It was a lovely (if somewhat schizophrenic) weekend. The snow was all melted away by the time I finished my Sunday morning housework routine; washing the dishes from the party, straightening-up my bedroom and my office, vacuuming, the normal weekend drudgery…
I did head out and visit a couple garden centers. One has a big sign out advertising that they will have their annuals on display next weekend! I cannot wait! I'm not going to actually buy any yet, I made that mistake on year… the year I did spring planting twice!
This morning I awoke to a fresh snowfall… the weather reports say it will be changing to rain by midmorning. Well that's good! We need all the moisture we can get at this point. I know it is sick to say so, but I agree with a friend of mine who is hoping for one of our famous spring blizzards where they measure the snow in Denver in feet rather than in inches.
Wherever you are today, I hope you're having a lovely morning!
Don Bergquist – March 31, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
31 March 2008
30 March 2008
Springtime in the Rockies
Ah! Springtime in the Rockies!
The sun is shining, the crocuses are blooming, the daffodils and tulips are pushing their heads up to see the sun and will soon been in bloom themselves. The temperatures are pleasant. In short, it is a lovely day for a walk in the park with the dog, or a drive in the foothills.
No! Wait a minute! That was yesterday!
In a turn of the weather that is so common here in Colorado this time of year, Saga and I were met by a half-inch of snow on the grass when we went out for our walk in the park this morning. It was a surprise.
Our visitors came by last night; Saga was well behaved only begging for treats when she knew that daddy wasn't looking. We had a pleasant evening of games, conversation and snacks. Then this morning I look out on a bleak, cold, white morning.
So, of course,
I had to toss the cameras back into the car and head back for contrast pictures of the places that I shot yesterday. This is why we never plant our gardens for spring here in Colorado until Mothers' Day. (…and that's our Mothers' Day, the one in May; not the one that they celebrate in the UK in April...)
But it is nice to dream… I've already started stalking the garden centers looking at what I am going to plant in my patio area this year. I'm looking forward to planting a garden again… it has been a couple years, after all!
Wherever you are today, I hope your spring is progressing well!
Don Bergquist – March 30, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
The sun is shining, the crocuses are blooming, the daffodils and tulips are pushing their heads up to see the sun and will soon been in bloom themselves. The temperatures are pleasant. In short, it is a lovely day for a walk in the park with the dog, or a drive in the foothills.
No! Wait a minute! That was yesterday!
In a turn of the weather that is so common here in Colorado this time of year, Saga and I were met by a half-inch of snow on the grass when we went out for our walk in the park this morning. It was a surprise.
Our visitors came by last night; Saga was well behaved only begging for treats when she knew that daddy wasn't looking. We had a pleasant evening of games, conversation and snacks. Then this morning I look out on a bleak, cold, white morning.
So, of course,
I had to toss the cameras back into the car and head back for contrast pictures of the places that I shot yesterday. This is why we never plant our gardens for spring here in Colorado until Mothers' Day. (…and that's our Mothers' Day, the one in May; not the one that they celebrate in the UK in April...)But it is nice to dream… I've already started stalking the garden centers looking at what I am going to plant in my patio area this year. I'm looking forward to planting a garden again… it has been a couple years, after all!
Wherever you are today, I hope your spring is progressing well!
Don Bergquist – March 30, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
29 March 2008
Springtime in the Rockies
Ah! Springtime in the Rockies!
The sun is shining,
the crocuses are blooming, the daffodils and tulips are pushing their heads up to see the sun and will soon been in bloom themselves. The temperatures are pleasant. In short, it is a lovely day for a walk in the park with the dog, or a drive in the foothills.
Saga and I have tossed the camera gear into the car and headed into the foothills. (Well, to tell the truth, Saga had very little to do with getting the camera gear into the car… She offered more of a hindrance than a help! But she meant well, I'm sure!)
Our first stop was at Red Rocks Park (just outside Morrison). It was beautiful! There was a wedding either just about to start or just finishing at the chapel – there was a photo shoot with the groomsmen and the bridesmaids going on as we drove in.
Ever since I have moved here, Red Rocks has been one of my favorite places.
It has these lovely jutting slabs Fountain Formation sandstone thrust up by the Laramide Orogeny that form the walls of a natural amphitheatre that overlooks the Denver Skyline to the east. (The Laramide Orogeny was the uplift that formed the ancestral Rockies; The mountains you see here to day were mostly raised in a later mountain-building event. – I've been reading books on Geology since I moved here and find it fascinating!)
Saga was not being too cooperative because she was not the only dog in the park,
and so she spent half her time trying to get away from daddy and the other time trying to figure out why daddy was letting her defend the car from the other dogs in the park for him while he went off with his cameras.
Ah! It was a lovely day but I have guests coming over tonight so I really need to get to preparing the house for company!
Wherever you are today, I hope your weather is lovely!
Don Bergquist – March 29, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
The sun is shining,
the crocuses are blooming, the daffodils and tulips are pushing their heads up to see the sun and will soon been in bloom themselves. The temperatures are pleasant. In short, it is a lovely day for a walk in the park with the dog, or a drive in the foothills.Saga and I have tossed the camera gear into the car and headed into the foothills. (Well, to tell the truth, Saga had very little to do with getting the camera gear into the car… She offered more of a hindrance than a help! But she meant well, I'm sure!)
Our first stop was at Red Rocks Park (just outside Morrison). It was beautiful! There was a wedding either just about to start or just finishing at the chapel – there was a photo shoot with the groomsmen and the bridesmaids going on as we drove in.
Ever since I have moved here, Red Rocks has been one of my favorite places.
It has these lovely jutting slabs Fountain Formation sandstone thrust up by the Laramide Orogeny that form the walls of a natural amphitheatre that overlooks the Denver Skyline to the east. (The Laramide Orogeny was the uplift that formed the ancestral Rockies; The mountains you see here to day were mostly raised in a later mountain-building event. – I've been reading books on Geology since I moved here and find it fascinating!)Saga was not being too cooperative because she was not the only dog in the park,
and so she spent half her time trying to get away from daddy and the other time trying to figure out why daddy was letting her defend the car from the other dogs in the park for him while he went off with his cameras.Ah! It was a lovely day but I have guests coming over tonight so I really need to get to preparing the house for company!
Wherever you are today, I hope your weather is lovely!
Don Bergquist – March 29, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
28 March 2008
A Sad Note Of Passing
A couple years ago, in A Fond Farewell, I wrote of the passing of “Skipper” Chuck Zink, from the children’s show, Skipper Chuck’s Popeye Playhouse. This morning I received a note on my blog that the musical director that I had mentioned, “Uncle” Don, has passed away.
On the show, Skipper would banter with “Uncle” Don at his Hammond Organ. Uncle Don would play music and the kids would sing along to silly kids’ songs, it was the kind of things that was very popular back then that I cannot imagine happening these days.
It is another sad day for people of my demographic who originated (or lived) in Miami in the late fifties or early sixties. My sincerest condolences go out to Keith and his family for their loss. I thank them for sharing “Uncle” Don with us.
…And Keith thanks for the memories this morning!
Wherever you are this morning, I wish you happy and fond memories of your childhood.
Don Bergquist – March 28, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
Editor’s note:
I could not find any pictures of the show as I recall it, but at this link:
you will find some old publicity shots of the show (some of them before my time) I hope you enjoy them.
djb
On the show, Skipper would banter with “Uncle” Don at his Hammond Organ. Uncle Don would play music and the kids would sing along to silly kids’ songs, it was the kind of things that was very popular back then that I cannot imagine happening these days.
It is another sad day for people of my demographic who originated (or lived) in Miami in the late fifties or early sixties. My sincerest condolences go out to Keith and his family for their loss. I thank them for sharing “Uncle” Don with us.
…And Keith thanks for the memories this morning!
Wherever you are this morning, I wish you happy and fond memories of your childhood.
Don Bergquist – March 28, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
Editor’s note:
I could not find any pictures of the show as I recall it, but at this link:
http://www.tvparty.com/lostpopeye2.html
you will find some old publicity shots of the show (some of them before my time) I hope you enjoy them.
djb
27 March 2008
Evening Rides
After a few nights of pleasant, warm, clear, and dry evenings, they care calling for a windy, wet day and evening. Bummer!
After getting home from the office this week, I've been hopping on the bike and going for a ride along the creek. I've ridden up to the lower limits of the dam, and down as far as the grade crossing where the greenbelt temporarily gives way to the suburbs.
I had been trying to ride at the office at lunchtime, but the roads are pretty crowded with manic drivers. In the interest of safety, I decided not to continue that routine.
Interestingly, in the day that the bike has been off the back of the car, the on-board computer has changed its estimate of my average fuel mileage from 40 to 41.5 mpg. The bike and bike rack on the back of the car significantly eats into my gas mileage… I guess the best plan of action is to leave the bike at home and ride at night after work.
Wherever you are today, I hope your weather is conducive to whatever it is you want to do out in it!
Don Bergquist – March 27, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
After getting home from the office this week, I've been hopping on the bike and going for a ride along the creek. I've ridden up to the lower limits of the dam, and down as far as the grade crossing where the greenbelt temporarily gives way to the suburbs.
I had been trying to ride at the office at lunchtime, but the roads are pretty crowded with manic drivers. In the interest of safety, I decided not to continue that routine.
Interestingly, in the day that the bike has been off the back of the car, the on-board computer has changed its estimate of my average fuel mileage from 40 to 41.5 mpg. The bike and bike rack on the back of the car significantly eats into my gas mileage… I guess the best plan of action is to leave the bike at home and ride at night after work.
Wherever you are today, I hope your weather is conducive to whatever it is you want to do out in it!
Don Bergquist – March 27, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
26 March 2008
Road Rules Rant
Occasionally, try-as-I-might, I cannot get over how asinine some drivers can be! Now, before I begin, I can hear my detractors (and you now who you are) saying: "Don, other drivers probably think the same of you." And I say let them! I at least can rest assured that I occupy the moral (and in some cases the legal) high ground.
My first rant, of the morning, I want to point-out that this sign is not a stop sign.
(Those look like a big red octagon – that eight-sided, four-lettered thing!) There is no reason that this sign (seen in the acceleration lane accessing C470) means that your (the right-hand) lane is about to end and you will have to merge into the traffic on your left. It does not mean that you should meander down the lane at 20 MPH until the point where that car behind you can almost (but not quite) actually merge into the traffic stream.
When you came to a complete stop leaving me a good three inches to spare that I could clear you and the traffic barrier, I took the chance, squeezed around you and used the acceleration lane for its intended purpose, accelerating and merging into the highway traffic. You disappeared from my sight a mile later when I crested the next hill.
And speaking of merging, this sign means the exact opposite of the last sign.
This sign means that the left-hand lane will soon end and that traffic should merge into the right-hand lane. It does not (as the tosser who tried to run me off the road yesterday seemed to think) mean that the larger vehicle has the right to do whatever it wants.
These signs appear all over Denver on the entry ramps to the interstate and C470 and US6. The problem is that there are so many people who (being charitable I will say) don't know or (being realistic here I say) don't care what the sign means. (Or perhaps, they just think that the world and the traffic patterns revolve around them.)
Here's the scoop, you tosser!
When you see this sign, it means that you may have to move to the right. If you are alone on the road, this should be no problem (and the use of that blinkie light on your vehicle will be optional – though I would recommend you use it anyway, just to stay in the habit.) if there is a car in the lane to the right of you – like that pretty little blue Honda Civic Hybrid, you will have to know how to merge. Merging means that he (that nice man in the Honda) has the right of way. (Oh, and those little dots to the rear-right of the merging vehicle indicates that the car is using its turn indicators - those blinking lights that you some times see when cars are changing lanes or turning. I suggest you consult to car's owners manual on their use.)
This means that if you accelerate to match speed with him, you'll have to stop. He does not have to stop to let you in. (Though, I know that he is a nice guy and if you had started out in front of him and stayed in front of him that he would slow to increate the already adequate room in front of your car.) But an abortive attempt to pass – or more sinisterly a deliberate attempt to make him stop to let you in, starting out behind him and then matching his progress 'til your lane ends, is neither smart nor likely to work. You see, he had really good insurance and is in the right anyway!
Wherever you are today, I hope your lane is clear and your can merge into the day seamlessly.
Don Bergquist – March 26, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
My first rant, of the morning, I want to point-out that this sign is not a stop sign.
(Those look like a big red octagon – that eight-sided, four-lettered thing!) There is no reason that this sign (seen in the acceleration lane accessing C470) means that your (the right-hand) lane is about to end and you will have to merge into the traffic on your left. It does not mean that you should meander down the lane at 20 MPH until the point where that car behind you can almost (but not quite) actually merge into the traffic stream.When you came to a complete stop leaving me a good three inches to spare that I could clear you and the traffic barrier, I took the chance, squeezed around you and used the acceleration lane for its intended purpose, accelerating and merging into the highway traffic. You disappeared from my sight a mile later when I crested the next hill.
And speaking of merging, this sign means the exact opposite of the last sign.
This sign means that the left-hand lane will soon end and that traffic should merge into the right-hand lane. It does not (as the tosser who tried to run me off the road yesterday seemed to think) mean that the larger vehicle has the right to do whatever it wants.These signs appear all over Denver on the entry ramps to the interstate and C470 and US6. The problem is that there are so many people who (being charitable I will say) don't know or (being realistic here I say) don't care what the sign means. (Or perhaps, they just think that the world and the traffic patterns revolve around them.)
Here's the scoop, you tosser!
When you see this sign, it means that you may have to move to the right. If you are alone on the road, this should be no problem (and the use of that blinkie light on your vehicle will be optional – though I would recommend you use it anyway, just to stay in the habit.) if there is a car in the lane to the right of you – like that pretty little blue Honda Civic Hybrid, you will have to know how to merge. Merging means that he (that nice man in the Honda) has the right of way. (Oh, and those little dots to the rear-right of the merging vehicle indicates that the car is using its turn indicators - those blinking lights that you some times see when cars are changing lanes or turning. I suggest you consult to car's owners manual on their use.)This means that if you accelerate to match speed with him, you'll have to stop. He does not have to stop to let you in. (Though, I know that he is a nice guy and if you had started out in front of him and stayed in front of him that he would slow to increate the already adequate room in front of your car.) But an abortive attempt to pass – or more sinisterly a deliberate attempt to make him stop to let you in, starting out behind him and then matching his progress 'til your lane ends, is neither smart nor likely to work. You see, he had really good insurance and is in the right anyway!
Wherever you are today, I hope your lane is clear and your can merge into the day seamlessly.
Don Bergquist – March 26, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
25 March 2008
Welcome To Frost Lake!
Greetings all! I hope that this Tuesday finds you all well and happy. Today's blog entry is to announce that I have been working on my website. Over the weekend I added a page to my website, added a couple "gee whiz" features, and did a bit of reformatting on the site in general.
You'll also find that in my photo gallery, my South Africa gallery has been totally updated and all the choice shots from my African adventure have been uploaded to the site. I'm continuing to add to my gallery on a daily basis and expanding the website every chance I get. I'll soon be adding an archive page which you can access if you want to see all the photos I have uploaded to my old photo sharing site. (That’s all the photos, not just "the good ones." You get the wheat and the chaff!)
Please, stop by my photo gallery; if you enjoy your visit, why not sign the guestbook while you're there! If you have comments, suggestions, or requests, please email me.
I hope that today, wherever today finds you, you have some accomplishment you can celebrate.
Don Bergquist – March 25, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
You'll also find that in my photo gallery, my South Africa gallery has been totally updated and all the choice shots from my African adventure have been uploaded to the site. I'm continuing to add to my gallery on a daily basis and expanding the website every chance I get. I'll soon be adding an archive page which you can access if you want to see all the photos I have uploaded to my old photo sharing site. (That’s all the photos, not just "the good ones." You get the wheat and the chaff!)Please, stop by my photo gallery; if you enjoy your visit, why not sign the guestbook while you're there! If you have comments, suggestions, or requests, please email me.
I hope that today, wherever today finds you, you have some accomplishment you can celebrate.
Don Bergquist – March 25, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
24 March 2008
What A Lovely Weekend!
What a lovely weekend! Even Sunday, when it was too cold to ride, it was nice enough that Saga and I went for a nice long walk around both the lakes in her park. She just kept going and going.
If only the weekend could have.
It was a lovely weekend and it would have been nice if it had been just a day or two longer. As it is in the UK… they had a bank holiday on Friday and one again today. I imagine that my friends spent a little time in the pub and that they did all manner of wonderful things that I miss.
Sure, the holiday is earlier thus year than it as been in years, but that is the problem with basing holidays on something mutable like the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
Last year, I spent my Easter with my friends in the UK, we had beers at the Albany – or rather, I had beers at the Albany, they were at the Albion! The plan changed at the last minute and by the time I found out about it, I had already had a beer and was beginning to wonder what was going on.
This year, I spend the weekend with Saga Roo in her park.
What a difference. The weather cooperated, the days were pleasant, and the skies were the purest azure. But the weekend is over. I have been out this morning with Saga, the temperatures are clement, the skies are clear. My bike is on the back of the car, so I suppose I should head out and get to the office.
Wherever you are, I hope you had a great weekend and holiday, I hope your week will be spectacular!
Don Bergquist – March 24, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
If only the weekend could have.
It was a lovely weekend and it would have been nice if it had been just a day or two longer. As it is in the UK… they had a bank holiday on Friday and one again today. I imagine that my friends spent a little time in the pub and that they did all manner of wonderful things that I miss.Sure, the holiday is earlier thus year than it as been in years, but that is the problem with basing holidays on something mutable like the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
Last year, I spent my Easter with my friends in the UK, we had beers at the Albany – or rather, I had beers at the Albany, they were at the Albion! The plan changed at the last minute and by the time I found out about it, I had already had a beer and was beginning to wonder what was going on.
This year, I spend the weekend with Saga Roo in her park.
What a difference. The weather cooperated, the days were pleasant, and the skies were the purest azure. But the weekend is over. I have been out this morning with Saga, the temperatures are clement, the skies are clear. My bike is on the back of the car, so I suppose I should head out and get to the office.Wherever you are, I hope you had a great weekend and holiday, I hope your week will be spectacular!
Don Bergquist – March 24, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
23 March 2008
Cruise Control
Gee! Yesterday turned out to be a lovely day! The promised rain never came; the snows that threatened were, at best, a light dusting. It was a lovely day!
I got my bike out of the garage, went for a nice ride along the river and then put the bike rack on the car. I am going to start bringing it to the office tomorrow. It is supposed to be in the high sixties tomorrow and I want to start riding my bike at lunchtime.
Driving around yesterday after my ride, it suddenly hit me. I
finally figured out what the problem with my morning commute is: Nobody seems to use cruise control.
I can understand not using it in city driving, but my entire trip (with the exception of the couple miles on either end) is entirely on limited access highways. And at the time of the morning that I commute, it is not as if the roads are exactly crowded!
I thought of this as I was driving along C470 headed home from the last shop I went to yesterday. I had my cruise control set at a nice, safe, comfortable speed. I came up on this car that was cruising along at its own speed and overtook it. A few minutes later, he puts on a burst of sped, gets faster than me and passes.
That’s no biggie, but within a couple miles, I passed him again – never having put my foot on the accelerator! You’d think that with gas prices being what they are today, people would use cruise control. It does, after all, save gas!
Oh well, I’m outta here for a bike ride!
Wherever you are today, I hope you’re cruising through a lovely day.
Don Bergquist – March 23, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
I got my bike out of the garage, went for a nice ride along the river and then put the bike rack on the car. I am going to start bringing it to the office tomorrow. It is supposed to be in the high sixties tomorrow and I want to start riding my bike at lunchtime.
Driving around yesterday after my ride, it suddenly hit me. I
finally figured out what the problem with my morning commute is: Nobody seems to use cruise control.I can understand not using it in city driving, but my entire trip (with the exception of the couple miles on either end) is entirely on limited access highways. And at the time of the morning that I commute, it is not as if the roads are exactly crowded!
I thought of this as I was driving along C470 headed home from the last shop I went to yesterday. I had my cruise control set at a nice, safe, comfortable speed. I came up on this car that was cruising along at its own speed and overtook it. A few minutes later, he puts on a burst of sped, gets faster than me and passes.
That’s no biggie, but within a couple miles, I passed him again – never having put my foot on the accelerator! You’d think that with gas prices being what they are today, people would use cruise control. It does, after all, save gas!
Oh well, I’m outta here for a bike ride!
Wherever you are today, I hope you’re cruising through a lovely day.
Don Bergquist – March 23, 2008 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
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