Life of Ryan » Dream https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com Children's Book Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:36:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2 Spaced-Out Ryan (A Two-Part Story) https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/beautiful/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/beautiful/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:32:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/
What are you doing, Ryan?

I’m Learning About Rockets, Dad.
It’s time for bed, Ryan.  You’re still researching about rockets?
Yes, Daddy.  I’m Really Interested in How Rockets Work.
O.K., Ryan.  Let’s explore rocketry– just like we explored flying airplanes…

Good morning, Ryan!  I have a pleasant surprise for you.
I found a mailing tube… and here is some cardboard box material that the nice lady 
at the Hallmark Card store gave me when I explained that we wanted to 
make fins to build a model rocket.
Daddy–– it’s SO BIG!
You’re right, Ryan.  Our mailing tube may be Too Big!
We can cut it down a bit so that it is better proportioned
for our model rocket.
This is Exciting, Daddy!  Thanks!!
What do we Do First, Dad?
How many fins should our rocket have, Ryan – 3 or 4?
Four, Daddy!
O.K.  Our cardboard box will unfold into six individual sides.
How Large is Each Side of our cardboard box material, Ryan?
It’s 4 inches by 6 inches, Daddy.
How Tall should we Make the Fins, Dad?
Well– I researched and I found out that the fins should be 1/4 (one fourth)
of the height of the rocket, Ryan.

So – how tall should our rocket model be if our largest fin size is 6″, Ryan?
Four times 6 inches, Daddy.  
Correct, Ryan.  6″+6″+6″+6″ = 24″ tall for our model rocket.
I’ve measured and marked our mailing tube at 24″ with a rubber band.

I will cut our cardboard mailing tube with a fine-toothed hacksaw blade.
It will make the best cut but will be hard work because the small teeth cut very slowly.

I Drew a Fin and Now I’m Cutting It Out, Daddy!

If that fin works well, Ryan– we can use it to trace more fins 
so that they all look exactly the same.
Let’s prop our first fin up against the side of the rocket to see how it looks, Ryan.
It Works, Daddy!  It Really Looks just like a Rocket Fin!
You’re right, Ryan!  It really does look splendid!  
And– I think it is the perfectly correct size fin for our model rocket!
I’ve Traced and Cut Out Three More Fins, Dad.  (Plus One ‘Extra’ – Just in Case)

The fins that you cut out and that we glued on look great, Ryan!

But that glue is just ‘temporary’.  I want us to do a little extra work, Ryan.
Let’s add a glue line along the edges of the fins to strengthen them, Ryan.
Daddy.  ‘Something’ is Missing on our Model Rocket…

You’re correct, Ryan.  What is missing is a nose cone for the top of the rocket
and some stripes to make the rocket look beautiful.
I didn’t forget, Ryan.  Here is something that we can make a nose cone with
and here is some bright orange ‘Duckie’ tape to make stripes with.

Am I Doing it Right, Dad?
Excellent job, Ryan!  Push hard on that tape and keep it lined up well.

We Did It!  Daddy– we Made a Model Rocket at Home by Hand!
And it Really Looks like a REAL Rocket, Dad!  For REAL!!!

Oh, Dad!  This is FANTASTIC!!!
Let’s take it outside, Ryan.

Wow!  It is BEAUTIFUL!

It Looks Like it is Going to Take Off!

V-R-O-O-M ! ! !

Thanks for Helping with my Incredible Rocket, Dad!  
Tonight I am going to Dream about Being an Astronaut!!
Goodnight Ryan.  Stellar Dreams, Buddy!

End of Part 1
(If you are reading this to a child… this is a good stopping point – tomorrow is another day!)


Good Morning, Ryan!
I’ve Got a Surprise for you this Morning!
Daddy!?  You got me an Astronaut Suit?!
Yes, I did.  Try it On, Ryan.
Oh!  You Look Good as an Astronaut, Buddy!

Daddy!  You even Got me a Space Helmet!
 Astronauts Need a Space Hemet to Breath in Space ’cause there is No Air in Space.  
Try it On!

I’m an Astronaut!!!
Now, we’re Going on a Surprise Trip, Ryan!
Where are we Going, Dad?
I can’t Tell you.  Because it’s another *Surprise*, Ryan.
Just Relax and Observe Nature.  It will be a Long Trip– 70 miles!!
Where are we, Dad???
We are at the Tripoli Tampa Rocketry Association Launch Field, Ryan.
It is one of the Best Model Rocket Fields in the entire U.S.A.

Look Ahead!  
See the Rocket Launch Smoke from that Rocket we Just Heard Go Up?!

We have to Drive through this Field Past all the Mommy and Baby Cattle.

These Baby Cattle (called ‘Calves’) were Just Born within the Last Several Days.
It does not Appear that the Rocket Launch Noise Bothers them at all.  That’s Good to Know.

Let’s Watch these Men get Ready to Launch Their Rocket!

  ……3  …..2  …..1   …..0 …..***

*** BLAST OFF!!!***

Look, Dad!  I am Standing Beside a Rocket that is About to be Launched!

 What goes Up…

Must come Down…!
Here’s More Rockets Ready to be Launched, Ryan!
I’m Standing Under the Engine of this Rocket, Dad!
Please Move Away from There Immediately, Ryan!!!  You Could Get Hurt!
Let’s Go See that Red and White Rocket that has just Parachuted Back Down to Earth.

See how it has Separated into 3 Parts, Ryan?
The 1st Stage (bottom– with the fins) has a Rocket engine…
And the 2nd Stage (with the Nose Cone) contains a Parachute 
so that the Rocket can Come Slowly and Gently Back to Earth.
Here is the Used Rocket Motor after it has Fired the Rocket High into the Sky.
The Propellent inside Rocket Motors makes Flame and Smoke and Pushes the Rocket Upward.

Here is a Kit containing Rocket Motors and small Charges to Separate the 1st Stage
from the 2nd Stage and Also to Make the Parachute come Out (deploy).

Boy!  My Sister, Pinkie, would LOVE this Pink Rocket!

Yes she Would, Ryan.
I think that she Would Like that Bunny, Also!

This is from a Funny Cartoon that was Popular when Daddy was a Youngster, Ryan!!!
His Name is Wile E. Coyote and he was Created by Warner Bros. Animator, Chuck Jones

Here is a Man who Comes and Sells Parts for Rockets and Also
Sells New model Rocket Kits for People to Build.
Children and Adults Love to Learn about and to Fly Rockets.

Ryan.  Let’s Watch these People get Ready
to Launch their Amazingly HUGE Rocket!

First they have to Set It Up onto a Launch Stand.
The Rocket is Attached to a Steel Rail that Serves to Guide their Rocket
Straight into the Sky.

Almost Ready!
Taking a Look Around.

…Some Minor Adjustments…

Now Hooking Up the Electrical Connection that allows
the Launch Master to Press the Launch Button from Far Away 
(for Safety).

Here it Comes Back Down by Parachutes, Ryan!

Daddy.  It’s HUGE!
Even the Parachutes are Far Away from me.

This is the Parachute Assembly, Ryan.
It has a Separation Stage, which is a Small Explosive Charge to Push-Out the Parachutes.
Plus it has an Altimeter that tells How High into the Sky the Rocket Flew.

The Owner of the Rocket is Listening to and Counting little *beeps* from the Altimeter.
It Gives *beeps* for Thousands, Hundreds and Tens of Feet.
Their Rocket went up 2,859 feet on this Flight.
Thank you for Showing Us your Rocket, Sir!

Ryan.  Look at this Really Interesting Rocket that Mr. Chris Michielssen has.

He says that It has the Neatest Fin Design, Ever!
It Looks like a Space Ship from the Future to me, Ryan.
Mr. Chris Michielssen Designs Fins for Rockets

We watched this Rocket Go Up…

…and Come Down Right Next to us!!  
You have to Always be Watchful when you Visit a Model Rocket Launching Club!
We have Time to Watch One Last Rocket Go Up Before we Leave, Ryan.
This is a Pretty one and this Man says he Really Enjoys Building his Model Rockets.

The Beautiful Rocket is Returning Safely on its Parachute.
Now, let’s Walk Across the Pasture to our Car.
Thank you, Daddy.  This was a Fun Day!

Goodbye, Cattle!
Goodbye TTRA Rocket Launch Site.
Thanks to Everyone who Talked to Us and Explained How their Rockets Worked.

Daddy?  Do you Know Which Rocket that I Like the Very Best?
No, Ryan.  Which Rocket do you Like the Very Best?
The One that you and I Built Together.  
This is my Most Favorite Rocket of ALL!!!
…3

…2

…1    Sweet Dreams!

Here is a Nice *How-To* Prepare and Launch a Model Rocket Video by a Young Hobbiest
Here are some more YouTube Model Rocket Launch Videos












]]> https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/beautiful/spaced-out-ryan-a-two-part-story/feed/ 5 High Fly’n Ryan https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/dream/high-flyn-ryan/ https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/dream/high-flyn-ryan/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 17:59:00 +0000 https://www.ryanlifeofryan.com/uncategorized/high-flyn-ryan/

Daddy – do Bears Fly?
I Believe that you can do Anything that you put your Mind to, Ryan.

You used to Fly, Didn’t you, Daddy?
Yes, Ryan.  I took Flying Lessons a Long Time Ago.

And Last Year, I Flew in a Friend’s Plane – a Royal New Zealand Air Force Fighter Trainer!

May I take Flying Lessons too, Daddy?
Well – you can Start by getting to Know some Basic Information about How Planes Fly, Ryan.
Let’s go to the Library and Ask about Airplanes…

Just like we Researched about Fossils, Daddy? 
Yes, Ryan.  Exactly like that.  
You learned a lot and then you had a Thrilling Adventure Using Information we Learned from Books.
We can go Tomorrow Morning – it’s a Saturday and my Day-Off.  
Now Please Get Ready for Bed, Ryan.  


We can go to the Fruitville Branch of our Library, Ryan.  
I know that there is a Flying Club nearby that Flys Remote Control Airplanes.
They fly Small Models of Full-Size Airplanes.

We can Visit them after we do our Research – but we have to Go Early in the Morning.
That is when the Air is Calmest during the Day.
Hard-Blowing Winds make small Model Airplanes Difficult to Control.
So – you will have to Wake Up Very Early Tomorrow, O.K.?

O.K. Daddy.  I’ll be Ready to Go.
I’m Excited about Seeing the Airplanes – I Really Am!
Good Night, Ryan.  Sweet Dreams!

Dear God––
Sometimes… I Feel Weighed Down – like a Stone…    
… or Stuck on the Ground – like a Slug…
So, God ––
One Day, I want to be Up in the Clouds…
… Up High in the Sky…
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Wake Up, Ryan!  
I laid-out your Flying Clothes on Mommy and Daddy’s Bed…
Hurry and Get Dressed –!   We have to Go –!  Quickly, Now!

Here we are at the Fruitville Branch of our Sarasota County Library, Ryan!

Cool!  Here in the Reference Section, they have a Display about Flying!
Ryan –– you Forgot your Shoes!!!  Good thing you are a Bear and can walk Bear-Footed!

Look at all the Flying Books, Daddy!  
It’s Springtime and the Weather is Beautiful; I’ll bet that Other Kids are also Interested in Flying.

Look!  This Youngster is also Searching for Books about Flying!

People have Always Dreamed about Flying, Ryan.
They Looked Up and Saw the Birds – and they Dreamed of Making Wings
with Bird Feathers and Attaching them to their Arms to Fly –
but this Did Not Work.

Then they Tried Making Wings of Different Materials and in Different Styles ––
Sometimes, this Did Work.  But, Usually, they could only ‘Glide’ (Fall Forward Gently like a Leaf)
for a very Short Time and a very Short Distance.  This was Not the Answer that they were Searching For.

Insects Fly.  Birds Fly.  Bats Fly.  Even some Fish Fly (by Gliding).

  Some Birds can even Stay Still – Flying in One Spot – this is called ‘Hovering’ – Humming Birds do this.

Eventually – after Hundreds of Years and Many, Many Attempts –
People Finally Learned how to Make a Machine that would Stay Up In the Air and Carry People.
This Was Very Exciting!

But, Sometimes, when People were First Discovering ‘How’ to Fly, there were Accidents.
Planes Crashed into the Ground and the Pilots were Hurt – or even Killed.  
But, People were So Excited to be able to Fly Like the Birds, that they Accepted this Danger to their Lives.  They Kept On Designing and Making Better and Better Planes… because they Loved to Fly
So Much – and they Believed that Flying would Bring Good to Peoples’ Lives.  And it Has.

We even Use Airplanes to Explore Parts of the Earth 
that are Very Difficult to Get to by Land or by Sea.
Why don’t you and I Go Now to Explore that Radio Control Airplane Field that is Near Here?

We may see some Very Nice Airplanes there!

Look, Daddy!  A Map!  And here’s Florida!
Yep!  And we Live on the Left Side of the State just Below that Little Bump 
that Sticks Out in Front of your Left Foot.

Let’s Drive to the Remote Control Plane Flying Club, Daddy!
There’s the Airfield, Daddy – way down there.  
It looks like we’ve Arrived Here Early and Not Too Many People are Here.

Wow, Daddy –!  What a Great Place to Visit!
Look Up There, Ryan!  Look!

Oh!  Wow, Daddy –!  That Plane is Beautiful Up in the Air –!!!
It’s Landing, Ryan!  Let’s Go Over and See It!

This is Fun!  Let’s Go See More Airplanes, Daddy!
Hello, Sir.  My name is Ryan.  May I come over to Look at your Airplane?
Sure, Ryan.  I’m Don.  Come Right Over.

What a Beautiful Plane, Sir!
Thank you, Ryan.  My Plane is a 1/3 Scale Model of a German Fighter Airplane.  
It is a Fokker D-7 built in 1918… a Long-long Time Ago!

May I Please Look At your Fokker Airplane – and Sit in it – and Pretend to be a Pilot?
Sure, Ryan.  Please Enjoy Yourself.  I already Flew her this Morning and I am Not Going to Fly
Again Today, but Why don’t you Do a Flight-Check and Let me Know
if my Plane will be Ready to Fly Next Time?

Oh –– Thank you, Sir!  My Daddy Used to Fly… and he Taught me How-To do a Pre-Flight Inspection.
That’s what I will Do Now.
First, I’ll Inspect Underneath the Fuselage ––
Everything Seems O.K. Here.  No Rips or Tears in the Airplane Fabric.
Wheels Seem Fine –– Good Air Pressure!
The Struts Look Good –– No Cracked or Bent Struts.
Let’s Check Elevator Deflection…
Elevators Seem Good.
Now, to Inspect for Rudder Damage…
Rudder is O.K.
Prop Check –– No Nicks or Scratches Visible…
All Exterior Flight Control Systems Look Fine, Sir!
Thank you, Ryan.
I’ll Jump in and Do an Internal Inspection, Sir!
O.K.  Great!

Guns and Ammo Look Fine.
Gauges are Working.
Controls are Set.
All Clear Around the Plane!
All Clear to the Front!
This Puppy is Ready-To-Go!!!
Hey, Ryan–!  Let’s Play *Pretend*––!

Look, Ryan!  An Enemy Plane at 12 O’Clock High!!   (*pretend*)

I See It, Daddy!
Careful–!  It’s Crossing to your Port Side!

I’ve Got It in my Sights, Daddy…!
Ackk-ackk…  Aaackk-aaackk…

Ackk-ackk…  Aaack-aaack… Ackk…

I Think you Hit It, Ryan!

I Got It, Daddy!  I Shot that Enemy Plane Down!!!  (*pretend*)

Wow, Daddy!  That Surely was Exciting!!!
It was Really Neat to Pretend to Fly a Fokker D-7 Combat Fighter Plane!
Maybe Next Time we come here, Don will Actually Let Me Fly in his Plane?!!!
I Sure Hope So!!!!

















































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