getting relaxed to get the game face on

So yesterday, we had to fly our handicap. The handicap is what this race is based on. Each plane is handicap for the best performance speed, and if you fly over your handicap you are awarded points. If you fly under your handicap, you lose points, so a team can actually have negative points if they fly into a headwind. The first picture is of Suzanne flying the handicap flight. I was able to go along as we have a third member,for the weight. We also flew over the gulf, which is awesome because rivers and lakes are the only open water I have ever flown over. That is the second picture.

I feel it is important to feel relaxed before a big competition. Today was it. I had a blast, I totally forgot what it was like to be with such amazing woman, and how many new and old friends I have seen. We started off with going to the Sannabel Beach today, I found some awesome shells that I am sending back. Then we had our girl scout event, which was a bust we had two girls who came and they left within l5 minutes of starting the event. To hear everyone's amazing journey on how they started to fly, just amazes me. This is the biggest race, I have ever been in and one of the biggest race that ARC has put on. We have 113 women pilots and to think we are competitors but yet friends.

Tomorrow, we have an all-contestant meeting that is mandatory. Then I plan on hitting the beach for a bit, then we have a take-off banquet. Then we are off to a day of meetings on Monday, Sarah and Suzanne have an extra 2 hour meeting to be at, due to them being new racers. Tomorrow is also the day where the last team member Sarah comes, I am excited to meet her.

I have to say, this is the coolest hotel I have ever stayed in. Crown Plaza is so nice, I hate to even go home,lol. I am happy the BBQ was so much fun. I got to hang with the Mayor of Fort Myers, as he was asking me about the new baseball stadium in Omaha, and we got to discuss town issues. I am using this time as a networking tool as well. I have included a pic of me with the Mayor.

inspections

So part of being a racer,is having alot of patience. We have alot of cases of hurry up and waiting. We got here and got all settled in, then had to run back out to the airport to do inspections. Inspections is where the officials check to make sure you are in racing form,and that the airplane is top form and all paperwork is crossed and dotted. We passed inspection, only we have to show we have a copy of the rules, and that I have to take this class to fly into Washington DC airspace. So I will do that tonight, so I am all current.
Another part of inspection is making sure your race numbers are put on correctly.

MADE IT!!!!

After having to stop last night in Cross Ways, Florida due to storms. We stayed overnight at this town, which was kind of weird, but everyone was so nice. JoAnna at the Carriage Inn was the nicest host. So we took off this morning for the 1 and 1/2 hours trip, and we made it through inspections, and now it's time to relax. It's hot here in Florida. The following pics are from the past two days. From the start of our journey, to the storms we had to pass to get here. We ate at this restaurant that the decorations was mostly deer and had the small town feeling to it.

storms

Storms popped up making us plan to reroute our trip,so we decided to leave early in the morning instead of having to waste fuel and time trying to fly around the storms (disadvantage of flying smaller airplanes), which as everyone knows 7:00 am is not early, since I am usually at work by 6:30. Man, it feels weird knowing tomorrow I will be getting up and not going to work. I think the longest I have ever been out of work for vacation is two weeks and that is when I had surgery, and now I'm going to be gone almost 3 weeks, it seems crazy. I'm going to miss the kids.

Well tomorrow, when we arrive to Florida I will post the first picture, and will probably post another blog about getting to Florida. It's about a 6 and 1/2 hour flight to get there. I'm all packed, possibly overpacked and ready to go. Now hopefully I can sleep tonight, because I am already excited about going to the beach. I miss going to the beach since moving back to the landlocked mid-west. Hoping to possibly pick up some cool shells to make some cool necklaces, that I can send home due to weight restrictions (heavier the plane is, the slower it goes).

almost here

One week left before starting the engines. Suzanne and I will be leaving tomorrow for our journey to Florida. Sarah will join us this coming weekend, and I'm excited to met her. There is still chances to help donating by hitting the paypal button on the website.

thank you

I would like to personally thank everyone who came out to the hanger dance. I hope everyone had fun.

wow

Time is flying, in about 35 days we will be leaving for the journey of a lifetime. I wanted to get some thank you's out before it gets crazy, first thank you to my family, who let me live out my dreams and supporting me. I would like to thank my partners, for being my partners and going along on this adventure.

This Saturday is the Hanger Dance at the Council Bluffs Iowa airport. It is running from 6-9 pm. $10.00 per person, 15.00 per couple, 6.00 for ages 13-17,and under 12 free. I will be having a silent auction as well. I cannot believe the media press on this dance. It has been on one news station, listed on a few others, two newspapers, the Indytransponder.com, the EAA Omaha Chapter website, flyers posted in stores, even made yahoo news. I hope this is a turn out,since every other time I have tried to have fundraisers, they were a bust.

Sunday, I am also having a pampered chef party, where part of the proceeds will be donated to our cause. Hopefully between both fundraisers, I raise enough money. I am getting excited as the days count down.