As The Prop Slowly Stops Turning

Well folks, the rumors are sadly true.  You may have heard it on the streets or read about it in the tabloids, but yes, I am leaving AufderHeide Flying Service.  On Monday I begin my new job in community development for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.  I will be covering 20 counties in Southeast Arkansas and will travel frequently to work with elected officials and community leaders and assist them in building a better community and making Arkansas a better place to live.  I am super excited about the position and am looking forward to this new chapter in my career.  (And somewhat normal working hours! :) )

That being said...  I sure am going to miss the ol' DeWitt Municipal Airport!  ...  When I began this little venture at the beginning of February, it was supposed to be just that, a little venture.  I thought I'd help mom with dad, help mom a few weeks after dad passed away and help Matthew with the flying service.  Well, that turned into a half-year career of Office Manager, Secretary, Scheduler, Meteorologist, Cleaning Lady, Mechanic (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/04/just-lil-airplane-mechanicin.html), Therapist, veterinarian,and 3-Ring Circus Leader all while working the hours of 5am-8pm and living with my mother 6 nights a week.  Whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it! 

...And if that wasn't enough, somewhere along the way I got the bright idea to become a "blogger" and document all the craziness around this place for your amusement and entertainment! (And perhaps to help offset my ADD) I don't know exactly what I was thinking when I started all  of these shenanigans.  I've never consider myself a writer and still don't really... but I've sure had alot of fun!

I hope I've given you a little behind the scenes look at what goes on at a flying service and a little peek at the lives of the crop dusters, ground crew, and most importantly... their schedulers!  I hope I've introduced you to some new faces. (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/business-in-front-party-in-back.html)  I hope you've been able to see how hard we all work from before the sun goes up till after it goes down.  I hope I've given you shining examples of the great friendships and wonderful comradery that develop around the hangar. I hope you've seen the love I have for everyone out here and especially the love I have for my family (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/04/airport-to-mark.html)... But most of all, I hope I've been a bright spot in your day and given you a chuckle or two.

One of my favorite compliments was from an old high school friend that said, "Ya know, I like reading your blog way more than I like reading the DeWitt Era Enterprise."  Ha!  I hope they don't tell Frank Scott that, he looks angry enough already.  Then a lawyer friend of mine in Atlanta told me that I had some really great material and that I was kinda like the Rupert Murdoch of DeWitt.  (Minus the billions of dollars & criminal investigations, I guess)...  I've gotten so many words of encouragement and sweet comments about my blog and I want to thank you all for your kind words and for being loyal readers over the past few months. 

And now to answer the question that I've been asked 7 times already today, "But what will happen to the blog?!?!?!" ...  I plan to leave it online as of right now in case your having a bad day and need a good laugh!  I also have hopes that one day my witty brother will rise above his fear of the written word and begin to do a few post!  And who knows, I may even still contribute an occasional post when the mood hits me or I get some really good material!  (Like that picture of Matthew flying without his shirt on yesterday after his air-conditioning went out!  Good Stuff!)  If you ask most members of my family they will tell you I can't keep quite for too long, so don't take me off your "favorites" list just yet!

And now to the people that have made these past 6 months so fun, so worthwhile and have done their best to keep my somewhat sane:

Shawn & Alex:  Thanks for always keeping me on my toes and keeping me laughing.  Thank you for introducing me to the new hip songs that all the cool kids are listening to, letting me eat your snacks, and teaching me how to drive a loader truck again.  Thank you also for putting up with me and keeping the back-talk to a minimum.  :)  You both work incredibly hard and I'm so thankful ya'll are our employees!

Nikki Pippinger:  Thank you for always being so polite when you answer the phone and for letting me vent on days that I was frustrated.  Thanks also for the ice cream snickers & Diet Coke!

Shannon Bullock:  Thanks for always making delicious & tasty treats and for being the only other female with me in this crazy world of agriculture aviation!

Mo & Corby:  (Bullocks ground crew) Mo, thank you for always smiling at me with that gappy little smile and for waving at me in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot.  You always so sweet to me.  Corby, thanks for rocking that awesome ponytail and for always being so helpful anytime we need you.

Momma Margo:  Thank you for putting food in my belly and being a great substitute when I went to play a little bit in the city.  Thanks also for letting us get snazzy new shirts and hats!  You're the best and I'm so blessed to have you as my momma!.

Robert: (Mechanic)  Thank you for being such a magnificent mechanic and helping us out at the drop of a hat and/or airplane part.  You going above and beyond the call of duty late at night, early in the morning, and weekends is very much appreciated!   

All my Farmers:  Thank you so much for your patience and friendship over the past few months.  It took me a little while to get back in to the swing of things but with your help we were back in the saddle and rockin' in no time.  Thank you for always being kind and for swinging by my office and chatting whenever you got a chance.  My father considered you all his closest friends and I feel privilege that after this experience I can call you all my friends as well.  I truly believe we have the very best customers around!

G.W.: Thank you for trying to convey your knowledge to me about anything and everything.  Although I can't promise that I remember it all now, your determination to teach me dimensional analysis and the inner-most workings of a carburetor is much admired!  I always enjoy our morning coffee talks, your singing, and your stories!  I sure hope I have as much energy and spunk as you do when I'm your age! (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/resident-genius-gr-whitcomb.html)
Gabe:  Thank you so, so much for letting me run off to Arkansas County for a little bit to hang out with all this riff raff.  You were always sweet, loving, and patient even when I was sleep deprived, grouchy, and had a thousand things going on!  You're my favorite!

Lonnie:  Elonzo, thank you for being the jolliest fella around the DeWitt Municipal Airport!  Your laugh, stories, and happy-go-lucky attitude always brighten my day!  I also feel as if your fashion achievements have been one of my great accomplishments.  The fact that I can persuade an old crop duster to wear a clean hole-less shirt is monumental and I will always be proud of you!  Keep up the good work!

Cupcake:  Thank you so much for providing me beautiful pictures and hilarious content for the blog.  Your gorgeous pictures have helped regular folks like me see God's country through the eyes of a crop duster and what we've seen is breath taking.  You're entertaining stories and jokes always make for a good blog posts and I think through them the good people of DeWitt have gotten to know you and hope you stay here for a long time!  Thanks for taking me flying, not being afraid to let me take the reigns, and for always have a cold beer waiting for me at the end of a long hard day.

Brother Bear:  Oh brother bear, where do I even begin.  Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your first year as the head honcho chief pilot.  It's been so great to see you learn and grow over the past few months as the big boss man.  You're doing an amazing job of carrying on the legacy of the AufderHeide name and continuing the hard work that Papa and Daddy put into this business.  I'm so proud of you.  I'm so happy we've had the past few months to work together and become the best brother/sister duo since Marie & Donny!  I think we've made a lot of positive changes and we've certainly had a lot of fun.  Seeing you're big smiley face at 5am always made me want to come back for more I guess...  That and to see which brightly colored David Bullock shirt you would wear the next day!... Thanks so much for being one of my very best friends!  And in case your forgot about this awesome picture, here it is again (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/brotherly-love.html)  Love ya, brother bear.

I'm pretty sure once I graduated college I said I would never come back to the flying service.  Well, lesson learned, never say never.  These past few months have been crazy.  I lost my daddy and I still miss him every day.  He's now my angel flying to close to the ground.  ..Yet, through all sadness, I think I've been able feel his presence while working at the flying service and it's incredibly comforting.  I believe he would crack up at my blog and just absolutely love it.  I think I've also renewed an appreciation for my family's business; where we've came from, the people who've stood by us, and how hard we've worked to get where we are today. ( http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/04/godfather-calvin-benjamin-aufderheide.html)

I've made wonderful friends & reconnected with old ones, I've seen gorgeous sunrises & breath-taking sunsets, and I've made wonderful / hilarious memories that I will cherish forever.  And although I'll be living back in the big city, I guess that old country saying just may be true...  "You can take the girl out of the flying service, but you can't take the flying service out of the girl!!

Idle Hands

So, sometimes, on rainy days like today or the occasional quiet afternoon, we get bored and start looking for ways to amuse ourselves and help pass the time.  There is no longer a television to help entertain us and the silly blond chick in the office is always hogging the Internet.  (Oh, wait, that's me, woops!)  Anywho, here's a collection of a few of my pics & short stories describing how we keep our idle hands from doing the devil's work at the DeWitt Municipal Airport!

My fly experiment on top of field maps

*Flies can be fun* About a month ago, before the heat got absolutely unbearable, this place was swarming with flies.  We're talking biblical, plague proportions here, not just 5 to 10.  They were everywhere.  In the hangar, in the bathrooms, in both ours and Bullocks office, and pretty much anywhere in between!  I could go on a 15 minute fly killing spree with my trusty swatter and barely make a dent in the tiny winged population.  Then one day, Alex casually mentioned that flies on had a 24 hour life span.  What?!?!  I didn't know this and was very skeptical of his theory.  I thought they at least bugged the crap out of me for several months...

  Well, one day about 3pm a fly flew into the opening of my drink cup and I decided this would be the perfect time to test Alex's fly statement.  And yes, it is totally disgusting that this happened and I know most people would be grossed out watching a fly swarm about their drinking cup all day, but for me I looked at the predicament through the eyes of a scientist.  This was my experiment.  The next day the fly was still alive but by 1pm, dead and a door knob.  Who knew Alex was so versed on the life of flies!  ... Now if we could just figure out a way to trap the rest of them.  

Shawn, G.W., Matthew, Turbo working on Puddle Jumper

*Daily Maintenance* Most down time is spent on working on stuff.  Airplanes, loader trucks, the golf cart, pumps, engines, breaks, and tires; it all breaks down or has mechanical issues at one point or another.  Shawn & Alex not only have to drive the loader trucks and mix the chemicals, but they also have to be part-time mechanics, welders, painters, etc.  Matthew, along with Robert wonderful assistance, has to know the ins and outs of his fine tuned machine and be chief maintenance man anytime a problem arises.  Even, G.W. works on his little plane puddle jumper daily.  He calls it Puddle Jumper, but her formal name is Samantha Jane.  Such funny relationships, men and their machines.

Cupcake lovingly brushing Canine

*Doggy Daycare*  During the downtime, we also like to give a little extra TLC to the mammals in our life that don't get enough attention when we're busy.  Turbo, Woodrow, Kramer, & Canine aren't exactly starved for attention but the we really love our pups around here and like to go the extra mile for them.  Heath's dog Canine is some sort of mix between a German Shepard and a Husky and since he refuses to shave the poor fella he has to brush him frequently to keep massive amounts of hair from getting too thick and bushy.  Kramer is supposed to go to the vet once a month to get his allergy shots but since we've been so busy Matthew's been somewhat neglectful.  Luckily, Alex took Kramer to the vet last week and for the time being his skin is clear and itch free.  Turbo and Woodrow are spoiled on a daily basis but I do like to give this long walks on the runway whenever I get time to leave the office.  108lb Turbo needs the exercise and Woodrow, whom I believe would be a great case study for doggy Ritalin, needs to run off as much energy as possible!

Matthew & Alex playing on their I-devices

*Game Boys*  Every since Matthew was a little kid he has loved video games.  Mario Brothers, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Ken Griffey Jr Baseball, Halo, and all of the Madden's.  You name it, he's played it.  So it comes as no surprise to me that when he got a new Ipod for Father's Day, he figured out all the games he could play on it right away.  Alex has an Iphone and I'm pretty sure he taught Matthew a thing or two about all the games they could play on their I-devices.  Their current fascination, and I believe most of America's, is Angry Birds.  When I took this picture last week, I stood in the doorway of my office looking at them for like 5 minutes before either one of them looked up.  I'm not really a big fan of the video games.  I've dabbled into Solitaire on my pc a few times and play the occasion game of Brick-Breaker on my phone, other than that I don't really see the appeal.  But, whatever keeps my men happy, keeps me happy! 

Matthew's morning siesta

*Airport Naps*  When all else fails, we slumber.  I've already mentioned how great the airport is for accommodating the occasional siesta (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/good-ol-fashioned-airport-nap.html) and rainy days like today are perfect for catching up on a few Z's.  Matthew and all the guys have really worked their booties off this season and truly deserve a break every now in then.  So I'll let them rest for a little while...  Until I get get bored and try that whole stick their fingers in cold water trick! :)

Get Em' While They're HOT!!!

Finally! The moment you have been waiting for all summer has arrived, AufderHeide Flying Service hats and t-shirts are now in the office!

As you can see from our lovely picture, Matthew and I are both sporting the new gear today. We have fitted hats (Matthew is modeling these), trucker hats with the mesh back, (I tried to model them but I have an awkward shaped head) & t-shirts for all our customers!

We are very excited about our new, updated design AND the fact that they were able to get the ridiculously long word "AufderHeide" on a small hat! Ha!

Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."... I think she also probably said, "Fashion is at the Airport", but some moron forgot to include that line in the history books. 

As you may remember from Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/easy-breezy-beautiful.html) we are always on the cutting edge of fashion around the DeWitt Airport.  So, I would recommend you jumping on this fashion band wagon and getting your new shirts and hats today! It's what is happening and all the cool kids are doing it!

Blaindridge Towing & Wrecker

Ballin', Shot Callin', and now he's Haulin'!

Watch out Roger Capps, there a new tow-man in town!!!  Ya see, on more than one occasion this summer we have had to call our good friend and farmer, Mr. Bart Eldridge to tow us out of a sticky mess or two.  Apparently he's gotten so good at it and has so much fun working with old beater trucks on the verge of collapse he decided to open a part-time business, Blaindridge Towing and Wrecker.

His new endeavor began one hot and muggy summer afternoon when we were just about to start on our last job of the day.  This was back during busy season when we were blowing and going 14 hours a day and our pal Brandon Everette was helping us out.  Shawn was driving The Hybrid off  Wolf Strip and had just loaded Brandon's first load when the old orange and white beauty died.  She was dead in her tracks.  If you may recall the only real way to get The Hybrid running again is a good old fashioned pull start, so Shawn called me in a panic.  Matthew was in the air, Alex was on another strip, I needed to man the office, and Papa was out of town; we were all at a loss for what to do...  But then, Brandon suddenly got the idea to call our old trusty friend, Bart, and low and behold he showed up in a blaze of glory about 5 minutes later.  He pull-sarted the ol' Hybrid and we were back up and running in no time...  It is quite possible that Bart's heroism that day single-handedly saved our fertilizer season...  Or at least didn't keep Brandon working past dark! 

Last week, Bart once again proved he was willing to go above and beyond the call of duty when he rescued Matthew out of a ditch.  You see Matthew was going to check if a strip was dry enough to fly off of when he absentmindedly hit a slick spot and ran into a ditch.  The 4-wheeled drive truck proved no match for the mighty embankment and Matthew decided he better just leave this job to the professionals...  So, you guessed it, he called Bart and was rockin' & rollin' back on the road in no time!  Pretty sure after that little episode we're just going to have to put Bart on speed dial!

Now you may be thinking to yourself, "I've seen that Eldridge boy and he don't look like no overall wearin', once a week showerin', tobacco spittin', big burly truck driver; what makes you think this skinny farm boy can haul all these big trucks around?"...  Well, let me ask you this my friend, would you bet Goliath over David?  No, of course not.  Brains always trump Brawn.  And there's also the fact that Bart is an incredibly hard worker and is always eager to go the extra step for perfection.  That being said, you should now feel confident that if your truck dies around Lodges Corner at 2 a.m., Bart will happily be your guardian angel and put you back on the road, safe and sound!  Don't delay folks, call Blaindridge Towing & Wrecker today! 

BLAINDRIDGE TOWING & WRECKER

Ballin', Shot Callin', Haulin'

*Bart, Please don't hate me for this.  Matthew & Brandon were the masterminds behind this post, I'm just their voice.  We sincerely appreciate everything you've done for us this summer and thank you for your loyalty.  

Airport Aroma: Smells Like Money To Me

Frank Sinatra once said, "Fresh air makes me throw up.  I can't handle it.  I'd rather be around three Denobili cigars blowing in my face all night."... 

There aren't very many cigars around the airport these days now that Fritz is gone, (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/has-your-aircraft-been-fritzed.html) but if Sinatra was disgusted by clean air, he could certainly breathe comfortably around the AufderHeide Flying Service!

You see the smell of the airport is a very distinct, unique smell.  I can vividly remember smelling this aroma even back in  my childhood.  The first recollection I have of this pungent smell dates back 0o my Pre-School and Kindergarten years at the First Baptist Church.  The school only lasted from 8-11:30 and usually during the slow season my daddy would come pick me up on his way home to lunch.  I can distinctly remember standing outside in my hot pink rain boots (that I wore without socks every day and didn't match any of my outfits) eagerly waiting for my daddy's big red truck to round the corner so I could go home to eat my lunch of *bacon & goldfish and play with my Barbies while watching Fraggle Rock...  I really had a rough childhood...  Ha

My father's dirty red truck, which only got washed probably once every two years, would leap to a halt right in front of my teacher and she would help me climb in....  Then that smell would hit me...  No, not the inch thick dust on the dash, nor his tobacco spit in the cup-holder; much worse, it was the smell of AIRPORT!!!  I would immediately gag and then cover my nose with whatever pink matching outfit my mother put me in that day.  My daddy would just laugh and say, "Smells like money to me!"  Yet, as a small (slightly dramatic child) I did not find this amusing.  I would usually end up riding the two miles home with stuck out the window in protest.

I've wanted to write on the smell of the airport for awhile now, but it was not until I began to do laundry at my house in Little Rock this morning and got a big ol' whiff of "airport" that I actually felt motivated to share it with you.  While you really need to experience the airport aroma for yourself, I believe the best way to explain the smell would be to describe it like this:  The smell is sorta a combination of 1)50 years worth of dust  2)Jet Fuel  3)Musty, yet strong & highly concentrated chemicals  4)Zep 45 (some sort of mechanical lubricant that we buy by the case load)  5) Stale well-water  6) Old Books & Newspapers  7) Diesel  8)Old Grease; and last but certainly not least, the main component:  9)Airplane exhaust fumes... 

How glorious does that sound all mixed up together?  Are you taking deep breaths now in hopes that you'll catch the slightest whiff of the unique fragrance?  Yeah, I figured so... You see thing the about the smell of airport is that not only is it extremely potent, but it also lingers for hours, days, and sometimes, like in the case of my car, weeks!  And airplane exhaust fumes are the worst! They can make your eyes water in 10 seconds flat, immediately give you a headache, and if you happen to land directly in its path your hair will smell like these fumes for a minimum of two days!   

My mother used to wash my daddy's work clothes completely separate from the rest of the family's for fear it would contaminate the rest of our close with the unfavorable scent.  Sometimes I have to wash my load of work clothes twice just to get them smelly Downy Fresh again!  If I don't wash my hair after working all day, it still smells like airport in the morning.  And as for my car, after having the stench of the airport baked in during 10 hour, 100degree summer days, yeah, I just don't think there is any hope in having it smell somewhat close to normal ever again!

Now, with all my degrading and off-putting remarks about the airport aroma, the truth is I've actually come to really like it.  I no longer cringe or dramatically hold my breath in protest.  It reminds me of my daddy, my poppa, and my brother.  It reminds me of all the life lessons I've learned, the characters I've met, and the fun that I've had at the airport.  It reminds me of all the hard work that has been produced and provided for me and my family.  While, I certainly won't be working on a patent to bottle this fragrance any time soon, I have certainly come to appreciated it...  And in the words of my father, I too now believe it, Smells Like Money To Me!   


* I ate bacon every day, all day for two years straight until it made me sick and I, as my parents liked to say, overdosed.  I recently began eating pepper bacon about two years ago due to the encouragement of my boyfriend.  So far we're reuniting beautifully! 

By the Hair of his Chinny Chin Chin

Matthew's chin hair and my thumb (obviously I'm not a professional)

Thank goodness Matthew got lazy over the weekend and forgot to shave his face, because it was just by the hair of his chinny chin chin that he made it back to the airport safely before the big storm came in this morning.  For the record, I do not approve of this facial hair but I guess I'll let it slide today...

According to my weather.com app at 4:30 this morning (when I left Little Rock) there was only a 30% chance of rain today.  When I got to the office around 6ish it said only 20%, which really depressed us all because we've been needing a rain badly for awhile.  The entire state has pretty much needed a good rain.

Thankfully around 8:30 the skies began to darken and we began checking the radar for possible showers.  The rain was just in Clarendon so we decided to keep on keepin' on with our fertilizer.  However, the storm was approaching faster than we anticipated and while Matthew was putting out a load the skies grew darker, the wind blew faster, and you could see the beautiful blustery front moving towards the airport.  (picture below) 

I called Matthew and told him he should probably get back to the home base as soon as possible.  He had a few more passes then said he would be back.  The wind picked up to what G.W. said was about 30mph and I held my breath until I saw Matthew land.  Thankfully the wind was straight out of the north and Matthew didn't have to land in a 30mph cross wind.  He made a smooth landing and drove his sweet yellow bird into the hangar, right as the liquid sunshine began pouring from the sky.  Whew.  Rain, finally!  Beautiful, blissful rain!  Below are a few pics that Cupcake took from the air right as the storm was moving in to DeWitt.

The guys are now grounded for the morning.  They have already been out to grab a "pilot's breakfast" (whatever that means) at the Catfish Shack and now are back in my office bugging me.  Their current conversation is plotting a yearly airport calendar equivalent to the yearly hot-body firemen calendars.  So far we have thrown out the titles of "Air Tractors & Six Packs" and "Soft Landings, Hard Bodies"  Hahaha!  Ladies don't you want to pre-order yours already?!?!  I'll be sure to keep you abreast of all the juicy details and if you see the guys around town be sure and tell them you're all for it!

As The Prop Turns (Part 5)

Cupcake's "Guardian Angel" picture he took early this morning.  Notice the little halo around his shadow!  Super cool!

*Funky Ol' Fungicide* Fungicide season has begun ladies and gentleman!  And while that may not have an affect on your day, it certainly does on the gang around the airport.  We are mainly flying it on corn right now but just booked our first rice job for next Monday.  This turn of events has tickled Matthew pink!  Every time I tell him that a new fungicide job has come in he makes this high-pitched "WoooHooo!" sound and says, "Heck yeah, boi, ain't that just beautiful".  It's quite hilarious to witness but it really puts him in a wonderful mood.  I even find myself getting a little giddy when the words "Quilt" or "Headline" (fungicide chemicals) are spoken over the phone.  Hey, whatever makes my pilot happy makes me happy.  We really put the "FUN" in FUNgicide! 

*AufderHeide Apparel* Wooty Woot Woot!  AufderHeide Flying Service T-shirts and hats will be here next week!  I know, I began working on this project like two months ago but then I kinda procrastinated and maybe even forgot about it a little too...  But when we were going 100mph daylight until dark I sometimes forgot to wear my own shirt right-side-out much less actually take the time to design, order, & purchase 40 new ones!  Any who, we are getting navy blue pocket tees and both fitted caps & mesh farmer hats; all with the new dazzling logo!  (Ok, so, maybe I shouldn't describe anything a farmer wears as "dazzling" but more along the lines of "handsome" & "manly". Ha!)  They should be here around Wednesday and I'm very excited about passing them out!

*Clean Shirt Club*  Lonnie has really stepped up his game and exceeded expectations with his clean, hole-less shirt effort.  Above you can see the brilliantly white Danica Patrick shirt he sported on Tuesday; not even a single hole nor the slightest hint of a wrinkle.  He's supporting airport fashion, good hygiene, and women's empowerment...  All trains that I can jump on! ... And for that, I shall crown Lonnie, DeWitt Municipal Airport - Employee of the week!  Thanks Lonnie!

*G.W.'s Excellent Adventure* While I was on my girls getaway, G.W. was having his own little adventure.  He flew out of DeWitt Municipal Aeropuerto last Wednesday and landed in Dallas to see his sister.  From there they both drove up to Kansas to see their oldest sister and enjoyed a nice little family reunion.  After a few days and a few hundred miles under his belt, G.W. has finally returned to the homestead.  I'm pretty sure he's happy to be home and was even in an extra good mood this morning.  Instead of humming his usual ditty or singing some old tune underneath his breath, he began belting out Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried".  Since I'm a huge fan of all things "Old School Country", I thoroughly enjoyed this and even began to sing along a little...  Bet ya didn't know we had such musical talents at the airport, now did ya!

*Berrylicious*  I'm not really sure what happened but I just got sweet talked into buying an entire GALLON of blackberries over the phone by some older gentleman that referred to himself as "The Berry Man".  Maybe I'm a sucker for smooth-talking granpa's or perhaps Matthew's jolliness has truly rubbed off on me and I'm wanting to give back to others...  Either way, I am about to have a GALLON of blackberries so I better get to googling "blackberry recipes"!...  Oh, and speaking of fresh, locally grown produce.  If you are looking to give away any sweet corn sometime in the coming weeks, I would be happy to take a few sacks off your hands!  I could probably eat on that sweet, buttery, & delicious vegetable for a year and be completely content!  All donations appreciate!  :)

Have a fabulous weekend everybody and thanks for reading our friendly flying blog!

The Lowly Errand Girl

Alexis trying to beat me with my own book

Meet the AufderHeide Flying Service Errand Girl / my baby sister / genius of the family, Alexis Katherine AufderHeide.  Alexis just completed her freshman year of ridiculously hard classes at the University of Arkansas and is now home for the summer. 

Alexis is mine and Matthew's much younger, *adopted sister.  She is 6 years younger than I am and really likes to play the "baby of the family" card.  She loves to mind her manners and will make you say excuse me if you burp.  She has probably read more books than you have.  She couldn't win a 3rd grade spelling bee, yet she is a mathematical genius.  She majored in engineering but has fallen so in love with numbers she wants to dedicate all her time to them by now becoming an accountant.  She is quirky and somewhat unique; yet, incredibly kind to both friends and strangers and is always thinking how to make someones day better.   She can't carry a tune in a bucket but she is witty and is starting to adopt my sense of humor.  John Wayne is the man of her dreams.  (For real) 

So, what is Alexis actually doing for the summer, you ask?  Well, good question.  I'm not really sure... 

A few months back she received a summons for jury duty, so when she first came home she was telling everyone she had jury duty for the summer.  I had to politely sit her down and explain to her that jury duty wasn't an actual "job" and if in the off chance she actually was called to duty it would probably only pay about $10 a day... She still waiting for the phone to ring.  

Her second "job" after jury duty would, I guess, be that of student.  She has an online World Civ class that she has the entire summer to complete and a basic speech class at the local community college.  Now while, both of these classes could possibly be difficult in their own right, I don't believe they constitute taking up a full summer.  Alexis gave a speech Monday on how to make a watermelon fruit basket.  I mean, come on, this ain't rocket science.  (I say that lovingly because I'm pretty sure she took Intro to Rocket Science this past year.)  She's brilliant and it definitely shouldn't take her all day and night to exam the fall of the Roman Empire or craft a 3 minute informative speech on the the Pythagorean Theorem.  (She LOVES the Pythagorean Theorem and recites it often to annoy me)

So while insisting that she will be called for jury duty any day, demanding time to practice her oratory skills, and my mother being content that Matthew & I are the work horses in the family, the only option left for employment is Errand Girl at AufderHeide Flying Service.  Actually, Errand Girl may even be a glorified title.  I would like to think that someone who obtains this position would be at my beck & call ever instant of the day.  The employee would be in charge of grabbing lunch, picking up parts at the part shop, getting fuel when necessary, running to check if a strip was dry enough, heck, she might even offer the cover the phones for a little bit while I indulge in some much needed R & R.  Ha, yeah, right. 

Alexis likes to sleep in until 10:30ish.  Then she'll spend the next few hours reading, playing on facebook or googling mathematical formulas.  Around lunch time do you think she calls to see if we need dinner or what I would like her to cook for me?  No way, Hosea.  Yesterday, I cooked her lunch and the only errand she performed was dropping off a single letter at the post office. (livin' on Easy Street)  One time I gave her two empty red fuel cans and asked her to go fill them up with gas for the loader truck.  When she got to the gas station she didn't remember if I said gas or diesel so she came back to the airport.  I again told her gas and she was back on her way.  By the second time she arrived she had once again forgotten my orders and came back with one can of diesel and one can of gasoline.  I kid you not!  The girl that likes integrating mathematical formulas for fun can't remember if her mentor told her to purchase gal or diesel!  Geeze.

Also, apparently she thinks that this "Errand Girl" gig and the fact that she worked out here a few days one summer hopping wings has made her an expert in all things crop dusting related.  ("Hopping a wing" is an old school maneuver where workers used to have to assist in packing fertilizer to the front of the airplane hopper by the force of their arm... This technique, like most of the manufacturing industry, has since been replaced by a little machine that does the job for them)  Anywho, in this speech class, Alexis had to write down six topics she would be willing and comfortable to discuss for a 5 minute impromptu speech.  The first subject she listed?... crop dusting!  I got quite tickled when she told me this but she vehemently defended her decision and informed me she knew everything there is to know!  ... Man, I sure hope the teacher picks this topic... And that someone in the room is recording it! 

In all honesty though, the Lowly Errand girl has been quite helpful at times.  She has brought me several Diet Cokes, right before my body lapsed into a coma from lack of caffeine.  She has herded my wild dogs and taken them home with her during extremely busy days around the airport.  She has fulfilled her duties as lunch lady a few times (bringing us lunch, not actually cooking).  She has reminded me on several occasions that it is sometimes best to keep my mouth shut.  She listens to me whine, she tells me funny stories, and makes me laugh every day.  And although she makes for a pretty lousy errand girl, I'm incredibly lucky that she is my sister!

*Side Note*  This post was created after my sneaky little sister stole and beat (yes, beat) me with my new Chelsea Handler book.  Then she hacked into my facebook account and made my status say something like, "I think Alexis AufderHeide is the queen of the world and master of the universe."... Ha! Look who got the last laugh now sissy!

*Alexis is not actually adopted...  She obviously gets her beauty from her sister!

Upchuck Alex & His Adventure With Roxy Red

While I have already mastered the art of keeping my cookies until the plane lands and I'm out of sight of all the boys (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/alligators-airplanes-oh-my.html), my colleague, Alex is not quite so skilled...

Last Friday, Heath took Alex Flying in little Rocky Red.  (Heath's two-seater Citabria that he loves almost as much as his momma) Now, this was not Alex's first time in a plane.  He has flown in a plane with his crop duster cousin a few times and has rode with Cupcake in Roxy Red once before.  Unfortunately, last Friday all the forces of nature were against him. 

It was incredibly hot and uncomfortably bumpy, not a good combo for a small aircraft. They had flown over the river and were headed to go look for gators around Lodges Corner when he began feeling slightly queasy.  Perhaps it was the altitude or quite possibly the two cans of Beenie Weenies he had eaten for lunch; either way, his little tummy was beginning to reject it all.

Now Cupcake loves this little plane more than most his women and just in case there is ever a chance of someone getting sick in his baby (and he's had a few close calls) he's outfitted his aircraft with puke sacks. (or "Convenience Bags")  They sit in the back pocket of the pilot's seat, right in front of the passenger's face for easy grab convenience...  Alex didn't have time to warn Cupcake of his upcoming upchuck, he just yanked the sack out of the pocket and ripped it open.  Problem is, when he frantically ripped it open, he accidentally (and unknowingly) ripped the bottom part of the sack.  Too late...

Well, I imagine you know what happened next...  I'll try to spare you the graphic details, but when Alex lifted the sack up to his face most of his projectile landed in his lap.  It all went straight through the little puke bag and onto his pants.  Cupcake made a beeline for the airport and Alex tried to sit there as still as possible; praying that no more of his "fluids" spilled into the floor.

Once on the ground Junior apologized profusely and promised to clean ever inch of the the plane.  Cupcake wasn't mad but did say he was going to have to tell everyone at the airport for his punishment.  So Alex showered, put on a new change of clothes, and got out his professional car cleaning kit.  (Alex is somewhat obsessive compulsive about the cleanliness of his car and owns every product Armoral ever invented.)   He cleaned ol' Roxy Red inside and out and had her shining like the star that she is.  Cupcake, although somewhat grossed out, was pleased with Alex's work and glad Roxy was clean (and smell free) again!

Alex's adventure has been the tale around the flying service these past few days.  The guys all joke in good fun.  Most of them have one story or another about themselves or someone they know tossing their cookies so that usually leads to hilarious conversations.  And Alex, well, he just brushes it off and blames it on the conditions...  All in all, he now has a new nickname out of the ordeal...besides Junior, he is now... Upchuck Alex!

Beach Bums

So while you were chained to your desk and being a slave to the man last Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, my friend Whitney and I were being slaves to the sun in Perdido Key, Florida!

Whitney and I first met about two months before college.  We both were both assigned roommates we didn't know at ASU and met through a mutual friend in Stuttgart that told us we should room together.  We both agreed that something somewhat familiar would be much better than the unknown, so we changed our housing contracts and got a room together.  The first time we met, we instantly clicked.  People thought we had been lifetime best friends.  We had the same thoughts, same tastes, and could pretty much finish each others sentences.  I would clean the dorm head to toe and she would do all our laundry.  She would do my eye make-up and I would do her lips.  We would advise each other on fashion and boys.  We rarely studied but could throw an awesome dorm pre-party. ( We had a rousing rendition of Dolly Parton's "Why'd Ya Come In Here Lookin' Like That")  Some thought we were sisters while others probably thought we were slightly crazy.  Either way, we made a terrific team!

After our sophomore year Whitney moved to Arizona to go to Interior Design School.  After graduation in 2009 she moved back to Little Rock and we rekindled our friendship right where we left off.  We went out for drinks, had grilling parties on my patio, went on several hilarious camping adventures, and I even introduced her to her current boyfriend, Gabe's best friend Dallas.  We were once again inseparable.    

Alas, in the Spring of 2010, Whitney got a big girl job at a design firm in Atlanta.  She and Dallas both moved and although I have seen her a few times since, nothing was as good as this past weekend on the beach!  We had been discussing a girls weekend for awhile but, after my past few months of working daylight till dark and her grueling work/travel schedule, we decided a few weeks ago that a weekend on the beach was a must!

We arrived in Perdido Key around 1:30, did our Wally World shopping, checked in the condo and headed to the beach.  I cooked a delicious shrimp and pasta dinner, which we ate on our balcony, and spent the evening catching up and laughing.  Thursday and Friday we got to the beach early and pretty much stayed there until the sun went down.  We talked each other's ear off, drank mimosas, read fashion magazines, napped, and enjoyed the the sun, sand, & girlfriend therapy...  We also got slight burned! (Ouch) While we were only there a few days I think our girly vacay did the trick.  We went away both relaxed and rejuvenated!  ...  I've also discovered that if the whole "career" thing doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure I'd like to apply for the job of Specialized Beach Bum!

Actions Speak Louder Than Facial Hair

Sometimes I feel my role here at the flying service isn't just that of Office Manager, Secretary, Scheduler, & Substitute Loader Truck Driver; but also a mentor, listener ,and good advice giver...

I noticed something different about Junior (Alex) Monday morning but I couldn't quite put my finger on it until he came in my office and asked what I thought about his smooth, shaved face!  "That's it!  I knew there was something different", I thought to myself but then I casually commented, "Why, yes, I did notice that.  You look very nice."  (I think little white lies like that are ok, if they are meant to keep an employee happy.)

Alex and I have had several discussions regarding facial over the past few weeks...  Honestly, I'm not really a fan of facial hair myself.  I like a good manly winter beard but other than that I usually just find that it's somewhat off-putting.  Mustaches kinda give me the creeps.  (I think that Burt Reynolds is probably the only guy that can really put off a mustache)  Goatee's look awkward on most men and I think fu manchu's are just plain silly looking.  Of course these are just my opinions and some chicks really dig it.  And some guys (Garth Brooks) can really rock it.

However, I think dudes really take pride in their facial hair.  They grow it, groom it, and gallantly show it off every day.  Perhaps it's a right of passage into manhood.  For Junior, he likes to think that it makes him look older and more mature.  My response to that...  "Actions Speak Louder Than Facial Hair, Junior."  Just because it may make you look older doesn't mean that you are actually acting older.

All the boys got a real kick out of that.  It quickly became our quote du'jour and it is now written on a sticky note on the fridge.  Hope you will enjoy it as well!

Out With The Old, In With The New

Our former work horses, The Hybrid & Big Red, now put out to pasture!

Marvel of Modern Machinery... Ain't She a Beaut!

Meet the newest fined tuned piece of equipment at AufderHeide Flying Service. Or as Matthew called it, our "marvel of modern machinery". Haha. The new loader truck was purchased by the big boss/my mama from E & M Flying Service (Brandon Everette's) last Saturday and we are all just overjoyed!

This lean, mean loading machine is an automatic International truck with a stainless steel hopper and a push button auger. She's equipped with a radio & a great air-conditioning system, and according to Shawn, runs like Triple Crown racehorse. We're talkin' top of the line, major fancy shmancy!!!..  We haven't named the new truck yet but we are all just ecstatic about it's future here!

The necessary purchase of the fabulous new truck was based upon the demise of our two former work horses / trucks, The Hybrid (Remember her: http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/04/hybrid.html) and Big Red.  Big Red was great while she lasted but was on her last legs this year.  Until about two weeks ago she was chugging along pretty good, but after a long, hard run her engine finally went kaput and in the end she was spewing oil like crazy.  In our hearts she will always be special though; she was our first loader truck with air conditioning! 

... The Hybrid, on the other hand, was never exactly the picture of perfection...  Her first life as a U-Haul couldn't have been easy.  New people renting her every other week, loading her up with all their belongings, and driving her like a race car across the country, probably wasn't easy on her.  Then the big orange and white lady was purchased by my papa, chopped in half, and crafted into what I believe is one of the most awkward looking trucks in history.  Half U-Haul, Half Loader Truck, 100% Hybrid.  The Hybrid was a unique, hard working truck and although she caused us a lot of headaches, (me pull-starting it on the side of a busy highway) I'm kinda sad to take her out of the line up... 

Our two wearied trucks now sit lifeless on the back part of the tarmac behind the dumpsters.  I'm not sure if we will try to sell them for parts or if they will sit there collecting rust for a little while until maybe Matthew gets a wild hair and perhaps decides to put a new engine in one of them...  He'll probably just get rid of them but I guess we'll both just have to stay tuned to see what happens next!...  Until your fate is decided, rest in pieces Big Red & The Hybrid.  Thanks for the crazy memories.

As The Prop Turns (Part 4)

Matthew & G.W. probably discussing the Pythagorean Theorem or perhaps Total World Domination

*Luscious Lips Lonnie - Tuesday Lonnie had a serious reaction to something, we don't know what, and his entire body swole up like a blimp.  He flew that morning but when he got out of the airplane his face was so swollen it was starting to affect his vision and he was having a little bit of trouble breathing.  Shannon immediately sent him to the doctor and he got some sort of shot to fight off the allergy and remove the swelling.  Well, most of the swelling...  I saw him later that afternoon and his lips still looked like he had a few too many lip injections.  They were full, pouty, and plump, sort of like a modern day Goldie Hawn!...   Lonnie would have made for a lovely movie star.  (All right Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my close-up) Haha They've gone down now but they were sure gorgeous while they lasted.

*Only YOU Can Prevent Forrest Fires - Tuesday we had quite a scare when a farmer was burning off a wheat field by the airport and the wind suddenly changed...  The fiery flames switched their paths and suddenly headed straight for the Fuel Farm.  (Airport's public for-purchase fuel tank)  The hired hands quickly came around with tractors and water, and  after awhile put it all out.  Thankfully G.W. wasn't out here...  Im afraid if he was, he would've had a mild heart attack... That Fuel Farm is like his baby! ... Please let this be a reminder to not play with matches and/or pay attention to the wind when burning off a giant field!

*Beach Babes - Early next Thursday morning I'll be cutting out of Arkansas County and heading to the beach.  My best friend / college roommate Whitney, who now lives in Atlanta, and I are meeting in Perdido Key to have a little girls weekend reunion!  We haven't seen each other since February and we have both been working our little booties off these past few months so this is going to be a much needed vacay.  Our plans include sleeping, reading & laying out on the beach all day, throwing seashells at birds and small children and then heading back to the condo to drink wine and cook dinner...  Doesn't that sound like the perfect vacation?!?! I can't wait!!!

*Over the Hump - Yes, I know we have already passed Wednesday, but I'm not talking about over the hump in the week...  I'm talking about over the hump in fertilizer season!!!!!  I believe after we finished last Saturday evening we finally got over the "hump" or the largest/busiest part of the season.  Of course we will still have busy days and there is still a good bit a spraying and fertilizer to do, but the days of hundreds of thousands of pounds on the books are over!!!  Hallelujah!!  I think everyone around the 'port doesn't really know what to do with themselves; yet, we are taking a huge sigh of relief! 

*Grill Masters - Now that we are over the proverbial hump the guys have started firing up the grills...  Now all men love to grill, I guess it's a right of passage to their manhood, and that's ok with me because I love to eat!  Yesterday, Junior grilled some hamburgers & dogs during lunch and last night Cupcake cooked a fabulous meal of grilled pork chops, asparagus, boudin, & potatoes.  Today, Matthew's next up in line and will be cooking hamburgers and french fries.  Keep it comin' boys and if you're hungry stop on by!

*Working on our Fitness - While this is nothing new, I have gotten out of the routine in the past -extremely busy- month.  In Little Rock I had a running group, a running partner (love ya Jen), & a running course overlooking the river, but here I just have the dogs and the runway.  I was in a good routine at first, running at least 3 times a week, but then we became busier than a beehive and I was pretty much chained to my desk from 5:15-8:30.  (Speaking of chained to my desk, I think that's what Matthew might try if I get a new job!)  So now with the motivation that I'm going to be on the beach for 3 days in one week and just caring about my general health, I'm back in the saddle... err, my Asics, again!  If you happen to fly into the airport and see a tall blond running down the runway, please try to dodge me!...  Being bulldozed by an airplane would really throw a kink in my exercising plans!

*Ya Can't Keep the Bull Down - David Bullock was able to come home from the hospital Monday. Thanks to all your prayers David is much better.  He hasn't returned to the airport full-time yet but he has made a few appearances and I'm sure he is being as bossy and as charismatic ever...  I guess it's just like Shannon said, "You can't keep The Bull down"!

Me and Mini Me

Takin' Care of Business

Meet my sweet little mini me, Miss Ashtyn Beck!  This is Matthew and Ashley's 10 year old daughter who just finished 4th Grade at DeWitt Elementary yesterday.

So as of right now Miss Ashtyn is going to be an honorary member of Team AufderHeide Flying.  I have taken her under my wing and I'm thinking about making her my protege...  The future "Office Manager / Crop Dusting Secretary" of AufderHeide Flying Service!  My Mini Me!!!                        

Mini Me is good with a calculator and does an amazing job at alphabetizing chemical slips!  (She's actually working on them right now)  She is a fantastic doggy sitter.  She's a sharp-shooter when it comes to swatting flies.  She is a skilled golf car driver...  Or at least she hasn't thrown me off or crashed yet..  She cools the guys with her mister fan when they're hot.  She's a great note taker.  And best of all... She pretty much does whatever I ask!  No back talk like the guys or anything!  She just smiles and then goes about doing her task!  This is great, my Mini Me is awesome!

Canada Ain't Got Nothing on Us

Who wouldn't want to watch these three studly hunks on the big screen
 

As I wrote about previously in "Paging Hollywood" (http://aufderheideflying.blogspot.com/2011/05/paging-hollywood.html) I really think that our daily little crop dusting life here at DeWitt Municipal Airport would make for some great reality tv... But I also mentioned that we would probably pass... Well, it looks like somebody stole my idea... And even worse!  They're from Canada! 

Last week the e-Edition of AgAir Update provided us with all the details:  "A new reality TV series on ag aviation called "Dust Up" will premier on History Television in Canada June 2nd.  Episodes will run for 3 weeks with two 1/2 hour episodes each week.  The series will not be carried in the U.S. but will available at http://www.history.ca/ after June 2nd."  You can also watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZJ5AKHWe8

Why in the world does anyone want to watch crop dusters from Canada?!?!  Well I'm not exactly sure but here are the following reasons that we shan't be watching  1)  Canadian crop dusters talk with funny Yankee accents (they say "out" and "bout" strangely) and pretty much anything that comes out of their mouth sounds like Sarah Palin.  2)  In the preview they keep talking about how scary, frightening, and dangerous crop dusting is...  All the real crop dusters I know don't really even mention it.  They don't like to brag.  (About their jobs anyways, their money & hot bodies may be a different story! ha) They certainly know the risk but don't like gloating about it.  3)  They don't have single yellow airplane.  (weirdos)  4)  Apparently they do have a one chick on the show, but she is not cute and doesn't seem to know what she is talking about.  5)  They don't have anyone close to the ruggedly handsome men I get to work with each and everyday!  Those Canadians seem to have a bunch of facial hair and wear a lot of black; I'm not a fan of facial hair...  Like I told the guys at the mixing tank this morning, "If I can take the time everyday to shave my legs, you can certainly take a little time and shave your face."    6)  Lastly, they certainly don't seem to have the camaraderie we have here at the DeWitt Municipal Airport.  Sure we work long, hard hours and sometimes we get busy and frustrated and yell when we get flustered, but at the end of the day (and like most of my stories illustrate) we're all good friends, we care about one another, and congratulate each other on a job well done!...  Like Cupcake said last week, "Canada Ain't Got Nothing On Us!"  

The pictures above were taken late last Saturday afternoon after a brutal and backbreaking week.  Lonnie had  worked hard for us all day to help us finish up and I rewarded all three guys with a cooler full of cold ones! The top pic was a candid shot I got of Lonnie explaining to the young boys how to get rock hard abs just like his.  And the bottom one of us was our celebratory pic for closing out the week!  Aren't I a lucky gal!

It's a Man's World, I Just Work In It

I saw this hanging in Bullock's office last week and found it quite hilarious! Why don't we have one of these posters here, dangit!

Airplanes, Grease, Tractors, Diesel Trucks, Chemicals, Radiators, Tail Wheels, Jump-Starting Diesel Trucks, What Size Container Facet Comes In and The Current Price of Jet A... What are things girls shouldn't have a clue about, Alex? Ding! Ding! Ding! That's right, we have a winner!

It's no secret that I'm surrounded by boys pretty much my entire day but I guess it just recently hit me that they are EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME!!!! Brother Bear, Shawn, Junior, G.W., Cupcake, Lonnie, Turbo, Woodrow, Kramer, Canine, Robert (the mechanic), David Bullock, Bullock's ground crew (including Rickey Bobby), Farmers, Auger Truck Drivers, Chemical Delivery Men, Field Scouts, Fuel Truck Drivers (mullet man), and even the UPS Man is a dude! They are crawling all over this place!

Seriously, sometimes the only chick that I actually see and communicate with for days on end is my mother. Work from 5:15-8:45 doesn't really allow for much else. I do get to have some verbal communication with other gals in the industry (Nikki Pippinger, Shannon Bullock, Regail Moritz, Sonya or Tonya at CPS in Almyra, and the chick that is always angry in Altheimer, but I don't really count her) although it's very limited. However, some days it can help to save what's left of my sanity... Nikki told me a special secret to the fertilizer world (a ton weighs 2,000lbs) and Shannon made some fabulous Ooey Gooey Heath Bar Cake! Thanks Girls!

Then there's the dudes... Oh the dudes... While working with a bunch of guys can't be totally comical, educational, confusing, frustrating, exhausting, hilarious, and eventful; it can also be very insightful. Ya see, no matter how rough, tough, and rugged most men want to act they almost always know how to mind their manners in front of a lady.

They apologize when they use curse word or expletives, even Rickey Bobby! They are always courteous and offer me snacks, soda, beer, or a chew of tobacco. (Thanks, but no thanks) They ask me how my days going. They ask my opinion. They seek my advice on lady friends and even sometimes take it! The best is when they start the conversation out by saying, "So you're a girl... what do you think about this?"... Why yes, yes I am a girl. Thanks for noticing!

Then other times they like to think of me as one of the guys. They talk about their bodily functions, scratch themselves in inappropriate places, tell raunchy jokes and sometimes tell me too much information. (T.M.I) I guess Cupcake said it best last Friday when he said, and I quote, "If you wanna hang out around men you're just gonna have to hear manly things." Hahaha

But at the end of the day, I think they really do have a lot of respect for me. Whether it's because I keep the same long hours they do, they see how hard I work, or because I keep them in line and let them have fun at the same time, I'm not really sure... I guess when you boil it all down I like to think I'm the brains and they are the brawn and together we make a beautiful team!... It may be a man's world but at least I get to control a little bit of it!

I like to think that James Brown got it right when he sang: "This is a man's world, But it wouldn't be nothing; nothing without a woman or a girl" ~Thank you Mr. Brown


**I wanted to title this post after my favorite chapter in Tina Fey's Bossypants book, "Peeing in Cups with Boys" but I didn't because I thought it might give my mom a heart attack. (She still makes everyone around her say, "Go to the bathroom" or "Tinkle" because the actual word "Pee" is horrifying to her.) Anyways in that chapter she talks about being one of the few women writers in comedy and having to deal men, who actually pee in cups & leave them around the office. The guys around the airport don't do that thankfully; however, workers from other flying services that use the airport to do fertilize jobs do "tinkle" out in the wide open and it's very unbecoming... (Yes, workers, I can see you. Just because you go to the other side of the loader truck doesn't mean you are camouflaged!)

Prayers for The Bull

Our good friend David "Bull" Bullock from Bullock Flying Service suffered a massive stroke yesterday morning while working at the flying service.

David is currently being treated by UAMS in Little Rock. His father, Billy Paul, was in my office a little bit ago and reported that David woke up talking this morning and has regained some movement in his right side. While this is wonderful news and a big step in the right direction there is still a long road ahead of him. Please continue to pray for David, Shannon, their family and the team of doctors that are working around the clock.

The Bull is best known around the airport for his extremely hard work ethic (even after he couldn't fly this year he worked around the clock mixing chemicals and working on planes), starting the brightly colored PFG shirt trend, (I discussed this in "Easy, Breezy, Beautiful"), his booming loud voice (if he's in his hangar & I'm in ours I can hear every word he says even across the tarmac), and his larger than life, charismatic personality! (if you know The Bull you know what I'm talking about, his personality instantly fills the room when he walks in.) We are praying for a safe and speedy recovery and hope to see him back at the DeWitt Municipal Airport soon!