Remembering Portofino

My trip to Portofino with Tyler was interesting. We took a ferry from Cinque Terre with several stops along the way. We walked up to the top of small hill above the town, visited a small church and visited a museum. I took this photo from the top of the little hill. We enjoyed a nice little lunch here near one of those yachts in the bay and left in time to catch the ferry back to Riomaggiorre. It was a very beautiful little place.

Truth or Consequences

Nice little hotel on the way to Tucson eh? Looks like it came right off my Monopoly board. Actually, we stayed in a nice B&B in Truth or Consequences just down the street from this place. That evening we went to dinner at this little Italian place and sat at a table by the window. This was our view! Do you know where the name Truth or Consequences in New Mexico came from? It was named after the TV show when Ralph Edwards said he would air the program from the first town that renamed itself after his show. How about that bit of trivia?

Flowers and grasshoppers

We went to Tucson over a long weekend the other day. On the way, somewhere between Deming and Lordsburg I stopped to take this photo of the flowers in the desert. They were everywhere! The last time we drove through this area, we encountered millions and millions of large Lubber grasshoppers. They were all over the cars, the road, simply everywhere. The road actually became slick from them, because the dead one's were smeared all over it. The flowers were much nicer. Who knows? Maybe this is what they eat?

Farragut State Park

Here is a nice photo of the forest at Farragut State Park in Idaho. The Northern half of Idaho is especially beautiful. I can image how Lewis and Clark would have been enthralled with the views and scenery there, if they hadn't been caught in a storm, out of food, and near death. A great read on their adventure was written by Phillip Ambrose, Undaunted Courage. I highly recommend it.

Wahpeton and a whale of a good meal

My work took me to Wahpeton, ND this week. I have been working with one of our larger franchise owners in the area. A month ago I didn't even know there was a place named Wahpeton. With a population of about 10,000 it deserves some special attention. In fact, the Ramada Inn there sleeps four!

The company office was on a small side street. In fact, the street was so small that when they wanted to paint a white line down the middle, they had to widen the street. I hope to go back here soon. It's a great place!

During my time in Wahpeton, they held an employee recognition luncheon for the employees and I was invited. We had a wonderful meal provided by the culinary students at Wahpeton College. If one of these guys gets hired at a restaurant, I want to know where it's located. I'll be eating there!

Chicago

I was in Chicago this week for meetings so I decided to take a picture for you. Chicago has hosted many meetings of all sorts because it makes work easier. If you want a smoke-filled meeting room, just open a window! You know you're in Chicago when you rent a car, drive into town and your tires cough.

Terre Haute

Okay, so maybe yesterday's photo of Indiana is not a good enough photo for you. I know what you're thinking. While I was there I went to Terre Haute. Now Terre Haute, that's a town! Its right near Putnamville. Last year I took a trip around the world. This year I'm going someplace else! Terre Haute isn't the most exciting place in the world. A train used to come through and blow its horn at eight in the evening. They made it stop because it woke everybody up. But I don't care what they say. I liked Terre Haute.

Indiana

Last week I was travelling in Indiana. While I was there I thought it would be a good idea to take a photo of Indiana, you know... to show you. So here it is.

TSA and me

Due to my frequent flying, I am in constant contact with the TSA. On one occasion, I went through an X-ray device and they wanted to "pat me down." There was a male "officer" who was patting me down and a lady "officer" who was watching. While patting me down, he stopped and talked on his phone to someone in another place and said to me; "I have to run my fingers through your hair." While he did this, the lady officer nearby was giggling and laughing. When I walked away, it was clear they were very entertained. I wasn't. I just read this article which talks about Texas, and now Utah, attempting to make it a felony for illegal "gropes by the TSA." While mine wasn't illegal, it was certainly humiliating and left me feeling these two people didn't take their jobs seriously. Now, Texas and Utah want the Feds to follow the same 4th Amendment law as local police officers are required to follow.

Where's my plane?

If the Lord had wanted to people to fly, he would have made it simpler to get to the airplane! So the other day I go over to the ticket counter of a no-frills airline and say, "Can I have two chances on your six-fifteen flight?" Looks like I lost. But it all turned out okay because at the end of the flight I didn't have to steal back my luggage. You see, it's a little disconcerting when you go to the airline counter to complain about lost luggage and the ticket agent is wearing your clothes!