First time in IMC

Just got my PPL 2 1/2 months ago and jumped in to IFR for a few
reasons including the weather was crappy and I want as much
actual as possible.

Saturday went up in perfect VFR conditions. At least my CFI
had a nice view out the window. I did ok but had been on a sim
so i was a touch rusty in the plane. Also got a little sick
since we were doing oscar patterns with non-stop turning, descending
and climbing.

Sunday went up after seeing the weather in the Bay Area was IMC
but the central valley was mostly clear. We did a IFR to VFR
on top (sorry but don't know the exact terminology yet). We take off in
VMC and my foggles go on at about 400 AGL/MSL. I was restricted to
1100 MSL. I accidently climb to
1200. My instructor probably intentionally did it knowing
ATC would growl. Sure enough ATC says "Cherokee....your
transponder is indicating 1300." First lesson, +/- 100
means, +/- 0. This ain't VFR +/- 500, zig zagging routes etc.
I am good VFR pilot but this had tolerances of 0. So
my attention goes from 110% up to 150%. Then we are
climbing out over the east bay and ATC points out a Southwest 737 1000
feet above us. My instructor said, "We're in IMC." My CFI
than says, "take off your foggles." My reaction...."HOLY ****.
THIS AIN'T ONE OF THOSE F**KING SIMS. THIS IS FOR REAL." It
took me about 5 seconds too long to get my head back down. My
attention level goes up to about 400%. This is what I wanted. Well
those 0.3 hours of actual REALLY opened my eyes. That is what I
want to learn in. Foggles suck. The real clouds are both amazing
and also intimidating in the sense that there is no reset button.
Do it right and don't screw up.

Having said that, my oscar patterns were dead on, my 'pattern A' (not
sure if this is a standard patten....kind of like an approach and
holding pattern practice) was good. Then we did a VOR-DME approach
into Hayward, cancelled about 1200 feet AGL/MSL and then went
VFR back to San Carlos.


Overall, I felt pretty good but so much to learn. AWESOME
stuff though. I see how the IFR is more intense than the VFR.
I can't wait to be shooting minimums in the real stuff.

Gerald