This Weekend's Company

En route back home from Colorado after he helped a friend move there, my friend Mitch has stopped in for a couple of days to visit.

We will likely head to Red Rock Park this morning to see ascension of the hot-air balloons at the Red Rock Balloon Rally. 

Last evening, we had dinner at Genaro's Mexican Restaurant in Gallup.

Above, last evening at Genaro's Mexican Restaurant.

Twin Falls Hydroelectric Project On The Snake River

Yesterday, Mitch and I took drive to the place where Twin Falls, Idaho got its name.

Twin Falls on the Snake River is no longer such as a hydroelectric plant had been built on the location, thereby destroying one of the twin falls.

Still, it is a beautiful place to see.

Some photos:

Before:

 After:

Readying Up To Go To Idaho

Above, The Beast at the Flying J this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning has been spent getting read to head up to Buhl, Idaho.

Packing, doing laundry and gassing up The Beast (no, I'm not driving up, just spending the night in Albuquerque as I have an early morning flight) at the Flying J. We had more rain last night (three days straight) and I thought I should've gotten The Beast out of the GOCO Beast Barn yesterday in case of muddy conditions. Thanks to the gravel I had put there, there was no mud to contend with.

I'll be meeting up with Mitch Geriminsky at the Salt Lake City, Utah airport. We're both on the same connecting flight to Twin Falls, Idaho. We'll be renting a car and driving to Buhl. He's flying out of Phoenix. He was going to fly out of Las Vegas (a closer airport to Lake Havasu), but the airlines wanted around $800 for a round-trip ticket. The prices at Phoenix airport were about a third of that.

When we got our plane tickets, we were hoping to be able to see Bill one last time, but that was not to be. Now it has turned into a mission to be with his family in their grief.

While I am in Albuquerque, I have to go to a Hoover vacuum dealer to take care of a warranty repair to a new vacuum I just got.

Sierra and D.K. will be taken care of while I'm gone. 

Wellington "Bill" Wilson, 1954 - 2020

Above, Mitch, Bill and I in Buhl, Idaho last summer.

What a year.

A friend whom I've known since junior high in Hawthorne, California has passed away at 66.

Last night, I posted the following on Facebook:

Some distressing news has arrived from Buhl, Idaho. I just got off the phone with Mitch and he just talked to Bill's (Wellington's) daughter and she said that Bill may not last the night. His blood disease had turned into full blown terminal leukemia and there's nothing the doctors can do for him now except to keep him comfortable. He has been unresponsive for several hours. Mitch and I will be heading up to Idaho this weekend. We got our tickets before this news. Your prayers for Bill's family are appreciated. This photo was taken last summer.

Above, Bill and I at Denny's at the Flying J in 2018. He was a long-haul
trucker and stopped for a visit during one of his rounds in April.

We last got together last summer when he couldn't attend the Wells Fun Run (the event where I had my heart attack in 2018), so we headed up to his place in Buhl. We had a great time.

Above, Bill and his wife Linda stopped for a visit at
 the Flying J in August 2018. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sadly, I learned a few minutes ago that Bill passed somewhere around midnight. The outcome we hoped for, when his illness began last year, did not come to pass. At least now he is at peace and no longer suffering.

Bill fought a valiant fight.

Above, Mitch, Bill and I in Wells, Nevada the day before my heart attack in 2018,

Slow Drag Racing In Buhl

Above, Bill and Mitch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening, following barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, the gathering at Bill & Linda Wilson's in Buhl, Idaho decided to honor the attendees at the Wells Fun Run with some spoofing "Slow Drag" races.

During the day, everyone hung out and swapped stories and jokes. It was relaxing and enjoyable. The weather was cooperating as it was cloudy and cool out.

Videos were made and posted with some not-too-subtle homages to the Wells, Nevada gathering.

After the slow drag racing, we had a "WFF Fireworks Spectacular" (sparklers).

Here's some photos from yesterday:

Above, hanging out during the day. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mitch enjoying lunch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, and below, the "Slow Drag" race. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Now In Buhl, Idaho

Above, Mitch, Bill and I yesterday. Photo by Linda Wilson.

Since Bill Wilson, whom I've known since junior high in Hawthorne, California, is too ill to make the trip to the Wells Fun Run car show and rally in Wells, Nevada this year, we decided to forego the Wells Fun run and head to Bill's in Buhl, Idaho. Buhl is roughly 120 miles north of Wells.

Bill has an extremely rare form of blood cancer that hit him only a few months ago and is undergoing transfusions and chemotherapy. As a long-haul trucker, he was hit with it while on a run somewhere (if I remember this correctly) in Ohio. The cancer has affected his ability to produce red & white blood cells and platelets.

Many others have also decided to skip Wells and head directly to Bill's instead. We have about 20 here at Bill's.

Above, in Wells, Nevada last year. 

His wife Linda is doing a great job in making sure he is comfortable and that he gets all the treatments he needs. If something seems amiss, she's right on top of it and gets him to the doctor's. She is looking at other options of treatment, including cancer specialists in Utah and Arizona.

Since he couldn't make the Wells Fun Run, in a way we brought the Wells Fun Run to him. He seems have been lifted by the outpouring of friends and family.

We'll be in Buhl until Sunday and then head to Jackson, Wyoming (since we're "in the neighborhood").

Back From The Cuba Cruise

Above, yours truly and Mitch Geriminsky at the terminal in Havana Harbor. 

After nine days since I left home, I am finally back home in Jamestown, New Mexico.

Along with a bottle of Cuban rum and a dozen Cuban cigars (Montecristo No. 2), I also picked up some sort of bug that has me still a little congested.

I got into Albuquerque yesterday afternoon and stayed at the Super 8 motel near the Albuquerque International Sunport. I had to stay a night in order to pick up The Beast and my Winchester 94 this morning. The Beast was in the shop at Rich Ford to fix the air conditioning vacuum leak (they found evidence of rodents chewing some of the lines).

Above, our ship, Majesty of the Seas, docked in Havana Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once both items were picked up, I headed on the road. It was a hassle getting out of Albuquerque as the New Mexico Dept. of Transportation had blocked three lanes for pothole repairs. It took me a half hour to go five miles due to the traffic jam.

My friend Mitch Geriminsky is heading back to Lake Havasu today from Fort Lauderdale.

I can report that Sierra was very happy to see me back. This just may be one of the last cruises to Cuba for a while, according to news reports.

I just uploaded the photographs from the trip and they total 265 photos. 

Great Visit!

Above, the new blanket on the backrest of the sofa in the den. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My friend Mitch Geriminsky has departed this morning for his meeting/convention in Albuquerque.

It was a nice visit and we did a few things (such as attending the Indian nightly dancing in Gallup). We also got a few things fixed.

We found that every cooling vent (4 of them) had cardboard and/or duct tape blocking the air flow. We removed them and now the air flows nicely out of all of the vents. Also, we found that the water line to the swamp cooler on the roof was disconnected. We re-connected it. It also leaked. But all it needed was a new washer. So we went to Home Depot in Gallup and got some washers. Once installed, the leaks ceased.

Thankfully, he is very knowledgeable about operating swamp coolers and it is now working perfectly and the house is now cooling fine. Swamp coolers operate differently than air conditioners and I knew diddly-squat about them. Until now.

We went to a few Indian gift stores while Mitch was here. He just bought a home in Lake Havasu, Arizona and is looking for decorating it in a Southwest motif. While at one gift shop, I think it was an Armand Ortega Indian Market, I bought a small wool Indian blanket for the backrest of the sofa/bed in the den/guestroom. It looks great!

"Enterprise" Photos Submitted To Intrepid Museum

The Intrepid Museum tweeted a request for photographs to be put on display at the museum and at their website of the space shuttle test vehicle Enterprise.  Their request included any photos from 1977 to 2012.

I submitted these photos of the Enterprise in 1977 in its NASA hangar at Edwards Air Force Base:

Above, yours truly with the Enterprise in the background.

Above, yours truly and Mitch Geriminsky with the Enterprise.

To view the Intrepid Museum's photo gallery, go here.

Exhibition Of Power

Clocking over another year in one's life causes a person to think back on past adventures or incidents (at least it does it to me). The following happened when I was 19 and living in Hawthorne, California. It came to mind this week. I posted this back in 2005 at my high school alumni Feedback forum:

For the borrowed car story thread, here's one: Cougar Mitch Geriminsky (HHS '72) borrowed his brother Les's (HHS '74) 1968 Chevy Bel Air. It was all souped up. One night in 1975, Mitch and I were driving home in it on Hawthorne Blvd. in Lawndale. We stopped at a signal near the Lawndale Pet Hospital. A guy in another souped-up car pulled alongside of us. Both drivers looked at each other and started revving up their engines. Suddenly, we get the red lights from a sheriff's car and both Mitch and the other driver were arrested for "exhibition of power" or some such. The officer told me to drive the car home. So I did. This was about 1:30 am. When I got home, I went to wake my parents up to tell them what happened. I was met with riotous laughter from both of my parents. They were both asleep and when I told them Mitch was arrested for "exhibition of power," they thought I meant that Mitch was arrested for exhibitionism. That's why they both started laughing. I ended up calling Mitch's dad and he had to go bail him out. The charge was later dropped, though. To his dying day, my Dad still laughed about that night.

Good times!

Cruiser Motorsports

California is known for its car culture (amongst other things). California drivers take extra pride in their vehicles.

Cruiser Motorsports in Moreno Valley, California is your "one stop accessory shop" for those goodies to make your car run better and look better.

"We are your Ultimate One Stop Shop for Restyling, Modifications & Cool Aftermarket Accessories for your PT Cruiser," according to Cruiser Motorsports' website.



Besides PT Cruisers, Cruiser Motorsports also carries accessories for Chrysler 300, Chevy HHR, Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, 2010 Camaro, Dodge Caliber and more.

Owner Mitch Geriminsky works hard to get the latest goodies for your car. If an item isn't in stock, he'll get it for you!



Cruiser Motorsports doesn't just solely cater to Californians. Through their website, car buffs outside of California can also take advantage of what they have to offer.

Cruiser Motorsports is located at 7207 Old 215 Frontage Rd., Moreno Valley, CA. 92553. Phone 951-697-8240.

For more information, visit Cruiser Motorsports' website at http://www.cruisermotorsports.com/.

Aboard The S.S. Catalina

Summer is here. I thought this would be a good time to take a look back at another summer when two friends and I went to Catalina Island aboard "The Great White Steamer."

From Wikipedia:

The S.S. Catalina, also known as The Great White Steamer, was a 301-foot steamship built in 1924 that provided passenger service on the 26-mile passage between Los Angeles and Santa Catalina Island from 1924 to 1975. According to the Steamship Historical Society of America, the Catalina has carried more passengers than any other vessel anywhere. The S.S. Catalina also served as a troop ship during World War II, transporting more than 800,000 soldiers and sailors. After a period of service as a floating discotheque, the ship ran aground on a sandbar in Ensenada Harbor in 1997 and remained there half-submerged and decaying for more than a decade.

In January 2009, it was announced that the ship would be cut up for scrap, which has been completed.

July 24, 1974

It was on July 24, 1974 that Max Bettman, Mitch Geriminsky and I took a round-trip cruise to Catalina Island aboard the S.S. Catalina. There were faster, but smaller boats ferrying visitors to the island, but we opted to take the historical S.S. Catalina instead. Besides, the ship had a full bar!

At the time, we were students at El Camino College but were on summer vacation. Little did we know at the time that this would be the next-to-last season of the S.S. Catalina. The owners had financial difficulties, with smaller and faster boats competing for passengers to Catalina Island.

Above, en route to Catalina Island, passengers enjoy the ocean view on the S.S. Catalina's bow.

Above, Mitch Geriminsky (left) and Max Bettman aboard the S.S. Catalina.

Above, the three of us aboard the S.S. Catalina as we headed to Catalina Island. Looks like we all could've used haircuts!

Above, Catalina's Avalon Harbor is in sight as we approached the island.

Above, here I am after getting off the ship. This was my first visit to Catalina Island. I was 20 at the time.

Once we arrived on Catalina Island, we spent the day swimming in Avalon Harbor and did some horseback riding. When we walked to the stables, we had to go through an Avalon neighborhood. It was like being transported 30-40 years back in time as the homes looked like they were time-locked in the 1930s or 1940s.

After a day's worth of fun on Catalina Island, we got back on board the S.S. Catalina for the return trip to the mainland.

1982: Destined For Oblivion

After the 1974 trip to Catalina Island, I hadn't seen the S.S. Catalina until 1982, when a group of us were cruising on a business associate's yacht.

Above, the S.S. Catalina at anchor in Long Beach Harbor as our boat approached.

Early in 2009, it was announced that the S.S. Catalina would be dismantled and sold for scrap. It had partially sunken into the mud of Ensenada Harbor, Mexico. Preservationists tried to raise funds to re-float the ship and restore it, but they were unable to do so.

The old ship is now gone. Here are a couple of photos of the ship that I took in 1982. The ship was at anchor in Long Beach Harbor at the time, waiting for oblivion in Ensenada Harbor.

Above, a business associate invited several of us for a lunch cruise on his yacht and we passed by the Catalina during the cruise. The photo above was taken as we closed in.

This little song was played aboard the S.S. Catalina as we sailed to Catalina Island:

Long Day

Yesterday was a long day as I had to go to Moreno Valley and Riverside for the funeral and burial of Denise Geriminsky. It is an eighty-mile trek each way. And after that, I had to go to work in the Malibu area.

The funeral and burial ceremony was well-attended. Mitch and Denise run an auto accessories store in Moreno Valley and involved in car clubs, particularly PT Cruiser car clubs.

There had to have been 50-75 PT Cruisers at the funeral. It made for an impressive funeral procession.

I elected to go ahead of them to Riverside National Cemetery so I could place flowers at my parents' grave. The new headstone had been placed on the grave. I had requested the inscription "Beloved Parents & Grandparents," but apparently the stone is not big enough to accommodate the wording.

This photo was taken by my cell phone:

Denise Smith Geriminsky

Above, Mitch and Denise at their Cruiser Motor Sports Store in Moreno Valley, California.

2010 is not starting off on a good footing of late.

I learned earlier today that Denise Smith Geriminsky, wife of my friend Mitch, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away yesterday in Moreno Valley.

According to Mitch's sister Sheila, Denise fractured her hip and went to the hospital on Saturday night. She then had surgery on Sunday (yesterday). That went well, but then she had a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot to the lung).

Understandably, Mitch is in shock (I've been there with the passing of my mom in January, and it is not fun) from this turn of events.

Mitch and Denise own Cruiser Motor Sports car accessory store in Moreno Valley, California. If memory serves, Denise graduated from Redondo Beach High School in 1972. Mitch graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1972.

Your prayers at this time are appreciated.