tdholderfamily.org

Dolores and I ventured out to the open pit mine where Lyal is an operator driving coal trains as they are loaded with coal.  Campbell County, where we live, produces coal that provides electric power for much of the nation. Quite a thing for a kid just out of high school to be given responsibility for such expensive and massive equipment.  Here are a few photos of his job site:

Lyal in a work truck used to transport crews to/from trains.

This is the mine loading complex. Crushers are the block metal screens at 3 oclock, barn is large storage building behind those, loading silos at 10 coclock. Notice how green it is; we have received so much rain this spring/early summer that all of northeast Wyoming looks like a golf course.  Usually all we see is brown.

Back side view of the loading silos with loop track in the foreground and the crusher hoppers to the far left below the long conveyer running to silos tops. Lyal operates the 100+ coal trains as the loop around the site and through the silos.  Other crews then take the trains from the mine to locations through the United States.

A large haul truck backing in to dump its 300 tons of coal into the crusher for processing.

Loaded haul truck approaching the crushers.

Loaded train waiting for departure in front of the storage barn and loading silos.

What an interesting Fathers Day. My children all went in together and got me a Blu Ray DVD player. Holy Cow, does it improve a movie, even a standard disc. My kids know I am a real movie buff, this came as a complete surprise.  Not only did I get the player but also a Blu-Ray DVD.  The player not only plays these high resolution formatted DVDs, but even upconverts standard DVDs to 1080 resolution.  We watched an older movie with new clarity and enjoyment.

We traveled to Casper to see Jon, Kathy, and some of our grandkids. As usual, it was like watching a monkey exhibit as the kids just ran wild with their seemingly endless energy supply.  Every time we go there, I marvel that Dolores and I managed six at a time; those three seem an almost unmanageable number.  However, they are good kids, behaving well most of the time. Chase is the most rambunctious daredevil, Ashleigh the most demonstrative, and Sydney the most reserved.

The highlight of the day was getting together with Kelly Brady (my cousin, his mom and Shirley are sisters) and his wife Treva; Kelly drives long haul truck for Swift Transportation, making a thrice-weekly run from Pueblo, CO to Casper, WY. This trip Treva came with him, and with a little coordination, we managed to pick them up at the end of their run and brought them to Jon’s home to join the fray.  Immediately the grandkids took to them, crawling on them as if they were an extra set of grandparents. Stories were swapped, pictures viewed, good barbeque hamburgers and hot dogs eaten; really a good time for everyone. The only sad part is that we have lived her in Wyoming for so long and have not made the effort to see Kelly; pretty sad considering he is up here three times a week.  Even the high gas prices should not have kept us apart this long.  It will not again.

After all the fun and happiness, our day was tempered by the news the Dolores’s dad Leslie had been admitted to the hospital intensive care unit.  It seems a medicine mixup had caused him to teeter and fall, striking is head. However, he is now making slow, steady progress back to normal.

Ford Vehicles: The Ford Mustang Bullitt

What I told my children they could get me for Father’s Day.  Of course what I would really like is an authentic 1968 Mustang GT outfitted like the Bullitt car, but that’s just me really dreaming.

Back when I had money, I almost bought a Mustang GT, but passed on the opportunity.  I have been kicking myself ever since, esp. when I see what they are going for these days.  I will just have to drive one in my dreams at night, jamming the gears hard to catch that Dodge Charger….man, there is nothing like the low rumble of an American V-8.  IF you visit the link above, make sure your computer volume is up high enough that you can really enjoy it.

The first text message came in from Courtney at 1:30 on today; “There is a tornado warning here they have everyone in the back (of the WalMart store where she works).”

She reported the power went out at 1pm, then by 4 pm she was heading back to work to help dispose of refrigerated food that had to tossed out.  She said that she inside the WalMart building she could see ceiling tiles moving up and down and felt a strong draft in that big building. She is going to send me more details when she gets home from work, which I will post down below.

Laramie Boomerang - Laramie, Wyoming > News - See the local Laramie paper’s first account of the tornado touchdown. Watch the image slide show.

This string of storms proved much more deadly down in Colorado; lots of TV reports with video of the huge tornado that ripped through an area East of where we used to live.

• Residents describe tornadoes’ path of destruction
• Ritter says Coloradans will respond to help tornado victims
• Video footage of the Windsor, CO tornado
• More video footage of the Windsor, CO tornado, up close!

Liz was at in their apartment during the storm, further out of harms way. Thank heavens neither of them were hurt.

It is two o’clock in the afternoon & the Wyoming sky overhead is angry. Its been thunder & lightning for over half an hour alternating with rain & hail. Nothing like a wild Wyoming spring thunderstorm to scare us all to death. The thunder sounds like its right in our back yard, the result of being only a few blocks from a large butte bristling with antennas.

The computers are all off: power flickering too much to risk working even with a UPS. I am writing this on my Treo; thumbing along in the dark. The drops and hail are bombarding the concrete outside my window, pinging off the various things strewn in the yard. Hope there is no vehicle damage.

Then suddenly the din lowers and then eerily stops. The silence is broken by a huge thunderclap that rolls and rolls for almost 15 seconds. Good news is that it is coming from east of the highway, not as close this time. The storm has said hello & goodbye in about 30 violent minutes; however, it will be a while before the power stabilizes.

Maybe I can catch a nap now…or not. The highway is now buzzing with post-storm traffic. Where are my earplugs? And the Bengay for my cramped-up thumbs.

It is now five o’clock, I just got all my computers online when I hear a low runble to the west.  It is time for round two. Power down again.

I just found out that Liz was offered a scholarship by the UWYO engineering department. She wants to learn computer programming & the school is offering to help pay for that. Way cool.

Liz has always been very smart, even if she did not want people to know that. She prefers to ‘fly under the radar.’ Well this scholarship makes that a bit more difficult. You go girl! Your parents are way proud.

This post typed entirely on my Palm Treo.

UPDATE: Liz now informs us that she has qualified for some Pell grants, which help even more. Our tax dollars at work.