Pat Daddy's Blog

1st Trip in the New Camper

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:10:35 GMT

After three weeks of setting up the new camper we finally decided to go out and give it a try We left on Thursday afternoon and headed down to Pueblo State Park. The City of Pueblo is about 90 miles from our house and we were able to make the drive in the afternoon and get through Colorado Springs before rush hour. As we neared Colorado Springs, we saw what appeared to be a wildfire and as we looked it up it was a fire on Ft Carson. It didn't impact our trip but was a stark reminder that our warm dry winter had consequences.

Once we arrived at the campground we took our time setting things up. I've seen too many people in a hurry break things on their camper because they were in a rush. Also it was near 90 degrees! Pretty hot for the first day of Spring. Even taking our time, we were set up in a short amount of time.

There are a number of things that change when you get a new camper. First you clean out the former one and you are hit with memory after memory. We specifically saved things from our trips, so our 2002 trip to Southern Illinois for family reunion and the cups from Steak and Shake that were still in the camper. The black eyed Pea kids cup with a lid and straw. Games we only played in the camper. The memories were thick and in our minds our two little boys were giggling in their bed. Many of those same things made it in to the new camper, it made it feel like home even though we were still getting used to it.

Chat GPT has been my best friend since we got the camper. Since we did not buy it from Jayco dealer, we didn't get the detailed walk-through and use lesson. So as we had questions like: how to turn on the oven, or how the get the air conditioner thermostat to run, we turned to ChatGPT. In each case a picture of what I was working on and a description to Chat GPT and I got my lesson on how to use this and that.

On our first night we decided to see how we liked the recliners and the TV. We used the antenna for a bit but quickly switched over to Kay's phone's hotspot and we watched Paramount plus and started to catch up on some series we fell behind in. That was nice. The night had cooled off an a nice breeze was blowing through the camper as we sat in our recliners. Now we did play some cards that night which is a camping tradition, but MLW beat me terribly at a game of rummy, so the TV was a nice change.

On Friday we both had to work. As anticipated, the dining table and the recliners with their lap desks were great places to work from. Having the ability to turn on the air conditioning as the heat got up into the 90's again was very nice. We both were quite comfortable and got quite a bit of work done. When we called it a day we were out on the lake while the other campers pulled in and set up.

We had reservations until Sunday at noon, but home obligations called, so we played all day on Saturday and then at 5 we packed up, got on the road before 6 and were home by 7:30. But Saturday included a longer mountain bike ride than we'd had on Friday and some more fun in our kayaks on the lake. While we were on the lake we had some excitement as we got to watch the water tankers that were fighting the fire come across the lake picking up water. Once they came in and we were on the opposite side of the lake but in their path. MLW yelled, are we going to die, I responded I hope not and as soon the worry came, it dissipated as the water tankers pulled up and turned toward the fire.

I all we had a great trip and can't wait until we get it out again in late April, when we'll return to Pueblo again, this time with our friends the Colonels.

From Texas with a Camper. Part II

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:32:44 GMT

We awoke Monday morning and prepared to go see the camper. Freedom RV was 38 minutes from our hotel between the towns of Bonham and Dodd City. We got a little worried when Waze our direction app, took the last two miles of our trip and wove us through a quasi neighborhood of acreage properties, some pretty , some not. But we popped out onto another main road and there was Freedom RV.

We pulled up and the owner was working on a small trailer and like everyone there, knew we were coming. We met Brenton our sales guy and while he showed us the trailer, the owner hooked up our weight distributing hitch. Brenton showed us around the camper, but they are not a Jayco dealer so there were a few things I taught him that I learned from my reading. But in all the trailer was in great shape. So after about an hour of poking around, we went inside and purchased it. At about 12:30 we pulled off their lot and headed to Amarillo where we's stay the night.

Going from a 19' pop up that you can see over and tracks exactly with your vehicle and going to a 26' hard side was a big change. The Ford pulled it great. It has a towing setting that you put the info from the trailer into and then once you switch the transmission to heavy towing, it's amazing. The other thing the dealer got me ready for was the noise a weight distributing hitch makes. At slow speeds it pops and groan worse than aunt Betty getting out of bed at the home. About 39 miles down the road we stopped and got some lunch.

The highway was more full than it had been on Sunday and to make matters a bit more challenging the wind started up. So down the road we went with a 30 mph+ cross wind. Even in these conditions the trailer pulled well, but there was a learning curve. Also where I usually drive about 5 mph over the limit, now I was driving 5 under the limit. The wind didn't let up and we finally got to Amarillo about and hour later than we anticipated.

Our camping reservation was at the Big Texan RV park, just a mile away from the big Texan Steak House where you can try to eat their 72 oz steak. We pulled in and found our site. Hooking up was easy, but this was my first time unhooking a weight distributing hitch. The dealer explained what to do and after a try or two it actually worked! We had the trailer set up and we needed a quick run to Walmart and to get dinner. We decided instead of going to the Big Texan for dinner we'd eat in camper. So off we went.

At Walmart I bought an extension mirror to make my rear view a bit better. We bought breakfast food for the morning and some beer to go with dinner. Then it was off to get dinner. At the urging of son #2, Smooch, who reasoned, you're in Texas, you have to eat at Buc-ee's! So 2 exits down I-40, gleaming in the glow of fluorescent light was Buc-ee's. It's 108 fuel pumps beckoning low gas tanks and it's brisket beckoning low stomachs. So in we went and we came out with our three-meat sandwiches, sides and some dessert. The back to the Big Texan to have dinner in our new camper. Colin was right, with a cold beer and a hot Buc-ee's sandwich, we were in camping red-neck heaven.

In The morning we ate breakfast and packed up quickly. But the wind was already ramping up. As we drove toward the Texas/New Mexico border, the wind got stronger. A few times we would cross a semi coming the other direction and the wind wall it created was intense. One I hit I watched my hood almost ripple under the intense pressure of the wall of wind. It makes you start to appreciate what a trailer goes through in it's life. It's like a house that undergoes a several hour earthquake every time you use it.

One we got onto highway 87 after the town of Hartley, we were on a 4 lane highway. The wind kept getting stronger but it seemed manageable, but as we closed in on the town of Texline, yes the town on the state line, we drove into a dust storm. Buffeted by the winds and the tumble weeds were now traveling in herds. At this point the wind reached a speed where it got scary. Plus you have to remember while we getting hit by winds of almost 50 mph, we're also traveling at 60-ish mph. so that earthquake your trailer is going through has now added at times, hurricane wind pressures with the two speeds of the wind and your traveling speed colliding. So in Texline we pulled over and snuggled up between two parked semis at the only truck stop in Texline. We pulled out our computers, moved into the camper and did some work.

We sat in Texline for about 2.5 hours and the wind continued to buffet us and pelt the truck and camper with sand. Texline has little other commerce, so even though the wind was blowing hard, we pulled out of Texline to make the 18 miles to Clayton, NM a larger town. We white knuckled it to Clayton. There we found a nicer newer truck stop, some lunch and a place to park where we were still buffeted by wind but no sand. By this point I was watching the wind forecast for Clayton, Raton, NM and into Colorado. Earlier that day a dust storm in Pueblo, CO had a 30 car pileup with fatalities. The highway there was closed. I got mor work done as we waited, but it looked like at 5 pm the winds would be at 30 mph or lower, the gusts would be no higher than 40 mph and they were forecast to go down the rest of the evening.

As planned we headed out at 5 pm, the winds were strong but not unmanageable. I drove about 10 miles under the 75mph speed limits ad as the time and miles ticked away, the drive got better. By Raton, the drive was pretty normal and the winds on the pass were manageable. An hour later we were detoured around the carnage that was the pile-up from earlier. There were still semis and cars piled in the highway and ditches. We couldn't help but think of the people who lost their lives just trying to get somewhere. While we were 7 hours behind schedule, we still had all our equipment in good order and we were fine.

Our 775 mile 2 day trip to pulling the new trailer ended at 9:50 pm as we pulled into the driveway. I turned on the heat in the trailer as the temperature was supposed to dip below freezing. On Wednesday I'd winterize the water lines as colder weather was on it's way. Now we start making it our trailer. Packing, outfitting and prepping for our next trip is the fun and hopefully we'll get out in the second half of March. But when people ask "what did you do or Valentine's Weekend?" We can respond we made a great memory driving for 4 days and 1600 miles to bring home our new trailer.

To Texas for a Camper?

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:13:34 GMT

We're sitting in a hotel in Denison, Texas as I write this. About a month ago, MLW and I went to a camper show, looking for our first hard side camper. With the kids grown, our 24 year old popup, while we love it, just isn’t as warm as we’d like it to be and that limits our ability to extend our camping season. When we replaced our old truck in ‘24, we did so expecting that we’d get a hard side trailer in the near future.

As we were leaving the show, we found a trailer we really liked. It’s got a Murphy bed in it so you don’t lose all the space of the bed and you get a shorter camper. We liked the camper but they depreciate quickly, so we planned to buy a used one. The problem was this model has only been made since 2023. In 2024 they changed the styling to match the 2026 that we looked at. So I started a search for a 2024 model of this camper.

Before we went to the show, I used Chat GPT to help me determine the best trailer weight and size for our truck. Not just weight, but driving it at altitude, what all we normally carry, etc. I got it set up so when I went to the show I just took a picture of the weight sticker and put it into Chat GPT and it would tell me how well my truck would pull the trailer. When I put in this one into Chat GPT, it said I’d pull it very well and why. Then I compared the answers with Ford’s info and confirmed it was correct.

There were not any for sale near Colorado. I searched the national dealerships with little luck other than California and Georgia and other places on the east coast. In RV Trader I found one in Dodd City, TX. As I talked more with the dealer, I found that the trailer was lightly used by the one and only owner. The tires on it were made in 2023 and had only lost 1/32nd of tread. Everything I asked him for, proved his statement that it was used 4-5 times by the one owner was correct. I even pulled the VIN to make sure it had one owner and no listed accidents. The dry weight is correct as well.

So we put down a deposit and yesterday we left home with the truck and headed to Texas. Our first day was down I-25 to Raton, NM and then south east to Amarillo. We got to Amarillo about 5pm, checked into our hotel and then went out for a Valentine's dinner. That is worth a story in itself, but it turned out well and we had a nice night.

This morning we got up, had our very poor free breakfast at the hotel and headed out. First stop, the Cadillac Ranch to take pictures of the 10 Cadillacs half buried in the ground along 1-40 west of Amarillo. Then we headed east toward Denison. Lunch was in Wichita Falls and we got to Denison about 3:30.

As we checked into the hotel, the realization that we were here with a check and the intent to buy a trailer, and then turn around and take it back home 600+ miles, I started to get a bit nervous. MLW and I took a nice walk around a lake in Denison and my anxiety dropped. We discussed the next day with our “what’s the worst thing that could happen” method we use often with decisions. And now I’m writing this.

The plan is to be at the dealership tomorrow at 11 for our appointment, and inspect the heck out of the trailer, and if all is good, head back to Amarillo where we’ll sleep in it and then head for the final leg home on Tuesday. What will happen? You’ll have to come back and read this tomorrow or Wednesday.

A Trip to Italy, Venice day 2

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:55:25 GMT

We awoke Friday at 7 am. Our bodies tried to convince us it was actually 11 pm, but we fought through the fog and had a cup of coffee. Once dressed the four of us were off on the search for breakfast. Our first choice was a coffee shop that was full of locals. The dizzying pace at which the Italians got their espressos and pastries, stood and ate them and then paid and left, was intimidating. We were a bit timid and really did not get enough to eat as we enjoyed or coffees and MLW and I shared a chocolate croissant, and then we were off. Our next step was to get our 2 day vaporetto tickets, the ticket to the water bus.

Getting the tickets was reasonably easy and then it was time to figure out how to get on the correct vaporetto that would correspond with Rick Steve’s Venice tour that uses the vaporetto. After almost getting on two other vaporetto lines, we finally found the correct one and we were off. He comical part was that as soon as we’d realize we were on the wrong platform Angie who is, uhm, height challenged, compact, not tall, you get the picture, would just walk under the gate and go to the next platform, while the rest of us, awkwardly had to bend over, climb over or some unflattering movement to get on the other side of the gates.

The vaporetto was quite busy with Venetians going to work, tourists riding it and other tourists listening to the same Rick Steves tour we were listening to. We had a great overview of the grand canal and a quick history lesson. When we were at the other end of the line, we got off at St. Mark’s Square. We had our tickets to the Doge’s palace and decided to start the tour right then.

The Doge’s palace was the palace of the Doge, the leader of Venice when it was a trading stronghold 600 years ago. As we walked through the tour listening to the prerecorded tour guide, the once wealth of Venice was overwhelming as you looked at antiquity after antiquity. What I found extremely interesting was the number of times the tour mentioned that a certain piece of artwork was now in the Louvre in France because Napoleon stole it.

The tour ended by going over the bridge of sighs and through the prisons. By this point, 90 minutes or so since we started the tour, we were getting antiquity saturation and a bit hangry since we didn’t have much for breakfast. We grabbed a bit of lunch and checked in for an island tour of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

Once on the boat our first stop was Murano, the Venetian island known for glass blowing. Here we had about a 20 minute grass blowing demonstration. First the glass blower made a beautiful pitcher. It had a swirl design to the glass and an elegant handle. He held it up to his audience and after a clapping approval, the glass blower took the vase still attached to his blowing rod and smacked it in the oven dropping the glass back into the molten glass in the furnace. I guess they had enough pitchers! Next he made a horse. Again, in minutes, and again the glass was returned to the molten glass in the furnace. After the demo we were escorted into their showroom. We purchased a few gifts and had just enough time to walk a bit down the waterfront and it was time to get back on the boat.

Our next stop was Torcello. Torcello was the first inhabited island of the Venetian islands. It’s claim to fame was a very old church. It had few inhabitants and the stop was basically a long walk to the church and a long walk back. Not much to see in Torcello.

Our final island was Burano, the island known for lace making. This island was known to MLW and I because it was featured in the Hallmark “The Veil” series. It’s famous for its brightly colored shops and buildings and of course the women who patiently make beautiful lace. We walked around and I ate my first gelato. Oh my gosh! now I know why everyone told me to eat gelato in Italy. We walked a bit more and then it was time to get back on the boat and return to Venice.

As we returned to Venice we were dropped off by the train station which was close to our apartment, and we quickly sought out our first cocktails of the day. MLW decided she would have an Aperol spritz everyday, so we sought out a small outside cafe and had a round of cocktails. We had reservations at another of our VRBO hosts’ suggested restaurants and after a short walk we were at dinner, sitting along another canal.

This side canal was traveled, but far less busy than the grand canal. We were at one of the only restaurants for about 100 yards so eating along the canal felt much less commercial than some of the other restaurants where the tourists go by in packs rather than ones and twos. One of Angie’s other qualities is her ability to connect with other people. While we were eating we learned about our waitresses’ life, where she lived, where else they had restaurants, etc. Our dinner was one of those experiences where the food was wonderful and the experience was amazing.

After dinner we went back to the apartment. We did a load of laundry and suddenly we lost power. I contacted our Airbnb owner and he told me where the breakers were and I checked them and they were all ok, then he said there was a power outage in our area. It seemed a bit strange, but we all turned in and tried to sleep. It was however a bit warm in the apartment and without the air running there were many more sounds to hear. You also learn how noisy being next to a canal, even a small side canal can be.

In the morning it seemed like life was back to normal for everyone else so I looked one more time with daylight, at the breaker box. That’s when I could see it wasn’t just one breaker that popped, it was the main. We would learn that if the washing machine and the air conditioner were on at the same time, you had to leave the air at 23 degrees Celsius or higher or you’d overload the entire apartment.

Now it’s Saturday morning and our power problem is resolved. I’ll write about Saturday in the ne xt blog.

A Trip to Italy

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:26:27 GMT

Part 1. The Trip Begins

It is the day before we leave, Sept 16th. Today is my 62nd birthday. 62 for me it sounds so old, to my many friends who are reading, I'm sure it sounds much less daunting. They either passed that milestone years ago, or my immature personality has never made them look at me as if i was old. But either way, on this the first day I could start to draw from Social Security, I am a bit humbled by the number of years that have passed.

Tomorrow, MLW and I will leave for Italy. A trip MLW has always wanted to go on. A land of pasta and fresh baked goods full of creams and other diary and egg filled concoctions which I'm sure will taste amazing. However since I have sensitivities to these same things, there is a bit of trepidation if I'm going have the time of my life or spend much of that time looking for a restroom.

We've planned this trip from books and guides. We have a few guided tours and plan to spend much of our time immersed in the Italian culture. It's been difficult as every YouTube video has an opinion of what to do, how to do it and of course how NOT to do it. Sometimes too many opinions don't make you feel more confident, they make you feel unprepared. That's where I am as we make the final preparations, feeling a bit unprepared.

Our flight is to Munich and then a quick 1 hour jaunt on Napoli Air to Venice. We're leaving Denver 8:30 pm on Wednesday Sept 17. The flight to Munich is uneventful. MLW and I are in seat A and C, which puts her in the window and me on the aisle. In between us we get a nice guy who is a professor at the University of Munich. The 8 hour flight passes well, I get a bit of sleep, not much and then we're in Munich. Going through customs the German agent looks at us and asks "why are you here?" In that context it seems like we weren't invited! We stammer, we're on vacation, flying to Italy. We get that look you can only get from a German and a bland, have a nice trip and we're off to get on the next plane.

This is our second time going through Munich and if you've been there, they often bus you out to the smaller commuter planes. We get on some Airbus that's far from new and get inside. An hour later we're in Venice. We gather our stuff and seek out desk 71 where we find we're on a shared water taxi with a couple from Georgia and a couple from Asia. The Asians were more friendly than the Georgians and offered to take our picture several times which was really nice and fun.

As we headed out to the island of Venice, the sunny day was beautiful and there were many boats going back and forth. There are set channels the boats follow back and forth to the island and within 20 minutes or so we were entering a canal in Venice and before we knew it, it was time to get off and find our apartment

We stayed in the Cannaregio area of Venice. It's on the north end of the island. It's away from the major attractions and close to the train station, were we'll need to be on Sunday Morning. But today is, uhm... Thursday afternoon. Google maps finds our apartment relatively easily. We get there so fast that we beat our apartment guide to the property and we end up waiting about 15-20 minutes for Camilla to show up.

Camilla shows us the apartment and our private courtyard. Our apartment backs up to a canal and as we're unpacking a gondola floats by. Wow, weird, amazing, fun, and a bit unbelievable. The weather is in the low 70's, clear and nice. We wander out to find some dinner. First we end up at a restaurant on the Cannaregio canal, but it's just the wrong vibe. We have an anti-pasta and a cocktail and then leave. We find a hidden gem in small street a few blocks away. Venetika, serves amazing food, we have a really fun and helpful waitress and the 4 of us have a great meal.

We walk home and sleep comes easy to all.

Living for the Exhale

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:23:09 GMT

If you attend enough of my companies meetings, you’ll be shown the scene from City Slickers where Billy Crystal’s character (Mitch) and Jack Palance’s character (Curley) have a discussion where Curley explains that the secret to a happy life is figuring out your 1 thing. This movie and the concept of "your 1 thing" was a favorite of our founder Pete Harman.

If you want to refresh your memory, here’s a clip of that scene, I tried shorter versions, but you really need the three minutes:

I think I’ve finally figured out my one thing. I call it living for the exhale and that’s what makes me happy. What does that mean? First let me explain to you how my job works on a daily basis. I have my normal things I do, but often I get a call from someone within the company that likely doesn’t know me. They’ve called because something bad has happened. Someone is injured, they’ve been robbed, they’re receiving bills for medical treatment they thought was part of work comp, a car has come through the side of their restaurant, the list goes on. But however it goes, the person is usually nervous and speaking 100 miles an hour. It’s at that point that I work on calming them down, getting the facts, letting them know we can fix this, giving them instructions on what to do. When I convince them I am here to help them, and we’ll get through this, they exhale.

That’s it, that’s one of the worlds greatest sounds to me. Why, because I’ve realized my life is happiest when I serve others. It’s why I've always loved working with Scouts, my church, my friends. That exhale tells me the person is relieved, we’ve either resolved the problem or we have a plan to. I get great satisfaction out of that, and of course actually getting them to the resolution.

We could stop there, but even wanting to help other people comes with the need for discernment. I can’t just do everything for the person that reaches out to me. But I can guide them, advise them and support them as they go through the process. That’s the hard part. Being helpful but not being a dumping ground for everyone’s problems. Being a dumping ground is not enjoyable. That’s when satisfaction turns to feelings of being unappreciated, taken advantage of, and over burdened.

As we go into 2025, what’s your one thing? Is it gardening, working with your hands, sending encouraging notes, hiking, fishing, the list goes on. If you don’t know it, you might start by asking your friends what they see you do that makes you happy. It may be easy, it may be hard, It took me over 10 years to figure out what mine was. But Curley was right; The secret to life really does come down to one thing, and when you figure that out, the rest of the noise of life don’t mean sh**.

What's up with the Bees?

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:14:19 GMT

The more posts I write, the more I learn the most popular posts are about my bees. I’m fine with that because I love my bees. They spent another summer teaching me how to coexist with them and how we can help each other. As our communication improves so does their health and honey production.

How did the summer go? You’ll remember I had to start from scratch this spring with 4 packages of bees that I bought as 2 pairs a week apart from two different companies. My luck with the bee packages did not go as planned. I got two “dud” queens and within two weeks they were both missing from the hive, maybe killed by her own subjects. Thankfully in May I captured my first swarm.

Capturing my first swarm was a beekeeper's dream come true. My friend and neighbor Steve was telling me there was this big clump of wasps on their tree near their horses and his wife was concerned for their horses. Well I knew something was wrong because wasps all die in the winter but the queen, who has to emerge in the spring and start building a nest. So in the Spring there just aren’t big clumps of wasps. I asked if he'd show it to me and sure enough, it was a swarm of honeybees looking for a new home.

To me the swarm was $150 just hanging in a tree waiting for me to give them a lovely hive to live in. I captured them and they happily accepted their new hive as their new home and then a week or so later I merged the frisbee hive with them who no longer had a queen. This hive did very well over the summer.

The hive I call the Newbees also had a dud queen and they too were later joined into the hive that I captured. My most incredible hive was the Frisbees who produced two supers of honey that I could harvest. That’s 20 frames of honey. The Air BnBees produced about 12 frames and the Gumbees about 5 frames. In total my three hives produced 95 lbs. of honey or just a bit over 8 gallons. What am I going to do with all that honey? Sell it of course. Interested? You can purchase my honey at the bottom of the blog.

I’m going into winter with three hives I feel really good about. In the Spring between buying bees and splitting hives I hope to have 8 hives running next summer. That is too many to have on just our property so I’ve secured a couple of locations to put hives. That of course will mean more capital investment into my bees, much of which I hope will come from honey sales.

This was a fun year. I tried a number of new things. I learned how to move hives and how not too. I merged more hives and felt much more confident in the things I did. Of course the more new things I tried, I also got stung more. Some of that was because I thought I had on enough protection and then I did something stupid that made the bees agitated.. It’s funny, ”how many times have you been stung?” is a question I often get asked. Even funnier I can tell you how often I got stung. My first year, zero, my second year, 3 times, this year so far I’m pretty sure it’s been 7 times. Yes it hurts, but not as bad as I remembered and it goes away for me quickly. Unlike yellow jacket stings that just seem to burn and burn, most stings on my hands just hurt for 10 minutes and then go away.

We had a very long fall, I could have had another honey harvest had I known we weren’t going to get a freeze in September or October. But it did allow my bees to store a lot of honey for the winter. So as long as mother nature cooperates, I’ll hopefully have 3 hives in the Spring.

Here's that link:

Pat Daddy's Sedalia Honey is now for sale!

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:45:37 GMT

Hello Everyone. As my third year of beekeeping is coming to a close, I finally have enough honey that I can offer it for sale. I ended the season with three hives that all appear to be healthy and ready to make it through the winter. Our honey harvest came in at just over 8 gallons or 95 pounds of honey. My 2025 goal is to expand to 8 hives which means I'm going to be doubling the amount of hive equipment I have and that is going to be a reasonably significant expense.

I am selling my standard unfiltered raw honey in two sizes this year, 12 oz. and 10 oz. That measurement is by weight. For a volume comparison 12 oz. of honey is about 8 liquid ounces. Honey weighs about 1.5 ounces per liquid ounce.

I am also excited to announce I am selling whipped cinnamon honey this year. This is made with pure raw honey, ground cinnamon and cinnamon oil. Then it is whipped to a consistency that reminds me of marshmallow cream. It's great to spread on muffins and toast or melted and poured over pancakes and waffles. It's absolutely delicious. And it has all the health benefits of my regular raw honey.

2024 prices pictures will change or you can slide them manually using the arrows on the side

How to order:

I'm too small to make financial sense out of opening a website you can order from. The fees are just too prohibitive. So lets make it easy:

For Local delivery:

Send me an email to honey@patdaddy.net and tell me what you want. I'll respond back, we'll determine how to get it to you, and I'll send you my Venmo account info and you can pay via Venmo or you can pay me cash when I deliver it.

For Shipped delivery:

Send me an email to honey@patdaddy.net and tell me what you would like. I have access to use my employers UPS account, I still have to pay the shipping but it's discounted. I'll calculate the price, but for reference, a 12 oz. jar weights about a pound and I can send 6-8 of them for about $13.00 plus packaging. I'll give you a total amount, if it still sounds good, I'll send you my Venmo and I'll ship it out shortly after I receive payment.

Want some kind of discount or to just feel good about recycling?

Obtaining jars drives me crazy and they cost around a dollar a piece. So I'll give you a dollar off for every 8 or 4 ounce canning jar you return to me.

The email again is: Honey@patdaddy.net

Rudy's Run-in

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:58:02 GMT

Most hunters don’t like the messages sent by the movie Bambi. If you remember the movie, the hunters burn down the forest, hunt at night, and are otherwise horrible people. Most hunters I know love the wilderness and fight to protect it. They don’t hunt at night. It’s illegal for one thing and extremely dangerous. But the message sent in Bambi that is the most incorrect is that deer are just defenseless animals. I would argue that to anyone. Now if my dog Rudy could talk, he would too.

Saturday morning dawned sunny and beautiful. It was a lovely morning as I sat in the kitchen looking out the window at the changing colors of the leaves, sipping my warm coffee and making plans for the future week. Shortly after, MLW got up and started a little laundry when our dog Rudy started to bark. I asked MLW what Rudy was barking at and she said oh we have a yard full of deer again. With as dry as it has been and the fact that I have been watering the lawn the deer have been very attracted to the green grass in our front yard. I had just fertilized the lawn the night before so I was about to scare the deer off of the lawn because I didn't want any of them to get sick. Before I could do anything Rudy did what he always does, which is run out his back door and goes out and barks at the deer. Normally the deer would all run away but as we are presently in the beginning of the deer rut, the does are acting much more aggressive.

MLW and I have noticed the aggressive does before. We've had issues with them normally in the spring but sometimes in the fall when they get extremely protective of their yearlings or themselves. In the past couple of weeks I've had one doe that has been quite aggressive as we have been on our walk and I normally just do not make eye contact with the does and continue to walk but the fact that she does not retreat is by all means intimidating.

On Saturday morning when Rudy went to scare the deer off the lawn, one of the does was not about to have it. Instead of running with the rest of the deer she stood her ground and then attacked Rudy. if you wonder how a female deer attacks what it views as a predator you need only go to youtube where there are many videos. They do it by either kicking or stomping on the animal. I was not able to see the attack. I simply heard my dog barking and then suddenly yelping from extreme pain. I ran out of the house in my pajamas looking for Rudy. Unfortunately I found him by following a blood trail that led from the front of my house across the back deck and into the kitchen itself.

I found Rudy in the kitchen bleeding quite heavily. He had a v-shaped almost 90° laceration over his rib cage, each line of the v that hung open and I could see the muscles and fat below it. he also had a puncture wound and his leg that was doing most of the bleeding as well as various cuts and scratches. We immediately took him out to the deck and wrapped him in a towel while we took turns changing clothes as fast as we possibly could. He was then put in the car and taken to the emergency veterinarian hospital in Castle Rock.

At the hospital they examined Rudy and found that the cut on his chest wasn't simply just a cut, it was a puncture wound where it appears that the deer's hoof actually went into the muscle space between his skin and his ribs. Only by the grace of God did he not break a rib or puncture his lung sack. After being evaluated for about an hour we got to see Rudy who had been put on a painkiller which while taking the pain away made him very disoriented and anxious. He was left at the hospital to get cleaned up and ready for surgery.

It was about 7:00 p.m. when it was time to pick up Rudy. We picked him up and he looked as if he was ready for Halloween with numerous stitches holding his skin back together on his chest. The puncture wound on his leg had a bandage on it that was stapled to his leg and will need professional cleaning for the next few days. Because of the damage up in between his ribs and his skin he has a drain placed in the damaged area to allow the excess fluids to be expelled. With much of his chest shaved, both front legs shaved and other spots you can see the extent of the bruising to his poor little body. His chest gets more and more purple everyday and he is extremely sore. The vet told us that he was the third deer versus dog attack they had treated in the last 10 days. They also said he was extremely lucky, a sentiment we can appreciate but I'm not sure he feels very lucky with how uncomfortable he is.

His daily long walks with MLW are done for the next two weeks until he has complete healing of his sutures. He was stitched both internally and externally due to the injuries. I was quite amazed at how they treated his puncture wound in his leg. They could not stitch it so they left it open but put Manuka honey in it. If you look up Manuka honey it comes from New Zealand and has an amazing amount of antibacterial qualities stronger than any other honey. One of the reasons it needs to be redressed by either the hospital that put it on or his veterinarian. This is because the old honey must be cleaned out. How funny a coincidence that once again I'm talking about bees and or honey on my blog.

Going back to Bambi, I do always like to point out that while we often use Bambi for a female name, the deer Bambi grew up to be a male. After seeing what an antlerless deer can do to another animal, I have a new respect for deer especially around dogs. They are beautiful creatures that have amazing survival skills and are anything but defenseless. While I understand the deer was simply responding to her survival instincts; the love of my dog and the pain he’s in along with the amount of the vet bills so far and the ones to come. I suppose it’s human nature that when I go afield this year to harvest a deer, it’s probably going to be a bit more personal.

The Fun, but Over-planned Summer

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:55:14 GMT

The Fun, but Over-planned Summer

MLW and I learned an important lesson this past year. In the doldrums of winter be careful when you plan your summer, you just might find yourself chasing your tail. I’m not about to say it was not a fun summer, but as I get older, hurrying to get somewhere to relax, doesn’t really work anymore, especially when your home life is already packed with both employed and personal work

As I look back at our summer we started with the Cowboy trail, then the camping trip to South Fork. In July we visited relatives in Iowa, rode the Chippewa Valley trails in Wisconsin before spending our week on the lake. Then we returned home to join my siblings for a quick family reunion in Sante Fe. August had more camping including 5 days at Dillon reservoir with our friends and family, plus a week in the San Francisco bay area for my work.. Then the 35th annual World beer party, camping again at Pueblo, CO and the Walter’s Octoberfest and finally here comes fall as we slow down a bit, but look forward to a couple of hunting trips.

While all that was going on we also had the house re-sided. That included a week to put on the new siding and several weeks thereafter to get the punch list items done and all the other stuff you have to do when a project is done on your house. So whew! The number of nights on the deck where we had our “wine therapy” as mentioned before in a blog were limited.

When I look back at what I’d change, I’d say the work pressure on MLW. Because I really enjoyed the trips and the time with friends. What I didn’t enjoy was watching MLW stress out while making sure she was on a call, had her computer hooked up as we drove and she worked . Now in fairness, there are times we work from the camper, but I guess what it really comes down to is time away isn’t time away if you’re still working.

What would I have done differently in this past year?

I would have been more cognizant to stay an extra day. Even if that means one of us would be working on their computer as we drove down the road. A 4-5 hour drive on a Friday to spend Saturday somewhere and to turn around and come back on Sunday is too much, spend the extra day and leave extra early on Monday if you have to.

To maximize our time, we have to remember to discuss what each of us wants to do when you get there before we get there. That means if one of us just wants to sit in a chair with a pretty view, sipping coffee until noon, we need to communicate that. If your fellow traveler then says oh I want to do XYZ, then determine if that activity or that time with the person is what you need. If you really need that book and coffee time, bid them a happy adventure and ask for pictures on their return. Don’t forget that if they're doing something like fishing in a stream, your pretty view could be of the stream and your coffee could come from a thermos as you relax in your favorite folding chair.

We are now starting to determine what we’re going to do in 2025. As we navigate our vacation calendars, our work calendars, the expectations of our employers, and even the demands of our friends and family, we’ll plan another year of activities. But how we feel about those activities and how they fit into our lives will depend on how we maximize the experience and minimize the disruption to our daily rhythm. Then we just need to remember this is a first world problem and we’re blessed to have to consider all these things.

Worth the Sting

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:41:21 GMT

When I started beekeeping 3 years ago my sister “Speedy” asked “ aren’t you afraid you’re going to get stung?” Truth was I had worried a bit about that but by the time she asked I was already getting comfortable working with my bees. Also as you wear your bee suit, the chances are highly decreased that you’ll get stung.

But stings do happen and usually when my plans go wrong. Like the time we were moving a hive at night and it came open. Ouch, ouch ouch! This morning I was treating my hives for mites when I struggled to get the piece of wood that restricts the opening out of the hive. That’s all it took, a bunch of bees came out and were not very hospitable and one found my socks, and ouch right on the ankle. So far I don’t react much to stings and within 20 minutes they don’t hurt and any swelling is down. But that leads me to the point of this blog, some things are worth the sting.

I obviously think my honey is worth the sting as are many things in life. Marriage comes to mind. Both MLW and I had our stings when we were single, but after 36 years of marriage, the stings were worth the happiness we have. Kids are the same way. They break your heart many times when they are young and then again when they are older, but if you do it right, the love and the adults you help create too are worth the sting.

It’s not just relationships. It could be learning a new skill, playing a new sport, making a new friend. All of those require us to be a bit uncomfortable, but the question will be was it worth that “sting.” Sometimes you’re just left with the sting. Both other times like harvesting honey, you enjoy the sweetness of a good friend, the love of a good spouse or the great feeling of accomplishment, and you’ll look back and realize just like my ankle that no longer hurts; it was worth the sting.

Memorial Day Weekend on the Cowboy Trail

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 15:24:46 GMT

Most bicyclists don't like sand nor hills, so why did we start a ride in Sandhills of Nebraska?

Our Crew on Saturday morning as we stopped on the trestle outside of Valentine Nebraska

I started looking for another trail to ride on Memorial day in January and I decided on the Cowboy Trail. It's listed as 189 miles from Valentine Nebraska to Norfolk, NE. We drove up on the Friday before the 3 day weekend. By Tuesday we had 206 new miles on our bikes and many adventures to talk about.

We started the cowboy trail in Valentine Nebraska, while the trail actually loses elevation as you travel east toward the end in Norfolk, you have to climb out of Valentine. We found the trail quite sandy and as we traveled toward Wood River where we would have lunch. Often the sand was soft and deep enough that our bike’s back ends would slide out behind us in the sand. It quickly became a lesson on how to ride in sand. One lesson that not everyone was ready to try and learn.

Our lunch in Wood River at Ma’s café was a much needed rest and refuel. The lady who ran Ma’s was very accommodating and made sure to fill our water bottles before we left. The food was good, the portions large and like many small town diners, the locals wanted to talk with each other and anyone else who was in the diner.

After lunch the ride continued another 20 miles. Now flatter but still with areas of deep sand that strained the legs and your will to keep going. Finally we arrived in Ainsworth. As is our tradition we stopped first at a bar, the Silver Circle. There we celebrated our first day before riding to the hotel. At the hotel we soaked in the pool and went to dinner.

Our second day would take us from Ainsworth to Stuart Nebraska. Lunch was planned to be in Bassett. The day was nice but we had a headwind today. The trail had basically a downward slope but we still found parts of the trail where the gravel or sand was loose and the riding was a bit dicey. We found another long and beautiful trestle we traveled over near Long Pine, NE. That's also where we found our first detour for a missing bridge. The detour on a rural highway with a large shoulder was welcome as the riding was much easier than the trail.

Sunday we would learn a bit more about Nebraska on Sundays and Memorial Day weekend. Our choice for lunch in Bassett was closed, as was the other restaurant. Luckily the hotel there had new owners and they had decided they would have a buffet every other Sunday to see if it was worthwhile. Lunch was brunch and we all had our fill and fueled up for the ride to Stuart.

In Stuart we stayed at a B & B that was once a convent. The “Sister’s House” was run by Doris and she could not have been more accommodating. When I made the reservations Doris pointed out it was Sunday and the market and the one restaurant and bar in town would be closed. She informed me the market would deliver our food as long as we ordered it about a week out. I called and spoke with the lady at the market who knew Doris and our food was waiting when we arrived.

I had ordered steaks, potatoes, salad and a blueberry pie. They were all awaiting us in the fridge when we arrived. A quick ride to the convenience store got us beer and wine for our diner. The house had a large dining room and we were all able to share our big meal at one table. Games and pie followed and then we all retired to bed. In the morning we had a big breakfast we shared and then we got back onto the trail.

Monday was of course Memorial Day. The plan, travel to the tiny Hamlet of Ewing by way of O’Niell where we would have lunch. Today we had a big wind, gratefully it was mostly from behind and gave us a nice push as we rode. In the town of O’Neill, once again our expected lunch spots were closed for the holiday. The local Mexican restaurant was open and we had a very nice lunch. The wind continued to push us to Ewing and we arrived in the mid afternoon.

However, In Ewing, the one and only restaurant and Bar, BW’s, was closed for the holiday. Nothing was on their Facebook page (Small town restaurants rarely have websites, just Facebook pages) but the doors were locked tight. We rode onto our hotel, the Twin Rivers Motel. Small, it had about 7 rooms. The owner and her daughter ran the place. It was clean and she was gracious enough to give us her garage door opener so we could store our bikes in the garage. But first we had to find some food.

Our only option for food that night was the convenience store. So bagged or microwaveable sandwiches were our choice and some beer from the store. When we returned to the motel we found tables and chairs in the garage. Our hearty group made the best of things and we had a picnic dinner on the side lawn of the motel. After dinner we retired to our room and squeezed all 8 of us into the tiny room to play a few games before bed.

Tuesday was our last day on the trail. There was nowhere in Ewing to eat breakfast other than the convenience store so we passed on that and rode on. We hoped for breakfast in Clearwater, NE, about 10 miles down the trail but the cafe had gone out of business. We pressed on to to Neligh where we found a coffee shop with baked goods. Lunch came quickly as we stopped at the Branding Iron in Tiden, NE. Then the final press onto Norfolk.

We got to Norfolk in the late afternoon. We rode to the very beginning of the trail which added a couple of miles onto the trip, but you can’t go that far without seeing the start, or in our case the finish. It was a couple of miles to the hotel and we checked in, and soaked in the pool and hot tub. The best rated restaurant in Norfolk was in our hotel, so no bike rides to dinner, we ate at the hotel. After 4 days of riding, we all turned in early.

At about 7:30 am our shuttle back to Valentine showed up and Tony the driver started the process of stacking our bikes in the van like a jigsaw puzzle. With some help from us for padding and towels, together we got all our equipment into the van and we pulled out of the hotel at about 8 am for the three hour drive back to Valentine. Once in Valentine we loaded up our vehicles and stopped for lunch before we all departed.

As bike trails go, the Cowboy Trail is still in many ways in its infancy. It’s about to be the longest rails to trails bike trail in the country with the finish of the Rock Island spur that will go further west from Valentine. But as far as its adoption by the locals, many of them don’t really see it as a source of increased commerce in their communities. The hotel owner in Bassett told us when he realized he was the only place for bikes to have lunch on Sundays, he started being open every other Sunday to test out if he would get more business and he was shocked at how much more he got. That sentiment was prevalent all along the trail. We were more of a novelty to the small towns we traveled through than a sought after income stream. Kristie’s brother who met us in Norfolk summed up the local sentiment the best when he told his sister “don’t tell anyone how you got to Norfolk, they’ll think you’re crazy.”

Regardless of what the locals thought of us, the trip itself was a test for each of us in different ways. It’s in those tests where you realize if you picked your crew correctly. Our crew was amazing. From the planned wonderful dinner at the Sister's House, to making a fun picnic out of the unexpected convenience store dinner in Ewing, you look back and can only imagine how miserable you could have been if less adventurous people had come along. But our crew was there for the fun, the unexpected and the adventure. As Kristie said, it’s the unexpected things that make the best stories, and our trip gave us many of those.

Going Through Hell to get to Heaven

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 03:23:34 GMT

The trip to return to the Beaver Meadows campground near South Fork was planned in March. Before we could go, I would need to do a remodel on our 2001 Coleman Mesa camper. Years of use and leaks during storage left some of the walls puckered with water damage and it needed a face lift. Also the front storage area’s plastic coating had been attacked by the weather for years and I decided to remove it and rebuild it, which was quite a task, taking about 3 time longer than I anticipated.

Our original intent was to leave Thursday morning and work on the road as we drove the 4+ hours to South Fork. There we would camp and get a spot for Michael and Angie, find some service and continue to work. They would join us Friday evening. However work for both MLW and I did not allow that and we instead set our sights on Friday morning.

Friday morning we were planning to be on the road by 7:30 am. For the past week from crawling all around my camper completing repairs, I noticed I had a pain in the front of my chest. On Friday morning as we left, I had a pressing pain on the left side of my chest. I had two friends in the last month go to the ER to find they needed stints put in their heart arteries and both say they just felt “off.” I too felt "off," so I told MLW what was going on and she insisted we go to the ER. 3 hours later I was discharged with a clean bill of health, and was even complimented on my blood pressure and heart rate.

Now we’re on the road 3.5 hours later than we planned and we hit every traffic snarl and slowdown. The drive to Walsenburg, CO where we pick up hwy 160 took and extra 30 minutes. It seemed everything that could slow us, did. We pulled into South Fork at 3:25 pm and drove to the reservoir and found that even though it was not in the forecast, it had been raining and still was off and on. The gravel road coated my new truck and remodeled camper with sandy mud.

We were the first people to come to the campground and we backed in the camper into a very wet site, but our favorite. The bad new was, I forgot the keys to unlock the door of the camper. We had asked Michael and Angie to pick up our keys at home and bring them but I figured we could open it up and I’d try to pick the lock. As I cranked up the camper, something was wrong, I was cranking harder than normal, then I heard, SPROING!, part of the lift cable broke on the back roof support. Panic filled my mind while rain poured down on my back. I cranked a bit more and Sproing again, and then again and the back corner of my camper slumped. My camper I had spend 80+ hours remodeling was broken. I stood in the falling rain, crestfallen.

We decided to go home, MLW took the truck to contact M & A to tell them we were returning. I felt so low. She returned, we packed up the camper and we were both mad and disappointed. As we started to drive out, MLW said isn’t there some way to make it through the weekend? I said if I had a 2x4 , then thought, wait, no I could use and aspen log to make a support. One of us would have to crawl into the camper over the door that was locked and as the roof was cranked up, hold the corner and put a thick branch in to hold up the side. We turned around. MLW with a glimmer of hope and excitement said " of ALL the jerry-rigged things we’ve done to save a vacation; I knew we could do something. "

The plan worked but the ABS plastic roof on the camper was far from light, it was extremely heavy. But we were able to put the log in place and we set up the camper. It started to rain, no make that pour, and I put up the awning to so I could practice my lock pick skills and get into the camper. Finally I did what the car thieves did, I jammed a screwdriver into the lock, clamped a vice grip on it and turned until I bent the pins and the door opened. I already knew I had to fix the lift assembly, heck a new lock could not be that hard.

We got in and set up the camper and had dinner. Then the skies cleared and we had beautiful view of the reservoir. We went for a walk with Rudy our dog taking in the beauty of this place. Then we noticed Rudy was acting strange. Suddenly he was throwing up, then he would run, then sit and when we got back to the camper he could hardly stand. He leaned heavily into MLW and we wondered if he’d had a stroke, because he could not stand.

So it’s going on 10 pm, were 4 + hours from home, my dog is acting like he’s going die, we have no idea what to do. We tuck Rudy into his bed and he falls a asleep. I drive the truck to cell service and check in the Michael & Angie. They’re about 40 minutes away and the day is taking it’s toll. We leave a lantern in their site with an agreement we’ll see them the morning. MLW and sleep fitfully wondering if our dog is going to be alive when we awake.

In the morning it’s cloudy and cool again and Rudy is pretty normal, In fact he’s doing great. We keep thinking about his symptoms and the best I can figure is while he was running around the empty campsites while I was setting up the camper, he found a cannabis edible. That’s a problem in Colorado, people drop an edible and dogs eat them. Dogs aren’t good stoners. Were just happy he’s ok, and that he didn’t get up in the middle of the night and eat all our Doritos.

Saturday turned out to be the day we hoped it would be. The 4 of us went rail biking, then we took our kayaks and floated down about 5-6 miles of the Rio Grande River which was really running fast. We were done in 65 minutes. After that we had a small rain shower and after which we were able to kayak and fish on the reservoir. We had a great steak dinner we cooked in the campground and then called it a night.

Sunday dawned Sunny and we spend more time on the lake and had a short hike before we headed back on the road. The weekend was as wonderful as we hoped. We found this camping spot last year and I wrote about it in a blog about not getting old. Once again we were challenged to just stop the trip, 3 times on Friday, but we persevered, and once again, proved with a little ingenuity, a lot of patience and the support of each other, we had a great time and a heck of a story to tell.

Wine Therapy

Tue, 21 May 2024 14:45:14 GMT

I grew up in the 1970's. I could say the 60's but I'd argue you develop in the early years and you grow up when you have experiences to remember. One of many things I remember is that my Dad had an after work ritual which basically was to come home, change out of his suit and sit down at the kitchen table, pour himself a drink and play solitaire or a card game with anyone who was there. Often he'd pour one for my Mom who would make dinner and they would talk over their cocktail. If it was just he and I, he'd make me a cherry coke and we'd play a game.

Societal norms have changed and the evening cocktail is starting to come back into fashion. But that ritual truly has some great benefits. For me, it was a chance to talk with my Dad. Being somewhat distracted by the game and the relaxing effects of the cocktail for my Dad made it easier to just talk. As a Scout leader I was taught strategies to get a scout to open up and talk. Many of those strategies revolved around distraction. Giving a young man a piece of rope and he'd start tying knots, and keeping his hands busy it as often easier for the young man to talk. Much the same was true for my Dad and me. I've heard it said by many men that the only way they could talk with their dads during adolescence was about sports, Dad and I had cribbage.

As MLW and I became empty nesters, and having Smooch in Grand Junction, right next to the Palisade wineries, we started buying wine, which leads of course to drinking wine. As the nights got nice here we'd find ourselves on the back deck, music playing, having dinner and enjoying a bottle of wine. We often stay on the deck long after dinner enjoying the night and our conversation.

If you go into any kitschy gift shop you'll find a myriad of sayings about wine. You've seen them on tea towels and small signs, things like: There's a word for wine and dinner: WINNER! But once we get past the funny sayings, in moderation there's a lot to be said for the relaxation and conversation that can come with a glass of wine. There's also benefits to talking outside at night or in dimly lit room. Those advantages are your more likely to open up, to listen to ideas that in the light and bustle of the the day, you'd quickly dismiss.

Many years ago I read an article in Readers Digest that was written by a single mother of 2. One night she'd had enough of her young kids and she told the to get on their coats, they were going for a walk. The kids protested: but it's dark. The mom did not give in, they went for a walk in the dark. In the dark the family dynamic changed. The kids stopped whining, the walk seemed like they were breaking the rules. Instead of being individuals they seemed to become a team against the scary darkness. Even more the Mom found out her kids would open up much more on these walks. The walks became part of a routine and the Mom and her kids had found a new way to relate.

Siting in the deck, enjoying some wine and talking does many things for our marriage. It gives us both a chance to talk and dream. To discuss worries about our "kids." To catch up about our friends and to reconnect. It often give us the chance to start to discuss tougher topics. Just like the family I discussed, between the wine and the night, our defensive walls are dropped a bit and that opens the conversations that are necessary to continue to stay together.

So wine therapy really can be a "thing" and not just an excuse to polish off a bottle. However I'll still laugh at the kitschy and clever signs.

A tale of two Weekends

Tue, 07 May 2024 14:25:43 GMT

Two weekends of picking up bees couldn't have been any more different

Spring weather in Colorado is crap-shoot. It could be beautiful or it could be a snowy/rainy/windy mess. So when I was planning on buying my bee packages, that I am getting from two suppliers, I put the pick ups on to separate weekends. I am so glad I did.

When you order a package of bees, something I've written about before, there's no waiting, nor moving your pick up time because the bees come on one or two weekends in the spring in a truck from California. Just days before, big hives, have had their bees shaken into a small screened in box until there is about 3 lbs. of bees in them. Then a new mated queen, in a queen cage, is put in the cage and it's closed off with a can of sugar syrup with a few holes in it to feed the bees during transport. Then a driving team drives them straight to the drop off point, in this case one of the stops was Colorado Springs where I ordered the packages a couple of months ago.

After a beautiful week, on Friday night a wet cold front moved in and as it does here in the Spring, the rain quickly became a wet sloppy snow. Be pick up was to start at 6 am but an early email was sent to all bee buyers that our bees would arrive more like 10 am. So on Saturday the 27th of April, I relaxed at home as I watched the snow come down heavily. Then at 10 am I drove to Colorado Springs about 45 miles away.

It was still snowing when I arrived and the temperature was 33 degrees. As I found a place to park and I saw people walking by with their packages of bees. When I got to the store, I was put in a line with over 50 0ther people that snaked through the store until you talked to a clerk who verified my order and gave me a card to go outside to the bees. Outside they pulled two packages off the stack, thumped the bees down so they would expose the queen in her cage, I verified the queen was alive and the I had my two packages to take back to the car. I wrapped them in an old towel and walked the block back to my car. And then I drove the 20,000 bees back to home.

It was way too cold to put the bees in their hive. 45 degrees is the lowest you can put bees in a hive and it helps if the temperature is going up. So the two packages of bees went down into our basement at 60 degrees and I sprayed the bees with sugar water to ensure the ones that could not get to the feeder got fed. I also put a piece of tape over the small hole in the cage where the bees found a way out. Bees are funny there are always a few stragglers that cling to the outside of the package and they just ride along until you put the bees in a hive. Luckily Sunday it warmed to 45 degrees quickly and went into the 50s and the girls only had to spend one night in the basement. The first two restarted hives were the Gumbees and the Frizbees.

Saturday the 4th of May dawned cloudy and windy with a promise of Sun mid morning. These bees came from Wardle Feed in Wheat Ridge. Wardle sent an email asking that the first half of the alphabet pick up your bees between 6 am and 7:30 and the second between 7:30 and 9 am. I was driving up with my friend Steve Zahnow so we got there a little after 7. They handled their bees a bit different. Much less "agricultural" than Rocky Mountain Bee Supply. They sent lots of emails the previous week when they too handed out bees in the snow. Unlike Rocky Mtn's one email explainaing the truck was late. At Wardle they don't thump your bees, they just check them before you come and you drive up and they put your packages in your car.

So about 7:15 we were driving back to Steve's with about 30,000 bees in the car. It was still windy and cold. After dropping off his package of bees we went to my house for his first in person bee lesson. I am mentoring Steve so he can learn to keep bees too. Finally after an hour the clouds broke up and the day warmed quickly. Steve helped me set up my next two hives. I tried something different this time and I think it will be my new way of installing bees.

The former way of installing bees is that you open the package, pull out the queen cage, remove two of the frames and dump in the bees. Most of them drop in the hive but many take flight. Then they try to find their way back into the hive. I had seen on YouTube that many bee keepers remove half of the frames, then they remove the queen cage, set it between two frames and place the entire package of bees in the hive and put the lid on the hive. It's so easy and puts less stress on the bees. They just walk out of the cage and back toward the queen. A few hours later you open the hive, pull out the cage that is now empty, shake the few bees on the out side of the cage into the hive and replace the 5 frames. Definitely the way I'll be doing packages in the future.

Last week I found eggs in the Frizbees so their queen is laying. That means new bees in 21 days, from the time they were laid. I hope the queen of the Gumbees is also laying, she wasn't quite laying eggs yet, it takes a few days for a newly mated queen to be ready to lay. The hives we started this weekend were the NewBees and our newest hive the Airbnbees. I release their queens on today, Tuesday.

So year three of my beekeeping adventure is on it's way. It's so nice to have bees again!

Hold on Loosely, But Don't Let Go

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:44:49 GMT

Who knew these song lyrics were so wise?

When it comes to one line wisdom sayings I have my list. Such as: Never argue with an idiot, people cant tell the difference. I later learned that saying was a short version of Mark Twains quote: "Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." My Dad used to say, never sleep with a woman who is crazier than you. But the one that really stuck with me and has had numerous applications in my life is from the rock band 39 Special. Hold on loosely, but don't let go.

When I was Scoutmaster of Troop 260 our Spring fund raising was done by aerating lawns. For two weekends in April we'd run aerators on lawns all over town. It was exhausting work but very profitable for the Troop. I was always amazed by the other dads who I knew were stronger and younger than me, that were exhausted after only a couple of lawns. As I watched them it was because they tried to muscle the machine, rather than guide the machine. If you're not familiar with an aerator it's a heavy machine that has a drum on it with 4 inch hollow spikes that your run across a lawn and pull out plugs of grass and soil to allow water and nutrients through the layer of thatch and roots that are in all lawns. As it runs the spikes go into the ground and they obviously grip and they can pull you along.

I would say to them, when you aerate you have to think about 38 Special. They'd look at me funny and I'd continue, you have to: hold on loosely, but don't let go. If you cling too tightly you're gonna lose control. Working with the aerator you can guide it while it goes across a lawn and it's very easy. You need to consider where you want to end up before you start and if you guide the machine it will go, but try to muscle it and it will win every time. So both my boys know this song as the "aeration song."

The song is actually about managing a relationship and again it's wisdom is timeless. You can use this with your spouse your kids, your relatives, your friends, your direct reports at work, heck it even works with your dog! But the message is you can't control many things, especially other people. You can influence them, just not control them, even if you sign their paycheck.

When it comes to being married it's a great lesson again. However you can also mis-use the words. As far as holding on loosely, sometimes in a marriage the only thing you have to hold onto is each other. Especially when going through life's trials. If the two of you aren't turning inward for support first, well you might ask yourself why. But like all things there are times you have to hold on loosely so the other person can get information from other sources. So you may just have to let them get the advice while you are still available to them. Often the words of a true friend can be heard and accepted while being a bit more honest. Kind of like when you wear something that may not look the best on you, your friend may be able to be more honest or direct than your spouse without hurting your feelings.

As I write this MLW and I are coming up on 36 years of marriage. If asked how we've stayed married that long, I'll often say a few things. First don't sweat the small stuff. Forget the arguments, forget the comments that were intended to be funny but weren't. If something hurts your feelings, before you let it fester, find a time to say, when you said ... it made me feel.... Talk it through and then forget it. In other words don't look for fight. Find friends with strong marriages and spend time with them and learn from them. The inverse is true too. If you find yourself doing things with a couple who is toxic, stop doing things with them.

MLW and I tend to make jokes out of some of our biggest fights. It's a great way for us laugh about silly things we fought about that were so intense at the time but were really pretty silly. Here's an example: About 20 years ago we were driving through Missouri coming back from a family reunion. We were driving the truck and pulling the camper and MLW was at the wheel. I looked up and saw that traffic had stopped for someone in our lane turning left. I try not to be a backseat driver but I saw the upcoming hazard and just said "brake" MLW who did not see the hazard, looked at me and said what? I said with more urgency in my voice, "Brake", but MLW was still not getting the message, so I yelled and pointed for her to see the now quickly approaching accident "BRAKE!" She slammed on the brakes the trailer swerved we left a few skid marks and we did not have an accident.

However with all the adrenaline in our bodies, and argument quick ensued:

Why didn't you hit the brake?!

I thought you were saying "Blake!"

Why the hell would I say Blake!?!?!

I don't know that's what I was trying to figure out!

It continued with a few terse words, then driving in silence for 20 minutes, then as she does, MLW said at some point "traffics slowing down I suppose I should Blake". Now some twenty years later if either of us see an approaching hazard, we'll likely say, you might be ready to Blake... We both smile and whomever is driving slows down.

Why does this work in our marriage? We both owned a stupid argument. Then we turned it into something that is ours. It's our experience, it's become our language. It means little to anyone else, but to us, it's basically saying "I love you" and the same time warning the other they might need to slow down. That's holding on loosely, but you are letting go of the anger, but not of our love for each other. Because if we had clung too tightly to the emotions of that silly argument, we would have lost control.

So whether you think of aerating, dating, relationships, or just trying to eat a big messy sub sandwich, when you hear that song playing on the radio. I urge you to listen to those wise words and incorporate that thinking into your life. Because many times in life, if you'll just loosen your grip a bit, you'll find you'll enjoy most any experience much more.

The GJ House

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 03:15:39 GMT

In December our little college bungalow in Grand Junction became empty. Our last renters moved out and Smooch had already moved home. It had done it’s job giving Smooch and his roommates a nice place to live during their college years. But Smooch learned as many of us do that is first job was not what he wanted to do for a living and the draw of more jobs brought him back to the front range. It also became time to sell the Grand Junction house.

The first thing you learn when your kids live in a house that you own is that they are homeowners in training. They don’t clean as often as you’d like, the lawn is not as pretty as it could be and maintenance happens when something is broken, not when you can see it needs maintenance before it breaks.

MLW and I quickly learned that the holiday season was too busy to even think about going over on a weekend, so we started cleaning up the house in January. That’s when you realize just how far Grand Junction can be from Sedalia. Most folks will tell you its a 4 hour drive. But that four hours is if you can drive in the middle of the day or at night. In winter you’re in the middle of ski season, so you must time your departure with ski traffic in mind, or your 4 hour drive quickly becomes 5,6,7 hours or longer. Then there’s weather and if the passes are going to be open. Vail pass, while it may be on a major interstate highway, is still at 10,666 feet. And yes that 666 in the number means it can be the devil. From snow slides to snow slide mitigation and just weather and traffic, you always have to watch the weather and the traffic in the winter.

That was for may years your only worries, traffic, which is also busy as soon as nice spring weather comes until the last aspen leaf falls in the fall. But now since the fire in Glenwood Canyon, you have to be prepared for mudslides due to rain. If Glenwood Canyon closes, the detour is 4 more hours. So again it’s not just get in your car and drive, especially when you have things to get done in Grand Junction. That’s also why I look at people funny who suggest we keep the house as a rental.

In January the weekend cleanings began. We aware able to get over there about 4 times and in that time cleaned, painted and repaired. 20 year old-ish boys are very hard on a house. From holes in walls to holes in doors, the house takes the brunt of their life's frustrations. We could have named several of the holes after Smooches former girlfriends. There was also one hole that held a 40 oz. bottle of beer. When we went to repair that, Smooch said, "no you can’t patch that, it’s the 40 hole!" Given that most house buyers would see it as nothing more than a hole, it too was patched and painted.

I think it took 4 weekends and finally in March the house was on the market. We had it under contract in less than 48 hours. How easy! Well not so much. Little did I know the potential buyers did not qualify for the price of the house but a much lower number and they wanted us to give them money from the sale to close. Everything was a nickel and dime transaction until we finally said “no” and the sale fell through.

This past week after some serious back and forth we finally got the house under contract again. This time the buyers are prequalified. I am cautiously optimistic, but am waiting for the inspection to see what things they’ll ask for. The house was built in 1954, so the basement has what is probably asbestos tile on the floor. It’s in good shape and mostly covered anyway, but it just sits there for the new buyers to quibble over. It didn’t bother us because of all our years in insurance, we understand that asbestos is not as the plaintiff attorneys would like you to think.

So I don’t know what’s more stressful, having the house under contract and waiting to see if it’s going to close, or having it up for sale and waiting for the “perfect” buyer to come and buy it. But we are closer to having it sold than not and if this sale makes it, there will be another parent, watching the weather and the traffic to travel to Grand Junction, where they own a house their kid lives in.

Time to Be Grandparents

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 14:55:39 GMT

We found out a few weeks ago that E and NP are having a baby. That’s a conversation with a lot of emotions. I’d try to list out the emotions that hit me but they were much more like an emotion snowball than a stream of thoughts. They told us the news and bam! The emotion snow ball hit me in the head and my thoughts went something like this:

What! Really?, oh my gosh am I that old? Oh that’s cool, scary, terrifying, happy, exciting, news! Wait, am I really that old? When did that happen? I guess the kids are 30 now, Stop thinking about how old you are, this is happy news! Oh my gosh will it be a little boy or girl? I can’t wait to build a swingset and camp in the backyard. Wait, I’ll be how old when he/she graduates from high school!!, Geez, get off the age thing already. But wait E was just a little boy the other day, how can he be a Dad? (eyes well-up), Oh thank the Lord it’s not Smooch telling me this, Whew! Yay!.....

That was the abridged version because that was in the first second of hearing the news. It went on, in fact it still goes on, especially the “old” part, just a bit slower now. In many ways it doesn’t seem real. NP isn’t showing yet, and I think that’s when it’s really going to start feeling real.

Speaking of feeling “real” they let us know it’s going to be a girl. Now it’s getting… real-er. NP’s sister Kaeleen is also pregnant, due around July 1. NP is due Oct 13. I had a very strong hunch that once we found that Kaeleen was pregnant, that NP would be close behind. How fun for their kids that they’ll have cousins close by and the same age.

I am excited to have a granddaughter. MLW and I always figured God knew what we would be best at and he gave us boys. My friends with teenage girls roll their eyes when I tell them I had wanted a daughter. They laugh and tell me I dodged a bullet there. Either way I think the boys turned out alright and now I’ll get that little girl to play with after all.

Now it’s time to wait and think about the big adventure E & NP are about to embark on, and try not to think about how old I am…

Spring and Time to Talk Bees

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:12:01 GMT

For the first time in almost 2 years I am bee-less. After the frustrating summer I had where I lost the Gumbees to a combination of weak queen, then the killing of the new queen by the hive. Then to have the false hope that the three queen cells I found in the hive could hatch, only to have two of them killed by robbing bees in my nucleus hives and the one left in the Gumbee hive failed to hatch. So that was the end of the Gumbees. After a very nice honey harvest the New Bees looked like they were doing great, that's when I found they and the Frizbee's had an explosion of mites. I did what I could to treat them, but then again the robbing bees came and they emptied the entire New Bee hive and killed the queen. When I opened the hive in early September, it was empty but for some opportunistic yellow jackets who were looking for any left over honey.

Then all that was left was the Frizbees. I found they had raised a new queen. How did I do that? Well by accident actually. My previous queen was marked, when I inspected the hive in September, a new queen walked across one of the frames as if to say hello. So I prepped them in December for winter with their insulation and a candy board. But the hive was weak from the previous mite infestation and the deep freeze of early January was too much for the hive. On a warm day in late January I opened the hive to find thousands of dead bees. What a sad day.

I thought I could avoid losing bees by taking classes, watching videos and reading books. Which all really helps. But like many things in life, a big part of beekeeping is doing. I've learned a bunch from my experience and the additional class I have taken on mite control. So on April 27th, I'll start over with 4 packages of bees. You'll remember that'll be 4 hives. I'm buying them from two different suppliers so I'll have some different genetics in the hives. I have to change how I manage my apiary. My 4 packages of new bees is going to cost me $600 as it is and I'm going to need some new strategies to keep these girls healthy and safe.

First I need to stop the other bees in the area from robbing and killing my bees. The worst time for robbing is Spring and especially Fall when the flowers stop producing nectar. What really got my hives last year was the hard freeze followed by 6 weeks of nice weather. The lack of flowers sends bees out looking for weak hives. When they find one, they over power it, and literally suck up all the honey and carry it off to their hive. It takes just a day to do that and what you are left with is ripped open honey cells and the dead carcasses of the bees who tried to save the hive. Ultimately when it's obvious they are overpowered the remaining bees join in with their captors and live with them.

How do I stop that? This year my hives are going to all have robbing screens on them from day one. A robbing screen is a screen that goes over the front of the hive. It allows the smell of honey to escape so robbing bees are attracted to that like they are to the opening of a hive. But the difference is they cant get in. Their instincts tell them to follow the scent of the honey so they cluster on the screen wondering why they cannot get in. The bees in the hive however have learned that need to enter the hive from an opening in the top of the screen. So they go merrily about their business while the robbing bees sit on the screen. Should a robber find the opening to the hive, the guard bees will quickly either escort the bee out or kill it. Either way, robbing works by a mass number of robbing bees overtaking the guard bees and then robbing the hive. Without a mass attack, the hive can protect itself.

Second I have to get diligent about mites. Mites are tricky. They get into your hive both by jumping off a bee on a flower and jumping on the next bee that stops at that flower and by what we call bee drift. Bee drift is when a bee mistakes a hive for hers and she comes in. Most folks think well she'll be stopped by the guard bees and that's a big maybe. Why because bees are a lot like us. If you have a neighbor you don't really like but he stops by with a cold case of beer on a hot day when you're especially thirsty, you'll probably let him in. Bees are no different, if a bee loaded up with nectar comes into a hive that is not hers, they bees will let her in to drop off her nectar, sometimes they'll even give a lost or tired bee from another hive a little nectar pick me up. They are very social, and they often feed each other from their proboscis. So if that visiting bee had a mite and it jumps off in the hive, that one mite in the hive that will become 3 to 8 mites in about 8 days. If that visiting bee had a disease, that mouth to mouth feeding just spread it to the bee that fed it. Those robbing screens will help stop bee drift, but not the mites that jump on the bees from flowers.

How do you control mites? First by monitoring every two weeks. You test your bees by taking out a 1/2 cup of bees in a jar with 1/8 hardware cloth across the top. Next you coat them with powdered sugar which makes mites lose their grip on the bees. Then you shake the bees against the hardware cloth so the mites all out. Then you count the mites and pour out all the little white bees into the hive where their fellow bees will lick all the sugar off them. You want to stay at or below 3% infestation. However, really you want as few as possible. You wouldn't tolerate just having 3 mice in your house, or three cockroaches, so like that you have to always work toward zero.

There are non chemical treatments and chemical treatments for mites. Powdered sugar sprinkled in the hives helps knock off the mites who then fall out of the hive through the screen bottom board. Using green drone comb is another. This is an interesting and very effective way to kill developing mites. Drones are larger and take 3 extra days to hatch. Mites lay their eggs an developing bee larvae. Somehow they know that drone larvae are better to lay their eggs on so they prefer to jump in drone cells just before they are capped over. Then in the cell they lay 3-6 eggs that hatch and when the drone comes out so do 3-8 mites, some already attached and feeding from the fat stores in the new drone. To stop that process you put on frame of drone comb in the hive. the foundation which has been imprinted with larger cell foundations is drawn out by the bees and it's bigger. When the queen comes to that frame to lay eggs she notices the difference and puts unfertilized eggs in those cells which become drones. The mites as I said are drawn to the comb as well. When the comb is 75% sealed over, the frame of drone larvae and the the mites on them are put in the freezer for 2 days. The drones, which are not necessary for the operation of the hive are sacrificed as are hundreds, maybe thousands of mites. The comb you took out is replaced with another frame of drone comb and when that one is 75% capped over again you freeze that one. The one you froze the first time is put back in the hives where the bees will open up the cells and remove the dead drones and prepare the comb to be laid in again. There are other ways to control mites, but I could write about them for pages.

Finally with 4 hives I will have enough bees to try again to raise my own queens. Having a nucleus hive or two with a spare queen will alleviate the problem I had when the Gumbees lost their queen late in the season. If I'm successful I'm make sure that nucleus hive will also have a robbing screen on it!

Hope springs eternal, and as we get closer to the end of April, I'm excited to start some new hives and enjoy working with my cute little bees. Some of you are thinking, bees aren't cute , but I disagree and I'll point out that scientists have proven that bee brains can imprint human faces, even under a bee veil. Which is likely why when I work my bees they rarely get angry. They've learned that big guy poking about isn't going to hurt them. They might also realize I feed them, but who knows? What I do know is I've never had a hobby that I love as much as beekeeping, and I've never had a hobby that helps the earth as much or more than it does me.

Another try at Holiday Levity

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:09:13 GMT

Levity part two, the double entendre

Last year one of my most commented-on blogs was one I did on having some levity going into the holidays. I thought I would give another attempt at some holiday levity this year.

This year I wanted to talk about when we take things out of context and how many times the double entendre version of something taken out of context can be extremely funny. While this first story doesn't have a double entendre, I will always think back to probably 25 years ago when my parents were alive and living in Lafayette CO. They were in a rental house with a large yard that afforded my Mom to have a large garden that backed up to the alley. In those days my mom worked at the local Albertson’s deli and she would leave early in the morning for work, but before she did she would turn on the sprinkler in her garden. One day she returned home to my father who was rather distraught . As they talked he discussed that the neighborhood was a buzz because a murdered man's body was found directly behind their house in the alley against the fence that separated my mom's garden from the alley. As my mom listened to this story all of a sudden she blurted out “Oh my gosh I must have watered him!”

That was one of my mom's many funny mis-statements. One that still makes me laugh was when we had the candy store in the mall in Fort Collins in the 1980’s. We would see most of the managers from Montgomery Wards during their break times as they would come to our shop for coffee. One Valentine's Day, Bob, a constant customer of ours came in and he had a heart pin on his lapel. My mom looked at him and said “Oh Bob I see you have a little heart on.” When she heard what came out of her mouth my mother promptly found something to do in the back of the shop until breaktime for the Wards employees was over.

When I was big game hunting with the boys and Hayden’s father-in-law Ken, Ken said something that I realized you couldn't say in any other context and make any sense of it. Ken, is a big believer in using animal scents, especially doe deer and cow elk urine as an attractant when hunting big game. As we would leave to hunt most mornings one of Ken’s parting questions, to make sure everyone had what they need, was to call out “Does anyone need any piss this morning?”

As the Christmas Holiday approaches, MLW makes her repertoire of holiday cookies, one of which is rum balls. Which technically are bourbon balls as we like the taste better than using rum. The other day she was making her cookies and at 9 am proudly proclaimed “ I finished another bottle of bourbon!” Not something I usually hear from my wife at 9 am, but I wish a neighbor had!

And Finally the last one was said the other night at a white elephant party. My friend, whom I wont name, was deciding during his turn if he was going to steal a gift or unwrap another . Smooch who opened a large summer sausage that is sold under the name “Yard O’ Beef” and wanted to get rid of it, said to him: “are you sure you don’t need a Yard O’ Beef?” To which my friend replied “I don’t think my colon could handle a yard of beef.” I wish I could tell you I left that alone, but no.

With that I wish you all a happy holiday and for the ability to pick up the double entrée’s, the ridiculous statements and the absurd this holiday season, and laugh all the way through the holiday.

Sage advice from Bing and Irving

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:21:00 GMT

I was reminded the other day of these lyrics from Irving Berlin and Bing Crosby’ from the holiday movie: White Christmas:

If you’re worried,

and you can’t sleep,

just count your blessings Instead of sheep,

and you’ll fall asleep,

counting your blessings.

Those words and the story below, got me thinking that during the holidays, we especially need to count our blessings.

I had just started my morning when the phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Jessica, (not her real name) an employee that had a work comp injury. I picked up the phone, immediately I knew something was wrong. She blurted out, no one at the office will pick up my calls, I need to tell somebody that my son can’t open the restaurant today, Mike (her husband) died in his sleep! If you have ever had to make or receive that call, you know what followed, the intense crying, the wavering jerky speech. I did my best to stay calm, and help her navigate the barrage of emotions hammering her mind, then I too cried with Jessica as she told me what happened. I continued to answer her as random questions bounced in her brain, unconnected to the line of speech but ever so expected in the midst of a person in shock and crisis.

Before February of 2023 I could not have told you who the manager of our restaurant in the small California mountain town was, nor who was the relief manager. But when a white man filled with hate saw Mike, the relief manager, taking his break, eating his lunch in the restaurant, the man decided he needed to make a statement. That hate filled statement was an attack on that black man, eating his lunch. In the scuffle that would result, Mike would come out of it with a broken finger. That’s how we met, over his work comp claim.

Mike was a kind, quiet man, his wife Jessica 14 years his junior was white. It was Jessica who would call me and raise concerns about the work comp process, including the waiting and the traveling. It was Jessica who would call out the doctors that gave contradicting medical advice, the nurse case manager she thought was rude and too direct. All these complaints fell to me, after all that’s my job. So when I was in California for another meeting a couple of months into Mike’s claim and recovery, I made plans to have lunch with Jessica and Mike.

When we met, the company had transferred her, Mike and Mike’s son, to another restaurant in the town where they lived. Now close to the Sacramento airport, the town they were in was agriculture based and seemed like a nice town. For the first time since they moved there they started to feel a sense of community. Jessica had neighbors who worked for her and it seemed life was finally turning around. During our 90 minute lunch I heard much about the move and Mike’s challenges with treatment for his injury. Jessica was definitely the voice in this relationship and she spoke for her much more soft spoken husband. It was a good lunch and we made the connection you just can’t make over the phone.

As the months passed, I had more calls from Jessica and we continued to navigate Mike's recovery. The calls would start with a problem they were having and they would end with me either fixing the problem or promising to do so. Over time they started to realize this old Eagle Scout kept his promises.

Unfortunately the dark cloud followed them to the new restaurant. On the first day of September, three men, also filled with hate or simply the needed cash, made plans to rob the restaurant. When the Covid-masked customer in the hoodie approached the counter on that day, pulled out a weapon and asked for the money in the register, the cashier panicked. The cashier panicked because young people today have learned from growing up in an era of school and public shootings, that gunmen sometimes didn’t want money, they wanted to kill people. So instead of following training and simply giving the gunman money, the cashier ran, as did the rest of the staff for the back door. The gunman wanted money wasn’t going to be getting it, so he jumped the counter and chased the employees. Whether he intended or not his gun went off. The bullet would go through the hip of an 18 year old employee, take with it a chunk of his pelvic crest, travel through his small intestine, then exit and hit another employee where it would come to rest in the other employees buttocks. As this mayhem was occurring, Jessica fell while fleeing, injuring her shoulder.

I was camping when the calls started coming in. Luckily I had cell service and my computer. For the next 90 minutes I reported all the injured workers so they could get the treatment, they needed. I also contacted Cal-OSHA and other required reporting. But the hard part was the conversation with Jessica. She talked to me in an emotionally charged state that went from anger, frustration and fear. Little did I know that day that as I heard for the first time her voice waver and crack as she began to cry, that I would hear it again in 3 short months.

Jessica was the Mom many of these 5 employees didn’t have. In her injured state and struggling to process the event, she was still answering questions for the crews in her restaurant, and even taking injured workers to their doctor appointments. When we learned this, I had a conference with my superiors and it was decided that Jessica needed to send all her problems through me. She had to stop answering calls from the restaurant so she could work on healing herself. It took a week or so, but everyone at the regional office was forbidden to answer her calls, the employees at the restaurant had to stop calling her and all her calls came through me.

So that’s why when she tried to wake her husband up 2 weeks ago and he didn’t respond that she called me. I’m still her main contact. Now I talk with her on almost a daily basis, and help her navigate her benefits and life insurance. Help her find her free or low cost legal service so she can understand how to resolve her late husband's estate. In her present state it’s easy for her to misconstrue the communications of others, so I am her interpreter. Basically I help this 34 year old woman, who has only her Mom to lean on, and who could easily be my daughter, navigate the darkest point so far in her life..

It’s in that contrast that I count my, actually our, blessings. Our blessing that if MLW and I should find ourselves at the pearly gates unexpectedly, that E and Smooch know who to call. To know we have so many good friends, that would surround them with love and help them navigate those dark waters. Friends that wouldn’t take the statement ‘I’m fine” at face value. We are indeed blessed with many blessings.

But the greatest blessing is to be someone else's blessing. Giving to those in need, whether it’s a warm coat, a shoulder to cry on or help navigating life’s challenges. Those are the real blessings. Not just this time of year but year round. Because when you do that, you help not just that other person, but you help yourself. You realize all your trials in life made you an asset to someone else.

When you can give to others, that is what makes it so much easier to fall asleep counting your blessings.

It's the stain that makes us beautiful

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 20:19:03 GMT

In my constant attempt to update and beautify our home, I do quite a bit of woodwork. I love the feel and look of natural wood. But what I really enjoy is what the wood looks like after it’s stained. The wood grain shows through and you can see how the tree grew and how the lines in the wood move and shift through the grain. Natural wood is beautiful, but it’s even more beautiful when it’s stained.

That led me to think about how we are drawn to things in the world that are “stained.” I don’t mean literally, I mean how we are drawn to the imperfect. Have you ever seen a three legged dog that is smiling and happy as it goes on a walk or plays ball? It’s hard not to want to pet this animal because they have overcome their adversities and moved onto a happy life.

I think in many ways that is why we are so impressed with people such as amputees who live a complete and rich life. We’re even more impressed when we see athletes in the Para and Special Olympics, who take their bodies as they have them and do amazing things. They may not have the all the parts of a typical human, but despite their shortcomings, their “stain” if you will, they show they are beautiful, they are worthy, they can be and are loved.

I believe the same is true for how we are seen by our God. While He loves those who have all the best attributes, I truly believe that like we are drawn to that three legged dog, or to cheer on a para athlete, He is drawn to those who are stained and imperfect. Because He, like us, is drawn to those who despite their shortcomings strive to be their best. We all cheer for those who overcome their shortcomings, as does our Maker.

So don’t ever shy away from God because you’re imperfect. Because just like wood, your stain makes you beautiful.

Fall Bee Update

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 20:27:51 GMT

Many of you ask about the bees so I thought I'd take some time today and give you an update. The bees had an interesting summer. When I began beekeeping and I finished my first year, I was talking to a more seasoned beekeeper who when I told her I had a year under my belt shecalled me a newbee. I was a bit offended by this because I'd taken a number of classes, read a number of books and I thought that I was more prepared than your average beekeeper. However what I learned from this past year was that beekeeping is indeed something that you get better at the more you experience it.

I started this year with my original 2 colonies and added a third in early May; The Newbees. I absolutely loved the Newbees. They were so prolific. They built out comb faster than my other bees. They were voracious foragers and they filled honeycomb faster than my other hives. I was so excited to have them.

In July I wrote a blog about my troubles with the Gumbee hive. Although I tried and tried to create a new queen for the Gumbees all of my efforts were for naught. I had found 3 queen cells in the beehive and I moved two of them for safekeeping into smaller nucleus hives. Those hives would later be robbed by other hives and all of the bees were killed. The queen cells also were killed and the one I left in the Gumbee hive never hatched. Finally in August I mixed the Gumbees with the Frisbees so they would have a hive to call home.

That last statement may have a number of you thinking, you can blend hives? Yes you can. If you have a queenless hive, you open the hive you are going to introduce them into, you place a sheet of newspaper on top of the hive and make several slits in it so they can smell the new hive. Then you place the queenless bee hive on top of the newspaper. The bees will chew their way through the slits and the remaining newspaper and the hives will blend without any fighting.

In September I had a pretty good honey harvest. My first real honey harvest came in at around 55 to 60 pounds of honey. In October and the first half of November, we had a very long Indian summer, which is not particularly good for bees. Technically Indian summer is the warm weather after a hard freeze. Hard freezes kill all of the flowers and leaves the bees nowhere to forage and find nectar. They still will find some pollen but often the flowers are no longer producing nectar which gives you basically armies of bees that are instinctively drawn to find nectar and honey. This makes Indian summers very hard on hives as it is a time when stronger hives attempt to rob smaller hives of their honey. It was during this time that my newbies were savagely attacked by another hive. The result was a completely empty hive of honey and bees. The attacking bees stole all the honey, killed the queen and the bees that were not killed were recruited to live with their captors.

My remaining hive for the winter is the Frisbees. They have managed to do very well this year even though there was a time in late summer Midsummer when they were not producing much honey. I would later come to find that they had decided to replace their queen. I was inspecting the hive in mid-october when I came upon a new unmarked queen. The queen who formerly lived in that hive had a yellow dot on her back; she was gone and a new unmarked queen was taking over the reign. I am happy to say that the bees have done a good job preparing for winter and if they are still alive in the spring I will find that queen and she will get a red dot On her thorax, noting that she was born in 2023.

The week of Thanksgiving we had the last of our warm fall. Just before the weather turned, on a 65 degree day, I opened the Frisbee hive and put in their insulating board which has “bee candy” on one side of it. I then put the 1” insulating foam board around the hive and opened the bottom board of the hive about 2” Some beekeepers do not open the bottom board during winter, however the bees give off quite a bit of heat during the winter and it’s moist in the hive which can lead to condensation in the hive. If condensation drips on any of the bees during the cold weather they will die, so the opened bottom board allows for drier air to enter the hive and keep condensation to a minimum.

For the next 4 or so months, the bees will make a clump around the queen and the workers will flex their wing muscles to give off heat and in doing so they’ll keep the queen at 92 degrees all winter long. Bees that normally live only about 35 days during the summer will live 160 days during the winter. During that time hold off until a day of 50 degrees or more to “relieve” themselves by leaving the hive to do their "business". Bees will not defecate in the hive, which is one of the reasons why they are so clean and hygienic.

If the Frizbees make it through winter, I will purchase 3 new packages of bees and we’ll go into spring and summer with 4 hives. I’ll go into year 3 expecting these fuzzy little girls to again teach me more about beekeeping and remind me that while they may seem domesticated, they are still wild and unpredictable.

The Demons Around Us

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:38:09 GMT

I’ve been reading The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis. If you aren’t familiar with the book, it is a series of one-sided letters from a demon named Screwtape,who is conversing with his nephew, Wormwood, a junior demon who is just learning how to tempt humans. This got me thinking about things in this world that demons must love because they cause happy couples to argue..

The first must be self checkout lanes and couples. I’m sure there’s an excited murmur amongst the demons every time a couple approaches one in a store. Why? Because regardless of intent, two people cannot check out groceries together at a self checkout lane. MLW is the self proclaimed master of the self checkout lane. She knows what stores set their sensors very high so any slight miss-timing sets off an alarm or one of the computers annoyingly sweet but condescending comments. If MLW and I are going to have an argument it’s trying to help each other checkout while the computer continues to spew her annoying comments and sets off the light for the attendant to help us.

Coming in at number 2: clocks and time management. Nothing can set off a good argument like time management. Growing up my family prescribed to what is also known as Lombardi time; 15 minutes early for everything. We were walking into church at 15 minutes before the service, the same for movies and all appointments. In school they would show us the movie Lombardi Time, which had Vince Lombardi and even Bart Starr in it. It was a film about hard work and being on time. The mantra you learned in the movie was: early is on time, on time is late, and if you’re late there’s no excuse.

MLW doesn’t subscribe to Lombardi time. If we have to be somewhere at noon and Waze says the drive is 15 minutes she wants to leave at 11:45. No, Waze is telling you that’s when you’re pulling in the parking lot. You still have to park, get in the building, find where you are supposed to be. There may be coats to take off, shoes to change and at our age, there’s bathrooms to consider. So not only am I sure demons are looking forward to the arguments in such a situation. They also love that I now lie every time we have to go somewhere. I add 15 minutes to our leave time and say nothing about it. Yes, I intentionally lie just to keep the peace, the demons have to be so happy.

Number 3 is easily cell phone technology. Does anything cause more conflict amongst couples? In our home it sounds something like this:

MLW: my phone no longer tells me when there are new texts.

PD: oh, go to the whoozee screen and press the what’s it .

MLW: I did that, it didn’t work

PD: when you were on the whoozee screen, did you press the what’s it button long or short.

MLW: I don’t know, I pressed it, see!

PD: Here let me see it.

MLW: Why? Are you suddenly Mr. iPhone? You still can’t figure out how to turn off that alarm that goes off every day at 3 pm.

PD; Just let me see your d&@# phone!

MLW: Why are you yelling?

PD: I’m frustrated, I’m not yelling, I’m just emphatic!

MLW: Emphatic or not I don’t need any help from Mr. Grumpy Pants!

PD: (huff!) when did you last do a hard reset?

MLW: I hate how hard that is, press up, then down, then something else and I get this screen (she turns her screen toward me)

PD: Oh for crying out loud, just let me see your phone.

MLW: Oh that was a nice way to ask, what I heard was give me your phone you jack-ass!

Sound familiar?

Then again who knows, when I do hopefully get to the pearly gates, St Peter may look at my record on earth and say “You used the self checkout at Kroger with your wife for 10 years?, come on in, you’ve already been through hell..”

My Brother Drives Me Nuts!

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:16:52 GMT

I have to get this off my chest; my brother drives me nuts! Why? You ask. I don’t know why to be exact. Maybe it’s his driving. He yells and snarls at all the other drivers. Some go too slow, most too fast but few meet with his approval. Camp with him and the first thing you'll hear inthe morning will be how terrible he slept. Hunt with him and he’ll tromp through the woods breaking sticks and making noise, but if I step on one stick, I hear about it. Don’t get me started on him forgetting his hearing aids. Yep he’s the worst!

I suppose it wouldn't be so bad for me if I wasn’t so perfect. I don’t yell as half as many drivers as he does. I’m a complete pleasure to camp with; friendly, happy, and always positive. I’m much quieter than him in the woods. I don’t complain about my maladies, well not that often. But thank goodness I’m not like my brother!

Does that sound familiar? Why is it we get so much more frustrated with our siblings and loved ones than we do others? Sibling relationships are a bit weird, you share actual chromosomes, but you can be so different. Those chromosomes are no promise you are going to get along and maybe for some that is the frustration. When we were raising our boys I mentioned to someone our boys were so different. The person I was speaking to replied, Is that really so strange? Are you just like your siblings? I hadn't thought of that.

How many times do you talk with someone and they dread seeing their family?. Maybe it’s politics that divides them, maybe it’s the family drama queen, the monolog-er, the perfectionist, or the cynic. Maybe it’s just that one of them just has terrible people skills. There are many reasons families have varying levels of togetherness.

So what keeps us apart. Well let's start with history. Part of all our challenges are that if we see someone just once a month, a year, a decade, we just remember what they were like back then. They may just be trying to be friendly when they ask about that hobby you were into the last time you talked. “ Are you still raising chickens ?” They might ask? So many things flash in your mind before you respond. Such as: I stopped raising chicken 5 years ago, why don’t they know that? What if they add a bit of attitude: Do you still raise those (silly, stupid, stinking, loud, obnoxious, add your adjective) chickens? Then you can easily be offended and off the rails goes your visit.

Even worse is if during your previous visit there was something difficult going on in your life. The simple question of “ does your child still have that problem? ” can kick up emotions you don’t even know you had. If there were problems, it’s not a simple on-or-off type of situation, so you struggle to figure out how you answer and in how much detail. What if your child had multiple problems? Are they asking about his tummy aches or his migraines? Does this person even know about one or the other?

A friend recently told me, I communicate much better with my sibling via email, it’s just easier that way . Yes, the written word gives us many chances to review and reword what we communicate and for some that makes it easier to dodge the family pitfalls. But that only works if you never or rarely see each other.

But back to my brother. Why is it that the relatives you see often seem to frustrate us. Why are we embarrassed when they do something we wish they would not. Why is it when we are together that they get under our skin? I think it’s love.

Give this some thought. If your neighbor comes out on his driveway most mornings in his bathrobe scratches areas that are inappropriate for normal human discourse and burps loudly as he picks up his paper are you embarrassed? Likely not. Why would you be? This is your neighbor. If it’s your brother, or gosh forbid, your sister, you’re probably embarrassed.

My point is that it’s someone you care about. You care about what people think of them, what people say about them, and how they are perceived. It’s because you care about them that these things matter to you.

So yes, my brother drives me nuts. As a matter of fact I hope I drive him nuts too. Because if I do, it means he cares about me as well.

The Dangers of the Optimistic Recycler

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:26:29 GMT

Are you an optimistic recycler? The other day MLW looked in a friends recycling bin and said, “ oh, she’s an optimistic recycler ”. In other words, our friend and so many of us others have been mislead about what is recyclable. They see that little symbol with the three arrows and the number in the middle and think, this is recyclable . But it likely isn’t. If you put the wrong things in you recycling bin, the trash company just takes that entire load of recycling and puts it in the landfill because it’s contaminated with trash. What’s worse, you pay extra for that service, that extra truck, that extra gas, the extra emissions, and nothing good comes of it.

Heresy! you say? No, even the folks at Greenpeace released an article a year ago telling people that plastic recycling is a myth. Don’t believe me? Here’s a link to the article: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/new-greenpeace-report-plastic-recycling-is-a-dead-end-street-year-after-year-plastic-recycling-declines-even-as-plastic-waste-increases/

" But wait !" You say, " everything I put in my recycling bin has that little recyclable symbol on it " I don’t doubt it’s got a symbol, but that’s NOT a recycling symbol, it’s what the plastic industry calls a resin code. Before I dive into resin codes lets look at the recycling symbol and resin symbols.

On the right is the recycling symbol. It was picked as a winner of a contest in 1970 held by the Container Company of America to raise awareness of consumerism and ecological degradation. The first arrow signified the use of a product, the second it's manufacturing into another usable product and the third arrow purchase of that product stating the process all over again.t It was invented by a guy, actually named Guy! Guy Anderson.

The symbols on the left DO NOT NECESSARILY mean the product is recyclable, they are resin codes. They tell what type of plastic resin made the product you are using. The added arrows are said by some to be the plastic industry's effort to make their product look more recyclable. Regardless of why the arrows were added, it does lead to confusion as to what is recyclable.

So what is recyclable? That depends on where you live and who your curbside recycler is. My trash company is Waste Management. So lets look on their website to see what I am supposed to be putting in my recycling bin:

Plastic bottles and plastic containers like salad containers: These need to have the symbol 1 or 2 on them. They need to be clean.

Paper: Newspapers, magazines, are good as long as they are dry.

Cardboard: flattened cardboard, and paperboard are acceptable, but throw away the pizza boxes with food or grease adhered to them.

Glass: bottles and containers yes, make sure it's clean and dry. No to window glass, tempered glass, light bulbs.

Metal: empty tin, aluminum and steel cans can be recycled, even aerosol cans, just remove the plastic top first.

Drink cartons: No not in my area.

Plastic drink cups, symbol 5, like Solo cups: NO!

Paper Plates, paper cups with wax or plastic on them. NO!

Plastic bags: No! Never! They actually clog the recycling sorter and are the #1 reason loads of recycling are sent to the landfill.

So where am I going with this? I want you to think before you throw something in a recycle bin. Because as I mentioned earlier, if a load of recyclables is contaminated with too much trash, it goes direct to the landfill. So say you're going to a picnic or barbeque. You have a paper plate, plastic ware, either a Solo cup or a plastic wine glass and a napkin. What in that list is recyclable? NOTHING! How do you fix that? Serve beer and soft drinks in cans or glass bottles. if you must give out cups use ones you can wash or buy aluminum ones. MLW and I like to entertain and we have now the inexpensive flatware for 30 you can get at Sam's and we wash it after a party. We also have washable plates that we reuse over and over. Yes their made of plastic, but they aren't used only once. And finally label your recycle container with just what you want put in it. Don't just label it recycling, label it cans and bottles.

I hope I've been able to give my "optimistic recyclers" out there a few pointers on better recycling. I also hope that over time I'll stop seeing solo cups, plastic ware and paper plates in the recycling bin at a party. The optimistic recyclers of the world have their heart in the right place, hopefully with this information we can help put their trash in the right place. If we can change our optimistic recyclers to educated recyclers, then the curbside recycling will do what it's supposed to do and not just be another trash receptacle that makes you feel good and nothing else.

They Think my Truck is Sexy.....

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:53:34 GMT

It's been over 20 years since I bought a new truck. I still drive my 2002 Ford F150. It's got about 160,000 miles on it. A little rust from the window seals leaking and letting water sit in the door panels. It's got a few bumps and bruises. It has hauled yards of rocks and soil, pulled our trailer all over Colorado and the adjoining states, 4 wheeled through snow storms and just been a good dependable truck.

I've debated about buying a new truck. If I did, I'd probably still keep the old one. I can't imagine taking my new truck to the landscaping yard and having them drop a yard of rocks in a truck that cost more than my first house. We'll see where that purchase goes, with the impending UAW strike, I'm going to wait and see.

I guess I've taken the old girl for granted. MLW and I have made jokes for the past few years saying; "who'd want this old truck?" and the like. Apparently, lots of folks. Last April on opening day of the Rockies we took the truck to a Denver park with our bicycles in it and we rode the bikes to the game. I wasn't too worried, the truck was especially unimpressive, dirty from the winter and the plastic needed a new coat of Armor All to spiff it up. When we returned from the game however, someone had tried to steal it. The side window was smashed, the column ripped open, it was a sad sight. Luckily the thieves broke one too many of the wires in the column and it wouldn't start.

The truck has since been fixed. You wouldn't know someone tried to steal it except that the dealership could not find the small plastic piece that you slide your key through to start it. So when you put in the key you see the metal ignition hardware. When I do, it reminds me: ,"they think my truck is sexy." Because "they", the dirty bastards that steal trucks, think all F 150's are sexy, even the 20 year old ones. It's the number one vehicle stolen at DIA right now, followed by F250's and F350's.

In one way, it's the end of the innocence. The tow truck driver told me, "don't ever bring your truck into Denver and park it again, these get stolen every day." Denver like many other cities post Covid and George Floyd riots, is having a spike in crime and an under staffed Police Department. My truck will never be in the statistics because I tried and tried to report it but never could get through the non-emergency reporting line. It's sad on so many levels. I used to always feel safe in Denver, not so much anymore. I used to be proud of our city, not so much anymore. I also used to love to go to downtown, again, not so much anymore.

We did give the old girl some new jewelry the other day. It's a beautiful piece; yellow and silver with accents of black. She wears it proudly now when she's parked, showing off her new accessory. The sun shines through the windshield and glints off the silver, illuminates the lovely yellow and the black accents that spell out THE CLUB.

The Spiteful, Incompetent Ruler

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:03:17 GMT

A story of intrigue, espionage and murder!

The foreign investors had monitored the health of the small kingdom. They found that production of goods was down as were the amount of bodies in the workforce. The small kingdom seemed to be floundering and attempts to meet with the queen were going nowhere. As they tried to meet with her majesty the investors grew increasingly concerned that the health of the queen was dire, if she was even still alive, and with the seasonal products she produced would have little time to rebound before fall. If that occurred it would be another year of poor returns for the investors.

Finally the word from their informants came in. The queen appears to be dead or gone and she failed to prepare any of her offspring to rule. The investors grew more concerned. There were ways to bring in a new leadership group, but would the working class of the kingdom accept the new ruler? Plans were made without the input of the working class and a replacement monarch was located and introduced to the workers.

But alas, even though production was at an all time low and the kingdom’s chances of starving over the winter were great, the workers were not happy with their new leader. When the new leader tried to walk amongst her subjects, the traditionalists tried to kill the new ruler. The investors immediately stepped in and moved the new ruler to a safe house, but the reason behind the lack of acceptance had to be investigated.

The investors sent in a crack team of investigators and they found, almost immediately, the missing former queen. Still alive, but without the faculties to actively rule, she was just fomenting rebellion. The investigators knew what they had to do, and the old queen was captured. Then she was murdered and in a ghastly show of force and intimidation, her body parts spread about the main entrance to the kingdom. The shocked workers gathered around the grisly scene and it was clear the queen was now dead.

The investors had little time. Normally in such instances there were ceremonies and protocol that would endear the subjects to a new ruler, but these took time and the investors had to leave the region in just a number of hours. They would have to do their best to convince the subjects to follow the new ruler. First the subjects were allowed a short mourning time, then the investors released a chemical designed to calm the subjects and remove the memory of the old ruler. Then the new ruler was placed in the kingdom, with about 3 days worth of protection from the subjects. During that time it was the new ruler's challenge to gain the acceptance of the workers, or die trying.

10 days later the investors returned. In the safehouse where the new ruler had been communicating with the workers, the new rulers lifeless body was found. On it's back was still remnants of the tattoo that clearly identified it's royal lineage. The future looked bleak for the kingdom, but the investors soon found that shortly after the former queens death, her chambermaids had located her saved eggs and prepared them to be raised into her replacement.

The investigators found the three growing embryos and removed two of them to far away smaller kingdoms where they would be raised until they reached adulthood and could be evaluated for their best ruling ability. The third was left in the kingdom to grow under the watchful eyes it’s subjects and hopefully be able to rule in the future. The investors now had to wait nervously while the queen’s eggs developed into the next generation of a possible leader for the kingdom…

Did you catch on? I highly doubt I fooled any of my readers; that you were really reading about my trials and tribulations with the Gumbee hive this summer. Let me tell you the story without creative license. Production and hive growth with the Gumbees was basically nil in June. I could not find the queen, but found a queen cell in June and was looking forward to seeing a newly hatched an mated queen in a couple of weeks. But when I opened the hive after the appropriate amount of time, the queen cell was destroyed and I still could not find the former queen. I was positive the hive must have swarmed and the queen left.

Just before we left for our week vacation, I looked again and finding no queen I ordered a new one. She was put into the hive in a queen cage and after a day I could not tell if her workers were going to accept her or were trying to kill her. So I let her go into the hive and she was immediately “balled” by attacking bees. I ran the ball into the house where I knew if I separated the bees they would fly for the windows. They did and the queen was fine but I had only a few hours of daylight before I had to leave the next morning for a quick business trip and I would not have time to work with her.

So I looked for the old queen and found her. In order to make sure the bees knew she was dead I squished her on the front entrance to the hive and the bees immediately came to area of the dead queen. I then tried to heavily smoke the hike to remove her pheromones and 3 hours later I put the new queen in the hive in a queen cage with about 3 days of sugar candy that the bees would have to eat through to release her, then I left for my trips.

I returned to the hive this past Sunday to find the new queen dead in her cage. The hive never accepted her, but they did make 3 queen cells. Queens are raised in a special cell that looks like a peanut. If I left all three cells in the hive, the first emerging queen would kill the other two. So I went to the Frisbee hive which is very large this year and took out enough frames and bees to make 2 small nucleus hives. I let them sit for a few hours to make them notice the drop in queen pheromone and then I carefully cut out two of the queen cells and transferred them to a frame and put one queen cell in each nucleus hive. If all goes well the queens will hatch, go on a mating flight and return the nucleus hives and begin laying about a week later. Then I can evaluate how well each queen lays and determine which are the strongest queens. Hopefully I’ll end with two queens, one to replace the Gumbee hive and the other I’ll use to split the Frisbee hive into two hives. This will give me the ability to go into fall and winter with 4 hives.

But the bees have a mind of their own too, so we'll see how my plot to raise the potential queens in far away smaller kingdoms goes. Wish me luck!

Our Pact to Stop Thinking "Old."

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:48:19 GMT

S everal weeks ago MLW came upon an activity that looked like fun. In South Fork, CO there is a place that lets you ride pedal carts on old railroad rails. The company, Revolution Rail, uses the old railroad tracks and either two or four person carts that you pedal on the tracks. They have several routes and options but MLW’s preference was one that you rode about 6.5 miles on the tracks and then floated the Rio Grande river back to the start.

The option for this trip had to be a Friday. All the weekends of the entire season were sold out. We asked several friends to join us but their schedules did not fit. So she said let's do it together and we picked our Friday. The Friday one week before we would leave on our family vacation. She made the reservation.

Then she said let's take the camper! It’s been 12 years since I repacked the bearings on the camper, I had yet to un-winterize it, and I was hesitant. Plus we pull the 22 year old camper with a 21 year old truck. Hmm, I was a bit anxious. Then it hit me, when did all of this start? Why am I so nervous to go have some fun?

Part of it I suppose comes with being an Eagle Scout. You know I’m supposed to be prepared and I tend to take that to the extreme. I try to be prepared for anything that can go wrong, often spending additional money I never needed to just in case. The other parts likely come from being a Dad and not wanting to disappoint my family. But there was something deeper, something that called out a warning that I could not control all the variables of this trip. A warning that was not present when we were younger, when we had less disposable income. Here we were in our adulthood where we could deal with most any reasonable situation and afford to pay for it, and I was nervous.

MLW and I started a conversation and all we could blame it on was getting older. The older and presumably wiser you get, also opens you to consider so many uncontrollable variables. As we age we all have friends that start to seem older than others. They don’t go do the things they used to, once fun activities seem too strenuous, and suddenly taking care of the family pet is more important than a weekend away. As we looked toward the weekend, I had to look past the warning lights age was flashing at me, and go anyway. Which we did.

We left on Thursday night. The trailer pulled fine over the 4 hour trip and we arrived in South Fork with several camping spots in mind from our research, but these spots were not reservable, so we had to search. We pulled into the first campground and my senses wanted to stop and set up. Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? The most basic is the psychological needs of which one is shelter. But we didn’t find a nice enough site and we moved onto the next campground. The next campground was next to the road and was not what we were looking for so the next one was 2.5 miles further. We pushed on.

We climbed a steep gravel hill and on the other side was a beautiful lake with just 14 camping sites on it. This gem of a lake which would be packed with people on the populous front range of Colorado was lightly used. We drove into the campsite and found a wonderful campsite with privacy and a stream running past it. Our patience paid off, and we set up.

The next day we walked the dog, explored, found the largest Ponderosa Pine in the Rio Grande National Forest and I had a chance to fish before we went rail biking. The weather was beautiful, the surroundings were beautiful and rather than being full of trepidation and worry, we were having a great time. .

The rail biking experience was an absolute HOOT! The 6.5 miles passed quickly and we found ourselves ready to board a guided raft back down the Rio Grande. We ended up on a raft with a multigenerational family from Arizona. They were nice conversationalists and our 90 minute or so float back was relaxing. After the raft trip, we headed back to the campsite where Rudy was waiting for us. We had new neighbors in the site next door, nice folks from Texas on vacation and their old dog Joleen.

That night MLW and I had a campfire and once again our conversation turned back to how wonderful our trip turned out and what we would have missed had we decided the trip was too much to try and fit into the summer. It was then we made our pact. We decided then and there we’d do everything we could to stop thinking “old.” We’d continue to push each other out of our comfort zones and rather than watch life go by, jump on it and ride along.

After a good night's sleep in the cool camper next to the babbling stream, we awoke the next morning, took a short hike with the dog, had another quick ride on our mountain bikes and we packed up to head home. The ride home was uneventful but for a stop at our favorite lunch spot in Pueblo, CO and to pick up some Walter’s Beer. We arrived home on Saturday in the late afternoon. We put away the camper, showered and met friends. Our adventure had played out and it was wonderful. Sunday we’d prep for our vacation as we had another busy week before we’d leave the following Friday.

We could have passed on this weekend together in the camper. We could have easily said we had to pack and prepare for our family vacation. We could have stayed home, mowed grass and deferred our fun for another week, but we didn’t. We grabbed onto that life that was rumbling past. We had a weekend we could have missed and with it adventures, beautiful vistas and another great time with each other. All benefits of fighting back to the worries and concerns that come when you allow yourself to think “old.”

Memorial Day Rails to Trails Ride

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:05:14 GMT

8 Friends Peddling Through the Heartland

Saturday Morning stocking up with bike supplies at Backroads Bicycle in Marysville

The idea came to me during the doldrums of winter. While MLW and I reminisced about our bike trips, the snow and cold fell outdoors and it seemed as if bike riding season would never return. It was then I began searching various maps and websites for a two-day Rails to Trails ride which we could do over Memorial Day weekend. If you are unfamiliar with Rails to Trails it is an ever-increasing network of multi-use trails which are made by converting abandoned rail lines and spurs all over the nation.

While searching the trail maps, I found three connecting trails which travel from Marysville Kansas to Lincoln Nebraska. The three trails: the Blue River Trail, the Chief Standing Bear Trail and the Homestead Trail are all on the same former rail bed and travel roughly 90 miles between Marysville and Lincoln with the town of Beatrice Nebraska just about in the exact center. This would make the daily ride about 40 to 45 miles a day, a perfect ride for Memorial Day weekend.

Next came the logistics. We would need places to stay, the first in Marysville for the night before the ride, the second in Beatrice after riding half the trail and of course then in Lincoln after finishing the trail. I also needed to resolve the challenge of how to get our vehicles to the end of the trail . Thankfully Kristi gathered up, or rather coerced, five of her relatives to come down to Marysville and drive our vehicles up to Lincoln on Friday night.

Friday morning May 26th dawned cool and clear here in the Castle Rock area. Our group consisted of four couples: Michael and Angie, Stephanie and Dave, Kristi and Steve and of course MLW and I. Kristi and Steve had to leave a bit after us, so the three couples remaining met in Franktown on Friday morning to begin the drive to Marysville. We took Hwy 86 out to Limon Colorado and then went east on I-70. At Colby, KS we left I-70 and went northeast on Hwy 83 ultimately ending up on Hwy 36 which travels east and west along the north edge of Kansas.

Lunch was found at the Town and Country Diner in Norton, KS. This local gem is nothing special to look at, but serves up delicious food at reasonable prices. When we arrived the late lunch crowd was there, a mix of older folks and farmers. While we were surely the outsiders here for lunch, the hospitality was warm and welcoming. After a great lunch and a quick stop for gas we were back on the road. Three hours later we’d arrive in Marysville.

Marysville Kansas is a small town of about 3,000 people. When we arrived there the temperature was still in the low 80s and the warmth felt wonderful as we had not yet had temps in the '80s at home. Our lodging, Trails End Suites are three units each of which is a two-bedroom suite with a kitchen and living area. They are strategically placed at the beginning of the trail. The layout and rooms cater to bicyclists. The back of the property has two lovely decks, an upper and a lower, that give you some privacy and a great place to store your bicycle.

After settling in we had dinner at the Wagon Wheel restaurant. It was there that we would meet our drivers coming to take our vehicles. After a nice dinner we handed our keys to our drivers and watched our vehicles being driven away to Lincoln. For me, that is a part of the trip I look forward to. It's then that you realize you are reliant on yourself and your bicycle to arrive at all the destinations on your trip.

We walked back to the Trails End Suites and on the way we started taking pictures with Marysville's black squirrel statues. There are 50 of them spread out in the town, each custom painted by it’s sponsor. Marysville has resident black squirrels. As local folklore goes, in 1912 a visiting carnival came to Marysville and one of the side show attractions was a large cage of black squirrels. A young boy felt that the squirrels needed to be released from the cage and did so. The squirrels that were not caught then flourished in this small town.

We arrived back at the Trails End Suites and our group got together for a game of cards. After one game it was time to turn in for the night. The beds were quite comfortable as the eight of us fell fast asleep. We awoke Saturday morning and rode our bicycles a few blocks to the Empty Cup. The Empty Cup is a coffee shop and café with a full breakfast menu. The eight of us enjoyed our breakfast and then headed over to the bike shop in town.

Backroad Bicycles is run by Mark and Renee Hoffman in downtown Marysville and is located right near the bike trail. I had contacted Mark several weeks before when it looked like our plans to move our vehicles to Lincoln were falling through. Mark was extremely helpful and then followed up a week later to see if we still needed help moving vehicles. I explained we did find drivers and then said we would see him on Saturday. On Friday evening my phone rang again. It was Mark making sure that we had arrived safely and checking if we had everything we needed.

Backroad Bicycles is a full service bicycle shop. Mark was able to supply us with last minute bike supplies as well as he has an array of T-shirts and jerseys. Our crew loaded up on supplies and t-shirts while Mark gave us the latest trail conditions and a summary of what to expect on our ride. After loading up and checking out of our rooms, we took a few more squirrel pictures, well more than a few, then a quick stop for some air and to thank Mark at the bike shop and we were off. As we left Marysville, more than one rider in our group remarked about the welcoming people of Maryville, it’s clean and quaint streets and a sense of civic pride that was palpable.

Nebraska, here we come. The Blue River trail is 11.7 miles long as it travels north to the Kansas/Nebraska border. It is well marked and has mileposts every ½ mile. MLW and I started a tradition where we ring our bells at each mile marker, celebrating another mile completed and one closer to our celebratory beer at the end of the rail. The temperatures started in the mid 60’s that morning an approached the low 80’s. The humidity was not high and there was a slight breeze going north. Perfect conditions.

The trail wove along the Blue River, sometimes right next to it, sometimes not. After 11.7 miles you cross into Nebraska and the Trail name changes to the Chief Standing Bear Trail. There are 4 rest stops along the two trails as they weave their way to Beatrice. All four have pit toilets, the middle two have potable water.

Shortly after you cross into Nebraska you come to the Town of Barneston. There is one restaurant and bar in Barneston and while we hoped we could get some lunch, it was closed. The next two towns were Wymore and Blue Springs. The several mile side trip into Blue Springs was determined by the group to not be worth the extra miles so our lunch that day consisted of our energy bars and treats we had packed on our bikes. The trail was often covered by a tree canopy near the river and as you moved away front he river you could see the green landscape of early season crops.

We pushed onto Beatrice and arrived about 3 pm. The trail conveniently comes out on the main east-west street, Court street and 3rd Street where the Stone Hollow Brewery is located. It is tradition to stop for a celebratory beer upon arrival at our destination. They had a great selection of good beer, the overall favorite of our crew was their pickle ale, served with dill pickle in it. After a rest, we pressed on north a few miles to the Holiday Inn where we would spend the night.

Lodging was a bit of a challenge in Beatrice. I could not find any B&B’s, nor VRBO’s and the majority of the hotels are on the north edge of town by the airport. Reading their online reviews I could not readily find one with consistent reviews but the Holiday Inn, which also was the most expensive. To get there we followed the trail through town and exited on Sergant street, rode a ¼ mile west to North 6th Street which is also Hwy 77. We could not get to the hotel on frontage roads and spent about ¼ mile on Hwy 77.

The holiday Inn was nice, relatively new, clean and nicely appointed. After a cleanup and rest our crew was ready for dinner. The front desk person knew of no in-town transport. No Uber, No lift, no taxis, and no hotel shuttle. Our destination there was La Herradura Mexican grill. Just under a mile from our hotel, we decided since adult beverages were going to be involved, riding on HWY 77 was not an option so we walked. Once in the restaurant, they let us know there was a cab in town. We were seated and enjoyed a fun filled dinner. After dinner we ordered the one and only cab in Beatrice. A 7 person minivan arrived driven by a highly spirited driver in need of a shower. We piled in, putting Dave in the cargo area and me straddling two seats for the 1 mile ride back to the hotel.

Sunday dawned sunny and perfect again with a breeze from the south. After a nice breakfast at the hotel we loaded up our bikes and headed south on N. 6th street to the Walmart. We knew there were no restaurants near the trail today, so we loaded up to make sure we all had a lunch. We also learned there’s a very nice shoulder on the west side of N. 6th street. From Walmart, frontage roads took us back to Sergant street and back to the trail. In Beatrice the trail name had changed to the Homestead Trail and it would take us north to the southern outskirts of Lincoln.

Courtland, NE would be out midpoint that day. As you approach Courtland the trail parallels Hwy 77. In Cortland we found two minimart gas stations, across the highway, that were more than equipped to provide us with lunch foods. A block behind the minimarts is the town park and community center which was a great place to rest, enjoy lunch and it had clean bathrooms to use. After a nice rest we again crossed Hwy 77 and rejoined the trail. The trail follows Hwy 77 until Pickerel, NE where it begins to make a north easterly turn away from the noise of the highway. At this point we were getting close to the end of the Homestead Trail.

The Homestead Trail ends at Saltillo Rd and becomes the Jamaica Trail. From the Jamaica trailhead you are 1.3 miles from Corn Coast Brewery and your end of trail beer. We traveled north on the trail until it intersected with S.14th street. Turned right on 14th and a ½ mile ride on this road without much of a shoulder, brought us to the brewery. Another fine selection of brews, a short rest, and it was time to get to our lodging for the night, the Roger's House Bed and Breakfast.

Getting back on South 14th got us back on the trail and it was then I had to change the only flat tire of the trip and it was mine. A quick tire change and removal of a goat head sticker from the tire and up the Jamaica Trail we went for just a bit less than a mile to where we switched onto the Rock Island Trail. This would take us on a slow arc from going northeast to a little northwest where it stopped at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. From there the Roger's House B&B was only 5 blocks away.

We arrived at the beautiful B&B and were met by Kevin one of our hosts. He showed us to our rooms in this beautiful former mansion. We were sad to learn it’s days as a B&B were numbered as it had been sold and would be a private residence in the fall. Nonetheless the home was beautiful and the rooms well appointed. Dinner was in the Haymaker District of Lincoln that night.

In the morning our host made us a wonderful breakfast in the east sunroom of the home. It was there we had our last conversations. David and Stephanie had to leave before breakfast, Kristi and Steve would be staying in Lincoln and Mike and Angie would be our caravanning buddies on the way back home. As we packed up the bikes and our gear, we chatted with Kevin and Mel our hosts. We loaded up and all headed our separate ways. We had a weekend of funny memories, many laughs, new places explored, new people met, and friendships expanded. Which is why we love these kinds of rides.

If You Go:

Trails End Suites: 805 Jackson Street, Marysville, KS. Nic and Sarah Stoll 785 713 6106

Backroads Bicycle, 706 Broadway, Marysville, KS. Mark and Renee Hoffman 785 562 7163

The Wagon Wheel Restaurant, 703 Broadway, Marysville, KS. 785 562 3784

Empty Cup aka Toledo's Coffee and Deli, 723 Broadway, Marysville, KS 785 562 3354

Stone Hollow Brewery, 301 Court Street, Beatrice, NE. 402 806 4664

Holiday Inn & Suites, 4005 N. 6th Street, Beatrice, NE. 402 288 7000

La Herradura Mexican Restaurant, 590 Sergant Street, Beatrice, NE. 402 806 4145

Corn Coast Brewery, 1433 Dahlberg Dr., Lincoln, NE 402 413 2288

Roger's House Bed and Breakfast, 2145 B Street, Lincoln, NE. Kevin and Mel, 402 276 6961

The Bigger Plan

Mon, 08 May 2023 22:16:39 GMT

Just because your life seemed to take you somewhere doesn't mean there wasn't a greater purpose all along.

In Feb of 2020 I wrote a blog entitled: “Friday’s with Steve”. It was about how we have a Friday morning tradition where our friend and neighbor, Steve, brings his trash over every Friday morning and we have breakfast or at least coffee and catch up. I got to thinking about our ritual and our friendship and looking back, I think I’m seeing what God’s real plan was for us when we moved to our home in Sedalia.

When we moved here, we did so for many reasons. Two of which were the ability to live in a beautiful place with some space and to spend time with our friends Deb and Steve. We did the latter for about 2.5 years before Deb got her wings and flew off to heaven. For years we’ve lamented her loss and still talk about what we had hoped we would have done together. MLW especially was looking forward to crafting with Deb and continuing their relationship which was much more like the older sister MLW never had.

The other week however, I had a whole new perspective on why we’re here. It was a Sunday evening and MLW and I were playing a game of rummy to break the tie from games we played earlier in the weekend. My phone rang and it was Steve. He asked what I was doing and then asked if I’d take him to the E/R. He didn’t feel right and had a couple of other symptoms he was concerned about.

I was sitting in my sweaty bike clothes, so I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and drove down and delivered him to the E/R. He invited me back with him to the room and I have to admit I wondered if my very private friend was worried I’d write a blog about him. I tried to keep things light as they ran tests on him for the next three hours and then we were discharged to go home. It was thankfully a false alarm.

After delivering him home, I showered and went to bed. That was when it hit me. Maybe it was Gods plan all along. Not to have us grow old with Deb and Steve, but rather to be that friend of Steve’s down the street.

Steve has been a very good friend. While we had spent some time commuting after we moved here, there was one act of many acts of kindness that still sits on my heart;. MLW, Smooch and I were in the throes of the worst days of Smooches OCD. Smooch was in middle school, a special level of hell all kids seemingly have to go through, and life was upside down. Beside the worries of our son ever being normal, ever being able to cope and deal with his OCD, there were the social pressures that others did not understand. To those who did not know us before these challenges we were just those people with the weird kid, and that label had its own pain and shame.

During that time came a night where a number of the guys of our friend group were getting together. Steve had offered to drive and showed up in my driveway on schedule. I tried my best to pull myself together and I climbed in his car. He said “how are you?” That’s all it took, I lost it. Suddenly the tears came and for the next two or three minutes I couldn't talk , I could only sit there as my body convulsed in some of the most intense crying of my life. When I quieted down a bit, and was able to put a few coherent words together, Steve calmly picked up his phone, called one of the guys we were going to meet and simply said “Pat and I aren’t going to make it tonight, something came up and we’ll see you later this week.” Then he put the car in gear and the two of us went to dinner. There I much more calmly talked out my problems and fears and my parenting mentor patiently listened. Exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.

The more I look at life I realize that all the wonderful friends that have come into my life, all ultimately came for a purpose, a purpose from a plan made by a much higher power. It’s humbling to think that MLW and I, our kids, all of you reading this are also put into people's lives to enrich, mentor, and simply effect a needed change. A change God wanted your assistance with to ultimately continue the plans He has for all of us.

These are the revelations of life that leave me sitting at my computer with tears in my eyes. The moments that make me realize that all of us do God’s work without realizing we’re doing it. Even better, just because it may be God’s work doesn’t mean we have to change our delivery. Because I don’t want to change my relationship with Steve, especially our weekly breakfast routine; which is reminiscent of Walter Matteau and Jack Lemmon in Grumpy Old Men . We’ll talk some, grump some, and tease or goad each other. He’ll tell me I’ll talk too much and I’ll tell him he doesn’t talk enough. There are mornings he leaves after coffee thinking I’m a Jackass and I’m positive he’s a stubborn mule.

Just like God planned all along.

Maybe May Bees!

Wed, 03 May 2023 14:04:59 GMT

What's new with my Bees?

It's May 2nd and my apiary is a buzz with activity. My fascinating girls are back to their Spring rituals and it still does not fail to amaze me. Here's what happened with the bees over the winter.

The Gumbees and the Frizbees went into fall and winter as pretty strong colonies. However in September the Gumbees had a high number of varroa mites in the hive and it was suggested I treat for mites in both hives, even though the Frizzbees had a very low and acceptable mite count. To do so I used a product called Apivar. I begrudgingly hung 4 strips of this chemical treatment into my hives for 6 weeks. When I removed it the comb around the strips was a nasty looking brown. I did not do another mite test on my bees as it was too cool to open the hives then and I hoped I had killed the mites.

I'll stop and explain a bit of the science. The varroa destructor mite is an Asian mite that was discovered in the US in the 1980's and has moved across the country infecting all bee hives. They are to bees what ticks are to us, but given bees size they are in proportion much larger. Consider a tick about 7 inches across attached to your body, that's what they are like. The mite does not kill the bee but like all parasites it weakens the bee and can transmit diseases. Considering a summer bee lives about 35 days, if you can reduce your mites when the hive is naturally producing more bees, there's no concern because more bees are being born. But in the winter, you want your bees to be very healthy because their physiology changes and they live around 140 days. If they go into the winter not at their peak wellness and with a high concentration mites you have a very good chance of the hive dying in the winter.

To my surprise the Gumbees who were the bigger hive in the fall, did not fare as well over the winter. They had considerable winter loss and I estimate their size went down to about 10,000 bees or the size of a package like they were in Spring. That is dangerously low and I'm glad they made it. Had they been much smaller and if we had a longer winter and they may not have made it. The Frizbees on the other hand came through winter very large and healthy. So large, I was concerned they might swarm this Spring. But the signs of swarming aren't there, at least yet. But I will be putting on their honey frames in two weeks, they are doing that well.

Over the winter besides hours of YouTube bee videos, I took 4 classes to further my understanding of my bees. I took and advanced beekeeping class, a winter management class, a queen rearing class and a spring management class. I wish I had taken the winter management class last summer since it taught me all about how to make sure my bees were healthy and strong enough to make it through the winter.

My plans for this summer is to try and raise my own queens. I plan to use the offspring from the Frizbees queen since that hive seems to naturally control their mites. Yes, there are some bees who have learned to actually kill their mites. It's a process that's too involved to explain now, but that is definitely a trait you want to propagate in your bees. Once I raise my first queens and make sure they are healthy and prolific, I'll have to change out the monarchy in July. Keeping your queen under 2 years old ensures a prolific queen and lessens your hives tendency to swarm in the Spring.

But now the big news. I have a new hive! My brother Doc was kind enough to pick them up for me last weekend as we had to be out of town. But I'm excited to announce our third hive is in the apiary. Their name you ask? The Newbees! In June, assuming I've successfully raised a few new queens, I'll be splitting the Frizbee hive and creating my fourth hive.

So what are they doing right now, especially since there's not much in bloom around here yet? Well they're finding some flowers. They started by bringing home a light pink pollen a few weeks ago. Now that dandelions are in bloom I am seeing them coming in with yellow pollen and just this weekend they started showing up with bright red pollen. During my first hive inspection of the year yesterday the frames with pollen in them were beautiful. Yellow, pink, orange and red pollen all in an array of colors and shades in the comb was amazing to see and incredibly beautiful.

Life's Plan B Moments

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:07:49 GMT

I started thinking about plan B moments the other day. What I mean by plan b moments are those moments in life where your fun plans suddenly stop and you have to move onto plan B, which isn’t nearly as much fun.

One of the easiest and most relatable plan B moments is if you’ve ever gotten sick or injured while on a vacation. It’s one thing to have to be near a bathroom for a few hours but a completely other issue if your malady changes the entire trip or maybe cuts it short. That moment when you think “oh no! This is not the way it’s supposed to be, what about our dinner plans, our plan to visit ….” It always tugs at my heartstrings as you and your fellow travelers reset to take care of the immediate issues, but there’s that loss. The sadness of knowing what you planned is not going to happen.

Plan B moments make me really sad, mostly because they usually involve both disappointment and some extra task that has to be taken care of. I remember being somewhere around 7 years old and my mom and I were going out for ice cream. She had parked in the street in front of our house. As she went to get in her side of the car she looked down and said “what’s this?” She would soon realize it was a broken piece of trim from her car and that the neighbor's mother backed into her car. The trip was postponed, but what I remember most was watching my mom’s happy face change into one of concern. It’s never easy seeing a loved ones’ happiness drain from their face.

April 6th, Rockies opening day was my most recent plan B day and the idea for this blog. For the past several years we have gone to opening day with a bunch of people at my work. They have a fun tailgate in the morning at a park near the stadium, then we all leave about noon to go to the game. This year E came along and his friend Tommy. The four of us parked our old 2002 truck about 2 miles away from the stadium in a city park like we have done in years past. Then we rode our bikes into the game. We had a great time until we returned to the parking lot.

We had plans to do more than just go home. Smooch had driven over from Grand Junction that day and it was our plan to meet for dinner. But when we arrived at my truck we found the passenger window smashed and the steering column ripped open by someone trying to steal it. The truck was unable to start and we had to go to plan B. That’s when it hit, the sadness, the “our fun plans aren’t going to happen” feeling. Smooch was already seated at the restaurant and had to come up to where we were. The police were called, the tow truck arranged and the nights plans were significantly different than planned. Again, I watched the happiness drain from my loved ones faces.

If we stop there however, I’ll argue we’ve missed the point of those plan B moments. Because it’s in those moments that you realize who are the people who are there to help you rise back up. To miss the generosity of Kaeleen, Tommy’s wife who drove up from Castle Rock with a truck to help us haul our bikes home. The friends who’ve loaned you a vehicle while yours is in the shop, and those that check in to make sure you’re ok. Those are the true blessings behind your plan B moments and why while painful and uncomfortable, they show you just how blessed you are.

48 Hours in Savannah

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:04:56 GMT

MLW and I have been talking for years about traveling with each other if our travels are going somewhere fun. MLW had to go to Savannah, GA this past weekend, and because of flight schedules, she had to travel on Saturday. So I cashed in some miles to join her.

Our flight was 2 legs, Denver to Chicago and then to Savannah. Our friends at Southwest did a wonderful job making sure our bags made it, and the flights were uneventful. For the first time the flights were not full. A product of the holiday problems they had? I don’t know. But we arrived in Savannah about 4 pm Saturday afternoon.

MLW decided to use her LYFT app instead of Uber and we waited for our driver outside the Savannah airport. What pulled up was a car, I think. It was an old Nissan. As the other drivers got out and helped people load their bags, our driver didn’t move. He pulled the trunk latch and that was the extent of his assistance. I usually like to say a few things to the driver, just to confirm he can speak. But in this case after a hello, we couldn't communicate. Why? Because a t speeds of 25 miles and hour and higher the vibration and noise coming from his vehicle made it impossible to talk with the driver. Kay and I istened to the clash of metal parts as the vehicle ambled down the road and we prayed we were not going on any highways. About 25 minutes later the rattletrap pulled up in front of the hotel and we got out. Whew!

We stayed at the JW Marriot Savannah Plant River District, which is a repurpose of a 100 year old power plant. The whole area has been redeveloped around the power plant and it’s beautiful. It sits right on the Savannah River. The hotel has something like 18 different restaurants or eating options in it, including a beer garden on the water where they bring in live music,

We got settled quickly as we were both quite hungry and we had booked a walking tour and pub crawl for that evening. We walked no further than across the street to one of the pubs and shared a meal of crab cakes and fish. We were out in plenty of time to walk the 4 minute walk to our destination where we were to meet the tour.

You've got to love Google maps when you're walking. Once again the map app malfunctioned and we ended up with an increasingly frantic 1 mile plus walk while the app continued to move the final destination. I finally arrived at the location using another app and we came walking in just in time to grab a beverage and start walking.

Our tour group was an eclectic mix. There were 6 young women there for a bachelorette party, 4 women from somewhere in the south there for a girls weekend, and two other couples who also both lived in adjoining states. We were the only “westerners” in the group. The grouped walked from small town square to small town square, Savannah has them set up in a grid, and we would stop at them and he would tell a story. There were two more stops at bars where we had a beverage.

The stories were intended to have a scary twist, so we heard about the founding of Georgia and how the founding fathers were anti-slavery but later the very square where we were standing was where slaves were sold. The underlying message was that bad events caused bad energy and that’s where hauntings came from. As we worked our way across the small squares we learned of war heroes, ghosts of little girls, John Wesley the Catholic priest that started Methodism, and the woman innkeeper who killed a guest in self defense, but hid the body of her attacker in the walls of her small hotel.

We learned that Spanish moss doesn’t grow were there is bad energy or evil, which was the tour guides explanation for why some squares were full of Spanish moss and some had none. We enjoyed the tour and then went on our way to experience more of Savannah on our own. My only complaint about the tour guide was we walked right by the Forrest Gump Bench, the one from the movie, and he never told us that.

The next day was cool and we walked more and did our own tour guiding. We started our morning with a very light breakfast, then after a bit we had ice cream at Leopold's a Savannah tradition. By the time we went back to the hotel we felt we had seen most of what we came to see. Vacations are good for a few naps too and we enjoyed a few of those while we waited for MLW’s business dinner. I was out looking for my own dinner when MLW called me and said the organizer insisted I join her and the group from the seminar for dinner. We had a nice dinner at Vic's Riverside.

Monday morning MLW went to her meetings, I grabbed my laptop and found a diner on Bay street where I caught up on work emails. MLW and I got back together for lunch where we had some gumbo and crab cakes at Sorry Charlies Oyster Bar. Then we enjoyed the warmer weather and watched the container ships sail up and down the river. At One o'clock she went back to her meetings. She would be there until Wednesday, I was returning Monday night. I worked a bit and that is when I made the mistake of asking if there was another way to get to the airport other than Uber and Lyft. The folks at the front desk said, “Oh you can call Classy Taxi…and Robert’s cheaper than Uber.”

My drive out of Savannah was as interesting as the the ride in. Robert, the owner of classy taxi showed up on time at 3 pm. He came in with Motown tunes cranked and put my bag in the back and I thought we were off to the airport, but he needed to stop at the other Marriot about ½ a mile away. He talked very fast and between him and the Motown hits, I heard about 30% of what he was saying. Everyone at the hotels knows Robert. He’s a big personality. He walked into the other Marriot, was in there for about 5 minutes and then he came out. No other rider with him, and we were off to the airport.

Robert is not a conversationalist, he is a monologue-r. I tried and learned that very quickly. Then he said, ok it’s time to have some fun, and for the next 5-6 Motown songs he sang all the way to the airport, which included his secret shortcut that may have saved us some stop lights but got us stuck in the traffic from the shift change at the Gulfstream plant. When I say he sang, I mean he sang. At the lights he rolled down his window and sang to the other drivers, he sang to the mechanics sitting on buckets outside the tire shop. He sang. While he sang I kept wondering "I wonder how I pay him. Street performers have QR Venmo codes now, it should be easy…".

We pulled up to the airport the music came down and he said That’ll be $40 today and cheaper the next time you come to town. Remember that comment about he’d be cheaper than Uber,? well the Lyft ride on Saturday with tip was $34, I had $39 in my wallet. I asked if he took cards like the stickers in his cab showed. We struggled with his credit card reader when I realized the screen said $100 not $40. I pointed that out, the card reader didn’t work and suddenly my good friend Robert had to go. He quickly scribbled his name and address on a piece of paper and said “mail it to me, you’re gonna miss your plane. And off went Robert.

I mailed Robert a check the other day I had printed at the bank. After the what could have been a mistake or could have been a try to swindle me, Robert is not going to get my account number and routing number off my personal check. His actions thoroughly reminded that people in the south use the phrase, “God bless you” which sounds nice but is no more of a blessing that the automatic,” Bless you” you utter when someone sneezes, and probably even less.

Savannah was beautiful. If I were to return I’d go later in the Spring when the weather was reliably warm. I’d get out of old town Savannah which really caters to guest wanting to wander the street with a cocktail in their hand, and I’ll find the beach and a bicycle. But the best part of Savannah was the warmer weather, getting away from my house projects for a few days, and spending time with MLW, who when she says “bless you”, she means just that.

Cramming Square Pegs into Round Holes

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:55:12 GMT

Many years ago, early in my career I worked for a number of managers who didn't understand how to get the best productivity out of me. It was a very trying time in my life and I often felt like a failure because I didn't fit what most of my managers thought a claim adjuster should be. Then I worked for a man named Doug Cossette.

Doug was a Vietnam veteran and a very good manager. By the time I went to work for Doug, MLW and I had one kid and MLW’s career, in the same business, seemed to be flourishing while I felt I was just her lost husband who couldn’t be successful. I was at my third insurance company, and I clearly didn’t fit well in the two previous ones. But Doug saw my strengths and managed me to those strengths. I flourished so much under his tutelage that he promoted me a couple years later and I was the heir apparent to take his job when he retired. I would leave for another opportunity before that ever happened, but I learned so much from Doug.

What I have later found from dealing with many people with a military background is that he had the ability from his training to look at a group of people and figure out how to use each one of their strengths to make them successful. Once I learned that, I often used it with my Scouts and I would point out examples of why you needed both the kid everyone liked and the less popular kid, because both had talents the Troop or their patrol needed at different times to overcome challenges. When that was understood by the scouts, they got along better, and they all felt valued.

Some businesses teach their people these skills, some do not. I find it a bit startling That multi million- or billion-dollar companies still rely on the “just do your job like I do, and you’ll be fine” method. That’s where I’m really proud of my company because we still invest in our people. We have managers without degrees that can manage a restaurant better that their diploma-toting counter parts. Why? Because they know what’s expected, they know how to develop people and they implement these processes using their own strengths which in turn makes them incredibly successful. The Management Skills Training we have taught for years to our folks, teaches many things but at the root of it is to know yourself, know your people and know how best you’ll all fit to make a successful business.

This is not a boast, I just don’t know how else to describe it. In the job I have now I am the most successful I have ever been. By success, I don’t mean I’m raking in obscene amounts of money. I mean I am providing my employer with results in claims and risk management that my MBA toting counterparts are not producing. I enjoy what I do, I sleep well at night, I have an sense of accomplishment and self worth, and my employer values me. One of the main reasons for this is my boss Shawn is a master at MST and my company values results and entrepreneurship more than clock punching.

I worked with Shawn 8 or so years as a consultant before MLW suggested I pitch to him the job I have now. He understood from watching me from those earlier years that my former employer was not managing me to my strengths. Which they weren’t. I enjoyed what I did, but for me, my former employer motivated me more by fear than celebrating my wins. It was very much a culture of the more time spent in the office, the faster you answer your phone, the more family events you miss, the better you are. The President of that company once said in an address to all of us: “If you aren’t comfortable with running around with your hair on fire, you won’t be comfortable here.”

It's no wonder I got laid of in a RIF in 2011. That’s not me, that’s not how I operate, and while I think I’m very good a reacting when crises arise as they do in my business, there’s no reason to constantly be in state of caffeine juiced, heart pumping madness. Just the opposite is true for me. Strap me to a desk and I’ll fight it like a dog on chain. Because when you do, that to me is when you move the goal. Chained to a desk, the mindset is no longer to produce a great product for my company, it’s “how do I stay sane chained to my desk? Quitting time becomes the daily goal.

In July I’ll celebrate my 10th year working for Harman’s. When hired, I asked where they wanted me to work from, the answer was, “it looks to us like you can work from anywhere there’s a computer and a phone.” Thus, I began working at home and freeing my mind to create some of my best work. Yes there are days I sit at my desk in the morning and I’m still working away at night, but those are the exceptions not the rule.

I must be able to move, to step away and let my mind do the work. I truly believe that your mind subconsciously works on your problems. My proof of that statement? Have you ever awoken from a dream with the answer to a perplexing problem? Have you ever, over a cup of coffee found yourself in a completely different conversation and suddenly you think, “that’s it!” as the answer comes to you for an issue at work? MLW and I have talked through more of our work and life issues on our daily walk than anywhere else. Desks are not the magical key that unlocks our abilities, they are a just one of many tools that just allow us access to put those ideas in motion.

The other thing I am free of is the forced deference to the “C” suite. Do you still work in an environment where if some 3 letter person (EVP, CEO, CFO, etc) in your organization talks to you, you have to change who you are? Do you suddenly feel like a school kid talking to the principal? I don’t have that anymore. Don’t misunderstand, courtesy and mutual respect are the foundation of our business meetings, but good-natured ribbing, teasing and witty jokes are never too far from the conversation. Anyone in our organization can pick up the phone and talk to anyone else in our organization, often without going through an assistant. Of course, there’s still decorum, we all do have work to do. However, assistants in our company are not to insulate our senior management from us, rather they are to help us access them more.

All of us report to someone. My question today is does the person you report to allow you to do your best work by using your skills or emulating theirs? In turn are the people you manage, and maybe that includes you kids, open to solve their own problems their way, or do you only expect them to solve them by emulating you?

So, if you drive by my house on a summer weekday in the afternoon when I should be working, and you see me mowing the lawn. Please don’t think “wow it must be nice to be Pat Daddy, he doesn’t have to work.” Instead realize that while I walk back and forth across my lawn, mowing is the furthest thing that is going through my brain, but the activity is allowing me to do my best work, to process and file in my mind so when I do sit down, I can be my best self. Does my boss do that? I don’t know, but I do know he doesn’t expect me to do my job by emulating him.

Bitter Doesn't look Good on You

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 23:20:38 GMT

A few years ago I was on a video conference with my boss Shawn that was being held by our insurance broker. Some of you reading my blog will remember that I formerly worked for our insurance broker until I was part of a RIF in 2011. While I’m in a much better place mentally, physically and professionally, there’s something about “being voted of the island” so to speak, that never quite heals. As I listened to the younger professionals who were approaching the years in their career where I was jettisoned, I started sending snarky texts to Shawn about my former employer. He let me send a few and about the time I sent him a third one, he sent back a very simple text: “bitter doesn’t look good on you.”

The simplicity of those 6 words and the message they sent continue to resonate with me. They conveyed caring and understanding of the old wounds and a message of: you’re a better person than your actions are conveying right now . Which got me thinking...

I often wish I had a better grip on my emotions, actually I wish I was always the person that I am when I write. I definitely have my moments and I think I’m getting better at stopping myself or at least explaining why I’m particularly “salty” at the moment. But I’m far (very far actually) from perfect. The worst is when I’m already wound up about something else and then something else gets piled on. That’s when I struggle to keep my cool. If I know the person, I may ask for a moment to vent, if they say yes, I get it out and we move on. But that’s not always an option. It’s when I hear myself being less than courteous, that I hear again in my head, bitter doesn’t look good on you.

Do you remember the scene in the movie Elf, where Buddy the elf is in the department store and the department manager says “ why are you smiling like that? ” Just that question alone is a sad commentary on how being happy and showing it isn’t very popular. In many ways just the opposite is true. Culture teaches our kids to “put in their competition face.” Look mean and intimidating. Why? I ask.

My friend Stephanie is a middle school teacher. She introduced me to the term “resting bitch face.” If that’s a new term to you, or you prefer it’s slightly nicer term “resting bitter face”, it is both a physical condition and a choice. Physically it’s used to describe someone with naturally downturned features, making them always look mad or unhappy when their face is at rest. It's also a choice for many people. A choice to look upset, and bothered by the world. They take every waiting line, every stop light as a personal affront. Their time is more important than anyone else's and they're going to prove it by wearing their RBF. How sad.

A genuine smile however has been proven in numerous studies to make others: trust you more, believe you are more intelligent, have faith you’ll do what you promised and even find you more attractive. However smiling doesn’t just improve the perception of you by others, it actually has positive health effects. When you smile your brain releases neuro peptides to help fight off stress, dopamine to help you feel pleasure, satisfaction and motivation, endorphins to relieve pain and serotonin which is an antidepressant.

One of MLW’s favorite social experiments is to smile at other people. Most of the time they’ll smile back and when they do they get the same physiological response I just explained. When you smile at others it not only helps you, but it helps the person you smiled at. It could change another person’s day while making you more healthy. That's quite a return on investment!

Going back to that quote from Elf, do you remember Buddy's response to the managers question “ why are you smiling like that? ” It was “I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite. “ Knowing some of the benefits of smiling, maybe we could all be a bit more like Buddy the elf, because bitter doesn’t look good on any of us.

The Problem with First World Challenges

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:34:15 GMT

When I think about 1st world problems, I always remember a story I was told by a young man who worked for the Castle Pines Water District. Castle Pines for those of you not from the area, is a very high-end, gated development where the very successful and famous live north of Castle Rock. As the story goes this young man was plowing after a heavy snowstorm and came upon two women in separate cars trying to get out of the neighborhood. The first woman was in her little Mercedes roadster that continually got stuck in the snow. Behind was her friend in a large luxury SUV who every time the Mercedes would get stuck, her friend would come up and push her car with her luxury SUV. A task better described really as a ramming of the other other car.

The women saw the young man plowing and waved him down. He stopped and looked at the thousands of dollars of damage they were causing to each other’s vehicles. and was positive there must be some urgent reason they were working so hard to get out of the neighborhood. The first woman explained they were trying to get to Starbucks for their morning lattes they have every morning. He then was asked if he’d mind going to Starbucks to pick up lattes for them, for a sizable gratuity of course. He politely explained to the women that the previous night’s snowstorm not only made the roads impassable but that all schools and businesses were closed. When he told me this story, he commented that the looks on the women’s faces is what was the most shocking, almost as if they didn’t believe him. Someone not in the Starbucks at their beck and call? Preposterous!

I lead with this story because it came to mind the other night when I was talking to my friend who works for the state. He was talking about how during the recent cold weather they opened several of Denver’s venues for the homeless to get out of the weather. After 72 hours the temperatures warmed and they closed the venues and sent the homeless back out and then had to proceed to clean the filth left behind. Mostly human filth, drug paraphernalia and lice. And during those 72 hours they were breaking up fights, watching drug deals happen and dealing with people who expected more than they appreciated the warmth their hosts provided.

If you’ve followed the Denver news you know that Denver has had about 700-750 refugees from Argentina just show up in the last 45 or so days. An effort they, the refugees, coordinated on social media. The question was asked of my friend, what challenges are you facing with these folks? His answer: basically nothing. No fights, no drugs, no trouble. What’s the cost to clean up after them? He said that’s not a problem either. The refugees approached the people at the shelters they are staying and asked for the cleaning supplies. Then they, the refugees, organized a work schedule, and the bathrooms are cleaner than they are when these “shelters” are doing their normal jobs, as community rec centers.

Isn’t interesting how one group expects others to help them, and the other is so grateful for the help, they try to be the least burden they can be.

The issue of first world problems hits us all, and frankly it’s an easy trap to fall into. I caught myself the other day. I was lamenting that we spent too much on the holidays and that I had to dip into savings to pay my bills. Then a voice in my head responded, did you hear what you just said? You just said “oh poor me I had so much fun with my family and friends, and gave so much at the holidays that I had to spend money I am lucky enough to have in reserve to pay my bills.” What a wonderful problem to have when the latest data on savings says that 30% of Americans have no savings, 70% of Americans have less than $15,000 saved and 56% of Americans cannot cover a $1000 emergency expense.

Lets take that one step further. One of the reasons we spent so much money was because we were invited to do things with a number of our friends. Again, how blessed are we to have friends! Loneliness in America is also on the rise. A recent Harvard study says 1 in 3 people are lonely. 61% of younger people experience loneliness, as do 51 percent of mothers of young children. Considering all that, what do I think of my 1st world problem? Well now that I think about it, the truth is, what problem?

Recognizing the difference between real challenges and 1st world problems is a great way to experience happiness in your life. One of the guys in my men’s group tells me before he gets out of bed in the morning he says out loud 10 things he’s thankful for and that sets his tone for the day. I’m pretty sure my first thing would be “thanks for this warm bed!” a much happier message than “how much do I pay to heat this cold house!” But that’s really the secret to being happy isn’t? Seeing the roses but not looking for the thorns.

I encourage you to start realizing your first world problems are just that. Appreciate your warm bed, the friends that give you an excuse to spend money having fun, and the feeling of accomplishment a day of hard work gives you. Because all of us can find something to complain about, but when you count your blessings, that , is when you’ll realize just how blessed you are.

Making a Happier 2023

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 19:50:39 GMT

Happy 2023. If you’re over the age of thirty you probably remember how excited we all were to cross the millennium. I remember about age 10 figuring out how old I’d be when we crossed into 2000. I remember thinking I’ll be 36. I couldn’t imagine being that old! When we hit that milestone I was married with two kids, something I didn’t see coming when I was 10. Now 23 years later, time and life keep moving on. The new year is a great time to think back to what your last year looked like and what you want 2023 to be.

For years I struggled for the perfect new years resolution. I spent probably 45-50 of my years promising to lose weight. That was a waste of many resolutions. New year’s resolutions often take on a negative connotation, such as: I’ll lose weight, I’ll work out more, or I'll get organized. I learned years later it was much better to add something. I prefer resolutions that make the world a little better, such as: I’m going to compliment a person every time I go out, or I’m going to call a friend each month and go to coffee with them.

It doesn’t have to be huge to make a difference in someone else’s life. A few of the guys I get together with for a men’s group were talking that it’s time to re-start our monthly breakfasts at Obrien’s Café in Sedalia. We stopped that tradition after we lost our friend Paul to ALS a few years back. The very guy who would encourage us to get back together. It’s going back on the calendar and if you want to join us, send me an email.

Another thing I’m going to do is try to write more blogs about people. Those are always the ones that get the most comments. Those are the ones that get shared and those are the one’s that often find me writing with tears in my eyes as I relive the very emotions that need to be shared with others. I listened to a Ted talk recently where the topic was telling people what they meant to you while they were still alive. It mentioned we waste our compliments on the dead; the person to whom the words would mean the most are never heard.

Even if you don’t want to commit to a resolution, might I suggest a few idea things that might brighten your 2023:

Don’t forget the power of a written note:

Send a non-expected note to a friend in the US mail.

Send a post card, yes a post card. Even better send it to someone under 30!

Send a thank you card.

Pay it forward: (or backward)

Buy someone’s (maybe a stranger's) coffee at the coffee shop.

Even better pay for the person behind you at the drive thru, the mystery is the best part.

Put a coin in someone’s expired parking meter.

Give people grace:

You don’t know the other person’s road in life, stop judging.

There are no perfect drivers.

Don’t forget to give yourself some grace too.

Whatever your 2023 looks like, enjoy today. You don’t know what tomorrow holds, so enjoy today. Enjoy your friends today,

enjoy your loved ones today, enjoy your life, today.

I hope you have your best 2023.

Pat Daddy

Some levity for the stressful days of the holiday

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:23:31 GMT

Do you remember Steven Wright the comedian? I loved his humor; his play on words. I think he once asked “what do you call a defective Milk Dud?” I’ve always liked that type of humor. Likely because my brain seems to work that way. So here’s a few questions I've been thinking about.

You take your three kids, Iris, Brandon and Shirley out on a field trip. You visit the museum and the state capitol. Your son is always distracted and wandering off. What happens in the Capitol when you shout to your distracted son: “Let’s Go Brandon!”

If you are going to school to learn how to put together custom boat and plane trips, are you going to a charter school?

To take care of bees you need equipment, like a bee suit, gloves and a smoker. So I wonder: If you smoke your bees, do you get buzzed?

Where do seedless watermelon seeds come from?

If you constantly finish the box of Cheerios at your house, are you a cereal killer?

Do You ever feel sorry for the person that wrote the song you’re listening to on hold. Think about it. Someone thought they were going to have a music career and instead their music was purchased to be hold music. So picture this: the guy who wrote the music you heard last time you were on hold is meeting a new woman. The conversation goes something like this:

Hi I’m Tom.

Hi Tom, I’m Allison. what do you do Tom?

Me, well, I’m a composer and songwriter.

Allison: Oh really! Have I heard your music? Is it anything I’d recognize?

Tom: oh I don’t know, when’s the last time you called the DMV?

I hope at least one of those made you chuckle or smile. For that matter I hope my blog makes you chuckle or smile. It’s hard to believe I wrote my first blog post on January 23rd 2019. Most of my blogs are still on this site. You may remember I had another site for about a year before I opened my wallet and bought my domain name.

So as you finish your shopping, remember don't get mad or angry at the numskulls who aggravate you, find the irony in their actions and laugh. You'll find yourself laughing through the holiday rather than stressing, and you'll be a bit healthier too.

Dancing through the weekend

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 19:40:37 GMT

On Saturday we were off to a wedding. This time joined by our family; the Engineer and the Norwegian Pescatarian, as well as Smooch and Hot Dish. The reception included 3 hours of dancing. So off we were to either dance our dance steps that fit the music or mimic our younger family members whose more modern dances consisted of much jumping. Dancing of any sort is fun, and we spent most of those 3 hours on the dance floor as did the rest of our family.

Sunday morning, we awoke to feeling a few muscles we forgot we had. The jumping of the previous night was blamed for our sore hamstrings, but the memories of the fun outweighed our discomfort. You would expect Sunday to be our recovery day, but no, there was more dancing to be had. Two months previous our close dance group; Mike and Angie, Steve and Robyn and David and Stephanie decided one night we needed to have our own dance event. In the Denver area there is normally a 1940’s Christmas ball we were all planning to attend, but it was cancelled. So, after some discussion Steve approached our studio owner about renting the studio for a few hours. After all it’s closed on Saturday and Sunday.

The studio owner, Morris, was very supportive and gladly rented us the studio for a very reasonable fee. As holiday weekends are often full of obligations, we chose a Sunday night for our party. We drew up a guest list, sent out invitations, invited people to bring drinks and food to share and it all culminated Sunday night from 6-9 pm. Michael and Steve had received lessons on how to work the music system and for three hours we had music, food and drinks and friends to share it with. Unlike the studios dance parties, there was no quick time limit where you feel obligated to dance every song. We had time to visit, eat and dance. It was a wonderful evening.

We were home Sunday night before ten. Tired and ready for bed we realized we had danced for over an hour for 4 days. As we readied for the new week and then climbed into bed, we quickly fell asleep. Where our dreams were filled with memories of dancing through the weekend.

Our usual weeks activities have us in a dance lesson on Thursday nights which is followed immediately by a group lesson. These two 45-minute respites from the world are often the very elixir we need to wind down from the workday. Not that we aren’t challenged by these classes; but much like other intensive activities, you just can’t think about the days problems while counting the beat of a song and trying a new move. Not just a move for you but learning the dance signal to your partner so they follow your lead into that move.

Our Friday nights are similar in that we often attend a group lesson which is followed by a 45 minute “dance party. ” Many of our dancing friends show up for both and during the dance party the studio plays various music types and we get to actually try those new moves we learned. That hour and half of dancing comes with smiles and laughs, and often a group of friends to go out afterwards for a bite to eat or a cocktail.

This past Friday night there was a theme to the dance party, and it was Prom. While I never wore the tuxedo frilly shirts so popular in the 70’s and early 80’s to my prom, MLW decided I needed a frilly tuxedo shirt. A quick trip to the fabric store and we had 2 yards of blue frilly trim. MLW sewed it onto a light blue shirt of mine and even sewed it onto my cuffs. I grabbed my tuxedo jacket, cummerbund, bow tie and pair of black slacks and I was ready. MLW pulled out her actual prom dress that we have kept in the closet ever since we were married, and it fit. We were all set for Prom night. The giggles and exclamations about MLW in her gunnysack dress and my outfit made the 45-minute dance party extra enjoyable.

The Weminuche Experience

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:24:59 GMT

“When the last deer disappears into the morning mist, When the last elk vanishes from the hills, When the last buffalo falls on the plains, I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.” Chief Joseph

My older son, the Engineer or "E" in this blog, has hunted with his father in law Ken for longer than he’s been married to Ken’s daughter NP. On this his 4th year of hunting with Ken I took advantage of his invite and agreed to come.

To set some parameters, this hunting trip is archery season for elk. In Colorado it lasts most of September. Ken hunts the entire season. Most of that time he’s at his favorite spot in the Weminuche wilderness, This is no cabin hunt. You backpack into a base camp and hunt from there. Ken introduces himself as “Kenneth James Knopp, the first last and only”. While I’ve known Ken for most of 10 years, what I learned on this trip was until you hunt with Ken, you don’t really know him.

My brother Doc and I drove in on a Friday and got into the forest just in time for a big hail storm. As the storm ended we found the parking area where we were to meet E to be guided into the hunting camp. We got ready and about an hour later out of the woods walked E and Ken. They grabbed some lunch out of Ken’s vehicle and once done, E escorted Doc and I and our overloaded backpacks the hour hike into camp. The packs were heavy and E took some of our stuff to lighten our loads but make no mistake, our packs were heavy. When we finally reached camp, we pitched our tents and got settled. Once in our tents for the night a light rain fell off and on during the night as we tried to sleep in our new surroundings.

I have hunted with many groups over the years. Most often I find myself with guys who want to be in the woods before dawn. Breakfast is a race and you feel rushed the entire time you're getting ready to leave. I quickly and thankfully realized this was not that kind of camp. We awoke at sun-up had our backpacking breakfasts and coffee and about an hour later moved into the woods. E was our guide and the 3 years of learning from Ken were more than evident. E is quickly becoming a skilled elk hunter.

People often talk about seeing someone in their element. The wilderness is Kens. Ken is a skilled carpenter, a sharp problem solver and a kind and helpful person in the confines of suburban living. But's it's in the woods where you see what Ken was made for, what recharges his soul. He hunts unlike anyone I have ever hunted with. All hunters know to look for evidence that animal they are hunting is in the area. Hunters call it "sign". Those who don't hunt would call it hoof marks, antler scrapes and poop. Ken knows the area and can tell you the changes from one day to another. A new antler scrape, fresh droppings and even what sex the animal was who left the droppings. He reads the woods like a newspaper, and like newspaper reader he never hurries.

When I tell people about Ken's season long hunt, they first question they'll ask is "what's his wife think of that?' Well Vicki has experienced it for over thirty years. But she too knows how important that time is to Ken. She knows if it came between his family and the hunt he'd choose his family. But like a wild trout in an aquarium, he'd soon lose his color, his health would suffer and the sparkle would leave his eyes; the "wild" part of his soul would be empty and unfilled.

We found that the elk "rut" had not yet started. The rut or mating season is when you hunt elk with a bow. You need to be quite close to the animal to bag it with a bow and it's in the rut when you can mislead this incredibly smart animal into thinking you are another elk who wants to steal his harem. Without the rut it's not impossible to bag and elk, it's just quite a bit harder. We hunted hard every day of the 4 days we spent with Ken. We saw sign, we heard bugles and we even surprised one in the brush, but we never had a shot. Ken during this time saw elk everyday. He passed on shots where the elk was too young. He's not a trophy hunter, far from it, but he is an ethical hunter. Ken believes if a legal elk shows itself, that's his gift from the almighty. He doesn't stop to consider there might be a bigger one tomorrow, no, you take what the Good Lord sends your way.

In the evening in the waning light we'd all gather and boil our water for our freeze dried meals. We'd tell stories, laugh at jokes and have a beer from the stash that was tied up in the stream. That's one of my favorite times in hunting camp, when the hunters laugh at their mistakes and find that most everyone has done more than his share of stupid things in the woods. It was that time that I looked at my son and thought of how proud of him I am and hoped his brother would join us next year. But it was also then that I realized what Ken was trying to convey to me over the last 8-10 years and to anyone else who questions why he hunts for an entire season. I suddenly could understand his frustration that words couldn't convey the message he was trying to send. A message about the elixir of life he'd found in a beautiful portion of the state. An elixir that healed the wounds of modern living, that refilled his soul, and that brought him closer to God. An elixir he'd gladly share with anyone, who'd simply don a backpack and join him in the area he calls home for one month every year.

Two Weeks in Maui, Week 2

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:39:53 GMT

With work done, it's family time.

Week two started on Friday the 19th. That is the day when we should have left if we were just there for the conference. Instead, we boarded the 10 am bus to the airport with the other Harman folks but when we got there we walked to the rental counter and picked up our Nissan Pathfinder. When we got to the stall where it was parked, MLW and I looked at the car then at each other and I started taking pictures. If the car was a horse, they’d say it was rode hard and put away wet. It had seen some rough usage and had at a minimum a ding on each panel and big scuff on the front quarter panel. But it ran nice, and it would be hard to tell any new damage we might put on it so off we went.

Our plan was to find lei’s for the kids when they arrived, find the condo we had rented in Kihei and get some food. We had about three hours until they landed, and we used it all. As we drove toward the airport their flight came over the top of the highway as it landed. MLW had made us all matching Hawaiian shirts which the kids had worn on their travels and now we had ours on as we waited for them to come off the concourse. We greed them with lei’s, grabbed their luggage and we were off. A quick stop at Costco and to the Condo. The afternoon consisted of walking to the beach and making dinner that NP & E never made it to, they had fallen asleep.

Saturday was to be a shore dive refresher for all of us and I had tried to also reserve a spot so NP could do a discover scuba dive. I was nervous that the dive company was not going to meet us because while I had a nice discussion with them the Saturday before we left home, they did not return any of the daily calls I was leaving them during the first week. My fears were realized when at 12:30 at the location we were told to meet them, they weren’t there and of course they didn’t answer their phone either. A snorkel company was on the beach, and they gave us a referral to B&B Scuba. It was only 1 pm and they were open until 5 so we found a beach and played in the ocean. At about 3:30 we packed up and went to B&B and they were more than happy to arrange for us a shore refresher dive for Monday and a two-tank dive at Molokini crater on Wednesday.

Our tummies were rumbling, and we found Maui Brewing Company just a few blocks from the dive shop in Kihei. The beer was cold and delicious, and we shared some apps. The day that had started with disappointment was ending very well. By the way the dive company that “stiffed” us, Pro Diver Maui. The number one pick of the guidebook we used.

Sunday morning I had agreed to return to the second meeting of my company and present again the presentation I had done during week one. My family was very nice and wanted to come see me present. We had a bit of a time mix-up that had me hurrying everyone out of the condo so we could travel the 45 minutes to Kaanapali beach and the Hyatt, but we made it with 15 minutes to spare. My presentation went well and then we were off for some shopping and lunch in Lahaina. After that we played at Black Rock beach where E and Smooch used the new boogie board E had purchased to play in the waves. The surge was still strong so we didn’t snorkel much. Smooch did jump off the rocks into the ocean which was fun to watch. We headed home, ate leftovers and called it a night.

Monday we walked into town via the beach and had breakfast at Nalu’s South Shore Grill. It was nice to eat in the open air restaurant. Then we returned to the condo, readied our scuba gear and headed over to B&B where we got our gear and drove back to Wakena Landing and had our shore dive refresher. Carl our dive master told us to expect little visibility and a strong current as the surge was still coming into the shore. We were all a bit nervous but got ourselves out and under the water where we did refresher lessons. You could see maybe 15 feet and as we did our class, our whole group moved across the sand about 6 feet each way as the surf moved in and out. We all did pass and then spent another 30 minutes diving along the reef.

Tuesday, we were up bright and early to drive the road to Hana. MLW and drove the road last in 2014. In those days you bought a CD and you’d listen to it an watch for mileage markers. Now you download an app that tracks you via GPS and it tells you what you’re coming up to before you get there. I was not sure we’d make it all he way to Hana, because we had reservations for a luau in Lahaina which is on the other side of the island. After a hike, a stop for shaved ice, banana bread, and numerous photo ops. Then on the way back we stopped and swam in three waterfalls. Another dash into the shower at the condo and we were off to the Feast at Lele, a dinner and luau in Lahaina. There we were fed a 5 course all inclusive dinner with cocktails. We tried every tropical drink out there in a rainbow of colors. The food was delicious and the show was very good. We especially enjoyed that it was on the beach.

Wednesday we awoke at 5 am so we could make the dive at Molokini crater. We had to be at the marina by 5:45. As it was getting to be late summer we arrived in the dark. Shortly after six the large dual hull boat was in the water and we were on our way to Molokini crater. We were the first dive boat to get there. They tied up to the float where we’d have our first dive ( ou can’t drop anchor or you'll damage the coral) The water was that clear Hawaii aqua and the visibility was 200-300 feet. We dove in and as Smooch said: It was like diving in an aquarium. During WWII the navy used the crater for target practice. There are still live munitions in the crater, there are also a lot of bullet slugs. While we dove our divemaster puled out an expanded bullet slug that had been shot sometime during WWII. Amazing.

Our second dive was a drift dive along the outer wall of the crater. There again we saw an amazing array of fish colored from every bit of the rain bow. Here the bottom was about 300’ below us. You could look out into the murky depths where we saw several white tipped sharks. It was a great dive. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and spending time at another beach. We then cleaned up and were off to our “fancy” dinner courtesy of work. Since I came back to present while on vacation, I was told I could take the family out to dinner. In Hawaii that’s quite a gift and we had a nice late meal at Humble Market Kitchen.

Thursday we checked out of the condo and spent the day buying gifts and souvenirs. We searched out what was rated as the best Poke’ on the Island at Eskimo Candy, shopped some more and then ended up at the beach by the airport watching the sailboards and the kite sailers fly across the water. Then a quick bite and it was time to get to the airport and take our over night flights home. We were on a separate flight from the kids but we landed in Denver about 45 minutes apart.

The trip was wonderful and we had so much fun. We got to watch our “kids” experience Maui for the first time and they stretched us to some new adventures. I always wanted to dive with both our boys and it happened on this trip, hopefully we’ll get NP certified in the near future.

Another memory tucked away about a great adventure with the family I love.

Two Weeks in Maui

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 15:51:17 GMT

A company that takes you to Maui is great! But a company that cares for you is better.

In August my company had our annual meeting with our restaurant general managers in Maui. It was a crazy trip to get there. MLW and I had just returned from Wisconsin on August 7th, we worked the work week, attended NP’s sister’s wedding on the evening of 8/13 and promptly showed up at DIA at 4 am Sunday the 14th. We had a connector flight in San Francisco and landed in Maui at 11 am local time.

Our company has returned to the Hyatt on Kaanapali beach for over 30 years. With competition and the cost of doing business now we were on a every 3 year rotation and thanks to Covid, we were finally here after a cancelled trip that was supposed to occur in 2020.

This is our third trip to Maui and it’s the busiest I’ve ever seen it. They say the island is basically full through Labor Day weekend, rooms that we had locked in at $250/night are now in the $600-700/ night range and Maui prices are, well, Maui prices. The hotel zone in Kaanapali has a shoreline walkway that connects all the hotels and the number of people on it were double what I remember at popular times of the day. None the less, Hawaii is incredibly beautiful and when we found we were returning, we arranged with E, NP and Smooch to meet us here the week after the business meeting. (More on that in the next blog)

Once we settled in and enjoyed the afternoon, we attended the welcome dinner. It was fun to see all the folks I work with and have made friends with these past 9 years. By 9 pm we were exhausted and that’s when we realized it was 24 hours since we got up to go to the airport. Sleep came easy.

Unfortunately for MLW, her recent 6 weeks off work for her neck surgery recovery, coupled with our pre planned trip to Wisconsin and now Maui, left her needing to work. So, while Monday and Wednesday were “free” days for those of us attending the conference, MLW was up, showered and ready for calls at 4 am. I would roll over put in ear plugs and sleep for a couple more hours. On off days I’d find ways to entertain myself while MLW worked. Part of it was working, after all it was a work trip, otherwise I’d get us prepared for activities we’d do once she was done. Her work was done most days at 1 pm, 6 pm at her company headquarters and we’d wander off in search of fun.

Now our third visit, we no longer felt the need to spend every hour roaming the island but rather were often content with a couple of hours at the pool or sitting on the beach. As a Coloradoan who lives at 6500 feet, I was bit sure of my “sun sense” as I’d put on my sunscreen everyday and laugh at the people who resembled walking lobsters. Then on day four I got careless and joined the others as I turned into a lobster myself. The basic difference as I learned I was, at home, prime sunburn hours are 10 am to 2 pm, but in Hawaii sunburn hours are more like 9 am to 5 pm.

Our trip always wraps up with a Luau at the Hyatt. It’s called Drums Across the Pacific and it showcases the various dances and indigenous costumes of the various pacific islanders. It’s a fun show, the food is always good and it makes for a great last evening.

I have worked for a number of companies over my career. All of them have touted their culture, but none have come close to Harman’s. Functions like this are fun, like they should be of course, but what makes them fun is I truly like the folks I work with. While I have a great deal of respect for our executives, I also consider them friends. Gone are the days of the forced deference; the executive and his trophy wife greeting the employees like royalty examining the commoners. No, just nice people who run our company, who know our kids names, know MLW just had neck surgery and value my and everyone’s contributions to the company. Gone is the awkward small talk replaced with actual care and concern. As I get closer to the twilight of my career, I know I could have made more money, but really, I have enough of that. What I have is the ability to love my job, change people’s lives for the better and sleep at night knowing my employers ethics match my own. That’s when you know you’re in the right place, when you realize you have a career not a job, and you “get” to go to work, rather than “have” to go to work.

Another Wisconsin Lake Vacation

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 17:48:30 GMT

It was again time to return to Wisconsin and the town of Chetek to the cabin we’ve rented the past few years. This year we returned to a cabin that had a major renovation. The 1950’s style home had one bedroom removed and the basement stairs moved to the side of the house so that it could be opened up. We came into an open concept cabin with a kitchen island and firplace. What was basically a screened in room that was added onto the house at some point in it’s past, is now part of the open area. I won’t belabor the point but what was a cut up house of rooms is now a very nice cabin.

We were in no big hurry to arrive. We left on the Friday morning before we were to be there and traveled to Urbandale, IA to spend the evening with my cousin Leslie and her husband Brendan. As always, the visit was filled with laughter and good food. After a “midwestern goodbye”, we drove north toward the Twin cities. When we got close to Clear Lake, IA I asked the group if they wanted to visit the Buddy Holly crash site which is just a mile west of the highway, we made a side stop and walked through the corn fields on the trail to the site. There was constant trickle of people walking to the site. Kind of amazing since the crash happened 73 years ago.

We pulled not the driveway a little before 4 pm. The cabin was beautiful. New siding and a new roof on the outside and the interior remodel were beautiful. We unpacked and jumped in the lake. Later that evening we drove the Lehmann’s Supper Club in Rice Lake for Smooches birthday. Lehmann’s has been a staple of Rice Lake for 86 years. The only time I remember being there was in 1970 when we went there with my Dad’s friends Paul and Betty Taylor and in celebration of Dad’s new job, Paul picked up the tab. There were about 8 of us I’d guess. I will always remember my Dad talking back at the cabin saying “that was very nice of Paul, the bill was over $100!” It’s much easier to have a restaurant tab over $100 now, but we too had a great celebration.

We were not set to pick up a pontoon boat until Wednesday, so Smooch and I fought a windy day to fish out of the canoe that is at the cabin. No fish but we did paddle up on a huge snapping turtle. It was a day of not doing much and it was wonderful. That night we watched the Hydroflights, the Chetek water ski team and later there were thunderstorms and it cooled off nice.

This was the trip that MLW and I were going to see how well we could work remotely from somewhere else besides home. I brought a monitor for each of us and we set up our “offices” in the cabin. The day dawned cloudy and cool and when not looking at my computer screen I looked right out onto the water. One of the best views I’ve had for work in quite some time. Our set-ups worked pretty well and it was good practice for future get aways. We worked Monday and Tuesday and took the rest of the week off.

Wednesday and Thursday we toured the lakes on the boat and stopped at several watering holes we could drive the boat to. Thursday we were joined by Hot Dish’s mom and dad, Lonnie and Jackie and HD’s little sister Ellie. Friday Smooch and HD went to her folks home to help get ready for Lonnie and Jackie’s 35th wedding anniversary party in Siren, WI that was planned for Saturday. Friday morning Smooch and I tried our luck fishing on more time.

I had seen some older fishermen pull up just out from our dock in front of the former floating islands on Thursday. I recognized these gentlemen from last year. They dropped two anchors and two rods with bobbers and pulled in fish. We did the same early Friday, and while we were fishing we noticed there was some kind of fish rising to the surface and “porpoising” It turned out to be bass who were chasing minnows. Before we could rig something else on our lines, Smooch noticed his bobber was gone. He tried pulling in the line and he could feel something on it then, it was just a snag. I tried to pull on it and we broke the line thinking it must have been a turtle. 20 minutes later the bobber reappeared, then disappeared again, then surfaced again. I moved the boat over to the bobber and Smooch started pulling in the line hand over hand, at the end of it was nice 14” bass.

After the “kids” left, MLW and I cruised the lake and looked at cabins and just enjoyed the beautiful day. We anchored and jumped into some floaties for a while and floated around the pontoon, then it was time to clean up. We cleaned up, put two of the cruiser bikes from the cabin on the pontoon and went to return the pontoon to the marina. It wasn’t due in for another couple of hours and as I pulled up to the marina, MLW asked how much gas we had left. I said about 1/8th of a tank. She said, “take me to Gilligan’s for a beer and then we’ll bring the boat back”. MLW is always full of good ideas! About an hour later we docked the boat and rode the bikes back to the cabin.

Saturday, we packed up and headed to Siren for the party. We had some time to waste so we stopped by Spooner, WI where they were having a festival. We shopped at the stores and the artisan tents. We did not buy much but had a nice time. Then we were off to Siren.

Siren is a small town of about 800 people. We stayed at the Lodge there along with all the revelers who came to the party. The party was big fun with plenty of dancing. We met many of HD’s relatives and friends. It was fun night with lots of dancing and laughing. The night ended after midnight, and we went to bed dreading the 14+ hour drive home the next day which we did in in one trip.

It was a wonderful trip. No longer do I feel the need to fish everyday like my dad used to do. The ability to ride bikes into town, to just float in the lake, and to relax without an agenda was refreshing and a tonic for the soul.

Say Hello to my Little Friend(s)

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 14:24:59 GMT

The bee update you've asked for...

Of all the things I have recently written about, the most common question I get is “how are the bees”? Since I have not written since I put them in their hives, I’ll give you an update.

The Gumbee’s have prospered. They have a prolific queen I’ve named Victoria because of her famous namesake. These bees have grown and quadrupled. They have filled two of the big hive boxes, known as “deep boxes”. These deeps are a little over 9 inches deep and hold 10 frames. I gave them 4 frames of premade comb when they were released into their new hive and they filled those with brood and honey right away and went onto build more.

Besides having them go out and forage, I have also been feeding them sugar water. This gives the bees the extra calories they need to create wax from their wax glands on their back. I could wait for them to eat the honey and nectar they are bringing in the hive, but by augmenting the food source they build their hive faster. You remove the feeders before you add the level of the hive where they put the honey you can harvest, otherwise you basically end up with sugar syrup honey and that’s not what you want.

I just put on the honey level, a shorter box, known as a “honey super” earlier this week. I filled the feeder one more time so the bees could build out the honey comb but not enough so they’d start making sugar honey. We’ll check in in a week and see how they are doing

The Frizbee’s have had a much harder time. I noticed after 2 weeks their queen was gone. I waited one more week to see I there was any sign of her, and there was none. No eggs, no brood and the bees were making queen cells to try and raise another queen, but without new eggs there was no way that was going to happen. So I went out and bought another queen. She struggled for a few weeks and I called the bee shop to ask advice and they pointed out that there were basically no new bees since I got the bees on April 30 and now it was mid June. So they suggested I pull a frame of brood from my other frame and let them hatch in the struggling hive. That way they’d have new nurse bees and the hatching new bees would stimulate the queen to begin laying and it did!. Unfortunately the Frizbees are about 4 weeks behind the other bees, but they have filled one deep and they’re moving forward to get to the critical mass we need for then to make it through the winter.

I am not yet at the comfort level with the bees that I can work bare-handed. There are many bee keepers that do just that and after you see how sticky and messy your gloves get while working in the hives, that you realize the benefit to working bare handed. But I’m not there yet. However, I did make one step towards that this past week when I marked my queen Victoria. It is common for bee keepers to mark their queens backs with water based paint from a bee marking pen. My queen of the Frizbees, Elizabeth, came marked. It’s so easy to find her. Just image you’re looking at a frame with 2000 bees crawling on it and you’re looking for one that looks different. It’s a little challenging, but if that one bee had a bright spot on it’s back, it’s much easier.

After two days of looking for Victoria in two boxes of frames, I ordered a queen marking pen. It came on Wednesday and I was bound and determined to mark her like I had seen my favorite be guy do on Youtube. I took the pen out of its packaging and made sure I could use it. I‘m glad I did as it was made at a much lower elevation and when I opened it, it shot a bunch of paint out it. That would have killed my queen. Now I was ready to try again to find her.

I started going through the bee frames in the upper box and when I got to the 5th frame I stated seeing very new eggs. I hoped I was close. I picked up the 6th frame, looked for a few seconds and there she was. Victoria is not a huge queen, but boy can she lay eggs. I took off my leather bee gloves for the first time when working with my bees and reached onto the frame and picked her up by her wings, then I carefully reached for her legs with my other hand. I gently held her legs and there at the back of her abdomen was her stinger. Queens have smooth stingers like wasps so they can battle to defend their hive from other queens. But she didn’t try to sting me. I touched her back between her wings with the paint pen and put a nice yellow dot on her back. Then I put her in a queen cage for a few minutes to let the paint dry and released her back into the hive. Whoo Hoo! I had a marked queen and I did it myself.

I’ll open up both hives after almost 2 weeks and see how they are doing and if I have any honey the honey super. We’re getting some monsoon rains so I’m hoping there will be some new flowers for my girls. Meanwhile I continue to learn new things about my bees. I’m still fascinated by them, they continue to be one of the most interesting hobbies I’ve ever had.

The Final Gift

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:34:02 GMT

Celebrations of Life aren't a duty, they're a gift....

Over the last weekend of June, I, MLW, E, Smooch, Hot Dish and Doc drove back to Dolliver, IA to celebrate the life of my Uncle Jim. In three days, we spent about 24 hours driving going back and forth. We stayed in Estherville, IA, about 20 minutes away from Dolliver. Estherville is in the NW corner of IA. It is the birthplace of my dad and his 3 brothers, Charles, Ben and Jim. Jim crossed over to join my Dad and Charles on December 26th, but Given the weather in NW Iowa, his celebration of life was chosen to be on June 25.

MLW and I love road trips. I wish they were a bit shorter than getting to Iowa. I made the joke to one of my cousin’s, when I said “do you know why I don’t visit you more often?... Nebraska!” The drive through Nebraska is long, and mundane but it’s also an easy drive. I know it well and I have my favorite rest areas and gas stations. The mistake I have learned is trying to find another route through the state. I have yet to find something faster than I-80. Regardless of what the navigation apps may say, if you are not flying, there’s not a quicker way through the state.

We arrived in Estherville Friday night with just enough time to find a TV to watch game 5 of the Stanley Cup series. We had dinner with Speedy my sister and Randy. It was good to see them as we had not seen them since we visited them at their home in 2019. 2019 was the last year I saw all my siblings. I found a way to visit each of them that year. An amazingly serendipitous decision as Covid would rob us of that ability to visit and connect the next year.

Saturday morning came quickly and soon it was time to go to Uncle Jim’s service. We drove to Doliver, IA where we met the family at the Methodist church. Doliver is a small, little town about 17 miles east of Estherville. It’s one of those towns that once was a thriving farm town, but as transportation improved and Supermarkets replaced local grocery stores, these towns became little communities, held together by their churches and faith, lots of history, little if any commerce and a questionable future of being anything but a cute little hamlet of nice people.

Any relatives that were not staying at the Estherville Inn and Suites were there at the church. I have a picture here and I’ll point them out there. But there’s two reasons for these trips, to pay respect to a man I had more in common with than I didn’t, and to see family. To some people seeing their family isn’t as wonderful as I experience it. While our family is far from perfect, it’s a pretty honorable group. One of my regrets is that over my lifetime I have spent just a small amount of time with them.

The Uncle Ben and Uncle Jim branches of the Jones family tree spend holidays, birthdays, and special anniversaries together. They travel to see new babies, attend graduations and celebrate each other. My dad’s limb of the family tree doesn’t do that very much, and something I’ve regretted for years. It came as a real shock to me when MLW, Smooch and I traveled in 2018 to Stephen’s (Cousin Jim’s son) graduation party. Smooch looked around the party at close to 30 people and said, I’m related to all these people? If my siblings wondered why I visited all of them the following year, that’s why. That’s also why I have two guest rooms with made beds at all times. But I digress.

The service was beautiful and simple like Uncle Jim would have wanted. As I looked at both his history and aunt Marge’s in Scouting, how similar our lives have been. Both Jim and Marge are recipients of the Silver Beaver, our sons are Eagle Scouts, and we’ve spent countless nights in tents and at camp. Then to see his proud service in the Navy and a lifetime of teaching. Or to use one of my favorite sayings, a lifetime of planting trees under whose shade he’d never sit.

After the service we walked to Aunt Marge’s house and there we visited with cousins and relatives we haven’t seen for a long time. When I was young, I never knew why adults visit so much when they get together. As you get older you learn the need for the connection; the need to hear the stories that bind us. To laugh, to hear funny stories, to see the human-ness of all; to learn we all have struggles and triumphs.

The day ended, I drove the boys past St Mary’s Church in Armstrong, IA where their grandparents were married 75 years ago. There was some visiting into the wee hours back at the hotel and then Sunday morning we all drove off in separate directions to what each of us call home. Some will say that trips to memorial services, funerals or celebrations of life are things we’re duty bound to do. I don’t see it that way. I see it as the last gift of a loved one, to have an event that brings us back together, to hear the stories, to share the love and remember an amazing person we didn’t spend enough time with.

Family starting bottom left. (L-R) Aunt Marge, Aunt Jane, Sophie, Patrick, Rory, Uncle Ben

Next Line: (L-R) Becky, Keith, Nicki "Speedy", Leslie, Nick

Next line: (L-R) Jim, Jamie, Pat Daddy, Tammie

Next Line: Nathan, Colin "smooch", Hayden "E", Jeff "Doc"

very Top with hat: Stephan

Pat Daddy's Silver Beaver, by MLW

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 14:24:19 GMT

Hi all, I have stolen Pat Daddy’s (PD) blog so I can tell you something he has recently been unexpectedly recognized for. As many of you know PD has been involved in Boy Scouts throughout much of his life. He began scouting in high school and has held many positions as an adult in the scouting organization starting when E began as a Tiger Cub in first grade and continues to this day by mentoring Eagle Scout candidates.

Now on to his recent recognition. PD was awarded the highest award the Boy Scout organization recognizes for exceptional character by a volunteer who has provided distinguished service within a council, called the Silver Beaver. This award is given to those who implement the scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication and many years of service. PD had no idea he had been nominated by others he has worked with in scouting.

So let me tell you a bit more about this prestigious award. It was introduced in 1931 and was initially only awarded to men. Woman started receiving the Silver Fawn Award in 1971. This award was discontinued in 1974 at which time the Silver Beaver began to be awarded to both men and women involved in scouting. You may wonder why isn’t this a Golden Beaver if it is the highest honor awarded? The Boy Scouts adopted the model used by the United States Military where silver awards rank higher than gold recognitions.

Ok so let’s talk about what PD has done in his scouting career thus far. In his freshman year of high school PD’s best friend invited him to his Eagle Scout Court of Honor which is a ceremony held when an Eagle Scout candidate is formally awarded their Eagle Scout rank. That was all it took to get PD interested in scouting. He then joined Troop 258 in Rock Island, IL. and got right to work earning merit badges and learning all scouting had to offer. PD earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1981 one month before his 18th birthday. For you non-scouters, an Eagle candidate must do all necessary steps to earn the appropriate merit badges, complete their Eagle project and successfully complete a board of review before their 18th birthday. A board of review is like a panel interview with some scouting people and others you do not know asking questions regarding your scouting career, knowledge of scouting information and future goals.

Obtaining the Eagle Scout rank is something only awarded to about 4% of all who join scouts. Getting everything completed in 4 years calls for a lot of determination, time spent learning new skills, holding leadership positions as well as determining what your Eagle project will be. Plug here for all my boys, as you know we have 3 Eagle Scouts in my household and I am so proud of all 3 and am always amazed at the skills they have learned through scouts that they use every day. I know what team I am picking to go with me in the wilderness. :)

So now you are 18 and have your Eagle Scout designation so scouts is over, right?? Nope, not for PD. After graduating from high school PD and his family moved to Colorado where he had a chance meeting with the Camp Director of the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch in northern Colorado. PD spent the next 5 summers working at camp with his last year serving as the Program Director. I believe if we ever win the lottery PD will buy a camp and happily run it for the rest of his life. As long as our cabin has modern conveniences that sounds pretty fun to me.

During his college years, PD was fortunate to get a part time job with the local scouting office. He also became involved in Order of the Arrow which is the honor society of Boy Scouts. The Order of the Arrow is composed of scouts and scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives through an election process completed by their peers. It was during those years he was nominated and became a Vigil Member, the highest level you can achieve in OA, and again, can only reach through nomination of your peers. Click on the scout logo below if you aren’t familiar with them.

An offer of employment as a professional scouter was made to PD upon graduation from college, but the finances just weren’t going to work so PD took a bit of a break from scouting while getting settled into post college life with MLW.

Fast forward 11 or so years when E joins Tiger Cubs. This is when PD’s volunteer scouting service started up and continues to this day. Over both E and Smooch’s scouting careers PD has served as Cubmaster and moving on with the boys to become Scoutmaster as they moved to Boy Scouts. PD was Scoutmaster of Troop 260 in Castle Rock for 9 years and remained in that position even after E and Smooch aged out of Boy Scouts.

You’re thinking ok your boys are out of scouts so it must be time for retirement? Not quite, the call to continue to work with scouting was too strong so PD decided to volunteer for additional responsibilities at the District level having most recently served as the District Chair. A position that found him in charge of merging two districts into one, in an area larger than Rhode Island, serving over 2500 scouts and scouters

Our family calendar has held Tuesday nights as scout night for the past 23 years and continues to do so as PD works with his old troop attending meetings and working with the kids and the troops’ leadership. Oh yeah, there are also Monday and Wednesday night meetings, video calls during COVID as well as other miscellaneous meetings. If you know PD you know scouts has and will always be a part of our lives.

Pat Daddy I am so proud of the dedication and support you have given this amazing organization for so many years. The impact you have had on so many young men and now young women may never be fully made known to you, I know you have made a huge impact on so many young lives and will continue to do so in the future.

You call it Stress, I'll call it Love

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 16:41:08 GMT

Years ago when I was working for Target Stores, I worked for a guy named Steve Shreck. Steve was an interesting man; very sarcastic, far from an optimist and he didn't deal well with change. He hated that he had been sent to Greeley to run a Target store. About a week before MLW and I got married he said to me “Are you sure you want to do this? You know, of life's most stressful things 1 and 2 are death of a spouse and divorce. If you stop now you’ll never have to deal with one or two!”

When I think about that conversation now, it is no less ridiculous than it was at the time. I had found who I thought to be,and now I clearly know is my soulmate. I don’t know if he, who was married for about 12 years and had two kids, was just being his sarcastic self or really making a point. I haven’t seen him since 1989, so I’ll never know. But I knew I wanted to get married to MLW and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

That conversation tends to pop up in my mind when life gets tough. Our last three to four weeks have been crazy busy. With preparing for Smooch’s graduation and getting ready for summer there has been a lot to do. What not everyone knew is that during that time and going back to January, MLW has been struggling with pain and numbness running down her left arm. In February we found she had two disc spaces in her neck where the disc was budging and collapsing, causing her nerve roots to be pinched off.

She was successful for a short time with some physical therapy. She had reduced the pain to a tolerable level and then in early May she requested I buy her a board for one of her projects while we were at Home Depot. It was long and we had only the Subaru, so I had to have her sit in the car and run it through the window into the back of the car with part of it sticking out in front. As she held it in place during those 20 minutes driving home, something happened and the pain came back.

Life was busy, she had to travel to New Orleans for a meeting, she had other things that had to be done at work and her arm hurt. She would sleep anywhere it was comfortable which was a location she never found. When we went to Grand Junction for Smooches graduation she slept in the hotel recliner and then the couch. The pain was not getting better. On May 28th we had a party here at our house for Smooch, that was also our 34th anniversary. The party went well, then the next day I developed a cough and she got more sore. Our anniversary dinner planned for the 29th got canceled, I found I was positive with Covid, her arm was worse and more painful. This all continued until Tuesday the 31st when the pain became intolerable and off to the ER we went while she paced, held her arm, cried, and paced more. Nothing was comfortable and her arm was on fire .

She was given pain meds, but as many of you know there really are no pain meds when it comes to nerve pain. Plus I was not telling anyone my home Covid test was positive. How would I be able to take her anywhere? The week was tough, trying to work, keeping her medicated and fed, assisting with her, getting her to dr appointments. On Thursday morning she saw her surgeon who wanted to do surgery as soon as possible. The surgery would be to remove the two bad discs in her neck and replace them with artificial discs. At this point she had significant weakness in her dominant left arm and she was in constant pain.

Our health insurance was not moving very fast. So I raised a fuss with the folks at work who put me in touch with someone from our broker. Olga the scheduling person at the Dr’s office pushed too and together we got the surgeon and the “approval Doc” to talk, and surgery was approved. What shocked me was that Olga had a work around as well. To fully understand this you have to understand that the Dr’s staff has a number of Russian women who work there. In a strong Russian accent Olga told me “if you don’t get this approved, we’ll have the surgical center reserved, you go to the emergency room Sunday night, tell them she is Dr Bauers patient and they’ll write up that she needs emergency surgery and she’ll get it Monday morning either way…” I wasn’t sure if MLW was having surgery or sneaking through a border crossing, but either way Monday was going to be the day.

The weekend was full of chores and keeping MLW medicated. She was incredibly uncomfortable throughout the weekend until 12:25 Monday when they knocked her out for the surgery. When I got to see her in her hospital room after the surgery, she lifted up her arm for me and said “look! It doesn’t hurt!” As I sat in her room, happy and content, suddenly I was tired, very tired.

I drove home with the air conditioning cranked, not because it was so hot but because I had to stay awake for the 30 minute drive. In the midst of caring for MLW, running the house, trying to work, it just felt busy, incredibly busy. But once MLW was out of pain and on the road to recovery, the adrenaline I didn’t even realize was running my body, turned off and my body was tired. It was telling me I did what I had to, and now that MLW was on the road to recovery, this body, my body, needed rest too.

I came home, napped, took Smooch to visit MLW and then returned home. MLW would spend the night in the hospital and while I usually don't sleep well when MLW is gone, on this night I slept like I haven’t for months. Which got me thinking again about Steve Shreck and his comment so many years ago. On one level, Mr. Shreck was right, but also so wrong. Because when you are as lucky as I am to have spent the last 34 years with MLW. It’s not just statistics, she is an extension of me. If she is uncomfortable, so am I, if she is happy, so am I. So I’m glad my response to that question 34 years ago was , “yes I’m sure.” Even though it was a huge leap of faith. Thankfully in our case the leap didn’t end with us falling into an abyss, just into a love that has lasted 34 years.

So regardless that the number one stressor is still out there, (I think I'm safe from number 2.) there’s only one thing to say: Happy Anniversary MLW, I wouldn’t take this crazy ride with anyone but you.

A quick post scrip: MLW’s surgeon found that although her two discs that were removed were compromised, her neck had good bone density and the discs above and below where the surgery was were healthy and in good shape. He does not expect her to have any complications or residual issues once she’s through with her recovery. She’s in a soft collar for the next two weeks, her recovery is anticipated to be about 6 weeks total. As far as my Covid, I had a drive-up Covid test that was positive and triggered a call from the state health department to ask me some tracking questions. During our conversation the person I spoke to did the calculation and determined I was non-contagious as of May 29th. She also said that since the party we had was outside that I posed no significant risk to the people who attended our party.

The New CMU Graduate

Wed, 25 May 2022 13:21:49 GMT

On May 21st, on a crispy cloudless morning in Grand Junction, Smooch, our youngest son graduated with a degree in Business, with an emphasis in Marketing at Colorado Mesa University. It was another stop on a young life, a stop that many thought he’d never arrive at.

Many of you know the story; the kid with dyslexia who never had an easy time in school. The kid whose life would be turned upside down with OCD. Which had to be openly and painfully battled because OCD thrives in secrecy. Oh there were many reasons he wasn’t expected to graduate. But then again, while he may complain and growl when faced with a struggle, that’s just how he winds himself up, that’s how he readies for the fight, and fight he has.

When I tell folks he had a bad freshman roommate, the usual answer is, Yea, so did I . Then I ask, Did yours come wearing an ankle bracelet due to an arson conviction? That usually stops the “been there, done that” comments. Luckily bad roommates with bad study patterns are usually a self correcting problem and this roommate was no different; he was gone for good come Christmas break.

Smooch is far from a shrinking violet. He got a job in the Outdoor Program because he was always in there using their bike stands and talking with the staff. His first trip after getting a job in the Outdoor Program was a trip to the Via Ferrata in Ouray, CO. Once in the van he made everyone in the van get to know each other and they had a great time, and then when the driver overheated the van brakes and he told her what to do, suddenly they learned that he was far from just another bike mechanic.

Smooch got himself immersed in his vision of college; taking classes, riding mountain bikes, kayaking the river. His easy going friendliness led him to teach kayak rolling sessions at the pool every Monday night for most of his years at CMU and working for BoneShakers, a kid day camp that teaches middle and high schoolers mountain biking skills. As his classes got more challenging he learned better ways to study. He changed and adapted as all successful humans do. When classes got hard, he spent more time with his professors and advisor. He learned early in his life to be a self advocate and he’s one of the best today.

So as MLW, the Engineer, Hot Dish and I sat in the bleachers on Saturday morning, my heart once swelled again with pride as the tears rolled down my cheeks. There he was completing another milestone. Confident and strong, he knew he belonged there, he knew like all things in life; he’d earned it.

In times like these I think back in confusion and disappointment when I think of those people in his early life who, because of their own weaknesses and bias, weren’t supportive, and weren’t encouraging. There’s something terribly wrong when those who are there to lift us up, hold us down. We all heard the suggestions that Smooch wasn’t “college material”, that he wasn’t smart enough for anything above remedial learning. It begs the question how many others have experienced the same thing? And how many of them believed those comments and lost the desire to reach for their goals?

We were blessed as was Smooch to have found our own Smooch Champions. Those who encouraged him, those who supported him and those that helped him get the tools he needed to be successful in school and life. Many of you reading this blog were a part of that and we cannot thank you enough for the support you provided him and us.

So congratulations Smooch as our family's newest college graduate. We couldn’t be more proud of the man you’ve become and the tools you’ve equipped yourself with to move onto the next big thing in life, whatever you choose it to be.

The Bee-ginning of Beekeeping

Tue, 03 May 2022 03:13:24 GMT

The last month has moved pretty quickly as we prepared to welcome our 20,000 bees last Saturday. First was the repair of the chicken coop so I could sell it. The challenge with the chicken coop was when I built it, I used plans from Purina. It was intended for farm use. It was not some cutesy coop you see at your local farm store, it was made with 2x4’s and weighed over 300 lbs. When I built it I thought it would be awesome with a skylight in it. The skylight was acrylic and I didn’t seal it very well. Which led to the ¾ “ plywood roof decking getting wet and after 8 years, part of the roof had rotted.

I replaced the rotted parts of the roof, removed the skylight and my friend Gary gave me two sheets of rolled roofing. I even put metal drip edge on the top and bottom edges of the roof to avoid any water problems in the future. I painted a few parts of it and cleaned it out. Then came the issue of moving it.

The design of the coop was it sat 18” off the ground and the feeders hung from below. Removing it meant cutting off the legs at 2 feet. The legs were originally about 3.5 feet long and 2 feet of them were in the ground. I figured that had been a bit over engineered so I dug down and cut them of at 24 inches.

Next was moving it. My neighbor was kind enough to come over with his tractor and use his forks to pick it up. It was quite a chore making sure he could get to the coop and not tip thanks to my hills. But finally the coop was dropped by my driveway.

Then I put it onFacebook marketplace and I remembered why I usually just donate things. I had some interested folks but they didn’t read my dimensions. I had two people who wanted to pick it up in their SUV. I had to explain, no that would not work, it was 6.5 feet tall, 64 inches wide, it needed a pickup bed or a trailer to move. After two weeks of few interested bites, I dropped the price and gave it one more week. If it didn’t sell it was going to become a potting shed for MLW. On Tuesday the night before I had to leave town I sold it. The new buyer showed up with 2 helpers and a Toyota Tacoma. It took an hour to get it into the bed o the truck and strap it down. How it wasn’t dropped on the road on it’s 45 mile trip to Colorado Springs I’ll never know, but I got my money and it was gone.

I traveled for work Wednesday thru Friday and arrived home on April 29th. The bees would be ready to pick up the next morning from 6 am to 3 pm. I slept nervously like a kid before Christmas. At 7am on Saturday MLW and I drove to Colorado Springs to pick up the bees. I had read so many articles, some telling you to show up in your bee veil and gloves, some saying that was not necessary. The latter were right, they were not necessary. It was much easier than I thought. We walked up, they had hundreds of boxes of bees, I checked in and they gave me two of them. They would thump the bees down and I could see the queen for a quick minute in her queen cage then the bees would cover her up again.

The bees were very gentle and not aggressive. Without honey stores and just getting a new queen, they don’t have anything to protect. One landed on MLW’s finger while I was getting my boxes and one of the workers explained what it was doing. When it was time to leave, he grabbed it by its wings and took it off her finger.

MLW and I got into a car with two queens and 20,000 bees. There’s a joke there, but I’ll let it pass. We joked that if we got into an accident and they got out, we’d be on the news. The drive home was uneventful. Once home the bees in their boxes went into the shade and I put on my bee suit and prepared to put them in their new homes.

I asked for suggestions in my last blog for a name or my second hive. Thanks for all the suggestions, many made me laugh. The first hive is “the Gumbees.” MLW made a cute sign with a gum dispenser full of bees. For the second hive I chose “the Frizbees.” For that sign MLW made a bee with an afro.

I dumped the bees into their hive. I was so excited I forgot to pull the queen cage from the box at first, rookie mistake, but she was fine. The second hive went smoother. Then I filled their feeders and gave them each a pollen patty and let them alone. The queens will hang in the hive in their queen cages until Tuesday. I would have released them today, Monday, but it’s 35 degrees with a snow rain mix and you don’t ever want to open your hive when it’s cold. Her attendants will continue to feed her while she’s in her little cage.

The hardest part for me at this point is to leave them alone, which is what I’ve learned from my classes and YouTube video’s. I’m not good at that. I am keeping their feeders full and since our neighborhood has not had much of a bloom yet, they are eating a lot. But the moisture should kick start the spring flowers and hopefully all goes well.

My bee journey has started, I’ll let you know how it goes. Oh and I’m already getting one question and so far the answer is no, I have not been stung yet.

The Speakeasy and the Un-Named Cocktail

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 01:56:59 GMT

Last Sunday night our friends Steve and Robyn took us to a speakeasy in Colorado Springs. Steve and Robyn also go to the Castle Rock Arthur Murray Dance studio. They stumbled upon this speakeasy a couple of weeks ago and found they make amazing drinks and on Sunday nights they have dancing. So when they opened the invite we readily accepted.

They stopped by early Sunday evening to drive us to Colorado Springs. When we arrived in Downtown Colorado Springs the restaurant that is the “front” of the speakeasy was closed so we had to enter through the alley. As we walked through the alley I suddenly realized I have been listening to too many crime podcasts, because for a split second I thought: “Oh my, I think they’re going to kill us.” But it was a passing concern and soon we walked into an unmarked door in the alley, through a black curtain and into a room of cozy booths and chairs. We had entered District 11, a speakeasy.

The glow of the amber light bulbs cast a warm glow in the windowless room. We picked a table and Steve showed me the entrance from the restaurant, it was a door to a vault. I imagined how fun it would be to come through a vault door and the Speakeasy experience was even more fun.

The bar menu came and everyone picked a drink. I made a suggestion to Steve for a bourbon for his Old Fashioned and I decided to pick their “the bartender knows” which they ask you what your liquor of choice is and they make the drink.

Before I go on, when we started dancing with Steve and Robyn at Arthur Murray about a year ago, Steve let me know he did not think much of whiskeys and bourbons. My father Ken spent most of his life trying to preach the gospel of sour mash bourbon and I found Steve willing to listen and act upon my evangelizing. That’s why I gave Steve the bourbon suggestion.

When our drinks came, they brought mine with the caveat “ let us know if you don’t like it and we’ll make you another.” I was soon to find I was struggling to understand why anyone would return this cocktail. I took my first sip, the caramel vanilla notes of the bourbon rolled across my tongue, then the controlled Italian sweetness of sweet vermouth, but wait, then came a little citrus and vanilla and as it finished a light cherry essence finished the taste. There was no characteristic burn of whiskey. It was as if the the skies parted and an angel came down and gave me a kiss. Steve and I tasted each other's drinks, his old-fashioned was delicious but when I saw the look on his face, I knew he too had been kissed by the same angel. If I was any kind of a bourbon evangelist, this was the moment of truth; this was the conversion experience! We traded drinks for good and deep in Kentucky distillers all felt a sudden warmness in their hearts as their craft brought another into the fold.

Next I had to have the recipe for this drink. I approached the bar and the bartender who made it was out for a minute. The other bartender asked me, do you want another? I said yes but may I please have the recipe? He said he’d ask the other bartender. Five or so minutes later another one of these cocktails showed up at the table with the recipe clearly written on a piece of paper. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a reading from the book of bourbon, the seventh chapter…

By then the call of the dance floor was too strong and we all got up to dance. The floor of the speakeasy was laid stone. This building was easily 100 years old and the worn stone floor and it’s little rises and bumps shuffled easily under our feet. The dance floor was small and we all practiced our “small floor” dancing which really was and is covered when you take dance lessons. But what fun we had. We were, as our dancing instructors say, ”dancing in the wild”, without masks, without cares.

The food at District 11 is not what you’d call bar food. The small plates they offer are delicious and not what you’d expect to find. Brussel sprouts with confit duck served under a poached egg; how about an aged pork ribeye with confit garlic butter, chimichurri and frites? Yumm! No deep fried breaded mystery meats here.

So we snacked, we sipped amazing cocktails and danced. It was a 1940’s movie without the haze of cigarette smoke and better bourbon. Then we met Phillip, the bartender. Phillip is not the head mixologist at District 11 but he invented the delicious drink I just described. He has been a bartender for years, although he appeared to be only in his thirties. We asked the name of the drink and he said he just dreamed it up one day and it has no name. That gave us license, or so we thought after 2 cocktails, to try and assist him in naming the cocktail. However when we left he still had not settled on a name. I have since tried several drink websites that will tell you the name of a drink by its ingredients, but there were no hits, so I believe Phillip truly invented this one. When I serve it, I’ll call it a Phillip.

As the night wound down, the staff asked if we’d dance a foxtrot or two if they played some Sinatra. Of course we would! We ended our night with a couple of foxtrots, spinning our lovely wives to the happy glances of the other patrons. Then we slipped out into the alley and walked to the car. It was an amazing evening. A bit scandalous even, as it was a Sunday night and we all had work the next day.

We left the evening with the friendly challenge that now it was our turn to find a place we could dance, enjoy a cocktail and some good food. It will be a tall order indeed to match that evening, but we’ll have a lot of fun trying.

Oh, and the drink recipe? You’ll have to email me for that. You don’t just publish another person's masterpiece…

Getting Ready For Bees

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:57:28 GMT

My friends Michael and Angie raise honeybees. Something I’ve always had an interest in. MLW got me Beekeeping for Dummies for a Christmas present and that’s all it took. I started reading, and reading, and watching YouTube videos, and reading more. I’m a bit obsessed.

First I ordered my first hive, then I took a class where they explained if you’re starting up with bees you really need to start two hives. That gives you the ability to have one if one fails, or mix the two into one hive so they can over winter better, and there are other benefits. So I bought another hive. Then I ordered two packages of bees. A package of bees is a box of 3 lbs of bees and a queen. Yep just like it sounds, you buy a box of bees. Who knew?

B ut before they show up there’s a lot of preparation and I have a lot of questions. So far I’ve read two books, taken two classes and probably watched close to 30 YouTube videos. I watch so many my family has started to say I’m addicted to “bee porn.” “Where’s Dad? Oh he’s watching bee porn again..”

I do have a favorite YouTube guy named David Burns from Fairmount, IL. There are alot of bee YouTubers from the southern states but they don’t have to deal with winter and keeping your bees alive over the winter. So while it’s fun to watch Bubba remove bees from an old RV, or collect a swarm, I don’t really learn much from those.

It’s also a much bigger investment than I told MLW it was going to be. But she’s learned over the years that anything I start, if you double what I say it’ll cost, that’s about right. What’s it cost to start beekeeping? Here’s a few round numbers. You need a hive, that’ll run you from $200 for one you assemble to $350 for a pre-assembled one. A bee suit $70-$150, bee tools/feeders $100, a package of bees $150.00. Oh and where I live I need an electric fence because of bears, skunks, racoons, any other mammal that likes honey; $200

The bees I’m buying are coming from Rocky Mountain Bee Supply in Colorado Springs. They arrive on Saturday April 30th. When you buy bees there’s no, “oh I’ll pick them up after some brunch..” No, when you order bees you pick them up on the day they arrive and you go straight home and introduce them to their new hive. You also get to tell your friends you drove 50 miles with 20,000 bees inside your car. How many folks can say that?

“Where do the bees come from?” is the next question most folks ask. They come from commercial bee farmers who have just finished pollinating the almond groves in central California. Without going into too much explanation. After the bees have pollinated the groves the colonies have grown quite large. Large colonies will swarm. Which means they’ll raise a new queen and half will leave to start a new hive.

To control the colonies urge to swarm, the commercial beekeepers take 3 lbs of bees off each hive, about 10,000 bees, put them in a cage and add in a new queen who is in her own cage and load these up in a truck and they drive straight to Colorado to drop off the bee packages for folks like me. The bees get used to the pheremones from the new queen during this process. The bees come home with me, get dumped in their new hive, the queen sits in a cage for a few days while the bees get used to her pheromones, meanwhile she’s fed by the bees and on the third day she is released into the hive and hopefully, they start a new hive.

Well that all seems easy enough but of course there are times that does not work so well. If the bees just up and leave, that’s called absconding and that’s bad, because you can’t just buy bees like a can of corn at the store. Plus, remember the investment you have at this point? So to avoid this you need to make the hive extra appealing to the bees. That means adding extra bees wax to the frames so the bees can draw it out into comb. It also helps if you can have some comb already in the hive so the queen can start laying right away. You need to have a feeder on the hive and some food because on April 30th the Colorado landscape isn’t all flowers and pollen and even if it is, the bees need help because they are about ¼ the size of a healthy colony.

So April 30th is the day I get my bees and I’ve prepared like I’m getting a visit from the Queen. Well, I guess I am. Two queens to be exact. I have my hives ready. I still need to buy a few frames of pre-drawn out comb so the queen can lay right away. I have my feeders ready, I have all my equipment. I have my hives painted and cute. All that is left is to remove my chicken house, by the way it’s for sale if you want to raise chickens, and put my hives in that location and put up the electric fence.

I’ll have more stories as we go along. By the way, I’m looking for a name for my second hive. The first hive is going to be the “Gum Bee’s” (yes, pun intended) But I need a name for hive 2 so if you want to send me name suggestions I’d appreciate it.

My FODMAP Journey

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:29:56 GMT

Problems with your gut? You might find this informative.

Hello Friends. This week’s blog is about my stomach issues and how I have finally found some relief. If you’re one who does not have such issues, first: Be Glad! Second, you probably won't find this blog very interesting. But if you notice that some foods and you are no longer friends, even if you used to be, well you might come along on my journey.

To start with, there are those that would say to be part of my family you have to have stomach issues. On the day of our wedding, our now departed sister in law Cindy, in her usual funny way said to MLW: “Now that you’re a Jones, does not mean you have to fart all the time!” It was common place on holidays for my dad to lie down on the living room floor after large holiday meals, fall asleep, and pass gas. (Quite loudly at that!) For some of my formative years I thought that was a normal family activity.

For many years, especially those I worked in an office, I had many uncomfortable days. I had a few ride share agreements, but for the most part I saw them as just delaying the wonderful relief I could get driving home, alone in my car as I sang with the radio, and had some, shall I say, baritone accompaniment? Yes I always seemed to struggle with “inflation” and worse finding the right time and place for “deflation.”

When I hit my mid fifties, things got considerably worse. It seemed I was always “inflated” and it was always worse in the evenings, the very times when you plan to do things with friends. Plus, sometimes it came with a friend; a quick moving and obnoxious friend who showed up uninvited and had me running for the rest room. Holidays were the worst and I felt so bad for the inhabitants that shared our home. Other than the dog, I offended most everyone I lived with.

I tried all the over-the-counter remedies; antacids, gas-ex, probiotics, more fiber, less fiber, nothing changed. Pepto Bismol helped a bit but it too had unpleasant side effects. Although I will say I am one of the folks who really likes the wintergreen taste of Pepto.

About 4 years ago I saw my doctor who had me scoped at both ends and after all that fun said ”your results are all normal, maybe stop drinking milk.” Really !?!?, he couldn’t suggest that before shoving a camera up… well you know. Removing milk seemed to help a bit but now with almond or soy milk on my cereal, I was still uncomfortable. So a little over two years ago MLW found a coupon for an Everlywell food sensitivity test. We ordered it and when it arrived I pricked my finger and sent them three blood drops on a cardboard sheet. Three weeks later I got my results.

The test comes with caveats. It says it measures your body’s reaction to about 80 foods, but if you haven’t had any of the listed food in the last 6 weeks, the result for that food may be flawed because it is not in your system. What I learned was, my body doesn’t like wheat, but it doesn’t mind gluten. That was somewhat cathartic after all the people who self-diagnosed me as having celiac. Ha! But my victory was short-lived because I still can’t eat wheat. Milk, yes very high intolerance, but also was almonds and soy, the two main replacements for dairy. Ok this was making some sense.

I spent most of the following year removing milk from my diet and avoiding almonds, but I still snuck in some soy now and again. Life was a little better, emphasis on “little”, but I still had the afternoon bloat. My friends and MLW all took the time and trouble to replace all the dairy in their recipes with vegan and dairy free alternatives and nothing improved. As the 2021 holidays approached I was still miserable so I made an appointment to see my gastroenterologist again.

I had my first visit in early December and the PA listened and as we talked she suggested I try a low FODMAP diet. She gave me a simple three page sheet and suggested I follow it as best I could during the holidays. She said you can research more on the internet but be prepared to be overwhelmed, that’s why I like this simple pamphlet.

Some of us, likely because of our gut biome makeup, are really good fermenters. I’ve had quite a bit of experience brewing beer and the one thing you learn doing that is fermenting is simply finding a sugary source and adding yeast and you get bubbles, lots of bubbles! I don’t have a yeast problem but my gut biome loves to ferment sugars. That’s where you start with the FODMAP diet.

The FODMAP diet is not a diet that is intended to be a staple, it’s intended to be a starting place. You follow it, settle down your gut and then add food back in, and see what happens. From that you learn what your body tolerates well and what it does not.

So what have I learned so far? Wheat is still not my friend, the blood test was right, in fact it was right about all the foods it identified that I have sensitivities to. So out are milk, soy, almonds, wheat. But what are high FODMAP foods? Well for one: apples. Yes, my go to snack fruit is also my enemy. In my follow up visit with my Dr., she said, yes everyone thinks apples are good for you. But in your case they DON’T keep the doctor away.

Other FODMAP foods, the ones that make the most sense already have a reputation for causing gas. Yes, beans, onions, cabbage, broccoli, you know the list. Here’s why vegan food didn’t work: what's the main ingredient in vegan food if it’s not soy? BEANS! So thank you friends who tried so hard to help me with vegan food but your money was wasted. In fact I handle a little milk better than I handle a little beans. Who knew? Also one of my favorite go-to foods to maintain my weight was those wonderful salads from Taylor Farms you get at the store and Sam’s club. But what are they full of? Cabbage, chard, kale, broccoli, all cruciferous vegetables and all cause gas.

I still have much to learn, but you’re probably asking what meals look like now without all the food I just mentioned? Salads are lettuce and spinach, carrots, tomatoes and limit the cucumbers. Bread is out, replaced with corn tortillas, corn chips, and other grains like brown or white rice or quinoa. I’m still trying to figure out oats, I can’t tell if we get along or not. Milk even lactose free milk is out but hard cheeses are not. If the ingredients say there are no sugars in the cheese, there’s no lactose and I handle them ok. Fruit tends to be citrus fruits or berries, much more tolerable than my former apples, and bananas I eat ½ at a time. My final lesson is water, lots of water! Dilution of fermentables helps amazingly.

As for the rest, I’ll keep learning. If this sounds like something you struggle with, I’ve attached a PDF of the document the doctor gave me. If you follow it and then add back in foods and identify the ones giving you problems, I’m so glad. If you want to reach out and start a conversation, just reply to this blog and I’ll get the message and I can go into more detail. There are still days I don’t know what upset my stomach, but I have more good days than bad and that’s a relief. because I like to spend time with people; my dog isn’t much of a conversationalist.

Two Winter Weekends

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 15:17:00 GMT

Several years ago we started going to Vega State Park on the Grand Mesa near Colbran , Colorado near the Valentines Day weekend. I wrote about it last year in "The Vega Weekend." E & NP were unable to come so it was going to be Smooch and Hot Dish. We also thought we’d spend the weekend at Vega Lodge instead of the state park and try out their cabins and running water. You have to use water hydrants and the pit toilets at the park.

The Vega state park area is beautiful in the winter. There are few people there except for snowmobilers and ice fishers. It is very quiet and peaceful, something you don’t see as much as the State Parks on the front range parks always seem busy.

On Friday Feb 22 Smooch and Hot dish met us at the Vega Lodge on the north shore of the reservoir. The lodge has a beautiful dining room with an incredible log bar that they say was made from just one tree. The cabins are small and though they boast a kitchenette, it’s really just a small closet sized room with a microwave and a coffee maker.

We shared a cabin with Smooch and HD and it was clean but tight especially when we went to pull out the futon they slept on. We brought a table to play games and eat on and we were glad we did as the little 24” round end table was all that was available in our room other wise. We were also joined by S & HD’s friends Ryan and Sienna who stayed in their own cabin that was even cozier than ours.

The six of us played games in the evenings and on Saturday we went Ice fishing. The day was calm and sunny. The warm sun was wonderful and the ice was about 18” thick. Fishing was marginal as only Smooch and MLW each caught a fish. But it was MLW’s first fish through the ice and she was pretty excited. Then we had lunch on another vacant cabins deck and enjoyed the day. Most of us took a short nap after lunch and then we headed down to the side of the reservoir for some sledding. Dinner followed and our tired group played one game and went to bed early.

Sunday also dawn sunny and calm. Ryan ans Sienna left in the later morning and after they had g one we put on our snow shoes and hiked across the lake. The snow had crusted over and the snow underneath was a soft quicksand of snow that did not pack. Poor Rudy the dog struggled in these areas as he sunk to his torso in the snow. He would learn to look for the snowed over snowmobile trails where the snow had a firmer cap that he could walk on.

We returned from the hike and had lunch. With Smooch and HD leaving and the next day being Presidents day we decided to checkout early rather than stay another night and leave early in the morning. We drove to Grand Junction and had dinner with the kids. Then we left Grand Junction at 7 pm and with lightly traveled roads were back at home by 11 pm and in bed 15 minutes later. We would learn on Monday that we made the right choice as the forecasted snow moved in and the Presidents Day traffic was very slow coming out of the mountains .

With that weekend under our belt we also made plans to spend the first weekend of March on Lake Isabel near Rye, CO with the Engineer and NP. We left on Friday at Noon to very nice weather reminiscent of early Spring. MLW and I drove ahead of E & NP. As we approached Pueblo, CO I remembered that the The Walter’s Brewery had been reopened a few years ago. Walter’s in it’s heyday had breweries in Eau Claire, WI and one in Pueblo, CO. I remember Walter’s as it was the beer my Dad would drink when we were on vacation in Wisconsin. Both Breweries are open again producing the original Walter’s lager and other specialty beers. One beer Walter’s in Pueblo makes is a Pueblo Chile beer and it’s delicious. We stopped at the brewery on our way through Pueblo and had a beer and some lunch as we sat outside in our jeans and t-shirts enjoying he warm Pueblo sun. We left with several of their six packs as we headed down the road.

We arrived about an hour before E & NP and got settled in the cabin. Friday night we played some games after dinner and caught up on this season’s Mrs. Maisel. Saturday we got out on the lake a after a leisurely breakfast and did some ice fishing. The day was bright and sunny but had a cold wind coming out of the north, so we fished from inside my fishing shelter. We returned for lunch and naps, then headed out for an evening hike.

We thought we could hike a bit under the dam but failed to bring our snowshoes. The snow down in the canyon below the dam was deep, like 3 feet deep, and we sunk in as deep as our legs. We didn’t stay long and poor Rudy had to jump like a bunny to get through the deep snow. We returned to the frozen lake, enjoyed the view and the in coming snowstorm that was cresting the mountains.

Another evening of games, dinner and Mrs. Maisel, and we awoke Sunday to 3-4 inches of snow on the ground and more coming. After breakfast E & NP left and MLW, Rudy and I took a snowshoe stroll across the lake. We made a nice loop that took us down a closed road where the only other tracks were from a cross country skier earlier that morning. We returned to the cabin, cleaned up, had lunch, and were on the road by 1. When we left 7 inches had fallen and we’d learn on Monday it ended up being about 14” when it was done.

Two Winter weekends each fun filled but lightly planned. Time to catch-up and spend time with our family; one-half at a time. Two winter weekends we didn’t work on chores or projects, but rather the most important thing, our relationships with our kids.

How's Your New Year's Resolution?

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:14:13 GMT

Hello Friends. I’m finally back. Not that I went anywhere. I just ran out of time to get my ideas down on paper. Or maybe I was suffering from a little bit of post holiday blues. Whatever it was I am finally typing again and it feels good, so thanks for your patience.

I’m typing this on March third, another one of the fun dates this year since it’s 3-3-22. A bit of an echo day if you follow my drift. It’s also 2 months since the start of the new year and I was wondering how are your New Year's Resolutions coming along? Also, if you observe it, the church season of Lent started yesterday. Another time to make some changes if you’re so inclined.

My New Years Resolution was something I dreamed up after listening to a podcast last fall. The podcast was “Who Killed Truth?” and discussed why we don’t believe anything we hear anymore. It was an adventure in hearing things I wanted to and things I didn’t. It was hosted by Jill Lepore, a professor at Harvard, so to say it leaned a bit left is an understatement. She worked her way forward from the days when most of us trusted the evening news to now when most of us pick a news outlet we listen to because it aligns with our world view.

I wont say I loved this podcast, but it made me think. What it made me think of was not so much what happened to truth, but what happened to tolerance? What happened to listening to people of other views? Why do we think there’s only one answer and those who don’t think like us are idiots?

It got me to thinking about how political debate is basically dead. Go back and watch the Reagan/Mondale 1984 debate on YouTube and contrast it to our most recent between Trump and Biden. Jill Lapore doesn't talk about this in her blog by the way. But my point is we’ve gone from debate to two people trying to out yell the other.

With all that build up, what’s my New Year’s Resolution? It’s quite simple actually. I no longer listen to any commentator who vilifies the other side. Left, right, or center. If the talk show host or news outlet personally attacks the other side for having differing beliefs, I’m done. Switch the channel. I also spend some time listening to podcasts by people I don’t agree with, at least until they take a personal attack against a person who they disagree with. I’m ok with “I completely disagree with the bill introduced by Senator Smith, because of ….” But I no longer tolerate “Senator Smith once again is showing us why he and all the other Senators on his side of the aisle are moral deviants with his latest bill.”

So if you missed the January 1 “deadline” to start a new resolution, I invite you to join me in mine, maybe just for the season of Lent. The good thing about Lent is that Sundays aren’t counted as part of Lent so if you need to get back to your favorite vitriol spewing talk show host, you can do so on Sunday. But what I’m really hoping for is a change in all of us, that gives people a little more grace, and a little more understanding.

We all see the world differently, but we all have to see the world. My suggestion is we all do so by seeing it from other perspectives. God made us all; from the city dweller who earns a living while depending upon numerous civil services to make it through their day, to the rancher who spends much of his/her day fighting more natural forces to make it through the day. Neither is an idiot for living in their reality, but maybe we are for not understanding their reality and simply labeling and dismissing them.

That’s how I see it today, March 3rd, 2022. Thanks for reading.

Pat Daddy

Chris's Christmas Story

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 23:25:40 GMT

A meeting ice-breaker lead to one of the most beautiful Christmas stories I've ever heard.

The discussion started innocent enough. "What’s your funniest Christmas memory?" Asked Cindy as she led the ice breaker of the monthly business meeting. She chose me to go first, and I told a story of my brothers misbehaving dog on Christmas morning. But after my answer, the topic morphed into “what was your favorite Christmas memory?” As the stories were told, they all started to have a similar theme; which was how my parents made Christmas special . The stories were cute and thoughtful and as the story tellers told their stories, even on a video call, you could see the twinkle in their eyes as they remembered their fondest Christmas memories.

Then it was Chris’s turn. Chris intended only to tell his favorite story. Chris doesn’t talk about himself much or frankly very well. But then again, really good people rarely do. You must understand, Chris in my mind and in many others, is a bit of a rock star. Not that he plays an instrument, but he has a knack for doing what’s necessary and “right” by folks, and he does it not by reading music but reading people very well. So, it’ll come as no surprise to hear when his wife Sharon went into labor suddenly and their third child Chelsea wanted to come into the world, NOW! Regardless that they were still miles from the hospital, he delivered her in the backseat of their Jeep Cherokee.

As Chris started his story he talked about his parents. Both orphans, they yearned to give their kids the Christmases they never had. But Chris’s dad’s income as a printers apprentice didn’t leave much at the end of the month. More often than not, there was more month than income. None the less Christmases were still special; gifts were much more practical, socks and some clothes and for fun a bag of plastic army men would keep Chris busy for hours.

Chris’s dad knew he needed to find work that would bring the end of the month and his paycheck into closer synchronization. So, he left the trade he loved for a job in sales. Like a man possessed, Chris’s dad worked hard, very hard, to give his family a better life. As it came to be Christmas season again, on Christmas Eve night when Chris was 8, the family returned to their house to find the front door not securely locked, but ajar. Chris’s dad’s voice was full of concern, “someone, has been in our house!” His parents escorted the family as they entered to inspect the home. They came in and then into the living room, there was no denying it, by the shock on all their faces, someone indeed had been there.

The unexpected visitor hadn’t taken anything, but rather left the stockings full of candy and under the tree were more presents than that family had ever seen. Chris and his sisters ran to their stockings and then looked back at their parents with complete amazement to the transformation of their living room. Santa had indeed been there and with a better paycheck, Santa made sure the magic of Christmas was strong for the family.

At this point in Chris’s story, the poignant reminder of his parent’s love and sacrifice to create such a magical Christmas hit home, and Chris openly wept. He wasn’t alone, the rest of us on that video call all reacted with misty eyes or full-fledged tears running down our cheeks. Regaining his composure, we would learn that the reason his family celebrates the holiday on Christmas Eve is because of that one magical Christmas Eve so many years ago.

It’s really no surprise where Chris learned his drive to provide for his family. Or how Chris became a successful restaurant manager that would make Top 10, 15 times and get the award for Superior Manager an additional 21 times. Then as an Above Restaurant Leader, the number of successful managers, thanks to Chris’s tutelage, continued to grow. It’s probably also no surprise that he has an incredible drive to teach young people leadership skills and to see them successful. So much in fact that he has encouraged and supported to date, 300 young people, that have received Harman’s scholarship to seek higher educational opportunities.

But it’s really no surprise at all if you believe in the power of love. The power of love between two orphans, who found each other and then raised a family surrounded by love, and the virtues of hard work and helping others. It’s a message to think about not just at Christmas, but all year; just like Chris does.

Katy Trail: 1st day on the trail

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:19:01 GMT

After months of planning, it was time to put our bottoms on our seats and ride!

We awoke at 7 and met everyone in the lobby for our complimentary breakfast. After which we put the bikes back on our cars and left the luggage for the luggage service to move it to our next Hotel. Our ride today would be just under 40 miles as we went from Clinton to Sedalia, MO. We parked our cars at the Clinton Rec Center and went inside to fill out the form that would allow them to sit there for the week. Then last minute tweaks on our bikes and we all were ready. The trailhead was a block down the road. We got there and took our starting pictures and off we went.

The trail often was like going through a wooded tunnel. The trees had grown together over the trail giving us a nice shaded canopy to ride under. The trail itself was gravel and relatively smooth. We rode about 16 miles when we came to the small town of Windsor. There we had a snack and refilled water bottles. There is an Amish community there and some of the Amish men were taking their buggies to the hardware store. While taking a break we learned from another biker who was coming from the opposite direction that the town of Green Ridge was celebrating the Sesquicentennial and having a town festival. 9 miles further down the trail and we pulled into Green Ridge and sure enough in the middle of town was their party.

Green Ridge has about 700 residents so most everyone knows everyone else. We visited some of the folks that had vendor tents set up. We purchased lemonades and MLW bought some homemade canned dill relish. There was also a band playing so MLW and I plus Steve and Kristi took the opportunity to dance. The band was appreciative and we had some fun.

Next we headed back onto the trail and went to finish our last 10 miles. It was on those ten miles we hit the high point of the trail, a dizzying 955 feet above sea level, Whew! We pulled into Sedalia and MLW suggested we stop at a bar to have a cold beer. The whole crew went into Steve’s Korner Lounge and had a cold beer. Steve’s was a little bar like you’d find in most small towns. At 3 in the afternoon there were only 4 people sitting at the bar and they all turned around to watch us walk in. Then it was a little less than a mile to the end of the trail for the day and 7 blocks later we were at the Hotel Bothwell.

The Hotel Bothwell is on the register of historic places. It was built in about 1908 and spent some time as a care facility in the 1980’s but has been returned to a hotel. The interior was pretty, with the ornate woodwork and marble. The plaque outside pointed out that Harry Truman dined there, which Noreen misunderstood as he died there, which gave us all a good laugh. (Betty Davis stayed there too!) We got cleaned up and headed across the street for dinner. We returned after dinner and sat in their bar and played games. The bar was not very busy and the bartender was very good. But having a 40 mile ride the next day kept me from having a second cocktail. We retired to our rooms and found our beds to be giant marshmallows that sunk toward the middle. Doc stated in the morning he was sure that Truman did die there, in his bed.

We had breakfast, then moved the bikes out and prepared for our next ride. The seats were a bit tender or should I say OUR seats were a bit tender. We got on our bikes and were off to the trailhead.

Next Up: n ext day two on the trail and the road to Boonville.

The Whitetail Hunt

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:25:25 GMT

It was time for our third South Dakota whitetail hunt. We had secured our licenses in the Spring and our date to leave was finally here. Of course we could not have a trip without some drama. We found out after spending E’s birthday with him and NP, the weekend before we left, that E and NP were exposed to Covid the previous weekend and then on Monday before we left, NP tested positive for Covid-19. Even though E & NP both were exposed, E never came down with it. He tested three times and still on Thursday night, with a planned departure on Friday morning, he was negative. So at 6:30 am on Friday morning Smooch and I picked up E at his house and headed north to the Black Hills of South Dakota..

Our group was the three of us, my brother Doc, Michael and his son Tyler. We were bow hunting and would hunt a little on the evening of Friday, then all day Saturday, Sunday, Monday and leave on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We had clear weather, it was cold in the mornings, but just chilly in the afternoons. Most of our group was hunting out of tree stands or in the case of Doc, a tree saddle.

Hunting out of trees could be seen by some as an unfair advantage, but it’s harder than it looks. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really cool to sit on the side of a tree, 15 or 20 feet in the air. But when you hunt with a bow you need the deer close, 40 yards or closer is ideal and 60 yards is a challenge. So on Saturday morning when a buck was looking up at me, there was no chance to draw my bow, let alone that he was 180 degrees behind me, so I really had nothing to do but watch him and hope he’d come in front of me and give me a shot, but he didn’t.

We stayed at a VRBO on the south side of Lead, South Dakota and had a short 10 minute drive every morning to get into our hunting spots. Our rental was nice, it had 4 bedrooms; a master, two other bedrooms with queen mattresses and a loft with two twins in it. We even had a hot tub. We had a weird start when we went out on the back porch on Friday night we found a dead young doe next to the stairs coming off our deck. That made things a bit weird, especially because we could not touch it or dispose of it, lest we look like we killed it.

I took a picture and called the management company. Budi, who was our VRBO contact, was shocked, she did not know what to do and then called me 30 minutes later to let me know there would be a guy stopping by to get it. Sure enough 30 minutes later a woman and a man came by and threw it on a truck and took it away. After looking at it I believe it was hit by a car and it ran and then died in the backyard. In all it was a very strange exchange.

One of the neatest things about hunting is what you see and experience in the wild. There are some that will tell you that you don’t need hunting to experience nature, but I’d argue anyone who is out in the cold, for hours, is hunting something. Maybe it’s the perfect wildlife picture, maybe it’s to bag an animal, maybe it’s solitude, but in any case, it’s to get something. There’s also the motivation to sit in the woods when it’s below 20 degrees and the wind chill makes it much less than that. For me that motivation comes from the hunt and also seeing Turkeys, listening to grouse, seeing a 3 legged coyote walk by and watching nuthatches as they communicated in a series of chirps and sounds I never knew they made.

A typical day for us is to get up before sunrise, have a light breakfast and then get out before the sun rises. Then about 10 am we all work our way back to the house and have a big breakfast. Then maybe a short nap if needed and back out into the field until sundown. We saw animals everyday, but had few shots. Monday came and as our last full day to hunt we spent much of it out in the field. It was quite windy and our tree stands rocked as the trees we were in swayed back and forth in the gusts. We finished that day empty handed.

That night we went out to dinner as a group. Our previous dinners were at the house but now it was time to celebrate the fun we’d had together. We headed into Deadwood and had dinner at a brewery and restaurant. Then we came home, cleaned up and made plans to hunt the first two hours of Tuesday before we headed home. We had a 10 am check out time so we had to get back no later than 9, clean up and head home.

Tuesday morning I headed out with the boys one last time before sunrise and the other three guys went together as well. We hunted on foot that day and by 8 am with about 30 minutes left we decided to do some driving on the logging roads that had recently been reopened for logging activity. With about 10 minutes left before our 8:30 deadline, I saw a buck, got out of the truck and got within 40 yards of him. He stood looking straight at me. I knew he wasn’t going to give me the preferred side shot, so I drew back my bow, aimed at his chest and let the arrow go.

The arrow flew true and did its job. Then with not enough time, the work started. We had a limited amount of time to field dress the deer and get it back to the house and get out by our 10 am deadline. That was not going to happen so we asked for an extra hour for check out. We field dressed the deer in the wood and skinned and quartered him at the house. Then at 11:20, an hour and twenty minutes later than we planned, we packed up with the meat in a cooler and headed home.

We had a wonderful time. In the evening we played cards and laughed, during the day we saw beautiful things including an incredible sunset on Sunday night. To bag my first archery deer with my boys watching was an experience I’ll never forget. I’ll enjoy the venison over the next year, but even if we had not bagged anything, what we did share was the most valuable gift of all; time. Six guys; two dads and sons, and an uncle, in the time honored tradition of a fall deer trip. Spending the time it takes to have fun and make memories.

Rest in Peace Betty

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 18:51:31 GMT

Betty taught me a lesson that would change at least one life.

Betty died on September 27, 2021. Alone in the hospital. She had lost her only son Mike in January and all her close friends years before. 25 years earlier her husband Paul took his own life and thus started her slow progression of losing friends at a much higher rate than she replaced them.

It wasn’t always that way. When my parents met Paul and Betty in the 1960’s they became close friends. Betty in those days was quite the looker as was her husband Paul. Paul ran two Maid-Rite restaurants in Rock Island in those days and my dad would say that at one point Paul was his most financially successful friend. Paul and Betty took lavish trips, lived in a huge beautiful home and drove new cars. They even had a house keeper even though there were only three of them including their son Mike.

In the late 70’s Paul had to close one of his restaurants, the one on 11th Street, leaving only the one down next to St Mary’s church, across the street from the shirt factory. As clothes manufacturing began to be moved off shore, the shirt factory closed and Paul’s largest stream of lunch customers left too. Paul struggled through the 1980’s and refused to open a new location, and in 1996 in the basement of that failing restaurant Paul took his life.

During the 1970’s Betty too started showing some issues. She had what I would learn was called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Those of us that didn’t understand it just called her a “clean freak.” She carried in her giant purse a bottle of green soap. It was an antibacterial soap that she washed everything with. If she used a public sink, the faucet was first washed with her green soap, and she never touched a door knob, anywhere. She had the telltale signs of OCD hand washing; the red, constantly chapped hands that regardless of the constant barrage of lotion, always had that pink hue.

Odd behavior at first; chronically late for everything, She would wait in the restroom for someone to open the door rather than turn the knob, as her obsessions grew, her friends started to dwindle. It wasn’t just cleanliness, I remember in the mid 1970’s when we were vacationing together in Chetek, WI she began to obsess about ticks. My mother would “waste” an hour of her vacation everyday to slowly remove the hairpins from her big hairdo and check Betty’s scalp for ticks, of course one was never found. But that’s how OCD is; incredibly rude, incredibly evil and that’s when Paul and Betty’s fairytale marriage began to fail.

It was the late 1970’s and Paul was no quitter, but he’d confide in my Dad about the woman he married and her crazy obsessions, their unhappy home life, and the obsessive behaviors that made his home far from a respite of relaxation. Paul had always been an outdoorsman, and an avid duck hunter, and that was his escape. Days off from the restaurant weren’t spent with his once gorgeous bride, they were instead spent in a duck blind, or in a corn field somewhere hunting and shooting ducks and pheasants with a vengeance. A cathartic exercise in where I wonder if he was really shooting his wife’s obsessions longing to recapture the relationship that OCD stole from him.

In 2008 when my son Smooch started showing OCD tendencies, the lesson I learned from Betty about not getting treatment, not getting her demons under control terrified me to the core. There we were, chronically late for everything, fights and tears over fears that made little sense. Finding someone to understand was tough, in fact everything was tough, his school, my work, MLW’s work, finding him help; all tough. Just like Betty we too began to lose friends. Smooches weird behavior became just too much to deal with. My happy son was now rarely happy, school bullying was incessant, MLW and I hit an all time low in our marriage.

But the lesson I learned from Betty’s inability to find the right therapist and learn to control her OCD only spurred me on harder to find the help my son needed so he could have a “normal” life. Our worry was we didn't want him to grow up to be the weird guy that people avoided and who couldn't keep a job because of his obsessions. Thus started 5 years of hell. We saw numerous therapists, with hope in each that we met only to be disappointed. He was put on medications that didn’t help and only made his behavior more erratic. We signed him up for one intense outpatient program at Children's Hospital only to find that wasn’t the right fit, so after telling all his teachers he be gone for a month or two, he returned the Monday after the Friday when he was supposed to be gone. The teachers surprised by his reappearance seemed only to question his parents sanity as well.

It was however Children's Hospital that put him in another intensive outpatient program. For 8 weeks, 3 days a week my employer would graciously let me leave at 2 pm to drive from the tech center back to Castle Rock to pick up Smooch then drive back into Denver another 45 minutes to Children's Hospital for a 2 hour program. That’s where we met parents who were living the same hell. That’s also where you saw the parents that simply tried to appease their child's OCD and make excuses and the parents who wanted their children to go through the work and pain to learn how to control it. Because there is no appeasing OCD, whatever you give it, it just wants more.

Finally in January of 2015 the planets aligned. Smooch was ready to do the hardest work he’d ever done and he finally had the right therapist to get his thorough it. Over 8 grueling weeks of work, tears, yelling, arguments and the hell on earth the therapist explained would happen, Smooch emerged on the other side having enough “wins” against OCD that he was able to control the beast. It wasn’t done, he works on it everyday. In fact, he gave me a great analogy; it’s a lot like losing weight and keeping it off. If you keep to your routine and fight whatever are your demons every day: certain foods for dieting, behaviors for OCD, then the demons stay at bay, but give in and the dieters gain weight and the OCD folks start back with obsessions.

So when people ask why we just kept trying to find Smooch help, and even continued when there was little if any insurance money available, one driver was because I watched what OCD did to my parent’s best friend's marriage. How it alienated two people who were once deeply in love and had the world at their feet. How, like a cancer, the anxieties it grew only got bigger and more destructive and the resulting behavior drove away the many friends Betty once had. Simply: we wanted Smooch to be happy, long term, to be married and happy long term, to have many many friends, long term, and never to be a factor that caused his spouse to take her life, and finally, not to die alone, basically penniless because this terrible affliction stole everything; like it did with Betty.

So Betty, rest in peace, without your OCD, without your anxieties, without your routines. You no longer have the battle to fight, it’s just sad you lost the OCD battle your whole life and with it lost much of the happiness that can be the reason for living.

Katy Trail Trip; Getting There, Getting Started

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:18:53 GMT

After almost 9 months of waiting it was finally time to put the gear in the car, strap on the bikes and head to Clinton, MO where we would start the Katy trail. Our bikes were ready, our stuff was packed and at 7 am Friday morning it was all in the car. The plan was to meet Doc and Noreen and Steve and Kristi in Limon, Colorado at 8:30.

The weather was cool when we left, 42 degrees as we drove east on Hwy 86. Once we were out of the towns of Castle Rock, Franktown and Elizabeth, the road was wide open as we drove east. It was cloudy and windy as we went down the highway. About halfway down the road to Limon we found that Steve and Kristi had been delayed. Doc was a few minutes behind us. We pulled into Limon and used the restroom and with Doc and Noreen we were back on the highway. Now it was time for the long drive.

By the time we got near Salina, Kansas Steve and Kristi caught up to us so we stopped for lunch. MLW found the Blue Skye brewery and we had lunch there. Penney our waitress did a great job taking care of us. The food was good and the beer was delicious. MLW mentioned it was my birthday and Penney said “Do you know what we do for birthday’s?...Absolutely Nothing!" Then when we all laughed she offered me a free beer, I opted for a short one as I had already had one. We finished our lunches and left.

Back on the highway we went until we neared Lawrence KS. There was a need for gas from much of our three car parade. We got off unbeknownst at the KU exit. Traffic was heavy and we missed our first chance for gas. You’d think there would be a gas station on most corners, no. So while Doc got gas a ½ mile from the highway, we got gas 3 miles from the highway. Doc went ahead and we all met up about an hour later in Clinton.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Clinton and were there with other bike tripers. We got settled and it was after 8 pm when we went to a local Mexican restaurant. There again MLW told them it was my birthday. After dinner three of the waiters showed up behind me, put a sombrero on my head and put a plate with 4 tortilla cinnamon tortilla corners and whipped cream. They sung Feliz compleanos to me while wiping the whipped cream on my face. Everyone was laughing, including the other tables. It was fun and it made the evening. Afterwards we went back to the hotel and prepared for bed and the next day.

Our sleep was not the best, no fault of the hotel, the anticipation of our trip was first on our minds. In the morning we had some breakfast and loaded up to park our cars at the Clinton Rec Center. We had to make sure we had what we needed in our luggage as we had a luggage service to carry our bags from hotel to hotel every day. We also realized we could leave some things in our car that we did not need and we had to make sure those were things we really didn't need. We said good bye to our luggage and drove across the small town to the rec center, there we went in and filled out a parking form, then made final prep to our bikes and rode the block to the trail head. Pictures at the trailhead and we were off.

Next: Day One on the Trail and an Evening in Sedalia, MO.

Labor Day, the Tradition Continues

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:50:21 GMT

As we have for many years, we went on our family camping trip for Labor Day. We returned to Dillon reservoir this year but on the south side of the lake this year at the Peak 1 campground. It was our plan to leave on Thursday at 1 pm, drive the 2 hours there, set up and finish our workday and start the weekend a day early.. It didn’t go quite as planned. I had a company zoom meeting added to my calendar on Tuesday that required me to be on the meeting at 4 pm. We got out of the house late as MLW received a resignation from one of her employees at about 12:30. To slow things down even further we had to stop for gas and I like to go up Hwy 6 to Idaho Springs as it’s easier on our old truck. There turned out to be road construction on Hwy 6 so we finally backed into the site in Frisco at 3:55 pm. Just enough time to get my computer and get on the call.

The call lasted an hour and then we set up the rest of camp. We were supposed to be joined by Michael and Angie and E & NP who both had reservations for that Thursday night as well. Neither couple was available to come up on Thursday. Michael and Angie were out for the weekend but their kids were coming up, E & NP could not come up until Saturday. MLW and I settled in, played games and went to bed. We slept soundly until 2 am when the battery for the camper went dead and set off the CO detector. In a fog I scurried to shut off the alarm and finally went outside and unhooked the battery. Positive I woke most of the campground, I sat in bed trying to figure out what happened, when it finally dawned on me I never turned the fridge off battery and onto propane in my haste to set up.

Friday morning dawned cool and I called the local NAPA Auto store to see if they could charge my battery. They could so I ran the battery in. We had a few showers that morning so MLW and I wrapped up the work we intended to do from the previous night. And played more games during the occasional showers. At 2 o'clock Smooch and Hot Dish showed up. Finally some people to play with! Doc and Noreen showed up to their camping spot at about 7 and we had dinner. Then we celebrated Hot Dish’s birthday around the fire.

Saturday was warm and we had some fun while we awaited the arrival of the rest of the crew. E & NP showed up as did their friends Aaron and Lauren and this year baby Quinn. MLW arranged Saturday night to be our Hawaiian night and we played some silly games while we prepared teriyaki pork and some other dishes for dinner. We ate a bit late but the food was delicious.

Sunday after a nice breakfast our group separated into various activities. Hiking, disc golf and mountain biking. Smooch and HD joined MLW and I on a really nice ride on the Frisco peninsula. HD on a borrowed bike did great as we hit some technical riding. That evening was pizza night where E cooked on 3 dutch ovens everyone's personal pizza. Smooch and HD had to leave for GJ after dinner as they had class on Monday. We ended the night with a very nice campfire.

On Monday morning everyone started to pack up after breakfast. Doc and Noreen stayed and backed their camper into Michael and Angies spot as they had it for another night. We paid for another day and relaxed instead of fighting the traffic back to Denver. We visited and played games with Doc and Norreen. Then about 3 they left so we walked the dog and then read our books for a bit. We then took our last paddle on the lake in our kayaks and started to pack up.

We had a little dinner then packed up the camper and were ready to leave at 7:45 just as the sun was setting. The traffic was back to normal and we had an uneventful drive home, pulling into the driveway at 9:30. We pulled out the coolers, put the food away, showered and went to bed. It was a calm ending to what can be a harried crowded drive home.

The next day before we started work we unloaded the rest of the gear, did laundry and the camp was “put away” early Tuesday evening. It was a nice weekend away. We missed Michael and Angie but really enjoyed their kids joining us. When young adults take the time to come, you know this is a special time not only for you but for them and that’s a great compliment. We’re thinking about where next year’s Labor Day will be celebrated. We still have a few more months before we have to decide. In the meantime we can remember the fun we once again had on our Labor Day tradition.

Oh Crap!

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:22:45 GMT

How I dealt with my mainline clog

Having an older home I am always concerned about things I cannot see. One of those things is my main sewer line to my septic tank. We had a backup after about 4-5 years here, another about 4 years later. Then this year the day we got back from Wisconsin, while we were doing laundry and showering, we had another backup. Luckily I have leak frogs, which are little water detectors I have next to the floor drain in our utility room and another in the laundry room. When they sense water they set off a beeping alarm.

So the good news is I caught the first one and then went to NP’s dad, Ken, and borrowed his power snake. These things are frightening, and even more since I had a work comp claim where a guy actually had his thumb pulled off by one of these things. I ran it and soon I hit the clog and the water ran again...until the day after the world beer party, it went off again. Another trip to Kens and I snaked the drain.

I thought it might be roots so I ran a bunch of root stuff through the pipes, but last monday when we had guests and they were taking showers… beep beep, beep went the leak frogs and I flew down the stairs to stick the wet dry vacuum into the floor drain. Ok, time to hire a professional. Jeff was his name, a guy in his late thirties, he seemed to know how to run a snake. I worked while I heard the pipes shaking and vibrating from the drain snake. After about 45 minutes he called us and said, ‘I’m stuck at about 65 feet and my blades look like they’re in mud and dirt.” We agreed we needed a camera sent down the line. I asked if I could watch the monitor and down the drain it went.

I was happy to see that the clay line under the house was in good shape as was the PVC line that goes under our concrete patio. The camera took a dip down as expected, our septic is down the hill from our house. Then there it was, a big hole in the pipe. He said they’d give us a bid, he expected it to be about 5-8 feet from the septic. He said to expect a bid in the $4500-$5500 range. Oh Crap! I thought, but the good news was that the line was easily accessible.

We went to bed Monday night thinking we’d have a bid early on Tuesday. I called the plumbing business and was told it would take 24-48 hours to get us a bid. I guess they have a working bathroom! But it gave me time to call around. When I spoke with my neighbor and contractor Terri, he asked how far it was from the septic. I said they think 5-8 feet. He said what's your bid, $10,000?, I said no, I expect it to be about $5000. He said, why don't you fix it yourself? You know how to fix PVC and all you have to do is dig. How much digging are you willing to do for $5000?” Hmmm, I can dig and yes PVC is very easy to fix.

By this time we were running down the street to Steve’s house to use his bathroom. Tuesday I started to dig after work. I got 8 feet down the line and the pipe was fine. On Wednesday I got my work done and hit the project at 2:30. I dug until 6. In that time I uncovered about 28 feet of sewer line, then I found the hole.

The sewer line had shattered for 5-6 feet in the ground. My backyard stair steps down with two retaining areas. So does the sewer line, something the rooter guy didn’t realize. The worrisome part was the line that was shattered was going into the side of the hill and going under some trees. This was going to be a hard part to fix if the line was shattered back from there. Luckily after some digging on Thursday I found the undamaged pipe I could hook into.

On Friday I purchased the sewer pipe I needed and began replacing the pipe. As I removed the last of the damaged pipe, that's when I found the failure. When the line was put in someone put a 4x6 post piece under the line to hold it up while they were refilling the trench. They never removed the wood so as the line settled it did not over the piece of wood and the pipe was slowly crushed until it failed.

The new pipe went in easily and Friday night I was able to take a shower at home and start the laundry we were two weeks behind in. Saturday MLW and I filled the trench, making sure to tamp the soil well all around the pipe so it had a good foundation. As for the plumbing company, It’s now Monday, a week later and I have yet to get any type of bid or contact of any sort. That’s ok. I learned I can still do these types of things and I know it was done right. Plus instead of $5000, it cost me $50 in parts and with MLW about 15 hours of labor.

On Friday night I picked up a new bottle of Bourbon at the liquor store and MLW said, “are you going to buy that? I responded “yes, we can afford it, I just saved us $5,000!”

The Myrick Weekend

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 03:57:57 GMT

It’s been almost a year since we met Hot Dish, Smooches' girlfriend. I thought I had a positive outlook on life until I met her. Hot Dish has a very positive outlook on life and when a 20 something makes you reconsider how you look at the world, how you judge or rather don’t judge others, it’s a bit amazing. Because of this we always thought she must have amazing parents. After our week in Chetek we were about to find out. As Doc, E and NP headed home on July 31, Smooch, HD, MLW and I headed north for a weekend to meet Lonnie and Jackie, HD’s parents..

We headed north to Myrick Lake, near Danbury, WI. The drive took about an hour and 20 minutes. As we drove past the exits to a number of small towns, it was refreshing to see the log buildings and the lakes. The passage of time may have brought modernization to these small hamlets, but it didn’t change the Northwoods lifestyle. We exited hwy 53 near the town of Trego and started winding ourselves through the Wisconsin woods. Suddenly Hot Dish exclaimed, “There’s the farm!” referencing a small farm in their family that is used for hunting in the fall and other activities. We were finally in HD’s territory and she was so excited to share it with us.

It wasn’t long before it was time to turn onto Myrick Road and HD was so excited. She started talking a mile a minute as she grinned from ear to ear. The normally reserved HD was bouncing in the back seat like a little kid who sees the entrance to Disneyland for the first time. Her excitement actually made me a bit nervous. As most of you know, I’m a pretty social person, but seeing the change in HD made me realize we were going in deep. This wasn’t just meeting nice folks at a Wisconsin lake, this was stepping into Ness-land and all the family history. Even more, I wasn’t just Pat Daddy, I was HD’s boyfriend's parent. It was time for both families to see just where these awesome young people came from.

We pulled into the top of their drive and as we walked down their driveway their beautiful cabin, the lake and all came into view, it was like a postcard. Lonnie and Jackie greeted us and gave us a tour. Their cabin is one of the original cabins on Myrick Lake when a small resort was there. Much like the cabins we grew up with at Sand Beach Lodge that were built in the middle of the 20th century. The main cabin was square with a bedroom in both the north corners and a bathroom in between. The other half of the cabin was a kitchen and living room. On the south side was a 3 season porch. They explained they have had it for about ten years and in those years they’ve basically completely remodeled it from finding a source for the round log style siding to replacing the windows and a complete remodel inside. They’ve kept the cabin true to what it looked like when it was built and walking in it is like stepping into a 1950’s Field and Stream magazine.

Myrick Lake is a 20 acre lake with clear water and a healthy fish population of panfish, bass and northern pike. It’s kind of a triangle lake and there are 14 residences on it. Everyone knows everyone else. It’s a no wake lake and the folks that live there visit with each other as they cruise by on their various floating modes of transportation. It’s the kind of place where you make sure you stock your fridge with a few of your neighbors favorite beverages because you know at some point during the weekend they’ll be over to sit and visit.

While many of you who live close to MLW and I know we like to entertain, Lonnie and Jackie are hosts we can learn a thing or two from. They take making you feel welcome to another level while at the same time not making it uncomfortable. After our tour and seeing all the improvements they’ve done to the cabin and the land around it, we sat and visited. Snacks were brought out, cold drinks were shared and the conversation flowed. Shortly thereafter Larry and June showed up, that’s Lonnie’s Dad and step mom. The conversation continued and then it was time for lunch.

After lunch Larry and June had to leave, they had pickles to put up. At some point I had already put on my swimsuit so we found another excuse to get into the water. A cruise around the lake followed at some point as did games of corn hole, which folks from this part of the country just call “bags”. Dinner, then the next thing we knew it was time for bed and our hosts had arranged for us to stay in a rented camper. This was a double bonus as I always seem to sleep better in my camper than most places and as the cool night air moved in I slept like I was in a 5 star hotel. Plus MLW and I are starting to look for the replacement of our pop up so it gave us the chance to poke around and think of things we’d want in our next one.

We awoke Sunday morning with new residents as HD's brother Eli and his wife Emma had arrived late Saturday night after attending a wedding. Eli is in the Air Force and a recent graduate from ROTC. They were staying in a camper they just bought and that he plans to live in while he’s stationed for a short time in Ohio. Eli and Emma celebrated their first anniversary that Sunday and it was fun to watch them celebrate their special day and look forward to when our own kids do that in September.

While I’m talking about the family the one person I have not mentioned is Ellie, HD's 14 year old sister. Ellie is not your typical 14 year old. She is pleasant to visit with, she engages in conversations and is a delight to be around. I got the opportunity to fish off the dock with her and pull in a bunch of bluegills. We visited a bit about the challenges of being a teenager. Her life is not devoid of the challenges of her age; mean girls, unfaithful friends, the challenges of social media. But she has a strong sense of who she is and is incredibly grounded for someone her age. She also like all the Ness women is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

Later that morning we’d take a trip in ATV’s through the trails in the area and stopping at some local watering holes to rinse the dust out of our throats. MLW had a bit of excitement as her phone bounced and vibrated so much it called 911. All of us who are her emergency contacts received texts that she’d called 911 and it gave us her location. She had a nice message from the local sheriff who said, it sounds like you are 4 wheeling, call us if you need us. Unfortunately the message was a bit more concerning to E who got it back home. We were all unaware any of this was occurring until E called us numerous times trying to make sure everyone was OK.

After a quick clean up the lake day attitude continued with some swimming, some games just a little beer and much laughing and silliness. Another amazing meal was followed by our final cruise around the lake then it was time to go to bed. We awoke the next morning to another of Jackie’s huge breakfasts and we enjoyed the last of our visit before the world would pull us all in other directions. We were on the road shortly after 7 am after many hugs.

In many ways the Myrick weekend was the high point of the vacation. After being the folks who in charge of putting the week in Chetek together, it was great to be a guest for a couple of days. But the story of the Myrick weekend isn’t just about amazing hosts, laughing so much your face hurts and meeting a family we wished lived closer because we really like them. It’s about something the non parents probably didn’t see. It was the chance for both families to see how the child they raised was loved and appreciated by another family who had been making family memories with that kid included over the past year. It was also showing each other how their kid fit into your family. It’s a special kind of compliment when that happens; when someone says you raised such a great adult that we love having them with us.

We left Myrick with an open invitation for the Ness family to join us for Thanksgiving and we sincerely hope they do. We all need more laughs, more happiness and the warm feeling that comes from being around families that truly love each other and share that love with others.

A Week on the Lake

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:56:08 GMT

The simple relaxation of a week on a lake

Warm day, cold beer, pontoon boat and family that likes each other. What more do you need?

You don’t hear much today about people taking vacations where they stay in one spot. Often you get lots of pictures on Facebook posts with folks all over, seeing cool things. I’ve had a lot of fun on those vacations, but I’ll always appreciate a week on a lake. As I wrote last year in my blog entitled “Blue July” summer vacations when i was young meant a week on a lake, or two. So last year when the VRBO I had reserved contacted me and explained they were closing for the 2020 summer, my heart sank.

As a kid my family vacations were here in Chetek, WI until the last one in 1980, Our families have come back a few times. We came back in 1991 when Doc got out of Chiropractic School and then we returned in 2014 when I found Captain’s Cove on VRBO and we came out with the kids and Doc and Cindy. We had a great week, but I didn’t imagine we’d return soon especially due to the 1050 miles we have to drive to get here. As it turned out we returned in 2016 but had to settle on a cabin up Ten Mile Lake that was on a weedy, muddy part of the lake. Captains cove has a swim-able dock, and a sandy shallow area. It’s also close to town and a 25 minute walk will get you into town where you can stop by the bakery and have a guilt free donut, knowing you’ve walked a few miles.

We were able to return to Captains Cove this year and came out the last week of July. There were 7 of us, MLW and I, the Engineer and his wife the Norwegian Pescatarian, Smooch and his girlfriend Hot Dish and my brother Doc. We left Friday Morning July 23rd. Unfortunately E & NP had a bad cold so they had to travel behind us. We stopped in Urbandale, IA on Friday night and spent the evening with my cousin Leslie and her husband Brendan. They are wonderful hosts and we had a great evening. After delicious send off breakfast on Saturday we were headed north.

MLW had started a family grocery list the week before we left so we could make an order at Sam’s Club and do a curbside pickup as we drove through the twin cities. That was a great idea as we pulled up and were loaded up in a matter of minutes. It saved the time it would take to shop at the smaller grocery store in Chetek. We arrived in Chetek about 3:30 on Saturday, unloaded, made a quick trip to the grocery store to get those items we could not get at Sam’s and were “vacationing” by 5. At about 7 pm E & NP arrived after leaving Castle Rock at 1:30 that morning, they found us lounging in the lake and quickly jumped in themselves.

Sunday morning we picked up our rented pontoon boat and we loaded up the crew and did some fishing. The fishing was slow but we got enough fish to have fish tacos for dinner. Monday morning we walked into town to the bakery, poked around town a bit and returned for lunch. Then we boarded the pontoon. On lake Chetek, we stopped out from shore and Doc showed us a picture of Cindy he had taken years ago when they were dating and Cindy came along to the pastors cabin we used to rent. Near the spot of the picture we remembered our beloved and departed Cindy. Doc scattered a small portion of her ashes in the lake. We then proceeded on a ride around lake Pokegama, we stopped and swam for about an hour, loaded up and stopped at Gilligan’s for a beer and some cheese curds. Ending the outiing with a trip around ten mile and moose ear lake. There is something about the Monday of a week long vacation that makes it feel like you’ll never get to Friday.

We all needed a bit of extra sleep on Tuesday, whether we got it or not. Wednesday the weather turned cool. We got a group of us out on the lake early; Doc, E, Smooch, HD and I and we finally found a bunch of bluegills near a submerged log across the lake from the cabin. We pulled in about 16 keepers that morning including some a couple of nice crappies. Finally some fish! Unfortunately that would be the most fish we caught all week.

We came in for a big breakfast and were off in the early afternoon to Chippewa Falls to the Leinenkugel Brewery. We had a tour and sampled some of their beer, bought some mementos and were off to Chetek to board the boat and go to Gilligan's for their wing night.

We arrived at Gilligan's on the boat at about 7. There was a little rain falling here and there but the dock was empty. We went in for dinner and got a few weird looks but thought nothing of it. About the time we were going to leave we started discussing the next stop, this was going to be a night we went to several bars on the pontoon. Suddenly the weather warnings started going across the screen of the TV’s; there was a severe storm coming. Our Phones did not make the storm look that daunting, but the TV warnings did.

We got our tab and walked out just as the storm sirens started going off in Chetek. We jumped on the pontoon and to our north and west was the storm, a line of clouds that had a constant stream of lightning flashes. We got onto the lake for our 12 minute ride to the cabin and we were the only people on the lake. As we turned from Lake Chetek to Prairie lake where the cabin was, the storm was very obvious and on it’s way. We were the only boat on the lake and we all felt like anyone safe in their homes looked at us and thought we were idiots.

We got to the dock with about 10 minutes to spare. Lake toys were stowed, the boat was tied up extra tight, NP and Doc pulled their cars in the garage while I looked for a healthy tree to put mine under. We just got done when the storm hit. The lighting was like something we don’t see in Colorado, a constant strobe of lightning flashes and a constant thunder rumble that never stops, just changes pitch and volume. Knowing we might lose power, I filled a pitcher of water and suggested the others fill their water bottles. Before anyone could, out went the power.

The storm was not a long one, within 40 minutes the worst was by us and within 90 minutes the rain basically stopped. We played cards for a bit under flashlights but we all hit the bed about 10 that night. At three am I was woke up by the sound of chain saws and shortly thereafter the power came back on. In the morning we would find that the power went out when the next door neighbors tree to the north fell in the storm and took down the power lines.

Thursday dawned wet and cool and those of us who went out after fish did not have much luck. Remember how the on Monday the weekend seemed so far away? On Thursday morning it felt incredibly close. Smooch and E wanted to play Spike Ball in the water. There are a couple of big sand bars in the lakes, the largest being in lake Chetek. It juts out about 150 yards from shore and is a popular place for boaters to stop and swim. Ideas of how to get the spike ball game to float were the discussion at breakfast and when we went into town that day, a trip to the dollar store found water wings. 3 sets of water wings inflated fit perfectly on the 5 legs of the Spike Ball net and the problem was solved. That afternoon we took the boat over to Red's one of the other restaurants on the lake. We had a beer and took a look at their menu. Smooch decided we'd have his birthday dinner there the next day.

Friday morning I awoke with that little sadness in my stomach, it was our last day After a late breakfast we loaded up the pontoon with our floaties and headed to the sand bar. The day was little cool, but the guys set up the Spike Ball game and we had a lot of fun playing and floating by the sand bar. Later we went to Gilligan's and Lake side (formerly the Pokegama Inn) for a birthday drink for Smooch. Then it was time to head back, clean up and have a chance for Smooch to open his birthday gifts. Then we cleaned out the pontoon and we took it back to the marina, and headed off to Red's for Smooches birthday dinner.

We returned and E & NP and Doc all packed up. They were headed out about 6 am the next morning. I awoke early Saturday morning to make sure the coffee was on for our early risers. They were all on the road by 6:45. Here's where things were a little different. MLW, Smooch and Hot dish, and i were headed to meet Hot Dish's parents at their cabin on Myrick Lake near Danbury, WI. We packed up and left the cabin about 9:30. We have reservations for next year and the cabin is scheduled to have a complete remodel. We left remembering the fun, remembering the laughs, and the relaxation. All of us discussed that when we told our friends where we were going for vacation each of us had people who had no idea why we would go to to Northern Wisconsin. That's ok, Northern Wisconsin doesn't need to be one of the top 10 vacation destinations. Because it's the lack of people and the abundance of water that makes it the perfect place to refresh with your family.

A 4th of July Holiday

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 14:24:33 GMT

It was the summer of 1994 when I first drove through the Taylor Park area of Colorado. MLW and I were on our first family vacation, a week-long camping trip with an 8 month old version of the Engineer. I drove us back into some area south of Taylor reservoir and we were so remote that I got a little nervous. We’d return 4 years later when we’d find forest service road 755 which goes up along the north side of Texas Creek.

We had come up here in both 2019 and 20 for the fourth of July. One change from when we first started coming in here in the 1990’s is the popularity of 4 wheelers. In 2019 the forest was full of campers and full of four wheelers. Being a mountain biker, I prefer much quieter transportation. I was sad at the almost constant roar of engines and the constand clouds of dust that had invaded one of the prettiest places I think Colorado has to offer.

In 2020 we found a road to the south side of the creek and after bouncing in there with our pop up. While it was quieter, we had fewer riders go by us, but we still had the traffic on the other side of the creek. With nowhere else to go in 2020 I was even more surprised at the number of people who were in the forest.

Nonetheless we made plans to meet Smooch and Hot dish, along with Col M and his kids for a 4th of July camping weekend in Taylor Park. MLW and I took Friday off and were on the road with the camper in tow by 8:30. Close to noon we had driven over Cottonwood pass and were at our turn off for the spot we camped at last year. Apparently the forest service didn’t like all the use the area received in 2020 either, as we found our road was closed and blocked. So we turned around and went to access the north side of the creek.

Forest service road 755 is VERY bumpy. The road is basically over a mountain moraine so it’s full of round rocks the average size of a volleyball. When we drove into here in 2017 on a trip all our eggs in the camper broke, just to give you some feel for how bumpy the road is. So we crept in with our camper and our favorite spot right next to Texas Creek was open. We pulled and set up the camper. Then I drove out to the main road to get cell service and to contact Col M and Smooch as to where we were.

By 2 pm Smooch and HD were with us and the weekend could begin. Col M would be there about 10 pm with Lindsey and Carter. The Taylor valley has had a decent amount of rain because unlike the past two years it was still incredibly green. Texas Creek was running well and had nice little pockets to fish. Smooch and I got out our fly rods as MLW and HD sat in chairs on the stream and caught up. I caught a nice little brown trout and after about an hour we returned to make dinner and play games.

Col M showed up about 10 pm. With his camper and being followed by Lindsey and Carter. I’ve had a number of camping buddies over the years but Col M and his lovely wife, Col A are the most dedicated folks to having fun. Even though he had to work on Monday, he took off after work and made the 4 hour drive up for the weekend. Which meant setting up in the dark which is far from fun.

As the weekend progressed, I noticed something wonderful, there were fewer people there than I had seen in years. Fewer people camping, fewer 4 wheelers. Perhaps people wanted to get back to the activities in town like fireworks and picnics. Whatever the reason, my favorite place looked much more like my favorite getaway this past weekend than a motor cross track and it was wonderful.

Over the weekend we mountain biked, we played our annual camping olympics, we fished in the Texas creek, some folks paddled on Taylor reservoir, all the time surrounded by the 360 degree beauty of the area. Col M would leave Sunday late afternoon and we left late Monday afternoon thankfully after all the other campers coming out of the mountains. We arrived home about 7:45 refreshed from the weekend, not exhausted from it and in looking back, it was truly a holiday in the real sense of the word.

Father's Day on the Colorado Trail

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:28:22 GMT

The week had been incredibly hot. We seemingly went from cool Spring to hot weather. We had scheduled this backpacking trip with E & NP back in March. MLW and I started getting the gear ready on Monday. The dining room table had food and gear accumulating all week and then on Thursday night it was time to put it all into our backpacks and be ready for our trip starting Friday afternoon.

Our start was a bit later than planned but not so much that it changed anything. We met E & NP in Sedalia and off our two cars went ultimately up Hwy 285 to Kenosha Pass. Our plan was to hike section 5 of the Colorado trail backwards from Kenosha Pass to the beginning of section 5 at Long Gulch. Backwards technically because we were headed east and the trail is marked east to west.

We dropped my car at the Long Draw trailhead, and drove the 25 minutes back to Kenosha Pass. As we drove back we passed the camping trailers and RV's that were coming in looking for their drive in site’s in the National forest. But no camper for us, just our tent and gear on our backs. The skies were mostly over cast as we as hit the trail.

The mountain sides were covered in wildflowers. Gold banner yellow wildflowers, b lue iris, and even the dandelions made the hillsides beautiful. We hiked in about 2 or 3 miles and found our first campsite. A lovely high meadow that looked over the South Park valley. We made camp and had our dinner. MLW and I both carried in a half liter of wine, one for each night. We drank hers with dinner while E&NP each brought a can of beer they had wrapped up in a coat to keep cold. It was overcast so no start gazing, we were all in bed by 10.

The morning dawned warm for 10,000 feet. A fleece pull over was perfect to keep warm. I was the first up and wrote the first few paragraphs of this blog in my crazy creek chair sitting against a log while the Sun warmed me as I wrote on my phone. As I wrote I could stop and gaze into the miles of mountain tops and valleys that spread out before me.

We broke camp then had a nice breakfast sitting overlooking the lost park valley. Shortly thereafter we packed up and were off. We traveled about 2 miles when we noticed the aspen trees we were walking through had a weird red tint. With some investigation we noticed it wasn’t natural. We saw it had drip marks and it came from a specific direction. Some of you may have already figured out what we found, but we were walking through a section of trees that had at some time, and not this year, had fire retardant dropped on it during a forest fire.

We continued on and about noon we came to the largest of the streams we would cross and we filled our water bottles either filtering or treating the water to ensure we didn’t get sick. We were about half way and the day was beautiful so we ate lunch and relaxed for a couple of hours in the shade. Then it was time to get moving.

Loaded down with water, our packs were heavy as we took off across the mountain. We went through a few meadows for the first part of the hike and then found ourselves in a deep pine forest on a slope. It was our goal to get about 2-3 miles from our exit point and make camp. With our pace we would cover a little over 2 miles every hour and as the day moved into mid afternoon we were hoping to make camp in an area called Black Canyon. When we finally got to Black Canyon the terrain flattened out a bit and there was a stream that ran through a thicket there. With all the foliage it was a buggy. Luckily it was also filling up with hikers so after some discussion and referencing our map, we saw that another 20 minutes of hiking would take up to the top of a saddle where the land would flatten out. We walked our final 20 minutes and when we reached the saddle it was an area of pine and aspen trees with many aspen trees down on the ground. There were a few campsites right off the trail, but we don’t back pack to camp on the trail, so we worked our way about 80 yards back into the woods, cleared the small dead trees and made ourselves a wonderful campsite.

When backpacking a good campsite is often halfway up a hill, that way you stay warmer than the valleys and you’re not exposed to the wind and storms on hilltops. Our site turned out to be perfect, not buggy, warm and when the sun rose on Sunday, it was bathed in sunlight. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

We made camp and sat down to enjoy our half liter of wine. E & NP also brought a half liter and we visited and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Then we made our dinner. After a day of hiking, a little wine and big dinner, I was ready for bed by the time the sun went down as was the rest of our crew. We climbed into our tents and fell sound asleep.

In the morning I was again the first to get up so Rudy our dog and I grabbed all the water bottles we could find and hiked back down to the stream we crossed the previous evening and filled them with water for our breakfast. As I descended to the stream side campsites the temperature dropped about 10 degrees and more campers had arrived and made camp. I greeted them in their down jackets as I filled the water bottles and walked the 15 minutes back up the hill to our warm sunny campsite.

With extra water I enjoyed a cup of coffee while our campers roused and woke up. The 4 of us had a leisurely breakfast, relaxing and enjoying the beauty that surrounded us. Then we finally cleaned up broke camp and headed out mid morning.

As expected the walk out was about an hour. We arrived at our car before noon, drank the extra water we had stored in the car, had a snack, loaded up and headed off to the car on Kenosha Pass. Once there we separated our gear and made plans to have a Father’s Day beer at Mad Jack’s Brewery in Bailey, CO. As we gathered at Mad Jack’s all of us talked about what a wonderful trip we had. We hiked about 15 miles in total. There are those that will say we could have done more and gone further. But this weekend wasn’t about the destination, it was about the trip. It was about sharing the trail with 3 people I love very much, and seeing the beautiful world not only through my eyes, but theirs.

Our First Spotlight Ball

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:28:53 GMT

Performing a Dance Routine at our Age? Terrifying!

Before E & NP's wedding MLW and I took some dance lessons at Arthur Murray here in Castle Rock. We found that the lessons really were fun so after the wedding we continued taking them. In doing so we’ve convinced several of our good friends to join as well and we’ve met some more friends. It’s really been fun and as things begin to open up we’re looking forward to going out and actually dancing.

This was all going well when our instructor Ryan reminded us that we get a free dance choreographed for us. He also mentioned something about doing it a few months down the road at some kind of event, but I didn’t pay much attention to it, that was in the future. So we decided to dance a foxtrot to “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” from the Aristocats.

So we spent a few lessons to learn the moves then we moved onto something else. About 3 weeks before the Showcase Ball, Ryan says so lets go over the performance you are going to do at Showcase on June 4. “NOOOOOO!” I protested as did MLW. You’ll be fine he assured, “I’LL SURELY DIE!” said the voice in my head. So under protest we worked on our routine.

As the fateful date came closer I panicked even more. We added another lesson so we had two during the week of the Ball. I was still having problems, so Tuesday night I sat at my computer and with the videos of our practice I mapped out the entire 90 second routine by step and count and put it in a spreadsheet. Excessive to some, it’s what my brain needed to process the single and double count steps. If you know a fox trot it’s basic step count is (for the leader) 2 counts forward left foot, 2 counts forward right foot, then 1 count left foot to the left and the right foot closes next to the left foot in one count. Or slow, slow, quick quick. It’s a dance with a little bounce to it and if you listen to most any of the Rat Pack songs, they can be danced to a Fox Trot. But when you have a choreographed dance the slows and the quicks are mixed up as was my brain.

With my spreadsheet in hand, ear buds in and the music on my phone, I went out to the driveway and practiced, and practiced and practiced. When parts didn’t work I got out sidewalk chalk and drew out the steps, often realizing I was doing them wrong. Determining that was pretty easy given when you realize you have to levitate to make the steps work, you probably have them wrong.

Friday came and I practiced a few more times and MLW came out and worked with me too. We had plans to meet two of our dance friends before the ball for a beer to calm my nerves and we had plans with three other couples to get dinner after the ball. Before we left I practiced once more and it all went jumbly in my brain and anxiety hit again with a vengeance. If my MLW is wonderful at one thing it is her ability to break down anxiety causing events with “what’s the worst thing that can happen?” So after my melt-down she reminded me I wasn’t about to die and we went through the routine two more times and did it pretty well. We were off to meet our friends.

Our dance studio is next to 105 West Brewing Company so it’s a great place to get a beer normally, but really convenient if you coming or going from dance. Meeting with Courtney and Josh was very cathartic as we were able to talk about our concerns. Plus they are both really fun people so the laughter didn’t hurt either.

Once in the studio we looked at the program and we were second. Good, we can do this and then relax and watch everyone else. Since our song was “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” MLW made us both tails and she wore cat ears. We were introduced, the music started and off we went. I wont say we aced it, there were little mistakes, but we did it with a smile on our faces and we had fun. Our fellow dancers cheered and were supportive. After we were done there was more time to enjoy ourselves, do some dancing and watch all of the other routines which was really fun.

The rest of the night was a hoot as we went out with our friends and had a laugh-filled dinner. On the way home is when we realized: It’s easy at any age, but even more at ours, to stop stretching your boundaries. But in doing just that is when you feel the most alive. In a 90 second dance routine we found once again the difference between just being alive and actually living.

(The video below is washed out on computer monitors but fine on your phone)

Camp Scottsdale

Mon, 24 May 2021 14:08:06 GMT

If I told you We just spent a long weekend in Scottsdale where we rode bikes, hiked, swam, played games and boated. It kind of sounds like we went to camp. That’s what fun weekends designed by our friend Angie are like. If you want a weekend of sleeping late and then spending until noon in your jammies, you’re not going to like her planned weekends. But if you like to get out and move and learn new things, then Camp Angie might just be the vacation you are looking for.

This wasn’t some camping weekend. We spent the weekend in the beautiful home of Chris and Mary, Angie’s brother and sister in law. They live in the exclusive Desert Mountain Community in Scottsdale. It’s country club living on steroids with it’s 7 golf courses, multiple tennis and pickle ball courts, fitness centers, and various on-community restaurants. It is a beautiful place to live and their home is equally beautiful and comfortable.

We awoke on Saturday where breakfast was followed by a bike ride. Out on the roads we traveled and passed the many beautiful plants of the Scottsdale dessert. Always impressive to me are the saguaro cactuses. These old sentinels of the desert with their varied arms were blooming in spring and they were beautiful as were the other spring blooms. After that a dip in the pool and some lunch followed by some boche ball games to round out our afternoon. Then we cleaned up and were off to a wonderful Italian dinner to wrap up our first day.

Sleep came easy that night and Sunday morning we went out to breakfast where we met our friends Jeanne and Murray. With my cheek bones sore from laughing, we were headed back home to put on swim suits and other water attire and then we spent the day on Bartlett Lake. The water was warm as expected as we paddled our flotilla of a canoe, a double kayak and two single kayaks across the water for a picnic lunch. After that it was dinner and an early night as we prepared for a day trip to Sedona.

Monday morning came and off we went to Sedona, where we hiked the Soldier Pass trail which took us about 3 hours. On our excursion we saw such features as the Devil’s Kitchen, The Seven Sacred Pools, and as expected, Soldiers Pass. We had an unexpected addition when we hiked up to two forming arches along the western side of Brin’s Ridge. There we found a slot cave that was quite popular and incredibly beautiful. It required a bit of climbing to get into it but it was relatively easy to get into, a little challenging to get out of but beautiful and worth the side excursion.

When we came off the trail we were as expected, dusty, hot, tired, hungry and thirsty. Three of the five maladies were quickly remedied by a stop at the Sedona Brewery. Where cold water and beer were paired with ridiculously large lunch portions. We enjoyed those in the shade, and after a stop for ice cream, Chris drove the tired crew home as most of us at least dozed a bit if not fell soundly asleep. A refreshing dip in the pool and a soak in the hot tub, relaxed those trail weary muscles and like young campers at camp, sleep came easy to the entire crew.

Tuesday was our travel day home, but not without a bit of exercise and fun to round out our Camp Angie experience. After a lovely breakfast we traveled to the pickle ball courts where MLW and I finally learned some of the rules of pickle ball as we played with our friends. Then it was time to shower, finish packing and off to the airport. Like young campers returning home to school and chores, we didn’t want to go. Work and responsibility awaited us as we ventured home, but the happy memories were there to stay.

A Warm Western Slope Weekend

Mon, 10 May 2021 14:23:52 GMT

It has been a cool and wet Spring so far in Sedalia. Which is wonderful for the plants but not so much for my psyche. I’ve had some blue days waiting for the weather to be warm and the grass to be green. Last month when we went over to Grand Junction to work on the house, we hoped for some fun time. If you read that blog you know we ran out of time. So as we drove home after that weekend we set our sights on returning for a fun weekend on the first weekend in May.

With vacation day on Friday April 30, we left the house on Thursday afternoon and headed back to Grand Junction. The temperature was 60 degrees as we drove through the ski towns and the snow that remained was wet and shiny. We arrived in the Grand Valley about 7:30 and stopped in Palisade for some dinner at Palisade brewing. Within 30 minutes we were joined by Smooch and Hot Dish. The first beer always signals vacation and as we clinked our glasses we set our sights on a weekend of fun.

The next morning I Yelped Grand Junction dog friendly breakfasts as we had Rudy with us and we ended up at the Buttered Biscuit. A stationary food truck near the Mesa Mall. Their reviews were spot on and we had a delicious breakfast outside. Then a long walk for Rudy on the Colorado River trail. We walked for about 90 minutes and soaked up the sunshine. Then back to the hotel to grab the bikes.

Rudy stayed at the hotel for about 30 minutes and was picked up by Smooch who took him to work with him. MLW and I jumped on the bike trail and mapped a route to Mesa Park Vineyards, one of our favorites. The traffic on the roads in the vineyards and orchards was almost non existent and our short two mile ride had us at the vineyard before we knew it.

After some tasting, a glass of wine and some purchasing, we realized we were only an eight minute ride from Palisade Pies. Sitting in the middle of the orchards and the vineyards is this little pie shop that serves up delicious pie. So off we went and soon we were enjoying pie. MLW quipped, “a lunch of wine and pie, that’s how you know you’re on vacation!” We headed back down the road to the bike trail and then rode a bit on it before we packed up the bikes, and returned to Mesa Park with the car to pick up our purchased wine. On the way to clean up we decided to drop by the liquor store where Hot Dish is working.

Hot Dish works at Fun Junction Liquor. The store is named after the amusement park that previously stood on that property until it was sold and became a strip mall. We entered the store but could not find Hot Dish. Then someone opened a door to the beer cooler and suddenly we heard her voice. She was working in the beer cooler. We said hello through the beer boxes and were soon off to the hotel to clean up .

After cleaning up we went to the house where Smooch and his roommate had set up the beer die table. Beer die is a game played with a table and a pair of dice. I did not follow the drinking rules associated with the game but being outdoors and laughing in the warm sunshine was a tonic for the soul. Hot Dish joined us after work and we went out for some dinner and then returned to the hotel where we played a quick game of cards and called it a night.

Saturday was forecast to be another day in the 80’s. Hot Dish had to work in the afternoon and we planned to ride mountain bikes with Smooch in the morning. HD and Smooch made us a lovely pancake breakfast at the house and we were off to ride while HD and Rudy hung out at the house. We went to the Little park area near the monument and rode Second Thoughts and Twist and Shout bike trails. The length and the trails were perfect for our first time out.

Later in the afternoon after we cleaned up we found the Highlands distillery. They opened at 4 and the three of us with Rudy headed over for one of their cocktails and to play cards. The distillery is also a lavender farm. There’s a gift shop in the front and a window in the back where you order and pick up your cocktails. The slight breeze coming through the window smelled amazing and that’s when I looked up and saw they had dried lavender bundles hanging from the rafters. I mentioned it smelled so good and the server told me that when they hung them up they were fresh and the smell was really amazing.

Mesa county has made a rule that you can decide if you want to wear a mask or not. So it was very confusing for us until we asked someone at our hotel what the mask rule was. At most places servers continued to wear masks, at chain stores and restaurants employees were following their employers rules but other places it was hit or miss. That’s when I started to notice businesses with “Mask Friendly” signs. I didn’t think much of it until I looked at my receipt from the distillery. There was a line item on my receipt that said “thank you for wearing a mask” and had a 5% discount taken off our bill.

After that we picked up Hot Dish and a bucket of chicken and ate it at Monumental Beer works. Shortly after we went back to the hotel to swim, but as we walked in a large group of middle-schoolers were headed into the pool, so instead we found a table and four chairs and played cards.

Sunday we planned to celebrate Mother’s Day with a hike and picnic. We told the kids we’d be at Smooches house late morning. We got up and found another nice breakfast spot and then headed over. I did a little work on the kitchen faucet and we were off for our hike. We hiked near the Ribbon Trail which is adjacent to the Colorado National Monument. Then we found a nice spot and had our picnic. The rest of the day we did small projects at the house.

Sunday evening brought showers. Another nice dinner with the kids and then they and their friends Ryan and Sienna came to the hotel to swim. Afterwards we played a game in the room and laughed a lot. They were off later that night and as it rained we went to sleep. We awoke to a wet Grand Junction, something I’ve rarely seen. After my Monday morning work call we stopped by Smooches, gave him a hug and headed home under overcast skies.

The drive home was uneventful. I worked while MLW drove. We arrived home in the mid afternoon . Although the skies were again cloudy and raining, we had a fun, sunny weekend in our hearts.

The Final Wedding Video is Released

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 13:57:24 GMT

The long awaited wedding video is up and ready to view. Just a reminder once you hit play you can also click the full screen button on YouTube for full screen.

If this makes you want to revisit earlier wedding blogs I have hotlinks below. Enjoy!

A GJ Work Weekend

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:19:12 GMT

Last Friday afternoon we packed up the truck with a wheelbarrow, numerous inside and outside tools and headed to Grand Junction to do some Spring work on the college house. Our project list was fairly long for a days work; cap off the sprinklers on the east side of the house and rock the area, turn on the sprinkler system, paint the kitchen, fix some drywall, replace the piece of plaster board that covers the attic access, scrape and paint the window trim on the sunny sides of the house. Last but not least see if Smooches toilet needed a wax ring replacement.

The projects all took a bit longer than anticipated; the kitchen wasn’t cleaned before we arrived, the area to be rocked was larger than I remember and other things like that. But we attacked the projects and they got done. However our trip to the Palisade wineries did not happen because of the time the projects took. We did get over there for dinner and hoped to return on Sunday before we drove home, but then came the toilet repairs.

Sunday morning we met Smooch and Hot Dish for a nice hour hike and then for brunch. If you are ever in Grand Junction and want a big breakfast I recommend The Pufferbelly. It’s a restaurant in the old train station. With your breakfast you have the option of toast, biscuit, english muffin or cinnamon roll. Since they are all “equal” you’d think the cinnamon rolls would be small. Oh no, they are the size of a dessert plate. You can imagine our surprise when the rolls showed up as big as our meals.

After brunch, one more stop at Walmart for the last things we needed for our Sunday ”quick” projects and then on the road by 2 pm. Well that was the plan. Smooches toilet became quite the project. After inspecting it, I thought the water on his floor was due to the refill valve that was spraying water against the tank top and dripping onto the floor. So instead of pulling the toilet I ran to the store and bought a new valve. The new valve didn’t have a flapper that fit, and the opening the flapper sealed against was not a standard size, so back to the store to buy a flapper valve assembly. At this point since I had to remove the tank I thought I might as well pull the toilet and replace the wax ring too. 3 trips to the hardware store and 2+ hours later the only thing original on Smooches toilet was the seat and the porcelain, every other attachment had been replaced. It turned out he was right, the wax ring was leaking.

Hot Dish really showed her ability to work hard on a house. A skill she says she has learned from helping her folks flip houses. She continues to be one of the nicest, hard working people I have ever met under the age of 40. Constantly positive and pleasant. She’s going to be a renter next year and I’m looking forward to that as she constantly looks at homes with a critical eye as how to make them look better. She asked permission to plant a small garden next to the back patio and she’s already planted it. We also discussed that now that she’s cleaned and painted the kitchen she can tell the guys to keep the place clean.

So back to the house, at 4:20 the toilet was fixed, mounted and caulked in. I scrubbed up, we loaded up, hugged the kids and headed back home at 4:30. We arrived back in Sedalia at 8:30 in time to unload, eat and go to bed. It was one of our more ambitious work weekends and we did good things. But we didn’t have much fun. So we’re planning to return in May for fun. We’ll take the bikes, get to the wineries and do some relaxing. But you know for sure, I’ll do a “little” work on the house.

Dinner in Palisade after a long day of work

An Almost Normal Easter

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:04:20 GMT

As I believe I have said before, Easter is one holiday I look forward to more every year. It makes me sad that I have friends who were oblivious to the coming of Easter. These are the same friends who go all out for Christmas. I guess they don’t realize that without Easter, there wouldn’t be a Christmas. Maybe they’ve lost the meaning of the holidays, which isn’t found in Santa and Bunnies.

Regardless of the symbols, Easter Day 2020 was a dismal, cold, and snowy Easter. We were fresh into Covid lock-downs and the day was just sad. This year with restrictions waning and the weather beautiful, Easter weekend was glorious with highs in the mid to upper 70’s and it only got better celebrating it with my family.

The weekend started with Smooch and Hot Dish coming over from GJ on Friday afternoon. Smooch got his second Covid shot late Friday morning and they were on the road shortly after that. MLW was done at two and ran the last minute errands we needed for the weekend. We had quite a bit of cleaning to do as I have been finishing up the remodel of Smooches room. Unfortunately it was not completely done, but it was done enough to put the bed back together and hang the new drapes.

Friday night we were joined by E & NP and we played games after eating a Mexican food dinner. Saturday afternoon we planned to ride our bikes to some of the Castle Rock breweries. We started the morning with breakfast, then both Smooch and Hot dish had to study or take tests. While they worked on their studies, I readied the bikes for our outing.

We were joined by Doc who showed up late Saturday morning and we were off in the early afternoon. E had to work most of Saturday and after some pestering we got NP to join us at the third brewery. As has become tradition, MLW had games for each of our stops including some crafts. We painted Easter scenes at 105 West and we made foam bunnies at the Iron Mule.

E got off work and met us at our final stop of the day, the Honnibrook Meadery. There we shared a glass of mead and headed back to the house for dinner. In the morning we’d be headed to church at 8 am so it was a short night and we were all off to bed.

The alarm came early and we all prepared for church. We left in time to be there 15 minutes early and because of required spacing we still had to sit in the very front seats. The Minister was pointing out where we could sit and referenced the front row as the “Splash Zone.” I’d never thought of the front seats as that; the name comes from places like Sea World where folks in the seats closest tend to get wet from the animals. Nonetheless, we remained dry but it was an awkward place to sit especially since we’ve been going to a Lutheran church and we still aren’t in tune with when you sit and stand; which they do a lot.

After church we had breakfast then prepared to eat again at our early dinner at 2. In the meantime the boys flew kites and others napped all in the glorious warm day. Before we ate we had some lawn game competitions, as we couldn’t waste one of these first great days of Spring without a few games of Spikeball.

Our dinner was at 2, even though none of us were really hungry, we had a great feast of ham, caramel rolls, fruit salad, green salad and other Easter delights. After that E & NP departed for Ken and Vickies, Doc headed home and Smooch, Hot Dish played games with us until dark.

For me, it was a glorious day spent with my family while we were surrounded by bunnies in decorations as well as in chocolate. But I can’t celebrate the love for my family on Easter without thinking of the Lamb and the gift we truly received at Easter.

College Travel, Snow, and Remembering the Drive

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:13:35 GMT

A Quick Trip to MN for Smooch and Hot Dish has me remembering a trip with MLW

This past weekend Smooch and Hot Dish made a quick stop here at the house on their way to Mora for the weekend. It was HD’s sister's 14th birthday and they were flying out of DIA to the Twin Cities. It was one of those young adult trips that are so fun and adventurous. They were looking forward to their trip while MLW and I were watching the approaching storm.

Every relationship seems to have a trip that defines a relationship. One that sends a message to both, that hey, this may be something. E & NP had that trip, it lasted 6 months and went from Oslo Norway all over parts of Europe. MLW and I had one too, but it was a bit more domestic.

The fall of 1985 MLW and I met. After our first meeting I knew she was something special. Cute, funny, with that Chicago accent. She had, and still has, a self deprecating humor that not only conveys she doesn’t take herself too seriously but that she has, and had, no idea just how beautiful she was and is. It was that fall that I fell in love with MLW, but I knew I’d marry her after our trip.

After finals in December she loaded up her Dodge Colt to make the drive back to South Elgin, IL where her Dad and brothers were. It was cold and there were light snow showers forecast all the way on her trip. The speed limit was still 55 in those days so it was going to be a 12 or so hour drive home. I went to the store and bought her some snacks and candy. I packed it all up in a box with sodas and a blanket just in case she had car trouble as she made her solo drive home. As I kissed her goodbye I knew I’d see her in 3 weeks when I flew to meet her in Chicago right after New Years to celebrate her 21st birthday and drive back to Greeley with her.

That was my first trip on an airliner. I flew Continental Airlines to O’Hare. I had what was then a cheap fare, $99 one way. I was seated about 3 rows ahead of the smoking section, sounds funny doesn’t it. I arrived at O’hare and she was there to pick me up. I would meet her family for the first time and we would drive down to see my brother Doc and Cindy, who had only been married about 4 years. We did a lot of driving on that trip.

We left to return to UNC on the 5th of January, in the early afternoon with the plan to stop somewhere in Iowa. In those days Motel 6’s were not too bad and their $19 rooms fit the budget. The day like the whole trip was cold and I can remember driving across Illinois and Iowa with the temp in the single digits and scraping the windows on the inside because the defroster couldn’t keep up with the freezing condensation on the windows.

But what I really remember is we talked. We talked a lot. We tried listening to music but it got in the way of our constant stream of conversations. We talked about life, families, opinions, schools, friends and growing up. As we talked I was subconsciously checking off the boxes, yep she was the “one.” As we entered Colorado, it was becoming clear to me I wanted to marry this girl.

I am not saying that this was “that'' trip for Smooch and Hot Dish. No rather I’m just remembering the adventure of discovering yourself and someone else as you discover how to travel as a young adult. One of the characteristics of such a trip is optimism and that brings us back to last weekend.

S & HD arrived at the house about dinner time on Wednesday. The evening was basically dinner, visit, and go to bed. Breakfast in the morning and I took them to the airport. It was a sunny late winter day. The news was abuzz about the approaching weekend storm. With a warning to be sure to keep their computers handy, they flew off to Minnesota.

Friday was cooler but clear and by now the highways had warning signs about the approaching storm. Everywhere there were warnings to be prepared to stay home over the weekend. Saturday dawned cloudy and damp, but no snow. I went to the hardware store at noon and found it empty, as were the roads. It seemed everyone was listening to the warnings, but what was missing was anything more than light snow flurries that were melting on the still warm roadways.

Saturday night came and by 1 am still just a couple of inches of snow. We moved the clocks a head and went to bed. The next morning the storm had arrived. High winds and snow. When we get snowstorms here we rarely get windless Hallmark movie snows that drift gently straight down, no, we get sideways blowing snow that you’re not sure ever touches the ground. But it did and accumulated somewhere in the neighborhood of 20” and with snowdrifts about 4.5 feet tall

In MN on Friday, the kids got their first text that their flight home on Sunday evening was cancelled. We worked together and rescheduled them for Monday morning. As the storm raged on Sunday, their second cancellation came that evening. Now they were coming home Tuesday morning and landing in Colorado Springs instead of Denver. As they got up on Tuesday at 3 am in Mora to make their 6 am flight, a third cancellation text came and now they were landing in Colorado Springs at 11 pm after a layover in Chicago. After some wrangling in Chicago, they got their bags and themselves re-routed for a 7 pm landing in Denver.

We picked them up Tuesday evening, went to dinner, came home and basically went to bed. Both the kids had missed two days of school they didn’t plan on and days at work. The plan for the morning was to get them out of the house by 5:15 so they could both make it to work and class which was 10 am in Grand Junction for both of them. I awoke at 4:45 to make them some breakfast for the road. At 5:17 after big hugs from MLW and I, they were on the road to GJ.

As I walked back upstairs in hope of getting some additional sleep, my mind returned to that trip in 1985. The one where I not only fell further in love, but when I knew I found my soulmate. I learned all of that from a weekend of traveling and a final 12 hours in a car talking to the cutest, funniest and most amazing woman I’d ever meet.

Thinking Again about Grace

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 17:26:54 GMT

Almost two years ago I wrote a blog about the power of grace. How important it is, how it can free our friends from guilt and shame, and how it’s free and unlimited. If you’d like to read that blog you can click on the picture above and you be taken to it. The issue of grace came up again this past week when the horrible news came though our family and friends that Jefferson Dirks, one of my Eagle Scouts, had taken his life at 19.

The news was horrible and tragic. It was like a drop of black oil into a still pool that caused a ripple as it went out from the center that washed over everyone who knew him and left this black stain on their hearts. All deaths are hard, but when it comes at the person's own hand, and such a young hand, it’s so much harder to fathom.

When I remember Jefferson, I remember the bright-eyed scout who was so happy, so inquisitive. He was as they say “an old soul”. He had wisdom of people twice his age and he had a knack for talking with adults. He was kind, courteous, and polite. Truly a fine young man. At his memorial service, his friends talked about his compassion, empathy and humor. How he was a delight to be with and how he always had a word of encouragement for his friends. No one used the word, but Jefferson had the gift of grace.

There are many definitions of grace, but I’m talking about the grace one is given when someone looks past your shortcomings and is kind and caring regardless. The person who is kind to you not because you were kind to them, but because you needed that kindness at that time. The ability to forgive you for your shortcomings and not hold them against you. Basically the understanding that we are all human, and humans will make mistakes but that’s not a reason not to love them.

The saddest part of this story is that Jefferson, like many of us, was great at giving grace to others, but he didn’t give grace to himself. That’s a hard lesson of life and it’s not something that comes easy to most of us. But it’s important because while striving to be the best you can be is admirable and even an attractive trait, ability to embrace your humanness is just as important.

Often the root of empathy comes when we watch others make mistakes we hope we never do. When we see our friend scratch his new car, drop that china plate, make a bad investment or say something inappropriate they didn’t intend, that’s when we reach out to make our friends feel better. But what do we do when we are the one that made the mistake? Forgiving ourselves is always the hardest because it’s much more personal. But we have to realize it’s much more personal to us than likely it is to others. Have you ever had someone apologize to you and in your are mind you are thinking, “that’s nice of them but it really wasn’t a big deal”? Meanwhile you find out they lost sleep over how they thought you might have felt when they did whatever.

Please don’t mistake my message today as saying don’t apologize and don’t worry about your actions. My message today is: continue to strive to be your best self everyday. Sometimes that means you’ll have to swallow your pride and apologize, and sometimes it means you’ll have to accept an apology for something that bothered you more than you think the other person knows. Whatever the situation, always remember the most difficult person to give grace to is yourself; However, you are also the most important person you can give grace to.

Another Nickname...

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 15:37:23 GMT

I get more grief from the nicknames I assign.....

When I started this blog, I thought that since it was a public blog I ought to do my best to not have much identifiable information on it. Of course my little blog and its average of 20-30 readers isn’t exactly a giant security threat, but then again I don’t ever want it to be. So when I started to write, I gave out nicknames. Yes I’ve violated my rule and used real names a few times, but those are mostly because the nicknames lacked context or fluidity in whatever I was writing about. What I’ve learned is that of all the things I write about the number one comment I get from my readers is about the nicknames I’ve given out. The people who bring this up are normally the nicknamed. It’s with all this explanation that I’m going to give out Smooches girlfriend’s nickname in this blog. But of course it starts with a story.

One of the fun things as your kids introduce you to their friends and date, is you get to experience folks from different parts of the country. Now E & NP are rare in this because they found each other, fell in love and stayed there. Good for them, if it was just that easy for the rest of us, but it normally isn’t. Smooch being an extrovert loves meeting people. So when he wasn’t in a monogamous dating relationship, every time he mentioned he had a new date, his mother would ask, “do I need to know this one’s name”? He’d respond something like “not yet.” Which was helpful to us because as I said, Smooch likes to meet people. Smooch met Miss Addie when they were introduced by some friends. After he met this nice young lady we were told to remember her name.

Growing up in the midwest, there’s something about midwesterners that's very comfortable, especially to MLW and I. While each state has it’s differences there’s the shared experience of the hot humid summers and the cold winters, the glorious falls and the excitement of spring. Addie is from Minnesota, and very much a Minnesotan. From her speech, to her politeness, and even her food choices. For MLW and I we unfortunately only visit the midwest when there’s a celebration. Whether it’s a graduation, a wedding or even a celebration of life, the one thing we always seem to run into at these gatherings is the tater tot casserole. It’s a casserole made with tater tots, ground beef, cheddar cheese, and that staple of the casserole; cream of mushroom soup, (oh, and of course corn).

You don’t often find this delicious cheesy, meaty, “potato-ee” casserole in Colorado. Coloradoans look at this hearty meal as having too much fat and too many carbs. “Food sissies!” I say, but I digress. So when MLW said to me, “Addie just made Smooch dinner, guess what she made him?” I pondered that a minute and said “not that tater tot casserole thing?” and she laughed and said “yes, and he loved it, he ate 3/4’s of the pan.”

But a casserole isn’t just a casserole, the name changes as you go around the midwest. Where MLW grew up they’re called “a dish to pass”, in other parts of the midwest, they’re called a covered dish, and while some folks just call them a casserole, where Addie’s from they call them a “hot dish.” So not missing the double entendre of an attractive female and giving a nod to Smooches attraction to Addie along with appreciating the wholesome-Ness of the good folks of Minnesota, Addie will now be referred to as “Hot Dish” in my blog.

The Vega Weekend

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 05:12:08 GMT

In 2018 we started a bit of a tradition. We rented a cabin at Vega State Park over what would be Valentine's weekend. I wrote a blog about our second year there, but our first trip was MLW (of course), E & NP and smooch and his then girlfriend. The cabins are standard State Park issue; two bunk beds, one twin over twin the other twin over full. If you have one person sleep on the dinette bench, they sleep 6. There’s a microwave, a fridge and a coffee maker. Water is at the shared spigot in the parking lot and the restroom is a womans and a mans latrine.

Not exactly 5 star accommodations, but you don’t go there to be in a spa, you go there to play outside, in the snow. We learned a few things the first year. If you have more than 4 in a cabin, it’s a little tight, especially if your dog comes along which Rudy does.

Vega State Park is on the Grand Mesa, which is the national forest just to the east of the Grand Valley where the Grand Junction area is. It’s the world's largest flat topped mountain and home to 300+ lakes and beautiful scenery. It’s also at least 4 hours away from Denver so it’s not so popular that the entire park is packed every weekend. In our three trips there never have all 5 cabins been rented.

The Grand Mesa gets a good amount of snow, so there’s usually a minimum of a foot on the ground, usually more. This year there was about 20” everywhere with more in the shady spots. As I said while we are there we play in the snow so we come with sleds, snow shoes and ice fishing equipment.

We were joined this year by our friends Col M and Col A, Smooch and his girlfriend Addie. E & NP were unable to join us.. The Col’s had their own cabin and we were next door. We arrived about 3 pm on Friday. While I bought our park passes, I asked where the good fishing was. The response was “everyone fishes by the dam, but there’s good fishing straight off the boat ramp by Settlers Campground.” Then we were off to move in.

There’s a saying that you pack basically the same for a trip of two days as you would a week and we kept that saying true. We arrived in my Subaru packed to the gills including a cartop carrier. So after unpacking we exchanged Valentine’s gifts. MLW has been busy with her Cricut machine she got for Christmas and crafty things were shared with everyone. Addie surprised us with cute gift bags as well. Then we were off for a walk.

We walked down the road to the boat ramp, which as said before was under about two feet of snow. It was older snow with new on top so walking in it without snowshoes was a test to see how many steps you could take before your foot fell into the powder snow below the crust. This became a game and soon wrestling broke out as each of us ended up being pushed, wrestled or thrown into the deep snow. We returned to the cabins for dinner and filled the night playing games.

We picked a great weekend to go west and up in elevation. The western edge of a polar blast that sat over the middle of the country the past week was working it’s way into the Denver area. We left on Friday when it was seven degrees and that was going to be the highest temp for the next few days. By the time we got to the i-70 tunnel and Vail pass in light snow the temps were in the 20’s and in the area west of Glenwood Springs it was 42 and raining. Vega was about 34 degrees all day Saturday with periodic snow that accumulated to 3-4 inches. By Sunday when we were leaving some of the cold air had moved in and it was 9 while we packed the vehicles, but even that was better that the temps we’d find when we got home.

Saturday started with a big breakfast and then a snowshoe hike. Our group broke off into two after a few miles and I ended up with Smooch and Addie back in the trees of the park playing in the deep snow around what would normally be the walk-in tent campground. It was just fun and silliness. We soon regrouped and it was time for lunch.

After lunch our group packed up to ice fish. We soon learned that access to the “secret spot” where we were told the fish were was far from easy. First of all, reservoirs like Vega are at their lowest point this time of year, so the water was not near the boat ramp, no, far from it. Then add in that snow that was deep and fun the previous day and it was rather tough to get out to the water loaded down with gear and wearing snow shoes again. We finally got out on the water after a 6/10’s of a mile slog and got settled.

The snow would come in bands and varied from light to heavy. Most everyone caught or hooked a fish and MLW even admitted ice fishing was bearable in my ice fishing tent. Then we decided to go back to the vehicles and the slog began again in reverse. We made our way back to the cabins changed our clothes and in a rather heavy snow storm had a campfire and happy hour.

One thing that you find especially with families that are from colder climates is every family seems to have some type of winter drink. They vary from boozy to fruity, often with heartier spirits. For MLW I have heard for years of her mothers Glogg recipe. MLW doesn’t have that recipe anymore and basically just remembers her Mom would make it and then keep it in the cool mud room during the holidays. As she told me, all she knew was the adults would drink it warm and they’d get “giggly”. So MLW went to the Internet and came up with a recipe for Lotta’s Glogg. A recipe of wine, port and brandy, simmered with spices and served warm with a little honey. Addie’s family has Grandma Leora’s brandy slush; a mixture of brandy, orange juice, lemonade and tea frozen into a slush and served with ginger ale. My contribution was a flask of Snowshoe Grog, a 3 to 1 mix of brandy and peppermint schnapps I once enjoyed with my Dad while Ice fishing. We enjoyed those around the fire and then we moved onto dinner and more games.

It was just what most people think of when they think of a night in a mountain cabin. A warm cabin, good friends, fun stories and laughter all while the snow falls on a cold winter night. We finished our last game at about 11 and everyone was off to a well deserved rest after a big day enjoying the outdoors.

Sunday dawned cold as I explained earlier. We had a breakfast of pancakes and sausage and then loaded up our vehicles. Two families had moved into two of the other cabins on Saturday and the air was filled with the sounds of kids having fun outside. As we said our good byes to the college kids and loaded into our cars the weekend seemed incredibly short. I think Smooch gave us the greatest hint as to why. He pointed out to us what a difference it was that he brought someone who wanted to be there. Indeed that was it. Never once did anyone look forward to return home but instead looked forward to the next fun thing to do outside. With plans to add an extra day next year, we drove away with more fun stories in our hearts and a continued appreciation for our winter weekend at Vega State Park.

The House is Quiet Again

183:811878928 (Patrick Jones) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 15:15:54 GMT

Our house is empty once again as Smooch has returned to GJ for school. Classes start today. We had him home for a long time this break since in person classes ended before Thanksgiving break and he did the rest of his classes online. He also worked again at Eddie Bauer in Castle Rock. They gave him lots of hours and gave him the week off before Christmas to travel to Minnesota to meet his girlfriend Addie’s family. We got him back on December 21. He worked through the holidays until the new year came and then hour cuts ended his job at Eddie Bauer.

Addie (who doesn’t get a nickname until February) spent a few days with us after the first and then they both returned to Grand Junction. He helped her move into a new dorm where she’s a Resident Assistant for the Spring semester. While back there Smooch got his chance to buy his dream project car, a 1991 Mazda Miata. It needs some work and he was putting on a new head gasket this weekend.

Smooch learned much about buying a used car by himself going through this process. He bought it from a guy who had purchased it in the fall from someone else and he never transferred the title. So he ended up with a car in his driveway and a seller who wouldn’t sign the bill of sale because his name wasn’t on the title. Smooch ultimately contacted the owner who signed the title and got the paperwork done. He also learned what worked and what didn’t. Of course in his natural way he became friends with the former owners, an elderly couple who live on their orchard in Palisade. Before he left they gave him some preserves and invited him to their church. They’ve texted several times since then answering his car questions and letting him know they’re happy to answer any questions they can.

We see the newlyweds about every other week. They just became godparents to the cutest little baby girl. Their very close friends Lauren and Aaron just had baby Quinn last week. Lauren and NP were friends for years and roommates in college. When E was the center of his high school football team, Aaron was the quarterback. They became good friends after college.

E gave us some exciting news last week. I think I’ve written that E has been moved to a larger testing lab at Lockheed where he now tests entire spacecraft rather than just the components. NASA’s Lucy satellite will launch this fall and it’s being built by Lockheed Martin. Rather than try to explain what it’s going to do, Here’s what Google says: Lucy is a planned NASA space probe that will complete a 12-year journey to seven different asteroids, visiting a Main Belt asteroid as well as six Jupiter trojans, asteroids which share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun, orbiting either ahead of or behind the planet. E will lead the team that performs all the vibrational testing on the satellite, which includes setting up all the tests and reporting back to the NASA engineers on their results.

MLW and I are excited as we booked our long awaited trip on the Katy bike trail this coming fall. The Katy Trail is a rails to trails project and one of the longest, if not the longest in the nation. It starts in Clinton, MO and travels 239 mile east to St Charles, MO. We’re doing it with Doc and his friend Noreen and our long time friends Steve and Kristi. We’ll ride an average of about 40 miles a day and stay at a mix of historic hotels and B&B’s on the way. We have a layover day in Hermann, MO so we can explore the area. Our last ride was the C&O canal trail in 2018 and we can’t wait to ride the Katy. This will make our fourth multi-day trail trip and we’re hoping to do more.

The Wedding Speeches, Part 1

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:53:14 GMT

Hello Readers. We’re well into the doldrums of January and I don’t have much to write about. So as we wait for a wedding video to share that day, I thought I’d share with you the wedding speeches. It’s one thing to have nice things said to you, it’s a completely other experience to have people get up and tell others about you. So I’m going to print these in the order they were presented starting with NP’s sister Kaeleen.

Kaeleen is one of the sweetest people you can ever meet. When you meet her you think she was drawn by Disney. She’s blonde with big beautiful blue eyes and a smile that can make even the grumpiest of people smile back. She’s a NeoNatal Intensive Care Nurse who just loves helping little babies into this world. Here’s what she said about E & NP: (and I’m going to leave E & NP’s real names in the text)

Hello everyone, thank you all so much for being here today. As most of you know, I’m Kaeleen, Synneva’s little sister. For those of you that don’t know the pair of us too well, we were, and have always been two peas in a pod. As kids we were always running too fast, knocking things over, getting into mischief and of course laughing a little too loudly. Synneva is my best friend, she is my constant, she’s my sounding board, and she is the funniest, most amazing person you’ll ever know.

Growing up and to this day, Synneva and I have been inseparable. For a very short time we had to share a bedroom, and when I say a very short time, I was three and synneva was five. And from 5 to pretty much when she left for college, Synneva chose to sleep in my bed almost every night, even though we both had our own separate bedrooms. She used to joke that she was never going to get married that she would in fact just live with me and my husband. She joked that she’d sleep right in between my husband and I, I then said she could have her own room in our house, which she agreed to, but still insisted that she’d sleep in my bed, kick my husband out and then it would just be her and I like always. Don’t get me wrong, Synneva wanted to date, get married, the works, but growing up, the boys in her grade were not stellar. And if you were a boy in Synneva’s grade from middle school through high school, before junior year of course, I apologize. Anyways, this running joke of her living with my husband and I went on for years, until she met Hayden.

Synneva and Hayden first met at freshman orientation in High School, although I had never really heard Synneva talk about Hayden until her junior year, when they had English together. One day in class, Hayden had to give a speech and was extremely nervous. His voice was wavering, his paper was shaking, and at the end of his speech he walked back to his desk and after a moment said “damnit” somewhat under his breath, but still loud enough for everyone to hear. Instead of continuing to be nervous and awkward, he was able to laugh at himself and let everyone laugh with him. Synneva told me that it was at that moment that she knew he was special and thought he was the most adorable, little shy boy she’d ever seen. It was that following night she first she told me about this shy guy she thought was adorable, whose name was Hayden Jones.

Well there were two Hayden Jones in high school at that time, now I knew Synneva typically liked tall, dark and handsome boys, all of which this other Hayden Jones was not… he was short, blonde, and wore white skinny jeans. She then showed me a picture of the right Hayden Jones, and I quickly realized I too had a class with him, wood working.

Now I know it’s hard to believe, but in woodworking, I was the only girl in the class, also not hard to believe Hayden just happened to be the star student. Hayden’s blanket chest was the chest that was used for all the examples of what to do right, and what your blanket chest should look like. For those wondering, my blanket chest also turned out very well. Anyways, because Hayden and I had a class together it was fun to get to know him, to be able to talk about my lovely sister, her quirks and all, and to become friends.

Throughout the years Hayden and I have become great friends, but at some point, and pretty early on too, Hayden transitioned from being my sister’s boyfriend and my friend to being a second brother. Hayden is an amazing man. He is intelligent and kind. He is caring and patient. He is strong and determined. He is also extremely competitive which is one of the reasons why he fits so perfectly within my family, but most importantly he is the man who loves my sister. He’s loved her for the past 9.5 years and I know he will love and cherish her for the rest of his life as she will love and cherish him just as much.

I wish you both all the happiness the world can offer. I can’t think of a better man my sister could choose to spend the rest of her life with. A toast to my favorite people- to Mr. and Mrs. Jones- I love you both so much!

Do You Cry During Movies? And is that really so bad?

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 16:15:48 GMT

Regardless of my outward appearance, movies often make me cry. Heck, I even get misty with commercials. Remember the old Kodak commercials? Or how about the Folgers coffee one where the son comes home early to visit for the holidays and makes coffee before everyone gets up. That one always gets me, in fact my eyes are watery just writing about it.

It actually has gotten worse the older I get. I guess the more life experiences you have, the more likely you are to get hit by the poignancy of a moment whether real or on a screen. If you’ve seen the movie About Time in which the lead character finds out all men in his family can travel in time, the scene where he can no longer go back and visit his now departed Dad because his wife is going to have another baby, just rips me in two. If you don’t understand anything I just wrote, you need to watch the movie.

I have heard from my siblings that either my Mom or my Dad, depending on who is recalling the memory, didn’t like to watch The Little Drummer Boy, because it made them cry. I never heard that from either Mom or Dad, but really, is that such a big thing? MLW and I have watched somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 Hallmark Christmas movies this season and I’ve cried at every one. We were even watching one with the newlyweds and she remarked, “oh this is where your dad will start to cry” at which they all looked at me and she was dead on.

Holidays are full of old haunts and emotions that get me. Just as watching my family grow brings the occasional tears. Experiencing your kids making good decisions or even recovering from bad ones, can trigger a myriad of emotions that show just what a good person they’ve become. That’ll get me, or hearing stories of hardship you never knew they went through, that can get me too.

I don’t want to make it sound like I just can’t wait to see a movie that’ll get the tears flowing. No, there are many times I’d rather see a good action movie where the good guy wins and gets the girl. Those are much easier on the emotions. Which is weird if you think about it; it’s ok if the bad guys get shot and fall off buildings to their deaths, but it’s not if Grandma passes without passing on the hiding place of her magic fruitcake recipe.

Then there are the scenes that made me tear up in the movie and they continue to haunt me. The worst for me is the scene in Titanic where the ship is sinking, the people are locked in the lower decks and a Mom is reading a bedtime story to her children as you see the water come in under the door. You know what’s going to come next and it rips your heart out. That’s the scene that will pop into my head at 3:30 am after a trip to the bathroom, and then I don’t get back to sleep for hours. Needless to say I’ve never watched Titanic again.

I’ve had some people in my life that have shown me by example that grown men do cry. My good friend Col. M, I first saw him break up while talking at E’s Eagle Scout ceremony. At his son’s, Eagle ceremony I again saw a moment that touched him deep enough to bring out the tears. Where he really got me was when I was invited to his military retirement. If you never served, maybe like me you imagine military retirements being like the end scene of Patton. No, you want to see tears, watch people who’ve served together at each others retirement. There’s emotion, there’s recalling a lifetime of poignant memories, and it’s a beautiful thing.

Tears have taught me much about things I am going to say, write or present. I know if I’m typing my blog as tears run down my face, I’ll get many compliments on that blog from my readers. I also know if I have to practice a speech numerous times to say it straight, likely it’s going to touch someone. E & NP brought their wedding pictures over on Christmas and there’s one taken looking down the head table and everyone you can see has tears in their eyes. NP looked at me and said that was taken during your speech . What a compliment. Not that I made people cry, but that I was able to tell them a story that touched them

That’s really what life is all about anyway, isn’t it? Strip back the work and the earning a living part and what you have left is moments. Marking those moments are laughs, smiles, and an occasional tear. As we head into 2021 I wish you not only a Happy New Year, but one that’s marked with the signs of many happy moments, and I hope you have more than your share of moments that touch you deep enough to draw a tear.

The Annual Brewery Bike Ride

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 16:44:09 GMT

One Tradition that was not a Covid Casualty

Showing off our Christmas Masks. We slid them down to put the mustache below the nose for the picture, otherwise we wear them over our noses .

It’s a different year indeed. For the first time in 15 or so years we didn’t have our annual Christmas open house. It’s always the last weekend before Christmas Eve, every year but this one. But even this crazy year didn’t stop all our traditions, rather it morphed them.

For the past three years we have gathered on a Saturday before Christmas to ride our decorated bikes through the streets and bike paths of Castle Rock, playing Christmas music and riding to each of the breweries in town. This year with indoor dining prohibited and a 8 pm mandated stop to liquor sales we had to gather earlier. So rather than a 5 pm start we started this year at 3 pm.

Our group was small this year as suggested as well. It was MLW and I, my brother Doc, Smooch, and the newly weds E & NP. MLW made us all red masks that I glued a white beard and mustache on. The day was grey with snow forecast and we gathered at the fairgrounds to ride to the first brewery, Burley, which was across town.

It was cold when we had our wheels down at 3 pm and the newly weds were still at home getting ready to leave. So off we went and they met us at Burley. Burley, for those of you who don’t know it, is located in a small business park on the west side of town. It was our furthest ride and we decided that would be our first stop because that brewery and the next, 105 West, required us to ride on the road.

As we rode in the cold air with our Santa masks on, our faces were actually warm. For the first time since the pandemic started I found an actual comfort advantage to wearing a mask. As we rode down the road, we were met with waves and occasionally friendly honks to our parade of decorated bikes, flashing lights, christmas music and Santa masks.

At Burley we were able to get a spot at one of their fireplaces. The owner was so excited to see us and thanked us for riding our bikes. Other patrons said “hi” and commented on our bicycles. Then it began to snow. We finished our beer and were off to 105 West.

We arrived at 105 West and they were quite full. None of the firepits and heater spots were available, so we gathered in a small tent with an open side. We played our first game that MLW prepared where you rolled a die and the number on the die told you what you could draw on your snowman. The first snowman finished was the winner. Smooch won, we finished our beer and loaded up the bikes but before we could leave several patrons actually came out to take our picture. Yes pictures of the crazies riding in now heavily falling snow.

It was slick and several of our riders fell down, as they would most of the night. The three older (and wiser?) riders MLW, Doc and i had either mountain bikes or wider tire bikes. The Newlyweds had their skinny tire bikes and Smooch had his “fixie.” That’s a bike that has skinny tires and is direct drive, in other words you can’t stop pedaling or the tires stop, no coasting. We rode about a ¾ of a mile to the next brewery, this time all on the road.

Wild Blue was our next stop. They had 3 sided tents out back and had put down fake turf and had heaters in the tents. That was nice. The tent had two tables in it, the other had two ladies at it. We’re a friendly bunch so after saying hi, MLW also invited these ladies to play the drawing game we had planned for this brewery. They declined, mostly out of politeness but MLW got them to join from their table.

We continued to talk with these ladies and found they were scout leaders. Then we found out 3 years ago when we had our last cub scout/boy scout campout here at our house, they stayed here. After a round of beer and some cheese curds we said goodbye to our new friends and were off to the Iron Mule.

Again it was snowing hard and what you realize is that when you ride a blinking decorated bike in the snow people tend to stop their cars for you which is exactly what they did. The Iron mule is only a short block from Wild Blue, so we were there in just a few minutes. Of all the brewery owners who were happy to see us, these guys and their little brewery were especially welcoming.

Again, we went outdoors to find a table. Here they had both the tall reflective propane heaters and they went another step further and put propane flame heaters under their picnic tables. I won't discuss the wisdom of putting a flame under a wooden picnic table, but it was warm. There we decided this was our last stop since 8 pm was only 45 minutes away and that would mean last call all over town.

The snow was dumping and we had to frequently wipe down the tables to keep the snow from accumulating. There our game was Christmas movie trivia. We filled out a 3 page test while the snow fell and made our pages wet and our pencils almost unusable. Then we played a variation of spoons with candy canes instead of spoons. We completely ruined a deck of cards but had a bunch of fun.

The problem we had was if there were only 4 of us, the heater under the table would have been great but with 6 that meant two folks were very close to the heater. The heater claimed a hole in NP’s pants, a melted spot in our down blanket and it ignited a hand towel Doc was using to clean off the table.

As we paid our tab, the waitperson came out and gave us a gift card. It was from the ladies we met at Wild Blue. It was signed Merry Christmas from “your Angels”. When we left Iron Mule they followed us in their car. We rode through the layer of new snow and it claimed several of our riders as we rode to the Christmas Tree in Festival Park. Meanwhile our Angels followed us honked and cheered us on as we made our way down the sidewalk to the park. They also watched several of our riders as they continued to fall down on the snowy sidewalks.

At Festival Park we rode around the tree and then said our goodbyes as E & NP had to ride back to Burley to get their car and our 4 were going down the bike trail to the fairgrounds. We were home by 9:30.

It was a night of silliness as it’s been each of our three years. When Doc packed up to leave our house the next day, he said “this tradition is so much fun if I lived in another state, I’d travel here just to do it.” Our group was smaller than last year and we had some casualties in ruined cards and a melted comforter. But we got out, laughed a lot and kept another tradition from being a Covid casualty.

The Annual Christmas Tree Hunt

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 05:31:09 GMT

When we tell people that we cut our Christmas tree down, I’m always surprised at the people who think we just sneak into the national forest and steal a tree. No, that’s not how it works. It starts in October when I go on the National Forest website and purchase a permit. It’s for a specific day and we try to go the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is what we did this year. It’s a family tradition that’s almost 20 years old.

Our first tree we cut was in about 2001. I’ll have to research that a bit but I remember Smooch was about 2 or 3. The first trip was an invite from our dear friends Deb and Steve. We ordered a permit and went with them to the Pike National Forest near Buffalo Creek. I remember trudging through the snow and finding only giant trees. There are specific rules and the trees you can cut must not be more than 6 inches in diameter at the bottom of the trunk. That year I think we cut down a 20+ foot tree and had a lot of extra wood from the bottom.

Somewhere we have pictures; of the boys being pulled through the snow in a sled and Smooch on the shoulders of Deb or “Uncle Steve ''. Maybe even one of stopping to see Santa at the Buffalo Creek firehouse. What I really remember is the smiles. When I think about that day, that's what I remember most, those ear to ear grins and the excitement of the Christmas season in the kids eyes.

That was our only tree year with Deb and Steve, but they planted the seed that has become one of our families favorite traditions. For many years we would travel down to Woodland Park, CO and cut our tree down there. It was easy, the Forest Service had a trailer set up at the middle school. You’d pay your $5 and get your permit and drive into the forest.

Finding a tree isn’t that easy. In The Woodland Park area we were often looking for well over an hour. It almost always meant cutting a 20 something foot tree and bringing back the extra parts of the trunk that would become firewood for camping the next summer and a Yule log. It’s not just an in and out thing. For years we’ve taken a stove or now thermoses full of chili or hot soup, some hot chocolate and after we find the tree we have a picnic in the snow.

One of the challenges of going near Woodland Park is there’s only one way in and out of that area. About 5 or 6 years ago we drove in with some new friends and Smooches first girlfriend. We found trees and then had our picnic as the snow started falling. What we didn’t know is the snow made a steep section of the road icy. About 3 or 4 cars had a pile up there and we all were stuck in the woods for several hours before the cars were moved and they put sand on the road. We made the best of it, sledding and playing in the snow while our truck sat in the line of vehicles waiting to leave the forest. As a typical high school girl will do, Smooch’s girlfriend dressed for looks, not snow so she spent most of the waiting time in the truck trying to stay warm.

Since that trip we’ve become regulars in the Buffalo Creek area. We now tend to hike in and have our picnic away from the parking area. Two years ago we had a nice area by our vehicles all to ourselves and we were suddenly over taken by a bunch of Texans. (By the way, why don’t Texans have any sense of personal space? If everythings big in Texas, get out of my picnic! A topic for another blog,) Anyway, back on track.. So now we hike in a bit with back packs of soup, snacks and our hot chocolate has been replaced by beer.

Now tree permits are online and they cost $20 plus a small processing fee. Previously you’d send in a check and a 1st and second date choice along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. I’d have a little fun with that and address the self addressed envelope to the “Jones Family Elves” and I’d put in the return address spot something like “Smokey and the Boys” or “Santa’s Tree Farm.” I hoped that would make whomever had to stuff my envelope smile. The permits used to be a sticker that you stuck to itself like a ski lift ticket around the tree. We always left ours on the tree as it’s first ornament. Now you print out your permit and put it on the dash of your vehicle.

So last Saturday was the day. Addie, Smooch’s girlfriend joined us and was excited to cut down her first live Christmas tree. We met up with the Engineer and NP and further up the road Doc joined us with his friend Noreen and into the woods we went. Tree hunting took about 45 minutes once we found a good place to park. We got ours and E & NP cut one down nearby both to be carried to the pickup. Then off about 150 yards into the mature woods for a picnic on a dry spot in the trees where the snow had melted and no one was searching for trees.

We laid out blankets and a spread of snacks. We shared soup, beer and stories while we tried to keep the three dogs out of the food. We laughed and visited in the warm sun and the cool air that smelled of ponderosa pines. We sang happy birthday to Doc and had another moment that makes life worth living.

For $20 bucks and some gas money we had a great day. So when people tell me they think cutting down a tree is too much work, I just smile and know they won't be in my favorite parking spot in the forest next year. But I’m a bit sad for them, because for my family it isn’t just about the tree, it's the memories we make, and those ear to ear smiles and grins that last in your heart forever.

Black Hills Whitetail Hunt 2020

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 14:35:32 GMT

With Covid Cases Surging, Hiding in the Woods was a Great Getaway

The anticipation of the annual South Dakota hunting trip was palatable. After the disappointment that surrounded most plans in 2020, it appeared this was going to happen. The elk hunt had been a bust due to the Troublesome Creek fire, our summer vacation never materialized, but it looked like our whitetail hunt was on.

On November 10th my brother Doc called saying he was up all the previous night sick and running to the restroom. He had just returned from a pheasant hunt in eastern South Dakota. I told him his symptoms sounded like Covid. He argued back, no it’s just the flu. After calling work he was sent for a Covid test. By Thursday he had no sense of smell or taste and another of his pheasant hunting party had a positive result back and he sadly came to the realization that he was going to miss not only elk, but now deer season.

Our party of 6 was now a party of five. Col. Michael and his son Tyler, the Engineer, Smooch and myself. Col. M and I anxiously watched the dates pass and our college sons got through school without Covid. On Thursday night 11/19 Smooch was home and we were packing the truck.

We had a weather free travel forecast for Friday through Tuesday. Friday morning Smooch and I were up and at E’s apartment by 7am and on the road. The three of us were off early, Col M and Tyler would follow later in the day. Traffic was light, we went up I-25 to Cheyenne, then highway 85 through Wyoming to Lusk and then onto New Castle and finally to Lead, SD. Add a quick drive thru at the Arby’s in Torrington, WY for lunch and we were in Lead about 2:00.

Our next step was to get the tree stands placed. I had mine as well as Col M’s and Tylers. We went into the area we were going to hunt and put them up. Our tree stands are climbing stands, which means they are in two pieces. Each piece has a cable that wraps around the tree and a set of teeth that grip the tree. It requires you to remove all dead tree limbs on the trunk. We had them placed, the trees ready for climbing and it was time to check into the cabin.

The cabin was nice. It had two bedrooms up and three down. 4 of them had queen beds and one had two twins. So each of us had our own bedroom. I learned from the owner that the cabin had been in their family for years. The basement had recently been remodeled, the upstairs was still a tribute to the 80’s with its bright green carpet. But it was comfortable and clean.

The three of us had dinner and played some games until it was time to get to bed. Col M and Tyler arrived about 11:30 and hurriedly brought in their stuff and went to bed. The alarm was set for 5 and like most nights before an anticipated event I slept fitfully until 5.

Saturday morning the temperature was about 20 and we had a quick bite, a cup of coffee and were off. Sunrise was 7 am, so legal hunting hours began 30 minutes before sunrise. We separated and everyone went to their area. Everyone saw deer but me, likely because Smooch was relatively close to me and spooked a buck and two does. By 10:30 we all were sufficiently cold and we headed back to the cabin for breakfast. A big breakfast of eggs and sausage filled us up. The we played a quick couple hands of a new game we brought up called Cover Your Assets. Then we were off for the afternoon hunt. We ended our day sitting again in the area we started. At dusk I moved my tree stand about 50 yards in anticipation of the next morning. No animals were bagged on Saturday. We returned home to dinner and games.

Sunday morning started much like Saturday. However when we arrived at our spots another group of guys who were rifle hunters had organized a drive on the other side of the road. The area where we hunted in the morning was boarded on one side by a paved road. They had probably 8 guys. A drive is when you put a couple of guys at the end of the area you want to push the game out of, then other guys stand along the sides and the remaining guys are pushers and they walk through the wood making a bunch of noise. The pushers walked by making quite a ruckus. About 20 minutes later we heard some shots. They were done and our woods were quiet again.

About 8 am I had two grazing does under my stand. I had an either sex license and i wanted to wait until atleast Sunday afternoon before I took a doe. Mostly because an either sex license is about 3 times the cost of a doe license. Before the does had arrived I had eaten an apple and threw the core out in front of my stand. I thought the does might eat it, but instead when one of them found it and smelled it, they left the area very quickly. E texted me he had shot a deer about that time so I climbed down the tree to help him track it.

Walking over to where E was a welcome bit of exercise as I got some warm blood to my very cold feet. By the time we found each other he had tracked down his deer. I assisted E as he gutted his deer, then got the truck and Smooch to take it to the cabin, hang it and have breakfast.

Sunday afternoon Smooch and I hunted together while E stayed at the cabin and finished skinning and quartering his deer. Unfortunately we didn’t get any shots. I moved my tree stand to another tree for the next morning. Remember that apple core? Something ate it.

I was excited and ready for Monday. That was going to be my morning. Unfortunately the rifle hunters were back on the other side of the road. Their plans were foiled a bit because with it being a Monday, the loggers were back in that area. The drive seemed to fall apart, either way we didn’t hear much from those guys. I sat expectantly in my tree stand. When at about 9 am a group of highway workers suddenly pulled up just 150 feet from my stand. They slammed their truck doors and talked loudly. I was cold and mad. I came out of my tree stand and folded it up and took it to the truck. About the time I had it loaded up they guys left, they were just taking their morning coffee break. I found Smooch and we did some hunting through the woods and met at the truck for breakfast.

After breakfast E came with us and was our driver as we looked for deer. We saw some but no real shots. As the afternoon became evening, I put my tree stand back on the tree it was on earlier that day and we went back to the cabin. When we got to the cabin it was dark, but Col. M and Tyler were not back yet. They arrived 30 minutes later with a nice buck that Tyler had bagged.

Tuesday was our day to drive home. But with three tags to fill, Col. M, Smooch and I got up for a 90 minute hunting window with an 8 am hard stop. As I walked in that morning, I realized it was time to stop being so concerned about bagging an animal and take some time to really appreciate where we were and the beauty of the black hills. As I sat in my stand, I remembered the bald and golden eagles we saw, the beautiful golden glow the forest took in the late afternoon, and most importantly the smiles and laughs of my sons and my friends.

The hunt that morning was unsuccessful. What Smooch and I both got to see and hear was the movement of about 40 turkeys as they gobbled, squawked, pipped and raucously travelled en masse to another location. 8 am came and we were at our trucks ready to pack up and head south. It was a cool but clear morning as the five friends loaded up and drove south to prepare for Thanksgiving.

My Hernia Repair

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 14:56:12 GMT

It’s been there for at least a year. I first noticed this squishy lump after I lost weight last year. Just below my belt line in the front of my pelvis was this bump. You know how your old dog gets those fat pads? I figured much like an old dog, which I feel more like everyday, it was just a bit of fat left. There was no change in this little lump until 2 weeks before the wedding after moving some heavy flagstones. I didn’t notice the change until I was in the shower. Suddenly my little nondescript bump was larger, more pronounced and I noticed it had an edge. What’s this? I thought; a tumor, a cyst, then I coughed and it bulged. Oh I have a hernia.

I was able to see my doctor the next week. He confirmed my diagnosis. "Do you want to get it fixed?" He asked. "What’s my other choice?," I responded. "Well" he said, "it won’t heal on it’s own, but it’s small, you could just watch it. If your intestines start to poke out, you can just lie on your back and push them back in…" Wait did he just say push my guts back in if they poke out? What just happened? Maybe it’s 1890 and I’m here talking to my frontier doctor. No I don’t want to wait around for my guts to poke out and then shove them back in. So I said, I’d like a referral to a surgeon.

The surgeon he suggested was busy so my friend Michael suggested another surgeon he refers to and I saw him about a week after the wedding. Dr Winter was a nice man, looked at my hernia and we set a date between hunting trips to get it fixed.

The surgery was set for Friday October 30 at 3:30 pm. for a robotic assisted laparoscopic repair which would include using surgical mesh to support the repair. My handy CIGNA insurance website told me it would save me about $500 to have the procedure in Parker rather than Castle Rock, so everything was set. I didn’t really think much about the procedure until it got really close. That’s when I noticed the surgical mesh lawsuits on TV. It dawned on me this was going to hurt, and worse there was going to be a robot involved? My mind envisioned Robby the Robot with those giant pincher arms hacking away at my pelvis and suddenly saying “Danger Will Robinson..I Mean Dr Winter..” as my manhood gets sliced off and lands on the floor.

Friday the 30th was like any other Friday, but if I was going to eat breakfast I had to do it before 7:30. So I got a cup of coffee in my system and some breakfast before I had to fast before surgery. I worked until noon and then got ready to go to the hospital. One interesting pre op step I had to do was take a shower the night before and the day of surgery with this antiseptic soap that I had to leave on my skin for 5 minutes. That was something new.

Once we got to the hospital it was the usual hurry up and wait routine. I was sent back, MLW was allowed to come, they got me ready and put me in a gown. There was only one other guy in pre-op and he went before me. Then about 3 oclock I heard a supervisor tell the nurses working there that since I was the only pre-op patient left they should move me to recovery and close down and go home. So I was moved to recovery which was weird. But it didn’t last that long. You know you don’t think about these things, but when they came and asked me to use the restroom before surgery, recovery rooms don’t have many restrooms. So I was off to hike down the hall in my fancy gown and IV bag. One hand on the bag, one on my gown covering my bottom.

I got back on my bed, and shortly there after it was time for the surgery. I was wheeled in, moved myself from the bed to the operating table, looked around and, whew! no Robbie the Robot, but some big machine. By this point my field of vision was narrowing and the next thing I know I’m in recovery.

They wheeled me out a little before 7 pm and MLW and I were off to go home. Walgreens for my prescription and Sonic for a slush to soothe my sore throat and we were home a short time later. The pain wasn’t that bad, the uncomfortable part is waiting for the gas they pump you up with to do the surgery to dissipate. Lots of pressure and a few pain zingers was about it. Well that and I could not go to the bathroom.

Knowing I probably couldn’t go to the bathroom for about 10-12 hours was frightening. You don’t miss it until you can’t do it. When I finally could it was a slow process. It felt like everything was unconnected. This lasted for a few days. Which seems like a short time now but when you don’t know when something is going to end, it’s a bit concerning.

The most interesting part is the lack of stitches. I was expecting a bandage of some sort on my three incisions. But no, they stitch you from the inside and glue your skin back together. The incisions are in line horizontally with my navel. One 3 inches to the left of my navel, one through the top of my navel and one 3 inches to the left. The only annoying part is they shaved my belly button. As the hair is growing back it’s so ichy.

As I look back it was really a pretty neat operation. 3 days of being uncomfortable and I’m basically back to normal except for my lifting restriction of 20 lbs. My complaints are pretty wimpy too, So I couldn’t go to the bathroom, I was bloated and uncomfortable and my belly button itches. That sounds much more like going to a football tailgate and game only to find the stadium is short on bathrooms.... well except for the itchy belly button part.

What I learned was inguinal hernias either bother you as an infant or normally after age 50. If you need the surgery I can’t say it’s a bad recovery, at least here at 10 days out. Maybe just consider having your belly button waxed the day before.

The Hunting Trip That Wasn't

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 03:13:18 GMT

For weeks I’ve been preparing for our annual rifle elk hunt. I guess you could actually say longer than that. After all if you’re trying to get a limited tag you have to apply for those by the first week of April. This year we had planned for our trip to be Michael, Tyler, Doc, Smooch, the Engineer and I. We were going to return to the area I’ve hunted for years which is directly south of Hot Sulphur Springs, CO. Smooch had to drop out due to a swift-water river class.

For the last couple of months we’ve been watching a smaller fire, the WIlliams fork fire, to the southwest of our hunt area. It’s basically under control and grew only to 14,000 acres. We thought we were good. Then on October 14 the Troublesomecreek fire started. It was rather small and continued that way until Wednesday the 21st when the fire exploded and grew over 100,000 acres in one day. After that and the continued growth of the Camaeron Peak and two more started west of Boulder, the Forest Service closed the forest in 5 counties but our area was open.

The fire raced towards Grand Lake and just to the north of Hot Sulphur Springs and Granby. Thursday night it reached Grand Lake and burned many of the homes on the west side. We continued to evaluate conditions but with more wind forecast for Saturday with the approach of a cold and snow front, the fire would grow again on Saturday, then the temps would plunge and rain and snow would fall. It was forecast to go from 60 and windy on Saturday to 12-16” of snow and high in the teens and a low in the single digits. That’s a fine hunting forecast if you’re returning to a warm cabin but it’s a bit rough if you’re in a popup camper

Friday we were ready to go when I asked Doc to check one more time with the Forest Service. He called and it was no surprise the Forest Service closed our section of the forest too. Unfortunately Michael had taken his camper up on Tuesday and now it was locked in the closed National Forest and would remain so until the fire danger dropped to a level two or below.

MLW and Angie expecting us to go hunting had made plans to fly to Phoenix for the weekend. When Angie found our trip was cancelled she invited Michael and I to get some tickets and go along. I declined. While I have several trips with the guys each year, MLW has few if any with her friends and I wanted her to go have some fun without me.

So off went MLW and I unpacked. Friday night I watched the last episodes of “The Boys” on Prime. I awoke on Saturday and completed a small project here and went up to Arvada where Doc and I had some fun and got some dinner. Sunday I was spoiled by E and NP who came over and made me dinner and we watched the Bronco game. The Bronco game was less than stellar but the time with E and NP was wonderful.

So the elk were safe for another year, or perhaps after running from fires, it probably was only fair to leave them alone. Even more, while our trip didn't happen, that little set back is nothing compared to the loss of homes and properties for those folks in Grand County.

Colorado Scouts Could Use a Little Help

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:53:04 GMT

During Covid, Maybe You Could Help a Scout Across the Financial Street

As many of you know I have spent most of my life in Scouting. Presently I'm serving on district level as the Chairman of the Black Feather District, along with being the Committee Chairman of Troops 260 (boys) and 1894 (girls). Scouting has been and continues to be an important part of my life and an important part of the American fabric.

In March of 2019 I wrote a blog which you can still read on this site entitled My Last Eagle Scout. (https://www.patdaddy.net/my-last-eagle-scour) It discussed the speech I gave for the last young man whose scouting journey I would follow from Tiger cub all the way through Eagle Scout. I have to admit I still get a lump in my throat when I read that blog. More recently when I looked up at E and his groomsmen all but one of these six young men were Eagle Scouts. Not simply men who earlier in their life attained the rank of Eagle Scout but what you would imagine when you think of an adult Eagle Scout; hard working, ethical young men each starting their own adult lives.

In order to discuss further about scouting and to address some concerns a number of people have raised to me, I would like to explain in very brief detail how Boy Scouts is set up. National Boy Scouts of America is the chartered organization started in 1910 that was chartered by Congress as a youth group. National BSA charters councils which are geographic areas of the United States. Each of these councils is then divided into districts. In each district is where you find the Cub Scout Packs, The Scouts BSA Troops (both boy and girl troops), Venture Crews and Explorer posts. Each council is its own 501 C 3 nonprofit organization and while they pay dues to the national BSA their finances are completely separate..

Of the questions that people often ask me, the 1st and most pressing is what about these lawsuits against the Boy Scouts and their Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing? Back in the 1970s and 1980s people with the intent of harming young men worked their way into the Boy Scouts as volunteers. When this was recognized, the Boy Scouts created one of the strongest and most effective youth protection training's and systems used in any youth organization. BSA regulations require that each adult leader be certified in youth protection, which creates an environment where youth and leaders are clearly told what is expected behavior in what is not tolerated. This training and the culture it has created repels anyone who would join Scouting to harm young people.

But what about the bankruptcy? The bankruptcy is simply that because as the BSA was settling claims for abused scouts, they were starting to get runaway verdicts. In order to be able to compensate all of the abused scouts coming forward, the Boy Scouts set aside all of their insurance funds and policies and gave them to the court so that the court could give it up the settlements. Under Chapter 11, Boy Scouts of America has the ability to restructure themselves in such a way that they can be a viable entity. Please again note the distinction between National BSA, who is in chapter 11 and local councils like the Denver Area Council where I serve.

I am happy to say that most Packs and Troops continue to meet within the Covid rules of their local jurisdictions. So the base of Scouting, the Packs and Troops are doing well. Where the present concern is at the council level. The Denver Area Council (DAC) which now serves the majority of the state including the western slope, does most of it’s fundraising in the Spring. So right when we shut down the economy, the Scouts were just starting their drives.

It takes 9.3 million dollars to deliver Scouting to the Scouts and volunteers of the DAC. That money comes from some corporate donors, but most of it is from individual giving. The council has it’s annual Sports Breakfast, a huge networking breakfast at the Pepsi center where the keynote speaker, often a Denver Bronco, (this year it was Steve Atwater) addresses the group. But also during that event business leaders get to hear from Scouts who talk about their amazing journey. This year Elizabeth Kevil, one of the volunteers in my district stood up and presented how one of her sons saved his brother's life. While slicing a watermelon, he slipped and cut his femoral artery. His brother just had first aid training from his Troop, and was able to control the bleeding while they waited for the ambulance. But for that training,his brother would have bled out before EMT’s would have arrived at their home.

But it’s not just boys who do amazing things, with the creation of Scouts BSA and the creation of girl troops, Young women can now experience the outdoor program that only the BSA offers. In fact we are about to see the first class of Eagle Scouts that are young women.

Unfortunately the Sports breakfast which usually brings in about $800,000 to the DAC in it’s virtual form only brought in $475,000. The family giving campaign stopped in its tracks in the Spring with only 60% of it’s expected funds raised. Popcorn sales which bring in another $800,000 are lagging and the council will be lucky if they get $200,000 from the sales. In fact the DAC is expecting a 1.3 million dollar shortfall. Like all businesses in this economy, jobs have been cut and the council is digging into savings to make ends meet.

I’m sure you can see where this is going, I’m asking you to give to the Denver Area Council to help them make it through this rough time. If you read my blog from other parts of the country and you feel strange about giving to the DAC, if you can, then please give to your local BSA council because they are ALL hurting. They need your help and we need the ethical leaders they turn out, now more than ever!.

So here’s my pitch. I’m trying to raise $2250. It basically costs $365 per scout to run the council. I put my money where my mouth is; MLW and I gave $375 and used her company match to turn that into $750 for the scouts. So I’ve got $1500 left to go. If you can help the scouts, I’d really appreciate it, but the scouts would REALLY appreciate it. It’s really easy, just go to this Qgive link below.

If you are a Colorado resident and need some tax help, contact me about how to get a Colorado child care credit for a gift over $1500. The Colorado tax credit basically gives you a 50% tax credit, not deduction, for Colorado residents. But regardless of whatever you can give, it all helps. Thanks for considering.

Pat Daddy

What about that bathroom you were working on?

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 15:19:51 GMT

It took longer than it should have but it turned out nice!

Way back in February of 2019 I was writing about remodeling our main upstairs bathroom. About 10 days before the wedding I finally got it done. I learned alot from that project. I needed a little help learning how you place a tub in mortar and I needed help with finishing the drywall and for all of that I thank my friend Gary. But other than that I was able to do it on my own and now I have to admit I'm really proud of this project.

So just in case you never read that blog, the pictures above are thankfully the BEFORE pictures. I'll describe a bit about that bathroom. It had white shiny (and slippery) tile. A short 1970s 5' tub, Lovely blue and white tile in the shower, a rustic vanity that was really two smaller vanities pushed together. On the vanity was a stylish vessel sink with a faucet that would leak a drop or two every time you used it which ruined the counter top. You could gaze at your reflection in Two oval mirrors and you had a little two light fixture which sort of gave you enough light to get ready in the morning. The walls were a lovely dark blue and the only window was over the toilet which was in a little alcove all it's own. So it was always dark. There was a second light and fan over the toilet.

The remodel basically gutted the bathroom down to the floor joists. We removed the tub. (When I looked at the pictures of how fat I was that was the start of my 40 lb weight loss, still off!) Away went to the vanity and the wall behind the tub.

So in went a new tub, a new floor, a new vanity, a new light fixture that I made an oak and walnut backer for. I put up ceramic tile around the new tub, all new hardware. I'm taking the trim and the doors back to the darker wood so that's new. The tub enclosure is now glass which takes full advantage of the light coming in the window. I also replaced the over toilet light and fan with a light/fan and heat combo to warm up the bathroom on cold winter days.

What we ended up with a modern looking bathroom. Of course there's only the two of us in this house now. But it sure was handy last weekend when we were getting people showered and ready for the wedding.

So with the wedding over it's back to home projects. What's on tap next? I'll be switching out the bedroom doors upstairs to go back to the stain finished instead of the white the previous owner painted over the stained doors to sell the house. Then I'm going to replace, or actually just add over the present painted stairs with hickory treads to dress up the stairs. It's all work I can do and like to do, or as Dad used to say it'll keep me out of the bars...

E & NP's Wedding

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 17:58:17 GMT

The Happy Wedding Party

Where do I start to tell all of you about this weekend's wedding? It was an amazing experience that culminated in the most fun, emotional ride of my life.

I’ll start with May. It was May that we had the road put in to access the meadow and a 120 x 60 area flattened in the meadow to hold a 100 x 60 tent if necessary. In those days we were sure Covid would be done by September 26th, wouldn’t it? As soon as the area was flattened we trucked in 8 yards of topsoil and planted pasture mix. Covered it with straw mats that were 8 feet by 100 feet. Then I bought 400 feet of hose to get the water to the area and began watering it every morning. I would walk down to the meadow a minimum of 6 times and by the time I started work at 9 am I’d have over two miles on my fit bit. This would last until August when the drought was just too much to overcome and I tried to water each part of the area once every other day. Finally I just let it get crunchy like the rest of the meadow.

Then there was clean up day where many friends came out to help us clear out dead branches and trees so the meadow would look great. In my rough calculations we removed 80 yards of branches. My brother Doc fell off a ladder that day and would find out 10 days later he tore his bicep tendon 95% and he’d need surgery.

Then there were the home improvements. I had our deck replaced and slightly enlarged. We built new stairs down the rock walls, and buried the old cement stairs that didn't even qualify to be called stairs. I painted the retaining wall, we had new garage doors installed. MLW added accent lights on our trees, I repainted the letters inscribed in the rocks that have our address. We stripped and re-stained all our outdoor furniture. I built rock walls on the new roadbeds and we and our friend Steve brought in about 10-12 pickup loads of free mulch to cover our new road. Most summers I’d be mad we spent so much time at home, but as it’s a Covid year, the chores were actually a welcome distraction.

It would be disingenuous to say we did it all just for the kids' wedding. I’ve always been motivated by deadlines and events are great excuses to finally do the projects you always wanted to do. The wedding was a great excuse to make the house and grounds look good for the wedding. So no martyr awards for us, I’m just glad we were able to make the house and grounds look nice.

So let's jump to this past week. MLW took the entire week off, I took off Wednesday through Friday. Our weather was warm and dry, like the rest of the summer, and forecasts had it that way through the wedding. We daily saw E as he came out to complete various projects. One thing I realized about NP is she likes to create experiences and in doing so you don’t always know the big picture. I’m a big-picture guy so to say the lead up to the wedding didn’t occasionally frustrate me, would be untrue and in retrospect, my occasional snarky comments are now embarrassing, especially after seeing the wedding.

The three days off were full of cleaning, staining posts, putting in a bedroom door on the room Doc would sleep in, helping E with projects, and mowing. NP and E hung lights in some of the trees and jars with candle lights in the willow tree we’d all walk through on our way into the wedding area. It was beautiful. On Wednesday night we had a family dinner with Ken & Vickie (NP’s parents), E, NP and NP’s sister Kaeleen. Thursday night after working in the yard all day, we had a family pizza night with H & NP, Ken and Vickie, Kaeleen and her boyfriend Tommy, plus we were joined by Smooch and Addie. After our dinner we had an outdoor movie night in our pergola and fire pit while we watched About Time.

Suddenly it was Friday. The tent arrived at 8 am, the tables and chairs arrived at noon. Hayden and many of the groomsmen put up lights in the tent. The wedding trail was marked with flags, lanterns and an archway. Lights not already put in the trees were put up. Then came the giant wedding sign, yes giant; 16’ x 4’! It was painted by the Knopps and it was beautiful. No one would miss our house.

The next thing we knew it was time for the rehearsal and the dinner which also were here. The wedding party began arriving as E, several of the groomsmen and I were still doing prep. A quick jump into the shower and we were ready to entertain. The bride arrived and we were off to the meadow to walk through the wedding. It’s times like this when the help and kindness of friends really help as when we returned to the garage, Angie and Michael had brought the catering in from town and set it up. We had an outdoor dinner, I gave a toast and we had a mixer activity which allowed the wedding party to get to know each other. By 8:30 everyone had gone home to rest up for the big day. I looked at my phone at 10 pm and there was a message from the Mom of my two high-schoolers that were going to park guests. A couple of phone calls later and we needed plan B, the boys were quarantined due a possible Covid exposure from a classmate they both go to school with. Thankfully, more friends, Sarah and Billy would direct guests for us on Saturday

E and Smooch slept at the Holiday Inn that night. The bridal suite was rented, not for a wedding night but actually because all the women in the bridal party would gather at 9:30 in the morning at the hotel using the bridal suite to get their hair and makeup done. Since E couldn’t see NP until she walked down the aisle, the boys slept in the room and were out by 9. At our house we had breakfast for MLW, Doc, Allie, Smooch and I and then we were off to get last minute prep done.

We put up the large tent we normally use for our beer fest for the catering line, and finished setting up the outdoor party area with chairs and cornhole games. The bathroom trailer was coming at 2 as were the caterers. We tidied a few more things up and the next thing we knew the groomsmen started showing up. The bathroom trailer came 5 minutes before the caterer and blocked the catering truck while he filled his fresh water tank. When I went down to tell him where to park the trailer, it was like a zombie movie. It seemed every vendor who had a question came toward me “can we turn around the hexagon wedding backer? It might tip over if we don’t.” “The tables don’t fit like the diagram…” “Where can we get water for the flowers?” I answered what I could and called Hayden on the ones I could not. I went up to get my shower and one of Hayden’s friends went down and went through the bathroom checklist for me. By the time I was out of the shower and shaved it was after 4pm yikes!

I came downstairs and E and the groomsmen were getting their boutonnieres on. I took a look at Smooch and his pants didn’t match his jacket. I pointed it out and we hurried upstairs to find and have him put on his correct pants. Luckily Ken asked him as we were going out to be driven down to the wedding area, “hey, you have the rings, right?” No, they were in his other pants. Whew, tragedy averted.

We were dropped off at the tent, we walked over behind the berm where we’d gather and prepare to walk down the aisle. Synneva was led to her tent where we couldn’t see her and at 5 pm sharp, the music started and with MLW on his left and me on his right we walked through the willow and up the aisle. My eyes welled up the minute we began the walk. My son was getting married, oh my gosh, I was so proud, so happy, so...emotional, and I didn’t remember a tissue! A hug and a kiss from both of us and he’s up there, about to get married.

We turned and watched Smooch come up the aisle next with NP’s sister Kaeleen. Oh my gosh, he was so grown up, so happy; another flood of tears. The other four groomsmen came up with two bridesmaids also so happy and good looking but I had a short respite from new tears. Then the music changed, I looked back and here came NP; simply beautiful. Yep here comes more tears. I turn to look at E and Smooch as they see NP, thank goodness their eyes are all dewy too. NP gets to the altar, she looks at E, he looks at her. If they can look at each other like that only once a week, they’ll be married forever.

I glance up and many of my neighbors are watching from their decks. The wedding has been the buzz of the neighborhood all summer. The ceremony starts and us parents are called up for a prayer. We were asked if we wanted to add to the prayer the night before, thank goodness I said no, I can’t speak. The ceremony goes on beautifully. As they start their vows, the guests unbeknownst to us start sitting down. But Kay and I, so deep in the moment don’t even notice. Their vows done, we suddenly realize we are the only ones standing, and sit down. No-one says anything about it later, many of them have married children; they knew we were deep in the moment. The entire ceremony is done in about 20 minutes, the new bride and groom turn to leave, the sun low in the western sky behind them, their looks of excitement and happiness, I’m holding the hand of my own wonderful wife of 32 years; all is right in the world.

Pictures follow as the guests start the cocktail hour and begin playing corn hole, or meet in small groups. Once we’re released by the photographer we too grab a cocktail and start talking with friends. The weather is beautiful, it’s a warm early fall evening. Horderves are being served by waiters and waitresses circulating through the smiling groups. About seven we’re called into the tent and shortly thereafter the new bride and groom are announced and they immediately have their first dance. To what you ask? Me and Mrs. Jones, of course.

Next bridesmaid Paige gets up and with her guitar sings a song. She sounds great and the heartfelt gift is appreciated by all. Now it’s time for the comments and toasts from the maid of honor, the groomsman, the father of the bride and lastly me. Yikes! I have practiced my speech for a couple of days. I can almost get through it without crying, or so I hope. Kaeleen starts off. Her speech is sweet, poignant, and funny. Next up is Smooch, his timing is dead on, he pulls out some new jabs and some old ones that make the guests laugh and then simply and masterfully reminds his new sister in law and his brother how much he loves them. Oh great, here come the tears again. Thankfully up next is Ken or as he announced to the group, Hello I’m Kenneth James Knopp, the one and only… Ken’s wit and delivery is just as sincere as only the father of the bride can be but ends on an up note, giving me a hope I can make it through my delivery. I’m introduced, and suddenly smooch yells out “Go Pat Daddy”! The group laughs, my anxiety drops and I start in.

I’ve spoken in front of groups many times at both business and BSA functions. I eulogized both my parents and Cindy my sister in law. But I’ve never stood up with the intention of telling two living people how much I love them and I’ve never had to practice a speech so many times to stop the voice from cracking and the facial spasms to keep me from speaking until now. I start knowing there are two very hard parts I have to get through. As I work my way through I glance up. MLW already has tears in her eyes and I haven’t reached the hard part. Smooch and Addie promised to be my go to people to look at but when I look at Smooch his eyes are watery too. Oh man I need someone else to look at. I make it through the first hard part ok and when I approach the second, my voice holds out but the tears flow while I speak. The only problem now is it’s pretty hard to read. I finish, give my toast and as I sit down E looks at me with tears in his eyes and says “Thanks Dad, as always, you didn't disappoint.”

After that NP had her dance with her Dad and they looked wonderful. MLW and E had their dance and besides being stunningly beautiful, MLW had the happiest glow I’ve ever seen since the day we got married. Then dinner and then dancing!

Yes, dancing and everyone danced. The DJ was incredible and the music flowed from one song to the next and the dance floor was full, always. Was it just the good DJ or was it the first time anyone has had the opportunity to dance in 7 months? Who knows, but it was fun! MLW pulled non dancers out on the dance floor, including my brother Doc. He stayed out there much of the night like everyone else. It was so much fun. The cool air had moved into the valley so the tent was warm but you needed only step out of the tent to enjoy the cool air.

At 10:40 the last dance ended and E and NP said their goodbyes and were off to their waiting car to take them to the Crawford Hotel in downtown Denver. We said goodbye to our friends, the caterers cleaned up and then there were just 7 of us, MLW, Doc, Smooch, Addie, Kameron (groomsman) and his date. We told stories and drank some of the beer. It was such a magical night none of us wanted it to end. At 12:45 Smooch took Doc to the house to go to bed, we talked a bit more and left the tent about 1:15. As we walked up the bridal path with it’s glowing lanterns, holding hands with MLW, Smooch looked at me and said “Dad can I get married in the meadow?”

After goodbyes to Kameron and Maggie, the four of us continued to talk in the kitchen. We re-lived many of the night's events, commented on the great weather and what an amazing wedding it was. It was one of the best days of my life.

T - 1 Week and Counting

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 13:55:19 GMT

Most of our big projects are done. Now it's time to mow the lawn one more time, pick up and get ready for next weekend. It's hard to believe the date of the wedding is almost here.

Last night E & NP came over along with NP's Mom Vicki and we had some dinner, watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and put the kids wine labels on their bottles. That's what I have above. If you hover over them they should tell you that the first is the kids second date, junior prom. Next is the kids in Norway. The canoe is last labor day on lake Dillon and the final one is them at a friends wedding in Vail.

It tells quite a story; over 8 years of growing up and travel and adventures. It's refreshing to see as I have to admit my focus over the past summer has grown quite myopic, just looking at the approaching date and dealing with the challenges that are organizing your family for a wedding. The labels remind me there's much more behind the kids relationship than just an upcoming party. They are indeed a couple and they've navigated much of the last eight years together. Their names have become one. Rarely do you hear their names in the singular, you hear them in the plural.

So it's time to hang on. We've got one crazy week to get through. I'm sure we'll have our share of fire drills and a few emotional outbursts. We'll scatter in a bunch of laughs and make up a few secret jokes; we'll tease each other a bit and grouch a bit as well. We'll do what our families have always done and that's buckle down and make things happen. At the end we'll have the wedding that was much smaller than originally planned celebrating a love that's much bigger than many of us expected.

One Last Escape Before the Wedding

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:56:36 GMT

Even in it’s smaller form, E & NP’s wedding has kept our attention. But Labor Day was an agreed respite that we reserved plans for 6 months ago. We again returned to Heaton Bay campground on Lake Dillon. Our crew would be a big one; 13 in total. The cast of characters included our family; MLW, E, NP, Smooch and my brother Doc. Michael, Tyler, Lindsey and Tyler’s girlfriend Danni, E & NP’s friends Lauren and Aaron, and a special appearance by Smooch’s new girlfriend Addie. Missing was our good friend Angie who’s presently across the pond taking care of her Dad and sister.

This year MLW and I went up on Thursday like normal, however E & NP suggested they take off Friday as well. We thought that sounded like fun and instead of working from the camper on Friday, we too took Friday off. Smooch’s classes on Friday were all virtual so he was able to come on Thursday as well.

MLW and I left on Thursday about 2:30. We needed to get into good cell service by 3 as she had a call. The trip was uneventful and slow as our old ‘02 pickup pulled our old ‘01 camper loaded down like the Clampetts (all people under 30, Google the Beverly Hillbillies ) heading to the hills. We pulled into our spot about 5 pm and were joined by Smooch and Addie about 5:45. E & NP got a late start and hit traffic so we didn’t see them until about 8:30 pm.

All I knew about Addie was she was from Minnesota. As we got to talking I asked her what town she was from to which she replied, ‘you probably haven’t heard of it; Mora.” To which I laughed and explained the Jones-Mora connection. I would later text cousin Jim and over the weekend we learned of common family friends between Cousin Jim’s family and Addie’s family. How’s that for 6 degrees of the Jones family? Kevin Bacon has nothing on us! .

By Saturday morning the entire crew was there and was going in many directions. We had hikers and bikers, kayakers and canoers. We shared each sunset on the beach with cocktails and snacks and then had those giant fun meals where everyone contributes. Our weather was warm and dry Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday the winds kicked up and so did the wildfires in other parts of the state. By Sunday afternoon we had significant smoke in the air and by Monday morning, the air quality was significantly decreased.

Monday was pack up day and it always amazes me just how much we spread out in those few days. We had a group breakfast and then everyone broke camp. The smoke was so bad by the time we left MLW said she felt like the Sheriff would give us a 15 minute leave order any time. But the fires were not where we were and we headed home in the smoky haze.

Our drive home was slow but not horribly so and we were home in about 2 hours. Now there was work to be done. Why? Well it was 90 degrees and very smoky when we got home on Monday but the forecast called for snow and freezing temps on Tuesday. So while I cranked up the camper to empty and clean it, I also had to winterize it. MLW went out to the garden and dug up all our beets, turnips, carrots and picked anything that was left. Then proceeded to blanch and freeze all our vegetables.

The vegetables were done by 9:30 and bed quickly followed. We awoke Tuesday morning as promised to snow and cold. The moisture helping the firefighters in other parts of the state and cleaning our air. We’ll slowly climb out of this and be in the low eighties this weekend. Just in time for more wedding prep.

The Engineer's Bachelor party

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 00:38:08 GMT

It was time for the Engineers bachelor party. With Smooch as his best man and all the rest of the guys on the front range, Smooch needed a bit of help so I was called in. It was nice to be invited to go spend a weekend with the guys especially since I knew most of the guys since they were boy scouts.

E asked that his party involve some hiking and fishing, and some time to play games. At first Smooch and I spent some time looking for a guided fishing trip but not all the guys fly fish. Then there was the location. I needed to find a place that was not too far from Denver and not too far from the western slope where Smooch is living. After a few days of VRBO research I finally ended up booking a place in Leadville.

It is the best man’s job to put together the party, but Smooch being distant worked with me to find a place. So we got the place in Leadville and planned from there. I’ve not spent much time in Leadville, so I was looking forward to that. More research and polling the guys and we decided our Saturday activity would be to find a hike to a high alpine lake and fish. So there was our basic plan, here’s how it turned out.

Our group of guys was 7 including me. On Friday all but one of the front range guys met about noon in Sedalia and headed west to Idaho Springs where we stopped at Tommy Knockers Brewery and had lunch. The five of us so far included E, Kameron his friend since Kindergarten, Kyle his soon to be brother in law, Tommy, E’s soon to be sister in-laws boyfriend and I. Lunch was really nice and leisurely, we sat outside, we enjoyed a beer and our lunches and then headed to Leadville.

We arrived in Leadville just about 4 pm the check in time for the VRBO. After a little wrangling with the door code we were in and now it was time to wait for Smooch whose trip was longer because of the Glenwood Canyon fire and the closure of I 70. We walked the two blocks to Harrison Street, the main street in Leadville and went to the fly shop to see if the lake we planned to hike to was good fishing. We had planned to hike to Hagerman lake but found it had a big winter kill a few years ago and they suggested we hike into Windsor Lake.

Smooch soon arrived and we all returned to the house. We ordered pizza for dinner and I was “schooled” in how drinking games have changed since the days when I thought I needed a game to “help” me drink. They were fun and we laughed a lot. Smooch was his normally bundle of energy and silliness and we found that Tommy just fed off Smooch’s silliness.

The games ended after 11 and the guys slowly started to wander to bed. Because of the beds and room situation, Smooch and I shared a king bed. The house which was likely built at the turn of the century, is really close to the house next door, and faces north and south. So there’s very little natural light that gets into the home. There were three bedrooms, The master with the king, a single queen where Hayden slept and a bunk room that slept the other 4.

I awoke at 7 the next morning, brewed the first pot of coffee and our guys slowly woke up. We had a big breakfast and prepared to pack up for our hike. The plan was to be back in town by about 2 pm when Tim, our last of the guys would arrive. The hike to Windsor lake was as advertised. 1 mile long and steep. So climbing up the trail at an elevation that ended at 12,600 feet wasn’t bad but you definitely felt the lack of oxygen. We arrived at the lake in about 45 minutes. The beauty was amazing. The high alpine landscape made up of flowers and green plants interspersed with large and small boulders. Then you looked up to the sheer cliff sides of the mountain that still had some remnants of snow hanging on, and in the middle were two lakes, one very small pond sized lake and then another couple hundred yards and you were at Windsor lake, which was large and stunning.

The incredible crowds I had seen all summer in other locations were missing. Only a few small groups of hikers and fishers were around the lake. There was a hatch going on in the lake and my fly became just one of thousands floating on the lake. After a bit all 6 of us ended up on a pile of boulders on the south side of the lake. The guys decided to jump into the lake. As 4 of the 5 guys stripped down to their underwear they jumped off the rock and into the brisk water. It sounded like fun so I did it too. The was indeed quite brisk and it felt good to get a refreshing quick rinse. After a bit we all dried in the sun and were headed back to the parking lot.

As we passed the lower of the two lakes there was a hatch going on and trout were rising. E wanted to stop and since it was his event we all stopped. The trout in the pond saw us just like we saw them so while they were mildly interested in our flies, but weren’t very tempted to bite. Kyle caught one on a fly he was throwing across the pond on a bubble. It was a cutthroat, the native trout of Colorado. It’s vibrant colors were beautiful.

We finally pried E away from the pond and hiked back down to the vehicles. We loaded up and headed back into Leadville where we found Tim, our last guy waiting for us in the house. After a quick clean up we headed out to the two breweries in town then on our way back stopped in the Silver Dollar Saloon for a shot and then the Manhattan bar. The Manhattan bar has been in Leadville since it’s glory days and it’s sign is a remnant of those days. But when we entered it wasn’t much more than plywood booths. The bar like Leadville, had seen better days.

Back at the house I stepped back into my role of head cook and prepared the guys a dinner of New York Strips, Mashed Potatoes and a salad. The games continued but with less vigor from the night before. Smooch and Tommy made a quick run, well walk, out to the store and returned with some brownie mix. I baked up a pan of brownies and shortly after that much of the crew worked their way to bed.

Sunday dawned cool and smoky and I came down to find Kyle had made the coffee. I shortly started some breakfast after which we packed up and prepared to be out of the house by check out time. Outside we said goodbye to Tommy and Kyle and the rest of us headed over to Colorado Mountain College where we planned to ride mountain bikes. We rode the trails I knew from Smooches racing days and they were as fun as I remember them. We rode for about 90 minutes and while fun, the smoke filled air wasn’t fun to breathe in. I joked we probably could have all smoked a pack of cigarettes and had the same effect on our lungs.

We all returned to town and had a final meal together, Cuban sandwiches on the main street of Leadville. We wrapped up our fun weekend with a few more laughs and the guys all expressed how much fun they had. Then we said goodbye and loaded our vehicles and went home. E joined me on the way home as he did for much of the way up. We found the traffic light on the drive home and we were back in two hours.

The trip for me was very fun in a number of ways. Having known many of the guys since they were grade schoolers it was fun to watch them as adults and look for their actions that they learned from their dads. In each of the ones I knew, I saw their Dads come out a few times. Each had grown into a young adult and they were starting their working lives and beginning to settle down. Funny, it doesn’t seem like 30 years have passed since I was their age.

I think Smooch pulled it off, we all had a great time. We saw some beautiful country, got to try our luck fishing in a lake at 12,650 ft. The guys got to do some silly harmless things and most important we laughed. I know I’ll remember this weekend with a smile if anyone asks about it and I’m sure the other guys will too. Most importantly I hope E understands he may not see all of these guys that often, like all of us adults, but that he’s grown up with a good group of friends that wouldn’t miss celebrating the end of his singlehood or most any of his life milestones to come.

The Two Weekend Birthday

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:10:05 GMT

To Many, Your 21st Birthday is the Last You Look Forward to.

Smooch recently turned 21. Wow that’s a sobering thought that my youngest is now 21. Many of you know that one of the outings that MLW and I like is to go to breweries. Heck we also like wineries and distilleries. Yes, I have to admit if it’s serving a drink, and I have a responsible way home, we enjoy sampling and tastings.

If you’re one of our boys that means that on occasion until you were 21, you had to sit in one of these locations. It’s not that we made it hard. We’d normally play games and buy snacks and soda for the boys, enjoy an adult beverage and leave. When the Engineer turned 21 almost 6 years ago, it seemed the time just slowed down while we waited for Smooch.

July 30 was his 21st birthday. We headed to Grand Junction on that day knowing we would not see him until the 31st which was Friday. We had planned to stay that Thursday night at a hotel and then check into a VRBO the next day. Besides celebrating we also had some tasks to get done now that he was an adult.

We took Rudy and even though he couldn’t stay in the VRBO he could stay at Smooch’s house. We got up early Friday morning and stole Rudy out for a walk in the BLM land. It was a nice walk but it wasn’t long before it was hot. We cleaned up and got Smooch and started our errands and had some lunch.

Later that day after our errands were over we went to the VRBO and checked in. Then we went out for our family birthday dinner. Later that evening we were going to joined by our friends Michael and Angie and their kids Lindsey and Tyler. They arrived about 11 pm which gave us enough time to say hi and go to bed.

Saturday morning came and we started making a big breakfast. I thought we should walk the 7 blocks to the bakery, so I was joined by most of our crew. The walk was nice but a block from the bakery we realized no one remembered a face mask, so back to the house for face masks and a ride this time in the car. We returned with a bag of baked goodness, enjoyed our breakfast and then we were off to the wineries in Palisade.

We actually started at Talbots cider where the boys joined us, then they were off to a graduation party, CMU was having Spring commencement, and we were off to a couple of wineries. We met back up at 2 pm to float the Colorado river. Smooch had arranged for us to have various water craft from the CMU Outdoor Program where he works and off we went. The flow of the river was quite low but we had a good time. While on the river I noticed a small wildfire on the horizon north of Grand Junction. Today it will likely become the third largest in state history.

What we had not considered in planning our day was the energy that 3.5 hours on the river would pull out of us. Once we were back and cleaned up, our fun dinner out was very subdued as we ate and went back to the house for presents and bedtime.

On Sunday we had another nice walk and then went separate ways. MLW and I went to one more winery before we left specifically for a really nice Cabernet they make, then a box of Palisade peaches and home we went. We arrived home after about 5.5 hours, an hour and a half longer than normal thanks to summer traffic.

The next weekend August 8-10 we had another celebration this time with the Engineer and NP. NP finally was done with the Douglas County fair and could get out and have some fun. We had a weekend in Ft Collins planned which we left for on Saturday morning. Ft Collins is a very bikeable city and the remainder of Saturday was spent riding around town, getting lunch and visiting E & NP’s favorite breweries. We later cleaned up and had a nice dinner and an early evening.

Sunday we awoke, found some breakfast and headed up the Poudre canyon. I would guess it’s like this everywhere, but with Covid and fewer things to do our mountains are packed with people every weekend. The Poudre canyon was no different and the line of cars going into the canyon was amazing.

We stopped at the grey rock trailhead to hike. It was already in the low 90’s and we are in the midst of another drought, so it was HOT. There was no parking in the trailhead lot so we parked on the wide shoulder on the side of the Hwy 14, the road in the canyon. To get to the trail you have to cross the road. There’s a cross walk there and as we approached it the traffic from our left stopped, well, the first 4 cars did. As we walked halfway across the hwy we heard the screeching tires, looked and a car not paying attention was trying to stop and swerved onto the shoulder, just about where we parked. Luckily for us and for the driver of the car, because he was going to total his car either way, he hit the side of the canyon wall and rolled up on his driver side. We hurried over to help the folks in the car and they were unhurt.

We proceeded for an abbreviated hike and then returned to find a spot on the river to have a picnic. While the river was full of folks we found a nice spot that fit just our two cars and we played in the river for the next 4 hours; fishing, wading and relaxing Then we headed into Ft Collins for some ice cream and cleaned up for dinner.

We took Monday off, so another nice night in the Elizabeth hotel and breakfast at the Silver Grill Monday morning. Then a little wandering in downtown before we headed home. We had two bikes on the back of the car and one on top. MLW drove while I sat in the back and worked on my month-end reports that were due that day. About halfway home in three lanes of I-25 traffic, we suddenly heard a crash on our roof. MLW quickly pulled over and while I have hauled bikes literally thousands of miles in car mounted racks, my bike fork fell out of the bike rack. Luckily the rear tire was still attached to the rack so it stayed on our vehicle. But the bike wasn’t very nice to the top of my car. Several big scratches and two nice deep dents. I thought I dodged the car damage yesterday! The bike was reattached and home was another 70 minutes away.

Smooch would pack and stop by to visit his uncle Doc. Unfortunately that is also the day that the fire started in Glenwood Canyon. That should have added another 3 hours to Smooch’s drive since it closed I-70. However he stopped in Gypsum and at his friend's suggestion found some back road that got him into Glenwood and around the fire saving about 2 of those expected extra hours..

In all it was a fun two weekends. Times spent with family and friends and doing things that were Covid approved. Interspersed were car accidents and forest fires but we thankfully came out of those ok as well. The important part was we spent some time together laughing and having fun even if it meant doing so, behind a mask, or 6’ away from other people.

A Lesson for Both?

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 02:39:36 GMT

This is going to be a blog that is going to be a bit slow on the uptake, so I ask for you to bear with me while I set the stage. This starts with me once again watching the Twilight Zone, specifically, Season 1, episode 3, entitled: Mr. Denton on Doomsday. I started watching this on Tuesday night and it’s a story about a gun fighter (Mr. Denton) who after years of always being called to prove his speed, has killed many men. When he finally kills a 16 year old boy, he drops the gun and picks up the bottle. When the episode starts you meet him as the town drunk. A traveling salesman named Henry J. Fate appears and so does a revolver while he’s being viciously tormented by a gunslinging bully.

Somehow the gun goes off at the right times and the bully is subdued and people once again see the strength in Mr Denton. But his reflexes are gone and although he cleans himself up he still can’t shoot. It’s only hours before he’s challenged to a gunfight. On the way to the gunfight, he runs into the salesman again who gives him a potion that will make him incredibly accurate for 10 seconds. He waits in dread for the gunfight and when the other gunslinger, much younger than Denton, appears for the gunfight you notice he has the potion too. When they draw they shoot each other in the hand ruining their ability to ever gunfight again. Thus allowing Denton to become a productive citizen and the young gunfighter to avoid the life that has tormented Denton.

On Wednesday MLW and I went to our Bible study class. At that class Fred who was leading the class was talking about the power of prayer and that many of the things God sends your way prepare you for things in the future. Or basically it’s not fate that determines our future but rather God. Further explaining his point Fred pointed out that he tries to be thankful to all things that befall him. He told a story of buying a new pickup only to hit a deer 6 months later that caused a great deal of damage to his truck. In this moment he had the where-with-all to say thank you God, believing this was just another part of his life where he was being prepared for something else.

About that time during our study time, my phone suddenly went crazy with texts and Snapchats and calls. I peeked at my phone in my lap to find that Smooch for some reason sent a picture of himself in the Montrose, CO Sheriffs department. He wasn’t behind bars so I figured he was at least ok. I had spoken with him earlier in the day and I knew he was planning to go to Montrose and play in the river kayak park with his roommate and then they were going to climb a 14’er (14,000 mountain) the next morning.

What I would learn a half an hour later was he and his roommate were involved in a road rage incident. An aggressive driver after riding up the tail of Smooch’s car changed lanes and although Smooch saw it coming, the car then cut him off barely missing the front corner of Smooch’s car. Smooch, much to his father's admonition to never do this, flipped off the guy. A bit further down the road Smooch found himself next to the aggressive driver who was now yelling at them out his window. Smooch instructed his roommate to keep his window up and ignore them, but when his roommate looked up again, the driver was pointing a gun at Smooch’s roommate.

Smooch hit the gas and his roommate called 911. When the aggressive driver and his passenger caught back up to Smooch and when they saw the roommate on the phone they suddenly realized who was likely on the other end of that call and they drove away, fast. By the time we heard from Smooch, the aggressive driver was arrested and in custody. Smooch and his roommate had been to the Montrose kayak park, to the sheriff’s department to give statements and had changed their plans to climb Mt Sneffels and instead headed back home.

Did I say a thankful prayer then? Yes I did. Thank you God, the guy didn’t pull the trigger, thank you God for teaching a lesson that didn’t come strong enough from me and thank you God for keeping all of them, including the aggressive driver from making decisions that would ruin lives forever.

As I thought about this whole incident, suddenly the Twilight Zone episode I described earlier had new meaning. While your faith will define for you if it was fate or God that caused this scenario to unfold and teach both Smooch and the aggressive driver a lesson. I can’t help but to think this easily could have driven home a point to both that may change their lives in the future. While some of you may think like in the Twilight Zone, it was intended by Henry J. Fate, My faith tells me it was God.

The Ones We Miss

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 13:51:18 GMT

Do We Really Want Just a Few More Minutes with Our Departed?

On Mother’s Day, MLW and I were sitting on the deck waiting on dinner to finish in the oven. As we sat there it was almost impossible not to think about the passing of time. We talked about the boys as they grew up. What often comes up in those conversations are topics like “what was Mother’s Day like when you were young?”

For those of you who don’t know, MLW lost her Mom Nancy to cancer when MLW was 16. MLW would also lose her Dad at 23, just about 4 months before our wedding. Losing your parents that young leaves so many unanswered questions mostly because you never get to know each other as adults.

As we sat there I posed the question;”if you could have your parents back for 90 minutes, what would you want to know?” First, in true MLW fashion she asked for rule clarification. “Do I get each one separate for 90 minutes or do I talk to them together? We decided she could have 90 minutes with each so I continued with the question “what do you want to know?”

I really want to know what I was like as a kid, what was I like to raise? Next I want them to see our family, to meet our boys. I want to show them what kind of home we have and what we’ve created together. Then she got silent for a bit and said, “No I don’t want that 90 minutes,” it would be too hard to say goodbye a second time.

It’s really quite a question to ponder. Although we miss our departed, and there are many people that wish they could have that moment to say the right thing that they never got to say, but as MLW so thoughtfully pointed out that doesn’t mean it’s going to be any easier to say good bye again.

MLW turned the question onto me. My Dad has been gone 8 years, Mom, about 4 and a half. Having had experienced, for lack of a better phrase, the whole life experience with Mom and Dad, my clarification was “what age Mom or Dad do I get to talk with?” Not losing parents in their prime, I clarified I’d like to talk with my Dad but I’d like him to have the clear mind of a younger man, the same with Mom.

I found it interesting that both of us had caveats to add to the question. I remember back when I read Heaven is for Real, a reportedly true story about a young boy who had a near-death experience and in heaven met Jesus and saw his deceased relatives, many he had not met. He met them in much younger versions than the age they passed. Is that how it works, you look like you at your best? Or maybe you just look like you did at the end, LIke OB-Wan Kenobi watching over his friends from the great beyond? (By the way I highly suggest the book : Heaven is for Real, but don’t waste your time on the movie by the same name, Hollywood ruined it and changed the whole story.)

I started this blog about two months ago, since that time I started watching “Upload” on Prime. The premise of the show is that you can upload your consciousness as long as you do it before you die. Once uploaded you can contact people still living, you can even attend your own funeral. There are drawbacks, one is you always stay the same. You’re always at the age you were when you died or maybe younger,, however others kept aging. There’s a character, a boy who dies at 12. For a few years his friends played video games with him. Then as they aged, they lost interest because they continued to age and mature where the boy did not. It’s such an interesting concept that I’ve continued to think about the show now several weeks after watching the first season.

If there is one universal to all of these discussions it’s that we miss the ones we’ve lost. We miss the conversations, the time spent together,we miss what they brought into our world let alone the world as whole. But what I also think we need to remember that in being missed, our departed teach us the most important lesson: you should live your life so you’ll be missed too.

Blue July

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 02:20:26 GMT

It’s time to be blue, it’s July. That may be a strange thing to read since this is our month with lots of sunshine and long days, but Julys leave me blue. My earliest memories of summers were the fun that were our vacations in Wisconsin. Two weeks on a lake, fishing, swimming and relaxing.

Few people take a two week vacation anymore. How sad. My Dad always said it took him a week to decompress and the second week of his vacation was his most favorite. I remember watching the transformation as work slowly fell off of him like a knight dropping his armor as the 2 weeks went by. There’s something about that, just enjoying life. Not running around on your vacation trying to see everything or waiting in line for this ride and that. Just relaxing.

Regardless of where I am in the month of July, my heart wants me to be on a lake. I spent 6 summers at Scout camp, 5 of them in the mountains where I’m sure other people's thoughts and dreams go, but when I was there during July I wanted to be on a lake.

This year we were supposed to be on a lake, until Covid caused the property owner to cancel our reservation. Then Covid also pulled our family in different directions. From NP having to work so hard to satisfy our County Commissioners who have refused to cancel the county fair, to other obligations of friends to go other places, our opportunity to get on a lake just evaporated.

We planned to return to Taylor Park again this summer over the 4th of July. Last year when I wrote about a 4th to remember we had traveled to Taylor Park and there were not many people there. However with nothing to do this summer people are out in the woods. So I was nervous when we left the house on Thursday the 2nd. But a little over 3 hours later we drove into the area and we found a nice spot. There were many people there this year likely a byproduct of Cottonwood pass being open and paved from Buena Vista to Taylor Reservoir.

Once again the list of attendees shrunk. Bjorn the dog had to have a minor surgery so E and NP couldn’t come. Smooch came over from Grand Junction and Michael, our friend was able to join us sans his lovely wife and either of his kids on Friday. He had to leave on Sunday.

The weather was nice, it would warm up to the low 70’s and go down to the low 40’s at night. We were well above 9000 feet. Texas Creek was flowing nicely and the native trout were biting. We would fish everyday and then later in the late afternoon we’d drive out to Taylor reservoir and take out the kayaks while MLW delivered your can of cold beer via her kayak. It was a beautiful place for happy hour.

Kay caught her first fish on a fly in Texas Creek and we caught some others in the crystal waters that were likely snow just a few hundred meters higher. It was a relaxing and wonderful 5 days. However my soul still yearns for a lake vacation and will for the rest of the month.

A Little Fun or Tempting Fate?

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:02:15 GMT

This past Father's Day weekend our friends Cindy and Nick came to visit from Sacramento. Cindy is a trainer with our company and they are our favorite couple to do things with on the company incentive trips. We had talked after last fall's trip (see: I took my heart to San Francisco 8/19/19) that they should come visit. We made plans for them to visit and along came Covid. But after some discussions we decided to do it anyway.

They were to arrive last Friday night but because of a short flight crew and the time it would take to fill it, they were re-scheduled on a flight that got them into DIA on late Saturday afternoon. I picked them up and we went out for some dinner. The night was warm and we were able to sit outside at the Rock Yard restaurant in Castle Rock.

Sunday morning was Father’s Day. The plan was to have the Engineer join us for breakfast, NP was busy, and then take out our flotilla of the canoe and kayaks and spend the day on rampart reservoir. Breakfast went well and we loaded up and were off to Rampart which is outside of Woodland Park. We drove all the way there but we hit traffic. Lots and lots of traffic. Traffic like I’ve never seen going into Woodland Park.

By the time we got to the reservoir there was an estimated wait of 90 minutes just to get to the shack where you buy your day pass. We thought up plan B and decided to drive up to Florissant and go to the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. We got there and had a lovely picnic and hike looking at the giant fossilized redwood stumps.

After a bit we drove back through Woodland Park and went to The Wines Of Colorado where we were able to sit by the creek and have a glass of wine and some appetizers. It was a really nice time and we purchased a bottle of wine and went home. Once home we had a Father’s Day dinner of rib-eye steaks.

Monday MLW and I took a vacation day and we drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park and then proceeded over Trail Ridge Road. The day was a mix of clouds and sun. We had another picnic lunch and meandered across Trail Ridge road seeing it’s beautiful vistas and wildlife. We saw some huge bull elk and a bull moose and few cows of both species.

We exited on the Grand Lake side and stopped in Evergreen for dinner. We came home tired and ready for bed. One Tuesday we planned to work so we sent Nick and Cindy off to explore Castle Rock. We had arranged to go ziplining later that afternoon. Kay and i finished up work and we were off to the Castle Rock Zip line. It’s rated as the best in the state and now I know why. It was a lot of fun. They start you off on a relatively short zip line and then you progress to longer and longer ones, the longest being over a quarter of a mile. You do 10 lines and your final run is a side by side race. It was rally fun and took about 2 hours.

We got done, celebrated our trip with a beer from Burley Brewing and returned home for dinner. On Wednesday we got up and I drove them to DIA for their early flight home. Cindy has been instructed by our boss to work from home for the next two weeks in case she caught anything during her travels. I’m pretty optimistic she wasn’t exposed to anything here as we were outside most of the trip or just the 4 of us were together. I rarely interact with our employees except over the phone so my life won’t change much.

There are as many opinions on our current pandemic as there are belly buttons. But one thing I think we all can agree on is the human need to interact, to visit and to have a little fun. So while some people may be uncomfortable with gathering, we did it as best and as safe as we could and the real benefit was a few days of normalcy and it felt great.

The 24.5 Hour Recharge

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:04:03 GMT

Just a little time away can do wonders

As I sat against a tree with my mug of instant coffee, the sun hit the tent at 7:17. MLW was asleep in the tent and wouldn’t wake until 8 when I roused her. After 32 years of camping we had a routine and I wasn’t about to stray from it. The weekend of June 13-14 was our “break” weekend. We have been preparing for the fall wedding almost everyday since the Covid lock-down. That has not only made it hard to blog, it’s also not fun to constantly look at your house with a critical eye. So this weekend we are backpacking. We are about 4 miles up the wigwam creek trail in the lost creek wilderness.

We packed up yesterday and after a quick errand got to the trail head. It was a popular idea but after a mile or so we ran into fewer and fewer hikers. When planning this trip I didn’t notice the 1400 of elevation gain that was required to get to where I thought we’d want to camp. So it slow going at about 3/4 or normal hiking speed. But the trail follows Wigwam creek as it flows out of the mountains and it was beautiful.

We hit the trail at 11:30 and found out campsite about 3. We set up thinking we were very isolated but within an hour we had 2 other groups near us. We were very well spaced so it was not a big deal. They were camping right off the trail; we were 100 yards and 50 ft higher.

As i I sit here typing this into my phone I think about how close we came to not being able to come. Friday morning MLW put a load of clothes in our washer and went to walk Rudy. I stayed home as I was watering the new grass in the wedding area and gathering my back packing supplies when the washer gave a warning tone and stopped. I walked into the laundry room right off the kitchen and stepped onto water, lots of water. Water was pouring out of the bottom of the washer.

I ran to grab the carpet cleaner to suck up the water and after I had a majority of the water I ran downstairs to see what was happening down there. My moms bedroom when she lived with us is below the laundry and water was pouring through the light fixture onto her carpet. The power to the light fixture was off but it was energized and I could feel the current when I touched the fixture. Realizing I was perfectly grounded with bare feet on wet carpet over concrete I quickly went and turned off the breaker, then took the globe down from the fixture and realized the light bulbs were completely submerged in water.

I removed the fixture from the ceiling allowing the water to drain quickly and we were able to avoid any drywall damage. Then MLW ran to Home Depot to rent a carpet fan an d the recovery started. The sad thing is we lost our washer. Investigating later I found a paint can opener, the type you get when you buy paint, had gotten from the inner drum to the space between the drum and the outer plastic drum enclosure. When the spin cycle started, the opener wedged between the two and punched a dime sized hole in the plastic drum enclosure and out came the water. So a “free” paint can opener just cost me a bundle as I’m now in the market for a new washer.

Back in the forest, MLW began to stir as expected a little before 8 am and emerged from the tent. The breeze was blowing which was a bit of a relief because we forgot any type of bug repellent and the mosquitoes, while not as bad as down near the stream, were out and hungry. We proceeded to have a leisurely breakfast of formerly freeze-dried eggs and oatmeal, packed up and headed down the trail. The walk out was almost exactly 2 hours including some quick stops for pictures. We arrived 24.5 hours after we left the day before. Rudy the dog was ready to take off his pack and quickly sprawled out in the back seat of the car as we removed our packs and changed into another set of clothes.

We left the trail head and went south to Woodland Park where a cold lunch pint of beer was waiting at BierWerks and a brisket sandwich. We enjoyed our lunch and headed back home.

We arrived at home with all it's welcoming features such as a soft bed and running water and began to unpack and get ready for the week. Our eye was none-the-less critical as we returned to our home and knew we had a larges purchase coming for a new washer and getting the carpet re stretched in the guest room. But we were home. We had got out and had a little time to recharge and to talk while looking at the majesty of the mountains rather than the next project at the house. A time to recharge and reset ourselves for another chapter of life.

Happy Anniversary MLW!

Thu, 28 May 2020 15:57:43 GMT

Today MLW and I have been married 32 years. We’ve been together longer in our lives than we were apart. It’s a bit daunting really and amazing that at 24 years old I made a decision, set a goal, uttered a vow that has lasted longer than most other things in my life.

Sometime about 20 years ago, MLW and I did a Marriage Encounter weekend. If you’ve been on one you know what an amazing weekend that is. Of all the group discussions followed by interpersonal discussions we had, the one that has stuck with me is the concept that God brought us together, a concept I truly believe.

Several years before I met MLW, a fraternity brother was dating a girl with the same first name as MLW. I remember the first time I heard it, there was something special about that name. I didn’t know why. I wouldn’t really hear that name again until at a party I met a young woman with that name and it again felt special. That woman would be MLW, I met her in early October 1985.

Our first “date” was doing fire watch at the fraternity house. In the fall of 1985 there was a rash of fraternity and sorority arsons in Boulder, Ft Collins and Greeley. I don’t know if the persons were ever caught, but to keep ourselves safe we had a month of volunteer watch nights where you would sit in the front room of the fraternity house and make sure no on came in and started the place on fire. On my night Kay came and sat with me. Our first function was a fall dance. That holiday season I flew out to Chicago to celebrate her 21st birthday with her and drive back with her to Greeley for the spring semester. The entire 12 hours of the drive we talked. It was then I knew I’d marry her.

I proposed in front of about 70 people at our Spring Formal in Vail on May 23rd 1987 and we were married a year later on May 28, 1988 in the Poudre chapel in Rustic, CO.

But that’s enough logistics. A person couldn’t be so lucky as me. I married my best friend, who turned out to be a coach, a cheerleader and confidant. We’ve camped, hiked and traveled. We’ve raised two wonderful young men. We’ve had our trials and our tribulations, but never was there ever the option of not being us. When you marry the right person, you lose your single identity and gain the “and” like my parents; Ken AND Dorothy. That’s why all of you know us with our “and” in the middle; not quite Pat Daddy and MLW, but you know where I’m going.

In our wedding ceremony my friend and fraternity brother Jerome sang a little-known song; Your Love will Always be Enough for Me . 32 years later it’s true MLW, your love always has been and always will be, enough for me.

Happy Memorial Day?

Mon, 25 May 2020 20:59:02 GMT

Happy Memorial Day. Seems like a strange greeting when you think about it. Because it’s day to remember those we lost defending our freedoms, not necessarily a “happy” day unless you can concentrate only the wonderful freedoms we have gained from all of the folks who gave their life for those very freedoms.

I’m writing this because those were actual sons and daughters we lost for those freedoms and that’s what I think is the most important part to remember. Son’s and daughters, friends, Moms and Dad’s, aunts and uncles, childhood confidants, the list goes on. Real people fighting real wars and conflicts standing for their principles and dying for them.

We often thank veterans on this day, which is more than appropriate. The crass and unthinking may think, veterans have their own day. But those are people who don’t consider anyone who has served, especially those who have seen combat, have not only lost friends and comrades, but a bit (or a lot) of themselves. At least who they were before they put on a uniform and took up arms.

Perhaps the real tragedy of war isn’t just those who lost their lives but those who returned and are permanently lost. I’ve read we lose 20 veterans to suicide everyday. Break that down and within an hour of reading this another veteran will decide there’s no reason to live any longer. I can’t find words to describe how tragic that fact is.

My dad served in WWII. He would rarely if ever talk about the war. Once I remember him talking with another veteran about how hard it was to get used to civilian life and waking up from nightmares where he was still fighting the war. The shocker was at about 83 years old he was diagnosed with PTSD from the war. Wow, there’s a missed diagnosis; what, about 60 years?

On Memorial Day we need to stop and remember those we lost defending our freedoms, whether they paid the price with their life or continued to pay the price in the life they live or lived after the war. But my main two points I’m trying less than eloquently to get to are: 1. Today is the day to remember those we lost. Tomorrow and everyday after is when we should be fighting for the mental health of those who came home.

I appreciate my freedoms a little more when I put them in the context of those who fought for them. If you were one of those brave people, or you lost a loved one who was defending those freedoms, Thank you.

Not My Kind of Miller Time

Wed, 20 May 2020 14:40:57 GMT

Once again it’s Miller time! No, not time to drink “the Champagne of beers.” It’s time for those nasty but harmless moths to migrate across Colorado and into the mountains where they will summer. Pretty weird huh? Yes the Miller moth actually vacations in the mountains and as they pass through we can have some, or many. This year we have MANY!

So many that when you open your screen doors in the morning you disturb at least 30 moths that come falling on you and around you like drunks on dollar shot night. They hit you and leave their trademark moth dust spots on your clothes where they collided with you. If you’re like me, out of anger you run around stepping on them only to realize now you have to sweep up your front porch.

So if you haven’t guessed, I despise miller moths. Their drab colors, their dusty wings and their GLOWING EYES. They have them you know, glowing eyes. They sit on your window at night looking in; eyes aglow. They’re like little zombies but it’s not brains they are drawn to, it’s light.

One of the ways I’ve waged war against these creatures is during their migration is I’ll put a light over a bucket of soapy water. They are drawn to the light and end up in the soapy water where they drown. In years past I’ve done this in places like my garage so they crawl out of all their hiding places and die in my bucket of water.

Last night I was going to bed and I went to let the dog out and there they were, over 50 millers all drawn to the lights from our little room I call our study. I had an idea. I’d put a light in the window and a bucket of soapy water outside the window and in the morning they’d all be dead. So I gathered the tools I needed; the reading light from my desk and a 5 gallon bucket full of soapy water.

I put the light in the window facing out and the bucket below and the moths started cascading into the soapy water...but they were crawling out! NO! That’s not how it works. But the bucket I used was old and very scratched giving them the ability to crawl out. So I got an enameled bucket, put soapy water with lots of suds in it below the light and the death trap was created!

It was like watching lemmings as they cascade to their demise. The little glowing eyed monsters were drawn to the light and in their ungraceful landing tactics ran into the glass and bounced, circled or dropped into the suds where they were trapped. HA! Take a bath you nasty dusty creatures! A deep guttural villainous laugh erupted from my inner soul. Which was quickly followed by MLW yelling down the stairs “what’s wrong with you? It’s 11 pm, go to bed!”

I did it, I created a miller moth killing machine and they were dropping in the water by the dozens. I went upstairs to bed, excited to see my carnage in the morning. But when I looked out my window into the night, my idea was flawed! Because I wasn’t just catching the trespassing moths on my front porch, no I had created a moth highway. Out of the night the moths streamed with their glowing eyes and uneven flying gait. They were the Zombies of the night and I was inviting them to invade my porch.

I hurried down the stairs as the waves of goosebumps pulsated through my skin. “I must stop the migration, the attack of the dusty creatures!” came the message from my most basic survival instincts. I hurried as I imagined having to clean off the front of my house from inches of deep moth scales. I turned off the light and hoped the creatures would go back to their lairs and leave me alone. Then back to bed where every little brush from a loose thread made me think the moths were in bed with me.

I awoke to the birds singing and the sun shining this morning. I went out the garage door and came to look at the front of the house. Gone were the dozen upon dozens of moths. In the soapy water were literally hundreds of dead moths and the survivors were hiding in the cracks of my screen door. I opened the screen door and they flew out in mass reminding me they were in control not me.

Several made their way into the house and I found they floundering helplessly in the windows. Like vampires trying to escape the sun, they seemed so pitiful, so floppy, so… dusty! But their hapless demeanor didn’t fool me. For I know the truth. They’ll be back tonight, with their glowing eyes and uneven flight. They’re really zombies, don’t be fooled….DON’T BE FOOLED!

The Forgotten Thank You's

Mon, 11 May 2020 14:34:57 GMT

Four of our friends this week will open their mailboxes and find Thank You cards. Not originally from us but from Smooch for his High School Graduation. "How nice!" you say, then maybe you'll remember that Smooch graduated in 2017. While going through our box of cards MLW found in our Thank You cards, 4 written cards from Smooch, thanking people for graduation gifts. When both of us read them we both got a tug at our heart strings. Not only because they were nice cards, but because the reason we they didn't get sent was us. After graduation we had an agreement. Smooch writes the cards, we address the envelopes. It was an agreement we had with both our boys.

The written Thank You is indeed a lost art, it's so much quicker and convenient to send a text or email. The problem is they can also feel "convenient and quick" to the receiver. The actual card, with ink on the stock, and maybe a little cross out, shows someone took the time to find that card, find your address, find a stamp, then the hardest part, write a note.

In a retirement planning talk at our company annual meeting, our then CFO now CEO, gave a great presentation and at the end, threw in a a half a dozen easy ways to save money. One of those was to buy cards at the Dollar Store. That reveals Jones family secret number 82, we do. Why not? It's not the printed part of a card that anyone reads with expectation, it's the personal note that makes it worth while. Do we really need to make Hallmark our C yrano de Bergerac, writing rather than whispering prose for us to convey our message of Thanks, Congratulations or Sympathy? We need the medium, the nice card the pretty picture, but do we really need the prose, I'd say no.

Before I go on, I will recognize that the specialty card, with the outlandish or hysterically funny comment like my sister Speedy used to stock up with from the Avant'e Card store on Larimer Square in Denver are a different breed of card and have their place and their value. But I know when September rolls around my brother Doc will send me a card that references beer and flatulence, easily found at the Dollar Store. I hope he didn't spend $3.99 on that familiar shtick.

My sister the Banker makes cards. Beautiful cards. They are little works of art that I put up in my office after they are received. The Banker speaks with her card and has never been one to write gushy cards with long messages, at least not to me. So when you get her cards you expect a little work of art that does the talking. If you find she's written more it's like finding the prize in the Cracker Jack box. Special and unexpected; because she already sent the wordless message with the time she spent on the card.

Then there's finding the stamp. Because I mail many letters of various sizes out of my home office I still actually got the Post Office and buy stamps. I go the the Sedalia Post office. I'll often not have anyone in line with me at this little town post office. One of three people will wait on me, and I have fun looking at and buying all the different stamps. I usually buy some special stamps for birthday cards, I save a few of the stamps to make statements. I save ones with snakes, rats or other undesirable creatures and use those to mail things to plaintiff attorneys and greedy opportunistic claimants. I get fun ones to put on my Work Comp documents, hoping it conveys this information really was sent by a real person and needs to be opened.

It's funny how mail has seemingly lost it's urgency with the younger generations. The Engineer and Norwegian Pescatarian check their mail box once a week. There was a time when the Post office delivered everyday, TWICE! But electronic payments have made much of our mail unnecessary or at least non-urgent. A story that I think really shows the how unimportant mail is to our younger generations is one that has to do with NP. While picking out stamps for their "save the Date" cards, she went to the post office, waited in line and then went through the possible stamps for their wedding date announcements. After looking a a number of them she asked "so whats the difference in price between them?" A funny comment to those of us familiar with the Post Office, but a reasonable query when you look at the size and quality of the design. I mean really; a boring flag or Cookie Monster are both worth 55 cents?

So as I address and then add little notes to these Thank You cards exclaiming that MLW and I will take down our Parents of the Year plaque once again because we shirked our parental agreement and left four friends who generously gave a gift to Smooch, hanging for 3 years. I hope when they are opened they'll add a smile and maybe a small laugh to the day of the receiver. Which is what the written Thank You is really about, taking the time and the trouble to make sure people know you appreciate them and their kindness.

Easter 2.0

Mon, 04 May 2020 14:12:23 GMT

With the easing of restrictions on gathering in our county we decided this past Saturday was going to be the day we celebrated Easter. We picked Saturday so we would not have to hurry through dinner so everyone could get ready to work the next day.

Smooch our youngest came home from Grand Junction on Thursday afternoon. My brother Doc, who has a brand new camper and nowhere to take it, came down on Friday afternoon and set up in the driveway. Friday afternoon the 4 of us went for a nice mountain bike ride and then ordered some carryout from the Mexican restaurant in Larkspur.

Saturday Morning Doc and Smooch helped me set the remaining two concrete forms that will support the new stairs I’m building with the help of my neighbor Steve, while MLW set up the Easter table and worked in the front yard. After one more run into the Home Depot to get more bags of cement mix, we called it a day as the Engineer and the Norwegian Pescatarian showed up about 2.

We started the afternoon with some yummy snacks and we colored eggs. Meanwhile the ham was cooking in the oven. The “kids” decided this year they would hide the eggs and let the “adults” hunt for them. As they hid the eggs we put our final foods in the oven to finish, then we were escorted to the front porch where we were given the instructions as to the borders of the area of the hidden eggs and off went MLW, Doc and I to search for eggs. We ran around the front yard remembering the excitement of finding eggs and in our minds I’m sure we were all about 9 years old in our spring pastels zipping across the yard. To find the 12 eggs took us about 15 minutes and the prize egg was found last by MLW.

Shortly thereafter we were sitting down to our dinner of ham, twice baked potatoes, bacon wrapped and non-bacon wrapped asparagus, fruit salad, and strawberry pecan salad. As we bowed our heads in prayer to say grace, it was not hard to count our blessings. Nor was it hard to thank our Lord for the miracle of Easter, especially since we had a new appreciation of just how lonely a tomb could be. The ability to rise, celebrate and share the wonderful spring day with our family made this Easter celebration, while tardy, a celebration indeed.

After dinner we played some games in the front yard until a small spring shower chased us in doors. Inside we played more games, shared the chocolate bunny (MLW’s egg hunting prize) and ultimately found room in our tummies for strawberry rhubarb pie. About 10 pm E & NP went home, Doc went out to his camper and MLW, Smooch and I called it a night as sleep came quickly to our tired and full bodies.

On Sunday Doc, Smooch and I poured the concrete stair pads as MLW worked on spring cleaning the front yard. There’s another whole blog story on our home improvements coming so I’ll cover more of the improvements later. Sunday afternoon Doc and I cleaned up, he packed up and headed back north, MLW finished up for the day, then MLW, Smooch and I returned the rented cement mixer and celebrated with a cold drink from Sonic.

Our dear friend Mary Rankin, who along with her husband Randy have been great mentors to us over the years, once told us that when you have adult children, holidays are no longer about the date, but rather the day. So if your family can celebrate Christmas on January 3rd, then that year Christmas is January 3rd. As so it was that Easter for the Jones family was May 2nd. A bit later than it is traditionally, but equally enjoyable and with a new appreciation of what a rebirth feels like.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! #2

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 04:56:35 GMT

It was last June at a breakfast meeting for the Boy Scouts, but no kids were there as it was a District Finance meeting. We met at a Mexican restaurant that is famous for it's breakfast burritos and when it came time to order one of the guys, Dave, declined to order breakfast as he had just recently started a new weight loss program, Noom, and he was having success. It was June, I was squeezing into whatever shorts I could find, I made a note to look this up.

I don't ever remember ever not being heavier than I wanted to be. As a latch-key kid in the hot and humid Midwest, summer was a boring time. While I spent a fair amount of time with my friends riding bikes and running around the neighborhood, I also spent my share of boring days watching game shows and eating. That also went into the school year, where I'd come home, eat enough for a whole meal and then sit down and eat, yep, a whole meal.

In 6th grade I got my first paper route. With the increased exercise and the decreased TV time, I drop quite a bit of weight. In seventh grade I quit the route and the weigh came back on in a vengeance. I went to parochial school so you could not wear jeans but you could wear corduroys. I got the corduroys in the fall then the weight came back on. Somewhere in that year I surpassed 200 lbs. My Mom would not buy me new pants. I can remember squeezing into corduroys that felt like they were cutting into my waist line. I'd spray the entire waist with water hoping they would stretch before leaving for school. I don't really know what her reasoning was for not buying me new pants.

I got another paper route my seventh grade year but I had to drop it to play football in the fall of 8th grade. Playing football in the Midwest was miserable. August days at 98 degrees and 98 percent humidity you were sweating when you walked in in shorts, then you'd pad up. Those were the days of 2 weeks of 2-a-day practices and the coaches would withhold water as a punishment for poor performance. I'd drop 15 pounds during those grueling 12 days. What was I weighing in the fall of 1977 my freshman year in high school? Well, before football started 230 lbs, I was 5'9". My growth spurt hit Freshman year and by the fall of my Sophomore year I was 6'2". Once I was that height the extra energy to run that large body slowed my weight shifts as did football and year round conditioning classes. I was mostly about 215 pounds.

Not much happened after that, I put on weight my freshman year with dorm food, lost weight when I could not afford food. We got married in 1988. My "Dad bod" continued to develop. About 1990 I had crept up to about 230 and I tried Nutra System and ate gross pre-measured food, dropped the weight and it came back on with a vengeance. I tried weight watchers, often going to meeting with a bunch of women who would talk about how certain foods were "to die for". I basically would listen and not relate. I did have a leader for a while who was hysterically funny She had lost about 100 lbs. She would tell stories about how her children never knew chocolate bunnies had ears until she lost her weight because she would bit them off when filling the baskets. That helped for a bit, but again as soon as I stopped it came right back on.

In 1999 was a Regional Claim Manager for a high risk auto carrier and had adjusters I supervised in 4 states. A friend introduced me to Body for Life a work out and eating program by Bill Phillips the guy who started EAS, a work out supplement company. For 3 months I ate like I was supposed to and walked down the block every morning at 10:30 to 24 hour fitness to do the workout of the day. I bulked up and trimmed down. My transformation pictures were amazing. Unfortunately by Spring of 2000 it was obvious my company was closing it's regional offices. My option would be to stay with the company and move to Sacramento or find a new job. I found a new job.

At the new job I was no longer the master of my daily schedule and while I tried to stay as fit as I was, once again the weight came back on. I was there from 2000 to the summer of 2011. I would yo-yo my weight those 11 years. Trying weight watchers again with less success. In 2013 I started with Harman's working from home. It was then I followed the example of my boss Shawn and used my former time of commuting and started tracking my food and exercise. I dropped my weight and got back to 205, my magic weight number. That held on for a while and then 5 lbs came on, then it became 10, and within 4 years I was back up. That's where we were last summer at the Boy Scout meeting.

I was once again 238 lbs. I was fitting into my clothes from over 4 years ago and I was uncomfortable. It was time to get back to 205. I really like Noom. It has the psychology component that I have found really helpful. Another thing I like is that it's ok with ALL foods, just some with more moderation than others. The best part for me is fruit fits in perfectly and I love fruit. I started in June and when we left for Ireland in October I was about 4 pounds from goal. We had a great time and if you've read my blog posts about that trip you know we drank plenty of beer. We came back I was the same weight ass before vacation and 2 weeks after we were home I hit goal.

Here's the best part, I stayed at goal all the way through the holidays. In January I decided to drop a few more pounds. I haven't been below 200 lbs consistently since before the 7th grade. So I set a new goal 198.5. Those pounds came off slow. But I was in no hurry. On Friday morning however I stepped on the scale and 198.3. Whoo Hoo!

If I've got you thinking about Noom, let me tell you a few other things. First MLW used it too and is 15 lbs lighter and looking great. But if you've yo-yo'd with your weight your whole life it's not about the food, it's about your brain and what it's telling you, so the psychology component of Noom has been great. There's also the temptation to drop Noom shortly after you reach goal. DON'T DO IT. Pay the money it's about $120/3 months. But changing your life and perspective on eating is a major life change. I'm glad I stayed on it because I needed the help when we were suddenly staying at home, and there are so many emotions that come with the various holidays. It's kind of like a relationship break-up. You have to live a year with your healthier eating for the habits to really stick, year round.

If you are interested and have questions feel free to contact me. I can even send you an invite to save $20 off your first 90 days, like any Noomer can. So what's it done for me? My blood pressure is now 113/83, my resting heart rate is about 50 beats per minute, My boys are giving me hand me downs. I fit in large t-shirts, my pants were a tight 40" now they are a loose 37". I stopped snoring which MLW really appreciates and riding my bike is so much more fun. Plus I still have room for a cocktail or two a week and a beer fits too.

I think the best part is I did this for me. Not because there's a wedding coming up in the fall, but because after a year of blogging about getting off your couch and doing something I wanted to put my money where my mouth, well my gut was. The other big motivator is wanting to have as many fun years with my kids as I can.

Don't Look In The MIrror!

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:33:22 GMT

As we continue to stay at home, I’m reminded of all the horror movies whose titles told you not to look somewhere. Places like; in the basement, in the cellar, in the closet. But what is terrifying me these days is DON’T LOOK IN THE MIRROR!

How about you? Is your hair the color your friends always thought it was? Roots don’t lie do they? How about the length? My hair just gets big, like Greg Brady hair. But as I’ve grown older, well, it’s not growing in all the places on my head it used to. So I no longer look like an aging Greg Brady, but I’ve got clumps of long hair here, thin straggly hair over there. Geez I’m turning into Jake Jabs! So while people who are now helping their kids with school have a new appreciation for teachers, how about your hairdresser? They are miracle workers!

A dear family friend, Betty, lives alone in my hometown. Because of her shoulder issues she can't reach up and wash her hair. She told my sister Speedy a week ago that without being able to wash her hair it’s going everywhere so much she says she looks like the wild woman of Borneo.

As I have my weekly video conference calls, I see those who can cut their own hair and I see those who have hats. I see more hats on our calls that I used to. I’d wear a hat but I hate wearing hats when my hair is long, or rather as MLW would describe it, when I think my hair is long.

This weekend I decided it was time to go outside with the clippers and cut my hair. My Dad always said the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is about 10 days. I’ve definitely got 10 days. As a matter of fact as it sits now, that’s about when our current stay at home order expires. Maybe I could shave my head! I once read an article in a men’s magazine where the author talked of shaving his head. He said if you do, you need to find a pool and dive into it after you shave your head. He said the sensation was like being kissed by God. But what if it doesn’t grow back? No, I don’t think I’m going to shave my head. I’ll save the God kiss for my final day. Besides, where is a pool open?

So Sunday afternoon was the day. We had just run our errands and I had been working on my summer projects and had a fair coating of sawdust on my skin. I awoke with a bed head cowlick that wasn’t about to lay down. I toweled my hair with a wet towel to hopefully get it to lie down. I had hid it all day under a hat.

I went out into the yard my trusty clippers by my side and started with a #5 comb on my clippers. I started going over my whole head like I used to about 9 years ago when I’d cut my own hair. It was like shearing a sheep; a very gray, once dark hair sheep. Piles of hair fell to the ground, my scalp rejoiced at the additional light! It was like 9 years ago, well except my hair was thicker then and a #5 comb was about perfect. I probably could have used a 6 or 7 now. I used a #3 on my sides and then MLW came out and trimmed my neck.

Then up to the shower to wash all the little hair pieces away. Ahh, relief. I’ve never been a Samson; I don’t get power from long hair, it sucks the power from me, I think it pulls on my brain. But when it’s short I’m happy!

So my hair is cut. It is far from how nice Nichole makes it look, but like I said, I’ve got at least 10 days...

The No-bunny Easter

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 14:23:33 GMT

If you look back to my blog from last Easter (A Peaceful Easter) I talked about how Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I talk about going to church, spending time with family and friends and just having fun. Who could have imagined what this Easter was?

Our Easter weekend began with beautiful weather on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures around 70 degrees and sunny. If you had to be at home this was at least a nice time to be outside and to get a break from looking at the inside of your house.

Friday was a work day as normal. At 6:30 Friday evening we had our family Facetime cocktail hour. That’s where MLW and I get on Facetime with Smooch in Grand Junction, the Engineer and NP in Castle Rock and my brother Doc in Arvada. We all have a cocktail in our separate homes and talk about the week. It’s been a nice time to at least see each of these folks I miss so much ever since social distancing became a thing. The cocktail “hour” tends to last more like two as we talk and laugh. It’s far from a perfect way to get together, but it’s better than not getting together at all.

Saturday was stain day for the new deck. I started by sanding the entire deck to open the pores of the new wood. MLW also helped and we sanded off the grease pencil marks from the lumber yard and little splintered spots and those dark spots that must come from the machinery at the mill. When we were done the deck was prepped and ready. I stained the deck surface while MLW stained the sides of the deck. By 2 pm we were done and the deck was left to dry.

Picking the stain for the deck was a real chore. I tried samples, bought samples off the internet and then basically asked just about everyone I knew. I finally settled on Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil in the natural shade, which is what I’ve used on our pergola and other outside woods for the past 5 years with really good results. It’s a great mixture of oils and something like a polyurethane, that never gets sticky like many of the oil stains do. It really made the deck glow and it’s beautiful. This coming weekend I need to hand rub one more coat into the wood and I’ll be done.

MLW and I also got some other tasks done and then cleaned up and she made fresh cookies to put in an Easter basket for E and NP. We delivered the basket to the kids and picked up a bucket of KFC. We picked up a Redbox movie on the way home and ate our chicken dinner while watching “a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, which if you have not seen I highly recommend.

Sunday morning we awoke to 20 degrees and snow. It was Easter, but no service to go to, no one was coming over for brunch, and no baskets to hide. Just a gloomy cold Sunday morning. MLW made a wonderful frittata for breakfast and then after some technical difficulties listened to our pastor's Easter message online. Then we both began to work on little projects around the house. Spring decluttering and organizing mostly. But it passed the time and in the afternoon Smooch sent a text suggesting we get together again on Facetime.

We joined Facetime and there were all the special people who would normally have been at our house. We talked and laughed. Thanks to a malfunctioning meat thermometer, MLW and I also ate our dinner during our visit. It was far from our traditional Easter. While my Christian faith side rejoiced in the celebration of Easter, the secular side; the bunny, the egg hunts, the family gathering, was terribly missed. Giving us all a story to tell when we can celebrate Easter together again and a reminder to cherish our time together.

In Times of Trouble, How About Some Respect for Fruitcake?

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:23:36 GMT

I'm not sure there's a more misunderstood food

Alas the lowly and misunderstood fruitcake. The holiday loaf of love from an earlier time that today is as polarizing as our President and as disrespected as Rodney Dangerfield. It is celebrated no longer by it's baked conglomeration of dried fruits and nuts but how far holiday revelers can launch the poor former harbinger of love. Yes, alas poor fruitcake! But I am here to make your case, sing your praises and remind mankind as to why in these times of Covid-19 the fruitcake would be the ultimate gift.

But first let us look at your past; your golden age, you doughy, sticky masterpiece! Fruitcakes have been made for over 2000 years. In ancient Rome a recipe from 2000 years ago had pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and raisins mixed into a cake made out of barley mash. They were banned in Europe during part of the 18th century because they were thought to be too rich and tasty that only bad things could happen to people who would eat such a rich treat. In the 19th century they were traditionally used as wedding cakes. Reminiscent of Santa himself, who has names from cultures all over the world, so does Fruitcake! In Germany fruitcake is called stollen, Italy: panforte or pannetonne. Poland and Bulgaria call it keks. Portugal has the bolo rei and Vietnam has banh bo mut.

Some fruitcakes are made and kept for a year before serving. Many times they have some type of alcohol poured over them that keeps bacteria from growing and changes the flavor over time. But they are still misunderstood. Maybe it's the word cake and the expectations that word brings with it. Because with all the nuts and dried fruit in it, it's not light and fluffy, it's dense.

Here's where I think my poor friend fruitcake is so misunderstood. Because it's not cake. But what is it? Well it's nuts, corn syrup, molasses, dried fruit, spices, natural preservatives (alcohol), flour and many times cocoa. Many recipes are even vegan because diary products would go bad. So I ask you, what in our world today has those ingredients? Energy bars! Read the ingredients for most energy bars and you're looking at the same ingredients with maybe a trade off from wheat flour to rice flour or something similar. So the same people that scoff at my friend fruitcake eat the same ingredients in an energy bar and think they're so cool.

Fruitcake was the original energy bar. But that's just the beginning, because if you look back to when fruitcakes were given it was at the holidays. Think about this for a minute, but in the 2000 year history of the fruitcake, only recently has mankind had fresh food supplies to make it through the winter. Giving a fruitcake at Christmas meant giving a gift that would stay preserved until it was ready to be eaten, deep in winter when people where at their most vulnerable. You didn't see how far you could throw a fruitcake in the 18th century, you coveted it, because it was a gift of love, a gift of life.

So my friend the fruitcake, even though you are misunderstood today, you were a wonderful gift of life to many. Your cousins the energy bar are taken on hikes and bike trips, eaten after work outs and kept in desk drawers for people who have to work through lunch. Many of them lack your deep flavors and colorful fruit pieces. But that is just fitting, because you were the first and you've spent your time on both the wedding table and patiently waiting in the larder cabinet. While I'd like to suggest my readers make and share this gift of life with the folks who are shut in by this virus, you'd probably still be misunderstood and blamed for weight gain. But there was a time when your calories were welcome, and it's probably a good thing if we don't find ourselves depending upon you once again for our sustenance.

The Memories of Decluttering

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:09:19 GMT

With so much time on our hands as we stay socially distanced, I like MLW and many people are cleaning and de-cluttering. But there’s a huge difference between cleaning and de-cluttering. Cleaning just involves making things clean, de-cluttering means reliving memories and determining if you really can just thank something for its service and let it go. The odd part of de-cluttering is that it's not the big ticket items that I can’t part with, it’s the little things. In fact I’m going to write about some of the clutter things I just cannot get rid of.

What type of things you ask? Things like the “Dad” mug, a 2nd or third grade version of the Engineer bought me one Christmas when his school would have these little shopping events before the holidays. I think the kids we’re told to bring under $10 bucks, to shop for their Mom and Dad. The mug is a mug with “dad” written on it and a nautical map theme in the background. If you saw it on the shelf at a thrift store for 50 cents, you’d still pass it up. But when I see it I see the eye’s of my then 8 year old son full of excitement and joy as I opened that gift on Christmas morning. So that can’t go.

Holiday ties. When the boys were young MLW would make them holiday outfits and make me a tie to match. The outfits rarely made it even to church because the Engineer seemed to always have a blow-out diaper and Smooch our puker would throw up on them. When the boys got older MLW would make us all matching ties. I remember how proud the boys were of their ties and to have their picture taken with their Dad. I still have all my ties, and whether they are in style or not, I just can’t throw them away.

Equalizer Christmas gifts. If you only had one kid you probably don’t have these lying around your house. Equalizer gifts are those things you bought one of your kids so they had an equal amount of gifts as the other kid(s). Those are simply ridiculous from the start, but MLW and I still stop a few days before Christmas and ask if we have a equal gifts for the kids. The problem with most equalizer gifts, especially for younger kids is they were rarely something wanted and they were rarely played with or used. So you look at these gifts and think “there’s $40 I didn’t need to spend,” but they are so new you have a hard time giving them away. Remind me of this in December please, and I’ll get gifts that are needed and wanted for by the boys and if that means they get one gift, that’s what they get.

CD's. What the heck do you do with CD's? Yes I could save them all to a hard drive or the cloud, but then I still have CD's. How many of us remember the music clubs? You'd get 5 free CD's with the promise to purchase 8 more at the regular price? They'd come in the mail once a month and if you didn't respond to their letter you'd get some obscure CD you never wanted. I have three shelves full of CD's and I can't make them go away.

One thing we have quite a bit of is dishes. MLW’s mom’s china set, service for 12, MLW’s Spring/Easter dishes and don't forget our Christmas everyday dishes. What’s funny is the kids don’t want any of them and the idea of china just isn’t a thing. In fact thrift stores are full of china that once was worth a small fortune. We actually stopped using the china for holidays when the kids were younger at the request of my Mom. We had one Christmas where two bowls were broken. Since the china pattern isn’t made anymore the cost to replace those two pieces was about $100. We didn’t replace them but my Mom told us she was just too nervous eating with the family on the china. Funny thing was it wasn’t the boys who broke the china. None the less the china was sent to the china cabinet to live it’s life unused.

If you think about it, there's no wonder why our kids don’t want china anymore. What other gift requires you to buy furniture to hold it? How silly! But much like the saying “we’re spending our kids inheritance,” we’re using our kids china. The china now comes out at least once a month and our holiday dishes rotate. Right now we’re using the Spring/Easter dishes everyday and it’s fun. So while those dishes aren’t going away, at least they are getting some use. The only problem is we don’t have any dishes for summer. oh great! We’ll be buying more dishes soon!! Didn't I start this blog about de-cluttering?

Cha, Cha, Cha, Changes!

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 14:12:34 GMT

Women and Millenials have changed the business world but the biggest change may come from a little virus.

As the business world continues to evolve, business people have reaped many rewards. From improvements in hotels, dining options, and how we dress in the business world, for our most recent improvements we can thank women and millennials. But what I think is going to create a big change is the recent mandated work from home environment.

The mandated work from home environment has thrown people who would not normally work from home into unfamiliar territory. MLW and I both work from our home offices, but we also live in a 4000 sq ft house that allows us to use two of the 6 bedrooms this house has as our offices. We had lead time to set up our home offices and budgets to do so. However many of the newly mandated work-at-homers aren’t so lucky.

There has been a set of unwritten rules for those of us that work at home. These rules aren’t written down anywhere, but if you work at home you know what they are. The most important is to answer your phone. Most people already assume that work-at-homers don’t work that hard to begin with, so if you don’t answer your phone you’re only giving them more ammunition. The second is that children and pets should not be heard. That’s a tough one if your dog wants to warn you of the rabbit running across your yard, or gosh forbid your doorbell is rung while you’re in a business call and your dog starts to bark. These rules seem to be getting a bit of a reprieve for the suddenly-at-home folks

We now have whole families that are legally required to be home, for DAYS! School is closed and the whole family is required to shelter in place. These sudden work-from-homers have to juggle kids who have to be online for school, they may have pets running about and they have to sit down somewhere and work. That’s a tall order. Our office had a fun little contest requesting everyone send a picture of where they are working from home. Some folks had some nice offices set up but many were on card tables crammed in a corner of their bedroom.

This is where MLW and I are starting to see the reprieve, the understanding that there is much more at stake here than just making sure you put in your hours. MLW was on a call where an AVP had to excuse herself from a conference call for a couple of minutes to settle down her 4 year old who was having a meltdown. The refreshing part was there was no repercussion, no feigned outrage, it was just something that had to be done in our present condition. Frankly my experience has been that the skills needed for settling down a tantruming toddler or tantruming executive aren’t that different.

When it comes to business, especially business travel, we can thank women for better, more secure hotels, rooms with more amenities and breakfast included. Women also pushed the practice of staying over a weekend at a business location to have some fun. Millennials have pushed for more comfortable clothes, the ability to travel on a budget and stay at lodgings other than hotels rather than just going to the business hotels their counterparts have always gone to. Thanks to millenials there’s a much bigger push on work-life balance, which may add challenges to management, but is pretty nice when it benefits those of us who aren’t millennials.

It will be interesting to watch how we continue to evolve both socially and business-wise especially as new situations require new understanding. It’s refreshing to see that business people are increasingly being seen by what they bring to the table, not how they bring it to the table. The $1000 suit commands less and less respect as we often work with people we have never seen. Hopefully we are moving toward a society where a person is judged by the content of their character before anything else.

Regardless of what your conditions are dictating right now, it’s time to look out at our world. This reaction to the Covid-19 virus is societal change in the making. As MLW tells our kids, this is an event your children (or grandchildren) will ask you about. Not just where were you when (fill in the blank) occurred. But this will rank up there with “what was it like to live through Watergate?" “how scary was The Cuban Missile Crisis?” and “what was travel like before 9/11?” The other reason to look up and out, is because this is a time you can live your answer. “Yes it was a scary and unsettling time, but we helped our neighbors, people worked together, but separately, to make a difference…

Be safe,

Pat Daddy

Remember When The "Corona Virus" Was Something You Had The Morning After a Party?

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:29:46 GMT

Funny how things change. When I was younger the Corona virus was something you had on the morning after a party. (Insert rimshot..ba dum dum cha!) But not now. So I thought I’d tell you what’s going on here in Sedalia.

The weather of Spring is slowly coming to our portion of Colorado. Our February was quite cold and we only got a few of those nice warm days that sneak in during the month. Mostly it was cold. My propane bills for January and February were much higher than normal but the good news is that propane prices are quite low this season.

The cold and now the social distancing rules have given us much more time to work on projects. All that is left of that bathroom remodel I started last winter is the glass shower enclosure. Once that’s done I’ll write a before and after article and share some pictures.

We also needed to get our deck rebuilt. Normally that is a project I would have done but the challenge has been the deck sits on a structural concrete pad and deck that cracked and dropped long before we bought the house. The pad is hard to access so to remove and repour the pad would be about $14,000. The contractor I’m using suggested we have the pad lifted with an epoxy foam that cures in 15 minutes. Then he’s going to fill the existing cracks with a flexible filler and epoxy coat the top of the concrete pad/deck. Our present wood deck is also covered, so I’m adding an 8’x8’ cooking area so I can cook on the deck with the concern of a fire.

I have a couple of friends and readers who are contractors, but they are either getting ready to retire or really booked up so I used my neighbor Terry Collins. Terry is a contractor from the Littleton area where he used to live and he wants to stop having to travel so far to work. So far I’ve been pretty happy and his speed to get started has been great. I paid the deposit on Wednesday March 11, the roll off dumpster arrived Friday 3/13, work started Monday 3/16 and had to stop because of our snowstorm Thursday and remaining snow on Friday. MLW and I have some painting to do on the deck today and work resumes tomorrow. The pad gets lifted on Wednesday. I’ll keep you informed.

Smooch came home last weekend and left yesterday, Sunday today at noon to return to CMU. His spring break was disappointing as his plans continually changed. He did spend some time at our St Patty’s gathering we had last weekend before we were told to stop socializing. He got a cold camping trip in with his buddies and spent some time with his folks. He has one more week of break and then his classes go online. He can’t wait to get back to Grand Junction. He should have an easy drive with the ski areas being closed.

Speaking of traffic, Saturday we went to see my brother Doc. He made us a delicious dinner of the halibut he caught in Alaska and we played some games. We were somewhat torn about going to see him because of the social distancing thing, but at the same time we may be looking at “shelter in place” rules soon, so we decided it would be better to go visit. The strange part was the drive back home last night between 9 and 10 pm was weird. Very light traffic all the way home which is so odd anymore in Denver.

On a personal note I’m a bit on edge due to our lack of socializing. I do feel a bit like a caged animal and I never realized how much I look forward to our occasional stop for dinner or a beer with MLW and friends. The 8-10” of spring snow we got on Thursday hasn’t helped. I want to get working on the yard and get outside but now I have to wait for the snow to melt. My previous complaint was that I was too busy with my Scouting obligations, now those meetings don’t seem so bad, but I’ll reevaluate when they restart in a month or so.

When it all comes down to it, the saying “Man plans, God laughs” was probably never so fitting. This exercise will likely remind many of us that while we are blessed with free will, we really don’t run the show. But we do get to decide how we interpret life. So keep looking at the positive and helping your friends.

Be well!

Pat Daddy

It's NOT a Cookbook

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 23:22:16 GMT

When things get tough, life seems to slow down, but what else is going on?

In one of the better-remembered episodes of the Twilight Zone, entitled “To Serve Man” the world is visited by wise, tall aliens who present themselves to the humans of the earth with solutions for all their problems. The aliens continually refer to a book they carry and when the cover of the book is translated by a decipher specialist, as “To Serve Man” the humans are even more ready to accept the kindness and generosity of the aliens. As humans line up to be taken back to the aliens planet and are loading onto the space ships, the man who deciphered the cover of the book, who has now deciphered the actual book, runs out screaming “It’s a cookbook!”

While I heartily suggest my readers find this episode and watch it as we go through our most recent pandemic, that’s not the reason I’m writing this. I’m actually writing this to let all of our friends know that MLW has been given a “hand-off” date for the present client she is working with and will be helping direct a different client practice at GB after April 30.

That is very exciting news and our close friends know that MLW was asking for prayers as to what to do when her present job was especially taxing. “How’s your job going?” became almost the common greeting when meeting MLW. The boys would call me and ask “is this an ok time to call Mom?” And while MLW and I both have to stop and react to urgent issues in our work, when everything is an “A” priority, how do you step away? You don’t or rather she didn’t. The days where she would get up, take a 7 am conference call in her pajamas and not get off the phone long enough to change and shower until after 1 pm was almost a weekly event.

We rarely made it to an event on time, 12+ hour days were the norm, and I sure cooked a lot of dinners. What was missing was job satisfaction. If you’re going to work like a company mule, you need a carrot once and awhile; a pat on the back, a complimentary comment, but they didn’t come. The client doesn’t compliment, they only complain, that is their culture. It was a toxic mix where MLW had to watch as quality people chose to leave the company rather than continue to work on that account. It was dismal.

As a spouse going through this it was very tough. But as a client of Kay’s company it was maddening. What made it the most maddening is the Gallagher Companies follow a book called the Gallagher Way. It’s a story about their founders and their guiding principles. It’s a book that every employee reads when they start at Gallagher. It’s used in marketing and even when we (Harman’s) were in the market for a their services it was brought to the meeting to show they have deep roots, deep tradition and a long culture of creating an environment that helps their people develop and want to spend their entire career there.

As another company that follows their founders book, ours was written by Pete Harman, it’s a wonderful tool for directing your people, explaining and setting your culture. Our operating principles are in Pete’s book and on the back of my business card and I refer to them often. So watching MLW go through things that were clearly in conflict with the Gallagher Way, I was angry. Angry as a spouse of someone I know is an incredibly smart insurance business person, and angry as a client, who was now looking at the Gallagher Way no longer as a guiding book of principles and smart business acumen, but as a book of hollow principles that lured employees and clients into false sense of security. Much like “To Serve Man” was used by the Aliens in the Twilight Zone.

Like many times in life that are tough it’s easy to believe that no one knows of, or cares of your struggles. As with any time of struggle whether it be work, recovering from an injury or a surgery, or completing a task you just don’t want to do, time seems to slow down and accentuate the negative. What MLW didn’t realize was that there were people working in the background to put her back in a place that would allow her to use her strengths, to partner with clients that not just needed, but wanted, help. Those people were following the principles in The Gallagher Way.

So I’m happy to say it’s NOT a cookbook. In doing so I’d like to thank those folks who checked in on MLW with words of encouragement and helped find her better fit. You know who you are and more importantly you are a big part of why your company culture continues on.

Until we meet again

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 04:29:22 GMT

Paul Dannels: January 7, 1950 to March 14, 2020

Enjoy your wings Paul, you earned them.

Your Gifts

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:35:40 GMT

Gifts aren't really gifts until we use them

Was it the irony or the accuracy of the advice my friend and boss Shawn gave me that made the news hit even harder? It was just my last blog where I described stealing away for a weekend with MLW at my bosses suggestion. Shawn has always been a great mentor of many things. One of them has always been the importance of family and friends. And why not? Shawn married his high school sweetheart, the freshman girl he saw his junior year of high school. They would marry shortly after she graduated high school and work together running restaurants and then he would work his way as director of HR and training. During this time they would raise 5 kids and at last count I knew they had 3 grandchildren. On Saturday after a bike ride with MLW the news came as a text, Shawn's wife Kathy had suddenly and expectantly passed on, leaving another of my friends reeling from the sucker punch of losing their best friend and wife.

This blog is not to eulogize Kathy. That day will come in the future. Today’s blog is about living life; not just talking about it.

It’s been about 10 years since cute or inspirational sayings have been in vogue to be purchased and hung on our walls. How many of us have these reminders on our walls? Or should I ask how many of us follow them? How many people are continually spending their time looking at a screen but yet have the sign on their wall “the mountains are calling, I must go.” but they aren’t. I’m not here to judge your decor, but I do want to remind you that life is fleeting, and every day is a gift.

That’s where it’s easy to think: ”well today wasn’t a gift, my boss… traffic…. my car…,” you can fill in the blanks. But that’s where we must realize that there are different types of gifts and to clarify that while each day is a gift, that doesn’t mean each day is a vacation. Let me use an example. Let’s say you love to backpack. Your lovely wife, handsome husband, or other person buys you a new backpacking tent. Yes that’s a gift, but no matter how many times you set it up in your living room you don’t get the pleasure out of it until you use it. It’s really what you do with your gift that determines the amount of pleasure you get out of it.

Just like the use of the tent defines the gift, so does how you interpret your days. What did you learn from your rough day at work? Something good came out of it, what was it? Maybe you learned what not to do, maybe you learned you didn’t fully understand the situation, maybe you hunkered down and learned that new function in excel to complete your project. Whatever it was, that knowledge from that situation was a gift. When you look at it this way even the knowledge we learn from tragic events can become a gift. Losing someone you love is not a gift, but going through the experience and using that to help someone through a similar situation can be.

So how are you going to use your gifts today and which ones will you use? Just because it’s raining may mean it’s not the best day to use the gift you received of cute hiking shorts, but that gift of rain gear you received could be used to see a majestic canyon shrouded in fog. Your gifts of that fly fishing equipment that sits in your basement could be a wonderful gift when you take the time to teach someone else how to use it. That horrible day you had at work could be you gift when you recognize a co worker having a similar experience and you now have the words of encouragement that helps them.

So what’s one thing that ties this all together? It’s action. It’s time to stop looking at the sign that says “the mountains are calling I must go” and GO! It’s time to plan that trip, to turn objects sitting in your house into the gifts they were intended, to become the gift to others you can be. Life is fleeting and you can watch it go by or you can get out of your chair and use your gifts to share your life, your loves, to make memories and a difference in the lives of others. You can do it, it all just starts with action.

What action can you do today that will share your gifts?

A Warm Respite

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 14:45:18 GMT

A business seminar was a perfect excuse for a fun weekend

One of the professional groups I belong to is the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, NRRDA. They have a large seminar every winter and this year it was in Newport Beach, CA. I actually tried to take the stress off my employer and I applied for a scholarship and got it. When I called my boss and told him I got the scholarship, he said “great, you’re taking your wife, RIGHT!?” When I stammered for a second he said, your wife can work remotely, Newport Beach is beautiful, you need to take her. So MLW and I set plans in motion to do just that.

This past Wednesday I flew into John Wayne Airport and MLW followed Thursday night. The seminar was over at noon on Friday and when I came into our room after the seminar MLW was all ready with plans. We were staying at the Hyatt in Newport Beach and they have loaner beach bicycles. We went down and got a couple of bikes and pedaled the 3 blocks to Balboa island, then across the island to the ferry. Then across to Balboa peninsula where we rode our bike along the boardwalk to a restaurant for lunch. We arrived at Fly ‘n Fish restaurant and had a wonderful lunch of a mahi mahi sandwich and cod tacos. Then we rode back to the hotel via getting on the ferry and retracing our steps. It was an absolute hoot.

Back at the hotel we ran into the couple we were meeting for dinner, they were heading down to the restaurant early to see the sunset. We were going to meet them a bit later. MLW and I played on the hotels shuffleboard court and then took a quick nap before leaving for the restaurant. We ended up waiting for our Lyft car with a couple of women that work for the same company as MLW so we shared the ride back to Balboa peninsula.

MLW and I met the other couple at the restaurant, 21 Oceanfront, and had a very nice evening. Then it was back and to bed. If you’ve never flown in or out of John Wayne / Santa Ana airport, you may not know that for noise pollution reasons, they only fly out of there from 7 am to 10 pm. When they do fly they slow the engines after take off until they exit the air space above Santa Ana. What this does if you’re staying in Newport beach is it’s a perfect alarm clock. Right at 7 am over go the jets and you’re up (and hopefully) ready to start another day.

On Saturday we had plans to meet my friend Daryl in Laguna Beach for breakfast. We jumped in another Lyft and we were off to breakfast Saturday morning. We had a great breakfast just off the beach in Laguna Beach and some nice conversation. The Daryl was kind enough to give us a ride back to the hotel where we lounged for 90 minutes before we had to leave for our whale watching excursion.

At noon we met our friends and were off to Dana Point where we would go on the whale watching excursion. On the way down we took motion sickness pills as MLW tends to get sea sick and I don’t always do my best either. Our trip was with Cap’n Dave’s and the boat held about 40 people, we had about 25 on this trip. We no more than left the harbor and we were off to where some other boats were following a whale. As we left the harbor bottlenose dolphins swam by the boat and gave us a quick show. Then we were off to follow the other boats following the whale.

Within 10 minutes we were following the whale. It was a female gray whale. We got to see it spout, and it even came out of the water once and splashed back down, (that’s called a breach) and we got to see her tail in the air, which is called a fluke. We followed that whale for about 45 minutes. Sometimes knowing where it was and sometimes not. If they aren’t too far below the surface you can see the whale underwater as they swim. It was really neat.

After we watched that whale a bit, our captain took us out to find another whale that a single sailboat was watching. This whale was much more elusive and while we could never tell for sure, the captain thought it might be a cow and yearling calf. We saw this one spout and she was much bigger than the other and we might have seen a double spout which would have indicated it was two. We also learned that much like a boat leaves marks in the water it passes over, whales also leave “whale tracks” which were really noticeable with the second whale.

After we watched this whale for a much shorter time, she wasn’t too showy, it became very obvious that MLW was turning a fine shade of green as were several other passengers. The rolling sea and the boat were doing a fine dance that not everyone liked. I moved MLW down to the back deck closer to the water and with less movement. There were several other “green” passengers down there are well. At this point we were looking for dolphins but did not see any. As we closed in on our finish time, one of the captains said to the other “we’ve got 6 sick passengers let's get to the harbor”.

Once in the harbor the captain took us past a dock where California sea Lions were lounging. They were fun to look at until we found ourselves downwind. Oh my gosh I’ve finally found an animal that smells worse than a hog farm. The captain could not get us away from them fast enough. We landed at the dock soon after and it felt good to be on solid ground again. We drove back to the hotel and MLW and I went back to our room where she slept off a bit of her anti-nausea medicine.

After a nap we decided to walk the 3 blocks to Balboa Island and get a bite of dinner. The best part of the walk was we stopped and each got a frozen banana for the walk back. Once in the room we packed our bags and went to bed.

The alarm went of at 6:20 Sunday morning and we showered and caught a Lyft to the airport. MLW had a seminar of her own to go to in Las Vegas and I was going home. MLW’s plane left before mine and landed in Las Vegas as I was boarding my flight home. I came home to sunny skies and I could see the bands of forecasted snow clouds coming over the mountains. Within an hour of getting home I was looking out at the snow that was falling. Quite a change from where we were just a few hours ago.

As empty-nesters with frequent flier miles, MLW and I have promised to these short fun vacations more often. It’s one thing to go to a seminar and make new friends, but it’s a much more enjoyable when you know your best friend is going to be there. It adds a whole new dimension of fun.

The Trajectory of a Young Mans Dream

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:39:40 GMT

On Tuesday February 18th, Arianespace, the world’s leader in commercial launches, launched VA-252 from their spaceport in French Guyana. The Ariane 5 rocket carried a payload of two satellites. The satellites were GEO KOMPSAT-2B a Korean geosynchronous weather and environmental satellite, and JCSAT-17 a Japanese geosynchronous broadcasting and telecommunications satellite.

The two satellites rode into space with JCSAT-17 sitting atop the KOMPSAT-2B and were each deployed about a minute apart. It will take them about a week to place them correctly in orbit. So you may be reading this and wondering where I am going with this. If you’re thinking ahead and wondering if I’m going to talk about my son the Engineer (E for short), you are correct.

JCSAT-17 was built by Lockheed Martin's Space Division, where E works. On January 7th, the Engineer invited MLW, Smooch, NP and I to join him at Lockheed Martin for their Friends and Family event that allowed us to see JCSAT-17 before it was shipped to the Arianespace spaceport. This event allowed the engineers, technicians, and others who worked on the satellite invite their family and friends to see the satellite in it’s clean room as final preparations were made for it’s delivery to French Guyana.

The event was really exciting for us to attend. It started about a month out with E sending in our identification so we could get in the front gate. On the date we arrived there was a backlog of probably 70 cars to have ID’s checked and be allowed onto the Lockheed campus. But it went smoothly and as we approached the building E was outside waiting for us.

We parked and E showed us the lab he works in by having us look through a window. We could not go in for security reasons. Not that it would have mattered anyway because it’s not like there was anything in there I’ve ever seen or used before. Then we headed to the building where we would be able to see the satellite. Lockheed Martin had a table of treats set up and you could have your picture taken in front of a green screen that would put the satellite behind you when the picture was viewed. But there were many people waiting for that so we chose just to get in line to see the satellite.

To do so we had to get into line and wait for an elevator that was designed for everyday use by the folks that work there, not the 500+ people that came out for the event. So patience was important. After a bit we went up a few floors got off the elevator and here waited in another line to ultimately get to a small room that overlooks the clean room. What was interesting about the floor we went to is it's where Lockheed's deep space probes are not only managed but are actually run. The hallway was a series of museum-like displays of the probes that have been launched with stories about what they were designed to do, when they were launched and what they are still doing even though many of them are done with their primary and even secondary missions. It was fascinating and it's a shame that there are as many of them as there are and we probably don't hear of think about the information these probes still send us.

As we passed one of the doors in the hallway, E pointed out that the lone person in that room of cubicles and computer screens was sending instructions to a deep space probe. Hollywood makes us believe things like that are done by uniform wearing guys in giant glass lined rooms. But no, in a room in Littleton, Colorado there's a guy directing space probes while another one assists with the moves of the Mars rovers. Who knew? That's actually the division run by another friend Kyle. Maybe I'll get to blog about him someday.

As I tell this story I want to make it very clear that this was a really neat experience and that I'm not knocking Lockheed Martin in anyway. They are a company that is set to build and design all kinds of space vehicles, but they aren't designed to give a "Disneyland-like" experience. So the journey to see the satellite had its bumps. But the guests who were there were all well behaved and the knowledge I learned from reading the wall displays was fascinating.

After another wait in line we were escorted into a small viewing room that overlooked the clean room and the JCSAT-17 satellite. The satellite was a large rectangular object about the 3/4 the size of an inter-modal container that was wrapped in some shinny Mylar looking material. We had only a few minutes in the room and E came alive explaining the parts of the satellite that he worked with and tested to ensure they could handle the rigors of space flight. He also pointed out where the solar arrays were and how they would unfold once the satellite was in its orbit. Then we were asked to allow other folks in the room. We came out and read the walls of the hallway more, then worked our way back to the elevator and ultimately out of the building where still another 100 guests waited in line outside to see the satellite. We were off to share a nice dinner.

As I reflected on the experience it was very cool to see something that was going to be launched into space. As child who grew up during the space race, watched and read about our astronauts, ate space-food bars and drank Tang, it was a continuation of a progression of technology that has occurred my entire lifetime. But to be honest, the star that day wasn't the Mylar wrapped satellite. It was the energized and proud young engineer who could not wait to show us what he was a part of. To see him with his security badges hanging around his neck while saying hello to fellow engineers and their families as we waited in line; to see his face light up as he pointed out the portions of the satellite he tested. It was the continuation of his life, of his dream to be an engineer in the aerospace industry that he announced to us when he was about 11.

Was JCSAT-17 cool to see? Yes, but in our minds, it was completely upstaged by what MLW and I saw that day in the eyes of our son.

The Love Dinner

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 15:45:32 GMT

One holiday tradition we started when the kids were young was the Love Dinner. It was a pretty simple concept. We would have a dinner on or near Valentines Day where MLW would cook something each of us loved. When the kids were young it often included shrimp and crab and a good steak. When they were even younger it was as simple as chicken nuggets. But the result was the same; it was a meal or more of a feast of all the foods we loved.

This tradition continues on with our family, so when MLW suggested we have it last Friday, Smooch made plans to be home for the weekend and E & NP also made plans to be here. MLW really went out of her way to plan this one. She dug through cook books and found recipes. The Engineer much like his beloved NP is switching to a plant based diet, so MLW had some new recipes to find. When the menu was done we had quite the smorgasbord: King and snow crab, rib eye steak, scallops, bow tie pasta with blue cheese, roasted beets, spinach and ricotta Cannelloni, home made whole wheat and oatmeal herb rolls (I made those) and for dessert, bread pudding.

When everyone showed up we had a charcuterie board ready. The kitchen became a lively series of conversations. Smooch regaled us stories of his college life. NP & E gave us wedding updates and we otherwise shared stories and laughs. We moved into the dinner about 7:30 and the conversations lasted until midnight.

MLW and I cleaned up the kitchen and mopped the floor before bed as we always do. As we climbed into bed much later than normal, we reflected on how what we once thought were silly little activities to have a little fun with our young family have grown into traditions that our grown children look forward to. Reminding us of what grew out of the love between MLW and I long before she was MLW. When she walked up to me at a party and said "hi!" when we met in college.

From "Hi" to 32 years of marriage, from celebrating with chicken nuggets to king crab, from two little boys to two adult men and a fiance. Funny how the cycle continues.

Our Irish Adventure, Part 1

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 15:08:07 GMT

Part 1 of an 8 part series

For most of our married life MLW has told me that she wanted a vacation where she'd see castles. So this summer I called AAA travel and they helped me put together a trip to Ireland. We left on Monday Oct 7 and returned on Wednesday Oct 16. My next few posts will be about our travels.

Our biggest concern before leaving was what to do with Rudy. Only 2 weeks out of his double TPLO surgery he was still a bit fragile and he needed someone to not just drop by the house and watch him but take care of him. Smooch volunteered, so the weekend before we left Smooch took Rudy to live in his house with his 3 roommates. With Rudy off and taken care of, our bags were packed on Sunday ready for our trip on Monday.

Monday dawned bright and cool. We were going to park at my office and Sue our office manager was going to drive us to the airport and return my car to our office parking lot where we'd retrieve it via Lyft on our return. The trip to the office and to the airport was easy and MLW and I had some time to get a bite of lunch before our plane left at 1:25 to Chicago. The flight to Chicago was easy and then we had a 4 hour layover before our flight from Chicago to Dublin. Once in Chicago we went on an unsuccessful search of a Guinness stout. We were told to drink one before we left so as to notice the big difference between the beer fresh in Ireland and not so fresh over here. There is no Guinness in O'hare airport, at least in the B and C terminals. So we found some Goose Island beer (brewed in Chicago) and called it good.

The flight to Dublin left Chicago about 9:45 pm and got in about 10:30 am. With the 6 hours you lose from central time to Dublin time, you're in the air a little over 7 hours. In that 7 hours the fine folks from United feed you about 90 minutes in and then again about 90 minutes out. If you can sleep between your "feedings" you get about 4 hours of sleep. I managed the light side of 3 hours of sleep on the flight.

We landed in Dublin and the sun shone through the partly cloudy skies. As expected it was green, very green. We had three things to do at the airport. Get our luggage, find the desk to pick up the wifi unit we rented, get on a bus to our hotel. Three pretty simple things but not so on 3 hours of sleep. Luggage was easy. Next was to get our wifi unit. Wifi Candy is the name of a wifi rental service in Ireland. It allowed us to turn off the cellular data on our phones and use them over wifi. With one unit we were able to use both our phones which gave us access to our apps, such as the Dublin Pass we paid for and Yelp for restaurants, and google maps for navigation.

The desk to pick up the Wifi Candy, or just Candy, as we called her the rest of the week, was not in either terminal. It was actually in a business building next to the terminal. It also was not at anything that looked like a business. I stepped up to a reception desk in this building and said Hi I'm here to pick up my Wifi Candy and the nice receptionist handed me an envelope. In the envelope was a plastic case, the wifi unit and a mailing envelope to drop it in the mail box (post box) at the Shannon airport when we were coming home.

Okay, 2 down one more to go. We've been out of baggage claim now for 30-45 minutes, lets get this vacation started. We hiked with our bags to the bus stop tried to buy a ticket and said we had the Dublin card, "oh you had to print that out", said the ticket guy. Go back in the terminal and at the visitor info they can help you. We go back stand inline at the visitor desk and the person at the desk looked at our Dublin pass (catch the difference, it had not hit us yet) and said she couldn't help us. She sent us to the information desk. I had been here earlier looking for the wifi candy, the lady working here was not going to make it on Ireland's most helpful and friendly list. True to form she couldn't help us. We got on our phones and tried to figure this out when it dawned on us we had the Dublin PASS not the Dublin card. Tired and frustrated I said lets just take a taxi.

We were in the taxi within 5 minutes. You tend to forget that sometimes taxi drivers can be a great source of information. We learned a few driving tips for later in the week and had a nice conversation. However much as I was warned it took me a bit to decipher Irish English. I understood about 70% of what he said and nodded at the rest. We got to our hotel early and they were ready for us. Yay! a place to put our bags, find some lunch and get on with this vacation.

Our 200 year old hotel was a maze of hallways and doors. Up 3 floors to the fourth floor on the elevator, down a hall through a doorway, down 6 steps through another door, down 4 steps and our room was right there on a small landing with 4 more steps down to another hallway. We got into our room; small clean and nicely appointed. Not 5 star but comfortable. We unpacked, cleaned up and though the bed looked very inviting for a nap, we only had 90 minutes before our 2 pm e-bike tour of Dublin.

The streets of Dublin were bustling. A half a block from our hotel we found the bus stop we would have been dropped off at if we'd taken the bus. We'd need that on Thursday. We walked about 8-10 blocks to the location of Lazy Bike Tours of Dublin. With an hour to spare they suggested where we could get a light lunch and be back in time for the tour.

The Queen of Tarts was around the corner and served sandwiches, soups and had an array of fresh baked goods. We split a bowl of soup and a sandwich, and shared a dessert and with a cup of coffee each we were human again. Back to the bike tour where we met our tour guide and a couple from Maine and a woman from New Jersey who came here with her husband who was on a business trip.

E-bikes for those who don't know are electric motor assisted bicycles. They are really neat, as you can set the amount of assist you want. So there's no real reason not to keep up with the tour guide. That was a concept that seemed lost on the couple from Maine. So off into the traffic we went on our bicycles and our bright orange vests and helmets.

Our first stop was the Dublin Castle where our tour guide told us about the castle, about Irish people and the former city limits and walls of Dublin. He joked that Irish people have a reputation for talking a lot and used a short Gaelic Phase of three words that when translated turned into several sentences. He said that's why Irish people talk so much.

Next was St Patrick Cathedral, we learned some neat history about the cathedral and the renovation in the 1800's that was paid for by the Guinness family. The Guinness family ran the renovation and when it was done there was unbeknownst to the church a set of stained glass windows was put in that featured the Guinness family. Our next stop was Teeling Distillery. You learn that the American prohibition decimated the Irish Whiskey industry through both losing their largest market, the US and then the bootleg attempts to make poor whiskey and call it Irish Whiskey, which severely damaged the name of Irish Whiskey, ultimately closing about 150 Irish distilleries. The Teeling distillery is a rebirth of one of those old family names and it's run again by the Teeling family.

The next stop on our ride was the Guinness Brewery and the famous St James gate. After that we rode to the Art Museum which until 1920 when Ireland got it's independence from England was a hospital and care home for injured British soldiers. After that it was to Kilmainham Gaol a 400 year old former prison that killed more people through disease and design than it reformed. Last stop was Christ's Church. Our total tour took about 2 hours and 15 minutes and our guide had many stories about the history of Dublin and the places we visited. But if you add 2 hours and 15 minutes to 2pm you realize by the end we were riding in Dublin rush hour traffic which was a mix of terrifying and exciting. We got back to the store front of the Lazy Bike Tours, said good bye and MLW pointed out we had just enough time to get to the Christ's Church and get in with our Dublin pass. We walked up just as they were getting ready to close the door for new visitors. We toured the church which has one of the original copies of the Magna Carta and then found ourselves outside again.

It was then time for our first pint of Guinness. Our bike guide had suggested the Palace Pub so in we went and had our first pint. After that we walked back to our hotel with the plan to eat in their restaurant and wait for the music at 9 pm. Our dinner was delicious and with another pint, suddenly the 3 hours of sleep hit us. By 8:15 I was falling asleep at the table, by 8:30 Kay was too. No music that night, we went to bed.

Our Irish Adventure, Part 2

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 15:09:22 GMT

A full day in Dublin; a book, a cathedral, and spirits

Wednesday October 9, we awoke to our 7 am alarm after a decent nights sleep. However our bodies were screaming: "go back to bed it's not 7 am it's midnight!" But Dublin was awake and we needed to be too. So up and showered in our teeny shower, dressed and ready for our breakfast downstairs. Down we went to the hotel restaurant.

Breakfast was included with our room as it was at most of our stops, and we were introduced to the Irish breakfast. Eggs, what they call bacon (we'd call it ham) a sausage, potatoes and our white and black puddings. We didn't know that those were, white and black puddings also known as blood sausage, but we had our suspicions. They turned out to be delicious so we ate them at most of our B&B's.

Our first stop was Trinity College and to see the book of Kells. It was a short 6 block walk from our hotel and today was the day were were going to use our Dublin Pass to it's fullest. The book of Kells was not on the Dublin Pass, but the rest of the day would be. I found the book of Kells interesting but what I though was amazing was the Long Room at Trinity College which was built to house their collection of ancient texts and books. It looked like something out of Harry Potter. The whole tour took us about 45 minutes. As we walked out of the campus MLW and I couldn't stop thinking about how weird it would be to be a student there where hundreds of tourists walk through every day.

We left the campus and boarded the Big Bus, a hop on hop off bus, that tells you history as you went through the town. We love these buses and have used them in Chicago and San Francisco. It dropped us off next to St Patrick's Cathedral. Our bike tour yesterday just took us to places not in them, just to clarify. So we toured St Patrick's and started to realize that old churches are full of dead people. They bury them in the floor, seal them up in tombs in the church. A fact that would really become evident as we got out of Dublin to the abbeys in the country. After visiting St Patrick's and being in the presence of the peace and serenity offered by religion, it was time to move onto another source of peace and serenity, alcohol! Our next stop was Teeling Distillery.

The bus wasn't at the church yet so we walked to Teeling's, a 3 block walk that took a bit longer to reach because I tried to guess where it was based on our bike ride. We found it and went inside for a tour and tasting. That was fun. Our tasting included a tasting and a cocktail. After a quick trip through their gift shop it was off to the Guinness tour. Once again we waited for the bus for about 10 minutes and then walked the 4 blocks to Guinness.

The Guinness tour is self guided. It leads you through the brewing process then the history of the brewery and it's 1000 year long lease. You get a little history, like the original Mrs Guinness had 21 children. Then you go through a bit of history, I found the short film about how they made wooden barrels in the cooperage really interesting. That's followed by an entire exhibit where you go through their advertising, next you learn how to pour a Guinness and then you are left to walk up tot he sky bar that has a 360 degree view of Dublin. After we had our beer in the Sky Bar we headed down one floor to get lunch which was delicious and reasonably priced.

We headed out of Guinness and onto the hop on and off bus. It was in the afternoon now and as we rode and listened to the descriptions of the sights we were pretty sure we wouldn't make the Jameson Distillery tour. As we approached where you would get off for the tour it was only 4:45. We had 15 minutes to walk the block and a half up the hill. Which we did with several nice folks from Canada. We got our tickets, waited a few minutes and off for the tour. Now truth be told they haven't distilled spirits in this building since 1972. But a good company never misses a marketing opportunity especially when it serves Dublin's tourists. The tour was interesting and very high tech since they didn't have anything but displays to show us. But they did have a hands on room where we smelled barley and barrel wood and the like. That's where you learn that they don't just use pot stills anymore they also use more modern continuous stills and blend their whiskey. That was followed by a tasting. There they gave is a shot of Jameson a shot of a Scotch Whiskey and an American Whiskey. They talked about the differences in each. The American Whiskey turned out to be Jack Daniel's. I never realized the banana flavor in Jack Daniels until then. One last thing before I move on, what we did learn in these tastings is when tasting any spirit, open your mouth after you swallow. That gets rid of the burn you get when you breathe in the alcohol vapors in your mouth. Our tour leader, a cute Irish young woman, said to us "that takes away the born.." most of our American visitors had a hard time understanding she was saying "burn".

We then went to the bar for our free cocktail and decided we needed to get moving before we missed the final Hop on Hop off bus that would take us closer to the hotel. We headed down to the bus stop and joined once again by our new Canadian friends who where headed to a dinner and show. The bus came and as we boarded, suddenly we heard our names! We looked over to find our friends Jim and Julie from Lakewood, CO on the bus! The other thing you learn is when people yell out your name on a tour bus, everyone else on the bus thinks you must be famous, because who knows someone on a tour bus far from home? The funny looks dissipated while we made dinner plans with Jim and Julie. Something we've said we'd do every time we see them in Denver and every time I get my teeth cleaned; you see besides a college friend and fraternity brother, Jim is also our family dentist.

We had a nice dinner and caught up. Jim and Julie were only in Dublin for about a day cumulative, they were in Scotland visiting their youngest daughter who was studying abroad when they had some extra time to pop over to Dublin. After dinner we said our goodbyes and headed for the hotel. This evening we had time to listen to the musician in the hotel pub before we retired for the night.

As I laid in bed that night while Kay read her vacation novel, some simple paperback romance novel, I was watching Irish driving videos because, tomorrow, Thursday we would pick up our car at the airport and continue our adventure along the southern coast. And frankly the idea of driving in Ireland terrified me!

Our Irish Adventure Part 3

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 15:50:44 GMT

Driving, seeing castles on hills and adventures in Irish rush hour all awaited us on our third day

Thursday October 10 dawned with morning showers. Our plan was to go down and have breakfast, then pack up and head to the airport to pick up our rental car. The plan however had a small glitch since I left my Irish road atlas at home, in Sedalia. So we did all of those things but before we checked out we took a walk to the closest bookstore to our hotel, waited a few minutes for it to open and purchased a road atlas.

Back to the hotel and to the bus stop. This is where we started to rethink the amount of clothes we brought. The bus to the airport is double-decker bus, but the luggage shelves were full so we ended up standing for the ride to the airport with our rather large bags. At the airport we boarded the rental bus and off to Hertz we went.

This is where I should have turned on my insurance brain and purchased Irish insurance before the trip; note to self. But I didn't so insured, gassed and ready was our Mini Cooper. I had a Mini once and it was nice to know where everything was in the car, granted just on the other side of the car.

MLW and I work best when we drive on vacation for her to drive and I navigate. She can't read while in a car very well and maps aren't her friend. In all fairness I like to know more information than a commercial pilot when I drive. So being my navigator is not an easy task, it's just better if she drives, especially in urban environments. Off we went, on the wrong side of the road.

Our next destination was Cork. The drive out of Dublin was slightly terrifying but uneventful. It's hard to train your brain not to look at a car on the wrong side of the road and think "OH MY GOSH THAT CAR IS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!" But it slowly dissipates. As we headed down the motorway the green countryside and the rock walls spread out before us. But for the rock walls it looked to me much like Iowa. Our drive today was going to be at least 2 and a half hours.

When you get out in the country that's when you realize there are castles and ruins just about everywhere. As we closed in on the 90 minute mark we decided it was time to find some lunch. We decided to stop in Cashel and see the castle there, the Rock Of Cashel. As we approached there it was, a huge castle on a hill. We drove into town to find a bit of lunch.

Being off the motorway (what the Irish call their interstates) again took more thought of being on the correct side of the street and Google Maps was proving not to be as trust worthy as we find it here. We circled the town, thanks to Google, and found a little cafe, O'Neil's, where a cup of soup and a shared sandwich made our tummy's happy. We went to find the castle and instead found ourselves at the Hore Abbey, a ruin. Interesting again because it was next to a farm and cows were allowed to graze right next to the abbey. It was the largest of the abbeys we walked through. It's mostly roofless shell showed a number of former rooms. The abbey was again surrounded by graves, the oldest we could read were from the 1600's and others were nothing more than stones no longer readable.

The Rock of Cashel is such a large castle I was amazed we couldn't find it. It was at the Hore Abbey we looked over and saw it to the east of us. Once again with Google Maps, sort of being right, we made it to the castle. When we got our tickets we had the option of seeing the Cormack's Chapel on a specific tour. We paid the small fee for the additional tour and shortly after entering the chapel the fire alarm went off and we had to go back out of the chapel. (It's a stone castle, what's going to burn?) The tour leader wrapped up as best he could and now outside it began to rain so we self toured the remainder of the ruin and went back to the car and off to our destination in Cork.

We arrived at our hotel, the Vienna Woods Inn and suites, which was actually in Glanmire, next to Cork. I was our nicest accommodations of the trip but remote. The Inn serves both tour groups and is a venue for weddings and other special events. There were no pubs or anything close and the small village of Glanmire was only home to a couple of cafes and some Asian food. Realizing we weren't going to find a pub and Irish music there, I mapped out a route into Cork for dinner.

We had only to go about 5-6 miles into Cork, but we quickly learned that Cork has traffic. Between being on the wrong side of the road, our somewhat reliable Google Maps and not knowing what lane to be in in bumper to bumper traffic, we got into Cork and then finally found parking a bit further from our restaurant than we planned. We parked in a parking lot and then walked to find dinner.

Dinner turned out to be at Elbow Lane, a brewery and restaurant in Cork. We had a wonderful meal and sampled a flight of their beer. We split a meal of a ribeye steak, and an appetizer of brisket buns (brisket baked in a bun). It was delicious! After dinner we walked in the rain back to the car and decided we'd get back to the hotel and have a beer before bed. When we arrived at the parking lot our parking ticket had somehow gotten demagnetized and we couldn't get out. After trying just about everything, I finally went to the machine and paid the lost ticket fee, 20 euros, *#%$!!, and we were free! Kay navigated the road construction well as we drove back to our hotel.

At the hotel we found the bar. Lightly attended, we ended up talking to an Irish man who was there on business. I say we talked with him but we really learned he'd been in the bar for a while and instead of a conversation we got a monologue....for about an hour. If only he had an "off" button. But we learned a bit from him and had a great story to tell about the chatty Irishman at the bar. Then it was off to bed to rest up for our day trip to Kinsale.

While preparing for bed, I got a text from Smooch in Grand Junction. They like the Denver Area was going to have a hard freeze and the sprinklers at the GJ house were not winterized. So from 4500 miles away and 7 time zones I had a Facetime conversation with Smooch while he drained the water out of the exposed parts of the sprinkler system. It was very odd to see him in the sunshine of 5 pm, while I looked at the darkness of midnight. Tragedy averted, we said good night.

Our Irish Adventure Part 4, Kinsale

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 15:41:24 GMT

Part 4 of an 8 part series

Our trip had us literally grinning ear to ear

We awoke on Friday the 11th to broken skies and a lovely sunrise. After getting ready we went downstairs to the restaurant in our hotel for yet another Irish breakfast. We were one of only a few tables being used in the restaurant, likely because we were eating a bit later. The food was set out in a buffet and was delicious. We found that we really enjoyed the way they brewed coffee in Ireland. Strong but not bitter. We may have been drinking coffee from a K-cup, who knows but it was delicious.

We planned out our route to Kinsale. After getting some gas and heading south we were off the motorway quickly and found ourselves on a country highway. I tried to take pictures which would not do it justice, but the road wound through the Irish country side and through tunnels of trees where the trees grew together to form a canopy over the road.

In about 40 short minutes we were in Kinsale. Kinsale is a port city from the 17th century. We arrived and parked next to the visitor center. A quick trip to the drug store replaced MLW's sunglasses that broke the previous day and then into the visitor center. Outside the visitor center you can join Don & Barry's historic walking tour. We waited and about 15 minutes before the tour started, Barry the younger of the two arrived, introduced himself and gathered his tourists for the walk.

hover over pictures for description if reading this on a computer

The walking tour started with an explanation of what the port looked like in the early 1600's when the Spanish fleet sailed into Kinsale to restock and prepared to use the trade winds to sail to, and attack, England. While a much longer story than I'll explain here, what I found most interesting was that the Irish and the Spanish could not communicate in their native languages, but because both countries were Catholic, they could communicate in Latin. The English would learn of the impending attack and come in and circle the entire port including the Spanish and Irish troops and successfully quash the attack and send the Spanish back to Spain.

Outside of the port of Kinsale is also where the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine in 1915 which was a key factor to bring the US in World War I. Barry our tour guide highly suggested reading Dead Wake, by Erik Larson to understand how that unfolded. I am about 2/3rds of the way through that book and enjoying it very much. The tour also explained how much of the town was built on back fill. In that part of Ireland the back fill was slate, which is a very poor material to back fill with. It remains semi porous as a back fill and continues to move. As an example he pointed out the Greyhound bar which has been open for 400 years. He pointed out that the tables in one room don't line up with the tables in the other room because of 400 years of soil movement. He also cautioned if you were in the bar and the tables did line up, it was time to go home.

After the tour we walked out to Charles fort near the mouth of Kinsale harbor. It was lunch time and we'd had a enough history for the day so we walked around the fort and then headed back toward town and Bulman's Pub. At Bulman's cold Beaman's stout was on tap and the fish and chips were delicious. We sat at the bar and visited a bit with the bartender. After lunch we walked back to town. We did a bit of shopping and decided we needed to have a drink in the Greyhound. After all I couldn't say until then I'd had a beer in a 400 year old bar.

It was mid afternoon and there were few people in the Greyhound. In Ireland all bars measure the liquor they put in your drink. If you ask for say, a whiskey and ginger ale, you'll get a shot of whiskey in a glass with ice and a little bottle of ginger ale. In many bars they have bottles in the racks upside down with measured pour mechanisms on the bottom (actually the top) . I bring this up because the Irish are very proud of their whiskey, yet in many bars I saw bottles of Jack Daniel's. In the Greyhound I saw a bottle of Jack Daniels with about 3 shots left in the upside down neck of the bottle. I asked the bartender "who drinks Jack Daniel's?" he replied, "no one, that bottle has looked like that for years."

At this point we decided it was time to go back to to our Hotel and go into Cork for dinner. Gallagher's, a pub I'd seen the previous night had good reviews so after a quick stop at the hotel, we headed in for dinner. We got to the restaurant and put our name on the list and we had a wait. The bar was full so we wandered down the street and found another pub where we could share a beer while we waited. It was here we finally met some Irish folks who want to talk. We chatted for about 10 minutes and then it was time to return to Gallagher's for dinner. My favorite part of the conversation with the folks in the pub was they asked if we were driving and when we said we were they asked how that was going. We said "your roads are very narrow for us." To which they replied a bit tongue in cheek; "it's a small country we don't have room for wide roads."

At Gallagher's we shared cod croquettes which were delicious. MLW had more chowder which was a staple for her in Ireland and she was never disappointed. We tried a few micro brews from the area and waited for the music. The music was not very good so we headed back to the hotel.

At the hotel we grabbed our cribbage board and headed down to bar for a night cap and a game of cribbage. The bar had a few people in it but most were grouped up, so we found a table and ordered two different Irish Whiskeys from the bar. What was somewhat funny was MLW didn't pay much attention to the shelf height from which she ordered her whiskey and the bartender in training didn't mention anything. We enjoyed our game of cribbage, (MLW won) and I returned to the bar to find out they never even started a tab for us. I told them what we drank only to find out that MLW's shot of Irish whiskey was 24 euros, about $27.00 ouch! Oh well it was very good Irish Whiskey!

We went to bed knowing that the next day we would travel to Kenmare but the rest of the next day was still unplanned.

Our Irish Adventure, the Road to Kenmare. Part 5

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:14:51 GMT

Part 5 of an 8 part series

We slept in an extra hour on Saturday the 12th. It was move-on day and our next stop would be Kenmare. This was probably one of our least planned days and what we would find would be amazing. The morning "drill" was the same, head downstairs to the awaiting buffet of Irish breakfast foods and again that good coffee. At breakfast we read our guidebooks in an effort to map out the days travel. We decided we'd head down near the coast and work our way across, mostly staying on the N71. While we drove I'd figure out a place for lunch and something to do.

The day was bright and sunny with a just a few clouds floating by which made the Emerald Isle, shimmer like a jewel. As we packed up and checked out we purchased some emerald earrings from the hotel for the Norwegian Pescatarians birthday later that month. Off we went in our Mini. The drive was pretty and basically uneventful. The sun and the green had my mind convinced we were somewhere in upper Wisconsin in the summer time. As I mapped out our route I decided we should get off the motorway at Skibbereen, if no other reason that it was a really fun name to say. We would go through Skibbereen on our way to Lough Hyne and the Knockomah Wood nature preserve.

Lough Hyne is Ireland's first marine nature preserve and is basically a lake that fills with sea water at high tide, but doesn't empty when the tide goes out. It's a popular place to rent kayaks according to the guidebooks but it being the fall season it was relatively empty of visitors. There were two hearty Irish swimmers in the water, but other than that no boats. Our guide books suggested the 2 km hike up through Knockomah wood which we did. We walked up the trail and marveled at the big trees and gnarled roots that wove across and through the ground. Once we reached the top our hike was worth it. The landscape unfolded around us in a series of patchwork farms and properties that extended out to the Irish Sea. It was breathtaking. Had we a lunch and a few bottles of Guinness we could have stayed for a few hours, but instead we enjoyed the vistas for a bit, took many pictures and hiked back to our car.

We decided to pass on lunch in Skibbereen and instead motored onto Kenmare. The rest of the journey had sunshine, then some fog and rain and then broken skies with little rain showers when we arrived in Kenmare. At Kenmare we stayed at Virginia's Guesthouse. It was our least favorite of our accommodations but did give us the opportunity to be right in town, and the ability to walk wherever we needed to go.

(Scroll over the pictures for a written description)

We got our bags in the room, settled things for a few minutes and we were off to find an late lunch as it was about 3 pm. We wandered down the street and stopped at Foley's a restaurant and pub. It was relatively empty as you'd imagine so we sat at the bar. We ate light knowing we'd have dinner in a few hours. I had a prawn cocktail and MLW more clam chowder, washed them down with a cold pint and were on our way. We poked through a few shops and decided it might be nice to take a quick nap. So we headed back to our room. As we were settling down I glanced out the window and the broken clouds and the sunset was beautiful. I said to MLW, hey lets take a little hike you've got to see this. So no nap, but we put on our rain jackets and I walked us over to the little marina they have in Kenmare. The sunset did not disappoint and we were two of just a few folks out at the marina. We walked to the end of the concrete pier and noticed the signs warning of strong currents. As we got to the end of the pier the tide must have been going out because the water flowing past the pier and out to see was moving really fast, so much it was startling. We arrived back in own and having missed our opportunity to nap, began a search for dinner and hopefully Irish music.

We had dinner at O’Donnabhain’s bar and restaurant. We shared the mussels and a goat cheese salad and for dessert a stout for me and an Irish coffee for MLW. The music for the night was getting ready. It was a one-man entertainer with a guitar and a electronic backup tracks. He began singing and at first I thought he was singing in Gaelic. Then next he sang John Denver’s hit Take me Home, Country Road. That’s when I realized he put the entire emphasis of every word on the first part of the word. Next, he began singing another song and it was weirdly familiar. MLW could not figure out what it was, suddenly I realized it was Avalon the 1980’s version by Roxy Music. MLW could not place it so later that night I played it from YouTube and MLW looked at me and said, “That’s what he was singing?” That was our cue to pay the tab and find another bar.

We walked a bit and found ourselves at the Landsdowne Arm’s Hotel. We heard music and went in. Here we made a mistake, we ordered drinks before we looked around. By walking into that bar we dropped the age of the room by 20 years. The musical entertainment was coming from a man and woman couple who tended to sing more 60’s hits than Irish music and that was just fine with the crowd in the bar. We drank up quickly and left.

Finally, just a few doors down from O’Donnabhain’s where we started, we found the Wander Inn Bar. In here we found a two-piece Irish band that played the accordion and guitar. There was also a “Hen Party”, what we’d know as a Bachelorette party in the states, there dancing and having fun. This is what we were looking for, Irish music, Irish people dancing, it was lively and fun. About 11:45 we decided we had an early morning, so we headed back to our room to go to bed. As we walked back, we talked about if the Engineer had proposed to the Norwegian Pescatarian yet as that was what was going to happen back home. Nothing on our phones had come through yet. Shortly after midnight we turned off our lights, put in ear plugs because we faced the street and the occasional loud car or Saturday night reveler would go by and we went to sleep.

Our Irish Adventure Part 6, The Ring of Kerry

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 14:52:49 GMT

Day 6 of our trip was a drive around the Kerry Peninsula

We awoke early on Sunday October 13 so we could start our driving tour of the Ring of Kerry. But first I looked at my phone to see what happened with the proposal between the Engineer and the Norwegian Pescatarian. 3 minutes after I turned off my phone the previous night, he sent pictures and a confirmation that she said Yes. The good news was it was 7 am in Ireland so it was midnight in Colorado and they were still up. A few texts back and forth and we agreed to face time from Dingle our next stop. So we were off for our morning coffee and they were off to bed.

We went downstairs and ate at the cafe that was directly below our room. We had a great breakfast; Kay had a really good looking oatmeal with berries and I had eggs and toast, but we started it off with a chocolate croissant, A bit of a tribute to the wonderful ones we had in Norway. We were originally waited on by the cafe owner's girls that were about 10 and 12. When we left they were playing Irish music on their button accordions. We put a few Euros in their cup and we were off to see the ring of Kerry.

While I drove a bit yesterday, today was to be my driving day. I went out of Kenmare the wrong way but after correcting that we were fine. It was a beautiful clear Sunday morning. Not much traffic as we wound through the small towns and woods along the coast. Soon we could see the sea and the views were beautiful. About an hour into our day we found a small beach that was basically deserted and walked on the sand. We stretched our legs and enjoyed the view and were off.

We were basically following Rick Steve’s tour book on this day. It was mostly a driving tour but we did stop about an hour or so later at McCarthy's castle. There was a nice beach there and we took a walk to the nearby abbey. We were getting hungry but it quelled the hunger with a small snack and kept going. It was here where Rick Steve’s suggests you do the ring of Skellig so you miss the tour buses. We followed his advice but in the shoulder season there weren’t many tour buses and we could have just followed the ring of Kerry. We did however see more beautiful vistas of sea and the Irish Countryside.

While still on the ring of Skellig, we stopped and looked over the cliffs of Kerry at Portmagee. They were stunning and unbelievably tall and steep. The area where we looked at them was privately owned and I thought it funny that you could actually camp right in the area where we were walking. After that excursion it was now early afternoon and we thought we’d stop in Portmagee and eat but nothing caught our eye and we continued. Shortly thereafter we got back on the ring of Kerry. At this point MLW was driving so it was my job to find a place to eat. I found a place on my phone near Rossbeigh Strand, which is a piece of land that juts out into the sea just at the mouth of Castlemaine harbor. I plugged in the location on Google maps and Google maps took us on an excursion.

To set this story up you need to understand that the Ring of Kerry is basically a trip around a peninsula in County Kerry. The motorway you take is N70. Google maps took us off the motorway and the most direct way to Rossbeigh. This was a winding residential road that many times was less than 8 feet across. To make it more interesting the last half a mile popped us up and over the edge of the sea facing cliff side and took us down a road that was so narrow, only dog walkers were on it and in one place the pedestrians had to move to the side of the road so we could squeeze by. Did I mention that all this time on our left is the sea, hundreds of feet below us as we travel along and down this cliff face. We arrived in Rossbeigh luckily without meeting any cars coming toward us. But to our chagrin, Rossbeigh is a summer beach location and it being shoulder season and Sunday, the restaurant we picked and any others were closed. So another granola bar and the decision to keep looking for a place to eat.

That was a mistake because we just got hangry and ended up driving straight through to DIngle about another 90 minutes. However Dingle didn’t disappoint. It was a beautiful seaside village and if we return we’ll plan more time there. We checked into our B&B and called the kids who were at breakfast. They shared the story of the engagement and their night in Ft. Collins and we got to see the ring for the first time.

At this point we were quite hungry and we walked to town to find an early dinner. We ate at John Benny's Pub and it was wonderful. Here I found mussels cooked in a Thai sauce that was milk free. MLW had Guinness stew. Happily sated we walked around the port area. As the sun set we talked of going back to our room for a bit and then going back into town. But once in the room our late nights and early mornings caught up with us so a night in felt good and we got some extra rest. At this location we were in separate twin beds, so as MLW turned out the light she said “good night Rob”, to which I replied “good night Laura” and we drifted off to sleep like the Petries of the Dick Van Dyke show.

Our Irish Adventure Part 7, The Dingle Peninsula

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:08:13 GMT

MLW on a cool rainy day on the Dingle Peninsula

We awoke on Monday the 14th to find it had rained most of the night. We chose not to eat at our B&B that morning as we wanted to see more of the town and do some shopping before we had to check out. It was a bank holiday so some stores were closed but most were open. We found a coffee shop hoping for a light breakfast but found they only served pastries until 10 when the kitchen opened. So coffee it was. After we left, we walked the streets and found a bakery where we purchased a scone and a danish. We found a gift for NP and near the marina we found a sweater for MLW and some scarves for presents. Then it was time to start our driving tour.

The day continued to be wet, cool and windy. As we drove we stopped at the famine cottages, which was a privately owned set of cottages that was in used during the famine. The cold wet wind gave us immediate empathy for how horrible it would be to be starving, wet and cold. After we toured that we quickly returned to our car and turned up the heat! We found ourselves for a bit behind a small privately rented tour bus but got around them after a stop or two. The Dingle peninsula was beautiful even on a wet cold day. Near the point of the peninsula we drove by Sybil Head the island that was used in the recent Star Wars movies. It was raining pretty good at that point and the fog was low so no pictures to be had. Having had only a light breakfast we stopped in the village of Ballyferriter and had some lunch at Murphy's Pub. The owner was a nice man but struggled to understand why I was drinking tea while MLW got to drink a stout. I explained I had to do the driving today, but he still offered me several times for a shot of Irish whiskey to liven up my tea.

In the small villages on the west coast is where you hear more Gaelic, the national language of Ireland that most Irish folks we spoke to understood a little, but didn't speak. It was in Murphy's pub that two ladies sat near us who were from the village and they had a complete conversation in Gaelic. This was one of those times where you could see staying warm in the pub for a bit longer, enjoying a pint, some conversation and a break from the wet cold day. But we had places to go.

We finished our lunch and got back on the road and were back in the town of Dingle in about 30 minutes. We drove through and headed toward Bunratty where we would spend our last two nights. Bunratty is basically a suburb of Shannon, where we would fly out of. We arrived at our B&B about 4 pm. It was a beautiful home and we were the only guests there that evening. Our host was very nice and we got settled and went looking for dinner. We had dinner at the the Creamery which was nice but had no nightlife. So after dinner we had two choices for pubs; one was closed and another was packed, but had no entertainment, nor a place to sit so we headed back to the B&B.

We returned to our room watched a bit of TV and called it a night. We were still debating what our last full day in Ireland would look like, but figured we'd enlist he advice of the innkeeper in the morning. We snuggled into our comfortable bed and rock hard pillows and went to sleep.

Our Irish Adventure Part 8 The Cliffs of Moher

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 07:00:00 GMT

Monday October 15th was our last full day in Ireland. We awoke for our 8 am breakfast at the Avarest B&B. Deidre our host had a wonderful breakfast ready for us and shared a bit about her family. Her twin boys were taking their high school exams that would determine their college path. We shared that our pillows were bit hard which seemed to be prevalent at many of our stays in Ireland. But when we arrived home that evening she had changed them out with much softer pillows.

The day dawned with sunshine and broken clouds. We discussed with Deidre what we should do and her advice was; "the sun is shinning, you need to go to the Cliffs of Moher, then drive through the Burren on your way back". We took her advice and after breakfast we were off. The drive was about an hour and took us through the city of Ennis. When we arrived at the cliffs the sun was still shinning and the breeze off the ocean was chilly. We bundled up and headed out from the parking lot. The parking lot was about 1/2 full and the bus lot had just a few buses in it, proving again we were there in the "shoulder" season.

The cliffs were magnificent, but as are all attractions with an international audience the people watching was just about as much fun. The main area was improved with paved trails and safety barriers. If you continued to walk past the paved area it was muddy and the trail was narrow while you squeezed by a barrier on your right and a barbed wire fence on your left. As we left the improved area you started to see people with mud down their leg from slipping and falling in the mud.. There was a number of Asian women in white pants and previously white shoes walking in the mud as well. I was happy to have my hiking pants and shoes for that part of the journey.

As we walked back north the views did not disappoint. We were listening to a narrated guide from my phone and that's when we learned the large cave on the face of the cliffs was used in one of the Harry Potter movies. One of the docents at the cliffs enjoyed feeding the crows. He had many of them that would follow him and then come snatch food out of his hands. It was neat and creepy all at the same time. We finished our tour and headed north to the small port of Doolin.

It was in Doolin where we finished our gift shopping, ate a bit of lunch at Gus O'Connors Pub and then went down to their harbor. They run boat excursions over to the cliffs from here and the town is known to be a haven for traditional Irish music. Unfortunately we wouldn't be here in the evening. We drove through the Burren which is a bizarre area as the area sits on large limestone slabs and supports Arctic–alpine and Mediterranean Basin plants side-by-side. I wish we had more time to explore and hike but our tour book suggested we stop in the village of Kilfenora where they have a museum.

We arrived in Kilfenora and found the museum and tea shop. On a Monday afternoon we had the place pretty much to ourselves. We said we wanted to see the museum and movie as suggested by the guide book and for a small fee we were immediately sat in a tiny auditorium where we watched a 10 minute movie on the area then we we escorted to a museum that traced the history of the area. The museum was well done and interesting even though it was obvious it had been done on a tight budget. We were there for about an hour and then started to work our way back to our B&B. Our last ruin to visit was the Killinaboy church near the town of Corofin. the church had been a fort at one time and still showed damage from Cornwell's army in the 1700's. The area was also famous for fishing. (Hmmm, play golf in Ireland or fly fish? Maybe fly fishing in Ireland has just been added to my bucket list.)

We decided to stop and explore the city of Ennis on our way back and find dinner. Ennis was neat little city and I could have spent more time there as well. During our short visit we found the Ennis Friary which dates back to the 1300's. After seeing so many Friary's and abbeys that just stand in the weather, this one had been preserved. Unfortunately we got there too late to tour it, but that'll have to go on the list for another visit. We wandered and found the Knox pub that had been there since 1864. We shared a light dinner and just as we were ready to leave musicians started to show up. It wasn't as much a performance as what we'd call a jam session. In all about 9 musicians showed up; and accordion, several violins, guitar, and flutes. They would talk a bit, then play a song. Then talk a bit more and play another. We stayed for about another 45 minutes then knew we had to drive back to our B&B.

At our B&B we packed up for the last time and got our bags ready to fly. We got a good nights sleep and awoke to Deidre's fine breakfast. We were joined in the dinning room by another couple who was just starting their holiday. We said our good bye's after breakfast and were off to the Shannon Airport. There we bid goodbye to our rental Mini and rode to the main concourse.

Once in the airport we had to drop our portable wifi hotspot in a post box. Then we were off to spend our last Euros on our final Guinness. There's a US customs check point in the Shannon Airport so we were able to go through customs before we landed in the US which was very convenient. Our flight to Newark, NJ was uneventful until we got close to the states where they were dealing with rainstorms. we bounced and circled the airport for an extra 30 minutes which only served to accentuate how worn out our seats were. Finally on the ground we used our layover to get settled, then we were off again to bounce through the clouds until the skies settled after about 30 minutes. As they always do, the final 4 hour flight seemed to pass slower than any other time of the trip.

We landed uneventfully in Denver, gathered our bags and summoned our Uber. We had a shared ride and our driver missed the turn into our office parking lot so I had him drop us on a corner. Our other passenger laughed that he wondered where we were going. I could not blame him, it looked very strange to be dropped off where we were in the dark. But we walked over the lawn of the office and there was our car awaiting.

As we drove home MLW looked at me and while glad to be home, mentioned what a big adventure he had. A big adventure it was indeed as the two of us spent our 8 days working around the southern end of Ireland. It was so incredibly fun.

A Beautiful Day for Snowshoes

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 15:09:19 GMT

Our last week of snowstorms has turned the boring brown of a front range winter into a series of marshmallow days. Hard to believe that last Sunday before the Super Bowl, MLW and I were riding our bikes on a 70 degree day; but that is the magic of a Colorado winter. We’ve had 3 snow storms in the past week and one more tonight and tomorrow before they are done for a bit. Last Tuesday we got about 6” that melted to half that because of the previous warm temperatures. Thursday into Friday we got somewhere close to a foot and yesterday, Sunday, we got about 3 additional inches.

The Thursday/Friday storm was perfectly timed for the snowshoe hike with the Venture crew. We met as a group on Saturday at 9 am in Sedalia and headed up Hwy 67 to Indian Creek campground and hiked the trail of the same name. We arrived and made first tracks in the parking lot which meant the same for the trail. The crew put on their snowshoes and their packs and hit the trail on a beautiful sunny morning.

There was no wind and with the bright sun I was comfortable in just a vest over my shirt. I had a base layer of long underwear under my shirt and pants and the combo was perfect. No need for a coat. We headed onto the trail which would go up for about 2 miles and then come back down for two miles on a fire road.

We each took turns breaking trail as we hiked into the forest. The pine trees were heavy with snow. As we hiked the pine trees would take their turns dropping the heavy snow as it warmed up. It was like playing a game of tag with the trees as they dropped their big snowballs around us. We reached the halfway point after about an hour where the trail would now go back down hill. As we took a rest, suddenly a dog appeared, then another confirming we hit the trail just before another pair of hikers who we greeted while we had a little snack.

The hikers and their dogs took another trail and we started our way back to the trailhead. As we made the 45 minute trek back to the parking lot, we broke trail only for about another 10 minutes before we met other hikers coming up the road. We ran into a guy with a .22 rifle over his shoulder hunting late season squirrels, a young family with all three of their children coming up the hill and a few hikers and a few more dogs.

As the trail opened up into the campground which was closed for the winter, we could clearly see the sky. The sky was clear, bright and a hue of royal azure. The blue against the white and the mountain peaks was spectacular. Our hike would end about 10 minutes later and the group shared snacks and stories as we prepared to return to Sedalia and drop off our riders who parked in town.

For some I’m sure the Saturday morning was filled with shoveling, or running errands. I wonder how many people cursed the snow that morning. I know of six that didn’t. Six that took the chance break first tracks in the majesty of a snowy morning on a mountain trail and enjoy the beauty of the earth around us.

Fridays with Steve

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:43:37 GMT

One of our weekly rituals I look forward to is our Friday mornings with Steve our friend and neighbor.

MLW and I moved into our house about 9 years ago. We found this house because years before when the boys were very young our dear friends Deb and Steve came into our life. It was at a time when we needed a more experienced couple to gently mentor us on both being a couple and being parents. When we would come out here to visit Deb & Steve, MLW would always make comment about how nice it would be to live in this area and have some land. In 2008 I started looking at realtor.com and reviewing our budget every which way I could including adding factors of a lost job and things like that to see if we could indeed live in an area with some land. In 2010 that dream came true when our present house became available. After 19 years in our Castle Rock home we had built up enough equity to make the move. It was somewhat of a perfect storm as we had built up quite a bit of equity in the Castle Rock house and because the economy was horrible in 2010 the house that we would buy had dropped significantly in value.

We moved into this home on December 30, 2010 and for the next 2 1/2 years lived in an area that we love and had Deb & Steve just down the street. We made many wonderful memories with them during this time. However, in May of 2013 after a battle with cancer, Deb got her wings and flew off to heaven. Leaving Steve to pick up the pieces and determine what his life would look like going forward.

At some point during that year we realized that Steve generated very little trash and paying the normal rates for trash just didn’t make fiscal sense. We suggested that he stop his trash service and then bring his bag of trash up to our house every Friday for trash pickup day. He did this and while he began bringing up his trash up to our house every Friday it took a bit before the ritual started.

Steve is one of the most unimposing friends I have. In fact, he thinks he's imposing when MLW and I think he's visiting. Steve is a very intelligent man and for years has joked that he is an extroverted engineer which he states that means he stares at your shoes when he talks rather than his own. Now Steve isn't that much of an introvert, but I can guarantee that he is not overly comfortable with me writing about him.

For years he’d bring up his trash but getting him to stop in was always a challenge. Then our trash company started picking up in the early morning, often right at 8 am or earlier. That was the impetus it took to get him here consistently on Friday mornings. Our Friday rituals usually start about 7:15 AM when Steve comes down with his trash and then comes in the house. When he comes in he usually finds MLW and I in our robes reading the paper and having a cup of coffee. He helps himself to a cup of coffee and we catch up and talk about the news. At some point I get up and make the three of us breakfast. Steve and I used to always do the crossword puzzle with MLW. But as she has gotten better at crossword puzzles, she is less likely to share them with us. She is a bit competitive you know. So, if Steve and I don't shame her into it, or we aren't successful in our shaming, we must pick some other crossword puzzle to do.

One of the other things that this Friday ritual does is it allows MLW to make sure that Steve is not suffering from WOWS. Better known as Weird Old Widowers Syndrome. If you don’t know what I'm talking about; when men who've had a woman's influence in their entire life suddenly no longer have that influence, they start to revert to their earlier days. They do things like wear socks with holes in them. It’s not that they like to wear socks with holes in them, but they've never had socks with holes in them because their wife always threw them away. They show up in a button shirt that has been pressed but has wear holes around the pockets. Or they show up wearing a T-shirt commemorating something that occurred 20 years ago, and the T shirt now is frayed and threadbare. MLW also takes this time to make sure that Steve isn't saying any strange things like “do you think the grill from a '73 Chevy pickup would look good in my front garden”? She gets quite a bit of practice because with our son Smooch in college, she looks for many of the same things when she interacts with him. I'm happy to report that while Steve has had a couple of close calls, he hasn't contracted WOWS. Lest any of my readers think that WOWS screening by MLW is an exclusive service, no, she also does it for my brother doc.

About 8:30 our breakfast together breaks up and we all go our separate ways and start our days. But as I think about it, I'm not sure anyone enjoys trash day as much as the three of us.

Can You Remember the 10 Commandments?

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:29:23 GMT

Yesterday at our church was our annual meeting which meant that Pastor Jon gave us an abbreviated message so we could move onto the annual reports. What Jon taught us yesterday was an easy way to memorize the 10 Commandments. I thought it was so neat I wanted to share this all of you.

I’m pretty sure that all my readers know of the 10 commandments. A quick review on Wikipedia will show you that while many religions follow the 10 Commandments, how they are divided into 10 differs even within Christian religions. They also are divided on how they were delivered and even to whom. However my faith tells me they were delivered to Moses on Mt. Sinai from God.

If you’re my age your mind may immediately go to a vision of Charlton Heston as Moses in the 1956 movie version of The 10 Commandments. For most of my life that movie was played on TV around Easter. When I was a kid it would be on TV on a Sunday night and because it’s so long the stations would move back their 10:00 news to 10:30. My parents would let me stay up and watch the whole movie. In it’s day the cinematic effects were amazing and I’m still pretty impressed with how they parted the Red Sea, but I digress.

So before we dive into this neat way to remember them, let's have a quick refresher. The Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 20, I’ve abbreviated them below:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall have not worship false idols

3. You shall not use the name of the Lord in vain

4. Keep the Sabbath day holy

5. Honor thy Mother and Father

6. You shall not murder

7. You shall not commit adultery

8. You shall not Steal

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor

Here’s your easy to remember them:

Commandment 1: God’s number 1

Commandment 2: Idols won’t do

Commandment 3: Name reverently (say it: rev-rent-ly)

Commandment 4: Rest and restore

Commandment 5: Honor them and thrive

Commandment 6: Don’t throw bricks

Commandment 7: Marriage made in heaven

Commandment 8: Pay at the gate

Commandment 9: Truth toes the line

Commandment 10: Just be content (say it: con-ten-t)

Most of those fit really well. Commandment 8 is a little clunky, so think of it this way; if you sneak into a show and don’t pay admission, you’re stealing.

There you have it. Practice those a few times and I bet they’ll stick in your mind and you’ll know the 10 Commandments. If you can’t remember them, well, just don’t covet your friends who do!

My First Tray of Chicken

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 14:48:25 GMT

After 6.5 years working for the Colonel, it was time to learn how to cook chicken

I work for the Colonel, Colonel Sanders. For the last 6.5 years I have been and continue to be the Claim Manager for Harman Management, the original franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken. It was our founder Pete Harman who was the first to say yes to cooking fried chicken under pressure and using Harlan Sanders 11 herbs and spices recipe to do it. The year was 1952 and the two gentlemen made a business deal that Pete would pay Harlan a nickel for every chicken he sold using Harlan’s recipe. The product didn’t even have a name. Few people know that Kentucky Fried Chicken was the name Pete and his sign painter came up with while painting on the window of the Dew Drop Inn on State Street in Salt Lake City, “Now Serving Kentucky Fried Chicken a southern hospitality treat.”

I met the folks at Harman’s when in 2001 while working for Lockton Companies, I was assigned to be their claim consultant. I loved working with Harman’s and they were easily my favorite client. I forged many friendships within Harman’s that I still have today. I would work on the Harman’s account from 2001 until 2011 when I was part of a layoff at Lockton. Of all the clients I had, only one took the time to write a letter to my former employer and express their disappointment in the decision to lay me off, and that was Harman’s.

I started working for Harman’s in July of 2013. That’s another story that I’ll share at a later date. What I do for Harman’s is manage our worker’s compensation, customer liability and property claims for our 300+ properties in 7 states. I’ve always had a basic understanding of what goes on in our restaurants, and I even got a better idea when Smooch worked for one of the restaurants when he was in high school. But I’ve never worked at one.

Recently while investigating an injury to one of our cooks, I realized that I really needed to know how we make our chicken. So on 1/22 I put on my non slip shoes and met our Regional Training Instructor, and friend Carlos Martinez at our restaurant in Highlands Ranch. Carlos taught me how to make both Original Recipe and Extra Crispy chicken. I did everything from inspecting, breading, filling the fryer rack, cooking, and racking it to be sold. If you ever wondered the difference, Original Recipe is breaded once and cooked in a pressure fryer which gives the chicken it's tender breading while Extra Crispy is breaded twice and cooked in an open fryer which takes longer but gives the chicken that delicious crunch.

Many of you will ask did I learn the identity of the 11 herbs and spices? No, they are premixed in a packet and added to a 25 lb bag of flour. As soon as I was done and it was time to return to my office, I did step on the other side of the counter and buy some to take home. With MLW as my witness, I made some darn good chicken!

Happy Birthday Paul

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 15:10:35 GMT

If you've read my very first blog, you'll know that I finally took the leap into blogging at the suggestion by my friend Paul Dannels. I had thought about it for quite a while but it wasn't until one day while having breakfast at O'Brien's cafe in Sedalia, and started another story that Paul said to me "Pat you have so many stories, you really should start a blog"and here I am almost 50 posts and a year later.

Today is Paul's 70th birthday. On Saturday almost 30 people gathered at Paul's house for a surprise birthday party for him. Paul, who has always been a gracious and friendly man was no different as he listened and interacted with his guests. The only difference was Paul had to communicate with a tablet, you see Paul is in an advanced stage of his fight with ALS.

I originally met Paul over 25 years ago at the First United Methodist Church in Castle Rock. Paul and his wife Bonnie were part of the "Joyful Noise" a choral group in the church. MLW and I were invited to join them and proceeded to sing with them for the next 8 years or so until the group disbanded. The group was much older than just eight years however and was started when the members all had small children. Paul is 14 years my senior so add that to the eight years and I'll guesstimate Joyful Noise was around for about 20+ years.

During that time we also formed a large "church group" which I've mentioned before. The group still meets about once a month even though few of us go to the same church. It was during those Bible and book studies that while talking about a concept, Paul would say "that's really cool." It got to be such a fixture of our discussions that I can remember reading the lesson and thinking I bet Paul will say that the authors point of ___ is "really cool."

Paul shares a common motivation with me and that is he is energized by young people. Over 30 years ago when he managed the Castle Pines Metro District, he started a summer employment program for high school and college kids that used their skills for summer mowing and maintenance. It was one of the few summer jobs that didn't involve nights and weekends and paid a fair wage; let alone was likely most kids first 40 hour a week job. Just before he was diagnosed with ALS he was a driving instructor teaching kids to drive. He would talk about the amazing young people he was working with. One morning at one of our breakfasts he kept going on and on about how optimistic he was for our next generation of adults and how smart and informed these kids he was working with were. In fact I have to admit I felt like he was dismissing my then almost 20 years as a Boy Scout leader and I suddenly and now regretfully, I retorted "Paul you're preaching to the choir, have you forgotten I've spent my almost the last 20 years helping develop young men through Scouting! I know kids are amazing, lets talk about my 20 Eagle Scouts and all the other kids I've watched grow up!" It took only one look to know I crossed the line. I awkwardly tried to justify my outburst, he remarked something about not knowing he hit a nerve. Like guys do, someone looked at their watch and said, well it looks like I need to get going and the breakfast ended. "Smooth Pat, real smooth," my inner voice scolded me.

One of Paul's traits is he likes to ask peoples perspectives and as we talked at his party he wrote on his tablet "as I'm heading toward death, the answer to the question I want to hear from people is "what is love?"" Whoa, that's a question! He continued, "the answers I'm getting are really cool." Since Paul is one of my loyal blog followers I promised to blog his answer and that's the impetus for today's blog.

The utterance of What is Love, first brings to mind the skit on Saturday Night Live skit that featured the song "What is Love" by Haddaway and featured Chris Kattan and Will Farrell. The Roxbury boys. You may remember the head bobbing duo that morphed into a forgettable movie. But I digress likely because I don't know where to start for this answer. The comic strip "Love is" started in 1970 and continues today because there are so many examples of love.

After much thought I'd have to say that love is the giving of oneself to others. Giving of oneself to such an extreme that others notice that it may not be completely healthy for the giver. As an example, think of people who have given themselves to the service of God. Because she's world renown, think of Sister Teresa of Calcutta. At some point the people who knew her simply as Teresa had to notice an incredible change as she gave her life to God and helped the poor of Calcutta. There had to be people who encouraged her to slow down, think about her financial health, her security, but she didn't she just pushed on.

If you know Paul and Bonnie you can see a similar type of love not only to their friends but especially to their family. Paul and Bonnie's help to their children and especially their grandchildren was to many of us that kind of love. Running the grand kids to school and sports, likely cost Bonnie her job. Helping support their kids and grand kids took toll on their home and their retirement but yet they continued to give. Much like in the story The Giving Tree, even at the end when the tree was but a stump, it still gave a resting place to sit for the weary.

So Paul, What is Love? You. You've always given to your friends, to important causes, to children and to missions helping people you didn't know. You've always given regardless of the cost to you and your comfort. And even as your wonderful mind sits in a broken body, you give. Just like your smile behind your oxygen mask welcomes people to visit with you. How you lit up when our son "smooch" visited with you on Saturday only served to accentuate that you still have the ability to show the wonderful person you are, even behind the oxygen mask that hides part of your face, but not your love.

Lest I forget, I can't not mention your amazing wife Bonnie. Who just like you gives and gives and gives. She's wonderful example of love and commitment. The lesson she's teaching with her actions again show us that giving without limits, is just something Paul and Bonnie do, and in so define love for those of us that know you.

So to close I can't forget to wish you a Happy Birthday Paul. As I often say when you wish someone a happy birthday what you are really saying is the world is a better place because you were born. Your seventy years pales in comparison to the people and lives you have touched. I like so many, am a better person for knowing you and being your friend. And you know what Paul, "that's really cool."

Counting My 2019 Blessings

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 07:00:00 GMT

Some years are better than others. But regardless of the challenges of each year we all end them a bit wiser. Today I am going to list what I consider my blessings from 2019. But first lets get into this with a little song verse, maybe this one from sung by Rosemary Clooney and then Bing Crosby in White Christmas.

When I'm worried,

And I can't sleep,

I count my blessings instead of sheep,

And I fall asleep,

Counting my blessings...

Counting my Blessings:

Family. My family is my greatest blessing. From MLW who worked to keep our home welcoming for our boys and our friends, while having a professional year that was challenging. The Engineer who is doing very well at Lockheed and has received not only a few promotions but was chosen as one of the up and coming engineers and was asked to present to senior management. Smooch, who continues to do very well in college, continuing to prove wrong those teachers and counselors in high school who told him he wasn't "college material". I cannot forget our family pooch, Rudy whose knees have healed well and continues to be a great dog and canine friend. That's just our immediate family. Our extended family is also wonderful and a blessing to us.

Friends. We have been blessed by many wonderful friends who make our life complete. If you're one of them, and you likely are, thank you!

Faith. In 2019 we found Plum Creek Chapel in Sedalia. This little church and it's members have made a huge impact on our faith journey. What a blessing we found.

Career. Working for the folks at Harman's continues to be a blessing that challenges and highlights my strengths while allowing me to make a difference in the lives of our employees. My journey to find Harman's and be prepared to do the job I do wasn't navigated without some help from above. Need I revisit my thankfulness for faith?

Travel. The ability to travel to Ireland with MLW in October was a true gift. The fact that I spent it with MLW and we had a giant fun adventure made it even better. Plus our camping trips with family and friends; our 4th of July trip to Taylor Park and our Labor Day adventure at Dillon Reservoir were so fun. Hunting trips with the boys were moments of adventure with time to enjoy the adults they've become.

A rekindled friendship. While the new normal of the loss of my sister in law Cindy has been a painful and sad transition, the silver lining of this has been spending more time with my brother Doc. More hunting trips, more time spent together and remembering how much we enjoy spending time together.

An Engagement. The engagement of the Engineer and the Norwegian Pescatarian was a wonderful event that brings with it the promise of our first daughter. We'll have a busy 9 months getting ready for the wedding in our meadow, but what a wonderful event to plan for.

Health. While my 56 year old body isn't as pain free as it was in my younger days, it is a wonderful blessing to be healthy. I'm very thankful for my 36 pound weight loss and the ability to keep it off through the holidays.

The ability to help my kids. If you had told me how easy it was to buy a house in Grand Junction to use as a student rental, I'd have been skeptical. But we had help from a great realtor in GJ (thanks Linda! she reads my blog) and things just fell in place. We haven't had to help the Engineer and NP, but with the prep to have a wedding at home next fall, the opportunity to help them is coming.

A great family dynamic. Recently Smooch was talking with us and he said, you know I really like our family relationship. E and NP have told us that they do things and think wow this would be fun with "your folks" (us). To have kids that still want to do things with us is a blessing.

My 2020 Resolutions?

My first and constant resolution is to get better at listening to the "little voice" in my head. When things go wrong, it's because I didn't listen to the little voice. This is an annual resolution.

The second is to work a being better at living in the moment. I need to stop worrying about what's next and do a better job of diving in without the concern of "but what about...." I don't mean this to be in direct conflict with resolution 1. I mean things like; have that second cup of coffee with a friend, keep listening when they need an ear even though I need to do something else, etc.

The third and final is to continue my healthy lifestyle choices I started last summer and be the same weight next year at this time.

I wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2020 filled with fun, adventures, some accomplished goals and be surrounded by good friends and family.

Pat Daddy

Grown Kid Christmas

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 15:09:52 GMT

The Christmas Bike Brewery Tour Group (Doc is taking the picture)

As I reflect on 30+ years of Christmases a with MLW, I'd like to think we have it down pretty well. Gone are the days of looking for the popular toys and attending the church children's programs. Now from the season to the actual day it's more about experiences.

Our Christmas season usually starts the weekend after Thanksgiving like many people. On Friday after Thanksgiving, out come the decorations. Even though I mark the lights clearly it's amazing how much work there still is to decorate the house. The house gets icicle lights all along the roof edges of the front and a bit on the south side too. Then comes the garland with colored lights that stretches across the front porch area. Colored lights and garland around the front door and around the pillars on the front porch. Next are the 8 tiny Christmas trees that line the walk in front of the house. Two of Kay's flower pots get the trees my mom made from tomato cages and lights some 20 years ago. Then the fence line gets a garland with colored lights and a wreath on every post (yes that's 14 lit wreaths). Add a big wreath centered on the peak of the front of the garage, garland and more wreaths in the pergola, lights on the pine tree and the solar lights on the little pine tree in the meadow and that's about it.

Saturday after Thanksgiving is our tree cutting adventure. That starts by buying a permit in October for tree cutting in the National Forrest. We pack up a lunch, grab the dog, the grown kids, the kids dogs, a saw, and jump in our truck and caravan to near Buffalo Creek, CO where we go out into the woods looking for the perfect tree. After we find and cut down our trees it's time for a picnic in the woods which usually is some hot soups and bread, a craft beer and few other snacks. We arrive home in the early afternoon and the tree goes up in the family room. The remainder of the weekend is filled with decorating the house, which includes an artificial tree in the dining room and a little one in the family room of the basement.

After that it's getting together with friends for fun. This year we joined our friends Steve and Kristi for the Littleton Tree Lighting celebration in Littleton, CO. It's much like a Hallmark movie just more people and I've already found my love, but I digress. We also had tickets for the Brian Setzer Christmas Concert, but Brian got tinnitus and had to cancel. We did make it to the Denver Pops Christmas concert which has been a favorite of ours for about 10 years and were joined by the Engineer, the Norwegian Pescatarian (NP) and Smooch.

The last week of Christmas is always our busiest and was added to by my office having the Christmas party on December 19. Friday the 20th we for the second year in a row we decorated our bicycles with tinsel, garland and lights and rode to the 4 Castle Rock breweries. We were joined by E and NP, Smooch, Doc and our friends Michael and Angie. This year it was a bit of a challenge as Smooch broke his foot right after finishing finals and he's in a walking boot. That meant he rode on the back of the tandem with me. The tandem didn't shift well and Smooch doesn't do well on a bike he doesn't control and we bickered and then laughed on our bike journey.

Saturday the 21st was our Christmas Open House. We started this in 2007 when we celebrated my parents 60th wedding anniversary during the first week of December. We had the house set up for a party so the following weekend we had our own. We also had a ton of snow that year but people came out anyway and it was a big success. It's been a tradition since. This year was no different as we had 50+ friends come through the house on Saturday and a fun time was had by all.

Christmas itself really starts with going to church on Christmas Eve. The Engineer and NP celebrate Christmas with NP's family on Christmas Eve. So for Christmas Eve it's just Smooch, MLW and me, except that the Nursing Student (NS) came and joined us for our Christmas Eve service. This year we were at Plum Creek Chapel. The gathering was small as our church tends to be, which made it much more of a gathering of friends that a "service." After church NS returned to her family and the three of us returned to home where we celebrated with a seafood feast of King and snow crab, shrimp and scallops. After cleaning up we went down to our friend and neighbor Steve's house to spend time with him, Sarah and Bill, his daughter and Son in law. Their 3 kids were already nestled "snug in their beds."

We returned home and turned in and just like when I was young the next thing I knew it was Christmas morning. Santa had arrived and the stockings were full. We got breakfast ready to cook while we waited for the Engineer and NP to arrive. When they did we opened our Santa gifts and then I packed up my supplies for making red beer and headed back to Steve's house to see his grand kids and all their gifts.

Red beer is a mix of tomato juice, bloody mary mix and a light beer. My parents drank them on Christmas when I was a kid and once I had kids, I continued the tradition. I've always shared them with a friend or neighbor which was much easier when I lived in a regular neighborhood. But now we take them down to Steve's house and visit while we await the arrival of the his son Matt's family while we share a red beer. Matt and Darla arrive with their three kids and the happy mayhem of the six cousins begins as they run about playing with toys. We visit for a bit and then it's time to return home.

We return home to our breakfast being ready in the oven where we set delayed oven timers. By this time my brother Doc has arrived either at our home or he's joined us at Steve's. We share a breakfast meal and then sit down to open gifts. There's no hurry anymore to this process. In the days when the kids all got presents from their aunts and uncles we'd try to be done in time to chat with the aunts and uncles on the phone. But with my parents gone and the kids grown the 2 pm call is no longer a deadline for gift opening and we tend to linger a bit, take breaks, and enjoy the time. MLW spoiled me this year with many clothes to fit my slimmer body. The boys and NP completely surprised me with a climbing tree stand for deer hunting and even my brother Doc surprised me with gifts he heard me say I wanted even though I forgot to put them on my list.

Dinner for the third year in a row was personal beef wellingtons, baked vegetables, twice baked potatoes and pear, gorgonzola and pecan salad. For the Norwegian Pescatarian, I wrap a portabello mushroom topped with an shallot mushroom wine paste in phylo dough so she had her own wellington. After dinner we were joined by the nursing student and we all played games. The whole crew spent the night and as has become our tradition, the next morning we had a nice breakfast, made a dent in the leftovers, played with our gifts, took a nice walk and then everyone went home.

The magical wonder of a childhood Christmas or even those with your young children has been replaced by a fun, light-hearted celebration that lasts longer than a day. We remember those that have gone on before us with funny stories and hope they laugh too as they look down from above. It's another evolution of this wonderful holiday that will change again as the years continue.

The Elk Hunt

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 15:20:35 GMT

Non-hunters don't usually understand that it's not just for game that we go into the woods.

The second weekend of November the Engineer and I were set for hunting elk in Colorado's 3rd rifle season. Originally the group was supposed to be 6 but because of some licensing mishaps our group became the Engineer and I. That was fine, the hustle and bustle of life had E and I going in separate directions. I'd hardly spoken with him much since his engagement, this would be a good catch up weekend.

I prepared our pop-up camper for the trek making sure it had redundant systems of heat. The mountains would be cold at night. Even though staying in the camper is more comfortable than camping in a tent, in a pop up your bed actually floats over cold air so without proper preparation it can be quite chilly. However we made sure that we had additional insulation underneath our sleeping bags so we would be warm. I also brought up some moving quilts that we would use to hang over the sides at night giving the walls more insulation.

We left on Friday morning loaded up and ready for our adventure. It was a warm day on the front range of Colorado and it was going into a very warm weekend at home. That warmth wasn't just on the front range, it was nice up in the mountains as well. The drive up I-70 to Highway 9 through Kremling and over Gore pass was relatively uneventful. We would arrive at our camping spot around 1 pm and have camp set up in time to for a 2 ½ hour hunt that afternoon.

As we readied our packs, put on our orange and grabbed our rifles, the mid afternoon sun was warm enough that we were comfortable walking in long sleeve T-shirts. We walked to the area we have hunted before which took roughly an hour. Before going I had prepared maps from a website of the area where we would be hunting. Little did I know however that I cut them off a little too short and where we were walking to was not on the map. This is something we would learn later. We hiked into the valley where our friends had hunted for a number of years and actually sat in their makeshift blind that sits on the side of the hill. We sat there for about an hour then as the sun began getting low in the west we took the opportunity to shoot a target we brought make sure that our rifles were sighted in. We found they were shooting fine and decided we would work our way back to our camp for the evening.

I suggested that we walk up over a hill that I had walked a number of times over the years and drop back down into the valley where we would then head north to our camp. Unfortunately, I was referring to a map that not show where we were, but I thought it did. As we got into the woods we found ourselves in a significant number of downfall trees and relatively deep snow. As we trudged northward, the area I was looking for did not appear and we found ourselves much deeper in the woods than I ever anticipated. Referring to the map something didn’t seem quite right however we did know if we kept going north we would ultimately make it back to camp. However the setting sun and the lessening of light did raise both of our anxiety levels quite a bit.

We finally popped out of the woods above a long valley where we actually saw a large bull moose. We entered into the valley and decided we needed to refer to our GPS and a map. We found ourselves on the map but based on our previous believe it was correct, it seemed as though we actually walked backwards. However the accuracy of the map was not our concern now as we needed to get to the main trail and walk back out, I had wanted to be to camp by now. We determined where we needed to go regardless of what the map showed. This only raised my concern higher. As we found the route to the trail, my choice of suggesting that we walk out on an uncharted route as dusk was falling began to haunt me. As we were now in the open but still not back on our trail, suddenly the anxiety that I had felt before began to bubble up. I felt extremely stupid and irresponsible.

As we walked toward the area where we hoped to find the trail back, I began to express how stupid I felt and what a dumb decision I made an suggesting we take this track. As I began doing this, the Engineer who was in front of me stopped, walked back to me, looked me in the eye and said “dad, we are going to be fine, we all make mistakes, we’re ok” then he hugged me. While the hug dispersed my anxiety, I was suddenly taken aback by the maturity of the Engineer. That was the perfect thing to do in that situation. I could only wonder where in his life did he learn to be so insightful and to know how this one simple act could defuse the anxiety of the moment.

We would walk about another hundred and 50 yards and meet up with our trail that would take us back to our camper. We arrived at the camper about 40 minutes later and started up the generator and poured a cocktail while we got ready for dinner. We played some games, had dinner and after dinner I suddenly began feeling very ill. I was sweating and extremely hot, my stomach began to cramp terribly and I was worried I had caught the flu. It was then that I realized that I did not drink enough water during our trek earlier that day. The engineer then suggested that I add to my water an electrolyte tablet. A pint or more of water and some electrolytes and 20 minutes later I felt fine. Again, E came through with the correct answer to a challenge. We played one more game of cards that evening and then called it a night as we would be getting up early in the morning. As I went to bed that evening I was amazingly proud of E and the resourceful man he had become, I was also grateful for him.

At 5 am Saturday morning the alarm went off and it was time to warm up our camper which mostly had no heat over the evening. We dressed and had a bit of breakfast. Then we prepared to walk into our hunting area in the dark. As we got about a half a mile down the trail which we were walking on with our headlamps on, suddenly as we walked over a rise there were two small green eyes looking at us. I said to the engineer what is that a fox? He replied yes it was. The fox however was very curious about us. I don’t know if the lights on our heads made us look funny, or perhaps the loggers in the area had fed the fox and we were seen as a easy meal ticket. Either way the fox continued to follow us for almost half a mile. As we got into the middle of a meadow where the snow had crusted over from the previous day the fox would run as fast as he could past us on the left and stop in front of us in the trail and stare at us. As we walked closer, he'd run down the other side of us and then run back up again on our left and stare us from the trail. At one point the Engineer stopped and chased it hoping it would decide we did not want to play, however that did not discourage the fox. He would continue this game for about another five minutes and then we must have become boring as he was gone. We had not been in the woods even 24 hours at this point and we had already seen a large bull moose and had interaction with a cute little fox who wanted a sandwich.

We continued to hunt the rest of the day and it was quite a bit of walking. This was a wonderful time as I hadn’t had much time to talk with the engineer since his engagement. We had some great father/son talks as we ventured through the woods. Unfortunately the warm sun had the elk staying deep in the trees where they would be cool in their winter coats. Our trek found us back at camp Saturday afternoon with still 90 minutes of hunting time left. We decided to explore a bit in the truck and determine where we would hunt Sunday morning before we'd have to leave. The drive gave us a better understanding of the area to our north. As we drove back to camp we stopped to watch a field for the final 15 minutes of legal hours. We watched the field and had a beer as the sun set. Then we returned to the camper.

Saturday night although cold outside we really got our camper warm. We played cards in our short sleeves and enjoyed a dinner of Philly cheese steak sandwiches. We had a couple of hunting camps around us, our neighbors to the north had a big fire going outside their canvas wall tent. The season ended the next day on Sunday, I figured they were just enjoying their last night in camp. As we went to sleep we could hear their conversations in the distance, the next I knew it was an hour before it was time to get up.

I turned on the furnace and went back to sleep which allowed the camper to warm up and be warm when it was time to get up. Like all second hunting mornings we were moving a bit more slowly than the previous morning. We got out to the camper at first light and worked our way north to an aspen tree area that looked promising. We were in our spot by sunrise. I pulled out my Jet boil stove and we had some coffee and snacks. Nothing was moving so I had E stay in the spot and I worked my way over the ridge we were watching hoping to kick something back to him. I found lots of sign but no elk. I got back to E about 45 minutes later. I showed him where I walked and we made plans for how we would hunt this area if we returned next year.

The day had dawned beautiful and cloudless. Not a great hunting day, but a beautiful day. We worked our way back to camp and found indeed our neighbors to the north were packed and gone. The camp to our east which was a 5th wheel trailer, was packing up as well. We did the same and within an hour we were ready to head back home. Our drive back was filled with good conversation.

I dropped E off at his apartment and headed home. It was a weekend where I never found an elk. But what I did find was that on the eve of some of the biggest changes in his life so far, my son had grown up to be a man to be admired for his preparedness, his insight and his affable demeanor. It was a wonderful weekend in our lifelong transition from father and son to father and friend.

A Proposal

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 14:07:01 GMT

MLW and I just returned from a trip to Ireland. While I'll be writing about our travels, it's what happened while we were gone that is exciting news. Our son the Engineer, proposed to the Norwegian Pescatarian, and she said "yes", well, ultimately, and that's my story today.

The Engineer and NP started dating their junior year of High School, right before prom. During that time they attended CSU, both studied abroad in Norway for a semester, graduated, and moved in together about a year and a half ago. Because of their ties to Ft Collins that is for them a fun day away. Just up from Ft Collins is the Cache La Poudre river Canyon. While they had many fun days up the canyon, it's also a special place for MLW and me. We too had many dates up the canyon and ultimately got married in the canyon. It was also a favorite fishing day for my Mom and Dad, so now three generations have enjoyed the canyon.

Last weekend they had reservations in downtown Ft Collins at the hip Armstrong Hotel. It was a weekend that NP planned. They would start with a picnic in the canyon and then go to their favorite restaurant and stop into a few of their favorite taverns and clubs and walk back to the Armstrong. The Engineer had been making his own additional plans for quite sometime.

We, the Engineer and I, were returning from South Dakota's Turkey hunt when he told me he was thinking of proposing. I'd like to think I told him some sage and memorable words. At it's core it was a nice conversation where we had a chance to talk about dreams and challenges. I don't know if he'll ever know until his son has the same conversations with him, how truly touched and moved I was by this discussion. I was sworn to secrecy. A secret I kept from his mother until one day when she was lamenting he'd never propose, I slipped a bit.

About a month ago he called to say he bought the ring. He had help from NP's sister. Then it was just the matter of waiting for Saturday the 12th to come. It was fun to hear NP talk about their plans in Ft Collins, knowing she was in for a big surprise. On Saturday 10/12 we were 7 hours ahead of Colorado time in Kenmare, Ireland. Besides the beautiful Irish country side, we thought often of when the proposal would happen.

As best I understand the proposal, the day went something like this. E (I'm tired of typing Engineer) and NP got to Ft Collins and headed up the Poudre Canyon for a picnic. They found a nice picnic spot on the side of the river. NP says she noticed E was acting a bit strange, he kept walking away for the area while they set up. After they got the picnic set up he bent down on one knee, proposed to her and she was so overwhelmed and surprised, that she said "No!" and pushed him over! Apparently in her mind she was so surprised that she was being proposed to and she wasn't really paying attention when he started so she needed to stop the process. The she had him start again, and this time she said yes. She also made him propose about 4 more times, just so she wouldn't forget the moment.

Given there is no cell service in the canyon, any texts would have to wait. In Ireland MLW and I were just turning in for the night in our least favorite guesthouse. It was on the main road and it was loud both from the occasional car and the revelers making their way home from the pubs. My phone was on silent and plugged in in the bathroom. At midnight I put my ear plugs in and turned off the light, 3 minutes later the text would come through. I awoke at 6:45 the next morning, 11:45 pm Colorado time. I saw the good news and texted congratulations! and the happy couple was just turning in from their night on the town, responded. We would talk later on Sunday.

There are many people that would partly in jest respond, "it's about time!". But when you see a couple like those two who have basically grown up together, you can only be impressed by the way they take the idea of getting married seriously. They are both trying to go in to their married life together with their college debts paid off and after having the money conversations that can be so hard on a marriage. As for MLW and Me, we are ecstatic. NP has woven herself deep into our family fabric and we're excited to have her

officially part of the family.

As I close, I also need to recognize that 10/12 is also the date we lost my sister in law Cindy a year ago. I'm so happy that E made this date, what I consider Cindy's "wing day", a happy day again in our family.

Hunting with Bows

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 14:16:17 GMT

Last weekend I traveled up north of Steamboat Springs near Clark, CO to bow hunt elk with Smooch and our friends Michael and Tyler. Our original plan was to back pack or bike pack in a few miles and camp while we hunted. However because of our busy schedules, Michael suggested we camp out of our camper instead. I agreed and on Friday morning I hooked up my camper and headed to the mountains.

I coordinated my departure time with Smooch as we both had a little over a 3 hour drive to Steamboat where we would meet for a late lunch before we drove the last 30 miles to the campground. Our travels were uneventful and we both arrived about 10 minutes apart. We had a couple of burgers at a bar and headed up just in time to get rained on.

We pulled into the Hinman campground in the rain. The campground is a sad little campground. It’s a forest service campground that likely has not changed for years. It has a total of 13 sites. It’s composed of 2 pull through sites, 11 pull in/back in sites and 2 pit toilets. It used to have a hand water pump but the handle was removed this year. The sites haven’t been leveled or had new gravel on them in years. It’s campers are likely either mountain bike riders, fishermen or hunters. There’s not much else there. We were the only campers there the entire weekend. But it served us well and is situated only about a mile from the trail-head we walk up to hunt.

Smooch and I got the camper set up, the rain stopped and we grabbed our bows, bikes and hunting packs and headed for the trail-head. The fun thing about bow hunting here is you can ride your bike in. I took my bike that has the pannier bags on it which made getting my gear up the mountain very nice. It’s a 1.5 mile grind up the forest service road which is gated and locked for logging. You gain about 800 feet in elevation going from 8100 feet to 8900. I rode it straight up for the first time in 3 years, not sure if that was due to my recent weight loss, riding with Smooch or a bit of both.

We parked our bikes near a spring I wanted to see. The wet summer had the grass incredibly high and it was wet. We got drenched from the mid thigh down as we walked through the high grass. As we approached the spring Smooch pointed out the chestnut brown animal head looking at us. It was a cow moose. I saw a bull moose at this same spring last fall. We sat by the spring and I used my elk bugle to call, but no elk answered back. Just before sundown we hiked back to our bikes and started to ride down to our vehicle. Smooch raced ahead of me and as I came around a corner I came upon his bike on the ground and I thought he crashed. I pulled up and he said, I’m fine it’s grouse!. He had scared up some grouse while riding down the hill. There was one sitting in a tree. He got out his arrow with the small game tip and shot it. To our surprise the grouse didn’t fall out of the tree, it flew with his arrow protruding through his body. The grouse flew through the trees, hitting the arrow as he went through the branches, “Dink”, “dink” went the carbon arrow as it hit branches. Then we found the arrow but no grouse. Somehow the arrow came out and the grouse kept going. We searched for the bird for 10 minutes but were unsuccessful.

I noticed we had cell service from this spot and a message from Michael. I was able to call him and he told me that there were heavy rains in Denver and on I-70 that caused a rock slide that closed I-70. Traffic was routed back down to Golden, then up hwy 6 to Central City and then over the Central City highway. He said he hoped he would be at camp before 1 am.

Smooch and I got back to camp had dinner, played a game and went to bed. The rain returned as we went to sleep. At 12:45 am I awoke as Michael and Tyler arrived and went immediately to bed. The alarm was set for 5 am.

5 am came quickly and at 6 am Smooch and I were riding our bikes up the hill, Michael and Tyler were hiking. We were coming out of the fog that had filled the valley when Smooch saw another grouse, this one he killed in one shot. I showed him how to breast the bird and we were back on our bikes. In the distance we heard our first elk bugle. We had a specific place we wanted to hunt and we rode to that spot. Then back into the wet high grass. About 20 minutes later we were joined by Michael and Tyler.

Smooch and I sat together in an area where the grass was not so thick, hoping to dry out a bit. The day was cloudless and we knew it would get warm, it just wasn’t warm yet. The remnants of the fog still lingered in the trees and as the sunlight shone through it, it changed colors like you were standing next to a rainbow where you could not see the whole rainbow but only one color at a time. It was magical. We were there for about 90 minutes before we moved to a spot in the sun where we were able to dry out a bit. We took off our boots and socks and had them dry on a log. The sun was amazingly warm and as our coats dried we put them in our packs.

It was now close to 11 am and there was little if any game movement. It also was getting quite warm which would keep the elk in the deep timber where it was cool. We devised a plan to ride our bikes around to the other side of the valley we were sitting in that happened to meet up at the top of the road we came up in the morning. We would work our way toward Michael and Tyler and they would work their way toward us and hopefully one of us would push game to the other. When Smooch and I arrived at the other end we found the hiking & biking trail that was marked on the map and it led us into the valley. It cut across the valley but it was a nice trail to access where we would head west toward M & T. We started to work our way toward Michael and Tyler and soon we all met up.

At that point we decided to head into camp have lunch and plan the rest of the day. Smooch and I were back at the truck quickly thanks to our bikes. We got to camp first and cleaned up after our quick depart that morning. M&T joined us shortly and we all dried out boots, ate lunch, and told stories. About 3 pm we decided to hike a loop trail that would take us through the forest and end up on the same trail we just found that morning and then it continued onto the trail-head parking lot we hunted out of. We dropped one vehicle and then took the other to the far trail-head.

The Hinman Trail trail-head is right on Hinman creek. A couple of outfitter tents were set up near there. We hiked in and as we did, we met a number of people and dogs coming off the trail. I was beginning to wonder about the wisdom of this hike, but ¼ mile in and further we didn’t see anyone. The hike took us about three hours and we saw some really nice hunting areas. At about the 4.5 mile portion we suddenly jumped three cow elk. Unfortunately by this point three of us had our bows in slings and frankly there was not a shot unless you had a rifle, which of course we didn’t as rifle season doesn’t open for another month. It did prove to us there were elk in the area. We finished the hike and didn’t see any more elk. We did come upon another flock of grouse where Smooch and Michael were successful in bagging another one each.

Back at camp the crisp taste of a cold beer hit my palate like a welcome hug. We made dinner, got through one quick game of cards and everyone was asleep by 10. Seven hours later the alarm rousted us for another day of hunting. No bikes today, Smooch and I would walk up with M & T. As we walked up the mile and a half hill, we would see deer run across the road and then turn to look at us. We would wonder since we were in camouflage if they were questioning why 4 bushes were walking by. As we made it to the halfway point we looked up a 100 yards to see a cow elk and yearling cross the road in front of us. That put a skip in our steps.

At the top of the hill we would separate. M&T would sit and call and Smooch and I would work our way along the higher elevation ridge above the road hoping to see some cow elk. Smooch and I would work the ridge and then return closer to M&T and sit. The day would warm quickly and by 11 we met up with M&T and decided it was time to call it a hunt and return to the camper, have a big lunch and send the boys back to school. So we walked out on a trail of about 2 miles, got into our trucks and returned to camp.

Normally this would be the end of our time in the woods, but as soon as I started getting undressed I realized my wallet was missing. I quickly went through my clothes again and then thought about the last time I checked my wallet. It was right before we got in the truck to leave the camper that morning. Think….Think… damn it! I know where my wallet is. I looked at my fellow hunters and proclaimed I know where my wallet is. I stopped to heed the call of nature this morning, I’m pretty sure that’s when it fell out of my pocket. Which was 2 miles from the trail-head

Michael said “I think that warrants driving through the closed gate” I agreed and we returned to the trail-head which luckily was completely empty. All the other hunters had left for the day as well. We approached the gate only to find that the loggers left their padlock unlocked. We had noticed that before as well and noted the combo just in case. I swung open the gate and up we drove to the top of the hill. I looked at my watch. We got out at the top of the hill and I walked ¼ of a mile to the spot of my restroom break, and there lying on the ground was my wallet. Back to the truck, down through the gate, I looked at my watch 20 minutes and we were done!

Back at camp we made lunch while we broke camp at dropped the camper. As we finished eating a light rain started and our drive out was in a similar rain to what we drove in with. We drove to Steamboat and gassed up the vehicles, got some caffeine for the ride home and the four of us all separated to go our different ways.

As I looked at our crew I realized that we all met when Smooch and Tyler were in first grade when the boys started Cub Scouts. Michael and I would be leaders together for the next 11 years in Scouts. The four of us had all become good friends and those little 7 year old boys we’re now in their 20’s and as comfortable in the forest as you’d expect two Eagle Scouts to be. Both boys following their fathers footsteps, Tyler in ROTC like his Dad, Smooch a Business and Marketing major like his Dad (and Mom).

You think about the circle of life when you hunt because you are in the middle of trying to bag and animal that will feed you and your family. But if you pull back a bit further you get hit by the realization that the circle of life is much bigger, especially as you see the younger generation you helped create step up to take its turn at life.

Labor Day Weekend!

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 14:21:29 GMT

Labor Day Weekend didn't mean much to me as a kid. It wasn't until I started working when it became a weekend to camp with my Mom and Dad. Keeping that tradition, our family now camps on Labor Day weekend as well.

When it involved my parents our favorite place was Dowdy Lake near Red Feather Lakes, CO. My parents would go up a day early and settle in as to not fight the traffic. We would go up on Friday, sometimes getting there in the dark. As the kids grew up that's where we were every Labor Day. I can even remember driving the 75 miles back to Denver for pee-wee football games and then heading back to the hills.

It was at Lake Dowdy where my folks had their last camp out with all of us on Labor Day. I remember about two days before the Friday of Labor Day weekend the President of the company I worked for called an asked if I'd play in a charity golf tournament in a foursome he sponsored on that Friday. It was quite tempting; it was on the private course owned by the founder of ReMax, the Sanctuary. It's only played by him and the charity golf tournaments he allows on the course. I think foursomes were something like $5,000-$10,000 each. But I turned him down explaining I had plans with my family. I would later learn that it was indeed our last camp-out with Mom and Dad, and I'm so glad I followed my heart.

That weekend was a fun one, we had 3 additional couples with us plus my brother Doc and Cindy. It was a very warm Labor Day at 8500 feet of elevation and jumping into the lake from the large granite boulders looked very tempting. It was also very illegal and as soon as we did it, Mr. Ranger came and gave out a ticket to one of my friends. It was my idea to jump in the lake, and my friend got the ticket. Needless to say I still take grief for that one.

It was camping on Labor Day last year that I last spent time with Cindy my sister in law. Who knew we'd lose her just a month later. She was terribly missed this year and our conversations turned to her several times this past weekend. Again another lesson like camping with my folks, you have to do things while you can, when you can. Because time and life really is fleeting.

Since Smooch is now going to school in Grand Junction, we now go west for our Labor Day camp out. The past two years it's been at Lake Dillon near Frisco, CO. That way it's not more than 2.5 hours for anyone to drive there. The unfortunate part is you have to drive up I-70 which is famous for how congested it gets on this holiday. In years past it's been our friends Michael and Angie and their kids, as well as Doc and Cindy. But this year it was just MLW and I, the Engineer, the Norwegian Pescatarian, Smooch and the Nursing Student. MLW and I drove up after work on Thursday and then worked from the camper on Friday which is one off the benefits of working from home. The Engineer and NP came up Friday afternoon and Smooch and NS got in at about 11 pm Friday night.

Thanks to all our snow pack last winter Colorado's reservoirs are full to the brim. That made spending time on the water very enjoyable. MLW and I brought our kayaks and the canoe and Smooch borrowed a couple of inflatable paddle boards from the University. On Saturday we all got out on the water early. While we were out on the water the Frisco marina had a sailboat race, which was really a cool sight to see as the sailboats glided across Lake Dillon. We were on the west side of the lake that is full of little islands which made paddling around them fun.

Sunday we got in a hike and some bike riding, Smooch and the Engineer rode the course that Smooch raced on when he was in high school. Then in the late afternoon Smooch and the NS had to go back as CMU doesn't take Labor Day off. They had to return for classes on Monday morning.

After they left, the Engineer and NP took Bjorn for a canoe ride while MLW and I got in one more bike ride. Then we had a dinner of dutch oven pizzas, played a quick game and called it a night. Monday morning we packed up, had breakfast and were on the road by 10 am and we missed the traffic! We were home in less than two hours.

MLW and I counted our blessings as we drove home. The main blessing being that we had young adult kids that still like to do things with us. We have so much fun when we are together. The laughter rolls, more good memories are made and we just have fun. In February I'll be online reserving sites again for next Labor Day and the family tradition will continue on.

Rudy's Double TPLO Surgery

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 14:05:00 GMT

Last Wednesday, Rudy our 5 year old dog underwent a double tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. If you haven't had a dog need a TPLO surgery, I know for sure your wallet is feeling a bit heavier than mine. Unfortunately this is our second dog to need this surgery.

The TPLO surgery is basically what your dog gets when they injure the knee ligament that in humans we call our anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. In dogs it's called the cranial cruciate ligament. Some dogs are more prone to rupture this ligament than others. As I understand, it's because a dogs knee joint doesn't sit flat, it sits at a downward angle so the femur, the bone above it is held from slipping down the joint by the ACL or CCL. When it ruptures the knee has a lot of movement in the joint because there's no ligament in front of the joint to hold the knee in place. You can imagine how much that would hurt in your knee.

The repair for this isn't to repair the ligament, as ligaments don't really repair well since they don't have a direct blood supply. The surgeon goes in and cuts the tibia bone, realigns the knee so it's top sits level and then screws the bone in place with a plate. Then your dog goes home, basically walking on a broken and screwed together leg, or in our case, legs.

As I said when I started this we have had experience with single TPLO's but never both at the same time. They found that Rudy had completely torn both ACL's when they did he surgery. I was thinking he was already a pretty tough dog, hopefully his healing and rehab will go well. The hospital folks gave us a lots of information before we took him home and let us know the first 72 hours would be the worst. They were right. Humans aren't the best at coming out of anesthesia, but animals are worse. It's a scary thing they don't understand. Because Rudy cannot go up and down stairs by himself for the next 16 weeks I agreed to sleep in the family room with Rudy the first night.

The hospital warned and warned us that Rudy could remove his staples if we didn't have a cone on him when we weren't watching him. He has about 20 staples down the inside of each knee. So I put on his cone collar and instead of laying down like he did before, now he was trying to get it off, walking into furniture and then turning his head so it made a nice loud plastic scraping sound. I tried leaving a light on, that did't help. So we removed the collar and he slept just fine, then I'd put it on thinking he'd fall right back to sleep, but no, the noisy dance would start again. So at 1:30 in the morning while he was asleep and I still wasn't I put a 30 minute timer on my tablet and went to sleep and for the next 2.5 hours that's how I slept in 30 minute increments. At about 5 am I just gave up and slept the final hour before MLW woke up.

Thursday was a long day running on 4 hours of sleep. We had to figure out how to navigate the small number of stairs in and out of our house and you're just plain worried about what the dog can and cannot do. Our friends loaned us a body harness that allows you to pick up their front and their back legs. We would learn that the best way to navigate a stair or two was simply to use the front part of the harness and put an old t shirt under his belly and lift his back legs up. Now almost a week in we know we just need to make sure he doesn't run up or down the stairs.

MLW slept in the family room the second night and Friday night all of us slept in the bedroom. It was better but again with the cone collar on we had to listen to him pace around the room until he found place where her was comfortable. You'd hear him run into something an then scrape across it it until the cone was free.

We've got 8 more days until 10/2 when he gets his staples out and our biggest project is keeping him from licking them or pulling them out. We went out and bought him a fabric cone collar and he likes it better; kind of like how I like mowing the lawn better than picking up dog poo. But it is an improvement and it's much more quiet when he runs into things.

This an adjustment for all of us. Rudy normally has run of the yard and has his own dog door going out from the laundry room. He has to be on leash until the first week of January. The good news is I can finally have him potty where I want him to. He has to pick whose office to spend the day in while we work. I've moved my office down to the main floor for the short term and to get to MLW's office he can walk around the yard to the basement door which is easier on him than the stairs. So we'll change and adapt while he heals and hopefully have a healthy and active dog again for the new year.

Saturday Update: It's been a few days since I wrote this blog, we're now on day 10, the bruising is mostly gone and he's up to walks of a little more than a 100 yards. It's pretty amazing!

Our 30th World Beer Party

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 14:31:24 GMT

August 24th was our 30th World Beer Party. It is hard to fathom we’ve been having this party for 30 years. It all started innocently enough. In 1989 MLW and I bought our first house in Arvada, CO. At the time one of our favorite restaurant/bars was Old Chicago. We would meet friends there or many times just go as a couple and have a few different beers from around the world. It’s where we talked about our new careers, what we wanted to do with our new house and made plans for our new life together.

In those days we played on both coed softball and volleyball. We had a group of friends that also liked to camp. We’d go off to spots in the National forest and camp and set up a volleyball net and try not to twist our ankles playing on the uneven, rocky ground. It was at Old Chicago one night that I told MLW we should have a party and have everyone bring a beer from another country. That way we could try different types of beer and if we did not like them hopefully someone else would.

We set up our first party with horseshoes on the side of our house and the volleyball court in the back. I filled a kiddie pool with ice. The beer started to show up. The year was 1989 so your average liquor store had a very limited beer selection. Most memorable was my friend, now my Dentist, Jim who searched for French beer and finally gave up making labels for the bottles of some other beer that read “La Beer de France”.

The first couple of years I grilled burgers, brats and dogs. One year we decided to have a Mexican theme at the beer party. After filling up with beer and Mexican food, well you can imagine the result; we never did that combo again. Then I bought my first smoker and the food ever since has been smoked meats.

The party has evolved over the years. In the beginning your invite told you what countries you could chose your beer from based on the first letter of your last name. It also told you what type of dish you needed to bring to share. There was one year all we had was smoked meats and desserts. Now you get to pick what beer you bring and what you bring to share is based on time you’ll get to the party. The yard games have evolved too. When we moved to Castle Rock in ’92 I made horseshoe pits. In our 70’x50’ yard that became a bit of a hazard to have large pieces of metal flying through the air while people drank. We then moved onto Bocce ball and tried several other games.

One of my favorite parts of the party is the group that stays late. That’s where the stories come from. I remember having a couple that I knew from scouts who got to drinking and the more they talked the more I wondered how they could stay married. We would find out less than a year later that the wife admitted she had continued an affair with a boyfriend the entire time of their marriage. One story that still makes me giggle has to do with a friend of mine who asked me to go to the beer tub and get him a “Heinie” which is what he called Heineken. As I reached into the tub I saw a Tupperware of sliced limes floating in the water. So I yelled across the party, “Hey Kirk, do you want a lime in your heinie?” As soon as it came out I realized what I said and I couldn’t stop laughing. To this day when ever I see a Heineken I think of that story and it makes me smile.

When we lived in Castle Rock our party would easily attract 70-90 guests. We would have people packed in our little back yard. When we moved to our present house, we now get about 60 people who come. We have had all types of weather, from incredible heat to big thunderstorms. In our first 15 years I think it rained on about 9 of our parties. But we’re now going on probably over 60% rain free. One of our parties it dipped into the low forties. We loaned out coats and sweatshirts and the party kept going.

This year the weather was warm and beautiful. As I got everyone’s attention to let them know it was time to eat. I once again said what I usually say and that is when you can have a party and you can look out and see a yard full of friends, you know regardless of what your bank account says, you’re a rich man. It’s not that it’s just something I say, I say it because it touches me each year the number of good friends who come. They all can’t make it every year and that’s fine. But when they can, it’s a special treat as is each of their friendships.

Will we make it to 40? Who knows, but we don’t have any plans to stop the party any time soon.

I took my Heart, to San Francisco

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 14:36:21 GMT

This past weekend was my companies annual meeting this year it was held in the suburb of San Francisco, Burlingame, CA. If you’ve traveled to San Francisco you may know that Burlingame is where the airport hotels are. It’s not the most glamorous or fun places we’ve gone on these trips, especially since some of them have been to Maui, but it’s a nice weekend away.

It’s company policy that your spouse or significant other gets to come along and of course MLW came with me. It was a short trip, we came in on Thursday morning, had a short meeting Thursday afternoon, then the welcome dinner. Friday was our free day, Saturday we had meetings from 8 am until 2, and then had to be on the buses by 4:30 to go into San Francisco for our farewell dinner.

On Thursday when we got to the hotel, we checked in and walked the mile and a half to our favorite brewery, Steel Head and had a light lunch and a beer. As we talked to the bartender we realized she was the same bartender we had 3 years ago. Her most notable characteristic was she was a big KC Chiefs fan. When I asked her how long she had worked there and she said over 10 years, we mentioned we were there before. She responded I thought so, in fact you sat in these same seats and she remembered I worked for a restaurant chain.

I’m sure you don’t really care about what we talk about on these trips. Most of you aren’t in the fried chicken business so I’ll just move on and talk about our free day. This is the second one of these meetings MLW and I have been to in the San Francisco area. The last time we were here for at least one extra day and we spent that time in the city. San Francisco is fun but I really wanted to get to the coast this year.

MLW and I were talking on Tuesday morning before we left and I mentioned I thought it would be nice to go over to Half Moon Bay on Friday and maybe see the ocean and spend our time over there. Not an hour later our friends Cindy and Nick who are our favorite couple to do things with on company trips sent me a text that said something like “since you guys are landlocked how about if we get together on Friday and go to Half Moon Bay and then we can go up the coast and see some sights and have a nice lunch and dinner later." Other than wondering if our house was bugged, we readily agreed. Cindy and Nick live in Sacramento, so she had her company car. Off we went Friday morning.

The first thing you notice when you’re up there is how cool the ocean breezes are. They were cool, in fact I could have used long sleeves. But we spent some time in Half Moon Bay, then drove up the coast to San Francisco where we had a cocktail at the Cliff House and then we returned to Half Moon Bay that evening for dinner at a restaurant called Mezza Luna. It was a really fun day.

Our farewell dinner was at the Aquarium of the Bay which is on pier 39. Going into San Francisco on a motor coach is always amazingly slow. But the evening was nice, and we got home in plenty of time to pack up and set our alarms for 5 am so we could make our 7:30 flight.

As expected, 5 am came early and off we went to the airport or our trip home.

But what I really realized, which is something maybe I’ve forgotten or maybe it’s something we’ve just gotten better at and that is I love traveling with MLW. We don’t travel the same, I like to be early, and she doesn’t mind if she gets through security and walks onto the plane. But there’s a comfort and familiarity when we travel. We laugh at the silly things we see; we tolerate and feel sorry for the people who are so self-absorbed they really don’t know what is going on and we just have fun. But the best part is the comfort of traveling with her. It’s a mix of predictability with a bit of spontaneity mixed in. It’s traveling with my best friend.

Happy Birthday Smooch!

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 14:05:15 GMT

20 years ago today, son #2, Smooch was born. Two decades, can it really have been that long ago? Smooch was originally planned to follow the Engineer by about 2 years. But right about the time we were considering child number 2, the Engineer at 2 years old suddenly could not walk on Christmas morning. I’ll talk about that experience on the Engineers birthday, but what followed that Christmas for the Engineer was a week in Children’s Hospital and then a month in a body cast. After that experience MLW said “ I don’t think I was cut out to be a Mom, I don’t want to do that again I don’t want to have another child.”

If you remember the 4th of July blog, you’ll remember 21 years ago as a rambunctious Engineer ran us ragged on a camping trip, the idea of a second child finally became appealing. That’s why our boys are 5 years and 8.5 months apart. But today I’m talking about the birth of Smooch on a Friday morning at the end of July. I actually missed Smooch being born. Let’s start with that story.

MLW woke me up shortly after midnight on that early Friday morning July 30, 1999. I called my mom to come up and stay at the house with the Engineer who was in kindergarten. She was at the house in 15 minutes. She knew she was on call so she had her bag packed and was ready for the call. Off MLW and I went to Rose Medical Center where a very unpleasant attending female doctor told MLW that her water did not break and we should walk the halls for a while to see if we could get the labor started. We walked the halls most of that early morning. At 6 am the attending wanted to send MLW home. MLW said “if you send me home I’m coming back in an ambulance because it’ll be rush hour”. Hesitantly the attending checked MLW one more time, “You’re dilated to 6-7 centimeters, we’ll admit you.” she said. They called MLW’s OB and we were thankfully done with Dr. Grumpy.

We finally got settled in a delivery room, which was coincidentally the same room the Engineer was born in. MLW asked for an epidural and they gave her one. While I helped steady her for that, I almost passed out. So after she got settled I asked if I could get something to eat to balance out my blood sugar. OK said MLW, “but don’t be long, I think this is going to be quick”. “Quick? Do babies come quick?” I thought. The engineer took 33 hours to come out, I had some time. Oh no I didn’t! I was eating a corn muffin in the hospitals outside picnic area, When I went inside I was being paged to return to labor and delivery. I hurried to the elevator, scurried to the room and as I hit the door I heard crying inside! I missed the delivery. Now I was about to join in the crying.

It turned out as the contractions got closer there were some scary signs on the monitors about what was happening to Smooch. The Doctor told MLW, “we should deliver now, do you want to wait for your husband?” Wisely she said “no I want a healthy baby,” Smooch came out fast, as MLW predicted. As luck would have it there was a high risk birth going on just down the hall, so when I arrived they handed me Smooch and all but MLW’s nurse went to assist down the hall, so Smooch and I got to be together for about a half an hour before they came back in and took him to be cleaned up. I remember how much he squirmed, the nurse said “ oh he’s going to be an active one…” A simple comment that would be so prophetic.

I’m going to skip ahead. What I haven’t mentioned is that Smooch isn’t home today. This not only marks his 20th birthday but also his first without a parent. This is his first without either of us. We will see him and celebrate on Thursday of this week when he comes home.

So his birthday celebration fell on his girlfriend, and she didn't disappoint. Formerly referred to as “movie girl” instead I’ll call her the Nursing Student, or NS for short. NS let MLW know this past weekend that she had a surprise party planned for Smooch last night that would occur at midnight when it was his birthday. While I haven’t heard many details, and maybe I don’t want to, he was very touched by the party and the gifts his friends gave him. To make it even better NS is taking him out for dinner tonight.

As I heard him talk about his party and the number of friends that showed up with gifts, I couldn’t help but remember just 8 years ago when he was in middle school. In those days Smooch had what could be described as debilitating contamination based OCD. While middle school is a miserable time for most pre-teens, it was truly hell on earth for Smooch. MLW and I spent so much time trying to explain what he was going through to his educators, the majority of which didn’t really “get it” and frankly nor did they want to even try. I remember opening a meeting with his teachers with a prepared statement where I tried to convey what OCD meant to him. My voice cracked as I recalled a situation where Smooch with tears in his eyes said he had no friends at school, mostly because of his odd behavior that his OCD required. Most parents would be able to name a few kids that were their child's friends. But I was speechless, because he was right, he had no friends at school.

While MLW and I miss not being with Smooch on his actual birthday, what truly is amazing is the adult Smooch continues to evolve into since beating OCD in his Sophomore year of High School. There’s a saying you don’t get to choose your relatives and that extends to your children. But given the choice I’d choose both our boys again. Birthdays are about telling people that we’re glad you were born. I like to take it another step further, that the world is better today because you were born. That message goes out to all the folks who read this, including MLW, the Engineer and Smooch. All of which I firmly believe have made the world better because they were born. So Happy 20th Birthday Smooch, the world IS a better place because you’re here.

Nicknames

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 14:08:59 GMT

Did you ever think much about nicknames? Not so much the mean ones you got in grade school but the ones you got later in life. MLW is a big nicknamer. She gives them not just to me but most anyone. If she’s given you a nickname you’ve likely made her very comfortable. She has given me many. Some symbolic, some just because she liked the nickname. I remember driving through rural Illinois 20 years ago an she saw on a mailbox the name, Chauncey. “Chauncey”, she said “that’s a great name, I wish you were named Chauncey!” And miraculously I was. To this day she still gets my attention by saying “Hey Chaunc..”

The nicknames I miss the most are the ones I don’t hear anymore. Those are the ones I got from friends that are no longer with us. I thought I’d talk about a few of those. The first one is just my full name. It was said like this: (voice going up) Pat- (down and up) rick, (accent on the J) James! You’ve probably known that one because the only reason we really get middle names is to know if our mother is mad. That’s what it sounded like. From my earliest ages to the end of Mom’s life, if she thought I was behaving badly, or said something I shouldn’t. That’s what I heard.

About thirty years ago, a 3-year-old named Ashley Keller, while reading Pat the Bunny, realized the similarity to my name and said to her Mom, “we know a Patty Rabbit”, and that nickname was born. MLW snatched that one up too and still to this day will refer to me as "Patty Rab". I haven’t seen Ashley since those days, she probably has kids of her own. Her parents and us were good friends when I worked for Target, but we lost track shortly after I left, well their divorce didn’t help either.

Other than Patty Rabbit, only one person called me Patty. I wish I could hear her voice again as she was truly one of our sweetest friends. In fact we loved her, her husband and family so much that we moved into their neighborhood. Some of you may have guessed it, that was Deb Wampler. I would come into their home and be greeted with “Hello Patty” or it would be used in a sentence like, “Patty, why don’t you and Steve go get another bottle of wine.” Or my favorite way when Steve and I commuted to work together “Now Patty, Steve needs to be home early tonight so make sure he quits work on time.” It takes a special person to make Patty sound like a good name for me, and Deb was that person.

That leads me to one if you know our family you know I’m headed to it. “Pat Jones, Pet Detective”. That one came from my sister in law Cindy. I never really knew where she came up with it. I called over to talk with my brother Doc one night in the early 1990’s and she saw my name on caller ID and answered the phone “Pat Jones, Pet Detective” and the greeting stuck. It wasn’t so much a nickname as it was phone greeting. In any other situation she would say “Oh, Pat…” However, if I called on the phone I’d hear Pat Jones Pet Detective, and a little chuckle. That’s another voice I long to hear.

Then there is my very first nickname and the only one I ever got to add to. To my Dad, from the youngest age I can remember, I was Patrick James Aloysius Alligator Jones. Which was fine until I was about 4 when I approached may Dad and said I wanted to add “Perfect Tractor” to my name. From that point forward, I was Patrick Aloysius Alligator Perfect Tractor Jones. This all seems harmless enough but my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Smith, did not find it amusing on the day we all had to say our full names. When it was my turn, she was expecting to hear Patrick James Jones, but no I was insistent my name was Patrick James Aloysius Alligator Perfect Tractor Jones. I remember it being a long discussion between the two of us. Apparently at one point I finally said Patrick James Jones, she was so excited she said tell me your name one more time, and you guessed it, it came out as Patrick James Aloysius Alligator Perfect Tractor Jones. I can still see the frustration in Mrs. Smith’s face. My Dad loved that story, and even at 55 that too is another voice I wish I could hear speaking that nickname.

My most recent nickname is the name of my blog; Pat Daddy. That was a name given to me by some of my Scouts their Junior year in High School. It all started when Smooch put a in big white letters across his windshield “Phat Daddy”. It wasn’t long before one of his friends and one of my Eagle Scouts threatened to remove the “h”. That’s when he named me Pat Daddy. You know if a teenager gives you a nickname, that’s a distinct honor. So, I still wear that nickname. It really came into its own while I hiked at Philmont Scout Ranch with my group of 6 older scouts. It also ended up as a big sticker across the windshield of my truck when I woke up on Christmas morning that year.

As I reflect on it now, MLW isn’t the only person who gives nicknames to special people in her life, it’s a pretty consistent theme with many people. When these names are created out of affection, they almost give us an alter ego. Clark Kent may have also been Superman, but to special people in my life I wasn’t just Pat, I was any of the names I just discussed, and heck today I’m Pat Daddy. I just wish Mom, Dad, Deb and Cindy were here to hear it.

An Empty-nester Weekend

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 14:15:26 GMT

It was Friday morning last week and any attempts to find someone to do something with, as meager as those attempts were, came back empty. MLW looked at me as she headed down to her office and said "it's your turn figure out what we're doing tonight." In many ways I was glad we were alone, I had things I wanted to do that I'm not sure who else would enjoy them.

So at about 3 pm I went into the garage and got all of MLW's new fly fishing equipment and her waders and wading shoes and put mine in as well. Next I got our portable table, two chairs and a camp stove. In the house I filled a cooler with some beer, some cocktail fixings, some cocktail snacks an the dinner I was going to cook. I also threw in a cast iron skillet some seasonings. Then I went back to work.

5 pm came before I knew it and MLW got done. I told her we were going to the South Platte river below Sprucewood and we were going to have cocktails, dinner and a fly fishing lesson. She changed her clothes, put on her fishing shirt and off we went. We were at the river in about 40 minutes and found a spot along the river to pull over and have our dinner about 10 minutes later.

It could not have been more beautiful. Our little spot looked across the river to a giant granite face that wet up probably 250 feet. I poured our cocktails and after some time dinner followed. After dinner we packed up, went further downstream and did a little fly fishing lesson and a little fishing. At dusk we packed up and drove home refreshed from our evening in nature.

On Saturday morning we met some of the kids and parents from the Venture crew and rode one of our favorite mountain bike trails. After which we returned home with one Venture scout in tow which I had hired to help me with my project of washing all our windows. It was a hot day so when the work was over MLW and I got a showered, then we headed to see my brother Doc.

The three of us headed into Old Town Arvada in search of dinner and craft beer. The storm that was looming to the south of us decided to come north. We watched it rain while we ate dinner and then when we left it looked as if it stopped. But no, we learned we were just watching the opening credits. The storm came in with a vengeance. Doc and MLW worked their way finding each over hang and tree between them and the brewery. I ran to the car to get the raincoats we had left in the car. 20 yards from the car the rain went from rain to down pour and I dove into the car as lightning crashed all around.

The storm raged and I finally was able to move the vehicle closer to the brewery and walk to it. The brewery was packed as the people came in off the patio to escape the storm. The crowd slowly dissipated, the band stopped and we moved out to the wet patio for a game of cribbage. After that we called it a night and drove back home.

Sunday started with 9 am yoga in the park. After that we went home and I spent the next 5 hours working on the bathroom. (yea, the same one I started writing about in January) We had dinner on the deck and watched an amazing sunset. Although we did activities with a few people, for the most part the weekend was MLW and I. As the last rays of sun came over the mountains and illuminated MLW's face, I remembered again how lucky I am. Because our "nest" may just have the two of us in it, but it's far from empty..

A Fourth to Remember

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 13:57:21 GMT

The summer seemed to be speeding away. MLW and I always had something to do, I was fighting with this arm and grip thing while other projects, like my bathroom remodel were languishing. Missing was the incredible summer heat, as we just started to have consistently warm days and that was after the actual start of summer. Smooch has spent his summer in Grand Junction and we don’t see much of the Engineer these days, we needed a vacation to pull us all back together. So we set the 4th of July weekend as just that weekend.

We started to pull this together about 3 weeks before the actual date. Too close to the date to make plans to stay in our campers at an actual campground. We’d have to go “dry” camping, where we would pull the campers back in the national forest. I suggested one of my favorite places, Texas Creek above Taylor Reservoir. We were there 20 years ago and I remember just how hard it was to find a place to camp on the 4th of July week. We bounced our truck and camper in quite a way before we found a spot back then and I wondered how many people would be there this weekend.

Our plan this year was that MLW and I took off Weds and Fri and we were the ones to find the spot. We’d meet Smooch at the reservoir, and we’d be joined by Micheal and Angie our friends, their son and daughter, and the engineer and Norwegian Pescatarian too. 5 days to have a family vacation and we’d have a great time. By Tuesday evening we were packed and ready, and on the road by 7:30 Wednesday morning. Our plan was to travel to Buena Vista, then over Cottonwood pass and drop into Taylor park, which is the name of the area we would be camping in. We pulled the trailer to Buena Vista, topped off the gas and drove the next block to the left turn on the road over the pass, and the sign said “Cottonwood Pass Closed” Yes the “cost” of all our water this season was in the incredible amount of snow pack we had in the state and Cottonwood wasn’t even open yet. Time for plan B.

Plan B was not all that hard, It’s about 90 minutes from Buena Vista to Gunnison, CO where you can join the other road that comes into Taylor Park. While we had cell coverage, we sent texts to everyone to plan for another 90 minutes and to go through Gunnison and off we went. Down to Poncha Springs and west over Monarch pass. We got to Gunnison a bit before Smooch, then grabbed a quick bite and off we went. The drive was beautiful as we drove along the Taylor river. After about an hour we found ourselves at Taylor Reservoir. Then we found the turnoff to Texas Creek. This has always been a rocky, bumpy road and it has not gotten any better over the years. But the amazing thing was we drove in and after the first mile where all the 4 wheelers and side by side owners stay, there was no one on the Texas Creek. We had our pick of the spots and we found a good one.

Texas creek was running higher than I’ve ever seen. Easily 2 ft higher. We set up the camper and expected everyone else to arrive on the Thursday the 4th. We went for a short ride and came up with two injuries. Rudy our dog would not stand on his hind leg after the ride and MLW had a nasty crash that would leave her with a bruise the size of a dessert plate on her thigh and a big a scrape on her left forearm and a bruise on that same forearm that went from her hand to her elbow. That evening we had a nice steak dinner with Smooch and caught up, then played some games in the camper and called it a day.

We were parked near the creek and those areas always get the coldest, and the cold air came in strong Wednesday night, well, every night for that matter, especially given we were at about 9500 ft.. You’d wake in the mornings to a thick layer of frost and a warm sun. The peaks around up were still white with snow and it was as beautiful as post card. The bugs were almost nonexistent until for about an hour at dusk when the mosquitoes would come out.

With the extra drive time we expected the rest of the crew to be considerably later. But to our amazement, Michael, Angie and Tyler all came driving into our site at 8 am on the fourth. They had driven to Gunnison, spent the night and came up first thing in the morning. The Engineer and NP were there by 2 pm on the 4th. Everyone found us, including Lindsey who came up on Friday.

Although this was only our 3rd time to this area, it has a special part in our history. It was 21 years ago on this same weekend on Texas Creek when our friends didn’t show up to camp with us as promised and MLW and I were left to entertain the then 4 year-old version of the engineer. “why don’t I have a brother or sister?” he’d ask, and we started to wonder the same thing. About a year later we had Smooch.

Our activities included fishing both in Texas Creek and Taylor Reservoir. We found a relatively long section of the creek where the water was flat and shuttled our folks up to float down it. The float was about 45 minutes and we did it in kayaks, an inflatable raft and Michael and Angie floated it in their belly boats. We also kept busy hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.

On Saturday afternoon we had camp Olympics, where we broke into the three teams and competed in 5 games. The teams were Michael, the Engineer and me, MLW, Angie and NP and the youngest folks; Smooch, Tyler and Lindsey. We gave our teams funny names, which were not necessarily meant for print and had fun. In the end we all had a great time and finished the weekend dinners with a taco night provided by Michael and Angie and a long campfire.

It was 4-5 days together, a long weekend and the ability to celebrate friendships in our beautiful mountains. The fishing wasn’t great, but the weather, the place and the people were. Another memory to tuck away with a bunch of pictures taken to help us remember this wonderful weekend where we met in the mountains to get away for a bit. We always knew where we were, but we could easily say we were lost in the weekend.

Baptisted? At Your Age?

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 14:16:13 GMT

With record snow in the mountains and run-off in the rivers, why would anyone get in the river in their clothes? Well MLW and I did it yesterday, the occasion was to be Baptized. Before you think we came upon some cult and we've given all our money away and plan to sell our house and move to a commune, relax, it's not that kind of thing.

I have not written much about the church we are attending right now. It's a small church, and yes I mean small, like under 50 members In Sedalia. The name is Plum Creek Chapel. We started going there at the start of Lent. MLW was looking for a church with some new lessons. Our long time church of 23 years was getting stale. I really like the pastor of that church but it got to where we could play sermon bingo. You know, the sermons underlying message was the same; there's "share meals with others", ooh! I just heard "they'll know we are Christians by our actions!" and here comes "we need to talk with others who have differing opinions" and wait for it... "we all have welcoming people in our lives who we love to go to their home and we don't care what it looks like" that and the free space... BINGO!

In Lent we started going to this little church. Our first experience was very welcoming, the service was simple, Opening prayer, a few songs, announcements, another song, a centering prayer and a 40 minute sermon. Then a wrap up song and done. 40 minute sermon you say? Yes 40 minutes of the closest thing to a college level lecture you've heard and it's about the bible. Including cross references to other books in the Bible Old and New Testament all making the same point. If you questioned if religion is just for the opiate of the masses, and you wondered if the Bible is just a nice book of how to get along but it's not true, you gotta hear this.

We had a great first experience. What about staying power? Did we hit just the Pastors Lenten series, was this a one time fluke? So far no. The message each week is fresh, the understanding is laid out and it's frankly unlike any preaching I've ever heard. The Pastor Jon Schrag is also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and probably one the best read persons you'll ever meet.

Sunday was the annual church picnic and summer service at the pastors home on Hwy 67 in the Pike Nat'l Forrest. The location, if you know the area, is close to The Sprucewood Inn. So when they started mentioning the picnic, they also mentioned anyone interested could be Baptized after the service. MLW and I both thought about this when one day after the service MLW said to me "hey I was thinking about being Baptized." To which I replied "me too!" So a week ago at the end of our service we told Pastor Jon we wanted to be Baptized. His face lit up and said, "Do you like a pond or the river?" Gary another member said "take the river you'll like it better." "Ok we'll take the river" MLW said, then she asked the follow up question, "so what type of Baptism is it?" "Full Immersion", Jon said with a smile. Whoa that'll be refreshing I thought.

So Sundays service came and it was really nice. With the 4th of July we had patriotic songs and Hymns and the sermon, short for the occasion was on the role of prayer at the Continental Congress when they were writing the Constitution. A fascinating story in an of itself. Then the service ended, the food folks started getting the grills going, and down to the river we went.

The Baptism spot was just at the bottom of West Pine Creek Road and Platte River road, turn right and go 1/10 th of a mile and there's a pull off. Rafters were getting ready to go, there we some sunbathers along the river and fisherman was casting just 50 yards up the river. Next to a big granite rock that slopes into the river was a pool about 4 ft. deep. Pastor Jon read a short scripture and then explained the process and walked into the water and the baptisms began. As much as Jon tried to hide it, what we already expected was true, that water was COLD! He did two young boys likely 12 and 14 and then it was MLW’s turn, out she went, He asked her the baptism questions and down she went and now it was my turn.

I looked at Jon who had been in the cold water well over 8 minutes now so I scurried down the rock and got in the water. Immediately the cold hit me, then the inability to catch my breath, oh my gosh! I have to go under this water? I feel more like I jumped into someone's Icy glass of Lemonade, if I can't catch my breath how am I going to go under water? As these thoughts raced through my mind Jon began the Baptism question. My answer was "I do", then "I now Baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and down I went back into the icy water and back up again. I didn't die.

Everyone clapped and I thought I stood there for a moment soaking up the experience. But the video shows the truth, I was scurrying out of the river just about as fast as I could. The sun was warm and within a minute I really just felt refreshed and it was a great experience. Baptism is supposed to symbolize your death and rebirth. I have to say that cold water really drove that point home, because I thought if I got dunked in that water I was going to die!

Some of you may be wondering why I chose to be Baptized. For me the decision was one I was shocked at it's simplicity. When I married MLW I stood in front of God and my friends and pledged to honor and take care of MLW for the rest of my life. But with all the gifts I have received from God, I've never formally made a similar covenant. I've never really said in front of a group of people that I believe in Jesus. I have now.

Of course I'll still make all the human mistakes we humans make. Kinda like my dog does that make me crazy but I still love the dog. I hope like I forgive and love my dog and realize he's always going to be a dog, that Christ will see the same kind of thing in me, that I can't be anything but human and that includes all the fallibility that is human.

So This is Enduro

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:26:38 GMT

Son #2, Smooch, told us about a month ago he signed up to ride his first enduro mountain bike race. The Grand Enduro was held over the weekend in Grand Junction, so MLW (My lovely wife) and I went over to work a bit on the college house and support Smooch in his new bike racing endeavor. We were also joined by my brother Doc.

Some of you may know that Smooch raced mountain bikes in high school. That type of mountain bike racing was called cross country and as the name implies these were races of distance, usually around 24 miles. Enduro is different as it's all about going as fast as you can downhill over some gnarly rocks and trails. Then the riders have some time to get to the next stage and they do another gnarly section. and so on. On Saturday afternoon Smooch raced in a prelude, a short down hill race where he was timed so he could get a starting position for the race. Kind of like car racers get pole positions. He got third in his division which meant he would be the third racer after the pros went through on Sunday. He set three goals for his ride; hit 50 mph on the course, finish in the top 5 and have fun.

I wasn't able to do the pre-ride with Smooch, but he was joined on his pre-ride for the first section by MLW and Doc. My first view of this section was Sunday morning at the race. The first section was called the ribbon and it's a long down hill made of a giant stone slab, like the slick rock that is so famous in Moab. The trail is marked for the race by small cones down this bumpy rock MLW described as the surface of the moon. Riders zoom down this rock hitting speeds between 40-60 mph. At the bottom it drops off sharply in a section they call the toilet bowl. This is a feature that really underscores the talent of these riders because it is a giant downhill of eroded rock that has a downhill slope of easily 50 degrees. The riders maneuver this in a matter of seconds and race on from there.

This area transitions into a wash where the racers speed is tracked for what they call the speed trap. At this section Smooch was going 49 mph and actually won the the speed trap as the fastest amateur man racer. We didn't see these things because when you watch a mountain bike race, you are stationary and the bikes are moving. After Smooch made it down the toilet bowl, we walked back to the car and drove to the next section where we were able to see Smooch resting at the first aid station.

The next section we were unable to watch as it was held far away from the road, and we had no time to get to that portion, so we only were able to watch Smooch come out of the section after racing. He had to ride into the start area and raced through the finish, then pedaled out where we met him where the trail crosses the road. There we gave him some water, he pedaled uphill to the next section. We drove to the finish where we hiked up the trail to a high spot where we were able to see him come in for the finish. He flew by us in flash and crossed the finish line.

Then it was off to get a shower and await the results that would be announced at the sponsoring bar and restaurant (the Handlebar) at 5 pm. Colin anxiously rested at home while MLW and I got a few more repairs to the college house done. We returned to the Handle Bar just as they were posting the results. Smooch came in third place and that's where he learned he also won the speed trap. He was elated and as he awaited the awards ceremony he was already making arrangements for his next race.

I had thought when the high school racing season was over that it was another activity I enjoyed but was glad it was over. All the days we spent walking up and down mountains to see Smooch and his fellow riders zoom by I thought I'd never miss. But I was mistaken. Mountain bikers are an interesting breed. They compete like any other athlete but at the same time they support each other. They race outdoors in beautiful arenas not built by man but made by God and maintained by people. They give you a sense of optimism as they train, practice and race for modest prizes that the human desire to compete and improve, isn't just a dream driven by the promise of big money, but being your personal best. A personal best that isn't just how you compete but how you interact with your fellow riders.

Life as a Landlord

Tue, 21 May 2019 04:34:46 GMT

May 15 was closing day on the Grand Junction student house. We timed it with finals week so we could move Smooch ( son #2) out of his campus apartment and into the house all in one move.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends we inherited a couch, love seat, coffee table, chair, bed frame, futon and a kitchen table. Along with the other furniture we had for the house, we had quite a haul. The challenge became getting these across the mountains to Grand Junction. I considered a U-haul trailer on the back of our truck but the more I took measurements the more it became obvious I needed to make the move with a rental truck. We rented a 15' truck from U-haul and loaded it up. At first I thought we'd never fill it up, but did a pretty good job and I'm glad I didn't go smaller.

The drive over was uneventful. MLW (My lovely wife) followed in our truck with the dog and our bikes. I have to admit I was really surprised at the advances in moving trucks. When driven in "hauling mode" the truck did great. On the passes when coming downhill the truck would not only brake but downshift and hold the speed without much braking at all. It made the passes easy. Also if you want to feel appreciated bring a rental truck to a college town in time for college move out. I have relatives that aren't that happy to see me.

Smooch finished his last final just in time to take Rudy the dog from us so we could attend the closing. The closing went smooth as could be. The sellers were nice folks just like their actions lead us to believe. Then we were off to load up Smooches apartment and move into the new house.

We got Smooch moved out off his apartment, which included helping clean due to his very messy roommate and then got the furniture in the house and it was off to get a late dinner.

Thursday we ran errands, I made small repairs around the house while MLW cleaned and set up the kitchen cabinets. I also painted over the red and gold accent walls in the house. Then Smooch took us on a mountain bike ride. Fun, challenging an beautiful as it ran along and above the Colorado river. Smooch also showed off his biking skills as he took his bike down an amazingly difficult and technical downhill called Horse Thief Bench. (MLW and I hiked down that part)

Friday it was back to Home Depot and Walmart while we did more work around the house. We prepped the evaporative cooler for new season which included some painting and scraping made a few more repairs The Engineer (son #1) and his dog Bjorn showed up about 11 am Friday as well. Friday we had a late lunch and took the dogs on a 5 mile hike. We were joined by Colin's girlfriend "movie girl", who spent a few nights with us before she headed home. The hike was beautiful as the dessert flowers we all in bloom. There were literally valleys between the red rock cliffs that were covered in hundreds of flowers swaying in the breeze.

Saturday we had a few things that had to happen before we could play, the evaporative cooler had to be put together, water hooked up and run. We also had a few sprinkler repairs to complete. Smooch wanted to go on another ride with all off us and we wanted to make sure the Engineer got to spend some time in Palisade where we could show him the brewery and distillery.

The additional projects were done in the morning and we were off to ride the trails we had walked the day before. The trails were really fun and challenging again. There were a few parts where the trail went right along a cliff and that was exciting/frightening. We got a nice ride in, headed back to the house for showers and off to Palisade. We had another fun evening.

Sunday we packed up and cleaned up and prepped for the drive back. I finally got to show Smooch how to run the 1978 Lawn Boy mower I purchased for him. I didn't think much about it when I bought it, but that mower was made in the days before safety features and with it's two cycle engine it was loud. He looked at me and said "this is terrifying!" I had to laugh and agree.

We got out of town about noon. When we left the house was clean and set up. It's a comfortable little house and Smooch even said, I like this so much I don't really think I want a bunch of roommates. I had to agree, it was the right house to purchase and it was not a run down college house. In the Glenwood Canyon we met up with the Engineer who was kind enough to take Rudy home for us while we stopped in Gypsum to visit some friends. We got home about 8 pm.

We'll be back in two weeks to watch Smooch ride the Grand Enduro, his first enduro race. I look forward to going back to the house, because until August it's really just our second house, and it's a fun place to spend time with Smooch and whatever family and friends choose to come along.

A Peaceful Easter

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 14:02:30 GMT

As our family continues to mature, Easter is quickly becoming one of my favorite holidays. They have become so much calmer than the days of sugar loaded children running about and trying so hard to make everything fit into one day. Our Easter was one of the best yet.

Easter weekend started with Smooch coming home from Grand Junction on Friday afternoon. I unfortunately wasn't here, I was in Fresno, CA in a settlement conference trying to resolve a claim that was about to go to trial. I wouldn't get home until 2 am Saturday morning. But Friday night MLW had both the boys over for dinner and games. They had a great time.

Saturday morning was our warmest day yet of the Spring and we reached about 80 degrees. Smooch, MLW and I got out for a mountain bike ride and then we ran some errands while Smooch went over to his girlfriends house. (I still need a nickname for her, oh well I'm working on it.) When we got home I made caramel pecan rolls for Easter morning.

Easter morning as has been our family tradition, the Easter baskets were hidden and MLW, Smooch and I headed off to church where we met the Engineer and the Norwegian Pescatarian. To our surprise we were also joined by NP's parents as well. We've been going to a small church in Sedalia for the past 6 weeks. I do mean small, like 40 members small, so our family group was definitely noticed. The Pastor, John, really can preach and he didn't disappoint.

After church everyone came back to the house for coffee, mimosas and caramel pecan rolls, including NP's parents. The engineer and NP went home to change and bring over their dog Bjorn. My brother Doc and his dog Haley showed up about one Just in time to color an egg or two. We played spike ball while our brunch finished up in the oven and we ate about 3 pm. Smooch said grace and in that pointed out how our table was missing several people, not only Cindy, but his Grandparents whom all were such a big part of his Easters growing up.

After brunch we had our Easter egg hunt where Doc and I hid the eggs for Smooch, Engineer and NP to search for them. Doc really likes to hide eggs. He puts an amazing amount of though into each eggs' placement and frankly you need to be on your game to find them. The last egg found was the Prize Egg and it was found by NP. After a less than extravagant award ceremony in which NP was handed her chocolate chick, we played more spike ball. Smooch had to drive back to Grand Junction at about 5 pm, and everyone departed soon after.

The house was empty by 6 pm and cleaned and mopped by 6:30. It was a beautiful spring day with some clouds and a few showers but also some sun for fun outdoors. It was Easter with grown kids and adults, another chapter of our life both unfolding before us and becoming part of our family story.

Grace? She passed away thirty years ago

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 14:02:57 GMT

In one of our families favorite Christmas movies, Christmas Vacation, the character of Aunt Bethany is asked to say Grace on Christmas Eve. Aunt Bethany doesn't hear very well so when the family members try to convey to her what has been asked of her, all she hears is "Grace" to which she replies "Grace? she passed away 30 years ago." An amusing scene in the movies but taken on it's own, it's a daunting comment on today's society.

I was at a gathering of what I'd call our "Church friends" even though we have known each other so long few of us go to church together anymore. We have a time at this gathering where we share our joys and concerns and it's usually started off with a prayer or a message to reflect on. Our friend Diane started off our cares and concerns with this message:

A Litany for Lent

We fast from judging others,

but feast on patience.

We fast from apparent differences,

but feast on unity of all life.

We fast from words that pollute,

but feast on words that affirm.

We fast from complaining,

but feast on appreciation.

We fast from bitterness and anger,

but feast on forgiveness and mercy.

We fast from discouragement,

but feast on hope.

We fast from suspicion,

but feast on trust.

We fast from idle gossip,

but feast on purposeful silence.

We fast from problems that overwhelm,

but feast on prayer that strengthens.

When she reached "We fast from bitterness and anger, but feast on forgiveness and mercy" she stopped and made the comment that it seems so prevalent in today's society that we have cameras on everyone just waiting to see them make a mistake. Her comment really asked "Where's the grace in today's society?"

Grace and issues of grace have come up while trying to find a student house in Grand Junction. When our realtor missed the first objection date on the first house we made an offer on, I didn't make a big deal about it because something didn't feel right anyway. When we were done with the conversation she thanked me for my "grace"over her mistake. The word hit me, I have the power to give grace? It's such a biblical word and usually used in sentences like "by the grace of God." I don't really think I measure up to anyone saying "by the grace of Pat Daddy."

As we have interacted more with Linda the realtor, I found she uses the word grace with relative frequency. When you have the chance either get angry or forgive she'll say "sometimes you just need to give people a little grace." "A little grace." A concept that conjures up thought of other magical things where a small amount makes a big difference, like "pixie dust." You remember pixie dust from Peter Pan, just a little pixie dust and you could fly. In that same thought when you share with another person a "little grace" you remove the weight of guilt and let them fly too.

What's amazing is we all have an endless supply of the magical and empowering grace. In our own little way we can see a change in people and make our own difference by spreading grace. You really could make someones day better by the grace of ________(insert your name)! So as we approach Easter where we celebrate the resurrection, lets resurrect Grace. She wasn't really dead anyway, just forgotten like the concept and power we once dreamed of in pixie dust.

My Last Eagle Scout

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 19:13:52 GMT

On Sunday March 3rd, I was the emcee of the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for the last young man I watched go all the way from Tiger Cub to Eagle Scout. It was for me an end of an era. It was 20 years ago in 1999 when I got back into Scouting with son #1 as he joined Tiger cubs in the first grade.

While I'm still active in Scouting at both the district level and as Crew Advisor for newly created Venture Crew 6448, the chapter of my life where I'll have an impact on the same boys from age 7 to 18 is over. As I spoke about the new Eagle Scout, Cody Dakin, the discussion wasn't just about Cody, it was also about this end of an era for me. I have always taken pride in my ability to present in front of people and keep my composure. But no matter how many times I practiced this one, the wavering voice and the tears would flow as they do again while I write this. If I may I'd like to share last weekends words with you.

Cody for me is the last of the scouts I have known since he was a Tiger Cub. I was looking at old pictures the other day and found pictures of Cody with his Mom and Dad at our many cub scout events. In our cub days Tabitha and Corey were in that elite group of leaders and parent volunteers that I would lean on to make sure we were delivering a good scouting program. When he transitioned over to Boy Scouts, I had been Scoutmaster for about a year.

In Scouting I continued to communicate with Tabitha but it wasn’t so much that she wanted to be a volunteer, it was because Cody and Colin took every chance they had to fight. It was so awkward, I know it’s hard to be the scoutmaster’s kid, but it’s the last thing I wanted to deal with was that Cody and Colin were always wailing on each other. I remember getting home one night to an email from Tabitha that said something like this: “Is there a reason why my son has to return home every week from scouts with bruises delivered by your son?” I’d like to say the fights ended soon after but they didn’t. And I should clarify that Cody wasn’t just receiving the bruises, he was delivering them too. We’d keep these two separated, but at camp they got into it, several times. And then like boys do, one day they just stopped, and then became friends.

Cody went on most all of our summer camp trips, camp Tahosa, camp Dietler, New Fork in Wyoming, Camp Hunt in Utah, and his final camp was Medicine Mountain in South Dakota. But the camp that I will remember the most wasn’t really camp, it was Philmont. I’ll admit this now publicly for the first time, that since I organized the Philmont trip in 2017, I cherry picked my crew. I took all the boys I knew I would not see much of because some where headed off to college, if not that fall, the next. Our crew consisted of Cody, Colin, James Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, AJ Sbarra and Kase Linden, and Leaders Michael Stowell, Scott Kennedy, Tony Sbarra and me. Cody was our crew leader.

When you arrive at Philmont the crew leader and the adult leader go into a logistics meeting. There a person on the Philmont logistics staff explains where you are going, how to get there, what you’ll do at the various camps and things like where you’ll find water, pick up your food, etc. At this meeting they have the crew leader sit at the table, the adult sits in a chair away from the table. I know there are adults who can’t let go of the reigns to let their crew leader just have the conversation, but I didn’t pull my chair up to the table, I sat watched, listened and asked an occasional question, but it was Cody’s discussion.

At Philmont you learn it’s about the journey, not just the destinations. Our crew had a blast. I’ve talked to people who say Philmont was grueling, hard and they couldn’t wait for it to be over. I thought it was awesome and even with my shin splints I would have gladly had a shower and picked up more food and kept going on after our final day. Why? Because our crew functioned amazingly. Like a great leader, Cody lead but didn’t wrangle. He would explain where we were going and what we were doing every day. He was patient, kind, fun and he made sure we each day our goals were completed and we reached our camp for the night. He lead by example, and didn’t sweat the small stuff. It made what would be my last scouting event with my son Colin a great life experience and I thank him for that.

During my almost nine years as Scoutmaster, I had three dads pass. Each one had been a leader at some point in their boys scouting journey and a friend of mine. I heard the news from others when Gary Kranse and Steve Sattler passed, but I’ll always remember coming home from a business trip, turning on my phone when the plane landed and the first text that popped up was from Cody and it simply said, Mr. Pat my dad died today. My faith tells me that Corey is smiling down on us today. He smiles with all of us who know Cody. Because we have had the opportunity to watch and take part in the growth and development of a wonderful young man, who is a pleasure to be around and truly lives everyday by the Scout Oath and law.

As I look at Cody and realize he’s the last young man I was able to help through the entire youth Scouting experience from Tiger cub to Eagle Scout, it takes me back to think about the 20 boys who made the Journey during my tenure. Every one was special in their own way and every one taught me more that I could ever imagine I taught them. Each had their challenges to overcome and they did so. You don’t pick the last boy who takes you on that journey, he picks you. I stand here today a better man, person, scout, and father, thanks to Cody and the journey he brought me along.

Cody thank you, congratulations and thanks for ride. Always know, as you go on in life it, if you need someone to ride shotgun at times in your life journey, it would be my honor to join you again.

I realize I broke my rule of using actual names in this post. I'd also like to thank the Engineer and the Mtn Biker, my Eagle Scout sons for their help in that Eagle Ceremony last weekend. Having them there and active in the ceremony was for me very special.

Who's Heloise?

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 05:43:33 GMT

Recently MLW (my lovely wife) and I were talking with son #1 the engineer and MLW said "Here's a hint from Heloise on how you can..." The Engineer said "who's Heloise?" At first we tried, like people do when they don't want to admit they've made an old reference to something younger people can't relate to, and said "you know the columnist who USED to be in the newspaper, and .... (voice drops)." Wow there's two indicators the Engineer isn't going to relate. First, newspaper? The engineer and his friends don't get their information from the newspaper. Second Heloise isn't in the newspaper any more. She does have a website, Heloise.com, but the Engineer isn't reading it unless Google sends him there.

If Heloise was somehow modernized and read by everyone she'd likely call her column "Hacks from Heloise." Because if you have a shortcut today it's referred to as a "life hack." I struggle thinking of a "hack" as any thing good as before there was the internet and "hackers" a hack was a bad thing. Whether it was a bad golfer or a bad Doctor, being a hack was not something you desired. But using the term hack in the present vernacular, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite life hacks with you.

Shaving. I'm a blade guy. I presently use the razors from Harry's. With 4 blades all in a row they last me most of a month especially if I'm wearing a goatee like I am now. But I don't use shaving cream anymore. Why, because it's only good for one pull across your skin and if I didn't go at the correct angle, those 4 blades are going to chew up my face. So instead of the can of $3-4 shave cream, I use a 99 cent bottle of VO5 conditioner or any bargain brand conditioner. Most hair conditioner contains wax. That wax coats my skin so if I have to pull the blade a couple times across my skin, it still keeps my skin safe. Since it's not soap it's a little easier on my skin too.

Lotion. I absolutely hate the sticky feel of lotion on my body. But living in Colorado lotion almost as important as drinking water, unless you like to be dry and itchy. I've found I can put lotion on right after I shower, before I dry off and then I'm not sticky, There are many body lotions for use right after your shower, but they are pricey. I've learned I don't need an $8.00-$10.00 bottle of lotion specifically for use after my shower, they all work. The difference is in the application. When I'm done showering, before I dry off I put about 9 squirts of lotion in my palm and apply it to my body. The secret to keeping it on your skin is to towel off by patting your skin not rubbing off the lotion. The remaining water drys while I shave my face and brush my teeth and I've got lotion on without the icky sticky feeling.

Drilling into drywall. You know when you have to drill into drywall and after you do you have a bunch of drywall dust on your baseboard and carpet or floor. If there's grooves in your baseboard, the dust sticks in the grooves even when you try to wipe it off. In the past I've tried making little masking tape ledges that catch the dust, but even with those you can drop dust on the floor and you still have the same problem. Now when I drill into drywall I keep a vacuum handy. After I mark where I am going to drill, I turn on the vacuum, hold the hose in the left hand and vacuum from below the hole while I drill. It catches all the dust and takes a fraction of the time it does to try and clean the baseboard and floor after you've dropped the drywall dust.

If you'd like to send me your life hacks, I'll put them in another post in the future. If this makes you remember your mothers or maybe your pile of articles from Heloise, smile. She, you or both of you were ahead of your time, making your own "google" file of life "hacks".

A Weekend Away

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 05:10:49 GMT

Although for many today is a holiday, it's not for me nor the students at CMU. But we had some fun over the weekend. On Friday MLW (my lovely wife) and I packed up and drove to Grand Junction and then to Vega State Park near Collbran, CO. Fridays drive was miserable, The forecast was for 1-2 feet of snow in the mountains Thursday into Friday morning, and Friday was a huge day for people to migrate to the mountains. With slightly slushy roads, it seemed 1/2 the population of the state headed west.

The initial drive up I-70 was a pain. 3 hours to Silverthorne, a drive that should take 1.5 hours. Then over a very wet and slightly snowy Vail pass and the heavy traffic was done. By then our car was giant mud ball from all the splash back along the way. The last two hours driving into Grand Junction were uneventful. We had a 1 hour meeting in Grand Junction and then off to the Vega State Park, where son #2 the mountain biker and his girlfriend HJP would follow and join us in cabin #5 for two nights until Sunday morning.

We arrived at Vega while the sun was still up and were met with crisp air and lots of snow. There was easily 3 feet of snow on the ground. Of the 5 cabins at Vega only two were rented including ours so much like last year we had the park to ourselves. 30 minutes later the Mtn biker and HJP arrived and we got the cabin ready for the weekend.

The cabins at the State Park are heated. They have a microwave, a coffee maker and a fridge. They have two bunk beds, one twin over twin, one twin over full. They technically sleep 6 with the sixth person intended to sleep on the bench of the kitchen nook. Last year we did this trip with us four and with Son #1 (the Engineer) and his girlfriend (the Norwegian Pescatarian, NP for short). They could not make it this year for two main reasons, #1 they have a new dog and that would have put us over our limit of occupants in the cabin. More importantly; #2 there were no more cabins that allowed dogs. The engineer and NP are also going on a trip of their own next weekend, so it just didn't fit for them.

Our neighbors, two cabins away were a gregarious group. We met one of them, Nathan, who invited us over to their cabin that evening for a campfire. They were a group of two couples, both in their 30's with a nice Husky dog named Spirit. We didn't take them up on their offer of joining their campfire, which was probably good. They built and kept a huge fire most of the night. I'm sure it was warm because by the time they dug out their fire pit they had about a 4-5 wall all around their fire put to reflect the heat back. Between the fire and the alcoholic beverages they stayed unfrozen even though it was about 15 degrees and windy with clear skies. In our cabin we played games.

The only disadvantage of these cabins is your facilities are a pit toilet and water hydrants. So if you're going potty, you're going outside. On a trip out at 1:30 am the partial moon shone brightly in the clear sky. On my trip at 5 am the partly cloudy skies floated past a tapestry of stars, by 7 am it was cloudy and dumping snow!

Breakfast included a butter braid pastry which I had to bake in a dutch over over coals. I was able to get the charcoal chimney started in the wind and snow and 20 minutes later I had my coals. Even in the cold and snow the coals did their job and made a beautiful apple butter braid. We had a leisurely breakfast and while that was happening the park ranger came by and plowed our lot and brought his snow blower through our maze of sidewalks to the cabins.

After breakfast with it continuing to snow we bundled up and went out snowshoeing. We were out for about 2 hours. The snow had a nice crust about a foot down so the snow

shoeing was fun, and every now and a again you'd walk over a soft area and down you go, 2 or more feet into the snow. After our adventure in the snow we returned back into cabin where we had soup and sandwiches and everyone took a nap.

About 3 the skies cleared and Mtn Biker and I went to the lake for some ice fishing. The only other people on the ice after the snowstorm were our neighbors in their fishing tent. We set our stuff down and dug down through the snow to drill our holes. This is my second time at Vega and both times there has been a water layer on top of the ice under the snow. Maybe it's because with all the snow on the ice the weigh pushes it down. But we dug down to the ice and then drilled in from there. So we had about 2 inches of water above our holes. I caught one fish, and when I went to release it, it swam all around in the water above the ice, I had to help it find it's way back through the ice. Next I had a small fish that I thought I set the hook on but didn't so as I pulled it up, he fell off the line, but he followed my lure through the hole and swam in that same water above the ice! We had to help him find the hole back down as well. Then I traded holes with the Mtn biker and he caught a fish too. We looked at each other and decided we'd had enough, it was time to go back and join the rest of the group.

We drove Phat Daddy, my sons car to the lake. He had fun drifting his car on the snow packed roads back to the cabin. It was fun sliding around in his car, and he's pretty good at it too.

We had another night of games and fun. Sunday we woke up early to get one more snowshoe walk before we had to pack up. The day was cloudless and beautiful. The temperature was about 15 degrees, but there was no wind and the sun was warm. The fresh snow and the sunlight glinting off the ice crystals was beautiful. We snowshoed for about an hour, and had some breakfast as we packed up the cars. The kids left by 10:30 we were out at 11 and started the long drive home.

We got home about 4. As we drove we discussed all things we just didn't have time to do. I always say if you leave a trip with more to do, it was a good one. We made more fun memories and a list of things to do for our next trip.

Fun Stuff Friday, Confessions of a binge watcher

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 04:57:20 GMT

Hello, my name is Pat and I'm a binge watcher......

I suppose it was just a matter of time, and where we live a matter of bandwidth, before I got hooked on watching streaming TV series. It all started innocently enough. I guess my first adventure into streaming was after my shoulder surgery in 2013. I didn't get hooked on the oxycodone, I got hooked on Downton Abbey.

For the first 6 weeks after my surgery my bed was the la z boy love seat in the family room. I would sleep there soundly but on occasion I'd wake up at 2 am, my arm hurting and there was no way the pain was going to let me sleep. So I grabbed Kay's tablet and started watching Downton Abbey. I'd watch an episode until about 3 am, I'd be tired and the new painkillers I took an hour before had kicked in and I'd go back to sleep.

Then came the Fire stick. It was watching son #2 the Mtn biker when I started to realize all you could access through the Fire stick on your TV. He watches YouTube channels for hours, many of them about working on cars. I started poking around on the Prime shows and movies. I've found some good movies that I've enjoyed while flying, but then I started watching Bosch, and the Marvelous Ms Maisel, and the addiction worsened. The good news was I watched them with my lovely wife who would turn off the TV when it was time for bed. Also Kay would be mad at me if I watched ahead on the shows we watched together.

On a series of plane trips I watched the whole first year of Jack Ryan. Kay's watching that one on her own. But this past week she was in Chicago for two nights and I started watching Red Oaks, and the addiction hit hard. The episodes are 23 minutes long, so you watch one and think, oh I can watch one more. Tuesday night I watched the entire first season and got to bed at 1 am. Wednesday night I started watching season two, I moved the Fire stick to the bedroom TV, I was able to pry myself away at midnight as I had to get up at 6 the next morning.

Since I'm hooked, here's what I've been watching on Prime in case you are interested:

Bosch, A police detective series. This series will grab you and suck you in. It can get really exciting. The characters are complex and very interesting. I've seen all three seasons and am waiting for April for season 4.

The Marvelous Ms. Maisel. Funny, endearing, sometimes awkward but a great show. I've seen both seasons, the next one comes out Feb 2020, not sure I can make it that long.

Jack Ryan. Season one has been released. John Krasinski from The Office stars in this adaptation of a Tom Clancy character a CIA analyst who gets into some exciting adventures. If you like the main character Robert Langdon in in the Da Vinci Code you'll like this.

Red Oaks. My present addiction. I call it Caddy Shack meets Friends. It's the story of a bunch of young college age "kids" who work at a country club in the summer when they aren't in school. That over simplifies it, but it's based in the mid 80's when I was in the same situation. So maybe I just like it because I can relate to the clothes, the hair and the music. It's not laugh out loud funny, but has a number of endearing characters. But be warned, every show ends with at least one "hook" that will pull you into watching the next one.

I'll continue to do my best to handle my new addiction, to get some sleep and some other work done, and maybe shave once and a while, but I'm not making any promises.

Bathroom Remodel Part 2 the Beast Tub!

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 05:05:43 GMT

Originally posted 2/4/19

The bathroom is now an empty room and ready to start building back. Over the last week Kay and I have removed the floor tile and the hardy backer that was installed on the sub floor . Then came the tub. I always thought our tub was just a porcelain covered steel tub, until I tried to move it. Nope that tub was cast iron!

Removing the tile was easy. The backer board was nailed every 8 inches, that took some time to remove.

I asked son # 1 the engineer if he'd help me remove it. He said he would. But when I tried to prepare it so we could move it when he came over, that's when it really dawned on me just how heavy a cast iron tub could be. I pulled it out of the tub area by using a motorcycle strap, hooking the hook on the edge and wrapping the strap around my waist. Then I used my body weight to get it to slide. At first it was an inch by inch process until I got it out of the tub nook.

I started thinking there was no way I was going to get this out of the bathroom, around the corner, down the stairs and out and around the front door. Further I didn't trust myself that I could be part of the team moving this beast. If we lost it going down the stairs someone was going to the hospital. So I put on my face shield and dust mask again and I cut it in two with my angle grinder. 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch thick, this tub was a beast! Using an angle grinder worked just fine but it also made a lot of fine iron dust. Even with my dust mask, I'm positive I ingested enough iron dust that I wont need an iron supplement for a month.

Cutting the tub in two.

The engineer showed up just as I made the final cut. We made some final preparations and got the first piece ready to move. This piece of the tub is still at least 150 pounds. That was when I learned how process driven the engineer has become since he started his job. He looked at the job and then rehearsed with me how we would lift it and get it down the stairs. Because it was so awkward we

used the same strap for the person on the top of the stairs to lift the tub and the other person would direct it safely onto the next stair as we went down. The beast made it down the stairs and out the door and finally into the bed off the truck. We each took a turn being the guy with the strap, and now 3 days later my back and shoulders still hurt.

The tub came out safely and more easily by using a strap to distribute the weight for the upper person.

Monday at noon Kay and I took the pickup loaded with all our drywall, wall tiles, floor tiles, insulation, cabinets, sink and our two piece tub to the dump. We removed 1100 pounds of construction debris from the bathroom.

Next, installing the new acrylic and fiberglass soaking tub!

Ooooh a Polar Vortex

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 05:05:40 GMT

Originally Posted 2/2/19

To all my friends and relatives that had to live and work through the cold snap you had in the Midwest last week, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I too have been outside when it's 20 below before factoring in the wind and yes it's cold, very cold. As you read this please understand I'm not making light of the danger of subzero cold.

The recent weather gave news people to ability to play all the fun games you can with subzero cold. I saw reporters throwing eggs up in the air only to have them freeze and bounce when they hit the ground, they also were driving nails with frozen bananas and of course the cool "throw a cup of boiling water in to the air" trick to watch it turn to ice with a pop. But when did cold weather go from sub zero cold to POLAR VORTEX!

I'd argue it came about when weather became big business. There are dozens of places to get your weather predictions today, from the simple weather on your phone to the various levels of sensational weather folks on the numerous weather channels. I'd also argue that weather became big business when weather became political. Regardless of where you are on the global warming spectrum of thought, the weather has political power. So there are those networks that seem to televise every weather abnormality whether it's typical or not, showing us our planet has violent weather. Violent weather makes us feel helpless, which leads to fear and fear is one of the most powerful motivators.

When my boys were young as we'd watch TV after a commercial, I'd ask the boys, "why did that advertiser spend money to make that ad?", "what do they want you to feel?"and "what do they want you to do?" From that conversation we'd discuss how some toy ads just wanted you to think the toy was so cool you had to have it. But there were also those that sent the message; your friends would like you if you had this product, or you'd have more friends with this product. A significantly darker message than just, this toy is fun.

With weather now big business, I would argue when you watch your weather channel, the same questions need to be asked. What does the reporter or weather person want you to feel? When you determine that, the next question is why. Once you have that information then maybe it's time to find a weather source that informs you rather than scares you, or not.

For me, I prefer to take my advice from this Norwegian saying which son #1 has posted over the inside of his front door. Det fins ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær. Translated that means “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing”

My Bathroom Remodel

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 19:08:34 GMT

originally posted 2/2/19

Ok 1970's bathroom with your light blue and white tiled shower, it's time to go. I've started tearing out our old main bathroom upstairs. The shower tile went on Sunday as did the old vanity.

I did learn that the shower has been re-done once before. When I got into the long wall off the shower there was concrete board behind it. Boy that is nasty stuff to remove. With its netting exterior the tile and quick set really stick and you don't get the tile without pulling the cement board netting with it. The easiest way is to remove it in chunks which I did. When I pulled those sections off the vapor barrier was behind that, covered in black mold. I wiped it down with bleach water to kill the mold spores and that's as far as I got on the shower.

I also removed the vanity. That was more cathartic than difficult. I've never liked that bathroom vanity. With it's vessel sink and faucet that sends one drip down to the floor every time you shut it off. And since the counter top was old Formica, the top just absorbed the water and swelled, It was good to get that thing down and out of the house. The faucet is ready to be donated but the vessel sink didn't make it. It was glued so firmly to the counter top it cracked while I tried to remove it.

So whats the master plan you ask. Here's what's coming up. Next I'm removing the smooth white tiles on the floor and the tile backing which I already know is the wrong type of tile backing from when I ripped up the tiled floors upstairs when we moved in. Next out comes the old tub. After that I'm cutting down the wall that separates the tub from the toilet, to a level just above the new tub and replacing it with glass blocks that will go to the ceiling and let light into that bathroom. Next will come a new tile floor. I'm looking at the plank looking tiles that have some texture so you wont slip when walking with wet feet. Likely in a weathered wood, grey and little brown look. I'm putting in a new soaking tub, raising the shower head to 80" and tiling the shower with porcelain subway tiles and an accent stripe of glass tiles.

I'm replacing the fan/light combo above the toilet with a fan/light/heater fan. Next I'll replace the bathroom door with a stained pine door and trim it in with the new trim I put around the windows. Once that is all in I'm having the bathroom re-textured to remove all the various repairs made over the last 40 years. Then a new coat of paint in a white and grey color scheme. Then in will come the new vanity and sink with a solid counter top, put in new lights and a new mirror and it'll be done!

Feeding Wild Birds and Thinking of Mom

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 19:05:54 GMT

originally posted 1/27/19

If I think about it, I struggle to find a time in my life when there wasn't a bird feeder outside my kitchen window. I remember as a boy sitting in the kitchen nook of our house and outside the window hung a small bird feeder. A typical school morning would find me eating my raisin bran at the kitchen table, in the background the radio was on the morning show "Country Sunshine" on WHBF radio. While I ate, the feeder would be visited by juncos, chickadees and an occasional cardinal.

I can't look at a bird feeder and not think about Mom. She always had feed out for the birds. Her bird feeding area at the final house she and Dad shared be might be best described as a bird and small animal smorgasbord. She had ears of corn for the squirrels, sunflower seeds in one feeder, regular mixed feed in another and a jumbo finch feeder full of thistle seeds. On her back porch in the summer would be humming bird feeders and she even put out dead meal worms in the Spring for the early arriving bluebirds.

When Mom moved in with us we had to pare down the number of feeders she put out because there are bears in the area. Also the best place to see birds at our feeders is outside our kitchen which also is our deck. Great place for seeing birds, but a bad place for birds because of the mess they make. Plus I already fight with thistles on my property and you know what grows around a thistle seed feeder, more thistles! I remember telling Mom we could not have as many feeders as she did because of the bears. She was skeptical. The one morning I awoke to find her 5 gallon bird seed storage can crushed and empty and the entire thing eaten by a bear. Which was evident thanks to the bear scat full of seeds that was all over the property. Mom finally believed me but she was so unhappy she never got to see the bear!

When a rare bird would land at the feeders, she would excitedly say "OOH, look, look! Even as she got older she often could remember the names of birds when other words did not come so easily. I've always liked birds, but maybe they make me just a bit happier now because they always come with a happy memory of Mom.

Here Comes the Snow

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 18:45:30 GMT

originally posted 1/24/19

Happy Thursday!. As I look out my kitchen window this morning I can see the snow dropping in from the north. We're expecting an inch or two today. After two years of dry winters it's nice to have some snow on the ground.

My lovely wife is in Chicago. While our forecasts are similar today; both locations have highs in the 20's and lows in the low teens, I'll take Colorado's dry cold over Chicago's cold any day.

Mr Mountain bike, son #2 is back at CMU for spring semester. The mountains have been getting a ton of snow and luckily they cleared up last Sunday for him to drive back. I've talked with him a bit since then. He warned me last night that there would be some activity on our Amazon account as he's renting his books for the semester. Yes, for those of us over 30, he's renting them. Amazon besides selling seemingly everything in the world also rents text books. When Mr Engineer, son #1, went to college that was the first time I had heard about it. I was helping him move home and he handed me a box with a UPS label on it and asked me to drop it off at a UPS store. He said it was one off his text books and it needed to be scanned by UPS before a certain date of he'd have to pay another semesters rent on the book.

How different than when I went to college. I remember buying used books. I always looked for the ones with some highlighting, but not too much. If I picked right when I got behind I could just review the previous owners highlighted portions of the text. The real test to whether or not I bought a good book was how well the highlighted portions matched up with the tests. Then I remember putting them up for sale again at the end of the term. That's where going to catholic grade school came in handy. In grade school we used the same texts for years and on the last day of the school year we'd clean out our desks and before we handed back in our text books, we'd each get a little piece of sandpaper. Then we'd sand the edges off the pages with the book shut so the pages were white again. Then we had a damp cloth we's use to wipe off the outside of the book. The books then looked pretty close to new for the next year. I did the same thing in college and my text books always sold for a good price. I guess I learned something beyond guilt in Catholic school.

As I wrap up, the snow is here and visibility is about 60 yards.

Have a wonderful day!

Pat Daddy

Welcome, I hope you enjoy the ride

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 18:36:27 GMT

originally published 1/23/19

Welcome to my blog. I guess I should start with thanks to my friend Paul, who one morning when I was having breakfast with the guys said to me “Pat you have so many stories, you should write a blog.” At first I thought he was saying I talked too much, and maybe he was. But Paul is always sincere so I took what he said on face value and thought about what I’d say in a blog. He planted a seed and now about a year later I’m going to give it a shot.

I’m going to write for a while on this free blog site, so forgive the advertisements. If I’m good at this, I’ll keep writing and spend some money to actually have a real domain name.

Thanks for reading.