October 2007
This has been a busy week at our house. Sarah had to have the root of a tooth removed Monday. Somebody, ahem, put her on the bed when she was 10 months old and of course she fell off and knocked a tooth out. She only had it for 3 weeks. Anyway, the Dentist said 2 1/2 years later that the root had to go. Then the doggone tooth fairy didn’t remember to visit the first night the root was put out. Whoops.
Wednesday the husband had nose surgery, hopefully to cure his snoring problem as well as let him shut his mouth without actually dying of asphyxiation. We shall see. He has been hanging around the house a lot, it is kinda weird having him around so much, but then he can’t help because he feels so lousy.
Then of course, I made it to the chiropractor twice. My lower back hurts and it is all I can do to waddle around chasing Tommy. Fortunately he prefers to climb, so I don’t have to bend over much. I have to leave the kiddos in the waiting room while I go back. So far they have not caused any problems. Today a lady was waiting on her husband and she read a book to my kids. Nothing like a small town I say. I have been having all kinds of shooting pains up and down the back of my thighs. I am counting the days until this kid gets out of me. Thirty eight give or take a couple.
Rail travel at the turn of the century
I have taken two train trips in the last year, both starting from central Nebraska and ending in Denver. Amtrak has a ways to go before they make any headway in transportation in the US, and that is too bad.
Good things
1. You don’t have to drive or stay awake
2. The clientele is less spooky than bus travelers, in my limited experience
3. It probably isn’t more expensive for one person than driving with gas at $3.00/gal
4. Lots of leg room
5. Lounge and Dining car to relax in and meet people
6. There is kind of a romance about rail travel
7. You get to see the Denver Stock Yards (and other stuff you might not happen across)
8. The employees are exceptionally nice
9. Old train stations are cool
10. Less pollution than all those people driving, and probably flying as well
11. No waiting in line for security checks
12. You keep your luggage on the same car as you, so it won’t end up lost
Bad things
1. They are so doggone late
2. Only one train goes through a day, so the time may be horrid ie. 2:05 am departure
3. The bathrooms (although they are no worse that those on planes)
4. It is not easy to sleep next to someone you don’t know
I wish people would take advantage of this kind of travel so
1. More trains would run
2. The rail companies which own the tracks would prioritize getting Amtrak though
3. Amtrak could update some of its equipment (I think some of their engines are old)
4. More routes could be added