Like I need more to worry about

I was reading the news today at work and found out that there is a planned protest in Mexico at the border tomorrow, and the US will be closing the freeway at 8:30 AM. The protest is expected to last up to six hours. We were planning driving to Mexico around 2PM. Even if the road is opened, there will probably be a huge backup and wait. So tomorrow we'll just have to watch the news and try to time it so we cross the border at the best time.

Padres Vs. Arizona

Yesterday was my day to see the Padres at Petco park sitting in my company's season ticket area. My sister got to enjoy these second row seats this year (last year they were front row - but these seats had more leg room). The game was exciting up until the seventh inning. We left in the 8th and missed Trever Time in the ninth. At least the Padres won and gained a game on the Diamondbacks.

That's my beer she's holding while waiting for the camera man to move. At one point during the game as I leaned over to get in view of the camera and I spilled the remnants of my beer! How could I?

A trip on the Trolley with a grand tour of downtown and a stop at Trophys before the game made for a complete evening.

Now I'm ready for my four day weekend, which will take place in Mexico! So beer drinking beat hiking for the Labor Day weekend. Maybe we'll go on a hike and bring beer with us!

Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub and Grill

Drinking a Guinness at the newest Irish Pub in Carlsbad. I guess we chose the wrong time to go, because service was very slow and it was apparently the time that several fathers took their kids out for food, thinking that they were at a McDonald's playland. There were six young kids running around screaming and climbing on the pool tables while their dads just sat there drinking their beer. With service and an atmosphere like this, I predict the bar will close soon. However, the beer and fish and chips were good. Maybe it would be better on a Friday night when a live band is playing and the children are home sleeping.

Hurricane Dean

Whoda thought that the remnants of this hurricane would affect San Diego and keep me from going on a bike ride this morning. I woke up and looked outside to see wet pavement. Now don't think I'm afraid of getting wet, it is just that I got my bike tuned up yesterday at the Trek store and the chain has fresh oil on it. I'll wait for a sunnier day to test the new gear they installed, one that will make it easier for me to climb steep hills, such as the ones that would lead to highway 67 from my home. The threat of rain is also keeping from driving my clean and freshly waxed Mustang. It hasn't looked this shiny and new since it was, well, new!

Another Person's View of Mt. Whitney

I am violating the unwritten blogging rule of posting on past events, but this last week has been uneventful for me, so HERE are Mt. Whitney hike photos taken by ThrillIsGone22. I hope he doesn't mind me posting these for the whole world to see. They include the group photo of us at the start of the hike where we are all smiling and feeling ready for the big trek.

It has been more than two weeks since I've hiked and I'm starting to feel fat. I put on 5 pounds since Whitney, and it is 5 pounds of fat in my gut. I need a new goal, so I'm motivated to do more hiking and stop my re-toxification process. On my four day Labor day weekend, I plan to either go hiking again in the Sierras or hang out in Mexico and drink, drink and drink some more.

Me Simpsonized Second Try

I tried again, with more customization. It looks a little better.

Black Cat With Lizard

I looked out my newly cleaned window just in time to see the mysterious black cat walking by with a lizard in his mouth. This is one less lizard that will try to get into my house, so this cat is doing a good job. I'm not sure who the cat belongs too, there hasn't been any cats in my area for years. Yesterday I saw him hanging out with another cat, but they both ran when I walked to my door.

Belated Brother's Birthday

A belated birthday dinner for my brother at Oggi's. Coke for him and his wife, beer for the rest of us (see other blog). This outing was preceded by a swim, for some of us, in a 94 degree pool. 94 is a little too warm, but compared to my short wade into Lake Tahoe, it felt good.

Simpsonized

This is what I'd look like if I were a character in The Simpsons. I don't really see how this person looks like me, based on the photograph I uploaded, but it is still cool anywasys.

Spider Pig Song

Spider Pig Song

The Full Spider Pig Song

Earthquake in Peru

Had I not spent a week in Peru last year this headline would have not registered on my scope. During our tour of Lima, the tour guide told us of how much of the original buildings in Lima had been destroyed by earthquakes. I'd like the think that the hotel we stayed at was earthquake proof and most of the damage was done in the older parts of Peru. I hope there isn't more damage and death than already reported. After just one week in Peru I feel I have a connection with the people there. They were all very friendly and I learned enough about their culture to respect and admire that country.

More Homeowners Association Dealings

That's what I get for going to a homeowners association meeting. I got an e-mail from the president asking me I could have my condo inspected for a water meter connection. They want to put water meters on every unit so we pay our own water bill, which I think is a great idea. I was already thinking of having some plumbing work done, like a new tankless water heater and having my main water shut-off valve replaced. So I said yes and this morning they came by and did a quick inspection of the plumbing in my "B" unit. I had more questions for the contractor than he had for me. Once we get the water meters, then I will be able to use my own water to wash my cars, which will be more convenient than driving to my brother's house.

Last month the issue of monthly newsletter had an article about the problems of the condos across the street. They have 5.8 million dollars of work to fix all the neglected repairs. The homeowners will have to pay $688/month for 15 years! I'm glad I didn't buy a condo there. I feel much better about the high dues I pay, which was probably the reason for the article in the first place.

America's Roofs

This is an interesting web site. It lists the highest points in all 50 states. It is funny to see the states that the vertical climb is zero feet. That means that you can drive to the highest point in that state. It is also interesting that it ranks each hike, and the Mt. Whitney hike is ranked number six, meaning there are five more difficult hikes, with Mt. McKinley in Alaska being number one. So if you have traveled to all 50 states, your new goal might be to hike up to the tallest point in each of those states.

Photos From Summer Vacation 2007

I have posted the best of the photos I took on my vacation. It seems I took fewer than usual, probably because I've been to Lake Tahoe and Salt Lake City many times before, so the most photographed places are Cedar Breaks and Mt. Charleston.

Click here to view the web gallery.

Cedar Breaks Video

I'm trying a new feature of Blogger to add videos to my blog. I took this video while at Cedar Breaks National Monument. The noise you hear, besides my voice, is the wind. It was very strong and cold at this view point. The geological features of Cedar Breaks are similar to those at Bryce Canyon, but there is no comparison, Bryce Canyon I think is much more spectacular, plus you can hike down into the canyon, whereas here you can not.

Copper, Comedy, Cars and Cable

I took a short movie of the trucks hauling dirt up and down the mine. The trucks with a full load drove very slow, and the empty ones moved quicker.


Click here to view a Quicktime movie of the trucks in the copper mine


On my last night in Las Vegas we went to the Hooters Casino to see the comedian Bobby Slayton. I had last seen him in 1994, so at least most of his act was new. However, we caught the last show and the club was mostly empty. His jokes, which are no more than just insults, were funny, but with such a small crowd it sounded like he died on stage. I think he was funnier 15 years ago when he performed at the old Improv in Pacific Beach. It was also much cheaper then.

I really enjoyed taking my Mustang on this trip. It is nice to be able to pass trucks and motor homes on the 395 with no effort. I could put the car in cruise control and it would climb steep grades at 80 MPH without slowing down. Yes, the car did get very dirty on the outside, but with the use of towels and sheets I kept it clean inside. I did manage to put a little ding in the front fender, but that can be easily fixed. Also, my overall gas mileage was 22 MPG - not bad for a muscle car that I drove 80 to 90 MPH in many places - without getting a speeding ticket. I just filled up the tank that got me home from Vegas. The computer indicated that there was 5 miles left in the tank, but I think that number was wrong.

When I got home there was an e-mail from Time Warner telling me that they increased the speed of my Internet connection. So after I followed their instructions I tested the speed and sure enough, it was faster. It showed a download speed of 6300 Kbits/sec, which is almost 790 Kbytes/sec.

Virgin River Gorge Drive

I was surprised how quickly I got from St. George to Las Vegas. Mark was really surprised I showed up so soon after calling him as I left the hotel. I didn't stop along the way, but I did take this video as I drove through the Virgin River Gorge, which is a sight to see if you have never driven this windy road that follows the Virgin River through a gorge.

Click here to view a Quicktime movie of drive though Virgin River Gorge

Safely Home

After a five hour drive from Las Vegas I made it back home. Fifteen days on the road seemed longer than I expected. Overall I had a great time and except for three days of sickness, which my aunt and uncle helped me though (thanks!), I'd say my summer vacation of 2007 was perfect.

Mt Charleston Hike

I felt good enough to go for a hike today. Mark, Dan and I drove over to Mt. Charleston, about a 30 minute drive from Mark's house. The elevation of the trail head was 7700 feet, and it was interesting to feel the temperature drop from 100+ in the valley to the lower 70s. It is hard to believe that there is an area this nice so close to Las Vegas. The air was smog free. We hiked the Mary Jane trail, which leads to a waterfall. The trail is only 3 miles round trip, but with an 1000 feet elevation gain, it seems longer, plus we took our time.



The waterfall wasn't flowing very fast, but since it falls quite a distance down a tall cliff, it was still worth the hike. Every so often, the wind would kick up and blow the water on us. We then hiked back to the car and drove to a nearby lodge for a lunch on their outdoor patio. We all had the club sandwich, which was very filling with tons of turkey and toppings. This all led to an afternoon nap where we are getting ready to go out to see another, hopefully more funny, comedian.

Larry The Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular

I had never seen or heard of Larry The Cable Guy, but now I have, plus I've seen one half of his Christmas Spectacular. We got free tickets to see the filming of this show at The Palms today. I must say, the show was not that funny. It was interesting to see how it was produced, with a few re-takes and stuff, but we left before it was over. I thought the ushers were going to force us to stay seated, but they let us out of the theater. The show started off with two live songs by Kid Rock, and that was the best part, with four women dancing on "North" poles - Vegas style. I don't know what network the show will be shown on, as there was lots of swearing, but they kept talking about cutting to commercial breaks. I'll have to wait until December to find out, and see if I can see myself on TV.

Me In Big Tire

Back at the copper mine, here is me looking small compared to the tires on the big trucks.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

I finally felt good enough today to leave Salt Lake City. I got more sleep last night after going to Chuck-A-Rama for dinner. My destination was St. George, with a possible stop at Cedar Breaks National Monument. Since I didn't make it to Great Basin National Park, I wanted to visit one park today, and Cedar Breaks was on the way and I had never been there before. I didn't realize that it was above 10,000 feet. As I drove up the road, the air cooled quickly. The scenery was lush and green, with forests and meadows. Then I caught a glimpse of the monument. The bright red rocks stand out among the surrounding landscape. I stopped and took several photos before making it to the park entrance.

There was a great view of the park, and I even caught a lecture by a ranger who told us how the monument was formed. I then bought a tee shirt at the visitors center and drove back down to Cedar City. I wish I had more time to spend there and had felt better. There was a four mile hike that led down to a great view point, but I was still feeling tired from being sick the last three days.

I arrived at St. George before 6, checked into this wonderful Motel 6 (where I'm getting wireless from the hotel next door), and had a steak, chicken and shrimp trio Fajita for dinner, plus two beers. I really must be feeling better. Tomorrow it is off to Vegas to meet up with two friends and catch up on old times.

Dinner with Family

After sleeping for 12 hours and then takikng a three hour afternoon nap, I dragged myself out of bed for an early dinner with visiting relatives. We had a nice spaghetti meal with cheesecake for desert. I fell better today, but I'm going to skip the next leg of my trip and leave Tuesday and stay in St. George, then drive to Las Vegas.

No Fun to be Sick on Vacation

I somehow got sick, some kind of flu. I had a 100 degree fevor last night and slept for 12 hours. I'm going to stay in Salt Lake City one extra day and probably cancel my trip to Great Basin National Park :-( I"ll still try to stop my Las Vegas, but I don't know if I'll be able to hike much.

Kennecott Copper Mine

Today I finally made it to the copper mine near Salt Lake City. I was almost here once before, but it was in the winter and it was closed to visitors. From a distance, the mine looks like a crater on Mars. I was expecting to see one of the Mars rovers taking soil samples. From close up, it looks the same. Over the past 100 years they have created the largest open pit copper mine. There is non-stop working, with huge trucks hauling the material that contains the copper. From the top, the trucks look like little toys.

They restrict visitors to a small area, with warning signs everywhere to keep people from wandering off and falling into the mine. The visitors museum was also interesting, and we watched the 16 minute video which showed how the copper is refined. It also tries to makes Kennecott look like a corporation that cares about the environment. However, I can't imagine this big hole in the ground ever becoming a national park.

Leg Two of Vacation

Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days. I'm having issues connecting my Apple to the wireless network here at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Salt Lake City. Yesterday I made the looooong drive across I80 from Reno to SLC. I should have slept in later on Thursday because 1 hour into the drive and I had to stop for a triple espresso drink at a drive through coffee shop. That only worked for a few hours before I started seeing double traffic lines down the middle of the freeway. For fear of crashing into a car driven my a nice Belgium couple, I pulled over and took a nap. I then made it to SLC by 6:30, even with the one hour time zone change.

For dinner last night we went to Ruth's Diner down the hill. It is always crowded, and most of the outside tables were taken, expect for one that was near the stage with the live band and under a tarp. When it began to rain suddenly, one by one all the guests got up and ran inside except for us because we were protected from the rain - until the tarp began to leak and water dripped into our food and beer! So we ate quickly and left. However, the food and beer were very good, despite the rainwater added.



The road to this house is all torn up, and there are temporary stop lights that are timed to handle the flow of cars up and down through the one-way sections. The city is putting in water pipes and adding bike lanes to this very popular biking path. This morning I slept in and then went for a hike. The hike began at a trail head at the top of the road. I wasn't sure how long the trail was or when it ended. I hiked to the creek, but then continued to follow a very narrow and overgrown path. The trail then went straight up a steep canyon where it took me to a summit where I could see over to the east side. Then I saw the trail off to the right and continued up to another summit looking north. My GPS said I was at 8000 feet, and the trail head was at 6400 feet. I felt I had hiked long enough, so I headed back down. I was hoping to see some wildlife other than bugs, birds and lizards, but I didn't. The partly cloudy weather made for perfect hiking conditions as the trail led up through several climate zones.