Finally!

When asked (politely), I have sat at my desk here in Lone Tree and gone to southwest.com and checked in family members for their flights.  Hell, I even checked in some lady that I probably have met, but I seriously dont know her. 

It's always me, Mr. "Always sitting by my computer" - that should be my new Native American name, "Sits Around Computers" - doing this out of the KINDNESS OF MY HEART.

Well, pilgrims, today I gots to check me in.  For MY flight.  For MY trip.  Dis is MAH HOUSE.

6 DAYS UNTIL THE FRAN DANGO!

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go"

Seriously, Mr. Anal-Retentive that I am, I am ready.  Sorta.  Got some things that I didnt want to carry on in a box and sent to Arizona.  I have maps...lots of maps to tell me how to get from Point A to Point B.  I have my little (purple) Mead Five Star binder (which cost $3.00, what a rip) with my schedule, my rental car information, the budget spreadsheets, all the fun things that make a Wearn trip successful.

So my happy ass (as you can tell, this is a favorite phrase) will be in Concourse B, way, way, way, WAY down at the west end where United stuck their Star Alliance gates at 7:00 am, which means I leave the house at 5 in the freaking morning!  Ah, it's worth it.

All this planning is for naught however, since my father (say it in your head like you are sighing...my father...) called the other day and reviewed his list with me.  Seems the many times that I told him that I was leaving Tucson to go to PHX was on Thursday, he scheduled tourista time for Thursday.  Hopefully he got me a room for that extra day I am staying in TUS.

Here are the current plans:

• Tuesday: arrive @ PHX 10.00, somehow or another get my bags, rent a car, take a piddle stop and be in TUS by noon.  That ain't gonna happen.  I "need" a pre-Fran pep talk with Suzann and Mark before hand.  I was going to stop at Tom's house in Central PHX, but that isnt feasible now.  Then I guess we are going to some Mountain where there is a cupcake shop, and it is 3 hours away?
• Wednesday:  Air Force Museum.  Not the one in Dayton, obviously.  All day thing.
• Thursday:  Can I have a little Jim time?  Schedule includes the Kitt Peak National Observatory.  That should be cool as hell, but it has to be in the evening.  I found a boxing gym and am going to work out there.  Which reminds me, I got to call them today and see how much that costs.
• Friday:  Drive to PHX as soon as I get up, and that is going to be early, early, early!  I will be on Fran-verload. 

I guess at some point I will have to meet Roxie's brother, though it has not been brought up.  I swear to God, if Dad suggests that Roxie's brother come with us to the Observatory (with him being a Star Trek author), I am going to blow chunks.  Or as we said in college, I will have a "Good Ralph". 

Though, it might be fun to ask Mr. Star Trek Author Man what the deal is with Kirk and Spock.  Seriously, if you Google it, there are conspiratory theories that Kirk and Spock are secretly lovers.  Think about it.

Hooray, it's Fran's Birthday!

There is a cake under there somewhere. 

Someone Just Met Fran!!!

Attention, s'il vous plaît

"Your Attention in the Terminal Please!  Southwest Airlines is pleased to announce the arrival of Flight 648, truly non-stop service from the Center of the Universe, Columbus, now deplaning at gate C13."

Suzann, Mark and Charlie have arrived in Phoenix.  Alert the media.  Alert Morgan, because she has to pick them up at the airport!

Notice how the gate agent properly identified the city of Columbus?  As "Columbus", not "Columbus, Ohio"?  That pisses me off that, unless it is a story about Ohio State, everyone (especially in the lamestream media - Poor Sarah, she is such an idiot) says "Columbus, Ohio"!!  Dammit, we all know Columbus is in Ohio, and yeah, there are some other Columbuses. sss.  But "our" Columbus doesn't need to have the state after it.  Seriously, how often do you hear someone say "Denver, Colorado" instead of  just "Denver".

Ponder that.  And don't let it keep you up all night.  That wasn't my intent.

Live - From Central Ohio's News Leader

GILBERT, AZ (WCMH News Channel) -

The final piece of the puzzle that has become Morgan Miller's quest to return to Central Ohio was announced late last week, when Miller announced that she has accepted a position at a yet to be named organization in Columbus.  This position, wildly speculated to be in the party and event planning business, will allow the former Ashland resident to return to her familial roots and finally leave the Metro Phoenix area "as soon as I can sell this house and get my happy ass out of here." 

It had been rumored that Miller, a Wittenburg University graduate, would leave Arizona at some point, but certain obstacles had to be overcome, such as finding lucrative employment in Ohio, and talking her brother Brian in to letting her crash at his New Albany condominium until she is able to relocate and find her own accommodations.  Now that these hurdles seem to be overcome, she has given notice to her schizophrenic owner of a Phoenix area physical rehabilitation facility, to "take this job and shove it..but in a nicer, more PC way" Miller is quoted to have said to family and friends.

Questions remain, though, as how this will impact next month's Wearn-a-Palooza Lite, a family reunion of mammoth proportion that is scheduled to take place at Miller's Gilbert home.  "There has been a lot of preparation for this event, negotiations with multiple agencies in the City of Gilbert and Maricopa County about having this occur at this location at this time.  We are hopeful that Miss Miller will honor the agreements to host this event.  It means so much to everyone in the Valley that Wearn-a-Palooza Lite go on as planned" said Arizona's wacky and mildly annoying Governor, Jan Brewer.

We will continue to monitor this exciting story as new information becomes available and share it with you on NBC4 and our website nbc4i.com.  Also check out our Android application available for your wireless device and be notified immediately whenever updates occur.

Things to do in Tucson that won't include Fran

Got an envelope from Dad the other day, with brochures about things to do when I am in Tucson.  All of these are from those little tourista brochure racks that linger in hotel lobbies.  At last, they are finally able to be put to use!

Sonora Desert Museum  OK, it's a desert, it's a museum.  Been there before, it is more of a zoo.  Good exercise by walking all over the place.  Fran wouldn't make it 10 feet without whining.

Titan Missile Museum  This will be very cool.  Way better representation of the Cold War than the damn Spy Museum in DC.  That was a joke.

Sabino Canyon  "A Desert Oasis".  Close your eyes and you are in Egypt.  Hopfully not that realistic!

Biosphere2 Shrug.  Maybe not.

Kitt Peak National Observatory  Now this will be cool.  And not just the daytime tour, Dad wants to see stars at night!  Definitely past Fran's bedtime.

The Titanic Artifact Exhibition  Maybe, if it is raining or something.  Sad part is if Fran goes to this, she will go back and tell us all about how she was supposed to be on that sailing, but had to cancel at the last minute because she had to work.

If Dad all of the sudden says that Roxie's brother would love to come along, then I am ready with a response.  I am going to say that I was really looking forward to some Dad and Jim time.