Storm Sandy, my humble report

My co-worker in New Jersey called me early this morning (on Skype using his iPad because he has no power in the house and hasn't since the storm hit). We talked about the storm and how they're coping through it all. He said he "never worries about insurance companies paying off." I told him, "It's good to know that after you're gone they'll still be here." I asked him if he was staying warm without electricity. He said, "I have a wood burning blanket at the cabin, but nothing helpful here." We laughed hard!

My friend also told me his wife has been driving all over town looking for gasoline to put in their generator. He said they ran out of gas and everything in the freezer is thawing out. I asked him why he didn't go out and look for gas himself. I got no answer and thought, well it is his second marriage, you'd think he'd learn.

My new Halloween mask

On Halloween, I really know how to scare people now. But this lady never should have shown it to this little boy. Way too scary if you ask me. I'm surprised Target carries this kind of stuff.

So, what's my plan on Halloween, you ask? Well, I plan to knock on doors all over the place wearing this mask, and I'm expecting people to give their neighbors candy.

Devils Head Fire Lookout

Nancy and I hike to Devils Head Fire Lookout last week with our friends. When we were there it was closed. I found this photo of the lookout while it's being used. Last year, I am sure this was a pretty busy place in Colorado. I read that the Wetmore Fire (not too far from here) is now 95% contained. You would think after the snow we just had it would be completely out, but I guess not.

Before it's too late!

Many of you have said President Obama is a cheap politician. Well, how can you call him a cheap politician? He's cost the country a fortune! Remember all those promises he made during the last election? Which one's did he keep?  All I have to say is, people who don't know why America is the Land Of Promise should be here during an election. So... before it's too late, you should vote to change it back!

Looking out my back porch this morning

Here is what I woke up to this morning, snow! It's about 25 degrees outside and snow! So, I got up early this morning and immediately walked out on the back porch combing my hair. You know its wintry when you comb your hair outside and it breaks. Anyway, I'm guessing the hens at the Johnson ranch are laying their eggs standing up this morning!

The trouble with solar

I decided to install a solar light at our house this weekend. The problem with me having to do the installation is that 1) I have to do it, 2) I have to actually read the instructions, and 3) it always takes more time than I thought it would.  For example, waiting around for the sun to charge up the batteries just didn't make sense to me. Couldn't I just plug it in? NO, the sun had to do it! At one point, I was going to hire an electrician to do the work and one of them dropped by to give me an estimate. I decided not to use him because he had singed eyebrows!

Why did I do this you ask? I believe that you should save up for rainy day. Of course, you're stuck if it rains.

We hiked with our friends up to Devil's Head Lookout today. It was beautiful 65 degree weather up in the mountains at around 9,000 feet in elevation. We only hiked a little over a mile but it was a 900 foot hike up to the lookout.

The final hundred feet involved these awesome steps to the top. Going up was no problem, it was coming down that was slow, mainly because the views were so outstanding.

Behind Nancy is the West slope of Pike's Peak. If you looked the other direction, you could see Mount Evans. Look off to the East and you could see Castle Rock, Sedalia, and Denver.

The fire lookout is closed now, but it is still active. There is a small cabin at the bottom of the stairs for the forest rangers who watch for fires during the summer months. We could see the Hayman Fire burn from 2002 but we could not see the scares from the fire last summer in Colorado Springs.

Eleven of us made the short hike and then stopped at the Bud's Cafe and Bar in Sedalia for really scrumptious cheese burgers. But don't ask for fries, they get mad. And leave your credit cards at home, they don't take 'em, cash only, the sign reads; "WE HONOR CREDIT CARDS, BUT WE ONLY TAKE CASH." I suggested to them that if someone pays cash, don't you worry that their credit is no good? "Not at all," they replied, "we only worry about the country that printed that stuff." Great burgers!

Broncos

I was actually ready to turn the TV off last night at half time because the Broncos were down 24-0 to the San Diego chargers. Sure glad I didn't turn it off. Peyton Manning got it done in spite of multiple first half mistakes and errors. It just goes to show you, anything is still possible if you don't give up the good fight!

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 woodland,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Oh what fun

It's time to start thinking about skiing again. The mountains, the lovely trees, the alpine setting, riding up the ski lifts and taking in the beautiful views, feeling the brisk cold air as you whisk down the mountain, and then feeling the snow inside your coat, and where is my glove? Missing... wait... my ski pole is 100 yards downhill, my sunglasses are crooked on my face, Oh what fun!

Redeemed to enjoy God

Time spent walking around the lake near our house is always time well spent. It's quiet with wildlife nearby, not too many people, and very pleasant scenery. Nancy and I really enjoy our walks here. But today, we found out that a friend has Lou Gehrig's disease and has about a year to live. She is 66 and can't eat without a tube. Her husband Bob is 69. I asked him how it's going this morning during our workout and he said, "God has blessed us in so many ways we can't count them all. We just live each day, one day at a time and rejoice in the time we have."

How do you come to understand God's motives? He sometimes seems to withhold blessings we legitimately desire. According to Larry Crabb in his book The Pressure's Off, it is the "Immanuel Agenda." Crabb says, "He (God) will be with a people who value Him above every other blessing. He will create that people at the cost of His Son's death and at the cost of being hurt every day by children who really don't want Him except to use Him. He is allowing good dreams to shatter to arouse the better dream of knowing Him."

Jonathan Edwards once said that the spiritual journey requires an "intense concentration on God's point of view." Such a concentration he says, will "cause an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of our interests in heaven." When things go wrong, we tend to get "me" focused or we blame God.

I shouldn't make it my goal to get out of life what I want. That's called greed. As I learn to follow Jesus, I can drink the living water that satisfies the real thirst that I have. As for my friends, while they are suffering and not doing what they probably really want, they are redeemed to enjoy God and their hearts are fixed on Him. More is available to us in Jesus Christ than we dare imagine.

Look Out!

Sunday, Nancy and I went for a walk down to the lake. Her foot is feeling a little better.We decided it was a nice day to walk around the lake and see the sights.

On the way back we usually watch the prairie dog colony and listen to them chirp warnings about people nearby. This day they had a different chirp! We saw this coyote digging for one and eagerly looking for a meal.

Wiley just didn't seem to have it today. Maybe you'll get lunch tomorrow! We watched him go from hole to hole, sneak up on others and run after them. My guess is, he's been somewhat successful in the past.

Then, there was a town meeting to discuss the threat. "It won't be long and he'll have a nuke!" said one of them, "Nah, we don't have a thing to worry about. Let's just stay in our holes and ignore him because he isn't interested in us."

Occupy Sesame Street

You can easily make the case that the President works for the people. He is our employee. A good boss (the people) will make a raise effective as soon as the employee is. However, it's been four years and the level of performance is abysmal. So, since the President has not been effective for so long, I want to strongly urge the people to send him to "occupy Sesame Street" with the rest of his people.

As for Big Bird, well we should all be thankful he is good enough to make it on his own. The government does not need to help him. My guess is, he would be on TV somewhere without a subsidy, and if not then he should go down with the rest of the good programs that failed.

Predictions

I've been out of town in Fargo, ND enjoying a little snow and windy weather. My job takes me all over the West now and I never know exactly where I'll be. I taught a Covey 4DX class to a group of franchise owners from ND and Minnesota. After the class, some of us walked outside to go to dinner. Brrrrr.... it was cold. Then, when I came back to my hotel room and opened the door, the small light in front went on! Who left that window open?

Here are some of my visions and prognosis' for you. No, I'm not Nostradamus or anything, but I'd like to make a few predictions anyway. I predict...

On the election: Some late breaking news, with six cemeteries still to be heard from, the election is still too close to call. Delay's counting and recounting citizens, dead people, and "guest workers."

On Thanksgiving: Our turkey will be sick again this year. All day long it will have a thermometer in it.

On Christmas: My neighbor will shoot off three blanks again this year and tell his kids Santa Claus just committed suicide. It's just too expensive, he'll say.

On New Year's: My troubles will only last as long as my resolutions. Hopefully.

On Inauguration day: President Obama will have a new home but it will still have his mother-in-law in it.

On Taxes: Obama gets re-elected and you realize the IRS is like a bad laundry, you keep losing your shirt.

Well I guess the Rocks won't lose 100 games! Pretty bad season though. Why is it, at this point in the season other teams have to meet and conspire how to beat the worst team in the division. Are we that tough? Actually, we can score runs, we just can't pitch. We find pitchers who can't pitch, throw to first, or field the ball. So the Rockies pick him up. Oh yes! He's a great prospect. Maybe ownership needs to re-examine it's goals. I'm losing patience.

Wildlife a few miles away

Waterton Canyon (just a couple miles from our house) is known for its wildlife. The idea is to ride your bike up this gravel road for 6 or 7 miles to Strontia Springs Reservoir. On the way, there is a good chance you'll see some big horn sheep (pictured below) or a bear (like we did a couple weeks ago). Saturday, we rode up the canyon and were rewarded with plenty of wildlife. These sheep were right in the middle of the road and figured they owned it.

Then here comes Nancy and they politely stepped aside, although they watched her very closely. I'm sure they thought, "she could be packing!" We stopped and took a few photos and then enjoyed our ride up to the reservoir.

On the way back we saw a few more up on the hillside grazing on something yummy. I sure couldn't see anything yummy. But they were sure focused on their meal.