Wednesday already

To update what's occurred thus far in the week:
Monday: clean kitchen and bathroom; take out trash; almost go flying with Daniil but don't becuase of our local fuel shortage. Take brakes off of 2000sd for replacement. Dwayne is in Fairbanks with Kostya.
Tuesday: A concentrated effort on the 172 begins. All control rigging, electrical and control surfaces get started. Fuel system rigging complete. Barry Gates brings pizza, pie and watermelon for dinner. At Dwayne's til 9:30 working on 172. It's getting dark at 10:00 already. Barry delivered for Stefanie a curriculum and study guides to Daniil-an answer to prayer.
Wednesday: Kostya left at 8 this morning. Finish all necessities on 172 and fly it at 6:00 PM. Therefore, Bud Austin owes Dwayne $100. Barry provided muffins for breakfast and subs and more pie for lunch.

The unsung hero of the 172 project is Shane Delay, beleive it or not. I've seen a whole lot more out of Shane lately. Working on the 172 unmasked gifts of Shane's that made me just stand back in awe. He figured out electrical issues quickly and more precisely than the rest of us A&Ps. He thought of techniques (legitimate, yes) to install parts and turn nuts that only his racecar-assembling mind would cook up. Without him, the 172 wouldn't have flown today. No kidding. Daisy said that her brother is all talk, but she's wrong there. Aside from the airplane, Shane has said 'yes sir' to Hal, Dwayne and Barry ten times more I have this summer. He took Hal's and his plates to the sink today. I have to say too that he is easily satisfied with us. All we have to do is give him a good fight, and he'll be set for the day. I have a theory that if Daisy punched her brother, they'd have a better relationship.
A quick reply to Elmo: I'll try the other word i was about to choose. "i conceded long ago..."
i'm lacking on deep reflections tonight. this is all i can think to write.

I'm behind

...on my blog entries for sure. Between Saturday and today, alot has crossed my mind to do adequate treatment on during my limited amount of time. So i'm going to pick and choose at random what to write about, beginning with the young man on my left.
Shane Delay has wanted me to get revenge on him in word and beating for many days, and my resistance to return the aggression only festers his passion to arouse it out of me. I'm trying to figure why he craves to get pelted back. My thought is that he craves my validation of his toughness, and the mode he understands is getting hit back. I have only that theory to stand on. I don't possess a drive to donate a smackdown to his morale, but if i do get a surge and it wouldn't hurt my witness, i might try it. As long as i let him hit a dumb brick wall that is myself, he seems to be getting more frustrated. "Please Shane, don't hit me" won't work for sure. Me, the guy he now calls "Princess", is on the way to seem girly in Shane's perspective.
My mom gets to go to Israel with a friend for $400 in November. Isn't that great!
Jared went to Allan's house again today to measure out Project Impossible. I'll have to ask him more about the dormiers Alan wants to do but Jared is fiercly against.
So at 8 this morning, Dwayne came in my cabin and while I am just coming into consciousness started talking to me about today's plans. Revised plans. He now wants for me, Carolyn, Kostya, Daniil and himself in the 206 at 9 AM and go to together to Mendeltna. Here's fulfillment of a disclaimer i was given my first day here - "you might be waked up early and told you ned to fly an airplane somewhere in an hour." So I got ready and by 9:05 we were off. I go to fly the climb, cruise and descent portions and almost would have sacrificed that flighttime so to take pictures of the clear view of the surrounding Wrangell mountains, Alaska Range and Chugach mountians, highlighted by snow-frosted tops. Mendeltna is in the Tahneta pass, between Eureka and Glennallen, on the base of a small hill. The strip we landed on - Dwayne did thatjob - was 1200' long and started at the Glenn Highway. The road had 30' powerlines and trees at its opposite side and excavation equipment on teh runway side. "We have one shot at this," Dwayne said as we turned (so we can say of all approaches into Alaska bush strips ) our unconventional pattern's base to final. I used Jared's camera to videotape the approach, and you can see the backyard of a landing strip before us, then you see the sky as I panic for my life for the sake of the trees and powerlines passing seemingly feet below us and forgot about my videoing job. We got down safely, obviously, and met Joe and Peg Virgin, an older couple who are the owners of the landing strip, experienced grandparents and sweet and strong Christians. Peg is a very considerate and generous woman; she watched us land and told us she was praying "Lord, get them down, please get them down" and had made muffins and coffee for us.
We had church in the Farmers' back lawn, which is on a beautiful lake in the Copper River valley. Far to the east, over the pine trees, rises the Wrangell mountains. Dwayne gave a super message on faith and told a story new to me. I recorded the best part on Jared's video camera. Then Kostya gave his testimony, and after church was a potluck. I don't get to go to Fairbanks today, as was last night's plan, but I might be sent there later this week.
Then I got to live a long-dwelt dream of mine. The backyard strip was surrounded by tall power lines and mature pinetrees, and safety of takeoff from it was definitely in question. So we got to take off from the road! Joe Virgin and another friend went drove down to opposite ends of the Glenn Highway to stop traffic, then we taxiied out and used the Glenn as our runway. I've learned that using roads as runways is not federally illegal. In fact, Michael Buckland wrote an article on making landings off of an airport (e.g., road) and stated one reason for doing such is to stop for an enroute bathroom emergency. Too bad i have to sign a form for my rental aircraft back home that says i will not make off-airport landings! Letting down on a road (in flatland Illinois or Indiana somewhere) would be tons of fun.
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"Princess" has upped his rank this night. I did ask Shane bluntly, "does your morale hinge on my hitting you back?" He answered 'no, not really, but it would be nice if you did.' So it sounded to me like i could win some respect for both myself and him if i were to be man over him somehow. Well, i didnt' plan what happened next, but we arm wrestled, and i beat him on both hands, then i was cleaning dishes and he started messing around trying some strangle moves, then he hit where my surgery was done, and the pain pushed away my restraint and in 30 seconds, I had Shane pinned down on the ground crying 'mercy!' He whined about his numb arm for the next five minutes, and i was feeling quite satisfied. Especially when he said "i respect you now Jonathan."
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Angela said alot of meaningful things to me today, as usual. She wrote an email AND i got to talk to her for an hour today! I'm very privileged, I know. I hope she doesn't mind (I hope!) my posting an idea she wrote in her email, so here it is: She's really trying to guard her rest time because it is very important to overall wellness both physically, mentally, and even spiritually. There's a thought for serious consideration, especially for us pilots and students. Truthfully, I haven't had one week of guarding my rest time for the last five years, so i have not seen the 'light' of this fact. I value her friendship more each week because she edifies me so much. You know that verse that says to speak only that which is edifying to the hearers? That's Angela. I wish i could copy to here more portions of her latest email; it is so inspired.
I'm blessed to be the friend of so many poeple I respect and admire. Elmo, Angela, Jode, Jared, Brian, Dwayne, Stefanie and Tim---you're all among that group.
--
So that's a tangent on what's been on my mind.
The picture is our Alaska group at its prime before we dispersed the following days and weeks. Miss you guys!

Radar

So bizarre

I'm very glad to be back on the ranch at this moment. Come to think of it, i'm extra-thankful for my cabin, the runway on my front lawn, my clean shower, the lights over my head, my dad who likes a nice everything. Tonight, I went to a very bizarre place. Jared got lured to stay here in Alaska longer to help a guy named Allan put a roof and dormiers on his house. This evening, Jared, Shane and I went to Al's house to scope out the job site. Pulling up to this residence via a muddy, uneven drive softened more by the pattering rain, all of us received the unshakeable first impression that this place was...a shack castle. Here was a place put together ad. lib, impromptu, rubato...random. Outside was OSB big and small covering all around with no particular plan in mind; inside was "this was not built using code" walls, stairs and ceilings just kinda put there. No drywall, unfinished insulation, no real kitchen; no electric lighting, heating or appliances; unedged windows, a makeshift top ceiling with wooden shims between it and the wall framing. It's somehow survived two winters without leaks on its flat roof. Jared's job is to get a real roof on it. I'm not one to judge people, but i...gotta say this nicely...respect a guy and his family who can live like that in Alaska.
Shane's talking about the same thing right now, but in Shane-words. My blogs are filtered, people; i can't forward his comments on this page.
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I wrote the following pondering to Jode this afternoon.:
Perhaps unsaved people are repeled by the gospel because of the lives that convey its message. if people who try to minister to the unsaved fail to portray themselves as a person not unlike people he's ministering to, then those unsaved are definitely going to feel aloof from this gospel being available to them. While doing the dishes this morning, i did alot of thinking just as i normally do whenever i clean dishes. And my heart surprised me several times, as it perverted otherwise good and productive thoughts literally on a dime. I am not much unlike Shane or other unsaved people; i still possess that heart which is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. But the difference is the faith i had in Christ by which i received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the quiet convicter and the seal of eternal belonging with God in His dwelling place. Shane can have that same faith and the resulting gifts if he so chose. In no respect do i count myself better morally or more excellent in heart than he. I didn't get into drugs and swearing, but i did get into other stuff that would shock him if he knew. My heart is of the same morally genetic material as his; i just have a check on mine now. And i have a lifting hope for my spirit that is greater than my heart's downward pull.
End of pondering.
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The first picture i'm putting on my site is one i am proud of. Actually this is from Angela's camera, and she sent me a link to it today (me on the left; our examiner Michael Buckland on right). Angela was my first student endorsed for a pilot's license. She's also a super friend who's taken me through many lessons about relationships. I appreciate her alot!
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I'm feeling better today, by the way. i slept on our new, cushy loveseat overnight, since i'm the only one living in here and can sleep anywhere i want! yes! Out of bed, the donut is keepin me comfortable.
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"Jared, it seems we have a little princess with us, with Jonathan sitting up all high on his seat." -Shane, as i'm riding with him and Jared in Shane's truck while sitting on the donut.

God bless you one/each/all

Radar

Too quickly spoken

As i sat across from Brian on Monday afternoon in the student lounge at UAA, i told him, headache festering, "I've never been so sick this summer so much as to lay in bed all day; i think i'm the only one to have avoided bad illness." Shouldn't have spoken so fast.
My antibiotics and nicotine-powered pain killer and the subsequent surgery have really knocked me down. Any strain on my body gives me dizziness and a headache, and of course that wierd pain smarts me whether sitting or moving or walking. I'm quite pathetic, for sure, and semi-useless.
I often speak before i ought to. i was reminded of that today.
Stephanie Gates planted a quote in my mind that i was close to beleiving as valid. It goes, "Speak of things that are not as though they are." This is a reflection of faith in one's ultimate destiny, but can it be applied to the lesser things of life? Take, for instance, "you're going to pass your checkride because you've worked hard and you have a good instructor." That's what i heard this weekend as Brian was awating his checkride. And that's what i said myself. Speak of what is not as though it is, right?! What good are words if they do not come true? Isn't that what we call futility?
---
i know i've not fulfilled my promise to copy my poem of Alaska. I'm too lazy to get up and get it now. Forgive me. At least you'll have anticipation to see it in the future.
--
My friends go back to school next week. The best friend i made during this summer went back today. We talked for an hour yesterday but we had to stop then because he had to keep packing. Some three more things we had to talk about still, and all that will come in the future. A great element of a good friendship is the conversation that seems to never end; just interrupted by all sorts of things. but even the interruptions build the friendship because they add more to talk about.

Radar

Only God knew

Amazing evidence of God's loving soverienty still pop up from behind the curtain of time. in so many of my days in Alaska, i conclude without a doubt that my schedule was laid out by God himself. So i've added to my everyday prayers, 'Lord, make my schedule for me today." Today was another instance of that.
Remember my blog from yesterday in which i expressed my bummed-out mood. I was just wishing that Monday wouldn't have transpired the way it did. MY will surely wasn't done, but today unfolded, my eyes were opened to see God's better, loving will was in action. I'm listening to the song Protest to Praise by Downhere at the moment, and it's appropriate for my state of mind. I was certainly in protest from Monday, but now i'm turned around to an enthusiastic attitude of praise and celebration of His works.
So here's what happened, save some uncomely details. On Monday night, my #3 flight student and i came back home without a white slip in his bag. Failed checkride. Bummer. I crashed on my bed as soon as i could, and i grabbed myself some eleven hours of sleep. I woke up with an unusual and annoying pain on my 'sitter. In short, that pain was coming from a pola-somethin cyst that grew there overnight. I endured great pain in sitting, walking, and lying on my back. I certainly had an issue at hand. Since Brian initially scheduled his departure to be Tuesday at 8, he decided to reschedule for a Thursday flight since staying around and retaking the test was the best thing to do. Dwayne called Michael and got another checkride for Brian to take place today at 1 PM.
This morning came around, and the pain on my 'sitter didn't lapse; it intensified. I woke before my alarm and from that moment was highly motivated to get the cyst off of me. I arranged an appointment with a physician in Anchorage who was near the airport, accepted my insurance policy, and could see me at 2:30. Great; while Brian was in his checkride, i could walk to the office. But the scenario improved! Sam heard about my intentions, and he called up Danae, his girlfriend, who then called me and offered me a ride to the doctor's office. So, the transportation, the time and the money was all worked out. That's not all, though. Things are about to get better.
The doctor put needles and incisions in no man's land and got the job done, much to my releif. Though i didn't have my insurance card, they still accepted just my number and i paid $60, only 20% of the total cost. I also got a perscription for antibiotics and a nicotine-powered pain killer, which i was more than eager to get into my system, as the squirt that numbed me up was losing potency. I told my new Private Pilot Brian that i could use a stop at Fred Meyer to pick up my perscription, and he replied, "yeah, I have to go into Palmer, too, to get ice cream...from Fred Meyer."
Wow, God, what amazing things You do! He knew the infection developing in my body. He knew i needed to get it treated. He knew how to see that job through!
He also knew that both Brian and I needed to learn VORs and the E6B intimately, and that i needed the multitude of lessons I took away from Monday.
Blessings in disguise.
"And let patience (perseverance) have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:4
After today, i rest content in spirit and sit comfortably on the inflatable therapeudic donut graciously donated this morning by Dwayne.

"The best thing about getting shot in the buttocks is that you get all of the ice cream you want."-Forrest Gump

Time to have some ice cream. Congratulations, Brian. Way to go, Lord.

Radar

Return from the Dentist

Lord, help me to have the joy i need to live worthy of Your calling.
"Count it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter diverse trials." Having had the privelege of two (and a half) checkrides from J.C. Harder, I am instilled with the philosophy that a checkride is a lot like going to the dentist. One hopes that his teeth and mouth are in good shape, but if they are not, it's not a complete disappointment because a cavity gets only worse if it's not treated. So if the dentist finds a cavity, he fills it and prevents a bigger problem. For that one thanks the dentist for finding a problem.
But that wasn't easy to do yesterday. Because my student's and my 'dentist' found a cavity. Several of them, in fact.
In the course of my pilot training, I've received just two pink slips. A pink slip tells a pilot applicant that the examiner found a cavity; i.e. failed the flight test. This summer, i've received two more, and the most recent one was last night. But i'm done with my own training, right, so how do i receive pink slips? Well, as a flight instructor, I live vicariously through my student; if i did well in projecting myself through the student, then theoretically my student checks out well, and consequently I check out well too. But if i did not, then my student will not check out well and consequently I don't check out well either. In sum, my students' cavities are counted as my own.
Count it all joy.
And today became one of joy, actually. Brian was able to reschedule his airplane ticket and his checkride, and we were free and alone today to discuss VORs and the E6B. It was beautiful, man. I drew exquisite illustrations on a 3'-by-2' whiteboard and covered advanced VOR operation theory and use. I was using exciting terms such as 'signal modulation', 'phase variance' and 'triangulation' to try and plant a deep-rooted understanding of the system. I don't expect Brian to regurgitate that stuff tomorrow to Michael, but at least he comprehends enough to be able to explain his way through the simple procedures for using the VOR.
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i've decided to go to the fair with Jode. Elmo brought the situation into perspective and doesn't want me to regret anything. He misses every much his being in Alaska. Soon i'm to be in the same situation and i'll be asking myself what i could have done to make it better. But it would be nice to look back and have near zero regrets. God works everything out for the good; therefore, while adversity doesn't feel pleasant at the time, the overarching truth is that God has something beyond our feelings in mind. I trust that Jode was for the good and that my two pink slips this summer were for the good, too.
Speaking of Jode, here is the first poem i wrote about her. I may be nuts by my posting this, but can you forgive this midnight mind?

There's a pretty little girl of twenty-three
I met up in Alaska and who enchanted me.
She can run a forklift, a chainsaw and a truck and all
Then give her graces and smile that minister to my soul.
She's as lovely as the flower that bears her name
And she'll flee into seclusion if her gracioius, pleasant mood just isn't the same.
Her voice is like song
I can listen to all day long.
Her presence is like a sweet summer breeze
Her gentleness like graceful willow trees.
She is accomplished in body, mind and soul
When she marries, she'll resemble Proverbs 31 on the whole.
She is a nurse, an accomplice of a career painstaking,
And I'd prefer her hand when on my bed of languishing.
That's all I have now to say about [Jode] Delay...

The last five lines are more introspective than is fitting for a blog. So there you have it, everyone.
Coming up tomorrow is a poem i wrote about Alaska. Think you'll like it.

Radar

This 'Interweb thing' is back!

Hooray, praise God, jump for joy! The internet is stable on my computer! I employed a handy technique I've learned at LFR this summer: if it doesn't work, JIGGLE IT. That proved highly effective for a computer too, evidently. See, a certain pesty code in Windows XP called 'lsass.exe' liked to shut down whenever an internet connection was established, and that code is important enough to require an entire system restart, so Windows thinks. I got into msconfig and spent about an hour jiggling Windows into submission--and now here I am! I was finally able to see Elmo's email, send my letter to Angela and, moreover, avoid having to format my computer.
I've grown up alot socially since Jode. I've learned from various connected circumstances that
1: communication is the key
2: if one is attracted to another physically, spiritually and intellectually, watch out; the heart will be the next to yearn for that person. find out if you can allow the heart to crave after her.
3: somehow, a girl adds life to a guy. I ought to have stopped it before i got addicted to the feeling. I'm getting over Jode now. I'm beginning to see the world for its natural beauty again rather than seeing how bright she made it appear.
4: Emotion flows in and flees in time. After the emotion is over, what sort of woman will i end up with? What will really matter after the level of love(eros) i lived on thins out and vanishes? I need to have and stick to standards in respect to choosing a wife. i think those are important and perfectly valid. would God have us step down from our standards which we drew through hard thought and prayer when we meet a girl who we feel is perfect but does not measure up to our concrete 'wish list?' "maybe i was wrong," i thought when Jode was around. The truth was that my emotions were wrong. Now that i am not carried off by my feelings, I still want the same girl i described in my wish list. Not Jode. When my emotions are through with their splurge, what woman will be left? If she is the one my heart and mind want together, then she'll be the right one.
5: find the partner with whom you can serve God better than you can alone.

Jared needs to use the computer now. And i'll gladly hand it over. I'm so happy to have the internet finally! God bless my computer so that it holds on to the Web.

Radar

The way of a man with a woman

The first of my weblog entries is atypical for sure. I'm guessing that no one will care what i wrote in my first blog entry, so long as the rest of it is engaging and informative. This whole setup is strange, too, because i'm about to throw my thoughts out freely into great forest of curious eyes. Vulnerable.
So there's this girl with whom a friend of mine and i are very close friends. For sake of secrecy, i'll call her Jode [say 'Jody'] (PlaneGuy, you can figure how i made this up). She left today, pretty much for good. I will see her again, and PlaneGuy may as well, but from now on the 'seeing' her just won't be the same. 'Guy and i walked up to the hill where the summer's social drama began, so i was touched by that brief reflection. He distracted me, thankfully, with other things to talk about, but the topic was destined to return to our conversation. It's nice being friends with him because i have similar feelings he does about Jode, and we get to trade the words that come to mind about her. This is where my blog title finally fits in. How is it that a single person can make brighter the world, the soul and a situation? I've written several poems about Jode, and all of them say that this girl splashes on the world and the soul and a situation radiance, beauty and calm. I'm living in Alaska in one of the top scenic valleys in the state, and you ought to see how lovely it is. But you would be better off seeing how lovely it is through my eyes when Jode is close by. How does a girl have such an effect on a guy? Solomon said four things that were four things that were too wonderful for him to understand and were not known by him; 'the way of a man with a maid' was one of these.
Yeah, it's too wonderful for my understanding too. But it is indeed wonderful.
Thanks, Jode, for a terrific summer.

Radar