I think I need a rest........

It's been a whirlwind few months......long miles and vistas on the road, a reunion, a wedding, a virus , another trip to favorite places and then some favorite company......I think a nap is in order.................................

The Roommates arrived again for Year II of golf and food and drink and sightseeing. The weather mostly cooperated and the humidity wasn't stifling. We went to dinner
at a favorite place....the Cotillion Southern Cafe which serves up authentic (don't count the calories) Southern cooking. Everything on the menu is delicious but the fried green tomatoes are worth the trip. And we went back a few days later for lunch, specifically for the BLT....bacon, lettuce and fried green tomatoes. We resume our fast today.

On Saturday, we attended a charity concert featuring Wynonna and Naomi Judd.....it was very good and again, not too hot and humid. That hair is really, really red !
After seeing Dolphin Tail, Carol needed to go to the home of Winter, the star of the show. She is in the Clearwater Marine Aquarium about 2 hours from here. Another
nice day and we saw the show and the exhibits and Shelly even got to hold one
of Winter's many tails....she has had 17 because she grows out of them. It was interesting and informative but the museum is just a small research and rescue facility and not set up for the hoards of visitors.
The popularity will allow them to expand their work. If you go, don't expect SeaWorld...it's tiny and utilitarian but they do great work.

We played golf and more golf. And then had to shop for more golf clothes so that we look good even when we don't play good. But.......I almost.....got a hole-in-one...missed by a mere couple of inches..

Shelly has perfected her Appletini and it tastes as good as it looks...............
It was a great week but now it's time to get back to the mindful eating and exercising and catching up on the blog. Until you come to visit......reservations being accepted.

Happy Day......

And with pride and excitement...we'd like to announce that in this crummy economy, at least one college graduate has a JOB !! Our first grandchild , an all around very smart, nice, handsome guy will make his mark in the world as a Fractional Engineer (no that is not a part-time engineer) for Halliburton. The wait was tense but we had no doubts that they would need his talents. We are thrilled but not as much as his parents.... Nicholas Paul Miller, Graduate of Colorado School of Mines

Company is coming................
It's all about the cleaning and the shopping and the cooking and the baking and the anticipation of good friends and fun people coming to our house. Pictures at 11....or when I get around to it. But I will share the golf and the wine and the trips near and far.

Home for awhile

We would have enjoyed staying a few more days but have obligations now and then so reluctantly we headed south. We initially planned to fly back with Jon on his flight to Orlando. But, knowing the fickle nature of pass riding, we decided to take a bird in hand instead. There was a 1:30 flt with about 20 open seats and Jon's at 3:15 had fewer seats. We boarded our flight at gate 137 at Newark. Jon's flt was to depart from 98...opposite end of terminal. As departure time came and went for our plane, we sat there listening to endless announcements of why we weren't going anywhere....and then they shut down the plane. The plane was broken but they had another one waiting for us at gate 96......right next to Jon's . He had been checking in periodically and was aware of the situation. He offered to get us on his flight but we chose to stay where we were (we had good exit row seats). We finally did get out , AFTER Jon did. He met us in Orlando but had to return to Newark so no time for a bite to eat. We both flew into crummy weather and he flew back north in it while we drove home in it.

One of the events that we always looked forward to when living in Newtown was the annual Labor Day parade. This year, they were visited by Irene and it was cancelled for the first time ever....and rescheduled for today. We would have loved to be sitting on the curb as our cute grandsons marched in it......here's the Scout leader himself. (it doesn't look much like a parade in that picture.....the boys are in the background, near their float) I remember years of marching in that parade along with the boys in various organizations. And we always had perfect weather. Maybe next year we can make it.
Meanwhile, the weather continues soppy down here. We woke up to heavy rain and then a lull for a couple of hours and now it is coming in again.
I know you're waiting expectantly for pictures from the new equipment but the learning curve is steep and it's still practice, delete, practice, delete......but it is starting to sink in..........

Watching the Broncos attempt to play football is a bit embarrassing ........... : (

Not home yet but getting closer....

It's nice to be needed.. Andy and Mason were in need of some grandparent time and their parents had a wedding to go to so...we flew east on Wednesday.









It is still very green here....seems a bit behind as I always remember the peak leaf time being about mid- month.

















After all our pondering about a camera, we suddenly found ourselves in the land of B and H Photo. It is the mother of all stores for electronics and on- line ordering. So, on a beautiful fall day, we were off to Mahattan. It is the DisneyWorld of cameras and computers and high volume organization. It is too unique to describe.....you just have to experience it.



















When you go to the camera section, there are about 50 stations with helpful sales persons. Our gentleman was very knowledgeable and patient. After choosing a camera, lens, book, case, I ended up at the pay station and received my pkgs. Around the corner was this view.....

Location:Newtown, Connecticut

More Colorado

Just a couple more .......





We spent part of a day in the stunning Maroon Bells . This is a popular photographer's dream location and is often seen on calendars and such.











Later, we stopped by Aspen but altho it looks like it was designed by Ralph Lauren, there is no joy in even window shopping when it is all about Prada and furs and astronomical jewelry designs.





Leaving the Western slope, we again traversed Glenwood Canyon. There is even more color other than aspen gold. This sign wasn't there when we hiked this trail or I probably would have chickened out.


















The railroad tunnel is to the lower left of the other two.

We are not headed home, despite previous plans. As you know by now, we meander and just go with the wind and our whims.

Location:Denver airport

Colorado

We came west to remember and honor Aunt Romayne at a gathering on a perfect October day. She would have been 99 this week.





And she would have loved this beautiful fox who meandered about while we reminisced

We had good intentions of getting on our flight home yesterday, but as we are wont to do on occasion , we headed west instead.












First stop was Georgetown, a colorful and historic Victorian mining mountain town nestled in among the mountains. A winding road brought us to Guanella Pass at nearly 12000 ft. It was not the destination but the journey which showed Mother Nature in all her grandeur. (Pictures are clickable)




































These last two pics were taken with "vivid" setting on the camera.....





And this one wasn't......I think it works in some situations but not all. That is Georgetown and I-70 on the left.





This is entering Copper Mountain area ...






After leaving Vail, the geography levels out and ranches with cattle and horses are prevalent.
And then the beautiful stretch of Glenwood Canyon ..... I can't link to sites on the iPad but google Glenwood Canyon and learn about this scenic place and the engineering marvel of building an interstate highway while preserving the magnificent. We have enjoyed the bike trail which follows the canyon and did the hike to Hanging Lake a few years back. It is straight up for 1 1/4 mile but worth every step. We hiked down in a torrential downpour when the trail became a raging torrent and it really was 'slippery when wet'.





We have no agenda except to drink in the sights and perfect weather of a favorite place in our memories.

Location:Glenwood Springs

It's time for the amphetamines........

to give me a jump start and get back to life. We did some aerobic activity at Costco

yesterday and left me flattened for the rest of the day. I have a busy calendar coming up (like beginning on Friday) and starting to look at desperate measures to get me moving.......considering maids, cooks and personal assistants as a start.

Meanwhile, we are studying the manual and trying to learn all about f/stops, ISO, exposures, bokeh and lens. It's a bit daunting to my meager brain .... but he seems to get it so at least there would be an in-house source to lean on. We have not purchased anything
yet and still in the investigative/learning stage. I'm not sure I need another hobby and all that 'stuff' that will naturally come with it..............but the end result is appealing....providing I know how to turn it on.

Here's another picture that I love......what a face !!

Just a couple more.....

It just might be the beginning of a great artist..........Our Three Sons.... Jon, Jeff and Mike. We are sooooo proud of all they've accomplished. Plus, they are really nice guys........and have wonderful wives and children.
And here's one of my favorite pictures and a happening that I could not have planned

even if the control freak in me wanted to .............Meet our 3 beautiful and talented daughter's in law........
On the right........... Dr. Marybeth Miller

In the middle........ Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Miller

On the left..............Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Miller

That's not a typo................

Animals Gone Wild

Our friends and neighbors, the Scott's, have a lovely, well thought out front patio space with flowers, shrubbery and a large fountain. The other day, after being gone for a couple of days, they came home to this................It literally looked like a bomb had gone off. Pavers torn out, pipe broken and torn into chunks, dirt everywhere, flowers pulled up. Upon closer exam, all of the soft sandy dirt was covered in hundreds of indentations and prints.....animal prints. And the driveway and other surfaces had animal prints. It looked like a war zone in the animal world. No one really knows what it was but it probably was a bobcat getting a bit overzealous in it's search for prey. According to Wikipedia, they live in this area and search out rabbits and rodents. Something was probably living under the fountain and the cat was very determined....and strong. There was no sign of a massacre.
I took a picture of my foot and the print to give an indication of size. It's kind of scary to think of the strength and determination this predator had.....

Meanwhile, the couch is still looking pretty good. I have moments of normalcy but mostly I am pretty useless.

Living better with drugs...........

We are feeling better.....not great yet but he is going about as usual and I am still enjoying the couch between laundry loads. I think my going to the ER so quickly really made a big difference.....I doubt I could have made it until the Urgent Care Ctr opened in the morning. Well, I wasn't dying or anything but life was not good and it happened so rapidly that it was a bit scary.

Anyhow, home looks really appealing these days and reliving the wonderful trip is a perfect antidote for feeling lousy. And, the main reason for this blog is so we can remember the details of our life. Going back and viewing the trip just ignites the great memories of family and friends and mountains and wild flowers and views along the road. I post very few pictures but those make me go into the archive and relive the moments. Try it.......its much better than a file of dated pictures. I mentioned that we went to Old Faithful but didn't wait for the eruption. I guess that would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower . We have seen it erupt a few times and it is impressive. The earthquakes and other geological activity has resulted in a longer, less predictable time between events and we just missed the previous one. It was late in the day and we were needing a campground before dark so we opted to skip it.
Here is a peek at the Tetons.....the clouds were low and misty and we just got an occasional glimpse. We'll just have to go back and see them in all their glory another day.

In reviewing and downloading pictures, I have not been particularly pleased with the results. I know that 99% of a picture is the person behind the lens. And the problem with point and shoot cameras is that we expect to do just that and get excellent results.....I think it makes us lazy. Often, I just stuck my head out a window and pressed the button. Part of this was the mode of transportation.....we just can't pull over anywhere. When I take my time, I do better. Being basically a very impatient person, the iPhone and the Sony Cybershot worked well. Then this spring, I upgraded to the Canon Power Shot. I have been struggling with it since day one. I keep reading the manual and trying new things but still not really getting the results I want. I think it does well on kids and flowers and such but not landscapes. The zoom is impressive but needs a tripod to avoid blurring (which I don't have).

So, my time on the couch has been spent researching a new camera. I don't think I'm much smarter and I'm still very much on the fence about it. I know that a DSLR is heavy and bulky and expensive. And then there is the lens issue...but I kind of know what I would get. And I wouldn't obviously carry it around with me but would love it for special opportunities and travel. Our 3 sons have an impressive array of equipment and I have sought advice. I'm looking at the Canon Rebel if any of you have it and have an opinion. There are a lot of tutorials out there and I plan a trip to the bookstore today if the old body is up for a field trip.

In my reading, I'm also learning that most everyone Photoshops their pics before posting.....so, I'm going to order Photoshop Elements and see what that does. My brother just had a book made of a few of his spectacular photos.....hardcover with excellent quality......makes a great coffee table book. I'm sure I'm a bit behind the times but wouldn't this make a great birthday, anniversary, baby, special occasion gift ?

OK, I'm going to try and meet the day head on and get something done.......until I need a nap.

HOME never looked so good........

We managed to drive 619 miles yesterday.....rather, HE drove 619 miles , through rain, lightning, impressive thunder and down the "road of many big trucks". We got home about 8ish and I was sinking rapidly. I ended up waking him out of his well earned sleep to drive me to the ER so they could give me good stuff so I could breathe. I knew what it was......pharyngitis with episodes of laryngeal spasm......meaning, your throat is all red and very sore, you have a hacking dry cough and at some point, when you really get into a coughing fit, your throat decides that maybe it will just close up and you are unable to take in air. It also swells some from the irritation which makes it feels like there is a baseball in there obstructing everything. Needless to say, it wasn't fun. Fortunately, it wasn't busy but still took 2 hours for everyone to sit around at the desk and eat their midnight dinner and talk about shopping and schedules and listen to me cough my lungs out. I had a temperature and chills and no voice due to the swelling of the vocal cords but I think they got the point that I was in distress altho they kept saying, your O2 sats are just fine.....wellllll yah, when I'm breathing, it's just that I can't always do that. Anyway, after steroids, antibiotics and the good codiene cough syrup, we came home and slept in our own bed and it felt wonderful.

And now, the daunting task of emptying the beast. I do a bit, rest, write the blog, do some more and rest and and cough....but not so much anymore. It's hot and steamy out there and we put a lot of necessities in it that need to come out......like shoes and more shoes and fancy clothes and fancy face stuff ......and a mountain of dirty clothes (despite the luxury of a w/d on board....I've been sick, remember).

My hero got us home and me all fixed up and I am grateful for that.

I will give you all the statistics another day and maybe even a picture or two.

I hope your week is off to a better start...................

Not soon enough

No pics.....just a quick update. The viral bug attacked again yesterday despite drinking gallons of water and avoiding bodily contact with it's previous owner. It's living in my throat and ears and causing chills and drippy passages. I actually don't feel awful awful, just a bit crummy. And I'm happier curled up with my fuzzy blanket than sitting in the driver's seat.

We spent the night in a Walmart parking lot in Tennessee. As much as I dislike W, they do allow us this benefit, hoping of course that we will shop. He did, stocking up on more Advil. We tried to find a campground but it was raining, getting dark and the only decent sounding one had no pull-throughs and wanted $50+. It just seemed easier to find a spot in the lot of this mega store, open 24 hrs. And we didn't need to unhook the car. We wouldn't do this someplace unsavory but this one was the exception. notice the next time you go near one in the morning or evening, and see how many RV's are there....also semi's. We have electricity, water, the TV, the generator and a water pump misbehaving again. Hoping it will behave for the next 600 miles...and if not, we have a spare.
Hopefully, the next update will be from the comforts of our non-mobile house.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Walmart somewhere

Sneezing across the miles...

We drove 500 miles today. It was on wide open highways traversing Wyoming and Nebraska and it was downhill all the way. We got pretty good gas mileage for a change........that being a relative thing, considering what we are driving. There are no pictures. It was gray and cloudy and foggy and misty and only in the 50's. We crisscrossed the Oregon trail. Somewhere along the way are the actual ruts still visible from the wagon trains. I have pictures from a previous trip.....but can't remember where they are.

Wyoming is an interesting place from the cockpit of the bus. The western part is magnificent and majestic. Then it gradually levels out to scrub brush and hills but the elevation stays around 7-8000 feet. There is no indication of farming but are cattle. Scattered about are odd, large structures that have no identifying signs nor familiar shapes like refineries or mining or manufacturing. They are not all alike but all look fairly recent...10 years or so. It makes the imagination come to life and I visualized even more mystery off in the hills away from the eyes from the interstate. And throw into all of this is the fact that this is Mr Cheney's home state ! Nothing political..........but sinister comes to mind. Oh, well, guess I could google Wyoming Secrets and see what pops up.

I read where another person was killed by a grizzley last week. This being a hunter with another hunter and large guns as they were hunting bear ! Now, if you can't protect yourself with a big gun, what are your chances of warding off the man eating beasts with bells and whistles and loud renditions of "we'll be comin' round the mountain" ? The various guides suggest carrying Bear spray. At $46 a can, you are to spray it in their face and eyes.......yup, I can visualize myself doing that easily. In the guide it says it is NOT a repellent and not to be used to spray your clothes or tent. Darn, it would be so much better if they would scatter like mosquitos. My solution is to not go where the bears go.

The last two nights we have had the good fortune to park ourselves in campgrounds with lousy WiFi and next to the interstate. Both had high ratings but by the time we find this out, we are already situated. So, I've had to produce the blog via the 3G on the iPad which has a very sensitive keyboard and I end up slogging thru with many typos. But It's great for adding pictures. So I am not my usual verbose and witty self when I have to keep correcting every 3rd word.

One of us has a darn good head cold and despite gallons of water, zinc, Advil and TLC from the onboard nurse, he is not feeling great. Fortunately, the roads are good and I can do extra driving duty while he catches a nap, buckled in on the sofa. He insists we continue and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lincoln, Nebraska