May 2005

The first clue should have been the entry form. When signing up for a Spirit Therapies charitable trail ride all of the information about when and where the ride was was on the part of the entry form that went back to the organization.

Waking with the dawn we laid in bed a while longer and went out about 6 AM on Saturday to get the horses and tack ready for the day's ride. We'd be trailering with Linda, one of our neighbors to Spring Mountain State Park, near Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas. Methodically we moved the saddles, cleaned the horses, double-checked for the extra sun-screen, lugged the five-gallon water jug and got ready for the trip. All set for our 7 AM departure. We waited, and waited.

Eventually, deciding there must be a problem, Sarah called and woke Linda up. The day after a swing-shift Linda was sleeping when the phone rang. She reminded us that the trail ride was on Sunday. Linda went back to sleep and we loaded up for a ride across Sandy Valley instead.

Sunday morning we repeated the ritual. Gathering and getting ready. Forgetting the extra water container this time, we prepared. Near seven o'clock Linda arrived and we loaded our horses in her trailer and climbed in the truck.

"Did you sit on the donughts?" Sarah asked.

"I don't think so," I replied reaching for the seat between us and finding a new kind of Krispy Kreme - the pancake doughnut - under my left leg.

Down the road to Spring Mountain State park we went. Arriving at the park there were none of the signs one might expect guiding participants as to where to go. We made assumptions and headed for where the horse trailers were. Although no signs announced the fact, we were also supposed to assume we needed to register on-site even with our pre-registration.

With several sets of conflicting and confusing directions given to us, we made our way towards the stable where the main group was headed out. Then another 10-15 minute delay came from another set of directions that contradicted those we'd been given. Arriving in the stable area we were asked to stand for 45-minutes in a manure pile while the stable loaded up their clients on their stock. Once we set out on the trail came the rules. This included that we must remain behind the company's string and couldn't do any riding other than plodding along eating the dust of a long string of horses. So much for a great trail ride.

It is always fun to get out and ride, especially in new places so the day was far from a waste. However, when paying a fee to an organization for an event it is very bad when they have such a poorly organized event. I'd much rather give a smaller donation and not have the event at all. On the other hand, while it takes a large amount of work, it is completely possible to put on great events that will bring even more prestige to an organization instead of leaving people wishing they'd just gone out on their own. I'd much rather have had a PB&J sandwich to the shoe-leather hamburger.

There are a few photos of the trip.

$60 million could be headed to Indian Springs, Nev., after the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (PDF). The bill provides $84 million for construction and land acquisition in Nevada, including over $60 million for construction at Indian Springs Auxiliary Air Field where the Predator program is based.

Generally in writing here I refrain from commenting too much about my employer. Today, however, the daily police listing of calls has one that is too good to pass up. So here for your Friday evening reading is the crime of the week:

THEFT Larceny - Grand - Building MAY 23 2005-Monday at 08:22 05-05-23-08462

Location: CENTER ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT OUTREACH 050557

Summary: A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA OUTSIDE SUITE 400 WAS STOLEN BETWEEN 6:50AM AND 6:55AM ON 5/22/05.

DISPOSITION: INACTIVE

Must have been a very effective surveillance camera.

The past few days have been busy but not particularly productive. Let me start by telling you about my weekend.

Several of the warrant officers in my Company invited me to go dirt bike riding with them at a National Recreation Area called "Land Between the Lakes (LBL)" (http://www.lbl.org/Home.html). The area is about 40 minutes from here and is covered with trails for both motorized and non-motorized use. We went to the Turkey Creek OHV area which is reserved for motorized off-highway vehicles.

Many of you know that I own a KLX-650 motorcycle. This is considered a "dual sport" bike meaning that is can be used on or off-road. It is kind of like the SUV of motorcycles. I rode my KLX to LBL where I met my friends. They brought their motorcycles on trailers because, unlike me, that had machines dedicated to difficult trail riding. Their bikes were much smaller and lighter than mine. Moreover, my friends are experienced dirt bike riders. This was my first time bringing my motorcycle off-road.

I got bloody and muddy, and tired and frustrated and had a great time! We spent the day riding trails that I never imagined could be ridden on my motorcycle. I spent a lot of time floundering in deep mud pits trying to pick my very heavy bike back up. The rest of the time was spent chasing my buddies over jumps, around trees, through boulders and up steep hills. It was great fun and good bonding with the guys I will be training (and fighting) with.

The rest of the week has not been nearly as much fun or as good for morale. It is the "Week of the Eagles" at Fort Campbell. This is supposed to be a week of self-congratulatory, esprit de corps events. In reality, it is a lot of group runs and parades and inspections.