Cruising in Alaska

Mike, Becky, Maggie & Liam and Ali have been on a cruise around Alaska for the past week!  Sounds like an amazing trip - seeing glaciers, whales, eagles and so much more!!  Mike sent a few pictures - thought I'd share!

Video of Mike flying with Blue Angels

Here is Mike's article for the Plain Dealer - and at the end is the video the Blue Angels provided to him of his flight!!!  I was bracing myself watching!!  It's pretty cool!!

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/09/educators_reporter_fight_gravi.html

Mike flies with the Blue Angels!!

So, Mike was chosen as the only media person to get to fly with the Blue Angels this year!  They are in town for the air show this weekend!  Kathy, Katy, Chris & I went down to watch - along with 4 of his colleagues from the PD!  It was pretty darn cool, to say the least!!!  Mike seemed surprisingly calm when we got there - pacing a bit, but otherwise doing alright!!  He was wisked away to get situated in the plane - Kathy & I chatted with his pilot CJ for a few minutes.  I made sure Mike was going to be safe up there!  He told us there was a pretty good chance he would pass out and/or throw up!!!

After 20 minutes or so, the engines started and they started taxiing down the runway!  And then they were off!!  They went by us and then straight up into the clouds!!!  I was watching and thinking - wow, I can't believe my brother is up there!  It was so cool!!  They were gone about 40 minutes and then they were back!  Safe landing...as they got close to us, Mike gave his thumbs up!!!  He did not pass out and he did not throw up!!!  Way to go Mike - so proud!!!

He was presented with a framed photo of the Blue Angels - we took some more pictures!  Then Mike somewhat talked...I say somewhat because he was pretty out of it!  A bit shaky...a bit nauseous!  But he held it together!  I believe he is glad he did it...would most likely not wish to do it again!  Check out the PD maybe Friday or Saturday for his article!!  But it was the experience of a lifetime!!!  And I am so glad I was able to be there for it!!!  Thanks Mike!!  Mom and dad would be proud!!!