on photos for the rest. The interior, too, was a #tbt - throw back to 2012 when I was in montreal inspecting many Challenger 300 interiors. Since then, the interiors have changed and taken a more modern look. 

Here's some pics:

The plane 

The cockpit. It's a bit hazy because it was soooo hot

The view outside Hangar K

After work, I got some more work done and then had dinner with Jason.  We went to our favourite place - Oregano's for some wings and pasta.  I definitely missed those wings. 

Now, I'm walking back to my hotel after returning the rental car. It is still about 90*F outside at 10:45 but is nice and comfortable. Now to get some sleep and get up in just under 6 hrs to catch my flight back home. 

The return of AA

Here are some pictures from the trip down:

CF-18's waiting for clearance in Winnipeg. That, or they were waiting to escort someone out of town...

Some neat cloud formations at 34,000 feet somewhere over the U.S. 

The familiar site of the Tucson Tower at the airport. 

Time to unpack so,e clothes and crank up the AC. It's hot here...

Waiting on the plane

This is new - we got into Denver, relatively on time but are now parked at the gate waiting on the plane. 

Reason - a thunderstorm has rolled in and put a ground stop for all ground crews. So, they can't guide the bridge in towards the airplane door. 

As such, we are all waiting on the airplane. Luckily my flight out isn't for another hour and a half. There will certainly be delays as all inbound and outbound flights will be affected. Hopefully I will have enough time to grab a bite to eat. Good thing this isn't my first time to Denver, I already know where I was going to go to get food (a Vietnamese or Thai place). 

Looks like this won't happen. Was stuck on the plane for 45 mins. Here was the situation from flight aware

I have a pretty cool timelapse video from the departure out of Winnipeg. I like when there are lots of low cloud formations with many openings to see the ground below. Hopefully I can post this to YouTube or facebook tonight. 

Misc blog content

I was looking through pics on my phone and noticed some that were supposed to make their way into the blog this trip but didn't. Until now... 

This brings back memories of San Francisco where Lola and I got coffe/tea (3 times) from Biscoff, down at Fishermans Wharf. And yes, that is tomato juice, with ice. I don't like tomato juice with ice. 

This was te weather radar for game time yesterday. Big debate whether I should go to the game or not. Good decision to go because it mildly sprinkled while I walked from the parking garage to the ballpark. After that, no rain.  And wet seats of which here is one that was an accidental photo:

Hard to see but this was the score board inside the concourse showing all the games that day and the scores.  I didn't mention Grandma Phyll in my facebook post because I knew she would be watching the Blue Jays game. 

This is a trash can in a business jet. And that is me in the reflection from the many coats of finish on the wood veneer on the gally drawers. Yes, I'm wearing a hairnet. I don't want to get hair gel on the cabin headliner throughout the aircraft. 

My office this afternoon. Well, only a short portion of the afternoon. If I knew my flight would be delayed until 6, I could have hung out here at "The Hangar" on the airfield at the St. Louis downtow airport which (a) isn't in St. Louis (is in Cahokia IL) and (b) definitely isn't downtown. I could have enjoyed the scenery of the business jets taking off for their flight tests. And probably enjoyed a beer at a cheaper price than at the airport. Come to think of it, I didn't have a beer today - guess that's what happens when you don't know when your flight will be departing and when you do arrive in Chicago, you have to hurry to find food and your gate, and your gate, and your gate. Yes, gate changed 2 times while I was there. 

And to end on a sunny/cheery/happy note, here is the view out my window in Chicago. No rain and plenty of sunshine. 

Storm continues

Well trying to decide whether to stay up or go to bed so to flight aware I go.  Looks like AA was going through another storm.  He is has been delayed all day, so hopefully the flight is going ok.

Here is what I saw when I looked it up.

Now to decide whether to try and stay awake or go to bed.

I have been very busy these past weeks, but feeling like I got over the hump!

Have a good night,

Lola

Travel delays

I'm on board an airplane to get me to chicago. It's not the one I was originally booked on but I want to get to Chicago so I can eat. I just saw my other plane show up so I would have made it there eventually. 

Here is a synopsis of the delays:

6:22 am - flight from Chicago to Winnipeg is delayed, will depart at 8:08 pm

10:33 am - flight from Chicago to Winnipeg is delayed, will depart at 8:23 pm

1:18 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 4:22 pm

1:47 pm- flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 4:40 pm

2:29 pm - gate change, now out of A16

3:13 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 5:01 pm

3:28 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 5:20 pm

3:46 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 5:05 pm

4:08 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 5:39 pm

4:11 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 5:30 pm

4:13 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 5:49 pm

4:17 pm - gate change, now out of A19

4:55 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 6:10 pm

5:31 pm - flight from St. Louis to Chicago is delayed, will depart at 6:00 pm

It is now 6:00 pm. I don't see the other airplane departing...

Take me out to the ball game

Work has once again brought me to St. Louis. This time, I'm able to take in a ball game at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, 2014 World Series attendees (they lost to Kansas City). 

The Cardinals are facing the Minnesota Twins.  Tonight is the first of a three game home stand. Unfortunately I don't think I could go to tomorrow's game at 12:45 in the afternoon. Plus, what would you rather do on a warm rainy Missouri night?

It actually isn't too rainy, contrary to what I thought on the flight in where we had to divert our flight plan to get around the thunderstorm and land.  It's 7:30 and a balmy 78*F. And humid. They have got a lot of rain here lately, the Mississippi is over flowing her banks and a minor flood advisory is in effect. 

Well, time to watch the game with 43,173 other people. Here are some pictures from the game:

Arriving

I guess when in St Louis...

Getting ready for game time

Minnesota playing with three in the right infield... Weird

St. Louis wins! 3-2

Not how I planned my Tuesday...

Well hockey has struck again, this time right in the chops. 

In battling for the puck (I believe I was winning the race), somehow the opposing players stick (shaft) got me in the mouth. I knew right away it wasn't good, first contact was with the teeth, not even the chin to slow the stick down a bit. Luckily, things seem ok. No pain (other than a dull ache, most likely because I'm thinking of it). My lip is more sore than my tooth, and definitely still swollen. 

We will see what the dentist says this morning in a few minutes.