Guys, are you dating your wives?

On September 19, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion3 Comments

Now I don’t want to brag but I think I have a pretty good marriage. But one thing I realized was that really, my marriage was on autopilot. Now, providentially it was moving in a good direction and there were no huge problems. Really though, I knew it could be better. What I realized, and this was back in January, was that I had stopped “dating” my wife. Also at that time I began to read about marriage after marriage that ended up in affairs or divorce, simply because the couple had stopped relating to one another. They had lost the connection. They “loved” each other but they weren’t “in love” with each other.

To that end I decided that even though we didn’t appear to be in any danger in the least, I was going to take steps to reconnect with my wife. As a start I decided begin dating her again. The approach I took was that I would plan the date, I would not ask her what she wanted to do, where she wanted to go. I was the man, I was pursuing her, I made the plans, I asked her out. Some dates were expensive, most were dirt cheap. Here are some of the dates we have been on:

An evening at a comedy club
Dinner and a movie
Dancing at a nightclub (yes, I do dance, and she dances … just…. wow.)
Picnic by our favorite lake
A visit to a local hotel (remember, we’re married)
Italian sodas at a local coffee house
Parking in the car and just talking

The most productive dates with her have been just sitting and talking. One thing I learned in reconnecting with her is that many times she just needs me to listen and understand her. I don’t need to solve the problems she is encountering. She just needs me to hear her. My needs are more simplistic but believe me, with our connection getting stronger, those needs are being met many times over.

So guys, don’t forget to date your wives.

Aloha

On September 13, 2012September 13, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn TravelLeave a comment

We just got back from Maui. I’ve never understood the big deal everyone makes about Hawaii but I have to admit, I really liked Maui. Unfortunately my daughter got sick while we were there, and she had a broken ankle before we left. Still we all tried to enjoy the island. My wife really liked it because the plants, the people, the houses, all reminded her of her homeland.

We’ll definitely be back.

My Day

On May 15, 2012February 8, 2016 By The Flying DutchmanIn Humor, OpinionLeave a comment

I haven’t been able to update my blog lately because of my life lately. So, so busy. For instance, today started at 2am. Luckily I was able to work from home. 2 hours on the phone doing some maintenance work in Tacoma Washington. Then back to bed for a couple hours. Then off to work. As soon as I arrived… you guessed it, trouble in Tacoma. No one can print. Was it related to our maintenance work, you bet it was. One hour to diagnose and fix that problem. Before I even got done more calls started coming in. We’re having DNS issues. Two hours to track down and fix that problem. Then back to Tacoma, they would like a new wireless access point installed. 30 minutes for that. Some paperwork. Set up a virtual com port for our virtual VAX running on a virtual server. An hour for that. Two servers are way behind on security patches. One more hour for that. Throw in a lunch break and a few meetings and the day was done.

No it wasn’t, just before I leave there is trouble on a switch in Olympia Washington. It took 4 hours, working with local support up there to get yesterdays config loaded onto the switch.

Then the day was FINALLY over at 7:30pm.

Anyone see why I like to fly?

Saturday morning golf

On March 11, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES Coyote5 Comments

I’ve been grounded for almost a month trying to get over the Flu. My ears and lungs had finally cleared and I really needed to get some fresh air so I hoped in my flying golf cart and flew out to the links. Here is a video of the approach and landing at JB Golf (CN29).

Practical Love–Do Something!

On March 8, 2012March 8, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn FaithLeave a comment

Here’s another simple, practical tip on how you can show love to your fellow believers; do something for someone. Do you have a skill that would help someone? Do you have a truck that you can help transport items? Can you knit a hat?

Your Christian brothers and sisters have all kinds of needs and you are specifically gifted to fill one or more of those needs. Look around, talk to others, spend time together and find out what others need. When you become aware of a need, offer to help. The offer may be declined but be patient, polite, genuine, and persistent and soon you will be taken up on your offer.

Are you having trouble offering or even asking for help then you need to immerse yourself in God’s Word. God’s Word will give you the motivation you need. Think of what Christ did for you, is haling off a table in your truck any harder? Now get out there and do something!

"It is the word of God energized by the Spirit of God that brings about the change in our hearts we so desperately and continually need. The Christian must have the effectual working of the word in his heart if he is to minister to others." — Blog post from Christianity.com

A Versatile Dog

On February 14, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Humor2 Comments

I came across some photos of our timeshare dog, Rosie. I call her a timeshare dog because she goes back and forth between staying with us and a family from church. She mostly lives with them now but I can’t help but extol the virtues of this little dog.

Right out of the box she came with the ability to communicate with satellites.

She could speak sign language.

She stored easily and was VERY easy to transport.

Likes hanging with her homies in the hood.

Has her very own action figure.

Loves to read.

Can lay eggs.

EXCELLENT watch dog.

But mostly she is just always there to keep you company.

What a versatile dog!

Practical love – Suffering together

On February 13, 2012February 13, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith2 Comments

Recently I became convicted that we as a church need to find new ways to show love to one another. To that end I will be emailing you with simple, practical tips on how you can show love to your fellow believers. Comforting one another is an amazing testimony for Christ. I recently ran across a passage in a book I was browsing online…

"Suffering can unite people in powerful ways because it reveals their common need for God. Divisions and conflicts often appear trivial in the face of suffering. Make room in your life for broken and grieving people."

Whether they are grieving over the loss of a spouse or loved one, dealing with children’s physical or behavioral challenges, or even just not feeling well, think and pray about what you can do to help. From providing meals or child care to simply listening to them share their struggles your willingness to come along side and share their suffering will point them to the source of true hope – Christ. Let your shared hope in Christ draw you closer together.

Another great day golfing

On February 11, 2012February 11, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

I flew to Farmington again today to play golf. This is the second time I’ve flown there in the past couple of weeks and both times it was cloudy and drizzly. That didn’t matter though. It is still fun to land on that grass, hop out, grab my clubs and play 9 holes. I’m the worst golfer ever but I do enjoy the walk.

Old silliness

On February 4, 2012February 4, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn HumorLeave a comment

I’ve been going to old files and mementos and ran across the following. It’s been floating around in other forms for years but this was our adaptation of it. This is from my days as a test equipment technician at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co, now Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Space. FYI, D5 refers to the Trident II Fleet Ballistic Missile System.

D5 Test Equipment Technician Technical Skills Aptitude Battery

Instructions:

Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time limit 4 hours. Begin immediately. Work in numerical order (equipment remaining from question 1 may prove useful with questions 3 and 6.)

Medicine: You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have 15 minutes.
History: Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day, concentrating especially but not exclusively on its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Be brief, concise, and specific.
Public Speaking: Two thousand drug-crazed aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek.
Biology: Create life. Estimate the difference in subsequent human culture if this form of life had been created 500 million years earlier, with special attention to its probable effect on the English Parliamentary System.
Music: Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.
Engineering: The disassembled parts of a high powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual printed in Swahili. In 10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your decision.
Sociology: What sociological problems might accompany the end of the world? Construct an experiment to test your theory.
Management Science: Define management. Define science. How do they relate. Create a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions. Assuming a 7600 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm, design the communications interface and all necessary control functions.
Psychology: Based on your knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodinias, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea, and Hammurabi. Support your evaluation with quotations from each man’s work. It is not necessary to translate.
Economics: Develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt. Trace the possible effects of your plan on these areas: Cubism, the Donatist Controversy, and the Wave Theory of Light.
Epistemology: take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.
Classical Physics: Explain the nature of matter. Include in your answer an evaluation of the impact on the development of mathematics on science.
Modern Physics: Produce element 107. Determine it’s half-life.
(NOTE: At the time this was made up, there were only 106 known elements. Bohrium is element 107, discovered in 1981.)
Energy Resources: Construct a working fusion reactor.
Philosophy: Sketch the development of human thought. Estimate its significance. Compare with the development of any other kind of thought.
General Knowledge: Describe in detail, briefly.

Extra Credit: Define the universe. Give three examples.

Back at JB Golf

On February 1, 2012February 2, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

Many years ago I used to fly an Aeronca Champ. I loved landing it off airport. For years I used to fly to a small golf course in Farmington called JB Golf. It was created by a man who loved golf and flying. I was introduced to this strip by Jerry Hansen. He used to fly his 175 and then his Pacer in to this strip. I tagged along in my Champ. Well, time passed and Jerry wasn’t able to fly into JB any more. I built an RV-4 which I never could slow down adequately to land safely at JB. I really missed flying in to JB and that is one of the big reasons I sold my RV-4 and built my new plane; the Coyote. Today I was finally able to find time to clean up my golf clubs fly in to JB.

The owner loves to have airplanes fly in so if you’re a golfer and you have reasonable short/soft field skills you are welcome here. The strip is located just east of Stockton Metro Airport in central California. It is marked on the SFO sectional as J-B. It is listed as private but pilots with appropriate skills are welcome to land.

Here are a few pictures from my trip today.