Trip to Pune and Spicer College

Hello my friends,

For the first time in 5 months, I am back to publishing my blog. So, for those of you who look for this then you will be happy. Karen and I finally got a little bit of time off from my work and we are heading out on a ROAD TRIP. You see, my airplane is in maintenance for at least 15 days so that gives me time to go and see some of India, as well as other places.

First of all, I need to apologize for not being on my blog site in 5 months. The job change and transition to Mumbai was WAY more difficult and time consuming than I EVER thought it would be. Karen and I went together to the USA the 1st of April for my 40th High School reunion. That was really fun and we had a blast together but then I had to go to New York City to get my new Indian visa as I had to have that for my NEW job. That took like an extra week and with all the bother of New York City hassles, traffic and just dealing with Indian bureaucracy at the Consulate in New York. Fortunately, we had friends in the DGCA in India who helped hurry my new pilot visa through and meanwhile I was back in California, visiting with my granddaughter, Sadie, while the bureaucrats fought over issues. Finally, after the embassy refused to take my credit card info over the phone and said to send it on their website, I sent it to their email address. No passport in the Fedex truck the next morning so I called and they said their website had issues and wasn't working. I forced them to take the info over the phone and finally, on Wednesday of the second week, I had my passport and visa, but not in time to make the LA flight to Delhi that day. So, one more night in Loma Linda and then LAX to Delhi on Emirates, a very nice ride in business class and the first class lounges, where I took my first shower in Dubai this time. Very nice!! With lots of sleep and the shower I was ready for my big Indian bureaucracy when I got back to Delhi this time. First to the Indian Air Force to finish up my delayed Indian medical. Once that was in hand, we headed for the DGCA to get my new pilot's license for the new company, since your license has your employer on it. I got that and then we headed for the dreaded Foreign Regional Registration Office. Ugh!! This most hated of bureaucracies is just a drag any time. Fortunately, I had my copilot Vipul, with me to help if there were any issues that we couldn't understand. Of course, we took about 3 days because for a minute we thought we were going to the Gurgaon FRRO because that was my home address, but NO, it was back to Delhi and the LONG lines there. Finally got everything settled and had my paperwork done. They were still finishing up the certification for the aircraft in India (it had come from England) and once that was done, we started flying on April 28. I had already been working for the company for one full month, but all of that time was tied up in paperwork and taking taxis all over Delhi to get things done. Karen was still in the USA visiting with family and having get-together's with friends in Pittsburgh area. Finally, on May 26th she reappeared in India and, though I was out of town flying the plane, she put on her big girl pants and got a taxi to take her HOME, where she crashed for like a week straight. Jet lag coming from the USA is always a killer, for sure.

I had lots of flying for awhile and then it began to slow down. Finally, I had to return to the USA in late June for my recurrent training and this time, due to last minute schedule changes, I caught a British Airways/American Airlines combination through London and then straight to Dallas/Fort Worth airport, where my class started at 8 a.m. the next morning after 22 straight hours of flying and then arriving in Dallas at 8:30 p.m. the night before. Fortunately, I didn't sleep through class and we got the training done before I headed for Tennessee, where I visited with Brad, Jessica and Sadie, who were staying with her family in Tennessee. I also got a chance to visit with many friends at church and in the area over several days. Bill and Debbie Hoover up in Cleveland, Gary Walls, Doctor Starkey, all friends from days gone by, made contact and we had some quality time together. Got many chances to see Sadie and she is becoming quite a ham, reminding me constantly of someone in our family about 30 years prior to this. Brad has his 30th birthday in early June. Wow, can I possibly have a kid that age already?? 

We left this morning from Mumbai, where our new apartment in Powai area of Mumbai is our new favorite place in India. We LOVE our location, since we are on the 14th floor of a bunch of highrise apartments that are in a very nice section of Mumbai. Karen can walk out our door and catch a tuk-tuk or walk just 3 blocks to great restaurants, shopping and banks, whatever she needs. This area appeals to ex-pats and she finds herself finally feeling quite at home in India. Our gym is located about 3 blocks away and we walk together there almost every day. Too fun to have someone to work out and walk with. Karen is working hard on her new body image and finally has gotten the GYM fever even more than me. I have been faithful in the gym for over 2 years now. Even though I am no Charles Atlas, I am in the best physical condition of my life and she has started to become a believer that this stuff works so she is now waking me up at 6 a.m. to make it to the gym and workout before others get to our favorite equipment. She has lost many pounds and I have lost almost 30 since I first came to India in June of 2009. The best part is I don't worry about my blood pressure and the treadmill tests that are a routine part of my Indian flight physical are just such a breeze now. Since treadmill or Cross-trainer is a part of my cardio routine, it sure makes a difference in how I feel about my physicals. Since India has been such a blessing to me, financially, we are making plans to stay until I am forced to retire at age 65 here, so almost another 7 years. Life is adventurous, comfortable and pretty easy. We wish we were closer to family and sometimes it is lonely and hectic. Our biggest frustration right now is Mumbai traffic, which is SO MUCH WORSE than Delhi traffic. I live 10 miles from the airport and sometimes it takes 1:20 or more to get to work. Very sad and frustrating. I kill time with my new company IPAD2 and the moving map of the world works very well in all parts of India so, since I love maps, it is my new passtime, getting acquainted with the roads of India. I even tell the drivers where to go sometimes, which they do not appreciate at all. Too funny. The driver mentality cannot process a moving map with a blue dot that represents our taxi and roadways that represent what you see out the window. Not a single driver can do it, so I just tell them that I will say right or left to get where we are going. They argue with me and sometimes that alone takes an extra 10-15 minutes. But, those of you who know I love maps will know that I have found my new passion. It even works at the airport on the runways to keep us from getting lost on the airports. Too fun!!

Gottta go to Friday night vespers at the college so must close. I am off Facebook for a little while so you guys will benefit because I will take more time to keep you updated. Please let me know you like or don't like this stuff. I will try to keep it interesting.

Karen was looking for her glasses as we left this morning and they were on her head. I had to post that pic. Also, look at the road to Pune, have you ever seen such open, clear, clean roads in India? amazing. Also, look at the beautiful scenery. Our college has a wonderful campus and we will enjoy it for vespers as well as church tomorrow. Then, a little touring around Pune and back home tomorrow night.

Love you all,

Dan and Karen