TIME WARP TO ELY, NEVADA

First of all, Ely is one big giant TIME WARP.

Nothing changes! That’s part of the beauty of the place. Sometimes people retrospectively wish they could time warp back to their childhood, I literally can. Just a plane ride away!

Vacations are supposed to be stress free, but this was not the case. Though I’m not complaining because the stress was due to chaotic schedule required to see every single person that I wanted to see. Right when I got back, I had to recitals back-to-back that starred one of my favorite little people, my niece. The first was a gymnastic recital, and the second was a dance recital. I haven’t seen my niece in over a year, and just as she was lining up with the rest of the girls to perform, she spotted me for the first time. Her eyes got big and I waved whispering "I love you!" and my sister pushed down my hand for fear she would run off the stage and give me a big hug which I truthfully would have been all for. I had a great time hanging out with my family & I CANNOT BELIEVE how big my younger niece has gotten but she is DAMN cute! J

The great thing about this visit was that all of my friends that I was able to visit are at a really great place in their lives right now. I was able to see my friend Donavan which I was grateful for being that by the time I was able to see him, he would be leaving for Ecuador in less than 24 hours. I got to see Tricia in at her new job, which she loves. I was able to see Amber who is probably experiencing one of the most happy and exciting times in her life next to the birth of her perfect son. I hung out with Chris who has made some very positive and responsible life choices and is a better person for it. I’m proud of him. I also was able to have a nice long conversation with my uncle Kenny & my cousin Lisa on why we don’t frequent the local McDonalds. The only regret I have is I wish I’d had more time to spend with my grandparents. I rode back up to Vegas with my mom and my uncle Billy where we were entertained by Bernard Goldberg’s "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America". Though we differ politically as Franken is to O’reilly, I must admit, I did agree with a few of those choices on the list, ie: Rick & Kathy Hilton for succeeding in raising the most superficial child on the planet. Courtney Love (no explanation needed) & Michael Jackson (also no explanation needed) My uncle Billy is probably one of my most favorite people to politically spar with. It’s fun & never gets heated.

I arrived back in New York City a day into this stupid transit strike. I waited at the airport forever because there is a new policy that no one with less than 4 people can cross the bridge into Manhattan. My roommate Mikki pretty much summed up my feelings about th e situation on her website if you want to check it out.

http://www.scribbledthoughts.com/union.htm

This morning I woke up at 4am to catch a ride downtown with one of my co-workers. I am writing this at 10am and I am not scheduled to be into work until 2pm. I will be here from 5:30am until 9pm and am still not quite sure how I am planning on getting home. Nice first day back eh? So this strike is hurting everyone, including the transit workers. This will be their 3^rd day without pay not to mention all of the fines they are building up. They say they are fighting for the common worker, but what they can’t seem to grasp is the people who CANNOT afford to fork over $30 for a cab are the ones that now can’t get to work & make a living. So that’s my opinion. I’ll be getting up the pictures from my visit to Ely as soon as I can so definitely check back!

I miss & love all of you in Nevada and it was so great to see everyone!

I also send many prayers and love to you Grandpa Schoofs along with the rest of the family in the west!