Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

Here is a great jazz tune. If you have ever said, "I don't get jazz". Listen to the following song a few times. Every time I hear it I say the same thing to myself, "I get it!"

Lewis and I flew down to Peachstate GA. (GA2) Sunday for some lunch. We were going to go to the Henderson NC for a fly-in, but the weather up there was a bit dodgey. It was fun. A guy in an RV decided to provide some airshow activity for us. It is a grass strip in fair condition.

Life is good. It not just a catchy phrase. You get out what you put in. The universe is ambivalent and serves as a great retro-reflector. Angie is in Vladivostok. Her Father is recovering from some very significant procedures. It is a trying time, but I expect good things. Prayers in our Church here in Atlanta. My Aunt Sis passed away when I was in Europe. There wasn't enough time for me or my sister to get to the funeral in Maine. It has been yet another strange experience that may not have a decent previous comparison. Let's see how long this URL stays valid: Catherine Johns of NY and Maine I am probably not traveling much in the Month of June, unless, I really need to get away. I make my own adventures. Depending on the weather I am flying with a friend to a fly in in NC. I currently have a very experienced commercial pilot staying with me in Duluth. His insight is good and it all helps. I have been walking to/from work. It is 4.3 miles each way. Although my driving commute ...

I am back from Netherlands and France. I was detained in Amsterdam when I went through immigration on arrival for a little bit for an unpaid speeding ticket. I don't think I have ever talked to a more tolerant police officer, ever. He actually listened. I still need to pay the fine. I couldn't believe I actually found someone with their finger in the dike.

I have been pruning and working in the yard. It is very relaxing.

Life is good. The perfect life includes a crucial mix of challenge, adversity and measurable amounts of excitement and moderated amounts of pleasure. Don't let God down. There is work involved on my part. I was in Seattle. I spoke at a conference. I am an invited speaker in Amsterdam later this month.

I am home in Duluth doing the domestic stuff, yard work, car work, cleaning, painting, blah blah blah, all the stuff that makes life "normal". I had quite a trip in Brazil. It was over a year since I had last been in Brazil. I had studied quite a bit of Portuguese in that time. Although I have a ways to go, it was quite a thrill to have a much better understanding of what folks are saying. My speaking was much better even if I was politely saying "I didn't understand" in Portuguese. In these situations they would rephrase or I could perhaps read some Portuguese to get it. Actually, it is a simple "thrill of alchemy" to look at people in the eyes say something and have them understand without hesitation, or embarrassment (mine or theirs), and overall have the ability to articulate in THEIR native tongue. Too cool, in Portuguese, "LEE-Gow". I remember watching a movie in high school intended to motivate studying foreign languages. It was a lot ...