Capturing Lightning in a Bottle

Like his grandfather before him, my nephew Kevin joined an exclusive club on Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, he bowled a perfect, 300 game. What a way to celebrate turning 16 years old earlier in the month.

Left, you will find Kevin being congratulated by the youth director at his favorite bowling alley in Houston. Also. there's a copy of Kevin's scoresheet.

Congratulations Kevin. May this be just the first of many perfect games.

60th Anniversary

On Monday night, Hazel played the piano as Lester, Kathy, Cheryl and Gary joined in singing. The house was full of music!

60th Anniversary

The message on the cake says it better than I could.

60th Anniversary

The love birds, Lester and Hazel, celebrate 60 years together.

60th Anniversary

Hazel's sister Marjorie made the trip from Billings for the anniversary celebration.

60th Anniversary

Joining Hazel and Lester (center) are Kathy and Dave (left), Diana and Dewey and Cheryl and Gary (right).

60th Anniversary

Joining Lester and Hazel (left) were Lester's sister Betty, oldest brother Elmer, and brother Linden and his wife Anna.

60th Anniversary

It was a tiring day for Hazel and Lester.

60th Anniversary

Lester and Hazel were married 60 years ago Oct. 7. They celebrated their anniversary with their three daughters, Cheryl, Diana and Kathy in Casper, Wyo.

60th Anniversary

Daughter Diana and son-in-law Dewey enjoy the conversation at the 60th Anniversary dinner.

60th Anniversary

Glenna and Mike joined the anniversary dinner festivities at Outback.

Reno 2005

The top side of the Thunderbirds diamond formation.

Reno 2005

The underside of the Thunderbirds diamond formation.

Reno 2005

Kent Pietsch flies under the water canon for the Reno Airport Authority Fire Department.

Reno 2005

Kent Pietsch performs his drunk pilot act in his 1940 Interstate Cadet.

Reno 2005

The pace plane for the T-6/SNJ Class, flown by Steve Dilda, takes off for another race.

Reno 2005

Another close finish in the T-6/SNJ Class.

Reno 2005

A four-ship diamond of the Canadian Snowwbirds. By the way, two of the planes are inverted.

Reno 2005

The famous nine-ship formation of the Canadian Snowbirds.

Reno 2005

The opposing solos for the Canadian Snowbirds pass within a few feet of each other.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

Here five of the Snowbirds break different directions as they approach the crowd at show center.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

T-6 Class racer Mary Dilda wins her second Gold Championship in her SNJ racer Two of Hearts.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

Flying legend Robert A. "Bob" Hoover addresses the crowd Sunday as his trademark Panama hat is auctioned off for $1500 as a fundraiser for the Reno Air Racing Association.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

This Swiss couple was married at show center at the conclusion of the Canadian Snowbirds show as the Sport Class racers took off in the background and the F-117 Nighthawk flew top cover.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

This U.S. Navy FA-18 Hornet proved once again that you don't have an air show unless you have afterburners.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

Duggy, the DC-3, departs for an early morning flight around Reno.

Reno 2005

Sept. 18, 2005

Kent Pietsch performs his drunk pilot act scraping his left wing tip on the tarmac.

Reno 2005

Sept. 17, 2005

The Thunderbirds solo pilots in their famous mirror image pass. (Click in the picture to make it bigger.)

Reno 2005

Sept. 17, 2005

The Snowbirds continued to impress the crowd with their prcision flying.

Reno 2005

Sept. 17, 2005

Rare Bear continued to rack up impressive heat race victories Saturday.

Reno 2005

Sept. 17. 2005

This F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter-bomber dropped by Reno for a visit.

Reno 2005

Sept. 17, 2005

This T-6 Class Gold Heat Race was as close as the finish as Al Goss edged out Mary Dilda for the pole in Sunday's Gold Championship race.

Reno 2005

Sept. 17, 2005

The crowd was part the filming for a movie about air racing today.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

Unlike the Thunderbirds who are flying out of Reno International Airport because the runways at Stead Field are deemed to be unaceptable, the Snowbirds are based at Stead for the weekend.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

Air show performer Kent Pietsch flies his 1940 Interstate Cub to the delight of the Reno crowd. Yes, he's missing his right aileron, part of his act.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

The Air Force Heritage Flight featured retired astronaut Gen. Bill Anders and the A-10 West Coast Demonstration Team.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

After the induction ceremony the Thunderbirds flew at the air races.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

These young people had the honor of being inducted into the U.S. Air Force today by the operations leader of the U.S. Thunderbirds.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

The International Formula One Class was also active today.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

The Snowbirds nine-ship formation is a thing of beauty.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

The Canadian Armed Forces Unit 431 Demostration Team, better known as the Canadian Snowbirds performed their magic today at Reno.

Reno 2005

Sept. 16, 2005

The T-6 Class Racing was tight and competitive today.

Reno 2005

Sept. 15, 2005

The Unlimiteds were flying today with two races including this one that featured five Hawker Sea Furies and a lone F8F Bearcat.

Reno 2005

Sept. 15, 2005

Another rare aircraft performs at Reno. This Goodyear F2G Super Corsair was built at the end of World War II to take on the Japanese Kamikaze attacks. This plane won numerous air race contests after the war in the 1940s.

Reno 2005

Sept. 15, 2005

The A-10 West Coast Demonstration Team from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base has returned to Reno this year.

Reno 2005

Sept. 15, 2005

A flying ghost in the Unlimited Class. An FM2 Wildcat, the General Motors version of the Grumman F4F Wildcat, the naval carrier fighter that held the line against the Japanese in the early days of the war in the Pacific.

Reno 2005

Sept. 15, 2005

Crowd favorite Smoke and Thunder has returned for its 20th year at Reno.

Reno 2005

Sept. 15, 2005

This air/sea rescue unit from Naval Air Station Fallon opens the show with a rescue demonstration.