tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27386836465313670092024-03-14T06:26:14.939-07:00Allen and Dinah's TreksAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-17788112000581644682019-11-17T11:02:00.000-08:002019-11-17T11:16:31.169-08:00Return to the Sky after 44 years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW-dtWeIbJ2Kngd_pp63LlZP7zOrvaMRrIuUFhxZLyCVMGAI1rmckYc2NbjK6nK6I5cAJv2LXAh8vFIEPj-GZrBrVwPBQBGOCZtX5Bp51Ph5MRZh-xk87zxdmN32Ljxgebnpl7hrtL_Kf/s1600/1911AllenGnd04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1000" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW-dtWeIbJ2Kngd_pp63LlZP7zOrvaMRrIuUFhxZLyCVMGAI1rmckYc2NbjK6nK6I5cAJv2LXAh8vFIEPj-GZrBrVwPBQBGOCZtX5Bp51Ph5MRZh-xk87zxdmN32Ljxgebnpl7hrtL_Kf/s320/1911AllenGnd04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On Thursday, 14 November I returned to the sky. It was my 39th jump, but it was my first since May of 1975. And it was my first tandem jump. I jumped with El Paso Skydive at the Santa Teresa Airport in southern New Mexico.<br />
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The plane was a King Air A-90K<br />
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It was equipped with seatbelts for 6 or 8 people, but no seats (except for pilot and copilot, of course)<br />
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I still have my jumpsuit from 1975, and over it went the harness with which I would be strapped to my instructor.<br />
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Here is the<a href="http://www.lifeisgood2.com/TravelReports/AllensSkyDive.mp4"> video of the jump</a>. It is about 4 minutes, 45 seconds long.<br />
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and here are a few pictures taken from the ground as we landed.<br />
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On all 38 previous jumps, I was in charge of controlling my chute. This time I was simply a passenger enjoying the view and the ride.<br />
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-27865882668234414612019-11-06T14:17:00.000-08:002019-11-13T14:38:19.548-08:00Mom Downs' 100th Birthday<br />
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If my mother, Eleanore Downs, were still alive, she would now be 100 years old! Born in Rockport, Massachusetts in 1919 she graduated from Fitchburg State Teachers College in Massachusetts and married my father, Herb Downs, soon after.<br />
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Here she is<br />
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With the whole family<br />
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With Dave, Bev, Allen & Lois at the St. Lawrence Seaway<br />
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With Dad and Allen at WPI in 1962<br />
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With Dad at their 25th wedding anniversary<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfmMYTkiW-X4ywPNEe0hbB7qAjBnNKlKPOeQIWPp1ZfIbJy2UIOtngRbMPOQKboALu0tZOX_l5By02qJeImVqSdA03ETntN108mN7_L-3U-SuokjCnKPIBMIFzCSvbEZFtpe_TwlYzQPz/s1600/MomDadAllenBevLoisNewport1967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfmMYTkiW-X4ywPNEe0hbB7qAjBnNKlKPOeQIWPp1ZfIbJy2UIOtngRbMPOQKboALu0tZOX_l5By02qJeImVqSdA03ETntN108mN7_L-3U-SuokjCnKPIBMIFzCSvbEZFtpe_TwlYzQPz/s320/MomDadAllenBevLoisNewport1967.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
With Dad, Allen, Bev, & Lois in Newport RI in 1967<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUj9_IQQq-5PI4aKbxoX4KoBD1hr7MWoT0RDfmbLcpcfvw8AxOUz_TkfLMSqr1QEdCm8VFn5gPkJ6kUkPoYXHhV2OVgyPFj3fJYMxx_9SAYEtoMLZxRkhWNADHkOlC1n6zaX_nCci7ofg/s1600/71ChrisAllenMomDadGraduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1180" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUj9_IQQq-5PI4aKbxoX4KoBD1hr7MWoT0RDfmbLcpcfvw8AxOUz_TkfLMSqr1QEdCm8VFn5gPkJ6kUkPoYXHhV2OVgyPFj3fJYMxx_9SAYEtoMLZxRkhWNADHkOlC1n6zaX_nCci7ofg/s320/71ChrisAllenMomDadGraduation.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
With Chris, Allen, and Dad at Allen's graduation from WPI 1971<br />
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Mom's birthday party with Tammy, Lois, Saucy, Dad, & Jane<br />
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With Fred and Dad at Allen's wedding to Saucy<br />
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At the log cabin with Dad & Allen<br />
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At Lois' wedding with the whole gang<br />
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With her sister Stella after going on oxygen<br />
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We miss her and want to remember her as we note the 100th anniversary of her birth.<br />
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-69058901077746129792015-01-23T10:06:00.000-08:002015-01-26T10:06:39.606-08:00Allen Tries the Elio<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdXH6Z3jz1GaNXC6H8s_ixNMBifaer7fmvuW7Co3pwJDNYUULmANVDT4ySXnmthAfloWTJL4Exg5vhkKobjb1vp9mkwib0EaifGWGwbsDuBa_BO5RqoyC_-HNgbxOwuru230LxpxiwhRx/s1600/1501AllenElio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdXH6Z3jz1GaNXC6H8s_ixNMBifaer7fmvuW7Co3pwJDNYUULmANVDT4ySXnmthAfloWTJL4Exg5vhkKobjb1vp9mkwib0EaifGWGwbsDuBa_BO5RqoyC_-HNgbxOwuru230LxpxiwhRx/s1600/1501AllenElio.jpg" height="316" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allen in the driver's seat of the Elio prototype</td></tr>
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A while back, I discovered an interesting car online; the Elio. It is not yet in production; the first cars are now scheduled to come off the line in mid 2016. It is a three wheeler that is expected to seat two people (one behind the other), get 80+ MPG and cost $6,800. It interested me enough that I signed up on the waiting list (I'm number 12,149) and last Friday I drove to Tucson to see the prototype.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY7N84DM4g61mwLPnx4a9un_dg6nA55BSPZBAm3LFuQU-hKIor0gkz2MjOmfw8oO9_sisXB-9QTEnF8P9WhPIYtwfol82qI5qG0e2ibQI-ssL1bQ9xVBVK5I_IAlraRJXlxrUJpq0nSYC/s1600/1501MarthaMikeElio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY7N84DM4g61mwLPnx4a9un_dg6nA55BSPZBAm3LFuQU-hKIor0gkz2MjOmfw8oO9_sisXB-9QTEnF8P9WhPIYtwfol82qI5qG0e2ibQI-ssL1bQ9xVBVK5I_IAlraRJXlxrUJpq0nSYC/s1600/1501MarthaMikeElio.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martha, Mike, and the Elio</td></tr>
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My old navy buddy, Mike, and his wife Martha are full time RVers wintering in Tucson, so I swung by his place and Mike, Martha, and I checked out the Elio prototype at the Tucson Mall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQfTY7zPi4TmZZJbeyuzk9uYDdJb3_0e4L2MMJnD-AaUFnrJgIuj6AofEQOXxj3SFii5fipq1cnkO6Chyphenhyphence-ik2fUdMi8fD33MxElkl1iEUJNLWEA6dr9nTG1H_OxMlQu8R1Was8l7hjG/s1600/1501ElioRightSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQfTY7zPi4TmZZJbeyuzk9uYDdJb3_0e4L2MMJnD-AaUFnrJgIuj6AofEQOXxj3SFii5fipq1cnkO6Chyphenhyphence-ik2fUdMi8fD33MxElkl1iEUJNLWEA6dr9nTG1H_OxMlQu8R1Was8l7hjG/s1600/1501ElioRightSide.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three view of the Elio</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNzvOVUUesPzr3h9es6uuOzINMjHFm_gh-ycWwF4uUDr945FTACfNEzRqu2Nw6H-x7R6aiOs06BmMmWT_pS5ornRZaWa1Xu41gC2XosywPLWpHRMaSPdlSeLO3YODD3Ke-maU_LgghvLP/s1600/1501ElioFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNzvOVUUesPzr3h9es6uuOzINMjHFm_gh-ycWwF4uUDr945FTACfNEzRqu2Nw6H-x7R6aiOs06BmMmWT_pS5ornRZaWa1Xu41gC2XosywPLWpHRMaSPdlSeLO3YODD3Ke-maU_LgghvLP/s1600/1501ElioFront.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOpMjkCjBDgnaYLAGWksWQe_Q4Uo1d58Skq-tP6HbLKpkzsaxA9lWyMlQgMjgKbpxOTo6TGJjF3DWL7cYh4huabe7I4wp6fbg_DlaQIurGUfZGYVwAIeiQgLUN7t63BOJJgt_wpJzMVZo/s1600/1501ElioRear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOpMjkCjBDgnaYLAGWksWQe_Q4Uo1d58Skq-tP6HbLKpkzsaxA9lWyMlQgMjgKbpxOTo6TGJjF3DWL7cYh4huabe7I4wp6fbg_DlaQIurGUfZGYVwAIeiQgLUN7t63BOJJgt_wpJzMVZo/s1600/1501ElioRear.jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a></div>
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-47975814486898553552015-01-22T07:29:00.000-08:002015-02-09T07:42:15.224-08:00From Fall to Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Most of the year Las Cruces is hot. But we do have some change of season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc35V_Q2s36Z9nUAbb8Gt0Z2ZHyFjnr1MhutZ9GTHocg1fm2VfCHpt0oVriUv9JgDN69lKf_EePeRnJQQKkFNDz58tLWFpuY7Pk7LqPwfeajy9ASCQ-HjBCUaHyRPLhO0L15tuIiCfzo6/s1600/1412RallsFall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc35V_Q2s36Z9nUAbb8Gt0Z2ZHyFjnr1MhutZ9GTHocg1fm2VfCHpt0oVriUv9JgDN69lKf_EePeRnJQQKkFNDz58tLWFpuY7Pk7LqPwfeajy9ASCQ-HjBCUaHyRPLhO0L15tuIiCfzo6/s1600/1412RallsFall.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our back yard in fall (December)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6kHOlwQNY12sBPPaKZKqCnC2JRVNRKs6V0-HQs7iUELS2gS0HUFtJLhm-ps0jS5FJ1fklXYWKYFXNLKa2btWIEmvEjd7IhKaX4L25cOX9643rzN1OBXgg5YW0VcOGqD27QRilHYgAe1J/s1600/1501SnowGazebo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6kHOlwQNY12sBPPaKZKqCnC2JRVNRKs6V0-HQs7iUELS2gS0HUFtJLhm-ps0jS5FJ1fklXYWKYFXNLKa2btWIEmvEjd7IhKaX4L25cOX9643rzN1OBXgg5YW0VcOGqD27QRilHYgAe1J/s1600/1501SnowGazebo.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in winter (January)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfBY_47-4Dsc-SQG79mdhyphenhyphenWIM0Bm3A96A5ocyeOn_mgxuCPLZG9m2i7nCZYqWUdjTxoautZ-zaEcNS_38bKoy19-Iz-XBjCbWmz6CElOLZWBkxS-xc2ncoby_RBHY4D4d2DqNHerTGdc8/s1600/1501SnowRallsFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfBY_47-4Dsc-SQG79mdhyphenhyphenWIM0Bm3A96A5ocyeOn_mgxuCPLZG9m2i7nCZYqWUdjTxoautZ-zaEcNS_38bKoy19-Iz-XBjCbWmz6CElOLZWBkxS-xc2ncoby_RBHY4D4d2DqNHerTGdc8/s1600/1501SnowRallsFront.jpg" height="248" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-39350392766218170852015-01-21T15:00:00.000-08:002015-02-09T07:57:51.235-08:00SoldWhen we moved to Las Cruces in 2007 we bought a house on Geronimo trail<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG97uYJFKZ5XrEQ5fzKMkJUoayWhtlVM-xyZeXYC3s0iUh0K_ZUQY3COjrHmjw1KA7g-sa47U34tKNg5OtjGBSFN1hDcX3nIV_xYmejnelw3413sUStEzeEjf4L2VztDputdF5pwlzFmN/s1600/DatGeronimoTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG97uYJFKZ5XrEQ5fzKMkJUoayWhtlVM-xyZeXYC3s0iUh0K_ZUQY3COjrHmjw1KA7g-sa47U34tKNg5OtjGBSFN1hDcX3nIV_xYmejnelw3413sUStEzeEjf4L2VztDputdF5pwlzFmN/s1600/DatGeronimoTrail.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah at our new Geronimo Trail home in 2007</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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In 2008 we moved to our current home on Ralls Road and rented the Geronimo Trail house. Orlando and Dolores moved in about five years ago and have become our friends as well as our tenants. And on 21 January they became homeowners, purchasing the Geronimo Trail house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg6Rvqk6-qPXRLGxyhTJ6RXcuEPK6NctJWHvlOHgyq667E6BSGLNwxXz9d-oTZVNt2G4KmyXbtCmTT50VyIzO3uqQKA6br9wMz42mNsFc07mU-qG44PCmaPcivBYkej5RM876W-VgWcP3/s1600/1501JohnnyDoloresBillyDinahClosing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg6Rvqk6-qPXRLGxyhTJ6RXcuEPK6NctJWHvlOHgyq667E6BSGLNwxXz9d-oTZVNt2G4KmyXbtCmTT50VyIzO3uqQKA6br9wMz42mNsFc07mU-qG44PCmaPcivBYkej5RM876W-VgWcP3/s1600/1501JohnnyDoloresBillyDinahClosing.jpg" height="275" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orlando, Dolores, Escrow agent Billy, and Dinah at closing.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-51481301771270232702015-01-11T10:26:00.000-08:002015-02-10T10:27:01.971-08:00Out with Herb - In with Lulu<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4NTultK6o5L_wf-riMJL9FNa1-_EXFa642ULo6EkNH1jvJkq6MEMDrxj_8TMGZjvy76OS6gJr7zQdNEi1C9dR7WVUWG5W0wmnJsQ6XZ2__BJOtF-1zFAuF3Zm9ymgsgv87jM9gOAi7rs/s1600/OutsideFrontRight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4NTultK6o5L_wf-riMJL9FNa1-_EXFa642ULo6EkNH1jvJkq6MEMDrxj_8TMGZjvy76OS6gJr7zQdNEi1C9dR7WVUWG5W0wmnJsQ6XZ2__BJOtF-1zFAuF3Zm9ymgsgv87jM9gOAi7rs/s1600/OutsideFrontRight.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herb - our 1998 National Tradewinds 37' diesel pusher motor home</td></tr>
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This past summer Dinah and I decided to downsize our RV. We have owned Herb since just after we were married in 2005. We felt we were ready for something smaller. I wanted much smaller, Dinah not so small. It turned out that our friend Jeanette Fisher had a 30' class C motor home for sale which we eventually decided was just right for us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pveChUTs03Fko8f5bzpLLxplIabSuTUC_L5ItiKgeWTYHe6QRbRfzRacAsNt2Sjkazh0MTSGghZm1bdK5YtcCbaowK8LHL-MrFXoHf7kbO0tOjsxkk6aMZegwv_1sItpBuFkyHam4fAi/s1600/Exterior+passenger+side+8-2013+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pveChUTs03Fko8f5bzpLLxplIabSuTUC_L5ItiKgeWTYHe6QRbRfzRacAsNt2Sjkazh0MTSGghZm1bdK5YtcCbaowK8LHL-MrFXoHf7kbO0tOjsxkk6aMZegwv_1sItpBuFkyHam4fAi/s1600/Exterior+passenger+side+8-2013+015.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu - our new 1998 Lazy Daze 30' class C motor home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGXT66YjDMUtar-iR6zbKk8u5eg4pwwLAiAWCezL0i5PgW2xNsNqzwdywoSj9v1qFbBIj5C_DGpsdDmpSRRvDdJstjZOjOX0N0giCsvPWJDqiYHjewl94UMrOUn8nGOZWvF20TMZPFVcV/s1600/Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGXT66YjDMUtar-iR6zbKk8u5eg4pwwLAiAWCezL0i5PgW2xNsNqzwdywoSj9v1qFbBIj5C_DGpsdDmpSRRvDdJstjZOjOX0N0giCsvPWJDqiYHjewl94UMrOUn8nGOZWvF20TMZPFVcV/s1600/Interior.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Lulu</td></tr>
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Shortly after we got home from the Panama Canal cruise, we drove to Las Vegas to meet with Jeanette and bring Lulu home. So now we had two motor homes.<br />
We advertised Herb for sale and in early December we got a call from Marcia from Albuquerque who asked a million questions, came down to see Herb and spend the night in him, decided to buy, and drove him back to Albuquerque in January. She plans to rent out her condo then drive Herb to Mexico where she will spend a year or so with Herb as her new home.<br />
So now we are back to one motor home with plans to head east for our summer travels this year.Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-56110310728940148242015-01-09T10:27:00.000-08:002015-01-26T10:28:24.063-08:00Cupcakes for Firemen<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4O7gaiNR85_-BobcamYUxfaWzJSUJyIx_6OJf9qnVB2rleyheYTZYZZRe9dswCkB9qrQmTfTY3BL7q1e0cu1znYCPaV86uuIkefiVt4Qw1T0VvFeXS3qqZCjD7hyfUML1fjmUTV3x_vM/s1600/1501DinahFireman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4O7gaiNR85_-BobcamYUxfaWzJSUJyIx_6OJf9qnVB2rleyheYTZYZZRe9dswCkB9qrQmTfTY3BL7q1e0cu1znYCPaV86uuIkefiVt4Qw1T0VvFeXS3qqZCjD7hyfUML1fjmUTV3x_vM/s1600/1501DinahFireman.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah with the fire crew leader</td></tr>
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While shopping at Walmart, Dinah felt weak and slipped to the floor. Someone called 911 and the Las Cruces fire department responded. She was taken to Mt View Hospital where she spent 3 days being checked out. The problem was diagnosed as probable BradyCardia (an episode of slow heart rate). Since everything seemed fine, she was released and we hope it doesn't happen again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N7pjOSiK1hWePVMhSu6yJLWSTDZns-37cb30SVYv_AfHQxtz8Zg8ZlKF-6l17UiCVzJM9XbYwAUQBxZieF7yzWWxeLA5nILdjK78fT2WwPZg_vcc5xPjuMLrQZmRDUF591D_p2bBj1R0/s1600/1501CupcakesDinahFiremen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N7pjOSiK1hWePVMhSu6yJLWSTDZns-37cb30SVYv_AfHQxtz8Zg8ZlKF-6l17UiCVzJM9XbYwAUQBxZieF7yzWWxeLA5nILdjK78fT2WwPZg_vcc5xPjuMLrQZmRDUF591D_p2bBj1R0/s1600/1501CupcakesDinahFiremen.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah checks out the fancy cupcakes she brought to thank the firemen</td></tr>
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Dinah was impressed with the professionalism of the four firemen who helped her and with the thoughtful care they delivered, so she recently visited the fire house to thank them and deliver some cupcakes.Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-18430773504247657092014-12-29T14:30:00.000-08:002015-02-10T10:34:26.301-08:00Cat Scratch TroubleOur cat Buttercup enjoys climbing our window blinds, and on 24 December she got a rear claw caught. Dinah found her hanging upside down with one rear paw entangled in the blinds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vrXblmsPfJeZZqZa6N7LOOlRjlHqm-t2zGf9dQDHGESFqCZUw4Ii2FCGxqnVLPf5oE1DQlYZ_UEQvRHrncDUv-lCa2pt-MstipBcdAkmyF63PVHbQkwHVo8i1eI_riM4o69GuERbPUft/s1600/1501ButtercupInBlind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vrXblmsPfJeZZqZa6N7LOOlRjlHqm-t2zGf9dQDHGESFqCZUw4Ii2FCGxqnVLPf5oE1DQlYZ_UEQvRHrncDUv-lCa2pt-MstipBcdAkmyF63PVHbQkwHVo8i1eI_riM4o69GuERbPUft/s1600/1501ButtercupInBlind.jpg" height="248" width="400" /></a></div>
In the process of rescuing Buttercup, Dinah got a few puncture wounds from Buttercup's claws. So we spent Christmas Eve in the emergency room where Dinah was treated and released, but told to come back the next day. <br />
By the time we returned to the hospital on Christmas day redness was expanding up her arm and she was admitted to the hospital where she spent four days on an antibiotic drip.<br />
She was released on 29 December and both she and Buttercup are fine.Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-74295977235125428012014-12-03T10:56:00.000-08:002015-02-10T10:56:50.423-08:00A New Knee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5npl5DmgcL-pQbdShseWCYlGOFM5NUbkJccmf14y8TYO1ULqpoWA4lK9E9VsANnuhrnFHQWQinoPo1e2JQX-rH_5ah2Gzmtcy9HmE-wLwLKc1Ve6fN9BgzaD6IzrZ-G_9Qy2PAQS7X6cJ/s1600/1411DinahKneeRehab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5npl5DmgcL-pQbdShseWCYlGOFM5NUbkJccmf14y8TYO1ULqpoWA4lK9E9VsANnuhrnFHQWQinoPo1e2JQX-rH_5ah2Gzmtcy9HmE-wLwLKc1Ve6fN9BgzaD6IzrZ-G_9Qy2PAQS7X6cJ/s1600/1411DinahKneeRehab.jpg" height="320" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqbiM-iLEEOnKIH4-Ll3Oxg8uLpN99fdwScBH4gPCUYola7dvtpIJxdyHnzw-fPkokMDwzMBKNzWZVhkGWXg4hzWYdjzYPCxZBQwkOhW6wE16mwidpQMQCmmE0BN6a6aONnzXhf47teqB/s1600/1411DinahRehabWalker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqbiM-iLEEOnKIH4-Ll3Oxg8uLpN99fdwScBH4gPCUYola7dvtpIJxdyHnzw-fPkokMDwzMBKNzWZVhkGWXg4hzWYdjzYPCxZBQwkOhW6wE16mwidpQMQCmmE0BN6a6aONnzXhf47teqB/s1600/1411DinahRehabWalker.jpg" height="320" width="150" /></a></div>
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Dinah continued her quest to become fully bionic by adding a new left knee to her two hips and two lenses.After a couple of days at the Specialty Hospital in El Paso, she moved to the Rehab Hospital in Las Cruces until 2 December when she "graduated" and was released to come home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIBjShl1QklwKE8QupmDvzHTEzaqNQdME4R0ysYT44F_cf_W0utbP7SEc1F2FHBTp7OZAZsx-XcVnjm8JmMY9Q_3DfpcC6gxhnZWKzLaYUzQ0E9r3kLbhUHR51AaU-cB9FWyyrj9YFAfE/s1600/1412DinahGraduatesRehab04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIBjShl1QklwKE8QupmDvzHTEzaqNQdME4R0ysYT44F_cf_W0utbP7SEc1F2FHBTp7OZAZsx-XcVnjm8JmMY9Q_3DfpcC6gxhnZWKzLaYUzQ0E9r3kLbhUHR51AaU-cB9FWyyrj9YFAfE/s1600/1412DinahGraduatesRehab04.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah graduates from rehab</td></tr>
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She continues with outpatient therapy and has a way to go before she will be able to walk normally.Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-61077648976007309372014-10-13T08:15:00.000-07:002015-02-10T08:16:02.798-08:00Panama Canal Cruise<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjvMmpyepF2ybvQi4LYmqrWPw4THHYu1n9gDsgAVu78owNfat_MOpJRM4vDR6JzWI1pJ7OwEsxR0_IPGpGWrL72dVggvoA2k4gsSpwgro3AN5jgNOwlRSps_Hl9IpApB5e7U7T3r0ttWd/s1600/NorwegianJewelPortSide44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjvMmpyepF2ybvQi4LYmqrWPw4THHYu1n9gDsgAVu78owNfat_MOpJRM4vDR6JzWI1pJ7OwEsxR0_IPGpGWrL72dVggvoA2k4gsSpwgro3AN5jgNOwlRSps_Hl9IpApB5e7U7T3r0ttWd/s1600/NorwegianJewelPortSide44.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Norwegian Jewel</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Dinah had never seen the Panama Canal while I had been through it twice, courtesy of the US Navy, but that was almost 50 years ago. So on 24 September we headed for Los Angeles and the Norwegian Jewel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrQ_63Joxm1Qcu8yNr8Nm0Jjc9spbvbw7ow7JNloiXe_yCPOuq2kTepB-RWUM-ZZfLy5u_syVIAt_oFZAktpKMtK4invZeBMW2S4TUYvVxdSxDSx6blQZKRlvOFzYyc8lJ9V7mrdam38n/s1600/MazatlanBeach95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrQ_63Joxm1Qcu8yNr8Nm0Jjc9spbvbw7ow7JNloiXe_yCPOuq2kTepB-RWUM-ZZfLy5u_syVIAt_oFZAktpKMtK4invZeBMW2S4TUYvVxdSxDSx6blQZKRlvOFzYyc8lJ9V7mrdam38n/s1600/MazatlanBeach95.jpg" height="307" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beach in Mazatlan, Mexico</td></tr>
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Our first stop was in Mazatlan where we hiked around the town and looked at places to stay during a possible future land based vacation. Then on to Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, and Puntarenas, Costa Rica, before arriving at the canal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4sOYPy87O1oWpNVEUM5sXAwiqPmzbUBedjkbGJQPzeXSu0eMEOadEZiVZ1YZcEoV5p0HtJZqbiB4GgkctSnFrn1HpHrSduiz2FxhYpUmyeyTFOP06mcK3S6a7hZakXPjfhrnuJM1yIZU/s1600/PuertoVallartaPirateShip31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4sOYPy87O1oWpNVEUM5sXAwiqPmzbUBedjkbGJQPzeXSu0eMEOadEZiVZ1YZcEoV5p0HtJZqbiB4GgkctSnFrn1HpHrSduiz2FxhYpUmyeyTFOP06mcK3S6a7hZakXPjfhrnuJM1yIZU/s1600/PuertoVallartaPirateShip31.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pirate ship in Puerto Vallarta</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyexaQCdC8QI28QfuU1BNE-WQavN2iEHdVGUWnLRkCe8I5CAl5gYKkE-lgfYMbwz2Ux0T29WlR80MR7gyZMj8ZPT-vLVJahRuUfUE7GP7ozvLLeLxTB558Bk2NS5ZaAfbK4gxvIHywf_r5/s1600/PuertoChiapas36.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyexaQCdC8QI28QfuU1BNE-WQavN2iEHdVGUWnLRkCe8I5CAl5gYKkE-lgfYMbwz2Ux0T29WlR80MR7gyZMj8ZPT-vLVJahRuUfUE7GP7ozvLLeLxTB558Bk2NS5ZaAfbK4gxvIHywf_r5/s1600/PuertoChiapas36.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puerto Chiapas</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: 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style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKht4vdd_EfvafN3sLYw1y1OuXpvT6oOSn0cDe3etVQqQqH4_nmCLAEEhc8CVoD5tHPBTVfAsEJViZGdr5iLQK2oIMuKe6UJYwlu24hweuguM-02_daoZ2WEhTrhjmaqXuOqYx1ssTnmi/s1600/PuertoChiapasMarimba42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKht4vdd_EfvafN3sLYw1y1OuXpvT6oOSn0cDe3etVQqQqH4_nmCLAEEhc8CVoD5tHPBTVfAsEJViZGdr5iLQK2oIMuKe6UJYwlu24hweuguM-02_daoZ2WEhTrhjmaqXuOqYx1ssTnmi/s1600/PuertoChiapasMarimba42.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Marimba in Puerto Chiapas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJNgTW-Eou9a3F36Y3AKCVKldlhVXBwIEU7amTGvUDV7tUgN_EUk1QbB-BRc8UCM39-P-7-kDjB7ANCoqrY4OFBK3x9WlLZvNTPdzMw-DuRHvhXPl2cggI4T0RRAjBKmCDHclx5EAwcGe/s1600/Pellican28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJNgTW-Eou9a3F36Y3AKCVKldlhVXBwIEU7amTGvUDV7tUgN_EUk1QbB-BRc8UCM39-P-7-kDjB7ANCoqrY4OFBK3x9WlLZvNTPdzMw-DuRHvhXPl2cggI4T0RRAjBKmCDHclx5EAwcGe/s1600/Pellican28.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjvHBfTk6F7qhm_zQTwPRU7outlcLcCa9WUqKmfizFp8ZF6-M5INo-8NFHHUwQIT8BI6fbIBYDtuNSNy6mC_QhwuqWyXkZaMw52sXkmEu8gTgRMwTBiZ-S2G6cK_tNjKR56WiZe4his5Z/s1600/PuntarenasCostaRica45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjvHBfTk6F7qhm_zQTwPRU7outlcLcCa9WUqKmfizFp8ZF6-M5INo-8NFHHUwQIT8BI6fbIBYDtuNSNy6mC_QhwuqWyXkZaMw52sXkmEu8gTgRMwTBiZ-S2G6cK_tNjKR56WiZe4his5Z/s1600/PuntarenasCostaRica45.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beach-side market in Puntarenas, Costa Rica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The canal transit was an all day affair; three locks up, cross the Isthmus of Panama, then three locks down. When I had transited with the Navy, the talk was about the brand new Japanese locomotives that had just replaced the original GE ones. Now, those replacement locomotives have grown old and they have also been replaced by a third generation. Makes me feel pretty old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ64K8_2Xpf05N0zAiYAaK0GhFTRky0DwNWGckGr1pL0rup0RMvnHnQsPV1_t0Or8OGWWl4QriraMUIc3JRCuk5Bw7jrC_DUG5dvi4XzYz0IkKwbc6MVMCbaSOVLMJ5BjLfFfCykY7XJwE/s1600/PanamaCanal01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ64K8_2Xpf05N0zAiYAaK0GhFTRky0DwNWGckGr1pL0rup0RMvnHnQsPV1_t0Or8OGWWl4QriraMUIc3JRCuk5Bw7jrC_DUG5dvi4XzYz0IkKwbc6MVMCbaSOVLMJ5BjLfFfCykY7XJwE/s1600/PanamaCanal01.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The locks are in sets of two. Here we are locking along side a cargo ship.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-89997290698323996852014-08-06T14:28:00.001-07:002014-08-06T14:28:37.413-07:00An Update on Sassy (the puppy)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSNVMYqYV0kOtrAJ6yctXtJRKQgFhgnApMU0v_m3ir2xT22TQzyBVXPSjM3JRGVzEZN_2Q9V2l433D3EqXGsYNlg0MOpNaGqvUg_Hrk10WbPL_jDoRpCloLjETIQV-Kgl6oZYVwql3F4w/s1600/1407Sassy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSNVMYqYV0kOtrAJ6yctXtJRKQgFhgnApMU0v_m3ir2xT22TQzyBVXPSjM3JRGVzEZN_2Q9V2l433D3EqXGsYNlg0MOpNaGqvUg_Hrk10WbPL_jDoRpCloLjETIQV-Kgl6oZYVwql3F4w/s1600/1407Sassy.JPG" height="200" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sassy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kate, the Rescue Ranger, says:<br />
<i>Sassy is officially in her new home near Seattle Washington, very near
her best buddy, Loci, another puppy rescue that we picked up about 3
weeks after you dropped her off. They play constantly when together!
Sassy's new mom's son adopted Loci, so they will see each other often.
We loved having Sassy for as long as we did, she was a very easy puppy,
and extremely smart!</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW95xtbXHI79MVzmcVCjU2RBv5j7jhmoieOdPFEAciA4Z6UjO_BLmz-0NtRLC5mskpO472KbMXknBPmCySS8hWNDQxe8yXwLqJN_b9LyJJ1gNTJS7KKSiYhjxoUJkHEdzzuExPmwNauwOL/s1600/1407SassyLoci.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW95xtbXHI79MVzmcVCjU2RBv5j7jhmoieOdPFEAciA4Z6UjO_BLmz-0NtRLC5mskpO472KbMXknBPmCySS8hWNDQxe8yXwLqJN_b9LyJJ1gNTJS7KKSiYhjxoUJkHEdzzuExPmwNauwOL/s1600/1407SassyLoci.JPG" height="304" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sassy and playmate Loci</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-49397163830033103822014-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:002014-06-20T07:46:05.558-07:00Lost Puppy is Doing WellWe were delighted to hear from Kate, the "rescue ranger" at Canyon de Chelle who wrote::<br />
<br />
<i>Sassafras Hobo (Sassy) is tick free and fattening up splendidly! She
actually has been with us the whole time since you dropped her off, she
will be going to Washington to live with my room mates mom and brother
as soon as she visits early next month. She is doing great, has had
very few accidents in the house, and she is getting healthier and bigger
every day! She has had all vaccinations that she can have at her age,
and is getting over an upper respiratory infection she was battling.
She is a very happy puppy!</i><br />
<br />
So thanks to Kate, Sassy may live happily ever after.Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-60188459402090001432014-06-02T08:48:00.000-07:002014-06-20T07:29:05.752-07:00A Lost Puppy<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22BiowYvjZ5B-VrbrniyZ5Lk5XCPrr3yRpwpBaDiAulAaNtVUgfflja7eYRNyqnFbVunyzWAcT_mSytJCL1KmD3OKtJtAHvdDW9fx0ZiMV7-0_NhE3lxOjGdKpiyLo68iUrLnS58Mj8YP/s1600/Puppy49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22BiowYvjZ5B-VrbrniyZ5Lk5XCPrr3yRpwpBaDiAulAaNtVUgfflja7eYRNyqnFbVunyzWAcT_mSytJCL1KmD3OKtJtAHvdDW9fx0ZiMV7-0_NhE3lxOjGdKpiyLo68iUrLnS58Mj8YP/s1600/Puppy49.jpg" height="306" width="320" /></a></div>
We were camped at Canyon de Chelly National Monument on the Navajo Reservation in NE Arizona, and I was walking the dogs in the campground when they spotted a puppy off the side of the path. She was soaking wet, shivering, and hunkered down in the brush. I carried her back to the motor home where we wrapped her in a towel and fed her, then settled her in a pet crate. When I took her outside, I discovered that she had ticks. Dinah and I spent some time removing more than two dozen of them before putting her to bed for the night.<br />
<br />
The next morning we planned to leave the campground and head to Monument Valley. We checked with the ranger and were told that there was not an animal shelter in Chinle; the town at the park entrance. She suggested we let her call the local animal control department to come get the puppy. We felt that if animal control got a hold of her she would probably be put down, but we did not want a third dog and couldn't come up with an alternative.<br />
<br />
It happened that that day was a Navajo holiday and animal control could not be reached until the next day, so at the ranger's suggestion we left the puppy with the campground maintenance man.<br />
<br />
Later, after checking out of the camp ground, we stopped at the visitor center and were telling the puppy story to a couple of other campers when a ranger approached us. She had overheard us and told us she was involved with an animal rescue group. If we left the puppy with her, she would find it a home. I unhitched the car from the motor home and drove back to the camp ground looking for the maintenance man. When I found him, he told me he had released the puppy into the woods near the campground an hour or more ago. After a few minutes of searching I saw her waddling in my direction wagging her tail.<br />
<br />
Back at the visitor center, we put her in the arms of the rescue ranger who assured us she would have no problem finding a home for this cute little pup. We left our contact information with her and are hoping that we will soon hear that she has found a new home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKe3j8uiLcCuDUTl_JMLbpHePSm7qHJAJynXkt4OEETyoK_JoY-PVeSR69xbgXhTn_iP4lE4svzv3IpzzG6seNbQPqoQxQdUThyphenhyphenn8MAisL-uapBoXMKz9srzrIWNmfbP5RVOj6sXOasRz/s1600/Puppy44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKe3j8uiLcCuDUTl_JMLbpHePSm7qHJAJynXkt4OEETyoK_JoY-PVeSR69xbgXhTn_iP4lE4svzv3IpzzG6seNbQPqoQxQdUThyphenhyphenn8MAisL-uapBoXMKz9srzrIWNmfbP5RVOj6sXOasRz/s1600/Puppy44.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-2150780409565983362014-02-23T16:33:00.000-08:002014-03-07T16:34:22.232-08:00The 49th High Point - Mauna Kea, Hawaii<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96y26OMLj6AIYPsrkyfL8xLtu7qEYfdM9DJiZVQZ3nXcWsI46asst-Zvc5qvg1OfrPVMahOlhwZ0YcB-G838Hx9GdlnQGvn1tQR0dBHEgmOwdM4zeCFxbv2IY8GrTOFcdnSiCyC14MhSY/s1600/AllenMaunaKeaSummit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96y26OMLj6AIYPsrkyfL8xLtu7qEYfdM9DJiZVQZ3nXcWsI46asst-Zvc5qvg1OfrPVMahOlhwZ0YcB-G838Hx9GdlnQGvn1tQR0dBHEgmOwdM4zeCFxbv2IY8GrTOFcdnSiCyC14MhSY/s1600/AllenMaunaKeaSummit.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allen at the summit of Mauna Kea, summit cairn to the left, telescopes to the rear.</td></tr>
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When I first started RVing in 2003 one of my goals was to get to the highest point of each of the 50 states. I joined the Highpointers Club and started climbing. In August 2010 I completed the lower 48 on Granite Peak, Montana. That left Alaska and Hawaii.<br />
At one time I thought I might try the Alaska high point, Denali, but now a few more years have passed, I'm a lot older and no way could I make it. Hawaii, however was a different story; one can drive almost to the top - the biggest problem was getting to the island of Hawaii, and that we did on the cruise ship Star Princess.<br />
We rented a 4 wheel drive truck in Hilo and were on our way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AVki20BKg7XuNImAVDMa6Vxibb4nUHDrTz0OBKZFTK6IenzfD7x70dU-_DfqiovH9uRn5A0MNHkF9fR20lVk04cINuSMHyiDxS-tVu7YBh1oB6o_LMtHFpV7JwaIzir1T2UtssomlllU/s1600/DinahAtMaunaKea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AVki20BKg7XuNImAVDMa6Vxibb4nUHDrTz0OBKZFTK6IenzfD7x70dU-_DfqiovH9uRn5A0MNHkF9fR20lVk04cINuSMHyiDxS-tVu7YBh1oB6o_LMtHFpV7JwaIzir1T2UtssomlllU/s1600/DinahAtMaunaKea.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah and our rented truck at the start of the Mauna Kea access road. The mountain, hidden in clouds, is in the background.</td></tr>
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Our guidebook had warned us that the access road, beyond the visitor center, was very steep and in poor condition. The book must be out of date; we found the road to be no problem at all. There were a few miles of dirt road, but it had been recently graded and, other than a little bit of washboard, presented no problems. Of course, if it had been snowing, raining, or icy, it would have been a different story.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwAspq0wx4sFkkjhfAohV9LANWrdnFDmTdUubhyPIgxPU98vYvgKDEg4PB8W2nu7XvGdeHcFvUJjE51zTDAS5M0qE_o9pHEJXTxsK7OiQDlffYiOHP92-kmg-3nF8pISq-RlJck6S1ZOb/s1600/DinahAtMaunaKeaTop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwAspq0wx4sFkkjhfAohV9LANWrdnFDmTdUubhyPIgxPU98vYvgKDEg4PB8W2nu7XvGdeHcFvUJjE51zTDAS5M0qE_o9pHEJXTxsK7OiQDlffYiOHP92-kmg-3nF8pISq-RlJck6S1ZOb/s1600/DinahAtMaunaKeaTop.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah, near the top, dressed for the cold wind.</td></tr>
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I left Dinah in the parking lot near the top and set out on foot for the summit, a short hike away. After a few minutes, and lots of huffing and puffing (the summit is 13,796 feet above sea level), I was at the top of Mauna Kea - my last high point!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2BWT7Ld5uLV7qjK_zM6az48iN2bjZXwu91pV_GPUVxPnqyO8ywLDgHYIgBwUKO5C9r_F3dmZtLLL7QET7qDMtPK9vv7RgJRBMMH9NBF_LcHN337KaC__fqyyUvq4Vo6vrUKO6k8Y5NE1/s1600/MaunaKeaSummit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2BWT7Ld5uLV7qjK_zM6az48iN2bjZXwu91pV_GPUVxPnqyO8ywLDgHYIgBwUKO5C9r_F3dmZtLLL7QET7qDMtPK9vv7RgJRBMMH9NBF_LcHN337KaC__fqyyUvq4Vo6vrUKO6k8Y5NE1/s1600/MaunaKeaSummit.jpg" height="316" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit of Mauna Kea, my 49th - and last - state high point.</td></tr>
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-53820409012773619712013-12-23T08:08:00.002-08:002013-12-23T08:08:33.530-08:00The GingerBread HouseMy father was a great practical joker and when people showed him pictures of their grandchildren, he loved to say, "Let me show you a picture of my Pride & Joy" then open his wallet to this picture:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6RL_8uAKw_6f0wtzmJoc_dZAA7nkqYIMjox2zsmrJ8-8t2PlZXYmOazdwcivqLGkXqzno7fISlyhyyq8nkYYS6bGtT9bX-wDKgLnNYwGrMx05Sm2Hn4TVM4i6Su2A0LmikY0owjzudBd/s1600/DadPridenJoy1972+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6RL_8uAKw_6f0wtzmJoc_dZAA7nkqYIMjox2zsmrJ8-8t2PlZXYmOazdwcivqLGkXqzno7fISlyhyyq8nkYYS6bGtT9bX-wDKgLnNYwGrMx05Sm2Hn4TVM4i6Su2A0LmikY0owjzudBd/s1600/DadPridenJoy1972+(2).jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad with his Pride & Joy</td></tr>
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I suppose this bit of my dad rubbed off on me as I was delighted when a friend sent me this picture of a Ginger Bread House:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-HXsfNSj5PU91IFI2KZxu_J_6gQGuwKFbM_KXojuqI-lrw2QZ-6rVwohz6f1G16GqyN3F597YbjTj76l_tzu6ijSW_PS1wpkDyc50e_1bLMf2l0vLr69U-pPkw3yQaLEcLK2IB5Ywhr8/s1600/GingerBreadHouse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-HXsfNSj5PU91IFI2KZxu_J_6gQGuwKFbM_KXojuqI-lrw2QZ-6rVwohz6f1G16GqyN3F597YbjTj76l_tzu6ijSW_PS1wpkDyc50e_1bLMf2l0vLr69U-pPkw3yQaLEcLK2IB5Ywhr8/s320/GingerBreadHouse.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I loved it and sent it along to my brother and sisters. My youngest sister replied, </div>
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"<i>I personally would have expected YOUR house to be made of raisin bread!!" </i>What a great idea!<i></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrO8UV2ja4RwgcDcv-Ic4ZYynKEfaykeJop2XLnm0m-O3-uUywKElrESA7REU3JPH4wkUSYr6pmBUZwS5rLB9BGrEMuQXxacoYyaGZtIkW7_hzFs8Yh-HG2Tu0bRYaQt0mYM6TrneFsL3/s1600/GingerBreadHouseAllenLily51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh10x30IvVjyEuWZsofyue_W8VxOKUwhUDZ008aAo940Tq96zsLz2tRrxVvH0Z5Bf-EB0jK4ABgboTXCDVzoqYpmRKxkZ32sBhP9LvdzlpbYCXMTT52yuPNYhcOpU7QKNib4sbjilAc_B/s1600/GingerBreadHouse40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgh10x30IvVjyEuWZsofyue_W8VxOKUwhUDZ008aAo940Tq96zsLz2tRrxVvH0Z5Bf-EB0jK4ABgboTXCDVzoqYpmRKxkZ32sBhP9LvdzlpbYCXMTT52yuPNYhcOpU7QKNib4sbjilAc_B/s320/GingerBreadHouse40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Ginger Bread House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkosM4AkAO8zRk1Fkk-iHeweIMDCtsRW5pmQpHuP2CY4j-UpHdgVY5Z-riDTUM_HXxUsJ91istRJBKdv5wOthzJXlcNRn0_IB94wl7bBOlDbvect0yl-aU93Om8HdTH1lD7cxm-rD-Bf6/s1600/GingerBreadHouseDinahSam45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkosM4AkAO8zRk1Fkk-iHeweIMDCtsRW5pmQpHuP2CY4j-UpHdgVY5Z-riDTUM_HXxUsJ91istRJBKdv5wOthzJXlcNRn0_IB94wl7bBOlDbvect0yl-aU93Om8HdTH1lD7cxm-rD-Bf6/s320/GingerBreadHouseDinahSam45.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Dinah & Sam</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV6ddm2_aXqOeqpl0HKrR95T1KEx4bIbT6KPiP5gq3_4MM35VPfOiG8DRo9g7hKHE3N2xF77CgX4B0rvCaooFbfSP_oIxfm16u0LTMOdkOxXychGeHmZ2_V_qQFSq8RPz8WD1FRO1xtM1/s1600/GingerBreadHouseAllenLily51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV6ddm2_aXqOeqpl0HKrR95T1KEx4bIbT6KPiP5gq3_4MM35VPfOiG8DRo9g7hKHE3N2xF77CgX4B0rvCaooFbfSP_oIxfm16u0LTMOdkOxXychGeHmZ2_V_qQFSq8RPz8WD1FRO1xtM1/s320/GingerBreadHouseAllenLily51.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Allen & Lily</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas </b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>and a Happy Holiday Season</b></span></i></div>
Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-58240669279089837662013-11-22T13:57:00.000-08:002013-12-18T16:38:20.206-08:00Adding a rear entrywayOur cats love to try to sneak out the back door, and they have often been successful; when we open the door for a dog, out goes a cat. So we added a rear entryway to provide an airlock, and keep the cats in. It also will lessen sun heating in the summer, and provide a little solar warmth in the winter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNEV7zJnbBBZ6nfaMr25GTHewZMBBpaU_GvS8bZ4DM_TvyljIeXbEH6lG2LClRCJb143dm-0LmlNJhYN4aJozXJxYBa5UEOhGQpRuBMI2fdYkmhuJ7Xhx_k7M1bqQAF6gJBrnpBm-Ogf4/s1600/GuyEntryJoists93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNEV7zJnbBBZ6nfaMr25GTHewZMBBpaU_GvS8bZ4DM_TvyljIeXbEH6lG2LClRCJb143dm-0LmlNJhYN4aJozXJxYBa5UEOhGQpRuBMI2fdYkmhuJ7Xhx_k7M1bqQAF6gJBrnpBm-Ogf4/s640/GuyEntryJoists93.jpg" width="394" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy, a friend and professional carpenter, works with the studs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS95NmRAptKbs4XkJ0KLVXR9DuoAr8eIm_kCyjRkbg-GVgE1SJK0NkEFBZJU9eAamTRKtioX2SEDXYofp_vYMkoh7mC6D85zqyjsPr9DRdiNESx-qPlJ60Hl_kmCXvbAxSHx464QwywVF/s1600/RallsRearEntry89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS95NmRAptKbs4XkJ0KLVXR9DuoAr8eIm_kCyjRkbg-GVgE1SJK0NkEFBZJU9eAamTRKtioX2SEDXYofp_vYMkoh7mC6D85zqyjsPr9DRdiNESx-qPlJ60Hl_kmCXvbAxSHx464QwywVF/s400/RallsRearEntry89.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studs are almost complete</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzH43Sf_t5M9pNddXBaea_BlJprTWyG6FvAUKlss8ko5Z-8pY4t4VFeyoU23g7WSzmDRudnYvag2y-KH7c3Ngc4wuKMXko-LjRGsi4iiyUd5bYtAIKJolg_bebvachU5WS1wopxmmA3kV/s1600/EntryShething97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzH43Sf_t5M9pNddXBaea_BlJprTWyG6FvAUKlss8ko5Z-8pY4t4VFeyoU23g7WSzmDRudnYvag2y-KH7c3Ngc4wuKMXko-LjRGsi4iiyUd5bYtAIKJolg_bebvachU5WS1wopxmmA3kV/s400/EntryShething97.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheathing nearly finished. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11rvIdSmWWF0E8TYbfAayrwgLfim3RNUU0JimC7UFEETIEXiHxZMOady36QOKKKTBs9kW5ZeLY9qC3xou5uzkECnpGgylIGj3K6tIsgku2GMTRSOSzJljTilbRMC6pbgpC_O0umAGcmDX/s1600/DinahEntry09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11rvIdSmWWF0E8TYbfAayrwgLfim3RNUU0JimC7UFEETIEXiHxZMOady36QOKKKTBs9kW5ZeLY9qC3xou5uzkECnpGgylIGj3K6tIsgku2GMTRSOSzJljTilbRMC6pbgpC_O0umAGcmDX/s320/DinahEntry09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Door and windows are in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tfU5pv5arQA9Vuto2wPftkH8dPQ4Ce5Of3D6QXbT1B9KnAoesULe44YUFekMOaCXmWQ7sbVdmx8IHI02Xke9xYMatQBRg39YoetLfWwFnSrYFHdgWLnRUMlxLUNlf4H7I5ztoS0hIaJl/s1600/GuyRearEntry05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tfU5pv5arQA9Vuto2wPftkH8dPQ4Ce5Of3D6QXbT1B9KnAoesULe44YUFekMOaCXmWQ7sbVdmx8IHI02Xke9xYMatQBRg39YoetLfWwFnSrYFHdgWLnRUMlxLUNlf4H7I5ztoS0hIaJl/s400/GuyRearEntry05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
All done except stucco & painting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI4vdFMSYMGeZ7KuuK-mw8S11-Xd9uISOa3_G5cNhnOTi4ev7Iydbqo5eBHlgIpng8ywPqplTmblufnw2GOoJ4xE2uaAX9lCGweOUT7ecmEGruLjuaBPmJctiughRrE3gjq_DiK1qdf3Z/s1600/EntryStucco13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI4vdFMSYMGeZ7KuuK-mw8S11-Xd9uISOa3_G5cNhnOTi4ev7Iydbqo5eBHlgIpng8ywPqplTmblufnw2GOoJ4xE2uaAX9lCGweOUT7ecmEGruLjuaBPmJctiughRrE3gjq_DiK1qdf3Z/s400/EntryStucco13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stucco guys at work.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0Aa42Ty7KMTU1pzFDyQmK6suh1kHTyc8hdGxEZ8ZNFAZtMWBl-zEsnOzX0hfywF1QkeX0mKuulXGguW6JVDVEWIVXNKVEZ8VyZ-kNj9wWcq14Gxc8_5XmBDzjoVtq3z2EE0iGvoASoKZ/s1600/RallsRearEntry16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0Aa42Ty7KMTU1pzFDyQmK6suh1kHTyc8hdGxEZ8ZNFAZtMWBl-zEsnOzX0hfywF1QkeX0mKuulXGguW6JVDVEWIVXNKVEZ8VyZ-kNj9wWcq14Gxc8_5XmBDzjoVtq3z2EE0iGvoASoKZ/s400/RallsRearEntry16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished ! (except for inside painting)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-33435694285115320692013-11-08T15:43:00.000-08:002013-12-24T09:43:04.854-08:00Adding a new solar array<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO518n13lWQziteS0pm0IbTKkni117DHBcQSUdE7pYR3d1wl1Belo8ytyu8iJmR40tE8xKoWghyHcoidzvESv45QX5FCVo1vhnUP4pcuiHDVVpW97GCwSJq2ew0vjKaxKOOrYWPnS33VWb/s1600/CompletedSolarControls86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO518n13lWQziteS0pm0IbTKkni117DHBcQSUdE7pYR3d1wl1Belo8ytyu8iJmR40tE8xKoWghyHcoidzvESv45QX5FCVo1vhnUP4pcuiHDVVpW97GCwSJq2ew0vjKaxKOOrYWPnS33VWb/s200/CompletedSolarControls86.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKngyghtW9TNwDRSEMp6UxowK2ZmjfXKYXkVARVUEi0FPwjh4J8ZLt5pI_hdYcTE2HxQZXssNwIyDxvurIq70r-eDlLdl7UuSIERGYWiPfjs8VWhRO7hFAu4ZIM_N2w06l-PaKwcC470e/s1600/CompletedSolarArray78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKngyghtW9TNwDRSEMp6UxowK2ZmjfXKYXkVARVUEi0FPwjh4J8ZLt5pI_hdYcTE2HxQZXssNwIyDxvurIq70r-eDlLdl7UuSIERGYWiPfjs8VWhRO7hFAu4ZIM_N2w06l-PaKwcC470e/s200/CompletedSolarArray78.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Back in March of 2010, we had 1.94KW of solar installed on the garage roof of our Las Cruces, NM home by Positive Energy Solar. In September of this year we calculated that we had generated 78% of the electricity used in the March 2010 to Sept 2013 period (We use power conservatively, and are often away during the hottest part of the year). The cost of solar has come down dramatically since then and we decided to expand our system. We chose to go with the same brand of panels and inverter so that we would be able to monitor both sets of panels as a single system using SunPower's website. These pictures show the installation, by Positive Energy, of ten new SunPower 327Watt panels and an additional inverter. We anticipate the combined system will generate about 200% of our electrical power usage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd7K31rSXUZU3HF-nRZ-o_AdpKTyJfUKJxpA9JF-mcb687t4LDXq3aFI8cc-ilh_4-XyG1RRvrcDGDEtUeXwVnoVabEkJMRE7_b0MZPLrhUEeZQEmq1IW7ahDPQQ7thGsJ20bTFqdC-yn/s1600/MarkingRoofForSolar19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd7K31rSXUZU3HF-nRZ-o_AdpKTyJfUKJxpA9JF-mcb687t4LDXq3aFI8cc-ilh_4-XyG1RRvrcDGDEtUeXwVnoVabEkJMRE7_b0MZPLrhUEeZQEmq1IW7ahDPQQ7thGsJ20bTFqdC-yn/s400/MarkingRoofForSolar19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marking the location of the panels</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2voTemjbHuU14BLhd-tqCaIQU5Eucliavf9c9W1eQ3kY3l1dLjKVftO9ruscCFMD6-ZOcE5gaLdeFSxTWTpbBp2KOf_Xg5Y5sa8JLEAZ_YDuV7-Ya9VUoZIUHslCmQNtFOSJbqHvA7SF/s1600/InstallingSolarMountings22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2voTemjbHuU14BLhd-tqCaIQU5Eucliavf9c9W1eQ3kY3l1dLjKVftO9ruscCFMD6-ZOcE5gaLdeFSxTWTpbBp2KOf_Xg5Y5sa8JLEAZ_YDuV7-Ya9VUoZIUHslCmQNtFOSJbqHvA7SF/s400/InstallingSolarMountings22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installing the mounts</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYWc1YFsg_kXBzwTMkho6scM6nyExZnkPswrGIEDP1GIf1aLX1V5jqAf_EVqKpw2NzWGAi_y8u1ydbLUDTOkH4q38HO3n2A094pQprdFoJEN871xQKwv_32GQ-bOIOKGsvH0o4hZY0wth/s1600/InstalledSolarMount27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYWc1YFsg_kXBzwTMkho6scM6nyExZnkPswrGIEDP1GIf1aLX1V5jqAf_EVqKpw2NzWGAi_y8u1ydbLUDTOkH4q38HO3n2A094pQprdFoJEN871xQKwv_32GQ-bOIOKGsvH0o4hZY0wth/s400/InstalledSolarMount27.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up view of one of the mounts with bracket attached</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4Fs4eWShgFmOw2jxHjIs-vK_iBTIgL9rvWADScLTmettar_06spkaGCpc2-qNkTw_yuURbTzNT4bfxNmvqYkr8RJSKVgI05n2NPsNcqY4wnnRCq9s06APeWletITED4gTbfN4IWTkT7M/s1600/InstallingSolarRails26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4Fs4eWShgFmOw2jxHjIs-vK_iBTIgL9rvWADScLTmettar_06spkaGCpc2-qNkTw_yuURbTzNT4bfxNmvqYkr8RJSKVgI05n2NPsNcqY4wnnRCq9s06APeWletITED4gTbfN4IWTkT7M/s400/InstallingSolarRails26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installing the rails</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMcQHMGANhXx-Hyd-6jJkLTlEY0QK8LgY3MPPu4SHRP6P18s645dAbLBn1iDypYowcd_afTFq0rQCu5XHnaFPjzGRc0NNTiWybRzGWHo8inadZlvJz4_IlyKTbiZYbSEG3fw4GWv7hJcD/s1600/InstallingSolarRoofJunctionBox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMcQHMGANhXx-Hyd-6jJkLTlEY0QK8LgY3MPPu4SHRP6P18s645dAbLBn1iDypYowcd_afTFq0rQCu5XHnaFPjzGRc0NNTiWybRzGWHo8inadZlvJz4_IlyKTbiZYbSEG3fw4GWv7hJcD/s400/InstallingSolarRoofJunctionBox.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installing the roof junction and roof penetration box</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmVr9fpmNZXLceGukUVV2LzRK2ktGlMk0lK6Lg3nugw4U-LhNciclloCyN61e7Iq38HCkN5ddVt3IITgvEc98EGTSmiSAqBGIE8CWlgxfOPHJ7MM5a1pGzrhPPZ0rBkzOqv_ywak61sjB/s1600/FirstSolarPanel49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmVr9fpmNZXLceGukUVV2LzRK2ktGlMk0lK6Lg3nugw4U-LhNciclloCyN61e7Iq38HCkN5ddVt3IITgvEc98EGTSmiSAqBGIE8CWlgxfOPHJ7MM5a1pGzrhPPZ0rBkzOqv_ywak61sjB/s400/FirstSolarPanel49.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first panel ready for mounting</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAcLkZYzLYRJSlH30jdAjiJQ50FVBAg6jJBTcSiUnW_V5Fh53zPlIL7L2XLQRHAqBcJN4v_SOpoXAYFKfFyPhJjLY_5DWOtj1uokKzT1oWYgAYth1LWc8aaNRRyGPSzStvd5vHczMmach/s1600/RunningSolarWiring69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAcLkZYzLYRJSlH30jdAjiJQ50FVBAg6jJBTcSiUnW_V5Fh53zPlIL7L2XLQRHAqBcJN4v_SOpoXAYFKfFyPhJjLY_5DWOtj1uokKzT1oWYgAYth1LWc8aaNRRyGPSzStvd5vHczMmach/s400/RunningSolarWiring69.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running the wires from the panels to the solar controls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRQT5GhTBNOiWl__X-eqNqD0QvKbS44tdWeP0DRYyOlLKAJPfKKzEIJSKPZAJ9zx3OfQbZ_aWSNkzca4ZRy9MKrr4bzafF7rig4A_l24PLwoyyx7swhqaX6HjnGVrj1d1OqSC_EeVAVU-/s1600/LastSolarPanel75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRQT5GhTBNOiWl__X-eqNqD0QvKbS44tdWeP0DRYyOlLKAJPfKKzEIJSKPZAJ9zx3OfQbZ_aWSNkzca4ZRy9MKrr4bzafF7rig4A_l24PLwoyyx7swhqaX6HjnGVrj1d1OqSC_EeVAVU-/s400/LastSolarPanel75.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mounting the tenth and final panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfUJZiMH0VQuGunAU2EzosPxej7Or9z0eMy6QM8uyE6XspidQRv4lQK1rIUV2OghaYoUW9BaEdEc2Rzb9UEgFzaDKWP7Ft1i5PvW-73l6LlgSUCS4ogBTzx5q7r7Yt4tj2GNaqyY46w0s/s1600/Moving4KSolarInverter65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfUJZiMH0VQuGunAU2EzosPxej7Or9z0eMy6QM8uyE6XspidQRv4lQK1rIUV2OghaYoUW9BaEdEc2Rzb9UEgFzaDKWP7Ft1i5PvW-73l6LlgSUCS4ogBTzx5q7r7Yt4tj2GNaqyY46w0s/s400/Moving4KSolarInverter65.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving the old 4KW inverter to handle the new 3.27KW array. The new 3KW inverter will handle the old 1.94KW array</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AZcDP_9sN1UpUvsQpOG96j55-esX1K12RzB6Xa4Hnxlr-lWQAsDGeITeGJP3OyaqRYN7Q1hX8aH-rAYQgQvnW5TC9LoaGOXQOQ6LKk5hn1g0SGJYcqFntpY0Sx4at-iGVf-0VmY5SHNR/s1600/WiringSolarControls72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AZcDP_9sN1UpUvsQpOG96j55-esX1K12RzB6Xa4Hnxlr-lWQAsDGeITeGJP3OyaqRYN7Q1hX8aH-rAYQgQvnW5TC9LoaGOXQOQ6LKk5hn1g0SGJYcqFntpY0Sx4at-iGVf-0VmY5SHNR/s400/WiringSolarControls72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiring the inverters, metering, and monitoring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR3NAjEporiLA5h_CG7XstocpFXnvgCePLJMCuZqxXpf3EivBt6xR5nZi4-6xMHP1o2-4qQ7fblQawG7WFDreItHs2KPgTHIP-mzVF0NPyncx82QzFu7ILE8z_tzd8ztkzwtt-UyXH_qA/s1600/SolarControlsWiring80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR3NAjEporiLA5h_CG7XstocpFXnvgCePLJMCuZqxXpf3EivBt6xR5nZi4-6xMHP1o2-4qQ7fblQawG7WFDreItHs2KPgTHIP-mzVF0NPyncx82QzFu7ILE8z_tzd8ztkzwtt-UyXH_qA/s640/SolarControlsWiring80.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top left and center are the two inverters. Directly below them are the DC switches. Below the switches are the wiring trays. Between the trays is a breaker box where the inverter outputs are joined. Below that is a box containing the wireless monitoring equipment. The technician is working on the main solar AC breaker, and directly above it is the REC meter. From the REC (Renewable Energy Credits) meter the solar AC output is fed into the house main electrical panel which contains a bi-directional revenue meter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcIYXm0rHtKkQdXJFXxKQHNpmslNKt7Wu5IOUfgJ5YUtQOnTrAnoU7fOJKMWyXk6UvSH08m54oMO7ksq7Y5Oh6Vb-l-14028UGfaVnSk8XosVroiWbiU7eCaO58u7Exdw5K0Ya9K4h4gz/s1600/CompletedSolarControls79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcIYXm0rHtKkQdXJFXxKQHNpmslNKt7Wu5IOUfgJ5YUtQOnTrAnoU7fOJKMWyXk6UvSH08m54oMO7ksq7Y5Oh6Vb-l-14028UGfaVnSk8XosVroiWbiU7eCaO58u7Exdw5K0Ya9K4h4gz/s400/CompletedSolarControls79.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The controls completed and ready to go. The total system (1.94+3.27=5.2KW) generated around 25kWh the first sunny day after the new array was installed (It's November - I'm anxious to see what it will produce in May).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A story about the old system, with 9 months of operating results, can be seen at:<br />
http://lifeisgood2.com/TravelReports/2011_1/SolarMagazineArticleFeb2011.pdfAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-65348739034430828542013-10-30T10:11:00.000-07:002013-12-17T13:23:54.630-08:00A Caribbean Cruise<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAwwSwFjy4mha7bqaj1EbCcpQimIJbikECPG-UKyNj_5K7VSHrHw-oscUbJ66Yo6IxiETePKeNaV66orVbUF-wx1ENQNMJrHjOGLHFxQa_NA_RYgUKpPgmcq9S5MVhsOxlTC-cubE6oCw/s1600/NorwegianSunBow79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAwwSwFjy4mha7bqaj1EbCcpQimIJbikECPG-UKyNj_5K7VSHrHw-oscUbJ66Yo6IxiETePKeNaV66orVbUF-wx1ENQNMJrHjOGLHFxQa_NA_RYgUKpPgmcq9S5MVhsOxlTC-cubE6oCw/s320/NorwegianSunBow79.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Norwegian Sun tied up in Barbados</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Dinah lived for several years in the British West Indies, and there were several Islands in the area she always wanted to see, but never got the chance. So when she spotted a 10 day Southern Caribbean cruise at a good price, we decided to hop aboard. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The ship left from Miami and spent the first two days at sea while we explored the ship and ate at the various restaurants. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFQRIIyNHoCGmalnajs_lqqEVK5aEVozr0IWwaUTu7PmZcJR_mTyjI4tfblpGxO7CdykamWz9Zs972Iul1inDPX-O6p6iV-pti0f735L1lA7Sm4THlIvFm1Db52ZcB0jWpW5DTSQUE7p7/s1600/DinahMiamiSkyline39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFQRIIyNHoCGmalnajs_lqqEVK5aEVozr0IWwaUTu7PmZcJR_mTyjI4tfblpGxO7CdykamWz9Zs972Iul1inDPX-O6p6iV-pti0f735L1lA7Sm4THlIvFm1Db52ZcB0jWpW5DTSQUE7p7/s200/DinahMiamiSkyline39.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah on deck in Miami</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Something new to us was towel folding; each evening our cabin stewardess left us a different animal made from towels.</div>
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Our cabin was inside (no windows) so we kept track of where we were by watching forward pointing ships camera on our TV.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The port of Philipsburg, St. Maarten as seen on ship's camera</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A comedy act by the cruise director's staff</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entertainment on the pier by the crew as we return to the ship from our last island stop.</td></tr>
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We visited five ports and I've covered each of them in a separate post. We had a great time and are looking forward to additional cruises, with one to Hawaii in February already booked.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at sea</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-43903793070008393682013-10-27T12:15:00.000-07:002013-12-17T12:21:58.188-08:00Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Netherland Antiles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGohjqCqEP03eiOzG_YhNuvaP44rWNDdBE-50C-8raH2ql_IaLBhu_wRmHD5i0S0MqqR5cIimypS34KToMAZjvVVKzEvAuIweB0yl1MI_e8o0tt9_qvDXUZMHPB12tNwQ2y2r7UBbbWNP_/s1600/WelcomeToStMaarten52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGohjqCqEP03eiOzG_YhNuvaP44rWNDdBE-50C-8raH2ql_IaLBhu_wRmHD5i0S0MqqR5cIimypS34KToMAZjvVVKzEvAuIweB0yl1MI_e8o0tt9_qvDXUZMHPB12tNwQ2y2r7UBbbWNP_/s320/WelcomeToStMaarten52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOYVMhj_wiTbBOnZmn8oijvonI9fNGigxRVa-89t7LV7p_Q8tL_xDlPQWbjDhkfRe5Nu2-mCE0F0249F3atO3avR0o79Jr6TiFaTKNZG87jp9e_lPecxQ271KALimqgGn4BaDv3iEO1iQ/s1600/StMaartenArch25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funny little boats - more like dodge-um cars!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nicest beach of the trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lizard was lounging ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">near this unique liquor store.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A not-so-fast Ferrari (for handling container ship containers)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsJaDJkxOaSwizs-PC3T62ZIu9siptPVvDq3JrzsqlxJ3H1-w50TZlOxacH8RGgAl4_oGrD8zznzDEPmuztXAtbJmsASaFLGxOt-lGBe30cf0HHarhPE5drlaC2ipV8UuSKR7C3u5ltGS/s1600/FerrariFront69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsJaDJkxOaSwizs-PC3T62ZIu9siptPVvDq3JrzsqlxJ3H1-w50TZlOxacH8RGgAl4_oGrD8zznzDEPmuztXAtbJmsASaFLGxOt-lGBe30cf0HHarhPE5drlaC2ipV8UuSKR7C3u5ltGS/s320/FerrariFront69.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-8939119418739856152013-10-26T11:58:00.000-07:002013-12-17T11:59:24.123-08:00St. Lucia, Saint Lucia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTWI94kKBjZ1LY9Xi1OpOemwjziz62EuCRh2T8gU1MV_UCqDrlyS4gQjkMZRjW2Khwr44mQBU9CJ7njMSktmiCH7w6YTzuYSjzZGBx99zZ5IdpFnPgxVf4zKNif5tPpZuObuTMQrDc4aW/s1600/WelcomeToStLucia23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTWI94kKBjZ1LY9Xi1OpOemwjziz62EuCRh2T8gU1MV_UCqDrlyS4gQjkMZRjW2Khwr44mQBU9CJ7njMSktmiCH7w6YTzuYSjzZGBx99zZ5IdpFnPgxVf4zKNif5tPpZuObuTMQrDc4aW/s320/WelcomeToStLucia23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above, vender at the open market. Below, scenes from the market</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tree has an enormous trunk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring town; checking the map.</td></tr>
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-38745849993066176222013-10-25T11:44:00.000-07:002013-12-17T11:58:50.605-08:00Bridgetown, Barbados<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Barbados we explored by taking a public bus from downtown Bridgetown to the far end of the island and back.<br />
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<br />Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-34545706697068069242013-10-24T11:20:00.000-07:002013-12-17T11:23:18.534-08:00Roseau, Dominica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the city</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allen with Roseau, Dominica behind</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tourist 'train' in Dominica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzleZ12chO9EN9Y5q-uw9uiGf-W0kwNKl4MLpNQ7hwAfuXgjXJ50lSmcCkfZva-P-VWyBtKkczAJzLfRm2bFHMFtbMMGQF5UJYQ7JL0OhneVCymXSUroMEZR6RXiea1Xyu6SZRet7s0V6/s1600/PricesBornHere63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzleZ12chO9EN9Y5q-uw9uiGf-W0kwNKl4MLpNQ7hwAfuXgjXJ50lSmcCkfZva-P-VWyBtKkczAJzLfRm2bFHMFtbMMGQF5UJYQ7JL0OhneVCymXSUroMEZR6RXiea1Xyu6SZRet7s0V6/s320/PricesBornHere63.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prices are born here and raised elsewhere</td></tr>
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Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-20170141623902456112013-10-23T10:29:00.000-07:002013-12-17T11:10:58.153-08:00St. Thomas, US Virgin IslandsFirst stop, St. Thomas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK3whffaHQyX6aEwM2s2Grk8fcjIQFrVuezJbYg-qXrHAjQZNXA7Qy_c96o3gEp4XLa3KMxyjtSVH1PnGGkuTMr6f5HRUgCayKxMRqkHainys8znghZt9cLvtjMX4MJXtgntw9T3y8_IE/s1600/NSunInPortStThomas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK3whffaHQyX6aEwM2s2Grk8fcjIQFrVuezJbYg-qXrHAjQZNXA7Qy_c96o3gEp4XLa3KMxyjtSVH1PnGGkuTMr6f5HRUgCayKxMRqkHainys8znghZt9cLvtjMX4MJXtgntw9T3y8_IE/s320/NSunInPortStThomas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian Sun in port at St. Thomas</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Here's a 360 view from the dock:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the downtown area from above. Note the solar panels on the closest building</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gas prices are about $1/gallon higher than at home<u><br /></u></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7M28BpOVuUWObftHYv2NKIJoAli70v_gQz-Vtgy5YYUa5tWiqHjgN5IB-4CyPA0i20Ez9ceaWuFlkyKtFd8D_tOYDfuTyBCtIEAE4oBRmANMgkkOrMrgV6cqjRhvmgL14HxFOljVZgT5/s1600/StThomasLizzard83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7M28BpOVuUWObftHYv2NKIJoAli70v_gQz-Vtgy5YYUa5tWiqHjgN5IB-4CyPA0i20Ez9ceaWuFlkyKtFd8D_tOYDfuTyBCtIEAE4oBRmANMgkkOrMrgV6cqjRhvmgL14HxFOljVZgT5/s320/StThomasLizzard83.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fellow was sunning himself near a pump station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountains are close to the shore line so St. Thomas has a lot of hills</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXEvI2yTX6trnnCoG1spS1z3S-mP2KBWX65Kl25UVFZ5DPy40pa2prqxWTv0ZatJMiple9vmi0WCrbKcYdpWSmOzIiEP1uEPsfc78pMy7lrbluq-kGJTeV1CZEVjRcTeIsnnh4bR8eqFl/s1600/StThomasStreet75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXEvI2yTX6trnnCoG1spS1z3S-mP2KBWX65Kl25UVFZ5DPy40pa2prqxWTv0ZatJMiple9vmi0WCrbKcYdpWSmOzIiEP1uEPsfc78pMy7lrbluq-kGJTeV1CZEVjRcTeIsnnh4bR8eqFl/s320/StThomasStreet75.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsRWY_PH2TIXD1BmYwgM2Df7seQq2qyyPSdEkClZTgQJa-qOtC_cTURN3qvb9fRsH2ZJQvLYGzh_u9UUdW5H0cA33V8MVSSFhzXCsmYE6muzovNsXNwXcEa84g3beM_80oI_r0t1cIejS/s1600/NoDriftersNoYipsNoDucks84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsRWY_PH2TIXD1BmYwgM2Df7seQq2qyyPSdEkClZTgQJa-qOtC_cTURN3qvb9fRsH2ZJQvLYGzh_u9UUdW5H0cA33V8MVSSFhzXCsmYE6muzovNsXNwXcEa84g3beM_80oI_r0t1cIejS/s320/NoDriftersNoYipsNoDucks84.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are they talking about? I haven't figured out this billboard near the dock.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-70730431786107794212013-09-21T09:08:00.000-07:002013-12-17T10:20:09.519-08:00The Giant Tortoise<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYRVYR5zKSj-Upde_n54DNaFLnXw6IOGvaLZdXRzeXlEXsO-dyROF1t9j919ZVbhwv5LryDvVrnoqYdxdg4E92X9vtV-mMF5W4J6TT1DKZXMzLbefWH7XimzNgybf6sm6svu8RkSBbAWv/s1600/Turtle87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYRVYR5zKSj-Upde_n54DNaFLnXw6IOGvaLZdXRzeXlEXsO-dyROF1t9j919ZVbhwv5LryDvVrnoqYdxdg4E92X9vtV-mMF5W4J6TT1DKZXMzLbefWH7XimzNgybf6sm6svu8RkSBbAWv/s200/Turtle87.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tortoise in our back yard</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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While walking the dogs one block from home, we came across a giant tortoise walking out one driveway and into the next. I assumed he/she was a pet from a nearby house. But when, a few days later, I saw him crossing the street in front of our house I decided he must be wild or lost. I tried to pick him up and carry him to our yard, but he was too heavy for me to lift. So I herded him through the gate into our yard and Dinah called animal control.<br />
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It took both animal control officers to lift him into their truck and he was taken to the animal shelter where he weighed in at 130+ pounds. We understand he was claimed by someone living on our street and we haven't seen him since.<br />
The video below lasts about 43 seconds, and shows the tortoise walking around our back yard.<br />
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Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2738683646531367009.post-24540383580446134822013-06-12T13:07:00.000-07:002013-07-01T13:08:31.408-07:00Dr. Oliver Witte<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr25rbyPLY5q39vouLIG6glcw6sK2XtM8OI1aw5GivrhFO5FK5Tfq71t9nw7oZvIb07FxJQ6C5Waom8TwqweuiVlzLAzIBVwloIulkgTkr2U0lfURUq_ClxQq5Mezaz3AIfISqZUq_G5DK/s700/DrOliver21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr25rbyPLY5q39vouLIG6glcw6sK2XtM8OI1aw5GivrhFO5FK5Tfq71t9nw7oZvIb07FxJQ6C5Waom8TwqweuiVlzLAzIBVwloIulkgTkr2U0lfURUq_ClxQq5Mezaz3AIfISqZUq_G5DK/s400/DrOliver21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver during the oral defense of his dissertation</td></tr>
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Dinah & I timed our visit with our friend Oliver Witte to coincide with the oral defense of his dissertation for a <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Doctor of Philosophy degree in <i>Mass
Communication and Media Arts</i>. He had been working on the dissertation for several years and we were happy that we could be there to see the culmination of his hard work.</span><br />
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The defense consisted of Oliver's 20 minute presentation, followed by over an hour of questions from the dissertation committee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf0VqROljnxUT8Ej7OYt5xWSk2X4g6hfvp6_o8gZFKidyZKSGDExZI9xxbTp_BXPG9Z5hn8tNDcpTJFuTrKsURI0yLItbXmk9ynfIjxasHCWzFcdRDNOn76WENPUk-P_iG-aMlMqnff2B/s700/DoctoralCommittee25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf0VqROljnxUT8Ej7OYt5xWSk2X4g6hfvp6_o8gZFKidyZKSGDExZI9xxbTp_BXPG9Z5hn8tNDcpTJFuTrKsURI0yLItbXmk9ynfIjxasHCWzFcdRDNOn76WENPUk-P_iG-aMlMqnff2B/s400/DoctoralCommittee25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver's dissertation committee</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After the presentation and questions, we were all asked to leave while the committee discussed their final decision, then Oliver was called back into the room. He emerged as ... Dr. Witte, with a list of revisions to go into the final version of the dissertation.<br />
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We went out to lunch to celebrate the new title, and Dr. Witte took the afternoon off before returning to work on the final dissertation updates. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVopynHEf70GShH5xxJRY1U9-NSdnDo2igfGfrakFfm_t3Pwz0ZMKTyOYLA-feZPJiipfpcagD51Ws-GHF3g3MPUxVvMYkjS1bPteWmAYVGdnVaVmu7ewwFvgo3-GkVL9g0h1r5ZZ2HP6L/s1600/DinahFriendOliverAllen33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVopynHEf70GShH5xxJRY1U9-NSdnDo2igfGfrakFfm_t3Pwz0ZMKTyOYLA-feZPJiipfpcagD51Ws-GHF3g3MPUxVvMYkjS1bPteWmAYVGdnVaVmu7ewwFvgo3-GkVL9g0h1r5ZZ2HP6L/s400/DinahFriendOliverAllen33.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinah, a school friend, Dr Witte, and me, celebrating!</td></tr>
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Congratulations Oliver Witte, PhD!<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409804320688753280noreply@blogger.com1