The perfect gift for anyone.....

Just in time for the holidays.............

http://www.gnomeoutlet.com/?gclid=CISAw5u7z5cCFRJexwoddTBgCw

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Driving back to TX from Burbank

Ned and Andy drove Carla's BMW Z4 convertible back to Texas from Burbank. Les and Carla are moving back to TX, and have more cars than they have drivers. All the times in the pictures are TX time.

Safety first, so I buckled Ned into his seatbelt. We pulled out of the parking garage in Burbank at 10:00 pm.

We stopped for dinner at Mc'Donalds. Took FOREVER, would have backed out of the drive through, except another car pulled in behind us. We lost at least 10 minutes there.

We crossed into Arizona at 3:13 am. Stopped for gas and coffee.

We stopped at ASU stadium at 5:30 am. Not a very clear picture, but it was dark, and we could not get any closer.

We stopped at a Starbucks right after taking this picture. This would be the first (of several) quad venti mochas today.

Stopped at a Cracker Barrel just before sunup. They make a pretty good egg, cheese and bacon sandwich. Got some more coffee and OJ.

By 8:06, we were at the University of Arizona. Finally, the sun is up.

We entered the "Land of Enchantment" at 10:17 am.

Stopped in a little gas station, bought some coffee, filled up the tank. Had a moment of panic when neither of the gift cards Carla gave us worked. Bought gas out of our own money. Figured, if the cards don't work, we have enough gas money to make it to about Fort Stockton. Not good.






Passed the highest point along our journey, the continental divide. I poured out my cold coffee here. The first half, I poured on the west side. That coffee is slowly making it's way toward the Pacific Ocean. The second, I poured on the east side. THAT coffee is slowly making it's way towards the Gulf of Mexico. Or, that's the theory, at least.

And, finally, Texas. 12:39 pm. Here's just how big TX is. We were half way home. We had driven through part of CA , all of AZ and NM, and were only halfway home.

We stopped at the UTEP stadium at 1:06 pm. Took a little while to find, since it was not on the original iteneray.

Then, another quad venti mocha and we hit the road.

I did not get a picture of it, but we pulled into my driveway at 9:50 pm. Twenty one hours, fifty minutes after we left the hotel. That may not be a record, but it was for me. And Ned got to see a lot of the country.

Ned's Favorite Coffee Shop (in Burbank)

We were in Burbank, California last week, and this is Ned's favorite coffee shop. Romancing the Bean. That's Sandra on the left, and Kerry, the owner, on the right. And Ned in the middle. Kerry owns the place, and it is just a wonderful coffee shop. There is a Starbucks and a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf just down the street, but this one is SO MUCH BETTER!!! Stop in and say hi, and tell them Ned the Knome sent you.

Temple Time

Ned recently went on an excursion to the LDS Temple in San Antonio with some local "gnappers". In order to look smart (like Andy), we will post some facts that Ned learned on his trip to the temple. Looks like there are many Temples Ned can visit in the future....any takers? Ned was not allowed to go in the Temple, but he enjoyed the flowers and gorgeous scenery. It was told that Ned fell in the fountain near the Temple, and was rescued by a beautiful girl......are there such things as gnomettes?

in the cockpit

Several of our trips, we have asked about getting into the cockpit to get a picture. They have all said no. Something about "security", whatever. I have told them, "we got to go into a nuclear power plant", so our security clearance is probably high enough to get into a cockpit. Still, they have all said no.

Until now...

Of course, he had to leave the cockpit so they could finish boarding the plane. We moved back to our seats (the cherished exit row).

The flight attendant made me move him, something about the exit row occupant must be able to read and follow the evacuation instructions without causing harm to himself or others. Ned is thinking of filing an age discrimination lawsuit. Or, even better, filing it as a "hate crime", since gnomes are a protected class.

Warsaw (sounds like international travel, finally)

Seems like a long time since the last trip. OH, it's only been 2 weeks. I guess the holidays made it SEEM longer ago.

We got word Monday that we had to travel to Warsaw...WARSAW... on Wednesday. The person we were meeting there said "it's cold here in Warsaw, pack a coat."

Like Ned even owns a coat.

So, we got here, and it was pretty cold. And snowy. And the trip took forever. Cause, you know, you can't fly to Warsaw direct from Austin. We had to first get to Chicago, then deal with the connection. Then, the drive. In the dark, snowy Warsaw countryside. It wasn't until the next day that we could get a picture of the sign coming into town.

Yeah, the sign's in English. Not Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw, Indiana. It's kind of like Warsaw, Poland. Exept that people here don't speak Polish. Well, most of them don't. There's not a lot to say about Warsaw, Indiana. Here's the rest of the sign. I guess this is the biggest thing the town has to offer?

We stopped by the Fort Wayne Air National Guard, thinking we could get a picture of Ned in the cockpit of a fighter jet. I don't know what kind of hours those Air National Guard people keep, but we couldn't even get in. So this will have to do.

We went to a place that makes orthopaedic replacement parts. I guess there are 2 ways to spell that word. Apparantly, a place that makes new body parts is not that different from a place that makes new car parts. Just a little cleaner.

Here's a hip (the kind that Andy's grandmother recently installed):

The welcoming committee at the airport was nice. They gave Ned a cookie.

Check this out. On the left, the cooling tower for a nuclear power plant near Oswego, NY. Contrary to popular belief, that tower is not the reactor smoking. All it is is a big radiator (like in your car), where they pump hot water into to be cooled by the water from Lake Ontario. Ever wonder what it looks like inside the control room of a nuclear power plant? Look at the picture on the right. Each of those little squares represents a fuel rod and it's position inside the reactor.

Want to build your own? Click here.

But, before you try to build one yourself, you should read about this guy in Michigan, David Hahn, who did. Try.

Brrrrrrr!!!!

From San Diego to Oswego, NY. San Diego is MUCH nicer than Oswego. We met a nice couple from North Carolina (who were also a little surprised by all the snow) who made a nice snowman. We told them they would be famous if we could get their picture.

We stopped by Lake Ontario, one of the 5 (HOMES) great lakes. We learned that the zebra mussel is quite a problem here, and they don't even come from here. They stowed away on freighters coming from overseas, apparantly.

Then, Ned wanted to make his own snowman. Gloves would have come in handy for that.

Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks, and the Munsters

Ned stopped by the American Airlines center, also known as the "House that Mark Cuban built." Now being called "the house that the inside trader built".

Ned is a little confused. He swears that Cuban played Herman on the Munsters.

Who's Doak Walker?

Ned went to Dallas, and stopped by the SMU campus. He's a pretty big sports fan, and they have this statue of Doak Walker. The Doak Walker award is presented annually to the nation's top running back. Unlike many awards, the recipient must be (1) in good academic standing, and (2) on schedule to graduate within one year of other students in their academic eligibility. Meaning, they cannot be a poor student who plans on never actually graduating college.

The award has been given in the past to:

Darren McFadden, Arkansas (2007 and 2006)

Reggie Bush, USC (2005) . . . so the winner can accept money from agents, as long as he is a good student.

Cedric Benson, Texas (2004)

Chris Perry, Michigan (2003)

Larry Johnson, Penn State (2002)

and, skipping a couple,

Ricky Williams, Texas (1997 and 1998). So it is not necessarily a predictor of future success.

More Bird Problems

Back before Halloween, Ned went to Florida. Not only did the pelicans beat him up a little (see previous post), but he kind of had a hard time at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa.

They were having a penguin show, and the "trainer" was holding one of the penguins. Ned wanted to meet one. He did. And the penguin thought he tasted just wonderful.

San Diego and a new President

It was a (an) historic day. And Ned was right there, watching the poll returns, pulling for his man. Being an old guy, you can guess who he voted for. He was at the Yard House when the results were announced, then at Casa Guadalahara in Old Town San Diego for Obama's speech, seen in the background in the picture. Seemed like a margarita was in order. A BIG margarita.

Sea World and an early demise.....

Adventures at Sea World San Antonio

What would a trip to Sea World be without a few joy rides on the coasters? Here I am getting ready for take-off on the Great White Coaster.......

And we are off......ignore the "screaming like a little girl" sounds....what a ride!

align="center">Next stop, off to see Shamu!

After the show, two of my "gnomenappers" were kind enough to take me to meet one of the trainers....such a nice chap!

(from L to R) Kaelan, Ned, Trainer, Darian, and in the rear, Shamu

The trip had a rather sad ending......I do have to tell you on their behalf, that my gnomenappers did try to warn me not to lean so far into the shark tank.......

To be continued??????

The Splendors of Fall

Lost Maples Park

Vanderpool, TX

Took as most enjoyable hike through the woods and marveled at the wondrous colors of fall in virtually the only place Texas has to offer fall foliage.

RANSOM VIDEO.......

Lozano:

We have him, and if you don't pay up...well, the tide's coming in.

GnomeNappers

What is the deal with birds????

Florida

Bubba Gump's with two of my kidnappers.

Near death experience with a penguin.

Foilage......

Hostage in an ice cream parlor

Remember the Alamo

Meet Ned

Meet Ned.....perhaps not his name by birth, but the name lovingly bequeathed to him by the kind kidnappers who took him from his happy little home on Silo Valley. Ned is only a few months into his hostage state, but already he has traveled more than the hard-working, tax-paying inhabitants of Silo Valley Drive......what a bum!

Perhaps you are planning a trip soon, and you would like to take Ned along for the journey......all we ask is that you document your trip with a picture or video to add to the blog. Someday Ned will return to his boring, hum drum life in Lozano's garden, so let's send him out with a BANG!

Please enjoy these photos of recent adventures!

Ned in Tucson, AZ....sort of.

Ned riding the rails in CA. Look how creeped out he other passengers look....

Rose Bowl

No trip to Hollywood would be complete without going to see the Walk of Fame....and of course, Tom Jones' Star!