Another great trip to Oshkosh...

It was awesome long weekend at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. Several days with my eyes to the sky...

One of my favorite things about Oshkosh is sitting down and leaning back along the flight line to watch and listen as a variety of planes fly overhead.

I can hardly wait to get up there and fly myself.

On Thursday & Friday, I got to spend time with my good friend Erik. We had such fun hanging out and catching up. It's inspiring to hear about all the things he's working on as well as his new projects in development. There's a really cool one currently in the works and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition and supporting his efforts. Many thanks to him for some amazing Oshkosh memories.

Spent Friday afternoon at the Sea Plane Base - a peaceful little oasis on the shores of Lake Winnebago where you can sit by the water and watch the Sea Planes fly-in and fly-out. Apparently, it's the custom for base visitors to climb the tent pole. Well, I didn't want to appear ungracious...and it was a Friday.

Prepped and ready...

Climbing up...

At the top...

Showcasing a trick or two that I learned at Crunch Fitness...

Heading down.

What happens at Oshkosh stays at Oshkosh...out of respect for the privacy of others, I won't be sharing anything more.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to hear my hero, General Chuck Yeager, speak on Saturday.


I could sit and listen to him tell his stories all day long. He reminds me so much of my Grandpa. The way they relay a story - both straight shooters and calling it like they see it. Kind of all over the place at times but always captivating. And they have the same kind of hands. Mechanical engineer's hands - big, somewhat clumsy with little things like watch dials but safe and strong and able to fix just about anything. For a little over an hour while sitting in that pavilion, it felt as if the heartbreaking distance separating Heaven and Earth just disappeared; sensing a closeness to Grandpa that I only ever feel while I'm on horseback in the Sonoran Desert watching the sun rise over the Catalina Mountains. It was really great.

I enjoyed the rest of my day walking the grounds, making friends, learning so much from fellow aviation enthusiasts and picking out my favorite plane. This sweet little vintage 1947 model 35 Bonanza caught my eye...

It's likely no surprise to anyone that I fell for this classic...I'm a girl who loves shiny things.

Another highlight was watching the F-22 Raptor make several flybys in the afternoon airshow. I was on my cell catching up with my friend Angie during the demonstration but managed to take some video for her sons, my little nephews, Benjamin & Cameron. Boys, we'll keep working on your Mom & Dad and maybe next year you can join me here. In the meantime, these clips are for you...

Listen closely near the middle of this next clip and you can hear me tell Ang, "God, I love this!!!"

Now if all that weren't enough to make the weekend memorable my boys, Murray (left) & Ira (right), had a nice little message waiting for me when I arrived home...

No doubt pet sitter Robin helped them with construction. A great big "thank you" to her for always taking such good care of my little love bugs while I travel.

No trapeze tonight. Our class was canceled due to rain.