Stuff

Arrived back in Frederick at 18:22 Yesterday, after a quick blast through Kansas and Colorado on I-70. The drive east on I-80 2 weeks ago was a bit less than satisfying, due to road construction and congestion, but I-70 coming back was fine, with only the one $3 toll out of Kansas City, to boot. I was surprised at the apparently optional speed limit yesterday. I flew right by the Kansas State patrol at 83 in the posted 75 zones twice. Then people started passing me in Colorado. So I bumped it up to 88 for the rest of the cruise all the way into Denver and STILL got passed a couple of times! Only drawback was the expected hard hit to fuel mileage, which seems to drop precipitously holding it anything over 80mph. The sweet spot for fuel mileage is around 70, where the BMW M57 inline 6 3L diesel returns an amazing 42.5 MPG in this car.

Francie seems to be doing great out in Plymouth. No doubt we will be hearing more about the good things she is doing in school there. The school, town and community all seem really nice. It’s a resort/tourist area for the most part, with little to none of the big city trappings I would worry about for a young lady starting out on her own. She was only last week chosen to be one of the “Faces of Plymouth” for this year’s recruiting campaign, so it looks like they like her, too. Didn’t spend much time at the White Oak Hotel, about 15 minutes east of Plymouth, except to sleep. It was OK for a cheap motel, clean, but a bit pricey for a somewhat dilapidated old place, even in this rural tourist trap. Nevertheless, a very nice location, by the lake.

I stopped at the Bethel Center for the Performing Arts on my way from Plymouth to Pittsburgh, since it was right along the way. They have a very nice museum and outdoor concert venue at the old Woodstock Festival site there. It seemed appropriate and timely to me, having more than once recently remarked how it seems like we are back in the 60’s these days with all the war and civil strife going on. Stand by for a big load of pics to be posted as I get more time to do that in the upcoming days.

Mom, Dad and Sis all seem good, as well. The only issue I saw back in the “old ‘hood” was my growing concern for Mom living alone. So we will continue urging her to move in with Duke up in Beaver at the earliest opportunity. Got a little computer work done for Dad, so I was able to make myself useful there. Ron is talking about retirement, and Carolyn starts chemo therapy soon, so the jury is still out on how well she’s doing. Weather was great the whole time, except for some rain on the way home, so overall – mission accomplished!

Made it back to PA Tuesday and spent a few days with Sis. Now at Mom’s contemplating departure for my 40-year high school reunion in a couple hours. I’m afraid I can only vaguely recall little more than a handful of my old classmates never seen or heard from at all over the past 4 decades, despite carefully studying the reunion’s FB page. Should be interesting…

Of course it is unfortunate not all special interest groups and minorities feel 100% totally equal and accepted in our society. Put things in perspective and ask yourself in what country anywhere does that idyllic paradise actually exist? Or even compares favorably to the USA on that topic? Then contemplate where we stand today, compared to 10, 20, 50 or 100 years ago.

What exactly are you protesting? Our flag and national anthem are symbols of the freedom and justice that allows you to protest and gives athletes of all colors and creed the opportunity to make millions of dollars playing a game. Are you protesting social injustice, or exploiting a hot-button to attract attention?

You definitely have the attention of this veteran who gave the best years of his life to defending your right to protest. But it’s not like you think. My attention to TV time watching pro football just went retrograde.  What a shame rascism rears it’s head in one of the few places the actual playing field even approaches level..

Staying in Buffalo tonight, after 2 days of driving from Denver – whew! I’m only 8 hours from Plymouth now, so the two loooooongest drives are done. Only real note from the trip so far would be: What the hell is up with Indiana? Isn’t our new VP in Washington the former IN governor? Hope he doesn’t contribute to running down the country and taxing the poor like the people trying to drive I-80 in his state appear to have been. The road is in terrible disrepair, service plazas run-down and filthy and they charge you $8.50 for the privilege. Wait – didn’t the Federal government build that road?