Snow This Morning

Above, a little dusting on the deck and furniture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As J. R. Ewing used to say on Dallas, "If that don't tear the rag off the bush!"

I just opened the window shades and saw that we got a little dusting of snow overnight. I heard that Jack Rabbit Trading Post had some snow a couple of days ago, but didn't think that we'd get any here in Jamestown, New Mexico.

Above, the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This may make my drive today to Albuquerque interesting. I have to meet up with Mitch Geriminsky at the Albuquerque Sunport early tomorrow morning for our flight to Houston, Texas for the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. 

I have a cat sitter for Sierra. 

I got some good news yesterday. My state tax refund had already been received in my checking account. I'll have plenty of moolah for the Houston trip. 

Albuquerque Sunport TSA "Normal"

Above, the TSA checkpoint at the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A trip is planned for next month to go to Houston, Texas for the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. Mitch Geriminsky and I will be flying out of the Albuquerque Sunport.

How is Sunport faring during this Chuck Schumer-led Democrat partial shutdown?

KRQE News 13 reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The ongoing partial government shutdown has resulted in longer-than-average wait times at airport security checkpoints operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) around the country. As a result, the federal government has deployed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to aid with security at some airports.

Despite the major travel shifts being seen at airports across the country, as of Monday, operations at the Albuquerque International Sunport remain unchanged.

“The Sunport has not experienced staffing shortages related to TSA, and checkpoint operations continue as normal,” said Albuquerque International Sunport Spokesperson Diana Lopez.

Getting back from Houston may be a different story if the shutdown has not ended by then.  

To read more, go here.

Spirit Airlines Cutting Flights

Air travel will get a little bit more tighter as low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines will be cutting flights in the coming months.

Spirit Airlines does service Albuquerque, but it seems that that route will not be affected. I have not traveled with Spirit Airlines.

Travel + Leisure reported:

Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is cutting dozens more flights across the country in a shake-up aimed at directing resources to the most popular routes.

The airline will cut 24 different routes from Nashville to Los Angeles and beyond, the company confirmed to Travel + Leisure. The cuts will take effect over the course of the next few months.

“We routinely evaluate our network and make adjustments to support the company's business strategy based on current market and operating conditions,” a Spirit spokesperson told T+L. “As part of this process, we updated our upcoming schedule to focus on our strongest performing routes.”

Starting immediately, the company has ended flights from Columbus to Tampa, from San Antonio to Tampa, from Nashville to Los Angeles, from Burbank to Sacramento, from Cleveland to Orlando, from Dallas to San Antonio, from Dallas to Chicago, from Newark to San Antonio, from Fort Lauderdale to Phoenix, from Las Vegas to Richmond, from Los Angeles to Oakland, and from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. On Dec. 2, the airline will cut flights from Dallas to Tampa, followed a day later by Charlotte to Houston, Dallas to Houston, and San Diego to Sacramento.

To read more, go here. 

What Happens When The TSA Intercepts Firearms At US Airports

Above, the TSA checkpoint at the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bringing a firearm through airport security (TSA) can be a major problem if one does not follow proper procedures. I've never had the need to bring a gun while traveling by air.

It is legal to bring a firearm in one's luggage as long as it is locked unloaded in a hard-sided case and declared with the baggage officer.

But not following the procedures can get one heavily fined, arrested and the gun confiscated.

Here's the official TSA procedures for transporting firearms and ammunition.

MSN posted an article on what happens. 

They start with:

As US travelers take advantage of their Second Amendment rights, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) frequently discovers firearms at security checkpoints throughout the US. By not declaring their firearms, travelers can potentially face legal issues for not following the proper procedures.

While the TSA does not confiscate or seize firearms if a passenger attempts to bring one through the security checkpoint or packs one in their carry-on luggage, the TSA will contact local law enforcement to take possession of the firearm safely. The passenger may be arrested or issued a citation, depending on local laws.

To read the full article, go here. 

Labor Day Weekend Looks To Be Busier

Above, Albuquerque's Sunport TSA area will be a lot busier
than this during Labor Day weekend. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one thing I don't have to worry about. That is Labor Day weekend travel.

I plan on staying home during the weekend, so I am leaving traveling to others. This Labor Day weekend looks to be even busier than last year's.

According to KOB 4:

Many children have gone back to school in the U.S., and the days are getting shorter, but there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up: Labor Day.

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday — a record for the Labor Day period.

AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%.

American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.

To read more, go here. 

Home Again

Above, yours truly and friend.

I finally made it home to New Mexico yesterday.

My flight was supposed to take off around 10:00 yesterday morning, but it was delayed for three hours. It seems that getting to a place from home has been effortless, but getting back home has been a different story. This happened several times in recent years.

After landing in Albuquerque, I drove the motorhome from there to Jamestown. I made two stops: one for fuel and the other for food. 

After unpacking, I decided to go to bed. I was worn out and ended up sleeping for 10 hours.  

As for G-FEST, I had a good time. It looked like it already outgrew the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. My guess is that we had around 7,000 attending.

RV Night Driving Tips

Above, driving out of the Albuquerque Sunport parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Night driving, even with RVs, isn't for everyone. Sometimes driving at night is necessary.

RV Travel has posted an article by Gail Marsh with 10 helpful tips for night RV driving.

It starts with:

A family emergency recently prompted us to drive our RV at night. We prefer to travel during daylight hours, but this time it just wasn’t possible. Here are some tips that may come in handy should you need to travel in the dark sometime, too.

To read the full article, go here. 

Trip Eatin' and Drinkin'

Above, the Old Spaghetti Factory in Phoenix. 

After a little trip to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the National Money Show, I am back home.

It was a good time to get out of cold and windy Jamestown, New Mexico for a few days. Mitch Geriminsky drove to Phoenix from Lake Havasu and met me at the airport.

Above, the Rodizio Grill in Mesa, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with the National Money Show, we went to a couple of eateries. One was the Rodizio Grill, a Brazillian-style steakhouse in Mesa. I had never been there before, but it was enjoyable. Another place I hadn't been to was The Old Spaghetti Factory. I've passed by several of them, but never tried any out until now. I had the mushroom sauce, which was excellent.

Above, Rio Grande Brew Pub and Grill at the Albuquerque Sunport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before my flight from the Albuquerque Sunport, I went to the Rio Grande Brew Pub and Grill, where I discovered Alien Amber Ale, and had one.

Above, yours truly at the Rio Grande Brew Pub and Grill.

We had a good time at the show and will likely go again next year if it is held in Phoenix again.

NM Democrats Pushing For Alcohol Tax

Above, a brew pub at the Albuquerque Sunport offering several craft beers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever Democrats aren't promoting abortion or trying to destroy our Second Amendment rights, they try to impose new taxes or raise them.

They are now proposing a flat tax of twenty-five cents per drink to combat to combat the state's alcohol-related death rate. Yeah, right.

Some snippets from Seattle PI:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico are pushing for a flat 25-cents-a-drink tax to combat the state’s alcohol death rate, which is the highest in the country and nearly twice the national average.

The legislation survived its first committee Friday, advancing on a 6-4 vote.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that if the proposal advances through the Capitol, New Mexico would raise alcohol taxes and dedicate an extra $155 million in new revenue to support health, treatment and other programs.

But the newspaper said the proposal is facing blunt opposition from the national alcohol industry, local breweries and others.

Al Park, a lobbyist for the New Mexico Brewers Guild, said the changes would undo incentives that helped the state grow its craft beer scene.

To read the full article, go here. 

Five Years

Above, at the house after getting the keys and electric service. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Five years have certainly passed quickly.

It was five years ago today that I went to the title company in Gallup and handed them the cashier's check paying the balance of the house and got the paperwork and keys.

I flew into Gallup the evening before at the Albuquerque Sunport, picked up a rental car and drove into Gallup. I stayed at the Motel 6 in Gallup.

The next morning, I checked out of the Motel 6 and took care of business. I used the lobby of the El Rancho Hotel as my base of operations.

After business was concluded at the title company, I headed over to the electrical company and opened my electrical service account. I also got a post office box as there's no mail carrier delivery. 

I then headed back to the Albuquerque Sunport to fly back home that evening. A few days later, I left L.A. for good and moved to New Mexico.

RV Travel: 10 Night RV Driving Tips

Above, getting ready to depart an Albuquerque airport parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In my younger days, I had occasionally worked at night as an armed patrol security officer, so night driving is something I am used to.

Driving an RV at night is different than a patrol car. Since I am an early riser, I usually get on the road before sunrise when it is still dark out.

There are those who aren't night drivers. RV Travel has ten tips on driving an RV at night.

They begin with:

A family emergency recently prompted us to drive our RV at night. We prefer to travel during daylight hours, but this time it just wasn’t possible. Here are some tips that may come in handy should you need to travel in the dark some time, too.

To see what the ten tips are, go here. 

COVID Infection?

Above, aboard the Durango train on August 1.

My ex-roommate Jessica gave me some concerning news last night.

She thinks she contracted COVID at the Albuquerque Sunport and is worried that I may have also gotten exposed to it when I took her there.

She came down sick at about Thursday and her dad has the same symptoms as she did. She's going to be tested today. Her dad was tested positive. This will be his third bout with it.

So far, I feel just fine. It has been since Tuesday since we were at the airport. I doubt I got it since I wasn't around anyone at the airport and five days have gone by.

I am not too worried for myself since I am vaccinated and had two boosters. Jessica was also fully vaccinated with boosters. They won't stop being infected, but will lessen the severity.

UPDATE (8/14/22):

Jessica's test came out positive. She has COVID.

Fast Two Weeks

Above, Jessica at Kiva Café this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last two weeks when my former roommate Jessica was here went very fast. It probably due to us being busy going to Durango and Navajo Lake State Park. She left today for Iowa.

We headed to the Albuquerque Sunport this morning with a stop for breakfast at the Kiva Café in the Grants/Milan area. She enjoyed her meal (chocolate chip pancake) and I enjoyed my enchilada breakfast plate.

We got to the Sunport around 11:00 and she immediately checked in. After out goodbyes, I headed back to Jamestown around noon and reached home around 2:20.

After getting home, I went to get my mail and did some laundry.

It was an enjoyable two-week visit. She's looking forward to returning next summer.

Good Beer Blimp Gondola At Albuquerque Sunport

Above, the gondola of one Good Beer Blimp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While waiting for Jessica's plane to arrive at the Albuquerque Sunport, I was wandering around the terminal. As I was coming down an escalator, I spotted an interesting display. It was the gondola to an experimental advertising blimp, the Good Beer Blimp. 

I am guessing it was experimental as the motor ran on liquid propane. 

Above, the gondola was made from a Cessna 337 Skymaster. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the USML Digital Library:

The "Good Beer Blimp Busch" is the latest high-flying sales promotion vehicle for Anheuser-Busch Inc., a company spokesman said Thursday.

Above, an inside view from the front. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Apparently, there were two Good Beer Blimps. One was the Anheuser-Busch Good Beer Blimp Busch and the other was the Good Beer Blimp Budweiser. 

I couldn't tell from the gondola or the display's card which Good Year Blimp this one was.

Above, the display card. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The blimp only lasted about two years as it had stability and other issues and it consumed its propane fuel at a fast rate. 

For more details, go to Hot Airships.com

Cheapest States and Airports for Domestic Flights

Above, the Albuquerque Sunport. New Mexico's air fares averaged
 $351.95 according to the study. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everyone likes to save money on air travel. As it turns out, according to a recent study, some places are cheaper than others to fly domestically.

Lower prices by state and airports was the subject of a study by NetCredit.

For myself, once I know when I have to travel by air somewhere, I try to purchase my tickets as early as possible. I've already done so this year and saved a lot of money doing. New Mexico's air fares averaged $351.95. The closest airport to me is the Albuquerque Sunport.

Travel + Leisure has an article on the NetCredit study and they start it with:

Summer travel is nearly in full swing — and summer prices are too — but thankfully, there are still deals to be found, especially if vacationers are strategic about which airports they fly out of.

New Jersey happens to be the cheapest state to fly out of nationally with an average domestic flight price of just $205.60, according to a study by loan company NetCredit that was shared with Travel + Leisure. The Garden State also laid claim to the cheapest airport in the United States in Atlantic City International Airport, which the study noted is often served by budget carrier Spirit Airlines and where flights average only $109.43. In comparison, New Jersey's other major airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, averages more than $300 per flight. 

To read more, go here. 

Airline CEOs: Masks On Planes Don't Help Much

Above, yours truly at the Albuquerque Sunport waiting for the
flight to Dallas Love Field to board. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The CEOs of Southwest and American Airlines questioned the usage of masks during flights during a senate hearing.

It is interesting to note that I flew on both planes during the past two years of the pandemic, American to Las Vegas and Southwest to Dallas/Fort Worth. I remember that we were packed like sardines aboard the American flight while Southwest had passenger seating spaced out for social distancing. We had to wear masks during both trips the whole time while on board.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported:

The CEOs of two of the nation’s major airlines say they don’t think wearing masks on planes does much to help limit exposure to Covid.

The comments from American Airlines CEO Doug Parker — the nation’s largest carrier — and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly came during a hearing about the financial support that airlines received from the federal government in 2020 and 2021. But the topic of masks arose via a question from Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the Senate committee holding the hearing.

“I think the case is very strong that masks don’t add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment. It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting,” said Kelly.

Both Kelly and Parker mentioned that high-grade HEPA air filters on planes capture virtually all airborne contamination and air quality is helped by how frequently cabin air is exchanged with fresh air from outside the cabin.

The article also noted that Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants, testified that not all planes are equipped with HEPA air filters.

To me, masks offer as much protection as a chain-link fence does to keep mosquitoes out of a yard. My cardiologist agrees.

To read the full article, go here.

Omicron Unraveling Travel Industry (Again)

Above, the Albuquerque Sunport looking like a ghost town in August 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, here we go again, or, in this case, NOT going again. Some of us will go anyway.

The travel industry has been hard hit over the past two years since the pandemic started. Now that the omicron variant has arrived, things are going back to square one a bit. 

Viruses has a tendency to mutate over time. So far, there's been two mutations: delta and omicron. There may be more out there that we don't know of or more will eventually pop up.

This is causing some "unraveling" of the plans of the travel industry to make a comeback.

According to the Citrus County Chronicle:

Tourism businesses that were just finding their footing after nearly two years of devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic are being rattled again as countries throw up new barriers to travel in an effort to contain the omicron variant.

From shopping districts in Japan and tour guides in the Holy Land to ski resorts in the Alps and airlines the world over, a familiar dread is rising about the renewed restrictions.

Meanwhile, travelers eager to get out there have been thrown back into the old routine of reading up on new requirements and postponing trips.

To read all about it, go here. 

Albuquerque Sunport: Arrive 2 Hours Before Flight

Above, the Albuquerque Sunport during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thank God that I am not going anywhere near an airplane this week.

Travelers are expected to jam the nation's airports and that includes the Albuquerque Sunport. They advise travelers to arrive at the airport two hours before flight.

KOB 4 reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - It's the busiest time of year for the Albuquerque International Sunport. Even with a pandemic, tens of thousands of people are traveling to and from New Mexico.

"It's really nice to come back home and see everyone. It's a little stressful to be on a packed plane still, I'm a little worried about COVID, but it's not bad," said a traveler. 

Sunport officials are expecting this week to be the busiest week that they've had in two years.

"This is definitely going to be one of our busiest travel periods during the start of the pandemic,” said Stephanie Kitts, public information officer for the Sunport.

Still, Kitts recommends people arrive at least two hours before the flight leaves – just to anticipate delays in lines and at security.

To read the full article, go here. 

Albuquerque Sunport Sees Thousands of Labor Day Travelers

Above, the Albuquerque Sunport was like a ghost town last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Happy Labor Day!

This marks the end of the summer vacation season and there are thousands who have suffered from "cabin fever" over a year and a half and are taking to the skies.

The Albuquerque Sunport is seeing more people traveling than during the 2020 Labor Day weekend.

According to KRQE:

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – This Labor Day weekend people are on the go and travelers at the Albuquerque International Sunport say there are plenty of full flights. Kirsten Maliny is visiting New Mexico and she shares, “The first plane I was on was very crowded, so there was no possible way to social distance but everybody kept their mask on.”

The Sunport says its most recent seven-day average of passengers traveling through is about 11,000 per day. That’s still significantly down from pre-COVID numbers but a jump from last year. “In the early to mid-summer, we were seeing really big increases but now, they’re starting to level out,” said Jonathan Small, a Sunport spokesperson.

Some travelers say they are still taking extra precautions while flying to stay safe from COVID-19. Officials say the Albuquerque Sunport is keeping up all of the same COVID-safe procedures they implemented at the start of the pandemic. Small shares, “Additional hand sanitizer stations, plexiglass partitions on every counter, social distancing indicators throughout the terminal.”

To read more, go here.

New Mexico Adopts New CDC Mask Guidance

Above, yours truly at the Albuquerque Sunport in January. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

New Mexico has adopted the guidance on face masks that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced yesterday.

According to KOB Channel 4:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico Department of Health announced Friday that the state will be adopting the CDC's updated guidance on face masks for those who are fully vaccinated.

The CDC's new guidance says that in most circumstances, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in either indoor or outdoor settings.

All individuals who are unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated are still required, per the public health order and CDC guidance, to wear a mask in public settings.

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose, or two weeks after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

I received my two Pfizer vaccine doses in February.

To read more, go here.