Seeing a Divided World Through the Eyes of My Teen

By stork November 4, 2024family2 Comments

Although news, podcasts, blogs, and conversations with friends, family, and coworkers have led me to believe the country is at a breaking point through our divisions, distrust, and uncertainty, I…

From a Journal 23 Years Ago.

By stork June 29, 2024family, UncategorizedNo Comments

Recently I was asked to find a journal I kept when we met twenty-three years ago. In it, I found a passage in which I wrote about a dream I…

Airline Captain – A Quick Study

By stork May 27, 2024FlyingNo Comments

I wrote the following years ago as a character study on a Captain I was flying with. I was hesitant to post it then as I genuinely enjoyed working with…

Hey Dad. On My Late Father’s Birthday

By stork April 6, 2024family3 Comments

Hey Dad, So much has happened since we last spoke in January 2017. Your grandson has doubled in age since then; he's now 14. With each milestone of his, I…

Straight Conversion Therapy

By stork January 3, 2024UncategorizedNo Comments

In a surprise move, Doctor Henderson of Manhattan's faith-based "Restore Heterosexuality - Gay Conversion Center" has decided to turn 180 degrees and is now offering a heterosexuality conversion course. "The…

The Captain and His Shark Skin Boots

By stork November 6, 2021Flying2 Comments

Airline crews are easy to identify at the hotel bar. Especially if it’s closing time when the lights are bright, and the staff is attempting to clean for the morning.…

Jack Hanna was Once Disappointed with Me

By stork April 8, 2021animalsNo Comments

I had the great fortune of interacting many times with Jack Hanna over the years during my childhood through my father’s work with Busch Gardens in Tampa and later, SeaWorld…

The Flight When Our Passengers Decided to Drive

By stork November 16, 2020UncategorizedNo Comments

There was a time when being a Regional Pilot meant you never left the very small region your employer flew in. Often this was no larger than a thumbprint on…

All Work and No Play

By stork November 2, 2020UncategorizedNo Comments

On this one-hundred-and-something-ish day of being a virtual school teacher's assistant, IT support, lunch lady, PE Coach, and Dad I'm finding myself talking more and more to myself. The virtual…

Spring 2020 Is the Year Our Son Grew Up

By stork June 9, 2020UncategorizedNo Comments

Yes, his hair has gotten too long with the barbers closed so he suddenly looks like a broody teenager but with the all the news and his adult questions about…

Some Pilots Just Know It All

By stork May 17, 2020Uncategorized1 Comment

There are a few ways people can make money flying airplanes around. The two big easy examples are flying people or flying boxes to people. I've never considered the latter…

My Magic Shoes

By stork March 25, 2020UncategorizedNo Comments

By: The Young Stork This morning I went downstairs and found a pair of magic shoes. They were yellow with blue stripes and when I put them on they made…

I Got Five Stars for Being on Time

By stork October 23, 2019UncategorizedNo Comments

In the hotel van after work, I told my Captain that my son’s teacher gave me a compliment when I showed up to volunteer in class on time by acknowledging…

Our Little Boy Still Believes In The Bunny… Sort Of.

By stork April 21, 2019UncategorizedNo Comments

It’s increasingly less often these days but every now and then something happens that reminds me that he’s still my little baby. Like the other day when the very young…

My Yelp Review… An Embarrassing Hotel Shower

By stork February 4, 2019UncategorizedNo Comments

As a frequent guest of hotel showers across the United States, you can imagine the horror and disgust I felt while attempting to bathe in room 383 today. After…

I’ve gone from “Dad” to “Dude.”

By stork October 18, 2018familyNo Comments

I’ve gone from “Dad” to “Dude.” Although sometimes he keeps it in the family and calls me “Bro.” As in, “Dude! Bro! You don’t know how to dance the Floss?!…

My Father Will Forever Watch Over The Florida Aquarium

By stork October 12, 2018familyNo Comments

I was humbled to be able to take part in the unveiling of an incredible statue honoring my father at the Florida Aquarium this week in Tampa. The Aquarium commissioned…

Approaching the One Year Anniversary of My Father’s Passing

By stork December 7, 2017family2 Comments

My father was dying this time last year. I knew it. He knew it. We all did. The difference though was that he handled the news so much better than…

A Pro and Con to Having Just One Child.

By stork May 1, 2017familyNo Comments

Pro: You only have one mouth to feed. Con: That same mouth often only has one person to talk to. I am his entertainment. I am his captive audience. I…

On Grieving

By stork March 5, 2017family3 Comments

After our son was born I called friends who already had kids and apologized to them for not being more excited for them when they became parents. I didn't know…

Teaching Irony through Sarcasm

By stork March 2, 2017family3 Comments

I have the luxury of working weekends and being able to pick up our son from school most weekdays. I watch with joy as he bounces down the steps…

My Father’s Eulogy

By stork February 1, 2017childhood, family1 Comment

My father passed away on January 2nd of this year. I've had several posts in mind but haven't had the energy to put them down. This is the eulogy I…

A 1980 Tampa Tribune Article Featuring My Father on Parenting

By stork January 22, 2017childhood, familyNo Comments

By BESS ADAMS COLEMAN "With my 5-year-old son, I'm experiencing the greatest love affair I’ve ever had,” said 31-year-old Thom Stork. "There are lots of rocky roads, no question about…

No longer an Airline Captain and I’ve Lost My Mojo

By stork September 3, 2016FlyingNo Comments

I’ve been an airline Captain since 2001. With a recent airline change I’m a First Officer again. The copilot. Just like Kareem Abdul-Jabar… and the guy who sat next to Sully.…

Avoiding the Dad Stereotype

By stork August 26, 2016family1 Comment

Mr. Mom (1983) Directed by Stan Dragoti Shown: Michael Keaton Mr. Mom (1983) Directed by Stan Dragoti Shown: Michael Keaton It’s been nearly seven years that I became a dad.Seven…

Are We Still Putting Soap in Their Mouths?

By stork February 2, 2016Familylife1 Comment

Are we still doing the soap in the mouth thing? I may need to go out and buy a bar of soap. Better yet. Amazon Prime. Soap please. We use…

At 16 I Had No Muscles But I Drove a Muscle Car

By stork December 7, 2015ramblingsNo Comments

I recently read Auto Biography by Earl Swift in which he retraces all the owners of a '57 Chevy and it's had me thinking about my first car. It was a…

Rambling With Flashcards

By stork November 21, 2015familyNo Comments

We recently upped the ante on our nightly single sight word flashcard routine. After recognizing the word on the card before him the boy has to use that word in…

Time… According to a Child

By stork April 3, 2015familyNo Comments

How amazing it must be to have no concept of time? How liberating. Plotting our sons growth alongside the chart of mankind’s evolution, he is close to understanding…

Appropriate (and Inappropriate) Holiday Gifts for Your Flight Crew

By stork December 22, 2014FlyingNo Comments

It's the season for gift giving. That means it's also the season for scrambling to pay off your guilt by dishing out gifts to those who serve you and make…

This Christmas… He’s a Believer

By stork December 16, 2014familyNo Comments

This is his fifth Christmas and this year he’s a believer. We took him to see Santa last week. We went to the good one. The Friday night Mall Santa.…

National Adoption Month. Where Do Storks Come From?

By stork November 25, 2014family1 Comment

“Father?” Said the almost five year old. “Listen, there is something I’ve been thinking about. You and I have been watching a lot of classic television programing lately. Shows like…

Future Daddy Blogger Support Group

By stork November 15, 2014ramblingsNo Comments

The meetings are held in the basement of a church near an all-night donut shop. Although both are helpful, the location is more about the donuts than the man upstairs.…

His First Joke

By stork November 11, 2014familyNo Comments

For the first time in his life he has come up with something funny. Months later he still calls back to it. And it is funny.He’s had funny moments before.…

My Son. My Chronological Yardstick

By stork September 2, 2014familyNo Comments

Every memorable event in my life that happened before the spring of 2010 is filed away in my brain with a five-year buffer. My mental calendar from the era before…

What I Did Not Do During My Summer Vacation

By stork August 4, 2014FlyingNo Comments

I was on vacation during the month of July. I ceased all work related activities. I also didn’t… Read a USATODAY Eat airport food Shave Tell a passenger their flight…

How Hollywood Gets Airline Life Wrong

By stork June 30, 2014Flying1 Comment

In many ways… Hollywood’s depiction of airline life is completely wrong. In some ways it’s spot on and I claim those scenes as just another day at the office. My…

Captain Dad – I Called Maintenance Control for a Toy Helicopter

By stork June 17, 2014Flying2 Comments

My work life and home life collided yesterday when my son complained that his toy Hess helicopter wasn’t working as it was supposed to. “My helicopter won’t fly anymore!” It…

The Things You Find in Hotel Beds

By stork June 14, 2014FlyingNo Comments

Do not read this if you are in a hotel bed. If you are in a hotel bed please tell me you removed the bedspread. Please tell me you didn’t…

On Father’s Day

By stork June 12, 2014familyNo Comments

I used to give lip service on Father's Day. Cards were sent and thanks were given and the love was spread around as abundantly and efficiently as I could spread…

Eat, Sleep, Fly

By stork May 28, 2014Flying11 Comments

Sometimes people ask me what it's like to be a pilot. "Wow, that must be so cool! I bet you're really smart. You must have been good at math in…

The Beat Poets Taught Me How to Talk to a Four Year Old

By stork April 8, 2014family1 Comment

Many days during my college decade were spent studying the Beat Poets and experimenting with stream-of-consciousness prose. We turned words cut from the newspapers into dialog and had nonsense talks…

He Already Thinks He’s Smarter Than Me

By stork March 23, 2014family, Familylife1 Comment

He's only four and he already thinks he's smarter than I am. He's learned how to give the look that says, “Seriously? I wasn't born yesterday you know?” I give…

On Fatherhood: Almost 40 With a 4 Year Old

By stork February 26, 2014family, FamilylifeNo Comments

How different his world is in 2014 than mine was when I was his age in 1978. This is the blessing of the late blooming father. Had I begun the…

The Time I Told an Aviation Icon I Didn’t Have a Business Card

By stork February 17, 2014Flying2 Comments

Filed away years ago as, “Well, that sure was stupid.” Once, I met Southwest founder and former CEO, Herb Kelleher in the airport. We talked at length and I got…

Is the First Officer Actually a Pilot?

By stork January 27, 2014Flying1 Comment

Since the beginning, there have always been two pilots up on the flight deck. Had it not been for the Wright Brothers, maybe we'd only have one seat up there.…

What You Should Not Ask Your Flight Crew

By stork January 18, 2014Flying3 Comments

We obviously spend lots of time around the humans. We are in the service industry after all. Day in and day out we spend our time carrying you, your loved…

Living in Hotels – It’s Us or The Bedbugs

By stork November 8, 2013FlyingNo Comments

I spend about ten nights a month in hotels. I’ve been doing this job for fourteen years. I’ve slept (or attempted to sleep) in a hotel bed roughly 1700 times…

I Fear My Son Will Think I Don’t Read

By stork October 28, 2013family, FamilylifeNo Comments

I fear my son will think I don't read... or listen to music... or vacuum since that task has been assigned to the robot. It's been years since I bought…

The Storks are Nesting

By stork September 25, 2013animals, travel1 Comment

I just turned 39 and I may have begun nesting. I suppose this typically happens before the child is born but maybe since having him I’ve become aware of what…

But They Do Have Free Breakfast

By stork September 5, 2013FlyingNo Comments

When I was a young airline pilot and new to ‘the road’ I ranked hotels by their proximity to good food and entertainment. Now, I judge hotels on two things:…

Though We May Not Share Blood

By stork July 24, 2013family2 Comments

Since his birth in 2010, I’ve wondered when we would start seeing our traits in him. Without the blood bond biological children share with their parents I’ve been anxious to…

Why it is Imperative you Land a Pilot

By stork July 24, 2013Flying34 Comments

This article was floating around Facebook today explaining why it is imperative you land a pilot. 6 reasons to be exact. Since I am a pilot, I figured I’d explain…

You Say You Want A Revolution?

By stork June 20, 2013family, FamilylifeNo Comments

There will certainly be a time in our son's life where he will think he is cooler than us and rebel against the way we chose to raise him. He…

It Puts the Lotion on the Skin or Possible Parenting Fail.

By stork June 12, 2013familyNo Comments

For a few years now (well, specifically since January 2010), I've been quoting a particular scene from a particular horror movie during a particular time in the post-bath pre-story time…

Automated Chicken Coop 2.0 – Off the Grid

By stork April 7, 2013Familylife, ramblings1 Comment

Years back, when my wife said she wanted chickens, I agreed as long as I could build the coop. Actually, I said no for years and finally caved when I…

We Tried to Sell Our College

By stork March 21, 2013ramblingsNo Comments

It's been twenty years since I was a college student, and I returned this past weekend as an alumnus to preach the airline life. These kids on campus now are…

Thomas the Tank Engine in “Just Say No to Drones”

By stork February 5, 2013family, FlyingNo Comments

It was a bright and sunny day on the island of Sodor, and all the trains were running on time except for one. Thomas the Tank Engine sat with his…

Being a Pilot is Ruining Me

By stork January 31, 2013family1 Comment

I'm not gonna go into all the obvious hazards of flying likes skin cancer, alcoholism, divorce and controlled flight into terrain. Those have been covered before. It's the day to…

2013 resolutions. The cockpit will be a happier place.

By stork December 5, 2012FlyingNo Comments

As the new year approaches it's time to evaluate accomplishments from the past year and set goals for the next. While I succeed each year with many of my Xbox-related…

Yes, Here Comes the Story of the Hurricane

By stork October 31, 2012FamilylifeNo Comments

In Florida, before man made global climate change, we had hurricane drills in grade school. We'd learn where the best place to hide was and how to skin, cook and…

Eight Years Ago We Wed – Since Then, I Became an Adult

By stork October 9, 2012family1 Comment

For years now (more than a decade of them) a friend and I have been playing the “who’s the first to become an adult game”. It started in college and…

It’s My Potty, You Can Cry If You Want To

By stork September 15, 2012family1 Comment

"The rules are pretty simple: tell me when you have to go potty, and we will go potty. Got it?" I say this at 8 a.m., feeling confident I'm gonna…

Folks, It will Be Yet Another Hour Before We Depart.

By stork August 27, 2012Flying1 Comment

Some days, I actually do work. But it’s not the work you would assume. It’s not fighting nasty storms or battling wind shear down the final approach to an icy…

I May Be A Jedi Now

By stork July 18, 2012india, travel1 Comment

In order to get into the Mumbai airport, you need a boarding pass. You must present this to the bearded man with the gun and the second gun in the…

To Goa With Love

By stork June 28, 2012ramblings, travelNo Comments

With the luxury of non-revenue travel also comes the joy of spontaneous adventure. Our trip to India would begin with either a flight from Newark into Delhi or Mumbai. We…

Six Pound Challenge – Failed!

By stork February 25, 2012ramblingsNo Comments

In high school, I could eat! I was a growing boy, always hungry and never gaining weight. I felt invincible, or so I thought. There was (and maybe still is)…

He is Chasing Planes Around Already

By stork September 1, 2011Familylife, FlyingNo Comments

The boy has the aviation bug. He has already begun chasing planes around. I've been doing it for as long as I can remember. Specifically, it may have started when…

My Days are now in Song

By stork June 10, 2011familyNo Comments

I've been home for too long and apparently have had too few conversations with adults. I've been off for a few weeks and have spent the majority of that time…

For a Moment, I Was a TV dad. And not a cool one.

By stork April 11, 2011Familylife5 Comments

Yep, go to commercial. For a moment I was a TV dad. Unfortunately, I wasn't the cool dad or the quirky gay dad or the tough guy. I was the…

Pacita Jugo Ladd… “Nana”

By stork March 6, 2011nanaNo Comments

My Nana passed away on February 13th, surrounded by her family, after being diagnosed with cancer just a few weeks before. She passed very peacefully and kept her wit until…

$#*! my son’s caterpillar doesn’t say

By stork January 24, 2011familyNo Comments

Several times between now and the era of the stage 2 Huggie overnight diapers, I've fallen down the rabbit hole of sleep deprivation, awakening in the land of disproportionate proportions…

Catholic School made me a Sinner

By stork October 14, 2010childhood1 Comment

I put in twelve years of Catholic school... I was released on my own recognizance but served parole under the watchful eyes of a Baptist college. You could say I…

If you watch enough daytime TV… you will get cramps

By stork September 29, 2010family, FlyingNo Comments

The boy is almost nine months old, and since I've been back to work after paternity leave, I've been flying weekends. Although airport Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday, it is…

Mornings in a Hotel: “Where am I? What Time is it?”

By stork August 22, 2010Daddytips, FlyingNo Comments

A friend once told me that every day he wakes up in a hotel, it feels like waking up with a hangover. "I'm not sure where I am or how…

Returning from vacation – time to catch up on the news

By stork August 3, 2010Flying1 Comment

I returned to work yesterday from a three-week vacation with the family. While at work and living on the road, I have lots of downtime that I fill with 'entertainment'…

How Indiana Jones Has Made Me a Better Father

By stork July 3, 2010FamilylifeNo Comments

When the baby falls asleep in my arms, I recreate this old scene in reverse as I do my best to place him in the crib and extract my arms…

Maybe cribs should come with a flight attendant call button

By stork June 4, 2010Flying1 Comment

In the cockpit, when an alarm sounds, the first response is to “Identify and Cancel” the warning. This means acknowledging the source of the alarm, silencing the warning, and then…

I Made a Burrito and Forgot to Shave

By stork May 17, 2010FlyingNo Comments

My job as a pilot is made much easier by checklists and routines. I do the same thing - the same way - every time. Checklists are written in a…

I hate the phrase “knock on wood”

By stork March 26, 2010familyNo Comments

I despise the phrase "Knock on wood." It was only ever tolerable when sung by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. If you're among those in the cockpit who've said, "I've never…

My own sensory deprivation chamber… with music.

By stork January 31, 2010musicNo Comments

For years, I’ve used Pink Floyd's 1968 studio album "A Saucerful of Secrets" as my secret weapon for an instant nap when I wasn’t sure if my brain was up for a break or there was too much going on around me to ensure a solid sleep.

Google Voice Poetry

By stork January 22, 2010family, internet, nana, updateNo Comments

I started using Google Voice months back on my G1 Android phone to transcribe my voicemails. When you leave me a message, I get an email containing the text version…

My short career as Chris Winston – Overnight Disk Jockey

By stork January 18, 2010jobs, ramblings, updateNo Comments

After college, or maybe it was during, I had a job for about a year as an overnight DJ at an adult contemporary AM radio station in Southern Virginia. Actually,…

My failed attempt at dog whispering

By stork January 5, 2010animals4 Comments

I was driving home today and saw a dog running around the neighborhood a few blocks from my house. Being the good neighbor and dog owner that I am, I…

My dream of having a band of minstrels.

By stork December 16, 2009Flying, ramblings, travel, update1 Comment

On days when the air is still and fog forms over a river, it looks like the Great Wall of China is snaking its way across the Earth. Since many…

Since storms cancelled our evening with The Flaming Lips – I had to go to Youtube.

By stork August 31, 2009music, ramblings, travelNo Comments

Well, The Flaming Lips show in Philadelphia turned into “A bit of a bath - a big bath” (to quote the Woodstock documentary - although theirs was in reference to…

Alert the pitcrew, we’re coming for more fuel

By stork June 10, 2009FlyingNo Comments

I showed up in DC for a 5:30 AM flight to Kansas City, followed by a flight to Milwaukee where I faced a 3.5-hour layover in the airport before our…

Holds and diverts and storms, oh my.

By stork May 14, 2009Flying, ramblings1 Comment

This was our third leg for the day. We began in Omaha around 2 PM, flew from Omaha to Milwaukee, and then off to Boston. On the return from Boston…

I never got many Gold Medals – But I used to make them.

By stork February 21, 2009childhood, jobs, ramblings, updateNo Comments

I once quit a job without giving two weeks' notice. I quit after my lunch break. The boss wasn’t surprised at all. I think she even wondered why it took…

Lost and Found – Mixtape in the gutter from “Yo Boy Billy”

By stork November 13, 2008baltimore, music, ramblingsNo Comments

Press Play I found this CD in the gutter up the street the other day while out walking the dog. Apparently, Emily has moved on. The disk may have fallen…

I got some lip from a ROBOT

By stork September 21, 2008baltimore, ramblingsNo Comments

I called to check on room availabilities at a few hotels in Towson for my parents' visit next month. Google, of course, gave me a few pushpins just a few…

6 hours ahead to 3 hours behind

By stork July 25, 2008amsterdam, travelNo Comments

On Woensdag (Wednesday), we left Amsterdam for Reno. Well, we attempted to leave Amsterdam for Reno. The daily Usairways flight from AMS to PHL was full and rather than roll…

My childhood “Boy named Sue” moment

By stork July 16, 2008childhood1 Comment

In grade school, we wore navy blue pants and white dress shirts. The boys had triangular collars, while the girls wore the rounded ones that little Catholic school girls wear.…

saves the day – saves the dog

By stork July 5, 2008amsterdamNo Comments

Who knows... it's noon and I hear someone yelling from outside our boat. It's in Dutch of German or something I can't place because I'm asleep. I say, "what... huh?…

Assimilation

By stork July 4, 2008travelNo Comments

The whole houseboat is IKEA! We're in a neighborhood a bit outside of Central Amsterdam. Although it's only a 30-minute walk or an easy tram or bus ride into the…

The summer of fun just got ‘funner’

By stork May 22, 2008Flying, ramblingsNo Comments

With her off for the summer, I 'bid' to have some weeks off with her. I was awarded six weeks from the end of June through early August. Eager to…

Simpsons – opening night

By stork July 31, 2007ramblings1 Comment

We went to the opening night of The Simpsons Movie. THE opening night. The midnight showing at select theaters. First of all—movie = awesome. But it was the crowd that…

The accidental peacemaker

By stork March 6, 2007Flying, ramblingsNo Comments

I often watch in amazement as gate agents in airports can so blatantly blow off our passengers in their time of need. I know there are plenty of times when…

I’m thankful for warm lemonaide and chicken.

By stork November 29, 2006favorite, Flying, ramblings, updateNo Comments

A four-day trip the week of Thanksgiving took me to Columbus, Ohio. Since I was to spend the holiday alone in the hotel, S. decided to drive up from visiting…

I was a Nintendo Fanboy at Five AM

By stork November 20, 2006baltimore, favorite, gamingNo Comments

I got to Walmart at 4:30 am armed with a large coffee and my hacked PSP, ready to play an hour and a half of ExciteBike on a Nintendo emulator…