“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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What was he tryin' to prove? Who was he tryin' to impress? Why did he build it? How did he do it? It's anybody's guess. Where did he get the twine? What was goin' through his mind? Did it just seem like a good idea at the time?
Mrs. Zwak & I and another couple are in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Yesterday we went to the Evergreen Air & Space Museum and saw the original Spruce Goose in person. (If you’ve never heard of it…look it up)
It’s big. REALLY big!
What’s just as amazing is the from the date it got its first funding to its first and only flight was 5 years. Designed and built in 5 years.
Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike LAX? TPE (Taiwan International) however was excellent.
Saw you had a nice trip to MN for your sons graduation from the U! 👍 Those years sure go fast! My 2 sons graduated from the U in 2015 & 2020, respectively. As far as LAX, I concur, flew into LAX & rented a car in 1986. NEVER AGAIN! And I’ve been back to CA since then 13-14 times! Prefer to fly into San Diego, have a college buddy who lived there, now in Temecula. 🤠 Appears you had a terrific time in MN! Saw your pic with son & you look like an old time goalie who can probably still stop a puck in a men’s league game (in a pinch) after all these years 😄
Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike LAX? TPE (Taiwan International) however was excellent.
Saw you had a nice trip to MN for your sons graduation from the U! 👍 Those years sure go fast! My 2 sons graduated from the U in 2015 & 2020, respectively. As far as LAX, I concur, flew into LAX & rented a car in 1986. NEVER AGAIN! And I’ve been back to CA since then 13-14 times! Prefer to fly into San Diego, have a college buddy who lived there, now in Temecula. 🤠 Appears you had a terrific time in MN! Saw your pic with son & you look like an old time goalie who can probably still stop a puck in a men’s league game (in a pinch) after all these years 😄
An old time goalie before they wore masks right? 🤣
It was a great trip. Only 2 small negatives were some cooler temps/rain in the middle and we had to cancel a planned run to Duluth, but otherwise it was all we hoped for. Patti got to see some friends for the first time in 10 years, I went to a concert, took care of some yard work around the house for my dad, two cousins flew in from WA and AZ respectively to visit, had some great food (Amazing Thailand, Fogo da Chao (sp?), Quangs, etc., just a wonderful time.
Mrs. Zwak & I and another couple are in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Yesterday we went to the Evergreen Air & Space Museum and saw the original Spruce Goose in person. (If you’ve never heard of it…look it up)
It’s big. REALLY big!
What’s just as amazing is the from the date it got its first funding to its first and only flight was 5 years. Designed and built in 5 years.
We picked up a marionberry pie made by the Willamette Valley Pie Co. at Lunds & Byerlys a while back, recently heated it up. Delicious. Can only imagine a fresh one would be better!
When we visit my FIL on Whidbey Island WA we always get a fresh Marion berry pie at the Langley Pie Shop. They also make a delectable caramel apple pie in the fall with home made caramel. He LOVES pie, but at 90 and living alone, never gets a pie for himself. A fresh pie means 2 nights of pie for the 3 of us. When he used to visit us I’d always make him pie, he likes peach and a sour cherry.
Dorothy: Who’s that?
Scarecrow: A man with an axe and a can of lube. I’ll ask if he wants to join us.
Mrs. Zwak & I and another couple are in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Yesterday we went to the Evergreen Air & Space Museum and saw the original Spruce Goose in person. (If you’ve never heard of it…look it up)
It’s big. REALLY big!
What’s just as amazing is the from the date it got its first funding to its first and only flight was 5 years. Designed and built in 5 years.
-- attachment is not available --
And I believe it's made primarily of wood (thus the name). Imagine flying an aircraft that big, made of wood, through turbulence.... hell nah!
Mrs. Zwak & I and another couple are in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Yesterday we went to the Evergreen Air & Space Museum and saw the original Spruce Goose in person. (If you’ve never heard of it…look it up)
It’s big. REALLY big!
What’s just as amazing is the from the date it got its first funding to its first and only flight was 5 years. Designed and built in 5 years.
-- attachment is not available --
And I believe it's made primarily of wood (thus the name). Imagine flying an aircraft that big, made of wood, through turbulence.... hell nah!
Correct. It’s mostly made of birch
Here’s a picture of a cross section of the exterior
We're flying to Seattle and planning on renting a car and driving north between Seattle and Canadian border. Anyone been that way and have some suggestions on things to see and do?
We're flying to Seattle and planning on renting a car and driving north between Seattle and Canadian border. Anyone been that way and have some suggestions on things to see and do?
If you had more time I would highly suggest visiting Mt Ranier, but that is a drive in the opposite direct (not far, but not along the route). Snoqualmie Falls are also very nice stop, if you're up for a short detour.
When you're an inexperienced international traveler, and you try to book an awesome trip for your wife, so you push everything right up to the edge of your budget. You make your initial 20%+/- deposit in January when then exchange rate is 1.02. Then ignore it for several months, and you get the notice your final payment is due this week, and now your trip is now almost $1,500 more expensive than it was in January because the exchange rate is now 1.18. F___!!!!
I asked them if costs would increase? "No, this locks you in." The cost didn't change, the exchange rate just kicked you in square in the seeds. The thought that the exchange rate would move that much from January hadn't even entered my mind. Live and learn I guess.
Accompany that with my wife's employee stock taking a HUGE hit (roughly 50%) in the last 60 days... My wallet hates me right now.
Got to spend a week in Turks and Caicos. Would highly recommend going to anyone. The blues of the water were amazing and the people were very friendly.
@gopherguy06 We stayed at NorthWest point resort via VRBO or AirBnB. We would absolutely go again and stay here as well. It was off the beaten path a way, you will need a rental car and they drive on the wrong side of the road, but we were easily able to get to all side of the island. Feel free to message me or call.
We are presently in Tagaytay about an hour south of Manila near where we first moved here in 2014. Lunch next to the lake and active volcano Taal. Cooler temps and great memories of the past
I've had the pleasure of visiting Thailand more than 20 times through the years, but never when this festival has been on. There was a reported record # of marriage proposals made during this year's event. Patti and I need to make it there sooner than later.
Have seen a handful of sm posts lately showing all the various Christmas pop-ups, bazaars, markets, etc. that are now available in the Twin Cities - most of which I don't recall existing the last time I was home in December and am quite jealous. Hope those of you there take advantage.
Returned yesterday to the Philippines from my latest 3-week trip to Thailand. If you've never been and can handle 1 full day of flying I so highly recommend it. I have now been so many times I can't count, and every time is different and I'm no closer to doing and seeing everything that is possible in such a great country.
The people, the food, the infrastructure. the accommodations, the hospitality, etc., etc.
So far our flights still on schedule, leaving tonight for 2 months in Genoa, Italy. Have a very nice little VRBO, full kitchen and an outdoor terrace right in the historic center. Seafood, pesto and focaccia!
Dorothy: Who’s that?
Scarecrow: A man with an axe and a can of lube. I’ll ask if he wants to join us.
My wife and I lucked out. We were in Hawai'i from 2/27 - 3/7, and had perfect weather the entire time we were there. The week before we were there they had monsoon rains, the week after we left Kilauea erupted, and now they're getting heavy rains again.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
In Washington DC and had a free day yesterday. Haven’t been to DC since high school in 1992. Capital tour with Angie Craig’s staff, not a fan of Craig, but the staff were great. Got to sit in on a bill in the House that has A LOT of ties to Minnesota. The old Senate room was cool. 64 seats, Minnesota was the last state (32nd state) to become a state while in the old Senate. Literally bumped shoulders with Hakeem Jefferies. He is A LOT smaller in person, than what he appears on tv. After the Capital our group of 18 broke up and were on our own. So my son and I rented 2 Lime e-scooters and hit the National Mall. Sites we stopped at…
World War 2 Memorial
Washington Monument
Reflection Pool
Lincoln Memorial
White House
Vietnam Memorial Wall (found the name of a good friend’s dad. His dad’s name is mistakenly on the wall. Was injured in Vietnam and the paperwork had him killed).
The scooters were great for going doing the National Mall. It was hot, humid and was trying to rain. So they saved on waking.
Today have some time to burn, so we might hit Arlington Nat’l Cemetery and go to Ewa Jima, the Tomb of the Unknown and see the changing of the guard.
I'm a big fan of the Korean War Memorial, especially at dusk as one walks up behind the platoon and a soldier has his head turned toward the rear. The loop around the Tidal Basin (MLK & FDR) to the Jefferson Memorial is also spectacular. Love they keep the trees trimmed so Tom can keep an eye on the house.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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I'm a big fan of the Korean War Memorial, especially at dusk as one walks up behind the platoon and a soldier has his head turned toward the rear. The loop around the Tidal Basin (MLK & FDR) to the Jefferson Memorial is also spectacular. Love they keep the trees trimmed so Tom can keep an eye on the house.
The Korean Memorial is just plain eerie after dark.
I'm a big fan of the Korean War Memorial, especially at dusk as one walks up behind the platoon and a soldier has his head turned toward the rear. The loop around the Tidal Basin (MLK & FDR) to the Jefferson Memorial is also spectacular. Love they keep the trees trimmed so Tom can keep an eye on the house.
The Korean Memorial is just plain eerie after dark.
We ran into a cockroach fan at Iwo Jima. We were walking up to the monument, and these two guys passed us on their bikes and one yelled “Go Sioux”. When we got to the monument, I started talking with him. He went to school there and has a house there. Though he works out here. He keeps his residency in North Dakota because it’s cheaper than out here.
