Two-Paragraph Tuesday: Right Into The "Danger Zone"

I found one of my old 45 records while I was cleaning my office this afternoon. Back when I was a teenager, I lived in my parents' attic, and the previous owner had constructed a pretty cool audio setup with a turntable, reel-to-reel tape decks, tuner, and 4' x 4' custom-built speakers. As a result, I purchased a number of 45 rpm singles of popular artists — not knowing that the ability to buy vinyl singles at Musicland was soon to end. 

I'd love to see how Kenny Loggins's "Danger Zone" sounds, but Bridget told me last year I couldn't get a record player (even though it totally seems like something I should have in my A/V arsenal). Anyhow, I thought this was a neat find, and it reminded me how much I enjoyed collecting these little vinyl records.

Previous post: "Book Review: 'Ready Player One' — Shall We Play A Game?"  

Book Review: "Ready Player One" - Shall We Play A Game?

It's an odd thing that the first-ever book review for this blog happens a little over a year into posting. The reason it's odd is because books are a big part of my life. 

I knew after reading the first few pages of Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One" that it would be a fitting first review. Not only is the first-person narrative in this futuristic novel compelling, the story centers around a treasure trove of 1980s pop culture -- crafted with a fanboy's love and affection. 

"Ready Player One" tells the tale of Wade Watts, a teenager in the year 2044 who lives in the Oklahoma City "stacks" (mobile homes and RVs piled high on stilts -- to save on ground space). Wade's mother died from a drug overdose, and he resides with his aunt and her boyfriend. 

Wade doesn't spend much time with his aunt, nor does he spend much time in the real world. Neither does the rest of society. 

As is the case with a number of futuristic dystopian societies in fiction, the planet has basically gone to hell in a handbasket. Earth has been suffering from an energy crisis (the "Global Energy Crisis"), climate change, and a long-standing recession. 

Much of the world spends its time "living" in a multi-player computer game called OASIS (Ontologically Athropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation). The digital world was created by a software developer named James Halliday, owner of Gregarious Simulation Systems. The immersive enviroment is used by people on a daily basis via OASIS consoles, visors, suits, and gloves. 

OASIS isn't just a digital world, it is a full-blown virtual universe. 

Wade uses his school-issued console, visor, and gloves to participate in the OASIS world via an avatar he has created. He accesses the OASIS in his "hideout" -- an old van in the stacks where he can play in peace. He also attends an OASIS Public School.  

We find out early on in the novel that James Halliday has died. The reclusive creator left a short video message for the world to see. The film -- dubbed "Anorak's Invitation" -- is filled with obscure information from 1980s pop culuture. (Anorak is the name of Halliday's OASIS avatar). 

Viewers learn that Halliday's entire estate (valued at $240 billion) -- along with a controlling share of his company -- is being put in escrow until the conditions of his will are met. 

He has hidden an "Easter egg" somewhere in the OASIS environment ("three keys open three secret gates"), and the individual who finds the hidden egg will inherit Halliday's fortune and control of OASIS. 

Wade is obsessed with the hunt. He nitpicks all the minute details in Anorak's Almanac -- Halliday's personal journal filled with biographical information, random thoughts, and 1980s references. 

As a result, our protagonist binge-watches TV shows like Family Ties, memorizes movies like WarGames, plays classic Atari games like "Adventure," listens to bands like Rush, and uses popular ad slogans like "time to make the doughnuts" (from the famous Dunkin Donuts ad campaign). 

Wade and his fellow "gunters" (a fusion of "egg hunters") spend copious amounts of time obsessing over the Easter egg hunt, and have message boards and digital resources dedicated to the topic. His best friend is an avatar named Aech, a fellow gunter in the virtual world. 

Wade keeps a detailed "grail diary" (a reference to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) to store notes on everything he learns in his quest.

Many want to win the fortune. Others merely want to stop the "Sixers" -- the gunter nickname for the employees of Innovative Online Industries (IOI) who are hunting for the Easter egg (they have an established Oology Division dedicated to that purpose). 

IOI is a communications conglomerate that is the globe's largest ISP. They are in the business of "monetizing" the OASIS enviroment (a world that Halliday intended to be open for all), by selling access, goods, and advertising to users. They are the over-reaching corporation in this dystopian world (and the description of the IOI headquarters feels like something out of George Lucas's film THX 1138). 

The head of operations at Innovative Online Industries is Nolan Sorrento (who serves as the main antagonist in the story). 

Using his avatar (named Parzival), Wade soon finds the first key in the challenge. 

Wade seeks Aech's wisdom along the way, and also bonds with fellow gunters Art3mis (a female avatar who is an OASIS crush for Wade) and two Japanese players named Daito and Shoto.

What ensues is a multi-player hunt (sometimes deadly) utilizing pop culture references that will cause "Children of the 80s" to geek out. The future of the OASIS software is at stake -- will it remain an open environment for users, or will IOI and Nolan Sorrento seize control?

For the rest of the novel "it's on like 'Red Dawn.'"

I was born the same year as the author of "Ready Player One," so these references really resonated with me.  

As a kid in the 1980s, I lived for Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Big Trouble in Little China, Tron, and other 1980s sci-fi/fantasy properties. I also sunk way too many quarters into Galaga machines during that era (my favorite video game to this day). 

Readers are treated to mentions of John Hughes teenage angst dramas. Iconic characters like "Max Headroom" and "Johnny Five" (from the movie Short Circuit) make appearances. 

There are OASIS planets with names like Benatar (after the singer Pat Benatar) and Falco (like the Austrian rapper who brought us the song "Rock Me Amadeus").

Various computer and gaming systems of the era are referenced -- like the Atari 2600, Apple IIe, TRS 80, and Commodore 64.

I was hooked early on in "Ready Player One" when I read Wade Watts's login phrase to get into OASIS:

You have been recruited by Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada 

That is a line from the cheesy sci-fi flick "The Last Starfighter," a movie my mom took me to see at the Millard 4 in the summer of 1984. 

The cool thing about Cline's novel is that the 1980s factoids aren't merely "tacked on" for the sake of nostalgia. Rather, those retro nuggets are integral plot points used in solving Halliday's challenge. 

Cline also avoids making this a "cliche" 1980s homage. He doesn't just reference those 80s properties which are still popular today (or those that have become popular in intervening years). 

For example, he mentions TV shows like "Riptide," "Whiz Kids," and "Square Pegs" -- which are TV shows very much off the beaten path. 

Another strength of the Cline's narrative is that he avoids too much heavy-handed commentary on the social ills of his futuristic society. Sure, those points come out in dribs-and-drabs as the story unfolds, but Cline keeps the focus primarily on the hunt, and on the 1980s culture employed. 

"Ready Player One" had a way of transporting me back to my youth -- in a manner I haven't experienced with other novels. By employing so many nostalgic '80s references, Cline was able to stir up an interesting cocktail of emotions in this reader -- feelings that generated an emotional undercurrent that isn't often found in this territory. 

Not only that, the story is structured in such a way that younger readers (who weren't alive during the decade) will want to seek out that era's films, shows, songs, and games to experience them for themselves. 

Next March, "Ready Player One" hits the big screen in a new movie directed by Steven Spielberg. 

A first-look teaser for the Warner Bros. production hit San Diego Comic-Con this summer. The trailer features an orchestration of the score from the 1971 movie "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" and the song "Tom Sawyer" by Rush. 

There's no doubt that the movie will be different than Cline's novel. However, fans of the book should be heartened by the fact that Cline helped write the screenplay. Fans should also be pleased that the architect of so many enduring '80s cinematic tomes (that Cline loves) is at the helm. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how they adapt the novel, and which 1980s references make it into the feature film. 

My niece Emily first recommended "Ready Player One" to me several months ago. I'm glad I finally took the time to read it. She and her sisters have recommended a number of books I've absolutely loved the past few years.

Also...

I've seen Ernest Cline over the years in various documentaries focusing on 1980s pop culture (if you haven't seen the docs "Atari: Game Over" or "Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made," they are both on Netflix as of this writing).

He also wrote the movie "Fanboys" with Adam F. Goldberg (who is responsible for the wonderful ABC TV series set in the 1980s called "The Goldbergs").

I picked up "Fanboys" on DVD several years ago from the sale bin at Walmart. While that comedy (about a group of friends who want to take their dying compatriot to Skywalker Ranch so he can see "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace") wasn't perfect, it definitely stuck with me. 

I could keep rambling on, but I won't.  

I'm getting ready to order Cline's second novel "Armada," and will try to have a review for you soon!

Previous post: "Best of 'Jon Crunch': Year 1"

Best of "Jon Crunch": Year 1

Here's where we're at...

Twelve months. Seventy-one posts. 

Not the output I was hoping for during the first year of the blog, but I think it is a pretty good start. 

There were a number of fun things I experienced in life the past year because of this blog -- things I wouldn't otherwise have tried and written about. 

In honor of the first year, I am going to share with you all the "Top 10" posts this past year (in terms of traffic) on the blog, as well as six additional posts I really liked (which should have had more traffic). 

The Top 10



1. "Envelopening: What Happened to Dean Blais?"  

In my mind, this ranks as one of the least exciting posts of the past 12 months. But, because it was an "unboxing" (well, envelope tearing) video about our UNO Hockey season tickets, we were able to share the post on our MavPuck.com social media channels. 

Dean Blais (who was the head coach of the team last season) wasn't featured in the ticket booklets, even though past players and coaches were included. 

Was that a snub? You'll have to decide for yourself, but it was almost prescient considering how "The Blaiser" was "let go" by the university this past season.

********************************

2. "'Dunkirk' Review: 'There's No Hiding From This Son."

I did a number of movie reviews this past year, and I'd like to thank Aksarben Cinema for sharing this review I did when "Dunkirk" was released -- that really helped the traffic counts for this review. 

I thought it was one of my better reviews, and I think it epitomizes the pattern and style I want to follow for future movie reviews. 

********************************

3. "Utah Trip, Part 1 -- One Guy, Seven Girls, and an RV"

This was a fun trip. This post, the first in a 4-part series, not only ranks as one of the most trafficked posts this past year, but it also one of my favorites.

********************************

4. "A Modern Day Treasure Hunt"  

This was a fun game. It also illustrates the power of social media, and raises questions about safety when it comes to anonymous "string pullers" sending people around the city in search of prizes. Kind of reminded me of the 2016 movie "Nerve."

********************************

5. "Why I Became a Cord Cutter"  

This post just keeps percolating along. I've done a few posts on the topic, and would like to do more posts, because people I talk to are increasingly interested these days in dropping traditional cable and satellite television subscriptions. 

********************************

6. "Omaha Needs a Jolt"  

I was really fond of the "Emerging Terrain" grain silo project, and appreciated the efforts of Anne Trumble and her supporters as they tried to make aging and derelict parts of our city interesting. We need more people starting those sorts of "conversations" within our community. 

********************************

7. "What Is A Pinning Ceremony?" 

The International Baccalaureate program is relatively new in high schools around the United States. My niece Lauren had my write a post on an IB tradition -- the "Pinning Ceremony"...

********************************

8. "Why Are These A Thing?"

Don't hate me... I decided to do a fidget spinner post (at the height of the novelty's popularity) because I knew it would get clicks. But it turns out the post was kind of interesting... 

********************************

9. "'Victoria': Is This Brit Import Worthy of 'Downton Abbey's' Timeslot?" 

There are two British period dramas focusing on the "Royal Family" that I enjoyed this past year (the other is Netflix's "The Crown," which I also reviewed). "Victoria" is a co-production of PBS's Masterpiece label, and Brit broadcaster ITV. 

Not only did I review the first season of "Victoria" in this post, I also outlined how Bridget and I were able to binge watch it on Apple TV via PBS Passport (which is available to PBS donors). 

********************************

10. "Utah Trip, Part 4 -- Stranded, Slurpees, Trolley Square, Burgers, and a Tonka Truck"  

The fourth part of our trip west (for the Tour of Utah) proves that even in the face of a big ol' SNAFU, you can find a way to have fun... 

Bonus Picks

Bonus #1. "I Don't Get Grown-Up Coloring Books" 

I liked this post because it was kind of snarky and biting. It also irritated some of my Facebook friends who are are grown-up coloring book afficionados...

Bonus #2. "The Sightseeing Complication" 

I learned last September that I am prone to having claustrophobic panic attacks in confined, underground rail systems... on humid days. Who knew? 

Bonus #3. "These Kids are 'Sharp...Cheddar Sharp'"

There are some really talented kids making films in Omaha...and my niece Julia is one of them.  

Bonus #4. "'Baby Driver' -- Car Chases, iPods, Blondes and 1990s Cool"

I absolutely loved this movie -- my favorite of the summer. I saw it four times at Aksarben Cinema (and wish that I'd seen it a fifth). I was able to pick out a lot more subtlety and nuance the more I saw the movie, and would have written a much better review after multiple viewings. But this review will give you an idea about why I loved this movie so much. 

Bonus #5. "I've Been Slimed!" 

What's summer without a fun project? My niece Veronica is our family's slime expert. It's pretty cool. I just wish we'd done a "how to" video on making slime. 

Bonus #6. "'We Can Rebuild It. We Have the Technology." 

There's nothing better than crawling up into the attic and running new coaxial cable from a long-forgotten, 1960s-era antenna to receive rock solid HD signals from the local TV affiliates! 

So there you have it!

Missed my most recent blog post? Check it out here: "Eclipse Anomalies Create TV Reception Oddities?"

Eclipse Anomalies Create TV Reception Oddities?

I've been using over-the-air antennas the past two years or so to pull in free digital television transmissions from our local TV providers. 

During that time, the channels pulled in on our LED televisions have stayed within the parameters that sites like antennaweb.org outline as being "receivable" in our area -- the TV towers that are within range of our home in Omaha, NE. 

But there have been a couple of anomalies, and they have both coincided with significant astronomical events. One happened this morning and it jogged my memory of a similar instance back in 2015. 

In late Sept. 2015, I happened to be up early one morning and ran a channel scan on our living room TV (something my geeky side does periodically to see if there are any new channels in the market). 

On that particular day, I was able to tune in KAKE from Wichita, KS (digital channel 10.1). Wichita is roughly 330 miles southwest of Omaha. The fact that any antenna in Omaha picked that up was peculiar. The fact that it was a small, set-top bowtie antenna raised even more questions. 

So I did some research: On Sept. 27, 2015, there was a "Supermoon Lunar Eclipse" viewable in the United States. 

This morning, just two days before the "2017 Total Solar Eclipse" (Nebraska is in the "path of totality"), I decided to run a channel scan and see if any distant channels tuned in on my HDTVs. 

I was in the basement, and the 4K UHD set is currently hooked up to a small, bowtie-style antenna (RCA ANT1000) that is affixed to our basement window (which is a pretty difficult placement when it comes to long-range reception). 

Oddly enough, the TV tuned in PBS affiliate KOOD, Smoky Hills Public Television. KOOD is located in Bunker Hill, KS, which sits along the I-70 corridor in that state. It serves the western half of Kansas. 

The TV in our basement was able to tune in KOOD-DT channel 9.1 and its two subchannels (PBS Kids and PBS Create). The signal came in strong and stable this morning. 

(I was also able to receive the KOOD channels via our attic antenna on the HDTV in our living room.) 

Bunker Hill, KS, is about 300 miles southwest of Omaha. Like the Wichita station we received during the lunar eclipse in 2015, it is well out of our range.

These are the only two instances where I have been able to tune in channels that broadcast from so far afield.  

None of our antennas is particularly long range in nature (i.e. they aren't 100+-mile range outdoor mount antennas), and I haven't been able to pick up channels from places like Lincoln, NE, Sioux City, IA, or Des Moines, IA -- which are all closer than Wichita or Bunker Hill, KS. 

The only thing I can surmise is that atmospheric anomalies created by current "eclipse conditions" have an impact on the waves carrying the digital TV signals in our region.  

Check out my previous blog post: "Utah Trip, Part 4 -- Stranded, Slurpees, Trolley Square, Burgers, and a Tonka Truck"

Utah Trip, Part 4 -- Stranded, Slurpees, Trolley Square, Burgers, and a Tonka Truck

I do a good job of making my life seem like it is all "sunshine and puppy dogs" -- on this blog, on my Facebook page, on Twitter...

But sometimes things don't go according to plan, tempers flare, frustration sets in, and you have to find a way to adapt. 

That's the situation we found ourselves in on the Wednesday morning of our trip to Utah. We had already enjoyed three jam-packed days of cycling races, sightseeing, food and fun, and were looking for the opportunity to enjoy another stage of the Tour of Utah. 

We had a late start on Aug. 2, and didn't roll out until around 10 a.m. local time. 

Unfortunately, the cycling action that day wasn't your typical road race. Instead, the day featured a time trial (the first one in several years at the Tour of Utah), and the entire thing took place up in the mountains, meaning access in and out was restricted. 

There were shuttles that would ferry interested spectators to either the "start" of the race, or the "finish line" of the race. The shuttles departed from a parking lot, and would wind their way up to the two different ski resorts that bookended the race. 

The way things were setup, you could either hit the start or the finish -- not both. 

Our crew deliberated what we wanted to do. We couldn't come to a consensus either way, but we settled on going to the finish line since that is where the VIP area was located. 

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the parking lot, the shuttles were done for the day. That fact disappointed all of us in the RV, and it was also disappointing to other interested folks who pulled into the lot while we were there.  

This is as close to the race as we got:

We were tired and unhappy. We had just wanted another day of being able to interact with the riders, volunteers, Axeon team staff, and fans. 

We did eventually regroup (it got ugly there for a bit), and decided to hit a mall and In-N-Out Burger (a destination my niece Veronica had requested the day before). 

First, we stopped for fuel at 7-Eleven (the nieces are too young to remember when Omaha had them, and they wanted to get Slurpees).

I was given a list by the nieces of possible malls to visit. I chose the destination at the top of the list -- Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City. 

Apparently, the mall was the site of a mass shooting in 2007 (I just discovered that little tidbit on Google).

Trolley Square Mall, in its present form, is sort of an odd mix of Crossroads Mall and Regency Court in Omaha. There are some nice vendors like Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn Kids, but the historic structure also has a lot of empty bays. 

There was a cool store called Cabin Fever Cards and Gifts that had some cool "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" items, and I picked up a few things:

(As an aside, most of the people killed in the Trolley Square shooting died in Cabin Fever. We didn't know that at the time we were there, obviously.)

We only stayed an hour because we were eventually heading back to Cheyenne, and didn't want to get in too late. 

Our next stop was In-N-Out Burger -- a destination that seems "en vogue" with people whose municipalities don't have the hamburger chain. 

Did I love In-N-Out Burger?

I'm not sure. The burgers and fries were tasty. I wouldn't label it a religious experience in the lexicon of burger restaurants I've visited, but it was pretty solid for a fast food chain deal.

Bridget bought us all these souvenir t-shirts:

So there you go...our time in Utah was at an end.

One more thing...

We kept running into this truck driver on the road who had a Tonka truck strapped to the back of his flatbed trailer. I don't know why he showed up (or why he had a Tonka on the back), but he kept popping up along I-80 (and he'd wave at us every time we saw him):

And...

That's pretty much it. Not much more to tell. We did make it back to Omaha on Aug. 3. 

I had fun. It's so hard to get away from home, and I'm typically reluctant to leave work behind for any length of time.

But I needed a break from the normal routine. I realized this a few hours into the trip. My mind needed a respite from everything that has gone on the past several months in our family. 

It was nice to spend time on the road with Bridget, Emily, Lauren, Julia, Olivia, Veronica, and Danielle. I love these ladies. We've experienced a lot together over the years.

Bridget and I don't have kids of our own, and it means something to be able to spend time and experience new things with our nieces. They'll probably never know just how important it is to us. 

These fleeting moments become more ephemeral as the girls get older.

Since I don't want to end on a somber note, here is a picture of Lauren playing with magnifying glasses on the way home at a Sinclair station:

And here is a picture of a Sinclair hat that Julia and I thought was kinda cool (she ultimately got a Sinclair gas station t-shirt from a surprisingly large selection of Sinclair t-shirts they had on hand...):

Note: I want to give a special shoutout to my nieces Olivia and Emily for providing me with some of the photos that appear in this post.

Missed yesterday's post? Read it here: Utah Trip, Part 3 -- Brigham City, Snowbasin, High School Musical, and Leatherby's 

Utah Trip, Part 3 -- Brigham City, Snowbasin, High School Musical, and Leatherby's

The third day of our Utah trip was a busy one, and we set out early from Ogden for the short drive up to Brigham City -- where the second stage of the Tour of Utah was set to begin. 

We were told that the tour organizers had something special planned for our nieces, and that they wanted us to be there by 8:45 a.m. We were also told that the Axeon team would have special t-shirts to honor my brother-in-law (Sean died in May; he was the team's press officer before his death). 

The race area was quiet when we first arrived. Volunteers were setting up and putting things in place for the day's event. 

At one point Darth Vader walked by, and I had to get a picture -- he requested we do this pose:

The "TOUGH" shirt was designed by DNA Cycling. TOU for Tour of Utah;
TOUGH because the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah is considered the most difficult stage race in the country.

Vader then disappeared, and we didn't see him again. Not sure where he was headed, but I'm always happy to see folks from a galaxy far, far away. 

As we neared 9 a.m., Axeon Marketing Director Nick Shuley met up with us. He took us into the VIP area and led us over to the stage (where the cyclists would be introduced, and the announcers would give play-by-play and commentary for the race festivities). 

We were all given t-shirts by the Axeon team that honored my brother-in-law.

Here's the description of the design:
Sean's name, obviously, and the #YD logo. The microphone is because he was the press officer.
The axes are for Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team led by Axel Merckx.
And the 16 hashmarks (spokes/stripes) represent the 16 riders on the team.

"YD" (Why-Dee) is how you pronounce "Weide" -- Sean's last name.

Axeon team owner Axel Merckx and his daughter both sported the #YD shirts.

We had the opportunity to chat with various people involved with the Tour of Utah and the competing teams. The nieces were also asked to pose for numerous pictures. They also had the opportunity to go on stage with the Axeon team (and, according to a post I saw on Facebook, the girls made it on Fox Sports). 

The girls were also able to meet Brent Bookwalter of the BMC team. Their father had worked for BMC in the past (and had promoted Brent's "Bookwalter Binge"), and they had wanted to meet some of the members of that team -- since we'd heard so much about them over the years. 

We were also given passes that allowed us entry into the VIP areas for the rest of the race (which meant free food, drink, and swag -- always a bonus). 

The riders did a couple laps around Brigham City before heading out of town. The course concluded at Snowbasin Resort -- a ski resort located in the mountains east of Ogden. Once again, we had a front row view.

We stayed in Brigham City for a bit before heading out. We met the mayor, a guy named Tyler Vincent (who is up for re-election) and he told us some interesting pieces of information about the town (for example, I didn't know the area was known for growing peaches). He invited us to return for "Brigham City Peach Days" in September and said if we came back, we could park our RV at his collision center (and even use his shower there). 

The girls with Brigham City's mayor.

A local ice cream vendor -- Peach City -- was handing out free samples of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, and peach), so we decided to partake: 

After loitering around downtown Brigham City for a while, we hit the road in the "Big Fat Rolling Meatball" and plotted a course for Snowbasin Resort. 

Driving up the inclines toward the ski resort tested the endurance of the RV. There were a few points that we thought the vehicle might die, but it just kept chugging along. 

Snowbasin Resort is pretty beautiful. I'm sure the ski resort looks gorgeous in the winter, with a frosting of snow covering the buildings and terrain. 

We had the opportunity to hang out in the VIP area in Snowbasin. We were able to eat lunch (the kettle chips were delicious) and watch the race on TV monitors. The setup gave us a nice view of the riders coming in. (They VIP area was directly adjacent to the finish line.)

BMC's Brent Bookwalter (who the girls had met earlier that day) won the stage:

After the second stage concluded, we left the mountain (it was much easier for the RV to go "down") and headed to the next destination on our journey, which was Salt Lake City. 

Lauren sent a text to us (from the back of the RV) requesting we make a stop at East High School. The educational institution was featured in the Disney movie "High School Musical." 

The girls recreated a dance number from the movie:

It was nearly 100 degrees at that point. The RV was tired. We were tired. It had been an action-packed day, and our road-weary group was ready for dinner. 

Since our accommodations for the evening were on Utah's light rail line, I had the idea to take the train to dinner -- since maneuvering and parking the RV in the city is difficult. 

Bridget liked the idea (she makes me ride light rail whenever we have the opportunity). I'm not sure everyone else liked the plan (completely understandable).  

We were hoping to go to the Red Iguana -- which is a local Utah eatery that focuses on Mexican food, and has a stellar reputation among foodies. It was a straight shot east on the rail line (about two miles). 

When we arrived at the Red Iguana, there was a considerable wait time to get a table. Our contingent was already on the edge, and it seemed we needed to go elsewhere for dinner -- or face a possible mutiny. 

I suggested the restaurant across the street called Leatherby's. I'd already had a tepid reaction to my idea of riding the train to dinner, so I don't know why I thought it'd be a good idea to offer up an alternative dinner spot, but I did anyway. 

It is an ice cream shop that also has a full menu of lunch and dinner options.  

The place looked rather dilapidated inside, and the atmosphere was basically dead when we entered. 

I felt bad that I had suggested it. Not only was the ambiance a bit sketchy, I was a bit leery about what the food quality might be. 

It turns out that Leatherby's wasn't so bad, and by the end of our meal everyone was laughing and having a good time. Maybe delirium had set in, or maybe something funny had been planted in the food. 

(The french dip I had was pretty mediocre, but the other meals looked alright.)

I mean, there were combination locks on both the men and women's bathroom doors. 

This gentleman with the ombré hair came in for an order, and was carrying this baby like a sack of potatoes (the little guy didn't look very comfortable):

My nieces (primarily Veronica) had fun getting prizes out of the vending machines by the entrance, including this little figurine here: 

I will say that the ice cream was good. I didn't order it myself, but the Bridget and the girls let me sample their orders, and the samples were tasty. (Bridget's dessert, "Traci's Peanut Butter Cup" was incredible, she said.) Two of the girls ordered "Play-Doh" flavor.

When we were done, we hopped back on the train and headed back for the RV park. 

Now, there is something I need to disclose about this trip I haven't yet mentioned in the previous two posts on this topic.  

Bridget and I didn't actually stay in the RV on this trip. Considering the fact that there were eight of us -- and that the RV we were able to rent on short notice was smaller than Bridge had anticipated -- the two of us stayed in hotels (near the campgrounds where Dani and the girls stayed in the RV). 

I know, I know... that kills the authenticity (for the two of us) of the RV/camping experience. Judge me if you must, but I slept really well on this trip (something that normally doesn't happen when I am on the road). 

Anyway, after we dropped our traveling companions off at the KOA campground, we headed west toward our hotel, just two stops away on the light rail line.

We missed the correct stop based on some faulty information given to us by the clerk in the hotel lobby, and ended up at the airport. 

The light rail "turns around" at the airport. 

It added a half hour to our return trip, and we were already super tired. While we were walking from the right light rail stop (finally!), we got word that the girls were swimming at the campground. We walked by this restaurant on the way to our hotel. I thought the signage was very apropos:

That pretty much sums up the day. It was a packed morning, afternoon, and evening -- and it seemed at times like the action wouldn't stop... 

Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog post: Utah Trip, Part 4 

And, if you haven't already, read yesterday's missive: "Utah Trip, Part 2: Logan, Pepperoni Pizza, and Salt Water."