#100

You may think that blog post #100 would be pretty amazing.  

perhaps a little bit insightful...

or maybe share some great info??

Really, it is just another of my wild, rambling rants about whatever is on my mind at the moment..... 

So, in honor of the Salinas Airshow (which I will address in a moment) coming up this weekend, I dug through my oldest digital photos to share with you some really stellar (adjective stolen from Kylie) photos of myself.

Salinas Airshow 2005

Jimmy Vanderzwaan (sp?), Gordon Bowman Jones & Me.

So I share with you some insights into my life the past 5 years.

1.  I donated those pink pants.

2.  I still have my Showcopters monogrammed shirt hanging in my closet.

3.  I have since purchased, and use quite regularly, a nifty little devise called a flat iron.  

4.  My dad was live and well (and cocky, and being Mr. Airshow Man).

5.  Although I have met Jim Vanderzwaan on multiple occasions throughout the years he totally does not acknowledge me.  (He's the local weatherman for those non-locals reading).

Dad, Chris Gularte, Bob Bolton & Me

6.  I no longer tuck in my shirt with lower-rise pants.  It just makes me appear even more wide around the middle BTW.  Ok, just fat.

***warning, ranting begins now***

7.  Chris Gulare & Bob Bolton have taken extreme (in my opinion) advantage of my father's trust and kindness before and since this photo.

8.  The Salinas Airshow, who have dedicated an entire page of this year's printed program to my dad - all glossy photos and everything , were "unable" to get us President's Club tickets.  I realize that I am sound like a choosy-beggar, BUT - - LISTEN TO THIS - - they have printed a large Jim Cheatham dedication banner to hang inside the President's Club Tent.  The very same tent + banner that none of us (who really care) get to see.  It is just one last way the Airshow has stuck it to the Cheathams - treating us all like second class citizens.  

9.  The same year the photos above were taken I had to beg my way into the President's Club tent - WHERE THE ANNOUNCER'S BOOTH WAS LOCATED - because they "couldn't" issue the Showcopters more than the 3 tickets for the performers.  

10.  Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.  It is just frustrating and demeaning after 20+ years of watching my dad get taken advantage of (free rides, extra performances in bad weather, and the airshow buying fuel from his competitor).  Bummer, but at least my dad doesn't have to deal with it anymore.

So, I think we will boycott the Airshow.  Burn up the "Flight Club" tickets we were comp-ed.  Is this the right thing?  Is my indignation justified?  Or do I just have a chip on my shoulder?  Am I an Airshow snob?

What do you think?

July: a recap.

 

A girl needs red cowgirl boots

to effectively celebrate the Fourth of July.

**thank you Grandma Julie**

A beautiful sunset at the ranch 

the night we viewed the site of dad's memorial.

Mike Popovitch, pilot, graced us with his time

 - and the arrangement of the helicopter - 

to spread my dad's ashes over the rock formation

waaaay up on Chel's Ranch.  We were all 

taxiied up by helicopter.  Pretty fantastic.

Lastly, my view for a whole week at Bass Lake.

"Just sittin on the beach

 sippin on a brewsky

lettin mother nature heal me"

(search youTube for  "American Gladiator Malibu" to get that one)

The recipe for a happy father's day

Fresh Apricots +

Washed +

Halved + Pitted +

Homemade crust +

Rolled out just right +

Stack up fruit +

Sugar + Flour + Cinnamon +

Bake +

Enjoy with your Dad...

unless you can't.

Then, just be thankful for a beautiful life.

Just a short list

Marie and I just got back from our buying trip to LA.

IT.

WAS.

FANTASTIC.

AND...

AWESOME.

That's really all I have to say for now.  More, much more, on our adventures in purchasing soon.

Oh, and we bought: maxi dresses, premium denim, lots of tops, nursing tops, nursing bras, dresses, wraps, prego planners, onesies, little baby kimono gift sets, skin care for mamas, belts, bags, misc accessories, and MORE!

Dan Woods: he's got mad skillz1

So this guy whom I have never before met (that I can recall) made this AMAZING memorial for my dad and presented it to the airport yesterday.  Here he is on the right talking to Burt with the memorial cross between the two:

It is a silver cross made from a main rotor mast (totally cleaned up, obviously) 

and has engraving around the base that reads: 

James T. Cheatham 

A Helicopter's Best Friend

January 5, 1942 - 

March 11, 2009

I am constantly surprised by how many lives we each (in this case my dad) affect daily.  I have been able to find out about the great legacy my father left behind in the business and aviation communities.  People from the bank and post office clerks to heads of corporations tell me that they loved my dad - he was someone who took the time to ask how they were doing - AND really listen for the response.  He bragged about us kids because they tell me that he did.    It is really special to have such a father as mine, one who left a legacy of service and personal investment in all he did.

Memorialized

The three local Cheatham kids, pulling back the cover together...

to reveal the beautiful plaque.

And one cute grandkid 

(more on her scraped up nose in a later post)

The crowd disbursed to partake of other Airport Tenant Day festivities.

It was an emotional moment.  The Airport Manager spoke.  He said that Jim Cheatham helped to put this airport 'on the map', and that he (my dad) was largely responsible for the helipad even being there.

Burt spoke for the family, saying that we were all there to "make sure they were doing it right". It was perfect comedy, and sounded EXACTLY like something my dad would say.

He did a great job.

So, then we pulled back the covering.  The plaque looks fantastic.

Later, the Airport presented the family with a runway-light lamp.  It is super cool, but I didn't get a photo.

Also, a man named Dan Wood made an AMAZING brass monument (a rotor mast as a cross) engraved with "James T Cheatham, the helicopter's best friend".  I will post those photos later.

Thanks for memorializing our dad, Salinas Airport.  We are proud.

SW

Just DANCE (dance, da-ance)

I was just sitting down for 30 seconds, and thinking:

"really, what do I have to complain about?"

Seriously...

I have a husband who: is pretty danged handsome, works hard, brings home the bacon (in more ways than one... like, literally: brings home dead pigs), doesn't get ALL bend out of shape when the laundry ain't done or the house ain't perfect (or my grammar AIN'T fantastic), and he truly loves me.

I have a kid who: is pretty danged cute, gives me kisses all the time (just don't mind the slobber), wants me to hold her a lot, follows me around the house (even bangs on the bathroom door the ENTIRE time I am doing my business), and truly loves me.

I have me: who is pretty danged adorable, lots of ideas running through my brain, and God truly loves me.

I have friends, (yay for Yvonne and her 5am running wake-up calls), family who are ku-koo but really help each other out, and my health: heck, I have enough time, energy, and breath to write this silly little blog that no-one really reads but me!

Life is Good.

And, that's why, when there is music playing - just follow this little munchkin's lead &

JUST DANCE (oh, o-oh, just dance - dance - dance)  

**think Lady GaGa here, people***

Have a GROOVY day,

SW