And More Spring Break

Kristie’s Birthday

Argh! Blog Pad Pro is giving me fits and crashes when I am adding photos, thus the Spring Break Series.

I had a nice visit with the Jordans of Redmond Oregon. Kristie and I had a couple of lazy days together and then on Sunday evening Avery and Anika joined us. John had to work through my visit except for Wednesday. Wednesday was a big adventure as we took Bob out into the hills and road up steep hills and splashed through puddles and explored narrowing trails. Lots of fun.

It was a good visit and then I headed back to Colorado. I felt that the scenery was better west bound than east bound. Odd, same country but from a different direction. Crossing Oregon on Highway 20 was easier than Highway 26 - faster and straighter most of the way. Weather was pretty darn good both ways. On the way to Oregon I had about an hour of rain in Idaho as I approached Twin Falls and then the last hour as I neared Redmond a combo of rain, sleet, and snow. On the way back I had sunny skies until I approached Laramie Wyoming. Then, clouds built and I could see snow in the distance. Eventually I had sleet then snow and high winds. When I turned south onto I-25 towards Longmont I drove back into sunny skies.

I stayed at Hampton Inns on the way to Oregon and back. Twin Falls Idaho heading west and Brigham City Utah heading east. Dinner in Twin Falls at Jaker’s was great, dinner at Brigham House was not. But, the hotels were comfortable and Hampton Inn breakfasts are passable and reliable.

I didn’t have to deal with too much craziness on the drive either way. There was the guy in rural Oregon who turned left in front of me and the guy who passed me, pulled in front of me then hit his brakes all while hand holding his phone. I do wonder why drivers have not discovered cruise control or or turn signals or hands free phone options in their cars. Too much technology for them to handle? Oh, and when you pull into a rest area, use the parking spaces, not the traffic lane or the truck parking. I’m surprised some of you can find your way home.

The Camaro is a wonderful long distance cruiser. So much quieter and more powerful than the Miata. It was a joy to drive, comfortable, great gas mileage - about 28.5 mpg for the trip. I wish the weather was warmer so that I could have the top down! I doubt I will drive out to Oregon again unless it is part of a bigger trip. We will in the coming year visit Mt. Rushmore and spots in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Taos, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Bryce, here we come!

Desert Scenery

Bob

Brigham City Utah

Where’s Colby?

Continental Divide

Spring Break Continued

Spring Break

Avery and Anika are on Spring Break this week and I drove to Oregon to spend most of it with them. The last time I drove to Redmond was in the Miata and I have to say the drive is much more comfortable in the Camaro. Quieter, cozier, faster, and many more electronic diversions. Built in navigation and SiriusXM and heated seats and a steering wheel heater make for a very comfortable drive, and surprisingly enough, the gas mileage in the Camaro is as good or better than the Miata. 

Longmont to Twin Falls to Redmond. I took the scenic route across Oregon and got tired of all the turns and ups and downs. This is my last time doing this. I will take a more direct route for the return. The scenery in Wyomings and Idaho was pretty good. Utah doesn't;’t waste much money on their rest areas. Pretty spartan - or is it pretty Mormon? The Temple I saw in Twin Falls was huge. No lack of funds for this. 

 

Mormon Temple in Twin Falls

 

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

Scenic Oregon

 

Goodbye To An Old Friend

 

 

 

Living Three Months At A Time

 

Driving to Iowa

I’ve been pondering the fact that I now seem to live my life three months at a time. I am on a three month schedule with my oncologist. I have a bone marrow transplant, then three months later a scan and blood tests, then three months later a scan and blood tests, and three months later (tomorrow) no scan but more blood tests, and three months later more tests. I am expecting good test results tomorrow, but still it is a bit nerve wracking. I wonder what my schedule will be going forward for the next few years? Have I ever said that cancer sucks? Well it does.

Last week we drove to Davenport Iowa for Brady’s Seventh birthday. She is quite the princess. We had a nice visit and Brady enjoyed her birthday weekend and skating party.  The drive there was easy with good weather. The drive back home, not so much. Rain, fog, snow kept us occupied. Good to be home in Longmont.

Today Sharon and I booked our flights to and from Barcelona for May. We will be there over three weeks and are excited already. We are flying in Premium Economy on the long flights - this looks pretty nice on both American and British Air. Denver to Miami to Barcelona on the way there and then Barcelona to London to Denver on the return.

Brady Seventh Birthday weekend

 

Team Knox

 

I don’t think they missed us.

 

Chicken Scalopini from my new Nick Stellino cookbook

 

Goat cheese stuffed Anaheim peppers at Cyclehops

 

Brrrr and ahhhh

 

They know how to deal with cold.

Here is an interesting blog I came across today. And another.

Another month and more, time to write something. I have been busy making the cabinets for Sharon’s office. As of today the base units are in and I have built the carcass for the first of three bookshelf units. It is a slow process but moving along.

We’ve had a couple of snows this past month, but neither one went over two inches. I feel this winter has been colder and drier than last. We have however had warms spells. Last week we were up to about 60° and sunny. I used the warm weather to give the Camaro a much needed wash and the Jeep got an interior detail. We had snow Friday night and Saturday and it warmed up into the 40s on Sunday. Today is cold again - midday and on 14°.

I had a fun birthday party at our house. I cooked brisket and ribs. The brisket was one of the best I have done on the Traeger. Sharon made an exceptional caramel cake and everyone had fun.

Builder Bob and his son are here today putting a wall in the basement. It will separate the workshop from the rest of the basement. It will keep dust confined to the workshop and allow me to use Jorge’s idea for a gallery wall.

Health wise I am doing well. I have not had the flu or even a cold. Knock on wood. I have an oncologist check up later this month, lots of blood tests. I have energy, I am gaining weight (darn it.) I do need to get back on my bicycle but I need a run of warmer weather for that. Cancer is a journey. In 2010 after chemo and learning that my Hodgkins lymphoma was gone I thought that was the end of it - I beat cancer. Not so. I now think that cancer is always with you. I am not a survivor, I am outlasting it. I live with the understanding that it can come back and bite me any time. My oncologist told me that the stem cell transplant would buy me about eight years. I’m hoping for ten.

We are going to Davenport this weekend for Brady’s 7th birthday. She is having a party at a roller rink, I am going to pass on that part.

Base cabinets

Bookshelf carcass

My wall

       

 

Happy Holidays

As I write this Sharon and I are on a flight from Denver to Chicago and then on to St. Paul. This is my first flight since my stem cell transplant and I am happy to be cleared to travel again. We are however taking precautions using disinfectant wipes on everything and if someone around me starts coughing or sneezing I will put on a mask. We had a fun and busy Christmas holiday with visitors from Florida - Katie and Jorge Soler, and Chicago with Aliza Soler and Nick Carchidi so we had a houseful! We went up to Rocky Mountain National Park with Katie, Jorge, and Nick and visited Boulder. And, we ate a lot! We cooked Arroz con pollo, burgers, a Cuban meal for Christmas Eve and a three bone roast beast for Christma day. Jorge made a dobosh torte and Sharon made buche de noel on top of assorted cookies and lemon curd. No stomach went unfilled. On Chistmas Eve we had a full house with twelve of us enjoying our Cuban feast. Our trip after Christmas to St. Paul to visit with Larry and Dave was originally a drive to Palm Springs for two weeks with the boys. Though we won’t be as warm, and only gone until January 3, we will have a great New Years. 

I continue to feel well. The stem cell transplant has done its job and I am healthy and have energy. I am almost finished with the basement ceiling and will tackle the cabinets and shelves for Sharon’s office next. The booze room is done except for details with the trim and some touchup painting. I have plenty on my plate to keep me busy in 2018. Sharon will be on the road again starting in January. She has a new customer in the San Diego area and will be flying there a lot. We are planning on Sitges in May with Katie and Jorge.

Despite the cold, we had a very nice New Year visit with Larry and Dave, though Dave had to leave us for California to care for his dad.