4/21/2008
"Day 5"
Today is my Mother's birthday. She would have been 64 today. 
I spoke to both my sisters this morning and gave Otto a call. It’s a strange place to be when you feel like you should talk about her being gone, but not really being ready to go there emotionally. I spent most of the day distracting myself by looking at maps and cross-referencing the latest weather forecasts in planning my escape from Idaho. I also managed to find a welding supply company that could fill my Oxygen tank that I need for flying anywhere above 12,500 feet; the altitude at which you start to go hypoxic. It was a nice surprise to be recognized by the folks at Oxarc and one of them even gave me a ride back to the hotel so I wouldn't have to take a cab. It's nice to know that “While You Were Out” still draws an audience after so many years. The Oxarc folks were very excited about my new projects and rather intrigued about "Operation Fly Away Home" though I didn't go into depth about my motivations. This is a truck full of sinks that was in the hotel parking lot:
I have pretty much settled on an extremely early departure tomorrow in an attempt to thread the weather needle that will be sandwiching Idaho's North and South Borders and moving in on top later in the day. My goal is to get to Arizona where I'll pick up a rather strong tail wind to send me as far East as I can get before bumping into a convective thunder head that is predicted to be waiting for me in Arkansas. I'll also have the option of heading a bit farther south to Scottsdale and seeing my newly born nephew named Jamison (named after my mom). Now that I read what I just wrote, I'll definitely be heading down to meet him as long as it's safe. Even though I'm anxious to get home and see my Wife and Sally (our dog/child) it's almost as if the weather has been pushing me south to Scottsdale. After all my original plan of heading through the Missoula Pass was not only impossible three days ago, it still is and likely will be for some time. Aha, see something just revealed itself! Anyway, I'm going to have to be asleep early if I've any chance of waking up at 3:30 am. Good night, and Happy Birthday Mom!
