Mitch's Birthday, Winds and Snow's Coming

Above, the birthday boy, Mitch Geriminsky. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After fighting gusty winds all the way from Williams, Arizona to home, I finally reached home from Lake Havasu about a half hour ago.

The winds kicked up a lot of dust in many areas. But the funny thing is, once I got to the Arizona-New Mexico border, rain clouds were over head and the ground was wet. 

Above, some of the guests in Mitch's back yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It started raining when I got to the Iyanbito bridge on Interstate 40 and continued to do so even when I reached home. Well, I'm not complaining. We needed it and we are currently under a Winter Storm Warning.through Wednesday.

Above, everyone enjoyed this sunset over Lake Havasu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The trip to Lake Havasu was an enjoyable one and the capper was a birthday party for Mitch Geriminsky last night at his home. We had about 60 people there.

Above, a big screen was set up to show pictures from Mitch's life. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I'll clean out The Beast tomorrow and put it into the GOCO Beast Barn after I am done (hopefully before any snows start).

The forecast for Jamestown, New Mexico from the National Weather Service:

This Afternoon

Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Tonight

Rain showers likely before 3am, then snow showers likely. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Monday

Snow. Temperature rising to near 42 by 8am, then falling to around 31 during the remainder of the day. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Monday Night

A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.

Tuesday

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Wednesday

A 20 percent chance of snow showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Lake Havasu Trump Parade

Above, long after we were done with the parade and en route to the gun show,
 parade cars were still coming down McCulloch Blvd. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At least 2,000 participants assembled today for the Lake Havasu Trump parade.

All kinds of vehicles (and some boats) assembled at Gallagher's Dining & Pub and the Lake Havasu Elks Lodge for the parade. The parade was lead by many motorcycles.

Before heading onto the streets of Lake Havasu, there were several speakers, including Congressman Paul Gosar (4th District).

Above, Congressman Paul Gosar addresses the participants. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once all the speakers were done and final instructions given, the vehicles lined up for the drive down McCulloch Blvd. to a park near the lake.

During the parade drive, many people along the sidewalks cheered us on.

Unfortunately, parking at the park was already taken up and we ended up going to a gun show. We found some good deals on ammunition ($20/box of 9mm ammo).

Later, that evening, we migrated to Mitch Geriminsky's house for his 67th birthday party.

It was a busy, but fun, day.

Some photos:

During the opening ceremonies, it was announced that President Trump will hold a rally this coming Wednesday at the Bullhead City Airport.

Busy Day

Above, Lake Havasu this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is going to be a busy one.

This morning, I will be at/in the Lake Havasu Trump parade in the streets of the city. It is going to start at 10:00.

Next, if time permits, we'll be going to a gun show. Hopefully, there will be plenty of ammo to buy, since many gun dealers are in short supply.

Later, this evening, it will be Mitch's birthday party at his place. 

So there's much to do today.

A Visit to the Trump Store

 

Mark Ronchetti Endorsed By The Albuquerque Journal

Above, Mark Ronchetti.

The Mark Ronchetti campaign received some good news today.

Ronchetti has been endorsed by The Albuquerque Journal.

Ronchetti emailed:

Here are some excerpts from the Journal’s endorsement of my campaign. You can read the full article by clicking here.

“The last time New Mexico had bipartisan representation from its senators was when Domenici and Sen. Jeff Bingaman held the seats. They often disagreed, but they worked together on behalf of their home state. The election of Ronchetti is a chance to bring back that bipartisan team.

And Ronchetti, who exudes energy, comes down on the correct side of a wide range of issues. He fundamentally understands it must be the private sector – not government – that re-energizes the economy and creates wealth as the nation moves through and past the COVID pandemic. He understands we must find ways to live with the virus and mitigate its risks without shutting down the economy.”

I appreciate the Albuquerque Journal’s kind words, and I look forward to being your next United States Senator.

First Full Day In Lake Havasu

Above, the flag's up! Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While Mitch was out to breakfast with another friend and doing errands, I decided to hang out at the Crazy Horse Campground and enjoy the lake.

Above, Mitch in his back yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As is usually the case, I slept great in the motorhome and woke up to a warm and clear day. My next door neighbor is out boating with his black labrador and I sat out in the lake with a cigar and a bottle of Alien Amber Ale.

Above, a view looking toward the lake from Mitch's front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a while, I went back to the RV to dry off and the holding tank emptying truck came by to empty my holding tanks. There are no sewer facilities at the beachfront campsite as they are close to the lake (drinking water, y'know). The emptying truck works with suction, so RV holding tanks get a good emptying.

Above, The Beast this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Earlier I was over at Mitch's and helped him change a bulb to one of his outdoor light fixtures. He's a bit leery about being on ladders. 

Above, the holding tank emptying truck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After that was done, we headed back to the RV park to drop me off. We'll be rejoining later once he's done with his errands. I think there will be a parade in town tomorrow, in which we'll be participating. 

Above, the beachfront campsites. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we arrived, I set up my flagpole with my "Trump: No More Bullshit" flag. Lake Havasu City has a lot of Trump supporters and there's even a Trump store in town, which we'll be going to later today.

The boat and jet ski rental place on the property is closed (probably for the season), otherwise I would consider renting a jet ski. I did it here five years ago.

Last Night

Above, the view of London Bridge from our table. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, we had dinner at the Barley Brothers Restaurant & Brewery.

The restaurant is situated next to the famous Lake Havasu City London Bridge, what was dismantled piece by piece and re-assembled in Lake Havasu. It opened in Lake Havasu in 1971.

We had a nice window table which gave us a good view of the bridge.

After dinner, we headed to Mitch Geriminsky's to watch the Biden-Trump debate. 

Trump was much more effective as he held back and projected a calm presence. He managed to get Biden to state he wants to end fossil fuels by 2035 and was caught in a lie about fracking (among other things). Incredibly, he said nobody lost their private insurance under ObamaCare, which everyone knows it is not true. It was not a good night for Biden. Trump just let Biden talk and, sure enough, put the noose around his own neck.

Above, Lake Havasu last night from the campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After watching the debate and the analysis after, I headed back to the RV park and sat out for a while to enjoy a cigar and enjoy the lake with the city's lights shining on it.

Made It To Lake Havasu

Above, The Beast at camp in Lake Havasu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, I am currently in Lake Havasu, Arizona in The Beast, enjoying the lake and the warm weather (sunny, at about 95°). I have the roof air conditioner on.

I am in town for Mitch Geriminsky's 67th birthday and decided to make the weekend a mini-vacation of it at the lake.

Above, a view of the lake from the campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a pleasant drive from New Mexico. I saw several Trump billboards and a bunch of homemade Trump signs along Interstate 40. I saw only one Biden billboard. The Trump signs were placed by ranchers along I-40. I managed to take a picture of one on a hillside as it was big and I was able to see it about two miles away. That allowed me enough time to find a good place to stop and take a picture of it.

Above, a rancher's homemade Trump sign about 13 miles east of Seligman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We will likely go out to dinner (Mitch was surprised that I came out) and then watch tonight's debate between Trump and Biden. I didn't tell Mitch that I was going to show up.

MAGA! 

"Logan's Run" (1976)

Above, Jenny Agutter and Michael York in Logan's Run. MGM Photo.

During the same week that Elvis Presley died, I went with my parents to the Studio Drive-In Theater in Culver City to see a double-feature: The Spy Who Loved Me and Logan's Run.

On Logan's Run, the following is from Wikipedia:

Logan's Run is a 1976 American science fiction action film directed by Michael Anderson and starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett, and Peter Ustinov. The screenplay by David Zelag Goodman is based on the 1967 novel Logan's Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. It depicts a utopian future society on the surface, revealed as a dystopia where the population and the consumption of resources are maintained in equilibrium by killing everyone who reaches the age of thirty. The story follows the actions of Logan 5, a "Sandman" who has terminated others who have attempted to escape death and is now faced with termination himself.

Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film uses only the novel's two basic premises: that everyone must die at a set age, and that Logan and companion Jessica attempt to escape while being chased by another Sandman named Francis. After aborted attempts to adapt the novel, story changes were made including raising the age of "last day" from 21 to 30 and introducing the idea of "Carrousel" [sic] for eliminating 30-year-olds. Its filming was marked by special-effects challenges in depicting Carrousel and innovative use of holograms and wide-angle lenses.

Since that viewing, I have only seen bits of it here and there on television. Until now. 

A Blu-ray copy of Logan's Run arrived in the mail today and I watched it this evening. It was as enjoyable today as when I first saw it. Jenny Agutter was alluring as always. Farrah Fawcett-Majors had a small role, but it was good to see her in her prime again.

I was struck by the premise that this "utopia", as with all so-called utopias, provided pleasures and anything else the population of the city wanted. But with a catch (naturally). Everyone must die at age 30. The utopian police-state government (it is hard to say who, except maybe the computers) knows what's best for everyone, while at the same time has to lie in order to stay in power. It it only after Logan comes back from "the outside" and reports what he found, the computers go haywire and destructs. It reminds me of the "utopia" the Democrats have been pushing these past few years. The change from age 21 (the book) to age 30 (the movie) actually makes more sense to me. 

Logan's Run holds up quite well after 44 years.

Biden + Harris = California Everywhere!

Julie Strauss Levin, in The Tennessee Star, has penned an excellent opinion piece on what we can expect will happen to our country should Biden-Harris win the election.

The country would be turned into California on steroids!

Here's some snippets:

Imagine a country where rolling blackouts are a common occurrence, where gasoline-powered cars are outlawed, and all new car sales must be electric by a date certain.  Imagine a country where borders are open, sanctuary cities and towns are everywhere, where people here illegally are celebrated with lots of free things like healthcare and housing, and wage-earners pay for it all.  Imagine a country where the radical Green New Deal is thrust upon us (out goes natural gas, oil and coal; in comes renewables; goodbye to your warm/cool home) and a nationwide absence of forestry management causes out-of-control fires that threaten homes and air quality.  

Imagine a country that dictates cultural norms, imposes a radical sexual education curriculum starting in kindergarten, where abstinence-only and religious doctrine education are prohibited, and parents may opt out on a limited basis only.  

Imagine a country where police officers are ostracized and defunding police departments is the norm, where there’s chaos on the streets, and the mob is celebrated.  Imagine a country where a family’s home is no longer considered its castle.  Imagine a country where the Second Amendment is in the crosshairs and decimating it is the result.  

A Biden-Harris administration will make California seem tame.  They will turn our exceptional country into California and pile on from there. Medicare for all, packing the Supreme Court, returning to the disastrous Iran deal and resuming payments to the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism,  re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement, and abandoning our strong and close ally Israel are all on their to-do list.  

To read the whole article, go here. 

Pass it around! Everyone should read it!

Yellowstone Camping

Above, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the summer season over, now is a good time to spend a few days in Yellowstone National Park. If visiting now is not an option, planning for next year is something to consider.

RV Life has posted a new article on "Yellowstone Camping: Everything You Need To Know", but the article goes much further than just camping. 

I have been to Yellowstone three times, two of which I have camped in the vicinity at a KOA Kampground in nearby West Yellowstone, Montana. I found this to be easier than trying to camp in Yellowstone where is a high demand for a finite number of campsites available. But if one really wants to camp in the park itself, the article would be helpful.

They begin with:

The first national park in the US, Yellowstone National Park, was established in 1872. The 2,219,791-acre park stretches across three states—Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—and is known for its wildlife as well as famous geothermal features like Old Faithful Geyser.

Yellowstone is open year-round, with the busy summer season being frequented by tourists, and the winter season with fewer people but beautiful snowy views and experiences. As with all National Parks, please check Yellowstone National Park’s website for updates regarding current alerts and closures. 

 To read more, go here.

Left Sending Threatening Letters To Trump Supporters

The Looney Left Report

The evil of the Left knows no bounds.

Actor James Woods Tweeted a photo of a letter that's being sent to people who are Trump supporters.

Here it is:

If this is the case, we all should make sure our firearms are locked and loaded!

Beginner's Guide To Buying The Right RV

Above, The Beast at the Marin RV Park in Greenbrae, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thinking about buying a RV?

If so, there are many types to choose from and Lifehacker has an article on "The Beginner's Guide To Buying The Right RV".

They begin with:

With travel by planes and trains on hold for many, RVs are having a resurgence. And it’s not just #vanlifers on Instagram: in June, The Strategist reported that dealers had seen a 170% increase in sales of recreational vehicles compared to the previous year.

If you’re thinking about going remote and living in an RV (or simply using one for camping or road trips), you’ll want to learn about the many options—from teardrop trailers to full-on bus-sized motor homes.

To read more, go here. 

Jeffrey Toobin Caught In Self-Stimulation During Simulation

El Rushbo (Rush Limbaugh) may have had discouraging news about his cancer recently (that he announced yesterday), but he still has his sense of humor intact.

CNN commentator Jeffrey Toobin is in hot water for being caught "spanking the monkey" while on a Zoom video simulation (simulation for what?) with company executives.

Rush had a lot of fun (as one might imagine) with this story. While he was discussing it, Michael Jackson's "Beat It" was playing in the background.

Here's what Rush had to say:

RUSH: (Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” playing) Man, I’ll tell you, folks, I thought I had a hard day yesterday. I thought I had a really hard day yesterday. But it must have been a really hard day at the New Yorker. I know this made headlines. But let’s be honest here. Jeffrey Toobin has been tooting his own horn for a long time now.

Everybody’s worried that Toobin is gonna take the Biden story off the front page. No, Toobin is considered one of these guys. Toobin is a left-wing commentator on CNN. Toobin had an affair with Jeff Greenfield’s daughter and knocked her up and then asked her to go get an abortion.

So yesterday — they’re doing a simulation at the New Yorker, a Zoom simulation, and somehow Jeffrey Toobin, in the middle of a hard day, is caught masturbating on camera on Zoom. He said, I forgot, I didn’t know. He turned the camera down, his laptop lid, turned it down, stood up, and there it was for everybody to see. 

So my question is, what are these liberals doing masturbating in front of each other on a Zoom call at the New Yorker? These people are nuts. They run around talking about whatever we are, what they say we are. Meanwhile, these people are running around doing a voting seminar while masturbating on a Zoom call?

I know, look. It could be an attempt to take the heat off Biden. Jeffrey Toobin figured if he lifted his own lid making all kinds of news Biden wouldn’t have to lift his lid and answer a single question about Hunter. But they need to send a thank-you note to Jeffrey Toobin. They really do. Toobin, a master debater from way back, took attention away from the Biden crime family for a news cycle.

To read the full transcript of Rush's remarks, go here. 

Extending The "Death Sentence"

Above, on Six Mile Canyon Road last April. Photo by Nandoh Munoz.

Yesterday, when Rush Limbaugh provided his listeners an update on his health, he said,

It’s tough to realize that the days where I do not think I’m under a death sentence are over. Now, we all are, is the point. We all know that we’re going to die at some point, but when you have a terminal disease diagnosis that has a time frame to it, then that puts a different psychological and even physical awareness to it. 

I can empathize with that statement to a certain degree. Two years ago, when I had my heart attack in Wells, Nevada, my pulse rate went down to 24. I was damn close to "death's door" that day. Thanks to the quick action by Mitch Geriminsky in getting the paramedics to me and the doctors who put in two stents into a coronary artery, I am here to enjoy life.

But while my life was saved, it also made me think that unless I made some lifestyle changes, I would not live much longer than what my parents did. Both died in their 70s.

I have cut red meats drastically, which was hard since I love a good steak. I my diet is mainly chicken, vegetables and fish (thank God I love sushi). I faithfully take my medications. I am getting more exercise and driving the Jeep around our community and in Six Mile Canyon has made my cardiologist happy. My weight has dropped to its lowest level (205 lbs.) since right after college.

While all this is all good, I am still mindful that any slip-ups would put me into a "death sentence" as well. So, like Rush, my aim is to push back further my own death sentence. 

Facebook Jail: The Latest

Friend Gary Julian (The Federalist and The People's Republic blogs) posted the following on Facebook this morning:

It is interesting that Facebook (and, I presume, other social media sites) will censor, restrict and ban people on flimsy excuses or none at all. I still don't know what prompted my being put in "Facebook Jail". Even though I was told that they didn't restrict my account. Either they don't know what they're doing or are liars.

Gary's blog, The Federalist, had been permanently banned by Facebook a few months ago.

Lest I forget, THANKS, GARY!

Justice Dept. Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google

 Just a few minutes ago, I spotted this on Twitter:

Good, it's about time that the giant tech companies' are held accountable for their unfair business practices.

Hopefully, similar action against Facebook and Twitter will follow. Facebook is already under investigation.

From the Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON—The Federal Trade Commission is gearing up to file a possible antitrust lawsuit against Facebook Inc. FB 0.95% by year-end, according to people familiar with the matter, in a case that would challenge the company’s dominant position in social media.

The case preparations come after the FTC has spent more than a year investigating concerns that Facebook has been using its powerful market position to stifle competition, part of a broader effort by U.S. antitrust authorities to examine the conduct of a handful of dominant tech companies.

No final decision has been made on whether to sue Facebook, people familiar with the matter said, and the commission doesn’t always bring cases even when it is making preparations to do so, such as when it decided against filing an antitrust complaint against Google Inc. in 2013 after a lengthy investigation.

 To read more, go here.

Dry Spell To End?

Above, in Six Mile Canyon ten days ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While it has been dry as a bone in Jamestown, New Mexico, my ex-roommate Jessica has been getting snow this week in Des Moines, Iowa.

That sparked me to take a look at this week's forecast of the National Weather Service. It appears that our dry spell will be ending this coming Sunday and Monday (30% chance as of today).

Here's the forecast:

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 71. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 40.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 69.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Monday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

Trump Campaign New Ad Buy

The Donald Trump campaign, ahead of Thursday's debate, has released early this morning five new and devastating ads.

The Daily Wire reported: 

President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign is set to air a new lineup of advertisements at midnight tonight targeting Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden on a variety of issues ranging from policy to the growing controversy that he is facing regarding his son.

The new ad buy — five ads in all — centers on Trump’s “Promises Made, Promises Kept” campaign theme and casts Biden as someone who has achieved little over his nearly five decades in public office.

To read the full article and to see the ads, go here. 

Cancer Announcements of Rush Limbaugh and Jeff Bridges

Above, Rush Limbaugh reacts at President Trump's announcement that
he'll be getting the Medal of Freedom within minutes from Melania Trump.

Very somber news.

Since I was in Gallup yesterday morning to vote and attend to other errands, I missed Rush Limbaugh's announcement of his health status until I got back home. 

Fox News reported:

Cancer-stricken talk radio legend Rush Limbaugh provided listeners a somber update on his condition Monday after recent scans showed “some progression of cancer,” which he said is “not dramatic” but still a step in the wrong direction. 

Limbaugh announced in February that he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and had missed several shows this month to undergo treatment.  

“From the moment you get the diagnosis, there’s a part of you every day, OK, that’s it, life’s over, you just don’t know when,” Limbaugh said. “So, during the period of time after the diagnosis, you do what you can to prolong life, do what you can to prolong a happy life. You measure a happy life against whatever medication it takes.” 

Hopefully, his doctors can modify his treatment to bring the cancer back into some kind of control. 

To read more, go here.

Speaking of cancer, actor Jeff Bridges yesterday announced that he has lymphoma. That was the kind of cancer that took my dad's life back on December 15, 1999.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Rush and Jeff.

Facebook Jail

Somehow yesterday afternoon, I found myself in "Facebook jail" for something I apparently did (or didn't do). It is most likely political (of course)

I received a notice that my account is "restricted":

So I went into restriction history and found that any "infractions" that I was "charged" with all took place in 2019. There were none for this year. So I'm to be "punished" for stuff from last year?!

After seeing that, I dug further and found this:

Okay, the item with yesterday's date indicates that they "didn't restrict [my] account." Yet, I still cannot post, comment or use Messenger. I have notified Facebook of this. As of this morning, I haven't heard from them and still can't do anything.

I also asked them what was the "offending" post (if any) that caused all this. Darned if I know.

It is obvious that with the election only two weeks away, Facebook is out to stifle free speech of conservatives. 

Scratch another one off my "bucket list".