Round Trip Tickets

The rotorwing aviation industry here in the States is...fluid, shall we say. There's always more work. There's always another gig. There are always promises. And then comes the phrase "well, you know how this industry is..."

The schedule may be, officially, two weeks on, two weeks off, but until you actually get back to the gig, you don't really trust it. We once rushed to get back to work after Thanksgiving with family, just to be told not only was work not starting the next day but there was no work for winter at all and maybe things would start back up again in April or May.

This time? Lithus has round trip tickets. He is scheduled to leave Richfield, Utah on September 18th and return to Richfield, Utah on October 1st.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself. I almost didn't post this, because I didn't want to jinx it. Round trip tickets. What will they think of next...

Not Always Glamorous

Back in 1995, I went to India for about three months. It was a dream come true, for so many reasons. One day, though, I found myself bored, waiting on laundry, and playing solitaire. All I could do was laugh. Even in India, sometimes, you get bored and play solitaire.

My life is pretty cool. It's certainly not many people's normal. Lots of travel. Lots of interesting places and people. But it's not always glamorous. We've been lucky for the most part. Only twice have we "lived" somewhere our feet got dirty if we walked around barefoot. Otherwise, we've run the gamut from "it's only for a few weeks" to "we're never leaving this room." Now? Now is probably best described as amusing. Or college. One or the other.

Two twin mattresses pushed together

The parlor, dahlink

Private theatre

But you know what? We don't have to share it (often) and we can walk around barefoot. It may not be glamorous, but it's rarely dull.

Another Musical Interlude

Anyone who spent any time in cowboy country can tell you, there is a difference between country music and cowboy music. While I have talked about the fact that country is alive and well here in Richfield, I haven't yet mentioned that cowboy music isn't exactly gone in these parts. The steakhouse here in town is a walk down memory lane. Curiously, the stereo system has a handwritten sign reading "Do NOT Change this music!" so perhaps I am not the only one who finds it anachronistic. Still, allow me to share with you the songs I have recognized in the two meals we've eaten there. As to why I recognize them? Well, apparently going to school in Texas kindergarten through third grade made an impact after all.


Because no talk about cowboy music would be legit without Tex Ritter.




Okay, I admit, that one I know from Col. Potter listening to it on M*A*S*H, not from elementary school.


 That one was another of Col Potter's favorites, but I also know it from school.



And my favorite (this version chosen for Denny, and because Johhny Cash) ~


More than anything else, though, I'm surprised that I knew the titles and many of the lyrics to all of these.

2700 Miles

When you drive almost 3000 miles, you see a lot. That is, after all, almost a cross-country trek (Massachusetts to Washington is 2900). But here's the secret, you see a whole hell of a lot of nothing, too.

Nothing

Nothing

And still more nothing

Sometimes the nothing is pretty.

Sometimes the nothing has a sandstorm to break it up.

But then goes back to being...nothing.

Eventually, though, nothing becomes something.

Becomes something more.

Becomes something curious.

Becomes something fun.

Becomes the whole reason you've traveled so far to begin with...