Back to work today after a 16-day hiatus. Not exactly looking forward to today, but not necessarily dreading it either.

I suspect this year will bring a lot of changes to my job and responsibilities and I welcome them for the most part.

Sometimes it’s best to not know what they are all at once — and to take them on gradually; like bit-by-bit filling the saddlebags on a camel so he has time to get used to each pound before another is added.

We’ve got snow forecasted for today and tomorrow, so there will be some anomalies to deal with on the commute.

16 days has come and gone so quickly.

Last night we went to Rob’s annual post-holiday party, but Rob was sick, so it was moved to Lee’s. While a smaller gathering than normal, we had a good time and finally dragged out of there close to midnight.

We met a new friend with Brook — Randy Roberts (search youtube for “randrob” to see his videos). Very talented and expressive guy with a showbiz-related story for everything!

This morning is brunch at IHOP. Probably just a small, core group.

On January 3, 1984, I started a new job as a Customer Service Manager for People Express Airlines based out of Newark, New Jersey.

Here is my ID badge with the 1987 revalidation stamp — the year we were bought and merged into Continental Airlines:

Before the game began one commentator said, “Outside of Utah, everyone thinks Alabama will win.”

We’re barely into the 2nd quarter and Utah leads 21 to 3.

Why is General Motors spending so much of our taxpayer-funded bailout money on ads proclaiming that shadowed images of cars, trucks and SUVs are better than the competition — and then ending each commercial with, “…from GM. Surprised?”

All the way to the end…

We had a pretty uneventful night last night, but were able to stay up late enough to watch the New Year arrive in Mountain Standard Time. Both of us were pretty tired from the drive back from Wyoming (or “the ride”, in my case), so I’m surprised that we lasted that long.

I have a feeling that this is going to be an auspicious year in many ways. I hope to be able to emulate my friend Patrice who — as she watched the stock market tank and her investments evaporate late last year — said, “Isn’t it exciting to be living through this?”

And she was totally serious.

At any rate, we will have a new president and a majority congress that hopefully (and I don’t have a lot) can get things such as the economy, healthcare, the war in Iraq (I think Afghanistan is justified), repression of equality and civil rights, the standing of the United States in the world and a myriad of other malaises, issues and problems FIXED — or at least headed in a semblance of an upward direction.

Welcome 2009. We all have our work cut out for us.

We finally made it to Wyoming and are spending a few days with my Mom and other family members who live here. Today is my Mom’s birthday and we have a party planned tonight at my brother’s (I think he knows about it).

Yesterday we spent the day in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, some 30 miles to the east. It was fun shopping, eating and messing around.

We ended up at a Corral West Ranchwear store that was closing and my brother, my honey and I all bought cowboy hats. Not sure why, but we did. I guess we got caught up in the moment.

Last night we all gathered over here and took “cowboy” photos. I’ll get one or two posted when I get back home.

In today’s New York Times, Op-Ed columnist Frank Rich addressed the Obama choice of anti-gay minister Rick Warren as part of his inaugural ceremony:

December 28, 2008
You’re Likable Enough, Gay People
By FRANK RICH

IN his first press conference after his re-election in 2004, President Bush memorably declared, “I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.” We all know how that turned out.

Barack Obama has little in common with George W. Bush, thank God, his obsessive workouts and message control notwithstanding. At a time when very few Americans feel very good about very much, Obama is generating huge hopes even before he takes office. So much so that his name and face, affixed to any product, may be the last commodity left in the marketplace that can still move Americans to shop.

I share these high hopes. But for the first time a faint tinge of Bush crept into my Obama reveries this month.
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So far today, it looks like decent travel weather, though there seems to be a snow storm headed this way from the northwest. I think we can outrun it and there’s nothing predicted for the next few days in Wyoming other than sub-zero temperatures.

I’ve checked the Wyoming DOT webcams set up along the I-80 corridor at strategic points (First Divide, Walcott Junction, Vedauwoo) and for the most part, things look clear.

I just have to wait for my honey to wake up and get going….