Cool summer

Relaxing on the aisle

The hottest day on record in Seattle was July 29, 2009, when it hit 103 degrees.  Las Vegas has cooled down to about that now, and the most intense heat of the summer is probably over.  The night before I left, there was a brief thunderstorm and a little rain fell on thousands of scorching hot, red tile roofs. In the morning, a fug of yellow steam hung over the valley. Driving to the airport, we couldn't even see The Strip or distant mountains.  Some of the murk was dust from a haboob in Phoenix. 

It's a quick flight to Seattle from Las Vegas. I had such a nice time and look forward to making this trip often on Alaska Airlines. After years of laziness, not to mention lots of flights on their airline, I finally made the effort and set up an Alaska mileage plan. It might be just wishful thinking, but it seems they treat you slightly better as an "insider."

For example. Coming home on Saturday,  I had an aisle seat with a peek view of first class, which most people would find desirable and might even pay extra for.  But the problem with aisle is you get whacked around by all the big luggage being trundled on board, and especially those swinging back-packs people don't even think to take off on a crowded plane.  Then the flight attendants and the elbow-banging carts go up and down the whole journey. 

The party-goers were much jollier on the flight DOWN to Las Vegas than on the way back to Seattle.  Everyone looked sunburned and a little worse for wear. But we got in right on time, so what more can you ask? Especially when you consider the long, hot, boring road miles between Las Vegas and Seattle.

 "Bamboozled"

Back on the home front, the bamboo had a heyday. I cut it all off with the weed eater yesterday. Take that. Maybe someday we'll have grass growing there again. What else is new outside?  Well, the plum tree has a grand total of five plums this year.  Now there are four.