Home For Now

It was a nice trip out to California and back again. No snowstorms, no wrecks, and no slow downs.  I even got to spend time at my favorite Denny’s in Ontario.  They are such nice people there.  I flew out of Ontario airport in Los Angeles and changed planes in Vegas.  For you smokers out there, they have banned smoking now in the Vegas airport. If you have ever been there, they used to have two rooms with slot machines where you could smoke.  That has been banned, not sure if that is a Nevada thing or a new Vegas rule. 

I also took a trip up to Iowa over the weekend to see my parents. Always somewhat sad to see your parents health slowly degrade but at least they still have each other and are living on their own.

Perhaps I need to clarify a misunderstanding that has been created here. Many of you commented that you missed my birthday. Not sure how that started but it was not my birthday recently.  I had made a comment on someone’s sight that I do not celebrate my birthday and do not really tell anyone when it is.  Seems as though somehow that got misconstrued as I had just had a birthday. Lol   Not sure of why I choose not to do much on my birthday, I think it is because I just don’t like to draw attention to myself much. 

Here are a couple of rambling thoughts I had this weekend.

1.     We often talk about “radical Muslims” and the hate and terror they spread.  I would be interested in comparing radical Muslims to radical Christians.  For sure there are many differences, but in many ways, I feel there may be similarities as well.  My believe is that if we were to compare the two, perhaps one would better understand what the hell is going on in this world of ours.

2.     Here is a thought about giving.  The most rewarding part of giving is when I know, the one receiving the gift will never have to repay it other than to say thank you.  In other words, to give to something, or someone that has no way of repaying you, is the ultimate giving. Your thoughts?

Have a wonderful week ahead. The entire region seems to be in a deep freeze for at least another week, so find that special someone and enjoy some cozy moments together with hot chocolate and lots of hugging and kissing. 

Enjoy,Ed

I just got a call from work and will leaving for San Bernardino, Ca Tuesday morning. I plan to travel through New Mexico and AZ, crossing the Mohave Dessert in CA and then stay in Ontario, Ca Wednesday evening. If you see me fly by, wave. lol 

Let It Snow

There is not much new to report going on here at the ranch.  We did get some snow over the weekend, a much-welcomed change from the ice storm of a week ago. All total the snow amounted to a 6 inch, wet, heavy, great snowman making event.  I have an interesting story of my neighbor as I was out shoveling my driveway and sidewalks Sunday morning.  I noticed the he too came out to clear his driveway about the same time I did.  While he was busy trying to start his snow blower I got to work with my trusty shovel.  Two hours later I was done. I noticed the he had been trying to start his snow blower the entire time I was shoveling.  The kicker is that he gave up on the snow blower about the time his wife finished shoveling their driveway.  Moral of the story?   I will leave that up to you. Lol

A year ago my son was hired to shovel a different neighbors driveway of snow. The neighbor did not have time to do it himself; he had to go the gym to workout. 

Keep warm, as spring is getting closer.  (I hope). 

Enjoy,

Ed

Slow Bartender

A man in a bar has a couple of beers, and the bartender 

tells him he owes $8.

"But I already paid you! Don't you remember?" says the 

customer.

"Okay," says the bartender, "if you said you paid, then I 

suppose you did."

The man then goes outside and tells the first person he sees 

that the bartender can't keep track of whether his customers 

have paid or not. The second man then rushes in, orders a 

beer, and later pulls the same stunt.

The barkeep replies, "Okay, if you said you paid, then I 

suppose you did."

The customer then goes outside, sees a friend, and tells him 

how to get free drinks.The third man hurries into the bar 

and begins to drink highballs. Some time later, the 

bartender leans over and says, "You know, a funny thing 

happened in here tonight. Two men were drinking beer, 

neither paid, and both claimed that they had paid. The next 

guy who tries that stunt is going to get his ass...."

The man interrupts, "Don't bother me with your troubles, 

bartender. Just give me my change and I'll be on my way

Stockton California Trip

I took off Thursday noon heading south towards Oklahoma City.  The plan was to head south to Oklahoma and then travel west using I-40.  The trip took me through, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and finally California.  What a weather menagerie I encountered.

The first day was beautiful, sunny with temps in the 50s.  I made it to Weatherford, Oklahoma that first day and bedded down with spring like temperatures. When I awakened, it was like someone had moved me to Siberia. Lol  

The temperature was at 32 and falling.  The day started with rain, then freezing rain in Amarillo, TX.  By the time I got to New Mexico I also had driven though sleet.  At Tucumcari, NM thick fog had set in.  As I approached Santa Rosa, NM the fog had turned to freezing fog.  Oh my, what was I doing driving in this mess. Lol 

My trip ended that day in Holbrook, AZ (Just outside of Flagstaff).   After a nice dinner at a place called Jerry’s the bed invited me to finally settle down from an unsettling day of driving. 

I went to bed thinking; “I have not seen any snow yet”.  Guess what?  The next morning I drove through snow in Flagstaff.  FINALLY, by the time I got to Kingman, AZ the bad weather was behind me and I could relax a bit driving.

Crossing the Mohave Desert when temperatures were near freezing was a first for me.  At Barstow, CA I headed NW towards Bakersfield, CA, and then north on I-5. Oh the devastation I saw of the fruit orchards.  Ice hanging from orange trees just did not seem right.  Time will tell if the crop was ruined, but it sure looked like all the fruit was destroyed.  I also saw evidence as I drove up the San Joaquin Valley.  My final destination on that Saturday was a truck stop town called Santa Nelle , CA.  (About 70 miles due east of Monterey)  Have you ever heard of “Anderson’s Split Pea Soup”?  They acted like it was famous.  Anyway, I ate at their restaurant, yum yum. 

On Sunday I arrived in Stockton, Ca, switched vans and then drove to Sacramento, Ca. I flew out from there.  The first leg back to KC took me to San Diego.  Freezing rain and sleet in KC all weekend had the airport there closed.  I was not sure until we took off if the flight would go or not. No flights had made it to KC for two days.  As we too off the pilot said if we were not allowed to land at KC we would divert to Nashville.  Heck, I would rather have stayed in San Diego.  At any rate I was told that if the flight did not go, it would be at least two days before I could get another flight. 

The flight made it to KC!  I took an hour to get the ice off my car and finally got home around midnight.  What an adventure. I actually enjoyed most of the trip.

I do hope the winter blast has not been too bad where you live.  Stay warm and dry.

Enjoy,