The trip down was great! until we hit Georgia. Thunderstorms were popping up faster than popcorn, and we were forced to land and wait for them to pass. We finally made it within 30 minutes of our destination and we were told by the local tower that we had to backtrack to make it around the thunderstorms, adding another 15 minutes to our trip. But Ron was happy he got lots of experience in his new plane and I learned a thing or two myself. Immediately after we got there we went to my grandmas favorite restaurant, Carraba's , it's like a second Ginos.
Not much today. Made my first money this morning helping Ms. Pat. Got to drive a big chase vehicle too. We helped pilot Bill pack his balloon for Spain. He's going to compete against some of the elite pilots in the world, like David Levin, Sid Cutter, and many other great balloonists. We also checked out the remnants of the fire that took place a few weeks ago, while my grandparents were down.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner Things Tyler wont Tell U |
| Little Mr. Ty showed up in Florida with no gloves, no boots and no sunglasses. So one of the first orders of business today was to go to Target and get him equipped for the summer. He also learned that you don't leave your shoes out to dry on the patio under the bugzapper. |
We started the day off unloading Bills balloon out of Sally (the suburban). We didn't have a flight.
Bill needed repairs done before the trip to Spain. Then we went to about 10 hotels to drop off brochures for Orange Blossom Balloons. We then stopped at Graves RC which has lots of remote controlled planes and helicopters. Then to the fitness center were Jeff smoked me at all the cardio vascular exercises. Then, better yet, he smokes me at golf by like 20 strokes. I didn't have a great day really.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
| I think I impressed Tyler at the gym. I don't think he thought an old guy could do all that. We did manage to get in 9 holes between the rain-drops. I think he will sleep well tonight. |
We had a flight this morning. It was about cancelled because of high winds, but we got up and down before the winds could really pick up. Jeff said it was, at the highest, 30 knots, in the balloon. We only had the 6 passenger balloon
today. We had 4 adults and 2 little girls. All British or Irish. Jeff fixed Bills balloon, while I spread bug killer, and cleaned the bug zapper. Jeff also showed me some foosball moves and showed me how really good he is. WOW!!! He smoked me every time. We had pizza for
supper, and watched Miss Congeniality. It's a good movie. You should watch it if you have the chance to.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
| Ty Has been a real great help. At first I was worried about him getting bored while I was working on projects (like sewing on Bill's balloon). I have found that between the foosball table and the computer games, I might not even see him all summer! He has gotten to level 6 on one of the games. (Took me 4 months) |
DAY 4 JUNE 13TH
We got to sleep in today, Pat and Richard took the 6 passengers for today. We made more hotel visits down I- Drive. Jeff
has got it down to a science. He asked me if I wanted to try, but I said no. We went to the gym again today and I
broke 500 calories in 30 minutes, which Jeff says is really good. Of course he beat me. He's really fit for a 40 year old guy. I don't think my biceps have ever hurt
this much either. Got to wash the Suburban today, and Jeff thinks it will please Pat very much. We had Jeff's tacos in a bowl for supper tonight. Pat Puetz will be coming on Friday for the tourney. Got to talk to him through instant messaging today. Learned even
more foosball moves today, and I'm getting a lot better.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
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"A Kid in a Candy Store" That is the best way to describe Tyler. Our days run from early in the morning till late in the evening. He is great fun to watch and a great help. Yesterday I got him up at 6:45 and we did not stop till
around 7:30pm. Then Ty went and played on the computer and then on the foosball table and then out and threw some horseshoes. He came in and sat down on the couch for about ten minutes and said. " I think I am going to bed" ....
"Hey Jule" Ever get him to go to sleep at 8:50 PM all on his own?? LOL. O and not only did Ty break the 500 calorie mark but he lifted 12,945lbs in his workout! Double click on any of his pics to see the full shot. |
DAY 5 JUNE 14TH
We flew this morning, had about 10 passengers. We went to Jeff's favorite place in the world, the Home Depot. We got some lawn fertilizer, and Jeff's lawn is looking great. We also went to Wal-Mart to get some shorts, and some water shoes, that are very, very comfortable to wear around the house. I'm still sore from the weight room yesterday, my biceps are killing me, but everything else is just fine. Bill came over to pick up his balloon, and have Jeff make him a pouch for him to carry things in during his flights. Pat comes in tomorrow and we're still not sure about the tourney. He can't get a hold of the guy who schedules everything. We also went to the movies. We saw The "Mummy Returns". Both Jeff and I like it a lot. This was my 2nd time watching it, but it's worth it. We played darts too. I came close to beating him. We also saw, Detroit Pistons star Grant Hill at the movie theater. Had a really fun day.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
| Ole Ty bout pooped his pants when he saw Grant Hill. Wonder who else we will see while he is here. I forgot to warn him that you see lots of famous people in Orlando. Ty was a great help today. He drove the chase truck and helped refuel after the flight. He also spread the fertilizer. I think we are going to fly my airplanes on Saturday. |
DAY 6 JUNE 15TH
We didn't fly today. We started out visiting a couple of hotels, but then went to a tour company and talked to a crowd of Brits that flew in the night before. Pat
Puetz flies in at 11:13 pm(10:13 Iowa time). We also went to the gym. I broke my 
record on the cardio and also lifted more than 20,000 lbs. of
weight. We then went to the gun range, where Jeff showed me how to shoot his ruger and his toros millennium 9 mm. Jeff is really good at shooting pistols too. He's really accurate. I didn't do bad for my first time. We went home and did a little yard work before the
t-storms hit. Probably got about 3inches of rain. We couldn't see the other side of the lake it was so bad. I had to trim the trees, so that Jeff wont hit his head when he mows.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
| Tyler had a fun day today. He is getting much better at the gym and will most likely out do me by the end of the summer. I told him that at his age he should improve rapidly where his poor old uncle Jeff stays about the same. Oh and the gun range.. LOL He didn't tell you that out of his first clip of ten shots, we could only find five holes in the target.. Love you all. |
DAY 7 JUNE 16TH
Today we had13 passengers, and I was left driving the van with a trailer. We 
landed in a very sandy field. There were tons of underground irrigation pipe and posts
everywhere. So I had to weave in and out of the sand, and I got the van stuck. We unlatched the trailer and were able to get the van out of the sand. Thanks to our good friend Pat Puetz , who we picked up at the airport at midnight last night. Yes, Pat is our savior. We
then went to the field were Jeff fly's his rc planes. I got to fly 2 times. We then came back here and Pat and I cleaned the Suburban. Pat also beat the crud out of me in ping pong. He is to afraid to play me in foosball. Then again why shouldn't he be?
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
| Another big day for Tyler. Last night we went to bed at 6:30 pm. We then got up at 10 pm to go to the airport to pick up an old friend of mine. We did not get back home till 2 am and took another nap before we went out to fly at 5am. Ty did a great job on the balloon chase this morning and you should have seen him flying that plane. |
DAY 8 JUNE 17th
Time fly's by when you're having fun. Already into the second week. We flew the 2 big balloons today. We landed next to a driving range, so Pat and I collected 18 golf balls. We came straight home, and began to clean the house, while Jeff finished making Bill's equipment bag for his basket. We then watched a movie from the 70's called The Last "Starfighter". Then we just relaxed until Jon and Sandy came over with Austin. I got smoked by Jon at both foosball and ping pong.
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Uncle Jeff's Corner |
| The flight was great this morning. Two big balloons up and down together. Ty, again was great help. We had a day around the house today. I had sewing to do so Pat and Ty cleaned up the house. Jon and Sandy and Austin came over for dinner and games. Finally! Yes Finally Tyler found someone he can beat in ping pong and foosball. Austin. |
June 9th - June 16th |
June 17th - June 23rd |
June 24th - June 30th |
July 1st - July 7th |
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WEEK 5 |
WEEK 7 |
WEEK 8 |
