Back to normal, almost...

The trip to CA was pretty stressful in the sense that I felt that so much more could have been accomplished. I completed all of my work related field projects, but accomplished very little in completing reports while at my brother's house. As indicated in the prior post, very little was prepared for an actual move or loading to a truck. As I type this, my brother is at Camp Roberts, and his girlfriend Flori , and friends Matt and Bennett will be wrapping things up Monday, five days after the house was supposed to be emptied. Bruce said he would never let things get out of control like that again. I hope so. I don't mind helping someone move, but this was a rough situation for all of those involved.

As I prepared to leave on Wednesday around 1:00 p.m., the truck wouldn't start. The fuel gauge read empty, although I had only driven it 10 miles. My first thought was fuel theft. However, fuel lines looked intact and the tank did not appear to have been drilled. I had to call Roadside Assistance. Not the best start. Turns out all wires were pulled out from the sending unit, likely from somehow getting hung up on the ramp. On the way home, at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday morning, and about 15 miles outside of Winnemucca Nevada, the truck died while going up a hill. The wires had come loose again. A full moon was out, a nice breeze was blowing, and smoke from fires made everything loook foggy. Another call to Roadside Assistance, a three hour delay, and we were eventually on our way. Had it been the middle of the day, we would have been baked. Tanner and I pulled over at Valmy (middle of nowhere but Shell station and rest area) and tried to get some sleep in the boat. It was sporadic at best. We got on the road until Elko, where I felt like I had to get more sleep. Two bucket seats in a small cab don't allow for good rest. Anyhow, we finally got home about noon. The trip should have taken about 12 hours, not almost 24. John and Janice (Monica's parents), and her sister Megan helped to unload the truck. I figured truck problems delayed us by a least a good six hours.

Our garage is pretty full right now. I turned the truck in by 3:30 p.m. and headed home to get ready for the trip to Idaho for a family outing and reunion. I'll have to admit I was one honery SOB. Two days with virtually no sleep will make almost anyone that way. I've heard some little cousins talk about what an unhappy family the Riley's are, not sure where they got that from or how they or someone else would know so much about our family life, but its a good thing none were around Thursday. Not sure what John and Janice thought about my foul mood, but they have always been very calm and quiet people.

We ended up getting to Rexburg late Thursday evening. Our destination was the residence of Jedd and Celeste Walker, one of Monica's brothers. The boys and I went for a short hike at the rest area 15 miles outside of Idaho Falls while Monica fed Jacob. We saw two large snakes and observed them for a while. We thought it was pretty cool. I still am not sure what type they were, but they were not rattlers. They have put in a nice system of hiking trails through the lava fields and it makes for an interesting walk. I think taking a hike at sunset allowed us to see more wildlife.

Friday was a nice day. A family outing to Mesa Falls, picnic, floating down the warm river, dinner later, and all the little cousins getting to hang out. They seem to get along really well. I crashed pretty hard Friday night, so was mostly oblivious tyo the evening. Had a bad headache. The Shaw Reunion was Saturday. It was interesting...ok, they needed more activities. I think the family has gotten so large that there is a disparity between the more "mature" folks and younger families as far as what events to perhaps have planned. I never had any extraneous family growing up so I am glad my kids get to meet extended family members. Well, my battery is getting low and I need to finish packing the Tahoe for the trip home. As soon as we get home, we'll unpack the Tahoe, vaccuum it, get laundry going, and then I'll be likely going to work. Personal issues have been a real distraction and I am behind on work. Makes me and the company look bad to a client. I am going to libe at work this week, but will go boating this weekend now that we have our boat back.

My First Blog

Well, here goes nothing, or maybe it'll be something. Need to give this thing a try. Anyhow....

I am currently in California. Came out to do some work, tow a boat back, move stuff, and help my brother out in whatever capacity possible - as he is preparing for deployment to Iraq. He reports Thursday July 17, but will be in training for about three months prior to actual combat duty. Stop one will be about a month at Camp Roberts in California, followed by two months in Wisconsin. Wisconsin!!!??? For some odd reason, the rolling hills and greenery in Wisconsin seem to resemble Iraq in no way, shape, or form. Is there a corelation with milk and cheese?Correct me if I am wrong, but training in a hot, arid climate, would seem to be more logical. But then again, I've heard that I'm trying to think logically, and that is the wrong way to think with respect to the Army.

Anyone who knows me is aware of how much I despise our presence in Iraq. Its a bunch of political B.S. This attitude does not mean I don't believe we should support our troops in every way possible, it just means I believe we shouldn't be there in the first place. I hope that every soldier there currently and deploying in the future gets home safely. I just hope Bush doesn't decide we need to pick a fight with Iran as well. It is a scary thought, and the last thing our country needs.

The sites I went to for work were located in the Sacramento area and up along Interstate 80 and near Northstar Tahoe. I really enjoy going to the Sierra mountaintop locations. The views would have been spectacular if not for all the smoke from fires.

I took Tanner and my nephew Skyler up to locations at Signal Peak and Mt. Pluto. They seemed to enjoy being along. Fortunately, it was a bit cooler than it has been in the Sacramento Valley. When I flew in with Tanner last Tuesday, the temperature was 108 degrees, followed by subsequent 110 and 108 degree days. I don't care for the heat, never have. How anyone could live in a place like Phoenix or Vegas is beyond me.

Well, I'll check to see how this post publishes. After moving things all day, I am a bit wiped out. I need to get some work done so that I can stress a bit less about helping my brother "pack" everything he has.