I just received an email from Bicycling Magazine. I have been selected to participate in the BikeTown Program. I will get an Electra Townie bike of some model, helmet, lock, trip computer, and lights to use for the next 3 months. All I have to do is report to them how I use the bike and the changes it makes in my life. Piece of cake.
Should be fun.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Thursday, April 14, 2005
On to Taos! Day 2 of ski trip
Monday, March 13, 2005 – After some French toast for breakfast, we begin to get ready to leave for Taos. Samantha and I take some pictures of her with “Flat Stanley”, a foot high cut-out of a little man that Samantha’s cousin Ashley Kumler has asked Samantha to take and photograph in different places, in front of the hotel and in the breakfast area.
Eventually all is packed and we leave Clovis at about 10:30 a.m. on a very chilly morning. We begin to see ice on sides of telephone poles and signs along the highway. Turning north on Hwy 84 at Fort Sumner (the REAL burial site of Billy The Kid) snow begins to lightly fall. The plains have snow in more places, and we’re beginning to get excited about seeing the white stuff. Within a few miles more the snow outside is covering everything. As we progress toward Las Vegas NM the snow falls off and on, hard at times, and the drifts on the ground are getting higher and at times the road looks to be getting narrower.
Its about thirty or so miles out of Las Vegas that Samantha informs us she has an urgent need. Outside there is nothing but snow and its coming down pretty hard and steady. Tension begins to accumulate again. We attempt a stop, but to no avail and get back on road. Luckily, there is a gas station at a highway intersection about 4 miles outside of town. What a relief – we are able to joke about the situation at last.
Las Vegas is under about 6 –8 inches of snow. The roads are brown, ice filled mushy mud pits. We stop and eat at a Wendy’s, Sean eats at Arby’s nearby. I notice we look very much out of place in our tennis shoes and jeans, when a busload of teens and a few parents come in, dressed kind of the same way. Yes, they’re from Texas too, going skiing at nearby Sipapu Resort.
Seventy-six miles are all that’s left between Las Vegas and Taos. Piece of cake. Except that its snowing hard and its windy. It takes us about four and a half hours travel those 76 miles and I was white knuckled most of the way. We had to stop for about 15 minutes at one point because an truck rig had slid off the road coming the other way and was lodged against a guard rail. I get out and knock snow off tire well so that the accumulated ice does not rub on the tires. Many snow plows go by and we get to go on. The road narrows to one lane. All I try to do is keep the yellow strip under the van and the red lights of the car in front of us in front of us. FINALLY, we get to Taos and collapse in the Super 8 hotel.
Later we go to WalMart and get some boots / shoes suitable for slushy type walking, and get a general feel for Taos. Taos was completely bathed in thick snow. We learned later 14 inches of snow fell on the mountain that day. Sorry Dad, we didn’t see the gentleman with the cat riding the dog, but not much was moving around that day.
We had some big ole burritos at the Guadalajara Grill. Back to the hotel and to throw snowballs at each other.
Tuesday is moving day.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Ski Trip Day 1 - To Clovis, NM
I am going to post a few entries about our trip to Taos. These may be a bit tedious for most but I want to type it up before it slips from my memory.
We pulled out of the driveway at about 10:30 am Sunday March 13. We pulled back into the driveway at about 10:31 to get a few items to snack on out of fridge and pantry. We left for sure a few minutes later. It was fairly warm, near 80 degrees when we left so we were dressed in shorts and tshirts for the trip. When we stopped for lunch a few hours later, it was noticably cooler, but not unconfortable.
We were able to drive all the way from Austin to Post, TX on a single tank of gas. I know this because we almost didn't get to Post. I took a nap after lunch and Sean drove. Upon waking I looked over at the gas guage, the needle was below a quarter tank with 30 miles or more to go. I brought this to Sean's attention but she did not doubt we would get to Post. Quickly it seemed the needle moved to E and then dipped below E and things got kind of tense in the car. We were in some pretty desolate country but there was plenty of traffic. Nevertheless we coasted into town and thankfully filled up vowing not to get that close again. After some McD's cones and sundaes we headed on again.
We made it to Clovis NM by dusk and stayed at the Hampton Inn. By now it was very cold outside and very windy. The temp was in mid 40's and wind chill at freezing. Being kinda tired we decided to get some light food and eat at the hotel. Samantha and I were the only ones to swim in the pool and hot tub. Sam can entertain herself easily in a pool. We had some fun and went back to the room. We had told ourselves (Sean and I anyway) that we would try to avoid the TV as much as possible, but we caved and let the kids watch a little. And what? Texas Hold 'Em Poker of course.
Tory began reading a book titled Angels And Demons by Dan Brown. Evan had the iPod in his ears most of the time. I tried listening to a book on tape called The Screwtape Letters, read by John Cleese but it failed to take hold. I settled on beginning to read novel I,Robot.
Lastly, Gann and GB would have laughed. Most memorable about Clovis was the smell that always seemed to be in the air. A mix of barnyard manure and Texas oil. We were glad to be rid of it upon leaving. On the way to the Grand Canyon when I was 8 (?), the grandparents, cousin Laurie and I also stayed in Clovis, and the smell was a running joke for the remainder of the trip. When I would remind Gann or GB of it in later years, they would get a good chuckle going.
Day 2 Snowy highways.
We pulled out of the driveway at about 10:30 am Sunday March 13. We pulled back into the driveway at about 10:31 to get a few items to snack on out of fridge and pantry. We left for sure a few minutes later. It was fairly warm, near 80 degrees when we left so we were dressed in shorts and tshirts for the trip. When we stopped for lunch a few hours later, it was noticably cooler, but not unconfortable.
We were able to drive all the way from Austin to Post, TX on a single tank of gas. I know this because we almost didn't get to Post. I took a nap after lunch and Sean drove. Upon waking I looked over at the gas guage, the needle was below a quarter tank with 30 miles or more to go. I brought this to Sean's attention but she did not doubt we would get to Post. Quickly it seemed the needle moved to E and then dipped below E and things got kind of tense in the car. We were in some pretty desolate country but there was plenty of traffic. Nevertheless we coasted into town and thankfully filled up vowing not to get that close again. After some McD's cones and sundaes we headed on again.
We made it to Clovis NM by dusk and stayed at the Hampton Inn. By now it was very cold outside and very windy. The temp was in mid 40's and wind chill at freezing. Being kinda tired we decided to get some light food and eat at the hotel. Samantha and I were the only ones to swim in the pool and hot tub. Sam can entertain herself easily in a pool. We had some fun and went back to the room. We had told ourselves (Sean and I anyway) that we would try to avoid the TV as much as possible, but we caved and let the kids watch a little. And what? Texas Hold 'Em Poker of course.
Tory began reading a book titled Angels And Demons by Dan Brown. Evan had the iPod in his ears most of the time. I tried listening to a book on tape called The Screwtape Letters, read by John Cleese but it failed to take hold. I settled on beginning to read novel I,Robot.
Lastly, Gann and GB would have laughed. Most memorable about Clovis was the smell that always seemed to be in the air. A mix of barnyard manure and Texas oil. We were glad to be rid of it upon leaving. On the way to the Grand Canyon when I was 8 (?), the grandparents, cousin Laurie and I also stayed in Clovis, and the smell was a running joke for the remainder of the trip. When I would remind Gann or GB of it in later years, they would get a good chuckle going.
Day 2 Snowy highways.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Goal!
Tory finally gets a goal ths hockey season. Slapper from right side just outside the blue line that nicked the goalie's left shoulder, the puck skips offs and goes in upper right corner of goal. The bench called him over and he touched gloves with everyone there, and it looked like they were giving him some good natured ribbing about it. Mostly because Tory hangs back on defense and rarely pushes up into the offensive zone, even rarer takes a shot. He had a pretty good breakaway chance a few minutes later that the goalie stopped with a good play. His team lost 7-5 this week, his goal being the fifth and at the time drew them to within one.
Fast moving, at times rough house games. Tory is holding his own making good plays, a few stinkers, but mostly good solid performances. Tory got faked out of his skates one night, but the opponent was probably the best player in the league. But later in the same game he was able to poke check puck away from the same player in a similiar situation. I think Tory is learning not to get muscled about too. You can see when he knows contact is coming and some pushing and shoving is necessary not to get beat.
His league info is at www.austinhockey.com.
Look under League info / Round Rock / WinterSpring 2005 / High School / Marolt Purple
Fast moving, at times rough house games. Tory is holding his own making good plays, a few stinkers, but mostly good solid performances. Tory got faked out of his skates one night, but the opponent was probably the best player in the league. But later in the same game he was able to poke check puck away from the same player in a similiar situation. I think Tory is learning not to get muscled about too. You can see when he knows contact is coming and some pushing and shoving is necessary not to get beat.
His league info is at www.austinhockey.com.
Look under League info / Round Rock / WinterSpring 2005 / High School / Marolt Purple
Friday, April 08, 2005
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Ski trip news??
I will try to post a series of notes about our trip. Its been difficult finding time to get that done.
Tory's list
Tory deleted my comment to his post so I will repost it here where he cannot get to it.
I said he might have asked for a spelling guide as well. Before, I just thought his handwriting was bad, but now I know there's another reason why I can't read his homework. Smile Tory.
Tory could use some grips for his golf clubs. He's using some old Haig Ultras that I don't really know where they came from. He's got a decent Ping BullsEye putter. Maybe a bag too. The legs just broke on the one he was using. Or a new hockey stick?!
Here is Tory's post:
As everyone may or may not remember, my birthday is in about 2 weeks and I thought I might drop you a few gift ideas.
1. As I rapidly progress in my skills at guitar, a few items become necisary. I recently (with my own money GD) bought myself a Distortion pedal for my prized instument. I also am looking forward to owning a tuneing, wah, flanger, EQ, and possibly an acoustic simulator pedal. Just in case you would like to aid me on my quest, that would much appriciated.
2. Money.P.S. I have a ton of time to kill.
P.P.S. On the pedals, Check out a the Boss brand.
Lucy
If I haven't mentioned this yet, (from an email to JK, with some edits)
Lucy, our cat, is not well since we got back from skiing. Renal failure indicated by recent blood work. Vet said he was surprised she wasn't already dead given her readings, about 5x higher than acceptable levels, said she must be made of stern stuff. She is struggling, but still eating, mostly resting tho. We have to force feed her water.
Lately she is showing some better signs. Sean will take her to vet this week for another blood test. Lucy is 18+ years, pretty good for a kitty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)