HAWKIN...

...as friends from Tennessee would call it....but, we Coloradoans know it as hiking...I got a call from Cam on Monday from school wanting to know if I wanted to do something together on Tues, our common day off...so, I was thinking something 'light' in the area of perhaps a plane flight or even a round of golf....he countered with "let's go hiking"....(something sedate I hoped)...he told me to Google Bear Peak and I immediately discovered he was wanting to climb a 'difficult' rated peak outside of Boulder, CO. So, I had a weak moment and agreed to take on the challenge. When I arrived home from the adventure, I reminded Teri she needs to save me from myself, at times, and today would have been a great time!

This was the view of the beast from the parking lot. Cameron 'thought' that was the peak (yeah, the tallest 'triangle' knob in the photo). I looked at him like he was on crack and was wondering where our college tuition money was going. The parking lot is at 6000 ft, but you descend 500 feet ,and then start the climb to 8400 feet....We headed up.....and up......and up.....and up....


Hummm, our 1st trailhead warning....my college degree and an opportunity to apply it right here with this warning sign...ah what the heck, it's only a Bachelor's degree, so we headed up....2.5 hrs later we were still the only people on the trail, guess all of the smart CU grads went up the alternate route...

Our beautiful red clay....

Now that my friends is a Texas-sized slab of Colorado rock-straight up!

We are at 7600 ft, headed for 8400....at this point I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it....Cam reminded me "Dad,you finished a marathon"...I reminded him "Cam, that was 3 years and 25 pounds ago"...we continued huffing....

Looking now to the West and our gorgeous Rockies...at about 8000 feet...this is where 'almost 50 year old' men look out in the distance and convince themselves they could easily be rescued by a helicopter...

Cameron in a jovial mood as we are within 300 feet of the Summit, but the most difficult terrain as it is all loose flatstone the rest of the way up.....drinking alcohol prior to ascending not recommended..

ARRIVED!! and check out the view as you look back to the East...we thank our California friends for sending us their haze from their fires...

If you enlarge this photo, you can see the large building immediately straight down toward the meadow....down their is where my Chevy pickup awaits me to return me home...

This is our initial descent back, yeah, a bit dangerous! We took different route back, dropped 2400 feet in about 90 minutes time. Our calves were sore that we actually looked forward when the trail went slightly upward.

Headed to the grocery store..................til next time........

FALL.....

Well, I did all of this work and my blog entry went to Teri's blog, go figure..didn't want to do it all over again, so just go here :)

BACH-ING, DAY 2

1ST.......

BACH-ING IT...

"CHEF'S AWAY SURVIVAL KIT"

Honey, enjoy your time in Austin! We will miss you--hurry back to your fatter family!

Heart...

One of our recent messages at church centered around the spirit of influence, of which I really had never thought about. People enter your life every day, but how many do you really impact in a positive way. How many, when you exit their life, whether it be by relocation, new employment, death, etc. will be impacted by an attribute you scarred upon them. I am not talking about being 'nice', 'humorous', 'creative', etc.--I am talking about life-changing influences on someone else, something that prompted another person to change their ways. Essentially, because of you, they are now 'this'.

I recall in 2004 running my first (and only) marathon I was inspired by so many who really made that adventure a reality for me. I dedicated that grueling pursuit to 26 folks who had made an impact on my life, one for each mile of that race in Austin, TX. But reflecting, it was fairly easy to come up with those couple dozen plus names who had molded me. But, the bigger question I now have learned as I have become seasoned in my years is who have I inspired. I certainly and regrettably believe that list would be much shorter. Fortunately , there is still time.

So, what does inspiration look like. The Colorado Rockies, as you can tell from the blogging entries, have captured this town. It is so difficult sometimes to see beyond the professional game. In an era of multi-million dollar contracts, team-hopping, thuggery, selfishness, tattoo baths, etc., it is great to see when a team gives back to the very community that supports it. Seriously, when was the last time, if ever, you heard a General Manager of a pro sports team go public about their faith and their willingness to share it with their athletes. We are proud to back a sports team that is different and bold. Not only do they have faith, they act on it by serving others and doing good works.

Two local Colorado Rockies stories, one big heart. The first is actually a school mate of Austin's who overcame his own personal battle last year. The next shows our manager's heart as he becomes a real life hero to another Denver metro area high school football player. Two battles-- both victorious in their own ways.

Sorry, I should have mentioned Kleenex at the beginning.

Give back to someone else, there is so much more joy in doing so.

What's that noise???

SING IT, BIG GIRL !!!!

Rockies lead series 3-0

Game 1, Oct. 11: Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 1

Game 2, Oct. 12: Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 2 (11)

Game 3, Oct. 14: Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 1

Monday: Arizona at Colorado, 8:18 p.m.

EXPEN$IVE..

A recent Bankrate research effort reveals the annual costs of our addictions and other impulsive, have "someone else do it for me" attitude. An average of $1,284.00 per month if you participate in all of these areas is what will be drained from your finances. More details here.

1. Coffee -- $360 per year.
2. Cigarettes -- $1,660 a year..
3. Alcohol -- $3,650 per year.
4. Bottled water from convenience stores -- $365 per year.
5. Manicures -- $1,068 per year.
6. Car washes -- $348 per year.
7. Weekday lunches out -- $2,350 a year.
8. Vending machines snacks -- $260 per year.
9. Interest charges on credit card bills -- $4,868 in interest (over time).
10. Unused memberships -- $480 per year.

NO....

No bugs...no humidity...no sweat...no air horn...no confetti to celebrate touchdowns...no attendance by the visiting team, maybe 400 total, from a high school 10 miles away...no crashing through a 10ftx10ft banner to begin the game...no frito pies at the snack bar...no interest by half of the student body who meandered around and behind the stadium...no homecoming mums for homecoming...no control by parents of their toddlers who roamed freely...no visiting team marching band...no websites or magazines dedicated to high school football...no son to be seen anywhere near his parents...NO, THIS WAS NOT TEXAS FRIDAY NIGHT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL...

None the less, Teri and I enjoyed our date night as Ralston Valley High School demonstrated why they are Colorado's #1 ranked 4A high school football team with a convincing 45-19 victory...

163...

........games, one more than standard, and it still wasn't enough...yes, it took 4 extra innings, nearly almost 5hrs game time, for the game to come to its amazing conclusion, all while Austin and I took it in from 5284 feet above sea level---yes, our seats were 2 rows from the very top of Coors Field, and 2 rows behind the mile high level seats which are purple in color(the rest are green), but the view still incredible on a perfect night for baseball...

The crowd was electric..it mirrored a college football atmosphere--every single fan stretched in the 7th inning, and NEVER SAT DOWN again...yes, the permanent 7th inning stretch at the ballpark...

Entering the 13th inning, the Padres stunned us with a 2 run homer-- you could have heard a mouse fart..we realized we would have to face their Hall of Famer closer in the bottom of the inning, but no one left..this team has been resilient and deserved every last fan to remain in support...

Down by two runs, it happened so quick....in a matter of 5 pitches, 2 doubles and a triple, the game was tied...our man Holliday on 3rd and only needs a sacrifice fly, the one area the Rox have been inept at all year...shockingly, a line drive to right field, the runner barreling in from 3rd, does a face plant at home plate---- S A F E !!! Eruption, 20 DPD officers on their motorcycles with their emergency lights activated form a '2-wheel barricade' along the foul lines, then fireworks !! In the playoffs for the first time in 12 years........

I have seen on TV the Broncos win 2 Super Bowls, the Boys win 5, the Avalanche win 2 Stanley Cups, but to be at a major league venue with everything on the line with every pitch and the drama that unfolded amongst 50, 000 radical fans, nothing compares...

The 50K fans, all strangers when the game began, left as family...See the 5hr ball game in its 5 minute version here .......

The best part of this will be the father-son memory for years to come..."Dad, remember when the Rockies"..."Austin, remember when the Rockies"....this game is etched in our memory..........