RD Notes - Jul 26 2009 edition

Gee, do I have to go back to work? Well, in order to keep the dinero going, you gotsa do what you gotsa do.

Again, to those who went to Agave, hope you had a great time. Thanks to Deanna for posting the first pics from that successful Saturday night on the west side. Kiser, I haven't seen him in years - love to hook up with him and see how he's been doing.

Sorry I was not able to be there - hopefully there were no surprises in store for me; then again, I've heard Miller wanted to do a Steve Austin on me. Yea right...dream on... but the important consideration is this: it is you guys who made me who I was then and who I am today.

At this point in time, the middle of September is my target time when I will be up in Sin City. I don't know why I don't go up there much these days - I've always made it a point to go up there every now and then since my immediate family is still there - but as some of you know the middle part of the decade has not been very kind to me. Now that those troubled days are over, I'm getting back into the groove again, albeit a bit heavier than before - but eventually that will pass in time.

Haven't though much about writing my memoirs about my days in the Sunrise Mountain area, but it should certainly be written. The 1980s was an exciting time - no doubt about it.


This week will be the same old, same old. Work 5 days in a row, off Saturday and Sunday. I think this weekend I'm considering a coast drive either to Ventura or Santa Barbara. At least I'm not going to Mexicali - can you imagine being in a town with heat indexes of near 130 degrees? Good night! I hope there are pools over there. The reason for that of course is its adjacent to the Gulf of California., and that gulf surge in the summer jacks the dew point up to near 80 degrees at times.

Well, with that said, I hope you have a safe week wherever you may be. Set the timer for me at 118 hours. Be safe, reach for the stars, and good night from the City of Angels.

Robert Donahoo

100-year flood - 10 years later edition

Hope everybody had a great 4th of July weekend.

I'm doing this a bit early, and since I haven't conversed with most of you in more than two decades, I do want to share with you the 10th anniversary of what is considered the worst flash flood event in the history of Las Vegas. Some refer to it as the 100-year flood. I experienced this crazy and almost disasterous day - and now ten years later, here I am to tell you all about it.

I remember this day vividly. My family had just moved to Henderson after over a decade in the Spring Valley area, since that area was being redeveloped with the I-215 expressway. At the same time I was doing part-time work with Action Messenger, but was delivering auto parts - that was cool and all, but not enough to pay my bills. I applied earlier in the month for work both at Tahoe Springs and at Hinckley & Schmitt, two water companies that I have in the past applied for but came up short. On June 8th I was scheduled to be interviewed at Hinckley, which was later merged with Sierra Springs and then in turn bought out by Sparkletts - go figure.

Anyway, that interview went well - but I knew at the time it started that the weather conditions were going to go south, and by 10:30 or so, it did. I headed directly for the Nissan and my only thought in my mind was getting my butt back to Henderson. Fortunately I had my scanner, as I always carry it with me in the event something bad was going to happen. It started out OK; at first I wanted to get over to the I-15, but it was jammed solid, so no dice there. I took Desert Inn over to Paradise - again nobody home.

Where was the International Scout when I needed it?

As it turned out I took DI all the way over to Maryland Parkway, and it was raining like cats and dogs, with a little bit of hail, and lots of thunder and lightning. The Parkway was flooded, but looked passable enough to proceed. I thought maybe Sahara or even Charleston Blvd would get me out of this area that was in danger of becoming impassable. According to Metro, many of the roads were flooded.

With no other option, my only chance was to take Fremont all the way to Las Vegas Blvd and possibly get on the Expressway and head to Henderson. NHP did not report any closures on the I-515 so I managed to get on the 515 and headed straight to Henderson. I was supposed to go to the place after the interview and deliver auto parts, which I strongly opposed and wanted no part of what was going on out there. Their needs vs my life and property are two very different things.

As it turned out, Boulder Highway was flooded out at the Flamingo Wash, and many businesses in that area were damaged severely. Areas on the base of Sunrise and Frenchman Mountain were at risk to flash flooding as well, so that was not an area to be either. HPD didn't report any closures either - in fact, most of the rain headed in an east/northeast direction so it missed the eastern portion of Henderson.

A total of 1.29 inches of precipitation fell at McCarran International Airport, but areas of the Las Vegas Valley got as much as 3 inches of rain from these thunderstorms. Over 200 rescues were reported by the Clark County Fire Authority, and some $20,000,000 in damages were declared.

Las Vegas was not alone. This storm was part of a long line of showers and thunderstorms which formed from near St. George, Utah southwestward towards Barstow, California. Hats off to those at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas for their work in protecting the public and issuing these warnings as quickly as they can.

In case you are wondering - after that Hinckley & Schmitt interview - Tahoe Springs called me for an interview a day later - and I was hired shortly thereafter, thus starting my days in the industry that I'm in today.

July 7 2009 edition

I have an off day today - which means I will be working on Saturday this week (usually a boring day as always). At least I can get several things done here and relax a bit too and get ready for the next four days.

I'm watching the MJ Memorial Service which is airing on Channel 5 - the service is just incredible. Almost everyone in the music industry is there - as well as the surviving members of the Jacksons. Earlier, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder performed, and Berry Gordy Jr, the founder of Motown, spoke - and made a very strong statement, claiming that Michael Jackson was the greatest performer that's ever lived. Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson also spoke a short time ago, and Jennifer Hudson, who herself endured tragedy, performed. Now the Rev. Al Sharpton is speaking. A bit more to follow, which I will cover a bit later.

It's plain and simple, friends - and say what you will about the negative - but this man has touched the lives of generations of every color, race, man, woman and child. Other than perhaps John Lennon and Bono from U2, I can't think of anybody else that attempted to bring the world as one other than MJ. For 41 years, he has entertained everybody - from the Jackson Five to his own career. I have to say that I grew up with them, just like I grew up with Donny & Marie Osmond, with Journey, Styx, Stevie Wonder, New Edition and others during my youth.

The music world won't be the same again - I'm sure that was said when we lost Elvis in 1977 and John Lennon in 1980; not to mention Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper over half a century ago.

John Mayer performed just a moment ago, and now Brooke Shields is on stage speaking.

July 4 edition

Hope everybody's enjoying this 3-day 4th of July holiday weekend wherever you may be. I unfortunately had to work today - good news was I left ahead of schedule, so all worked out well. Double pay; can't beat that with a stick.

The 4th of July is filled with lots of memories with my family - both with them, and going solo. I thought about the trip to White Sands back in 1972 or 1973; Lynn if you can remember please let me know - we and another family went out there one time (back then I had no clue what it was let alone where it was). But for the life of me, I don't remember if it was during those holidays or during another time.

But anyway... dad would take me, mom and Lynn to watch the fireworks out in the open desert - not sure if it was off of McCombs or Dyer - but I know it was near the Texas-New Mexico border. Everybody was shooting them off back then, of course back then I was sensitive to loud noise - and still am when it occurs unexpectedly - but when we were in Texas, that was how our 4th was spent.

In Europe we did that too, but that occurred only on the American bases.

Las Vegas was similar to El Paso. Fireworks when there was absolutely nothing were shot off of Hollywood Blvd and along Las Vegas Blvd. I think they still do that today on the Boulevard, but not on Hollywood anymore. Nellis AFB and Sam Boyd Stadium used to do their displays and I think parts of the Strip too.

For several years I hung out with the Arnold and Hutchings' families - one time I became a hero when I noticed a bottle rocket that was still fizzling was heading towards the ground. I told everybody to take cover, which they did - and landed right behind Nicole Daniel, who was protecting her daughter. Shawn thought the rocket hit the house, but luckily it didn't. Nikki got enraged and went after the bums who shot the rockets off because that rocket may have burned her daughter. My radar and quick thinking did pay off that day.

I miss their presence - Shawn, Alan, Nikki, Will, Matt, Mitch, etc... haven't talked to them since I moved to LA; hopefully all is well with them today.

Also spent a 4th of July or two with Bart and his family in the '80s. One of my longtime friends - perhaps the longest of anybody I've met since arriving in 1981. Douglas McLeod was actually the first of my Vegas buddies - haven't talked to him in a long time; hopefully he's doing well wherever he's at.

SoCal may have been a fun place to shoot off fireworks, but due to the fire danger these days, its prohibited to do that in some areas. In fact, its illegal to shoot them off in the South Bay area. Since I came here, I've seen several fireworks shows - one that is more known is the one at the Coliseum. The Rose Bowl I think also has a similar display too - and of course the FD's in the South Bay presents a fireworks show. One would think that most of us still go out in the desert - especially around Barstow, Needles, Kingman and the Victor Valley area - not sure if their governments do that these days...

This year I'll be somewhere on the PCH watching the displays from Santa Monica, LAX, El Segundo, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches - somewhere around Sunset Blvd - if not near Will Rogers. Gonna be a good 4th - I hope yours will be good too. Please remember to not drive if you drink - and if you see a drunk on the road, call 911 immediately.

Talk to you on the 4th - enjoy!

Rob