7-9-08

About a month ago I had the pleasure of hopping on an airplane and flying home from somewhere and at that time I remembered what it was like to be a FIG (Fly-in-guy). Not a bad job if you can get it. Well, after testing in Denver, we decided to leave the rig at Bandimere Speedway and, you guessed it, fly home. That was last week. Today, Toni had booked us a return flight to Denver (via Atlanta) which was to depart Washington DC at 6:30 a.m. this morning. Since we both have been swamped at home and the shop, and it was my birthday today, we decided to change the flight to depart at 6:30 pm instead. In doing this, we both gained another 12 hours of work time before we had to be gone for three weeks. Oh boy, bad decision!

Since leaving the shop at 4:00 this evening, we have waited two hours for the flight to board and then had the pleasure of sitting on the tarmac for another three hours. Not to mention the fact that the last Air Tran flight from Atlanta to Denver was scheduled to leave two hours ago.  However, I’m ever the optimist and I just know that when I finally land in Atlanta, my flight to Denver will surely be waiting for me to board. Okay, maybe not.

I am sure that anyone who travels the friendly skies has experienced the same thing but I have to say, I never had a ground hold on my GMC Volvo tractor except if you count the time I got snowed in Flagstaff, Ariz., this past winter. Okay, enough of my complaining. I guess, no matter what, I’ll get there faster than if I had to drive to Denver again even if I do have to spend the night in Atlanta.

Well, when we get to Denver we have a lot of things to do. For one thing I have to wash and park the rig. Jamie is already there and had tried to park the rig for me, but by the time he knew that I might not make it in tonight, they had closed parking for the evening. Didn’t anyone get the memo that it was my birthday and I was supposed to have special treatment today?! Jamie has assured me that everything will be ok and he and Melissa will have the truck washed and parked by the time we get there. Of course, I am still banking on my connecting flight sitting at gate D6 just waiting for me to arrive. It never hurts to hope for the best, right?

While at home these last few days, we have spent long days preparing for our western swing. There have been parts to be ordered, parts to be shipped, travel plans to be made but in the middle of all of that I decided to stop and take a day to celebrate July 4th with my family.

This has been the first time in about five years that I have been in town for the 4th and to make it even better, we had our boat here at home. Of course, there is nothing better than watching the Washington Monument fireworks display from the bow of the boat on the Potomac River. You can’t get a better seat than that. The weather was a little uncooperative but between the rain showers we had a great time and saw an awesome fireworks display. We shared the evening with all of our family and tied our boat up with our good friends Carlton and Debbie Phillips from Prince William Marina. After the show, we idled our way through the masses of boats and carefully made our way back to marina. It was a wonderful evening and I think everyone had a great time.

We have been working at the shop since Friday and I think that we are ready for our 2008 Western Swing. Of course that would require that I actually get to Denver but like I said, I am the world’s biggest optimist. Oh, the captain has just announced that we will be landing soon so I best close this blog. Maybe if I get on the ground sometime tonight I will get this sent. I have included some pictures of our July 4th celebration; hope you enjoy them. Thanks for checking in and stayed tuned for my report from Denver.

7-10-08

Guess what? I know you noticed the date. Well, we did land last night and our connecting flight was sitting at its gate and we had plenty of time to make our connection. Unfortunately, when we pulled up to our gate, another plan was sitting there and sitting there, and sitting there. An hour later, we had watched our connecting flight depart and we were still sitting outside of our gate. By the time we pulled in and stopped it was after midnight and my birthday was officially over. Toni looked at me, laughed, and said, “Was it good for you?” Funny girl.

So, here I am at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning, finally westbound to Denver. We are scheduled to arrive about 10:30 a.m. Jamie and Melissa have been at the track since 5:45 a.m. this morning washing the rig and getting it parked. Jamie doesn’t have his CDL but does a really good job maneuvering that big rig and with Melissa there to help him, they should be just fine. I figure that by the time I arrive at the track the rig will be washed, parked and I bet they will have the awning up. Melissa sent me a text message just before I took off and said, “Everything’s going great Dad, Happy Birthday!” Aren’t kids the best?!