@christoperj:

Good golly -- before we go and build a moon colony, can we first fix all the crumbling infrastructure we already have, make sure that no child goes hungry, and provide access to equitable healthcare to all regardless of income? Lofty goals are admirable, but are no substitute for societal priorities.

@christoperj:

Between two and four inches of rain expected tonight -- finally!

Craig Fergerson at the Winstar

Many many many many rows back from the Winstar Conference Room stage at the Craig Fergerson Show

Way way way back

Turner Falls Sidetrip

On the way to see Craig Ferguson, Alicia and I took a sidetrip to enjoy some local fruit pies from the Turner Falls Overlook while we were in the area

Looking down from the Turner Falls Overlook off of US77

The 77ft waterfall was flowing heavily. But the park itself was closed for the season. All trails and buildings were eerily empty.

A fence blocks off neighboring rockfaces from local explorers

Many visitors have left their hellos on the Overlook. Most of the visible messages appeared recent. The rocks themselves have been painted grey (presumably to cover up the older messages)

One of the many many local mesquite trees hanging over the trail.

The area was also covered in cedar trees

The original trail wrapped down and around the hillside, but was blocked off from the Overlook. Many mesquite trees are now growing in the limestone cracks, effectively blocking the trail even without the fence.

Alicia coming down the walkway to join me on the lower part of the Overlook

Steps were a bit dicey

Yep, she's having fun

@christoperj:

Now that Rick Perry is coming home, would also be nice if he repaid the 2+ million in Texas taxpayer money spent on the campaign security/travel (and his paycheck while not doing the governor job he was elected to perform)

@christoperj:

Genius -- 1-719-26-OATES

Views from Airplanes -- El Paso to DFW

Heading back to DFW. With maybe 20 people on board (if that many), this flight was the emptiest I've seen any AA flight in years. Plenty of room to stretch out

Looking out the ELP airport window at the Franklin Mountains. . .

. . .and waiting for the inbound plane

An American Eagle regional jet getting ready to leave for LAX

Again looking towards the Franklins, this time from onboard our MD83 bound for DFW

Very peaceful night

El Paso 777

Sure, AA doesn't actually fly anything like this to El Paso. (Details, Details)

I wonder how many kids walk up and try to play with it.

The name of the plane is Flagship El Paso. Probably why it's not at the Amarillo airport, I'm guessing.

Views from Hotel Rooms -- Courtyard El Paso Airport

I liked this hotel overall. Sure it was next to I-10, and kind of a pain to get in and out of, and really nothing foodwise was within walking distance. But it was very clean and the staff was quite friendly. They did good.

From the third floor, a northern view of the neighboring hotel

and I-10. South El Paso and ultimately Mexico on the other side

I guess that's the laundry room next to the pool.

The moon was full and lit up the night on this trip

As was the sun the next morning.

Oh so bright

Still not sure what this little building was, but those are big vent stacks for just a storage closet

Views from Airplanes -- DFW to El Paso

Catching a quick flight to El Paso for a work trip on a rainy afternoon

Waiting for the inbound plane on a rainy day at DFW. An MD80 is pulling back from gate A-19

All's quiet

Here's our MD83

Onboard the plane, looking towards another MD80 parked next door at A-19

Sun is trying to come out, but light showers keep coming through

The brushed metal really shines after a good rain

Crap, I really have no idea what lake this is, or why I was compelled to photo it.

Best guess, Eagle Mountain Lake

Looking South from the plane. Looks like I-30 (another guess) going across the middle

Along with the rain and wind, clouds sandwiched the flight on the way out of North Texas

Random Parker County town

Somewhere past Abilene, the upper clouds broke and the lower levels filled in with the whispy variety

Between here and El Paso, the front that brought the rain to DFW, had dumped several inches of snow on the ground (not pictured)

Taxing to our gate at ELP

NASA's Boeing 377 SGT Super Guppy N941NA was parked near the cargo hangers (near center, left of lit X)

Pulling up to the gate

From the gate, looking west. There's nothing out there from basically here back to DFW

Bienvenidos a El Paso

As close as I could get to the Super Guppy from the other end of the terminal