Biking around town/catch up

This past weekend, Pete and I had planned for a day trip to Mackinac Island -- however, the forecast did not hold out for this plan. So instead we made a short flight to a local tourist town for a good lunch (chicken dinner), some window shopping, and a 4-5 mile bike ride. It was a good day.

The bikes that we rode are collapsible bikes, borrowed from one of Pete's coworkers. Boy, are they slick! It made the trek into town (2-2.5 miles each way) much easier, especially since Pete's feet hurt if we walk long distances.

Outside of this little jaunt, we have mostly been keeping on keeping on.

School has started again for me -- this keeps me entertained. I spend my days at the hospital -- seeing patients as part of a team and learning the clinical part of medicine. I spend evenings reading/studying, or catching up on the day-to-day household stuff. The transition to the clinical part of medical school has been interesting, exhausting, and integrates all I've learned the first 2 years of medical school. I am really enjoying it! :)

Pete's sister and brother in law stopped by this evening -- we met at the hangar. So fun to catch up, and see family again. Pete was able to give rides to their two oldest who missed their turn at the Flying Finns tourney -- he had a good time doing this, and they seemed to enjoy their ride! :)

Anyway, happy summer!

Camping at Beaver Island

This past weekend, Pete and I went to Beaver Island to go camping. We were surprised by the hospitality shown by the islanders, enjoyed the beautiful island views and small town feeling of the place. We definitely would like to go back in the future for a longer period of time and would take our bikes -- there are many miles of nice bike trails that would have been fun to explore! 

The campground was really reasonable -- $5 a night. Plenty of wood around to burn -- either found in the woods, or dropped off by people to burn (at some of the campsites -- looked like left over building scrap). The sites were really nice too -- private, quiet. I was very impressed.

 First sights of Beaver Island ~ Michigan's Emerald Isle.

 

One of the biking paths -- comfortably fits 2-3 bikers across (you can approximate the size by my dog who is ~6-8" across).

Mainstreet -- looking at the historical museum staffed by volunteers. One of the more unusual museums I have visited -- even the items have stories of how they arrived at the museum and the descriptions give you a glimpse at the stories of the people behind these donations.  

The marina.

Through the campfire smoke... overlooking the lake.

Welcome to Summer! :)

This past weekend, Pete and I made our first long trip -- home to MN to see family! It cut the trip in half -- even with fairly frequent stops! And... along the way we got to see some pretty neat scenery.

 

A Steel Mill - Gary, Indiana; something I found remarkable -- you can see the smoke settle along I-94, essentially forming a band directly above the highway.

Chicago-- absolutely amazing flying through/over Navy Pier at 2000 feet through the VFR corridor. We had to talk to O'Hare traffic control while traveling through this area, and were able to see big jets go above us and other little planes around us. A really neat experience! Also, we could see the backed up traffic from Chicago rush hour and I was reminded that we never would have been able to go out there for this last minute weekend trip had it not been for the ability to fly out there. It cut the travel time in about 1/2 even with frequent stops.

 Welcoming committee at the airport. This pic is a bit blurry, but makes me smile. Never have we ever had such a crew out to watch us land! :) It was so fun to see everyone both at the airport and at a little party at Mindy's afterward! :)

Outside of the gathering at Mindy's where we got to see family and friends, while in Minnesota...

• I went shopping with my mom and sister's to find a few new shirts for school (and make use of the no sales tax on clothing).
• Visited with most of my maternal aunts/uncles after a wedding.
• Went boating and water skiing on the below lake until the skies turned dark and twisting with fingers coming down from the clouds (and yes, tornado sirens were going off.

• Had my first grilled hamburger of summer at a cookout at my mom and dad's (along with all the sides -- scrumptious watermelon, baked beans, chips, among other good food). 
• Did a lot of visiting, and even managed to get some studying in.
• And Pete was able to share his hobby of flying with a few more people (i.e. he gave a few airplane rides to my siblings, parents and his brother).

It was a very fun weekend and great way to kick off summer! :) But, now it feels good to be home, be unpacked, and ready to return to some serious studying for the next couple weeks. Wishing all the best to you and yours! :)

A few more pics of Chicago (for good measure) -- taken on the way home.

30 Day Photo Challege: Days 19-21

Today we were able to take the plane out and just around the area... certainly looks like summer!
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In addition to Pete getting a plane Monday, I had to have a breast biopsy. Today's a great day -- not only is the weather good, but I found out the results & I do not have cancer. All the same, it was scary to be told that I needed a biopsy and it was not the least painful thing I have ever done.

 

Following my biopsy, I came home and napped here on the couch (Day 19: where I slept) -- following strict instructions to not clean, vacuum, lift anything, or move too much.

These are the books that I am reading (Day 20). Unfortunately, school leaves little time for much recreational reading during the semester. As for "recreational reading", I did get through the Breast Health pamphlet as well as the pathology report (top document) -- not so exciting reads, but important all the same.

And... today's pretty pattern: the top of the tea box we got from China (contains a wonderful loose leaf fruit tea and unfurling flower jasmine tea). I like this pattern, and today especially -- with all the sunshine, the box seems to glow. One thing that I found interesting when traveling over there, packaging matters almost as much as the product itself. We have a beautiful wood box (in storage) that contains the glass figurine of the Great Wall of China, and a nice patterned box containing my tea set.

Interrupting the regularly scheduling program... Pete got his plane

Pete got his plane today! Kind of exciting news for the two of us! It is housed at the airport (in a hanger). I imagine that we will be spending some time here -- enjoying the outdoors, watching planes take off, and also taking off ourselves to explore the skies!

This makes many places all that much closer -- and with seats that are nice and cushy, and an interior wide enough for both of us to have elbow room... I really am looking forward to flying with him!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 13

While I realize that this was taken last summer, I thought there is no better picture that I've taken... from a distance. And until we get a plane (hopefully soon), I probably won't get another one of these cool shots! :) This is what trees look like from ~5000 feet. Broccoli!

Catch-up with my life

So, as the semester is winding to a close... I figured I would post what we've been doing these last couple of weeks -- which have been a whirlwind.

Monday, November 21st -- I finished my heme-onc domain. This is one of the hardest domains (classes) that we have this year, so it felt like a minor victory to complete it well.

After packing and readying the car, we left for Minnesota on Wednesday -- with the driver (Pete) muttering as we were stuck in traffic in Chicago -- "look, there's no traffic back-up 1000 feet above us" or "if we would have flown, we would have been there by now". It certainly did not help that the weather that day was beautiful blue skies and well above freezing. Other than the usual Chicago delay, the ride there was nice and we made good time. It was fun to be able to visit family for a few hours before heading North Thursday morning for Thanksgiving at the Town Hall with the S**** family.

Thanksgiving at the Town Hall was very nice! Most of my cousins, all of my aunts/uncles and Grandma were there, with total attendance >100. It was so much fun to catch up with many people I have not seen in years, and meet my cousins little kids! I was really glad we were able to be there for this event, as this side of my family does not get together like this often and has only rented out the Town Hall a handful of times in the past (each time I remember quite fondly). I will have to post pictures once I figure out how to get them off of my phone.

After enjoying Thanksgiving, we went back to my parents home. My mom, sisters and I went Black Friday shopping early Friday morning -- making it to the Mall of America, and a few other stores. I was surprised that the MOA was not packed with people, but it was fun to visit this old stomping ground and get a few of the Friday deals (as well as a few things that we actually needed). Such a fun day! :)

Saturday was spent visiting a myriad of people -- my husbands family in the morning, and my aunt's and a few others at a wedding that evening. Sunday we left in the morning thinking that the weekend was fun and enjoyable, but passed by too quickly.

That brings us to this week... catching up with studies, laundry, house-work, decorating for Christmas, and the many other chores that come with spending time away.

We also were able to take a short flight this evening -- this was Pete's 1st time up with a passenger since getting his license. And I thought it was fun to sit in the front seat of the plane, and play a bit with the wheel. The setting sun is certainly beautiful at 3000 feet up, as are the street lamps reflecting off the brilliant white snow appearing like strands of pearls.

So what have you been doing? How was your Thanksgiving? I hope you were able to share the holiday with ones that you love, and had much laughter and good food. Merry Christmas!

Pete now has his Private Pilot's License

Pete is now a Private Pilot! Passed the check-ride on Saturday (that was the last hurdle)... now to find a plane! :) Otherwise, he's a pilot without wings, kinda like being a driver without a car. We are certainly looking forward to all the possibilities that having a pilot's license brings... like being able to go back home and visit without a 12 or so hour car ride, or making a day trips to places that might otherwise be weekend excursions. I am proud of him -- it is quite an accomplishment to get his license, especially with only 40 hrs of "behind-the-wheel"... most people who pass the checkride (kind of like the behind the wheel test for drivers ed) have ~60 hours of instruction/practice time. Although I have yet to go up with him solo -- I am looking forward to sitting in the frontseat and helping him navigate/watch the world pass by below!

One more test to go before his pilot's license!

Last Wednesday, Pete took (and passed) the written exam to get his pilot's license and is now done with ground school! He needs some more hours (both instructed and solo) flying a plane, before he is eligible to take his check-ride and get his pilots license. But, he is now one step closer to being able to do that... and I am looking forward to when he get's his license so I can accompany him and sit up front in the plane! :)

Pics from Pete's flight

Here are some pics from Pete's solo flight ~ top one: the coast, bottom one: playing in the clouds!

He had a beautiful trip out, skies were blue and flying was smooth. However, the way back was bumpy!
After hearing of his trip, I am getting excited for when he does get his license in a few months -- it would be neat to accompany him when he goes flying on these longer trips, and check out the scenery from a few thousand feet! :)

Pete flew to the coast and back today

Pete's flying lessons are progressing, and today he flew his first solo cross-country flight (i.e. >100 nautical miles)! He made it to the coast and had lunch in a little town there! Pictures will be posted later -- once the camera makes it inside! The goal is for him to have his private pilot's licence (PPL) by the end of October or beginning of November! :)

He made it 3 times around the pattern... safely

That's... 3 takes offs and 3 landings. And LOVED it! :)

He came home wired, and excited, and happy. It's fun to see him that way! :)

Pete has his first solo flight today! :)

After 10 hours of instruction, Pete will be taking off and landing a plane by himself this afternoon. He has talked about this day since he started flying, as it's the day that each of the pilot's he's met remembers as the day they were hooked for life (or alternatively, the day some other students found out that flying is really not their thing)!

I think he will enjoy it, but I will be thinking of him the whole time he is up in the air... floating around free, doing his drills... but mostly, hoping he comes down safely! :)

Flying with Pete (during his lesson)

Yesterday I went flying with Pete during his lesson! :) We stayed about 1000-3000 feet off the ground the entire lesson -- doing 45degree angle turns, practicing recovering after stalling out the engine, taking off/landing, following lines on the ground and turning. It really is a different experience than riding in a commercial craft, or being in a car.
Ground appearing to come at us during a 45 degree turn! (All well controlled and in good fun!)
View of fields for most of the lesson ~ peaceful!

A few misc. updates on our life.

Pete really does have a new hobby. The other day he came home with a Student Pilot Certificate ~ he is officially registered with the FAA and is now working towards getting his pilots license. He has really been enjoying this hobby ~ coming home and telling me about how much he enjoys flying and the freedom it brings... and all about the new skills he is learning. At his lesson this past week, he was able to land the plane by himself. I was able to go up with him (along with a real pilot) about a week ago; it was fun to be in the air. It certainly is different than flying commercial! :)

I am almost done with my first year of school ~ looking forward to June 30th (my last exam), and a few weeks of freedom. Plan to spend a week up North, and no other definite plans yet. :)

Pete has a new hobby... maybe.

Since our life has become slower recently, Pete has decided he needs to do something to fill his evening time. House and yard projects are no longer an option. And spending time with me... not really an option either... most evenings I am shooing him away to study for my next exam. So, he has decided that he wants to work on getting his pilots license. Yesterday evening, he went up for the first time and was able to take the controls in the air. He had a good time, and came home all excited!

This pic is of him flying around: