I’ve just released part 1 of the 2008 edition of Podapalooza on my aviation podcast, which was recorded in Oshkosh at EAA Airventure.  Podapalooza is the gathering of aviation podcasters in Oshkosh each year.  As well as being released on the feed for my Student Pilot Cast and several other aviation podcast feeds, this year it was broadcast live on EAA Radio as well as on the Internet.  Part 2 is following soon.

Participating in this year's event was, in the order they were sitting, Uncontrolled Airspace, The Student Pilot Cast, The Finer Points, Airspeed, and the Pilotcast (along with CFI cast).  Remoted in via skype was Will and Dave of the Pilot's Flight Pod Log.  Notably missing this year were new pilot, Greg, from the Student Pilot Journal and student pilot Jerry from VA Student Pilot.  I'm probably forgetting others as well, so forgive me.

I also want to note that Airventure Today (the daily Airventure newspaper) did an article on the Podapalooza, so check that out if want to.

I really enjoyed participating this year, and felt honored to be on the stage with so many talented people.  It's a great community of people in aviation.  I had a great time in Oshkosh in general, and was able, with the help of my friend Kent from the Pilotcast, to experience two approaches into OSH.  That was incredible.  The show itself is overwhelmingly large and covers everything in aviation, from the smallest of the ultralights to the largest plane I’ve ever seen (the Boeing Dreamlifter), and everything in between.  I’m including a few pics from the event.

An AeroShell T6 lines up for takeoff at the daily airshow

The old tower is set to be torn down soon.

Duggy the DC-3.

And for the largest, here is the Boeing DreamLifter, which is used to carry parts of the new 787 DreamLiner halfway across the world.

Trent and I went over to Chandler Airport today and jumped in a Cherokee 160 (with a CFI), and took a quick trip down to Casa Grande.  We didn't do this to go to Casa Grande, mind you, but for the experience itself.  You see, I'm starting my training for my Private Pilot certificate, and hopefully Trent isn't too far behind.  :)  It was a good time...and I'm excited as all get out to finally be doing my training.  Here are a couple of pics.

Trent is getting ready to take the controls (after the CFI, Brian, gets us into the air).

Here's a shot while Trent is flying from the south of Chandler looking north.  You can see I-17 running diagonally through the picture.  The Cherokees are low wing aircraft, so the pesky wings seem to always get in the way. 

About a month ago a friend of ours stopped by our house because I had told her that my wife, Crystal, had been thinking about getting a dog for our family (the kids have been asking for some time).  This friend had recently rescued a stray that was running with two other strays.  She could only get one of the three dogs into her car.

When our friend came by, she brought a young, yellow dog that looked mostly like a golden retriever.  He's still here a month later.  Sure enough...we've adopted a dog who's now part of our family. His name is Otis, and he has really taken a liking to my wife.  Since that day over a month ago, he's had two vet visits for shots and checkups, undergone treatment for ticks and the like, been neutered, and had a visit to the groomer.  He seems to really like it here, loves the kids, and is a pretty quick learner.  The vet estimated his age (a month ago) to be around 8 months.  He's mostly golden, but has a black tongue and seems slightly smaller than a purebred golden retriever, so we're thinking maybe some chow chow in his bloodline...but what do we know?  Whatever breed(s) he is...he's turning out to be a great dog.  And, as my dad pointed out repeatedly on a recent visit while he was watching Otis lounge around our house a lot, a very lucky dog.

Here are some pictures of Otis during his first week with us.  Pictures are below, or hit this link for the whole gallery.

Crystal and I just got back this past weekend from doing some diving in San Carlos, Mexico.  We went with Saguaro Diving and Sport on their last organized trip of the year to San Carlos.  While the bus ride was absolutely brutal (I'm not doing that again), we had a good time.  Eight hours on the uncomfortable bus seats down to San Carlos without stopping, and over 11 hours back with lots of border and drug checks, is enough to cure one of the need to ever see a bus again.

We went with our friends Melissa and Reed, and we had a great time diving and sleeping (a lot).  I've included a link to some pictures, mostly wet, from the trip. 

Highlights included seeing and swimming with lots of seals, a medium sized green sea turtle, many tropical fish on the rocky reefs, including Angels, Damsels, Butterfly Fish, Puffers, etc.  We also encountered many moray eels, and some very interesting invertebrates.  Clicking on the pictures below will take you to the full gallery.

The seals were fun to see, and pretty playful.  The water was warm (over 80 F).  The dive boat, while slow, was big and comfortable.  Hard to ask for much more.

Reed and I also had a very interesting night dive (unfortunately I didn't take my camera on that dive). More...

I've finally posted some of my Pics from Maui, including many diving shots.  Click the image below to go to this gallery.

So, the 2007 "Friend, not Fish" dive trip has come to a close.  For the second year a bunch of buddies have gotten together on the Truth Aquatics "Conception" for a 3-day live-aboard dive trip in the northern Channel Islands off the coast of California.  Good food, decent diving, and good sleep pretty much make up the whole trip, and it was once again a nice break.  I've got some video and some photos from the trip.  I've completed the initial gallery of still photos, and have a link in this post.  The video I haven't had a chance to work on yet, so that will be coming later.  For now, enjoy the photos.

Slideshow of the 2007 Channel Islands Dive trip Gallery.

Browse the images of this gallery.

A few of the selections from this gallery (click one of the links above for more images):

Recently I had to take a trip to New York, and my friend Todd came along with me.  I've put up an album of some of the pictures I took during the trip.  A couple of videos are coming soon.

Gallery

Slideshow

This is a White Spotted Rose anemone that I shot in the Channel Islands.

 Adding here mostly for a test of flickr.

I've put together a lengthy album from a dive trip we took to the Channel Islands in California earlier this year.  These are from the northern Channel Islands (Santa Cruz Island) and our diving was done from the Truth Aquatics boat, the Conception.  Good times.

Click on the pic below to go to the album.

Let me know if I got anything wrong...:)