Lance's Blog

2009-09-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Brycen and I went to the Air Show a few weeks ago!!!!!!!

I could go to these every week.

It was a blast.

Zac was not up to coming this year. He did not do too well last year and said he would not like it because it would be too loud.

Here are some photos from the highlights.

Brycen next to a Thunderbird.

Brycen about to be squashed like a bug

Brycen's favorite plane

Cruisin.

A Brycen size plane

Now to look at the Planes off the ground:

Sorry but the quality on my camera is not very good.

2009-07-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

This is what a Group of Engineers do on the weekend.

It took us all day to raft 20 miles down the south fork of the American River.

I work with almost everyone in the raft. It's funny how you see a totally different side of people when you are in a raft flying down the rapids. I was one of the few who was not thrown from the raft. There was a time or two that I jumped out. And one time when our raft was stuck on a rock and we all had to get out and swim.

These were class 2 rapids. We got very wet, but it was so incredibly hot that we welcomed every wave. I can't wait to do this again next summer.

2009-02-24T22:50:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS MISSING FROM THIS PICTURE?

THIS!!!

I Finally got the engine out,

2009-02-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

Last Weekend I took Zac & Brycen to see some Airplanes.

There were small Airplanes. ................................And BIG Airplanes.

There were Old Airplanes..................................And New Airplanes,

There were Helicopters...............................And Aircraft with folding Wings.

Breaker Breaker, Anyone got there ears on?........................Not Me. :(

There were lots of planes...................................And a Simulator too.

Sometimes Daddy Can Actually Be Fun. :)

2009-01-21T23:17:00.000-08:00

I took the family to launch rockets recently. Boy did we have fun!

I also finally found some time to work on my new old car.

I was surprised to see that every screw was the old flat head screws.

I guess Phillips screws hadn`t been invented yet.

I also bought a new battery for the car, and when I turned the key it actually tried to start!!! Also in the photo is the VW restoration manual I scored from the library.

If you want to see a car that has been meticulously restored look here: http://www.oldbug.com/hiram.htm

This is my goal but I will realistically never achieve it.

THE NEW CAR!!!

2008-07-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

out with the old and in with the new.

I have spent the past year or so looking for something to replace my 1996 Ford Exploder.

The clutch was really wearing down and the brakes were bad. Finally my brakes got so bad that I took it to Midas for an estimate. When I got the estimate for $700 to fix the rear brakes that I let grind the disks down to nothing, I decided that it was time for action.

The next day I took Kim, her dad, and Zac car shopping.

First I drove a used Lexus that had everything, but still cost a pretty penny.

I would have given it a second thought but it didn't drive quite right, and the salesman looked very shady. Too many alarms went off in my head.

Then I walked onto a VW dealership. First I drove a used Passat. This car had been through the 101 point inspection used to qualify it as a certified used car. But they forgot to check the air conditioning. It only blew out warm air. I thought that would have been first on the 101 point inspection list.

Then the salesman told me that he was clearing out their 2008 models to make room for the 2009s. Because of this, a new Jetta was less than a used Passat!!! I drove the Jetta and loved it.

But I did not buy the car then and there. You know I had to wheel and deal.

More importantly, I needed the metallic blue, not the white Jetta they had on the lot.

The best part of all, I was able to get a trade in of $700 for the decrepit Ford with 170,000 miles on it.

I can no longer say that my wife has never driven my car, because my new car is an automatic.

In fact, she took it to the movies tonight with her friends.

It is a little smaller than I was planning on getting, but with gas prices as they are, I don't mind a bit.

A Day Away from the Office

2008-04-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

I don't have much time but I just wanted to post a few photos of the fun things I get to see along the Sacramento River as I do Levee inspections. I love to get out of the office, rent a car, and get some fresh air. I try to find any excuse I can to go do a site visit. Especially when they are in Utah.

A Get Away

2008-03-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

Last week I traveled to Las Vegas for a two day vacation sponsored by my employer.
I was actually there to learn about designing stormwater detention ponds, which I did from 8 to 4. But after that I was able to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the largest tourist traps in the world.
I have never been too frightened by the rollercoasters and rides at most amusement parks, but while in Vegas I was albe to get frightened by being carried off the edge of the space needle and spun while looking down at the ground hunderends of feet below. For a sample of my insanity see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbehfUGx6Rs.

The other wonder I saw in Vegas was the pool in front of the Bellagio Hotel. Fountians of water spontaneously came from the pool and danced to opera music. I found a utube post showing what it looks like (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui5gl0CRJTI). But it looks a hundred times better in person. While waiting for the show to start, I spoke with a couple who had traveled from Hokkaido Japan. They were impressed with my Japanese. At least that is what they told me.