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April 7, 2006

IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!

We're baaack!!

Let's back up a bit and I will finish our trip to Arizona. We had a wonderful time and it was sunny most of the days. In fact, the temps got up into the 90's the last few days that we were there. That's almost too hot for us, and even the Arizonans were heading in out of the sun when the temp hit 90. Sure wish we could have had some of that when we went up to the Grand Canyon!

Since I wasn't able to post any pictures over the Phoenix trip, I posted a few in the next sentence to give you an idea of what I've been talking about for the past couple of weeks. Click here for pictures.

Arizona doesn't have any recycling that we could figure out. The only thing they recycle is paper. Being from the recycling capital of the world, I really felt guilty about tossing tin cans, glass, plastic, etc. in the garbage. I guess they figure they have the whole desert to dispose of their waste.

Another thing I forgot to mention were the hot air balloons that floated over the neighborhood bright and early each morning. The first time I heard them I was laying in bed and this hissing sound began. It sounded like a fire eating dragon on the roof. I thought, "what is that?" So I ran outside in my nightgown and about 50 feet above me is this balloon full of people. I grabbed the camera and took a few pictures before I returned in the house. I suppose they were taking pictures of the crazy lady in her nightgown! Anyway, at times you can spot 8 or 10 balloons in the sky. What a sight.

We picked up my sister and brother-in-law at the airport on Sunday evening. We knew about when they were to arrive and so the plan was to wait in the "holding area" until they called us on our cell phone to say that they had secured their baggage and were ready to be picked up at the curb. This is really a great system, as you don't have to keep driving around until they are ready. As we were waiting in the holding area we noticed that they had handicapped parking available. This really didn't make much sense to us because directly in front on the handicapped parking was a sign telling everyone to stay in their cars. Why would you need handicapped access to and from your car when they won't allow you to leave your car in that area? We got a chuckle out of that and guessed that it had to do with some Federal Regs as this sounds like something the government would do. Anyway, we got our call and picked them up and boy were they tired and glad to be home. They had spent the night in London, but it was still 12 hours from Tel Aviv to Phoenix.

Our flight for Portland left on Tuesday afternoon. We should have guessed something would go wrong when they questioned us at the check-in counter about our tickets. You know it isn't your day when they look up your name on the computer and after telling you to stay right there, disappear with your identification behind closed doors! Somehow our names came up on the "terrorist watch list" on their computer. So they had to call their corporate office and get that cleared up before they could issue us our tickets. They never did explain why we were able to fly to Phoenix with no problem, but they weren't going to let us back on a plane to go home! Anyway, that took a while, and then we were on our way. We still had plenty of time and boarded the plane for departure. We were racing down the runway; just a couple of seconds from lift off, the plane came to a screeching halt! They nailed the brakes and hit those retro-burners or whatever they use to stop the plane, and we nearly had to pick our faces out of the seatback in front of us. After we came to a stop, the pilot informed us that a warning light was flashing on the instrument panel and so we headed back to the terminal. After about 15 minutes waiting inside the plane they decided that whatever it was, it couldn't be fixed. They made us all get off and go to another gate, which was clear across the airport and get on another plane. That took another hour and so we were two hours late leaving Phoenix. Then the weather was so bad that we had to wear our seat belts the whole way home. The plane was bouncing all over the place and we needed the belts just to keep from flying right out of the seat! I never was so glad to get back on earth in my whole life. It was the worst flight I had ever been on and was ready for a stiff drink by the time we got to Lara and Greg's. We spent the night with them as we had a Blazer game on Wednesday and then after the game we headed back home to the coast.

I spent most of Thursday washing clothes, sorting mail and paying bills. It feels great to be back in Oregon again even if it is raining. My skin got so dry in Arizona that it feels good to soak in a little moisture.

Today I have to run back into town as I have an appointment to get my teeth cleaned and also to get my nails done. Dave has a game tonight so we will drive in separately as I want to get back home again.