What happens in Vegas?

The trip from Williams to Las Vegas took about three and a half hours this morning.  It's not clear why we're here, but I guess I should be comforted that whatever it is, it will stay here.

We are bunking at the four queens hotel/casino.  It's 2100 and there's loud music one just can't ignore.

We leave in the morning for Los Angeles.

I found this poem and like it.  Hope you like it too.

I met God in the morning,
When my day was at its best
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered;
All day long He stayed with me;
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind.
When I too had loosed the moorings
With the Presence left behind.

So, I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way;
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day.

Ralph Spaulding Cushman

We returned to Westminster CA about 1300 and stopped for (you guessed it) Asian food.
The drive was completely uneventful, and I'm thankful for that.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the LORD;

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

O magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together. Psalms 34.1-3

So the afternoon plan is: 30 minutes to catch our breath, then haircuts, followed by massage.  This life we're living is not for everyone, but I like it.  Evening plan is dinner with some of our friends that are going with us around the Pacific.

Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga choo choo?

It was a full day today.  The aforementioned train ride takes about two hours each way.  It begins before you get on the train with a cute (but lame) cowboy drama.  This includes horses, guns and five guys made up to look like cowboys.  I think it's mostly intended to take your mind off of the fact that you're waiting to board the train.

The train is a collection of really old and not so old equipment.  The first car was from the 1920's and the one we rode in coming back was much more modern with seats that recline, footrests and lots of leg room.

Since the ride takes about two hours they provide live entertainment like banjo playing and guitar playing.  There is also an attendant in the car to answer questions, provide safety information, and interesting trivia about flora, fauna, and the facilities we're visiting.

Never having been to the grand canyon myself, I was gobsmacked by the awe and beauty, not to mention the immensity of it.  It reminds me how small I am much like the ocean does.  I'm sure my photos will not adequately capture the experience.

As is so often the case with group outings,  we fragmented to see different things.  The rest of our group chose to ride the bus around the area.  I wanted to see the canyon and chose the road less traveled.  Shortly after this picture, they were tired and found the bus.

It might sound over the top to say the experience was spiritual, but there were many moments when all I could do was silently stand in awe.  I met others who were likewise affected.

I was impressed by how many made the trek down the trail toward the bottom.  I have no idea how many went all the way.

By 1500 I was ready to sit down and drink something cold.  My water bottle was running low.  I found a rocking chair in the shade and enjoyed it and the last of the water.


The train started boarding passengers about 1515 and by 1530 we were underway.

I missed part of the trip when my eyelids slammed shut.

The cowboys mentioned earlier staged a train robbery for our entertainment.  We were warned in advance and no one was alarmed.


In keeping with the local beer tradition, I was pleased to learn that they had a local amber.

I couldn't help remembering Sept 26 is my Dad and brother Brad's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Brad

Rest in Peace

.

On the road again...

We got a late start but made it to Williams shortly after 1800.  Found a room at Comfort Inn that can accommodate all five of us.  I'm feeling sorry for my roommates tonight cause I didn't bring my Bipap.  The drive was long, but Arizona roads seem pretty good compared to California's.  The pace of traffic moved along briskly.

In the morning I think we're taking a train ride to see the grand canyon.  I hope to have some pictures to share then.

No free puppies!

Yesterday we drove about three hundred miles (roundtrip) to go visit Solvang California.  We sampled some of the local wines and had a good time.  Seeing the way they groom their grapes was eye-opening for me.  I never did prune my grapes this well when I had them at our home in Lacey.

 I can't get over how busy the freeways are in California.

Of course, Solvang is up in the hills and very pleasant.  It reminded me of Leavenworth in Wa. Apparently, I'm the only one who had never heard of the place.

I wandered well off the Ketogenic regimen to enjoy the most decadent Chocolate eclair I've ever had.

I enjoyed tasting several of the fine wines at the Blackjack Ranch.

On returning to our hosts' home in Westminster, I was elated to use their massage chair to unwind the tension from California freeways.

The plan for today is a trip to the Grand Canyon.  It's about a six and a half hour drive(one way).

Pray for me...

Los Angeles, who needs it?

     We flew the friendly skies yesterday and arrived late at LAX.  Late in two ways; late in the evening and late because United loaded our full flight from Chicago into the plane and the flight crew (Pilot) was not there.  We were informed that they'd been delayed and were en route from Houston, but we sat there and waited.

     After arriving in LAX we collected our luggage and hunted down the shuttle to Thrifty car rental.  I mention them by name because I don't recommend them.  Normally the shuttle drivers help you load your luggage on to and off of the bus.  This notion was lost on our driver.  Similarly, the customer service picking up the car was underwhelming.  They told me to walk thru this door and see the man.  Then the man told me to walk outside and pick a van.  There was no van to be picked.  I confess, my string was stretched a little too tightly, anyway I expressed my discontent.  A candid and heated conversation ensued.  Finally got some action, much like trying to wake the dead.  It may be that this is just the quintessential inept franchise, but it makes me think that price is not the best indicator.  Of course, the last person I spoke with was not a native English speaker.  He was trying to apologize for my dissatisfaction, but all I could make out was "Sorry".

     With my rental car beneath me, we made our way back to pick up a fellow traveler at the terminal and then set the GPS to our destination for the night.  I'd forgotten what driving in Los Angeles was like.  YIKES!  I thought Ft Meyer drivers were in a hurry...  Don't bother signaling a lane change, they see it as a challenge to cut you off.

So we arrived unharmed in Garden Grove and "Little Saigon".  I was treated to a massage by their chair.  It was wonderful.  It has rollers everywhere you could want them.  It squeezes your legs and rubs your feet, and stretches you out.  I fell asleep.
Anh woke me to come to bed because I was snoring too loud.  Ever wonder why people who snore are not awakened by the sound?

So today we will be visiting old friends and acquaintances.  I'm hoping there's a massage and a haircut in my future.

Oh my bags are packed...

     Anh has had the bulk of the packing done for several weeks.  She's really good at this.

     I keep wondering what I'm forgetting.  I've been making lists and checking off as I get each thing done.  Sometimes I think done is simply when you quit whether the task is completed or not.  This morning it was fiddle with the irrigation system.  Make sure everything is getting water.  I discovered numerous fountains where the spray nozzles have broke off and so they shoot a stream of water straight in the air.  I also spent some time whacking at the banana leaves that shade mango trees.  Also whacked on some of the coconut trees.  Trimmed the roses.  Mailed our ballots for the November election.  Bought food for the ducks.  Did some house cleaning.  Harvested some bananas for a friend.  Checked in for our flight.  Inventoried needed papers; passports, plane rides, car rentals.

     Then this evening we had supper with Anh's cousin and his wife and our friend John from Georgia and his friend Ky.  As usual, the conversation was all in Vietnamese, so I'm not telling anyone what was said.  We ate at the new Ginger Bistro in Cape Coral.  They've only been open about a week and the place was packed.

     I thinned out my reading list, mostly so I can fit the books in my backpack.  The list was quite long and almost certainly overly optimistic.  While the trip is for fun, I am trying to stay focused on my studies.  So I'll be working on Mounce's "Basics of Biblical Greek".  I have several books to read about Postmillennialism, I have a lunker of a book on Biblical Hermeneutics copyrighted in 1890.  And to round out the festivities, R.C. Sproul's book on the holiness of God, John Pipers book called "Think, the life of the mind and the love of God".  I'm thinking these should test my self-discipline. 

     The other big test is weight control.  I have set a goal for myself to lose weight on this cruise.  This could be an historic undertaking; who loses weight on a cruise?  Pray for me! :)

     The plan is to journal our grand voyage on this blog.  So if you're interested you're welcome to come along vicariously.  Our Med cruise this time last year resulted in thousands of pictures so I'm sure there will be some here as well.

     This picture was taken today about 1600 looking NNW from my back step.  I thought the storm cloud looked pretty cool.  We've been getting these afternoon storms almost daily.  Some more dramatic than the rest.

I'd like to get you on a slow boat to China...

There's a trip in our future; a rather long one.  Expect updates