STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21994: “Vegging” in Vegas

Nothing much new since my last post. Since the family reunion earlier this month, I’ve been to a couple of different stores to which I don’t normally travel. Week before last the first load I did (after returning to Corinne after the reunion) was to the store in Mountain Home, ID. After that, it was fairly mundane. Last weekend, I did a 3 stop Vegas load with a ‘back haul’ out of San Bernardino, CA. I stopped in Vegas long enough to do a 34-hour restart. Last week, I did back to back Cody, WY loads. I even got snowed upon a little bit between Thermopolis, WY and Rock Springs, WY. Time to break out the winter clothes again. ALREADY!!
Not much new on the ‘home front’ either. The weather is cooling down. Yesterday was in the mid 80’s. Right now it’s 91 degrees, and it won’t get much hotter.

I bought a new (replacement) radio for my truck (a Pioneer DEH-P3900MP). Nothing wrong with the factory installed radio, except that it is a factory installed radio. It doesn’t have all the “whistles and bells” that the new one has. The new Pioneer plays music in almost any format and is XM ready. Handy for me. I can take the XM unit I have in the truck now and use it in my car. I’ll be “tuned in” to my “tunes” 24/7 now. The main selling point for me was the Aux Input in the front. I can hook up my Zune without having to access the back of the radio. Technology is amazing. Ten years ago, I was just starting my CD collection, now I have 6000+ songs at my fingertips, and completely portable.

Soon, I’ll need to make a major purchase. With the constantly rising cost of fuel, and State Legislatures falling all over each other trying to be the first to enact anti-idling laws for diesel trucks, I’m going to have to invest in an APU (auxilliary power unit) for my truck before too long. There are about 5 different brands to choose from. The two top contenders are the ThermoKing TriPac and the Carrier ComfortPro. Both are of equal quality. I have talked to owners of both, and they swear by them. I don’t know which I’ll buy. Of the two, ThermoKing has the most dealers across the nation. Unfortunately, both are about $9,000, installed.  OUCH!!!  That’ll dent the wallet a bit. Winter is fast approaching so I’ll have to decide soon.

Oh Jeeeeeeze, O.J. (again)

When I began listening to my daily assortment of Talk Radio programs last Friday on my XM Radio, I thought for a minute that I had been transported via some freak time warp back to the mid 1990’s. Hilary Clinton was being chastized for regurgitating her National Health Care proposal, and for questionable contributions to her campaign by the Chinese. AND, O. J. Simpson was in trouble with the law again. This time for armed robbery, kidnapping, and sundry lesser charges; in Las Vegas no less. I don’t know what to think yet about his guilt or innocence. The entire “cast of characters” involved are a tawdry lot of miscreants. Looks like we’re in for another Media Circus. All O. J.; all the time. YUK!!! On Monday, believe it or not, Fox News had already located, and interviewed the Bail Bondsman who is to “go his bail”, 2 days before his arraingment. JEEEEEZE!!!! I’m already sick of it all. I could be enticed to change my stance on abortion, if it could be made retroactive, and we could begin with O. J. I do, however, have one legitimate concern. If O. J. is found guilty and incarcerated, who is going to scour the golf courses in Florida for the “real” killers of Ron and Nichole.

Life Day 21973: A Congregation of Cousins

I’ve been a baaaad boy. It’s been over 30 days since my last posting. One of the reasons is that I was engaged in a concentrated effort to win a Saturn Vue which was the Grand Prize in the Wild Wild West’s summer giveaway. Instead of being in my truck “geeking”, I was in the Casino, earning points and chances to win the Vue. Through this effort, I became about $2000.00 richer in Casino winnings, and one of the 10 finalists in the drawing for the car. Alas, the car was won by a local taxi driver who is a regular at the WWW; a nice enough guy who I know by sight. BUT DRAT, IT WASN’T ME!!!

My travels have been mundane, mostly to and from Las Vegas. I did do a run to Bozeman, MT. Behind the Walmart to which I deliver is a “little” Casino with “big” lighting.

I guess they need it due to their obscure location. Even with the lighting, they never seem too busy.

As I was driving to Las Vegas from Corinne, UT, I took these pictures of a brush fire just outside of Cedar City, UT.

Dangerous I know, but they turned out well, considering I was traveling at 68 MPH and shooting one handed out my drivers side window.

Now on to the point of this posting. On Saturday, the 8th of September, I traveled from Las Vegas to Bakersfield for a family re-union at the home of my Uncle Doug and Aunt Helen. It was to celebrate the life of recently deceased Uncle Emery. They have a beautiful home and a well groomed yard.

I couldn’t resist showing off the macro capabilities of my camera.

The MMM (Million Mile Mutts) were relegated to the back yard, but not to worry, they received plenty of attention.

Sugar sure misses Uncle Emery.

The gathering was well attended. It was mostly all of the cousins from the McCutcheon side of the family along with their spouses and children.

Left above; A wreath for Uncle Emery.
Center; Aunt Mary, Aunt helen, Aunt Francis, Cousin Judy.
Right; Aunt Francis, Uncle Doug, Aunt helen, Aunt Mary.

Left above; Back row, Cousins Judy, Ernie, Denny, Tom, and Donald. Front row, Cousin Maryjane, Aunt Francis, Cousins Pam and Delynn
Center; Cousin Denny and his wife Paula.
Right; Cousin Judy, her husband Don, and cousin Delynn.

Left above; Cousin Denny, Aunt Francis, Cousins Pam and Tom.
Center; Maryjane’s husband Mike, Kerry, Marcos (Kerry’s friend), Kathleen, Uncle Doug, and Maryjane.
Right; My niece Dawn, Brandon (Pam’s son), Kathleen annd Kerry (Maryjane’s daughters).

It was nice to reacquaint myself with all my cousins, most of whom I hadn’t seen in decades, and meet their childern who I had never met. There was plenty of good food (which explains the way I look). The visit was all too short. It’s hard for me to visit people with my wandering ways, but i’ll try to keep in touch via the computer.