I got home after  my 18 hour drive from Texas ( that is one big state) late last night. Everything went great and glad to have my family back home again.   Off early Friday morning for Fesno, CA.

 

Keep thinking good thoughts,

 

Enjoy,

Ed

Back to Texas

 

I am taking one last trip to Texas to resolve a family issue on Tuesday.  Will be back late on Wednesday.  My life is about to change for a few months. There will be two babies running amok in the household here.  If my entries seem crazed I hope you will understand. Lol   It is going to be a long two days ahead but hopefully this will be the beginning of something better for my daughter and her two boys.

 

 

Best of everything to everyone. 

 

Enjoy,

Ed

What do you Pimp?

 

Ok, if you have found this entry because you googled the word “pimp”, you have come to the wrong spot. This is not about people pimping other people. It is about what people do to things they own, how they decorate them, make them look fancy, soup them up.   I think about Tim on “Tool Time” and all the machines he always tried to “turbo”.  What is it that you Pimp? 

 

What brought this thought to mind was an article in today’s local paper.   “Pimp My Grill”.   It was about the really hot, fancy bbq grills that are out there to buy.  The one I saw was an $11,200, 154,000-Btu capacity, wood-charcoal-gas fired, 6-foot brute called “Kalamazoo Bread Breaker Two Dual-Fuel” grill.    Aarff  Aarff  Arafff.    Or another one called the “Talos Outdoor Cooking Suite” costing $35,000.  Whatever happened to my old Weber charcoal grill?   

 

The article brought to mind other objects I have seen people “pimp out”.  I remember seeing a wheelchair that had spinning hubcaps, air horns, CB radio, diamond studded décor, and leather seating, with duel stage turbo equipped electric propelling motor.    Is it clothes that you are obsessed with?  The latest design, most spectacular stare appeal, form fitting, top of the line luxury wear.  We have all seen what can be done to our cars.  The low rider, bass thumping, decaled, low profile wheeled, shiny chrome machines.   The ride is not smooth but oh do we look smooth in them. Lol 

 

I am trying to think what I pimp. What is it that I am obsessed with in having the best, most powerful, eye popping device?  Well, the answer is, nothing I am afraid.  Yes, I know, I am boring. Well, so be it.  Just give me clothes that are comfortable, a car that gets me there, a grill that cooks and I am a happy man.  Taking all suggestions for something for me to pimp out. Lol  

 

Oh, about the song that is playing with this entry. It has nothing to do with anything. I just thought it was funny.  Best to all.

 

Enjoy,

Ed

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Los Angeles 

 

It was another good trip out west.  Leaving Friday around 9:00 am put me in Santa Rosa, New Mexico the first night. Continuing on Saturday took me through Albuquerque, NM; Flagstaff, AZ; Kingman, AZ; Needles, CA and then finally ending up in San Bernardino, CA.  I dropped the van off and spent the night in Ontario, CA for the flight back home Sunday morning. 

 

The pictures depict a huge cattle lot in Dalhart, TX.  Ok, what the heck am I doing taking pictures of cows?  I guess it brings back some childhood memories of tending to cows on the family farm in Iowa.  I once made fun of my brother in law for the pictures he took while on an agricultural tour of Europe.  At least half the photos he took were of “manure” piles. Lol Thus, my pictures of cows are at least not manure piles. 

 

There was a scary moment for me while on I-40 west of Flagstaff.  My company has a 65-mile per hour speed limit.  We can go around 70 but much over that and I hear about it.  Ok, you ask, how do they know?  “Big Brother”.  Actually our vans are equipped with GPS tracking devices.  They always can see how fast we are going, where we are, how long we stop, etc.   That is not a big deal to me but it does create some problems driving in certain parts of the US. One such place is going south on I-15 from Vegas to LA on a Sunday afternoon. Even though the speed limit is 70, most drivers are doing 80+.   Going 65 along this route is dangerous, so, I usually go at least 75 to 80.  My company understands this. 

 

Anyway, the reason I am telling you about the speed limit is because I get passed by many semis.   One was passing me west of Flagstaff and had pulled in front of me as another semi was passing. As the first truck pulled in front of me his engine blew up. I saw my life flash in front of me for 5 seconds. The smoke was so thick I could see nothing. I did not know whether to hit the brakes (was there a car behind me?), pull over, speed up or what.  For 5 seconds I was basically driving blind at almost 70 miles per hour. Well, the smoke began to clear, I could see the truck in front of me was pulling over and the semi beside me was still in the left lane.  Oh my, it was like the song, “Jesus Take the Wheel”.  I guess maybe he did.

 

The flight home was fine. I did notice longer lines to check in baggage. I hardly ever check my bag, but with the new on board restrictions, I had to. So did most other people it seemed.  The good news is that the security lines were actually shorter. People had fewer bags they were carrying on.  I also noticed more people running in the airport. I guess the longer lines caused them to be late.  

 

Hope everyone is off to a great week.  The weather here today is perfect. Low humidity and in the 70’s. 

 

Enjoy,

Ed

Please Be Gentle

 

Ok, I thought it would be a simple day. A few errands to run, get my hair cut, a workout, and then home for a restful afternoon.  All went as planned except for the haircut.  You would think that getting your curly locks trimmed would be a relaxing event. Not today, “Helga” made sure of that.   Ok, her name was not really Helga but oh my.  Let me just say she was very “aggressive” in cutting my hair.  I thought maybe she was going to break out the handcuffs during the process. Her comb was like a battering ram to my scalp, pounding and scraping with each stroke.  I just had to close my eyes as she came at me with the scissors.  Her voice demanded my submission.  I wanted to just tell her; “please be gentle, I am a virgin”. Lol The attack was finally over and I escaped with my life.  If there was ever a use for a rubber comb she just found it.  Whew!  

 

I am off again Friday for California. Not sure where yet, I will find out in the morning.  Flying should be a treat after all the new terrorism alerts.  Maybe I should just check everything at the ticket counter and just march naked onto the plane.  Oh wait a minute, "Helga" might set next to me!!  Oh have mercy.      Longer lines at check in for sure await me. 

 

Everyone have a wonderful and joyful weekend.  Until I return.

 

Enjoy,

Ed

Colorado and On West

 

I just got back from my latest trip out west, leaving Friday afternoon and arriving back home Monday afternoon.  This journey took me across Kansas, through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and then across Utah, Nevada and finally ending up in San Bernardino, Ca.

 

Crossing Kansas on I-70 is not the most scenic ride in the world. Did you know that they have scientifically proven that Kansas is “flatter” than a pancake?   I spent the first night in Colby, Kansas. One of their highlights is that they boast to have the biggest barn in Kansas.  They even give tours.  Did Donald Trump having something to do with that? Lol

 

As I was coming into Denver from the east I noticed something that surprised me. You know how they always say that Denver is the mile high city? Of course as you go west of Denver you get into the mountains with elevations of over 12,000 feet.   But did you know that east of Denver the elevation is actually higher than in Denver?  At one point in eastern Colorado my navigation device said that the elevation was over 5,700 feet.  Denver of course is about 5,280 feet.  Ok, ok, you say, who gives a flip.  Lol

 

The Rocky Mountains is just about my favorite place in all of the USA. I love the mountains.  There are two things that I notice. One of course is the highness of the peaks. But the second thing is how blue the sky is. Looking up into that sea of blue is so peaceful to me.  It is like the an ocean in the sky.

 

Driving from Grand Junction, Co into Utah is pretty boring.  As a matter of fact there is one point where it is 110 miles between services along the interstate.  I often wonder, what is this land good for? I see fences, so they must have some sort of livestock in there.  It must take 100 or more acres of that dry land to support even one cow I would think. 

 

As boring as the drive along I-70 in eastern Utah is, you are rewarded with some of the most picturesque stretch of highway there is as you get into Salina and the Richfield, Utah area.  I spent the night in Richfield, Utah.  I could see immediately why they call it “Rich”field.  It is set in a valley of green pastures and fertile ground.  Looking for a place to eat that night I spotted something called “Wingers-The Original”.  Well, I figured if it was the original it must be good, right?  To be honest, it was just ok. Maybe the fact that they stuck me in the room with the 2-year-old birthday parties had something to do with my attitude. Lol

 

The drive the next morning from Richfield into Nevada was breathtaking.  The highway was like a ribbon of concrete that traversed the summits, the valleys, and the canyons.  It struck me that an engineer and an artist must have worked together to layout this beautiful stretch of highway.  As the sun was rising, the highway and the mountains became one. I was part of this natural picture as I traversed my way into Nevada. 

 

Soon I was in Las Vegas. What a city.  After walking the strip for about two hours I still could not get a grasp on what all there was.  Everywhere you look there are huge hotels, mammoth neon signs, and of course, lots and lots of people.  Oh, by the way, as far as gambling goes?  Lets just say that I broke even. Lol

 

I am leaving again in the morning to visit my parents in Iowa for a couple of days.  Hope your week is off and running in a great way. So sorry but I will not be able to respond to comments until I get back from Iowa.  Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts and concerns about my dog. Will respond to all comments later this week.

 

Enjoy,

Ed

The car shopping is officially over. No more test drives, no more run ins with the law.  My son finally has purchased a new ’06 Honda 2-door Civic.   There was not a single one in the entire city so the dealer had to work out a dealer trade with one that was coming in to another city. Hopefully the new car will arrive in a couple of weeks.  I think it is a great car. 

 

The heat here has finally broken for a while. Last’s night rain brought in a cool front, which is welcome relief.  It has been a difficult week for me.  The family crises continues to escalate in Texas. Hopefully an end is in sight within a few weeks.  On Tuesday I had to have my dog put down. I have had my toy poodle for 17 years.  She was always the first thing that greeted me each morning.  When one of our kids would have a bad day, she could always cheer them up.  It was very difficult for me to take her in and have her put to sleep but her health was at the point where she was in pain.  I know I did the right thing but it still really hurts. I still look for her in each room that I go into.  Fifi, you brought so much joy and comfort into my life, you are missed.  

 

The weekend is almost upon us. Hope you all have wonderful plans. As for me, nothing special that I know of.

 

Enjoy,

Ed