Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Deb

Capt. Ed Freeman
Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)


While reading the info on Cpt. Freeman, I found that I couldn't have put it better than this.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Ye Olde UFO Store

I spotted this unusual store in Sedona. I don't recall Sedona was popular with aliens.

Here's a captured specimen to lure in curious customers.

Store's utility vehicle

Store's reserved parking

- Karen

Library Grand Opening

Today was the grand opening of the new Milpitas Public Library. Here, the mayor and council members cut the ribbon. There is an estimate 123,291 libraries in the United States and much more worldwide.
When is the last time you visited your local library?

The historic Milpitas Grammar School was renovated and used as the anchor to the library with two huge wings added on each side. The original school was built for $13,212 in 1916. The new library cost slightly under the $39 Million budget. Times have changed!
You can click here to see the renovation process step-by-step.

Former Milpitas Grammar School students from various graduation classes take another yearbook photo in front of their old alma mater.

A small sample of the Children's section of the library. Lots of learning will happen here.

- Karen

Sedona - Red Rock Country

Our road trip last week included picturesque Sedona, AZ. Everywhere you looked, you see gigantic red/orange monoliths jutting toward the sky. Each one of these formations have a name. At this first stop, we took a picture of our dog, Maverick, in front of "Courthouse Butte".
Click here for a tidbit of information on how that name came about.

Chapel of the Holy Cross built right into the mountain was designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright. I wished I had a chance to go inside, but the tiny parking lot was so full of tourists that we could not stop. Click here for more photos from an external source.

Close to sunset, tourists ascended to the Sedona's airport overlook to get a stunning view of the valley and mountains in the distance.

- Karen

Palm Springs Air Museum

I don't know one plane from another, but hubby loves jets so we stopped off briefly at the air museum. Since we wanted to get to the next destination, we just stayed outside to snap a few pictures. The museum has on display a host of planes outside where anyone can see and touch like the one in the background in this photo.

This is the exterior view of the museum. It was probably used as a airport administration building in the past since it is right next to the Palm Springs Airport.

This memorial honors those pilots who won the Distinguished Flying Cross medal after showing heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight.

Not sure the name of this statue placed in the museum's lobby, but I like the colors and how it brings the feeling of patriotism.

Click here for more information about this attraction. According to their website, the museum has one of the largest World War II warplane collections if you are interested in that sort of thing.

- Karen

Wednesday Hero

Airman Melissa Pyle


Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Melissa Pyle mans a jet blast deflector station on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Gulf Of Oman. Theodore Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Palm Springs Aerial Tram, Part 2

Continuing on with my aerial tram ride report...What is at the top of the tram station at 8,516 ft? It is a winter wonderland during this time of year. Although the temperature at the bottom was in the low 70's, visitors had to bundle up when they reached the top.

Here is somebody's finished snowman left there for all to admire.

There was so much snow that the tram station's sign was buried.

- Karen

Palm Springs Aerial Tram, Part 1

I apologize for not posting the last few days, but I am still out of town for another day or so. I did find some time to continue my trip report on Palm Springs.

I always thought Palm Springs was a golfing and resort town. Who knew that one of Palm Springs' main attractions is the world's largest rotating aerial tram that travels to an elevation of 8,516 ft. I had expected the tram car to rotate 360 degree, but to the passengers' surprise, it was the floor of the tram that turned during the ascension.

Being that it was Christmas break for most school-age kids, families packed in to see this attraction. Here is the crowd waiting to get onto their scheduled tram.

This is a 80 passenger + 1 operator tram leaving the Valley Station for the 10 minute ride up to the Mountain Station at 8,516 ft.

From this view, I am in the tram leaving the Valley Station. At this point, the floor of the tram is slowly rotating so passengers will get a twice around 360 degree view of the mountain and valley floor below.

From this view, I was only halfway up the tram. If you are afraid of heights, this ride is not for you.

The little stick-like figures you see in the distance is the windmill farm I blogged about last week. Everything looks small from this distance.

To read more about the history of this aerial tram attraction, click here.

- Karen

Palm Springs Dog Park

Before I begin my first post of the year, I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year celebration! How did you celebrate or did you celebrate?


Continuing on with my road trip report...
This is the only dog park in Palm Springs and it is behind the City Hall. There is a small dog side and a large dog side like in most dog parks I've been to. Since we were traveling with Maverick, we initially brought him to the small dog area.

I suspect most of the people sitting around chatting are retired folks who meet there on a regular basis and talk for hours while their dogs play.

Here is Maverick running at top speed and being chased by another dog for the ball in the big dog area. He was pooped out in no time and as they say...a tired dog is a happy dog.

- Karen

Happpy 2009!

Glitter Graphics

Happy 2009 to everyone!
I look forward to reading your posts in the new year.

- Karen

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon
22 years old from Brockport, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
October 17, 2006


2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wind Farm

On the way to Palm Springs, I spotted this wind farm at the foot of the San Bernadino Mountains. After some research on the internet, it says the wind speed must be at least 13mph (21km/h) before the blades turn. This particular farm contains 4000 windmills with the largest ones standing at 150 feet tall and can power Palm Springs and the surrounding areas.

- Karen

Dinner at Ruby's Diner

Made it into Palm Springs yesterday late afternoon and had dinner at the 40's-style Ruby's Diner. This the restaurant's interior complete with shiny red booths, bicycles, and waiters and waitresses in 40's diner uniform.
Click here to find out how Ruby's started.

My turkey burger slider with a salad.
Here are links to some of the top news photos of 2008 around the world sent to me by Photojojo gathered at boston.com. Take a look, some will be amazing.
Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3

- Karen

Wahoo!

Saw this sailboat cruising San Francisco Bay. The owner must really like sailing to name his/her boat "Wahoo!".

We will be taking a roadtrip to the Southwest during the next week to meet friends and go sightseeing. And, yes, we are bringing the doggie. Wahoo!

Here is the approximate itinerary...

Palm Springs, CA
Sedona, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Laughlin, NV
Home...Sweet...Home...Wahoo!

I will try to post along the way or you can follow me on Twitter.

- Karen

Red and White Fleet

During the summer, tourists flock here, but on this cold winter weekday, hardly anyone was waiting in line to buy tickets for a bone chilling San Francisco Bay cruise.

The Red & White Fleet was founded in 1892 by Thomas Crowley with only $80 in his pocket. His business weathered the big 1906 quake that leveled most of San Francisco and prospered when the Golden Gate Bridge was built literally in front of his doorstep. To read more about its fascinating history, click here. Today, the Red & White Fleet dock here at Pier 43-1/2 to ferry people under the Golden Gate Bridge and past other famous landmarks.

- Karen

Holiday Greeting

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Hoping your holidays are filled with joy & good cheer!

Thank you for your continuous support throughout the year!

- Karen

(Note: In case you're interested, the photo was altered at http://www.pikipimp.com site. Give it a try, it's really cool!)

Wednesday Hero

To the Men and Women of the United States military, and all the armed forces around the world, thank you for everything that you do. And to those who are laying their heads down tonight in a foreign land, away from your loved ones, thank you so very much. Stay safe, you're in our thoughts and our hearts. Merry Christmas.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Downtown San Francisco

Lots of shoppers in downtown San Francisco, but I wonder how many bought something.

A worker operating a truck-looking zamboni on a ice skating rink temporarily put in place for the holidays across the street from Macy's seen in the above photo.

I would be one of those skaters holding on to dear life by the side rails.

- Karen

Directing Traffic With Balloons?

Do you notice something unusual these fellows from the Department of Parking & Transportation are using to direct traffic?
It surely made me chuckle, but I don't know if it was more effective than using hand signals.

- Karen