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"!