Top - Down View

I'm hooked on Google Earth tonight. Looking up - local golf courses. In the desert mind you. Don't ask.

Unfortunate

I've found out unfortunate news today. A friend of mine from India will have to leave for India in the next two or three weeks. He very much wanted to stay here, but was unable to obtain qualified reasons to stay. That being work related, continued education, or marriage. Unfortunate. His specialty is science and physics and he says that there is little of that work in India. I'll be meeting with him this Saturday.

8 Mile Accent

Hiked the La Luz trail today with my brother and two friends. Started rise and shine. The neighbor and I left at 6am to pickup the other friend and then we met my brother at a point along the drive to the trail head. The trail starts at the base of the Sandia mountains and ends at the Sandia Peak Tram. The worlds longest tram. The trail is eight miles in length with around 3100 feet of elevation change. The plan was to hike the trail up and then take the tram back down. Although there is a three mile trail from the base of the tram to the La Luz trail head, we opted to park one car at the tram base and then car pool to the trail head. Since this was our first time hiking it, we did not know how rigorous the trail would be. We hit the trail head about 7:20am.

So along the trail . . . Look out, here comes the sun.

This tree does not look too happy.

What a view!

Needle Point.

Aren't we there yet! 2.8 miles to go :( The trail was really rocky and rough for about the next 1.5 miles. Made the trail to this point look pretty good.

Sheer cliffs.

Here comes our prospective ride. Viewed a short distance from the end of trail.

Made it. Ready to take a break viewing the scenery and then take the return trip down the tram.

Verdict? Tough trail. We did fairly well for our first time hiking the La Luz trail. Six hours total to hike it with breaks to chat, photo ops, snack, and flat out rest. Feeling pretty good right now, but that could change in the morning. Luckily, we are all fairly active people; not couch potato's, but not marathon runners either. I think we will all end up a little sore, but will recover fairly quickly.

Mr. Clean

L.S.T.S. - ponder that acronym while I discuss the following - Goodwill Stores.

Yes, Goodwill Stores. The place where you donate the stuff you do not want anymore. Well in an effort to start cleaning up the apartment, I collected a small box of stuff and took it down there for donation. While there, I decided to go in the "clearance" section of the store. Large bin after large bin of shit lined the room. Does Goodwill get this much crap? Apparently so. I allowed myself 20 minutes to dig through the bins. No wait, make that one hour 10 minutes. Ran away with a few items which is a direct reflection of the above acronym. Have you solved it yet?

L.S.T.S. - Leave Shit, Take Shit. Goes hand in hand doesn't it?

The reason for wanting to jettison stuff is a desire to clean up my place. It has really started to get to me over the last few months for some reason. Is it true that a clean environment equals a clean mind? Perhaps. Also, I got a new bed frame for my futon. All oak. Very nice. Needless to say, the place has gotten even worse over the last few day's. Check it out . . .

Couch with the old futon frame. Would have given it to Goodwill, but I couldn't get it in the car.





The only bright spot in the apartment. Complete with new covered bed frame. Feng Shui I tell you.

But alas, just out of view.


Calgone - Take me awayyyyyyyyy!

Anyways, feeling overwhelmed and depressed with the desire to cleanup the place first before I start many of the projects I'd like to do. Feeling lonely too. Oh well. Nothing new in that department.

Well, my mom was over earlier this afternoon to remind me of now my one bright spot (see above photo) should be a model for the rest of the place. She's got a garage - enough said. She likes country, so I put it on one of the local radio stations. I'm still listening to if for some reason. A lovie-dovie song they played a moment ago is setting the mood:

Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson

Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to me
I just have to believe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Loved ones she left behind
Just trying to survive
And understand the why
Feeling so lost inside
Anger shot straight at God
Then asking for His love
Empty with disbelief
Just hoping that maybe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

It's hard to say goodbye
Her picture in my mind
Will always be of times I'll cherish
And I won't cry 'cause

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
Don't worry 'bout me
Don`t worry 'bout me

I mentioned in my last blog I went camping. Photo's and stories to come another night. Time to rest though a bit before bed. I'll do some reading so I won't see the mess.

Good night.

Change of Plans

Well, after doing my good deed working late tonight to see the movie Moon, I had a change of plans once I hit the movie house. Turns out I misread the play dates for the movie. It runs from this Friday through next week Thursday.

Well, on the way home, I stopped for traffic at a light. Right behind a police officer. While waiting, I was rear ended. Cop heard it. Guy behind me backed up and pulled into a nearby parking lot. Me and the police officer followed. In the few seconds before the police officer pulled into the lot, me and the other guy had pretty much agreed to call truce. The police officer arrived and said OK, but before letting us part, he asked for our drivers license. Turns out the other guy did not have one. That's grounds for an automatic accident report. Turns out he also did not have his vehicle registration. The officers released me after they got me a case number to reference. I'm unsure what happened to the other guy. I can only assume he had is car towed, but don't know for sure.

Wednesday

Here we are, July 7, 2009. It is a Wednesday. It is around 11:30pm. Nothing new except it is a little late for me. Use to be that 11:30 was still early not more than perhaps a year ago. Now look at me - wimp.

I am tired but for some reason have kept myself up tracking the few blogs that I enjoy. These people are prolific "posters." I could not keep up even if I wanted to. I commend them though, for it is those folks who provide a glimpse into another persona and show, in some way, that their life is as ordinary as yours. Not surprisingly, all the blogs I track are with women authors. Go figure.

A that note, here is a personal note on the date scene. I meet this gal at a cupid speed dating event a month or so ago. We have had two meetings. The last meeting was Sunday of last week. I emailed her the next day. A short hello. I've not heard back. I sent her a text on the 4th wishing her a great day. No word. Blah. Over the last month, she has emailed sporadically. So I'm unsure if this is a sign or if she's waiting to be in the proper mood to reply.

Oh well. Tomorrow, I'm planning to see the movie Moon playing at the local art house. Sounds interesting. During the day though, I have to prance around the workplace waiting for a cargo pickup from our facility. Problem is, we do not have a formal shipping and receiving department. On top of that, the material I'm shipping has required a lot of paperwork and effort to schedule. I did a similar shipment two weeks ago and it was miracle the driver and I hooked up. Shall we tip-toe?

Thinking of some good times, I'm headed camping for almost a week! Will head out Saturday, returning Thursday. I'm ready for some down time.

It's 11:50pm. On a Wednesday night. Go figure.

Pressure

"If you let pressure get to you, it can be paralyzing, so I just groove to my own rhythm."

Joss Whedon on dealing with the pressure leading up to the premier of Dollhouse on FOX television this last season. (source: Maxim Magazine, February 2009, p. 21)