At 35,000 feet looking through two inch thick plexiglass at the setting sun I am thinking about many things. I have 150 happy campers behind me on their way to sin city (they will be less so on the way home minus their cash...). My co-pilot is a young kid (Herc pilot) right out of the Air Force. He is sharp and trying hard. Was I ever that young? The flight attendants are happy to be here; the male has his girlfriend along, so he is very happy. Uh oh, my mind is taking a different route. Happiness; a concept that is nefarious. Hence my tripod theory(I think I heard this from a preacher, but I like to give myself credit...)The tripod of life goes like this: Three legs of equal length and they are physical health, mental health, and spiritual health. Self explanatory.... Whoa! Back to the cockpit. Fuel flow is right on target at 5300 pounds per hour. Las Vegas is 1000 miles ahead and the sun has just slipped out of view. Life is good at this moment in time and space.
 
Position: Seven miles above The Black Rock Desert
Groundspeed: 570 mph (496 kts)
Souls on Board: 156

Every seat is full plus one hitchhiking 757 pilot going to work. The end of a four day trip is in sight... My policy, though, is not to day dream about it. If I start counting on it, number two engine will say, "Bye- bye" and we will be looking for a place to land, i.e., "Honey, guess what happened?" No, it is best to think only ten minutes ahead. Let the end of the trip approach with the normal ebb and flow of time. Do not try to force it...

Outside, the wind is coming from the west at 92 mph (80 kts) giving us a quartering tailwind. The air mass is smooth and the sky above is a cold blue. Below us, the coyotes that live in the Great Basin are enjoying a beautiful day. They better enjoy it, because the heat is coming soon.