tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74196358496799352902024-03-14T04:08:16.397-07:00castles and choppersthe personal blog of stewart and stephenStephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-67135014816109841762012-07-04T15:55:00.005-07:002012-07-04T16:49:37.714-07:00Bedazzled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What else can you say, a helicopter made impossibly more fantastic. </span><br />
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-18276323748259993062012-07-04T15:45:00.001-07:002012-07-04T15:46:25.314-07:00NYC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stewart spent the past weekend in New York City, as part of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Military Advisory Council. (if you don't know what SLDN is/does, click <a href="http://sldn.org/"><span style="color: yellow;">here</span></a>). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He took this photo of the Stonewall Inn, site of the Stonewall Riots and arguably one of the most important moments in the gay rights struggle. </span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-80126940065192694612012-07-04T15:38:00.000-07:002012-07-04T15:38:11.441-07:00Water Pump<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suspect that many people have a love-hate relationship with their BMWs, the love part being the German engineering that makes it such a great car to drive, and the hate part being the German engineering that makes it breathtakingly expensive to repair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take for example the water pump that inexplicably failed while doing 80 on I-15 on my way to the high desert on Sunday. Sensing that I was in the worst possible position in the far left lane of a five lane highway with no shoulder, the pump quits, the non-circulating coolant overheated, and spewed out the relief valve, and then the engine smoothly rolled back to a permanent idle setting after overtemping. Good on the Germans, the engine saved itself, but the water pump rests deep within the cavernous engine well, because it never fails why would anyone need access to it, and 5 hours and fifteen hundred bucks later, it was replaced. </span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-63592311000405475162012-07-04T15:29:00.001-07:002012-07-04T15:51:18.544-07:00Owen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cousin (once removed) Owen Hoy, at the beach in Laguna, dressed up for the family's holiday photo. Post-Beiber haircut, stylish jacket and some very good genes. Should be in a boy band some day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Stephen's Aunt is Linda, Linda's daughter is Shannon (Stephen's Cousin), and Owen is her son, if you care to follow all that). </span></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-59816748455190264372012-03-24T13:56:00.001-07:002012-03-24T13:56:40.636-07:00Why Don't We Get Drunk<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The United States laws governing alcohol sales is a sad patchwork of antiquated policies and ridiculous restrictions often based on the flawed religious reasoning of the Prohibition days. As inconceivable as it is in 2012, many states still dictate when and how a legal adult may procure alcohol, and how much at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But as always seems to be the case, the Middle East still trumps us in religious whacknuttery, as my friend Elizabeth, who is working as a helicopter pilot in the UAE, describes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Something to consider the next time you pop into your local grocery store for your alcohol of choice…<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Drinking alcohol in the UAE is a regular practice among expats. One may call it a social indulgence; another may call it a survival tool. The government calls it an activity that must be tracked and taxed. Essentially, it’s an easy way to squeeze money from infidels in a land that does not collect income tax. For the first 2 years we lived here we skated the system by having a friend do booze runs for us. We would get a case of beer here and there, and when we wanted an over-priced glass of wine we would just go to a licensed restaurant (which is a whole different topic). Then we started hearing horror stories of sting operations where expats were being picked off from bars and carted off to jail for not being licensed. Here’s the thing; if you visit this country with a 30-day tourist visa you are exempt from obtaining a license. You are free to imbibe in hotel-restaurants, but you may not buy from the 2-3 liquor stores that supply residents with take-home alcohol. If you have a resident visa, you must be legally licensed (procedure to follow) or else you subject yourself to possible jail time and a hefty fine. As a quick example of how f*cked the system is, there was a story in the paper recently of a British woman who charged an Emirati of sexual assault (she got wasted at a bar and found herself in his bed the following morning). The authorities then turned around and charged HER for drinking without a license. So there you go. Having a license is a big deal.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every year the license must be renewed. We got our first license from the Abu Dhabi police department last year (relatively simple process), but the procedure has since changed. The first step in the process is to obtain a salary certificate from your employer, because the amount of alcohol you can buy is dependent on your monthly income. Our company fully understands that most of their employees drink (we are in the aviation business, after all) and has prepared directions to the new facility for licensing in Abu Dhabi. Brief tangent…<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are no street addresses in this country. Most streets have 2-3 names, and locals generally know the street names (Kaleej Al Arabi, Al Salam, etc) while expats know the numbers (2 street, 4 street, etc). This becomes a problem when I, an expat, ask a local for directions. If it is a business I am looking for (that I have never been to) I will usually call ahead of time and just ask them to email me a map. Likewise, business cards usually have graphic maps in lieu of addresses. So, back to our HR department preparing directions. Here’s an excerpt;<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">“On 15<sup>th</sup> street turn right at a shop called technical scissors. Then take 1<sup>st</sup> left. Travel up this street and you will see a cafe called Donner café on your left and Abu Dhabi Media Company on your right. Try and park anywhere here. To find the building, walk past Donner café keeping the café on your left side and go to the end of the block. Turn left into a square, and the licensing building is the last building on the right in this square. The office is situated in a building that is NOT signposted”. I kid you not; the office that processes liquor licenses for several hundred THOUSAND expats does not have a sign identifying it as such. So, armed with both the descriptive directions and the GPS coordinates (that a forward-thinking pilot obtained) we set off to find this elusive office. We brought with us the salary certificate from HR, our original passport/visa with a copy, and some passport photos. The stars and planets aligned as we found the general vicinity of the office on our first try. The actual office location was obtained after walking around and asking some Emirates in uniforms where to go. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After beating all odds and actually finding the office, you then must pick up an application. This application cannot be filled in on site with a pen (too easy/logical); it must be typed in both English and Arabic with the information from your letter, passport and visa. Of course, there is nobody in the office to perform this service (again, too easy/logical), so you must take the application to a “typing center” that is offsite. Fortunately, we found such a center 3 buildings away in a small office space that provides passport photos and photocopies. We hand over all of our documentation and 30 dirhams ($8) and 7 minutes later we have our typed applications. Then, it’s back to the licensing office. We hand over documentation, photos, <i>typed</i> applications, and 400 dirhams ($109). The man behind the desk scribbles out a receipt and tells us to come back tomorrow to pick up the license. We explain that we will be busy at work and he says that I can come back tomorrow and pick both of them up. Again, we explain that I am, in fact, gainfully employed and am unavailable to return for several days. “Hallas”, he answers, “No problem to return next week”. So next week we will return with the receipt and pick up a piece of paper that gives us another year of peace of mind as we indulge in over-priced booze. Cheap insurance in our minds. Ironically, going through this process will drive one to drink…<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-78930162344781637582012-02-26T18:16:00.000-08:002012-02-26T18:16:01.617-08:00Victory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Victory Fund is a national grassroots fundraising organization for the GLBT community. It is one of the leanest groups of its kind (93% of donations go to the selected candidates), and the most successful: over 70% of supported candidates go on to win their elections. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stewart and I went to their brunch fundraiser today, and listened to the NY City councilmember who was instrumental in getting marriage equality passed in her state, an amazing story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more info: <a href="http://victoryfund.org/">victoryfund.org</a></span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-79876028937837870382012-01-16T09:28:00.000-08:002012-01-16T09:29:20.245-08:002012 Hiking Trip #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We embarked on our
first camping trip in quite awhile, armed with new backpacks, sleeping bags,
tent, and iso-butane stove. Spent the night at the Paso Picacho
campground last night, then hiked Stonewall Mountain this morning.
Lessons learned: the redneck proletariat tend to frequent campgrounds on
holiday weekends, not a great time to go unless you enjoy listening to
twenty-something high school graduates exercising their abbreviated language
and social skills while downing six packs of Coors Light and listening to sappy
country music. Also, read the instructions on the freeze dried food
package prior to the trip, lest you find yourself without the appropriate
cookware and be unable to cook what's inside. But the hike was great, and
the views incredible, even while rain clouds drifted in and out of the area.
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<br /></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-91001105284621255152012-01-12T09:09:00.001-08:002012-01-12T09:09:46.436-08:00And So It BeginsYesterday I had my annual FAA physical, and my near vision that had received a dubious pass on previous physicals, in part due to my memorization of line 9 of the eye chart, did not go unnoticed by my new doctor. <br /><br />And so I am the proud owner of 3 pairs of Costco 125 cheater glasses, which will now become an integral part of my flight gear. <br /><br />Sigh. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-621121817911412222012-01-07T09:12:00.000-08:002012-01-07T09:12:36.334-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We got Grandson Liam a blood type kit for the holidays. As his Mom points out it was a rather odd gift, but in any case he is O+, like Poobah. </span><br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-85941888545339096902011-12-20T13:06:00.001-08:002011-12-20T13:06:06.369-08:00NYC Five Guys<div>It's genetic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qaX0Y2Q0Dlg/TvD2WBIHdlI/AAAAAAAACN4/6K-UsAUfeZQ/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202011%2525206%25253A14%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qaX0Y2Q0Dlg/TvD2WBIHdlI/AAAAAAAACN4/6K-UsAUfeZQ/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202011%2525206%25253A14%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1324415127877.461" class="alignright" alt="" width="500" height="374"></a></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-36457529725620056202011-12-13T10:52:00.000-08:002011-12-13T10:52:42.324-08:00Spokane Night Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chris and Marianne in a local Spokane commercial. </span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-87750856127654062812011-12-12T20:34:00.001-08:002012-01-06T17:03:18.042-08:00Chris' Birthday<br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Spokane&z=10">Spokane</a></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-11665878165137539912011-12-12T18:43:00.001-08:002011-12-12T18:43:37.078-08:00ChangeStewart's Medicare card came in the mail today. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Surrey%20Dr&z=10'>Surrey Dr</a></p>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-75545552957743384302011-12-11T21:06:00.001-08:002012-01-06T17:03:36.860-08:00Holiday 2012Chris, Ethan, Grayson, Andrew, and Stewart. I could be wrong, but I think they're picking out a Christmas tree. With a long stick. In an open field. <br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Spokane&z=10">Spokane</a></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-28670649276660245722011-11-20T16:08:00.001-08:002011-11-27T10:39:28.159-08:00El Commandante<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/117074083100424688973/BaldHead#5677234150586212002" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2NK9Gk8uMX0/TsmWYXRoXqI/AAAAAAAACL8/vj9j0-PV8wk/s400/1.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px;" width="300" /></a>This is the Commandante of the Ensenada Airport, reviewing my aircraft documents and making a mental calculation as to whether this is going to be a good day or bad day for Senor McNabb. He officially reports to the aeronautical authorities in Mexico City, meaning that he reports to no one. And so he controls the dispensing and approval of flight plans; he directs the recently post-pubescent military police with M16 rifles and a gaunt, paranoid drug sniffing German Shepard who inspect the aircraft; and he lords over the customs and immigration officials, not really in his department, who have the authority to either stamp your passport and enter your name in their log or to send you on a three hour spree through downtown Ensenada attempting to pay a special fee at an unnamed bank. <br />
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The Commandante is the final arbiter of where you can fly and land, when you can do it, and how much it's going to cost you to do so. The approval stamp in his top right drawer represents the demarkation between misery and freedom, between being told you've entered the country illegally and your helicopter is being confiscated, and being allowed to briskly walk out to your helicopter and take off before he changes his mind.<br />
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Ensenada,%20Mexico%4032.651106%2C-117.033824&z=10">Ensenada, Mexico</a></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-21225600469886310632011-09-21T08:53:00.001-07:002011-11-27T10:53:42.967-08:00Liberty And Justice For All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Stewart's keynote speech at the LGBT Center in San Diego celebrating the repeal of DADT was captured on the local PBS station. Listen <a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/sep/21/lgbt-community-celebrates-end-dadt/" style="color: yellow;">here.</a></div>
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-12874419533612161902011-09-20T13:02:00.000-07:002011-09-20T13:03:51.181-07:00Stewart On The Morning News<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stewart woke up at 4 a.m. this morning, after 3 hours sleep, to get to the Fox 5 TV studio for a DADT interview. Watch it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> </span><a href="http://www.fox5sandiego.com/videogallery/64885808/News/Don-t-Ask-Don-t-Tell-Ban-Ends#gl-1" style="color: yellow;">here</a>.</span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-20250808836321036192011-09-19T17:17:00.000-07:002011-09-19T17:18:43.097-07:00The Morning Before<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In advance of Don't Ask, Don't Tell's expiration tomorrow, Stewart had a major op ed published in the local newspaper, the San Diego Union Tribune. You can read it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/18/the-battles-after-dont-ask-dont-tell/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">here.</span></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kDj4pW4O5ud1vjISupA6VtbuDnv5wVy3nBZ2YLOECO1uer3a_nFxlUIm6H2Ki3rra4kocVR83Lxmg6Rf5i8ndVjWy8UMe5XmTQO5viFsYHaI7I-TBmk-s6Vz6cHtOXEH4FECcAhZPRc/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kDj4pW4O5ud1vjISupA6VtbuDnv5wVy3nBZ2YLOECO1uer3a_nFxlUIm6H2Ki3rra4kocVR83Lxmg6Rf5i8ndVjWy8UMe5XmTQO5viFsYHaI7I-TBmk-s6Vz6cHtOXEH4FECcAhZPRc/s400/IMG_0930.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7nFyE0ARH8HH3RFKMHoI36j1ygsu47Kgh6glmS0mELAwU1IHL71XhLAF6j9F-ykr1ghlYBhwBvvlSnocSz0S2c_PewO_JL6hrUK6EJog1YiFhyphenhyphenXgyfvQdXEgrfVmVLyffmdGDYDqggY/s1600/IMG_0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7nFyE0ARH8HH3RFKMHoI36j1ygsu47Kgh6glmS0mELAwU1IHL71XhLAF6j9F-ykr1ghlYBhwBvvlSnocSz0S2c_PewO_JL6hrUK6EJog1YiFhyphenhyphenXgyfvQdXEgrfVmVLyffmdGDYDqggY/s320/IMG_0938.JPG" width="235" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just got back from a SCORE offroad race in San Felipe Mexico, on the coast of the Sea of Cortez (about an hour and forty minute flight from San Diego). Fun flying, blazing hot but lots of cheap beer and, if you happen to know where the Happy Jackass Lounge is, some very good breakfast burritos. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November is the big BAJA 1000 race, starting out in Ensenada, the week after Heidi and Greg's wedding and the week before Thanksgiving. Should be another great time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The guy in the top photo is Paul Fish, one of the patriarchs of SCORE (if you're curious, their website is <a href="http://www.score-international.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">here</span></a>). He runs the race from the copilot seat, with the ER doc sitting behind him serving as a lookout and, of course to render medical care when necessary, armed with morphine and bag 'o medical supplies. Today being 9.11 we received the special treatment from U.S. Customs; they brought out Fluffy the German Shepherd who by the way did not notice the morphine, and the explosives detector guy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-2283073954327752722011-09-08T14:33:00.000-07:002011-09-08T14:33:23.906-07:00Technological Breakthrough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPicdPRN2pGUHBbBX9vx8MPeCxzOLluGLcdDlRE_6ZwFieDrGxym9ERHtrNd5SqXhm80b63nlMRw__jpmaJqGKdSVZw1zGoJ_xiT9mf0PqwGvPYCfOzLZqNvshj1ysGBj0VFcV0h7B_8/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPicdPRN2pGUHBbBX9vx8MPeCxzOLluGLcdDlRE_6ZwFieDrGxym9ERHtrNd5SqXhm80b63nlMRw__jpmaJqGKdSVZw1zGoJ_xiT9mf0PqwGvPYCfOzLZqNvshj1ysGBj0VFcV0h7B_8/s400/IMG_0920.JPG" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We just had our flat roofs at home redone. And did you know that if you don't happen to have an appropriate respirator mask to avoid inhaling several pounds of fine silicone dust into your lungs, you can just have your friend point a leaf blower at your head, works just as well. </span></div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-92075655993652531112011-08-30T08:44:00.000-07:002011-08-30T08:47:26.503-07:00San Diego Pandimonium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrnZ-EraQvoJ2x43oxdYkJrxuAo0G5abL_q1XGzcDXh8y8d89YQTMGAmESnMYOIPbiknKU3xskqCHnCJAlq-rvJJqFUnpSpvOUKKDwCrd6z_3wj5Y_Q7gGnkLQdLsAzWXmNi6r2lLF7Q/s1600/IMG_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrnZ-EraQvoJ2x43oxdYkJrxuAo0G5abL_q1XGzcDXh8y8d89YQTMGAmESnMYOIPbiknKU3xskqCHnCJAlq-rvJJqFUnpSpvOUKKDwCrd6z_3wj5Y_Q7gGnkLQdLsAzWXmNi6r2lLF7Q/s400/IMG_0917.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It has been a busy summer here in San Diego. For the last three weeks Stewart has literally spent nearly all of his waking hours at Sullivan, churning out one multi-million dollar proposal after another in the face of looming deadlines as the end of the government fiscal year nears. In addition to my full time job at Mercy Air and flying part time for Corporate Helicopters, I have taken on an Aviation Safety and Risk Manager position with San Diego Gas & Electric, in support of their $2 billion powerline project now underway. The photo is of SDG&E's two enormous Skycranes returning from a day's work of setting high voltage transmission lines and, and fighting the fires that cropped up in San Diego County yesterday. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the meantime after 10 years at Surrey Dr. we had our wood floors refinished, our flat roofs over the kitchen and living room bay window redone, stucco repaired, and in the next few weeks we'll have new carpet installed. And we have unceremoniously blown past several birthdays, for which we apologize, but we hope to get back on track soon. And this is Stewart's last official week as a full time employee. </span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-72813531045165570122011-08-14T15:31:00.000-07:002011-08-14T15:35:22.294-07:00Chris and Caroline Are Getting Old<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today marks the auspicious occasion of Chris and Caroline's accelerating age, as their Dad has now taken the first step towards permanent retirement. At 11:59 p.m. last night Stewart submitted his last resignation letter, ending his last career with his last employer. 46 years of hard work, an innumerable amount of endeavors successfully completed, and it is finally time to rest. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the real work lies ahead. There are grandchildren to spoil, children to keep in line, a high maintenance husband to look after, quite a number of places to see, and an entire library of unread books. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're looking forward to it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Stewart will remain as a part time employee until early 2012, at which time he will hang is hat up for good). </span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-14385827148200398042011-07-24T16:40:00.000-07:002011-07-24T16:40:36.359-07:00The Eldest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFZ5lpqmn5l8Tz9E36q5IYC5yysuu4u00bOSfisopFAIxw0Fa457ZxcvEdXQJN9AWYWtP2ugahQMAc2FJzBfwHngis2rdAwlKMkf3eo5wDjtw37rZyBlXe8oieVJS2iBZu1CbS-nJ4GQ/s1600/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFZ5lpqmn5l8Tz9E36q5IYC5yysuu4u00bOSfisopFAIxw0Fa457ZxcvEdXQJN9AWYWtP2ugahQMAc2FJzBfwHngis2rdAwlKMkf3eo5wDjtw37rZyBlXe8oieVJS2iBZu1CbS-nJ4GQ/s400/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Liam Craig Cody, the Eldest Grandson, turned 11 today; my how time flies. (every year his Mum Caroline takes a picture of him in bed, eating breakfast, with the appropriate hand signals).</span></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-82976205190203107412011-07-24T11:39:00.000-07:002011-07-24T11:44:24.430-07:00Stewart On The Local CBS News<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Discussing the DADT repeal:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://211.43.148.144/10001/91061/UNKNOWNLSN_00000051.3gp">http://211.43.148.144/10001/91061/UNKNOWNLSN_00000051.3gp</a></span>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419635849679935290.post-76551356724507060552011-07-24T11:29:00.000-07:002011-07-24T11:30:23.186-07:00Stewart In The Union Tribune<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stewart was quoted in a front page news article this week, following the long-awaited news of the end of DADT: </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/21/panetta-ready-eliminate-militarys-gay-ban/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/21/panetta-ready-eliminate-militarys-gay-ban/</span></a>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05808873574904846053noreply@blogger.com0