Economy

An economist is a guy who'd send you a homing pigeon for your birthday. So, who do you listen to? Maybe there is a better place to start...

Time in the Grand Canyon

Eternal Time

I like what SK said about God in 1847:

".....Man proposes and God disposes. The fact that the high priests sealed Christ's grave was indeed a notarized signature: documentary proof that he had arisen from the dead and had not been stolen."

And why did God, the Savior of the world become a child? Perhaps it's a strong expression for our being saved by Grace, that we are able to do nothing to earn it, is the fact that the Savior is a child.

"Today a savior is born to you - and yet it was night when he was born. It is an eternal metaphor: night it must be - and it becomes day in the middle of the night when the Savior is born. TODAY is a declaration of eternal time. Since God is outside time, every person in every generation who says he trusts Jesus as Savior, becomes a Christian, at that moment: Today a Savior is born to you, just as he died for you, so that you might be made right with God."

Rockies Season

Even though "Cargo" has hit 30+ home runs, the Rockies continue to struggle. They did make a strong run at it, but sorry Cargo, it may be a "nogo." We faced some really lucky pitchers in September. They always seemed to pitch on days we couldn't score a run. From the players point of view the ownership has sinus problems. If we play play well they don't want to sign us! Think about it; you've got Andres Galarraga, Matt Holiday, Jamie Carroll, and next it will be Ubaldo Jemenez and Troy Tulowitzky.

John gets married

Yesterday we went to the Moxon wedding reception. Since John and Rebecca got married in Wisconsin they decided to have a reception here in Denver for all of his family and friends. Many thanks to Dad and Mom. I explained to John that anybody who claims that marriage is a fifty-fifty proposition doesn't know the first thing about women or fractions! Hmmm.... he's only been married about a month. Not sure he heard it.

We ran into Bob and Claire at the reception and enjoyed looking at pictures and videos of the kids and grand kids on Nancy's I-phone. Or, is it an eye-phone? She thinks it might be an I-store. Who knows what it is? If someone can tell me what that thing is, please do!

At the end, we enjoyed this really good cake. Their friend who made it, drove it all the way out to Colorado from Wisconsin the day she made it! What great friends they have to do that. You sure wouldn't want me driving all the way to Wisconsin in 24 hours. There wouldn't be any cake left!

Time on Thanksgiving '08

Time spent together is very special. I always know when thirty second are up. I'm halfway through my Minute Rice! Time is a great healer too, but it doesn't do much for beauty! Notice the guy on the left! You see, I'm for helping people slow down enough to have fun. I've never found anyone who can laugh and run at the same time. One or the other has to give. I root for laughter to stick around. Nothing against joggers, but they are a somber bunch.

Baseball is about over

Well the season is almost over and we're still cheering for the Rockies. It doesn't look good but we're cheering anyway. Life isn't fair. When I tried out for baseball, I couldn't hit a curve ball. Now I play golf once in a while and I can't stop hitting them!

Banks, Credit scores, and balance

There was a time when a drive-in bank was designed so that people could show their cars who really owned them. Not any more. They're either paid for, or re-possessed. Who are the bank robbers now? The FDIC. Just change the rules and you own them. A bank used to be a dignified institution that was established for people to have a place to keep the government's money until tax time. Now it's a government institution established to keep the government's money until tax time. I think the Feds must have some sort of inner ear problem. They went into banking and lost their balance! They really shouldn't run anything.

Biscuit on a stick

My daughter sent me this photo of a biscuit, cooked while camping. Marshmallows in the evening and biscuits in the morning all on a stick. I can do that! I know good food when I see it because I'm a born gourmet. I start out every day with a bowl of Cheerios Rockefeller! And, cooking outside is my thing. That's why I don't know a thing about the kitchen. The other day I tried to defrost the stove! You know the handiest appliance in our kitchen is the fire extinguisher. Don't ask.

Medical Marijuana growers join teamsters

Yes it's true. In California the medical marijuana growers are joining the teamsters union. Union membership is declining and this seemed to be the next most logical step for both parties. What puzzles me is how they can protect their "farm workers" when it's a federal crime. Do you think the union will get the Feds to come up with one of those signs to post in growers offices: KEEP ON THE GRASS? One more question; will the union be a considerate pusher and just sell candy reefers to kids who are too young to smoke? For more on this click above and read the article from the Sacramento Bee.

Thankful to be an American

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the teacher asked her kindergarten class, "What do you have to be thankful for?" One youngster said, "I'm thankful I'm not a turkey!" Well, I guess I'm thankful I'm not a politician. But you have to hand it to them. They're going to get it anyway. And our very own Udall here in Colorado has done the work of two men - the James Brothers! I am thankful for the tea party. They don't really look like party-goers do they? Not then, and not now.

Biking

The best part of the biking trip this weekend was meeting up with Nancy. She had to leave late for the trip due to a prior commitment and met us half way on the ride. I rode up with Dan and Tammie because I couldn't wait. I'm a model husband you see, just not a working model.

Biking in Leadville

We went to Leadville yesterday and went biking with our friends from church on the Mineral Belt Trail. The aspen leaves were changing and the colors in the mountains were stunning. We also had spectacular weather and enjoyed a beautiful ride.

Behind us is the tiny town of Leadville, CO where we started our ride. I think small towns like this are so small they deserve a special category. Certainly this one. It's 10,200 feet in elevation! But when Chris tried to call to make a reservation at the local diner... the area code was busy!

We had a great time except on the uphill sections. For some reason it seemed like there were more uphills than downhills. But we made it up and down and then had a nice lunch at the local diner. More on this trip later...

Is it sin tax or syntax?

I don't mind the "sin" tax but I do mind the "syntax." "We're here to support small business." he says, and "We will tax the rich, not the poor and middle class." Guess which tax bracket gets the largest increase in 2011? The poorest get a 5% increase in 2011, the highest increase. As it relates to small business and the Forbes article he dislikes, Obama should take a lesson from Bill Clinton who said, "Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel."

A fine mess

I love political cartoons these days. Unfortunately, I don't like these days. Everyone is tightening their belts, cutting back, watching their money, except the government. What old movie are they watching?

Noelle's back yard

I took this photo of a spider in Seth and Noelle's back yard. It turns out to be a harmless orb-weaver. Yeah right! I think I'll go up and pet it. I've never gone near a spider. I think we both like that.

Illegal immigration

So you don't think illegal immigration affects much more than Arizona, California, and Texas? In my business, we see it everywhere! To work anywhere you have to show your driver's license. It's required by law. Hmmm, I wonder what the police in Mississippi would do if they stopped this guy? Probably more than they can do in Arizona! I suppose if you're a Democrat you'd call them a cute couple.

What's in a name?

I guess it's no secret that Seth and Noelle are expecting another little boy in late January. Don't worry Daisy, you'll be tougher for it. Anyway, we spent a lot of time trying to come up with a name. Any ideas out there? I can recite ten pages of the phone book by heart - Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith... But what's in a name anyway? He who steals my name has nothing. He who steals my credit cards with my name on them, now he's got something.

Elected officials

A politician is very often a man who has risen from obscurity to something worse. People who don't know why America is the Land of Promise should be here during an election campaign. This one managed to find it's way into my daughter's back yard.

Go Green - recycle Congress

I do not like this Uncle Sam,

I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan,
I do not like this 'YES, WE CAN.'
I do not like this spending spree...
I'm smart, I know that nothings free.
I do not like your smug replies,
When I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it. Nope, nope, nope!

Politics consists of two sides and a fence

It was Fred Thompson, the new 1994 Senator from Tennessee who arrived in Washington with shock. He said, "I've still got a lot to learn about Washington. Why, yesterday I accidentally spent some of my own money."

A politician is someone who only cares about the next election. A patriot is someone who cares about the next generation.

9-11

I suppose if the KKK decided to build a museum across the street from the Loraine Motel (the hotel turned into a museum where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated), we would all be outraged and find it repugnant. The way the KKK viewed blacks as sub-human was a national disgrace. However, they do have a right to freedom of speech and can build a museum if they want I suppose. Why don't we feel the same outrage and repugnance toward those who caused 9-11? They view women as nothing less than sub-human, deprive them of education, and murder missionary doctors and dentists who are trying to make their lives better. Where is the outrage here?

White House Aids owe how much in taxes?

I couldn't resist posting this article from the LA Times. Click here to find out how much government employees owe in back taxes, including many of President Obama's White House Aids.

And I thought he was going to give the middle class a break in taxes. Looks like the government employees are the one's who'll get it.

Read the list and vote!

Join me in a bowl of soup

Would you join me in a bowl of soup? Is there enough room for two of us? Kathy discovers there may be! Okay, Okay, pretty corny I know. Food and food jokes are a matter of taste! Hey Kathy... she really likes seafood, especially saltwater taffy! And the catch of the day is fish sticks. It was great to see Kathy and Craig last weekend and share some time together.

Gamma is too much fun

Oh, to be sitting next to "gamma" watching TV. What I like about this image is her feet. Without them, you don't have a leg to stand on! I can see it now though, first it will be her hair, then her nails, then whatever they do to her feet and toes. I don't understand what goes on in those places, and I don't want to know. Good luck honey!

Cake and ice cream

We celebrated "Little" Andy's birthday last weekend. Lots of cake, lots of ice cream and cookies and of course, lots of fun. Now that the long labor day weekend is over I realized there is a little extra weight (see cake below). I don't mind it so much, but when I want to let it all hang out, I have to make two trips. Now I have to watch my weight again. I have it right out in front of me where I can see it.

I'm just glad I can still pick him up and put him on my shoulders! But that won't last long. Some day I'll go from "Why not?" to "Why bother?" But even though old age is creaking up on me, I can't resist my time with this little guy. Old age will just have to wait.

Bronco fans

I've discovered that Bronco fans are everywhere. They begin as fans at the age of one or so and then remain fans, in spite of the Bronco's record or who the coach is. The best Bronco fans are there no matter what the record or how well they do. They know that eventually the Broncos will win it all again!

Presidential Hypocrisy

I like the words of Ben Stein who said recently;

"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens."

And it was Will Rogers who said, "Anything important is never left to the vote of the people. We only get to vote on some man, we never get to vote on what he is to do." The President is doing the best he can. That should scare you!

Climbing

On our hike last week we ate lunch at Sky Pond and watched the climbers on Petite Grepon. If you look closely, you'll see there is a climber on it just about the center of the photo. I did this one with Leon about 23 years ago. Of course photos like this just bring about discussions of danger and getting killed. What's the problem? I just tell people to look at the obituaries. You'll realize that everybody dies in alphabetical order!

A nice prayer

Father in heaven! Do not side with our sins against us, but side with us against our sins so that when the thought of you awakens, it might not remind us of our trespasses but of your forgiveness, not of how we went astray but of how you saved us!

Illegal aliens

It's great to be an American. That's why I wear Italian suits, eat French food, drive a Japanese car, and on holidays put out an American flag made in Korea!

This photo was taken South of Tucson. These kinds of things are everywhere in Arizona.

Morning Has Broken

The scene below reminded me of the Christian hymn written by Eleanor Farjeon, Morning Has Broken. Of course Cat Steven popularized it but the words speak volumes to me.

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dew fall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day.

I took this photo last Saturday morning. I was waiting for my hiking friends in the parking lot before we left on our hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. The beauty never seems to end here in Colorado.