Zona

I hurt my blog's feelings.

I forgot to mention that the 27th was the blogs 4th anniversary. It'll get over it.

In two days I leave for Tucson. Mom says it's 110 in the shade and I have two tee times set up for the 3rd and the 4th. On the 3rd I'm playing the course I learned the game on, Randolph. It's been a very long time since I played Randolph because the people there are jerks. It's a municipal (city owned) course and many locals complain about the munis, leaving the city scratching it's head. I read a piece in a golf magazine awhile ago called "the five courses you have to play before you die" or something like that. The first four were world famous courses and the fifth was "the course you grew up playing". Well for me, that's Randolph. I've decided that this trip to Tucson will be all about reminiscing and reconciliation so on Friday the 3rd at 5:38AM I will tee it up at Randolph.

Saturday the 4th at 7:10 I will tee it up at Canoa Hills in Green Valley. This is to remember Dad. July 6th, 2004 was the last time we played together and it was at Canoa Hills.

Robert and I went to the drag races last night. They had some IHRA top fuel dragsters and funny cars. I hadn't been to the drags since I was in high school. What a thrill! Robert and I are now planning a trip to Vegas next April for the NHRA event.

I was disappointed that there were no complete side by side races because one of the cars always had some kinda trouble. This dragster was the highlight of the night. I had forgotten how you could feel your rib cage vibrate when these things ran.

I was halfway waiting for a funnel to come down

Today, this bundled up woman and I have been married 27 years. She's in Bolivia and I am here but I will be there towards the end of July. Then we'll go out for a nice dinner.

I love you Magaly

Check that EAR!

We talked about the possibility of her being in Bolivia many more months than first planned. We talked about how the doctors said her mother would not live as long as she has now. We talked how I'd travel down in July. The middle of the winter again. Some time together and some photography and the altitude kicking my outta shape ass.

The grandkids came into my room dragging their cushion chairs expecting to watch cartoons but they left disappointed. Grampa's watching a movie. Into The Wild isn't supposed to be a particularly good movie but I'm curious. Fatal naivety. The kids who are not here called and everyone else paid father's day homage today.

I like the way the wind sounds through the trees out back and the way the window sheer rises to almost horizontal. There's zen in this late afternoon and no hurry.

and credit 1000 words to my blog account.

It doesn't matter if we turn to dust
Turn and turn and turn we must
I guess I'll see you
Dancing in the ruins tonight

Today I have a child who is 26 years old.

Maybe that's why it took me longer to get out of bed
Maybe that's why I make all those old man noises in the bathroom
Maybe that's why I get all those drinks tossed in my face
Maybe that's why I can't remember what I was gonna say

Love you Jennifer

sonofabitch!!

I got up at 4:30 to take Scott and Ilsen to the airport. Elton John sounded good all the way and, to the kids' surprise, I checked them in curbside. One bag, two boarding passes and a tip to the skycap. There were still some clouds lingering from yesterday's thunderstorms.

Back home, back to bed.

Up again at 10 and I left the house at 10:30 to stop by the bank and make a deposit. I had lost track of the balance and was pleased with what I saw. It was a nice relief. I cruise thru the drive-in window at KFC for a three piece grilled chicken meal and a drink.

I hit the freeway and accelerate and minutes later discover that the car is overheating. Exit, find a phone book and look up auto shops. Call work and take leave. The first auto shop is a swing and a miss. the mechanic was gone and would be back in an hour. The second auto shop was not where it was supposed to be and I stumbled onto the third.

I tell the guy what's wrong and he asks me questions that a car doctor would ask. I give him the keys and he asks if I need a ride anywhere.

Yeah, home.

I had given him my address so he knew it was far and it wasn't a possibility. I retrieved my lunch from the car and sat in the waiting area. I would have preferred a park but there wasn't one nearby and being in uniform and armed limited my possibilities. I have a light jacket that covers my uniform and most of the gun but then I would have overheated. So I ate half of my lunch and read an article in a two year-old issue of Outside Magazine about a place I've often though I'd love to go to shoot photos. Base Camp of Mt Everest. Now I REALLY want to go.

More time passes and I decide to finish my lunch but discover a long brown hair on top of my cole slaw. Normally that wouldn't bother me but today, for some reason it did so I just ate the other piece of chicken and bisquit.

I see the guy drive my car into the garage and hook it up to the computer. Not too long after he takes it out for a spin.

The car was low on coolant (duh) and coolant is coming out of two "seep holes". This indicates that the water pump is going and needs to be replaced. Because of the way Dodge put this engine together it will take 6 hours. The guys kinda felt bad telling me this and by their faces I could tell it was going to be costly. I reassured them.

"I would rather drive the car in to be fixed than have it towed in later". I said.

You see dear reader, I have been the owner of a car that blew a head gasket from overheating and although I knew this repair is gonna cost me a lot, head gaskets blow when they feel like it, and if I'm 50 miles from town doing my photog thing....

I knew you'd agree with me.