Palin

Sarah Palin was in Billings yesterday...
glad I was in Helena far away from all the lemmings...
One could get swept over the cliff... 'nuff said...
can't say something nice then...

Happy Thanksgiving

I was expecting to go to work today so yesterday I went the buffet resturaunt. A homeless guy wanted 4 dollars "for gasoline"

I offered to buy his dinner. He must have thanked me 9 or 10 times. He asked to sit with me... I understand the lonleyness so I agreed even though I was afraid his hygene might be upsetting. It wasn't. I never got his name and he only finished about half his plate before confronting me about needing the 4 bucks again.

I explained that I don't give money to homeless. Years ago there were alot more Hobos on Railroad Property. I learned not to give money, but I have bought many meals for them over the years... mostly during the holidays.

Anyway, shortly after asking for money again this guy disappeared while I was getting another plate. He may have been sick... he didn't smell of booze but I think that's 'cause that is what he wanted the 4 bucks for.

I'll keep doing this... sometimes I've been surprised at the outcome.

I feel fortunate...

My biggest current problem is a bill I failed to pay in a timely manner (partly on purpose) for two shoes insoles back from April when I tore my Achilles. Health insurance didn't cover them, and they were 80 dollars.

If I was homeless, I'm betting some wadded, folded newspaper would have worked. Of course I would not have been playing Tennis.

Perspective.

My new buddy

I got too attached too quickly...

Jonah Michael Granberg
11/11/09

RR content - I'm baaaakkk...

I'm back running trains. My 3rd train since APR 21.

I agreed to work off my turn as they were short of Engineers.
Died both ways, no good deed goes unpunished, eh?

14'10" on duty all nighter on the way home.
Caught the ML. 155 cars out of Livingston. 13400 tons... lovely.

I met myself last night (my turn caught the bare table empty)

Red Ball express... photo taken when no other duties required of course.

WeSTOC 09 - Logan Run to home

Recovered from the heat this day (SUN) and it was the best day of riding for the entire 9 days (was it 9 days?)

Right off the bat I took a wrong turn but it was OK as the road nice with sweepers and vistas. I turned around after Gretta (Garmin) complained got back on track a bit although I did miss Bear Lake. The traffic wasn't heavy but I chose the less travelled road after the fiasco in Provo yesterday.

Met Mark and "Octo" across from the Friesen Horse farm near Montpelier. We cooled off in the Salt River... really nice guys. Mark camps "Out of Africa style" Tables, Shepard's tent, phonograph, BBQ... he brings it all in his trailer... what characters. They get together once a years and leave the wives behind. Now I don't feel so bad... I need the time alone too.

Favorite road today was 36 to Montpelier, UT and on to Freedom, UT on 34. I wish it was within striking distance for WeSTOC XV next year.

I rode Gallatin Canyon again... I had forgotten how nice the ride was from Wilson, WY to Belgrade, MT via Idaho.

Stats:
Max Heart Rate = 110 while working in the hot sun at Montpelier adjusting the seat so that I don't slide into the hot metal top shelter. It stayed in the 70's most of today.

Garmin Player click here

Smugmug photos starting today click here

Recap trip stats:
Total miles 3909 including the little side trips at Minden
2 tires at Minden...thanks Dave Bersins for the tip and Rod at the shop... terrific service.

On the way to Minden I saw 2 ST's both headed the other way... on the way home I kept catching ST riders. Carl at Austin, NV... Rene and the Kelly's at Ely, NY but that were all the ST's I saw on the road.

WeSTOC 09 - Logan Run

had to quit yesterday at 4pm... got a room in Eureka when my heart rate spiked at 102. I sent Carl on alone.

Left before light this A.M.... Rick's bike temp said 7C... burrr, but got in a massive traffic tie up near Provo and it was up to 35C and was a constant 33C.... ended up backtracking and running Provo canyon.... dammit! nice ride up by Bridal Veil Falls. Better today max heart rate was 97 (that I saw), matching the bank thermometer... huh?

Phot = Turley Ave in Provo. Looks like someone bent up the sign trying to steal it?

Add the Econolodge in Logan Utah to the list of nice economy rooms... and the air conditioner in room 226 is fantastic.... I'm almost shivering... it feels soooo good that I went to the grocery store for food... the rooms have Microwave and reefer. And new bedding. Mark the manager is interested in buying my 1100.

Garmin player here

WeSTOC 09 - beat the heat

I'm in Eureka, I didn't fare well in the heat. I caught up to Carl at Austin, NV... he watched me eat while he had a chocolate shake.

At Eureka I was a bit dizzy and heartrate was over 100 so I got a room. Went to the grocery store to get something to eat and ran into a cross country cyclist. A bit more than cross country he has cycled across the USA from Orlando to Virginia Beach to D.C. to Philly to NYC to Boston to Toronto to Detroit to Chicago to Sioux City to SD to Rapid City and on and on and now is in Eureka, NV

I left him $50 as I am about to sneak out of the hotel room I shared with him. Anybody want to chip in? He is so close to making it to San Fransisco... his travelogue is on facebook Charles John Wood from Manchester England. I'm in contact with him I'll figure out how to get him the money if you guys want to help. He is going to University for Architecture

WeSTOC 09 - headed home - Eureka

A late start after goodbyes made it uncomfortably hot so I stopped early in Eureka... Got an early start in the morning and hopefully make it home tomorrow. I rode 10 to 4 instead of the usual 9 to 9. Tomorrow will be 4 to 9 but should be a lot more comfortable.

Garmin player here

WeSTOC 09 - the event - Virginia City and tires

Thu - Virginia city with Steve and Tim for Breakfast. Hans and his wife joined us a bit later. I rode with Hans to the Cumbus and Toltec train at Chalma during WeSTOC in Taos last year.

While I was there the shop called and told me the tires were in so I rode back to Minden and left Rick's bike with them so the could take their time installing them. TESTA RACING in Minden
Amount: $ 347.72 that is really good. Usually tires on the road are a rip-off.

The banquet was this evening and I sat with my new friend Roulf and I got to see Georgette and Danny.. I talked with Dan in the parking lot for so long I did not pack for the ride home tomorrow.

Garmin player here

WeSTOC 09 - the event - Markleeville

Wed - short ride about 80 miles round trip up to the hotsprings near Markleeville, CA... I went back to the little town and took a nap on the picnic table. Made friends with a little bird who though he wanted my ice cream but then didn't like it. I bought him some almonds instead. The little pig at so many he was over GVW I'm sure he could not fly. I had such a good time that I was hoping the rest of the group would not hurry back thinking I was waiting for them.

Garmin player here

WeSTOC 09 - Day 3... arrival

Tuesday Aug 24, 2009

After spending the night in the Volcano Nat'l Park campground I headed for Minden. I took a nice 3 mile hike to Kings Falls and did very well. I arrived too late to register but will track that down later

Garmin Player here includes the hike but data is missing from the end of the ride (batteries)

WeSTOC 09 - Day 2

Woke up to rain drumming on the gas fireplace stovepipe. Dandy... well I've ridden this bike not one day without rain. Plan to ride to Salmon, Stanley, Lowman the toward Boise avoiding the rain if possible. Seems it is always misty when I ride 21. Tim and the others are going to Elko... I'm not! I'll be into Minden TUE afternoon or so... more later... repacking, still not used to the Top box.... Thanks, Rick

cont.
Lunch at Southfork Resort near Lowman, ID... 45 min to get a very good Philly cheesesteak... I better roll!

Pic link for day 3 starts here

Could not resist riding ID21 about 12 miles toward Boise, but the traffic was thick so I turned around and rode back down to South Fork then west to Ontario, Oregon where I got new batteries for the SPOT. Maybe it'll work better. After changing the batteries in SPOT, I forgot to reset the timer on the Garmin... toooo many gadgets!

Overnight at Americas Best Motel in Hines, OR.

It was very relaxing ride from Ontario to Hines. Although my heart rate jumped to 127 at one point... I don't remember that... or was it that pass... hummm? Or the 2 sheriffs on the 55mph pristine pavement road that should be 70 mph like Montana?

I found a carwash 2 blocks from the motel and washed the bugs off Rick's bike... I hope he's happy. I miss my friend... he should be here.

A scenic ride is in store tomorrow according to the lady at the Ontario, Oregon Welcome Center... we shall see. Anything is better than northern Nevada.

Garmin player here ... some data missing... duh
Total 544 miles today - 406 left to Minden per Mapquest

or Facebook footprints here

follow along with SPOT real time here

WeSTOC 2009 - Day 1

It had been so long since I worked that I forgot the combination to my locker in Helena... not right away... when I tied up I remembered it. The next day I could not get the damn thing open. An old peoples moment. Ended up cutting the lock off. Leaving my locker unlocked and returning home. What a day it was. I fixed the A/C on my Helena car. Let it idle forgetting it doesn't like that. Sure enough it loaded up and quit in the Bank parking lot so I left it there telling them I would retrive it in a few days.

THEN, the RR gave me the week off. I had requested it ages ago for WeSTOC but didn't really think I would get it with summer vacations. The tunnel cave in gave every one plenty of time off this summer so the RR was able to spare me. No one else wanted the time slot so I got it. I'm broke but had 5 flex days left.

After Rick passed away it makes me live a little ( a least for awhile until I run out of $$$$)

So I am riding his bike to WeSTOC. When I was sick myself it changed me a little but Rick was so close too retirement. What a shame he never got to enjoy his retirement.

I left Billings and rode to Helena. Stopped at Walmart and got a new lock for the locker. Went down to the RR, locked the locker... got the keys to the car out of my pants that were hanging in the locker. Rode to the bank. Started the car, it fired right up. Drove it the few blocks to the motel the RR uses. Walked back to the bike. Left Helena... forgot to get gas. Got gas at the Montana City exit. Rode to Butte on I-15 then on south to Divide then over to Wisdom. Had a nice steak sandwich and salad at the Big Hole Cafe in Wisdom... was that wise?... yes it was! Very good. Pretty waitress... her boss is kind of a dick. I used to wait tables. She did a good job. I left her $5

I ended up in North Fork, ID... I'm on a good pace even after the detour
My cheapo motel that Gene and I stayed in after WeSTOC Kimberly remodeled and went up to $73... very nice though, and lightning fast WiFi.

I borrowed some old towels from the motel, and cleaned Rick's bike up really well. No more bugs!

PHOTOS HERE: (just a few) go to WeSTOC 09

GARMIN PLAYER DAY1 HERE <-- this is cool! but after the fact. Follow along with SPOT real time here

Enough is enough

The never ending coverage and attention of the news media and public about the death of Michael Jackson reveals the shallowness of our value system in this country.

This puts things into perspective:

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:
Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
Specialist Charles D. Parrish
Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
Captain Kafele H. Sims
Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:
Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.
Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.
Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.
1st Sergeant Blair, John D.
Sergeant Smith, Paul G.
Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua
Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.
Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.
Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.
Specialist Silva, Eduardo S. Lance
Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.
Major Barnes, Rocco M.
Major Jenrette, Kevin M.
Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.
Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.
Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.
Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.
Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.
Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.
Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.
Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

the above was forwarded to me by one of the guys in my motorcycle group

BearSTOC - SPOT locator - Mr. Gadget

Looks like the BearSTOC ride may be wet...

A co worker calls me Mr. Gadget.

Well, I have a new one. It is so cool.

It is a SPOT locator.

To follow along our ride click here

ST report - we "hoist a glass" to Rick

Yesterday I returned from Calgary after attending ST rider "Starfighter" Rick Wilson's "Hoist a Glass" at the Flight Deck Club near the airport in Calgary. I'm really glad I went. Good turnout. It was a bittersweet thing. Rick passed away recently and all his many friends been dealing with his passing. There were a least 150 people at the Flight Deck.

I did enjoy listening to Rick's F-104 buddies talking about their Air Force experiences in Germany. And it was not surprising to hear how well respected he was in the Canadian Air Force and at West Jet.

On the way home I stopped in the little Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta. I signed the guestbook thanking Rick for his service to his country.


I put the pics from the trip in the BearSTOC 2009 Memorial Ride folder on my Smugmug site.

ST Ride report - one more time

Today, June 2, 2009

I'll head for home via US 12 from Kamiah to Lolo and from Lolo whichever route suits my mood


Pics for today start here

Left Kamiah at about 0930... breakfast as usual at Lowell... 45min delays for construction... they are putting in culverts. The construction lasted for 23 miles... Round 3 Lolo pass road today (TUE)

I rode Lolo pass road round 1 westbound on FRI... they all took a day off as one of the foreman was killed off duty on his ATV... the workers went to the funeral... I rode round 2 (SAT) eastbound it wasn't an issue, they don't work weekends

After the construction ended at MP111 and after I passed 2 big trucks and 3 motorhome and about 4 cars I only overtook a couple of cars even though I averaged about 70. A soda at Lochsa Lodge, then didn't stop again 'til Missoula when I put in the Tourmaster rain liner... it was getting cool and spitting rain.

I didn't have a close call the entire trip but a lady in a cage managed to cut me off twice in Missoula... it wasn't close but I suspected she just wasn't paying attention so I just turn into the McDucks after she changed into my lane the second time.

I had caught up to an FJR rider at Lolo . He and his buddy were from Salt Lake... they were headed for Seeley lake. Good luck... it was already getting cold.

I hated to do it but I got on the I90 eastbound for Billings. At Drummond, I could not help myself and turned south onto Hwy 1 for the Pintner scenic route. Downright cold up on top of the 6400 foot pass... 42F and starting to rain harder.

Gassed up in Anaconda. GPS showed 249 miles to home. Intended to not stop until Billings but it was raining pretty hard at Bozeman and getting colder yet. I got off at the Bear Rd exit, slid under the overpass and put on the aux. rain gear. Finished the next 130 miles in the rain arriving home about 845pm... and the bike was nearly out of gas... running 80 or so when the pavement was dry it only got about 38mpg.

I was chilled and went inside, Maggie had Lasagne waiting... I started the gas stove and turned the hot tub back up to 102F. We turned it down to 85F so Connor can use it as a pool. He loves the water.

Miles Today - 505 - MAP

Miles for the entire trip - 2804

ST Ride - ID 3 & P1 a 48 rating

Monday June 1, 2009

Last night I rolled into Trout Creek think of pitching the tent on the RR right of way back a ways. I stopped to get a pint of milk and spotted a ST1300 across the street at a motel. Walking is still an issue but I hobbled over to ask the guys about the rate. Really nice Canadians again. One on a ST1300 another on a Ducati 1000 and two more on Victory's

Emphasis of today's ride was Highway 3 the White Pine Scenic Byway from the Cataldo Mission (left)to Bovill.

At Bovill, I started up the hill toward Elk River... a cool little town as I remember but I was unsure if the road from Elk River to Orofino had been paved. I stopped in the driveway of the nicest guy. Bob Allen came out to the end of his driveway with the most friendly manner. We talked for 45 minutes... imagine that. His hometown is Kendrick, just southwest a bit. He told me to go to Kendrick and at the bottom of the hill turn left and take the P1 over to the Dam (file photo from WeSTOC 2003) and on into Orofino. I rode down to the intersection and took some pictures at the old RR crossing of the wild flowers and Bob's place and his big red barn. His little 44 acre farm was once the dairy. He is selling the place and splitting the property to build a campground up above the house. There is a circle drive that will be perfect. I followed a logging truck full of Cedar logs that reminded me of my Son-in-law who makes Cedar furniture. He'd kill for a load like that. I think Idaho logging marketing needs a new catch phrase - "got wood"?

What a ride.. a canyon of trees initially but more pristine pavement like the north end of hwy 3. A fantastic road has just been completed down into Kendrick. The town has seen better days as many here have in the logging area .

I'd love to fix up this old place in Kendrick, ID. People were very nice here too, I see where Bob gets it. And old couple sitting out on the front porch waved from their main street home. I stopped in the grocery store for my usual chocolate milk... seems I just missed the famous Pioneer Locust Festival... no, I didn't ask.

I didn't turn left as you can tell, but rather rode into town to find the RR depot as there were obviously tracks here at one time. A sad example of what is happening to this once a part of Americana, the Kendrick depot. A nice new campground with the cleanest bathroom I've ever seen... I hated to do do!

Leaving under Bob's advice, I followed a school bus up the 8% grade of P1 and up onto the rolling hills of Idaho. It reminds me of Iowa with the big barns and all the old buildings falling down artistically. One of them was an old house with volunteer yellow roses. A lady knew exactly what I was doing when I stopped to take the photo. Continuing on toward Dvorsack Dam (see WeSTOC 2003 gallery) and up onto a high hill overlooking a Switzerland like valley... beautiful... Bob wasn't kidding.

start of day pics click here

308 miles today - MAP

ST ride report - the ST Mother Road... both ways!

Good news Bad news

Becky's Burgers is no more in Orofino.
Shakes a still very good but in a Styrofoam cup

Sorry to mislead you guys but I rode the ST Mother road west today...

359 miles including the very enjoyable side loop to Weippe
although next time I'll go to Weippe and back without going to Grangemont... the road is rough

Hi temp 92F in Orofino, ID.
min alt - 1200 ft in Orofino max 6200 Lolo pass

I'm in Kooskia, ID now... gonna ride it east tomorrow... then either go home or thru Glacier... my foot hurts... whaaaa... but worse than that Maggie has a bad cold... my trip my be shortened yet again

Click here for all the photos of the day


captions on the picture complete.... and yea there are too many but smugmug isn't webshots, so enjoy.

ST Ride Report - to Yaak and Back

Sunday May 31, 2009


OK, it may be time to explain my Motorcycle Road Rating System (MRRS)

10 points for each of the following categories

1. Road surface 1=poor 10=stellar
2. Sweepers / Twistys
3. Lack of LEO's
4. Scenery
5. Traffic level

Highway 37 from Eureka to Libby, left, Montana is hands down the best Motorcycle Road I've ever been on

1. 8
2. 8 sweepers, but not many twistys
3. 10
4. 10+ Blew me away, it looks like B.C. here.
5. 10+ I met maybe 12 cars in over 70 miles
46 total

to compare examples, Beartooth highway gets 2, 10, 3, 10+, 1 = 26
Yellowstone Park get the same.

Anyway, the ride yesterday was the best overall motorcycle road I've ever been on.

My route today was - Hungry Horse to Eureka to Libby to Yaak to Trout Creek.

At the turn off to Thompson Falls, I ran into Mark McVie, a FJR rider, he suggested we run up to Yaak Falls. Great road... 508?... anyway, he turned around at the Falls to go home in Sandpoint and I went up to the little town of Yaak. Had lunch with Patrick and Celeste who were friend og Mark's. Then started for Thompson Falls. The Dam road was paved and I am glad I went over there. A immaculate park at the dam site. I ended up in a motel near Trout Creek, MT

Amazing ride and the weather was fantastic... I could not have had a better day. The motel here has an ST13 rider with his 3 retired buddies... all from Alberta but I'll not hold that against them. I think I've been invited to ride south with them. My planned route id Thompson Falls to St. Regis to Cataldo to St. Maries to Orofino.... that's right, I'm gonna ride US12 again

The rest of the photos.... click here

Todays route

View Larger Map

ST Ride - East on the ST mother Road with Hoot

Left Kamiah and had breakfast as usual at the Wilderness Cafe. An FJR rider showed up and came to an abrupt halt... turned around and asks me, do I know you. I can't see anything but his eyes so.... what.

Turns out it is "Hoot" Gibson a coworker of mine. I made a run from Missoula to Spokane in 2004 with him. We ride up to the Lochsa Lodge and have lunch, then separate as our style is so different. I stopped at the junction of US12 and US93, made a call home and waited for Hoot. Nice guy, I enjoyed the company. It was his idea to take pictures of the river rafters.

Route:
East on the US12 Mother road with Hoot Gibson then on to Hungry Horse
293 miles - MAP
pics of the day start here

ST Ride Report - Drummond again

After a late start from Billings, I made it to Drummond.... seems like I end up in Drummond. They roll up the sidewalks so I settled for a greasy burger at the Frosty Freeze. The Cafe was closed at 8pm. Two cowboys, one with an eye patch, told me, "she make a pretty good burger up there at the Frosty Freeze"

They were right. The old gal that runs the place offered to let me tent "by her pond"

So I did

ST Ride Report - Gonna try it again

UPDATE MAY 28, 2009
Gonna try it again...

After a couple more days of driving poor sick Maggie Crazy and the realization that I can do nothing for her I am going to GO RIDE again

I'll do at least McDonald Pass, Lolo pass, Glacier going to the sun, then back home.
4 days maybe... if the Canada forecast improves then I have my passport

I'm off work 'til Jun 17 with this foot injury, I'll make sure not to rub the left foot on the asphalt!

Click here for all the photos

ST Ride Report - the Burwashout

May 23 and 24, 2009
The trip to the Burwash Strawberry Farm in Washington was quite literally a washout. The forecast called for good weather all week all the way to the coast. I was rained on into Virginia City, spent the night in the tent and then drowned for 6 hours on the way home yesterday. I gave up and headed home after hitting a wall of water on Pipestone pass. The bike didn't hiccup. I was very aware that I was riding on the very same tire off Will England's bike when he crashed in the rain.

Early in the trip, before the rain in Bozeman, I did manage to catch the match of my tennis student Thomas. He and his partner won the State Double Championship. Thomas is a junior and his partner Joe is a sophomore. They should do well next year too!
http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/05/24/sports/local/18-prepseniors.txt

Martin Burwash is a farmer and terrific black and white photographer and a railfan writer. I met him in Helena as he was doing an article about our RR for Trains magazine.

Go: http://ramblingwest.blogspot.com/

I did some black and white photos myself on this trip.... interesting with the stormy skies.

For all the photos click here.... pace yourself!

ST Ride report - the plan

Original post May 22, 2009

As you guys probably know, I've been unable to work as it is difficult to walk with a injured achilles tendon.

But I have STD... Short Term Disability Ins.

I can get around well enough to ride and I'm going stir crazy so I'm gonna GO RIDE

Any suggestions, accomodations, etc?

I plan on spending TUE-WED next in Burlington, WA working (observing) on a Strawberry Farm (a buddy)

The planned route is:

View Larger Map

Less than 3

Less than 3 years 'til I retire. I made a resolution the start getting fit for my retirement trip but I'm on injured reserve now. If I had a desk job, I'd not even mention the damaged achilles situation. I planned on riding the bike slowly today. See MichaelsBicycle.blogspot

Copycat Motorcycle Thing

I've been dwelling on less than fun thoughts this month.
It's time to move on so I am going to copy my buddy Will's idea.

I've done some serious miles on the bike in the last few years. And these are just the non local trips. Of course there are some pictures of Rick in the links
2008
Photo link



View Larger Map


2007 Local trips only except for this one.
There was some distance involved in this one!

Click LINK for more Pictures

View Larger Map



2006
more Pictures



View Larger Map


2005 coming soon

It's cold again... appropriate somehow

Pic : Laughing with a friends during BearSTOC.com

Will I make it to retirement?

My world was shaken today when I found out a good buddy (on my left here) died just months short of retirement.

I'm not in the mood to share so I'll leave it as just a lousy month. My wife lost a good friend last week. No rule of three, please.

And it's cold again in Billings.... appropriate somehow.

Paris is crap

Paris is crap... not the city. I like France. What I saw of it. And the French are smart enough to get out of a hopeless war situation like Viet Nam and Iraq... I can't fault them for that and I do not understand why we are so hard on them. So they are rude. And they don't want to speak English. New Yorkers don't either. The difference is New Yorkers don't know how!

It has occurred to me that there is no longer any good source of news. I watch poor Anderson Cooper trying to get through reporting the crap about Paris (no NOT the city of lights). It's all he can do to keep from rolling his eyes. Poor bastard. OK.. rich poor bastard. I can't get away from Paris , she was even in Naples.

At this point I guess people would actually like to hear about her and maybe even drivel like this rather than the economy.

Fox news has been a comedy channel for sometime now. CNN actually has DL Hugley who IS a comic by trade but really doesn't belong on CNN does he? It's impossible to get any decent news. One would think that in light of this newspapers wold be thriving. The Rocky Mountain News went broke.

I've been watching BBC Americaa if anything at all.

All I know is what I read in the paper - Will Rogers

RR content - 21 years

Today I have been 21 years at MRL.

I never though t I'd be here this long.

Best RR in the world to work for!

Taxes

I had a good year last year... Wonder what will happen if I get behind in my taxes.

The new Secretary of the Treasury (to be... STILL) did not pay his Social Security taxes for a number of years. You know he knew about it.

If I didn't pay my Tier 1 and Tier 2 for RR retirement, I'd be in deep do-do.

It's disgusting the level of greed in the government today. Can we get no one who is honest and truly wants to be a public servant. We are all gonna be in a world of hurt if this crap continues. If I was in the club I would just look the other way too, I suppose.

See story here

We made it

The pic is two of my brothers and I riding barefoot with no helmets in Houston about 1960.

Now...I have no idea who started this.... I got it from my Aunt

To Those of You Born

1930 - 1979

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE

1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tire s and sometimes no brakes

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?

Because we were always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times,we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations,Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no person al computers, no Internet and no chat rooms
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

New Orleans for Christmas

We drove out of the cold iad into Dixie for Christmas... it was -9F in Billings when we left and +82 in New Orleans on Christmas Day. Arriving late on Christmas Eve we were able to walk around Canal Street some. Chritmas Day brought more good wqeather and good food. We at at the buffet at Harrahs Casino. Turkey, Prime Rib, Chiken, Taters, Jumbo Shrimp, Fruit, and a number of desserts... I could hardly waddle out of there.

After New Orleans we drove up through the rain to Memphis to visit the kids. And I took another drivr up into Tennessee to see my brothers little farm... nice!

Back into the snow and home on Jan 3rd... uuugghh