Deadwood

There are a few series I have come across, such as Babylon 5, Battlestar Gallactica (the remake, of course), Twilight Zone (just to name a few) that are worth watching again. All had in my opinion excellent acting and screenwriting. In the case of the Twilight Zone, it is fun to look at some of these young actors, such as William Shatner, Jack Klugman, and Robert Redford and realize how many of them would go on to bigger things.

Sierra Snows

An old section of Hwy 40 from Soda Springs to Truckee – maybe 15-20 miles – was kept open to show drivers this beautiful view of Donner Lake. In 1846 things were a lot more dire.

Some years ago,  I worked for Cessna Aircraft in Wichita KS.

I mention Kansas because when I was there, for some reason, outsiders always confused it with Wichita Falls, TX.

Go figure.

On a lot of levels it was very different from San Diego, where I left after studying computer programming * for almost a year. For one, after coming home to work and ready for a swim on a hot, muggy afternoon, I discovered the pool to be …..empty of water. Because they always drained the pool on September 1st.

Audrey Hepburn

…Was an elegant spirit

Over the years I have gained an appreciation of classic Hollywood, largely through 2 cinimaphile friends, screenwriter Robert Avrech and another  friend of some 30 years.

When Robert had a post about Audrey, as is my nature since she interested me, I had to learn more about her. Her son, Sean Ferrer, wrote a beautiful book about her, from a son’s viewpoint who knew her as a mother and friend.

An Invitation From Mr. Hearst

I just got back from a quick drive down to San Diego and because I have come to think of the 300 mile I5 slog from Stockton to the Grapevine as mind-numbing (literally, other than the Harris Ranch near the middle for a nice steak) – there is literally nothing. I’m trying to decide which is more boring – this or driving across the Texas panhandle on I40. At least there you have Amarillo and The Big Texan (if you can eat their monster 72 oz steak it’s free! Pepto-Bismol included!). Years ago, I used to think of the 500 mile drive to San Diego as long but certainly doable; these days I like to break it up.

Particularly with LA traffic. Used to be you could time it to be there outside of rush hour, but these days it just seems like it is bad – and worse. A  couple of years ago, I hit Los Angeles area at about 1600 and it took me literally 4-5 hours to traverse the LA – and Orange County – area. First thing in San Diego I had late at night was a martini at Anthony’s on the waterfront. Now closed.

Anyway point is, these days I like to take the roads less traveled. Make the journey an adventure too.

Paradise

After the Camp Fire, with 11,000 homes lost, I had a curiosity to see the epicenter, Paradise. Paradise is on  the Sierra foothills in Northern California , about 1,500′ elevation.

It really is a bucolic little town, nestled among the pines, and was a favorite place to retire. Despite its 1,500′ elevation, it is only 20 miles or so from Chico, elevation 150′,  a smaller city at the northern end of the Central Valley.

I called the California Highway Patrol in Chico, who assured me that all the roads to Paradise were open. With that knowledge, I headed up the highway to Paradise.

A Quiet, Normal Life

By lex, on September 15th, 2010

Flight planning a 0945 launch to Scottsdale in a Cessna 182RG today, where we will discuss their tactical cross-domain guard (which runs natively in Linux).

Part of this will be fun, part less so. The distinction is left to the reader.

Talk amongst yerselves, whyncha.

Unless of course, you choose to continue hurling lame ad hominems * one against t’other, in which case leave off it, I beg.

Traveling Man

By lex, on September 8th, 2011

So: Your correspondent is nigh out the door and on his way to Ventura County, for to continue his ground training culminating in getting that bugger actually airborne, hopefully. With a full bag o’ gas and the ejection seat pins removed this time.