09/06 4eme semaine/ 4th weeh

Voila.
Ma derniere semaine de vacances se termine, demain je pars pour de nouvelles aventures, et j'avoue que j'aurai prefere gagner au loto, pour n'avoir pas a quitter de nouveau la maison pour les 7 prochains jours. Mais ainsi va la vie pour nous autres personels navigants.

La maman de Kate est repartie, triste sans doute de nous laisser, mais bien plus encore d'apprendre qu'une de ses filles, une soeur a Kate est atteinte du cancer du sein. Ca en fait trois dans la famille, entre la mere, le pere, et maintenant une des filles!
Nul doute pour Kate qu'il ne s'agit pas la d'une coincidence, et qu'il est probable que ce soit due a un environnement ou ils aureint vecu dans le passe. Le freres et soeurs se regardent le coeur serree, en se demandant a qui le tour? 3 sur 6, bonjour les statistiques!

Carpe Diem donc, de nouveau 2 vols dans le planeur, ce qui porte a 32 hrs de vol ce mois ci dessus! Pas mal pour un septembre!

Howdy. How goes it? Ain't life dandy? (Yes, Papa, I went to college.) So who here has seen a John Wayne movie? The Searchers.... The High and the Mighty.... The Quiet Man (my personal favorite). If not, go rent one. He is the best. In the old days, when I used to hike the nearby mountains, looking over to the next bluff, Sajuaros in view, it was as if John Wayne himself would come riding over on horseback, ready to ask me if I've seen a wagon train go by and, if I would be so kindly as to let him use my well to refresh himself and his horse. Of course, I would say, and even offer dinner. And at dinner he would regale to my husband and myself with tales of the Old West.

Outside of that, not much going on right now. Well, if you count us waiting for our first child to be born nothing. And my sister now amassed in the fight against cancer. And the fact that Texas seems to be the Seventh Circle of Hell. (Don't believe it? Ask my parents and they'll tell you everything that's gone wrong since they moved there.)

The world seems a toil of its usual drugery, wars and abuse and toxic spills. So, instead I shall turn my viewpoint inward, to my tiny, yet fortuitous, family that sits before me. Little Pepito doing what dogs do, my Richard reading one of his favorite magazines, and our little child, at this moment having his brain built up. I like my family. In fact, I love my family. So, all is right with the world (at least our corner). Hope all is right with yours.

Goodnight, Moon. :)

09/06 3eme semaine / 3rd week

Petite semaine tranquille qui se passa a discuter le bout de gras avec la maman de Kate, et a regarder nombreux de nos DVD.
2 eme ultrason et premier rendez vous avec le docteur pour s'assurer que le bebe, ca pousse toujours. Voila la maman et Kate ensemble a regarder une photo de cette ultrason justement.
J'en ai profiter pour les laisser une journee et aller voler, puisqu'a priori, on peut encore faire du vol a voile en septembre. Les 6 hrs de vol habituels....

Hello cruel world! Well, maybe not cruel but this week had the sad note of having my third immediate family member diagnosed with cancer. So, in light of same, cancer sucks. Cancer is cruel. And I should hope that not another person on this planet ever has to be granted the cruel gift of hearing a loved one has this horrendous disease. The Devil himself could not have imagined a worse condition. And falling on the heals of our beloved Uncle Michel being recently taken from us, also from cancer, I can only say to you, God, enough! It's time to turn the tide to things of joy. The world is weary and in need of rest. Tis time for dreams to come out to play.

On another note, Mom is visiting, and I am forever grateful. More grateful still in that she and Richard are good friends, who can easily laugh and share and confide. Nothing could be better, could it?

And I, too, am gifted with more time with those dearest to me, to hear more tales of times passed, to listen to the retelling of old things long gone. I have no idea why anyone dislikes elderly people, hearing them tell their tales. To me, it is fascinating, a living story, a three dimensional TV show in living flesh and color.

Talk to your local old folk. You will hear them tell stories, such amazing stories. In fact, when Richard and I were at Social Security I started a conversation with an elderly gentleman who turned out to be in WWII and had such stories to tell. Living witnesses of legendary times. At another occasion I met a man who worked with Swede Mumson. Don't know who he is? Shame on you! Go find out!

On another note, we have also had our second ultrasound and Baby has grown, now about an inch. And in this scan we can see Baby's wideset eyes, arm buds and leg buds curled up about it's stomach. And, too, the umbilical cord can be seen. Now if only it had movies showing inside! And popcorn!

Well, signing off for now. Must carpe diem our time with Mama. Have a good day!

09/06 2eme semaine / 2nd week

Katherine est extraordinaire.
C'est une phrase nessecaire pour commencer le blog de cette semaine.
Voila en effet quelqu'un malade, vu que cette semaine est officiellement sa 7eme semaine de grossesse, si l'on demarre ce calcul du debut de l'ovulation ou quelque chose comme ca de toute maniere... Du coup, ce sont les nausees, manque d'appetit, manque de sommeil qui remplissent ces journees. Pas le genre de truc folichon, mais ca va un peu mieux en fin de semaine.
Nous sommes aller faire un ultrason, et il fallait voir Kate gloussait lorsque nous avons entendu le coeur du bebe. Un gloussement qu'elle a, lorsqu'elle est heureuse. Une sorte de cascade de rires musicale, qui est bon d'entendre, lorsqu'on est un peu responsable de ce bonheur.
La petite noisette, la au milieu de l'image, c'est un petit etre, qui y va d'un bon coup de coeur regulier, bien fort, comme un Napoleon qui va en bataille.
Elle est extraordinaire, disais-je, car au milieu de tous ca, elle trouve quand meme le moyen de continuer a faire le menage, car elle restera toujours une fee du logis, monte un petit canape que nous venons d'acheter pour installer dans le bureau, de maniere a ce qu'elle puisse s'allonger lorsque je suis devant l'ordinateur.. Et puis aussi, parce que c'est dans sa nature que de rendre les gens heureux, elle m'a laisse aussi partir au terrain, de maniere a ce que je me retrouve dans le planeur. Seulement 3 vols, mais 18 hrs total, ce qui vous donne une idee de la moyenne des vols!!!
Cette semaine fut superbe cote vol a voile, car superbes rues de nuages, qui me permetta d'aller me promener dans une partie de la vallee de Phoenix que je ne connaissais pas encore. 400 kms en 2 vols, ce qui permet de faire autre chose que de rester juste a cote du terrain...
Cette semaine, nous allons nous occuper de la remorque de ce dit planeur, car la fourche est rouillee, et l'electricite est a refaire. Et puis mercredi, nous recevons la maman de Kate pour une semaine, et ce sera un plaisir que de revoir cette femme charmante.

Good morning.

The Oak tree, in all its variations, can live more than 500 years. California Redwoods, apparently a species of tree which can only grow in that particular place on Earth, requiring Northern California's unique micro-ecosystem, can live more than 2000 years. How amazing to me that one could plant a tree to see the passing of the ages, like a time capsule reopened again every Spring as its leaves are regenerating and life begins anew.

2000 years! Prior to the great Americas! Prior to the Revolution! Imagine, a tree that existed in the time of Christ! Oh, what stories could it tell, if only it could bend its tall branches to Earth, allowing its leaves to whisper in my ears of the passage of man - the passage of time....

And so, here we are, lowly humans, living only on average 70+ years. What did we see? What stories do we have to bear, to whisper into the ears of your children, and children's children, of the grand adventures and passage of your humanity on Earth....?

Waste not, for time waits not. And seasons pass, though humanity is frought with wait for "better times" to make memories. Life is for all, but stories are only for the brave.

Do you dare to live? Dare to breath? Dare to fight? To scream, yell and bleed?

What tales do your leaves whisper into the ears of babes?

And so, here I sit, humbly counting my even more humble stories, hoping that they are alight with things of which worthy tales are made. Not glamour or glitz or gala, but genuine tales of the struggle of a simple girl, armed with the meaning of life, in search of proof of same in the world at large. And, strangely enough, finding its proof not in the world at large at all, but in this humble home which sits in the desert of Southwestern America - a simple, yet beautiful place, which I am proud to call home.

Kurt Russel was quoted as saying to his son that when even a very bad moment hits, grab hold and feel the emotions its brings. Its only but this that we truly feel our life, as these are the moments which make our memories. I should shall I agree.

And so, too, does this quiet time this early Sunday morning, too, make Our memories, my husband and I sitting, enjoying, talking away the morning, alight with the coming child, as memories of spending early Sundays with my parents roll through my mind.

Seize the day.

Good afternoon.

09/06 1ere semaine/ First week

Semaine interressante qui se passa principalement sur la partie Nord-Est des Etats-Unis, ou nous avons eu l'occasion mon copi et moi de visiter le musee de l'air et espace au Smithsonian, a Washington, DC.
La, on peut admirer un Concorde d'Air France, un SR71, Le B-29 Enola Gay, des planeurs, des chasseurs de la premiere guerre mondiale et seconde, et j'en passe. Superbe musee!

Pour le reste de la semaine, nous etions dans le Maine, juste au sud du Quebec, ce qui veut dire que c'est la meme vegetation, avec beaucoup de lacs et rivieres. Brouillard le matin qui se dissipe ensuite. Passage a l'est du Maine, a Nova Scotia, Canada, ou la ca devient plus Bretagne peut-etre, et plus frais.

Comme nous sommes arrive de nuit a Halifax, nous avons imagines Lindbergh quittant le continent Americain pour Paris. Courage, plus que 25 hrs de vol a tenir! Impressionnant. Courageux le gus.

Et puis bien sur, nous avons eu une pensee emue pour le vol Swissair 111, qui s'est crashe la a quelques nautiques des cotes, suite a un feu a bord en septembre 98...

Je suis en vacances! Les 3 prochaines semaines se passeront a la maison, a aider Kate le plus possible, parce que la pauvre, debut de grossesse oblige, c'est pas marrant.
Enfin, j'espere bien pouvoir soirtir le planeur plus souvent quand meme!

Good evening, dear fellow human beings of Earth. And how are we all this fine evening? Good, well, terrific. Poor Justine. To lose to Sharipova. Ah well. At least she didn't lose because she was bested, only because she failed to play her best. So, there is always next year!

As for everything else, so very thankful that Richard is home and for a while to spend his vacation. And nice that dear Mama is coming to visit, so they can get to know each other better. Time slips away, so better to be done today! And, hopefully, Richard will be able to get in some extra gliding days.... :)

As for myself (as I know you all wait in suspense!) mostly my days are now filled with constant, and oh I mean constant, nausea. And aches, and pains, and headaches, and...well...decency requires I stop there. I never in my life imagined one could feel so bad during such a good time. Odd paradox, isn't it. Oh, and don't worry Danielle, I am curbing the ice cream! :)

It is quite a strange thing, this impending birth. Why strange? It happens every day, in every country, every city, every town. So it is not that it is an uncommon event. It is strange, however, because it is truly a dream realized. Richard has had opportune for many of his dreams come true - through extreme hard work, sacrifice and determination. I, however, have not been one of those people who had my hard work and determination pay off in the past. Not until I met Richard. And now, again, in this moment here.

What a gift, you know? SOme people have riches. Some people have very big homes. Some people travel the world. Some people have power. And some people can eat endless ice cream and not gain weight ;). I, however, have the most elusive of all things. The Essential. What a gift. Nothing can buy it. Nothing can make you sell it. Nothing can devalue it. It came from magic upon meeting my fair Richard, lives in the light of our shared time, and dwells like happy fairies among all the living (oh, just humor me here. I'm happy!). "The Force, Luke!" And that it held from beyond my grasp until this late hour of my life...oh well. C'est la vie, n'est pas? I don't care, should it had taken a million years. In Richard, and now, also in our pending child, I have forever the Essential. And should we not be able to keep this child, nothing can take the happiness of this moment my fair love has given me. So, thank you Richard. Thank you so very much!

Don't get my meaning? Then perhaps you should read Le Petit Prince.

That's all for now. Have a nice night. It's in the 90s here! Practically winter! :)

08/06 4 eme semaine bis

C'est un point noir du coin de l'oeil, la sur la droite, qui a attire mon attention: Un oiseau est la, spiralant dans les airs. C'est bon signe, et du coup, je quitte ma pompe pour me retrouver en quelques secondes avec un superbe rapace a l'envergure impressionnante: un Condor!
Superbe, imposant dans ces cieux au dessus des montagnes que l'on appelle Estrella, et ce a proche de 3000M d'altitude!
Nous avons joue ainsi pendant une demi-heure, un deuxieme Condor est venu nous rejoindre, un peu plus petit, le dessous plus blanc, mais le dessus de l'aile avec deux points blancs bien ronds a chaque extremite. Quels superbes rapaces!

Mais il y'a une autre nouvelle....
une Cigogne est venu nous dire bonjour cette semaine! En effet, Kate est enceinte!
La trouille de ne pas savoir quoi faire le premier jour, mais maintenant, je me suis fait a l'idee, et ca va etre sympa d'avoir un gamin pour faire la vaisselle ou nettoyer la voiture!
Non, je plaisante, c'est une nouvelle extraordinaire, et nous vous continuerons de vous donner des nouvelles a travers ce blog.

Hello everyone! How are you all? Hope everyone is well, rich, slim, and has lots and lots of ice cream in their freezer (now, could life be better??).

This week as usual Richard and I went to the glider port. He got two good days out of it, even though the days both started out looking quite bad for gliding. However, each he was able to stay up for about five hours. During on day he radioed to say he was coming back down, that some rain falling nearby had destroyed his lift (since gliders don't have engines, they require the heat of the Sun for lift). However, after another few minutes he called again to say he's again going up, that he was following what appeared to be a condor. Birds are great indicators for glider pilots because while not flying, birds soar on wind currents. Thus, an astute glider pilot looks for birds soaring and goes to their location. Often times, especially in the desert southwest, this means a great thermal updraft exists which a glider ( a large, plastic bird) can also use to soar, using the energy of the Sun.

The other news for the day is that Richard and I are expecting our first child. Wow! Now there's a shocker! It seems a long, long road to have found each other and it seems, without knowing, we were also on a road to parenthood (though, yes, we were trying). Somehow, although it's a miracle that happens every day it seems such a shock when it happens to you. Like winning the lottery. Who would have known, sometimes your number comes in!

So, whilst I try to survive the myriad of side effects of pregnancy Richard and I are heartily working on planning our next phase with Baby Jr. Frankly, right now I'm very nauseated and trying to hold on just to finish this entry. No wonder parents make kids do so many chores post-birth. Payback! :)

We'll be continuing with our adventures, though, for as long as my stomach fits behind a yoke we'll be flying. And, when the times come, if need be I'll sit in the back seat. Now if only there was ice cream waiting for me in the back seat - that would be so cool!

Miss Abby has requested that we have a girl (my smart, super intelligent, super fun, super silly niece). I told her we'll see what we can do. It would be a hard choice. Since I love my nieces and nephews utterly, it would be impossible to say which would be better - a super girl or a super boy.

So, on that super note we shall bid a temporary farewell. Ode to winter. Please come winter!~!!!!!!!!!