The Wind Whistles Through

Abandoned house in New Mexico.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: On The Way To Bras, Shoes, And Eileen Fisher
2015: Truck Repairs Don't Sound So Bad When Bullets Are The Alternative
2014: Giant Three-Armed Spiny Monster
2013: Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
2012: A Beautiful Iranian Mind
2011: Clowning Around
2010: Smolder
2009: Comrades In Driving
2008: Black, White, And Tan
2007: If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Fart At The Speed Of Light
2006: Draped In Sarcasm
2005: Feast Your Eyes

Rainy Arezzo

Looking back on some pictures from Italy and found this one of Arezzo.  I think Italy is going to be at the top of the list for honeymoon locations.

Honeymoon!  Yay.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016:  Snippet Of Texas
2015: Half The Size, Twice The Violence!
2014: Wildly Fierce Candy Cactus
2013: How I Spent The Day
2012: From Farm To Table
2011: Ups And Downs
2010: Three Men, Two Generations, One Passion
2009: Miss Tooth Reigns Supreme
2008: And This Is Why She Will Always Be A Maid At A Hotel
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Family Reunion Rules
2005: Chillin’ In Anchorage

Valion Pride

An F/A-18C Hornet, part of the "Valions" of Strike Fighter Squadron Squadron 15 (VFA-15) at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The United States Navy VFA-15 Valions strike fighter squadron was deactivated in May 2017.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Be Virtually Anywhere
2015: This Is Not 100% Natural Spring Water
2014: Teamwork
2013: Pecan Bacon Syrup. Need I Say More?
2012: That’s Right, The Entire Web
2011: And We Have A Winner!!
2010: So What’s Wrong With A Good Idea?
2009: Where Is A Palm Reader When I Need One?
2008: Fred’s Plan Appears To Have Backfired
2007: Eddie Plays A Round Friday
2006: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
2005: 50 Little Facts About Alaska

On The Way To St. George

Climbing Interstate 15, somewhere near the Arizona-Utah border.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Modern Vintage
2015: Happy Labor Day!
2014: Teamwork
2013: Pecan Bacon Syrup. Need I Say More?
2012: That’s Right, The Entire Web
2011: And We Have A Winner!!
2010: So What’s Wrong With A Good Idea?
2009: Where Is A Palm Reader When I Need One?
2008: Fred’s Plan Appears To Have Backfired
2007: Eddie Plays A Round Friday
2006: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
2005: 50 Little Facts About Alaska

When Things Were Still Normal

The Washington Monument, circa 2009.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Cake In The Morning
2015: Even More Beauty Is On Its Way
2014: Light, Bright, And Airy
2013: How To Get Rid Of A Pain In The Ass
2012: Working Together, The Democratic Way
2011: Teams Take A Day Off
2010: The King And Queen Of Sun And Sand
2009: Popeye Would Love This Stuff
2008: From The Confines Of The Hampton Inn
2007: When I Grow Up, I Want To Be…
2006: Fire Water
2005: Ed Having Fun With Photoshop

Natural Endorphins

Ed took this photo of a girl running through Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Pleasantville, New York.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: The Road That's Actually Less Traveled
2015: The Glowing Red Triangle
2014: I Prefer IPY To DIY
2013: Heading To Primm
2012: Fashion (And Country) Forward
2011: Slowly Meandering Through Farm Country
2010: Long Beach Lights
2009: 4423 Humboldt Avenue
2008: Eddie Tourist Friday
2007: Ripe For A Dognapping
2006: What Lies Beneath
2005: Big Sky Country

Celebrate Like A Cat

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Cargnegiea Gigantea
2015: Celebrating Labor Day By Not Laboring
2014: A Taco Garage Worth Pulling Into
2013: Who?
2012: You Can’t Ask For A More Convenient Setup
2011: The Thoughts In My Mind About This Guy, Are Criminal
2010: The Queen Of High Society
2009: An Icy Glare For The Heat Miser
2008: Jazz Funeral On Decatur
2007: Keeping The Homeland Secure One Dog At A Time
2006: Reputation Is Everything
2005: ”_________________”

Powering Moab

Many of my photos are taken from the window of a moving big rig.  I get some pretty good shots this way.  Sometimes I get a great shot.  Total fluke.

The thing that bothers me the most though - especially when we're out in the middle of nowhere and there are no buildings or other objects to ruin a landscape photo - are the power lines.  Arrrggh!

Sometimes, if they just drape across the sky in the corner of a photo, I can Photoshop it out.  But my Photoshop skills are very basic, so trying to get power lines and telephone poles out of a photo like this would be too challenging.  And I'd probably leave some kind of noticeable smudge that would draw the eye right to that spot.

So here's a photo of Moab, power lines intact.

Let's just say it gives the photo energy.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Friday Night Lights
2015: From Here To There
2014: Delicious Demolished Tamal
2013: Scenic Route?? Please.
2012: My Handsome Melon Headed Angel
2011: It’s My Turn
2010: Bird Traffic Waiting For The Light
2009: The Lady And The American Pro Driver
2008: The Signs Don’t Scare Me
2007: Pocket Full Of Min Pin
2006: Less Is More
2005: Sleep Deprived

Note To Self: Shut Phone Off Before Bed

If it's the weekend, and sometime between six and seven in the morning, there's likely a text message on my phone from my friend Kim asking me to exercise.

Sometimes there are bribes, like "I'll bring Dunkin' Donuts." Or in this case, movies.

She's known me for thirteen years, which means a) it's unlikely I'm up at six on a weekend, and b) bribes don't work.

Don't even think about it.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Where You Live When You Love What You Do
2015: The Best Snark On Screen
2014: The Only One Working Today
2013: Only The Lonely
2012: Tunnel Of Love
2011: A Stinking Welcome
2010: The Star Of The Spinning Centerpiece
2009: My Nizzl Fa Shizzl
2008: When You’re Smiling
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Decision Dilemma
2005: Alaska Later!

Missing Cabbage

Cabbage Hill on I-84 in Oregon, east of Pendleton.

I haven't been out west in our big truck for over a year.  One of the roads I've always liked traveling is the portion of Interstate 84 that takes you either up or down Cabbage Hill - down is more scenic because you get to see the entire valley spread out before you

The Oregon Department of Transportation, in their brochure urging drivers to "Respect The Hill!" says, "Emigrant Hill, commonly called “Cabbage Hill” is one of the most hazardous stretches of road along westbound Interstate 84. This seven-mile downgrade, 35 miles west of La Grande, Oregon, has some of the most changeable and severe weather conditions in the Northwest. These conditions may impair visibility and cause icy road surfaces. You’ll lose about 2,000 feet of elevation in six miles and twist through a double hairpin turn at a 6-percent downgrade. On an average 78 percent of the Cabbage Hill crashes involve out-of-state motor carriers!"

I've written about Cabbage in the past, and although hills like these are challenging when driving a rig, they're also exciting.  The scenery is usually unequaled, and the teeny element of danger makes you sit up a little bit straighter when you're behind the wheel.

My current run across the southwest doesn't take me over any treacherous hills, and the most exciting thing to happen these days is the possibility of seeing a dust storm. Haboobs. Snore.  

I miss the passes, the Sisters, the Grapevine, and the Cabbage.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Primary Refraction
2015: But I Love It
2014: Imaginative Perspective
2013: Somewhere Out West
2012: All You Have To Do Is Feed Them
2011: Homeward Bound!
2010: Foreign Invasion
2009: Downtown Detroit: Occupied And Vacant
2008: Barracks And Decatur
2007: Dicks In Tennessee
2006: Canoe The Blue
2005: Minalicious

The Chief Over All Winged Creatures

Eagle tree carving in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Everyone loves an eagle, right?

The symbol of hope, strength, leadership, courage.  "Fly like the eagle," they say.  Pure freedom.  

An "eagle eye" is considered to be superior.  Did you know that eagle's eyes are up to eight times sharper than that of humans?

And they get around.  Bald eagles, during migration, can travel 400 to 500 miles a day.

The Aztecs, ancient Romans, and Hittites loved eagles.  Native Americans loved eagles.  Patriots love eagles.  The eagle appears in the bible, and in Islam, the eagle represents warlike ferocity, nobility, and dominion.

I read on Wikipedia that "eagles normally build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The dominant chick tends to be a female, as they are bigger than the male. The parents take no action to stop the killing."  That's some serious shit.  Another plus for being the older sibling.

Over the last year or so, I find myself having a growing interest in bird-watching.  I saw an eagle's nest once, in Montana, but I don't think I've spotted an eagle yet.  I've seen big birds over the years, but don't recall an eagle.

I'll have to keep my eye out for one.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Remembering The Old Spanish Trail
2015: Rain Frog
2014: Wanted: Traveling Maid
2013: Flippin' Fantastic Finds
2012: There’s Room At This Inn – For Dancing And Gambling
2011: Later, Fishies!
2010: It’s In The Details
2009: Plenty Of Places To Roam, No Place To Park It
2008: E Vac You A She Own!!
2007: Eddie Steals A Bite Friday
2006: Steal-A-Meme
2005: The Day In Pictures

Full-Blown Wonder

I've had the opportunity to see glass artist Dale Chihuly's work in Seattle, Las Vegas, and at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.  His work is stunning and impressive.

He's exhibited all over the country and in several major cities around the world and there are many pieces on permanent display in places such as The Bellagio in Las Vegas and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art in Oklahoma City.

There are several exhibitions happening this year so if you're able you should try to catch one of them.  His work can be seen in the following locations in 2017:

The Catalina Island Museum in Avalon, California.

The New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, New York.

The Chihuly Sanctuary at The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.

If you have the opportunity to visit any of these locations, do it!  My choice would be the exhibit in New York.  But then, as a New Yorker, I'm a little biased.

Enjoy!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Saguaro Nest
2015: I Do Laundry And Bring Strawberries
2014: A Match Made In Trucking Heaven
2013: Shiny Ride Home
2012: Chow Fun And Coconut Bliss
2011: Beautiful By Nature. Dirty By Choice.
2010: Let’s Go Shopping!!!
2009: A Magnificent Place To Wait For A Train
2008: Old Blue Eyes Was Right When He Said It Was A Very Good Year
2007: The Hills Are Alive…Or Are They?
2006: Nostalgia
2005: 37 Going On 20

In The Stacks

Containers at the Port of Savannah, the fastest-growing container terminal in the United States.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Isn't He A-Moose-Ing?
2015: Ten Saturday Links
2014: Farm And Garden Since 1936
2013: Waiting In The Waiting Room
2012: Waiting Out Our Mistake
2011: A Brilliant Island Adventure
2010: It’s Getting So Much Easier These Days To Spot Idiots
2009: Scenes From Motor City
2008: Eddie Mad Hatter Friday
2007: What A Grape Idea!
2006: You Couldn’t Pay Me Enough
2005: Due Amici Designs

My Brain Loves Order

I'm a list maker.

To Do lists, shopping lists, work-related task lists, gift lists, lists about subjects I want to blog about, lists about places I want to visit, lists about inventions I'm sure will make me millions, lists of people I need to call or email, lists about websites I need to check out, lists about new lists I should be making.

I even type them, using my handwriting font.  What can I say?  I'm very organized.  And super-nerdy, apparently.

I've always been a list maker but now that I'm getting older, I find I need them.  As soon as I remember I need to do something, I write it down.  If I run out of something, I put it on the list.  If I have to make a phone call or set an appointment, I write it down.  If I have to tell Ed to do something. I write it down.  It's just easier that way because I can forget in a split second.  Seriously, I can go blank seconds after I say, "I gotta remember to buy..."

If you're interested in the benefits of list-making, there are tons of articles online you can look into.

Here's one to get you started..



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: A Good Atmosphere Doesn't Always Equal Good Food
2015: Will Walk For Coffee
2014: The Real Challenge Was Getting In And Out Of It
2013: Stormy Wyoming
2012: Entertaining The Masses
2011: A Very Expensive Day Of Laze
2010: A Little River On A Big Lake In The Middle Of A Floating Stage
2009: Eddie The Cicada Whisperer Friday
2008: Maybe We Should Sell Our Truck And Buy An Airboat
2007: Me And My Man
2006: If You’re Going To Rescue Me, Bring Sandwiches
2005: Hurricane Equality

As The Crow Flies

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos lately and looking up songs from TV shows and movies.  If you're not aware, YouTube is a giant rabbit hole.

One of my favorite TV shows, from its inception, is Nashville.  I love the characters (I have an extremely cheesy gene), and I love the music.  If you've been following the lives of Scarlett and Gunnar.  In the season finale, Gunnar finally tells Scarlett - after being cast aside more than once because of her insecurities, performing fears, other men, etc. - that he can't be with her anymore. The song, knowing the history of their relationship is fitting, beautiful, and sad.

"As The Crow Flies"
(performed by Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen)

If I've wasted your time
I'm sorry my love
Thoughtless and careless
Oh I was young
And like a ship in the night
I watched you pass by
I wish that I may
I wish that I might
Get back to you

I'll chart a course that's straight to your heart
Follow the light from a northernmost star
I'll love, I'll love like I couldn't before
I'm here and I'm yours
I'm yours

And I'll get to you
The quickest I can
One if by sea
Two if by land
No wandering this time
I'd draw a straight line
As the crow flies
As the crow flies



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Mall Princess
2015: Oklahoma Wind
2014: All Along The Shining Sea
2013: Waterfront Wedding
2012: Crossing The Mighty Hudson For Our Radio Debut
2011: All-Inclusive Social Butterflies
2010: The $7 Date Night
2009: Them’s Fighting Words!
2008: Skulls And Hot Chocolate In The French Quarter
2007: Once As High As An Elephant’s Eye
2006: Trouser Snakes On A Plane
2005: Big Honkin’ Truck Makeover

Music For Meatballs

An entertainer playing for money on 4th Avenue in Tucson, Arizona.  He's strategically placed in front of one of Tucson's oldest restaurants, Caruso's.

Here's a list of 24 other restaurants in Tucson over 25 years old.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Flashing Back To '79
2015: Pugly Curiosity
2014: Our Rear View Looks Fantastic
2013: An Oasis Of Tranquility
2012: Clouds Over The Whitestone
2011: Room And Board
2010: Filler And Fluff
2009: Ghost Town
2008: Second Only To Feet
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Heading South With One Wayward Goose
2005: Red Texas Sunrise

Weird Video, Good Song

Heard this song in the movie The Last Word and really liked it.  I think it fit the scene in the movie better than it fits this odd video, but whatever.  Listen, don't look.

Starring Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine, the movie was charming and feel good.  

My kind of flick.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Grab A Banana And Get Shopping!
2015: Castles And Murder Ballads
2014: Not Really Trucking From NOAA To WHOI
2013: Paddling The Hudson 
2012: Cue The Flying Monkeys
2011: Project Island Life
2010: Be Italian
2009: I’m Not Just In The Granny Lane Anymore
2008: Where Pretty Resides
2007: The Sweet Sight Of Summer
2006: You Oughta Be In Pictures
2005: Oh, Brother!

The Sunny Side Of Friendship

Ed went motorcycle riding with a friend of his last weekend and came home with a dozen fresh eggs.

Fresh as in, came right from the chicken moments before they were placed in his hands.

There were white, brown, and green eggs - so pretty!  The yolks were a nice, deep yellow, and Ed said his omelette was extra tasty.

Seems like quite an advantage to have a friend with chickens.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016:  The Party Is Over
2015:  They've Mastered Chocolate, Cheese, And Watches. Maybe They Should Tackle Trucking.
2014: This Is What Sweeping Looks Like
2013: This Takes Fresh Chicken To A Whole New Level
2012: Exemplary Exemplar Prints
2011: Hurricane? What Hurricane?
2010: The Summer Of 1947
2009: From Pablo Neruda To Mother Goose
2008: Almost Two Beautiful To Eat On
2007: Sweatin’ Eddie Friday
2006: Steel City Glow
2005: Bravo, Bravo

A Step Up From Shine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: MOD Is What You Make It
2015: There's A Reason They Call Them Massholes
2014: Delicious Assembly Line
2013: The Greatest Invention Of Human Kind
2012: I Can Haul Yer Explosives And Stuff
2011: That Bitch Irene Is Trying To Ruin My Vacation
2010: Licking Our Chops
2009: I’ll Start Working On That Sarcasm Font Right Away
2008: False Security
2007: Protecting The Posies
2006: Asking Too Much
2005: Slotsa Money

Dining On The Local Devil's Food

 Today Ed and I had lunch at Diablo Burger.

The restaurant's name comes from Canyon Diablo, located between Flagstaff and Winslow, in Arizona.  Canyon Diablo divides the 426,000 acre land area where two ranches, the Flying M and the Bar T Bar are located.  These two ranches supply 100% of the beef used for Diablo's burgers.  

The restaurant is located on Congress Street in downtown Tucson, across the street from the famous Hotel Congress.  

Each burger is made from six ounces of 100% local, open range-raised, antibiotic free and growth-hormone free beef from the two Diablo Trust ranches.  Wow, that's a mouthful.  I just want a burger.

The burgers are char-broiled and served on a signature handmade, preservative-free, branded MJ's English Muffin, with seasonal greens, tomato, pickle, and DB fries - Belgian-style frites seasoned with Herbes de Provence.  All that fancy language comes straight from their menu.

Look at the cool branded English muffins!  

Ed had the Señor Smoke - Ancho Grilled Onions, Grilled Avocado, Bacon, Cilantro & Sriracha Mayo ($14.75).

I had the Wrigley Field - Bacon, Swiss, Grilled Onions & Rising Hy Spicy Honey-Mustard ($14.75)

The burgers were delicious.  And the Herbes de Provence seasoned fries were good too, although waaaaay too salty for me.  My friends Marlaina and MacG ate here when they were in town and she said she didn't remember the fries being salty.  Maybe the chef today just had a heavy hand.  I won't hold it against them.

They served water for the table in this cool stopper-topped clear bottle, Ed's iced tea in the brown bottle with a small cruet of Simple Syrup for sweetness, and my Diet Coke in an 8 oz. glass bottle.  I liked the presentation. 

The have an extensive burger menu and it's definitely a place I'd try again.  I never venture downtown because the parking situation is dreadful, but I'd be willing to drive around the block a few times or walk from a parking garage for another visit.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Named By A Canadian, Mined By A Western Legend
2015: 34-Hour Restart
2014: Founded By A Millionaire Fur Trader
2013: Woke Up This Morning
2012: Trust Me, I’m A Truck Driver
2011: Doesn’t A Gastropod Always Have A Helmet On?
2010: This Is How We Do It
2009: Storage In The Storm
2008: Devil Horse In The Louisiana Wetlands
2007: Not Sloppy. No Joe. Just Bob And His Loosemeats Residing In The Ice Cream Capital Of The World
2006: Playing With Your Money But Not Really SPENDING It
2005: Glamour Puss