I have always wanted to try a hammock.  Yup, I’ve never been in/on one.  Chuck has one on a large, 15′ frame.  We decided to set it up in the living room – just so I could try it.  We got the frame set up, then he pulled out the hammock.  The room suddenly filled with the smell of stale, crusty burritos.  I asked him if he was having some gastrointestinal issues, but he assured me it was just the hammock.  Lovely.  I asked how long he had it and he said about twenty years.  Once the fabric was strung, I asked him how I was to hop on.  He held it flat while I sat down.  I tried to ignore the dead larvae and pod-like white carcasses, as I lowered myself down.  I thought I was drooping a little lower than I should, but attributed it to my added weight from being bloated.  Once seated, I began to swing myself around into the horizontal position.  Just as my legs left the ground, we both heard a gut wrenching tearing sound….rip…rip..rip..ripripriprip…..I crashed down to the floor, with my right butt cheek slamming onto the centre part of the frame.  There I was, in a heap of blonde cuteness and rotted, burrito hammock!  Chuck and I both started laughing hysterically, wishing we caught the incident on video.  I could take a picture of my bruised bum, but it just won’t do the event any justice.  So there’s how my first (and last!) hammock experience played out!  If anyone out there would like to purchase a sturdy hammock stand, it’s for sale for $40!

Fortunately, my day on Saturday was far less painful.  I had another aerobatic lesson and my instructor took me up in his Decathlon.  It was amazing!  We flew upside-down for what seemed like a full minute!  Actually, Chuck was filming us and caught us when we turned upside-down.  He stopped the camera before we righted ourselves, so I’m not sure how long we were actually inverted – it was at least 30 seconds.  We did some more practice with rolls and how to recover from one that goes awry.  It was an absolute blast and I was smiling for the rest of the day.  I felt bad about one thing though – he wanted to take me up in my 150 Aerobat after we landed his Decathlon, but my stomach just wasn’t up for anymore “unusual attitudes!”  I hope the weather allows for more lessons in the near future.

Gee, I don’t really have any pictures to post with regards to the blog today.  Hmmmm…..well, here’s an unrelated one.  It’s little Abby when she was just a wee kitten:

And her siblings:

Symptoms for today:  I’m just a little tired with a headache, but that’s about it! 

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 3/22/2010 4:08 PM

I had the day off today so Jan and I decided to take a trip to the Hamilton Airport in the morning for a coffee.  My plane was plugged in, getting his oil all heated and cozy for our flight:

It was a very calm day, although the visibility wasn’t quite as good as it seemed from the ground.  Regardless, it was a nice flight.  On the way to Hamilton, we were flying directly into the wind, so our speed wasn’t spectacular.  We arrived at Hamilton around the same time as a helicopter, seen here as a mere speck just above the horizon near the left edge of the picture:

My mother always seems to take some really neat and unique pictures, like this one:

We taxied over to the Warplane Heritage Museum.  A Harvard patiently waited for us to pass, before he made his way over to the runway.  Both the pilot and co-pilot waved to us as we passed.  It was only until we were leaving that the Harvard came back.  The pilot in the back seat was a guest speaker at one of our Recreational Aircraft Association meetings a few months ago.  We are arranging to meet up with him at the museum in April to take a tour of the Lancaster.  Here is the yellow Harvard waiting for us:

Another plane we taxied passed:

Could little Vyctor look any more cute and innocent (like me)?!:

Jan and I had some toast and coffee at the museum restaurant.  We watched as a fire truck drove around the apron, discharging the hose.  I was hoping he would give Vyctor a little wash, but he didn’t. 

Here’s a shot of the Lancaster I mentioned earlier.  They have it up on jacks (stirrups) and it’s having its yearly physical:

The flight back only took about 20 minutes, with the wind at our back.  After we landed, we bid farewell to Vyctor and headed back to the Pen Centre.  Jan was looking for some more clothes, but no luck today.  I think we’ll have to take a trip over the river soon.

Today’s symptoms:  Another decent day.  I’ve had three days this week where I’ve had more energy than I’ve had in the last month in a half.  Perhaps this little MS blip I’m going through is coming to an end!

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 3/18/2010 7:05 PM

There was a tragic and almost fatal incident at the apartment today.  I usually visit my mother on Sunday, but today we decided to go to the Pen Centre, so she drove to our apartment.  Chuck and I were standing in the kitchen and my mother was standing a few feet away in the hall by the front door.  Chuck decided to munch on a big ol’ chunk of cheese – Gouda, I believe.  I was trying to advise him to take smaller nibbles and savor the flavour, rather than his typical manly inhalations of the food.  To protest, he took a huge bite from the large block of cheese.  I gasped, then smacked his cheese hand upwards.  Within an instant, the massive dairy product was airborne, spiraling upward and outward toward my mother’s vicinity.  Everything seemed to go in slow motion.  I could see the cheese projectile spinning, with well defined teeth marks, heading straight toward my helpless mother.  At the time of the launch, she was bent over, putting something in a bag on the floor.  There was nothing I could do to stop what was going to happen next.  She had no clue of her impending doom.  The missile arched downward and smacked my poor mother on her tiny, unprotected head.  Chuck dashed out of the other end of the kitchen, through the dinning room, then around to my mother who was almost comatose in the hall.  She said “Oww!  What the heck was that?”  Still crouched over, she picked up the half-eaten brick of cheese.  I don’t think she realized what it was until it was in her hand.  Chuck was there, with his outstretched hand.  I still don’t have any idea if he was more concerned about my poor little mother or his lunch!  Jan handed him his cheese, which has now been on her head then on the floor.  He waited until his hysterical laughter subsided before he started devouring the near cause of my mother’s demise.  I guess the ten second rule applies with cheese that has bounced off of someone’s head.  Fortunately, my mother recovered and we were still able to have a productive shopping trip at the Pen Centre.

Today’s symptoms:  Today was the best day I’ve had in over a month.  Let’s hope it continues.  I did break out in hives yesterday, and I still have them (but not as bad) today.  This is something I dealt with (chronic urticaria) for over a year while in university.

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 3/14/2010 9:02 PM

I haven’t been sleeping well lately and decided to try counting sheep.  It didn’t go well.  I made it to ten before things turned weird.  Sheep eleven and twelve decided that normal fence jumping was no longer “cool.”  They started freestyle jumping – spins, turns, hoof-clicking, flips, etc.  Around nineteen and twenty, the sheep started wearing Olympic style outfits (very streamlined).  I found these little sheep quite fascinating and I actually became more awake than before I started!  I think this little guy is what started it all:

I still have three days of vacation I need to use up by the end of March (we can “only” carry over 262 hours).  I think I’ll take tomorrow off.  The weather is supposed to be decent during the day, so I can go for a flight.  I also want to get my taxes done.  I have some cleaning to do in the apartment too – try to contain your jealousy.  Oh, I need to get caught up on my emails and Facebook messages as well. 

Today’s symptoms:  Today wasn’t too bad, but I started to lose a fair bit of my energy just after lunch.  I can sleep in tomorrow, so hopefully that will help a bit.  I had some pretty frequent flu-like pains in my arms and hands too.

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 3/9/2010 9:34 PM

I had yesterday off so my little mother and I flew to Brantford.  It was her first flight in Vyctor.  The weather was amazing and it was a really smooth ride there and back.  I had to pick up my seat cushions from Aircraft Spruce at the airport.  I like sitting high up in the plane.  Also, my mother likes to see over the dash.  She was sitting so high up, her little feet were just a’dangling.  Chuck and I went to the Aircraft Spruce grand opening last summer.  Here are some of the pictures from the event – see if you can spot me!  Before we went to the store, we each had toast and coffee at the restaurant called the Skyway Cafe.  The restaurant is always packed on the weekends.  Chuck and I usually have to wait for a table to open up.  After our meal, we walked over to the store, then back to cute, little Vyctor for our flight home.  Jan snapped a few shots on the way back:

I was able to take advantage of the nice weather again today.  I took up someone from my office.  He has been up with me before.  We flew around Niagara for about an hour.  Here are a couple pics I took:

It was an amazing day for flying and I think my passenger quite enjoyed himself!

Speaking of enjoyment, check out the photos of my weird kitties, basking in the sun on the couch.  I was quite surprised to see little Mya draped over Abby:

It’s so rewarding to have such normal children….

Today’s symptoms:  I’m slowly climbing back from the depths of el’yucko-fatigue-o.  I’m starting to feel a little better each day.

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 3/5/2010 8:28 PM

The weather was poopy this weekend so I wasn’t able to go flying.  However, things seem to be looking up later in the week.  I have Thursday off, so my mother and I will probably fly to Brantford to pick up the seat cushions I ordered from Aircraft Spruce.  They have a restaurant at the airport, so we’ll be able to get a little snack and coffee before we head back to St. Catharines.

Back to the weekend, the clouds were really low on Saturday and I noticed an interesting sight.  The bright lights from the Fairview Mall area were bouncing off the low clouds, and caused them to glow.  This picture doesn’t quite give it justice, but I tried:

Another interesting sight was little Abby’s first encounter with the snow.  There was snowage on the balcony and she was quite surprised when it hit her paws:

She was just a’skidding!  A skiddy-kitty!

While Abby was out, frolicking in the snow, little Mya was snug as a bug on the bed:

She doesn’t have time for the silliness of Abby.

So here we are, the first day of March.   I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, my friend from work said that I would start to feel physically better (after my month-long slump) today.  Actually, I got up around 6:30 for work, but decided to stay at home and let my body recover some more.  Mind you, I have over four days of vacation to use up by the end of the month.  I seem to have an issue with hoarding vacation leave.  We’re only allowed to carry over 262 hours each year, and I always am forced to use up my hours to get down to that figure.

I hopefully that I will have some joyous adventures to share with y’all during this week.  Not too much has happened recently and I would greatly love the opportunity to spice up my blogage with some crazy antics and tales!

Today’s symptoms:  I’m feeling quite a bit better, since getting extra sleep today.  I had to tell my stubborn self to chill out and relax.  Not easy since I don’t like to just lay around, not being productive.

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 3/1/2010 10:06 PM

Not too much exciting going on this week.  Actually, I’ve been having another rough week physically.  My friend at work said that I will feel much better on March 1st.  It’s a new start of a new month, closer to Spring.  Ah yes, I’m going to hold her to that statement!  I’m kinda getting tired of feeling like this, so I think it’s a great way to get focused on feeling better again.  If my pathetic little bod doesn’t want to cooperate, than my mind will just have to force it to!  So Nyah!

I’ve been following the 24 hour a day, live video feed of a bear that just gave birth to her little cub.  It’s so cute to watch.  Check out the Lily Cam here.  Every now and then you’ll see her little cub poke her little head up.  You’ll likely hear her more than you see her.  She cries like a human baby!

Speaking of crying, my little Abby is going to be crying tomorrow.  She needs a bath.  Mind you, she’s much better about it than Mya is.  Mya screams so loud, one of these day she’s going to get us evicted!

It doesn’t look like I’ll be flying this weekend, due to the weather.  We have our last day of overtime on Saturday, so at least I won’t be missing decent flying weather that day.

Please feel free to check out my new videos page!  I hope to be adding more videos soon!

Today’s symptoms:  I’m still more fatigued than usual, and a lot of body aches.  Looking forward to March 1st!

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 2/25/2010 9:36 PM

I headed out to the airport around 8:45 today.  It was my first aerobatic lesson and was I pumped!  I had many people recommend an aerobatic instructor and I’m so glad I listened.  We met at the Flying Club and went over some material before our flight.  He was very thorough and explained everything so well.  He was also nice enough to lend me one of his parachutes.  It is not essential to wear a parachute during aerobatics, but not a bad idea! 

It was such a perfect, clear and calm day.  The weather hasn’t been this nice in quite some time, and according to the forecast, it’s not going to be clear for about a week. 

Here I am with the chute on, ready to climb on board:

I must say, I sure wasn’t too graceful while climbing into the seat with the parachute on, but at least it was entertaining!

I’m just trying to get my harness done up, and organize the cockpit:

Ready to rock:

The flight was amazing.  My instructor talked me through each maneuver, starting with loops then slow rolls.  I was actually surprised how long we were up and how many maneuvers we did before I started to feel a little nauseous!  I’m sure it will take a few more hours of aerobatic flight before my stomach is totally comfortable with my new hobby.

Our entire flight was directly over the airport, at 3000 – 3500 feet.  Chuck was down below, attempting to take video of the flight.  However, we were too high up to get any decent footage.  I think he still enjoyed the show.
After my amazing morning, I headed out to Fonthill to visit my little mother.  We just went out for a coffee, then wandered around the mall for a while.  I got some of my Christmas shopping done!  How’s that for a head start?

Today’s symptoms:  I think I’m finally over the physical funk I’ve been dealing with for the last few weeks.  It’s hard to accept the fact that I take so long to recover – I have a hard time forcing myself to chill out and let my body rest!  I’m stubborn, but I mean well.  ***sheepish grin***

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 2/21/2010 9:03 PM

What a great weekend thus far!  After work yesterday, I flew for about 45 minutes.  I was hoping to get out to the training area and practice stalls and spins, but the ceiling wasn’t high enough.  I ended up doing about three touch and go’s, then a very brief flight out of the zone and back.  Fortunately, I was able to fly again today.  I went to work at 8:00am for overtime, and was planning on staying until 2:00.  However, I left at 12:00 and Chuck and I met back at the apartment.  I grabbed my GPS and we headed out to the airport.  We flew out to Brantford to go to the Aircraft Spruce store.  I like sitting up fairly high in the airplane, so we went to buy some extra seat cushions.  They didn’t have any in stock so we left empty handed.  It was a nice flight though.  Here’s a shot of little Vyctor in Brantford:

Notice how coordinated his wheel chalks are….

Here are some pics of us coming back into St. Catharines:

We decided to do some aerobatics on the way:

Ok, not really!  I don’t think Chuck will be up to any unusual attitudes or movements!

Here we are arriving back at the airport.

I discovered that I need to add more flaps when landing this plane compared to my last one.  Otherwise, I come in a little too fast and hard.

The third flight in three days will be tomorrow morning.  I found an aerobatic instructor who is going to give me my first lesson.  Yea!  I can’t wait.  It looks like it’s going to be a nice, sunny day too.  Hopefully I will have some good pictures and video to share with you all tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

Today’s symptoms.  I’m still improving over my few weeks of physically poopiness.  My fatigue is getting better every day.

Posted by Lizzy McFly at 2/20/2010 8:04 PM