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Between here and Denver...

US 50 Lamar
Existing Conditions: (blo sno)(icy)(snpk)
Restrictions in Place: CLOSED US 287 between Lamar - Limon. Also US 385 between Lamar - US 36. Also CO 196 near McClave. Blizzard conditions.
Comments: CLOSED US 287 between Lamar - Limon. Also US 385 between Lamar - US 36. Also CO 196 near McClave. Blizzard conditions.

And if ya make it past Lamar?.....

I-70 Limon
Existing Conditions: (blo sno)(sno)(slush)(icy) Restrictions in Place: CLOSED Comments: CLOSED

But where I am?......

Currently At 5:31PM
46°F
Winds: WNWat 16mph
Partly Cloudy
Humidity: 50%Dew Point: 28° F
Pressure: N/AVisibility: 10 Miles

So it looks like we'll be sticking around here just a bit longer.
Maybe read some in my book, watch a movie, rest a bit more, may even play some online checkers at yahoo games. Still a chance we'll be home the 25th.

"HI THERE, I'M GLAD I'M NOT IN DENVER TODAY"

That is what "the trucking Bozo" said at the top of his show today on XM radio channel 171. Being enroute to Denver from Houston, the satellite messages and satellite radio, and wireless aircard made it crystal clear that I wasn't going to be in Denver either.

They closed all the interstates leading into Colorado, and by afternoon....they closed the Denver Airport. They announced that even the UPS trucks were turned back to the hub. A full blown blizzard was wreaking havoc there. The Accuweather.com weather map showed (and currently still shows) this massive snow storm system just spinning over a big chunk of Colorado, coming around again and again.

So, not being much interested in getting mixed up in all that, we'll just wait this one out down here in Texas...maybe take another look at the radar screen when the sun comes up.

Ended up not getting much rest last night down in Houston, after about 14 or 15 times having hookers or drug dealers or beggars knocking on the door selling everything from pirated porn dvd's, crack cocaine, women, you name it...we finally just left that nice cozy spot and parked on a city street. Sheesh. So ..."HI THERE, I'M GLAD I'M NOT IN HOUSTON TODAY" is a much more meaningful thing to say.

Christmas time is upon us and its not looking like we'll get home in time. Makes me mindful of our soldiers that are spending their holidays away from home in Iraq reducing the number of terrorists that will be headed for our shores as soon as we quit fighting them over there. When Japan attacked the USA at Pearl Harbor...the next years were followed by a massive deployment of our brave armed services until there just wasn't anybody wanting to fight us anymore.

Now I know there are alot of people who do not realize how completely necessary our current war is, but when the attack on the twin towers, the pentagon, etc...took all those American civilian lives...do people really think the terrorist network just folded up their hands in joy and said "it is finished" we have no further need to attack the USA, its a done deal? Their war on us did not END with 9/11...we just moved it to their turf, just like in the days of Pearl Harbor.

What really concerns me is that instead of realizing how critically important it is that we obliterate any of those crazy suicidal maniacs, there are way too many Americans thinking this is like Vietnam and that we're dealing in matters that don't concern us.

These are the Americans that do not understand that the twin tower attack was intended to be the first of MANY attacks (actually it wasn't even the "first"), The enemy had declared war on us and was determined to fight us on our homeland. I'm thankful to God that we didn't sit around and keep getting attacked here. I'm thankful to those soldiers who are risking their lives to get the job done over THERE.

It appears though that a time may come very soon when those who think this war is "Iraq's problem" will take charge of and change things up, bringing the war to our own country again instead of destroying it over there. So while the popular news thrust is "oh my gosh, the president wants to send MORE troops?!"...Personally I think we need to quadruple our armed forces, Send at least 750,000 additional troops, wipe em out, clean it up, and come home. Why so many? Because, if Syria or Iran is where the insurgent terrorists are coming from...those two countries would look like the twin towers on 9/12. Somehow someway it would be wonderful if the media brainwashed Americans in this country could see what our President sees and help us end this once and for all.

Do you need to post a comment disagreeing? Be a waste of time, I already realize there are many brainwashed Americans that just flat don't understand why it is REALLY necessary. You'd just be adding your name to that list.

Besides, as you can tell from the lack of political rampages in my previous blogs...I hate political discussions, and this really isn't about politics. Its about me wishing our soldiers knew that at least some of us back home UNDERSTAND how vitally important their mission is, some of us understand what a heroic sacrifice and MEANINGFUL sacrifice they are making. So while its a bit annoying to me that I won't make it home for Christmas this year...there are some who won't make it home for Christmas ever again, so that I have a home to go to...and I can't thank them enough.

Thats how I feel about it, and this IS MY blog.

EXCELLENT FAJITA'S

Sitting down here in an industrial part of town in Houston, Mexas...or was that Texas...isn't one of those "dreamed of" opportunities people go thru life hoping to fulfill. BUT....there is a Shell gas station at the corner of Mesa and McCarty in Houston that has the most AWESOME beef fajita's in the entire United States...at least as far as my very travelled near half century can tell. So this day is EXCITING for that reason, WOW! Amazing ! Whats the name of the place? As far as can be seen from outside or in...there is no name. It's just a bit of a diner built into the convenience store part of the gas station. Now with ever changing times, don't come here 6 years from now and say..HEY, YUCK!...but if you come today....WOW!

That winter storm coming into Colorado was like a dog chasing me and biting my britches as I jumped the fence. Just barely got a piece of cloth. So in the morning about 9am when we head back that way, hmmm. That dog will probably be at the gate watching, waiting, barking, growling. Joy joy joy...but as for today, Right NOW...YUMMY!! That is great food.

Old folks tend to engage in conversations from time to time about what is wrong with kids nowadays. This gentleman I spoke with today agreed with me that one of the Greatest problems is that our society and our laws have changed to such a degree that kids can't WORK. By the time a kid turns 13 they need to KNOW the ever so sweet joy of laying the head down on a pillow after a very hard working day.

Mowing yards, carrying out trash, hauling hay, sweeping sidewalks, scrubbing bathrooms, raking leaves, washing cars, building things, fixing things, painting things...

Versus...ipods, playstations, xbox's, television, gameboys.

To love life...LIFE...(filled with simple pleasures, monumental pleasures, annoyances, MAJOR annoyances, joys, pains)...it is critical to be able to know the pure simple EXCITING joy, of finishing up an 18 hour workday with the absolute best beef fajita in the entire USAMEX.

Merry Christmas and The many things in my head

Winter storms heading towards Denver, so the "ideal" driving conditions should soon be coming to an end...a little too soon, since we'll be bouncing back and forth from Denver to Houston for the rest of the week. Thats what the weather man says, and sometimes they are right...so its possible. But being the eternal optimist, maybe it will miss us each time.

Sitting here waiting for the pharmacy to open so mrs. Beans can get the needed refills, with about 5 more hours of free time before heading for Houston. Watching Season 2 of the original star trek on DVD (my birthday present), has been fun. Sure the special effects and stage props from that day seem almost corny nowadays but watching the episodes again after all these years, takes my mind back to when that stuff looked pretty cool.

Last report was 24 degrees Farenheit outside, so its pleasantly nippy...as long as people have coats. I feel very blessed to have good winter clothing, and I'm mindful that there are many who do not have.

Heard a good Bible study this morning on television, talking about the time in Genesis 6 when the hearts of man had become so intent on evil in every form imaginable, and how it grieved (brought heavy pain to) God's heart. Then it was related to the part in the new Testament when Jesus was born that the angels burst forth in great excitement and praise over the peace being established between God and man, and God's goodwill towards man. What a tremendous unmatchable thing happened that day, and we are unable to grasp the extreme significance of it all.

Having children, and watching other parents of children...I can understand at times the heavy heart, the pain, when the children turn their backs on the things they are told for their own good...ignoring and plodding along to their own heartaches and agony that we try to spare them. Some parents have suffered the heartache of "losing a child" completely (except physically), and some have known the indescribable joy of their return, the "peace on earth" the angels proclaimed at Jesus birth was talking about that peace, that peace between God and man, that peace of a mended breach, that peace of seeing the prodigal son coming up the road, over the bridge the parent built. The lifting of the heaviness of God's heart.

So people can say all the politically correct "season greetings" they want, but as for me, its Merry Christmas. Without that whole redemption process welcomed into the world at the birth of Christ...the earth, and especially my own self, would be irreparably distanced from the AWESOME spiritual eternal life God designed us to inherit.

My mind turns to Christmas and the week off at home, and time with the youngens, and time with enjoyable projects. The plan is by this time next week, thats where we'll be. Mrs. Beans will be back putting out corn for the squirrels on the feeder she made, and watching for the neighbor dogs that come to visit...bringing her a bit of comfort until we can get a more homebound lifestyle so she can have her own. She will probably be persuading me to hang another cabinet in the kitchen, or fix the downstairs toilet, or... .

I'm still thinking on where to build the roads, the beautiful landscaped walking path I want to build around the property, the septic tank install and leachfield versus lagoon for an added house or two. The new fence to build around the yard to take in a bigger chunk to double or triple the yard size. The privacy fenced work area for the mowers and outdoor less sightly stuff. The campfire area with benches around it. The freestanding porch like swing I want down by the pond. Still working out a design for a more efficient incinerator for household garbage...to burn hotter, and to pipe the smoke up and away from ground level, and ways of filtering the smoke.

My heart and mind are always thinking on, and feeling the concerns over Sam's legal trouble at this very start of his life. Wondering in this "dang em and hang em" age we live in if they'll consider the life of the young man, and give him an opportunity to start fresh, go in the service, develop character and discipline, and launch out into life...or if they'll take a young, honors student, who partied with the wrong crowd, and establish him for the rest of his life as a felon, thereby permanently closing doors.

My heart and mind are always thinking on Wolf, and what a horrible struggle with alcoholism he has faced and is facing. I feel the heartache knowing he is being ripped away from me and his physical and mental and emotional life is continually being destroyed, some parts already permanently destroyed, history that can't be relived. It is so hard , so hard to understand what a demon that takes control in an alcoholic. They can't ever enjoy a beer now and then, or a margarita with a meal with out that little bit of alcohol reviving, feeding, doing cpr on the demon...and it radically becomes everything they want and need and go for in life...changing them into completely selfish minded, self absorbed, self destruction. They see it, know it, hate it, want it different...but as if demon possessed, reach for another shot. For those of us who don't have that demon, we scream out "WHY WHY WHY can't you just SEE what its done and doing and how it is in NO WAY worth whatever mental or physical feeling it brings"...thats the kicker...they do see it, they do know it, they can even curse the wicked stuff, and they'll talk to you about it as they drink yet another glass.

My mind and heart think often of my youngest little darling, how much I miss being a part of her everyday life. I think on how to spend time with her in the most meaningful way, how to teach her about God, about love, about strength, about humility, and guide her as best I can with the limited time I have with her. Everyday she is in my heart, my thoughts. I crave time to read to her, walk with her, hold her hand, show her the wonders of God's creation. I still remember when I asked her this last time "while I'm gone and you're away going to school, and playing, what kind of things do you think about?" She said..."I think about you, because I love you daddy". Yeah, tears found their way out of the eyelids. I think about when I gave her a bucket to gather acorns, and while she ran here and there I asked her...."What is the most fun thing you do or have ever done in your life?" She said "Easter Egging" (referring to when we hid and rehid and rehid eggs last Easter)and then she added..."and right now". Wow.

When we get to Houston tomorrow around noon, and begin a 20 hour wait till we head back...I'll check the weather again to see which is the path of least resistance to return...By the time we leave Houston Wednesday morning we'll likely run into the weather before reaching Denver Thursday morning and deal with it again when we leave out Thursday afternoon. But maybe when we leave Houston Saturday morning with our last run of the year before heading home...it will all be smooth. But it will still be Christmas day before we're home most likely.

Wonder if I'll be able to get that Honda trail 70 I bought, running. Heck, wonder if I'll be able to get that pickup to start, maybe its just out of gas. Chocolate pie, It may be my cousin V's birthday this very day...and I should be thinking giving thoughts about her...but I find myself thinking she's going to get to the chocolate pie before I do, and thats not good.

An everyday day slowly begins....

The snooze bar took a few hits but finally seemed to be confused as to why the original wake-up time was selected if it was going to be so horribly delayed, so by 3am it was time to just shut the whole thing off and get up.

Button up shirts can be an amusing challenge, a good way to put the mind into "patience" mode at the very start of the day...as strong, thick, aging fingers struggle not only with coordinating tiny buttons into tiny holes...but another part of the brain has to wake up to use the correct button for the correct hole. It really doesn't seem to matter if it is dark or light at this point, since the eyes seem to know this can be done by "feel" so they are seemingly still hitting their own little internal snooze bar...or getting all their little neurons prepped and ready for when there is a real need for them...but not for something as mundane as buttoning a shirt, that is unless the thumbs and fingers for some reason just flat can't seem to get it done...which does on occasion happen, then the eyes draw the matter into focus to give supervisory support to getting the shirt buttoned up and buttoned right.

Ahhh...then its time to slide into the already-loaded overalls, and slip on the already tied New Balance 857's (a very good shoe in case an opinion is wanted)...wiggle the foot around a bit to make sure the custom made orthotic from the podiatrist is sitting just right under that spot that was SUPPOSED to have an arch but just never has had. Ahhh...yes, all is well.

A swig of water from a gallon jug, then another and another...the day has begun...with time to spare before the first "haf-to", good. High speed internet thru the Sprint pcs card while in Houston...excellent, maybe that article dealing with phantosmia that has been flaring up for a few years and keeps flaring up can be researched a bit further. Wow, that proved interesting.

4 am, still early, but a good time to fuel, not too busy. The tanks only took 97 gallon so it wasn't urgently needed but this IS Houston afterall so the relative peacefulness of 4am is a cherished time for getting stuff done.

Just think...a few days ago the schedule was setup to spend downtime in the suburbs of Denver, and just a quick 4 hour delay on the turn around in Houston...then with the blink of a satellite, everything changes and the 20 hours every 2 days downtime the next couple weeks gets to be enjoyed in the heart of Hades (..oops maybe that should have been "Houston" but the correctoribbon on this typewriter is used up). No no no DON'T "just think" about that...banish that negative thought...oh look there...some of that thin sliced Rubschlager sourdough bread from the deli is left, eat a couple slices...yeah, even though it might weaken the 100mcg of levothyroxine thats supposed to have the stomach all to itself for a half hour or so...go ahead...eat, there, all that icky negative thinking gone? Good, too early for that.

We should be ready for take off in a couple more hours...thats much more pleasant than "28 hours in Houston!!" The woman that approached last night offering "some company" looked like she was in her later 40's, mostly latino bloodline, dressed like a "mom" in fact looked like she could have just come from a PTA meeting...not the usual profile.

She handled the polite rejection well and quickly disappeared. Its always more "dignified" when they just withdraw and vanish without protest or vain attempts at "not take no for an answer" salesmanship. No doubt they are probably quite use to a reaction of judgement or abhorment , and are quite armored against letting that in, but when they are turned away with gentle words spoken as gently as if mr. rogers had said them himself, and eye contact that reveals a compassionate appraisal of their worth as a human...they seem to let down the guard for a moment ...a split second, as if somewhere deep inside they feel valued-loved-at peace ...then equally as abrupt, the mask comes back up and they continue their guarded life, searching for a paying customer.

Winter time officially begins soon doesn't it? The sun seems to sleep in late. Almost 7am and with the sun not visible in the sky, its almost as if the world is finding some other source of light. But alas, just because we can't "see" the sun...doesn't mean its not there. Nor does it mean we created the light ourselves, nor does it mean the light is in fact from another source...its still the same old sun, just not in our horizon of view yet. Then DARKNESS swooshes in like a whirlwind EARLY in the afternoon.

In a couple hours the sun will be up and hundreds of thousands of people around here will be hurrying to-and-fro. Surely by 9am, the flags will wave, the chute will open, and the one-stop flight to Denver will begin...but meanwhile, a tasty slice of balogna on that sourdough bread sure sounds like a good breakfast. Either that or a healthy bowl of oatmeal... decisions ,decisions.

What I like about Getting Older

Got any memories from time spent with loved ones who have already passed on? Precious memories have been added to my treasure chest thru the years. Looking at a family tree is even more enhanced when there are little storys and snapshots that reveal the ancestors character or heart. Its very enjoyable to recall moments spent with loved ones, or to hear others tell stories that really "capture" the personality.

Experiences in life, ...the good, the bad, the ugly...all help me to understand more deeply things people have said or done. Life gets richer and richer as days go by. I hear people talking and sometimes can really "feel" what they are "feeling". Sometimes I can see what they are enduring or enjoying and from experience...I can know what other doors are opening or closing in their lives.

Thats what I enjoy about Bible study or hearing sermons...as my experiences in life increase I can realize more and more the heart of God in things in the Word. Like when God said "these people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me". Can't you feel the pain in that? There was formality of love, an outward definition, but the heart just not in it...and He saw that, felt that. Understanding the heart of loved ones is special, but understanding the heart of God is rich beyond measure.

So as I age, as I live, love, triumph, suffer, enjoy, fail, succeed, hurt, laugh...thru my life and thru sharing in the lives of others...I learn. And when I think on things God has spoken, I understand more empathatically who He is. How much He loves us. How awesome His forgiveness is.

Thats what great about getting old. Thats what makes all the aches and pains and putupwiths of age worth enduring. Its more time to know God, its more time to know people. Experiences, feelings, and reflections on things said but with greater and greater insight. I would want my epitath to simply read "Lover of God". But if I live long enough, hopefully that would be obvious in my personality and not just in my thoughts and heart.

A FOOT OF SNOW

Well, here in Bolingbrook Il. ("chicago") and further north towards Schaumburg (the next stop on the list today)...its snowing like I haven't seen in a long time...the news is calling for over 12 inches in some of the areas. Lots of crazy accidents all over the place. I don't think some people know how to allow for black ice. (especially when its hiding under the snow).

Once we get out of Chicago, we head for North Reading, MA. ..yeah..that means the storm will be a pest to deal with back thru Indiana and Ohio, and probably Pennsyl. too. Have we really only been back out on the road 2 days? We ended up leaving out Wednesday morning about 3am...so yeah, that must be right..but why does it feel like longer? We've only been 2300 miles since then.

Been enjoying lots of thinking time, I've always enjoyed thinking time. So far looks like we've missed that evil 3 - 4 day EJECT virus...(thats the name i've chosen for it). It would be fine to continue to miss that meanie.

Going to go chart my way to North Reading now, hope its a great day for all.