What weekend! Not necessarily the best I've ever had, but far, far from the worst. Here's what happened.

Friday evening, we got the mother-in-law to watch the kids so the wife and I could go to a movie. We wanted to see "Me, Myself, & Irene" but we were running late and it was sold out when we got there. So, we decided to see "Chicken Run" instead. Even though we missed like the first 15-20 minutes of it, it was still a very funny movie. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Loved all the little "british chicks". If you get a chance, go check it out. After picking up the kids and going home, I called flight service for a weather forecast for the next day. Things seemed good so I called my instructor and he said to go ahead and start planning my flight. I wanted to leave as early as possible tomorrow, but didn't get to bed until 11:30.

I got up Saturday feeling pretty well rested considering that I got about 5 hours of sleep or so. I showered, got dressed, grabbed my flight bag and headed to the airport. I preflighted the plane and waited for my instructor. Oh, he wasn't going with me though. This was my solo cross country. After looking over my flight plan and grilling me on some questions, we called the FSS and I filed my flight plan. Simple. Boca Raton, to Marathon Key, then back to Boca. The entire trip would take about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Cool.

I took off exactly at 8:35, opened my flight plan and headed southwest. My flight plan had me flying at 8,500 feet, but unfortunately, mother nature had other plans so I had to climb. I went up to 10,500 for a short while and then finally topped out at 12,500. The clouds weren't real thick, I could still see the ground waaaay down there, but they just happened to be right where my visual checkpoints were located. I got the first two, but missed the next one. Luckily, I spotted an airstrip on the east coast that I knew was Homestead and that one of my checkpoints was due west of that so I was still doing good. Once I hit the southern tip of Florida, I headed west to my 4th visual checkpoint, and then turned south again. I arrived at Marathon Key about 1 hour and 10 minutes after taking off. I had planned that it would take 1 hour 6 minutes, so I'm off by only 4. Coming back was a different story, however.

After taxiing back to the active runway at Marathon, I set Boca Airport into the GPS and took off heading northeast. I was planning on flying back at 9,500 feet but the clouds, again, had other ideas. After spiraling up to 9,500 over the southern tip of Florida, I started north again only to realize that I was still too low. So, after letting the oil temp cool off a bit, I start spiraling up again. This time, I level off at about 11,500 ft. Fine, we're above the clouds...well most of them. There was one cell that seemed to be taunting me, so as I got closer to it, I had to climb yet again. Finally, at 13,500 ft, I level off and things look clear all the way back. The trip home, unfortunately, seemed to take for ever. Guess I had a headwind. Anyway, when I realize that I'm southwest of Boca airport, I start my descent. I almost killed the engine a couple of times by leaning it out too much, but I never lost it. After breaking through at about 5,500 ft, I recognized my 1st visual checkpoint and knew exactly where I was. A short stint of rain, a bit of a windy landing, and I was back on the ground, safe and sound. And I had to pee like a race horse. So, I flew 224 nm above clouds, and through rain, and all before noon on Saturday. It took it's toll of course.

After landing and tying down, I spoke with my instructor for a bit, logged the flight, and headed home. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of it. Since I had spent so much time up at such high altitudes, I was severely fatigued and developed a bit of a headache. Oxygen deprivation. Glad I wasn't up any longer than I was or it could have gotten serious. When I got home, my wife and mother-in-law were packing up stuff in the house. I was going to help, but felt like hammered shit. Later that night, I rented a few DVD's and just vegged.

Sunday wasn't much to report. Slept in a little. We went to IHOP for breakfast and then to the store for diapers and stuff. After getting home, I vegged in front of the TV and watched the rest of the DVD's that I didn't see the night before. I didn't do shit. Think that kind of pissed off the wife. Oh well, I made up for it later by going out and getting us some sushi, so all's well.

I don't know if I snored too hard or what, but I've got the worst sore throat today. It wasn't too bad this morning, but has been getting gradually worse with each cough. It's not a cold or anything because I'm not stuffed up or anything. It's just my throat. Could be a chest cold, I guess, my chest feels kind of congested. Shit. I don't want to get sick now. Oh well.

Got fucked by the pediatrician today. Turns up that Icebear Jr. was only covered under my medical plan for like a month or something so the last time the wife took him in and got him shots, the insurance won't pay it. So, now we have a letter from the ped's saying we owe them $350. Fuckin' doctors. He probably looked at him for 5 minutes, had a nurse administer the shots and then charged us $350. Goddammit I hate money!!! Fuck! That's life. Dammit.

Well, I'm going to go home. I'm tired, my throat hurts and I want to relax. My voice sounds kind of cool now, but I doubt that will last. Y'all have a good evening.

"Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?"

Icebear

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