Being in the MidWest during the spring/Summer period.

One of the biggest things I learned while being in the St Louis area is to bring wet wipes. The air is hot and muggy and doesn't take long for sweat to dry that sticky coating that seems to add pounds to one's shoulders. Wet wipes will help clean it away and the alcohol will have a cooling affect, refreshing.

Riding a train

Some things I would remember if I should ever take a train trip. One bring money. There isn't a cruise ship, and unless one is in a sleeper you must pay for your food. The good stuff is served in the dining car and that cost money. There is also the little thing called the club car. It’s nothing more than a snack car but it comes in handy, and it calls for cash also. Dinners are about $20, it could go up or down as one is frugal but on avg its 20 dollars. Botttle water is $2, and wine is five. There is potable water available at a dispenser and its for free but I like my water in a handy dandy bottle and so I’ll spend the two bucks for the bottle and spend the rest of the time just filling up the bottle.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the train is moving. As it moves forward a varying speed it’ll move side to side. Most of the time one can get by with the popeye walk but when the train picks up speed or turns a corner the rythum is cast askelter and what ever balance you had will be thrown off with it. Because of this, just when underway on a small boy(smaller than a cruise ship), it helps to hold on to stuff or at least keep your hands out for ready support.
When eating at the dining car it is community dining so if you are going stag and aren’t here to meet people, you’re going to meet people anyway. You could stare out the window while the others hold conversation, if you want, but the whole fun of it is the fellowship. As a RV is like a land yacht so a train is a land cruise ship, if you didn’t want to meet people you might be better off flying or driving. There are people that ride the train regularly, and, like me ,they are vacationing, they get out to see America.
Just like a model train trains travel through neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods are poor and the scenery is that of graffiti, but some are middle to upper class neighborhoods. Even lower income neighborhoods have something to behold though so don’t discount them. Yes there are loads of industrial areas, and grafitti but there are skate park and community centers. There is also a tendency of people to watch as the train goes by, just watching wondering where are you going and what it would be like to be in your seat.
Another thing is there is no shower on a train, at least if not in a sleeper, so bring some wet wipes. If you use a sleep remember to hold onto the rail provided always, just like on a ship. There are stories about those that do not, and they aren't pretty.
Bring enough toys to keep yourself busy. With my Laptop for games, movies, and journaling; my PSP; and books I always had something to do.
So yes being on a train for 37 hrs is my limit, but I like it better than flying, scenery looks bettter from ground level. It is relaxed on a train, people are in such a hurry on planes that by the time you get where you want to be your all stressed out and that isn't anyway to start your vacation.

Maria and the kids left today for CT. Already I miss them, sure there are time I would rather hide at the bottom of the ocean. But, it hurts to be a little kid. You can't walk as far as adults can. They always seem to be talking about things you don't understand, whether one concept are not yet that developed or because one was not yet alive when certain references were given certain meaning. Of course if one is use to being the center of attention then how much more of a pain it is to be ignored as the adults reaquaint themselves.

Airplane crashes on the I78

I read a story today about a pilot that crashed his plane while testing an engine. The better part of the story is the comments after the story. I haven't so much anger and bitterness, since there were rumors that our deployment was extended. I'm sure after that pilot and the powers that be put there heads together they might come up with a lessons learned, like maybe stay within a certain area of the airfield.
Some of the people like myview betrays the fact (he/she) doesn't know anything about San Diego Freeways because (he/she)claimed that if the pilot had his wife with him he would of have landed his plane in the HOV lane. News report people there isn't an HOV lane on the 78.
Mr. Accountability figures that the pilot is stupid to want to fly again. This is the pilot's first crash in 40 yrs of flying, I've crashed my car once in the 22 yrs I've been driving but it never entered my mind that maybe I should stop driving. That would be a defeatist idea, and anyone making a comment like that I hope is working the drive thru at Burger King. Otherwise I may have to work for (him/her).
Mr. Jason Believes how irresponsible of the man to want to test fly an engine. I don't really think want has anything to do with it. The plane wasn't even his that means his job is to pilot it, he was just the main pilot.
The gist of this is to do ones homework before jotting down the first thing that comes to ones mind. This is a democratic society yes, and freedom of speech grease that keeps is going, but just because one has something to say doesn't mean it needs to be heard. If you don't have the nuts to make your self known, if you are only comfortable hiding behind an assumed name than why are you talking.
Many would find it rediculous that a person who calls himself squidb8 would say such a thing but my profile is available for all to peruse at their leisure.