Christmas Morning in Kuwait City

We are passing thru the airport here, on the way to Dubai. About 3 hours, then we fly out. 12+ hours on the plane already!

Sunday Morning at TRH

We are off today - The Shelties to WV and Deborah and I to Dubai and Jordan, for a couple of weeks. We'd hoped for warm weather in the Middle East, but Dubai is 60-80F while Jordan is 35-50F. Well, at least that's somewhat better than the 20-40F here in Bethesda.

Saturday Night at TRH

Back home again, after cold Toronto. We're all here for a couple of weeks, then off to Dubai and Jordan for the holidays.

Thursday Night at the Holiday Inn - Oakville

It's COLD here in Canada!!!!!! Almost too cold to blog!!! I'm here for another week then back to TRH. Deborah is coming up for the weekend, and we'll see the lights at Niagara on the Lake and Niagara Falls.

Wednesday Night at TRH

Whew - another 14 hour flight and I'm back home. It's FALL here - leaves are yellow, is cool, and the grass is turning colors. Guess I get to play in the yard some this weekend, with the leaves and grass.

Monday Night in Riyadh

One more day to go here, then finally back to TRH for while. With only two days there since October 1, I'd say its about time!! I leave here about 10am Wednesday, and get back to IAD by 4pm that same day.

Friday Night at the Boudl Apartments

I made it back to Riyadh after and a full day of flying from Bulgaria. Not much has changed here - hot, windy and dry. I am in an apartment nearby Faisalia Center this time, the Boudl Apartment/Hotel. They are a big group across this part of the world. http://www.boudl.com/ryiadh-bu2.asp. It is the best apartment I've been in here, and the only thing available this week. At least they have wireless internet for free! I think all the guests and hotel operations must share the same DSL hookup though, because it is slower than any dial-up line I ever used!

I'll leave here Nov 14 or 15 and finally be at TRH for a while - I have to leave then, as my visa expires Nov 15!!

Tuesday Noon at the Grand Sofia Hotel

I made it to Sofia, Bulgaria very late Monday night. Real fun on the plane -- the last seat in coach, in the middle, for 3 hours!!!!!! Yuk.

Sofia is pretty. It reminds me of when I was in Slovakia a couple of years ago, at about this time of year. Lots of new glassy buildings and modern hotels, with very old churches, museums and monuments in between.

That's the St Alexander Nevski Monumental Church in the picture.

Sunday Morning at the Hilton Park Nicosia

It's day 3 of the seminar here - all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday kinda makes the weekend go by without you. I think it was hot and sunny outside - but I only saw it thru the glass in the classroom.

After a full day of work tomorrow, Monday, I'm off in the evening to Sofia, Bulgaria via Austria - I'll have to get out my overcoat again!

Tuesday Night at the City Inn - London

London is a bit of a change, weather-wise, from Belize!!! Cold and damp here, as usual. I arrived early Monday morning, taught Tuesday and Wednesday, and leave at 9pm Wednesday for Cyprus. I lay over in Beruit from 2am - 6am -- that should be loads of fun!!!!!!!

Sunday Morning at TRH

I made it back from Belize late Saturday night, and am at TRH to repack, pay bills, water the plants, then I'm off again!

Wednesday Noon - Back in Belize City

I made the 15 minute flight from San Pedro to Belize City today. I could get to like this type of flying - no security, no identification, no safety announcements. I left the hotel at 9:40am, walked to the airstrip, checked in, and was on the plane when it took off at 10am!!! I'm guessing the International Airport Saturday will be more complicated, since they say you must be there 3 hours in advance of your flight - Tropic Air, which I flew today, suggested you be there no MORE than 15 minutes early!

The streets of San Pedro got cleaned last night - a solid 3 hours of hard rain. Even the golf carts stayed off the road.

I'm now at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City, in a room overlooking the peer where the Aggressor Boat and others dock. The Sun Dancer II is there now.

I'll now have to unpack that suit and tie I have been carrying around for 1.5 weeks, and use it tomorrow and Friday to earn my keep.

Tuesday Afternoon at the Internet Cafe

Well, there are sharks here!!! After going all last week, 20+ dives, without seeing a single shark, I saw nurse sharks on both dives today in the Belize Marine Park. Water was pretty choppy, 3+ foot waves in a small boat feel much bigger. But everything went OK. The viz was pretty bad, no more than 20-30 feet. We also saw 4 spotted eagle rays flying in formation on the first dive, that was pretty neat.

I know, it's not much of a picture - but it's the only one I have of a shark from this whole trip!!

Tuesday Morning at the Internet Cafe in San Pedro

One more night here, in my luxury hotel room, then back to Belize City and the Radisson. It's been way too windy to dive here, especially in the small boats, and everyone says the viz is poor right now anyway. So, I may escape San Pedro without diving.

I'm thinking that TRH dogs would like it here, they could live off the streets (plenty of company for them, with dogs and people both) and when we are moving around they could learn to ride in golf carts, like this guy!!

After Wednesday - Friday nights in Belize City, I'm back to TRH for a Saturday night, then off to London, Cyprus, Bulgaria (where I am told it snowed last night), then Saudi Arabia (where it is 100+ degrees). That will be a fun trip to pack for!!!

Sunday in San Pedro, Belize

This is not a real big place! Other than the minivan taxi’s, everyone gets around in golf carts – really, golf carts! There are two main streets, each maybe ½ mile long. The island is longer, with some condos and hotels, but the city is very small.

The remaining light bulb in my room went out today, so when I checked with the front desk, they gave me the keys to two other empty rooms, to see if there were any good bulbs in them. So, now I have one good bulb, and one that works when I get it into the right position (and I left one good bulb in room #15!)

I also went to Captain Morgan’s resort, up the island about 3 miles, today. It was a hotel and timeshare place. Nice, but not real nice, so I didn’t think we should make it TRH #2.

Maybe I’ll try some diving, if the wind ever dies down to get onto one of the really small dive boats here.

Friday Night in Belize City

Well, 20+ dives later I am finished on the Belize Aggressor boat, and off tomorrow to San Pedro a small island north of Belize City. The Coral Beach Hotel, where I am staying, actually sounds a lot better than the $40USD per night would make you think. We'll see once I get there. Wednesday I am back in Belize City, then back to TRH on Saturday.

Wednesday Night in Amarillo

I made it to Amarillo, and am staying next door to the Amercan Quarter Horse Museum - AQHM. Bet you didn't even know there was one of those!!!

Well, now you know there is!!!!!!!! I went there, but didn't see any people or horses that I knew.

Monday Night, after the Salt Lick

I finally made it for some Austin BBQ - at Salt Lick BBQ. All you could eat of ribs, sausage, beef, etc, etc, etc, including pecan pie. I had tried to go to another BBQ place, Stubbs, on Sunday, but it was closed for a special party until 2pm - a church group had taken it over.

Salt Lick was probably better anyway!!

Saturday Night at the Bat Bridge

So, I went to the Friday's near the Congress Ave bridge, AKA "The Bat Bridge." http://austin.about.com/cs/bats/p/bats.htm. I had seen some of the bats before, a couple of years ago, so I know they are there. Thru November is supposed to be the prime time to see them. Well, after dinner along with several hundred, maybe thousands, of people I waited alongside the Bat Bridge to see the bats. I took this picture of the bats.

What, you can't see any bats???? Me neither.

Saturday Afternoon in Austin - Segwaying

I'm here for a seminar one week then an presentation the next week, so am in Austin for the weekend.

Today I rode a Segway around the sites of Austin. http://www.segcity.com/ It's a good way to get around! This was my second time on a Segway, the other was in Paris several years. The sites were different in Austin than in Paris!

I'm here until Tuesday, then to Amarillo for a couple of days. With all this time in Texas I'll be getting my Texan accent back if I am not careful.

Friday Night at TRH

Home for one more day, then a long trek stretch begins.

1. Atlanta on Sunday for a day, then to Austin and Amarillo until October 12.
2. Then Oct 13 off to Belize and Curacao (for diving AND work!) until Oct 27.
3. Then, beginning October 28 its London, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Riyadh, and back to TRH Nov 20, or so.

Whew!!

Sunday Night at TRH

Back home from T&T now. TRH Guys went to the Walk for the Animals in DC today, at the Mall. Lots of people and their dogs there. We walked about a mile in the Walk, but we actually spent more time watching people and dogs and playing on the agility course they had.

Lots of pictures here.

Saturday Morning - Leaving Trinidad

I'm finished diving in Tobago and working in Trinidad, now its back to TRH on a long afernoon and evening flight thru Miami. T&T doesn't really seem like a "foreign" country at all - English is the native language, so all the signs and menus and people are speaking a language I know! The only thing that gets in my way is the T&T accent, but after 10 days maybe my ears are getting used to it.

I guess to stay here longer I'd have to figure out what this "lime-in'" thing is - I don't think it has anything to do with limes, and I'm not sure it's something I would be good at. My guess is that limin' is something that back home we would call BS'n.

Saturday Afternoon at Blue Waters Inn

Five dives here in Tobago over three days - 85 degree water, live coral, and lots of little fish.

Nothing really big, other than a couple of nurse sharks, but the diving was good. As good as anywhere I have been in a while.

Now I'll stay out of the water for some time, then fly to Trinidad Sunday to lead classes Monday thru Friday.

Tuesday Night at TRH

I've been not blogging. Maybe I'll start again with this trip to Trinidad & Tobago. Ths-Sunday are diving at http://www.bluewatersinn.com/ in Tobago, then Monday thru Friday leading seminars in Trinidad at http://www.kapokhotel.com/.

We also went to a Range Rover Wheels event this weekend. Not nearly as muddy as in the spring - so I didnt get stuck even once! More LR3's there than real Range Rovers though.

Friday Night at TRH

Everybody's back at TRH now - for another day. Then the Shelties are off to WVa and TRH people are off to Palm Beach.

Tuesday Night at Caigers Resort

Diving for four days in the Thousand Islands in Canada. Perfect weather!! Saw Bolt Castle and Singer Castle today, along with six underwater wrecks so far. Two more to go tomorrow.

Friday Afternoon at TRH

Back from a short trip/long flight to Boston. Delay of 5 hours on the flight coming home last night. Instead of getting home at 9pm, it was well after 2am. They blamed it on storms in DC - but it all looked fine when I got home - and almost no rain.

I'm off tomorrow to Thousand Islands area of Ontario for scuba diving. Staying same place as last year, Caigers Resort. It's not really a resport on the same level as Lake Austin Spa and Inn at Little Washington!

http://www.caigers.com/index.htm

Tuesday Night Back at TRH

We're back from Assageague Island. The puppies still LOVE chasing the waves - Quince moreso than Hydro. I would upload some pictures, but for some reason Blogger is not cooperating. Oh Well.

Saturday Morning - On the Way to Assateague Island

Taking the puppies to the shore today. Will be the Rovers first time on the beach - we'll try and not get stuck!!! We'll stay three nights at the Chesapeak Hyatt Regency - our resort that we rent by the day instead of owning one!

Deborah actually has meetings Monday and Tuesday at the Hyatt, so the puppies and I will work, in the Hyatt - we'll also likely take some pictures, chase golf balls, and throw the frisbee!

Quince is all healed, so will chase the waves again - Hydro will follow as usual.

Sunday Night at TRH

Home now from LA, at least Deborah and I are. Tomorrow maybe we'll get the puppies back and all be home - for a day, before Deborah goes back to California!

Thursday Afternoon in Hollywood

Deborah and I are at the EY New Partners meeting, just outside of LA, in Hollywood. We'll stay a couple of days here, then move to another hotel/spa for the weekend. Back home to TRH on Sunday night.

Tuesday Afternoon in Iceland Airport

I survived another tour, this time to the west coast. Then vistied the Blue Lagoon and soaked in the hot water -- with about 200 other people! www.bluelagoon.com. The water was not realy blue, just cloudy green looking stuff. Now, I'm at the airport waiting on a 5pm flight to Baltimore, then on to TRH.

Iceland is worth the trip!!

Ghosts in Iceland

There's ghosts and elves everywhere here! If you look on a map, there is a special symbol for a "haunted place" and there must be 20 ghosts of the map of Iceland.

The walk I went on had lots of stories, and ended up in the Reykjavic cemetery. (I'm almost getting to where I can type Reykjavik without looking it up!!)

The guide was not dressed up on this one, like Boston -- this guy really believed in them!!! Even had his own research to prove the stories!!!

I'm heading for the Blue Lagoon Spa/Hot Pool tomorrow, then direct to the airports. Back at TRH for a night, then off to LA noon on Wednesday. Then back to TRH on Sunday night. Whew.

Sunday All Day in Iceland

I went on a southern coast bus tour today. 7:30am until 11pm --- long day, I am glad I wasnt driving! There is really neat countryside, mountains, deserts and coasts all along the way. It reminded me of driving in New Zealand, where even in a small space there are lots to see.

The best things were the black-sand beaches, the glacial lagoon, and the waterfalls -- oh, those are a little of everything, I guess!!

Friday Morning, Diving in Iceland

Well, they really do dive here -- www.diveiceland.com

Water temp around 2C -- that is below 40F!! But viz was over 100 feet - at least I think so because you could rarely see that far. We had good drysuits, though, and is was actually pleasant diving! The walk to and from the van was the hardest part!

Finished in Amsterdam - and on to Iceland

I'm finished in rainy Amsterdam.

And now in Reykjavik, Iceland. I went on a tour Thursday beginning at 6pm and ending at midnight. Now it is just about 1am and still light outside!!! I think there will be about 4 hours of darkness each day while I am here!!

Tomorrow, or later today I guess, I am going Scuba Diving here -- into a fusion crack that separates the plates of the Americas from the European continents. I think the dive will be into the slit shown in the picture below. I hope nothing shifts while I am underwater!!!

Thursday Noon - Leaving Lake Austin

Finished here in Austin, now it's back to TRH for two nights, then to Amsterdam. The Spa was nice!

Lots of fireworks last night in Austin - both city-sponsored and otherwise. Almost took a couple of rockets into the rental car during a drive to a mall -- where lots of people gathered to watch the city fireworks.

Left-overs from fireworks were everywhere today - but Deborah and I picked up ours. She shot her first Blackcats, Roman Candles, Disco Lights, and sparklers (she said she had done sparklers before.) Maybe going to the firework stand to buy them was the most fun of all!

Also saw the dam nearest the spa, holding back Lake Travis on the Colorado River.

Tuesday Morning Hike at the Spa

Another day, another hike with spa-girls!!! Only two more days of this to go!!

More Austin Spa Pics are at http://community.webshots.com/album/559730525dbiYme?vhost=community.

Monday Morning Hike at the Spa

Another morning another hike with the spa girls! This time, different ones!!

The activities center manager led the hike, and is at left. www.katherinecoffee.com.

Sunday Morning Hike at Lake Austin

It was a tough 2-hour hike, but some guy needed to go -- along with the 6 women!!! This SPA-thing may not be so bad!

Saturday Afternoon at Lake Austin Spa

Deborah and I made it to rainy Austin, where we are on Lake Austin -- but the Lake is closed because there is too much water!! So much rain here that they are letting water pass thru the Dam, and down river - and Lake Austin is really a 20+ mile long river. We're down river, so no one is allowed on the water. Even the "Slippery When Wet Signs" on the docks are mostly underwater!

Spa and golf courses are still open, though!

Friday Morning at TRH

I'm back from 3 days in cold San Francisco, now off today with Deborah to rainy Austin for a week. Puppies get to go to the country for a while.

Friday Night in Austin

Finished in Austin, and now back to TRH for a couple of days. Then SF, and back to Austin by this time next week!!!

Whew - lots of airline time. Oh, and then after Austin comes another A place, Amsterdam.

Sunday Morning at TRH

Home for a short weekend after being in Boston last week. Off to Minneapolis, Austin, SF, and Austin over the next three weeks, then to Amsterdam and Iceland. Whew!

Went on a Ghost Tour in Boston!! PS. that's a tour guide, not me, in the picture.

Wednesday, back at TRH

And just a short 14 hour plane ride, and I'm back at The Rock House! From the headlines, it looks like I made it out of Muscat just in time!!!

By SAEED AL-NAHDY, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 5, 7:01 PM ET
MUSCAT, Oman - Thousands of people fled low-lying areas as the strongest cyclone to threaten the Arabian Peninsula in 60 years blasted Oman's eastern coast early Wednesday with strong winds and waves, Civil Defense officials said.

This is my picture, taken Monday (below), vs a picture on the internet (above) from Wednesday!!! From almost exactly the same place along the corniche!!!

Tuesday Night back in Riyadh

Whew - I just made it out of Oman before the storm!! Gulf Air cancelled my original flight, so I ended up going from Muscat to Abu Dhabi to Bahrain to Riyadh instead for direct to Riyadh. But at least I made it!!! Others had their flights cancelled completely, and were trying to figure out where to go. Hope all weather the Cyclone OK in Oman.

Tomorrow at 8:30am I start back home, and should be back in DC just in time for the afternoon traffic!!

Tuesday Morning - leaving Oman before Cyclone Gonu

I'm leaving today at 2pm, and later tonight and tomorrow Cyclone Gonu will be here!! Gonu is coming, and I'm leaving just in time.!! On the Map, Oman is the country in the target area, and Muscat is just above where the largest "circle" is!! Seas wil be 30 feet higher than normal - that would put them right at the base of the Shangri-Li hotel I am staying in.

I'm going to Riyadh for a night, no Cyclones there, in the middle of the desert. Then on Wednesday morning I start back to TRH.

Monday Evening, last night in Muscat

The Souk was hot!!! Spent 3 hours there, and came away with nothing but a soaked shirt and pants - I guess I looked like I'd been diving!

Tomorrow I'll visit the Oman Air audit group, then head for Riyadh, and Wednesday back to TRH.

Sunday Night in Muscat

Well, the diving is still nothing to write home about. But since I started blogging it, I'll continue. Viz was only about 10-15 feet again today, and per the Dive Shop Manager, that's as good as it's been since he came in January. The cool water, down to 78F today, would be OK and the diving would be good, if you could see anything! But, it is pretty here - and barren at least in Muscat.

Tomorrow instead of diving I'm going to the Souk to shop!

Saturday Afternoon in Muscat

Did two dives today off the coast of Muscat, in the Arabian Sea. The other three divers were wow'd - said it was really great. I guess I really am spoiled, because it just wasn't!

It was OK, but only just that. Viz was maybe 20 feet, and temp was Chilly in my shorty wetsuit. Colder than in Bonaire. I was looking for warmer water, and much better viz, and much more stuff to see.

There were some big eels, and a nice wreck - but if I'd paid RT airfare to get to Oman to dive, I'm afraid I'd be disappointed. I can count at least 5 places I've been much closer to home that are better.

Maybe tomorrow I'll feel differently when I try again.

Friday Morning at the Shangri-La in Muscat

Well - it's even hotter here than Saudi - at least more humid. 105 F, at 11am. I had trouble taking pictures from the balcony because the camera lens would not un-fog!!

I flew from Saudi to Bahrain to Oman last night - about three hours of flying.



The Sultanate of Oman, right next door to UAE and Saudi Arabia, is very clean, pretty and easy to get into. No paperwork at all at customs. Just pay 6 Omanian Riyals fee ( $20USD or 70 AED - which I am using) and get a passport stamp. One of the customs guy said "your passport looks used, with lots of stamps in it - you aren't like most Americans!" I said yep, most Americans dont even have passports!!!

I need to do a bit of work today - internet access seems to be good - then will scuba dive for a couple of days. I'll also visit a company here, Oman Air, and talk to their internal audit group.

Wednesday Afternoon in Riyadh

Finished in Saudi Arabia for now, and heading for Muscat, Oman tomorrow. Diving there for three days, then returning to Riyadh on June 5 to fly back to US. Oman should be an adventure!! Never been there before.

Monday Afternoon at the Al Faisaliah Hotel

It rained in Riyadh today!!! Everyone was surprised - the storm lasted for almost 5 minutes, and it was cloudy for more than an hour!!! Temperature stayed right around 1oo degrees, though, so the water just dried right up!!

Oh, I am in Saudi Arabia again, for a couple of weeks. Everyone here has commented on my new look (3 weeks of no shaving), but no one yet thinks I look like a local. Maybe if the beard was some color other than gray it would make a difference.

Thursday Night at TRH

Been home, so not much bloggin'. But that's about to stop with a trip to Saudi next week for a couple of weeks. Let's see - high of 70 degrees here today, and the temperature range in Riyadh was low of 80 and high of 105. Guess it will be summer for me soon!!

Sunday Night at TRH

No flights today - History Flights called and said it was too windy. At least they called before we made the drive there. Don't know when we'll get it scheduled now - could be next year.

May 9 - Someone's Birthday

May 9, 1979 sounds like a long time ago, doesn't it?

So does September, 1979, when this photo was taken!

Happy Birthday!!!

(I'm going to get an email about this post!)

Monday Morning at TRH - Sprinkler Dog!

You know it's really spring time when Quince of The Rock House gets to play with his favorite toy, the lawn sprinkler!!

Saturday Morning - On the Way to Warrenton VA

It's Flight Time! Appointments today for a bi-plane ride in a WW2 fighter plane! Maybe we'll come back, and maybe we'll have pictures! http://www.historyflight.com/

A bust ---- drove 80 miles to get rained out!!! We'll try again next Sunday May 13.

Monday Night at TRH

Everyone's back at The Rock House for a while! And it's really springtime at TRH, I think!! At least I'm mowing the grass twice a week now!

Friday Morning in Rainy Toronto

I'm in Toronto for a couple of days, of rain and work. High Thursday was about 12C, and rainy all day. I'll head back to US today, overnight in Cumberland to take care of the Cumberland dogs, then pickup the Shelties in WV, then head back to TRH by Saturday afternoon.

Saturday Afternoon at TRH

Back at TRH now, after a snowy trip to Chicago. Lots of bumps on the airplane back this morning because of storms around DC. But, nice enough here to get the lawn mowed, finally!

Puppies are still in WV with Lucile, coming back on Monday - then everyone will be back at The Rock House.

Wednesday Night in Snowy Chicago

Well, I've been to Chicago when the weather was better than this! Snow, rain and 3 hours at the airport waiting for a gate to unload! And more of the same until I leave on Saturday morning. Yuk!

At least Flat Stanley had a good trip so far !!

Wednesday Morning, Leaving TRH

I'm off to Chicago for a couple of days - where they are predicting 1 inch of snow each day I am there. Guess it's not spring everywhere! I'll have to pack my snow shoes and my overcoat and hat, I guess. I was hoping I was thru with those for a while.

A week in Dallas

Oh, Dallas was last week, but I forgot to Blog it! Oh well, it was really cold anyway!! But, I did get a picture of the Morningside house - it still looks good, and the tree in front survived!

Saturday Afternoon at TRH

We have "generational ice" in the back yard! Despite the 60 and 70 degree weather, there were still some bits of ice, from the last snow, in the shadowed areas of the back yard. Now, it snowed again and covered those - so that's generational ice, right?

Monday Morning at TRH

We are all back at TRH now, after Bonaire (Deborah and I) and WV (Quince and Hydro). I'll be home for several weeks now, and Deborah will go back and forth to Camp Hill PA, as usual.

Snow is almost melted now. I broke up the last bits from the front and back porches yesterday, and put them in the sun to melt.

Friday Night at Harbour Village

Last night in Bonaire. 8:30 or 9:30am flight out tomorrow - there seems to be a disagreement between the hotel and the airline as to when the plane leaves. I guess either way we'll be there in time to fly to Houston and then to Washington. We should be at TRH by 6pm or so, and maybe to WV to get the Shelties on Sunday or Monday. I think its gonna be colder there than it is here!

Sunday Afternoon at Harbor Village

Deborah arrived OK at 5:30am this morning, and we are both at the HB. Deborah did her first dive in over 5 years and her ears seem to be OK, not great, but OK. So, we'll likely try some more dives (or at least a dive) tomorrow.

Saturday Afternoon at Harbour Village

I've moved from Buddy Dive Resort to Harbour Village. A definite move UP in class of hotel. Hope Deborah can dodge the incoming storms and business meetings to get here for the week!

Went cave snorkeling yesterday - really neat. There are two caves to tour here and over 200 caves on the island.

Wednesday Evening in Bonaire

Hey - I got luggage today - only 3.5 days late. I now have all the stuff that I didnt carry in my dive bag - things like clothes, and my digital camera housing. Now I can take underwater pictures again!! I dont know where the bag spent the time, but I'm glad it came back to me. I was beginning to worry.

Still rainy here, but diving goes own. Helma Hooker and site on the island today. Texmex food tonight at the Lions Den. And more diving, with camera and swimsuit, tomorrow!

Tuesday Morning in Rainy Bonaire

Overcast and rainy here - but still warm and likely better than back in Icy Bethesda. My dive bag arrived with me Sunday morning, but luggage, with everything except dive gear, is still lost somewhere on Continental Airlines. Maybe I'll hear today that they know where it is - but I am not holding my breath!!

Saturday, Leaving TRH

I'm heading south, away from the ice and snow, and toward scuba diving in Bonaire. Overnight flight, then I'll be there Sunday morning. A week at Buddy Dive Resort, then to Harbor Village where Deborah joins me until March 3. Maybe it will spring when we get back - or at least maybe the ice piled up against the door will have thawed.

Wednesday Back at TRH

I'm back at home after two days near Winston-Salem leading a training seminar. I drove part of the way back home in the rain yesterday - then the rest this morning after a good icing. Took me 4 hours to go what should have taken about 2 hours. Lots of time looking at the back ends of trucks on Interstate 81. A couple of days here, starting with shoveling snow, then to Bonaire on Saturday.

Friday Noon in the Basement of TRH

In the basement, watching two plumbers install a new water heater. Old one, may have been 15+ years old, is finally getting replaced. But, since I have a computer in the basement (and kitchen and office) I can still do email and internet and work. Such a deal.

Off to NC next week for two days of teaching, then back home for several days before scuba diving in Bonaire Feb 17 to March 1. It's strange there is 80+ degree weather somewhere, when its been below 30 here for almost two weeks!

Saturday Afternoon at TRH

Everyone is back at TRH now, at least for a couple of days. Next travel trip for me is Greensboro for a couple of days February 12-13, then to Bonaire for a couple of weeks of Scuba Diving. Deborah will join me in Bonaire after some more trips up to PA.

Plus, I redid my web site, let me know what you think.

Monday Night in St Louis

I'm in cold St Louis for a three day seminar. Shelties are staying at Al and Pats and enjoying romping in the snow. Not much snow at TRH, but it was the first snow of the year.

I'm staying at the Drury Hotel nearby the Arch. It's a dreary hotel all right!

Home Again

I survived the Birds of Austin - 60+ birds in downtown dropping dead for no reason. Now I am back at TRH for a week, before St Louis Jan 23-25.

Sunday Night at TRH

Been home for a while now, but will be in Austin Wed-Friday this week for my first teaching gig of 2007.