Posts

Showing posts from July, 2015

Wyoming and Idaho

Image
We are back from a quick vacation. I managed to score three (actually several more) bucket list items in 4 days. 1.) Long Snowmobile Trip. 2.) Yellowstone Park and 3.) Wyoming. I reached my 50th State --Wyoming! And we took a 90 mile snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park. We went to the "Craters of the Moon--National Monument and Preserve" in Idaho and also stopped at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where I got to see (with my own eyes) the very cool nuclear powered twin turbojet engine. It was a successful experiment in the 1950s and 1960s. https://whatisnuclear.com/safety-minutes/htre-3-meltdown.html Of course, I had my Radiacode scintillation detector with me and yes, the apparatus is "Hot". The screenshot of the readings from my three walk-arounds the artifact. I swear you could smell the radiation. There was a very un-natural burnt smell something reminiscent of burned bakelite. Although, I am quite certain the emitted radition was not the source...

Helen Elizabeth Raymond Dowdell

Image
My Mom died today. It happens. It is the way it is supposed to happen. I am her son, always. Our human lives are physical/emotional, everything else is an abstraction (unless you are from some sort of lizard species). Looking through some photos today, I decided I liked this one for my blog (originally posted in Sept 28, 2009). The subtlety in this pic (looking very closely) is that in my Mom's gaze is an aviation NAVAID "the white thing" usually invisible when flying. I have faith. The same faith you feel when your foot hits the floor getting out of bed or when you make a turn in traffic. I will grow my faith. I will drive and pull as I did as they all did as they prayed for my survival when I was born. God bless us all. Throughout my life I was reminded from strangers that MY Mom was a genuine caring healthcare provider. She sincerely touched thousands of lives in Western, NY. They may not remember her name. They will somehow remember her care. Today, it seems these day...
Answers in bold. Which of the following have communist governments? Russia China New York Which of the following have the death penalty? Russia China New York * New York itself does not have a death penalty. However, if you commit a federal crime in NY that does have a death penalty. --Guess what? Death.
Image
I will have the answers for the previous questions soon enough. I definitely would not let things hang. The answers will very much surprise you. I have been doing some intensive instrument flight training Friday (planned) through Sunday. Angie and I went to our new routine of the "Food Trucks in Duluth" on Friday night. It is very cool. Live music, people, fountains to run kids through, etc. This week we had the treat of a Spiedie truck from Binghamton NY. It is truly all here. And air conditioning when we need it!
Here are some test questions. Answers will be posted soon. Which of the following have communist governments? Russia China New York Which of the following have the death penalty? Russia China New York
Image
We are getting a new alternator in the plane, working on the house in NY, and working on the boat. Boat pics in the water are forthcoming. We are bringing the boat back from the edge. A must before I get to the remodeling on the house in Duluth. I moved into a new office at work. It is bigger, desk is big. It is all about land reform. Always unpopular with some. Uncomfortable for all. I particularly like the pic I got of the guy living in the American dream home, Dog, TV, Stuff. Lola, Angie and I explored Atlanta this weekend. Travel is a state of mind, commonly not a destination. It is much more about communication and culture rather than geology and geography.
Image
Angie and I had a full day Sunday. Went to Church, Nice Brunch, some excitement dancing with clouds in the plane and did some errands and so on.

New York State Refugee

Image
Life is good. I received a promotion at work a while back. I have been here in Duluth now 5 years. I can hardly believe it. A lot has happened, but fast. Much better than Upstate NY. This evening Angie and I were in the Duluth Commons listening to live music sharing a table with some other folks we had never met. I mentioned something about NY knowing that it would start a conversation. Sure enough, one of the folks was from Lockport, NY. We all know the story about the dropping a frog in boiling water, the frog jumps out. Put a frog in cold water. Gradually turn up the heat and the frog boils to death. The folks left in Upstate NY are dying frogs. The resurrection of NYC starting in the 70s and 80s continues at the expense of frogs in Upstate. Here is a link showing actual purchasing power in US states. US State Purchasing power I have also included the infographic below because experience tells me website references last only a short time. Notice NY is second only to Hawaii as far ...