Government RFP for humor

Yes, it's true! The U.S. Treasury Department, The Bureau of Public Debt (BPD), posted an RFP for a contractor a few years ago to provide "Humor in the Workplace."  While the government sought humor, most of us no longer find amusing on the matter of public debt. Click on link below...

Government Humor

Carlsbad Caverns

Nancy and I visited Carlsbad Caverns on our way to Tucson. This is the way in, if you prefer not to take the 800 foot deep elevator. The cave was discovered by a cowboy in about 1889 who thought he saw a fire near his cattle. What he thought was smoke coming out of this entrance, was really millions of bats flying out to eat insects!

We went on a self guided tour in the cave in the morning, and then in the afternoon we hide a guide to show us through some private places, like the Kings palace below. This was the scene from a movie called Journey To The Center of the Earth. They camped out near here. Also, in the 1930's the local Chamber of Commerce used to meet here. It seemed pretty dark to me for a meeting.

Below is a small pool in one of the rooms estimated to be 14 football fields in size!! Whooo! That's big. The ceiling in that room was nearly 400 feet high.There is much less water in the cave now. The Park Service admits that the big parking lot positioned above the cave, has prevented water from seeping into the depths.

As a result, most of the "hangy-downies" and the "sticki-y-upies" aren't growing anymore. Another example of the "unintended consequences" of government interference. They did stop the Chamber Meetings and kept people from breaking off the stalactites and stalagmites. So some government involvement can be helpful. But do they really need the huge parking lot and 50,000 square foot gift shop, restaurant and movie theatre?  Just walk in the cave and see it yourself.

It's a wonderful place to visit and very interesting. I'm sure we'll go back. Take your own food though, the snack bar is not good.

Roswell

On our Christmas holiday, we stopped for the night in Roswell, NM to meet a few aliens. At the Holiday Inn Express we were greeted by this one in the elevator. It is everywhere in this town. We saw flying saucers and aliens galore.

Even on the way through Carlsbad, I met these two aliens at the gift shop. They wanted me to take them to my leader. I explained to them as politely as possible, we don't have any leaders right now. All we have is Chicago politics. They decided to go back home!

I love hiking

I enjoy hiking in the mountains, taking in all the beautiful vistas, and seeing new and different places. Sometimes when I hike, I get a little winded but that's only normal I suppose. I never complain. I merely think of the lifetime of enjoyment I've had in the great outdoors. Like I say, when a great trail shows up, give it a comfortable stroll, but don't look down.

"Incredible that God should unite with us."

It was Blaise Pascal who wrote "Incredible that God should unite with us." And incredible it is. Unfortunately, we are so preoccupied with ourselves, we've missed it. It's like we slept through it, along with His disciples.

While Jesus prayed in the final hour He asked His disciples to stay awake with Him while He learns the Father's will and His certain death. He simply asked His friends to stay awake with Him. As He returned to His disciples, He found them asleep. Nevertheless, He goes forward to meet death.

Jesus sought men but was not heard.

Jesus, while the disciples slept, brought them salvation. He brought it for all the righteous while they sleep, both in the nothingness before their birth and in their sinful state since their birth. He brought it for you and me while we slept.

Jesus prays only once that the cup should pass from Him, and even then with humble resignation; He prays twice that it should come if it must.

Jesus, seeing His friends asleep and His foes alert, commits Himself without reservation to His father.

"Incredible that God should unite with us."

What we did for Thanksgiving

No, we didn't eat Thanksgiving at home this year. We drove up to Tennessee Pass for Thanksgiving. On the way we checked into the Minturn Inn in Minturn, CO, so we would have a place to stay after dinner. Last year we had a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving. For the first two hours in the stove he enjoyed it!

We drove up to the pass and walked about a mile up to 10,800 feet where we had our Thanksgiving dinner. That's true. And, the turkeys weren't wild. They just went crazy when they found out what we planned to do with them.

Near the top of the pass is a yurt called the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse. Awesome name huh! Below is photo of Nancy standing in front of it. The temperature was about 21 degrees. Pretty warm for this time of year.

Inside, the yurt was warmed with a wood stove and filled with about 18 people enjoying Thanksgiving. We had a quaint little table by a window with candlelight.

I had Elk with a blueberry reduction sauce. Yummm. It was really good and I got really full. That's what you're supposed to do on Thanksgiving Day right? Gobble till you wobble.

Nancy had a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey. Her's was really good too. After dinner it was dark and about 9:00p. We had to walk a mile down the mountain to our car (in the dark with headlamps), and then drive 24 miles to our B&B in Minturn. We had a great time and enjoyed our meals a great deal this year. There is so much to be thankful for. God's grace and love to us is magnificent, and we continue to be overwhelmed by His riches in Mercy.

Thanksgiving

I won't say it's been a trying year, but this is the first Thanksgiving we had a turkey volunteer. Nevertheless, I'm thankful for many things, including my family. They are scattered all over the place but manage to stay in touch for the most part and we all share our love on the phone or by email. Many blessings to you all.

Nancy and I have some interesting plans today in the mountains. We'll share some photos as they become available. Love you all.

Balloons

We take walks around the lake near our house quite often. Seeing balloons is also a common site and they'll land in our neighborhood, at Chatfield Lake, or other interesting places.

This one had its steering mechanism go bad. It landed deep in the sand trap of the sixth hole at the golf course. The pilot called his friend and asked what he should do. The answer was curt: "Dummy, use your nine-iron!"

In God We Trust

I haven't told them about inflation yet.  When it comes to inflation, we're all in the same boat - the Titanic! But then, money isn't everything, In fact, it may be nothing sooner than later. Kids, I hate to tell you this, but prices are going up. That gumball machine will soon be taking bills!  So, for you youngsters, I guess the best way to describe inflation is, it's like being broke with money in your pocket.

I love my grandchildren but am concerned about their future. I know God will watch over them and I pray for them often. I also pray for our country and for our leaders. To avoid the coming mess, our leaders and our country must do what it says on our money: TRUST IN GOD

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,

O Thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,

Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring;

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine,

Fairer still the moonlight,

And all the twinkling starry host,

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

Than all the angels heaven can boast.

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,

Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;

None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,

Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Once again, I couldn't resist

In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Government is like a baby - an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other."

It's easy to be a hero from a safe distance

The grand kids dressed up for Halloween. Rapunzel is pictured below. My daughter made the dress herself, which is really cool. I guess she got the idea on her computer, you know, from the mane-frame!

Eli wanted to be the latest movie hero, Iron Man. My advice to him is "Cowards die many times. Heroes die only once. Those who look away and say they didn't see a thing live a long time!"

Nowadays the real hero in a movie is the one who sits through it.

Halloween

Nancy got the candy this year for the kids. She got a brand I don't like because, "you won't eat it," she said.

My grand kids are really grand. They told me about their costumes and all the candy they plan on getting.
I told them about what it was like in my day.
"Years ago" I said, "kids used chalk on Halloween. They'd mark up a man's pants if he didn't pay off." "Really?" they asked.
I replied, "Yes, that's right, and one kid liked it so much he grew up and became a tailor."
They still think I'm a little strange!

The perfect computer?

They've finally come up with the perfect medical computer. If it makes a mistake, it blames another computer!

With our government's system, they only have one man who runs the programs. Last week he ran Dumbo, and the week before, Fantasia.

Here is what the government was really hoping to get with medical software:

The salesman is justly proud of his new product, and tries very hard to sell it to the VP. The Veep is insecure about investing so much money. To egg him on, the salesman invites the VP to ask the computer software any question.

The VP types, "Where is my father?"

The machine responds in a tenth of a second: your father is in MICHIGAN.

The VP says, "This software is a bunch of junk"

"Try asking the same question in another way."

The VP types: "Where is MY MOTHER'S HUSBAND?"

The machine answers: YOUR MOTHER'S HUSBAND HAS BEEN DEAD TEN YEARS. YOUR FATHER IS IN MICHIGAN AND JUST LANDED A TEN-POUND TROUT!

Who I am in Christ

For those of you who are believers in Christ, I thought you might enjoy a little reminder of who you really are. For those of who don't believe, well, you could be these things if you so choose.

John 1:12 - I am God's child.

John 15:15 - I am Christ's friend.

Romans 5:1 - I have been justified.

1 Corinthians 6:17 - I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:20 - I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.

1 Corinthians 12:27 - I am a member of Christ's body.

Ephesians 1:1 - I am a saint.

Ephesians 1:5 - I have been adopted as God's child.

Colossians 1:14 - I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:10 - I am complete in Christ.

Romans 8:1-2 - I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:28 - I am assured all things work together for good.

Romans 8:31-34 - I am free from any condemning charges against me.

Romans 8:35-39 - I cannot be separated from the love of God.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

Philippians 1:6 - I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected.

Philippians 3:20 - I am a citizen of heaven.

Colossians 3:3 - I am hidden with Christ in God.

2 Timothy 1:7 - I have not been give a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

Hebrews 4:16 - I can find grace and mercy in time of need.

1 John 5:18 - I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

Matthew 5:13-14 - I am the salt and light of the earth.

John 15:1,5 - I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.

John 15:16  - I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

Acts 1:8 - I am a personal witness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16 - I am God's temple.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

Ephesians 2:6 - I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:10 - I am God's workmanship.

Ephesians 3:12 - I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Waterton Canyon bike ride

Sometimes you go to a place with a specific thing in mind, but something else happens you didn't expect. In our case today, we wanted to see the fall colors in Waterton Canyon and go for a bike ride. We did do all this, but then there was this sign.  Hmmm...  Let's see a bear in the area? We've seen a bear of here before, but isn't it time for them to hibernate? So, we started to look around and then...

Right in the middle of the road was this rattlesnake. It looked like most of his rattles had been chewed off or something, but it was definitely a rattler. Yesterday, Nancy and I were biking after work near Chatfield and a rattler coiled up and almost bit her. Now another! We no longer cared about the bear, but avoided the rattlesnake.

The scenery riding up Waterton Canyon was beautiful. The trees are changing at lower elevations now, and it's magnificent.

Once in a while we'd stop to take in the views (and check for snakes). The last time we came up here we saw elk tracks and lots of big horn sheep.

Nancy's new bike is great and took up the hill with little effort. It was a great outing and we hope for continued summer like weather to keep up saddled up and on our bikes.

Fall Colors

Nancy and I drove up in the mountains today to check out the fall colors and the aspens changing. It's been an unusual year because of all the rain and the trees are changing a little late, and at odd intervals. Our first stop was at Kenosha Pass, for photos.

While we were at the pass, we walked a few hundred yards up the Colorado Trail to get some more photos. What a beautiful place this time of year! We also enjoyed spectacular views of South Park and the morning sun striking the yellow and golden leaves.

After taking our last photo we drove up to Fairplay, then we took Hwy 9 over Hoosier Pass (which is on the Continental Divide at the Northern end of the Mosquito Range), and all the way back down through Breckenridge. What a beautiful part of Colorado. Our goal? Get to The Butterhorn for breakfast in Frisco! We made it there but didn't beat the crowds. Oh well, it was worth the 30 minute wait. Then, we drove back to Denver in time to watch the Broncos outscore the Dallas Cowboys 51 to 48. Whew!!!  That was a close one!

Parmalee Gulch

I went hiking this morning with my friends on Parmalee Gulch Trail at Mt. Falcon Park. It had snowed yesterday but the trail was still pretty good and not too muddy. As the day progressed, the clouds went away and blue sky dominated.

We saw quite a few deer on our hike and the dogs were ready to charge off after them. I told the dogs that the deer really don't care about you, they only care about a buck. They paid no attention to me!

SNOW!

We had our first snowstorm of the fall this morning. The photo below is looking out back, from the porch. It's not really cold yet, I think the low was about 34 this morning. You know it's really wintry when you comb your hair outside and it breaks.

Nancy's flowers were out front and were bearing up under the cold snow, but they seem to be surviving. Just a few weeks ago it was flooding and raining in Colorado so much I saw a meadow lark putting sandbags around its nest! Now this! But not to worry. Tomorrow, I'm putting on my shorts and going for a hike in the mountains with friends.

Obamacare and accountability

In 1995 Congress passed an accountability act to fulfill a promise made the previous year for the Contract with America. The act required Congress to apply the same civil rights and labor laws to themselves which they require of citizens. It was designed to change the "one law for three, one law for me concept." Evidently, that has now been thrown out. Senator Chuck Grassley recently said that "the more Congress experiences the laws it passes, the better."  I couldn't agree more.

So, clearly, the Democrats won't eat their own cooking! We have to use it, they don't. Hypocrites! So, if they don't want it, then what's wrong with it? If it's so good, why don't they want it? Hmmm....

What to ask God for...

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

- Marcel Proust

Try asking God to open your eyes to see what he wants you to see, and then wait and see what happens. You might be surprised. The photo below is just a turn in the road somewhere in Oregon, nothing special. But God will have something special for you.

The Rage Against God

I just finished reading The Rage Against God by Peter Hitchens. I highly recommend this book to anyone who really wants to think about the objections to faith in God. Hitchens, like his brother Christopher, was an atheist. However, unlike his brother he looked hard at the arguments and found they told a different story. His atheism led to faith in God.

Click below for the Kindle version:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Rage-Against-God-ebook/dp/B003EUGFY8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379977312&sr=1-1&keywords=The+rage+against+God

Tooth Fairy

Hmmm... "Tooth Fairy"... not very politically correct! But if it means I get money, heh, I'm in. Where do I put this thing?  Really? Under my pillow? Are you kidding me? Okay, well the money better be there.

Life is glorious. And while growing up can be odd and uncomfortable, it's really pretty cool.

Rockies

We went to the Rockies game last night and watched them lose to the DBacks. It was a beautiful evening, perfect weather and a great night to be watching baseball.

One of the motivations for going to the game was to see Todd Helton play one more time. He is retiring at the end of the season. We think he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Here are a few stats:

1) 589 doubles (1st in active players)
2) 368 home runs
3) 1,398 RBI's
4) .316 lifetime batting average, with a high of .372 in 2000 and 216 hits
5) .539 lifetime slugging percentage
6)  Three Gold Gloves
7)  .414 On base percentage lifetime
8)  1998 Rookie of the Year
9)  Six MVP's
10) In 17 years he's only had 79 errors, with a fielding percent of .996
11) Four years as a Silver Slugger

Even his current manager Walt Weiss, looks on in amazement. Anyway, Nancy and I had a good time at the ballpark, ate a couple of hotdogs, and watched the Rocks lose. Well, maybe next year.

Ride my bicycle

I got Nancy a new bicycle for her birthday (see her pictured below) and we decided to ride up Waterton Canyon. One the ride ride, we were rewarded with two herds of big horn sheep, maybe a total of 40 animals (see one of the herds picture below, behind Nancy).

The two large males were up on high ground watching over the flock. I suspect they're getting ready to knock heads for the fall ritual.

The South Platte river was running pretty heavy, so we checked out the dam (Strontia Springs reservoir) at the top of the canyon. Water wash gushing out of the bottom and creating a sizable splash. We could only assume it was full after all the rain we've had recently.

Football

Football is a game in which eleven men spend hours trying to move a small object a hundred yards. It's the same as the post office! And, football is supposed to build bodies. Baloney! I watched four games this weekend, and look at my flab!

All kidding aside, we like our Broncos and they're off to a great start this year. Next Monday night we play the Raiders. Most Bronco fans agree. Even if we lose 14 games and still beat the Raiders twice, the season was a success.

Flood photos

Below are some of the latest photos of the flood. They say that over 200 people are missing. We didn't get much rain at our house, comparatively speaking (it has been raining off and on for four days). I suspect we got at least 2 inches, but nothing close to the nine inches in Boulder.

I was in Greeley on Wednesday for a meeting. Now look at it...

This is where a bridge collapsed in Lyons (the little town you pass through on the way up to Estes Park).

This is what's left of Topaz Street in Boulder. Not surprisingly, the CU football game was cancelled yesterday. The school said it wouldn't be right to demand that police and fire personnel be at a football game when they're needed badly elsewhere around the city. Hmmm... people in Boulder exercising good judgement, maybe they need a few more floods to wake them up!

This is the St. Vrain river off Hwy 7 about 12 miles West of Lyons. Many of you have called us to see if we're okay. Nancy is up in the mountains this weekend with her friend Kathy and they may have to find an alternate route home. Other than that, it's life as usual.  I'm going to Church today and then coming home to watch the Broncos beat up on the Giants (hopefully).

Time to go fishing

There are three lakes connected with Rainbow Lake. The large upper lake, the middle lake (where we camped) and the lower lake. Below, we're hiking to the upper lake to go fishing.

I told Nancy not to feel disappointed if she didn't catch any fish. I explained that fishing is a matter of timing. You have to get there yesterday. Of course I expected to catch all the fish. However, the opposite was true. Nancy caught all the fish. I just caught rocks, trees, and other nearby obstacles in the way.

Mark caught these fish, two cutthroat trout and two rainbow. We really enjoyed our dinner that night.

Nancy caught this pan sized rainbow in the lower lake. She called me over to remove the hook. I removed it twice, once from the fish and once from my finger!

It seemed like there were lots of rainbow in the lower lake. Fish are like brain food, because they travel in schools!

Once again, Nancy catches another rainbow in the lower lake. Nancy is a natural and I suppose we'll be doing more fishing in the future. Although I remember the Turner's fishing experience. They were out in a boat at dawn. The air was raw. Bugs were everywhere. Mrs. Turner said to her husband, "Tell me again what  good time I'm having. I keep forgetting!"