A Day in the Life

Here's an interesting day for me, in case you're interested.

1. My 4:00a wake up call at the hotel in Pasco, WA never comes. I wake up a little later.
2. I can't find the desk clerk at 4:30a to get my bill and check out.
3. Eventually, he hears me calling from the lobby for someone and takes care of me. He gives me a bill and directions to the airport.
4. I do manage to get out, maybe in time to get to the airport and catch the plane.
5. I get lost.
6. I call the hotel for better directions, there's no answer. He's probably putting bills under the doors.
7. There are no signs anywhere on Hwy. 395. Maybe the road construction has something to do with it.
8. I finally find the airport and check in for my flight, in time....whew!
9. I fly to Denver in a packed sardine can.
10. My checked bag is 30 minutes overdue. Another hour and it will take longer to get my bag from the airplane than it does to fly from Washington to Denver. Why did I check it? What was I thinking?
11. My bag finally comes and I catch the shuttle to my car and discover it covered in 4 inches of ice and snow. Oh boy!
12. I drive to work for a two hour meeting, a late lunch, and a franchise visit in the office.
13. After leaving work I drive home and get caught in traffic. Oh well, what's another hour?
14. Nancy greets me with a kiss.

All is well.

Goldwater and McCain

Many of you know, Nancy and I have roots in Arizona. I was born in Arizona and raised in Flagstaff. She was born and raised in Arizona. We met at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Arizona is a very political place. It all started with Barry Goldwater. The latest politician, whom I would like to warm up to but can't quite yet, is John McCain. Now he's running for President and may get the nod by the Republicans as their candidate.

The most notable example of an Arizona Republican was Barry Goldwater. Goldwater expressed his envy of the State of Minnesota with its many lakes and inland waterways, He said, "Out where I come from, we have so little water that the trees chase the dogs." I hope McCain can do better than this. In fact, he's lucky to have the chance at all.

It's interesting that McCain was in prison in Hanoi when Goldwater was running for President. If Goldwater had been elected, the Democrats thought he would've nuked Hanoi thus ending McCain's bid for President. Maybe they missed an opportunity.

Sulfer

Nancy and I drove back to Denver today from Pagosa. She complained that I smelled like sulfer. What did she expect after a couple of hours in the hot springs the night before?

Pagosa Springs

Pagosa is a great place to just hang out. I went in for the obligatory massage today and had a new therapist, Larissa. I asked her what she does in her spare time and she said she likes horses and rides a lot. Okay, this gave me a little to talk about. I do ride from time to time and enjoy it. It turns out she has attended courses with a local style of Western riding that promotes riding without bridles and saddles. She has attended the courses but not with her horse. She said it's very expensive.

Only last week I visited with a franchisees' manager in Portland, OR who goes to Pagosa Springs to attend these courses. I gave her some suggestions on where to eat and what to do in Pagosa. What a small world!

Wolf Creek Pass and Snowstorm

We decided to go to Pagosa Springs today. I left work a little early and Nancy and I tried to beat the snow storm to the San Juan's. This turned out to be a white knuckle trip. We got to Wolf Creek Pass and the snow started to come down so hard we couldn't see more than a few feet in front of the car due to snow and blowing snow. After a couple of miles I got behind a large snow plow and followed him up the pass for about 5 miles. Unfortunately, he was creating more flying snow and poor visibility than the storm. I passed him up after the tunnel and accelerated to about 20 miles an hour up and over the divide. At the top of the pass a cop began to follow me down the other side. This brought some degree of comfort (how unusual). And then there was an accident close to Treasure Falls and he pulled over the help. Finally we made it in to Pagosa and had a nice dinner with Dee.

Portland, OR

On my last trip to Portland I visited with Teresa and Genaro. We went out for sushi. It was one of those places where they have a conveyor belt that runs around the restaurant. You simply pick a plate of food from the belt and then they charge you based on how many plates are in front of you. Whenever I eat at one of these places, I wonder how long has this plate circled the restaurant? Five minutes, five hours, five days, who knows? The food was good though, and I met their music minister who was eating there with his family.

After dinner we visited the library where Teresa works. She wanted me to see the place and how small it is. I deemed it okay because they had a copy of Peace Like a River. My visits with them have been soothing and pleasant. Traveling with such intensity, I welcome the refuge of their home, their smiles, and stories of daily life in Portland. Few people know this, but I went to High School in Flagstaff, AZ with Teresa. She remembers things I don't. It isn't fair because she could be making things up for all I know. The good news is she doesn't know the things I remember.

Freedom

I've enjoyed reading Samuel Johnson and James Boswell's account of Johnson. Johnson writes about Freedom. "We are all agreed as to our own liberty; we would have as much of it as we can get; but we are not agreed as to the liberty of others: for in proportion as we take, others must lose."

This was attributed to Johnson by Boswell in the Life of Samuel Johnson, April 16, 1779.

Why Pray?

God's in control, right. He will make things happen. After all, he is omniscient and omnipotent. So, why does God require prayer? Nancy and I have been involved in Perspectives at our Church and we have a small group which meets at our house. We came across this question at our meeting last week. I am captivated by this excellent explanation and now am committed to prayer more than ever. Here is the answer I got from our study.

God originally gave dominion of the earth to humankind. That dominion has never been revoked by God. Satan's dominion, which was achieved due to the fall of Adam and Eve, is a false, illegitimate, usurped dominion. Redeemed through Christ, we can exercise our God-given right to influence the affairs of this world through the exercise of prayer. Prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit breaks through the false dominion of the enemy and clears the way for His deliverance and Peace to come to all peoples.

Prayer is not incidental to the work of God. It is the work of God.

Helping the Poor and AIDS

Nancy and I went to Church last night and saw the video of Bill Hybels interviewing Bono (U-2 Rock Star for those of you who are over 40 or so). Without a doubt he is a Christian and working hard for the cause of Christ. And, he believes that we should be working to help the poor and those stricken with AIDS. It's hard to argue with that since it's one of Jesus' commands. To get the interview, go here or the link above. You can order the interview on DVD here. I want to urge you to watch it.

Want to help? Here are some links. The first is One: A Hope for Africa, responding to the crisis. ONE calls for debt cancellation, trade reform, and anti-corruption measures, in addition to a comprehensive measures to help African countries beat AIDS. Also, check out DATA. You might also consider HIVCareLink as a place to help or contribute. Also, World Vision is working hard in the area. In addition you should check out Bread for the World. A number of the local leaders for these organizations were at Church last night and talked about what they're doing and how to get involved.

One of the things Bono said in the interview is that the Church is getting on board with this. Nancy and I are very pleased our Church is too.

Rafting This Summer

I talked with my friend Paul yesterday about our three day raft trip this summer. Everything is a go, just not sure on the dates yet. I think we're going to look at doing Ruby Canyon or something South of Grand Junction (see photo) instead of the Goosenecks. Paul gave me an update on Jerry's health. He said Jerry is going in for more chemo treatments today. Call me if you want the latest update.

I'm Done With Winter

I-70 is closed from Floyd Hill to Vail due to high winds, and drifting. Hwy 93 is closed from Golden to Boulder due to high winds, blowing snow, and drifting. This afternoon the snow was melting from our drive like it was in an oven. This evening it's cold. It's freakin' cold again. I want last year back.



This photo will change based on the date.

Oh, what fun!!

Nancy called me this morning at 4:30a and told me that United Airlines called my house at 12:30a to tell me that my flight had canceled. They woke her up. Something about storms back East. However, I was in Portland, OR. Why they called my home his mysterious. Of all people, United should know I'm not home. I'm traveling with them! The rest of today was spent as follows: 1) 40 minutes on hold with United, 2) one hour traveling to the airport and returning the rental car, 3) 15 minutes in discussion with United personnel, 4) one hour at lunch (the best part since I had sushi), 5) 2 hours waiting for my late plane, 6) 2 hours flying back to Denver, 7) one hour lost from the time change, 8) one hour getting my bag from baggage claim and catching the shuttle to my car, and 9) one hour drive home. That pretty well shot my day. Whew!!! At least I'm home with Nancy. Gosh, I'm in love with her.

The Dalles Dam

Driving back from Yakima to Portland I saw a Bald Eagle sitting on a bowie in the Columbia River. What a site! 15 minutes later I stopped at the Dalles Dam to take this photo. The ramp in front is where the Salmon swim the stair steps to get up over the dam. They go upriver to spawn. I think it's remarkable that this thing actually works. What's even more remarkable is that some politicians placed enough value on these fish to help them upriver. They have a tour of the dam, but it was closed when I drove by. Maybe this summer I'll go.

Weather and Sports

70 degrees! I went out on the deck today and checked the temperature. It was 70. One week ago it was -14 and snowing. That's why we live in Colorado. There is always relief and it's very sweet. Everything is melting and wet. My sump pump is really pumping.

My friend Jeff Schauerman called me tonight about Yankees tickets. He has some seats on row 10 behind home plate. The problem is the seats are far more expensive because it's the Yankees. The Rockies have literally doubled their prices for the Yankees stand at Coors field. I don't even like the Yankees anymore. I liked them when I was a kid, but not now. Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Joe Pepitone, Whitie Ford, and the rest were great. Now it's A-Rod. Sounds like something in your car engine, not a baseball player. Who looks like Jesus, throws like Mary, and acts like Judas? Johnny Damon! Anyway, Jeff suggested some Atlanta Braves tickets. I think we'll do that and maybe the NY Mets in July. We're big fans of Matt Holiday and Garret Atkins.

Peace Like A River

Last week I finished an exceptionally good book called Peace Like A River. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I was truly captivated by it. My friend Ian England recommended it to me and I was not disappointed. Here is a little about it.

Set in the Minnesota countryside and North Dakota Badlands of the early 1960s, Peace Like a River is a moving, engrossing, beautifully told story about one family's quest to retrieve its most wayward member. Reuben Land, the novel's asthmatic and self-effacing eleven-year-old narrator, recounts an unforgettable journey riddled with outlaw tales, heartfelt insights, and bona fide miracles. Born without air in his lungs, Reuben is keenly aware of the gift of breath—and, by extension, the gift of life. Time and again, both gifts are bestowed on Reuben by his father, a gentlemanly soul who works as a school janitor and has the power—and faith—to bestow true miracles.

Equal parts tragedy, romance, adventure yarn, and meditation, Peace Like a River is an inspired story of family love, religious faith, and the lifelong work and trust required of both. Leif Enger's first novel is a work of easy generosity and uncommon wisdom, a book to be shared with friends and loved ones.

What is Man?

One of my favorite philosophers was Blaise Pascal. He believed that man was made for thought and that man's dignity lies in thought. In the Pensees' (one of his books) he writes, "by space the universe embraces me and swallows me up like an atom, by thought I embrace the universe."

Pascal said that the order of thought is to begin with self, and go on to its author (God) and its destiny. He says, "Now what does the world think? Never mind that, but of dancing, lute-playing, singing, writing verses, running at the ring, etc. fighting, making oneself King without a thought of what it is to be a king, or to be a man."

United Airlines

I came home today on the flying cattle car. The only thing missing were the prods. My appointment canceled this morning so I tried to catch an early flight, going standby of course. When they start asking people to give up their seats because they're overbooked, you know your standby chances are slim. I did get out early but not on the morning flight I wanted. Then I get on the plane only to find myself placed next to King Kong with fat arms.

The good news is, my bag made the standby flight and was waiting for me on arrival. At least one of us had a good trip.

Ivar's in Mukilteo

The highlight today was my meal. I had lunch with Glenda and Will (two really special people to me). We had dinner at Ivar's in Mukilteo, WA. The restaurant sits right on the water and we sat near the window and watched a lone seagull wait for scraps out on the pier. Some years ago a storm destroyed the restaurant sending huge logs and massive tidal surges through the these windows. Now it's been remodeled and is very upscale. They put a railing outside to keep debris from flying into the place during future storms. This makes a great perch for the seagulls.

For lunch I had the best salmon ever. It didn't have that typical reddish color but was brown and very flaky. The sauce was unbelievable. I don't recall ever eating salmon so good. I would recommend Ivar's to anyone.

Seattle

I flew to Seattle today, only to find excessive fog and drizzle. What else should I expect this time of year? I took my sunglasses on this trip and for the life of me, I don't know why.

The good news is, I met with two really great franchise owners and was greatly encouraged. I don't think work would be nearly as good without the terrific people I work with.

Church today

Today, Ted Travis spoke at our church. Pastor Travis is Director of Neighborhood Ministries in downtown Denver. One of the things he said is that we need to examine our own culture in the light of the gospel. We should not try to do the reverse (a common mistake he said). Ted also talked about the importance of affirming your own culture before you can start to affirm someone else's. He said Reconciliation can only take place among equals. Then we can be intentional about cross-cultural relationships. Nancy and I both thought this was profound. Ted's web site can be found here.

CSO night

Friday night we went to the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Hall. We heard Ann Meyers on the violin play Massenet's Meditation for Thaiis and John Corigliano's The Red Violin. This was really, really good. The music was scored for the film The Red Violin. Also, we had the cheap seats behind the orchestra. These are my favorite because we're close and can see the conductors face (Peter Oundjan). His facial expressions told a story and interpreted things way beyond the music. He was worth the price of admission. After the intermission we heard Bruckner's Symphony No. 4. Zzzzzz.

My new phone

I bought one of those new cell phones today. It gets e-mail too. It takes pictures, videos, plays music, keeps my calendar up to date, does word processing, excel, power point, and I think it probably has a little compartment to dispense my medication and vitamins Nancy has me taking and take my blood pressure. The trick is to figure out how to use it. I'm looking at it sitting on the desk. It's plugged in right now, charging. The salesman told me I had to train the battery first for 8 hours. Train the battery!! Does it bark and pee on the floor too?

We're going to the symphony tonight. This morning it was -5 at the house and -14 at the airport, so we're dressing warmly. We got another 6 or 7 inches of fresh snow too. As much as I like the stuff, we're pretty tired of it. I think we've had something over 65 inches since Dec. 20. I guess the drought is over.