Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
How to go landsailing
Go to http://www.landsailingtours.com.
Pete Lyons runs this tour company out of Las Vegas. Pete is as nice a guy as you will meet. He picks you up at the Excaliber Hotel on the strip in his van. Its about a half hour drive out to Ivanpah dry lake.
He assembles several land sailing carts, gives you simple sailing instructions and then you are on your way. You won't get blown away, never to return. You can sail against the wind.
It's good fun. Costs $155 for Lake Ivanpah and $200 for Area 51, the "top secret" aircraft testing center NE of LV. How else you gonna see some of Area 51 and not get arrested or beat up by Federal cops?
Fully recommended by "grandpathegrump.
Pete Lyons runs this tour company out of Las Vegas. Pete is as nice a guy as you will meet. He picks you up at the Excaliber Hotel on the strip in his van. Its about a half hour drive out to Ivanpah dry lake.
He assembles several land sailing carts, gives you simple sailing instructions and then you are on your way. You won't get blown away, never to return. You can sail against the wind.
It's good fun. Costs $155 for Lake Ivanpah and $200 for Area 51, the "top secret" aircraft testing center NE of LV. How else you gonna see some of Area 51 and not get arrested or beat up by Federal cops?
Fully recommended by "grandpathegrump.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Bunga goes to Las Vegas for Spring Break
28 March
I was in Las Vegas for Spring break. When it was time to return to Oregon, it was hard to leave my old mother. She looked so sad, small and worn as I packed. She is 91 years old. She spends a lot to time alone. Old people get fewer and fewer visitors. While there I took her out to eat and to run errands. I hope she does not end up in some kind of a care facility. She takes pretty good care of herself with help from Pam.
On Monday I went land sailing out on Ivanpah dry lake on the Nevada/California border. The wind was strong and steady. It's fun speeding across the desert on wind power. I love being out in the desert. Pete, the guide, says that next year is free to me since this is the third year I've been with him. I love being out in the desert. Some time I'd like to spend a week just driving back roads and enjoying the emptyness. Its a good way to heal the mind from city living.
On Tuesday mom and I went to the temple and out to lunch at a Thai restaurant Jim likes. A pretty young girl Thai there remembered her and gave her a long hug. The food was good. On Wednesday I drove back out to Ivanpah Lake. I needed the peace of the desert. A regatta for serious land sailors was going on with some beautiful machines, most of them hand made. A guy from England was trying to set a speed record. He had done 109 mph the day before but needed to break 117 mph. His sail was made of metal and shaped like an airplane wing. It even had a trim tab. Overall it was a beautiful craft.
On the way back to town I drove to Good springs, Nevada, a ghost town. The old saloon is still there and in business. Thank goodness some things don’t change, even if it is a tavern. Still has the metal panels in the ceiling with bullet holes in them. The bartender and her friends were pretty rough looking people. I heard that the saloon is a biker hangout at times.
One evening, niece Marie took me out to the strip. We visited the Bellagio Hotel. It’s very lavish with a colorful Dale Chiluly display of large glass flowers on a ceiling. There is a beautiful indoor garden and a massive pool area. It speaks of money and riches; and loss. There are a lot of very expensive shops. We watched a “21” game where the minimum was $100 and the maximum $1,000, Marie said. I find no attraction in that kind of life.
A lot of construction has stopped in Las Vegas because visitors are down. Unusual. A lawsuit has threatened a huge building project on the strip which may lose 9,000 construction jobs. Mark, my nephew, who is an electrician, says he is safe until November. They are saving money and buying food in preparation for a layoff.
Housing prices have plummeted. Mark, says that they owe $200,000 more on their house than its worth. But homes are selling at the reduced prices. His wife, Tonya, is a realtor and is doing well. An article in the paper wondered if it was ethical to walk away from your devalued house even if you can make the payments. The conclusion was that it would make good business sense to do so, but that it is not ethical.
G'pa the grump
I was in Las Vegas for Spring break. When it was time to return to Oregon, it was hard to leave my old mother. She looked so sad, small and worn as I packed. She is 91 years old. She spends a lot to time alone. Old people get fewer and fewer visitors. While there I took her out to eat and to run errands. I hope she does not end up in some kind of a care facility. She takes pretty good care of herself with help from Pam.
On Monday I went land sailing out on Ivanpah dry lake on the Nevada/California border. The wind was strong and steady. It's fun speeding across the desert on wind power. I love being out in the desert. Pete, the guide, says that next year is free to me since this is the third year I've been with him. I love being out in the desert. Some time I'd like to spend a week just driving back roads and enjoying the emptyness. Its a good way to heal the mind from city living.
On Tuesday mom and I went to the temple and out to lunch at a Thai restaurant Jim likes. A pretty young girl Thai there remembered her and gave her a long hug. The food was good. On Wednesday I drove back out to Ivanpah Lake. I needed the peace of the desert. A regatta for serious land sailors was going on with some beautiful machines, most of them hand made. A guy from England was trying to set a speed record. He had done 109 mph the day before but needed to break 117 mph. His sail was made of metal and shaped like an airplane wing. It even had a trim tab. Overall it was a beautiful craft.
On the way back to town I drove to Good springs, Nevada, a ghost town. The old saloon is still there and in business. Thank goodness some things don’t change, even if it is a tavern. Still has the metal panels in the ceiling with bullet holes in them. The bartender and her friends were pretty rough looking people. I heard that the saloon is a biker hangout at times.
One evening, niece Marie took me out to the strip. We visited the Bellagio Hotel. It’s very lavish with a colorful Dale Chiluly display of large glass flowers on a ceiling. There is a beautiful indoor garden and a massive pool area. It speaks of money and riches; and loss. There are a lot of very expensive shops. We watched a “21” game where the minimum was $100 and the maximum $1,000, Marie said. I find no attraction in that kind of life.
A lot of construction has stopped in Las Vegas because visitors are down. Unusual. A lawsuit has threatened a huge building project on the strip which may lose 9,000 construction jobs. Mark, my nephew, who is an electrician, says he is safe until November. They are saving money and buying food in preparation for a layoff.
Housing prices have plummeted. Mark, says that they owe $200,000 more on their house than its worth. But homes are selling at the reduced prices. His wife, Tonya, is a realtor and is doing well. An article in the paper wondered if it was ethical to walk away from your devalued house even if you can make the payments. The conclusion was that it would make good business sense to do so, but that it is not ethical.
G'pa the grump
Thursday, March 26, 2009
finally posting Jon's senior pictures...
they are also on my photog blog. you should look at them there... this layout stinks and cuts the pictures off....... i say we go back to how it was when the cool grandchild made it ;)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Doesn't matter what it looks like
A poem from Garrison Keillor's Daily "Writers Almanac".
Doesn't Matter What it Looks Like
by Hal Sorowitz
"After you blow your nose,
Father said, its not polite to look inside
your handkerchief to see wha tit looks like.
You're not a doctor. What's more important
is getting the handkerchief back in your pocket
without staining your pants. There are some things
it's better not to look at. It should be left
to your imagination, but if you have
a strong desire you can always
find pictures of it in a medical book".
I prefer the one fingered farmer's blow myself, as long as no one is looking. No fuss. No muss.
G'pa the grump
Doesn't Matter What it Looks Like
by Hal Sorowitz
"After you blow your nose,
Father said, its not polite to look inside
your handkerchief to see wha tit looks like.
You're not a doctor. What's more important
is getting the handkerchief back in your pocket
without staining your pants. There are some things
it's better not to look at. It should be left
to your imagination, but if you have
a strong desire you can always
find pictures of it in a medical book".
I prefer the one fingered farmer's blow myself, as long as no one is looking. No fuss. No muss.
G'pa the grump
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Who is doing well in spite of the economic recession?
If you are a "geek" or curious you might enjoy this.
What industries may be doing well in spite of the recession?
Psychics
Soup
Repossessers
Pawn shops
Gambling
Gold
Used cars
Community colleges
Cycling shops
Used car parts
Recycling centers
Video games
Libraries
Employee outplacement industry
Green energy
Small start up companies
On-line dating
Applications to Divinity schools and seminaries
Door to door cosmetic selling (Mary Kay says they are doing well)
I've kept track of these since the recession got so bad.
The recession is expected to last thru 2009 and into 2010. Hope the "Ecoomimc Stimulus" package works.
G'pa the grump economist
What industries may be doing well in spite of the recession?
Psychics
Soup
Repossessers
Pawn shops
Gambling
Gold
Used cars
Community colleges
Cycling shops
Used car parts
Recycling centers
Video games
Libraries
Employee outplacement industry
Green energy
Small start up companies
On-line dating
Applications to Divinity schools and seminaries
Door to door cosmetic selling (Mary Kay says they are doing well)
I've kept track of these since the recession got so bad.
The recession is expected to last thru 2009 and into 2010. Hope the "Ecoomimc Stimulus" package works.
G'pa the grump economist
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A Look Back In Time...
Each week I will add more old Wilkins Family photos. You guys can look back at these photos and remeber back in time. On this post there is some school photos of the girls and a few other photos.Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Guernsey Literary Society and Potato Peel Pie Society
"Guernsey Literay....." is a good novel and its been on best seller lists for a while. Recommend you read it.
Here is a quote from it I like about finding your soul, but I had to read it several times and think about it.
"I was never able to get a grip on faith--till Mr. Carlyle* posed religion to me in a different way. He was walking among the ruins of the Abbey... when a thoght came to him and he wrote it down:
'Does it ever give thee pause, that men used to have soul--not by hearsay alone, or as a figure of speech; but as a truth that they know, and acted upon!...but yet it is a pity we have lost the tidings of our souls...we shall have to go in search of them again, or worse in all ways shall befall us'.
Isn't tht something--to know your own soul by hearsay, instead of its own tidings? Why should I let a preacher tell me if I had one or not? If I could believe I had a soul, alll by myself, then I could listen to its tidings all by myselg".
Page 101 of "The Guernsey Literary Society and Potatoe Peel Pie Society" by Shaffer and Barrows. (A fun read)
*Thomas Carlyle in "Past & Present"
This what the Gospel teaches: you can (must) find out for yourself.
Grandpa the grump
Here is a quote from it I like about finding your soul, but I had to read it several times and think about it.
"I was never able to get a grip on faith--till Mr. Carlyle* posed religion to me in a different way. He was walking among the ruins of the Abbey... when a thoght came to him and he wrote it down:
'Does it ever give thee pause, that men used to have soul--not by hearsay alone, or as a figure of speech; but as a truth that they know, and acted upon!...but yet it is a pity we have lost the tidings of our souls...we shall have to go in search of them again, or worse in all ways shall befall us'.
Isn't tht something--to know your own soul by hearsay, instead of its own tidings? Why should I let a preacher tell me if I had one or not? If I could believe I had a soul, alll by myself, then I could listen to its tidings all by myselg".
Page 101 of "The Guernsey Literary Society and Potatoe Peel Pie Society" by Shaffer and Barrows. (A fun read)
*Thomas Carlyle in "Past & Present"
This what the Gospel teaches: you can (must) find out for yourself.
Grandpa the grump
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ripped off by Kuni Cadillac/Saab?
Saabs are cool cars but parts are expensive and often have to be ordered from out of town. I took mine to Kuni to get some things fixed to get thru DEQ. $950 for a temperature guage sending unit, an oxygen sensor and a fuel filter. And they want me to spend another $1,500 for brakes, muffler and water pump. Labor rate must be astronomical.
I'll find someone cheaper. I should have been more patient and taken it to Vladimir in Multnomah, who is hard to catch, or to Hortnagel on River road.
Kuni reeks of luxury. Guess I had to pay my share. Service check in is shiny, clean and indoors. Lotta cool dudes running around in leather jackets and well dresssed shapely blondes, a waiting area with free snacks with a full view of shiny new caddies and Saabs. (new Saab convertible sure looked sharp) And a free ride home in a Cadillac. Its not my style. I'd rather deal with greasy mechanics or Les Schwab.
First thing tomorrow morning I'm headed for DEQ.
Bunga
I'll find someone cheaper. I should have been more patient and taken it to Vladimir in Multnomah, who is hard to catch, or to Hortnagel on River road.
Kuni reeks of luxury. Guess I had to pay my share. Service check in is shiny, clean and indoors. Lotta cool dudes running around in leather jackets and well dresssed shapely blondes, a waiting area with free snacks with a full view of shiny new caddies and Saabs. (new Saab convertible sure looked sharp) And a free ride home in a Cadillac. Its not my style. I'd rather deal with greasy mechanics or Les Schwab.
First thing tomorrow morning I'm headed for DEQ.
Bunga
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