To celebrate finishing school and “graduating”, we went to Sedona last weekend and stayed at a friend’s condo. We hiked West Fork Oak Creek Trail with Abby and Journey, ate at the Hideaway and Shugrues, and shopped in Jerome. All in all it was a very nice time.
My mom was born on the 19th of February. She died on the 22nd. This is a week full of memories.
On February 22nd, 2007 I got a call from my dad after 10pm. I knew what he was going to say before he said it. Kerry was in San Diego for the Quad A (the big national allergy specialist’s meeting). Just by coincidence she left for this year’s Quad A meeting (in San Antonio) on the 22nd, (I told her on the way to the airport that if me or my dad passed away while she was gone, I wouldn’t call her) and she won’t be back until this Thursday the 28th. She’s going to Austin to visit some of her family members. So it’s me, the little dogs–sleeping beside me as I type–and my internal monologue. I make lists of what I need to do, then promptly forget most of the items that seemed so important they were “note worthy”. I’ve got a midterm on Monday, jobs to look at via Kerry’s Monster/Career Builder/Jobing and Indeed.com searches. I’ve got a storage/workshop room to organize, groceries to buy, birds and dogs to feed and water, clean the house, an Ooma phone system needing a good looking at, and whatever else I can pile up on my sore shoulders.
Of course, I am always talking to myself in my head. I get distracted very easily and end up bothering my friends by texting them too often for no specific reason. I’ll take too many pictures of the pups and send them off to these friends and Kerry. A waste of their time and mine, I suppose. I could be studying, or organizing, or looking for gainful employment, or ???
WARNING: CROWBAR ENTRY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. SCHRECK!
So, today came and went with the only significant accomplishment being a trip to the dog park so the pups could run around, socialize and make other dog owners say ooooooh, and awwwwww.
The week is over, almost. Life goes on and nothing really seems to change; The assholes of the world get their way and nice people keep on suffering because of it. Kids grow up and parents grow apart. The night falls, I sleep a little and wake up making popping and cracking noises like someone walking across a floor of dried twigs.
Hmmm, a fresh pot of good coffee would be nice, but I forgot to wash the carafe since I last made coffee a week ago. I guess I could do that in the morning, right? After I go for a walk, feed the dogs and the birds, turn out the night time lights, turn on the day time lights, look around the house and make my temporary mental lists… then get disheartened as the list overloads my short-term memory…
A day on the trails to Sheep Bridge, Verde River and Agua Fria National Monument
A great day for wheelin’
Me and the Jeep
Ed and the Jeep
Jeeps on the trail
Leave the off-roading to Jeeps! 
A quick break on the trail
The landscape is never dull and always changing.
Sheep Bridge Description
Sheep Bridge (actual the second one). Only has the stanchions of the first one remain.
Sheep Bridge over the Verde River.
Etched into the base of the original west-stanchion of Sheep Bridge
Original stanchion
Concrete and timber stanchion of first Sheep Bridge.
The boulders-photoshop change.
Second stop: Pueblo la Plata
Peublo La Plata
Some of the thousands of pottery shards around the pueblo: LEAVE THEM THERE!
My Walther P99
This past Wednesday one of my best friends bought his first gun, and he asked me to come along for, if nothing, moral support. I can remember in detail my first experience in a gun store looking at semi-automatic pistols. I felt intimidated as if I was part of a lower caste. That is the problem anytime there is an ability for one person to be an expert and show superiority over another e.g., computer science, video games, firearms, and so on.
A semi-automatic looks so easy to use–I mean, how hard can it be if actors can do it? Well, there are quite a few more parts in a semi-auto than a revolver, and there no color coordinated hints or labels like there are on other machines or under the hood of a car. It’s harder for a guy than a girl. Why? It’s the same reason most women are better shots than men–a lack of stupid male pride and testosterone charged competitiveness.
So, Kerry asked me if I was getting “gun-fever”. I said no. The answer really is “maybe”… sorry honey.
My Walther-P99 is a fantastic weapon. It was a perfect fit for my duty weapon in the Arizona Rangers, and I feel comfortable carrying it. I’d like to get a more concealable pistol… Here are the leading candidates are these three .45 ACP ‘s:
The Colt Defender
Kimber Ultra Carry
Kimber Solo Carry
Soon…
Yeah, I know my chances are slim to none.
This weekend has been, well…
Kerry has been really sick the last two weeks. Bummer part for her, she can’t call in sick. Not a good idea to cancel patients… so she really didn’t have an opportunity to rest and recoup. Home from work, then more work, then don’t sleep because of coughing, and problems breathing. I guess two good things came out of this. As I was bringing her toast and tea I came upon a blend of teas that she really enjoyed: one bag of Yogi Chamomile and one bag of Bigelow Lemon Spice, and I haven’t got sick yet. Take it where you can get it, right?
FRIDAY
Friday was excellent. I got to play golf with Brophy classmates from 1982. Three great guys–Tim, Mike, and Mike.
I tossed the clubs and the walking cart in the Jeep (sans top), and drove off to Encanto Golf Course (built 1935-1937) to walk about 6 miles with three old friends. Tim brought three bottles of his homemade beer–a magical brewcration of impressiveness! Mike V shared excellent Monte Cristo cigars and an equally excellent golf game. Mike G bought us all many PBR’s. I likey the PBR. I brought my wit and excellent comedy timing. Tim, however made it known he was displeased when I told him I got word that this was my last golf outing until I got a job…
The rain came just as we ended the round. We said our adios’s and I checked the iPhone to find Kerry had sent me a message requesting Boston Market for dinner. Off I went to pick up dinner then sit around and wait for the lactic acid to settle deep–DEEP into my highly toned and oft envied musculature.
SATURDAY
Saturday was filled with even more excitement than Friday… well, that may be an exaggeration.
The day was filled with Kerry sleeping and forwarding me job openings while I went into my office to read and filter the jobs being forwarded to me along with some additional “fun” material, assignments and projects.
Spring 2013 Reading List
As I was reading and working on a Visual Basic assignment I started playing three Tom Selleck Western DVD’s loaned to me by my father-in-law– referred to as Old Dog (his choosing). I am known as Big Dog. It could be worse considering I’m married to his only daughter–if she’s not happy then it could be Dead Dog or Missing Dog…
I’d seen two of the films before; Monte Walsh and Crossfire Trail, but not Last Stand at Saber River. I like a good made-for-tv western, and Selleck can make it believable–except when anyone gets shot. Apparently no one at TNT has heard for that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction–hence, no one flies 10 feet back when shot. I particularly liked Monte Walsh as it was written by Jack Schaefer, the same man who wrote another western book you may have heard of called Shane. Monte Walsh deals with, among other things, the end of The West as it really was before progress and profit changed it. It used to be like Captain Woodrow Call’s mare “The Hell Bitch” (Lonesome Dove), but somehow, without noticing, she became Mr. Ed.
My favorite Selleck western is Quigley Down Under. Sadly, that one is not in my collection–though I’m sure it was at one time. Alan Rickman is in it as, of course, the bad guy… yippeekayay
A decent way to spend a very wet and grey Saturday.
SUNDAY
Today was as grey as yesterday, but not as wet. Kerry felt a lot better and in the morning I helped her make the dinners for the week by peeling taters, mixing up meatloaf, doing dishes, taking a nap…
Time to heat up one of those meals and hit the books.
Jealous?
Steel Pony Cowboy's Rig
Saturday January 5 I got up at 6 (after going to bed after midnight),
loaded up the Jeep and went to pick up Tim
at 7:15 for a day on the trails.
It was my club’s (Jeep Expeditions) New Year’s Mystery Run.
My German spotter- Tim R.
Tim got out the maps and the GPS.
Too bad we had no idea where we were going.
It was us and 17 other Jeeps.
Martinez Canyon Road
We went into the White Canyon Wilderness area to visit the Coke Ovens near Cochran, AZ and the Martinez Canyon and BattleAx Trails.
A Jeep to envy: Tomb Raider Edition
from Wikipedia: “Rubicon Tomb Raider Edition: 2003 was a limited run of 1,001 (perhaps as many as 1,050) Wrangler Rubicon “Tomb Raider” models produced promote the Tomb Raider sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Along with the standard Rubicon fare, it also included exterior features such as 16-inch Alcoa forged aluminum wheels, Tomb Raider badging, and Mopar accessories including a light bar, riveted fender flares, tubular grille guard, diamond-plated bumper guard, etc. Interior features included Dark Slate fabric seats with red accent stitching down the center, silver surround instrument panel bezel, red seat belts, and a Tomb Raider badge with serial number. To match the vehicle in the film, it was offered in Bright Silver.[15] Due to its classic styling, combined with numerous unique accessories, the 2003 “Tomb Raider” Limited Edition Wrangler Rubicon has become one of the most highly collectible jeeps of all-time.”
Big Red's JK: those KC spots can cook a frozen turkey in 5 minutes.
YJ in the front of the line: 18 Jeeps
Papa's Jeep
Jeeps in the side view
An easy part of the trail.
Off we go
Sharing the trails all day
We had a lot of company on the trails.
A lot of ATVs and quite a
few 4×4′s and motorcycles.
Me going down the Waterfall by Dotty of Desert Mountains Photography (c) 2013
When you’re inside the Jeep, it feels a lot more steep and difficult that it looks here.
Thanks to Dotty at Desert Mountains Photography for this picture of my Jeep.
A gorgeous just-off-the-lot FJ Cruiser going up the Waterfall (3 tries)
Beautiful scenery in the White Canyon Wilderness Area
Back side of the Coke Ovens
Jeep Expeditions group at the Coke Ovens
Inside of a modified Coke Oven (B&B project)
The Owner of the Coke Ovens planned to
turn them into a B&B for off-roaders,
and he converted a couple of the ovens
over by prepping for plumbing and ventilation.
He put in windows, poured concrete
around and inside,
but before he could finish the project
vandals ended up burning and destroying
his house the the renovated ovens.
Visitors used to be fenced out, but over time
the gates and fences have been destroyed.
Leaving the Coke Ovens through a Cottonwood canopy.
Sunset in the Wilderness
Sunset and Photoshop
Saguaros at sunset
Beautiful AZ Wilderness
Saguaro skeleton
Wilderness
We were supposed to be out
and on the road before dark.
Then the eta to 177 was 5:30pm.
We made it to 177 at 8:30pm.
The trip included a lot of turn arounds.
Many were on one lane trails with big drop-offs.
It became even more interesting when we
had to turn around three times
in the pitch black, on one lane trails
and over a dozen Jeeps
lined up one after the other.
I honed a few skills that night and
worked out my sphincter muscles almost to failure.
CB at night.
Hobbits live in the "Gandalf the White" Canyon Wilderness
At our lunch stop, Tim found a miniature bottle of alcohol and the only mushroom for hundreds of miles:
Confirmation of Hobbits in AZ!
photoshop and old kodaks
Wearing Dad's boots (Christmas 1967)
My first horse (Christmas 1967)
