Broken record - back to Dallas

Dallas again this week. Don't think anyone is surprised by that.

Be there Monday thru Friday. That is the unusual part.

Supposed to be pretty cold in Minnesota and in the 70's in Dallas. Hmm...may be not too bad.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a peaceful and restful Thanksgiving.

Here are Frankie and Uno demonstrating how to rest.

There are actually two cats and a pillow on a chair in that photo. And Uno has one eye open.

Ford Escape vs. Toyota RAV4

Special vehicle review. While I was in Virginia I had a 2008 Ford Escape rental. Last week in Dallas I had a Toyota RAV4. Both vehicles I think are considered in the same class.

I think the biggest difference is the Ford feels like it is based on a truck while the Toyota feels more like it is car-based. To be honest and I think everyone knows, I own a Ford Escape. Mine is a 2006 model and hybrid.

My rental Escape was a v6. And it was/is NICE. Very comfortable to drive and ride. Carried 4 adults easily. The interior is different from mine. All the controls are easy to reach and understandable.

I point out the controls in the Escape because in the Toyota RAV4 the button placement didn't really make sense. It took me more than five minutes to find the control to adjust the side mirrors. Of all places it is in the center console between the driver and passenger seats. The radio controls in the Toyota are kind of far away even though the dash bulges in the middle.

The Toyota was a four cylinder and does not compare favorably to the Escape v6. The Toyota downshifts way too much and way too jarringly. It did carry five adult men though to lunch...give it credit for that.

While I am obviously biased toward the Ford Escape, it really is a nicer vehicle. Roomier inside and good looking on the outside.

Virginia trip photos

Capitol from the top of the Newseum.
The carpet of leaves out Mom's backyard.
The crooked bridge on Crooked Bridge Road.

The best picture

Check out this happy gang at the top of the Newseum with the Capitol in the background.

Newseum - Washington, DC

I haven't had much time to update the blog. Sorry.

Wanted to do a quick review of the Newseum. Mom, Deb, Linda and I went last Saturday. It is rather pricey especially for DC where almost all the museums are free. $20 bucks for admission but you see everything for that.

First all it is located right on Pennsylvania Avenue. Next to the Canadian embassy and across from the Federal Trade Commission and the National Gallery West Wing. The top floor is an outdoor terrace with the most incredible view of the Capitol Building.

There is a working studio. It is where George Stephanopolous does his Sunday talk show. There are interactive displays of news history. All the displays are kept current with news of the election and such. A large control room manned by at least 3 or 4 people keeps all the screens, theaters, projections, etc. running and active.

You can even play newscaster yourself. Deb did one on sports and I did one on weather, of course. I haven't had time to download the video yet. When I do, I'll post on here.

After we were done at the Newseum and as we were leaving, it was pouring down rain. The staff were handing out rain ponchos...so nice...and announced that there was a tornado watch. How did they know? Because they watched the news!

We were blocked from getting back to the car by protestors. Free Tibet protests were going on because of the G-20 economic summit going on up the street at the National Building Museum. So we were wrapped up in news leaving the Newseum.

Heading home...for a day

Heading home today, Monday, from Virginia.

Going to Dallas Tuesday evening so home less that 24 hours again. I hope Frankie and Uno are too pissed off.

Virginia/family trip has been great. I'll give details later. But saw almost everyone there was to see...
Mom (Gracie B.)
Cousin Deb from Kansas and her partner Linda.
Sister Carol
Nephew Ken, his wife Watchara and their two girls Jasmine and Lotus.
Sister Lea, her husband Tim, daughter Kathy ("favorite niece")
Brother Spade (aka Loyd), his wife Bev
Niece Gracie Kay, her husband Nate and son (my god son) Alex

Crazy rain and quick auto review - Chevy Impala

Rain like all get out yesterday evening. Buckets and buckets of water. It rained so hard the satellite system at Champs went off-line. The drive to Dallas through the driving rain was interesting and leads the auto review.

My first Chevy Impala...and an "SS" which I think means sporty sport. I simply cannot say enough nice things about the GM transmissions. I know I keep going on and on and folks are probably tired of it but what a difference a good transmission makes.

The Impala is a big car by today's standards. A roomy interior. Easy to read gauges. Comfortable.

It handled the driving rain and mini-flooding with great aplomb. It could easily have been scary but the Impala held firm and straight.

It is kind of an odd looking car from the outside but well worth a test drive.

Dallas then Virginia - the state

Back to Dallas on Monday for just two days. I head to Virginia (Mom's) on Wednesday.

Why go to Dallas for just two days? You may ask. That's how bad the project is going.

Going to Virginia for Mom's birthday...which is actually today, Nov. 9. Wish Gracie a happy birthday...slique@webtv.net

My cousin, Deb, and her partner Linda are also going to Virginia. It has been years (decades) since Linda was back East.

Honda Accord

I finally got a Honda Accord rental. I actually didn't think that Hertz had Honda's. In the four years of all this travel and car rental, I've never had a Honda.

My name wasn't on the board where the tell you the car slot when I arrived at the rental center. The clerk at the counter couldn't find my car slot either. He wandered out into the lot and came back to tell me it was in #319.

I walked over to #319 and my name wasn't above the car but the slip inside had my name. The car was rather shabby and dirty inside. I was wondering if this was some employee's car and they decided to let me have it for a few days.

To be honest I wasn't all that impressed with the Accord. It is very roomy inside but overall it is rather plain and boring.

The transmission has a definite torque pull. It was really noticeable when the vehicle shifted while turning. The steering wheel would actually pull. Once again, the GM transmissions are so much better.

I really don't understand why this is such a popular car.

Calhoun Square update

The north of the parking ramp is finished...height-wise and they've moved the crane to the south side.

Construction is progressing quickly on the parking ramp.

While demolition continues on the building itself.

On the south end of Calhoun Square what was Lotus restaurant and Orr Books are gone. The building at 31st and Hennepin is still standing.


Demolition of the northeast corner.

The Indian restaurant, frame store and the little rotissiere restaurant being demolished in this pic.

You can see an old "Calhoun Square" sign that was hidden by the other buildings.

This is the Gerard Avenue/Lake Street corner.

I want to go, too.

Looks like Frankie wants to go to Dallas with Papa.

Be sure to vote

Be sure to vote tomorrow if you haven't voted already.

I am heading to Dallas after I vote on Tuesday. I actually wasn't thinking I would be traveling at all this week.

Not a cat toy

Frankie and I have been hunting for his favorite toy...a beat-up, old, fuzzy red ball.

So when he dropped something near me while I was working today, I thought he had found it. But it wasn't red. At first I thought it was a poopie. But then I realized it was moving.

Frankie had brought me a baby mouse!

I've had bats before but never a mouse. I'm figuring where there's one, there's more. I have no idea except Uno was down in the basement at the same time. I'm thinking she knows where the mice are.