Your normally jaded correspondent has just had a perfect weekend. I know I don’t deserve it, sorry universe. The ingredients: an airplane, a young boy, a wife, friends, family, and some exciting weather.

Saturday morning: flying time. Just captain Frank in GXRP, visiting the area near the Simcoe VOR, just southeast of Lake Simcoe, diagnosing an autopilot wiring problem. Flying through the rain shafts of an isolated cumulus cloud, announcing on a nearby training frequency that the car wash is open for drive-through service. Nathan Myers, flight instructor buddy, hearing me on that frequency and later dropping by with a student. Testing the two-engine-out gliding characterstics of the Aztec. Finding that the aircraft maintains altitude with both engines at the “simulated feather” settings, which is just not right at all. Finding that with engines idle and windmilling propellers, descent of 1500 feet/minute results around 120 mph airspeed.

Saturday afternoon: baseball time. Driving with Juimiin and Eric downtown. Meeting same Nathan Myers and friend Nikki at the Skydome, ugh, “Rogers Centre”. Hearing that the rather good tickets were promotional giveaways at Rogers Video stores. Noticing that stadium is still only half full. Still spending lots of cash on foodstuffs. Being “carded”, using firearms license to delight and surprise the booze retail age guardian. Realizing that professional sports are not the mob draw they used to be some years ago. Wondering whether they matter. Seething at the amount of taxpayer money that was sunk into this facility, after which related politician-turned-businessmen bought it at puny, almost corrupt, prices. Noticing how Eric has put up with the amplified ruckus and the mob quite well. Observing how Eric charms Nikki and even complete strangers. Relaxing about taking Eric out to such events in the future. Not caring that the Blue Jays lost.

Sunday: family time. Flying over to Windsor in early morning. Expecting that weather will turn rough (thunderstormy) over the whole region during the day. Planning to return at dusk. Taking Eric on his first flight. Testing out an ordinary shooting-purpose earmuff for his hearing. Checking out how Juimiin is managing the boy in the middle row of airplane seats. Feeling delight as the brat variously sleeps and plays while en route. Arriving in Windsor on time, in concurrence with the Avidyne flight tracking system. Meeting my father at CYQG. Being treated to a further eight hours of a happy little boy, charming the heck out of everyone. Eating yummy sweets, drinking some coffee, playing with offspring, beating my father 2.5 times in chess. Checking weather, confirming that thunderstorms indeed showing up, and dying down as day progresses. Deciding to fly back a little ahead of schedule. Loading the airplane up with bazillion bulky items of cargo. Passing through airport security with my pilot license and my firearms license. Chatting about the latter with the friendly security staff. Hearing Juimiin and Eric both go “ga ga ga va va va” during and after the takeoff roll. Trying to concentrate on the maneuver, despite laughing my head off. Flying home in lovely weather, weaving between some CB leftover clouds. Noticing how helpful the on-board weather radar and the downlinked weather radar both are. Arriving just before dusk, in jawdroppingly illuminated city skyline. Gloating that airplane performed problem-free, at the joy of general aviation. Taking lots of time moving said items of cargo into Big Yellow Car. Driving home. Finding ecstatic dog waiting for us. Taking dog and kid for a winddown walk.

Writing this entry wearing a big satisfied smile.