15 Years Later... I'm Flying Again

It's been 15 years since my last flying lesson. When I was around 15 years old, I started flying and obtained my student/solo license. Then, a few flights later, I quit, mostly because of money, but a lot because my life was changing dramatically.

So, after years of pondering, months of saying "I want to," and few nudges from a co-worker who has his private's license, I finally got back in the air on Saturday, and have committed myself to flying once a week. It's about $250 a pop, no small change.

We started out on Saturday reviewing the pre-flight checklist. Pretty simple, check the wings, check the air intake, check the right wing gas, check clarity, check the strut, the brake, the wheel, follow along the wing, check for anything that doesn't look right. Check the flap hinges, the rudder, rear, check the left side wing, left side gas, check for clarity, left side intake, left wing, stall sensor, finally check engine (plugs, oil, brake fluid, etc.), prop blade, and engine fuel/clarity.

The instructor that I had was really good. He wanted to get me up in the air quick and see what I remembered from back in the day. I thought it'd be like getting on a bike, he didn't think so much like that. He did the radio work, mostly because I wasn't used to talking with a tower, but also because we found out my 15 year old headset had a short or something. Still have to fix that.

None the less, I taxied myself, knew how to navigate the taxiways and runways, even moved on to the center line and took off, all without intervention from the CFI. Pretty awesome I have to admit. My stomach sunk a little when I realized that I had done that, then a brief moment of "OH SHIT! I'M FLYING," but that left my system just as quickly as it entered.

We worked on 4 fundamentals, turns, descents, climbs, and climbing/descending turns. I also got my first introduction to GPS guided flight, GPS devices in planes, WHO KNEW! I did all of it without any problems. The only problem I had was wanting to keep my eyes in the cockpit, I have to work on looking out more and not worrying so much about the instrumentations.

We finished flying around and headed back to Hanscom Field. I got us on approach without much issue, and remembered how to use the lights to determine how high I was, and that's when I got a little nervous, and the CFI took over. I wasn't comfortable landing myself on the first go around, I guess I wanted to make sure I knew how to do it right, before I attempt a successful landing or successful suicide. =) None the less, I think I'll be making landings just fine in the near future.

I wasn't nearly as sweaty as I remember being when I first started out doing lessons. So, I think the anxiety is lower for me, which is a good thing. Anyways, this weeks goals:

- Get Books
- Schedule Next Flight Lesson

Sitecore 6: Using Parameters in Web Controls.

In Sitecore v5, using Parameters listed on the sublayout in the presentation details was a lengthy dive into the core UI API.  In Sitecore v6, they've modified it to be simpler.  For instance, if you have a sublayout (*.ascx) that has parameters listed you can now access those Parameters using the following code:

  string rawParameters = Attributes["sc_parameters"];
  NameValueCollection parameters = Sitecore.Web.WebUtil.ParseUrlParameters(rawParameters);

However, if you take advantage of using custom WebControls (*.cs) instead of a Sublayout (*.ascx) then that method doesn't work.  Instead you'll want to make use of the Parameters property on the inherited WebControl.

  string rawParameters = this.Parameters;
  NameValueCollection parameters = WebUtil.ParseUrlParameters(rawParameters);

Beware of Gift Cards from Stores that are Closing

Watch those store money cards and gift cards and credit slips! 

These are the stores that have informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October 2008 and January 2009 (due to the "recession" and/or the fact that people are not shopping).  

If you have any "gift cards" from these stores, make sure you use them, or you will lose them! 

Circuit City stores... closing all stores

Macys to close 9 stores after January

Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherine's to close 150 store nationwide

Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January

Cache will close all stores

Talbots closing down all stores

J. Jill closing all stores

GAP closing 85 stores

Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January

Wickes Furniture closing down

Levitz closing down remaining stores

Bombay closing remaining stores

Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January

Whitehall closing all stores

Piercing Pagoda closing all stores

Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January

Home Depot closing 15 stores

Linens and Things closing all stores

Movie Galley Closing all stores

Pacific Sunware closing stores

Pep Boys Closing 33 stores

Sprint/ Nextel closing 133 stores

JC Penney closing a number of stores after January

Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores

Wilson Leather closing down all stores

Sharper Image closing down all stores

K B Toys closing 356 stores

Lowes to close down some stores

Dillard's to close some stores

Cool iPhone Apps

A friend recently asked what my favorite iPhone apps are that I've used in 2008.

Here's a short list.  All of the apps listed are freely available on the App Store.

• Facebook
  
• Weatherbug
  
• Twittelator
  
• Google App
  
• Pandora
  
• Flashlight
  
• Sudoku
  
• CheckPlease (Tip Calculator)
  
• Shazam (Song Recognition and Tagging)
  
• Zippo Lighter App
  
• Urbanspoon (Restaurant Shaker)
  
• Google Earth (cause it's just cool)
  
• Lightsaber (A Staple of any geek)
  
• TapDefense (A Tower Defense game for those long trips on the T)
  
• Fring (IM app)

There's no rhyme or reason to the order of this list, other than this is the order they show up in my phone!  If anyone has other ideas for GREAT iphone apps, feel free to send them my way.

Sitecore 6 Certified!

I am now Sitecore 6 Certified!  Woo hoo!

That's about all I got here.  =)

Goon's and Kickballs

Another interesting day of Sitecore. Wishing I knew what I know two weeks ago though.

Anyways, tonight is Week 2 of Raining Sideways kickball! Woot!

Here is a collection of links that I have for today:
http://gooncity.com/
http://www.goontower.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bellechere/2846472858/sizes/l/
http://gawker.com/5051193/sarah-palins-personal-emails

Lunch: Salad

Sitecore, Sitecore, Sitecore

Yep, today was another day of thrilling Sitecore coding.  I’m actually doing some really cool stuff and I’m hopeful I’ll be able to get some of my cool Sitecore tricks on this blog for the community to benefit from.

Nothing much exciting though.  Looking forward to going to Cirque du Soleil on Friday.  I’m taking a girl named Amanda that I’ve been dating now for a few weeks.  Things are going pretty good between us.  Hopefully it’ll get better.

I have a deadline for Thursday that I’ve got to meet.  I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it, but I’m trying my hardest.

Lunch: Pad Thai in Davis Square.