Learning To Fly - Night Flight

Night flying was on last nights agenda. We got to Van Nuys at 7:30P after a nice pre-flight dinner at Lulu's. My Husband, me, my brother in law and his girlfriend. Obviously, the Pilot in Training was with us, too. A few minutes later, my son's instructor drove up and told us that my son would be going to the practice field in Simi, for a bit and then they would do 5 "stop and goes". We were told to come back at 9:30P and so we went off the the patio at the 94th Aero Squadron, got a round of adult beverages and sat and watched it all unfold. Almost as soon as the drinks arrived, so did my son's plane and we got to see it take off. They left the area and upon their return, I hear a call to squawk a transponder, so we knew they were back. What threw us totally off was the fact that they were coming in on 16 Right, instead of 16 Left. It was the second landing of a small plane of 16R that finally told me that this was my son. The plane came in real slow and would land and totally stop and then after a few seconds, begin it's take off roll and eventually take off. It would do it's normal pattern work, but on the right side of the pattern, passing the tower, calling in to get clearance and then landing and doing the whole thing again. So we watch this happen 3 more times and watch the other traffic happening at the airport. It was pretty decently busy, with several Lear jets coming in and other traffic, including that one Cessna working the pattern on 16L. On the final go round, I see that it's 9:15P and we need to get back to the hanger. So we say goodnight to our relatives and quickly get over there, to pay the bill and pick up our son. He did well, according to the instructor and he was told to try to get some "touch and goes" in next weekend and then the following week will be Apple Valley with his Dad aboard.

Ambrosia

The weather hit a high of only around the mid 90's and so after dinner with the guys, I told them I was going out to see Ambrosia. I forgot what time they went on, so I ended up coming to Saugus Speedway while a Journey Tribute Band, Lights, was on the stage. Please note that they had a huge fan base and were very, very good. For me though, it was not very impressive. Give me about 2 Journey songs and I have had it. As they played I watched the Green Room behind the stage as the members of Ambrosia sat back and waited. Finally, after about a 4 song encore, the Journey Tribute band left and the Ambrosia set up began. When they finally took the stage, it was already after 9:30P and so I knew we would have a real short set and that's exactly what we got.

I didn't keep a set list, though I probably should have. I knew most of the songs, though they did do a new one that I had never heard of and they said it was on their new CD.

Songs I know they played:
Nice, Nice Very Nice
Life Beyond LA
And...Somewhere You Never Find
Living On My Own
How Much I feel

Songs I think they played:
Biggest Part Of Me
Holding On To Yesterday

I ended up standing between 3 speakers and taking pictures. I was well rewarded with some nice shots and lots of time to watch the lead guitarist work his magic.
Original Members of the band are:
Joe Puerta - Bass
Burleigh Drummond - Drums
Christopher North - Hammond B3, Krog Keyboard/synth
David Cutter Lewis - Keyboard

They had with them an acoustic guitarist and a lead guitarist, to take the place of David Pack. The acoustic guitarist does the high vocals for the songs and they said he will be moving to opera, in the near future. Very good choice for their music.

All in all, a good evening, just a bit short and late.

Riding The Rails - Metrolink Crashes

Today the newspapers and TV are all abuzz regarding a verdict being reached in the worst Metrolink crash that we have ever had, here in Los Angeles. It happened in January of 2005 on the very track that I travel twice a day. Thankfully for me, it was several hours before I commute and I was not involved. 11 people died and 180 were injured in a three train wreck. As a matter of fact, the cars that were involved in the wreck, are still sitting in an empty lot in Burbank, right next to an overpass that is actually the subject of this post...but I get ahead of my story.

I have wanted to tell the story of my worst Metrolink crash. More then one crash, you may be thinking, yes, I have been in many crashes, but probably a few more then 5 , but less than 10. Thankfully, it's usually not a big deal, because it takes a lot to derail a train. We usually push whatever the offending tresspasser is, off to the side and then have to sit in the train for an hour or two, according to if there is a fatality involved. Major inconvenience, but not usually major danger. Well...there was the one time that a truck backed into the train as we passed and he popped the window onto the passenger table right across from me. That was scary, but in a different way. Thankfully for me, I KNEW that something was about to happen and ducked my head and put my hands over my head. When the glass rained on me, it was just an annoyance, not tragic. Others had a bit more problems then I did and we still know who each other were, in that car that day. PTSD, anyone...

My accident was only witnessed by two people, me...and the engineer driving the train. It happened shortly after I began commuting daily in 1994. Remember, I started commuting daily right after the Northridge Earthquake. So I was 6 months into a daily commute. Back in those days, we only went back and forth to Santa Clarita during the day. The Lancaster trains were rush hour only. So two trains would meet between Burbank and Glendale, where the line is double tracked and make what we call a "Train Meet". I was in the lead cab car in the back seat, furthest away from the engineer driving the train. He was a substitute that day, our regular guy was on a week's vacation. The conductor was in the seat behind the cab itself, across and forward from me. I get off at Glendale and so I decided that I would pack up, watch the train meet and then head for the door, to get ready to exit the train at the next station. So I get up and along comes the northbound train, he passes us by and immediately 3 people who decided to take a short cut directly over the track, rather, then climb the flyover bridge that safely gets cars and pedestrians over the track, begin crossing. They never heard us, due to the northbound train passing and making so much noise. They never even thought to look the other way and see if there was a southbound train. So they begin to cross, a little girl about 5, her mother, holding her hand and an old man, her father and the little girl's grandfather. He was also holding the woman's hand. To me they looked like the cover of Abby Road. I immediately said something like "Oh Fuck!" and ducked behind the table where the conductor was. He was going to look at that point, but decided he really didn't want to see it happen. Maybe 2 or 3 seconds later, we hit. It took us almost a mile to finally stop the train and by then I was a wreck. I sat in a seat in the lower level and the Conductor (a very good friend of mine) comes over to me and asks me if I was OK. Yeah, I guess I was, just very, very upset. He then had to exit the train...and find the bodies. I felt so bad for him. Shortly after this happened, an Amtrak train passed and they had it come over on the other track and they off loaded us, to get us away from it all. I did not know the fate of the three people, until I heard the noon news that day. I was praying that the little girl, who was in the lead, made it OK, but she didn't. The engineer, who was the last one to see them, was most upset for the grandfather. Funny how our perspectives were different.
Shortly thereafter, they put up a huge fence to keep people from ever doing that again, but I have never forgotten it. Once in a while, I glance out the window...and remember.

Regarding PTSD.
Each of us have our own fears and ways to cope. The conductor that day, was also involved in a very bad crash on the same line, just up the track at a Burbank crossing at Buena Vista. That cab car was derailed by a truck, hit a wall and over turned. Many a time I see him move out of the cab car, during the section of track that is the most dangerous and go count people or something. Now he could do that anytime, but I think he chooses to be out of the cab right then. Which is fine by me.
For the most part, I still ride the cab. Why, you may ask? Because people are the most in fear about riding in that location and so the other cars are more filled, then it is. For the most part, I am just fine with it. But one day I was woken up from a sound sleep, by a voice in my head saying to get out of that car. I immediately left and went into the second car, wondering what the heck that was all about. We didn't hit anything that day, but I always wonder if we would have, if I had stayed. Who knows...

========
Photo
As if it isn't obvious,
That's the flyover bridge
where the accident occurred.
I can't get into the cab
area of the train anymore,
due to the many accidents
that have happened over
the years, so this was
taken from the passenger
seat, as we passed.

The Valley Fair

My husband and I met in the San Fernando Valley, but we moved away from the area 28 years ago this month. Every year the San Fernando Valley has a fair that harkens back to it's agricultural roots. It's called The Valley Fair. For many years it was held at the fairgrounds by Cal State Northridge, the Equestrian Center in Burbank, and even Hansen Dam in Lake View Terrace, but last year it was moved to my corner of the world. Here's a humorous look at the moving fair, written by The Daily News.
So they moved it here. As a matter of fact, right next to my train station. So today, as we rolled into Santa Clarita Station, you could see the rides and stuff going on. The train parking lot was stuffed with cars, which made it very difficult to exit, but it brought excitement, too. In my case, as I exited the lot, the car in front of me was dropping popcorn off it's roof onto my car. I bet someone forgot to bring their bag into the car. :-)



The fair will be there until Sunday and on Saturday night the group playing will be Ambrosia, who I saw maybe 6 years ago. I own 2 of their CD's, including a "Best Of" called Anthology, so there isn't much that they play at a concert, that I don't know. We will see how hot it gets and how much I care to see them again, but I may go. As a matter of fact, a former member of the '74 Steely Dan touring band, Royce Jones, made an appearance last time. So that might get me to go.

Anyway, a little something different going on in my humble corner of the County.

Riding The Rails - Taylor Yard

A few views of Taylor Yard.

Taylor Yard is the location where our trains go, to get cleaned, repaired and serviced. It's always busy, with engines that get taken out of service, for their routine maintenance, cars being repaired or painted and of course, the normal cleaning and washing of the train cars. The first photo has our newest engine, surrounded by our older ones. It is supposed to begin service any day, but so far, it is still at the yard. Metrolink has over 100 cars and engines on order, with a delivery date somewhere in 2009 or so.
You can read the press release here.




The second photo shows the location where the trains are actually serviced. They get vacuumed, trash emptied and then brought over to the train washer, which is on the far left of the photo. Sort of like how you wash a car, except they drive a train through it.

Come the Holiday season, we can see the Metrolink Holiday train get built. It's pieces, including the flatcar you can see in the picture, stay here at the yard for the other 11 months.

It's always an interesting place to pass by.

==

If you are interested, here is a website with some old and newer pictures of the area.

Raising A Boy Child - Other Son #2 And Panda Express

I have had to drive to work these past 2 days and so I have managed to go see my "Other" son #2, hard at work at his first real job. Panda Express is a chain of mildly decent Chinese Fast Food. He said that his sister worked for the chain, back when she was going to school. I must admit that he looks very good back there behind the counter. He is gregarious, friendly and so very good at this, even though he is new at it. I was quite impressed with his skill.
As we talked, he told me that he gets his food for free and since he likes the entrees, he is currently happy. I don't have the courage to tell him that by the end of his employment, he will probably hate the stuff. That's for another day.

He works the late shift along a very busy North/South Freeway that passes through our area. If I were his real parent, I think I would worry about that, but he seems to project competence and authority, so hopefully the evil element that preys on easy targets, will not bother his humble Panda Express. My best to my "Other" son #2. May this be the first of many good moves you make on your road to adulthood.

I'll take an order of Orange Chicken to go, please. :-)

JROTC Shakedown 2008

Yes, it's that time of year, once again. Shakedown before the JROTC goes off to their Summer Encampment. Unfortunately for my son, he was not allowed to attend, but 4 of us went to watch the Shakedown. Once you have seen one of them in action, it's hard to stay away...especially when people you know, are going through it. So we got to the school at 7AM and I helped sign in the cadets. At 8AM, the big moment arrived and the kids are told to run down to the basketball court outside the ROTC room and then made to dump out all their possessions. Always a new parent's nightmare. :-)
Lots of little brothers and sisters of cadets from the past, so it was a lot of fun watching them get their first taste of camp, though you would think they would know what they were going up against. It didn't seem to matter, they were still scared cadets. The shakedown itself went like clockwork and they were ready to depart by around 10:30AM. Good thing, cause it was still hot today, though cooler then the past weekend was.

============

Photo is of the cadets
holding up their water,
to prove they have it.
My son is up on the
riser, watching the
show.

Last years shakedown report...can be found here.

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

As I mentioned before, Hubby and I actually had a date on Saturday night and we went to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It's been out about a month now and we honestly thought that if it was playing at all, there would not be a line to see it. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wombat breath. :-)
We did buy the tickets in advance and got to the theater about 20 minutes ahead of the show. There was not a single pair of seats in the main area and we ended in the row up front, where handicapped can sit. Talk about close to the screen. Thankfully for us, Indy has slowed down a tad and the action wasn't up to some other shows that previewed on the screen. We had no real problem seeing the show from our seat, but if it was unwatchable, I was ready to demand my money back.
So anyway, regarding the movie. Let me just state that I knew that his old love interest from movie one, turns up in this one, but I was totally shocked at how this story unfolded. It was not the best I have ever seen, but it actually wasn't a bad 90 minutes. Harrison Ford was good to see and all in all, I ended up entertained and wasn't that what I was going for.
Our only sad note was that Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream was closed when we exited the theater at 9:30P. Who closes their shop early on a Saturday Night? The nerve! lol

Numb3rs - Manhunt

I found out that Max Martini, the actor who stars on The Unit, worked on an episode of Numb3rs, back in 2005. It's the final episode of the first season and being there were only 13 episodes on the DVD and that I could get it for an relatively inexpensive price, I bought it. The Episode is named "Manhunt" and it concerns several inmates escaping from Federal custody. Max plays Billy Coop, a criminal apprehension officer, who used to work with the lead character, Don Eppes. Lots of good dialog between Don and Billy and a real cool mathematical presentation by Charlie Eppes, Don's younger brother. He shows 3 cards, one with an automobile on it and two others with goats. He explains that what you think the odds are on winning the car are not what you think they are. Originally the chance is 1 in 3, but after you choose one and find out that one that you didn't choose has the goat, the other two cards have a chance of 50 50, and you should keep what you originally chose, right? Wrong, so he says, choose the other card, due to the fact that your original choice only has a 1 in 3 chance, but the other card has a 50 50 chance. So all those shows asking you if you wanted to keep what you had, or go for the prize behind Door Number 2, have been put in a new light for me. :-)
Worth the viewing, right there.


Being I was not a fan of the show, this is just supposition, but I guess this did not become a recurring role for Max (it did seem to leave the door open, for more shows, further down the line), due to the fact that he got the job on The Unit, shortly thereafter.
He did a fine job and I highly recommend the episode and the show itself.

IT'S HOT!

This picture was taken at 12:52PM today. I am sure it's going to get even hotter.

Think I will take a nice nap and hope the AC holds out.

In plans for this evening, we have tickets to see Indiana Jones. ;-)

Raising A Boy Child - Guitar Hero and WOW

As promised, here are the guys as they looked last night. Yes, the commandeered my brand new HD TV set for Guitar Hero, ACK!
It looked good though, so they were happy. It seems they were kicked out of my "Other" son's house and thus took possession of mine. Much playing, eating and fun occurred. They said they finally left our house around 11:30p.




Friday they are going up to Central California, for a family reunion of my "Other" son's family. It's a yearly event that he has invited his friend's to this year. So we are minus our son again this weekend.

Party...Party. ;-)

Wordle - Sunset

I had a totally different post in mind for today, but I came home last night to 4 boys working 2 laptops and playing Guitar Hero, all at the same time (a future post, later this weekend will spotlight that lovely scene). Needless to say, getting to my computer, was an exercise in futility. I finally had to fire up the old Windows 95 computer in the other room, to do a medical authorization form for my son.

That said, I did see a post by a friend of mine and she pointed out this cool website called Wordle. Of course I had to try it and decided to grab my post from last week called Sunset. I wanted to see how Mike Pinder's words and the few from me, worked in the program. Well, I really like the results and hope you do, too. It increases the size of the words, by how important they are to the piece. I figured Sunset would end up prominent and so it did. I even like the fact that the author of the song, ended up in there, because I mentioned his name in the set up to the lyrics. A pretty neat tool and lots of creative people using it, that you can view, as you do your own work. Check it out.

==

I couldn't resist putting words exactly as I wanted them, to make a point. I present you with, Mack and Tiffy.

Biking To Work

It has become increasingly crowded on my train in the morning. The evening isn't too bad, but morning is jammed most days. I have also noted an increase in the amount of bikes and motorcycles coming to the station. Where we used to have 1 or 2 we now have about 10 left attached to bike racks or polls. We have bike storage lockers up at the top of the station, but I am not sure if they get used. I would assume so.
These numbers do not include the bikes that "ride the train" with us. Each of the 4 cars can take 2 bikes, so several come with us, each trip. Not huge numbers, but many more then I have ever seen and obviously the gas crunch is bringing out the bikers. This in spite of the fact that they are not allowed to use the Metro Red Line Subway, during Rush Hour. I get the feeling that Metro is not enforcing this right now, or at least I hope not. Lots of people with creative ways of saving gas, should be encouraged, not yelled at.

Super Bridge

Many years ago, when my son was very young, there was this show called "Super Bridge", about the replacing of an old bridge over the Mississippi River, in the town of Alton, Illinois. During the construction of this bridge, there were tremendous floods during the spring of 1993. Thankfully, the bridge was completed in spite of those hardships. In 1998, we visited St. Louis and one of the things we had on our "must do" list, was visit "Super Bridge". So we took a trip up north, where the Missouri River enters the Mississippi. There were lots of dead trees that had obviously been flooded out during 1993, when the water reclaimed the land and made it into a no man's land. It kind of looked like what we out here in the West see after a forest fire. Kind of creepy. We continued on the road and we were eventually rewarded with a drive onto this bridge. We got off on the other side, took some pictures and admired the engineering marvel that it is.
These last few days have brought so much of this back into the forefront of my mind. I see the land flooded again and the worries that it will continue into the Mississippi River and I think of the Alton Bridge. My best to the residents of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, etc...and a special prayer to the bridge that means so much to my son and my family.

A New Item On My Blog

There's a new feature on my blog.
If you scroll down a bit you will find that there is a list of Blogs I visit on a regular basis. It was just added as an optional feature by Blogger, the company that created this website service. What makes it super cool, is that it not only has the list of Blogs, it tells you when the blog was last updated and what the name of the new post is. I put it into service yesterday and have found it fascinating to watch. Of course, I am very easily amused. :-)

If you find any of interest, feel free to check them out, by clicking on them.