This morning I got to have a super relaxed start.  No work until 11 a.m.  Nice.  I haven’t had the “late start” week day morning in a while.

When you have a little time to spare errands always seem to come up.  Today was no exception.  A quick run to the post office was in order.

Now, for long time readers you know I had some thoughts on my first postal experience in Prescott.  Today was a little different, as I went to the “older” post office in downtown Prescott.  What a nice building!

Fortunately I didn’t have too much to mail this morning, so I had time to wander in the building.  As I exited I realized my Canon 10D was along with me (it’s in the truck more, as I’ve missed too many cool photos lately).  Checking the watch I knew I had 40 minutes more to myself, so I dashed out to the truck to grab the camera.

Breaking the camera out I decided that I liked the Post Office windows.  That simple.  You like something or you don’t.  And I thought that the windows were nice.  The siding on the building was pretty cool too (I bet you could climb it easy).

After messing about outside for a few I returned to the inside of the building.  See, the P.O. boxes are interesting too.  Not as interesting as the ones in Manchaug, MA., but close enough.

More than 10 minutes went by while in the building.  The interior, boxes and all, is pretty nice, and clearly older than the “new” post office.  Ah, new isn’t always better (unless it’s a new Mac for me). 

Exiting the building I continued finding neat stuff along the sidewalks of Prescott (that’s normal, there’s always something interesting).  My walking around shooting seemed to draw the attention of several folks.

One woman quickly hurried by.  I’m sure the thought was, Please, don’t shoot my photo….still waking up here.  Another slowed down, watching me shoot.  Maybe they wanted their picture taken.

Finally a nice older woman with truly white hair stopped me on the sidewalk and asked me what I was doing.  I told her that I’d seen several things I wanted to photograph.  She thought that was great.  Her expectation was that I worked for the local paper, and she was happy to know I was just taking pictures for fun.

Glad to have perked up her morning!

Finally I wrapped up my impromptu shooting for the morning and headed off to work.  One final “quick stop” by the local outfitter.  See, I’m looking at a Thule rack for the truck so I can move some of the gear out of the pickup bed and onto the roof.  Making space is always nice.

And no, I didn’t get the rack today.  That’ll wait for another day.

Well, light voting yesterday on the new theme. So far it’s winning out. For the moment, it’s a keeper. The old theme is still handy, and I can rotate back to it if I feel the new layout isn’t working out.

As you’ll notice, the new layout has a rotating photo banner. Every time you refresh you’ll see a new image! Pretty cool, eh? That’s why I changed layouts. I wish the screen was resizable, but it isn’t in this layout. I’ll keep hunting for a better one, or I’ll see about making the site with a fluid width (a window readers can resize). One thing at a time.

The Blogroll (links to other sites) has been re-added. There ya go Paula! Didn’t realize it hadn’t carried through onto the new bar.

Well, too tired to post more. I spent last evening helping a friend with their accounting homework, and we didn’t wrap up until 11. That’s late for me!

More fun stuff will be posted again soon, promise!

By the way, for folks who haven’t voted, please weigh in!

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Well, as you can see, I’m testing out a new layout of the web site. So, what do you think? Is this a keeper, or did you get used to the previous theme?  Feel free to vote below, and leave a comment too!

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Well, this morning was anything but remote. An early a.m. meeting at work….on my day off. Go figure!

Fortunately I was freed up by 9:30. What to do with the available time? How about a big round of laundry??? Yeah, things sure are exciting here around the Airstream lately!

Finally, at noon I was totally free to do something other than chores. With laundry finished, the truck re-organized, and a few things rearranged in the Airstream it was time to head out along another Arizona back road. Sadira popped up to ride along as well. A day of rest and photo ops!

We headed out to Tonto Rd. I’d already ridden along it once, but I wanted to look at a house I like out there once again. Too bad I missed the road completely and ended up in Skull Valley. Ah well, we caught the road on our return trip! While in Skull Valley we stopped to snap a few interesting photos, and that made missing Tonto Rd. the first time acceptable.

I must say, I had one big surprise in the parking lot of the Skull Valley market. As I rounded the building I found a “Moose Parking” sign. Here, in AZ? Moose parking? I’ve got to return and see who it belongs to and what the story is behind it.

Oh, if you didn’t know, I miss moose! Always loved watching them back in New Hampshire. There’s just something about them that’s interested me since the first time I saw one live and in person!

After watching for a moose or two for the appropriate amount of time we headed off back toward Tonto Rd. Driving through Skull Valley is interesting. Very desolate. Few homes, the dirt double track here and there, and little going on. I like it!

On our way back we did find Tonto Road, and we headed up and along the dirt road for the latest adventure. I can’t say the road is remote like the path to Sycamore Canyon I took the other week. But it was good enough for a guy who was too busy this morning to go anywhere fun early!

Along the way we ran across a herd of free range cattle. They were road side doing their thing (chewing, mooing, and generally standing around), so we pulled in for a few photos. Several watched me as close as I watched them. Ah, cows…..

The cow watching wrapped up quickly after a pickup blasted by us at 40 - 50 mph. Wow, cruising right along for a washboard road. Maybe as I adjust to the roads I’ll fly along them too……and then again, maybe not.

The truck did well once more along the back roads of Airzona. And with my new HAM antenna perched on the roof I was able to hit several local repeaters, even way out along a dirt road near Skull Valley. That makes me feel a lot better about exploring way off the beaten path. Glad I went to HRO yesterday. A new antenna, the odd bakery truck, and a stop into the Mac store. Totally worthwhile!

Ok……

Ah hem…..

Today Sadira & I took a ride down to Phoenix.  See, I had a few things I’ve been wanting to pick up.  So, we hit the road, and our first stop was the Ham Radio Outlet in Phoenix.  A new battery found, a few shots of HRO (had one back home in Salem too you know), and we were ready to take off……

And that’s when Sadira pointed out a unique photo opportunity.  To our right was a large truck (see above) with the word “Bimbo” sprawled across it.  Cute bear on the logo too (the things people do to get our attention now).

After considering the truck, the implication of the logo, and the happy little bear (not to mention Sadira posing in front of this odd advertising venture) I decided to take a look in my dictionary.  See, I just need to be certain regarding the origin of the name on the truck.

bimbo |ˈbimbō| (also bimbette |bimˈbet|)
noun ( pl. -bos) informal
an attractive but empty-headed young woman, esp. one perceived as a willing sex object.

Ok, that’s what I thought the word meant too.  I’ve never associated it with pastries, happy little bears, or my friend Sadira.   Hmmm…..

Further investigation tonight revealed much more on the BimboUSA.com site.  That’s the corporate site for the company that owns the truck (it’s in small print in the photo if you look close).

In addition to the catchy name on the truck, the website has some other fun slogans when you first pop on.  “The taste that will melt your butter”, “Taste them”, and finally if you have your volume on you’ll learn that Bimbo is crossing borders across the world (as the happy bear firmly plants a flag).  If you listen to the whole marketing spiel you’ll learn they’re selling all over the place, guess it’s just my first “Bimbo truck.”

So, there’s the wrap.  Yup, giggle fest here.  Folks should really check into their marketing names when they go “International.”

I think all readers here know that I’m a Mac guy now (and formerly a Windows guy).  So, knowing that about me, you should expect that I’d have something to say about Mac’s latest offering.

Last night when I returned home I had several e-mails regarding the latest Mac expo.  What topped the list?  The Macbook Air.  Apparently the thinnest computer out there now….and it sure does look thin.

So, what are my initial thoughts?  Well, I haven’t gotten to touch it, lift it, or try it out.  But I did get to watch Mac’s tour of the laptop.  Very interesting.  But I won’t be buying one in the near future.  I’m still happy with my Macbook Pro.

If you’re looking for an ultra-light laptop, this might be the one for you.  But there are a few drawbacks I’ve noted……

1. No CD/DVD drive on the Macbook Air.  It’s so thin you couldn’t put one in.  Apple’s suggestion is a portable USB drive, or just using the wireless features of the laptop.  While I depend on wireless every day, I would not want to rely on hotspots alone while traveling.  Too many different providers, charges, etc.
2. Lack of ports on the Macbook Air.  There is a small area for a few connections.  1 USB port, earphone port, and a video out port.  No firewire, only one USB port, and no Express card port.  The express card is useful if you want to use Broadband Internet over a cell carrier.
3. Depending on other machines for installation.  Apple is touting this computer as a heavily wireless system.  That’s cool.  But, here’s an issue that relates to #1.  Let’s say I want to install a new program that comes on a CD or DVD……and I don’t buy the portable drive…..what do I do?  Well, I can connect to a CD/DVD drive over my wireless network…..  So, there’s an expectation that I have other computers (which I do, but you might not).  Not so thrilled with installing large programs over WiFi…..sorry.

There are other “features” that I didn’t find too slick.  There’s also a ton of features that I loved!  But if I were needing to buy a new system tomorrow it wouldn’t be the Macbook Air.  It would be another Macbook Pro.  Check the web link I threw in at the beginning of this post, and take a look for yourself.

My bottom line…..  I need multiple ports.  I use a USB Microphone for podcasts, I hook my cameras up with USB connections, my backup drives are Firewire & USB (yes, Mac offers a wireless backup drive, but I want a portable drive).  And the Macbook Air includes only 1 USB port for me…..not good enough, even with the high speed wireless.

I’ll keep my eyes open for articles from folks who do get one of these, and I’ll pass the links along.

Overwintering, even in Arizona, can be a little tougher in an RV. And I’ve been meaning to provide updates regarding Airstream living for a while. So, what’s been happening with the cool weather (beyond freezing my water lines twice)?

Initially, I found that I would go through a 30lb propane tank every week in colder weather. While still cheaper than my old heating bills in New Hampshire (I can only imagine them now), swapping tanks every week got old. What to do, what to do? Well, I changed a few simple things….

• The hot water heater gets turned off every morning when I head to work. It gets turned back on when I return. No sense in running it all day while I’m not here.
• My furnace is turned down to 58 when I leave.
• A small electric heater is set to 60 when I leave. The afternoons here are sunny enough to aid in keeping the Airstream 60, and comfy enough when I return. Everything gets turned back to 68 when I return.
• Bed time = 62 degrees. I’ve got warm blankets you know.

Those steps alone have made the 1 tank of propane a week go for two weeks now. Nice. Doubling my energy efficiency!

On other notes, I’ve worked out the frozen water line issues. I found a way to get the little 6 inch segment of water line into the heated box. The insulation wrap and heat tape are working. It was just that small segment that was giving me problems, go figure!
The only other issue I’ve had has been tire pressure on the Airstream. Cold nights make the tires softer. So, every two weeks I’ve been checking the pressure, and refilling the tires. No big losses at all, so I don’t have leaks. But the super cold snaps always leave the pressure sensor in my truck beeping at me. Just made sense to check the trailer tires too.

In today’s economics corner I’ve seen more on the indicators front that should be concerning.  None of it is shocking though.

1. Citigroup is writing down $18 Billion due to subprime issues.
2. Citigroup is looking for new investors in China and Kuwait.
3. Citigroup will layoff between 20,000 and 24,000 employees.
4. Stagflation is being talked up.
5. We’re producing more Ethanol from corn.
6. Staple food prices are increasing (maybe #5 is driving that?)
7. My soy milk went from $2.69 a box in March to $3.79 a box today.  Under a year.  While close to 50% inflation, it’s not 50% which I guess should make me happier.  Hmmm.
8. Relating to number 5 once more, have you ever heard of a nation burning it’s food supply?  Just asking. 
9. Countrywide is being bought by Bank of America because Countrywide is in trouble.
10. I’m wondering how many Countrywide Employees will be hanging with those Citigroup employees soon?

Well, there are a few of the fun indicators and lead stories out of the Prudentbear site.  They didn’t mention ethanol or my soy prices.  Those are my observations.

Well, I’m keeping my comments really short today.  I want you to go read something else this morning from one of my favorite analysts Bill Fleckenstein.

With gold breaking $900 per ounce, oil still up, the dollar falling, and the Fed ready to cut rates again (please somebody stop them), indicators are looking bad for this year.  And we’re just in January.

So, without further comment from me, here’s the latest article from Fleckenstein.  Read it, and take the time to understand it.  The most important part in my opinion…….  Understanding economies have cycles, and our Fed has spent nearly 2 decades working to suppress the cycles.  Keeping things under wraps artificially always ends badly.

So, I’ve always wanted to create a black and white print, and then put some color back in. Here’s the result of my first experiments with the concept.