tm2tc's project 365

2009-06-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Jammin at home. He leaves in less than a week. Sigh...........

2009-06-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Kelsey made Dave a plaque for Father's Day. We had a great family day!

2009-06-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

One day, a long time ago, someone was over at our house and Dave was showing her all the great things he had made and done. Then she turned to me and asked me "What do you do?" I pointed to the bedrooms where Kelsey, about 3 at the time, and Erik, a newborn, were taking a nap and said, "They're sleeping now". That's what I do. My kids, greatest joy in my life!

2009-06-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Our new house has a place for a gate as you walk up to the front door, but the gate is gone. The neighbor across the street brought this over the other day. It's the gate that was there but the previous owner had thrown it out and she confiscated it. So, now, thanks to our great neighbor, we will have a gate in the front again! Tomorrow we're going to buy wood for the floor. This is so much fun to fix up a neat house.

2009-06-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I usually wake up about 4:30 am on work days, take a shower, grab a cup of coffee and Dave and I head outside on our back porch for some morning together time. This morning this is what I walked out to. What a beautiful site! Glory to God in the Highest!

2009-06-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yet another type of cactus flower. This is in a pot waiting to be planted in our new yard. But it only lasted one day.

2009-06-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

Kelsey's sunburned arm from hiking up a nearby mountain. Notice the hand print where her sun screened hand touched her unsunscreened arm. Shows sunscreen really does work!

2009-06-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

For all the years that I taught (22) and had to endure fire drills, I never thought I would have one in real life. But here we are, today, at work, fire drill! Actually, a business in our building sets off the fire alarm every few months with a process they use and we all have to vacate until the fire department comes and clears the building. Still haven't figured out how it effects the OB/GYN office next door to our office!

2009-06-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

A very successful bird feeder in our new back yard! I have birds just like Linda. (See March 15th) Well, maybe not the variety but I have birds!

2009-06-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

The big double paddle game! I love having family home!

2009-06-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here is my wonderful family and friends! Derrick, Kelsey, Katie, Erik, me and Dave. We went out to dinner tonight, all you can eat shrimp and crab legs and everything else. Kelsey's actual graduation for her Master's Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology is today, although she still has 3 months of externship to complete for her program. Yea! almost done.

2009-06-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Ha ha, I love my job! Today we went to the 2009 Waste Expo at the Convention Center. It was a blast. Technology sure is alive in the waste industry - ya, even there! No one wants to think about waste, but it's one of the most important fields to be in. Respect those people, please!

2009-06-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

Erik is staying in our new house tonight, the first one!

2009-06-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today for work my partner and I had to go up to the Mt. Charleston area to check on the clean-up of Orders issued; abandoned homes with trash strewn all over acres and acres of land. It was sad to see that people had lived there, landscaped, built, raised animals but it is all gone now. So sad. This is the Mt. Charleston area further up into the mountains. So green and cool. It's been a long time since I went up to the mountains. To long.

2009-06-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

Pulling more weeds today (I am sooo sore from my hands to my feet!) and was buzzed by this hummingbird. He swooped down very close to me then lighted on the branch. I think he was welcoming me to the neighborhood and reminding me to put out the hummingbird feeders!

2009-06-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

Today I was pulling weeds in the backyard of our new house, some were five feet tall! I was enjoying hearing lots of birds singing and was excited to know there is "wildlife" in our neighborhood. The I stood to stretch and noticed our trees were full of birds; it's like they were wondering what this crazy lady was doing pulling up the whole yard. There were hummingbirds flying around as well. I'm so excited!

2009-06-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

I was investigating a complaint in a neighborhood about 5 blocks from downtown when I came across this house. Wow, I am so sorry people have to live in these conditions. But, then again, at least they are not on the streets. This is the worst living condition I've seen yet here.

2009-06-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

Aren't these the cutest birds? They were mingling among some trash tossed into the desert; they didn't seem to mind the trash, probably provided them with some cover.

2009-06-03T21:04:00.000-07:00

My job as a garbage inspector! Someone dumped a bunch of medical garbage into a trash container at a gas station. This was nasty but I'll get the son of a gun!
(6-4-09 realized I can't publish photos of active cases - oops.) So here's a photo of the morning clouds from in front of our house yesterday, meaning 6-3-09.

2009-06-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

Morning, alive, praising God

2009-06-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

Summer shower in Las Vegas! We had a line of showers pass through this morning; complete with that rain smell and a bit of humidity. Rain is a welcome change here, unlike other places I've lived where that is all you can expect. We usually have an unlimited supply of sun. This is our road looking east

2009-05-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Kelsey made this for my kitchen. It's on a canvas. She's becoming quite an artist, experimenting with acrylics, gesso, thickening agents, knives and all kinds of neat things. When she was a little girl she would take over our dining room table with her art and craft projects. Now, she's back home and the small dining table is hers again! So great to have her home!

2009-05-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is our new house!! We signed the papers on Friday afternoon, paid the down payment but here in Nevada you can't actually "get" the house until it's recorded which will be Monday or Tuesday. So we own this house but it's not ours yet. ???? It needs a lot of work so it will be Dave's summer project and we'll be able to move in sometime in mid or late July. It is going to be so cool; it's in a small neighborhood with all pueblo style homes, about 30 of them. I hope everyone can come to Las Vegas and stay with us at some time or the other. Long story, but it is truly a gift from God.

2009-05-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry about so many photos today. This is the most petroglyphs I have ever seen in one spot! It's near Laughlin in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Grapevine Canyon on a road called Christmas Tree Pass. Actually, Dave and I figure petroglyphs are just ancient graffiti, but who knows?

2009-05-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

Funny how life is. Our two children are grown up and off on their own. Kelsey has been away at school and Erik has been away serving with Ywam, Youth With A Mission, in Europe. I am so proud of both of them, God's hand is on them. Now they are both home for a short while and what a blessing it is to be a family again! Family is so important, don't let anything ever come in between your family relationships. Mend tears, sooth hardships, humble yourselves, do whatever is needed to keep the bonds together. In the end, besides God, family is all you have!

2009-05-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Today after work a bunch of us Health Department employees were drafted to help in a practice emergency action plan. They set up to practice giving medication to people should an emergency happen. We went through the line four times in an hour, they were seeing how many people they could handle in their set up. We filled out fake medical forms and got Tootsie Roll or Starburst "pills" depending on our questionnaire. It was fun, and we got time and a half pay for the hour, woo hoo!

2009-05-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

Second preview - see May 21

2009-05-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day - thanks to all of those who have made our freedom so sweet! We had a friend over for dinner tonight: Raspberry Margaritas, Hawaiian Burgers, Grilled Pineapple, Greek Grilled Zucchini, Potato Salad, Napa Valley Wine, Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and Mixed Fruit with Pomegranate Glaze. So much fun fixing, feasting, fellowshipping!

2009-05-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is a neat old building downtown Las Vegas on Utah Street near Industrial. It just caught my eye.

2009-05-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

Wow - this car really burned! Kelsey and I went shopping at the District in Henderson today and were on the on ramp go 215 when we saw this on the side of 215. So we went to the next exit and circled around to this exit again to get the photo. How do cars ignite? Anyone know?

2009-05-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

Today I inspected an automotive engine rebuilding facility downtown. I never thought so many engines were rebuilt, it was so interesting! The photo only depicts a portion of the engine blocks they had on site. And the machine top right was boring out cylinders for new pistons. My brother-in-law, when I was about 19, and I rebuild my little Fiat engine, we changed the rings on it. So I actually knew what the owner was explaining here! Funny how we can be thankful for things that happened so long ago. The red engine is a '64 Corvette engine they are testing after rebuilding it; it was really loud! I sure do love my job.

2009-05-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

A sneak preview

2009-05-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

This little guy was sitting on my truck when I got to the car pool at work. He stayed for a long time while I did the mandatory truck check-out; then he was on his way.

2009-05-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

After work - hot, tired, thirsty - I jump in the pool, relax, have a glass of wine, watch the sun set some before attacking my night's responsibilities. Ahhh, summer, I love it!

2009-05-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I was driving south on North Jones Street toward Smoke Ranch Road when I spotted the smoke from the fire ahead. Never found out what was burning; by the time finished the Audit I was doing the smoke was gone. Thank goodness for firemen/women!

2009-05-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

I love summer, and summer is here! One thing about summer is the change of food, from cooking indoors to cooking outdoors. This was tonight's dinner, Greek Salad with Grilled Shrimp. mmmmm...... The dressing had a hint of mint.

2009-05-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Outside a cafe in Boulder City, NV. I love this town and I'm really glad the cafe has a better kitchen than this one!

2009-05-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Taken a couple of days ago. I forgot to get Dave's camera this morning, but he just now gave it to me. Still bummed out about my work camera. My boss was good about it tho. I'll get another one Monday. I still can't help but feel a bit stupid about leaving it on a counter of a Speedee Mart in a rough part of town. It's usually strapped to my arm. Well, things happen.

2009-05-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well, no photo today. I lost my camera! I was using my work assigned camera, a very nice Canon Powershot, and today I was finishing up an inspection and left it on the counter. When I went back it was gone, not a good neighborhood the employee told me. I'll use Dave's camera for the weekend, so, I'll post tomorrow. (Yesterday's photo is on the camera I lost, didn't get it posted yesterday)

2009-05-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

2009-05-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

A bottle bush blossom. It's in our back yard.

2009-05-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day - what a blessing it is to have two beautiful children who make being a mom a wonderful experience~ thank you for all the fantastic times we have had together and thank you for all the dreams you have shared with me and thank you for encouraging me when I needed encouraging and thank you for your faith in Jesus Christ! I love you both and I love being your MOM!

2009-05-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

2009-05-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

The picture that Kelsey just finished painting!

2009-05-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

2009-05-06T20:12:00.000-07:00

Today Donna, my partner at work, and I were going down Bonanza Street to check on a case she has in a not so great part of downtown when we were blocked from going on the road due to a big, 4-alarm fire at the old Moulin Rouge. We've had many cases here involving sewage spill, bed bugs and other environmental nightmares. We were all wishing it would be redeveloped, but now it looks like it probably won't be. Another icon bites the dust.

2009-05-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco De Mayo! Dave had class tonight so Kelsey and I went to Gardunos in the Fiesta Casino, for dinner. The line of bottles rotate around the ceiling like a train. We only had our phones so I'm using photos from them, they are OK. We did bring Dave home some enchiladas, but he had already eaten so they will be lunch tomorrow.

2009-05-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

There aren't to many trees like this one in Las Vegas. This one is on some "farm" property north of town; it's all alone out there!

2009-05-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

Kelsey and I took a drive down to the Colorado River today to check out canoe launch sites. It was a fun day and we found a great site. Not the one in the photo, this one you have to hike a bit to. We went on down a dirt road through a narrow passage and were able to drive right down to the water's edge. River, here we come!

2009-05-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

Well, check this out! These were slides shown in church tonight. We went to Saturday night service due to Dave having school every Sunday 9-4 until August. So, we were sitting, waiting for the service to start and here ya go, two slides about our own son! How cool is that. He'll be home in 26 days - woo hoo!

2009-05-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Happy May Day! We bought a few new prickly pear cactus plants; this one is a hybrid from a yellow flower plant and a red flower plant. The flowers are just the nicest tone of pink! There were tons of bees swarming around it today, I captured one in a video; notice the pollen gathered on its legs! One time there was one bee doing it's thing and another bee came into the pollen. The first bee chased the second bee out of the flower. It was great.

Tick Tack Toe anyone?

2009-04-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

There was a very busy sky this morning!

2009-04-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

Oops, I forgot yesterday! This is the front yard of a house I visited at work. I thought it was really neat that they had the wagon there. They also own a large parcel with a huge horse barn and horses. Nice!

2009-04-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

This is a wall in the downtown "artsy" district of Las Vegas. There are lots of artsy things there; they are really trying to fix up the downtown area.

2009-04-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

Arizona has saguaro cactus; Nevada only has them where people plant them in their yards. I love these cacti!

2009-04-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

We stopped in Prescott Arizona at a place where there were huge rocks. It had been a park at one time but they are squeezing houses in amongst the rocks. They are nice, but I think I would have preferred the park. The flowering cactus growing from a crevice in these rocks caught my eye. It made me wonder how plants can grow from rocks in such precarious places. It showed me that we need to be firmly grounded, grow strong and bloom beautifully where ever we may be in whatever situation we might face. If these plants can do it, we should be able to also.

2009-04-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today Dave and I drove to Phoenix. On the way we had to pass over the Hoover Dam. This is a bridge by-pass they are building just south of the dam. It's been fascinating to watch the slow progress on building it and exciting to see how close they are to connecting the Arizona and Nevada portions!

2009-04-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Posing like a modern art sculpture in the midst of the city's empty lots, plastic bags and other debris lodge in gnarly plants on empty lots. We have such winds here in the Spring that this is one of the results. Plastic bags from stores seem to float out of garbage cans and get stuck in the plants on empty lots. A great reason to take your own bags to the store and not use the store's bags!

2009-04-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!! I was so excited today! I was completing a Waste Management Audit on an auto body and paint facility in a very old part of town when I noticed all these wooded structures in a side room. Asking about them I found out they were bee hives. The man was telling me all about the hives and I mentioned that I had found some bees in a sofa (March 5th) and low and behold it was he who had gone out and taken them! What a small world even in Las Vegas. He told me all about how he got them into his hive, that he had to kill the queen bee present as she was Africanized and replaced her with a "freindly" queen bee. And they have the only "Italian" bees in Nevada and how all the bee equipment works. Did you know that all the chemicals used on crops are causing the decline of bees? It was wonderful! What a glorious day. I sure do love my job! (First photo, the box has slats hanging in it that the bees use as a foundation for their eggs and honey collects on them. Second photo, a box with a screen and drawer, the bees pass through the screens which scrape off the pollon from their bodies which collects in the drawers. Then they can use the pollen to hand-pollenate flowers.)

2009-04-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

These are cacti running along a wall in a home that I had to go to due to a sewage overflow in the back yard. There are lots of plants, all different colors of "leaves" and flowers. There were only about three flowers open, but many, many getting ready to open. I closed the case but I'm going back to the yard to get a photo of all those flowers blooming at the same time! Note the purple cactus plant here.

2009-04-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

A picture I got from Erik. This is him in Corinth, Greece. He's sailing to Bulgaria now but will be flying home for a month, arriving here on May 28th. Can't wait to see him again.

2009-04-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Paradise Road and Riviera Boulevard looking north at condos. There are so many condos going in downtown, I don't know who can live there! Kelsey and I went to Fashion Show Mall this afternoon and walked around.

2009-04-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

This is our aloe vera plant that is blooming.

2009-04-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

This evening we went out to Lake Meade, to a cove via a dirt road through sand traps and rock piles. We stopped at Capriotti's and took a couple of Cole Turkey subs and a vegetarian cheese steak sub, some watermelon and cokes and had ourselves a little picnic. The water level is so far down; you can see on the island, called Black Island, the white base, that is how far the lake is down. Where we are standing should be under water. It was a nice evening just to get out of town and into the country a bit. This is Kelsey and Dave.

2009-04-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

This is Main Street, Las Vegas, Nevada. These tents are not tourists camping out. Well, they could be, but they are part of our homeless population. All along this part of Main Street the homeless live, walk about, relieve themselves, exist. A few years ago there were no tents, just tarps attached to the fencing. I was shocked to see so many nice tents! The second photo missed all the tents going down the side street. It is really amazing to see!

2009-04-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today I had a case in the northeast quadrant of town, very close to Nellis Air Force Base. (I was filling in for someone else, I'm usually in the northwest quadrant) As I was investigating jets kept flying overhead, taking off from Nellis. There must have been at least ten jets. It is so awesome to watch them! I call it protection.

2009-04-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

This is the neatest photo - it almost looks like a painting. Erik is on the Greek island of Limnos and did a "walkabout" and took a bunch of wonderful photos. I just love this one. I was in a Hazwoper class today and did not get my own photo, so Erik just uploaded these on his Facebook today. The second one is of the boat's anchor. Again, such great photography.

2009-04-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

This land may look ugly, but the dry crust on the desert floor is actually a good thing. The crust makes it so that when the wind blows (and we DO get wind!) the dirt doesn't blow away. It's when people walk on, drive on, dig in, and otherwise disturb the desert floor that we get lots of dust. This was taken at the same property where the bees were a month back; I was checking to see if the property owners cleaned up all the bunches of junk there. Nope - it's all still there, minus the bees which are at a bee keepers' home now. So, now the property owners will be taken to a Hearing Board (kind of like a court) and be fined. And this is how I get paid!

2009-04-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, everyone! We had some friends over to our house for dinner; here are the appetizers. The "egg" is a curried chicken spread - yummy! Then we had ham, scalloped potatoes, a Greek Green Bean Salad and "The Best Carrot Cake". It was, too. The best part of the day, though, was our service at Canyon Ridge Christian Church. It was a dynamic service and ended with a video called "That's My King, Do You Know Him?" Wow, so moving.

2009-04-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

Yep, longhorns in Las Vegas!

2009-04-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

Gambling General Store! Only in Vegas, I suppose. I was downtown with my partner in work helping each other with some complaints in sketchy neighborhoods and came across these two gaming supply stores. She has been in this one and said there is everything for individuals and/or small businesses here in the way of gaming/gambling supplies. So, want to start your own game room? Here you go!

2009-04-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

As investigators in the Environmental Health field, more precisely solid waste affairs, we are trained to be super aware of our surrounds, constantly knowing what is going on around us, perceptive, astute at all times. My friend and co-worker, Diane, was scanning her surroundings when she noticed this cloud formation today at work. The first picture is the one she took. Then, when I got home, I observed the clouds in the second picture. Layers of clouds, strange. We don't get many days with clouds in Las Vegas, but when we do they are fascinating to watch. Thank you, Diane!

2009-04-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

I came home for lunch today and noticed the cactus' second flower is blooming. Then, even better, I noticed a bee having a great old time in the flower's pollen. You can see, it was rolling around and around just getting all that pollen stuck on him so he can transfer it to the next flower. It was so much fun watching him! Hmmm... birds yesterday, bees today.

2009-04-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Today I was continuing my investigation of illegal dumping from yesterday, only about a mile north. This was BLM land and it had loads of stuff dumped there, stupid people! First, I was looking over the property and saw a few quail. Then, as I walked around aware of snakes and bees, I saw a little striped gopher or something, and a pretty flowering plant. A bird caught my eye on a tree; almost a pretty as those I saw in Indiana. Then another bird flew onto a palm plant. I was having so much fun out there! Did I ever say how much I love my job?

2009-04-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know you're wondering "What is this?" Well, the photo isn't all that great but the experience was fantastic! I was investigating illegal dumping on about 7 acres, walking around about 3 of the acres, taking photos and GPS coordinates of all kinds of junk; all the while being wary of snakes (it is Spring) and bee hives and any other evil that lurkes within trash. When I got back to my truck I caught something out of my left eye - it looked like a dog, no, the legs were way to long, and oh, it ran quickly, leaping like a deer. The two birds attacked it but it still ran. I followed it in the truck through the desert lots and under power lines but I lost it. I believe it was a coyote. How cool, coyotes right in the midst of houses. It was beautiful to watch! It's is in this photo on the tar road between the two red signs. See it?

2009-04-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

2009-04-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

Today Dave and I went for a walk at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The day was a bit chilly but crawling down into some of the canyons out of the breeze it was warm. There were hundreds of rock climbers scaling the cliff sides. What a beautiful day to start his Spring Break. You can see more photos of today on my Facebook Photo Album.

2009-04-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

The results of Lesson 1 of Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop! So much fun. The cutie is Seina, a friend's daughter. I had today off and spend most of it on the computer with this project and looking for a flight home for Erik from Bulgaria. That is no easy task and very expensive.

2009-04-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

I missed the flower in bloom! But there is another one coming, I'll try to be more diligent about getting a photo of that one in bloom. This whole plant is only about 6 inches high; it's in our front yard.

2009-04-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

This is a dog park. I had a complaint of excessive dog poop there. It's a county park but the county doesn't pick up the poop; there are signs there that say dog owners are responsible for their dog's poop. So, if you have a dog and take it to a dog park, please pick up your dog's poop. Thank you! (Oh, by the way, there was no poop when I went to investigate, just another wonderful Las Vegas outdoors day!)

2009-03-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

Kelsey's "things" arrived via ABF truck lines on Friday, but we couldn't get them until today. We loaded everything on a U-Haul and in my car and are in the process of unloading some things at home and some things in a storage unit. It was a lot easier having Dave to help on this end! What a great experience we had.

2009-03-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

2009-03-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

2009-03-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

Houses to close together! I thought our yard is small, but this is tiny.

2009-03-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

I went back to work today but I was inside doing paperwork all day. Whew! So, this is a pot I bought in Albuquerque. I like it.

2009-03-26T18:17:00.000-07:00

We have a few rose bushes in our back yard, but they usually don't do to well. Happily, we have one rose today that is perfect!

2009-03-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

I had no photos for today, but I did talk to Erik via Skype! He's in Greece right now waiting for another YWAM Outreach group to join the boat. Then they will be sailing to Bulgaria where the outreach will stay for two months. Erik and two others from the boat will stay in Bulgaria with them, helping establish relationships between Bulgaria and Youth With A Mission. Hopefully he'll be able to come home for a visit in August. Erik is in this photo on the beach in Greece.

2009-03-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

There were so, so, so many wind generators in western Texas and eastern New Mexico! Large, huge, big blades slowly turning around and around generating electricity for all to use. Acres upon acres of wind generators - a beautiful site. You can see some on the hill top on yesterday's photo. This is a different type of wind generator that was at a truck stop in New Mexico, or Texas. The silver bands rotate around the axis. Wonderful use of a free resource!

2009-03-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

Retirement, fun, enjoy, rest, explore, slow down, speed up, reflect, live. My aunt and uncle bought their retirement home on Lake Sweetwater in west Texas oh, must be over 30 years ago. This is the lake. But the lake has not always been here. It was there when they bought their home, then it dried out for many years. More land, no lake. Now it's back, now he's to old to fish. Sad. But, he had many years on this lake. They are good, it was really wonderful seeing them again.

2009-03-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

What vacation is without a trip to a neat mall? Today Kelsey and I had a kind of short travel day so we stopped off at the North Park Mall in Dallas for a few hours. We got some needed exercise, of couse. Now, that's some kind of mall! We are in Sweetwater, Texas tonight because tomorrow we're going to visit my Aunt and Uncle who live on Lake Sweetwater. We haven't seen them for about four years. It's been a great trip so far!

Crisp Morning

2009-03-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Since we traveled ALL day today I didn't get any photos taken. This was taken outside Kelsey's apartment the last morning we were there. It was about 32 degrees F. We're in Texarkana tonight, it's humid and warm. It was a great traveling day. We have a book on tape, Adam by Ted Dekker and are enjoying listening to it.

2009-03-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

Today was the big moving day. We loaded the U-Haul yesterday, then took the U-Haul to Belpre, Ohio and took everything down the ramp of the U-Haul and up the ramp of the ABF semi. We only used 4 feet of the semi and were charged only for the space we used. Her stuff should arrive in Las Vegas on Thursday or Friday. So much easier than using a U-Haul across the country! Now we're in Elizabethtown, KY for the night heading home. We're having a great time!

Moving day

2009-03-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

This is Kelsey and her friend Derrick who helped us load all of her belongings down from her third floor apartment into a U-Haul. We're taking her stuff to Belbre, Oh tomorrow, loading them onto a semi which will take them to Las Vegas. No, not that much stuff, we're using a partial load shipping method. Much better than taking it all ourselves.

Contrasts

2009-03-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

I went for a walk this afternoon in Athens, Ohio, from my daughter's apartment. It's a beautiful day. I was amazed at the contrast of time here, all in one walk.

2009-03-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

Linda and I made salsa. We chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic and cilantro, soaked chili peppers and put them in the blender, cooked everything and canned it. The liquid is hot sauce. It was really fun and we spent a lot of time laughing together! Now I'm in Athens, Ohio with Kelsey and I miss her already. Sisters are great to have!

2009-03-16T17:13:00.000-07:00

It has been so much fun visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Elizabeth, Indiana. Here we are at French Lick Resort, a beautiful old resort known for its healing water springs. Tomorrow we leave for Kelsey's in Athens, Ohio. What a great family I have! (Things that make me smile)

2009-03-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

This morning I was sitting on the deck of my sister's house on a lake in the country in southern Indiana watching a menagerie of various birds and listening to the very pleasant cacophony of the geese, ducks, woodpeckers and a bunch of varous other birds calling to eachother in the wild. What a difference from the constant drum of noise of the city. This is a red headed woodpecker happily getting food from a tree. Oh, what a pleasant place to be!

2009-03-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

Today I flew United Airlines from Las Vegas to Chicago to Louisville. This is the plane from Las Vegas to Chicago. Yes, that's me in the cockpit! I'll tell you, Project 365 has made me much bolder in asking for pictures. Actually, I just asked to take a picture of the cockpit and the pilot offered to take one of me sitting there! Nice people, and great flight! I'm at my sister and brother-in-law's now in Elizabeth Indiana. It is sooooo good to see them again.

This is the picture of the cockpit I took first. It was 5:30 am.

2009-03-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'm saying goodbye to palm trees and warm (relatively so) weather and heading to Louisville Ky then Athens, Oh for a week and a half. I'll try to keep up with my posts, they will not be from Las Vegas, though.

2009-03-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

Ha ha........ This is my first attempt at using Photoshop! Pretty rough, but I did it. I got the template from designerdigitalls.com for free. I actually did it last night, but I finished so late it was likely this morning. What fun.