14 September 2009

16th floor of the International Plaza Hotel and Resort (soon to become the Doubletree Resort) doing my devotions. Hot and humid here in Orlando, but a beautiful resort. 3 pools, one with a waterfall, beautiful workout room, HDTV. These Delta pilots do know how to live.

Flew from SEA to MEM to MCO yesterday and got in around 11 p.m. The northwest was gorgeous, clear and warm, it was a gift from God just to be there for 18 hours. I ate dinner and breakfast at the Specialty Coffee house near the hotel. They make absolutely killer pastries. Their sandwiches are great too.

I'm working on memorizing 2 Corinthians 2.14-17, which is a favorite passage. I finish a four day this evening, sleep in the pilot lounge, then leave for MSP tomorrow morning for 4 days of training. Wow, I'm really looking forward to THAT.

11 September 2009

I awoke at 4.30 to the sound of a bell going off in the hallway (Park Plaza, Boson). A fire alarm? Is there a fire? Unfortunately, after traveling so much, I'm too lackadaisical about such alarms. They are usually false. I get dressed slowly and finally leave my room when everyone else is coming back to their rooms. Apparently there was a fire alarm on the 15th floor and the 14th and 15th floors were supposed to evacuate. I'm on the 8th floor. I go back to my room and the stupid key won't work.

No way I'm taking the elevator. I go down one set of stairs that leads to the street, then back up to find a stairway to the lobby. After winding around in a maze, I eventually stumble onto the lobby. I wait in line 10 minutes while some lady argues with the counter guy about how the hotel personnel handled the fire alarm. She gets nowhere. Neither I, nor the counter guy understands what she wants, except maybe to vent about being forced up in the middle of the night.

I finally get to the counter and get my room key reset. I start up the stairs but can't remember the way through the maze to get to the 8th floor. I head for the elevator. They tell us to go to the staff elevators because the regular ones will "take forever." A bunch of us pile into the staff elevator. The door closes and the elevator lurches and then stops. The girl next to me tells her husband, "I'm getting off this elevator." Her husband reassures her. We stop at the 3rd floor. The door opens and closes and the elevator lurches twice, but doesn't go anywhere. The door reopens. The girl and her husband (and me) decide it will be better to climb the stairs. I finally get back to my room at 5.15. No more sleep for me tonight.

7 September

Recovery day from DALMAC. Spent most of the day studying for training next week. More to do tomorrow. Watching the Miami - Florida State game right now. It's a pretty good one with a quarter to go.

5 September

103 miles from Lake City to Boyne City today. Gorgeous weather again. High about 79, very light winds.

We had one crash but no one was injured and we all finished with only a few cuts and bruises on Ed Sawyers' body. We did a trip up "the wall," then back down and up the alternate route then up the climb for tomorrow to Kathryn Hixson's father's house. Finally back down to Boyne City.

I had a flat at the high school. First change and the stem broke. Second change and the stem was leaking. Third change and it was fixed...until I discovered that the tire was warped. I had to buy a tire and change it a fourth time. Grr...

One funny incident; we were at the top of the hill out of Boyne City and here came Ed Sawyer up the hill past Boyne City. He asked, "where is the high school?" We answered, "back down the hill you just climbed!"

God gave us a great day and kept us safe during our crash. He also allowed me to get the flat after I arrived at the high school for the night.

4 September

Vestaburg, MI, on the morning of day 2 in DALMAC. We had an absolutely fabulous day yesterday, ultra light winds, sunny, and clear.

We left at 0745, stopped for lunch in Perrinton and arrived in Vestaburg around 1300. I had to get in 8 more miles because we left from home vice MSU. When I got back, Cherie already had the tent set up! Took nap and then watched the Vestaburg football game. Gorgeous full moon last night.

Spent some of the ride going through my prayer list, missionaries mainly.

3 September

Heading out on the first leg of DALMAC this morning. Laingsburg to Vestaburg. Should get in about 70 miles. Weather should be gorgeous, this is probably the best week of summer so far. Thank you, Lord! Experiencing a little bit of tendonitis in my left knee so we'll see how it goes.

Slow day yesterday. Packed for DALMAC, took care of some bills. Dropped our stuff off at MSU so we could leave from here this morning. We are good to go...well, as good as we're going to get anyway. Cherie's foot is a problem. Who knows if she'll be able to make it.

Whatever difficulty we may be facing is paltry compared to the Valley of the Shadow of death that Steve and Bonnie Opper are going through. She has leukemia; he has non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Both had chemo. Steve will have radiation. Bonnie will hopefully get a bone marrow transplant. Through it all (Steve discovered his cancer in the midst of Bonnie's treatment) they have glorified God. Quite a testimony. I'm humbled by their demonstration of faith in a situation where it's difficult to know what God is up to.

2 September

Last day before we start out on our 2nd DALMAC. We're both really excited although Cherie has a foot injury and I'm recovering from tendonitis in my knee. 70 miles, 80 miles, 100 miles, 72 miles. It should be a lot of fun and looks like the weather is going to be okay!

Busy day yesterday. We rode up to Owosso to see Lance and Mike (last ride before DALMAC), then ran into Lansing to get stuff at Walmart and Sam's Club. Back home and grab some stuff to pack today and then hung out in the basement in the evening, practiced the drums, watched some television. Too tired to read any more at 9.15 pm, but wide awake at 3 am this morning.