Highlights from the trip: Riding Tower of Terror with my brothers (see picture posted on Facebook), Dinner and drinks at Downtown Disney (I think we found a drink Aaron doesn't mind consuming!!), Cold drinks on a warm Thursday afternoon talking to a good friend who I haven't seen in a long time, Heart to heart talks, hugs from my nephew, family dinner, Dinner at On the Prado (excellent food and drink, even better conversation), and time with my brother Micah before he deploys to Afghanistan.
Then this last week in Amarillo, Texas, I attended an EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) Council meeting. 3 days. 2.5 days of meetings, discussions, and an overwhelming sens of "we have a LOT of work to do." Sustainability is the direction where business must head. Global awareness, regulations, social responsibility . . . the list goes on. Anyway, we did take a moment out of the hectic schedule to head to River Breaks Ranch. A fun evening of watching horse racing (I managed to never pick a winning horse), and a wagon ride (hauled by a John Deer Tractor driven by a cowboy).
Even got to see a mini-cattle drive. The ranch has been in operations for 101 years. At its largest size, it encompassed 200,000 acres cover 3 states (Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma). Today it is still a working ranch - 2000 acres. The dinner included: Beef Brisket, Biscuits, salad, beans, and the best peach cobbler ever.
I arrived home Thursday night. Being gone for so many days I took a cab to and from the airport, since this was cheaper than paying parking. I didn't want to leave my car parked out front to say to the world, "Hey, I'm gone for a whole bunch of days." So, I parked it in the garage. Friday morning, I get up, get ready, and go down to the basement garage to head to work. Did I mention this? My garage is subterranean. I climb in and start the . . . . choke, sputter, no sound of an engine revving. I get out and "jiggle" (yes, that is an official term) the battery cable. Climb back in, still no engine turning over. The lights all come on, but this tells me only the battery is okay. I call in assistance - a tow truck. The tow truck driver arrives and about panics over where the car is parked. Fortunately, Balding Civic has a tow hook. He was able to get the wench/ cinch? connected and hauled the car out of the garage. Slow and difficult process. He did a great job. I may not be parking down there again. I'm super paranoid now :o)
So, a few asked what my home looks like, so Friday morning, while waiting for the tow truck I took this picture.
