2007 Review: Estes Park B&B

After Christmas Day, Amy got away to a very nice bed and breakfast in Estes Park, and fortunately for me, took me with her. It snowed most of the time we were there, so it was a very laid back sleep-a-lot relaxing time, with regular visits from the friendly neighborhood mule deer.

2007 Review: Wheelchair Billiards

On the day that Amy got her new wheelchair, we went out to hear our favorite local Irish band, Da Tinmen, play at Sheabeen's Pub. Amy dared me to try shooting pool from a wheelchair--since she had her old one in the trunk--and it's not easy! It was the longest pool game I've ever been involved in. We certainly got our 75 cents worth--not to mention entertaining the other patrons.

2007 Review: Dynamic Duo

This fall saw the usual influx of mice, looking for a warm place to winter. However, this year, my roommates took good care to keep out the undesirables. Gnocchi (aka "Dances with Mice") and Buddy (aka "Hunt Brother") did a great job of fulfilling their obligations as roommates in charge of pest control.

Here they are doing their Yin-Yang impression.

2007 Review: Mom and Dad Visit

Mom and Dad came and parked their 5th wheel in my driveway for about a week this year. I was in between contracts, so we had a good visit. Susie came out when she could, and on Sunday I invited the McCormicks to join us for a little cookout.

2007 Review: Vail Trip

In August, right after my contract at Centura ended, Amy took me with her to spend a few days at her parents' timeshare in Vail. We listened to a great band at the Farmers' Market, saw lots of hummingbirds at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, made a nice backcountry drive in the old Cherokee, and finished with breakfast at Blu's Restaurant before returning to Denver.

2007 Review: Hiking with Ryan and Britta

As usual, Ryan and Britta and I did a bit of hiking this summer. Around Evergreen, an overnight trip at the Roberts Cabin near Boreas Pass, and we finally made it all the way to Shelf Lake--Woo Hoo! If only Britta hadn't twisted her ankle on the way down...

2007 Review: The B17 Party

June 15th found me in a hangar with a bunch of folks dressed in 40's fashion, all to celebrate Wings Over the Rockies Museum and the visit of one of the remaining flying B17 bombers: the Aluminum Overcast. Amy and her parents were there, and Amy got a personalized tour of the absolutely not handicapped accessible bomber.

Back to Snow

Well, I've been busy and/or lazy the last several months, and now it's snowing again here in Colorado. Nothing like last year yet, though! Just about 7 inches swept off the Tracker this morning.

The biggest news lately: new job, new vehicle, new computer.

My contract with Centura ended in August, and I am now driving to Broomfield every day on a contract at Level 3 Communications.

My poor old '93 Cherokee had 226,000 miles on it, the driver's side door was about to fall off its hinges, and the windshield area was so rusty it was about to fall in. So I traded it in for a 2001 Chevy Tracker 2-door convertible (in October, when "top down" days are increasingly scarce). Better gas mileage though--and reliable 4WD, too.

Just last week my old laptop (almost 3 years old, positively ancient) blew its fan. So after running for a few minutes, it gets too hot and blips off. Repairing it was not reasonably priced, considering the age and value of the computer anyway, so I now own a basic Toshiba laptop--the least expensive one I could find, and it still outperforms the old one.

My Tracker receives its baptism of snow.

38 Days and Counting

Well, after 38 days of snow on the ground--Denver's going for a new record on this one--I finally got the rest of the driveway cleared. I borrowed the neighbor's snow blower. Apparently, I'm going to have to get one of those things. I also washed my Jeep today. All this in preparation for the next snow event later this week!

Yet more snow

Well, it's snowing again today. About 10 inches have accumulated here, and it's not done yet, apparently. I love snow--it's been beautiful at night with the full (or almost full) moon shining on it--but I suffer no desire to shovel any more for a while, especially as I still have a cold that I caught last time. Sigh. Cough.