Junior Birdman

Hi,
Marshall has passed his flight test and is now a fully, reinstated, member in good standing, pilot. Whew!

He had a great test experience with an examiner who looked at his log books (yes, he's already filled one and is working on a second) and asked "why are we doing this test?" The Flight Gods/FAA deemed it necessary and so it shall be done. Fine. They went up, the examiner asked for a few maneuvers, a landing at Princeton and called it good. He could tell that Marshall was an experienced, conscientious pilot that needed to take this test about as much as Tiger Woods needs golf lessons. Tiger could use some lessons on other matters but I'm not going there right now. Marshall has his pilots' license back in order, including his IFR (instrument flight rating) certification, so he is good to go. Now he making noise about getting his commercial pilots' license... that opens a whole other door. Faster planes, paying customers..... don't ask.

My next big news is that we are traveling the end of this month. I've been invited to tag along on a business trip to China & Japan for 15 days.... yippee! We're going to Beijing, Chengdu & Shanghai. Then over to Tokyo. I'm so excited. I have a cousin who lives in Tokyo (Matt Naiman) who I've never met but I've met his dad, Laurie, who I Skype with on occassion. Matt runs a bunch of night clubs in Tokyo. I'm excited to meet up with him. The rest of the time Marshall is spending most of his visit working so I'll get to explore the lay of the land. He does want to see the Great Wall while we are in Beijing so I'm guarenteed his presense for that much. I was in China, visiting Cara, 18 years ago. I know it will be eye opening to see what has changed. We will be spending our 5th wedding anniversary in Shanghai. I promised I wouldn't hold him to setting a precedent for anniversary celebrations in exotic lands. My paper work for the Chinese visitor visa is in the pipeline, airline tickets have been purchased, hotel arrangements are being made and I am ready to rock & roll. Peking Duck, here I come.

xox
m