ending thoughts...for 2010

So Christmas is just less than two weeks away....where has this year gone? So many memories and yet making more each day. My new puppy being the memory maker right now....lol... I'm excited to head south to spend two weeks with Barney. Even though the snow is mostly man made at Ski Apache this year it will be time spent meeting new people and spending quality of time with my Love.

I know God has great things in store for me as this year comes to an end. I can only imagine what next year will bring...I know that I look forward to snowshoeing, working out, training Piezo, sewing, cooking and eventually lots of fun ballooning!

So in the next three weeks....one will be to have a great last week with my kiddos at school, then off to New Mexico for the last two weeks of the year.

2010 has had it's ups and downs but I know that through it all I have been blessed by those around me and for that I am truly grateful!

Miss Myia

My First Balloon Rally

Just got home from, "The Great Prosser Balloon Rally", in Prosser, WA! What a fantastic time and my flight on Sat. was awesome! Such a beautiful valley to fly....vineyards a plenty and just the lush green all over the place. Didn't get to splash and dash in the river....too many river hogs...but maybe in a few weeks when I go back near the end of Oct. for some friends Spooktacular Balloon weekend in Prosser!
Anyway, I flew a man that had never flown in a balloon before. His name was Jim and he is a fixed wing pilot and builds planes for a living. Just after take off he asked how many years I had been flying......as I giggled to myself, I said, "This is my 3rd flight since getting my pilot license on Aug. 18", his response, "REALLY?" (yes his eyes were wide open). I then laughed and and told him that I wouldn't have a license if I wasn't able to take off, fly the balloon and land.
He then just chattered on asking all kinds of questions.
We landed softly on Lois' land (she was one of the original event starters) and then she came back to the field and tailgated with us!
All of my housemates for the weekend were TONS of fun! After packing up after tailgating, we went back to the house, cleaned up, unhooked trailers and off to the winery's we went! We only hit about 5 as some were having "private parties". Most were okay, I'm still partial to T3!
This morning we got up and the weather wasn't the most favorable to fly. A few pilots did, but I said, "no go". None of my close pilot friends flew, just way too many unknown factors.
We all went out to breakfast and then back to slowly pack up and head home.
I had such a fantastic time, the only missing component....my Barney.....he spent the weekend getting the trailer painted on the inside and studying for his state EMT exam next Saturday. Anyway, my first rally was a great time, especially since I got to spend it with such a great group of balloonists!

Never Let Your Dreams Die!!!! Cuz...I didn't!!!!

It was the last week in July and I had my balloon trailer in tow...headed for Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was 10 years ago that my dream took on more reality than even I knew...from the moment we lifted off the ground I was HOOKED on ballooning. I will never forget the flight from the little park in Deer Park, WA....flew over a friends home, then on to pick pinecones from the tops of the trees, scaring up some deer and seeing a pheasant run through the bushes...just like a roadrunner...his neck all stretched out....dogs barking....and then as we came down a man with a camera running towards us shouting, "I have been wanting you to come this way forever!" He was SO happy that he could get pictures, then we lifted off again and continued our flight...did a little sky bowling....missed the target by about 2 feet, but hey it was fun....then the final landing, on the edge of a grass field....packed her up and away we went to celebrate.
As I drove to NM, I kept thinking just how blessed my life has been in the last 10 years....and at times it brought me to tears. All that I get to do....climbing, hiking, skiing, sewing, ballooning. And I was on my way to finish a dream that really started many years ago but took form when God wanted it to in my life.
So, the trip down was fun....stayed in Sandy, UT, then Gallup, NM and finally on into Albuquerque.
I got to stay with some great friends and for that I am truly grateful! (A.M. and family!!!)
Last summer I had done two weeks of lessons with Daniel Cave in his wife's balloon - Beeloon! It was during that time that Jane said, "So shouldn't you buy your own?" and that set the wheels in motion for me having the system I have now. I returned home and by Oct. I had bought my balloon (more on that later).
I was able to get Beth Wright-Smith (a fabulous pilot and ground school instructor) to come out and help me set up the system for the first time in months and then do a flight with me just after I got to Alb. Windy inflation, nice flight, but a mostly stand up landing :)
A few days later, I was to fly with Ray and see if we were compatible for the rest of my lessons. We were and so Ray became my official instructor for the first half and Tom finished out the last as my official instructor. Each day we flew was of course AMAZING! A true gift to get to fly.....and it slowly was sinking in that my dream of becoming a pilot AND having my own system was coming true. The hard part...."sectionals"...."oral test".....and well, I worked hard each and every day. Taking what Ray or Tom or sometimes both would tell me and do it the next day as I flew. Lots of lessons learned....LOTS of revisions on my checklists....remembering to check my checklist....doing the routine the same way each time....habits....good habits...building good habits...and bonding with my system....her name? MyAir FlyAir! I waited a long time to name her and as soon as we lifted off on the first flight with Beth (oh and it was Beth's birthday that day) I knew the name fit her! However, getting her dirty in the New Mexico dirt....she didn't like that at all!
So we flew 5 days straight and then a no fly day, then flew 4 more days and during the last four days, I did my solo flight....they put 150lbs. of sand in with me so she'd come down easier....the 40 minute flight went by so very fast! However my thoughts as I was flying alone didn't. I realized that even though I was the only live person in the basket I had an awesome Pilot with me....God! When people ask me what it's like to fly, I hold my two hands together in a cup like fashion and tell them it's like floating in God's hands. It's quiet, peaceful and amazing....until you hit the burners....but even then, hitting the burners is like God saying, "Get out there and do great things with the talent I've given you"......Flying Solo also reminded me of how I have spent most of my life single....having to take care of myself and do what needs to be done to keep me safe and okay...knowing that God either is by my side or carrying me. It also reminded me that being independent has been good for me but that God brought people into my life at the times I needed them to be there...some are gone forever, some I see on occasion and some are currently in my life. Most of all that while I'm in their lives or they are in mine, to make sure to let them know how important they are to me and to love and care about them.
As I did take off and landings it reminded me of my own life in the times I was down and how God would lift me back up again.....and thank you God I've had more highs than lows. I also know that when I'm climbing or when I'm flying...being up high.....closer to Him.....it's an awesome feeling....that's all I can say.
Flying with Ray was very quiet...he didn't talk much only when he wanted to know something or try and distract me.....we got into a low level thermal....learned a lot from that....landed only using my mitering valve....interesting and learned a lot there too.....then came Tom....
Tom is the opposite of Ray, he loves to talk...which is fine until I had to tell him to "shut up", then corrected myself and said, "Shut your mouth down" then um, "Please be quiet", he was doing it on purpose, but his plan to distract me didn't work...I kept flying the balloon.....next he would tell me a scenario and I would have to tell or show him what I would in an emergency.....I landed without using my redline, pretend that their were power lines too close, you name it, he ran me through it and I had the pleasure of doing to great highwind landings with Tom! (yes there is a great story about the 1st with him....for another time).
I truly was blessed to have had Daniel, Beth, Ray and Tom as my main instructors. But I will say that the first person to let me touch the burners on a system was Barney.....in old Cool Beans!....he let me do the launch all the flight and then he did the landing....we flew over Las Cruces, NM that cold December, but bright and sunny day. Having these amazing Pilots share wisdom and knowledge....PRICELESS!!!!
So, on Sunday th 15, Had a great flight...knowing that my Oral Test was on Tuesday the 17th and Check ride was on the 18th. Monday was a no fly day and so I went back to the hotel and studied.
Barney went back to Las Cruces that morning to return late on Tuesday evening. I read through all my ground school info., went over the Albquerque, Denver, Seattle, Chicago, Great Falls sectionals, studied my airspace classes and all the VFR's for each one.
Since Tom finished out my last hours of flight, Ray could be my Designated Examiner, and because Ray needed to be observed for his FAA Designee title, JD Huss - local FAA Official would be joining in on my Oral's and check ride.
Orals went okay and I passed! Onto the check ride!
We met at Daniel's old church parking lot at 6:00 a.m. Wind....more wind....so I asked for recommendations as to another place to launch from since Rainbow (local launch site) was reporting 6knots.....We moved into Albuquerque by the credit union off of Coors and Montano.....other balloons were launching from there.....so it was GO!!!
We started setting up, me doing all that I was to do, checking my checklist, making sure my system was all correct. Checking with my pilots on each side of me....ReMax....on one side and a ride balloon on the other.....one balloon down wind ......so the time to go hot, signals to all parties on the system and I stood her up, got JD in.....reset the top, had to yell to get Ray back to my basket...got him in, Time was marked as soon as I stood her up, had Barney check airspace overhead, tie-off line in one had, burner in the other.....watched as the balloon down wind of me launched, Troy with ReMax launched.....then it was my turn....the ride balloon wanted me to go first so nice slow launch.....and we were off......up over the trees toward the Rio Grande River.....darn dead tree right in my path or I would have gotten a splash and dash in the river.....okay, up over the Montano bridge.....and flying up to 7200msl and hold her there....done.....then up to 7800msl and hold her there.....done.....where would you land? Golf course, but there are some sites over I-40, so I fly on....my temperature is holding at 233-237....so we are good on envelope temp. with the weight in the basket.....fuel checks....all good....switching to other burner....keeping my elevation within 50 ft. Then the descent to find the winds to take us more west than east....I stairstep the balloon down 100 ft. at a time to see what the winds are doing and looking at other balloons where they are and what the winds are doing....and sure enought at about 6800msl....got the direction we wanted and picked two landing sites.....the first....nope, will take the second one....Ray called the crew and told them where.....as we came in it was very apparent that I was going to have a highwind landing....I had briefed JD (my pretend passenger) three times, about where I wanted him and what he needed to do. Somewhere about 15-20 feet above the ground I rip out the top and we hit, drug a little and MyAir FlyAir! layed herself over and we were down. I had Ray get out, then JD and then me. The crew was there and was starting to close the throat off, Barney and Brian had the crown and was already pulling the top back up....I took care of turning off the remaining burner and fuel.
Ray then asked me some questions, I answered and then he told me I had passed! Hugs! (We Balloonists HUG alot). I went up to the top of the balloon and told the crew I had passed! More Hugs! We finished packing up the system and headed out to breakfast and for Ray and I to do the last of the paperwork.
Well, it's not quiet two weeks and it's starting to sink in....but today in church as I was singing during worship and during prayer time, all I could do was say thank you to God....for He is the one that made me who I am, a strong, confident woman....who loves with her whole heart and soul.
To wrap this up....from my first flight to now...I never let my dream die of wanting to become a pilot. There were some key women pilots that encouraged me in more ways that they know....and for that I am truly thankful. God works in more ways than we know....and sometimes it's okay to NOT know and be okay with it.

I do have to say a HUGE thank you to all the various crew members that came out all those days and to Alex....you were there for every one except you had to go to school the day of my checkride!

To My Barney....I love you, I thank God you are in my life....I am truly blessed by you and my life will never be the same without you!
Now, on to flying....my very own balloon!

I need to be better about this....

So, it's been a long time since I posted anything and well, like my title says, "I need to be better about this." So, my goal is to post at least once a month or more....
Since I last posted in June of 2009:
July was filled with my first attempt at climbing Mt. Rainier - climbed for SADS, then home for about a week and a half and helped a teacher friend move to Colorado. While there spent an amazing week with my now exboyfriend. Yes, it was truly an amazing time but in the past now.
August - left Colorado and went to Albuquerque, NM or better yet, Rio Rancho, NM and stayed with great friends Jane and Daniel Cave. Daniel spent the next two weeks giving me flying lessons in Jane's balloon - Bee-loon. Then back to Colorado for a weekend and got to crew for now exboyfriend on his balloon Hamlet (the world's largest flying pig). Then a two day drive home to go back to work.
Sept. - bought my own balloon and was broken up with by the exboyfriend.
Oct. - The BEST month of the year.....Why you ask? Balloon Fiesta!!!! First full week is my Christmas! When I get to be with my balloon family for 9 days of ballooning and all out fun!
Nov. - paid for balloon to get annual and drove to Colorado over Turkey break to pick up the system and bring it home. Got to stand her up twice and fly for about 10 minutes....not long enough but at least I got her in the air. I haven't named her yet, need to take her for a real long flight to finalize the name. All I can say about the trip is that it was so amazing to be finally picking up my balloon and all the great emotions and feelings of a dream coming true...a long time dream....the other part was learning some extremely sad reality about my exboyfriend that hurt me to my core and beyond...more than I thought I could or would ever hurt....even being divorced from Jeff and all that went with that was nothing compared to learning what I did. God truly carried me through that very long weekend and kept me safe hauling my trailer home.
Dec. - probably the hardest month for me....as I was grieving and trying to deal with all that had transpired. But I made it through....Thank you Lord....again carried me all the way through and beyond.
Jan. - my birthday was great....dinner with girlfriends and Ali's new boyfriend....
Feb - is here and am making plans to go to Albuquerque for spring break to take ground school from a great pilot/instructor to help with getting my pilot license.
Oh, work...well I'm in my 20th year of teaching special ed. and still loving it. The kids are the easy part! Just wish all paperwork would go away! Not ever going to happen.
So, I know that through all of 2009, God had his hand in everything and last Sunday, Pastor Joe said to look at our life and see where we see God working in it and the things we have done. I KNOW that the reason Doug came into my life was so I could get my balloon....for "she" was meant for me and me for her. I truly know that it was a God thing and it came from Him! I know that I will be able to bless many lives by having this incredible system. For that I do and have said thank you to Doug.
So 2010 has been a pretty good year so far. I was blessed by friends to attend 3 different Ice Skating performances, snowshoeing with other friends, sewing up a storm, a great Manx cat - Corkie- who loves me unconditionally. I want for nothing....and know that my life is blessed with some amazing people that love and care about me and show/tell me on a regular basis. For that I am thankful and even very humbled at times.
I think I've mostly caught up on the high and low points of 2009....and that's good for now.
Love,
Miss Myia

Climbing Rainier for SADS

Well, it's been a long time since posting something and since I have the whole summer off one goal is to post here on a more regular basis. My first big event of the summer is to climb Mt. Rainier July 10, 11, 12th for SADS www.sads.org It is a worthy cause and raising money and awareness is right up my alley, not to mention the life long goal of climbing Rainier. Going through Mountain School in 2004....having some rather interesting years between then and now, the opportunity came to do two things I love doing...climbing and bringing awareness to a worthy cause. Working out at Crossfit Spokane since November, helping teach Mountain School this winter/spring has been a great big plus for being in shape to do such a climb. As I was completing my WOD at Crossfit today, I was reminded just how far I have come since joining in Nov.....I almost started laughing at myself when I think back to barely being able to 20 "girl" push ups...and now 20 REAL pushups....no big deal....pull ups....yeah....gotta love um....still using a small band....but for now thats okay....running...easier each time and a bit faster too. When I look back at the starting weights and times....yep, 35lb. kettle bell swings are starting to feel light...
Overall, I'm excited and looking forward to one of the most challenging events yet in my life. I will post pictures and will also pray for great weather so that our team is able to summit! If not, the mountain isn't going anywhere! The next couple of weeks will be full of workouts and reviewing my knots :) All for now...my backyard grass needs mowed!

What A Day!

It all started with a great church service...Pastor Joe ending the series, "What would you do with only 30 days to live?" Very powerful and inspiring! Then off to meet up with Lisa to break in my new snowshoes! We headed for Mt. Spokane, climbed out of her vehicle and standing just above us was Kay and Jerry LaClair (fellow Spokane Mountaineers and Kay has 6 of the 7 summits...only Everest left for her!). We started on the usual trail and after about 15 minutes was searching for any soft snow we could find....ice isn't fun....but we kept going and when we had just passed the first outlook place we gave up on the icy trails and headed straight up to the towers and Vista house! Once out of the trees, the wind hit us full in the face. Did it bother us?? NO! We just kept on trucking up the hill, with the towers in full sight, the last 200 feet felt like it took us hours......in reality....not so much! Just past the towers and finally a wind break! Power buildings and trees! We warmed up in the Vista house, ate a little lunch and back out we went! Just like we came up we went straight down....wishing for powder to be able to glisade (spelling??) down...instead....it was more of a slow run, but my MSR Denal Evo Ascent snowshoes bit into the ice and I didn't slip once....tried to trip myself a few times and had to laugh at myself and Lisa laughed too.....She and I laugh so much on our little "adventures" we go on! Once back in the trees we didn't try to keep with the trail as it was more fun to seek and find any snow not stepped in by someone else in the hopes that it would be SOFT! When it was IT WAS GOOD and when it wasn't, well we clacked along! We left the Vista house just after 3:00 and made it back to the snowmobilers parking lot at 3:48....awesome time! The ride home was enjoyed by my home roasted coffee, water, more coffee and apples!
Lisa dropped me off at home and I realized that I needed to get gas in my truck for the week. Off to Costco I went, got gas and then went inside to pick up a few things. As I walked out of the cold storage area, I had to do a double take and there on the other side of the veggies was Jessi and Emma Thompson! As I walked around, Jessi looked over and saw me and well, HUGE HUGS! Like Jessi kept saying, What a treat! Then to meet sweet, adorable and the cutest little girl ever, Emma! SO like Jessi at that age! We talked so long that the security guy turned some lights off by us and said they were closing! I just hope Jessi was able to get her shopping done! I headed for the front door to check out. What a great time at Costco!
So, headed home and just after eating dinner, My Barney called to share his day of skiing in New Mexico...asking me to pray for snow for their ski mtn. (he keeps saying that "I'm" hogging it all.....in fact I think he called me a "snow piggie") Well, I do pray that they get more and us too!
All in all an amazing day filled with people whom I love and those that love me....yes, I am truly blessed!

Getting out to workout!

Well, it's 11:05 and I'm going to go workout at Crossfit. After yesterday's wonderful birthday lunch and dinner I need to go workout! As I checked the weather forecast, it says it should be raining right now...lol....and out my front window....snow...and more snow...sorry Barney....yes, I know I'm a snow piggie....but I really would love to share it with you and Debi and Daniel and Jane in Albuquerque! Again I do have to say that it is beautiful....the huge flakes coming down and looking to the park....no one over there now....just peace and quiet.....will think about shoveling when I get home....more of a workout...lol....
So, that's all for now!