It has been quite a week

for the esteemed Mayor of Detroit. The so called "Hip Hop" mayor. He has spent a night in jail for violating his bond conditions that were imposed upon him during his release on 8 charges obstruction of justice and perjury. He now is wearing a tether to ensure that he meets his new bond conditions. Upon being released from jail he was charged with 2 counts of felonious assault on a peace officer resulting from his alleged shoving of two police officers who were trying to serve a subpoena. All together he is facing 10 felony counts that could put him behind bars for over a decade.

Detroit must be very proud!!!
Really we all know its just another example of the "man" trying to keep him down......

A long time in the making

Back in March or so Karen and I had begun to entertain the idea of returning home for the 2008 Downriver Dream Cruise. My sister Mary and her husband Mark have held an annual Dream Cruise Party every year since about 2000 or 2001. Although I did not yet have vacation time yet at my new job when I asked about having a long weekend during that time they were more than willing to let me have it. Even when we lived in Michigan we did not see my brother and sister as often as we would have liked. Like most families, they have hectic schedules and the time just flys by. So, much like Chritmas, the Dream Cruise served as a mini family reunion of sorts over the last 8 years or so. Since airfare during Christmas would be $1800 for the two of us, it is not likely that we will be able to make Christmas anytime soon. We figured that flying home for the Dream Cruise was doable. So in early may after getting final approval from work for the time off, we called my parents because we knew that they wanted to come out in late spring or early summer. The Dream Cruise was held on June 28th. When I spoke to my mom she said the wanted to come out, of all times, over that weeked! I was left stumbling trying to think of an excuse as to why they could not come out and visit then without sounding like we just didn't want to see them. Finally I mumbled that I would be in Salt Lake City for training that weekend and that if they came out they needed to leave the previous week!

As it turned out they left on Tuesday and we flew home on Friday! So we got in to town Friday afternoon. One of the things we wanted to do was eat at Texas Road House. It is one of our favorite restaurants and the closest one to Las Vegas is in Salt Lake City, 8 hours away. We also ate at White Castle, which is not available in Vegas either.

We lifted off from McCarran at 8 AM. 15 mins ahead of schedule!



Here is a view out the window of our Airbus 319. To me it is a spectacular view if for no other reason than it has actual clouds in it. In Vegas you don't see clouds that often and when you do they sure don't look like this.





Our flight was un eventful other than to say that the man who you see standing up in the picture below is the reason that I didn't get a "Big Front Seat". Apparently working for the airline has its privilages!





Here we are relaxing at Btty and Toms house with Tom's brother ahd his wife, Larry and Linda.





The weather forcast for out trip back home was discouraging to say the least. Rain and thunderstorms were predicted for the whole week. They proved to be accurate:









In Vegas, 5 rain drops constitute a storm. Michigan, pleasantly for me and Karen, delivered a REAL thunderstorm with lightning and thunder for hours on end. This however did not bode well for the Dream Cruise. Saturday morning was a dreary time. It was severly overcast and raining. The hour by hour forcast did not offer much hope either.



This first picture from the Dream Cruise illistrates the point well:





We somehow managed to keep this secret from most everyone. Mary, her husband Mark, and her friend Linda knew we were comming. Most of Karen's family knew we would be there also.

Our goal was to suprise my side of the family and I must say it worked.



Here is a picture of two of my sister's puppies:





Here Brian is testing out his new camera:





Mia sharing a laugh with someone:





Here is Zack getting a drink:





Here is the party tent:



This also served as Sarah's graduation party. Congratulations Sarah!!! Though we will not be able to attend the ceromony, we are proud of you none the less!!!



The Dream Cruise Party starts about 2PM and like clock work, about 2PM the clouds gave way to sunshine and the weather was great!



Now for some cars:



















More to come...

The primaries

A couple of things I want to blog about, well maybe only one thing anyway. Clinton has been trying to make it look like Obama does not want a re vote in Michigan and Florida. I'm not qualified to comment on Florida, but having lived in Michigna for over 30 years before moving to Vegas, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on it.
Clinton has tried to get the vote in Michigan to count, yet Obama was not even on the ticket. That hardly seems fair or democratic. She has also held the position that there should be a re-vote in Michigan. Obama has, in theory, agreed to this, if it could be done in a manner that was agreeable to both of them. Ofcourse Clinton's idea of a fair vote would be to prohibit anyone who voted in the Republican primary, namely Democrats or Indepenants who refused to vote for Clinton and instead voted for McCain from participating. This ofcourse would stack the vote for Clinton. Again this seems neither fair nor democratic. The only fair way to do it, as I see it, is to not seat the delegates. Michigan knew well the price for moving its primary dates. They should now be willing to take their lumps. As it looks now, no re vote will take place and the delegates will not be seated. That is as it should be.

We got out

of Michigan just in time. Michigan must be very proud. Hizzonor, the so called "Hip Hop Mayor" has been charged with several felonies including perjury and obstruction of justice. Ricardo Solomon must be proud!

Ricardo, among other things was the longest serving Wayne County Commision Chairman and also one of my college proffesors. He is seen in this picture below:


He is, or at least when I was in his classes, a strong supporter of Mr. Kilpatrick. I wonder if he still is?




The icing on the cake is that "Dr. Death" is running for congress! Go Michigan!!!