Lower North Fork Fire

A number of you have asked me about the fires in Colorado. I've been a little out of touch this last week because I've been in business meetings in Chicago. Now that I'm back, here is what I've learned. It has come within about 4 or 5 miles of our house, as the crow flies. So that wasn't a major threat, except that it was coming in our direction. We do have an open space of grassland between us and the timber in the foothills too, which is a nice barrier.

The fire is located just a mile Northeast of Waterton Canyon and has been about 70% contained going into today, and burned around 4,100 acres. Officials are concerned that if the wind kicks up again, it will re-ignite and begin to spread rapidly. In addition, when there are high winds they can't combat the fire from the air with bombers and helicopters. High winds are predicted today and tomorrow as a cold front moves in.

Of the 980 homes that have been evacuated, there are 180 which remain evacuated. 6,500 homes are under a warning of evacuation. We are thankful to God we have been spared this horrible event. The only minor issue is it smells like a campfire once in a while. A small price to pay.

Nuggets

We're hoping our Denver Nuggets can get a little fresh push from the signing of JaVale McGee, another 7 foot center who will be a nice compliment to Faried. And, now that Wilson Chandler is coming back, there is hope for the team in the playoffs if the chemistry works. The Nugg's have been plagued with injuries after a great start.

Obamacare

I've read much of the Obama care plan. It will cost small businesses thousands of dollars per year for each employee, full time or part time. Most of the small businesses I work with have from 50 to 400 employees and their profits generally run under the 10% range. With labor costs running more than 60% of their business, it will bankrupt them. As a result we will have thousands of small businesses, who used to employ hundreds of people, out of business. It will be a lose/lose situation. More people will be unemployed, and more businesses will be out of business. Their only alternative will be to pass these costs on to the consumers.

Right or wrong, the program doesn't work financially. The government hasn't done anything to lower the costs, only redistribute the costs to others who will pay for it. Many industries and especially small businesses will suffer greatly, adding to unemployment.

IT experts

I suppose most of us who work together feel this way about IBM. We have one man who runs programs for computers. Last week he ran Dumbo, and the week before, Fantasia. Our computer is down so often it has canvas burns!

Manning, Sanchez, Cromartie

Now what am I supposed to do? Get him a new jersey? One with #18 on it which says 'Manning?' Yep! That's what fans do. I am glad Tebow landed on his feet at the Jets. Teebowmania has now spread across New York and even Antonio Cromartie is glad he's there and follows Tim on Twitter, along with nearly 2 million other people. Look out Sanchez.

Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich has arrived in Colorado. Unfortunately, he won't be able to tour around the state and see the mountains. I suppose he might be able to go to lunch with Ted Kaczynski. When I hear a politician say he's a self made man, I'm thrilled that he took the responsibility off the rest of us. I hate political jokes, they always get elected.

Blagojevich is in this prison in Jefferson County, just a few miles from our house. I'm surprised it's not full of politicians.

A bribe is a gift with which the giver says, "Thanks," and the receiver says, "Don't mention it!"

US debt

You and the government, are a little like a husband wife team. Every week, you give your wife your pay envelop (your taxes). At the end of the year she's saved up fifty-two envelopes! Her response? I'm being green!

Or, it's a little like your wife (our President) wanting to see your paycheck go farther, so she took it to Paris with entourage!

Grand Canyon, Marble Canyon

Val took this photo on our last Grand Canyon trip. It was in Marble Canyon, maybe mile 35 or 40. What strikes me about this really nice photo is the dark blue sky and inky dark water in contrast with the red wall limestone cliffs crowding the banks of the Colorado, all dimly reflected in the water. What a beautiful place.

Peyton Manning goes to Denver!

Was it the thin air? Maybe the Broncos have a good medical team? How about stellar wide receivers? A good place to retire? Equity in the club? Hmmmm. What is going on here? Whatever the reason, Bronco fans are already buying orange house paint and bumper stickers by the bag. I for one will miss Tim Tebow but I know he'll probably not get us to a Super Bowl. According to Las Vegas, last week the Broncos had a 70 to 1 chance of winning the Super Bowl. Now Vegas is saying it's 10 to 1.

$57 Trillion and counting... UP

Last I checked our national debt was $57 trillion dollars! Good grief! Check the debt clock here for the latest. Notice it is not going in the right direction. Not exactly "hope" if I do say so.

If you ask me, our current President is trying to destroy our country.

My Computer

I have a new iPad now. My boss bought it for me. It has 57 apps on it. A couple of weeks ago, I didn't know what an app is and now I have 57 of them. One of them tells me all the best places to eat within walking distance of my current location. Nice. Now I think I found the reason iPad's are so successful. It's the perfect solution for an office computer and would no doubt work in the government too. If it makes a mistake, it blames another computer!

My other computer was pretty old. It ran on candles. Nowadays, business computers even meet at trade shows. A young male computer met a young female computer at the business show. The female computer offered the male an Apple. The male asked, "Is your name Eve?"

Rain in Portland

I was in Portland, OR last week and took this photo from the balcony of my room on the 13th floor of the Doubletree Hotel. Notice the nice weather. It had stopped raining long enough to get this shot looking West. I suppose rain is good because it makes the flowers grow and everything is green, but it also makes the cabs disappear! So, we went to dinner a few blocks down the street. It was raining so hard I got seasick walking back!

Broncos think big

My travels have kept me from posting anything recently. So sorry for the lag in news and updates. However, during my travels, the news from Denver has certainly kept up the pace. Everywhere I go, I am asked, "Hey, what about Manning?" or, "Hey, what about Tebow?" Who will it be? Meanwhile, back here in Denver business people capitalize on the news. So, what do I think? You ask. Take your pick, inexperience or a broken neck?

Family in Dallas

I took this photo in Dallas of Nancy with Aunt June, her cousin Susie and sister Dee. We had a fun time catching up, eating burgers Tom made for us, and enjoying our time together. Aunt June has a great little place near Arlington and seems happy with her situation.

Dallas visit

We were in Dallas last weekend and visited Tom and Susie. Aunt June "June bug" came over and enjoyed the time with everyone along with a very nice Bar-B-Q. Tom and Susie's house is on the golf course but he doesn't play golf and he would prefer that golf balls not land in his yard, and he gets maybe 3 or 4 each day! The house is about 100 feet or so from the fairway, so I guess there are a lot of bad golfers in Dallas! They have more ways to slice than a delicatessen counterman!

The fights

I told Nancy we were going out to the fights last night. So, she and I went to the Avalanche game. Our next door neighbors went on vacation and gave us their club level seats and a parking pass. Hey! I'll go just for the parking pass. I remember the good old days when it cost more to run a car than to park it! But they were good seats and the food was excellent for a change. The hot dogs looked like "Rocky Dogs," but they were really "Hockey Dogs," with a face sticking out on one end and a grip on the other.

Anyway, the Av's lost to Columbus. Our team lives hockey. It dreams hockey. It eats hockey. Now if it could just play hockey! But we did see a couple of good fights, then a hockey game broke out.