YOU SHOULDN'T DRIVE, IF...

Denver's traffic has gotten out of hand (and yes, I completely realize I'm not a native, so I could be considered part of the problem) and I've got a plan to fix it.

During the peak times, we'll say between 6:30 - 9 AM, and the afternoon rush, 3 - 6 PM, the roads should be reserved for those heading to and from work.*

Examples of those who should stay off the roads during these times:

• Retired people in Buick's (or any other make and model...but Buick seems to be the crowd favorite)
• Those rich enough not to have to work
• Unemployed people (unless you're heading to find a job...and if this is the case, Go get 'em tiger and Good Luck!)
• Stay at home moms who are trying to get their kids to the library early so all the good books are not picked over

I get it, sometimes it's nice to get a jump on the day. If that's your goal, leave your house early, grab some coffee and a book, and get to your destination before 6. Or, forgo the book and coffee and take a nap in the comfort of your front seat...I've done it more times than I can count and have lived to tell about it. 

Whatever your preferred method of killing time, do it and enjoy the quiet and solitude of an empty parking lot while you wait for whatever it is you're waiting for to open.

*Obviously emergency vehicles are exempt . What am I? An animal?

I'm hoping this makes the November ballot...I'll keep you updated.

As you were.

BOOTS

A while back I posted that I needed new boots. I'm happy to report I believe I found a pair that will work. I'll be trying them on in the next week or two and will report back on the comfort.

Rather than replace with the exact same style, I'm switching it up a bit. For the past 10+ years I've been wearing wellington style boots. This time, I think I'm going with the ol' lace-up variety.

Feast your eyes on these beauties.

As you were.

MOUNTAINS AND CAR

My state is awesome.

Within a few hours you can go from bustling metropolis to peace and quiet. From thousands of people to seven.

A few weeks ago my buddy (who is graciously allowing me to elk hunt with him this fall) recommended that we take a day-trip to the hunting grounds...to check it out, get a feel for the land, and get out of the city for a bit.

So Saturday morning we met in a parking lot and headed off. As an added bonus, both J and his family joined us. The crisp air, bright sun, breath-taking views made for a great day and was just what I needed. Not only did we scope out the land, but this trip also gave us the opportunity to take a step back and catch our breath.

All summer we've been going, what seems like, a million miles an hour. While this is great and a lot of fun has been had and memories made, it's always nice to slow it down for a bit. The drive there and back took about 7 hours. While this seems like a haul, it gave J and I some much needed alone time where we could chat, laugh, and just be.

To say I'm excited to head back to the mountains is an understatement. I can't wait for the hunt and camping trip. If I leave with a trophy buck or empty handed, I'm sure a great time will be had.

Oh Firebird. You and I have a love/hate relationship. While I'm super happy and fortunate to have you, you are the cause of a lot of stress. 

To bring all thousands of my readers up to speed (get it, car...speed...see what i did there) Lately the 'Bird and I have been playing this new game called, "Am I going to start?"

It's a ton of fun and usually leaves me cussing like a sailor...which means the car won that round.

The last time we played this was at the bottom of my driveway. Guess how that round ended...I had to hook it up to the jeep and pull it back up the drive. Then, I had a buddy come over and help me push it  back into the garage. 

After some internet research and a few trips to the local auto supply store (I am going to become best friends with the employees simply because I'm going to be there a lot) it was determined that it wasn't starting (this time) because the fuel pump was shot. 

According to the googler, this should be an easy fix. And, for the most part it was...well, it's not fixed yet, but the bad fuel pump has been removed. Now I need the new one to be delivered and I can install it. 

But there was some collateral damage. After an hour of struggling, I couldn't get the bolt connecting the fuel line to the pump off. I decided I was tired of losing this battle, so I cut the fuel line. Take that. I am hoping this sets an example for all other stubborn nuts and bolts so I won't have to do this to some other, more expensive part. 

Now, I am the proud new owner of a new fuel line, too! Don't be envious...you can get yourself one too from the ol' interwebs...it will take a few clicks and about $17. 

I'll keep you posted on this. 

As you were. 

I'D RATHER BE...

I like what I do for a living. I like the people I work with. I like the mission of the company.

But sometimes I wish I was doing other things than sitting behind a computer. Today, I'd rather be doing any of the following...

• Working out
• Riding bikes
• Taking a nap
• Hanging out with my wife
• Hanging out with my buddies
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Sitting in a cool coffee shop
• Reading a new Jack Reacher book
• Reading a new Jack Reacher book in a cool coffee shop
• Helping Seann build cabinets
• Working on my firebird
• Cleaning my basement
• Attending events at Start Up Week
• Building a cabin in the mountains
• Going on an adventure
• Flipping a house
• Eating a brat at Home Depot, wondering around looking at whatever catches my attention and day dreaming about things I could build

The good thing is that I can do nearly all of these things when the workday draws to an end. So there's that.

As you were. 

KEEPIN' PROMISES

This weekend I kept good on a promise I had made to myself.

Maybe it's the approaching (happening at lightning speed, by the way) due date for Little Dude, maybe it's the fact that I've recently been trying to find joy in the small things, or maybe it's that I realize there is more to life than working and checking items off the ol' to-do list. Whatever the cause, I've recently made the conscious decision to spend as much time as possible doing things that bring me joy.

I believe life is too short to spend my time any other way.

I'm happy to report this weekend I did just that. As an added bonus, some of the things that needed to be done also happened to bring me joy. A double win.

• Hung out with some buddies on Friday evening. As usual, good times were hand and many laughs shared. But this time, we had a built a baby crib by the end of the evening for Little Dude. (At press time, the crib was still standing.)
  
• Mountain biked on Saturday with a buddy. The ride was a little rough due to the previous evening, but I managed...and I lost my hang-over somewhere on the trail. The best part of it all was the parking lot hang afterwards.
  
• Got some more baby stuff checked off the list by heading to (what I can only assume will become a frequent stop) Babies-R-Us.
  
• Picked up my new rifle and was able to sneak away to the range for a bit. Being more of a shotgun guy, sighting in a rifle is new to me. While it's definitely not great, it's a start. I'll be heading to the range again this week to finish the job. There could be worse things.
  
• Put the finishing touches on the storage room in our basement. After a week of scrubbing the floor and walls, the paint and sealant have been applied. I'm also happy to report the air has been circulating much better thanks to the exhaust fan I installed last weekend. This room is really shaping up and will help the basement become livable.
  
• Spent some awesome quality time with the wifey.
  
• Headed to a movie. It was OK. We had to sit in the front row and the theater was hot. But the movie was pretty OK so it worked out just fine. Plus, heading to a movie on a whim most likely won't be happening that frequently after November, so I enjoyed the freedom of it all as well.
  
• Saw O.A.R. at Red Rocks. The show, weather, and energy were perfect. So was the opening band, The Hunts. If you haven't heard of them, check 'em. They will be big in no time. 

At the end of it all, I could have worked harder to check a few more things off the ol' to-do list. But, what's the point? There will always be things that "need" to be done...that list will never be 100% complete. But who cares? Life should be more than just checking off the needs...gotta check off some wants, too.

As you were. 

IT'S SAD

It's sad that when I checked the news online this morning the first few stories were of violence. A person shot in the head on a Phoenix freeway. A violent attack on the protesters in North Dakota. A school shooting in Texas.

The last one got me.

We send kids to school to learn. It should be a safe place, and sadly, for many, school might be the safest place they go throughout the entire day. Until a shooting happens.

In nearly all of the school shootings (to date) there have been signs. There had been reports that the shooter needed help. That he or she was not 100% mentally stable. Although the facts of this shooting aren't out, I'd be willing to bet there were signs here, too.

The article quotes someone as saying, "This isn't supposed to happen in our community...we're a safe place"...where then, Mr. or Ms Quoter, is something like this supposed to happen? The answer? Nowhere.

I can see this as another opportunity for both the left and the right to get up on their stumps and argue for either stricter gun control, or, on the opposite side, the ability for everyone to conceal and carry. Sadly, I don't think either of those issues matter or would have prevented this from happening. The only thing that will happen is the real issue at hand will be buried by political bullshit..from both sides.

I believe changing the way Americans view mental healthcare is the solution.

Sadly, there is still a taboo around seeking care for your brain. If you broke your arm, no one would think less of you for seeing a doctor and getting a cast. A toothache, you head to the dentist. Makes sense doesn't it? You have an ailment and you go see someone who is trained in fixing it. So why do so many people think that seeing a counselor or therapist makes you broken, weak, or any other derogatory word?

What if seeking mental healthcare was as common as going to a doctor to get cold medicine? Would there be less violence? Probably.

Either way, the current state of things is just sad.

As you were.

HAPPY SOUL, HEART, AND MIND

This past weekend I was fortunate enough spend my time doing what I loved. I was able to head into the high country, spend time with people I enjoy, and mountain bike.

This got me thinking...what if you could do what you loved all the time.

Would you love it less because it was so accessible? Probably not. I don't love my wife more when I don't see her for a few days. I enjoy hanging out with her all the time, I don't need to do it infrequently to really enjoy it.

So why don't I do more things that I love more frequently? Because changing the priorities of someone's life is hard. Especially when you're life directly impacts another's.

I suppose it's all part of the life you decide to live. I could sell my truck, downsize houses, give up a lot of material possessions and spend nearly all my time doing what I truly love. The choice is mine. Why is it so hard to let go of the status quo? Because change is scary. And hard.

Congrats to those who've incorporated their passions into their livelihood. I'm not talking about extreme cases like professional athletes, either. I'm talking about the guy who loves woodworking and decides to quit his job and give it a go. Or the person who loves baking and opens a bakery. I have so much respect for those people, the ones who've decided to go all in and create a life where they can do what they love and make a living at it.

I'm not going to quit my job and spend all my time doing only the things that bring me joy. That wouldn't make sense at the moment.

What I am going to do is make it a priority to spend as much of my non-working time doing the things that I love. If that means sneaking in a small ride in after work, working out, doing something cool with my wife, or hanging out with friends then I'm going to do my best to make it happen.

As you were.