Category Archives: Life in General

It’s A Wonderful Life

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Joe Clark

Christmas would not be Christmas without the “Christmas movies.” There are two movies everyone must see in order to truly experience Christmas. In 1983, the movie, A Christmas Story, hit the streets to almost immediate success. It was hilarious to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General | Tagged A Christmas Story, building airports, combat bomber pilot, George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart, Princeton, Ralphie, Red Ryder BB gun, squadron commander, The Christmas Movies, “The Old Man”, “You’ll put your eye out.” | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Joe Clark

I am a Christian and as such, I grew up believing the story of the birth of Jesus. I understand there are many other religions and viewpoints in the world. Because I am an American, I have the freedom to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged angels, Jesus, Joseph, Mary, Merry Christmas, shepherds, the Christmas story | 4 Comments

The Eve of Christmas Eve

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Joe Clark

We are beginning such a wonderful period. By now, most of us are in the process of forgetting our jobs, ignoring negative world events, focusing on family, and maybe thinking about the meaning of Christmas. I would hope we are … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged a sense of duty, a sense of honor and obligation, American minutemen, Christmas, focusing on family, Hanukkah, keeping the faith, Kwanzaa, living in peace, Marines, military members, military service, Navy, safety and security, standing united, The Eve of Christmas Eve, the meaning of Christmas, veterans, Vietnam, volunteer force, World War I, World War II | Comments Off

Running Out of Time

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Joe Clark

This is a time when many are running out of time. At this time of year, many people are finding themselves on the short end of the stick used to measure time. Of course, there are as many methods for … Continue reading →

Posted in Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged banging out copy, consequences, Davy Jones' locker, fingers flying across the keys, lessons of Christmas, making and saving gas, managing editors, methods for measuring time, Navy pilots, news reporter-photographers, pressure, publishers, Running Out of Time, short end of the stick, stressing out, students running out of time, time management | Comments Off

What Makes a Good CFI?

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Joe Clark

Some believe you must be a great pilot to be a good flight instructor. Others think you have to have great teaching skills. Then there are those who believe it all boils down to patience. For those who believe it … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged airplanes, discipline, flying, good flight instructor, great pilot, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning to fly, patience, pilots, professional pilots, professional reputation, stress, student pilots, teacher, the Law of Effect, training aircraft, What Makes a Good CFI? | Comments Off

Heroes

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Joe Clark

My student and I finished our flight a little early and when we returned to the ramp, I saw an early model Cessna 210 sitting in front of the flight dispatch building. From afar, the airplane looked good. As I … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged a true American hero, aeronautical engineering, airplanes, an older gentleman, Cessna 210, Cessnas, Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket, Eastern Airlines, Edwards Air Force Base, flying, Hawker Siddeley, heroes, just another Cessna pilot, military service, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' (NACA), Navy, North American Aviation, pilots, professional pilots, Scott Crossfield, test pilot, the fastest human alive, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee for Science and Technology, the X-15, World War II | 4 Comments

The Jags Lost

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Joe Clark

I missed the game, but from what I heard and what little I saw of the gridiron action, it did not go well for Jacksonville. I felt as though we would not have a chance to see the game, no … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged Anna, big brother, cousin, Dominic, Eva, first day of life, gorgeous babies, gridiron action, it was a great day even if the Jags lost, Jacksonville Jags, Nana, the game, The Jags Lost | 1 Comment

Doing the Right Thing

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Joe Clark

I read an article published in Flying Magazine that was one of the best articles I have ever read. The article started with the observation of a cropduster landing to reload his hopper and then taking off again. The pilot impressed … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General | Tagged "doing the right thing", checkrides, cropdusters, fly the airplane, flying by the rules, flying magazine, flying precisely, flying professionally, following the rules, happy passengers, integrity, landing on a point, observing, professional competence, repeat business, taking care of your equipment | Comments Off

“Stand Down from General Quarters”

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Joe Clark

“All hands, secure from General Quarters.” There is no finer call at sea than to stand down from general quarters. It means whatever was threatening the ship is no longer a danger. It also means sailors can get back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged Anna, backcountry roads, driving past midnight, expectant mothers, experienced grandmothers, first time fathers, grandchildren, normal routine, puppy dog eyes, standing my ground, “Stand Down from General Quarters” | Comments Off

The Season of Babies

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Joe Clark

There I was, at 27,000 feet pushing 630 knots, screaming down from the sky upside down,… Oops, no, wrong story… Actually I was sitting in my office finishing the school term and wondering what I would write my blog about … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged Anna, conversations, Dominic, Eva, grandchildren, stealing time here and there, the nicest person I know, the proverbial mother bear, the ringing phone, The Season of Babies, wifely telepathic communication, wrapping up the school term | 1 Comment

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Category Archives: Life in General

It’s A Wonderful Life

Merry Christmas

The Eve of Christmas Eve

Running Out of Time

What Makes a Good CFI?

Heroes

The Jags Lost

Doing the Right Thing

“Stand Down from General Quarters”

The Season of Babies

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