Cougar you're to low ... YOU'RE TO LOW COUGAR!!!

Ok, unfortunately Maverick wasn't on my wing guiding me to a safe landing on a pitching carrier deck ... but I WAS wearing one of my Navy Flightsuits so I'm authorized to use "Top Gun" quotes with authority. I didn't widow/orphan my wife & kids, but I am in need of two downtubes and my body is covered in multiple bruises. I'm feeling like Indiana Jones in Raiders where the only thing that doesn't hurt is the end of his nose. Todays accident has been brought to you by the Letter I ... for Impatience. Today started out like any normal Saturday, rolling out of bed, getting back in bed, then talking myself out to the kitchen to make coffee before checking weather & winds. Loading up, I got out a bit later than expected but was making great time right up until the 9 mile backup from Exit 42 to Route 404. Adding another hour into my transit time was not in my original plans. Arrived to the Desert Plateau, that was Ridgely today, I expected Pyramids and the Sphinx to rise up out of the ground. It was hot, DAMN hot, so I was unabashedly unexcited about waiting for 1 1/2 hours in line since they were only running 1 tug, and a slow one at that. Finally it was my time to roll the dice against the fleeting thermals and off I went. I fought the good fight for about 25 minutes but the lift was light and the thermals were small. I gave it my best, but could only maintain 2,000 for about 15 minutes. As I decended towards the field, I noticed that there were only 3 people in line. Did I mention it was hot? My obviously overcooked brain decided that it would be much more cooling efficient to land on the taxiway and quickly slip my glider into line while I went and jumped into the pool during my next hour wait.As the winds were out of the South, I flew my downwind and turned base offsetting the grass strip that we take off from. Throwing a quick S-Turn in to bleed off a little more altitude, I turned final. Unfortunately in my 5 years of flying Ridgely, I failed to notice that there is about a 10 foot elevation change (Read: Hill) between the grass strip and the taxiway. Since I wasn't able to swing wide over the active runway, my final was effectively about 50 feet and I had not figured in that loss of 10 feet. Realizing the impending doom as my wings leveled, I cowered in fear, gently eased the bar out and assumed the fetal position. My basetube impacted the hill about 3 feet below the top and I power whacked in with a good amount of pattern speed. Both downtubes collapsed on impact and my body took the rest of it. I think my helmet either hit a downtube, the keel or the ground because I was a little dizzy when I stood up. Once all motion came to a stop, nothing seriously painful was experienced except for a dull ache in most of my muscles. Jim helped me pack the glider and provided Extra Strength Tylenol. (Thanks Jim)In a nutshell, my impatience for extending my time in the heat and in line got the better of me. My decision to land where I did, although quite possible, did not leave me with any margin of error. If I would of hit a sink monster (insurance covers that), the same result would of probably happened. It would of been much safer to fly a normal pattern and suck up the short walk back to the line. Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash. Thinking I can put my glider anywhere I want is a good goal, but there is always a need for leaving fudge factors in there as well. All in all, the cost was 2 downtubes and probably a few days of pain and bruises. I learned a good lesson, and hopefully all who read this will learn from my mistake instead of making it yourself.That was some of the best flying I've seen to date - right up to the part where you got killed. Gutsiest move I ever saw, Mav.

Insert your own punchline...

Nationals Park, Washington D.C. - How appropriate?

Pirate Therapy ... but why is the rum gone?

The long weekend has past and the Captain has gone on to pursue other journeys. Lessons learned over the weekend include:

Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life.

The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do. It's remarkable how often the traits of madness & brilliance coincide.

There are better things in life than alcohol, but alcohol makes up for not having them.

Here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and answer to, all of life’s problems. I can’t die until the government finds a safe place to bury my liver.

Screw Politics!

In an unexpected blow to my Culinary Roadmap, Congress in their infinite wisdom decided that it was too expensive to extend GI BILL benefits to past Veteran's. Clearly, this would cut into their precious vacation time and God knows we don't want that to happen. A little research shows that Congress is in session approximately 150 days per year. Its actually quite amazing at how badly they can bork up our society while working less than half of the year.

Consider this: In High School English, you are taught that Pro means good or for, and Con means bad or against. Given that logic, Congress becomes the opposite of Progress.

So the search for income begins. The plan is still to drive towards the September start date, but part-time work will be in my future. A little pirate therapy is in order, with some brain storming to follow!

Its Official!!!

The paperwork is submitted to L'Academie de Cuisine and the application is in process. Should hear something within the next few days confirming my start dates. The unofficial start date is September 22nd, 2008 for the next Culinary Arts Program. Next stop . . . Chef Christopher!

President Bush Signs H.R. 2642, Culinary School Here I Come!!!

9:48 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. A few moments ago I signed legislation that funds our troops who are in harm's way. Our nation has no greater responsibility than supporting our men and women in uniform -- especially since we're at war. This is a responsibility all of us in Washington share -- not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. And I want to thank leaders of the House and Senate for getting this bill to my office.

America remains a nation at war. There are enemies who intend to harm us. Standing in their way are brave men and women, who put on the uniform, who raise their right hand, and took an oath to defend our freedom. They volunteered to deploy in distant lands, far from their families, far from their homes, and far from comfort of America. And every day, they risk their lives to defeat our adversaries and to keep our country safe.

We owe these brave Americans our gratitude. We owe them our unflinching support. And the best way to demonstrate that support is to give them the resources they need to do their jobs and to prevail. The bill I sign today does exactly that. It provides necessary funds to support our troops as they conduct military operations in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in other theaters in the war on terror.

I appreciate that Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to provide these vital funds without tying the hands of our commanders, and without an artificial timetable of withdrawal from Iraq. Our troops have driven the terrorists and extremists from many strongholds in Iraq; today violence is at the lowest level since March of 2004. As a result of this progress, some of our troops are coming home as result of our policy called "return on success." We welcome them home. And with this legislation we send a clear message to all that are servings [sic] on the front line that our nation continues to support them.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to our nation's military families. They endure sleepless nights, and the daily struggle of caring for children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I'm pleased that the bill I sign today includes an expansion of the GI Bill. This legislation will make it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children. It will help us to recruit and reward the best military on the face of the Earth. It will help us to meet our responsibilities to those who support our troops every day -- America's great military families.

The bill also includes agreed-upon funding for other critical national priorities. This bill includes $465 million for the Merida Initiative -- a partnership with Mexico and nations in Central America to crack down on violent drug trafficking gangs. The bill includes nearly $2.7 billion to help ensure that any state facing a disaster like the recent flooding and tornadoes in the Midwest has access to needed resources. This bill includes a measured expansion of unemployment insurance benefits with a reasonable work requirement. And this bill holds overall discretionary spending within the sensible limits that I requested.

The bill is a result of close collaboration between my administration and members of both parties on Capitol Hill. I appreciate the hard work of my Cabinet -- especially the leaders of Defense and State, and Veterans Affairs, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, as well as OMB. I want to thank House and Senate leadership and leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. I am particularly grateful to Congressmen Boehner, Hoyer, Obey, and Lewis. And I want to thank members who worked hard for the GI Bill expansion -- especially Senators Webb and Warner, Graham, Burr, and McCain.

This bill shows the American people that even in an election year, Republicans and Democrats can come together to stand behind our troops and their families.

Weekend Ending Dessert...

Decided that the best use of leftovers was to use them . . . so I grabbed the last container of Dried Figs from last night and went for Round Two.

Dried Turkish Figs in Balsamic-Red Wine Reduction Sauce, Scented with Cinnamon, Star Anise, and Allspice. Served with Mascarpone Cheese
(Servings: 8)

1 Cup Red Wine (Zinfindel / Shiraz / Syrah / Two-Buck Chuck)
1 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 pinch Salt
1 pinch Allspice
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
2 Star Anise (Optional)
16 Figs, Dried (You can get at places like Whole Foods)
8 ounces Mascarpone Cheese
8 Mint Springs (Fresh)

Directions
1. Place liquids in Sauce Pan and bring to a boil.
2. Add Sugar & Salt.
3. Simmer until Sugar is dissolved.
4. Add other seasonings, stir.
5. Add Figs.
6. Simmer slowly until sauce is thick.
7. Can serve warm or at room temp.
8. Serve with a dollup (or make Quenelles) of Mascarpone Cheese and a Sprig of Mint.

Serve with Port or zest an orange over the dessert and serve with Grand Marnier