Back from the airshow
My family and I just got back from our (sometimes) annual trip down to Miramar for the airshow. We used to go on a pretty yearly basis but went to our last one back in 2003. I think the extreme heat of that year's show pretty much drained everyone for the next five years, which is why nobody really brought up the option of going back again. I'm super glad that we decided to go this year, though, because I had an awesome time.
Even though I had a great time, part of it was slightly emotional. It was the first time going back to the airshow since my Grandmother died of ovarian cancer in 2004. She would come with us every year and was just as excited about the whole experience as everyone else was. It definitely felt like something was missing without her and I'm sure that everyone else felt the same way.
On a happier note, this was the first year that I got to bring my wife with me! We've been dating for nearly four years now (married happily since June) but we haven't gone to the airshow since then. I'm glad the weather was as cool as it was, because I'm sure that she and my Mom wouldn't have had so much fun if it was as hot as last time. Overall, though, I think she did enjoy herself and hope she'll want to come back with us next year if we all decide to go.
One of the biggest draws to the airshow is, coincidentally, not part of the actual even itself. I absolutely love and look forward to hanging out in the hotel courtyard and parking lot on the afternoon and night before. We drive down to San Diego on the Friday before the Saturday event that we attend. It's so much easier to stay just a few minutes away from the base and get up and head out there in the morning as opposed to driving out for just the event itself and heading back home. It's a lot less stress and makes sure we're totally rested for a day that can be tiring as hell, depending on the weather.
Of the various seating options available to visitors, we choose one of the better ones. In our earlier visits, we'd buy out a box of seats so that we were guaranteed a good spot with enough seats and space for everyone that came with us. These were uncovered and when the weather was hot it made the show itself fairly miserable to sit there all day and stare up into the sun. For the past few shows, we've been purchasing seats in the Flight Deck Chalet. This provides the ability to grab a table under a huge covered tent area, as well as the ability to step outside into a private viewing area for other Flight Deck Chalet viewers and watch the jets. A free box lunch as well as unlimited soda and water are also provided, which is awesome.
When we get to the hotel in the afternoon on Friday, the show for that day is just getting to all of the good stuff. Our hotel is also strategically placed in the path of the jets, right below where they fly to regroup and head back to the flight deck. This allows for some awesomely-close flyovers (got to see the new F-22 pretty close up as it flew overhead) and a pretty good view of the Blue Angels solo pilots that routinely pass over before heading back over the base. I'm not sure what it is, but I just really enjoy hanging out at the hotel with my family doing something that we all enjoy. I guess that's what it is, actually. Oh, and I really enjoy staying in hotels. It's nice to have other people take care of your daily chores for a bit, you know?
This was the first year of me having to board a pet while I was gone somewhere, too. I've moved out to my own apartment with my wife and we adopted a dog and obviously can't leave him home alone like we can the cats, so I used PetsMart PetsHotel and was extremely happy with their service. That's for another blog post, though. Charlie will be staying there again this Thursday through Sunday for BlizzCon and I'm sure he's excited to go back.
The only thing that I don't like about the airshow every year is that it's over so early. I'm wanting to go back already when we start driving home.
Even though I had a great time, part of it was slightly emotional. It was the first time going back to the airshow since my Grandmother died of ovarian cancer in 2004. She would come with us every year and was just as excited about the whole experience as everyone else was. It definitely felt like something was missing without her and I'm sure that everyone else felt the same way.
On a happier note, this was the first year that I got to bring my wife with me! We've been dating for nearly four years now (married happily since June) but we haven't gone to the airshow since then. I'm glad the weather was as cool as it was, because I'm sure that she and my Mom wouldn't have had so much fun if it was as hot as last time. Overall, though, I think she did enjoy herself and hope she'll want to come back with us next year if we all decide to go.
One of the biggest draws to the airshow is, coincidentally, not part of the actual even itself. I absolutely love and look forward to hanging out in the hotel courtyard and parking lot on the afternoon and night before. We drive down to San Diego on the Friday before the Saturday event that we attend. It's so much easier to stay just a few minutes away from the base and get up and head out there in the morning as opposed to driving out for just the event itself and heading back home. It's a lot less stress and makes sure we're totally rested for a day that can be tiring as hell, depending on the weather.
Of the various seating options available to visitors, we choose one of the better ones. In our earlier visits, we'd buy out a box of seats so that we were guaranteed a good spot with enough seats and space for everyone that came with us. These were uncovered and when the weather was hot it made the show itself fairly miserable to sit there all day and stare up into the sun. For the past few shows, we've been purchasing seats in the Flight Deck Chalet. This provides the ability to grab a table under a huge covered tent area, as well as the ability to step outside into a private viewing area for other Flight Deck Chalet viewers and watch the jets. A free box lunch as well as unlimited soda and water are also provided, which is awesome.
When we get to the hotel in the afternoon on Friday, the show for that day is just getting to all of the good stuff. Our hotel is also strategically placed in the path of the jets, right below where they fly to regroup and head back to the flight deck. This allows for some awesomely-close flyovers (got to see the new F-22 pretty close up as it flew overhead) and a pretty good view of the Blue Angels solo pilots that routinely pass over before heading back over the base. I'm not sure what it is, but I just really enjoy hanging out at the hotel with my family doing something that we all enjoy. I guess that's what it is, actually. Oh, and I really enjoy staying in hotels. It's nice to have other people take care of your daily chores for a bit, you know?
This was the first year of me having to board a pet while I was gone somewhere, too. I've moved out to my own apartment with my wife and we adopted a dog and obviously can't leave him home alone like we can the cats, so I used PetsMart PetsHotel and was extremely happy with their service. That's for another blog post, though. Charlie will be staying there again this Thursday through Sunday for BlizzCon and I'm sure he's excited to go back.
The only thing that I don't like about the airshow every year is that it's over so early. I'm wanting to go back already when we start driving home.
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