What a week it has been. My houseguests left on Tuesday. We had a really nice visit. I burned-out the clutch in my two-year-old car. I cannot believe that Honda says that this is acceptable and that the clutch “just plain wore out…” What a rip-off. I am getting less happy with my hybrid. But that is off the subject.
I am sitting in a comfy leather seat having finished the book I was reading. Dinner was pasta with a sherry-cream-mushroom sauce and scallops. I hate the fact that I was bumped to first class and have to eat all this sumptuous food, sit in this comfy chair, and be fawned over by the flight crew. All this comfort really takes it out of you!
I was standing at the desk in Denver a few hours ago when the ticket agent informed me that my flight to Cincinnati was delayed due to heavy weather in Atlanta. (Dave Barry was right when he observed that it used to take weeks to cross the country and now, due to weather in Atlanta, you can’t get anywhere at all!) Anyway, the delay meant that when I landed in Cincinnati I would have fifteen minutes to make my flight to London.
Her solution to the problem? Well, of course it was to fly me to Atlanta to get a flight out of there instead. Makes sense, right? I asked if the plane was very full, and she said that it was. That was why she had to put me in First Class. It was the only seat open. Sucks to be me!
I do not think I would have gotten the upgrade if Kathi had not brought me to the airport and stood in line with me. Things like that do not often happen to me. Well, the movie is about to start and then I am going to try and get some sleep so I had best sign-off for now.
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 30-April-2005 – Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Sunday, April 24, 2005
What A Difference A Day Makes!
What A Difference A Day Makes!
Well, the sky gods apparently do not want Brian and Jen to see any of the natural landmarks of the western US during their trip. As I think I mentioned, they had adventures with the weather on their way into the Denver area. These adventures were of the inclement weather type.
Apparently there was no way that they were going to see any of the landmark sites. They showed me great pictures of them in the fog. There is them in the fog in front of (what would have been a scenic vista had then but been able to see it) Mount Rushmore. If you have been there recently, you’ll recognize that they are standing on the viewing platform and are pointing in the general direction of the sculptures. The fog all but obscures the view of the faces.
They also took pictures of the (unseen) scenery at the Crazy Horse monument. I recognize the deck that they are standing on as being the visitor and American Indigenous Peoples interpretive center. Other than having been there and knowing the deck they are standing on is there, there would be no way of knowing that the picture of them pointing at the fog would be them at Crazy Horse.
This morning dawned early (for them) and bright. We had coffee and set-out for Manitou Springs about sunrise. We wanted to see the Garden on the Gods on the way down while the low-slung sun gave the rocks that intense red that they only really have in the early morning. I know that there are few people who would, like me, get up early enough to get there by sunrise, so I decided to get them there before the train but not any earlier than necessary. (Okay, I admit it – I have added the color to the sky in this picture.)
The "Early Morning Evil Brian" Appears
The first indication that there would be a problem came as we were standing on the platform in Manitou Springs. Cloud cover started blowing in from the west obscuring the view of the peak of the mountain. I could tell that it was snowing lightly at the top, but only because I had checked the weather cameras before and forecast before leaving home. Little did I know that this would become the third great landmark that they would travel to but not actually see. The trip was entertaining even if it only netted them another shot of them standing in the fog pointing at something unseen by the viewer.
On the way back to Lakewood we had a chance to visit the pueblos at Manitou Springs. They are not as extensive or as varied as the ones in Mesa Verde, but by being more compact, they show you everything that you would see at Mesa Verde in much less time.
On the tragic side, I made dinner and completely incinerated the steaks. Everyone was quite kind and told me that the flavor was lovely even if the meat was a bit on the crunchy side. I have to check-out my grill… I did not have the steaks on for longer than normal. I have no idea why they burned. Oh well.
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 24-April-2005 – Lakewood, Colorado
Well, the sky gods apparently do not want Brian and Jen to see any of the natural landmarks of the western US during their trip. As I think I mentioned, they had adventures with the weather on their way into the Denver area. These adventures were of the inclement weather type.
Apparently there was no way that they were going to see any of the landmark sites. They showed me great pictures of them in the fog. There is them in the fog in front of (what would have been a scenic vista had then but been able to see it) Mount Rushmore. If you have been there recently, you’ll recognize that they are standing on the viewing platform and are pointing in the general direction of the sculptures. The fog all but obscures the view of the faces.
They also took pictures of the (unseen) scenery at the Crazy Horse monument. I recognize the deck that they are standing on as being the visitor and American Indigenous Peoples interpretive center. Other than having been there and knowing the deck they are standing on is there, there would be no way of knowing that the picture of them pointing at the fog would be them at Crazy Horse.
This morning dawned early (for them) and bright. We had coffee and set-out for Manitou Springs about sunrise. We wanted to see the Garden on the Gods on the way down while the low-slung sun gave the rocks that intense red that they only really have in the early morning. I know that there are few people who would, like me, get up early enough to get there by sunrise, so I decided to get them there before the train but not any earlier than necessary. (Okay, I admit it – I have added the color to the sky in this picture.)
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The "Early Morning Evil Brian" Appears
The first indication that there would be a problem came as we were standing on the platform in Manitou Springs. Cloud cover started blowing in from the west obscuring the view of the peak of the mountain. I could tell that it was snowing lightly at the top, but only because I had checked the weather cameras before and forecast before leaving home. Little did I know that this would become the third great landmark that they would travel to but not actually see. The trip was entertaining even if it only netted them another shot of them standing in the fog pointing at something unseen by the viewer.
On the way back to Lakewood we had a chance to visit the pueblos at Manitou Springs. They are not as extensive or as varied as the ones in Mesa Verde, but by being more compact, they show you everything that you would see at Mesa Verde in much less time.
On the tragic side, I made dinner and completely incinerated the steaks. Everyone was quite kind and told me that the flavor was lovely even if the meat was a bit on the crunchy side. I have to check-out my grill… I did not have the steaks on for longer than normal. I have no idea why they burned. Oh well.
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 24-April-2005 – Lakewood, Colorado
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Party Time!
You could not ask for lovelier weather! What a day!
I finished the shopping for the party early this morning and started making the food for the party before Brian and Jen got up this morning. (Yes, as those of you who know me, I am a morning person. I tend to get up well before sunrise.)
After a light breakfast (what they call in the UK, the continental breakfast – fruit, yogurt, toast, cereals, coffee and juice) Brian and I went out to get the beer, while Jen (what a sweet person) decided to vacuum for me! (Once again, Jen, that was really not necessary!)
Later this morning, after we had gotten all the preparations accomplished, Brian did an evil thing to me. He convinced me to do something I wanted to do but was unable to justify doing. He told me it was “a guy thing so go ahead – you know you want to.” So I ran out to the electronics store shortly before the party and bough the wireless speakers I wanted to buy – I had been thinking about it for weeks but kept convincing myself not to buy them. I spent the first half-hour after my guests started arriving getting them all hooked-up.
Lucy
I finished the shopping for the party early this morning and started making the food for the party before Brian and Jen got up this morning. (Yes, as those of you who know me, I am a morning person. I tend to get up well before sunrise.)
After a light breakfast (what they call in the UK, the continental breakfast – fruit, yogurt, toast, cereals, coffee and juice) Brian and I went out to get the beer, while Jen (what a sweet person) decided to vacuum for me! (Once again, Jen, that was really not necessary!)
Later this morning, after we had gotten all the preparations accomplished, Brian did an evil thing to me. He convinced me to do something I wanted to do but was unable to justify doing. He told me it was “a guy thing so go ahead – you know you want to.” So I ran out to the electronics store shortly before the party and bough the wireless speakers I wanted to buy – I had been thinking about it for weeks but kept convincing myself not to buy them. I spent the first half-hour after my guests started arriving getting them all hooked-up.
Lucy
The party was lovely. I think we had about twenty-five people all-told show up. Saga was her own bad self and kept begging people to give her the odd carrot, bit of cheese, anything that she could con them out of. There was plenty of beer and food and everyone seemed to have a great time.
After the guests left, Brian and Jen and Kathi and I stayed-up to play a game of taboo. I do not know who pasted the score sheet to the ‘fridge showing that Kathi and I had won two of the three games we played. Later, we retired to the living room with our coffee and sat up late chatting. What a lovely day. You could not have asked for better.
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 23-April-2005 – Lakewood, Colorado
After the guests left, Brian and Jen and Kathi and I stayed-up to play a game of taboo. I do not know who pasted the score sheet to the ‘fridge showing that Kathi and I had won two of the three games we played. Later, we retired to the living room with our coffee and sat up late chatting. What a lovely day. You could not have asked for better.
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 23-April-2005 – Lakewood, Colorado
Friday, April 22, 2005
Arrival
There is nothing I enjoy more than entertaining. Any of you who know me well will know this, of course. I may spend way too much time worrying-out the details of the visit, preparing for company (or the party, or whatever), and wondering if I have done everything I could to get ready for my guests, but it is always fun when they arrive and I get to enjoy the company of friends, family, etc.
This weekend my newly reorganized guest room gets it official first guests.
My friends from the United Kingdom, Brian and Jennifer have come to visit as they are traveling across the country. After regaling me with stories of their travel adventures (and misadventures – snow, sleet, rain, hail, and fog – Ah! Springtime in the Rockies!) of the past few days, we all turned-in to ready ourselves for a full weekend.
Jennifer & Brian at Lair 'O The Bear
They will be with me for a few days and are enjoying the cooks tour of Colorado. Today I took them around the lariat loop drive (I definitely suggest it to anyone who is visiting my area of the world! It is a lovely drive that really shows off why I love to live here!) with stops at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Lair ‘o The Bear Park, and Buffalo Bill’s Grave Site. Tomorrow I will be holding my annual Spring party and expect about twenty people. Sunday we are off to the summit of Pike’s Peak by way of the cog railway.
It is sure to be a lovely trip!
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 22-April-2005 – Lakewood, Colorado
This weekend my newly reorganized guest room gets it official first guests.
My friends from the United Kingdom, Brian and Jennifer have come to visit as they are traveling across the country. After regaling me with stories of their travel adventures (and misadventures – snow, sleet, rain, hail, and fog – Ah! Springtime in the Rockies!) of the past few days, we all turned-in to ready ourselves for a full weekend.
Jennifer & Brian at Lair 'O The Bear
They will be with me for a few days and are enjoying the cooks tour of Colorado. Today I took them around the lariat loop drive (I definitely suggest it to anyone who is visiting my area of the world! It is a lovely drive that really shows off why I love to live here!) with stops at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Lair ‘o The Bear Park, and Buffalo Bill’s Grave Site. Tomorrow I will be holding my annual Spring party and expect about twenty people. Sunday we are off to the summit of Pike’s Peak by way of the cog railway.
It is sure to be a lovely trip!
I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are!
Don Bergquist – 22-April-2005 – Lakewood, Colorado
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Springtime in the Rocies
It is a beautiful day in the Rockies, well…
Okay, I'm actually located in the Denver Piedmont. In addition, technically it is not that great a day either. It has been snowing since very early this morning. They have been saying on the news all day that they expect it to dump thirty inches of snow on us before it decides to move on.
When I first took the dog out early this morning, Saga looked at me as if I had personally placed all this snow there to annoy her. (She does not like cold or wet… today is just not her day!)
Okay, I'm actually located in the Denver Piedmont. In addition, technically it is not that great a day either. It has been snowing since very early this morning. They have been saying on the news all day that they expect it to dump thirty inches of snow on us before it decides to move on.
When I first took the dog out early this morning, Saga looked at me as if I had personally placed all this snow there to annoy her. (She does not like cold or wet… today is just not her day!)
Snow on the Blossoms
I decided to document the day for everyone. So, please feel free to follow the link above to see more pictures. I went out all day, every hour to see what the changes are.
It is amazing that I never believed my dad when he used to talk about having to crawl out the second story window to get to Easter mass. I guess it goes to prove that not all the stories my dad tells have been embellished. (But I'll still accuse him of it… it's more fun that way!)
I hope that today finds you warm and dry and safe an comfy. I think I will go make a cup of cocoa and watch the snow falling as the sun sets on this wintry day.
Have a great day!
Don Bergquist – Lakewood, Colorado – 10, April, 2005
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