thank you Bob!

[Lauren Tjaden]

Flying has been almost non existent here in Florida for the last 10 days. Rainy, windy, crappy weather. This morning the wind howled, but it backed off this afternoon, though the air was a chilly 65 degrees. And I got to fly. With my old friend Christy, and Paul, of course.
Christy Huddle showed up yesterday evening (we feasted on lamb, had a hot tub, and laughed over old times). Today she set up her stunning, differently colored version of my Litespeed 3S.
I only got to fly because of Bob Lane, though. I had a pretty nasty tumble off my horse this weekend (I tried to make kindling of a fence by throwing my body into it, final score, fence, 3, Lauren, 0). When I got into my Rotor harness today, which tucks around me like a little wasp shell, I was in horrible pain from the deep bruising on my hip. I couldn't consider closing it, and just laying in it was unbearable, like how it feels when you pick up something too hot from the oven.
Bob said he would repack my parachute in my old Z5 harness, then, saving the day. I had forgotten how comfortable it is, like laying in a big sleeping bag. Not too great for speed gliding, but damn, you could have cocktails in that thing. Roll around, bend your knees, do whatever you want.
I was very late launching, but played in the sky for about 35 minutes. Something about the flight (oh, this is as corny as sparklers on the 4th of July, but it is true) made me feel so GREAT. After I flew, I had this urge to run around and hug everyone and tell them how much I like them. Gag, barf, I try to stifle these urges so I do not scare off all of my friends.
I am finally feeling totally confident landing my glider, totally at home in the air and I am SO ready for all the fabulous adventures we will have this year to begin. Gawd, going off XC is like being Christopher Columbus, striking off for new territory, a song in my heart, a vision of clouds in my eyes!!!! Well maybe not. Maybe I'm more like Amelia, or those guys in "The Right Stuff...", but more feminine, umm, signing off,
Lauren

[mcelrah]

Thanks for giving us something to cheer about on a work day. Today
was actually a pretty nice day, albeit blown out for flying.
Saturday, I got my 3rd, 4th, and 5th mountain flights in the PG at
Daniel's. Marc Fink and John Middleton had flights of an hour or so,
but not me - nor the other P2s - but I was happy to be out on such a
gorgeous sunny warm day building skills. Cragin, Cavanaugh, and
Brian fought the good fight in HGs but succumbed to gravity. Gonna
test fly a trike tomorrow... - Hugh