Doesn't A Gastropod Always Have A Helmet On?

Today we went snorkeling at Smith's Reef here on Providenciales. The shoreline was rockier than the other locations we went snorkeling in, so we didn't stay long. Plus, the water was super-choppy due to the approaching storm, so it wasn't very pleasant being knocked against the rocks.

But....before we left, I spied this beautiful conch (pronounced "konk")at the sandy bottom, about 100 feet off shore. I pointed it out to Ed and he dove down and got it for me. Isn't it spectacular? I love how glossy it is. It looks lacquered. As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly who I was going to give it to. This is called a King Helmet Conch.

Look at the pretty spiral on the end...

And the amazing "tiger" stripes on the side and edge...

AND...because it's a sea snail, and I plucked it right out of the water, it was actually alive. See him in there? I took some video of it moving around. Creepy.
I just wanted the shell, not the insides, so we worked at trying to get him out. It was impossible. There was no way to grab the slimy insides, and he was fiercely attached to its shell. Everyone we asked said you had to crack or put a hole in the spiral side of the shell, but I didn't want to damage it. So we turned to the internet and found some suggestions.

One of them was to put it in boiling water for three minutes. Well, we boiled some water, put the shell in the small garbage pail in the room and filled it with scalding hot, boiling water. Then we went down to the pool for a while. When we came back, both Ed and I worked at getting it out. We used a fork, a spoon, tried to cut it out with a knife.

Online it suggested using a needle-nose pliers to get it out, which we called down to the front desk to get, but by the time the guy got to the room with it, Ed had already pulled the sucker out.

This is what it looked like when it came out. Gross, isn't it?
I read that conch is second only to escargot in popularity when it comes to edible snails. Also, every bit of the conch meat is edible, although most people prefer the white part. I'll pass on it all, thank you very much. This is not something I'm interested in eating.



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1 YEAR AGO: This Is How We Do It
2 YEARS AGO: Storage In The Storm
3 YEARS AGO: Devil Horse In The Louisiana Wetlands
4 YEARS AGO: Not Sloppy. No Joe. Just Bob And His Loosemeats Residing In The Ice Cream Capital Of The World
5 YEARS AGO: Playing With Your Money But Not Really SPENDING It
6 YEARS AGO: Glamour Puss

Oceanfront Property At Lot 61003/94

Yesterday, after snorkeling in the early afternoon, we went for a drive around the island to explore a little. Generally, I don't think there is much to see - the island is sort of ugly in the interior, lots of scrub brush, run-down buildings, poor looking settlements and housing.

But then we came across a few incredibly large houses on the south side of the island. Still scrub-brushy and ugly driving up to them, but we followed the dirt roads (yes, incredibly rocky, potholed dirt roads) to get to them and once we got near the homes, we saw that they were all overlooking the ocean and most of them were gated.

We drove up one ridge, the road literally carved out of the side of the mountain and saw a few lots for sale. There was nothing standing in the way of blue skies and turquoise water. I suppose once you're ensconced behind your high walls and gated driveway, you don't really care much about the ugly scrub.

Guess that's what a million dollar view will do for you.


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1 YEAR AGO: Monkey Pod Treasure
2 YEARS AGO: Eddie Embraces The Rules Friday
3 YEARS AGO: They Have A MAGAZINE???
4 YEARS AGO: Planting The Sun
5 YEARS AGO: Training Day
6 YEARS AGO: Cannonball Run

Smiling High

Guess what I did yesterday?? I went parasailing!! We were going to rent a Hobie Cat sailing catamaran thingy that Ed saw up a little ways on the beach, but when we got there we found ou that the equipment was only for the guests of that particular hotel. The guy gave us some other places that rented the same sailboats, so we figured we'd do it another day.

As we were walking we saw a boat driving towards the beach with the name of a parasail company on the side. So we headed over to the guy at the front of the boat and asked him if we needed reservations (no) and how much was a parasail trip ($75 per person). Deal. So we climbed in the boat right then and there and off we went.

I wasn't sure I wanted to go - I figured I'd let Ed go first and tell me how it was. But once we got on the boat, the guy I first spoke to came over to me and started fitting me with a life jacket. I guess they decided I was going first. So I put on my jacket and harness and got ready to fly. Here I am during "take-off" from the boat:
We had two signal instructions; arms straight out if you wanted to go higher and legs moving back and forth like a scissor if you wanted to stop. Once I got up there, I wasn't stopping until that boat dropped me in the water. It was so great!!

Here I am high in the air, flying over the beautiful turquoise water.

The guy on the boat told Ed to not even bother taking a picture at this point, that the little dot of a person could be anyone. I don't look very high in my picture (even though the rope was fully extended), but take a look at this one of Ed - he looks a little higher up than I was, even though his rope was fully extended also.

This was one of the best water excursions I think I've ever been on. I've always seen people doing it and thought it looked cool, but never considered trying it myself. Boy, the littlest things excite me these days!

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1 YEAR AGO: Time Travel
2 YEARS AGO: One More Reason I Love The Highway Hags
3 YEARS AGO: Boathous On The Gulf
4 YEARS AGO: Canada Is Bubblicious
5 YEARS AGO: You Know You’re In A Hotel That Doesn’t Have A Star Rating…
6 YEARS AGO: It’s A Dry Heat

Settled In And Planning Our Day

This is our hotel room at the Villa Del Mar. You can see the little sitting area and the patio beyond the sliding doors. This property is actually more like a condotel - from what we have researched so far, it seems people own these units and rent them out. There was even an episode on House Hunters International that featured this property. You can see the video of that episode on their website.

There is a little kitchenette (on the left), a washer & dryer, TV with DVD player, all tile floors, the bathroom, with a tub, is through that little window over the bed. You can close the shutters for privacy but it gives a nice look to the room. I actually used the bathtub last night - the first time I've taken a bath in probably thirty years!

Right now, we're sitting on the balcony, drinking coffee and reading the local magazines from the island. Ed is looking at the real estate magazine, throwing around millions of dollars on all the places he "plans" to buy.

This afternoon we'll hit the beach and later this evening, do dinner at one of the local restaurants, most of which are located in the neighboring resorts.

On a completely different note: If you left a comment for the Justin Boots Giveaway contest, where I was supposed to announce the winner TODAY, that announcement has been postponed until after September 1st, when I return to the states. I didn't realize, when I packed and left for the trip, bringing only my netbook and not my laptop, that all the contest entries were on the laptop. So, I won't have access to that until I return.

I sincerely apologize for the delay. Besides, it's still summer...you should be wearing flip-flops, not work boots! :)


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1 YEAR AGO: Pork And Parking Served Up With Southern Charm
2 YEARS AGO: They Should Put This Scent In A Candle. I’d Have One Lit In My House Every Night
3 YEARS AGO: After All
4 YEARS AGO: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
5 YEARS AGO: Who My Baby Daddy?
6 YEARS AGO: South Siiiide Education

Island Bound

We've been off for about two weeks now and in the last few days, Ed decided he wanted to go on vacation; somewhere with beach, an opportunity for snorkeling, some scuba diving lessons (for him, not me).

The choices were overwhelming. We started with Anguila because my cousin had gone there on his honeymoon and loved it. But the resort he went to was closing for the season on the 29th, so that was out. Then we tried Antigua. Aruba. Bahamas. Dominican Republic. Jamaica. Barbados. St. Lucia. St. John. St. Thomas. There was something about all of them that we just weren't hitting on. We didn't want a resort with kids. Or with people having sex out in the open (uh, Hedonism II in Jamaica anyone?).

We didn't think our needs were great - beautiful beaches, snorkeling and diving, luxurious or semi-luxurious accomodations, and good food. It was hard to find all in one place. Then there were the all-inclusive or not all-inclusive choices. I'm always wary with all-inclusive, because I don't like crap food. And on our cruise, that's what we had - the most horrendous food I've ever eaten. Worse than a food court in a mall. And that's actually insulting to the mall.

Once we decided where we were going (yesterday), we got up this morning and booked our flight, hotel and rental car. And now I can breathe.

I am writing this sitting in the long-term parking at the airport which thankfully, had truck parking. For only EIGHT dollars a day!! You cannot beat that. Parking at a local truckstop was $15 a night and they didn't have a gated facility with twenty-four hour security. We totally scored.

It's almost four in the morning and I haven't slept yet. Our flight leaves in two hours. Oh, I didn't tell you where we were going, did I?

Turks and Caicos! I will be blogging while there and hopefully posting pictures. I expect to have a better connection than I did in Italy, so it should be daily. Fingers crossed.

See you in two weeks!!


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1 YEAR AGO: Cristo Velato
2 YEARS AGO: Flash Dancing Through Summer
3 YEARS AGO: Another Day, Another 32 Things About Me
4 YEARS AGO: A Bottle And A Nap Would Be Nice
5 YEARS AGO: Because You Never Know When You’re Going To Need A Roman Candle
6 YEARS AGO: Thank A Trucker

Stitch Me Up Something Fancy

The embroidery shack beside the Travel Centers of America in Jessup, Maryland. Stopped by here last night to park for a bit and get some water for the truck.

We were out of there by morning...without a custom hat.


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1 YEAR AGO: Hot Dogs Are The New Coitus
2 YEARS AGO: Better Than A Five Dollar Foot Long
3 YEARS AGO: Isn’t This Grate??
4 YEARS AGO: Eddie Gives Me That Smoldering Look Friday
5 YEARS AGO: Bringing The Good Stuff
6 YEARS AGO: The Road To Sin City

Rest Comes For Robo-Ed

Sometimes I tease Ed that he's a robot, I even call him Robo-Ed. He can work on the truck all day without a break. He can drive for hours without as much as a pee break. He can get across the country in record time. He definitely has his down time, but there are the days when he's the Energizer Bunny, going from one task to the other.

And sometimes, he even gets to sleep. That's when I catch him like this and I not only get to look at his little heart shaped lips without him saying, "What are you looking at??" That's when I also get to take a shot like this.

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1 YEAR AGO: Better Than A Leg Press Machine. Or How To Get A Good Looking Left Gam.
2 YEARS AGO: How Can I Tread On You When I Can’t Even Turn Around?
3 YEARS AGO: Popping Good Time
4 YEARS AGO: Touching Down For A Quick Rest Break
5 YEARS AGO: Follow Your Heart
6 YEARS AGO: All About The Benjamins

Cut And Color

This week I got my hair cut at a place called Chrome. Best haircut I think I've ever gotten. Of course, I say that every time I get a fabulous haircut, but this one was truly exceptional. The stylist took so much time with me. Listened to what I wanted, and then gave it to me.

Ed was a little crabby the morning I went to get it cut because he wants it to grow longer (what is it with guys and long hair???), but I just can't stand it long anymore. It's easier to manage when it's short and I actually think it looks better. So here's an Instagram picture the day I got it cut - you can't really see the style exactly, but the back, sides and top are short...with the longer pieces in the front. I love it.

Then on Saturday, I got a bug and thought I'd try to do some highlights. I know they never turn out the way they're supposed to, but I was hoping to have more luck than the last time I tried to do highlights. I pulled the cap on my head and started to pull through strands of hair. It was a royal pain in the ass because I couldn't get the same amount of strands through - some were too thick, some too thin. I kept starting over.

Then I thought to ask Ed to help me. Armed with a teeny-tiny crochet hook, he began pulling strands through the holes. Finally it appeared as if there were even amounts of hair coming out of the cap. I looked ridiculous. I slathered on the bleach and waited the recommended sixty to seventy minutes, checking the hair strands periodically. Before rinsing, the strands where supposed to be pale yellow, which they were. I rinsed, conditioned and blew it dry. These were the results:
I liked the color for less than a day. When I awoke this morning, it looked yellower and orangier than it had last night. I kinda liked it, but I just wasn't used to seeing myself like this and since I did it myself, there were a few boo-boos that I noticed, which made it a little less than perfect. I realize that some people pay big money to get colors just like this. I know it because I've seen it. Well, unless all those people also did their own highlights. Hmm....food for thought.

Anyway, I lived through Sunday with it and by evening, had decided to color over it, bringing me back to my beautiful brown color. The highlights actually still show, but now they're mostly brown, with a bronzy look to them. Much better.

I just hope all this color in my hair isn't going to turn when we go on our vacation. I would hate to be the only person at the pool with green hair!


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1 YEAR AGO: X Marks The Imaginary Spot
2 YEARS AGO: A Field That Looks Perfect For Wrasslin’… If It Weren’t For The Sign
3 YEARS AGO: Come Visit Me In Italy!
4 YEARS AGO: Asked And Answered
5 YEARS AGO: L.E.A.P.
6 YEARS AGO: Can You Hear Me Now?

Ed Visits His First Warehouse Store

Here's a picture of Eddie, looking very excited to be in his first warehouse store. Today the most exciting thing we did today (besides buying eight tubes of sunscreen for our Caribbean vacation) was take a tour of the local Costco.

As wonderful as it is to be among large volumes of just about everything, we don't really have room to shop like that. What am I going to do with three family size bottles of ketchup or a case of Cheez-Its?

We browsed, ate a few free food samples and then went to a regular store.

To buy normal amounts of stuff.


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1 YEAR AGO: HBD143
2 YEARS AGO: Eddie Hauls Laundry The White Trash Way Friday
3 YEARS AGO: Sun Setting Over Lake Pontchartrain
4 YEARS AGO: Sanchez. Pedro Sanchez.
5 YEARS AGO: Remembering Those In Heaven
6 YEARS AGO: The Line Of Gold Thread

Flicker Of Hope...GONE

For almost five months, I've passed this sign twice a week. Located in Valley City, North Dakota at exit 290 on I-94, it seems it was once a marker for the Flickertail Motel, which for over 50 years was located just off the exit and up the hill. The only thing I could find on the Flickertail, was this article which talks about the larger sign being taken down after the hotel was bought by a couple who intended to live in the attached home.

I love the old signs. And this one was beautiful. It was metal, with a red background and white letters. It caught the light beautifully on several occassions when I drove by. It was one of those signs that told a little story; about the days when small motels, run by local families, were the only option for travelers. but now it lay forgotten, among the uncut grass and weeds. But it was very cool and I wanted a picture of it.

Stopping to get that picture though, had been a bit of a challenge - sometimes it was dark when I passed through, sometimes I was on the wrong side of the interstate, and always I would have had to pull over on the shoulder in front of the sign and take a quick snap of it out the window. Plus, Ed kept saying, "Oh, you can get it next time. It's been there over 50 years, it's not going anywhere."

Well, the last time I drove through, I turned my head as usual to look at it (I was heading west, the sign is on the east bound side), and it was gone.

GONE!!!

OMG, my stomach immediately did an unpleasant flip and my head did a small spin. I was thinking, WTF?? Where did it go?? I couldn't stop, but I was SO upset because I had all those times when I could have taken the shot and didn't. And now it was GONE.

On the way back, I slowed down to take a look and it appeared as if the sign just finally fell off its metal poles. I was thinking, did a storm come through? Did a fat bird land on it and it collapsed under the weight?? I was beside myself.

Now I will never get that photo. That moment in time is gone forever. But I did realize that I learned a valuable lesson.

Don't put off for tomorrow what you could do today.

I've always poo-pooed that saying before, but now I've lived it! Carpe diem!

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1 YEAR AGO: Knee Deep In Training
2 YEARS AGO: She Sells Seashells By The Seashore
3 YEARS AGO: Shopping At Walmart Is The Closest Some Of Use Will Ever Get To China
4 YEARS AGO: Giving Indians A Bad Name
5 YEARS AGO: : Six Flags Of Horror Fly Over Texas
6 YEARS AGO: Snake River

Icy Beverages, Sun, And Sand

Today we spent the afternoon in Barnes & Noble, poring over travel books for our next vacation. We think we want to go to the Caribbean. Or an island. A place where we can snorkel, get a tan, eat a great restaurants and lay around and do nothing.

Ed wants to go for a month. I don't think I can take sun and sand for a month. I'm all for the laying around part, but we're going to be on an island, what can there be to do for a month?? I've gotten him down to three weeks, but I think I'd prefer two.

We have looked at everything. I was originally thinking Anguilla, because my cousin went there on her honeymoon and she said it was phenomenal. They stay at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa. That would have been a great option (I hear the meals were fantastic), but they close on August 29th and can't accomodate our dates.

I think we've narrowed it down to either Jamaica or the Bahamas. In Jamaica, we've looked at The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa and the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach - all in Montego Bay.

In the Bahamas, our choices are the Nassau British Colonial Hilton (not thrilled about the beach area though), the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort or the Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino. Since we seem to be leaning more towards the Bahamas, I will continue looking. We were hoping to leave Sunday, but it might be a few days after that.

If anyone has any great suggestions, please let me know! My main interests are snorkeling, beach time, upscale decor and rooms, and great food.


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1 YEAR AGO: Smalltopia And Rowdy Kittens
2 YEARS AGO: Severely Disabled
3 YEARS AGO: Boys In Dresses
4 YEARS AGO: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
5 YEARS AGO: : When I’m Done Peeing, Do I Bang On The Pipes Or Just Yell When I Need Someone To Take Me Back To My Cell?
6 YEARS AGO: The Emerald City

The Men Who Stare At Goats

More like boy staring at goats. I love this picture of my little cousin feeding the goats. I don't know exactly what he's holding in his hand, but it doesn't look like it's going to be quite enough for those four very interested little faces.

I've already sent this photo to my friend Michelle; she's the only person on earth I know who has a soft spot for these cute little creatures and would appreciate a shot like this!


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1 YEAR AGO: A Peek At A Working Team
2 YEARS AGO: Alligators Are Not A Girl’s Best Friend
3 YEARS AGO: Forget Your Cholestrol. Get A Hearing Aid.
4 YEARS AGO: Sizzling Good Time
5 YEARS AGO: Amarillo May Smell Like Cow Shit, But They Have Some Pretty Tasty Steaks
6 YEARS AGO: List Of Fives

There Is No One Alive Who Is Youer Than You

I love this photo of my mother. When I see these old photos, I wonder what her life was like when she was growing up in the Bronx. Of course, I've heard the stories, but the day to day is what I wonder about. I've been to the house in which she was born, and it hasn't changed much since this picture was taken. I wonder what she's clutching in her hand? I will have to ask her, maybe she remembers.

She was two years and ten months old when this was taken. Even with the pout, she's cute as a button. And today is her birthday.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

"Today you are you, that is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is youer than you."
~ Dr. Seuss

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1 YEAR AGO: The Serious Bather
2 YEARS AGO: There’s More To The Woman With The Mona Lisa Smile Than Meets The Eye
3 YEARS AGO: Blond Bombshell Birthday
4 YEARS AGO: Milestones And Yardsticks: How To Measure A Good Life
5 YEARS AGO: The Roaring Twenties
6 YEARS AGO: Escape

Inner Harbor Fixture

Another shot of the USS Constellation, which is permanently docked at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.

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1 YEAR AGO: Sandía On The Wall
2 YEARS AGO: Big Rig Parking At #34
3 YEARS AGO: The Benefits Of Marriage Without The Hassle Of Dieting To Get Into The Dress
4 YEARS AGO: Gateway To The West
5 YEARS AGO: Taking A Lesson From An Eleven Year Old
6 YEARS AGO: Rejoice And Be Sad

A Constellation Minus The Celestial Bodies

The rear mast of the USS Constellation, located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.


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1 YEAR AGO: Opulence. I Hyaz It.
2 YEARS AGO: Flipping It At The Bird
3 YEARS AGO: Eddie Flippin’ Friday
4 YEARS AGO: Hope Collapses
5 YEARS AGO: You Do The Math
6 YEARS AGO: 14,410 Feet Of Beauty

Survival Training And Retirement Planning

It's been hot and humid here in Baltimore. My clothes are sticking to my back and strands of hair are plastered to my face. My makeup has taken on a life of it's own, migrating to wherever the sweat takes it, and my head feels like it's going to explode with the amount of heat its producing. Even standing still, I feel the beads of sweat forming on my scalp, slowly trickling down between the strands, until one breaks free at the forehead. It's been a two-shower-a-day weekend.

Ed has taken to calling me "Flash" because he thinks I'm experiencing hot flashes. It doesn't matter how many times I explain to him that I've been like this since birth. My mother used to cut the feet off the feetsie (our family word) pajamas when I was a toddler because I hated being hot. It's been a lifelong battle and it's not getting any prettier.

This morning, as I sat in the hotel restaurant at breakfast with Ed and our friends, I was brandishing one of the fans I bought in New York a few months ago. It seems I was the only one in the restaurant who was hot. I'll tell you what, Hilton puts on a really nice breakfast spread (omelets, french toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, bagels, juice - you name it, they had it), but they were really lacking in the air conditioning department. And I looked like a ninety-year-old woman from the south, with my fancy fan in hand, do-declaring about how wahm it is.

After breakfast, we retired to the lobby area and took our places; each of us in a big armchair, circled around a low coffee table. Let the klatch begin. Questions were asked, answers were given, there was some crowding around an iPad, a little exchanging of trucking stories. Although Marlaina and Greg and new to trucking (only the road a few years), they are not new to life. They are extremely well traveled, have had fantastic full careers in other industries, and have a wealth of information to share. Ed and I feel like we're totally getting the better end of the deal because they've got some great information and are full of interesting stories of their adventures around the world. We're basically telling them how to find good flatbed freight and where to buy the best tarps.

The focus for this weekend pow-wow has trucking for them, finance for us. Ed shared what he knows about how to build a successful business as an owner-operator, and Marlaina shared her investment strategies and knowledge. She's a wealth of information; from her days as a political investigative reporter to her daily asborption of podcasts, news articles, financial television programs and personal experience. With all the information we're accumulating, we're going to have a really good handle on our retirement planning and execution.

The wheels are totally in motion! I'm excited by the idea of my money growing but I'm not so interested in having to read about it, but that's why I have Ed. Numbers make Calcutron as excited as I get when I find a discontinued costmetic item on Ebay. As long as my investments keep increasing, I'm happy. I just don't want to hear about it.

This weekend has been one of our best ones in the four months we've been working in the area. It was serendipity that we were able to be here (instead of on the Seattle end), at the same time they were on the East coast. We crammed so much into our weekend. Our next trucking/finance seminar is planned for a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands. We've been talking about this for almost a year and we're close to narrowing down our dates and exact location.

I don't think I'll really mind the heat and humidity so much if I'm sitting around with a tropical beverage in my hand, listening to Marlaina tell me how I can make even more money than I am now, while we watch Ed and Greg work the rigging and the sails to keep us moving through the water.


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1 YEAR AGO: Just A Glimpse
2 YEARS AGO: Eddie Mails A Package In His Dorfman Friday
3 YEARS AGO: Shower Jam
4 YEARS AGO: Golden Arches
5 YEARS AGO: The Land Of Fruits, Nuts And Flakes
6 YEARS AGO: Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

Harborside Education

Today we spent the entire day with our friends, Greg & Marlaina. We are waiting on our load to be ready and they were going to be in the area, so they came down to visit with us. We haven't seen them since the truck show in Louisville, at the end of March.

We all rose leisurely from our cushy beds at the Hilton (separate rooms, of course) and met in the hotel restaurant for breakfast. We talked trucking, politics, food and more. We made a loose plan regarding how we wanted to spend our day.

Since they had a rental car, we decided to go right down into the Inner Harbor area; something we can't do in the truck. Although, we did navigate around there one time and it wasn't pretty. Ed is fearless and just drove where he wanted, but I avoided everyone's gaze so I didn't have to see the, "What the hell are you doing down here in that thing??" looks. With Greg and Marlaina having a car this time, parking wouldn't be an issue.

We got downtown, found nearby parking and then just walked around, people watched, toured an old sloop, did a little shopping at the Harbor Place Mall, sat in patio dining at a restaurant and had drinks and appetizers while talking about more trucking - this weekend is sort of a mini "Ed" seminar. They are picking his brain to get some information before making a transition in their trucking career.

After that, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. On the way back, Marlaina and I decided we needed to hit Macy's; she wanted leggings, and I had to exchange a purse I recently bought. The boys dropped us off at the entrance before heading off to the Tilted Kilt for a beer.

When Marlaina and I were done, the boys came and picked us and we headed out to a waterside restaurant for a seafood dinner. We got back to the hotel late into the evening, talked for a bit more in the lobby and then hit the elevator to head off to our respective rooms.

As the elevator doors closed, Greg waved and said, "See you in the morning for breakfast!"

Tomorrow is our last day together. Looks like someone is going to be cramming.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Yo, Vin!
2 YEARS AGO: Sweeter Words Have Never Been Spoken
3 YEARS AGO: More Proof I Ate At A Sushi Place
4 YEARS AGO: North Sally Port
5 YEARS AGO: Holy Cow!
6 YEARS AGO: Wishing

No Vacancy

The sign at the Airway Express Inn located near Spokane, WA.

The N-O at the bottom of the picture, are the first two letters of the words NO VACANCY. I've never seen the sign lit, and I'm pretty sure the place is closed (although I did see a newspaper machine out front). I guess I'll have to pay more attention next time I'm there to see if the place is still in operation.

Open or closed, the sign is super cool.


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1 YEAR AGO: Imperial Sand
2 YEARS AGO: How Many Twenty Year Olds Have A Seventy Pound Head?
3 YEARS AGO: My First Time
4 YEARS AGO: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
5 YEARS AGO: Text Me
6 YEARS AGO: Eddie Dines Out Friday

Justin Time For A New Pair Of Boots

What comes to mind when you hear the word “Texas”? For me, it’s cowboys, cowboy hats and boots. No self-respecting cowboy, cattle herder or ranch hand would be caught dead without a pair of sturdy boots on their feet. In that part of the country, it’s de rigueur. And H.J. Justin, the founder of the Justin Boots company, knew that.

A boot repairman from Lafayette, Indiana who landed in Spanish Fort, Texas in 1879, he outfitted cowboys on their way up the Chisholm Trail with boots made right in the comfort of his own home. Even his wife got in on the business, developing something they call a “fit kit”, which was basically just a chart and a tape measure. Armed with these two items, cowboys already wearing H.J. Justin’s boots spread the word and the company grew. Eventually, H.J.’s sons joined their dad and it became a true family run business.

Today Justin Boots is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffet, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world. If there’s anything The Snowball can do, it’s take a company and make it even better. Not that there was much to improve upon since its founding principles remain the same. According to the company website, The Justin Boot Company still holds true to the dedication put forth by founder H.J. Justin:

“No boot shall ever bear the Justin brand unless it is the very best that can be produced from the standpoint of material, style and workmanship. It is my wish that I might leave behind me an institution which will uphold the standards and the spirit of the true west.”

If you’d like to know more about the history of the company, you can check it out here.

The reason I’m telling you all of this? Well, I have a little surprise for you. What could I possibly have that you want, you say? Well, other than the recipe for my mother’s famous Eggplant Caponata?

I have a pair of boots. That’s right, people…BOOTS!!

Justin Original Workboots has come to The Daily Rant, and they’re giving me a pair of workboots to pass along to one of my lucky readers. For FREE!!

I gotta say, for a flip-flop girl, I’m flippin’ excited about this. I’ll be giving away one pair of boots to one of my readers (to be chosen from comment entries on both The Daily Rant and Life On The Road) in addition to getting a pair for myself and a friend, which will be used for a future product review.

The friend I've chosen to be the recipient of those boots is someone I've known for over twenty years, and who's owned his own construction company for even more years that that. He wears boots daily; climbing ladders, walking over debris on jobsites, standing for hours on end at his shop. He actually wears them out. Once he’s given them a good beating, I’ll be asking him what he thought; about fit, comfort, style, etc. Everything one cares about when wearing a workboot. As a fellow native New Yorker, I know he’ll have no problem telling me exactly what he thinks.

Then, once fall hits, I’ll be hanging up my flip-flops and giving you my personal opinion on the boots I choose. I already know which pair I want. If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I don’t hold back with my opinions. If the boots pinch my toes like a too tight stiletto heel, you’ll be the first to know!

Whether you’re a trucker, a roofer, a carpenter or just a person who likes to wear a boot, it’s important to have a high-performance workboot that’s also comfortable. That’s why Justin Original Workboots launched their J-Max collection last year. They provide performance, function, comfort and stability. But that’s not the only thing you need to know about Justin Original Workboots (JOW). Here are a few more tidbits before we get to the giveaway details...

The J-Max Collection is handcrafted right here in the United States of America!! That’s kinda rare these days, isn’t it? And the boots today are made to the same high standards set over 130 years ago by H.J. Justin. Can’t beat that, can you?

Also, and this is really going to thrill some of my readers, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the J-Max Original Workboots are going to Camp Patriot. Camp Patriot provides the opportunity for disabled veterans to go on outdoor adventures – everything from fly-fishing to archery to kayaking to snowmobiling to climbing Mount Rainier!

There are more than 2.3 million disabled veterans in the United States today, people who lost the ability to pursue some of their dreams due to injuries suffered in the line of duty. So not only can you help support someone who has dedicated a portion of their life to the military by buying a boot from this line, but you’ll be wearing an American made pair of boots to show for it!

In addition to the boot giveaway here at The Daily Rant, Justin Original Workboots is having a Dirtiest Workboot Contest (Wow, a contest within a giveaway?! Who woulda thunk?). They're asking fans to submit photos or video of their dirtiest workboots and whoever gets the most votes will win a year's supply of Justin Original Workboots and RIGGS WORKWEAR by Wrangler- they've figured that up to be six pairs of boots, six pairs of pants and six shirts. So go get dirty, people!

Please take a moment to check out the Justin Original Workboots website, their Facebook page and also their Twitter feed. Between these three locations, you won’t miss a minute of what Justin boots is up to!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: Just answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

Where is your favorite place and why?

It doesn't matter if it's a city, state or your backyard tree swing. Just tell me where it is and why you like it. If you're a trucker, do you have a favorite state? If you travel for work, is there a spot you always visit when you're in a particular town? Are you a family that does yearly vacations in the same spot since childhood? Do you get away from it all in a hammock in your backyard, book in hand? Just let me know the place that makes you happy and you're automatically entered into the giveaway. Easy like Sunday morning.

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to have a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS to enter. I don't care if it's FakeCowboyEmailForTheBootGiveaway@bigfaker.com, as long as I can contact you for shipping information should you be our winner. Don't make me have to hunt you down.

FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY: Become a fan AND leave a comment (it can be your same favorite place or a different one) on The Daily Rant Facebook Page and you'll get a second entry. Please don’t forget to include your email address!

CONTEST DURATION: The contest will start today, August 4th, and run until Thursday, August 18th. Any comments left during that time period will be entered into the drawing for the FREE pair of Justin J-Max Original Workboots.

CHOOSING A WINNER: The winner will be selected at random and be announced here on Friday, August 19th. Once the winner has been chosen, they will be contacted for their address information and Justin Original Workboots will send the boot of your choice from the J-Max collection right to your front door. They'll be on your feet in no time!

Good luck!!


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Faceted Beauty For Less Than Three Bucks

Found at a gift shop in Montana.


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Hay There! And Over There, And Over There...

Hay bales along the Enchanted Highway in southwestern North Dakota.


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Imagine What These Bird Droppings Look Like

On one of our trips through North Dakota, we were able to drive the Enchanted Highway.

This thirty-two mile stretch between Interstate 94 and Regent, North Dakota features the world's largest metal sculptures. There are seven of them; Deer Crossing, Geese In Flight, Grasshopper's Delight, Pheasants On The Prairie, Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again, The Tin Family, and Fisherman's Dream (my favorite). If you click on the photo below, you'll see how I captured these sculptures, but if you want details on each one, click the link above to go to the Enchanted Highway website.

The artist who created these, Gary Greff, dreamt of ways to bring people and businesses to the tiny community of Regent. He was inspired by a hay bale strongman built by a farmer, which had drawn passing motorists to pull off the road and take pictures of it. He began to wonder how many people would stop for giant metal sculptures. Before 1989, he'd never done any artwork or welding but has since created these seven giant sculptures, including one (Geese In Flight) that graces the side of Interstate 94, beckoning drivers to take the next exit to the Enchanted Highway. Just the name is enough to draw people in.

He's done other sculptures and little projects, some of which can be seen in the town of Regent, where you'll also find the Enchanted Highway Gift Shop. Along the drive, you'll see miles of open prairie, rolled bales of hay, farmers, and silos. It's exciting to keep your eyes peeled for the next sculpture, seeing it rise from the horizon as you approach. Each location has parking for cars, not really for trucks, but the road isn't heavily traveled, so stopping to take pictures is easy.

I love this enchanted life I have, with all the wonderful things I get to see in my travels. Who would have ever thought driving a big rig around the country would be so rewarding?

So, if you're in North Dakota, you now have several things to see:

The biggest cow.

Big freakin' buffalo who graze within feet of your vehicle window; and what they leave behind.

And grasshoppers, geese, and birds that would scare a dinosaur.

How enchanting.

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