Castle Air Museum

Castle Air Museum in Atwater represents history in a way the whole family can share.  While there is nothing glamorous about war, our majestic warbirds are awe-inspiring reminders of how fragile our freedom can be and how men and women have stepped forward when that freedom was threatened.

To stand under the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress is an incredible experience.  You can imagine the sky around the bomber filled with enemy fighters.  And yet, somehow, the sturdy flying Fortress survives the onslaught and continues her mission.

Then there’s the B-25, similar to the planes Jimmy Doolittle led off the Carrier Hornet during this country’s first desperate attempt to bomb Tokyo.  You’ll see the B-24 Liberator, the plane that was chosen of the 2400 mile round trip flight to bomb the Ploesti oil fields in 1943.  The B-29 is here too… the bomber that ended World War II in the Pacific.

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Merced-Bike City-10 Years Back-Tour of California

In 2009, Merced was one of the cities for the 2009 world-class Tour of California that came to the city. On February 2009, the Tour, including the hero of those days, Lance Armstrong, raced through Merced. A decade ago, the Tour of California was really among the country’s premier cycling events that drew the best cyclists from all around the world to the 9-day race across California.

In 2009, Merced became “Bike City USA”

In February 2009, Merced became “Bike City USA” when it hosted three world-class cycling events. The cycling trifecta attracted the best riders from around the globe, along with ardent fans and spectators who enjoy the fast-paced sport.

It all started on Wednesday, February 18, when the Tour of California rolled into town. Starring 144 of the globe’s best racers, Merced was the fourth stage of the nine-day event.

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My feet thrust in the air, I stared at the needle sticking out of my foot framed against a wall and the backdrop of Highway 140 from Merced to Yosemite while a woman in the next room loudly whispered about her venereal disease.

I tried to shut it out by thinking about my upcoming visit to Yosemite National Park, the history of Merced, and my creative projects. Any of them. Obscure ones. About a public domain comic book idea. About the newest iPhone app I’m working on with my publisher. About my blog.

My thoughts invariably shifted to thinking about my last few weeks at work, how long it would take to pull off these projects, and if I’d sustain a living from them afterward. Sustain. Hmmm… Reminds me of that episode of The Judge Hatchett Show I worked on as a video editor where she sustained a motion…

I snap to and remember what my acupuncturist said. “Quiet down your mind, Carlen.” And backed that sentiment up by sticking another needle between my eyes. I looked up at the needle, of what I could see of it, and sighed. Quiet. My. Mind.

It was my very first foray into acupuncture, and despite my foot needle hurting more than I anticipated when she stuck it in (and hearing someone whispering about venereal diseases), I felt calm. Centered. And the restlessness I tend to feel was slipping away. It was powerful.

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