Wednesday, July 18, 2007

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is aviation’s family reunion and seven days of aviation’s best!
There’s an opening day concert by the incomparable Beach Boys, daily world-class air shows, nightly outdoor screenings of the best aviation films, all-star speakers at Theater in the Woods, hundreds of workshops and forums, over 800 exhibitors, and the popular KidVenture area for youngsters.
See the amazing F-22 Raptors, the U-2 spyplane and many other military aircraft; celebrate milestone anniversaries of Beechcraft, the Bonanza, and the U.S. Air Force; get up-close to the Goodyear Blimp; see Warbirds fill the sky; reminisce in the Vintage Aircraft area; learn about building your own airplane; get swept up in the sport pilot movement; or light the spark at the Learn to Fly Center.
AirVenture is calling you! There’s more than you can see in just one day… or two… or three…
That was one small piece out of the EAA website. It is a huge event. With over 100,000 in attendance each day and an expected million plus people for the week, it is the largest airshow in the world. Not just Wisconsin, not just the USA, but the world. That’s big.
However, want to know what’s even bigger?
I stopped by the Top of the Ledge (my current address) lodge last night and announced that I had some bad news. With a sad look on their faces, the owners asked “what happened?” My response:
I got a job! No way! That is horrible news. In fact, it’s true. So here’s what happened just prior to this tragedy. (coffee break)
I’ve always been interested in attending this huge EAA show held in Oshkosh. (hence the brief introduction to it) Last Sunday afternoon, before Pete and Sharon took me out to a fantastic birthday dinner, I was reading the Sunday paper. (classified section, of course) Pete mentioned that he saw an ad for the need for EAA workers, and the light went on. (ok, rarely a bright light, but nonetheless a light) Applications were going to be accepted at the Oshkosh American Legion club on Tuesday, and that is where you could have found me that morning.
After completing the short application, an interview was given. It has been almost 30 years since I’ve interviewed for a job, but I wasn’t worried about this one. The guy laughed when he saw my previous job and salary and then asked if I liked to grill bratwurst. Sure! “I’ve got the job for you!” He said the second most photographed item at the EAA show, of course besides the airplanes, was the huge Johnsonville Bratwurst semi-trailer located right in the middle of the EAA grounds. You guessed it! I will be working on that trailer for 7 days. Not a long term job, but I never said it was. But a job. The cool thing is that I get to attend the show, every day. (a week-long pass to the show is almost $200 this year) I suspect that I will also have my fill of this fine Wisconsin culinary treat. I also learned of their dress code of no sandals, no shorts, no hats, and no tee-shirts. Besides a tuxedo, that’s all I own. So… I’m off to Wally World to update my wardrobe.
To those that have never heard about the EAA, just google it. They have a great website. Of course I will post some pictures during and after this huge event.
Hint for Jamie & David, take note of this asset vs. liability strategy.