Sometimes You Just Need to Take a Drive

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery.  Looking at the same four walls every day can drain on anyone, even if they enjoy their home.  Lynn and I were running some errands today, and instead of going straight home, we took a circuitous route around Colorado National Monument, which we can see from our backyard.  Lynn decided she wants to live on a very small street named Wildwood Drive, which butts up to the park.  We feel SO fortunate to live in a place when you can hop into the car and within a few minutes, to a couple of hours, can be at so many places in the American West that are only dreams or trips of a lifetime to others.  We are blessed.

Tragedy in Oklahoma

A tornado tore through the small city of Moore, Oklahoma.  It's
a suburb of Oklahoma City.  We are always worried when we
hear of tornadoes in Oklahoma because we have family that
live there.  In this case, my nephew Matt works at Bob Moore
Ford (noted by the red circle on the map) which was only a
few miles north of the tornado's path.  This particular disaster
reminded me a bit of the earthquake a few years ago in
Christchurch, New Zealand.  Lynn was in the middle of the
Central Business District during the quake and Facebook
became a valuable tool to help find people.  My sister Terri,
who is in Indiana and me were both trying to find out if
Matt was ok and both of us were using Facebook.  Luckily
our friends Marta and Sara (who are originally from Norman)
are in Norman this week and were posting updates on Facebook.
I asked Marta if anyone had heard anything about the area around
Matt's dealership since at that time, we didn't know the path of
the tornado.  A friend of Marta's was able to report that her friend
worked at the same dealership, she had spoken to Matt's boss and
Matt was safe!  It turns out much of the area's cell phone and
internet was down due to the storm and Matt couldn't contact
anyone.  What a small world it is that a friend of a friend of a friend
was able to tell us Matt was ok.  As much as social media can be
a headache...in times like this, it turns out to be a great thing!

Helping The Library

When you're not working, there's a fair amount of down-time.
I took advantage of this today when Lynn and I went over to
the First Congregationalist Church to help set up the twice yearly
Friends of The Mesa County Libraries sale.  Books are sold for
either $1.00 or $2.00.  When we arrived at 9:00, much had already
been set up the night before.  However, Lynn was able to help
set up the children's section and I was able to bring lots of books
in from storage.  Almost all of the books were donated and we
probably could have held two sales with the amount of books
there wasn't room for.  I overheard that these leftover books might be
taken over to the Clifton branch for a sale there.  Because we helped
out and Lynn is a member of the Congregationalist Church, we were
able to put a couple of books aside that we were interested in.  The
biggest reward though, was being able to help out for a worthy cause!

Visiting With Susie

Over the last few days, we've been having a nice visit from our friend,
Susie.  She stopped while driving through the area since she has old
ties to Grand Junction and we've gotten to do a number of fun things
with her.  Earlier this evening, she and Lynn attended a function at the
Western Colorado Center For The Arts and then we all stopped by
The Hot Tomato Cafe in nearby Fruita.  We had wanted to come here
for dinner for some time, and having Susie in town was a great excuse!
Susie's headed out of town tomorrow and has big travel plans for the
next couple of months.  We hope to see her when she gets back!

On The Road Again

Another year, another season on the Ice. It was sad to leave Lynn and Grand Junction, but it must be done. It's a job. New challenges are ahead. Even though I have the same position, a new contractor is in charge and I have one less person working with me than in past years. It will be an interesting season, but it's only five months, and I'm sure it will go by quickly.

Free Airshow

The Airshow at the Grand Junction Airport is scheduled for this weekend. The first time in four years. It's a bit pricey for us to attend, but we were out running errands today and decided to head over to the airport to watch the Blue Angels practicing for their show. It was really amazing! I hadn't been to any kind of airshow since I was in Junior High and that was at my brother-in-law's air force base up in Michigan. It always astonishes me how these planes can move so fast, stay up in the sky and do the tricks that they do. Again, just amazing!

Pad Thai

More years ago than I would like to admit, we took a Thai

cooking class from our friends Saluay and Cheri at Hut 10

at McMurdo Station. Cheri had recently taken a similar

class at the Baan Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai, Thailand

and was willing to share her new-found knowledge with us.

Our friend, Saluay, who is originally from Thailand acted as

co-teacher and we learned how to make all sorts of great

Thai dishes. In Antarctica, of all places! We even received

a great cook book to take with us. Ever since then, I've loved

to make Pad Thai. It's one of my favorite dishes since I love

Thai food and I love taking all the steps to make it a great

dish. Lynn claimed that my latest effort was possibly the best

Pad Thai she's ever had and I like to think it was pretty darn

good as well. Darn...now I have this urge to go back and visit

Thailand again...

Donating Blood

Donating blood is something I used to do frequently, starting when I was in college. However, it's been over a decade since I donated blood. Well, today I jumped back on the donating wagon and gave a pint. I did have ulterior motives though. Because I gave blood, Lynn and I will be able to go to the JUCO (Junior College) World Series that starts this weekend in Grand Junction, for free. Everyone that participates in the "Step Up To The Plate and Donate" program gets a free ticket. We would have gone to JUCO anyway, since we like baseball, and this is a prime time to enjoy it here, but being able to help others at the same time, makes it that much better!

Annular Solar Eclipse

It doesn't happen very often, but we witnessed a solar eclipse this evening.

We live a couple of hours north of where we could have witnessed "The

Ring of Fire" effect of a total eclipse, but it was fun nonetheless.  Lynn and

I took our pinhole'd paper out into the backyard and definitely saw the 

effects of the partial eclipse.  It did get noticeably darker for 7:30pm, but sadly

the lights didn't come on automatically and the birds didn't go to sleep!

I was tempted to drive the several hours south, but this satisfied my 

scientific geeky curiosity for the day...

Grand Valley Beer Festival

Today, we used the tickets I won from the television to attend the
Grand Valley Beer Festival,  being held at the University Center,
at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

Because it's only five blocks from our house, we were able to walk 

(and as a result, not have to worry about having had a few too many to 

drink).  Lynn nor I aren't very big drinkers, but when we do drink beer, 

we like to try local brews as well as beers from small breweries.  The 

Beer Festival was perfect for this as most, if not all of the 22 breweries 

I counted were from Colorado.  Each person received a small glass that

would be filled at each table you visited and you could try as many of 

the brands as you liked.  You could then vote on your favorite.  I only 

found a couple (I won't mention them) that I really didn't like at all.  

Lynn and I both agreed that the "Red Monkey's Butt" from local Suds 

Brothers Brewery in Fruita was our favorite.  We had a really good time, 

and definitely had our fill.  The venue was fun as well.  I hope it's a 

successful yearly event.

Worry Worry Worry

I am my parents child. I worry. Not to the extent that I get ulcers.
Although, back in the early 90's I worried so much about a job I hated
that I contemplated buying stock in Brach's Candy because I was
popping so many Starlight Mints to ensure that my stomach didn't
hurt. But I digress. My newest worry? That I wasn't going to PQ
(Physically Qualify) to work down on the Ice this year. It turns out,
I did what I needed to do, and I'm headed down for my twelfth
season. As much as I worry now, I have to admit that Lynn has been a
good influence on me. I worry less than I used to. On the other hand,
I think she worries more now than she used to. Will I continue to worry
in the future? I don't know, but I'm not going to worry about it...

Lynn's at McMurdo

After a couple days of delays, Lynn is on the Ice. She had
her first day at her new job and things are going well. She's
in a temporary dorm room for a while, so she can't really
settle in. However, she's getting back into the swing of things.
Hopefully she'll be able to see some clear nights and lots of
stars and auroras. Maybe even some Nacreous Clouds.

Lynn's Still in Christchurch

Sometimes you fly...sometimes you don't. Sometimes you don't
even stay in the same hotel you thought you were going to stay in.
Lynn was scheduled to fly to McMurdo yesterday, yet she's still in
Christchurch. Weather at McMurdo has hampered flights and the
earliest she'll go is tomorrow. I can definitely think of worse places
to be stranded than in Christchurch. She's surrounded by nice
friends and they've even taken her out and about since she doesn't
have a car. Although it's not the same Christchurch we've known
all these years (Lynn says the earthquake damage is heartbreaking),
it still feels like a second home to us. One of these days, she'll be
continuing her journey south.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

At 6:30 this evening, I dropped Lynn off at the airport in Denver.
She'll be traveling for the next 29 hours, on her way to Christchurch,
New Zealand where she'll spend at least two nights before heading
down to Antarctica.

Fail Better

Lynn began her journey, headed south today. Since she has to use all
of her flight legs or her whole ticket will be voided, she left via Grand
Junction Regional Airport on a 55 minute flight to Denver. I, on the
other hand, drove to DIA to meet her at the other end. I get to spend
more time with her and she has a car while at orientation. This plan
usually works well, especially if I leave a couple hours before her flight
and am able to meet her when she comes out of the airport.

Ah. Not so fast. The key word here is "usually".

The folks at the Colorado Department of Transportation have never been
on top of my "A" List. Over ten years ago, while driving the twisting and
turning Route 36 between Estes Park and Lyons every day on a 100 mile
a day commute, I wondered why there weren't reflectors in the middle
of the road. Every other state seems to use these. This is a major U.S.
Highway after all. However, in Colorado, even the interstates don't use
them. I wrote to the Colorado Department of Transportation (yes,
I'm one of those people...a trait I inherited from my father, who liked to
effectively bitch at people who are slackers) and asked them...why? To
my surprise, I received a response. They told me the snow plows would
remove/scrape them off in the winter. WHAT? They don't have snow
in Indiana? Illinois? Minnesota? I could go on and on listing the states
that A) Have reflectors on their highways and B) Have snow! To this day,
I find this response, and CDOT, to be LAME!

This brings me back to today. I was warned by a friend that there have
been backups on eastbound Interstate 70 between the Eisenhower Tunnel
(actually the Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel and the eastbound
tunnel is the Johnson Tunnel...most people don't know that) and Denver.
Gotcha...Thanks Susie! So I left home at 1:30. Now, I've been known, at
least by myself, to have made this trip in 3:45. Yes, I sped, but this was a
while ago, and I figure the statute of limitations has passed on my speeding
crime. Anyway, I figure that 4:30 should be plenty of time. Again, thinking
logically gets me in trouble every time.

Smooth sailing...I even stop in Edwards for ten minutes. I cross Vail Pass.
A little rain, but no traffic. Copper, Frisco, Silverthorne....oops....a sign
over the highway...20 minute metering at the tunnel...Whaaaattt!!!!
A LOOOONNNGGGG traffic jam miles from the tunnel. I figure, ok...if
this will help traffic on the east side, then I'm all for it. A seemingly long
long wait later, I'm going through the tunnel. Smooth sailing. And then,
brake lights. Lots and lots of them. This is nothing new. I expected a
delay, but nothing like this. Remember, this is not the city. Any city.
There are probably no more than 100 people within a mile of the highway
anywhere near Interstate 70 in this part of the state. I'm now averaging
5-10 miles per hour! And that's when I'm moving.

Eventually, I make it to Denver and the airport. 6:30 later! Almost twice as
long as it should have taken!

I can understand why CDOT meters people going into the tunnel. They don't
want people to get trapped in the tunnel if there is an accident, fire, etc. and
making sure it's clear is their way to ensure this. Bravo for them...However...
Get off the stick and figure something out about the eastbound situation.
The biggest problem (ok, the BIGGEST problem is that people in general are
not as bright as we'd like to think they are...including drivers on the highways),
is that there are only two lanes on most of the route. Honestly, there are a few
places (the Georgetown area comes to mind) where the mountains are just too
close to the road and they can't make it three lanes. Most miles of the highway
however, have enough room for three lanes each way. Do it. Spend some of
the money from the gas taxes and DO IT. I don't know where the money is
going and haven't been able to figure that out for years. Obviously not on
the repair of our roads. When traveling, Colorado's roads are always the worst.
Oh, by the way, during the entire stretch, there wasn't any construction or
any accidents. Can't use that excuse for the backup, CDOT.

So Colorado Department of Transportation...in the words of Samuel Becket...
"FAIL BETTER"

The Wieinermobile!

I am a very lucky person. At least three times in my life,
I have seen the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile! Today, it was
stopped at the local Safeway and Lynn and I went with Leslie
and Gina to go Hail the Conquering Wiener! We managed to
get some cool stickers, and of course a Wiener Whistle and
some other fun stuff. However, when I mentioned that back
in 1995 I got to sit behind the wheel of the Wienermobile, the
Hotdogger (one of two people that ride with each Wienermobile)
told me that that was "against the rules!". Uh, ok.
Anyway, we enjoyed our view, listened to children scream,
had our photos taken and then were on our way. Grand Junction
seems to be a pretty popular spot for the Wienermobile to stop,
so I'm sure we'll see it again soon!

Lynn's Packing to Go South

Lynn wasn't planning on going South to The Ice this year.

She was an Alternate. Then, out of the blue, she received

a phone call, telling her that she was now the Primary.

Plus, she would be going down at Winfly, not Mainbody.

This means that she'll be leaving for orientation in

Denver on August 21st and headed for New Zealand on

August 23rd, with a on-Ice date of August 27th. Each

person is allowed 140 pounds of luggage. Usually it's not

hard to come under the weight limit, but sometimes it's

hard to fit everything in the bags. We've solved that

problem by getting space bags that remove all the air

and gives you a compact bag to place inside your bags.

Here's Lynn demonstrating the procedure.

Home Again

It was a great trip, but now we're home! We saw some fantastic
sites, had a great visit with family and friends, met some fun

and interesting new people, and Lynn got to commune with
6000 other knitters!

Sausalito

We really hadn't planned on visiting Sausalito. It's a small,

touristy kind of place near the Golden Gate Bridge, across the

bay from San Francisco. However, I wanted to get some good

photos of the bridge and since the fog was socking in the

bridge (as usual this time of year), we had time to kill while we

waited for the fog to lift. We visited Sausalito over ten years

ago and it really hasn't changed a lot. Lots of little shops, some

interesting and some not. However, there's lots of pretty

scenery and photo opportunities. Lynn even found a really nice

yarn shop. Go figure! We found some good coffee, a fun book

shop and generally has a good afternoon of hanging out.

Sock Summit

The main purpose of this trip is so that Lynn can attend the Sock Summit.
This is a large convention of knitters with a sock emphasis. If you'd like to
know more about it, Lynn will have more details on her knitting blog.
I've never seen more knitters in one place. It's estimated that there will be
6000 knitters attending. I'm sure there will be others here like me though.
Interested parties that are here to support the knitters, and as in my case,
act as sherpa for all the yarn and goodies that Lynn will be picking up. I've
been to a lot of yarn stores with Lynn, but this is the largest amount of
yarn, knitting supplies, etc. that I've ever seen in one place. These folks
take it very seriously. It was fun to watch Lynn have such a good time
amongst her peers. We have three days here and besides visiting the
marketplace (in the photos below), Lynn will be taking several classes.
I'm sure she'll have a great time!