"I made it through the night..." Ok, so maybe I changed the lyrics, or did I? Is it wilderness or both? I don't know. But at any rate, I am glad to have not needed to retreat to the basement in fear of a tornado. Whew! However, the night was not without severe weather. Shortly after we all went to bed, the wind picked up, it started pooring rain and the lightning was non-stop. I am not exaggerating when I say the room was constantly lit by the flashes of light coming from outside. It was really unnerving. I've always loved weather, but it has always scared the crap out of me, too. Ick!

The weather yesterday was much better. It rained, quite hard at times, but there wasn't a lot of wind and hardly any lightning. Today it's still cloudy, but it's supposed to start clearing up later today and tomorrow. Yesterday we went to Mall of America, or MOA, as it is referred to around here. What can I say? It's a mall, plain and simple. It's just huge, that's all. One other notable difference is the mall is shaped like a square, and in the middle is a huge atrium that houses Camp Snoopy, where you'll find a roller coaster, log ride and other amusement park rides. It was fun to hang out there, although a little expensive. We did a little shopping and I found a new wallet at Fossil (I went in looking for a watch) and a new pair of sandals (I went in looking for running shoes). Figures.

Today we're trying to get together with Beth's great aunt Donna and then later we're meeting up with aunt Diane. Tomorrow will have us heading off to Spooner, WI. This will prolly be my last post from the road as there is no computer where we're headed tomorrow.

We made it to MSP!

Minneapolis, that is. Beth and I arrived at about 3:30 this afternoon after a little change in our original travel plans. We went to a softball game where Beth's cousin Nicole was pitching... boy does she have a mean pitch! Good for her! The game was called off in the second half though due to increasingly nasty weather. In fact, a severe thunderstorm warning has gone out to the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. There's even word it will change to a tornado. We had heard at the game earlier there were clouds approaching this area (Lino Lakes) that could spawn a tornado! Eek... having lived my entire life in Nevada, this is something new for me. Only a few times on layovers has it been mentioned, but for some reason this feels different, a little more ominous and a little more scary. Yikes! I'll keep you posted.

I think the plan for tomorrow calls for a trip to Mall of America. That should be interesting... looking forward to that one.

Reno Gazette Journal reports on Brian's departure from Reno market in Friday's Life Section. Click here to read it.

It's been a very busy week...

I have been flying everyday, plus taking in some sim time everyday while working toward my instrument and commercial ratings. In all, I devoted about 20 hours this past week to that cause, and am very tired. Hooray for me, as I am nearing the 100 hour mark in my logbook, having accumulated 93.1 hours since September of last year. Yeah! It's a milestone I am looking forward to. Perspective: I'll need about 1200 hours before I can apply (with any chance or hope) for a job with a scenic tour operator or a small regional carrier. Baby steps.

In addition to the flying this week, I had three dinner parties, one with help. On one occassion I made basil and garlic fettuccini with a crab alfredo sauce and topped it with a pan-fried salmon filet. The second nights' menu included a hearts of romaine caesar salad and cioppino for the main course. Last night, Beth and I went to Dale and Carter's house for some home-cooked prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes and creamed corn. That meal was preceeded by home-made fried pickles and calamari. If you've never had fried pickles, you are truly missing out on something delicious! And no, I'm NOT pregnant. Well, maybe, but if I am everybody else there last night is, too, as they equally enjoyed them.

Although this week has been a busy one, it's been loaded with good food and fun times. Beth and I watched "Two Weeks Notice" last night. That movie was cute and funny in true Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant fashion. Although it wasn't a great movie, it filled its job duties well and entertained us for two hours. Along with the fun comes some bad: I had the shit scared out of me coming home from the airport one day as I witnessed a fairly serious incident of road rage. Two cars, right in front of me, were traveling side-by-side trying to run each other off the road. The driver of the car on the right pulled out a baseball bat and was attempting to hit the other car. Fortunately for me, I was turning off at the next light, and probably would of even if it wasn't my street. Soon after I made my turn, a motorcycle cop went whizzing past me, hopefully to handle the situation. I have no doubt that one or more people around me called for help on their phones. Very scary!

Beth and I are going to spend the day relaxing. We have some laundry to do, and need to go shopping for new watches and maybe some shorts. We are gearing up for our trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin. Our flight leaves Tuesday morning at 1:15am, and we'll be flying to Minneapolis via Dallas.

I got my schedule for flying out of St. Louis next month. I kind of forgot how interesting domestic flying can be. In the international operation, I may fly to one or two different destinations several times in one month. My schedule next month has me laying over in D.C., Kansas City, Omaha, New York, Columbus, Sacramento, Atlanta, Houston and Des Moines. Some of those layovers seem interesting, and I bet you can guess the ones that don't. I haven't been to Omaha, Columbus, Houston or Des Moines, and I don't know if I want to change that, with the exception of Houston. I could do without Kansas City, too. But, that is one thing I miss from the domestic operation, and that is the variety of destinations. Granted, in the interntational operation you aren't just dealing with different destinations, but different continents, cultures and languages to name a few. I will and do miss flying international, but am excited to fly domestic again. I will prolly return to international within a year, depending on how things work out. For now, it's time to have some fun in my own country!

"Home, home on the range..."

Nice to be home again, but miss the family. Beth and I arrived back in Vegas about 8pm on Sunday night. Las I wrote, I had mentioned we were going to the state museum in Carson City. I always loved that place as a child, especially the old ghost town display and mine replica. Both are very cool. I was excited for Beth to see them, too, and she was equally as impressed as I have been all these years. The museum underwent renovation several years ago, and I had never seen the changes. The had a great display of a Mammoth and also an underwater display of what most Nevada may have looked like thousands of years ago when it was still underwater.

That night we met up with Dan in Reno. We weren't expectiing him to be home from San Francisco, but he was, and we were both very glad to be able to see him. We ate dinner and went and saw "Finding Nemo". Great movie -- the three of us enjoyed it very much. The next day was spent in Virigina City with Sherry and her son William. Last time we saw William he was a baby, now he's two. He's a cute kid with a great personality.

That night we went to the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno. Wow! Simply put, amazing. We were first floored to find such an amazing facility in Reno. On top of it all, they had a great display of original Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera works. Beth has been a huge fan of Frida's since our freshman year in college when she studied her in art appreciation. Along with that exhibit were other famous and influential Mexican artists. One of out other favorite exhibits was the rather crude, but very funny "Greetings from my hairy balls" exhibit. The work was done by Miguel Calderon. Very funny, and rather creative. The prints were named # 2 and # 4. Beth and I are now curious to see # 1 and # 3. After we went to the museum we met up with Jann and had dinner with her at one of our favorite Reno resteraunts, "Pane Vino". The food is simply delicious, the atmosphere delighful and the service excellent. It's a little pricey, but well worth the money.

Of course, the next day was Saturday, the big Carson Valley Days had begun. The parade was nice, what I could see of it. I was stuck up on the front porch at the bar making Gin Fizzes for the masses. My parents had the usual crowd, with breakfast and lunch being served for about 100 people. Always fun, but very hectic. That afternoon Beth and I met up with Teresa at a local gressy spoon. It was great to see her after several years. We got to catch up on old times and remembered some very funny things from all the way back to kindergarten. A true friend, I suppose, is one who you can have an absence from for several years and pick up like you never left off. I am fortunate enought to have a few of those friendships in my life. Teresa, it was great to see you and I look forward to seeing you again, SOON!

That night Beth, my mom and I went to Lampe Park to watch the Shante's perform. They're a male group dating back to the sixties who played surfing tunes on their guitars. Undoubtedly, you've heard one. They're a little washed up, but still fun to watch and listen too. If only they could keep their mouths closed and just play the guitar. The next morning, Father's Day, we cooked breakfast at the house and had a leisure morning with mom and dad, Brian and Rene and Jim and Cathy. Jim and Cathy had just returned the night before from a Caribbean cruise. How rough! I was very glad to see them, since we had missed them all week. Jenn, it was kind of funny to watch the two standing -- they would kind of swing slightly from side to side. We all got a laugh out of that! We left shortly after.

All in all, it was a great week. We were able to see a lot of friends from school, do a lot of activities we had been interested in, and best of all, got to hang out with mom and dad and relax. This week, I am flying twice a day, everyday, working on my instument and commercial ratings. Hopefully we can fit in a little R & R this week, too, since we're off to Minnesota and Wisonconsin on Monday. No rest for the weary traveler.

Have had a fun and busy week so far here in Gardnerville...

On Monday we hung out with some friends of ours from school, Brett and Sherry and their son William. We had a really nice time. On Tuesday we went to Big Trees State Park in California -- beautiful place! I had been there once before, but mom and Beth hadn't. The biggest trees in the world live there, some with 30-foot diameter bases. They also top 300 feet. The tallest trees are in the Redwoods on the California coast, north of San Francisco. These, however, are the biggest living objects.

Yesterday we went to Sacramento with Brian to see his new house. The house is nearly complete, with all the flooring, cabinets and appliances installed. Now, the trim and cleanup are taking place, and they should be moving in on or around June 26. They are both very excited. Last night Beth went on a women's only walk around Spooner Lake with my mom, and my dad and I went out on his ATVs and buzzed around the Pinenut Mountains. That was a lot of fun. (Amber, I know what you're thinking! We were there for only three hours, and we were running late at that. Sorry!)

This morning I went flying with my unlce Dan. The rest of the day will be spent touring the State Museum in Carson City and a drive to Virigina City. We're unsure about tomorrow, but Saturday will bring the masses as Carson Valley Days begins. Should be a great weekend.

Let the cat out of the bag...

Beth and I drove up to Gardnerville on Friday to attend a surprise 30th birthday party for my brother. His birthday isn't until July 8, but the party had to happen early so as to make it easier to surprise him, and also he and Rene will be in the middle of their move to Sacramento about that time. The party was a good time, with Gumbay Smash's on tap and lots of conch fritters! Yum!

Beth and I decided to stay here all week since Carson Valley Days is next weekend, and also Father's Day. We have several activities planned, including seeing some old friends of ours from school. On Tuesday we're going to take a drive over Highway 4 to Big Tree for the day, on Wednesday we have massages planned and at some point we're going to go see "Finding Nemo". It should be a relaxing week hanging out with the family.

Blogger out...

For those who may have checked in my website in the past 36 hours may have noticed it wasn't entirely there. Blogger was out o' commission, and since my home page comes from them, I simply had to wait for them to get things back up. Seems to be ok now.

The website has been updated with a new calendar for June. This month I am also featuring two "Old Favorites" on the recipe page... both great for the summer months.

It's getting oh so hot here, with our neighborhood reaching 113 yesterday. Today, it hit 107. Anyone want to come and visit?