Shay's a Good Campaign Worker

Whenever I need help getting a mailing done, with all those stamps and address labels--I can count on Shay. He usually helps with very little incentive.

Whenever I need someone to pound rebar into the rock hard ground for my campaign signs--I can count on Shay.

It was still 100 degrees when we set out to put up a few signs this evening, and Shay happily put that rebar in place.  Very cool.  Of course I think he's going to charge me for his services...

Mrs. Quayle

As busy as I was in September, I forgot to share my dinner experience with Mrs. Dan Quayle. Her name is Marilyn, she is the former 2nd Lady of the White House. I named the mother quail in our neighborhood after her.

I knew very little about her when she was 2nd Lady, I only knew about her husband's flubs. But Marilyn is actually quite an accomplished lady. She's done probably more than her husband, really. She's worked around the country for many years teaching disaster preparedness, and has worked in the Phoenix area to help get women involved in politics.

She spoke at the Dodie Londen opening dinner that I attended, and I took so many photos of her I don't think I heard everything she said.

Her son, Ben Quayle, just recently won the Republican nomination for a Congressional seat. He has opponents in the General Election so he was out campaigning on this particular night. But his wife was there--she was a sweet lady.

Sunrise Aint So Early These Days

We know when the sun is rising by the event we're working. Really! In January, we can't start the off road races in Laughlin until after 7am, because it's too dark. In September, we can't start the races in Primm Nevada until 6:15am. In October we don't start the jet ski races until 7am. Can't race in dark water without headlights.

But it doesn't matter when the sun is rising, I still adore it.

Kind of a Big Deal....

The World Jet Ski Finals have been held in Lake Havasu for many many years now, and I can remember the days of Jeff "Jammer" Jacobs doing his thing out on the water in front of the Nautical Inn WAAAAAY back in the day. I mean, back when it was acceptable to wear day-glo colored shorts and bathing suits....

My boss at DSM Events (that's Desert Steel Motorsports Events...) has had the contract for the World Finals for 15 years now, and he's had a lot of experience in providing infrastructure for this particular venue. He normally gives me some part time job at the World Finals, but this year he put me in charge of port-a-potties. Okay, I was in charge of more than that, but port-a-potties were part of the package.

DSM Events handles the vendors, the grandstands, the telephone lines, the DSL hook-up, the security staff, the food for the ancillary staff, the patrol boats, and the 82 separate media representatives from around the globe. The Polish Yachting magazine staff was there. It was definitely a big deal.
Once the racing began, we found ouselves hosting over 600 racers from 44 countries all over the world. We were busy. It's nothing new.

The DSL connection allowed for the video of the race to be live-streaming over the internet, and on Saturday alone we had over 10,000 unique computers logged on to watch the competition.

Part of the racing show is a free-style event, where jet skiers get out on the water and do tricks just like the BMX guys and motocross guys. It was the only part of the 7 day event that I was able to enjoy---and it was only because I was giving some BLM representatives a tour of our facilities!!!

So here are my photos ( Okay, SOME of my photos ) of the 2010 IJSBA Jet Ski World Finals....

We began setting up on the beach at the beginning of October, starting with an empty beach with nothing but sand and wind. The grandstands take about 2 days to construct--thankfully there's a crew of guys from Phoenix to do that...

Once the crowds start coming in, those granstands come in REAL handy!!

Nipton, California

Each year I briefly visit a town called Nipton. Briefly can mean anything from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. I have never found a reason to stay much longer. It is located in the mountains outside of Las Vegas and it is a railroad crossing, basically. The drive from Havasu to Vegas is around two hours, and if you're like me you typically want the road less traveled. Well that would be Nipton Road.

It is beautiful because of the Yucca trees. There are millions of them, all along both sides of the road.

Once you get through the mountains, you begin a quick descent and the landscape changes into barren desert. Just when you think it couldn't get emptier, you run into the town of Nipton.
It has a few old buildings, a general store that's never open when I drive through, and some railroad tracks. Shay and I stopped one morning as we headed home from an off road race in Nevada and took this photo there:

And we took this one just down the road, to show how empty and desolate the highway is....

Someday I'll figure out what kind of people live in Nipton. I suppose the type of people who do not enjoy neighbors.

The McClymonts

Last night we hurried thru dinner because there were free concerts down at the Windsor State Park. At 7pm, Steve's brother's band Mojo played. Then at 8pm, the McClymonts took the stage. They're an Australian act with three sisters who can be compared to the Dixie Chicks ( but better, I think ).

They were backed up on the stage with band members they just began playing with this month since getting to the U.S.--and they really only identified them as some guys from Nashville. But after we asked around we learned that one of the musicians was Jason Aldean who has a Billboard hit at number 23 with a song titled, "My Kind of Party," and then there was Luke Bryan who's got a song titled, "Someone Else Calling You Baby," which is number 28.

Good Morning, Sunshine

It was 77 degrees, slightly breezy, and the sun was bouncing off the little clouds. Nice morning!