I am thinking about participating in the American Cancer Society “Relay for Life.” It is a walk-a-thon to raise money. I research before donating because there are so many deserving organizations that get lost in the crowd of less than efficient groups. Also there are many charity scams that bilk good intentioned people of hard earned money. Charity navigator is a resource along with the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS to check out the charity. I do not subscribe to the idea that “if it is big and established it must be OK.” The most successful scams are legal and endorsed by famous names.
In my personal experience livestrong helped me. They handle about 40 million dollars and are rated higher than the American Cancer Society. The ACS handles almost a billion dollars and seems to spend much of the money on fundraising events. Cancer related charities are huge business and accusations of collusion between big medicine, big pharma and the charities are a common theme among the blog-heads. I understand western medicine is not the only answer and that we tend to treat symptoms rather than focus on health but I do not think “it is all a scam.”
The treatment protocols that were used on me have a good track record with survival rates beyond five years. The five year benchmark is used because if you have “no evidence of disease” for five years and then die of something it is hard to pin the cause of death on the old cancer. Speaking from personal experience I imagine my lifespan is shorter due to the side effects of the treatment but much longer than if I left the cancer untreated. I also went with a known successful method rather than one of the alternative treatments. Steve Jobs was an inspiration.
If I do participate I do not want people to feel pressure to contribute. Charity should come from the heart. I believe in over tipping, it is best if it is done in a way that you do not get credit. The “pay it forward” idea taps into the same concept. I have no idea why God blesses me so much but, I should pass that on to others. It does not have to be money or material blessings. Being kind to one another even, especially, if they don’t deserve it is the idea. I have not reconciled this with not wanting to reward and encourage jerks. Errors should be on the side of mercy.
Thanks for all the prayers and support. Recovery is slow but steady. I will see the doctor for another checkup soon. Preparing the garden for spring is keeping me busy. If you feel strongly for or against the relay let me know.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Flying again
Yesterday I went flying for the first time in eleven months. It was great! It is just like riding a unicycle…err something like that. Gross motor skills and procedures were solid. Finesse was not consistent. As with all flights I have room for improvement. When I think I flew “perfectly” I will quit because my ego will have clouded my vision and that is dangerous. “Often wrong never in doubt” is a recipe for disaster. It is an interesting line between confidence and hubris. That is why it is important to have a honest feedback. Big thanks to George for being a good friend and mentor.
I can operate the aircraft to a level that makes a safe and conducive learning environment. It will be a few flights before I will want to fly aerobatics. We focused only on VFR flight; IFR will soon follow. I was happy that my neck did not restrict my ability or desire to scan aggressively for traffic.
I will be able to offer limited flight instruction until I receive my medical certificate. If the pilot can act as PIC I can provide instruction. This article outlines the details http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/inst_reports2.cfm?article=4674
I think fatigue will be my biggest limiting factor. Thank you for your prayers and support. Thank God for all my blessings. Being able to open the world of flight is one of my favorites.
I can operate the aircraft to a level that makes a safe and conducive learning environment. It will be a few flights before I will want to fly aerobatics. We focused only on VFR flight; IFR will soon follow. I was happy that my neck did not restrict my ability or desire to scan aggressively for traffic.
I will be able to offer limited flight instruction until I receive my medical certificate. If the pilot can act as PIC I can provide instruction. This article outlines the details http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/inst_reports2.cfm?article=4674
I think fatigue will be my biggest limiting factor. Thank you for your prayers and support. Thank God for all my blessings. Being able to open the world of flight is one of my favorites.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Traveling by commercial air
I traveled to San Francisco last weekend. It was the first time I flew as a passenger since 2004. I am not in a hurry to repeat the experience. The cost and convenience is very hard to beat especially to major cities. As an employment program the TSA is a great success. Weather delayed us both directions. Passengers seem to be disconnected from the magic of flight and that is a shame.
I had an interesting conversation with a commuting corporate pilot. The shift to automation and electronic flight bags had shifted much of the workload back on the aircrew and away from dispatch. It seemed he felt CRM was being misused by junior crewmembers to distort the cockpit gradient rather than facilitate teamwork. Like many professional aircrew in big iron flying was a J O B rather than a joy.
The solutions that were created to address the Colgan accident do not seem to address the core issue. Additional hour requirements for first officers increase the cost of training. The aircrew involved in the accident would have qualified under the new rules, in other words, they had the hours. The saying is “a pilot can have 10,000 hours or one hour 10,000 times” meaning that one must learn from experience rather than just log time. The Air France accident illustrated that the stall spin accident was not limited to the inexperienced regional airlines flying relatively simple airplanes. The fundamentals of flying need to be emphasized and practiced. It is vital that the formative training builds angle of attack awareness.
I am excited to return to flight instruction. The FAA sent a letter acknowledging receipt of my application for a medical certificate. I have been studying and dreaming about flying and will get back in the air when the weather cooperates. Snow, rain, fog and high winds have been the hazards that present themselves on the days I have had availability. My physical and mental readiness is becoming more consistent. The commercial flights allowed me to examine my ability to equalize pressure in my ears and sinuses. I do not think I should skydive from 25,000 feet or scuba dive to 130 feet but smooth altitude changes below 10,000 feet should be tolerated well.
The reason I went to California was to comfort and seek comfort with my family after my Aunt’s passing. She lived a wonderful life and touched many people in a positive manner. Thank you for your prayers and support.
I had an interesting conversation with a commuting corporate pilot. The shift to automation and electronic flight bags had shifted much of the workload back on the aircrew and away from dispatch. It seemed he felt CRM was being misused by junior crewmembers to distort the cockpit gradient rather than facilitate teamwork. Like many professional aircrew in big iron flying was a J O B rather than a joy.
The solutions that were created to address the Colgan accident do not seem to address the core issue. Additional hour requirements for first officers increase the cost of training. The aircrew involved in the accident would have qualified under the new rules, in other words, they had the hours. The saying is “a pilot can have 10,000 hours or one hour 10,000 times” meaning that one must learn from experience rather than just log time. The Air France accident illustrated that the stall spin accident was not limited to the inexperienced regional airlines flying relatively simple airplanes. The fundamentals of flying need to be emphasized and practiced. It is vital that the formative training builds angle of attack awareness.
I am excited to return to flight instruction. The FAA sent a letter acknowledging receipt of my application for a medical certificate. I have been studying and dreaming about flying and will get back in the air when the weather cooperates. Snow, rain, fog and high winds have been the hazards that present themselves on the days I have had availability. My physical and mental readiness is becoming more consistent. The commercial flights allowed me to examine my ability to equalize pressure in my ears and sinuses. I do not think I should skydive from 25,000 feet or scuba dive to 130 feet but smooth altitude changes below 10,000 feet should be tolerated well.
The reason I went to California was to comfort and seek comfort with my family after my Aunt’s passing. She lived a wonderful life and touched many people in a positive manner. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Flight Medical
I started the process to get my FAA flight medical. The flight doctor said it should take four to six weeks. AOPA estimated 45 to 90 days. The process is pretty straight forward. The flight doc conducts his routine exam and prepares a package for the “special issuance” which consists of the treatment protocol details and reports from the oncologist(s) that detail “no evidence of disease.” The professionals at UNC had already forwarded the majority of the information and when the flight doc asked for some additional reports they were quick to respond.
In other news my beloved aunt Libby lost her ten-year battle with breast cancer. She inspired me to keep a stiff upper lip. I miss her dearly. She took the doctor’s advice under consideration but did not let them keep her from living life to the fullest. At one point they told her she needed to put her affairs in order and she only had a few months to live. She got a second opinion, a different treatment team and lived several more years. She traveled the world both before her diagnosis and after. India, France, Russia and Australia were among her destinations.
When I was a teenager I spent the summer at her home in San Francisco. She was the ultimate “cool aunt.” I got to skateboard the hills of San Francisco, eat in China town, and cruise around the Haight. Always up for an adventure she encouraged me to have fun but made sure I was aware of the danger. As a single woman in the city she had her act together and tried to pass some of those “street smarts” to me.
She had a way of making me feel good about my accomplishments. I always felt like a hero when I was around her. I was a junior high punk and just starting to run and went to visit. This was when the “jogging” fad was booming and the park was full of goofy people with headbands and knee high socks jogging around. Libby, her boyfriend and I went running. She made me feel like I was a real human out doing the “cool new thing” instead of a little man-boy trying to fit in. I think that was her defining strength is that she gave people psychological space to do their own thing. She was genuinely excited to find out what you were into. She was also out living her own adventures.
Many of her adventures revolved around social justice. She was a case worker for years and helped many struggling families. I am blessed to have known her; I look forward to seeing her in heaven.
In other news my beloved aunt Libby lost her ten-year battle with breast cancer. She inspired me to keep a stiff upper lip. I miss her dearly. She took the doctor’s advice under consideration but did not let them keep her from living life to the fullest. At one point they told her she needed to put her affairs in order and she only had a few months to live. She got a second opinion, a different treatment team and lived several more years. She traveled the world both before her diagnosis and after. India, France, Russia and Australia were among her destinations.
When I was a teenager I spent the summer at her home in San Francisco. She was the ultimate “cool aunt.” I got to skateboard the hills of San Francisco, eat in China town, and cruise around the Haight. Always up for an adventure she encouraged me to have fun but made sure I was aware of the danger. As a single woman in the city she had her act together and tried to pass some of those “street smarts” to me.
She had a way of making me feel good about my accomplishments. I always felt like a hero when I was around her. I was a junior high punk and just starting to run and went to visit. This was when the “jogging” fad was booming and the park was full of goofy people with headbands and knee high socks jogging around. Libby, her boyfriend and I went running. She made me feel like I was a real human out doing the “cool new thing” instead of a little man-boy trying to fit in. I think that was her defining strength is that she gave people psychological space to do their own thing. She was genuinely excited to find out what you were into. She was also out living her own adventures.
Many of her adventures revolved around social justice. She was a case worker for years and helped many struggling families. I am blessed to have known her; I look forward to seeing her in heaven.
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