It all started with a simple request from mom: "Drop by when you can so you can pick up some items from the house. I want you kids to pick out what you want now so you don't fight about it when I'm gone." What? Was mom feeling ill or something? Nope, she just wanted to get some spring cleaning done now so instructed the three of us to drop by whenever we could and start cherry picking those items that have some sentimental value to us.
Mom suggested I take dad's golf clubs since he no longer needed them (I think you get your own clubs in heaven) and a few other timely items such as that old clock that stopped when an earthquake hit the bay area where they both lived before retiring down in Arizona. Nanc was able to get some time off so we headed out with Mo which would be his first road trip with us that lasted this long (see Mo's blog for his take on the trip). Spent the night in Malibu first and the dog loved it. By the time we made it to Arizona Mo was already adapting to being on the road.I even let him drive mom's golf cart for a little bit.
Nanc had fun putting around in mom's golf cart and even took Mo for a walk in one. Sure made walking easier. Easier for us and not Mo that is.From there we headed to Meteor Crater because I hadn't been there since the last century and wanted to show Nanc where I was first abducted but later traded for some plutonium so I have fond memories of visiting the aliens there.
It's also where the Apollo astronauts trained since the crater resembled the craters on the lunar surface so hence a good place to practice gathering moon rocks.There's just something about an enormous hole in the planet that begs the question, "Did somebody else ever cruise by here to check things out long before we as a species arrived on this rock?" Just curious.
Hiking down to the bottom of the crater took forever but Nancy and I made it and wouldn't you know it my communicator went off asking if we wanted to beam back to the place I was initially abducted? I said, "No, not this time we're on a schedule of sorts but could we take a dust particle check instead?" I did ask to be beamed temporarily back at the rim of Meteor Crater but instead was beamed inside the Apollo test capsule they had back at the museum. So, while Nancy made her way back to the rim of the crater I was afforded the luxury of just being able to climb out of the test capsule and because of that had to buy lunch this time since Nancy was pretty tired at this point.
By the time we headed back toward Flagstaff I made a last minute decision to head on over to Lowell Observatory where the planet (oops, make that now a dwarf planet) Pluto was discovered.Lowell Observatory is an amazing place and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop by because who knows when we'll ever be back this way again you know? Was given the rare opportunity to actually take a peek through one of their reflector telescopes and marveled at the clearness of the solar system and the planets I was able to see. Oh sure I still harbor some bitterness about Pluto being downsized but I'm sure things will be corrected once we all make it to the Mother Ship mark my words. One gets a feeling that only those with an elitist or dogmatic view of life could possibly think that we are the only ones in this vastness of outer space. One only need to look around us (especially at the workplace) to realize aliens live among us. Well, it's a good thing I bring this up now I suppose because in the last century while making my annual trek (as in Star) to Roswell, New Mexico I was asked to take part in a series of experiments (no, none that involved probing) that I pretty much kept to myself but this picture was leaked while carrying out one such experiment. I only mention it now because sooner or later word would have gotten out anyway. Please remember this was taken a while back and I no longer consider aliens the other green meat.
After the stop off at Lowell Observatory it was on to a place I had always wanted to visit but for whatever reason never had the chance to go to......until now. As part of my birthday present Nancy surprised me with a helicopter ride over The Grand Canyon! That's right: The Grand Canyon. She said it was the only way to experience it for the first time (other than falling over the rim) and she was right. What an incredible and spectacular sight to behold! The Grand Canyon offering up visible proof that the earth is older than most would have you believe. These are but a slice of the many shots I took while flying over the canyon and could even see rafters on the Colorado just below me. Pictures can't truly capture the enormous beauty of this place but thought it was worth it posting a few here for you now.
Some of these images might look okay on this tiny spec of a blog here but it's nothing like seeing it in person.
if you've never been now would be a good time to go before the summer onslaught and before gas starts getting into the $5 a gallon hemisphere. After climbing down Meteor Crater the day before I wanted to convince Nancy that I could easily climb this crater known as The Grand Canyon. It took most of the day but I was able to make it down before noon. The tough part for me was climbing back and I didn't realize how out of shape I was until climbing back up the canyon's South Rim side. Nancy had done it before so I had to if anything to show her that I could if given enough incentive. Here she took a pic of me just as I was making it up to the top when what I really needed was for her to put the damn camera down and assist me in this once-in-a-lifetime climb.
To say I wasn't worn out would be a gross understatement but after a few drinks of the cold stuff and some crystal meth I was up on my feet again. I was living proof that one could still eat hamburgers and chili and still climb one of the toughest mountains ever (at least that's my opinion). The time spent at The Grand Canyon was one of the best ever and wish I could have stayed longer but had to start heading back to California and the dog had tried scaling the canyon walls earlier so we thought it might be a good time to start heading north but not before we stopped off at The Roadkill Cafe on historic Route 66!
Oh man what a fun drive that was too. Sure it look longer than usual but then you would miss all of these obscure little towns that were once a thriving metropolis when Route 66 was the highway in its heyday. Of course Interstate 40 has pretty much made Route 66 a road from a bygone era but when was the last time you heard a TV theme song about I-40 hmmmmm? There was a plethora of odd places along that highway some of which made me think of the movie, "Deliverance" which doesn't need any explanation. All I kept thinking was how did people survive here and I mean in the present capacity and not back when. The folks we did meet along the way were very nice but I didn't see too many dentists along Route 66.
What I did notice was the price of gas. Oh man by the time we hit the town of Lee Vining (just outside of Mono Lake on US 395) all of the prices were in the $4 range.
Now I know to my European friends this is no big deal but out here in the US of A it IS a very big deal. Spoiled? Maybe but then again we are a Super Power even if it doesn't seem like it right now when pushed far enough we do manage to kick some booty so it'll be intersting to see how much higher gas gets before you either see us go 'green' or start really nuking somebody soon. Oh sure I imagine we can all go the Ed Begley, Jr. route and be hybrids but we're still a very long way from getting everybody on that train of thought. Until then try to visit this great country whenever possible and just bring one less family member with you so that way you can afford the drive. Oh, for the record Nanc, Mo and myself traveled 2,300 miles and paid $360 for gas. I'm sure in a few months time that will be considered a bargain. Until next time....
Mom suggested I take dad's golf clubs since he no longer needed them (I think you get your own clubs in heaven) and a few other timely items such as that old clock that stopped when an earthquake hit the bay area where they both lived before retiring down in Arizona. Nanc was able to get some time off so we headed out with Mo which would be his first road trip with us that lasted this long (see Mo's blog for his take on the trip). Spent the night in Malibu first and the dog loved it. By the time we made it to Arizona Mo was already adapting to being on the road.I even let him drive mom's golf cart for a little bit. 
Nanc had fun putting around in mom's golf cart and even took Mo for a walk in one. Sure made walking easier. Easier for us and not Mo that is.From there we headed to Meteor Crater because I hadn't been there since the last century and wanted to show Nanc where I was first abducted but later traded for some plutonium so I have fond memories of visiting the aliens there.
It's also where the Apollo astronauts trained since the crater resembled the craters on the lunar surface so hence a good place to practice gathering moon rocks.There's just something about an enormous hole in the planet that begs the question, "Did somebody else ever cruise by here to check things out long before we as a species arrived on this rock?" Just curious. 
Hiking down to the bottom of the crater took forever but Nancy and I made it and wouldn't you know it my communicator went off asking if we wanted to beam back to the place I was initially abducted? I said, "No, not this time we're on a schedule of sorts but could we take a dust particle check instead?" I did ask to be beamed temporarily back at the rim of Meteor Crater but instead was beamed inside the Apollo test capsule they had back at the museum. So, while Nancy made her way back to the rim of the crater I was afforded the luxury of just being able to climb out of the test capsule and because of that had to buy lunch this time since Nancy was pretty tired at this point.
By the time we headed back toward Flagstaff I made a last minute decision to head on over to Lowell Observatory where the planet (oops, make that now a dwarf planet) Pluto was discovered.Lowell Observatory is an amazing place and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop by because who knows when we'll ever be back this way again you know? Was given the rare opportunity to actually take a peek through one of their reflector telescopes and marveled at the clearness of the solar system and the planets I was able to see. Oh sure I still harbor some bitterness about Pluto being downsized but I'm sure things will be corrected once we all make it to the Mother Ship mark my words. One gets a feeling that only those with an elitist or dogmatic view of life could possibly think that we are the only ones in this vastness of outer space. One only need to look around us (especially at the workplace) to realize aliens live among us. Well, it's a good thing I bring this up now I suppose because in the last century while making my annual trek (as in Star) to Roswell, New Mexico I was asked to take part in a series of experiments (no, none that involved probing) that I pretty much kept to myself but this picture was leaked while carrying out one such experiment. I only mention it now because sooner or later word would have gotten out anyway. Please remember this was taken a while back and I no longer consider aliens the other green meat.
After the stop off at Lowell Observatory it was on to a place I had always wanted to visit but for whatever reason never had the chance to go to......until now. As part of my birthday present Nancy surprised me with a helicopter ride over The Grand Canyon! That's right: The Grand Canyon. She said it was the only way to experience it for the first time (other than falling over the rim) and she was right. What an incredible and spectacular sight to behold! The Grand Canyon offering up visible proof that the earth is older than most would have you believe. These are but a slice of the many shots I took while flying over the canyon and could even see rafters on the Colorado just below me. Pictures can't truly capture the enormous beauty of this place but thought it was worth it posting a few here for you now.
Some of these images might look okay on this tiny spec of a blog here but it's nothing like seeing it in person.
if you've never been now would be a good time to go before the summer onslaught and before gas starts getting into the $5 a gallon hemisphere. After climbing down Meteor Crater the day before I wanted to convince Nancy that I could easily climb this crater known as The Grand Canyon. It took most of the day but I was able to make it down before noon. The tough part for me was climbing back and I didn't realize how out of shape I was until climbing back up the canyon's South Rim side. Nancy had done it before so I had to if anything to show her that I could if given enough incentive. Here she took a pic of me just as I was making it up to the top when what I really needed was for her to put the damn camera down and assist me in this once-in-a-lifetime climb.
To say I wasn't worn out would be a gross understatement but after a few drinks of the cold stuff and some crystal meth I was up on my feet again. I was living proof that one could still eat hamburgers and chili and still climb one of the toughest mountains ever (at least that's my opinion). The time spent at The Grand Canyon was one of the best ever and wish I could have stayed longer but had to start heading back to California and the dog had tried scaling the canyon walls earlier so we thought it might be a good time to start heading north but not before we stopped off at The Roadkill Cafe on historic Route 66!
Oh man what a fun drive that was too. Sure it look longer than usual but then you would miss all of these obscure little towns that were once a thriving metropolis when Route 66 was the highway in its heyday. Of course Interstate 40 has pretty much made Route 66 a road from a bygone era but when was the last time you heard a TV theme song about I-40 hmmmmm? There was a plethora of odd places along that highway some of which made me think of the movie, "Deliverance" which doesn't need any explanation. All I kept thinking was how did people survive here and I mean in the present capacity and not back when. The folks we did meet along the way were very nice but I didn't see too many dentists along Route 66.
What I did notice was the price of gas. Oh man by the time we hit the town of Lee Vining (just outside of Mono Lake on US 395) all of the prices were in the $4 range.
Now I know to my European friends this is no big deal but out here in the US of A it IS a very big deal. Spoiled? Maybe but then again we are a Super Power even if it doesn't seem like it right now when pushed far enough we do manage to kick some booty so it'll be intersting to see how much higher gas gets before you either see us go 'green' or start really nuking somebody soon. Oh sure I imagine we can all go the Ed Begley, Jr. route and be hybrids but we're still a very long way from getting everybody on that train of thought. Until then try to visit this great country whenever possible and just bring one less family member with you so that way you can afford the drive. Oh, for the record Nanc, Mo and myself traveled 2,300 miles and paid $360 for gas. I'm sure in a few months time that will be considered a bargain. Until next time....
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