Well hello there, my its been a long long time.

I've ignored this blog for quite a bit of time.

Since closing Motion Simulations in June of 2013 I got involved in a whole host of things that had to do with Aviation.

First off was selling the contents of the business, dealing with paying off the notes that we had taken out to build and sustain the operation, getting out of the lease on the real estate. That was a few month's long effort which was bittersweet.

Actually it was much more bitter than sweet, and I learned a lot about my airport friends and neighbors, which to put frankly, was they weren't the former, and were horrible at the latter.

Once we were done with getting all of that squared away I did an owner assisted annual on Mooney 58V undertaking a plexiglas replacement that was literally an example of peeling an onion. That experience took a month to complete, made me understand that working on a 38 year old airplane is an artisanal process, where once assembled, these craft are as individual as snowflakes and fingerprints. That effort in and of itself is a story I will write about and post at some point in the future.

While I learned a lot about my plane I discovered that in the metro NYC area assisting in your own annual inspection is a educational experience, not a money saver and it is doubtful I will ever get in the way of the guys who do it for a living again.

We went to Oshkosh in July 2013 where my beautiful bride after a few Wisconsin microbrews very candidly asked me what my plans were once we were finished with vacation. I simply stated that I wanted to take a few months to heal from the disappointment and loss of my business/passion, recharge and regroup then embark on some yet unthought of new enterprise.

Judy was direct and to the point. She had enough of my 20 years of entrepreneurial endeavors and that her expectation was I was going to find a job. Thats right a JOB. W2 income to be exact. She laid down the law in no uncertain terms that I would need to produce a minimum of two W2's prior to her even listening to my next business pitch.

At first I was distraught. Real work, a boss other than a customer or myself, was something I hadn't dealt with since 1992. I immediately started scheming. I had seen 60 minutes and 20/20 shows on late-middle aged professional white guys being out of work for years. These dudes struggle to regain their former glory deplete their savings, retirement accounts and lose their homes prior to going to work at Walmart or worse. I figured I would make the attempt and after six months or so the frustration of having to deal with me being at home all the time she would tell me to start another business, any business. I would show her.

While we were walking back to our camp we heard about a new exhibit at Oshkosh - An Airline Hiring Event.  I told Judy I would meet her back at the tent and decided to check it out. Well the long and short of it was everyone I spoke with there told me to fill out an application when I got back home.

I did that and applied to several. ExpressJet from Atlanta called first had me come in for an interview, hired me that day and scheduled a class date, so much for being featured on 60 minutes.

I chose the class that started on 10/7/13. Thirty two guys started that class and I think there are eleven of us left. A whole lot of flying has gone on since then, sometimes equalling my busiest years in a little more than a month. I've survived recurrent training twice now after being type rated in the Embraer 145 in January of 2014.

I'll be finishing year two on October 7th. Judy will have two w2's shortly after.

Whats next? I have no idea, the flying is fun but the money is worse than horrible. Working at Walmart would be a raise.

But its fun and Judy tells me she likes the guy who fly's for a living a lot better than the business guy.

I hope to post more now that its started to slow down a bit.

Cheers