Driving through the Rockies in Idaho a few months back.

Always look in the glovebox.

It was a rainy day in Bridgeport CT a few months back, and I was working early in the morning. My umbrella was in the trunk, so I quickly opened it, found my umbrella, and set my keys down so I could open the umbrella to try and keep as dry as I could in the pouring rain. In a hurry and pretty tired, I closed the trunk with my keys still sitting on the trunk floor where I sat them when i opened the umbrella. Quickly noticing this, I calmly opened the drivers door to find the trunk release button, since I hadn't locked the car yet. Fuck, it didn't work. So I tried it agian. Fuck, it didn't work again. After a few more tries, I admitted defeat and tried to hatch a plan to get the keys out of the trunk. My tools were in there, and I needed them fairly soon,or so I thought. Apparently I would be needing them sooner. The trucking company who was delivering the machine I was supposed to be installing, didnt have the proper tools so they needed mine ASAP, as they were blocking traffic and were getting soaked in the rain. I had it. I would rip the side bolster off the driver side rear seat, stick a flashlight in there and have a looksee. There they were, but out of reach.. All I needed now was a coat hanger to stick in there to retrive them. I "borrowed" a coat hanger from where I was working, grabbed the keys, and saved the day. A real American hero; Mr Coathanger Key Retriever Guy. I put the seat back together and didn't think much about it the rest of the week, until the last day when I went into the glove compartment to get my rental car paperwork. The last photo will show what I found.

The "fixed" seat.

Bolster removed after yanking and yanking.

Close up of bolster removed looking into the trunk.

The spare key in the gloveox. Always look there first.

Big Tepee

 

 

 

Finally made it to Medicine Hat

My flight to Toronto left late, which made me too late to catch my flight to Calgary. The next flight to Calgary from Toronto wasnt until 7:30pm. By the time I went through Customs, Immigration, retrieved my bag, and went to check back in, it was 2:30. 5 hours in the Toronto airport went by surprisingly fast. When 7:30 rolled around, I hopped on the plane for the 4 hour flight to Calgary. Luckily the plane had private screens, so watched "The Dark Knight" which I have to say I enjoyed. It was long, but that didnt matter too much since I had a 4 hour flight in which to kill some time. I got some sleep too. When I arrived in Calgary, I had to take a short flight to my final destination, Medicine Hat. I knew I would be on a small plane, but I wasnt expecting what I saw when I walked to it on the runway. A 19 passenger Beechcraft 1900D. It was basically a cargo plane with some seats. No overhead room for carry on. It was neat though to be able to watch the pilots navigate it and to be able to see the runway though the windshield as we landed. Anyway, it has a been a long day and it's time for bed. I have another long day tomorrow.

Bismarck ND

Large Toyota. Larger snowbank.

Corkscrew hand

V8 Powah!!!

Bully.

Another loooooong day.

15 hours at Safeway today. I am so damn tired, and I have to be back at 6AM. This combination of long days, daylight saving time, and PST are all really killing me. I cant seem to stay awake.

So when i finally did get back to my hotel room, I noticed I lost my room key. I swear this happens every week, or I leave it in the room, or my cell phone demagnetizes the key. The old lady at the front desk asks for my ID so she can issue me a new key. She notices my NC license and tells me her "honey" is from there. I ask where her "honey" is from in NC, and then replied with "Welll, you're supposed to ask you my honey".  I wanted to just tell her to fuck off, but my better side prevailed and I played along. "Clay", she said. Lady, come the fuck on here. The last thing I want to do after a 15 hour day on my feet is talk about Clay Aiken. She met him ya know. Yeah, Ok....g'night.

RIP friends and teenage memories

Susan informed me today that a friend of ours passed away last night. I wont claim to know Scott very well, but we did hang out a few times and from what I knew of him, he was a passionate individual. Sorry you never got to fly again Scott.

Also, I heard this morning that a guitiarist of my favorite band as a teenager died on Halloween. Milo Goes To College was my soundtrack for years. It still sounds great.

I am in CT this week.

I moved from here in 1989, but really have no ambition to visit anywhere. Hotel, work, hotel, work, etc. I may see an old friend of mine while I'm here which would be cool, but that's about it.

Yeah, I'm in PA.

I knew this week was going to suck...

when I looked out the window of the plane and saw someone working on the wing with a screwdriver.

Quaker Steak and Lube all you can eat wings

Tuesday all you can eat wings. Tasty. Apparently there is one in NC now, but probably cant touch the original in Sharon PA. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Steak_and_Lube

Last night in Idaho

Last night here. I am ready. I'm pretty sick of this hotel room. Here's the last few photos from my stay in Idaho. I may take some on the 3 hour drive to Salt Lake City airport tomorrow if I have time. The Rockies look a lot different since I got here on Monday. Lots of sun has melted most of the snow.

Butch Cassidy and The Wild Bunch robbed a bank that once stood at this site. Woulda been neat if it was actually restored instead of the lame facade there now. The coffee shop next store was neat though. Nice people and some decent coffee.


An old boat and an old shed.

Entering Montpelier ID.

Hotel Reading

Huge propellor. Montpelier ID.

Birthday in the Rockies.

Of course, I'd rather be spending my birthday at home with the family, but driving through the Rockies today was pretty amazing. I am working in Montpelier ID this week, very near the ID/WY/UT border. Flew into SLC and drove 3 hours through the Rockies on some great roads on the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway to get here. I have never been to this part of the country before, so the size of the snow capped mountains and Bear Lake left me in awe.  This is a really good time to be here. It will be in the 40s for most of the week and hitting near 60 on Friday. Lots of photos below. One photo I didnt get, was the ginormous basket of goodies and baloons wishing me a happy birthday from Susan, Kira, and Victoria. 

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Dodge Coronet

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McDonalds Maverik.

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$1800, custom Cherokee. WTF?

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Partially built house on the hill.

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I have snow.

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Malibu rental did not like the twisty roads of the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway.

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I didnt have to drive on this bridge but I did it anyway.

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Cave.

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The Malibu got scared when it saw these signs.

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Scary but fun blind curve.

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Rick's Spring.

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Bear Lake. Photos do not show the shear size of it. Truly incredible.

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