Post-Vacation Rumination

The move back into our normal routine was easier than I expected, but then our trip last week wasn't so much a vacation as a road trip. We spent a couple of days sitting more-or-less still at my mom's place, on Sunday/Monday, and were then on the move for the remainder, with driving from point A to points B, C and/or D, every day. It was tiring.

One thing I'd forgotten - and missed, when I realized that - is how friendly folks in the Midwest are.

We pulled up in front of our hotel on the first night, and an older fellow came over to the car stating, "Now don't you lay a finger on those suitcases - I'll get everything." We were just thinking that perhaps they'd added a porter, when he leaned over far enough to see me at the wheel.

"Ohmigosh, I'm so so so sorry!" as he backed quickly away.

He explained that he was expecting friends, and my wife looked enough like "the other gal" that he thought we were them.  No harm done, we assured him, and went on our way.

Next morning at the gas station, a man at the next pump said, "You can tell an election's coming up, when the prices go down."  I thought he was on a cell phone as I glanced his way, but nope ... he was addressing me. The price had been $3.69/gallon the evening before, but was $3.42 that morning. I told him it looked a lot better than the $4.27 back home, so he asked where "home" is.

When I told him "Anchorage," he said, "So what do you think of that Sarah Palin?" and was off to the races: "That John McCain done her wrong, 'cause he didn't know what he had there. He's a communist anyway, just like that John Kerry. Obama's a communist, too, and it's the New World Order. People just don't see it." He continued in that vein until my car was topped off, so I waved goodbye & he tipped his cap.

Salt of the earth, those folks. I miss that.

* * * * *

The situation here at my office us about where I left it, with no major developments or crises. Those who covered for me while I'm out did a great job.

We're in the second day of a month-long project to upgrade the elevators, replacing all the hydraulics, tanks, hoses, pumps, etc. When it's complete, they'll run at 150 fps vs. the current 80 fps. And no, that's not pronounced "fips", the way my wife used to tease the girls.  :)

The weather is turning warmer from its unseasonably cool spell while we were Outside. AccuHunch is calling for 55 today, and temps in the low 60s for the rest of the week. Nice.

That's all I've got for now. Have a great day.