Yesterday

I now have all of the parts for the Cutlass tranny swap, but the guys that are going to do the work for me haven't been available lately. So my trip next week to the Lake of the Ozarks will be made in the more comfort but less style. As I bitched about previously the A/C in the Alero (stock photo of car faithfully trekking Andre, Inga, Anke and I across Utah in 2004 included) quit, so yesterday I took it to the shop to get the oil changed and A/C recharged. While there the shop guys were kind enough to give the car the old once over to find any other little thing that they could replace. The rear brakes needed replacing and the front left pad was wearing oddly. And the power steering fluid could use flushing. I didn't really want to do it, but at the end of the day I rather enjoy stopping and steering. So I said do it all. Total bill came to north of $600. More than I wanted or expected to spend, but the old Olds has been good to me.

Last night we had an impressive storm roll through Omaha and Anke got a couple of nice pre and post storm photos. For the record, these are two seperate pictures, not the same one photoshopped.

The Sign Doesn't Lie

This morning we took a field trip to Fontenelle Forest. It is a nice place with several miles of trails. It has a several mile long boardwalk for those who don't want to dirty their shoes, or perhaps would rather skateboard through the woods. They had signs that said no bicycles (sorry Billy) or horseys (sorry Mom), but I found no signs prohibiting skateboarding. Alas, I haven't skateboarded since my teenage years. Plus we didn't spend much time on the boardwalk.

When we arrived it was still cool, but the humidity was killer. As the morning wore on the temperature rose, yet the humidity stayed very high. When Anke was a young lass, she went hiking in the jungles of Indonesia. Before the Muslim radicals started acting crazy, wanting to blow up all westerner's. It wouldn't be so safe for you and I to go there now. Sad really. But I digress. Back when it was safe, Anke was there. She said the Indonesian jungles got nothing on a Nebraskan forest when it comes to humidity. So it was hot and sweaty and sticky. The little free loader even got sweaty just riding around in a backpack.

We followed one trail that crossed some railroad tracks and led down to the Missouri river. I believe that technically Fontenelle Forest Nature Association lands ends before the tracks. But the trail clearly went down to the river. The mighty mo was as brown as ever. By the river we heard a train coming, so we decided to walk up and watch it. Generally trains slow down for metropolitan areas, so you rarely see them zooming along. But this Amtrak train was officially zooming. I tried to wave at the conductor, but I'm not sure if he actually saw me.

DSM

*Tony's son Kelton along with Jasmine - flower girl from wedding- at Ben's reception

I went to Des Moines Friday night and Saturday to hang with friends who were in the area for Ben's wedding. I was going to drive the Cutlass, but it supposed to be (and was) freaking hot over the weekend. So I took the Alero instead. As it turns out, the A/C in the Alero has taken a vacation since the last time Anke drove the car. So I could have driven my pimp car anyway. I may have still been hot, but at least I would have looked cool. And really what is more important that looking cool. So I met up with the friends at Hooter's as is customary for us. Drank many beers. Fun was had by all.

The next day was Ben's wedding. I had intended on buying a shirt before the ceremony, but we didn't have time so I bummed the shirt Bill wore the previous night. It looked better on me anyway. So after dropping me off at Hooter's Saturday to get my car, getting lost on the way, we arrived at the 2pm wedding at 2:03. Just behind Eric - who left after us and gave shoddy directions. The ceremony was interesting as the priest sounded just like the priest from The Princess Bride. (Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday ... And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...) Well anyway, the priest utters two syllables and this is the first thing that comes into my mind. I look past Deanna (who was takes weddings way more seriously than us) to Eric and Bill. They are trying very hard to keep a strait face. I'm not the only one who has seen The Princess Bride one too many times. Check that, you can't watch The Princess Bride too many times. But the ceremony was mostly nice and rather short for a Catholic wedding.

Which brings me to my rant. I'm not Catholic. We all know that. It surprises some people that I don't get struck by lightning stepping inside a church. But what I hate about Catholic weddings is that they make the ceremony more about God and the Church, than Ben and Shelby. It is Ben and Shelby's big day! And it seems like all this priest cares about is making sure that the kids will be raised Catholic. He mentions this several times, and before letting Ben kiss the bride makes them promise- again- to raise the kids to be good little Catholics. Drives me nuts. Let's celebrate the union of Ben and Shelby who love each other and are dedicating thier lives together. If I wanted to be preached at, I'd show up on Sunday.

But the reception in Ben and Shelby's back yard was very nice. They had tents and an open bar. A meadow beyond with wild flowers. Really rather nice. There was a pleasant breeze and it wasn't too hot under the tents. A gin and tonic sounded rather good at that point. Unfortunately I had to bail early. I wanted to get back to Omaha in time to put Corwin to bed.

The drive back was freaking hot with no A/C. And I didn't even look cool doing it.