New York NY - Adventures at the Newark Airport

Another NYC trip.
The Newark Airport always seems to be an adventure. Its close proximity to NYC and the "usual" easy train ride from Penn Station makes it a great choice when the price is right.
They have spent lots of money upgrading the security check zone so that is actually a civilized experience. It turned out that did not mean it would be a good or more efficient experience. Wow in my few trips through there recently it seems to take even longer than it did in the old "mess" they called security check.
But this past trip the real adventure was getting from the train stop at the airport to the terminal building. On a slow day it usually takes about 15 minutes to get from train stop to the terminal on the airtrain. 90 minutes on Saturday. It involved lots of waiting, in and out of many airtrains at more than one station, screaming and ranting airtrain staff, a bus and lots of people that didn't speak English that were just trying to figure out what could possibly be going on. And as one of those that should have understood what was going on and the ranting employees I had no clue either. It went from odd to questioning to over the top bizarre very quickly. Terror attack would have probably been dealt with better.
Did make it home and revving up for the next airport adventure - in the current environment every airport experience is an adventure.

Minneapolis MN - remembering those lost when the bridge collapsed

I remember the night. It was terribly hot and humid and I was debating about a bike ride. Biking around and possibly even under the bridge would have been in the route in the head that evening. The heat and humidity pushed me to run a few errands instead. I hopped in the car after one stop and couldn't understand at all what they were saying on the radio. I had to get home and see the pictures on tv to understand the bridge that collapsed was the bridge I ride around.

The new monument is a couple blocks from the office. A serene spot along the river - just down river from the wild and overactive waterfall that 2011 has brought us.

Glenwood Springs CO - a bit of history and a great old friend

We made several trips to the Glenwood Springs Area to do things. Finally, I made a trip to rendezvous with an old and dear friend from my days in Hastings Nebraska. Shortly after I moved on to Saint Paul Steve and his family moved on to Glenwood Springs and have called it home ever since.
Took a tour of the Historic Hotel Colorado and mountains in the surrounding area. Mostly we just got caught up since the last time we got together.
The last time was in 1997 when I was living in London and Steve was on his way to Greece with his son and a group. Not sure post 9/11 we could pull that rendezvous off as easily as we did back then.

Edwards CO - hanging out before the first wave heads home

We had plenty of space for everyone to spread out at the house in Edwards.
Cousin Tim stopped by on his way to Denver from his new home in Glenwood Springs.
And all the women finished off the evening in the hot tub.

Vail CO - action packed in the summer as well

We were staying a couple exits down the road from Vail. Even in the summer there is plenty of action on the mountain top - biking, hiking, gondola rides and of course shopping.
It was a great ride up to the top on the gondola. A bit cold and grey but that didn't diminish the view just made it cold enough to wish we had more clothes with us.