Week 140 - Sacramento Area, California - 04-19-2009

Tales from Terminator Country,

Breaking News: Our brother-in-law, Frank will be signing "Roseanna's Reply" a WWII adventure novel with the nuances of a murder mystery, intertwined with love and the bonds of family and friendship.

Matthew's at the airport, 4900 Wing Way, Paso Robles , is hosting a book signing from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Saturday, April 25th, 2009. Enjoy complementary appetizers provided by Matthews, olive oil tasting by Hidden Hills Olive Oil, wine making demonstration by Zoller Wine Styling, create your own blend. Taste local wines like "Fighter Pilot Red" and "Roseanna's Red" and wines from other local vineyards. Enjoy David Garretson's guitar and banjo picking, on the patio. Books will be available at the book signing and are also available at Barnes & Nobles, Target and Amazon.com.

Now back to Terminator Country:

We came to the Sacramento area to have some body damage repaired on the Mothership. Last November Pete scraped a low post coming into a parking lot in San Diego. It creamed four side panels. But the nice folks from American RV in Rocklin, CA, made it look like new. Here is Pete with the owner Brian and his helper Vince. We thank them for a job well done.

1) The damage ruined two panels and scraped three more. 2) But now, thanks to Brian and Vince, it looks like it should.

It's April 15th, do you know where your Tea Party is? Pete's was in Sacramento at the Capital. The national press thinks these were events organized by the GOP. However, unlike the left-wing events where every sign is identical, bought and paid for by the unions, every sign here was unique, created by an individual who came to protest the outrageous "generational theft" being committed by the Obama administration.

Every sign unique. Some looking like third-graders and some very professional.

Pete found it interesting that only Fox News showed up. While ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, HLN and PBS will show up when 20 people whine about anything, they did not show up when 475,000 Democrats, Republicans and Independents convened at 700 locations across the nation. It is no wonder that a single one hour show on Fox News has a larger viewing audience than CNN, MSNBC and HLN news combined!

Pete's favorite sign. If only . . .

1) Just west of the Tea Party is the Tower Bridge which joins Sacramento to West Sacramento. 2) The Delta King floating Hotel.

1) We got a good report from folks exiting Joe's Crab Shack. 2) Ellen next to a huge ivy wall in Old Town Sacramento.

1) Do you like Salt Water Taffy, they have a few pieces left. 2) Old Sacramento is about 2 x 3 blocks of nicely restored buildings.

Across the Tower Bridge, right on the Sacramento River is the Ziggurat Office Building. This privately constructed building is right on the river which of course is very expensive property. But, its their money.

Right next to the Ziggurat building is this new construction. This 13 story building is not just rectangular blocks like the Ziggurat. This is a complex curved structure with a 3-story covered parking garage. It will house thousands of employees. When you constantly hear that the California schools need more and more money, did you think it was going for a $276 million dollar building just to handle the retirement benefits of California teachers? CALSTRS is the California State Teachers Retirement System. Pete's sister was a California teacher for decades and our daughter Emily is finishing her first year. Sure, retirement is important, but why do teachers have to spend their own money on daily supplies? Maybe this is why?

We are heading to Alaska in the next few weeks. Ellen grabbed the AMTRAK for a week-long visit back home before we leave. Pete will continue on solo and pick Ellen up in Seattle where she will beat his face in for the politics of this email. "The truth shall set you free".

Ad hoc, ad loc, quid pro quo, so little time, so far to go. (Paraphrased from Jeremy Hilary Boob, The Yellow Submarine Movie).

Love, Pete and Noellen

Photos from Apr 2009