Showing posts with label trips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trips. Show all posts
Monday, September 17, 2007
Kansas Weather
Norma's new car also has a readout of the outside temperature on the dash. As you may recall, Sunday's forecast was for sunny and 87, but it dawned rainy and stayed cool and wet all morning. We left Manhattan shortly after noon, and the temp was in the mid-60s. By the time we got to Salina, the readout said 79. We stopped for a fill-up of E85 (at $1.999 per gallon!), and headed for Hutchinson. By the time we arrived there, the temp read 95. I was sure glad I had brought a short-sleeved shirt!
Comedy on XM
Norma's new car has XM Satellite Radio, and I got quite a bit of windshield time this past weekend with a Saturday trip to Liberty, MO followed by a Sunday trip to Hutchinson, KS. Just like my TV, there's 150 channels, and quite often nothing to listen to.
No, that's not true. I can nearly always find something to listen to. When there's nothing else, I find myself drawn to channel 151, comedy. There are a couple of other comedy channels, especially 150, but 150 doesn't cut any language, and some comedians are very, very prolific users of untidy words. So 151 is it.
Some of the most memorable lines from this weekend on 151 included one guy talking about a blind date in college. "She looked like a test pilot at a broom factory."
Another was the old chestnut about the stammerer who got hired to sell Bibles door-to-door. At the end of the month, he had sold $17,000 worth. The boss called him in and said, "How in the world did you sell so many Bibles in one month? Our usual best salesman is lucky to do $2000!"
The guy replied, "W-w-w-w-well, I j-j-j-just kn-kn-kn-kn-knock on the d-d-d-door, and s-s-s-s-ay, 'W-w-w-w-w-ould you l-l-l-like t-t-t-t-to b-b-b-b-buy a B-B-B-B-Bibie, or w-w-w-would you l-l-l-l-like m-m-m-m-me to r-r-r-r-read it t-t-t-to you?"
No, that's not true. I can nearly always find something to listen to. When there's nothing else, I find myself drawn to channel 151, comedy. There are a couple of other comedy channels, especially 150, but 150 doesn't cut any language, and some comedians are very, very prolific users of untidy words. So 151 is it.
Some of the most memorable lines from this weekend on 151 included one guy talking about a blind date in college. "She looked like a test pilot at a broom factory."
Another was the old chestnut about the stammerer who got hired to sell Bibles door-to-door. At the end of the month, he had sold $17,000 worth. The boss called him in and said, "How in the world did you sell so many Bibles in one month? Our usual best salesman is lucky to do $2000!"
The guy replied, "W-w-w-w-well, I j-j-j-just kn-kn-kn-kn-knock on the d-d-d-door, and s-s-s-s-ay, 'W-w-w-w-w-ould you l-l-l-like t-t-t-t-to b-b-b-b-buy a B-B-B-B-Bibie, or w-w-w-would you l-l-l-l-like m-m-m-m-me to r-r-r-r-read it t-t-t-to you?"
Friday, September 14, 2007
San Franciscans and water
San Francisco is full of funny people, but I doubt if that catches you by surprise. They want to be so eco-friendly. They try hard, they really do. Until it comes to water, that is.
Just like most of the rest of the US, they're all caught up in the bottled water craze. During my week there, I was served water called Calistoga (or something like that). My mind immediately began to picture semi trucks coming down out of the mountains of California loaded with bottles of this stuff. As if water weren't heavy enough, they bottle it in glass. So you can imagine the diesel fumes that are spewed every day just to cart water into San Francisco.
Another day, I was served Fiji water. Yes, it's actually from Fiji. It's bottled at the source from an ancient aquifer. The source is sealed, and the water is never exposed to the atmosphere until you open the cap of the bottle you bought. And it's good water, I'll admit. But then I think about shipload after shipload of it being transported to the US from Fiji. And then I think about truckload after truckload of it going all over the US. (You can even buy Fiji water in Wamego!) And then I think about the tons of fuel being burned to move ... water. So when you do open it, the first atmosphere it's exposed to is full of diesel fumes!
The most amazing part of it all is that I found the San Francisco tap water (at least in my hotel room and at the drinking fountains I used) to have excellent flavor.
In the interest of fairness, I must admit to the occasional purchase of a bottle of water. Sometimes for convenience, but mostly it's because I don't like the taste of Manhattan water. So I buy a case of Wal-Mart's best about once a year. Then I use the bottles to carry water from my house to my office, using a handy canvas totebag. After a year or so, the bottles begin to show too much wear, so they get tossed and I buy another case.
Just like most of the rest of the US, they're all caught up in the bottled water craze. During my week there, I was served water called Calistoga (or something like that). My mind immediately began to picture semi trucks coming down out of the mountains of California loaded with bottles of this stuff. As if water weren't heavy enough, they bottle it in glass. So you can imagine the diesel fumes that are spewed every day just to cart water into San Francisco.
Another day, I was served Fiji water. Yes, it's actually from Fiji. It's bottled at the source from an ancient aquifer. The source is sealed, and the water is never exposed to the atmosphere until you open the cap of the bottle you bought. And it's good water, I'll admit. But then I think about shipload after shipload of it being transported to the US from Fiji. And then I think about truckload after truckload of it going all over the US. (You can even buy Fiji water in Wamego!) And then I think about the tons of fuel being burned to move ... water. So when you do open it, the first atmosphere it's exposed to is full of diesel fumes!
The most amazing part of it all is that I found the San Francisco tap water (at least in my hotel room and at the drinking fountains I used) to have excellent flavor.
In the interest of fairness, I must admit to the occasional purchase of a bottle of water. Sometimes for convenience, but mostly it's because I don't like the taste of Manhattan water. So I buy a case of Wal-Mart's best about once a year. Then I use the bottles to carry water from my house to my office, using a handy canvas totebag. After a year or so, the bottles begin to show too much wear, so they get tossed and I buy another case.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
San Francisco #3
Not much to report today. Monday was the first day of meetings. If the rest of the week is as good as Monday, the trip will be, um, "Worth Every Dollar". I learned more in one day than I could have learned in a month of reading. I'm really excited to get on the exhibit floor today. Now that I know some of the questions to ask, I'm ready to talk to vendors.
The weather is still beautiful. The announcers can't believe the heat. Yesterday it got into the low 70s. They are even saying that some people may need to turn on their air conditioners! Looking out over the bay bridge this morning, I don't see any significant fog, just some haze. It really is pretty here. I think I understand why people love to live here, but I'm sure the weather isn't like this all the time.
The Moscone Center, where my meetings are being held, is underground. According to their website, it was quite a challenge to meet fire codes. There have to be a lot of fire exits, and from underground that's a challenge. But they did it. Above it, they've built the Yerba Buena Gardens, a beautiful park. Every day, it's full of people laying out in the sun, doing exercises, or watching the ducks in the water. I'll try to get some pics today.
The weather is still beautiful. The announcers can't believe the heat. Yesterday it got into the low 70s. They are even saying that some people may need to turn on their air conditioners! Looking out over the bay bridge this morning, I don't see any significant fog, just some haze. It really is pretty here. I think I understand why people love to live here, but I'm sure the weather isn't like this all the time.
The Moscone Center, where my meetings are being held, is underground. According to their website, it was quite a challenge to meet fire codes. There have to be a lot of fire exits, and from underground that's a challenge. But they did it. Above it, they've built the Yerba Buena Gardens, a beautiful park. Every day, it's full of people laying out in the sun, doing exercises, or watching the ducks in the water. I'll try to get some pics today.
Monday, August 20, 2007
San Francisco #2
Sunday afternoon, I went over to the Convention Center and picked up my badge and conference materials. I'm glad I did ... they gave me a really nice jacket and all the proceedings for all four days. I was able to bring that stuff back to the hotel rather than lug it around all day today.
In the late afternoon, my Missouri buddies called. We got the car and my camera was safely in the back seat. They took me sightseeing. We drove down the crookedest street in the world, then up to Coit Tower. On the way, we took a few streets that are just too steep to be believed. And pictures don't show it ... they tend to flatten things.
Coit Tower is atop one of the mountians right in the middle of town. We got tickets to go to the top. While we were there, the fog started to roll in off the ocean. Earlier in the day I had been regretting packing nothing but long-sleeved shirts, but by that time of the afternoon I was glad for them and my jacket. I'm used to fog that occurs when it's mostly calm, but this fog came with a stiff cool breeze.
We headed to the italian district, passing dozens of restaurants that looked unbelievably yummy. Alas, we could not find any place to park. It doesn't take you long to figure out why most people don't drive here. If you want to go somewhere, public transport and your two feet are the best choices. We ended up back at the hotel and set out walking. Not more than a couple of blocks down, we came across a little bistro with live jazz. One of my buddies said he had eaten there before, so we went in. The jazz show was excellent, and the food was filling. I had my tastebuds set for italian and I got chicken cordon bleu, but it was OK.
Today I start the conference that I came out here for.
In the late afternoon, my Missouri buddies called. We got the car and my camera was safely in the back seat. They took me sightseeing. We drove down the crookedest street in the world, then up to Coit Tower. On the way, we took a few streets that are just too steep to be believed. And pictures don't show it ... they tend to flatten things.
Coit Tower is atop one of the mountians right in the middle of town. We got tickets to go to the top. While we were there, the fog started to roll in off the ocean. Earlier in the day I had been regretting packing nothing but long-sleeved shirts, but by that time of the afternoon I was glad for them and my jacket. I'm used to fog that occurs when it's mostly calm, but this fog came with a stiff cool breeze.
We headed to the italian district, passing dozens of restaurants that looked unbelievably yummy. Alas, we could not find any place to park. It doesn't take you long to figure out why most people don't drive here. If you want to go somewhere, public transport and your two feet are the best choices. We ended up back at the hotel and set out walking. Not more than a couple of blocks down, we came across a little bistro with live jazz. One of my buddies said he had eaten there before, so we went in. The jazz show was excellent, and the food was filling. I had my tastebuds set for italian and I got chicken cordon bleu, but it was OK.
Today I start the conference that I came out here for.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
San Francisco Post #1
I arrived safely in SF.
Flight was on time. I met two guys on the plane who were going to the same convention, staying in the same hotel. They had a rental car reservation, so I rode with them to the hotel. Saved me lugging my suitcase on BART. They work for Shelter Insurance at the company HQ in Columbia.
We were driving up from the airport and passed Candlestick Park (where some team plays baseball). I grabbed the camera to get some pic for Norma (the baseball fan in the family). Just a bit ago, I went to get my camera to take some pics out my hotel room window, and it's not here. I have the darndest luck with cameras in California.
Anyway, I'm sure it's in the car, but all I know of the guys I rode in with is their first names. They're going to call me later and see if I want to get some supper, so I'll have them look in the car then. As long as the valet parker didn't steal it, I'm sure that is where it is.
I asked for the best view I could get, so they put me on the 17th floor. My window looks NE, and off to the side, I can just see one tower of the Bay Bridge between some buildings. Waay in the distance are the mountains on the far side of the bay. Mostly, all I can see are buildings, but they're all at least a block away, so it's not claustrophobic.
The weather is beautiful. Sunny and clear, and seems to be in the low 70s.
Flight was on time. I met two guys on the plane who were going to the same convention, staying in the same hotel. They had a rental car reservation, so I rode with them to the hotel. Saved me lugging my suitcase on BART. They work for Shelter Insurance at the company HQ in Columbia.
We were driving up from the airport and passed Candlestick Park (where some team plays baseball). I grabbed the camera to get some pic for Norma (the baseball fan in the family). Just a bit ago, I went to get my camera to take some pics out my hotel room window, and it's not here. I have the darndest luck with cameras in California.
Anyway, I'm sure it's in the car, but all I know of the guys I rode in with is their first names. They're going to call me later and see if I want to get some supper, so I'll have them look in the car then. As long as the valet parker didn't steal it, I'm sure that is where it is.
I asked for the best view I could get, so they put me on the 17th floor. My window looks NE, and off to the side, I can just see one tower of the Bay Bridge between some buildings. Waay in the distance are the mountains on the far side of the bay. Mostly, all I can see are buildings, but they're all at least a block away, so it's not claustrophobic.
The weather is beautiful. Sunny and clear, and seems to be in the low 70s.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Picture from Spearville
This is my favorite picture from last Thursday's visit to the wind farm at Spearville. Looking west.
(Besides, it is an easy way for me to try embedding photos in my blog post.)
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