Reno/Tahoe heaven on earth (under construction)

  Much can be learned about a community by the manner it "behaves." 

 

      Last night, Nevada, Reno's Football program culminated it's rise to national awareness at the Kraft, Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco. The game against Boston College wasn't pretty, but a giant win for Reno nonetheless. Today, before Auburn plays Oregon in the BCS National Championship game, Nevada Reno is the ONLY 13-1 Division 1 football team in the country!  After tonight, there will be two.  That's not the story.

 

    Thirty Eight Thousand fans drove to San Francisco to support their team.  Since Reno's population is roughly 230,000, that's roughly 17% of the population of Reno!  Reno is indeed a community in every sense of the word!  What a wonderful place to live...

Reno/Tahoe is a special place to live.  I moved here in 1976 and have been continually amazed at the opportunities This area offers me and the opportunities I have had to serve Reno.  With the exception of Monaco, no town offers more diverse activities during the summer months, not to mention the sheer number of choices!

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                                                              Street Vibrations.

This event is so big, it rocks at several locations throughout the region. Major event venues are planned at Harley-Davidson Dealerships in Carson City and Reno and in historic Virginia City. Rides to what Mark Twain called “the fairest picture the whole earth affords,” Lake Tahoe -- provide unparalleled entertainment. Flirt with Lady Luck during poker walks and runs and during slot tournaments. It’s HOG heaven!

IMAGINE...3500 Harleys in Your town!

Uptown Downtown Art Town!

Uptown, Downtown, Art town! It started 15 years ago with a dream and the word “Art.” Now, Reno is 

Artown. Showcasing music, theater, dance, visual arts and more Artown has grown to showcase one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the nation each July.

Reno River Festival 

The 8th annual Reno River Festival – America’s premier whitewater event that takes place in the heart of downtown Reno at the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield

National Championship Air Races

 Great Reno Balloon Races

I get to watch "Dawn Patrol" from my bedroom window now days.  I will NEVER FORGET the year I had Nicole on my shoulders and Kelly standing with me when~  The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra started playing "Up Up and Away in My Beautiful Balloon as the Sun rose and 104 colorful balloons floated up! Clearly one of the fondest moments of my life! Showing your children "what's real and valuable" is very cool!

Sparks Hometowne Farmer's Market  every Thursday in the summer

Nevada Museum of Art

 Reno RODEO, The Richest Rodeo in the world!

 

Best in The West National Rib Cook Off!

and on and on...some 42 rib cookers from all over the WORLD! 
 

The Great Reno Italian Food festival

                                               Grape Stomping Contest!

HOT AUGUST NIGHTS!!!
founded in 1986 by a friend of mine, Randy Burke, Hot August Nights now brings over 5000 pre 1969 cars to Reno, along with Drive in's, Bands from the Era, Concerts, Drag Races etc.  For 1 week, RENO IS THE 60's!

Pyramid Lake, Paiute Indians and the largest Cutthroat Trout in The World!

As you drive thru the desert, you climb a barren hill and as you drive over the top ~  WOW  fishing in the winter and camping, jet skiing and water skiing in the summer.  I LOVE this place and always have!

 

 

 Lake Tahoe Shakespeare  Festival

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival performs in an open-air venue on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, between sand dunes and a rocky mountainside. One of its special charms is the laid-back ambiance as people gather, set up beach chairs, picnic on the sand and settle down to get ready for the show.

LegallyBlonde

A Chorus

Line Cats

The Nutcracker

Fiddler on

the Roof

Reno Philharmonic

Nevada Opera

Riverdance

 

BROADWAY Plays in Reno  We ain't just a bunch a' Cowboys!

Nevada Chamber Music Festival

Riverwalk Merchants Association Monthly Wine Walk, a monthly stroll down the River walk sampling fine wines.
 Nevada Humane Society Duck Race (an event I helped start). Great Reno Balloon Race, , Rollin' on the River, a series of evening concerts on the Truckee river throughout the summer, Hot August Nights (started by my friend Randy Burke in 1986, Rock the River, a series of rock concerts on the river, The Great Italian Festival, The Reno Tahoe Open Golf Tournament.

Who Am I ? Who am I looking for?

             

      I Love Life and I Love Travel and I Love my Friends... Cabo San Lucas is my favorite 4 day get away, but not alone...Everything is just a lot better when you are with someone you care about. Eventually I will find someone very special. Friends first, then who knows. You will find me to be intelligent, honest, open, kind, funny and romantic. I am a diverse and capable cook, but you have to help with the dishes. Asst chef's appreciated. Someday I will find a compassionate, intelligent, attractive, open minded lady that understands, "It's a journey, not a destination." Until that cosmic connection occurs, I expect to meet some very nice people,laugh a little, learn a little... make some new friends, maybe find a lover...
Given that most people are just about as happy as they choose to be, I can't be the only one out there that believes the time between "LOVE's" can be rich, rewarding, fun and fulfilling. My half of the equasion. You should really like great food and wine, people and conversation, laughter and new experiences.

Do you not have all the answers but you are not afraid of the questions? Is the rest of your life just going to happen to you, or do you understand is it going to be the result of the choices you make and chances you take?

                                                                   

OK EVERYBODY gets trophies in Little league and other children's sports.  NO ONE  keeps score anymore, there are no losers... There is no black and white, no failure and loss, ONLY TRYING and celebration of whatever effort you choose to put out on any given day ~

 

Now a school district wants to abolish "F's" or failing grades ~ allowing students to get an "I" (incomplete or second and third chances to take tests and do homework.  I guess that's fair, failing teachers have been getting passes for years now!

 

   OK, If I ever get a DUI, I want continual "Do-Overs" till I pass the test and get to go home. 

 

     This country, our heritage, culture and future are going to hell in a hand basket with all this PC, mamby pamby, socially correct BS and equality by rule crap!  If you believe there are no winners, no victors or champions ~ get in line BEHIND the aforementioned and shut up. 

As I stood in the center of the Roman Forum, and watched the sunrise upon what was for centuries  the center of Roman public life: the site of elections, venue for public speeches and nucleus of commercial affairs, the centerpiece of the greatest civilization ever~   It occurred to me,  this represents greatest culture and civilization ever.  I wonder what DC will look like, and more importantly ....when?  We have just about lost every part of what made us great.  How long until we are nothing more than a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archeological excavations attracting sightseers?

 

                   Or maybe, I just got up on the wrong side of the bed today?

 

 

 

"A non-doer is very often a critic—that is, someone who sits

back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically

about how the doers are doing. It's easy to be a critic,

but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change."

Dr. Wayne Dyer

Change scares the hell out of non proactive people,....people that allow life and circumstances to dictate their fate.   Circumstances don't define Character..... Circumstances reveal one's character.

Formula 1's Jenson Button

   This morning I went swimming extra early, since the Iron Man Competition of Monaco began at 7:AM.  I decided to hang around and watch the Swimming portion of the Triathlon. One of the athletes approached me. 

He said, "excuse me, would you please help me with this?  It's difficult to get on."  I snapped and zipped up his wet suit and we started talking.  He commented, you are here pretty early this morning!  I told him I swim every morning and looking at all the cameras on him, asked, "Are you the favorite here today?" He replied, Heck no, I drive Formula 1 Race Cars for a living. He shook my hand and said I'm Jenson Button.  I replied, Rip Lonergan, pleasure to meet you.  He pointed up and said I live right there pointing just beyond Roccabella, our building. Told him,  "I LOVE watching you work!  Good Luck today!"

In the water, waiting to capture the start.

 Didn't really know the swimmers spread out this quickly!  

HERE IS ANOTHER PICTURE OF MY NEW Aquaintance.  AT WORK !!!

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They may seem like a godsend and they are.

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,

because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it, it is real.

But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must

build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
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