Turn seventeen today! Dad got me a new set of goggles, which is awesome. And Mom made me roast lamb with potatoes for dinner. Favorite. Took a run with Serio, and was able to break away to write something to all you out there in the ether. Hope everything’s well on your worlds.
How do you celebrate your birthdays?
With all the dialog that’s going on, I’d love to share a map of my planet with you. But still trying to figure out how to send it out. Hope everyone’s relays stay connected, or it might get broken up.
Kar-Bellride had a record harvest today. Record for the year, at least. More nelurime than I’ve seen in quite a while. Said the clouds were infused at an usually high level, especially for summer (or anytime for that matter). Good for the Guild. Good for our people.
Still didn’t get to help, but the apprentices were allowed to fly along for the ride. So that’s cool. We’ll be able to carry nets in a few weeks. Can’t wait. I know Serio’s excited too.
Dad did great, as always. Love watching him work.
Do you guys apprentice for a Guild or something?
The relays are supposedly back up. Anyone out there?
Canceled flights for the next week in preparation for a monster solar storm coming through the system. Supposed to wreck havoc with the relays. Expecting possible island damage too.
I’m kinda’ excited, to be honest. But I know how bad these storms can be. So don’t expect any news from me for a while. Praying to Talihdym we get through this OK.
Lance and I got to go out on a real cloud run today. OK, so it wasn’t an actual run, like we were doing all the harvesting. But we were the wingmen for the harvesters, and were as up close and personal as you can get without actually flying the nets. It was really cool.
The lead pilot was pointing out all the pockets of nelurime, and giving us tips on how the wind moves the most saturated clouds into position for you.
“Let the wind do the work,” he kept saying. “Don’t fight it.”
I could really feel Serios learning it all too. He was tracking stuff better than I was, I bet. He’s going to be an incredible harvester.
If the weather holds, they say we’ll get to go out again tomorrow.
Loved being with Dad this morning at Bellride’s market. Such a fun place! Activity everywhere. Street vendors, shops with their brightly colored awnings, and food, food, food. I can’t get enough of it.
The Brologi did make an arrest while we were there. That was super cool. Some guy stole something, never did find out what. But apparently one of the Brologi was around the corner when the shop owner started yelling. The guy close-lined! That had to hurt. Three more Brologi were there in a heart beat.
Never a dull day in the market!
I know I’m not supposed to talk about them. So I don’t. At least not to people that will get me in trouble over it.
These guys freak me out. Seriously. Every time I get to visit one of their caves in the – well, I won’t say exactly where…but in their caves – it’s so incredible. Gadgets galore! Never seen so many bins of stuff. Man, if it was legal, and Dad would let me, I’d be one of them in a second! Mom would kill me, of course, but really, what does she care?
Haupstie permitted me to use his reflex camera tonight to snap a few pictures during the maiden voyage of Doctor Hidlebach’s newest vessel: the C-Class Passenger Freighter. Of course, Hidlebach’s been gone for years now, but his inventions keep finding new light as his fellow builders bring them to life.
Of all things that inspired me, this picture from the main dining pod seemed the most peculiar, though I’m sure others might disagree. I thought the ceiling architecture was unusually clean, accented but round nelurime-powered illuminators, and centered with a large glass chandelier–the largest of its kind.
The flight was fabulous; Haupstie even allowed me to step onto the bridge. Wrap-around glass windows gave a spectacular, panorama of Knightsbridge, and an even more mesmerizing view of the sunset. But all in all, I’ll take a fellrell over a C-Class any day.
Doctor Hidlebach’s designs are incredible. Despite his reputation and the looks I get when I mention his name, I still think he’s genius. Have never met him, but I know I wil one day.
He’s working on a new device that he swears will revolutionize the communication field. I’m excited to see it. He never lets anyone into his lab while working on a project. So we’ll just have to wait and see what he presents.
OK. Have to run! Pilots are about to land, which means making the tack barn ready.
Life as a Sky Rider 