Flying to California

I am flying to California next month to drive home with my sister who is moving back to Michigan after many years away. I am very excited that she is moving home. Theres just one little problem- I don't fly. I know this sounds ridiculous to some people, but I will fly out there anyway because I know my sis needs me. I will not be flying again anytime soon after that. The thing is to find a solution to this fear of flying before July. I'm not sure which idea I like best so far- taking Valium or having a couple of good hard drinks before I get seated on the plane. What is it about these unreasonable fears- fear of heights, fear of flying- whats next? I have to learn to be less of a control freak, I guess.

Scared of Heights!

On June 4th I had the distinct pleasure of engaging in aerial lift training. You can see, in the photo on the right, that an aerial lift is a large piece of machinery, with its own engine, which lifts you high into the air in order that you can get very close to a job that is high up in the air. I am afair of heights, which definitely makes this training extremely nerve-racking. It was, however, a goal that I had set for myself to be able to go just a little higher on this thing than last time I trained. I reached my goal of about 30 feet. Last time I only went 25, so thats pretty good. I just wanted to say thanks, though, to a very patient man named Tim, who took me up in it and taught me how to use all of the controls. He was awesome! He never let me feel like I wasn't doing well enough. I must say that the experience of being so high up in open space made me realize that maybe it wasn't the heights I am afraid of, but maybe its a certain lack of control instead. Of course I was the one controlling the machine, but the idea that I could make a fool out of myself by freaking out was definitely the prime fear factor that day. So, overall, I learned to control the machine and myself and hopefully next time I will be able to allow myself the full 45 feet!

Too much "stuff"

I recently helped my mom move. I took a couple days off over the memorial day weekend to help her. I have never seen so much "stuff"! What a collection! This experience inspired me to begin the endeavor of getting rid of "stuff". It has been extremely difficult. Do I really need to keep elementary school report cards belonging to my 20 yr old son? and how did we get so many toothbrushes? I can't believe how many "special" coffee mugs I have. The whole thing is really difficult, but decisions have to be made. I certainly wouldn't want anyone to have to deal with getting rid of so much "stuff" if something were to happen to me! Guess its just time to get rid of the dollar store friendship mug given to me by someone I don't remember, but I will be keeping the King's Island mug with that unforgetable picture of Mom, Dad, sis and me from 1977. Now that's a keeper!

Fascination!

I am fascinated by technology! I can hardly believe that we have come so far in such a short time. I remember being the first home on the block to have a microwave oven. Now I cannot imagine being without the internet or my cell phone. Unbelievable! My parents grew up without television. Now I can watch just about anything at all on my television- for that matter, I can watch anything I want on my computer monitor! Just amazing to me. Thoughts of how far we have come with technology fill my mind constantly. Like the fact that I am sitting here writing this right now and within minutes it will be all over the country and beyond. There is not one area that technology hasn't touched. Cars are created, built, built better and are cleaner now than ever before. Fishing has even been improved if you are lucky enough to own a gps that tells you where the good fishing takes place. Heck, I bet there's even a better way to enjoy canoeing!