Iron Wildcat

Wilbur T. Wildcat, who turned 59 in 2018, is the mascot for the University of Arizona in Tucson. 

Around town, and espcially in the campus area, you'll see his likeness everywhere!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~2018: The Early Bird And All That
2017: The Early Bird Gets The Education
2016: Love On 4th
2015: Distorted Delicious Beauties
2014: The Cockroach Cowboy
2013: Slap 'Em Right Up Here, Ma'am
2012: A Documentary In My Head
2011: Weeding Out The Assholes
2010: Does It Fall Under Some Kind Of Secret Guy Code?
2009: Over 140 Million Years In The Making
2008: If “G” Means Good, Then “I” Must Mean Incompetent
2007: Ft. Lauderdale Storm
2006: You Don’t Need Makeup Or Starbucks
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Gilded Tourist Attraction

In Budapest, from the top of Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube River, we have a view of the Hungarian Parliament Building that sits on the Pest side.  The third largest Parliament building in the world, it's a notable landmark of Hungary and a popular tourist destination in Budapest. 

The interior is quite spectacular.  There are gold ceilings.  GOLD.  It was decorated using more than 88 pounds of 22 to 23-carat gold, including rare gold leaves.

I've shown you the exterior at night, and during the day.  You've seen the Main Hall and the Assembly Hall.  And now you'll see some of the details.

Like the Moorish designed windows.  

The leaf patterned door jambs covered and surrounded in gold and colorful patterns on the walls.

The leaded windows that look across the Danube to Castle Hill in Buda.

The old-fashioned light switch plates.

More gold ceilings, this one with artwork.

Arches, gold, pink marble, red carpet.

Another example of the Moorish architectural style.

One of the rooms you pass through going near the grand main hall and the area where they keep the Crown of St. Stephen, the Holy Crown of Hungary.  

The columns are decorated with figures of regular people - farmers, peasants, shopkeepers, etc. - to remind the lawmakers, as they walk through the room, who they work for.

It's a beautiful building and one of the best attractions we visited in Budapest.  CNN Travel did a recent piece about it - with some video - which you can see HERE.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Budapest, don't miss this tour!

  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Dining Up North
2017: Promoting International Cooperation
2016: Truly A Man Of Leisure
2015: Beer Run
2014: Field Two
2013: We Are A Very Rich, Blessed, Lucky, Fortunate Lot Aren't We?
2012: Passion Creates Pure Art
2011: Reflecting On The Day
2010: Crunching The Numbers
2009: Looking Grand At The Grand Canyon
2008: Overshadowing Government
2007: Miami International
2006: Did You Check The Solenoid?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Safety Check

When we're loaded, we're required to check the securement of the load every 150 miles.  Well, the rules are to check at the time of loading, check within the first 50 miles, check at any change of duty status, and check every 150 miles or 3 hours, whichever comes first.  We've got lots of rules to follow, these are just some of the ones pertaining to cargo securement.

We usually stop at a rest area or truck stop to do our checks.  It's also an opportunity to get out to get some air and stretch our legs (not always the most pleasant in inclement weather, though).  When we get out, we do a general walk-around.  We're looking at the securement devices, checking the load to make sure it hasn't shifted and just giving everything a basic once-over.  We make sure our lights are working, all the boxes are secure, placards (if being used) are in place, nothing is broken or damaged.  

Anyone carrying hazardous materials, also has to do a tire check - you wouldn't want someone hauling gasoline or corrosive materials driving around on bald or damaged tires, would you?  It's one of the many tasks one is responsible for while operating a commercial motor vehicle.  It's a great way to maintain a safe operation on the road.  

And that's something everyone should be happy about, isn't it?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Cactus And The Catalinas
2017: Teaching People How To Unite
2016: Shining A Light
2015: Tooling Around The Old Pueblo
2014: Next Blog, Please
2013: My Mother Never Fried Chicken Like This
2012: Shocking
2011: Awesome All-Star
2010: Have Pots And Pans, Will Travel
2009: This One Contains A Young Rider
2008: When She’s Not Sleeping, She Tries To Look Purty
2007: Eddie McSteamy Friday
2006: Pepparkakor Cat
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Teepee Pee Stop

Rest area in Sierra Blanca, Texas.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Bread And Wine
2017: Loaded
2016: Sprouting The Good Stuff
2015: Economic Stimulation
2014: The Ninety-Two Year Old Horseman
2013: Where They Store The Crop Goodies
2012: Inside The Trucker’s Studio
2011: The Next Project
2010: Why Would You Want To Be A Zero When Looking Like This Is Clearly A Plus?
2009: The Giant Dirty Bird Goes Sailing In The Four Corners
2008: Soft Core Porn
2007: Almost Fully Integrated
2006: Downtown Scenery And Deals
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Moto Cop

Saw this guy at the motorcycle shop Ed goes to.  The parking lot was full of City of Tucson cop motorcycles and he was retrieving his.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: ¡Salud!
2017: Eddie On Ice
2016: My God, This Reminds Me Of Why I Love Adele
2015: Making Friends And Dinner Plans
2014: It's So EXHAUSTing Being Right All The Time
2013: A Marriage Of Two Loves
2012: I Love A Man Wearing A Damn Good Looking Workboot
2011: MMXI At Full Throttle
2010: Maybe There’s A Reason Ed Never Lets Me Out Of The Truck
2009: Napolitos
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: The Story Of The Uppity Barista: Otherwise Known As A Texan Gittin’ Above His Raisin’
2006: Rock, Paper, Eddie
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

See You On The Flip Side

Parked side-by-side all week, our friends Marlaina and MacG will be leaving today.

Normally I'd feel bad that they're leaving to go back to work and we're staying home to lounge around, but this time they're not going back to work, they're leaving to go on yet another vacation (without us!).

So we'll just say, bon voyage and see you soon!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Let Your Love Light The Sky
2017: Step One, Neutralize
2016: Penetrating Gaze
2015: Worst Trucking Day Ever
2014: Books Are So Much More Interesting Than Guns
2013: Contemplating Broccoli Cheddar
2012: I’m Totally Contemplating Thievery
2011: Some People Are Just Fucking Nuts
2010: 7am In Beantown
2009: Eddie Taking A Moment To Enjoy Nature Friday
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: Brad Blows
2006: Expressly American
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

A Ruined Medieval Castle Overlooks An Abbey

Dürnstein Abbey (Stift Dürnstein), the former Augustinian Monastery of Dürnstein, sits on the Danube River.  Its blue tower is the landmark of the Wachau Valley in Austria.  

On the hill above the above the abbey, you can see the ruins of the Dürnstein Castle (Burgruine Dürnstein). 

"The castle is known for being one of the places where King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart), returning from the Third Crusade, was imprisoned after being captured near Vienna by Duke Leopold V of Austria, from December 1192 until his extradition to Emperor Henry VI in March 1193.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Grand Architecture And Strict Discipline
2017: Setting Moon
2016: Happy Fucking New Year
2015: Smart And Talented
2014: Who?
2013: Doing A Complete 180
2012: Apple Is My Life. I’m Living It To The Core.
2011: Men (And One Little Man) At Work
2010: Miss Me Like It’s Forever
2009: Speak Already!
2008: On The Hunt
2007: Cash For Life
2006: Nice Melons
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

It's A Sunny Side Up Morning

Our friends Marlaina and MacG are staying with us this week, until Wednesday, and every morning while I'm eating my Greek yogurt with strawberries and granola, Marlaina is whipping up some kind of egg concoction like this for the boys.  Ed is getting spoiled.

This breakfast consisted of two sunny-side up eggs - from chickens that run free on the range and get massages and mani-pedis before they lay them - over a lightly tossed green salad, chunks of pork loin from last night's dinner, all piled up on a piece of Dave's Killer Bread, toasted.

Look at that gorgeous orange yolk!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: A Ruined Morning
2017: A Burst Of Design
2016: El Niño Hits The Old Pueblo
2015: Cackling Is One Of The Rules
2014: Ugatz
2013: All The Better To See You With My Dear 
2012: Gratuitous Cute Dog Photo
2011: How To Kill Bees
2010: A Mirage Of Sorts
2009: Clouds Aflame
2008: When You Get One Like This, Don’t Let Him Get Away
2007: A Good Tipper Can Always Get Away With Being A Little Bossy
2006: Like Day And Night In Utah
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Christ With A Toothache

The residents of Vienna, Austria have affectionately named this sculpture, located inside St. Stephen's Cathedral, "Christ with a toothache" due to the pained expression on his face.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: A Different Life
2017: It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...
2016: Prep Work
2015: Just A Pier
2014: Third Time Is Not A Charm
2013: A Sure Sign You're In A Truck Stop
2012: Waiting For The Bell To Ring
2011: You Don’t Need I.D. To Buy Booze If You Have One Of These In Your Pocket
2010: The Pros Slip In And Out With Ease
2009: Mine. All Mine.
2008: No, You Can’t Fly It
2007: Flying Parasols
2006: Seattle In Motion
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Stephansplatz Icon

You can't go to Europe without seeing a church.  Or a few hundred.  They're everywhere.  They're big.  They're small. They're tourist attractions. They're magnificent.

This one, St. Stephen's Cathedral, in Vienna, Austria, is the city's most important religious building.

I'm not very religious, so I'm not so interested in that aspect of a church.  I am more amazed by the architecture and how ornately they are appointed.

The exterior of the church is limestone, which turns black with soot and air pollution, but regular cleaning of the limestone helps to keep the color of the church closer to it's original white.

I think about, as in this case, how someone in the 12th century (the first portion of the building was completed in 1160), touched the stones that are placed to build it, worked on the intricate designs of the exterior and interior, painted frescos, installed tile, and created the stained glass windows that I am looking at in the 21st century.

 So many sculptures and generous use of gold leaf.

 An altar in an alcove.

More gold leaf, more important statues.

Stretching 364 feet in length, the roof is magnificent.  The mosaic is comprised of 230,000 vividly colored glazed tiles.

St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna.  It is located in the Stephansplatz and has become one of the city's most recognizable symbols

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Gateway Saguaro
2017: Sweet Sixteen Heartthrob
2016: The Spirit Of The West
2015: Our House, In The Middle Of Our Street
2014: I'm Pretty Sure I Was Born With One
2013: Gettin' The Juice To Stay On The Move
2012: Light On My Feet. Literally.
2011: We Got Smashed
2010: One Provides Light, The Other Just Stands There
2009: Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!
2008: C’Mon In
2007: Eddie Hits The Bricks Friday
2006: Take It As It Comes
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Slovakian Scenes

The green tower of Michael's Gate is the first thing you see as you walk toward the historic center of Bratislava.  It was built around the year 1300, and in 1758 when the tower was reconstructed, the statue of St. Michael was placed on top.  

The yellow tower is part of the Old Town Hall.  It is the oldest town hall in the country and one of the oldest stone buildings still standing, with the tower being built in 1370.

The colorful dormer windows are part of the Town Hall building.

Čumil (the watcher) is a bronze sculpture at the corner of Laurinská and Panská Streets, installed in 1997.  According to a Bratislava tourist site, there are two rumors associated with the statue:  "The first rumor says that he is a typical communist-era worker who is not bothered about the work he’s supposed to be doing. According to the second rumor, he’s looking under the women’s skirts." I like to think he's a worker who popped up for a bit of air and decided to take a little break by using the time to people watch.  

 A coat of arms on the side of one of the buildings in the city center.

This pink building is the Primate's Palace, built from 1778 to 1781 for Archbishop József Batthyány.

 A sign on a cafe.

When we arrived in Slovakia, the first thing we did before going to the historic center of the city, was to take a bus tour of the hilly area above the town.  From the window of the bus, we were able to get a look at Bratislava Castle.

The castle is massive and because of its location, it provides a view of the town of Bratislava, the country of Austria, and in clear weather, some parts of Hungary.  

The main square in Old Town (Staré Mesto) is the historic center in the heart of Bratislava.  The day we were there was overcast and gloomy but the sun did start to come through as we were leaving. 

The onion dome on the tower at Michael's Gate.

I really enjoyed our visit to Bratislava.  We didn't do anything special, just walk around the town, take pictures, have lunch, and shop for souvenirs, but I'd visit again.

Visit their tourist information site for more about this historic city.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: New Jersey Wonderland
2017: A Resting View
2016: Harmoniously Incorporated
2015: Buy Sandwiches
2014: A Room With A View
2013: Is The Coast Clear Yet?
2012: Why So Angry, Birds?
2011: One Hand In The Air For The Empire State
2010: Hitching A Ride From The Frying Pan Into The Fire
2009: Don’t Look At Me Like That. No, Really. Don’t. You’re Making Me Melt.
2008: A Mid-Winter Pick Me Up
2007: I Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You
2006: How To Get Rid Of Your Girlfriend
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Double Dutch

Windmill at Zaanse Schans in Zaandam, Netherlands.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Dirty Potato Chips And Cornichons
2017: Neighborhood Vacation
2016: Where The Flamingos Survived A Blizzard
2015: It's All In The Details
2014: You're Not Alone
2013: More Bling Than One Person Can Handle
2012: Instantly Tucson
2011: Start With An Ollie, Finish With A Shred And Grind
2010: Fire In The Sky
2009: Free Advertising For Erectile Dysfunction
2008: High Flame Toni
2007: Ripped From The Headlines
2006: Our Truck Looked Reallllly Good…
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Honoring The Support Of Mexico

This is the first building we saw when our river cruise ship docked in Austria.  It is located on the bank of the Danube River. 

The St. Francis of Assisi Church, also known as the Emperor's Jubilee Church and the Mexico Church, is a Basilica-style Catholic church in Vienna, Austria built between 1898 and 1910.

The church sits in a Mexico Square (Mexikoplatz), so named for to honor the support Mexico gave to Austria in 1938 when it was the only country to protest the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.  

It's three red-tiled towers are visible from several miles away.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Rucks, Mauls, And Scrums
2017: The Power Of The 'Po
2016: Down The Hatch!
2015: New Year Check Up
2014: Because...Perché No?
2013: The Big Little Giant
2012: All The Color I Need
2011: Bobbin’ Around The Neighborhood
2010: Getting Ready For Bathing Suit Season With Bananas
2009: Ed Happy Little Trees Friday
2008: Sorry, no post on this day.
2007: Forty Two Days
2006: I Should Have Never Had That Last Drink!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Blue Skies Ahead

I am starting the new year with my favorite photo from our European trip - the Eiffel Tower as seen from the 7th arrondissement in Paris.  

We were on the Open Tour bus which allowed us to see many landmarks and took us through some really great neighborhoods.  With the slow traffic, we were able to look at everything - buildings, cafes, stores, residences, people.  And being so high up, on the top of the double-decker bus, people it

I love this photo because it happened spur of the moment.  I looked over and saw the Eiffel Tower, raised my iPhone, and snapped the photo.  I love the composition of it - the red awning, the blue sky, the green tree - I was told by a professional photographer friend of mine that it's very good.  I'll take that compliment.

So riding high on compliments and memories of Paris, I wish you all a very happy new year.  Thanks for your readership, your emails, your comments, and more. 

Happy New Year!!  Onward to the bluest skies! 



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Happy 2018, Y'all!!
2017: 2017 Is Looking Up
2016: Good Morning, 2016!
2015: A Good Sign For 2015
2014: Good Luck And Prosperity Is On The Way
2013: As Pure As The Driven Snow
2012: Quiet On The Set
2011: I’d Rather Get A Little Taste Of Mark Ruffalo Than Eat Swiss Chard
2010: Two Very Different Ideas Of Fun
2009: Caution: New Year Ahead!
2008: Fresh Dreams. Clean Slate. High Hopes. New You.
2007: Two Thousand Seven
2006: Happy New Year!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!