Today I acknowledge that summer may be coming. The forecast is for temps in the 80's and possibly low 90's this week so I took off the electric blanket.

Block party-part II
Around 9:30 someone decided to shoot fireworks, the jumping castle is going strong, the adult soccer game has ended due to numerous injuries, and there is a blazing portable fire pit in the middle of the street. Hoping someone was doing smores in the fire, I returned to the party. I helped pick up trash (there was a lot) and then grabbed a chair and sat around the fire with a dozen other people. If I were writing a book about my 'hood', I could claim I was doing research but I just listened as parties past were reminisced fondly and not so fondly reminisced. A group of fathers was near by evaluating girls soccer talent and who should be on what level of team. I avoided that group. Finally at midnight the music was finally off, the fire pit was coals, and I was tired so I headed back home for good.
This morning a small group was again picking up trash, hosing down the street, a few consuming Bloody Marys, and trying to decide where to go for breakfast burritos. The guy who rented the jumping castle was there to pick it up. I had just had my bowl of cereal so I came home.
I guess just your typical morning after.

Today was the cul-de-sac's annual Memorial Day carry-in supper. It started about 4:00. When you see tents in the middle of the street and a ball game going at the end of the street, you know it's a real family thing. When a guy pulls up in a pick-up and starts pumping up an inflatable jumping castle, you know this is the golden ghetto. Opposite the tents on the sidewalk are four grills and twice as many beer coolers; you know this isn't a senior citizen gathering. It was bring your own drinks and meat for the grill which of course meant a good sized cooler for both of these. I think there are eleven house on our cul-de-sac but there had to be well over fifty adults there. Even the people who sold us their house came back. With kids at one end of the street playing baseball and soccer and the inflated jumping castle at the other end there was some serious imbibing going on in the middle. There were salads, hors d'oeuvres, chips and dip, plus the usual picnic desserts. Keri brought the twins over and they were a big hit. The twins saw things they've never seen before including a few dogs. After the lengthy cocktail hour someone finally threw some meat on the barbee and we began to get serious about eating. After dinner the adults divided up between men and women and the stories began. There was more laughing coming from the male circle so one can imagine the stories. Finally the male adults decided to play a soccer game while their wives stood by the side calculating which of their husbands would get hurt first.
As I write this at 8:45, things are still going strong. The adult soccer game has gone coed, the jumpers at the castle are still jumping and there are some serious discussions near the beer coolers.
With most of the adult attendees in their late 30's and early 40's-oh, to be 25 years younger.
Just another Sunday in the hood.

Maybe you can't take it with you but others will still try to get it out of you. When my mother passed away in March, as her executor my address became her address in order to take care of any business transactions. I don't know who sold her new(?) address to companies but we keep getting solicitations from charities as well as credit card applications. She even got return address stickers from the Paralyzed Veterans. One of the few times mother ever complained was when she kept getting so many letters asking for donations. Well, it didn't stop when she died.

It's approximately five miles from our house to my fitness center or the fat farm as I refer to it. The drive is always interesting. Nine days ago I was stopped at an intersection in the north-bound lane. It's a six-way light with left turn signals. I was stopped and some clown in a pick-up sped up, ran a red light and broadsided some poor woman going east. She was in the right but she also was broadsided. I don't pull out too fast from intersections since moving to Colorado. This morning a guy went speeding by me in a Prius. I was at the speed limit so he obviously wasn't. His car sports a license plate supporting alternative energy (we have more varieties of license plates in Colorado. I don't believe we have a 'Red Angus' license plate but since we already have Denver Bronco license plates, we will also have Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche plates next year. Not to be outdone the Colorado Rockies are also shooting for their own license plate-but I digress.) The Prius owner also had a "fuzz buster" on his dash.
I have seen a balloonist almost land on C470 (a four lane highway), the traffic lights go out at C470 and highway 121 (also four lanes), and I always wonder what will be next. Working out relieves the stress of just getting to the fitness center.

Tuesday two of my former Casper neighbors, Dave and Brad, met me for an afternoon Rockies game at Coors Field. After parking I decided to hit a place called Jackson's, which is right across the street from Coors Field. I had a hunch I would find them there and sure enough I did. We had lunch and some of the beer specials so by the first pitch, they in a great mood. Things got a little obnoxious and the two ladies seated in front of us lasted ten minutes and then moved. The game wasn't going well for the Rockies in the early innings so the stories got wilder. It started to rain so we moved higher and then the Rockies came back to take the lead in the eighth and eventually win the game so interest in the game took the place of raucous stories. The crowd was announced in the paper as 41,000 fans in attendance which means Coors Field must hold 80,000 people as I don't believe it was half full. It was good to see former neighbors and know that nothing has changed.
I'm now 3-0 when I see the Rockies in person. They should give me free tickets.

Sunday, May 15-Twin Cities:
It's a lazy day. The sun is out. I walk to a near-by store to get a Sunday paper and bring it back. The son reads the paper on his computer.
Kelsey is involved with their church quite a bit of the day so David and I decide to go to the Twins game hoping for a better result than yesterday. We stop at a 'JimmyJohns'. I had never eaten at one although I've seen them advertised on TV. Best sandwich I've had in a long time.
We purchased box tickets 7 or 8 rows behind the Twins dugout. We bought them at half price on the street. Great seats and it's warm most of the game. The results are worse than Saturday. The Twins are out of it by the 5th inning. After their loading the bases with no outs and failing to score in the seventh, the people in the outfield stands begin throwing napkins and other garbage onto the outfield. The grounds crew have to go out to collect the trash. Even the most typically stoic Minnesotan begins to get a little testy after watching his/her inept team. Some fans just leave. We stay to the end.
David grills hamburgers for the two of us as Kelsey is still at church. Great burgers.
Kelsey gets home later and shows me the latest ultrasound pictures of our future granddaughter who is due in August. That's exciting to see. Everything is going well and Kelsey is feeling fine so things are looking good. I go to bed early as I have to get up to go the airport for a morning flight.

Monday, May 16th Twin Cities and Denver:
D & K live fairly close to the airport. The most exciting part of the ride is watching a lady driver apply her make-up on her way to wherever she's going. Security is somewhat confusing as no one gives any info until the last minute and people are scrambling to comply with little known regulations.
We arrive in Denver 15 minutes early unfortunately our gate isn't ready for 30 minutes so we wait on the tarmac. Oh, well.

Saturday, May 14th-Twin Cities:
D, K, and I eat a quick breakfast at a bakery. Kelsey, a therapist, has booked two clients for this morning so after dropping her at her office, David and I head for a couple of big box electrical and home improvement stores. My problem with this places is I see so many things I covet but I really don't need. I would have trouble getting my wish list on the plane anyway.
It's been raining all morning. At home we layer up for the cold. I go with four layers. When I told David to buy tickets, I told him to get them out of the sun if possible. With the rain we are sheltered and stay dry from the overhang-just lucky. The game goes 11 innings and then the Twins fall apart and get beat by six runs. I buy a T-shirt as a souvenir.
Saturday evening we visit, watch a movie, and then I head to bed.

My trip to the Twin Cities to visit son David and d-i-l Kelsey:
Day 1-Friday the 13th:
As I drive from our turnoff onto highway 121, I pass a car in which the driver is crouched very low in the seat. When I pass, I can see that SHE is combing her bangs and has the mirror adjusting accordingly and is slouched in the seat. Ten seconds later I pass a second car in which the lady is dipping a tea bag into a small thermos. I've got to quit watching other drivers or I'll drive off the side of the road. The worst part of flying is getting to the airport.
I arrive in the Twin Cities on time. David picks me up, we stop for a bottle of wine for a party this evening and finally stop at a grocery store to pick up snacks because the party could start late (it does).
When I arrive at their house, the first thing I do is feed Stooey; the dachshund, who is very suspicious of strangers to put it mildly. He is kinder to the hand that feeds him so we repeat the routine daily and Stooey and I get along pretty well.
The party consists of D and K-aged friends. I'm the oldest person there but with so many young mothers and pregnant wives, as a full-time child care provider, I find I have street cred.
A few older folks do show up, the food and liquor is pretty good, and we all enjoy ourselves. That's just the weekend warm-up.
More tomorrow.

Seen on the back of a T-shirt at the fitness center this morning and dedicated to my teacher friends:

"The beatings will continue until morale improves."

On the back of a T-shirt seen at the Mets-Rockies game last night:

"If God had wanted man to play soccer,
He wouldn't have given us arms."

Mike Ditka, former NFL tight end and later NFL coach

Rockies-2, Mets 1
I am now 2-0 when I watch the Rox in person.

Bumper sticker seen this morning

"Jesus is coming-
Hide your porn"

This reflects the image of hypocrisy that I have of not all but certain conservative religions.

Sarah Palin was speaking in Denver the Monday after the death of Osama bin Laden was announced. She gave full credit to former President George W. Bush for the planning and carrying out the mission.

No wonder democrats pray for a Donald Trump-Sarah Palin republican ticket.

Today would have been my mother's 95th birthday but she passed away in March. I always called her if May 3rd was during the week and I always visited her the following weekend-weather permitting. Casper always hosted a big track meet that Saturday but the meet director knew I wouldn't be home that day. The only exceptions were when the kids played soccer.
When she died, she was in a lot of pain but fortunately went quickly. Her future wasn't bright but she was optimistic about recovery-more so than me. I wouldn't wish her back but I still have the urge to pick up the phone to call mom or to send her photos of the grandtwins.

Went to the Rockies-Pirates game at Coors Field last night dressed in two ski jackets and long johns. I wore my Rockies cap rather than a ski cap-big mistake.
It was in the high 40's at the 6:10 game start. The wind came up from the north and the temp went down from there.
First a group of five young ladies sat a few rows in front-one wearing a sleeveless T-shirt (over her winter coat, of course) with Eliza-Bitchin' Bride-Last Chance. I wondered what "last chance" could mean. Maybe I should have asked........Naaaaa. There was an elderly guy with a Rockies jersey seated the front row of our section. He had the name "Banner Jack" on the back. Every time they introduced a Rockies player, B' Jack would hold up a sign with the player's name and number and encourage fans to cheer for the player. That went OK for the first couple innings but the fans got tired of it. B' Jack got frustrated but didn't give up. A couple of innings later B' Jack announced as he was leaving the section but he would be right back. No one seemed to care but Jack. You know how old guys and their bladder are. People like this give us seniors a bad rep.
Just when I thought I had see almost everything, a vendor came by with a backpack that dispensed Margaritas-$7 (the guy in front of me had two). Later that guy talked a friend into going with him to the front of the section to encourage our section to do the "wave" (the most useless thing in sports). Through the intervention of a "higher being" it failed. Later another section started the "wave" and it succeeded. The "higher being" must have been at the concession stand.
After freezing for seven and a half innings, I left to beat the traffic. That succeeded and I made great time coming home until I hit a snow storm at the west end of the Denver Metro but the roads were fairly dry and I got home with no problems.
BTW-the Rockies won 4-1. Great night for baseball.