Beach Theft

The weather here has continued to be unseasonably warm and dry. While I can't complain about not shoveling snow, some rain or something would be nice. The grass is begging for water and care almost 2 months sooner than I usually have to face that chore. Oh well. Pick your poison I guess. Work has been busy with the nice weather and that's been good.

For Easter this year (you remember, the holiday my family doesn't quite know what to do with) we rented a house on the beach in Oxnard California. My sister's in-laws came along so we had some veteran people celebrating Easter. We did an obligatory egg hunt for the nieces and nephews and ate ham for dinner (that's easter-y, right?). I actually hadn't had just a relaxing vacation for awhile so I took the opportunity and headed over to San Francisco the Friday before Easter to visit with friends and eat. While eating I left the car I was driving parked outside of a Costco in the SoMo neighborhood and came back to something that looked like this:

It was actually the back passenger window, and my laptop and mission bag were gone. I'm usually pretty diligent about not leaving things in the car, but it was a busy area in the middle of the afternoon and I reasoned that I wasn't going to be gone that long, but I guess the homeless in the area are a little more restless here then other places. The cop I spoke with on the phone (because they couldn't be bothered to come out) said they have windows broken out for a hooded sweatshirt in that neighborhood. Live and learn I guess. At any rate, it was about 5pm on Friday and I really didn't want to spend the rest of the week with a taped up window. That's when my friend noticed an auto glass place just half a block away so we ran over to check and they just so happened to have the piece of glass I needed in stock and even though they were getting ready to close they offered to stay and replace the glass if I had 30 minutes to wait. DID I EVER! It was a lot like getting kicked in the crotch right in front of an ice machine.

These guys were life savers. It was great not to have to worry about that window for the rest of my trip. So, the food was good in S.F. The weather was beautiful. The company was fun. The next day I set off for Oxnard by way of the Pacific Coast Highway. I had all day to make the trip and general conference was on the satellite radio so I was alright with the 50mph CA1.

It was a clear day and the views were great. Traffic wasn't bad and for a change I was awake for all 3 Saturday sessions of conference. I got to watch the moonrise on the Ventura Hwy and got to the beach house about 9pm. My mom and sister did a great job finding this place. It was right on the sand and was plenty big for everybody.

The weather was a little cooler than expected, but I still spent plenty of time in the sand and sun. I caught up on some much needed sleep and did mostly nothing. People kept referencing the crabs on the beach but I never saw one. My brother-in-law and his family did some fishing and I did go on a whale watching trip with a bunch of orthodox Jews who were very sea-sick (tip: the whales look better on the discovery channel). The boat ride was kind of interesting though as it took us out by the Channel Islands off the coast. We even got a trip to the temple in. There was WAY too much food as per usual with this crew. I think I mostly ate pie for breakfast for a week. Not a diet that I'd recommend for long.

I got back to find my work was still there and everything was fine. I picked up a new laptop on my way home and it has turned out to be just as frustrating as my old one. The week I got back I was honored as the Volunteer of the Year for the White Pine Public Museum at the community's annual volunteer appreciation dinner. It was nice and uncomfortable. My laundromat was also featured in the business highlight section of the local newspaper this past week. I've been getting razed about the picture from everybody. In the evenings when I have a little time I've been working on the yellow bug trying to rehab the oxidized paint. It is going really well. I'm not sure if this picture really captures the great results we're getting, but the paint and finish is looking really good.

Can't wait to have this out for the summer. Everything else is going well. Looking forward to more travels and adventures! (and work,......I guess)

A Classic Arts Showcase Problem

For those of you not in the know, the Classic Arts Showcase channel is like a public service channel that shows an eclectic collection of musical performances, visual art things, and other what-nots (no commercials) and I'm completely addicted. Some of the things they show are so odd and yet so captivating. One of the things I recently saw was a film from 1943 of random streets, buildings, and parks in New York City with some airy piano music playing over the top. It's in color and just watching the candid nature of people from 70+ years ago going about their lives is fascinating. The film is beautifully shot and on occasion you see a subtle reminder that their is a world war going on. Thanks to the magic of YouTube, I've been able to watch this a ton of times.

 

Happening Things

As a follow up to the last post, the fine fall weather has turned into a warm and sub-par winter. While I cannot and will not complain about enjoying balmy 50+ degree sunny weather in January it certainly won't bode well for us this summer if winter decides not to show up. At any rate I LOVE not having to shovel snow around.

Christmas was spent with what seemed like 500 little girls under the age of 4, but it was just 3 of my nieces. We had a good time despite the screaming, crying, shrieking, pooping, etc..... My sisters, who are great mothers, had provided a magical Christmas morning for their girls with all the presents and magic that motherly love can provide. However all of that candy, late nights, and company means that by Christmas morning the sensory overload is just too much and there are a lot of tears.

But we all at least had fun laughing about it.

After surviving Christmas and even a family photo session we went home and had a boring (quiet) New Years.

 In other news:

Cats live at work and I'm trying to deal with that.

I got to go the Scottsdale Car Auctions again this year, but this time I got to go as part of work! Pretty crazy. I had to go down for the paving company to help with some equipment purchase, and I had to go for the railroad to meet with some restorers for this project:

I know! A station wagon! Isn't it great! The railroad had one of these in the '50's and now we are having one restored. This is definitely one of my favorite projects. 

As I may have mentioned on here, my rental house's basement and garage is filled with A LOT of old encyclopedias. With the nice weather I decided to clear some of these out, but it meant making trips to the dump like this.

Honestly, I felt like a Nazi book burner, but who needs an out-of-date set of encyclopedias let alone 30 sets of them. What do you do?

To wrap things up (a list of odd details): This week I graduated from the YSA branch and we'll be returning to the family ward this Sunday. On the insistence of my cousin who teaches culinary arts we started a food blog. www.halfcupofsnark.com   A website for restaurant and recipe reviews. Read at your own risk and be kind. I was also asked to run for election for mayor for the City of Ely, but thought better of it. I began my service as a member of the White Pine TV District board of directors. I'm looking forward to driving the sno-cat. Due to the progressing calendar I had to renew my drivers license this week and had to change my listed height from 5'10" to 5' 8", a very rude awakening I was made to have during a doctors visit last year. At 16, when I got my license, I figured I was an average height and felt 5'10" was an average height. I honestly don't ever remember having my height measured until the recent doctors office visit when I was informed I was over-reaching on my estimate. I sold the Blazer and Ginger the Wincher now lives out in rural White Pine County serving snow plow duty (that is if we ever get any). I hope your 2015 is going great!

A Fine Fall

Usually, by this time of year we are engulfed in fairly persistent clouds, snow, and uncomfortably cold weather. This year the weather has remained sunny, tolerably warm for the most part, and dry with the exception of a few errant storms. The nice weather has allowed us to keep a lot of projects running down at the railroad and the paving company long past when we usually do. I've also been able to finish painting the outside of the house (at least the sides you can see!)

I'm not sure if this picture does the color justice, but it is..... fantastic. The more I look at it the more I like it. With the new windows and the painted casements I think it looks great! I may even get more of the back painted if the weather holds. The house is progressing. I've got insulation going in next week, and most of the electrical boxes are installed and ready for wiring. As things come together I'm glad the house isn't any bigger than it is.

Some of you may have noticed that there was no Nevada Day post this year. Never fear! It was only due to the fact that I was much too busy throwing a 150th Nevada Day party.

Yes, it's true. The Great State of Nevada turned 150 years old this year. Sorry, there are no pictures of the party, but we did have a good time. There were games, Nevada shaped cookies, prizes, etc... Celebrations were had across the state.

Some were a little weirder than others

So Long, Click.

I began listening to CarTalk when the NPR station from Southern Nevada put a repeater in the rural county where I live. It was about the time I started high school. I was usually at the bike shop where I worked on Saturday mornings and I would listen to the show while I adjusted derailleurs and fixed flat tires. I enjoyed the technical talk, no doubt, but listening to two guys laughing hysterically and just thoroughly enjoying themselves was a great way to start a Saturday. It made me feel good even if I was at work. Seeing the outpouring over Tom's death, it's apparent I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Tom and Ray haven't been broadcasting any new shows for a couple of years now, but I still find myself tuning in for the reruns on Saturday morning. 

Godspeed, Tom.

A Flask Wedding

Last month I went into Utah for my cousin's wedding. It's always fun getting together with family. The wedding was such great party with live music, good food, and even goats, but just to be sure my other cousin and I brought our own party just in case.

Really good party.

Also, last month I got to go to Chicago and visit a good friend. However, the day I picked to travel just happened to be the same day that some wacko decided to torch a flight control center in Illinois. I had a quick layover in Denver that morning, but it soon became apparent that my flight from Denver to Chicago was not going to be happening. If you were watching the news that day you know what happened. Thousands of flights canceled, the national air travel network went to shambles, and most importantly I was stranded in Denver. After a few hours on the phone (PS: smart phones are the BEST thing ever!) with my travel concierge and the airline I decided that come hell or high water I was going to Chicago. So I hopped a bus to downtown Denver and caught the train!

Give me a break, I think this is my first "selfie".

Anyway, the Amtrak customer service was top notch. The station in Denver was awesome with so many good things to eat. The train was sparsely populated and spacious with fully reclining seats with foot rests. It was quite an adventure. The train trip ended up taking a little over 20 hours, but it still got me to Chicago half a day sooner than airline said they could even get me on a plan out of Denver. Nebraska was odd, but Iowa surprisingly scenic. There was a power outlet at my seat so I spent a good portion of the trip finishing the new Ken Burns documentary on the Roosevelts. People watching on the train was always a good way to spend some time. Plus, since the train was later than scheduled getting into Chicago I got a $100 travel voucher for future travel with them. And I will definitely be trying it again. 

Once I FINALLY got to Chicago, I met up with my friend and we ate...

...and ate...

...and ate....

...um,...and ate....

In addition to expanding our waistlines, we took in the sights, walked around Chicago, tried riding the "L", and we went to the Museum of Science and Industry where we toured the German U-Boat. They had this picture on the wall which I thought was funny.

It was a good, albeit an abbreviated, trip. Even coming back they still hadn't worked out all the air traffic problems so I got into SLC over seven hours late. It was nice to have a trip, but it was also nice to get back to my car and back to Nevada.

16 Miles..... in 3 hours

For the past month or so we've been constructing a flood control project in the Lincoln County city of Caliente. Over the past few days the remnants of hurricane Norbert have been dumping copious amounts of rain on us here out west. Very fortunately for us the storms didn't dump much rain on our project in Caliente. However, trying to get home from the project correlation meeting proved to be quite tedious as all North and Southbound traffic from the I15 had been detoured down US93, a winding two lane road.

I haven't ever seen so many semi trucks on a two lane road. As the title states it took me the better part of 3 hours to traverse the 16 miles from Caliente to Y Junction. I'll still take that over a flash flood washing through our construction site. The detour was due to extreme flooding washing out large chunks of I15 as well as boulders and debris being washed onto the roadway. Union Pacific's tracks must have also met with flooding as a good number of trains were backed up in the yard in Caliente. Never a dull moment!