Sunday, July 29, 2007
Fatal turn of events
When the media becomes a part of their own story what perspective are you really getting when other media reports it? Every news station in the nation reported on a story that happened here next to where I work in the capital of Arizona. Lot's of emotional terminology was used to describe the events that went down literally on this day. The afternoon of July 27th was disrupted by a police chase through the streets of down town Phoenix resulting in a precedent to future aeronautical inquires. How does a car running from police end in the deaths of four occupants in two separate aircraft? Chanel 3 and Chanel 15 helicopters were hot on the story when the driver of the stolen car exited the vehicle fleeing police. During this time the two choppers became part of the story after they collided killing all four of the pilots and photographers in the air. No one on the ground was hurt as their aircrafts fell lifeless from the sky crashing into a small park. Onlookers from the ground reported seeing one chopper hovering stationary while the other crashing into it. Other reports state a draft may have sucked the two craft into this fatal result. The suspect was later captured with the help of a canine unit that put the individual in the hospital from injuries sustained from the canine.In all four people died and a criminal will be faced with multiple felony charges and potential accessory to murder. If the criminal had not been eluding police the event would not have happened. Should he be held accountable for the deaths of the news crews?
A little down home
I always look forward to coming home to my wife. More often than not she has something fun going on. If you know me you know I always have to be doing something that includes a gathering of people. Probably the best company/family south of the Colorado River are Jenni's brother, sister and their son. The Reeder's are a force to be reckoned with and I officially call worthiness to their clan. To simplify things I call them the three D's, affectionately of course. The three D's are comprised of Daniel or "Danny" as his sister Jenni calls him causing a furious contempt, Deanna his fiancee, and Daniel the man-boy miniature Bruce Willis with a personality akin to Robin Williams. Little D's reaction to falling down "Look, Look at this it didn't hurt" Few bones get to see the light of day. All our boys display them proudly. Of course out of tradition we sacrificed bovine sending up bbq, hickory smoked goodness to the gods. Riley Martin Bo'jangles O'sage was as usual center stage all night passing out floppy eared charm to any audience willing to endure puppy breath, when he wasn't eating crickets that is. In the end music, conversation and good food sent the night to our memories. God willing may we all live long and happy lives never forgetting the times.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Trip Home
This whole story isn't just an excuse as to why I didn't get a chance to see my beautiful mother and sisters who I miss dearly. Miss you too Doug but it wouldn't be cool if I called you beautiful. How about studly? Not sure that works either.
Anyways if I left the Emerald City story where I did I wouldn't have gotten home. Crabs and melted butter are great but it was time to hit the road. I of course worked harder than Jenni during the feast and advised her that she would have to do the driving. The Pass was awe inspiring as usual according to Jenni, I was sleeping. Following the river on up into Leavenworth was a refreshing change from the 112 degree weather us Arizonians boil in all summer. We got out stretched our legs and marched straight to an assault on Uncle Ule's Pub. We were doing fine until flip flop number one went down a foot off the ground causing a catastrophic failure of all systems. I ditched and skidded into an outdoors store for a replacement pair of flip flops. Anyone who has any experience with this sort of thing knows that if one fails they both need replacing. Uncle Ulie's Pub is just at the end of the strip if your traveling east. They offer up some of the best braught's in all of Washington. We arrived in Chelan around 6PM. You can never sneak up on grandma she always seems to know your coming before you do. We drifted off to sleep with a belly full of beans. Needless to say Jenni woke me up a couple of times during the night. I kid you my friend! Sunrises at the Sikes Ranch start out by being awakened by diesel tractors and airplanes. If grandpa doesn't get to you first with his tomato garlic omelet that stays on your breath all day. I think Jenni might have been born on a 4 wheeler. Her smile would have scared the fish out of the Columbia if the wind hadn't hidden it behind her thick brown hair. Grandpa taught me that old trick with atv's and girls along time ago. The hardest part is getting them on one in the first place. The second their caboose hits the seat burn orchard bark and you own'em. Theres nothing better than a pretty girl holding on tight at high speed dodging never ending green apple trees in a cool breeze.
Anyways if I left the Emerald City story where I did I wouldn't have gotten home. Crabs and melted butter are great but it was time to hit the road. I of course worked harder than Jenni during the feast and advised her that she would have to do the driving. The Pass was awe inspiring as usual according to Jenni, I was sleeping. Following the river on up into Leavenworth was a refreshing change from the 112 degree weather us Arizonians boil in all summer. We got out stretched our legs and marched straight to an assault on Uncle Ule's Pub. We were doing fine until flip flop number one went down a foot off the ground causing a catastrophic failure of all systems. I ditched and skidded into an outdoors store for a replacement pair of flip flops. Anyone who has any experience with this sort of thing knows that if one fails they both need replacing. Uncle Ulie's Pub is just at the end of the strip if your traveling east. They offer up some of the best braught's in all of Washington. We arrived in Chelan around 6PM. You can never sneak up on grandma she always seems to know your coming before you do. We drifted off to sleep with a belly full of beans. Needless to say Jenni woke me up a couple of times during the night. I kid you my friend! Sunrises at the Sikes Ranch start out by being awakened by diesel tractors and airplanes. If grandpa doesn't get to you first with his tomato garlic omelet that stays on your breath all day. I think Jenni might have been born on a 4 wheeler. Her smile would have scared the fish out of the Columbia if the wind hadn't hidden it behind her thick brown hair. Grandpa taught me that old trick with atv's and girls along time ago. The hardest part is getting them on one in the first place. The second their caboose hits the seat burn orchard bark and you own'em. Theres nothing better than a pretty girl holding on tight at high speed dodging never ending green apple trees in a cool breeze.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Emerald City: The Aftermath
Best laid plans have laid me out. Wow I don't know how I have the energy to write this now and it is already a day later. Where do I begin? Let's see I had all the plans set up ahead of time right down to the gas needed to cover the mileage. Jenni and I left for Mamma McCasland's house to drop off Riley Bojangles O'Sage (our dog) probably confused by his name no less than I am. We couldn't take him with us in fear of him chewing the wing off the plane. The next morning around 4AM a family friend named Wally picked us up from home and dropped us off at the Sky Harbor airport. We flew from Phoenix to Reno where they managed to loose our luggage and then on to Seattle. All the reports gave me reason to expect better than average weather,laugh. Oh well after the wedding we would be heading over the mountains to soak up some guaranteed Chelan sun anyways. After spending two hours waiting for luggage that would never arrive we asked that they send it on to a wedding we were to attend in a couple of hours. We called the shuttle, were taken to the rental car location and of course there was no car. It was given away hours ago. We paid for the upgrade and were on our way to catch the transport to the wedding called a party bus. All was heading in the right direction after check in and relaxing for an hour until we stood long enough in the rain to come to the realization that the party bus stopped coming an hour ago. After a quick disruption call into the groom the bus did eventually show and dropped us off at the wedding just after the ceremony ended. I figured this wasn't that important since we didn't have clothes appropriate to attend a wedding in the first place compliments of the airlines. The reception was off the chain Skully looked like a stud and Carlee like a princess turned queen. We were able to catch up with all the old chums from college years. My old boys distracted my wife long enough for me to spill some champaign on the grand piano during a prelude to sticks in ? minor. The next day we made a quick trip for brunch down to the Pike Place Market. I threw Jenni in the bay tied to a crab pot with a tuna can in her mouth. The intention was to catch lunch, no luck. We decided on a sit-down at the Crab Pot restaurant content on wrestling over a seafood smörgåsbord with hammers, bibs and melted butter.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Riley Martin Bojangles O'Sage
Riley is a pure bred German Short Hair Pointer from the O'Sage lineage of champion hunting pointers. He is at the time of this post 12 weeks old. He's great with the family and loves the attention he gets from people at the outdoors stores. Sometimes if we put him in a shopping cart he will put his two paws up front and center leading the way ready for anything. On occasion to assure he is comfortable with guns I take him to the Rio Salido shooting range. Come September I plan on taking him out to get a feel for some of the native bird habitats here in Arizona. He hasn't met the cactus or rattle snake yet. Hope that instinct stuff kicks in before to much damage occurs.
Trip to good old evergreen Washington
I've lived here in Arizona now for almost a year and can honestly say I haven't run out of things to explore. I look forward to hunting come September, Fishing in the fall and camping from Spring till the sun drys it up.
Our trip to Washington will commence at 4:30 in the morning. I will be detouring to the noggen trimming shack tonight before batting down the hatches on the home front due to a storm advisory detailing strong winds from the southeast. last night our patio chair blew away. Father fury wind master left the bbq to fan the flames another day I suppose.
Can't wait to show my new girly wifey Washington State and all its splendor. I Really do miss green trees as far as the eye can see broken only by the mountainous shards of granite and glacier jetting into the deep blue sky. When its not raining of course.
Get ready west coast family I will be making the mad dash through Seattle tomorrow in a Ford Taurus Rental beater with unlimited miles. Then its on to peruse the North Cascades and the Cascade loop. Gotta take a pic or two at diablo lake. John Wane ain't got nothing on me. I'm taking over Winthrop and all their hot air balloons. After a brief jaunt up the Columbia river we will land in Chelan just in time for Granny Sikes Fresh Hot Apple Pie! Don't forget grandpas bbq spare ribs mopped in homemade barbecue sauce and smoked to carnal perfection. Should be illegal but these two varmit-hunting Sikestonians get leniency for time served.
Our trip to Washington will commence at 4:30 in the morning. I will be detouring to the noggen trimming shack tonight before batting down the hatches on the home front due to a storm advisory detailing strong winds from the southeast. last night our patio chair blew away. Father fury wind master left the bbq to fan the flames another day I suppose.
Can't wait to show my new girly wifey Washington State and all its splendor. I Really do miss green trees as far as the eye can see broken only by the mountainous shards of granite and glacier jetting into the deep blue sky. When its not raining of course.
Get ready west coast family I will be making the mad dash through Seattle tomorrow in a Ford Taurus Rental beater with unlimited miles. Then its on to peruse the North Cascades and the Cascade loop. Gotta take a pic or two at diablo lake. John Wane ain't got nothing on me. I'm taking over Winthrop and all their hot air balloons. After a brief jaunt up the Columbia river we will land in Chelan just in time for Granny Sikes Fresh Hot Apple Pie! Don't forget grandpas bbq spare ribs mopped in homemade barbecue sauce and smoked to carnal perfection. Should be illegal but these two varmit-hunting Sikestonians get leniency for time served.
People I've met
I just got off the phone with Ragtime Jack from the band Electras. Someone stole his domain name for the website johnkerryandtheelectras.com Sure enough there's Jack, and John Kerry in an old black and white photo of there band from the sixties. It's interesting the people from all over the world that you get to talk to on the phone.
Michael K. part owner of Ivory Jazz Wine and music bar invited me and the wife to a free brew if we get a chance to stop in on our way through on our trip through Washington.
People I've met in one form or another through my working life so far. God knows I have a lot more time to work.
Jason Grill Misouri State representative
Jerry Rice
Edgar Martinez with his wife and daughter
Bill Gates didn't really talk to him though
I'm sure I've met a few others but can't think of them right now.
It was very windy last night. The humidity has started rolling through from the south easterly direction. All AC all the time. They say you step out of one refrigerator and into another to keep alive down here. Last couple of days it let up as far as the temperature. It's sitting at a nice easy 112 degrees. Suits me fine I BBQ with the misters on any way and it tricks me into thinking it's not humid after all. The only down side to all this sun is that its to hot to actually stay in it long enough to get a tan. When I stand naked in the dark I glow. If it weren't for my hair sweater my wife would get no sleep at all.
Michael K. part owner of Ivory Jazz Wine and music bar invited me and the wife to a free brew if we get a chance to stop in on our way through on our trip through Washington.
People I've met in one form or another through my working life so far. God knows I have a lot more time to work.
Jason Grill Misouri State representative
Jerry Rice
Edgar Martinez with his wife and daughter
Bill Gates didn't really talk to him though
I'm sure I've met a few others but can't think of them right now.
It was very windy last night. The humidity has started rolling through from the south easterly direction. All AC all the time. They say you step out of one refrigerator and into another to keep alive down here. Last couple of days it let up as far as the temperature. It's sitting at a nice easy 112 degrees. Suits me fine I BBQ with the misters on any way and it tricks me into thinking it's not humid after all. The only down side to all this sun is that its to hot to actually stay in it long enough to get a tan. When I stand naked in the dark I glow. If it weren't for my hair sweater my wife would get no sleep at all.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Day by day
This is entry number one of the fantastic journey called The Sikestonian Journal.
We will be posting news, writings, pictures, ideas, links, talking to family and whatever else we can conjure up.
I'm at work right now don't tell anyone I sell web hosting and one of my biggest competitors is the blog. Not necessarily true however. In fact the blog is fast becoming an essential tool in the web hosting industry. Not to mention its relevance pertaining to communication portals vital to companies and their customers. Front page of the Arizona Republic on 07/18/07 had an article talking about two grad students traveling across the west coast promoting their blog. They were getting paid via sponsorship for all this. Very cool. 07/19/07
My wife and I will be attending the Skully-Roberts wedding on 07/21/07. Daren and Carlee are a fun couple. I met Scully for the first time at Good Guys in Bellingham, Wa back in 1998. Interesting character to say the least. We will be heading to Chelan the next day and then back to Arizona on the 24th at 1am in the morning.
We will be posting news, writings, pictures, ideas, links, talking to family and whatever else we can conjure up.
I'm at work right now don't tell anyone I sell web hosting and one of my biggest competitors is the blog. Not necessarily true however. In fact the blog is fast becoming an essential tool in the web hosting industry. Not to mention its relevance pertaining to communication portals vital to companies and their customers. Front page of the Arizona Republic on 07/18/07 had an article talking about two grad students traveling across the west coast promoting their blog. They were getting paid via sponsorship for all this. Very cool. 07/19/07
My wife and I will be attending the Skully-Roberts wedding on 07/21/07. Daren and Carlee are a fun couple. I met Scully for the first time at Good Guys in Bellingham, Wa back in 1998. Interesting character to say the least. We will be heading to Chelan the next day and then back to Arizona on the 24th at 1am in the morning.
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