bshl

[replyAre you a socialist or something? Private school worked for Dubya. And look what you can do with a C average! Blue skies and happy landings!

You got 'em, Chris. Keep us posted. Blue skies and happy landings!

Teachers are paid too much! I'm fed up with teachers and their hefty salaries for only 9 months work! What we need here is a little perspective. If I had my way, I'd pay teachers baby sitting wages. That's right. Instead of paying their current outrageous salaries, I'd give them $3.00 an hour. And, I'm only going to pay them for 6 hours of work, not planning time or lunches. That would be $18.00 a day. Each parent should pay $18.00 a day for these teachers to baby sit their children. Even if they have more than one child, it's still way cheaper than private day care. Now, how many children do they teach a day? Maybe 25? That's $18.00 x 25 = $450.00 a day. But remember, they only work 180 days a year! I'm not going to pay them for all the vacations: $450.00 x 180 = $81,000. What will teachers say about those who have 10 years of experience and a master's degree? Well, maybe (just to be fair) they could get the minimum wage. We can round that off to about $6.00 an hour. $6.00 x 6 x 25. That's $900 a day times 180 days. That's only $162,000. Wait a minute! There's something wrong here... Blue skies and happy landings!

My wife's going to her sister's baby shower the in a couple of weeks. I'm going to get her to drop me off on her way out there and pick me up on the way back. See you there! Blue skies and happy landings!

Head down, blood flow and throbbing. I'm sorry for what it all did to you but your avatar is doing the these things to me. Mind if I howl again, Dove? Blue skies and happy landings!

Two quick amusing stories about the earthquake: A coworker's husband was driving along listening to the radio when they broke into the song to announce the earthquake. It was an oldies station and they'd been playing Good Vibrations. Another friend's ex was in SLO for a doctor's appointment. He'd just finished and walked out of the pharmacy after getting an inhaler for his allergies or something. He sat in his car, took a hit of his inhaler and the world started rocking. Woo hoo! Glad you're okay. We had a decent shaker (3.7) just outside of Lompoc yesterday morning. The rather alarming thing for us is that it was just a few miles from the natural gas refinery down here. Yoicks! It's pretty amazing to see how many aftershocks have been recorded. Last I checked the total was over 350! Happy holidays to 'ya. Blue skies and happy landings!

1045 on the left coast and 1345 on the right, Linda. Thanks for not delaying Santa too long; the kids over here appreciate it. Happy holidays! PS: Thanks to Skybytch for not delaying Santa, too. He mentioned your name as well as something about knowing why Mona Lisa was smiling. Blue skies and happy landings!

Light rain here... Edited to add a link to our weather forcast for the Christmas weekend. Sigh... Blue skies and happy landings!

Merry Christmas to you too, Joshua. Thanks for thinking of the troops under you. Best wishes for an uneventful tour and a safe return home. Blue skies and happy landings!

Considering the kinds of things my mother-in-law normally gives me, that might be a good thing, Sheena! Blue skies and happy landings!

Rebuttal to the Santa is a woman post. There is absolutely NO way Santa is female. Here's why: First, Christmas would be late every year. The line at the department store would never move because Santa would feel the need to "bond" with every kid that sat on her lap. The elves would never get any toys made because they'd be too busy telling her, "No Santa, those red pants do not make you look fat." What woman would be caught dead in a chimney? Gosh, she might break a nail in there. Also, men don't care if they would get covered with ashes and soot while sliding down the chimney. And what about Santa's beard? I'm sure you'll agree that most women look significantly better without facial hair. Besides, she-Santa would not go out without makeup. If Santa was female, she sure wouldn't have white hair. And she would never wear a hat because it would mess up her hair. The tradition is for cookies and milk to be left for Santa on Christmas Eve. If Santa were a woman, the tradition would be chocolates and Latte's. Also, a male Santa would judiciously takes a bite from each cookie to prove he was there. If Santa was a woman, the whole darn box of Snackwells would be devoured and there'd be a sea of empty Ben & Jerry's containers all over the kitchen floor. Santa doesn't need to ask directions. A female Santa would get her directions from landmarks. Up in the sky there are no landmarks and no place to ask directions. Besides, she-Santa would never go out driving in the snow and rain at night. She would make Mr. Claus do it and then complain about the way he drove. She-Santa would never say "HO HO HO". She would analyze it too much and think it was somehow demeaning. Would any self respecting female Santa really be seen wearing the SAME outfit year after year? No, she would have to have a new one each year. And red would not be the color. It would be more like pink or purple. She-Santa would not clean up the mess that the deer make. Like you are going to make the deer wait until they get back to the North Pole? Men have years of training with dogs. Yup, Santa's a guy all right! Blue skies and happy landings!

This reflection sought out the rods and cones of my twin ocular sensory devices and, after passing through the optic nerves located therein to the neuroprocessing applicance encased in my cranial cavity, registered nothing short of complete fascination. The optimal description of the image portraid by the sunlight reflecting from the planetary lunar adjunct through the translucent viewing area was that of a diminutive object with four vertical sides mounted upon a rigid horizontal weight bearing surface and that rested upon two lustrous metal runners. This was situated immediately behind and attached in a method as to suggest that its movment was influenced directly by the eight Lilliputian animals which first inspection decreed to be pulchritudinous examples of rangifer tarandus. Blue skies and happy landings!

Forget what I got, I'm hoping somebody 5'9" tall and ~180 pounds got a really, really cool looking freefly jumpsuit and that they decide to sell their merely really cool looking jumpsuit to me for a great price. Here's to all of you and your wonderful gifts! Blue skies and happy landings!

Best wishes to you and yours during this holiday season and always, everyone. And may you always have... Blue skies and happy landings!

No kidding! Love your kitty, Dove, and I'd be delighted to pet you! Arrroooooo! Edited to add the howl... Blue skies and happy landings!

I think Santa Claus is a woman. I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he's a she. Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off! For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. It's as if they are all frozen in some kind of Ebenezerian Time Warp until 3 p.m. on December 24th, when they - with amazing calm - call other errant men and plan for a last-minute shopping spree. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. (You might think this would send them into a fit of panic and guilt, but my husband tells me it's an enormous relief because it lessens the 11th hour decision-making burden.) On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman. Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag. Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there. First of all, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen's rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist. Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he'd still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions. Add to this the fact that there would be unavoidable delays in the chimney, where the Bob Vila-like Santa would stop to inspect and repoint bricks in the flue. He would also need to check for carbon monoxide fumes in every gas fireplace, and get under every Christmas tree that is crooked to straighten it to a perfectly upright 90-degree angle. Other reasons why Santa can't possibly be a man: * Men can't pack a bag. * Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet. * Men would feel their masculinity is threatened having to be seen with all those elves. * Men don't answer their mail. * Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a bowl full of jelly. * Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them. * Having to do the "Ho Ho Ho" thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women. * Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment. I can buy the fact that other mythical characters are men ... * Father Time shows up once a year unshaven and looking ominous. Definitely a guy. * Cupid flies around carrying weapons. * Uncle Sam is a politician who likes to point fingers. Any one of these individuals could pass the testosterone screening test. Not St. Nick. Not a chance. As long as we have each other, good will, peace on earth, faith and Nat King Cole's version of "The Christmas Song," it probably makes little difference what gender Santa is. I just wish she'd quit dressing like a guy!!! Edited to clean up the formatting... Blue skies and happy landings!

Well done, Lew. Kudos to you! Blue skies and happy landings!

#42. Don't let anyone in your family go anywhere alone. Also, everyone must carry a broomstick with them for protection. The only time they're allowed to be without their broomstick is when they're running into the yard for a shower. Thanks for the laugh, Jack! Blue skies and happy landings!

They're letting us leave at noon today and paying us for the whole day. I think they're feeling guilty about not paying us what the rest of the industry makes... Blue skies and happy landings!

Hey! It's scary out there! Blue skies and happy landings!

I'd settle for being able to afford the paint job. Blue skies and happy landings!

Don't forget to explain things to them. Explain the jump run, spotting, separation between jumpers/groups and tracking. It's all about having fun safely. Watch a load land and then go up. You've given them a blow-by-blow and now they can watch you do it. Blue skies and happy landings!

So how's he steer? Bizarre... Blue skies and happy landings!

How's he get to it, though? If the "handheld" is a malfunction, does he casually do a little strip tease? I guess I'm just dense... Blue skies and happy landings!

That's what went through my mind when I started reading that he wasn't wearing it to start with. Seems like that just about guarantees a dislocated shoulder. At best. Edited to add: Oh, yeah. And what about his emergency handles? And don't tell me he's such a stud he doesn't need them. Blue skies and happy landings!