Pre-Fantasy Camp Experience at Progressive Field

       I'm here in Berea looking in on my brother Jim and also to attend a pre-fantasy camp get together sponsored by the Cleveland Indians. Jim is doing fine and as is the case with us all is slowing down a bit. I arrived on Thursday and will return to Texas on Monday. Yesterday I spent the morning at Progressive Field getting fitted for uniforms and also getting a chance for a little live batting practice in the four indoor batting cages that the Indians use. I also got a chance to meet some of the other participants in the January camp many of whom have attended five times or more in the past. I was surprised to see that I won't be the oldest guy there as there are several  who predate me. We were also instructed to prepare ourselves physically for a week of running, throwing, catching, and batting all of which we will do in the two daily games. My only concern at this point is whether this sixty seven year old body will stand up to the rigors of this protracted dose of physical exercise. I'll keep you posted.

                                Tom

Texas Retreat

   After a 1760 mile cross country trip from Livingston, Montana to Smithville, Texas we have arrived safe and sound at the Donnell Homestead. The journey covered five days and four nights with nearly thirty hours driving pulling a seven ton fifth wheel. We enjoyed perfect weather everyday of the trip along with gorgeous fall colors in their last hurrah. Unfortunately, in the process we had to transit several large cities mostly during rush hour among those were Denver, Salina KS, Wichita KS, Oklahoma City OK, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Waco TX. Now it's time to unwind and enjoy the peace and quiet of a small Texas town.

Monday Morning Rainbow

  When I went to let the puppies in this morning I was greeted by this visual treat.

Fall on the Yellowstone

The Yellowstone River which flows beneath our home about a quarter of a mile away is the longest river in the US, just under 700 miles, that is not damned at any point. It flows north out of Yellowstone National Park which is about sixty miles south of our home in Livingston, Montana. The fall of the year is an especially beautiful time in this region and this year it was exceptional with warm sunny days and cool nights. Those ingredients spell great fishing for trout as the river is low and very clear with temperatures cooling. Late afternoon insect hatches produce rising trout and is a great time to wade out into the river to test your fly casting and fishing skills. This video was shot along the road that leads to our home.

 

The Bogart of Yellow Dog

Nearly four years ago we lost a fuzzy member of our family, a Golden Retriever named Daisy. That heart break was soon healed when a new addition came on the scene in the form of a Golden called Bogart or as we like to call him Bogie. He's a gentle soul who, believe it or not, smiles and  never seems to have a bad day. 

Flight Simulator's Computer Generated Images

It's amazing what your desktop computer is capable of considering how small it really is. Here's a sample of Flight Simulator 2004's capabilities regarding it's CGI ability with an add-on aircraft from the aircraft software company PMDG. In this case it's a 737-600 in the Shamu livery of Southwest Airlines landing out of a GPS approach to Livingston, Montana's Mission Field. Oh yes, if it looks a little rough there was a 30 knot crosswind at the airport with me hand flying it. The outside view comes through add-on software called Active Camera.

The C-123K Provider

During my flying career there were some thin years in between flying jobs until I struck the mother lode in the form of a scheduled airline position. Filling in one of those employment gaps was the Air Force Reserve at Greater Pittsburgh International Airport where I was given the opportunity to fly the Fairchild C-123K Provider affectionately known as 'Thunder Pig'. This Vietnam era transport was powered by two Pratt-Whitney R-2800 reciprocating engines and also two General Electric J-85 turbo jets. The sound of a radial engine as it starts is magical (at least to me) accompanied by the perfumed exhaust of high octane aviation fuel and the soft beating of props in flat pitch. To expedite the following video toggle forward to about the 2:20 mark and start from there.