The Colonel Must Be Smiling

My Dad was an avid sportsman and loved to hunt and fish. He was also a man of modest means. Like any sportsman he drooled at the latest in rods, reels, lures and firearms but supporting a family of a wife and four boys didn’t leave him much in the way of discretionary cash.

In 1956, he was a Major in the Army and stationed in Livorno, Italy. I have mentioned before that this was a great time to be in Europe. Not only were Americans worshiped but the dollar was strong. For my Dad it must have been like getting a 100% raise. We all lived pretty well for the three years he was stationed there, and my Dad was able to treat himself to a Franchi over and under shotgun with a hand tooled Italian leather case. It was one of his prized possessions.

Shortly before my parents moved from their home of 30 years in Upatoi, GA to a retirement center in Columbus, GA, my brother, #1, gathered up all Dad’s guns for safe-keeping. About a year ago I expressed an interest in the shotgun. I gave up hunting after being discharged from the Army but I always admired the beauty of the gun so #1 sent it to me. It was my intention to hang it on the wall in my basement next to my Dad’s cavalry horse bridle.

I had to work on the “beauty” a little as my Dad had, in a fit of security consciousness, engraved his Social Security number across the receiver (the metal portion of the gun just above the trigger housing). To fix this I had a gunsmith file off the number and put two brass plaques over the area with my Dad’s name and life dates. You can see one of the plaques in the picture above.

Enter my daughter, Cajenn. A little over a year ago she married a wonderful guy, Cajon, and he also is an avid sportsman and hunts and fishes at every opportunity. The more I looked at the shotgun in the basement, the more I thought that The Colonel would be pleased if someone would use and enjoy the gun as he did….

This past summer The Bride and I visited with Cajenn and Cajon in California and I brought the shotgun to him as a gift. This past weekend he used it hunting for the first time and Cajenn went with him….and trusty Lab, Shylo, on a hunt. The picture above and below show him in action with the shotgun. The pictures, sent by my daughter, brought a tear to my eye.

Good hunting Cajon, and God Bless.

The Colonel must be smiling!

Thanks for visiting.

A Visit To California

…And a great visit it was! The Bride and I arrived in Oakland just before noon on Thursday and was met by our daughter CaJenn. For the next three days CaJenn and her new hubby, CaJon, showed us some of the sights of the San Francisco area. Both The Bride and I had been to San Francisco before but we never really explored the area outside the city and that’s what was planned for this trip.

Friday morning we headed for Napa Valley and day of exploring the most famous wine region in the United States. The weather couldn’t have been better. Temps in the 70’s with a nice cool breeze. During the day we visited four different tasting rooms; Clos Du Val, Groth, Miner and Mumms. All I can say is that I’m glad CaJon was driving!

Napa has established a system that ensures that they profit even from the tasters. The deal is that it costs between $10-$15/person to taste from 3-5 different wines. If a taster then purchases some wine, the tasting fee is credited to the purchase. We ended up doing a little of both. We purchased several bottles at two of the wineries and none at the others. At lunch time we stopped at a great little general store/deli called the Oakville Grocery and got gourmet sandwiches. These we took to one of the wineries and ate them while looking at the endless rows of grape vines….life is pretty darned good!

Saturday we drove north through Bodega and Bodega Bay and then took Hwy 101 along the coast back to San Francisco. The Bride is a big Alfred Hitchcock fan and The Birds is one of her favorite movies. It just so happens that the school house used in the filming of The Birds is in Bodega. We couldn’t miss the opportunity so we drove into town and spent some time looking through the gift shop that now occupies part of the old school. In addition to the old school, the Catholic church next door was also used in the movie. Adding to the fame of Bodega, that same church was the subject of a great photograph by Ansel Adams. My photo is not in the same class as his but it was fun to try to get a similar shot...Mine on left, his on right.

The drive along the coast was breath taking. The wildflowers were all in bloom and that was just so much more eye candy. It was hard to process everything as every turn of the road gave us another great panorama. Then to add to the overload we drove back into San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge….see picture at top!

It was a long day but very much worth it. We ended the day with a great meal at a restaurant pretty close to where the kids live.

Our flight didn’t depart Oakland until the late afternoon so we had time for more adventure on Sunday. In late morning we drove down to Jack London Square in Oakland to visit the farmers market there. If I am jealous of California about anything, one would be their bountiful supply of beautiful vegetables all year around. I was entranced by every sort of vegetable including several I had never heard of before. The tomatoes in particular caught my eye. There is nothing better than a tomato sandwich on white bread slathered with mayonnaise on a hot summer afternoon and I saw lots of tomatoes that looked like they were destined for that.

To console myself at not being able to have a tomato sandwich, I decided that a shrimp salad sandwich at a nice restaurant right on the water was the next best thing. I was in luck! There just happened to be a very nice restaurant right there with outdoor seating right on the water. We ate a great lunch while watching the boats go by. In the distance was the skyline of San Francisco. Life is really good!

The trip ended all too soon and we arrived back in the Denver area about 8 pm. I’ve got about a week of “down” time before more adventures start, but more about that in the next post. CaJenn and CaJon, when you read this I want to thank you for you’re hospitality on our visit. We’ll be back to see more of your area. Your Mom and I are proud of you.

Here’s a few more pictures from the trip.

Thanks for visiting.

The Pecos Conference & Will California Be Open?

There is absolutely no connection between the two subjects above except that they both involve myself, his-self. The first item is the Pecos Conference and I am excited about it! The Pecos Conference is a gathering of people interested in all things archaeology related to the South West United States. Started in 1927 by several of the biggest names in American archaeology, it brings together amateurs and professionals for a couple of days of presentations and demonstrations. There are also vendors, a barbecue, a dance and field trips to some great archaeological sites in the area. I first heard of this event a year or so ago and thought it might be interesting. Two weeks ago while I was working on the PIT project one of the other volunteers told me more about it and said that I should attend if I could. This year it is being held in the vicinity of the small SW Colorado town of Cortez so I figured, Why Not?.

For the princely sum of $73.00, I get all of the things mentioned above, AND, I get to camp free at the site of the conference…a reservoir north of Cortez. Not only is this great entertainment but it’s also CHEAP entertainment. Did I mention that they throw in a T-shirt too?

The conference is August 6-9 and right now I plan to leave on Wednesday the 5th and return on Monday the 10th. I’m thinking that Wednesday night I’ll stay at the Great Sand Dunes National Park which is about half way there. There is nothing important happening on Thursday other than registration and a reception so it won’t matter if I straggle in, in the afternoon. On Sunday I have my choice of about 12 different field trips and I haven’t decided yet which one to do.

This will be a cool trip. Maybe a little hot as Cortez is in pretty arid country but I’m looking forward to it.

Now on to “Will California Be Open?”. Thursday morning The Bride and I leave for the San Francisco area to visit CaJenn and CaJon. With all the ruckus about California being broke I hope they don’t close the airports? Don’t laugh, this is California I’m talking about. CaJenn reports that the local weather will be fantastic with temps in the 70’s. My timing is perfect because it is supposed to get in the mid to upper 90’s here in the next few days.

This will probably be my last post until next week as The Bride and I don’t get back home until late Sunday.

Thanks for visiting.

Over On Our Own...

Well, The Bride returned on Wednesday night from her trip to see CaJenn and to do "wedding stuff". It sounds like she had a wonderful time and is getting into the swing of this wedding thing. I've got to be real careful about getting information from her as I may not really want to hear all of the $pecifics! All I really know is that three DEADLY serious, giggly women spent a number of days in California depleting the wine supply...and my dollar supply.

Tuesday night I attended the appreciation dinner for Tesoro Foundation volunteers at the Fort Restaurant. It was a very nice affair with buffalo enchiladas for the main course. There were about 20 volunteers present. Holly Arnold Kinney, daughter of the late Sam Arnold and Executive Director of the foundation gave us an update of the Foundations activities in promoting Southwestern culture, art and history. The evening ended with participants giving the Mountain Man Toast....

Here's to the childs what's come afore
And here's to the pilgrims what come arter
May your trails be free of grizz
Yer packs filled with plew
And fat buffler in yer pot!
Waugh!

Thanks for visiting.

On Our Own - 3 Days Down

The Bride and her mother have been in California visiting CaJenn and making preparations for next June's wedding since Thursday. The Emmer and I have now been "On Our Own" for three days and thing are going famously. This adventure is going to be a snap!

Thursday The Emmer had to pull a double shift at work so dinner for me was a bit of left over pasta. Last night we decided to go all out and have leftover meatloaf with corn and mashed potatoes.

Lest readers think that all we can do is leftovers, be aware that the mashed potatoes were made by The Emmer and I...from scratch! It was a true father-daughter bonding experience as I explained the intricacies of boiling potatoes and then the proper wrist position for mashing them. To make the experience even more special I decided to add garlic for garlic mashed potatoes. She didn't say so, but I know The Emmer was just bursting with pride over the fact that her father could make garlic mashed potatoes!

Tonight we have been invited out for dinner so that's another day done. Sunday, I'll be fasting for a routine medical exam so that's still another day that dinner is not an issue. Tuesday night I am dining at the famous Fort Restaurant. The Tesoro Foundation, of which I am a member is having a dinner in appreciation for it's volunteers...of which I am. So, yet another day's dining taken care of. This "On Our Own" adventure is turning out to be not so very challenging at all. There's a distinct possibility that I won't have to resort to Red Baron cuisine at all.

The Bride called home last night and said that they were having a wonderful time in California. After two solid days of shopping, they have finally purchased a wedding dress. I didn't even ask her what was next as at this point, I don't think I really want to know. Strangely enough, yesterday I had a voice mail from my banker saying that he wanted to meet with me and I have a sneaking suspicion I know what it's about!

Today is a turning point for the weather. Right now it is a classic Colorado fall day. Sunny, cobalt blue sky, 80 degrees. The forecast is for a storm to move into the area tonight with snow developing tonight and into tomorrow. Doesn't look like a lot but it sure will be a change from today.

Because of the change in the weather, Guitar, Too Tall - Two Timing and myself figured it was time to winterize our RVs. We met up first thing this morning and went to the storage lot where we drained all the water out of the RVs and then used an air compressor to blow out any remaining water from the lines. A little RV anti-freeze in the plumbing and we were done.

If you're wondering about the picture at the top of the post....The Bride took my camera with her to California so I had to resort to stock photography to give you the "flavor" of our culinary adventure. Our from scratch mashed potatoes would fit in the photo very nicely I think.

Thanks for visiting.

On Our Own - Once Again

I am not incapable of relying solely on my own talents to navigate everyday life. It's just that I have a family and am not used to doing so. Readers will remember my last "On Our Own" adventure and see that I can cope.

With that as a preface, it is time for The Emmer and me to be "On Our Own" once more. The Bride and her mother S. are leaving for California tomorrow morning to spend time with daughter #1, CaJenn, who will be getting married next June. They will be gone for a week. That's seven days of dinners that The Emmer and I will have to accomplish "On Our Own".

This time however, The Emmer, after catching a lot of grief from me the last time, did not tell The Bride that we didn't need any help, and could manage "On Our Own".

Because I was able to restrain The Emmer's youthful exuberance, The Bride has been preparing extra helpings at our normal dinners so we should make it "On Our Own" just fine this time. Besides, we've got a brand new oven and microwave...and Red Baron has some really innovative pizza products these days.

No,coping for dinner "On Our Own" is not the problem this coming week. Three women...in California...planning a June wedding is a much more serious problem! This is a problem, the magnitude of which, gets me all trembley. Makes me want to break out in hives. Makes me want to convert my entire estate to cash and bury it somewhere up in the mountains. Makes me want to call Rev. Moon. Makes me...well, you get the idea.

Three women, all giggly and DEADLY serious at the same time.Three women who want to make a statement to the world. Three women, who, at the nod of a head, could make me a pauper. Three women alone...shopping for a wedding....in California. God help me! This is really bad because under most circumstances, if I got into a real jam, I could sell my first born. That's not an option here because it's the first born that's getting married to begin with!

The only male, even almost related, that could act as a rudder, a voice of reason, a counterpoint, a stick in the mud, a beseeching voice in the wilderness, is the husband to be. He's in California too. Do you think he is going to play hardball with his mother in law...before she even is? Will he stand up to his mother in laws mother to be??? Nah...and I guess I can't blame him.

Is that the smell of toast burning or me?

Express your sympathy in the comments section.

Thanks for visiting.

I'm Not Makin' This Stuff Up

Are you concerned about the social life of your pooch? Naw, I don't mean just meetin' and greetin' fellow canines on the walk. I mean long term. Who is he/she going to plan the future with?...grow old with?...

If you're an owner of an even number (as in two, four, etc) of canines, are you going to let them live in sin for the rest of their lives or are you going to do the socially responsible thing and see to it that they have a "sanctioned" relationship?

Has Colorado finally out-weirded California?

You be the judge... Bow Wow Vows

Interesting to note that only spayed/neutered and leashed participants are allowed!

Thanks for visiting!

Is It Genetic? Is It Contagious?

I'm referring to Muffler Man-itis. This interest or obsession with 25 ft. tall fiber glass humanoids is certainly not your run of the mill, everyday, common, humdrum, workaday, commonplace, conventional interest. You really have to be looking for something to be interested in to develop an interest in Muffler Man.

So, the question is...is this a genetic condition? Are my offspring doomed by the genetic double helix to spend their life searching for the Holy Grail of the undiscovered Muffler Man? Should I just include gas money in my will for the time that they will drive 300 miles to investigate the rumor that a strange giant mannequin might be a heretofore unknown variant of Muffler Man?

Or, is this a much lesser affliction? A contagion? Nothing can be done for a genetic condition but something that is developed as a result of contagion is not necessarily fatal or even permanent. People have recovered completely from leprosy....but a lot don't. Not everyone dies from small pox.....but a lot do.

Is it genetic? Is it contagious?

Email from my daughter who lives in California entitled, "Dad, this one's for you!"

We were about a mile outside a small town called Guerneville when I saw it in the
middle of a trailer park.  When I told Jonathan to stop the car so I could take
a picture he looked at me like I was nuts.   But I knew if you were here you'd
want a photo of it so here you go...

Thanks for visiting.