Ironman Triathalon

Two friends of mine from work ran in this years Ironman in Panama City Beach Florida. This is a gruesome triathalon of 140.6 miles. 2.4 miles swim in the ocean, then 112 miles on bike, and finishing with a 26.2 mile run. I watched them on streaming video which was very cool, you could punch in their number and get their stats regarding how long they did the swim, the bike and run, enabling me to keep up with how they were doing. Awesome coverage. They both crossed the finish line together at around 13 hours and 10 minutes. It was fun watching them come across the finish line, can't wait to see them when they get home.
Congrats you guys! WOOHOO!

Dressed As A Journalist

How true this is....

Caulking And Staining My House

Yep, that's me up on the roof staining my house, with only a few sides left to go. I started in July, and I'm still working on it, but I've only been working on it on my days off, plus I've been caulking and putting two coats of stain on, so actually it's all good. It is such a good feeling of accomplishment getting this done.

With my house all caulked and stained it should save me a lot on heating this winter. After working on the outside of the house, I'm starting in the basement, I have the R-19 insulation already to insulate the downstairs and I can't wait to get started on that project, but want to finish the outside first with the good weather. I'm hoping for an Indian summer, since it froze last night.

WOOHOO!

Awesome Times

My son came to town this weekend for a wedding and we had the best time.

It was so fun seeing this group of friends all together, and we all had bombs, I forgot the complete name, but it was a shot of Jameson whiskey, a half pint of Guinness, and then you drop a shot of Baileys cream in, then shoot it down, if you don't drink it right away the cream makes the last of the drink awful. I was preparing myself to vomit, not feeling I'd be able to do it, but it was placed in front of me so I thought what the hell. It was very delicious, really. Quite the combo of tastes, it was my first one and it was really quite good.

We sang karaoke and had the best time playing Rock Star, what a fun game, I can see how this game could get habit forming, probably just like Mario.

All good things must come to an end as they say, the weekend came and went too quickly.

I Filled My Dishwasher!

Nick came home and I got to meet Sara, yes Sara without the H. ;) Will it be my Sarah and Nick's Sara? Not that either of them are things to be owned, but to differentiate between them? Or Sara east and Sarah west, I digress. However it was wonderful meeting you Sara!

They are so used to warmer weather living back east, and of course it has to be overcast today. I do hope that it warms up a bit for the rest of their vacation here.

It was fun having them here, I do love the house being full of laughter and fun times. I actually filled my dishwasher!

Goodbye Schatz

My ex-mother in law died last Friday, a truly wonderful lady, it was a very emotional weekend. I flew out to New York Saturday, the services were Sunday then I flew home Monday.

It was hard for me to go, and I almost didn't go using work as an excuse, because of the obvious "ex" factor, but I woke up with a start Saturday morning realizing that I wanted to be there, I am so very glad that I went.

My father in law died not too long ago and he would often refer to her as Schatz, translated darling or sweetheart. It is sad to see this generation leave us for so many reasons, I will keep both of their memories alive in my heart.

"The Total Transformation"

I've been hearing an advertisement for a few months now about how to get your abusive and disrespectful child back on track. Called the "total transformation" correcting behavior problems, back talking, and defiance. I don't have any bad behaving children, but this ad has made me very curious as to what this program is all about. What works beyond what has been tried for the last billion years?

Maybe it's a brain chip, the kid gets zapped if they get out of line, or perhaps the zapper if they go out of any area deemed a no go. I can see the guy pushing the button now, 5--4--3--2--...hope they aren't in a bad mood?

911

The memory of 911 is still very vivid to me, as it should be to every American. I wonder how many are letting this event fade into the sunset. Remembering where I was during the time, I was working an International Convention at the Colorado Convention Center. With many participants having family that worked and lived in Manhattan, wanting to get home and were stuck having to find alternate travel to get back. Many large screens were put up to keep everyone informed of what was happening. My sister in law told of how she heard about the plane hitting the building as she worked inside only a few blocks from ground zero and how she had walked into work not that long beforehand wondering how a plane could do this on such a clear day.

This also being the date that my ex left me for floozy while working the Dave Matthews benefit concert at Red Rocks. It makes this date all the more uglier. Actually it was a good thing that it all happened, or was finally out in the open rather than sneaking around behind my back, no telling how much longer all the crap would have been going on.

September 11th, yes, is a very significant date to me on so many levels.

Bless all of the troops fighting for our freedoms and security and keeping us safe in this dangerous world.

I am so very proud to be an American.

Natural Birth

I attended a conference reviewing natural birth verses inductions and C/Sections. I really enjoyed the wealth of information and seeing people that I hadn't seen in a long time, along with many that I work with every day. There were many good speakers and it was fun knowing alot of the speakers being in the business for so long.
I had to laugh at myself through part of the talk, as while they were talking about the natural progression of the birth process, I was secretly thinking about how much I like taking care of the patients that have lots of problems needing IV's, monitors and that have many issues.
While it's good to have a normal healthy birth experience, I think it's the feeling that I get knowing I'm making that important difference for that mom and her family.
For those laboring mom's that truly have a natural birth, there still are many things that a nurse can do to enhance her experience. It's nice to have that variety in laboring patients to choose from.

Fun Visit

I got to see some of my favorite cousins a few weeks ago, what a fun visit, although it was too brief, but I'll take what I can get.

They went river rafting down in Buena Vista, which is only an hour or so away from me, so I was able to drive down to meet up with them. They treated me to a wonderful dinner, thanks, and it was just a great time with lots of laughter and stories.

David and Gail's New Home

A few days ago, we went up to see the sculpture exhibit in Loveland, but got there too late for the show, but just in time for family visits. We obviously were on mountain time, a term I use for being a tad bit late often times, and had fun just relaxing and hanging out in Boulder, actually doing laundry but it was a wonderful day. Any time I spend with my daughter is great, it doesn't matter what we do, just spending time together is lots of fun for me. I'd love to spend time with my son as well, but that will have to wait a bit. Actually, we started the day out having an awesome breakfast at Lucille's, a great cajin breakfast place, yum, and thanks to Kim who treated!
This is a picture of the gorgeous view which is Loveland in the distance. What a great place they have, it just has a good feel to it, and it's great that they live so much closer now than when they lived down in Durango.
We stayed and ended up salsa dancing late into the evening, which was a great time too.

Drenched!

OMG! Walking out from work this evening in Denver, I was caught in a major downpour. On my way out I met up with one of the housekeepers and asked if I could have a plastic bag and was thinking I was pretty smart, heh. I ripped the hole in the bottom for my face as usual for those things, and started out. Now the rain was really coming down hard and fast, I only had to walk three blocks, but the water was pretty deep too, I had to walk through over the ankle deep streams of fast running water to get out to my car, I was only half way out to my car and was already soaking wet to the core. The hail started hurting my head and the wind caught the plastic bag and blew it off me, so I put it back on me, after getting more wet, but still felt a bit protected.
After making it out to the car, driving home with all of the water on the road was slow going but everything is good. I couldn't wait to get home and peel off the soaked clothing and get into something dry. It's dry here at home, it was only raining in Denver.
Wish the rain would fall in my neck of the woods....

The Squirrel Is Winning This First Round

Well, things are kind of on hold, my big ladder isn't tall enough to reach the north side of the house. Even climbing as high as the second to the top step. I still need about 5 or 7 more feet.

Yeah, I'm able to still work on a few other areas, but I can't reach the big hole that the squirrel is currently living in to deal with it, and that's killing me. I do plan to see if I can extend the ladder safely, I'll be checking on that next week. For now I'll just finish a few other areas, and start checking into who I can enlist to reach the areas that I can't. My knee was starting to hurt me, so I felt a bit nervous climbing up the ladder so worked on the decking today.

I truly thought I'd be able to knock out most of all that I had to do on the house, but it's been a slow process. I am very happy with the amount of work that I have accomplished though. It's looking very nice.

Something interesting, much of the higher areas on the siding smelled of old smoke, probably from the fires from years back when I was evacuated. This while no other fires or BBQ's were going on in my canyon either. I hope that all of the two coats of stain help that, and strengthen and protect the siding.

Tomorrow, it's off to buy more stain and more of that expandable foam stuff. I have gone through four 5 gallon cans of stain already of the high end Behr stain. In past years, I've sprayed the stain on, this time around I've been brushing it on pushing the stain into the wood and that seems better at conditioning the wood. Also, in previous years I've only done one coat, this time I'm putting on two coats, what a difference. Many areas were never caulked either, so it's been a good feeling getting that accomplished as well.

Sucking It Up

I do believe I know now where the saying, "Suck It Up" came from, and the true meaning.

After putting the first coat on the house, it's obvious that it will need a second coat. The wood is so dry it's 'sucking it up'. So I will have to do the same and suck it up doing it twice. This using the top of the line Behr brand. My poor home has been neglected longer than it should have been, so I'm paying for it now.

Also, the weather has been perfect today, after complaining yesterday, not too hot and not raining, I've been working non stop since this morning wanting to get as much done in these perfect working conditions, but I've got to take a break, just a short one.

When I go back out, I'll do the upper sections using the ladder, I've been using the roller and brush as the sprayer wasn't working out. Man I hope I can finish the south part of the house today, that might be asking too much, but at least the first coat. It's looking pretty good too :)

I'll definitely have to buy more stain, if I have to do a second coat. Sigh $$$. I've almost emptied the 5 gallon container and I'm still working on the first coat on only the area above the deck. Just doing the siding, I won't be able to do the deck until I replace a few boards.

I've been listening to HOOAH!!! RADIO while working, pretty good station.

Thanks to Mary for the reminder to crank up the tunes, that really helps my motivation. Can't boogie too much while up on the ladder though lol. Okay, back on it.

Orange Swirls

I stopped to take a picture as the swirls of paint color mixing was so pretty. After it was mixed was a different story though, it turned out to be a cheese orange, not quite the right color I was looking to put on the house.

My daughter would probably love the orange color, I will save it and modify it a bit and use it on the out buildings like the chicken coop. I didn't want the neighbors to feel like they were driving by a big chunk of Tillamook though and I have enough critters living in my house like squirrels that I will attack next week, didn't want to feel like a mouse going into the cheese lol.

So another trip down the hill to get the right color, I'm much happier with the color now. If the weather will only cooperate, it's either burning the skin off you hot, or raining it seems. I was able to get two different areas done, or one area done and a good start on the other.

Not looking forward to moving the ladder tomorrow, but it'll be good getting it off the deck.
It's such a good feeling putting the stain on the dry wood, as I stroke it on it sucks it in being so dry. It's also nice to finally get to the painting part, I've been caulking and doing the prep work forever it seems.

Before I do the deck however, I plan to replace a few redwood boards. One crucial one for support needs to be replaced pronto. It's good that I'm really scrutinizing what needs to be done and see that stuff needs repair before something goes missed and turns into a bigger job with more expense. Definitely a good feeling.

I do plan on working on the part of the house that won't be in the sun, and move around to the other side of the house as the sun hits the other side of the house. Working out in the sun today just drained me, I sat down and passed out from the heat I think. I drank a big glass of water and that was all I needed. ;)

Timely Break

I found myself outside on the top of a metal ladder during a thunderstorm. I was so wanting to get to a finishing point, or to get done with what I was working on, but thought better of it. So I climbed down from the ladder and thought I could do some of the work off the ladder, my mind wandered to remembering my superstitious dad not letting me count railroad cars or walk under ladders, well this remembered while walking under the ladder, so not wanting to totally be fucked, I came indoors. Here's a picture of my dad with my daughter when he was an older guy.

I'll wait until the storm passes, and will take a break and check some of my favorite blogs. ;) I've gotten alot done today which makes me feel very good, it's so easy to get distracted and just enjoy relaxing around here. I love my home but want to get these projects completed. I will post before and after pictures soon I hope, especially the after part.

While checking out some of my military sites, I came across this very awesome online radio station check it out. It changes with every DJ;
HOOAH!!!! Radio

Bear Snack N Go

I came home to see my dumpster knocked over and trash strewn all over. This thanksfully is only the second time it's ever happened.
Kinda reminds me of the cartoon about two polar bears looking at an igloo and one says to the other, "I just love these things, crunchy on the outside creamy on the inside." Well the bears got the creamy middle this week. While walking around picking up the trash, I really noticed how dry everything is. Even the grasses seemed to be snapping and crunching as I walked along. I hope I get a good soaking rain at some point, wishful thinking.....

Bucksnort Saloon

The beloved Bucksnort Saloon

They have a new beer on tap called Moose Drool, it was very tasty.

They had a Navy SEAL reunion here according to this, man to have had these warriors so close to my home and not know it, damn.

Crystal Lake

A girlfriend came up and we went on a walk only a couple miles down the road. I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of our world.

River at Crystal Lake

These videos make clear the reason for no tubing, although I don't think it would stop either of my kids heh....

The river was quite high, we passed by a few folks fishing, makes me wish I had my fishing pole.

Fireworks Flags and Celebrations!

Happy Birthday America!

Fireworks With The 1812 Overture