Lodi graduation..

Karen and I went down to her niece's graduation in Lodi. Sarah is an IT major so she said she might be looking for work at a help desk or something. I think she's in a good field and should be able to do well if she wants to. Anyway, we had a great trip down there but today I had to take Karen to the airport once again to fly away. I am not too happy about that but that's the way it goes.

The weather has been really nice and a nice change from Idaho weather for Karen. We both wore short sleeve shirts yesterday down in Lodi and today was nice too. I stopped on the way home after dropping Karen off at the airport, to visit Rene' in Doyle. We sat in the sun on my tailgate while we were chatting and it felt pretty good. The only thing bad about today was seeing my lady leave.

Nice day!

Wow! What a nice day today. Yesterday and today have been very nice and warm for this time of year. I had another great walk up the Bizz even though the slushy snow and muddy spots didn't make the going any easier. I was certainly on a high all the way after hearing that Karen is coming to visit me on Sunday. We are going to a graduation for her neice on Tuesday so she's coming here and staying with me for a couple of days. I am soooo happy!! I hope that soon I won't have to pick her up or drop her off at the airport anymore and maybe it will be her and I traveling together.

No matter what, I'm totally jazzed about Karen coming for a visit and today was one of my best since last Sunday when I was with her all day. Funny how a good tidbit of news can make your day, huh? Nevertheless I will be counting the hours now till I pick her up at the airport.

My goal today was to go past the 2 mile marker and you can see I made it and even went beyond. I layed on a rock in the sun and it felt so nice and then I floated back into town on a cloud. I just love days like today even if I can't be with the one I love.

Coming back from Idaho...

Well, the trip back yesterday was rather uneventful. I did run into some bad road conditions but it wasn't bad enough to scare me like it has been on some of my other trips. It was snowing when I left Idaho Falls (Picture at the left) but it was so cold and windy that it wasn't sticking on the road, just blowing away as fast as it was falling. It snowed on me almost all the way to Wells, on and off but the worst part of the road was between Jackpot Nevada and Wells. There were a few places where it was almost a white out and the visiblity was so poor I had to slow way down. Once I got to Elko it was smooth sailing and dry pavement the rest of the way back.

The second picture is one I took on that stretch of road between Jackpot and Wells. I couldn't take one during the white out periods, much too dangerous to take my hand off the wheel.

I was between Winnemucca and Reno when the sun went down and the sunset was a glorious end to the day and I enjoyed that sight till the colors faded. The sun shining under the clouds was lighting up the top of the hills east of the highway so I tried to take a picture of them and got this interesting shot with the foreground showing that I was moving along at a good clip.

As sad as it was for me to leave Karen's place, the drive yesterday was very pleasant and a postive end to a very wonderful 3 weeks in my life. I'm going to be doing whatever I can in the next few weeks to expedite my move, packing and making some plans for getting to where I don't have to say goodbye to Karen anymore. Those goodbye's are killing me and I am just not going to be happy until I can get to where I can avoid that very unpleasant situation.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do in life to be happy, life is just too short and it doesn't make sense to be unhappy when you have the means to change that... and I do.

Karen's first day of work

Today was the first day of Karen's 2009 tax season. Now it's all work till April 17. At least for now she even has to work on Saturdays, starting tomorrow. Of course that's a bummer for me since I have to be leaving on Monday and I won't get a chance to come back till sometime next month at the earliest. I have some stuff to do around here today and I'll keep busy anyway, but I'd much rather be hanging out with the lady I love... oh well.

There is another storm moving in today but this one is a warmer one and we are supposed to be getting rain instead of snow, which will be a rather nice change from what seems to be the norm around here. Some of the side roads are still a little snowy but for the most part getting around town is not the chore it was last week or the week before. There is supposed to be yet another one on Monday when I am planning on leaving so I'm hoping for the best on that one. Worse case scenario is I have to stay a few days longer... mmmm, just give me a reason!

Idaho Falls

Here is a picture I took the other day of the falls from a different angle. If you have never been to Idaho Falls, this must be what they named the place for. The first name for this town was Eagle Rock and I'm not sure why they made the name change but that's the story as Karen told me. The Snake river runs through some interesting lava beds but everything is covered in snow right now and I can't wait to see it after everything melts in the spring.

Yesterday Karen and I worked in her H&R Block office getting it set up for her opening tomorrow. It was a nice day together and I just love working on projects with her. Today, even though it's a holiday we are going down there again to finish it up. I only have a couple more days here on this trip and we are going to be rather busy until I leave, not my preferred alternative but I knew that when I came here and I can live with it. No matter what, being with Karen is the reason I'm here, working or not. One more thing... Happy New Year!!

Sight seeing...

Karen and I took a little tour of Idaho Falls today although it was rather cold. We had a walk around on the trails in the green belt which today was more like the white belt as you can see in the pictures. I got a couple of pictures of the falls, and of course, my favorite lady.

Stayin' Warm!

Well, we had a very nice time on Christmas with Krista, Karen's daughter, and her family. The first picture is Krista with the YES on her shirt, Karen and 2 of Krista's kids. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Krista and Curtis, her husband. I really want to get down to Logan and see some of that country and I'll be in the right place to do that after I move up here... but in the warm time of year though.


In the mornings we have been sitting in the kitchen near the wood stove having coffee and breakfast so it dawned on me to take a picture of that. It's very cozy in Karen's house and I just love it here. This morning I spent a considerable amount of time shoveling snow off the roof and then cleaning up the mess it made. It is warmer today than it has been the whole time I have been here, the thermometer says 44 which is really nice compared to the 20's we have been having for highs. Karen had a hair appointment this morning so it gave me some time to get a few things done. I have to say, I'm not looking forward to going back to Susanville at all, but I will have to be doing that soon. I'm going to miss my new little family until I can get moved. Oh well...