We’re in the airport now – in Minneapolis. Half-way through, we’re about to go grab some food before our next leg.
The trip is going just fine, but I’m suffering from a swollen finger that I injured this morning in a softball game. It feels like it’s going to explode, it’s so tight. Well, I guess I’ll just have to survive. I can’t do anything about it. My whole finger tip is purple and it hurts to type – but, here I am… typing.
I guess it’s time for dinner now.
After Dive Turkey 5 [or DTV], we have by remote consensus began using the year name in the description of the Dive Turkey event. So, if it happens this year, it will be called Dive Turkey 2007 Dive Turkey 6, or DTVI, is now in a conceptual planning stage.
For DTVI, we are thinking domestic – Florida: the SCUBA state. DT1 was held there on Islamorada with the founding members of the DT team and much diving and many good times were had by all. That was in November of 1999. Now, eight years later, we’re thinking of a return. There are many reasons but among them are:
What are your thoughts? Like to go?
[UPDATE:] I guess we are sticking with the original naming convention. Shoulda asked first, I suppose…
Some of the best things in Vegas aren’t in Vegas. Take for instance the resort at Montelago Village a good distance east of town. We had heard of this place on TV, so we stopped in on our way back from Hoover Dam. I have to say that it is quite nice and were we to have to go back to Vegas, it would be an ideal place to be away from the Strip.
Take a look at the pictures and you’ll find a nice little Italian style village. Of course, it’s not really like a small Italian village, but it’s good enough for what it is: a peaceful oasis away from town.
I’m sitting right now on my outdoor furnitire – the wonderful patio furniture we had shipped from Texas [since everything here was either too cheap or too expensive]. Laura and I [mostly Laura] have just finished up the yard work for the week – cleaning, pruning, cutting, mowing, etc. It all looks so nice now.
I have just finished booking our travel to Spokane and arranging our rooms for the week and weekend we will be there. The company pays for the weekdays, of course, while I get to pay for the cabin in the woods over the weekend.
I’m getting pretty excited about it, actually. It’s been a while since Laura and I just went out to the wilderness. It’s been since we had Thanksgiving at my sister’s in Wyoming since we’ve taken a few days to ourselves and nature like that.
Looks like instead of going to sunny Florida for my training class, I’ll be headed to Spokane, Washington in a couple of weeks. Laura will be coming with me, of course.
Spokane itself is not very exciting, but its location is. Just a couple of hours away is Glacier National Park and the area is surrounded by national forests and mountains. We will be skipping out over the weekend to find a small cabin in the mountains. We will definitely be bringing cameras for this event.
Arranging flights for this was difficult, but it looks like we will be flying Northwest [a Continental partner] and actually be getting seats together. Gotta love those Membership Rewards.
Yes, I know: I’ve been remiss about posting pictures lately. So, I’ll be working on posting those we took while in Vegas and I’ll let you know when and where I do. It just takes so much time…
We are back from Vegas, and let me tell you: it’s good to be home. One can only stand so much of the visual/moral assault – not to mention that not only did I have to be in my conference sessions all day, but also spend time with Laura as she wanted to explore several things in the evenings. Anyhow, the flight home was long and arduous as well. We took a red-eye back from the West: departed Thursday night arrived home early Friday morning. I couldn’t sleep the entire flight, except for maybe half an hour and I think Laura was the same. So, we spent all day recouperating.
I almost can’t wait to get back to work…
Laura and I will be travelling to Las Vegas Today. I’m going to attend a conference, while she’s going to hang out with me. This is a perfect excuse to see Las Vegas without choosing to vacation there. The cool part is that tere will likely be some great picture-taking opportunities – so we’re both bringing our cameras!
And I thought we were done with Winter!
Anyhow: our flight back from Tampa [where we stayed with a friend after our Naples trip – and went to a hockey game] took a very long time. In fact, we were over six hours delayed due to bad weather. Funny thing, though: we were fine with it. We just hung out and had fun with each other. I love my wife.
And now, from the 70s/80s of sunny Florida, we’re back to the 30s of Northern Virginia.
Today was a great day. We arrived in Naples, FL last night and discovered that we were fairly tired. All that planning Laura did seemed not too important today when we just sat on the beach. We did a little swimming in the Winter water, though. That was… uh… refreshing? I just about froze my butt off. I got used to it after a while, though, and the guys went out swimming with me, while Laura and the girls hung out on the beach in lounge chairs. We found a few live sand dollars [and set the free again, of course], but mostly we sat in our chairs chatted and read our various and sundry books and magazines. There’s nothing like some good relaxation among friends.
Tonight is the first of the evening events and we will be briefly attending [since they dont’ allow spouses] and then heading to a restaurant. This is much better so far than working!
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