takin what they're givin

I am trying out a new hotel in Houston tonight. It is not my favorite. The hallway smells like an old dorm, and although the rooms are fairly big and actually suites, they are well past their prime. I am not a hotel snob by any stretch, but there are a couple other places to pick from which are much nicer at the same price. I wish I could just skip the hotel stays all together. Seems to me that a commutable schedule would not be that difficult to do but it eludes our crew planning staff mostly.

This week I ended up with a jumble of junk because of a couple of trip trades I had to do so I could go to Washington D.C. I have been appointed as a representative for our union and had to go learn something about how to do my job. Very important to attend, but unfortunately puts a cramp in my style. Will have 1 day off this week and 1 day off next week. Would be less of a big deal if I was based at home, which is a big priority for the future.

On a side note, I think the earth's axis has tilted a bit. For the first time ever the guy I voted for is in the White House, and the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. Crazy.

Peace and Hair Grease

Screw Up

Ok John Roberts, you are charged with a couple of jobs as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. One of those jobs is to read a sentence and have another guy repeat it to you.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".

This sentance should be able to be recited by a 2nd grader I believe. Next time you find yourself at the National Archives taking a peek at the document that you are charged to uphold, have a look at Article II, right at the end of Section 1. Should help clear things up a bit. They even sell copies in the gift shop. Might want to pick one up and read from it for next time.

Unnacceptable.

DO IT!

So I really don't have too much to talk about today, but I do feel that setting this thing up has at some level committed me to generating material at least once and a while.

I'm back in College Station actually in the room right next door to the one I was in last week when I started this thing. I'm 28 now, and last week I was 27, so there's that. I got the most "you're almost 30" in the days leading up to my birthday than ever before. I guess though, that I'm the most -almost 30 since like ever, so that fits?

I suppose I am kind of getting ready for some of the more "adulthood" type things to set in. I was riding in the hotel van last night, and there was another crew with us. The Captain of that crew was talking about his sailboat with the First Officer. I gotta tell you, I was pretty jealous. I don't know anything about his financial situation, and I know most people live way beyond their means, but if you own a sailboat, I am making the assumption that you own a house. Do you suppose this guy is paying off a house, sailboat AND school? I am jealous of what is probably an illusion. Maybe the adulthood in reality is just the transition from debt up to your neck to debt up to your eyeballs.

Anyway, I guess I'm getting tired of blabbing about nothing. Will discuss the hike I'm planning to do Monday after it gets done. My cousin Andrew is planning on going with me which should be pretty cool. Going to Washington D.C. the day after the inauguration for some training. I hope it works out like rush hour traffic and I'm going against the flow.

Dr. Phil Turns a corner

So it is a fairly well known fact that I am NOT a Dr. Phil phan.

However, today I saw him on Larry King as the "pilot expert" after US Airways flight 1549 ditched in the Hudson river. He actually did not come off like a total moron, although when the segment started I was sure he would. He almost impressed me with his knowledge of the situation, and like the title says, he turned a corner with me. I'm not saying I "like" him, he's just turned a corner.

Typically after any incident involving an aircraft, you get a plethora of "experts" who talk directly out of their buttholes and have NOTHING to say that even resembles a fact, or reality whatsoever. It is pure speculation by people who know very little about what they are talking about.

I have come to understand that "breaking news" is usually the most knee jerk, idiotic banter. For example... "We do not know at this time if this is any sort of terrorism event, we are standing by for more details"....

Why the hell do you even say things like that? It's enough to make you appreciate a good newspaper. They simply cannot speculate like that because of their format.

I sincerely appreciate any news outlet that does not sensationalize the news. VIVA NPR!

Anyway, 150 people owe their lives to a very well trained and professional airline crew today. Pretty awesome that a 160,000 pound airplane that turned into a glider right after takeoff in the most congested metropolitan area that I know of did not kill 1 person. But hey, those airplanes fly themselves right?

Hiking #1

I hiked South Mountain yesterday and it was really nice. I started on Telegraph Pass Trail, and looped around on the National, Ranger, Los Lomitas, and Kiwanis Trails to re-join the Telegraph Pass trail and head home. It took about 3 hours and was, according to the map I have 6 miles exactly. 1460' MSL at the trailhead to just over 2300' MSL at the highest point.

Click Here for a map.

I am training for a Grand Canyon hike on St. Valentines Day weekend with a bunch of family. I felt good about my performance on this hike, although I was fairly sore last night. I just got new trekking poles and used 2 poles for the first time on this hike. I think I like using 2 poles and it increases my pace a bit I think - have not decided if I'll take both of them to the canyon or not though. I will probably try them together again next week on a different hike. I have not decided where I'll go yet though.

I met a couple of guys on horseback who were from British Columbia in Canada. The one guy was visiting Arizona for a couple of weeks, and I got the impression that his friend lived here. You don't see that many people on Horses, and according to these guys, the Ranger Trail was fairly hard on them because of the incline and the sharp rocks which tore up their feet. Too bad for the horses, because the steep section of the Ranger Trail is a very pretty area.

Hi

Welcome to my junk.

So now I have a blog and I'm not exactly sure what that involves. I guess I can just Doogie Howser my thoughts and let you in on them.

I'm not sure what this is all going to be about. I hope it does not end up being a bunch of complaining about different things. I have a feeling it will involve flying, hiking, music, and a healthy dose of politics. Maybe it will be therapudic for me, hopefully it's not irritating for you. I'll do what I can to make it interesting, either way I hope you will find that it enhances your life beyond that which any other reading can.

In the mean time stand by for more thoughts when I have time to kill!

Cheers!
Barry

Hampton Inn
College Station, TX
(newly renovated room - neat!)