I woke up at 8:00 A.M. this morning to begin packing for my big move.  A few weeks ago, I decided to pursue my Commercial Pilot training at White-Air Aviation in Chanute, Kansas.  I had never visited the school before, but from what I read and heard, the school seemed to be exactly what I was needing.

But I woke up incredibly tired.  So tired in fact that I went out from my room and found myself lying on the couch just seconds later.  I had intended to leave at 10:00 A.M. for the seven-hour drive, but I knew that wasn't goin' to happen.  I hadn't even packed a single item yet.   Well, before falling asleep on the couch, I managed to make my way to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal.  That surprised even me.  But still, my body wasn't working.  After a late evening the night before (I had some friends over for a fun send-off) and a much-too-early morning the day before (I woke up to my sister screaming, then passing out), my body was starved for sleep.

So after my bowl of cereal, I went back to bed.

I never really made it to the depth of sleep I needed, but the extra rest was needed.  I finally started moving at 9:00 A.M.

It was time to pack!

I am leaving for about four months, and frankly, you use quite a bit of stuff in four months.  And yet, at the same time, you really don't.  So I loaded some clothes, my flight gear, and some toiletries, and I was good to go.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my mom had cleaned out my brand new car (meaning that I just bought it yesterday...it's a 1992!) and even bought some food for me.  Needless to say, she pulls through in the clutch!

Well, after about an hour or so of runnin' all over the house, I think I had most of what I needed.  Clothes, flight gear, some food, and the necessities.  I had it all loaded in my lil' Mazda Protege, and it was time to head off.  I had seven hours ahead of me.

I'm always fascinated with send-offs.  They really are quite enjoyable to watch and even more enjoyable to be a part of.  Especially when you are the one leaving!  So in typical fashion, I waited to see how it would all transpire.  My sister was nearly asleep on the couch, so there was really no good-bye there.  But I shook hands with my dad in the kitchen, and we did the manly eyeball-to-eyeball stare.  I'm not sure what it meant, but it was necessary.  Silly men.  And I waited for the awkward Mom moment, but it never came.  I think they have become used to me leavin'!

Well, they both follow me out to the garage, and then I give Mom a hug good-bye.  Dad waits around in the garage, then says a simple word to me as I leave, "Think."  haha...at 25 years old, it's a funny thing to hear.  I didn't laugh, but it sure amused me.  I wonder if that ever stops happening between a Dad and Son.  I mean, I will say today that I will forever laugh if I am 47 years old and still hear my dad say to me when I leave, "Think."  Does Grandpa tell him that?!

Well, after a not-so-quick start from my new car (Dad and I gave that "uh oh...well, she's fine...it's too late anyway"...look to each other), and I was off.

The drive itself wasn't bad at all.  Outside of the first couple of hours.  I was sooooo tired.  And nothin' was changin' that.  Just stay awake.  Just stay awake!  Well, around St. Louis, I hit the proverbial "second wind" (what does that mean anyway?!), and I never looked back.  I smiled with utter joy as I saw two small jets comin' into Lambert, and I knew that that could soon be me!  woo hoo!

The drive across Missouri was nothin' much.  I mean, really, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas aren't exactly what I would call tourist traps.  They seem to be more like the out-of-sight pipes that get the water to the shiny faucet.  Necessary?  Sure.  Noticed?  Only when something bad happens.  Appreciated?  Never.

Well, after several hours, I made it to Kansas.  And as a side note, my day-old car was runnin' like a champ!  I rocked out 336.7 miles on one tank after a fill-up back home...and I only put in 11.58 gallons (that's 29 miles per gallon)!  That's what I'm talkin' about!  She had the occasional wobbly front end but nothin' major.  A good alignment should do the trick.  I think she enjoyed the occasional encouragement and pat on the dash, too...

Well, anyway, I found myself in Kansas!  Of course, I let out a scream there, too!  It's exciting!  Of course, I think people let out the same scream when they leave the state, but that's to be expected!  I was on the interstate just a short while, and then I took the county highway the rest of the way.  And was I ever in Kansas!

Picture this...it's a two-lane road with fields and sparse houses scattered here and there.  Lots of old machinery, rolling hills of cows and pastures, and an occasional wheat field.  It's everything Kansas is pictured to be.  And on top of all of that, the speed limit is 65 mph.  On a two-lane highway!  I guess they just don't expect much traffic...

Of course, with my Midwest background, I have a fond appreciation of such scenery probably greater than most.  I was absolutely stoked to find myself starin' off in the distance and only bein' able to see cows and fields.  That's just wired into me!

Well, I make it to Chanute in about 6 hours and 45 minutes.  It is just gettin' dark about the time I roll in, too.  I take the first exit, and sure enough, the airport is right off the exit.  So I don't even get to see the town yet.

I pull up to the airport, and it's nothin' fancy.  Granted, it's night-time, but it's just a classic older airport.  It has a couple of hangars (older) and an early-80's lookin' FBO.  But I had seen pictures, so I wasn't really surprised.  Besides, I was here for flying, not for being pampered.

I walk in, and there are two men sittin' on couches watchin' TV.  I greet them, and one asks if I'm Andy.  Yup, I am.  It's Van, the guy I have been corresponding with for the past few weeks.  He is goin' to be my flight instructor.

And it's always funny to me, too, how we put people into pre-conceived boxes.  He just wasn't what I had pictured!  I really don't know how I would draw up the picture of what I thought I would see, but I just knew he wasn't it!  He is a bit younger than I expected, and he was really, really laid-back.  Actually, he mentioned that he and the other guy were watchin' Military TV and just shootin' the breeze.  And he started right back in on the conversation!  He offered me a seat, and they just kept talking!  I felt more like I was walkin' into a truckstop and sittin' at the single stools than walkin' into an aiport!  They treated me as a lifelong friend and put stock into every comment I made, but it was just different!

Finally, after about 30 minutes, Van takes me to a table to receive my books.  And wow, do I mean books!  I received 23 books of various sizes...everything from Aviation Weather to Oram Exam Guides.  I also received a few aviation maps and some approach plates and even an IFR kneeboard.  And then I talked with him about the program...all the nitty-gritty details.  I had to sign numerous papers sayin' I would show up on time, pay up-front, take my training seriously, blah blah blah, and then take some other papers with me to read and sign by Monday.  It's just the necessary details that every program doesn't want to have but needs.

But after all of the necessary papers, he said that he is not there to make things difficult.  He wants to train me to be a good pilot.  Up until that point, they have not needed to even use the majority of the rules, but they are there if necessary.  I understood.  But he did say that he would train me to the next level (meaning commercial level).  He even described himself as desiring perfection!  The Practical Test Standards (minimum standards I have to meet to pass my tests) require a degree of latitude (like having 100 feet grace on certain maneuvers), but he said that wasn't necessary.  ha!  His training is a bit rigid, but I love it!  He just wants me to be the best!

He then took me on a tour of the airport.  The facilities themselves aren't too bad.  They have a decent pilot lounge room with several couches and a TV.  There is a decent selection of aviation books and resources at the front desk, and there were three computers for flight preparing, testing, and briefing.  Again, the facilities are a bit older, but as a whole, it is very functional.  The place sure won't win any awards any time soon, but it gets the job done.

He then took me outside to show me my room.  I am staying right at the airport.  Literally!  He walked me over to a nearby building, and we had to walk through the cold rain to get there!  The last hour of driving to the airport was a mix of sleet and rain.  Lovely combination.  The weather hadn't changed much.

The housing area is pretty nice.  It's a bit older, too, but it's more than ample.  There is plenty of space, and with a kitchen, a couple of bathrooms, and several rooms, this facility easily has room to grow!  There are a couple of leaks that the city is supposed to be fixing, but that doesn't bother me.

He took me to the very back to show me my room.  It's a simple room, but it's a nice size.  Comes complete with a bed and desk.  And it looks right outside to the runway.  As a matter of fact, I can see the blue lights along the taxiway rather well!

There is another guy livin' next to me, but he isn't around...

He then opened the door across the hallway from my room.  And wouldn't ya know it, I am about 20 feet away from a helicopter!  No exaggeration!  The other side of the hallway is the hangar!!!  Their is a Medical Evac team based here, and their bird is my neighbor.  He says it can get kinda loud at night.  Yeah, I can imagine!  Can't wait for one of those calls to go through!  He also said that the medical team will sometimes come and get supplies right outside my door from one of the rooms.  Might be woke up by them, too.

We then went out in the hangar and checked out the airplanes.  They have several aircraft, with the twin-engine Piper Comanche takin' the cake.  He sits right in the middle.  On the sides are three low-wing Piper Cherokees and a Cessna 152.  In the very back are a tiny I-would-be-scared-to-fly-in-this airplane (I have no idea what type) and a crop duster in need of some TLC (but these two aren't for rent anyway!).  One of the Cherokees is due for an engine overhaul, one needs the prop spinner added, and the Twin needs both engines overhauled, but Van says that these are all on the list and will be c0mpleted even as I train.  All of the airplanes are from the 1960's.

I was freezing my tail off as I had left my jacket in the car, not knowing that we would be taking a tour outside, so I was glad to head back inside.  We went back over to the FBO, and we just talked and watched TV.  We talked about everything from football to the Wii.  I was gettin' more and more tired, but we kept talkin'!  I eventually found myself layin' on the couch, and I was about ready to fall asleep, so I said I should probably get goin'.

I ended up headed into town to get a bite to eat (McD's for $2.15), but I didn't get to see much of the town.  Too dark, and I was too tired.  I conveniently learned, however, that my new car had power locks.  I was confused as to why it had power windows and not locks, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that all of the doors locked when I pushed my door lock down.  Silly car.  And I did take note of the people at McD's...not sure how to describe them except to say they would be from Kansas.  Nice people, for sure, but the service and overall outward appearance wasn't much.  I don't mean that in any bad way...they just looked like small-town folk.  I mean, I was served by a guy in a Cobalt Boats hoodie.  Seriously.

I headed back to the airport, and against my own wishes, I unloaded all of my gear from my car to my room in the cold sprinkle.  I brushed my teeth, then gladly hit the sack at 9:16 P.M.  I set my alarm for 8:30 A.M.

C'mon, 11 hours...