Well, that was fast. When Dad's hot water heater went kaput, it took a few days to get a new one in. The plumbers came out today and had it in by this afternoon. Maybe it's just a matter of what they had in inventory. Anyway, we've got hot water again. I haven't even asked what it cost. I want to pay for it myself -- I mean, it's my house, I'm an adult -- but right now it's just hard. I'm still paying off the hospital and my vacation upped my credit card balance a bit, so I hadn't been planning on spending any extra money except for Christmas shopping. So thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping out. I'll repay you somehow, someday.
At least there should be something good this weekend. A friend who moved away a couple years ago will be in town and we're getting together this weekend. It'll be good to see her again and get caught up. Other than that, I hope for a quiet weekend!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Good freakin' morning to you too
I had a great vacation, so now the rain must fall, right? It doesn't need to be so damn literal, though.
We woke up this morning to discover the water heater leaking all over (and through) the utility room floor.
I'm off to my dad's for a shower now.
We woke up this morning to discover the water heater leaking all over (and through) the utility room floor.
I'm off to my dad's for a shower now.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
A flying turtle!
One of my pics from mass ascension. This flickr stuff is cool!
See the entry below for links to more pics.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
First photos
I forgot I did get one roll of film developed while on my trip. These are photos from Saturday, when we visited the Trinity Site and the Very Large Array.
The first set is from the Trinity Site national historic landmark, which is open to the public only twice a year.
See my Trinity album here
We also visited the Very Large Array that day.
The VLA album is here.
More to come soon.
The first set is from the Trinity Site national historic landmark, which is open to the public only twice a year.
See my Trinity album here
We also visited the Very Large Array that day.
The VLA album is here.
More to come soon.
I'm back!
Got back home between 2 and 2:30 this morning. Then had to get up to get to the Day of Caring brunch at 10 a.m. We got home from that in the noon hour, so I thought I'd take a short nap. I got up just awhile ago!
It was nice and sunny this morning, but now is cloudy. My brother said today was pretty gloomy looking in Albuquerque today, and they had to cancel some of the activities at the balloon fiesta. It sounds like we lucked out with the good weather the day I was there.
And it was a great trip. The train ride was amazing. I'm the type that likes to study the countryside, so this was a perfect way for me to travel. It was fun to be able to sit and watch the geography change as the train moved on, from the plains into the foothills of the Rockies and up into the mountains. I saw several pronghorn antelope as we crossed the plateau in northern New Mexico that look very similar to Kansas. I would definitely travel that way again, but I think it would also be fun to drive and take some time to explore some of the towns we passed through, like Trinidad, Colo., or Raton, or Las Vegas, N.M. The parts of town I could see from the train station had a real Old West kind of look to them, although those areas of the towns probably aren't as lively as they were back then.
I'll have pictures posted Tuesday or Wednesday. I shot a total of seven rolls of film, most of it at the mass ascension at the balloon fiesta. It was just that great! I'll probably have more comments then, or maybe tomorrow. The rest of today is unpacking and taking it easy.
Later.
It was nice and sunny this morning, but now is cloudy. My brother said today was pretty gloomy looking in Albuquerque today, and they had to cancel some of the activities at the balloon fiesta. It sounds like we lucked out with the good weather the day I was there.
And it was a great trip. The train ride was amazing. I'm the type that likes to study the countryside, so this was a perfect way for me to travel. It was fun to be able to sit and watch the geography change as the train moved on, from the plains into the foothills of the Rockies and up into the mountains. I saw several pronghorn antelope as we crossed the plateau in northern New Mexico that look very similar to Kansas. I would definitely travel that way again, but I think it would also be fun to drive and take some time to explore some of the towns we passed through, like Trinidad, Colo., or Raton, or Las Vegas, N.M. The parts of town I could see from the train station had a real Old West kind of look to them, although those areas of the towns probably aren't as lively as they were back then.
I'll have pictures posted Tuesday or Wednesday. I shot a total of seven rolls of film, most of it at the mass ascension at the balloon fiesta. It was just that great! I'll probably have more comments then, or maybe tomorrow. The rest of today is unpacking and taking it easy.
Later.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Greetings from New Mexico!
My brother and I are taking it kind of easy today. He's got those person-not-on-vacation things to do like laundry, so it's a quiet day.
Got in to the train station in Albuquerque Friday afternoon, and we had dinner at my mom's favorite Mexican restaraunt. Definately better than anything we can get in Kansas. Then we kind of killed some time until rush hour traffic was over and headed for his home. We both weren't feeling that great (me a headached, him still some pain from some dentist work the day before) so we took it easy that night.
Saturday we both felt a lot better, so we headed out to the White Sands Missile Base, where the Trinity Site is located. It was kind of humbling to be standing on the spot where the first atomic bomb was exploded, and think of the power it held and the way it's changed the world.
After lunch we went to the open house at the Very Large Array. If you've seen the movie "Contact" with Jodi Foster, that's the place. It was pretty cool to see those huge antennas up close and watch them moving in unison.
Hope I got some good pictures. I've still got a few shots on my first roll left. I'm saving plenty of film for the balloon fiesta, though! We're probably going to wait until Thursday to go to it, since it looks like cloudy weather until then. But we'll probably be in Alburquerque at least one other day, so I'm sure I'll see some balloons floating around before then.
Got in to the train station in Albuquerque Friday afternoon, and we had dinner at my mom's favorite Mexican restaraunt. Definately better than anything we can get in Kansas. Then we kind of killed some time until rush hour traffic was over and headed for his home. We both weren't feeling that great (me a headached, him still some pain from some dentist work the day before) so we took it easy that night.
Saturday we both felt a lot better, so we headed out to the White Sands Missile Base, where the Trinity Site is located. It was kind of humbling to be standing on the spot where the first atomic bomb was exploded, and think of the power it held and the way it's changed the world.
After lunch we went to the open house at the Very Large Array. If you've seen the movie "Contact" with Jodi Foster, that's the place. It was pretty cool to see those huge antennas up close and watch them moving in unison.
Hope I got some good pictures. I've still got a few shots on my first roll left. I'm saving plenty of film for the balloon fiesta, though! We're probably going to wait until Thursday to go to it, since it looks like cloudy weather until then. But we'll probably be in Alburquerque at least one other day, so I'm sure I'll see some balloons floating around before then.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Getting ready
I haven't been up at this hour in a looooong time. For any reason.
Getting ready to leave for my trip to see my brother. I slept OK, but not great. Maybe I can get a couple hours on the train before it gets busy and too noisy. I'm sure I'll sleep good tonight.
I'll sure miss Nipper though. He'll be fine, I'm sure. Probably get lots of extra ear rubs and loving from Mom and Dad while I'm gone.
Well, got to go double-check (again) that I've packed everything I need while Mom's in the shower.
I'll be back in about a week for sure. Maybe I'll get in a post or two in the meantime.
Getting ready to leave for my trip to see my brother. I slept OK, but not great. Maybe I can get a couple hours on the train before it gets busy and too noisy. I'm sure I'll sleep good tonight.
I'll sure miss Nipper though. He'll be fine, I'm sure. Probably get lots of extra ear rubs and loving from Mom and Dad while I'm gone.
Well, got to go double-check (again) that I've packed everything I need while Mom's in the shower.
I'll be back in about a week for sure. Maybe I'll get in a post or two in the meantime.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Had to get away
I am o-fficially on vacation! Whoo-hoo! And not just a sit-around-at-home vacation, either ... this is one with a real trip and everything!
Friday (early Friday), I'll catch the train in Dodge to spend about a week with my brother in New Mexico. I haven't actually been to his place since he graduated college, so this should be neat. Plus, the Balloon Fiesta will be going on in Albuquerque, so we'll be catching some of that, as well as going to the Trinity Site, where the first atomic bombs were tested. They open it to visitors a couple of times a year, so I'm sure there will be crowds, but it would be worth it. Hmmm. I see my radiation oncologist the week after I get back. I wonder if I need to tell him I was there so he can add in the extra radiation I'll absorb.
Aside from that, and seeing the area where he lives and belatedly celebrating his birthday, I'm not sure what all we'll do. Maybe seek out our birthplace. Go look at the ol' neighborhood (that I can barely remember anyway). Who knows?
In the meantime, I have stuff to do to get ready -- make sure I have clean clothes, enough travel-sized toiletries, see what I might need to buy, maybe get a haircut ... at least I have a couple of days.
If I get a chance, I'll post while I'm there so y'all know I'm OK and having a good time. Maybe bro will have some digital pics I could post, too. I'll probably have lots to say afterward, too, so be sure to check back for sure on the 14th or 15th.
Friday (early Friday), I'll catch the train in Dodge to spend about a week with my brother in New Mexico. I haven't actually been to his place since he graduated college, so this should be neat. Plus, the Balloon Fiesta will be going on in Albuquerque, so we'll be catching some of that, as well as going to the Trinity Site, where the first atomic bombs were tested. They open it to visitors a couple of times a year, so I'm sure there will be crowds, but it would be worth it. Hmmm. I see my radiation oncologist the week after I get back. I wonder if I need to tell him I was there so he can add in the extra radiation I'll absorb.
Aside from that, and seeing the area where he lives and belatedly celebrating his birthday, I'm not sure what all we'll do. Maybe seek out our birthplace. Go look at the ol' neighborhood (that I can barely remember anyway). Who knows?
In the meantime, I have stuff to do to get ready -- make sure I have clean clothes, enough travel-sized toiletries, see what I might need to buy, maybe get a haircut ... at least I have a couple of days.
If I get a chance, I'll post while I'm there so y'all know I'm OK and having a good time. Maybe bro will have some digital pics I could post, too. I'll probably have lots to say afterward, too, so be sure to check back for sure on the 14th or 15th.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
