Wednesday morning: July 11, 2001

Morning came way to early Wednesday. In order to get the cheap flights, I had to fly out at 6:31 AM. Luckily at 5 AM, there is very little traffic (even in Austin). I picked window seats to see if I could any good shots with my camera. This is a view west with the sun rays coming underneath the plane to catch the left wing. This was my first time flying "America Worst" (as my friend in Phoenix calls it). Plane flights went fine. I flew Austin -> Phoenix -> Reno.
On the plane flight we saw Area 51 from 35K feet up (Note: this Geocities webpage is part of the Area 51 neighborhood). I noticed from the air that both in Phoenix and Reno most homes had only part of their yard green. Hey, they live in a desert.
At Reno, I walked off the plane and saw slot machines everywhere; and I mean everywhere. While people waited for their flights, they were just dumping in the quarters into those slot machines. Just pushing the button; not even pulling those levers. What? have we gotten too lazy even in our decadent gambling? I did find a short row of 3 Elvis slot machines. These play a little clip of Elvis in concert when you win. I HAD to play this. OK, I lost 5 quarters. At least the ladies next to me won a few times, so I got to watch a few clips of Elvis singing. My friends, Paul and Mike, weren't scheduled to arrive into Reno until noon. I brought along my book "The Mark". Also, I put on my antennae that I wear to Morning Supervision (different story) so they could find me easier. One kid ask me where he could get a pair. Sorry, he has to wait until stores stock them for Halloween. Anyway I spent two hours in an airport waiting area with crazed Creative Memories "Crop Til You Drop" ladies and slot machines SHOUTING "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" every 2 minutes. No more will I wait in the Reno airport. I did end up missing Paul as he came of the plane but run into him at luggage. Mike's flight didn't make it. We had to come back for him later.