"Things are more like they are now than they have ever been." - Gerald Ford

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A happy 4th, and a heartfelt Thank You to those who continue to make our freedom possible!

I didn't post last night. We got up at 3:30 a.m. Phoenix time, left about 90 minutes later and drove 14 hours from Denver home. We met Pam and Michelle for dinner at Babbo's and got home a little before 9 p.m. I went almost directly to bed. Composing even a single coherent sentence was out of the question.

But now, after almost 24 hours of recovery I'm almost back to normal - so long as normal includes a digestive system totally out of whack, a sore throat and zero energy. With that disclaimer...

Reflections on a Road Trip

• It is almost exactly 900 miles from Steve's house to the Renaissance Hotel in Denver.
  
• There's some beautiful and varied scenery along the way.
• Most of the route is above 4,000' elevation. But it sure ain't flat! Up and down and up and down and up and...you get the idea. I think our highest point was 7,000'.
• A 2005 xB goes down a lot better than it goes up. That automatic transmission was busy going between gears doing it's best to maintain freeway speeds and could only manage 60 mph for most climbs (the speed limit was 75 mph most of the time).
• The trade-off was gas mileage between 30 and 32 mpg.
  
• How do deer know that they have to stop crossing the road after the next 5 miles?
• There's a McDonald's in Gallup NM that has found a way to expand delivering a Quarter Pounder into a 30-minute process. Kudos, folks!
• "One-Third Pounder" doesn't have the same ring to it, but that hasn't kept it off the menu.
• The sign says "6% Grade." Six percent of what?? I have no idea, and so the warning is meaningless. (there's another sermon illustration in there someplace) Do you know the reference point for that 6%?
  
• Pronghorn antelope are cool looking animals. Turns out they aren't antelope, animals that don't lose their horns (these do). I've tried to find out the difference between whatever Pronghorns are and deer, but w/o success.
• It would be easier to think highly of Native American culture if they thought more highly of it themselves. The endless string of cheesy tourist traps peddling "Jewelry made by Indians!" and "Mocasins for the whole family", all sold at sites adorned with fake TeePees in the parking lots, turns a proud culture into a charicature of itself.
• There are some REALLY long trains crossing the southwest! And a lot of long trains of presumably empty box cars parked out there, too.
• Somebody should standardize the keypad on gas pumps. Can we agree to put the "yes" an "no" buttons in the same place on every one? And the "enter" button, too?
• And why do the pumps here require that I enter either my zip code or my PIN before they'll let me use my debit card, but out in the middle of New Mexico no information is required?
• One more. Those NM gas pumps do ask me, "Do you know your PIN #?" I searched for, eventually found and then pressed the "Yes" button. I was then told, "Remove nozzle, select grade and begin pumping." What if I had punched "no"??? How about, "OK, go inside and they'll give you one to use if you're ever asked for it."
• Why is WiFi free at a Motel Six but costs $10 a day in a $95 a night hotel?
• I don't care where I am, I simply must fold a bath towel in thirds and hang it on the towel rack when I'm done with it. My mother's influence. Some day I'm going to screw up the courage to throw it in a heap on the room's bathroom floor but I'm pretty sure that as soon as I do that the desk will call my room and tell me I'll be charged another $50 for that act of rebellion.
  
• Five days, three meals a day, all purchased at one establishment or another makes one really hunger for a simple home cooked meal.
• Report: While at the convention I sold curriculum to 11 customers who bought a total of 20 CD's (a combination of Teacher's and Student's CD's). All of those who purchased CD's will (or should) order additional Student CD's when they find out how many will be taking the class when it's taught. I also talked to several others who told me they'll be mailing me an order when they get home. I consider the trip a success from this standpoint. I had no idea what to expect but got a warm reception to the material. In addition to orders that have already come through the mail I've now sold the curriculum to 18 churches and individuals. It will be used for teens, for adult Bible studies and in home school settings. Some of it is going to be sent oversees - Africa, South America and Thailand. Gratifying! And I think, based on what I've heard, this list of users will grow significantly.

OK, that's enough for tonight. More tasks in prep for tomorrow and an early bedtime.
I'll be back to regular posts now. See you tomorrow night.