STONEHENGE...

THE VERY FIRST "FOREST HILLS"?

Archaeologists, following the most extensive survey ever done at the famous pile of monolithic rocks in England now believe that its primary purpose was as a burial site for cremated remains of local dwellers. Stonehenge is around 3,000 years old and speculation about its purpose has ranged from astronomical observatory to ET landing site.

***

I wonder if Scott McClellan's new book, WHAT HAPPENED, would have been written the same way if Dubya's popularity ratings hadn't fallen to the lowest point in American history. I am sure the sales would have been dramatically lower if it was just another "puff piece".

***

I guess Clinton was disappointed that The DNC agreed to seat the all the delegates from Michigan and Florida, but only giving them 1/2 vote each. While trailing badly in the delegate count, she continues to claim she has won the majority of the popular vote. Has she forgotten that winning the popular vote doesn't mean diddly-squat. Gore won the popular vote in the 2000 general election but Dubya got the narrow edge in electoral votes. And those are what puts a person in the White House. Just ask Al, Hillary.

***

The recent court decision to uphold California's gay marriage law has had a serendipitous outcome. Those businesses that thrive on the nuptial market are raking in the cash as gay couples from around the country flock to the State to tie the knot.

***

In the old "X-Files" series, Mulder had a poster on the wall that said:

"I want to believe"

Even he would have would had trouble dealing with this one, which has received global media attention. Even FOX and CNN have carried it. Must have been a slow news day.

***

Some major economic reports are due out this week. Including Friday's unemployment report, which is expected to report the 5th straight month of job loses in the USA.

***

I am jealous. One of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq, Australia, is going to start withdrawal from the war zone this week.

***

It is with great regret that I report the death of Yves Saint Laurent. At one time in my life I was actually slim enough to wear his clothing line, and did.

***

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again later.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

AND NOW THE NEWS...

Thank goodness the Saudi's have decided to keep the price of crude pegged to the US Dollar. If the decision is ever made to use a different currency, or precious metal, the Dollar would plummet in value faster than an incoming asteroid.

I guess nobody bothered to tell Tropical Storm Author that hurricane season starts today.

It appears as if the Phoenix Lander has already found a patch of ice on Mars. I have my fingers crossed that its test equipment will find evidence of life (past or present). While I believe that life probably is rife throughout the universe, until we find proof of it somewhere else, its still just speculation. And it would make the cosmos a very lonely place if we are it. Of course, considering that the universe could function for 100k trillion years, then we are still in our infancy and maybe this is the first place where all the conditions were just right.

Dubya's crew has finally been forced by a court order to release the details of a report on global warming. Until recently "fearless leader" has stated numerous times that he didn't believe in the theory. Well, this time the results couldn't be doctored to meet his agenda.

Windows Vista is only 18 months old and already Microsoft is starting to tout its replacement, Windows 7.

Do you have asthma? Do you use the Albuterol inhaler? At the first of the year it will be banned in the USA because the propellant it uses contains CFCs. Please check with your doctor as soon as possible to obtain the proper replacement.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE

"Let's all be careful out there!"

HOUSTON...

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

I was scheduled to leave on US Airways flight 31 from Kahului to Phoenix at 10:40 PM. As I checked my luggage, the counter person told me the flight was going to be delayed.
"By how long?" I inquired.
"Until 1:30 AM," he replied. "The in-bound flight just left Phoenix."
The first thing I did was call my son. While it was just 8:30 PM on Maui, it was 11:30 PM in California. I wanted to let him know not to be waiting for me in Sacramento at Noon. Stood around and smoked cigarettes across the street from the terminal, knowing that once I passed the TSA security check point I wouldn't have another cancer stick until I arrived at my destination, 15 hours later.

Finally went through security about 9:00 PM and headed for my departure gate. I was already exhausted, since I had been awake since 4:00 AM.

Kahului Airport:

Since US Airways is the one we cabbies referred to as "Payday", due to the frequency of their failures to depart, I called the airline's 800 number to see if the in-bound flight had actually departed for Maui. It had and finally arrived at OGG at 1:00 AM. I found a row of four empty seats near the gate and stretched out for a much needed nap, using my laptop as a pillow. I immediately zonked. Just conscious enough to hear peoples voices around me. A trait I have developed over my life. We were finally boarded and backed away from the gate at 2:10 AM. Only 3½ hours late.

My last view of Maui:

Get airborne and and I try to grab some more Z's. But the seat wouldn't recline, because the mechanism was malfuntioning. I know the seats don't tilt back very far anyway but I ended up having to sit fully erect for the entire 5½ hours. Sleeping for 15 minutes and then having to shift positions.

The broken control:

Since we were headed east, sunrise came early for me. And the day dawned over a beautiful clear Pacific ocean

Dawn over the middle of nowhere:

Less than an hour prior to arrival in Phoenix we finally crossed the Pacific coast between San Diego and Los Angeles.

Landfall:

Then it was desert. Miles and miles of desert that the inland part of southern California is famous for.

This is the south end of the Salton Sea. Looking south towards Brawley and El Centro:

The Colorado River, just north of Yuma AZ:

Coming into Phoenix from the south:

Touchdown.
In Phoenix:

Sky Harbor is sure a lot bigger than Maui:

This was the plane that brought me this far:

The "A" Concourse at Sky Harbor was larger than ALL of Maui's airport. My departure was from the "B" Concourse, about 2 miles away. Thank gawd for moving walkways. I also saw signs for a "C" Concourse. There is a complete multi-lane highway system inside the airport structure.

Saw these cabs making pickup:

Made it to my departure gate and saw this young mother and son looking at the plane I was leaving on. Made conversation with her and they were on standby, hoping to get to Sacramento. They did get on.
Which was lucky because the flight was full

A young couple sat across the aisle from me with two small children. The little girl wasn't quite a year old and loved flirting with me. Her older brother might have been 3 and had the energy of that age but was very well behaved. Both parents looked tired. Of course, all parents with kids that age always look tired. It comes with the job description.

This young lady was from Pittsburg PA. She works for a Harley shop/dealership in that area. We had a nice conversation.
Not as big as Phoenix but still huge compared to Maui, Sacramento International was a relief. I was done flying.

Leaving the airport:

My son, Rob:

You think Kansas is flat? The Central Valley of California certainly is:

My son's home is huge. Two-story (4/2½) and is the keystone lot on their cul-de-sac.

This week I start getting the passport paperwork started and start applying for the position(s) I am seeking in Korea.

Thanks for coming by today. I appreciate it. I'll have at least one more today for you, maybe a couple. I hope you enjoyed the travelog.

"Let's all be careful out there!"