Change in the weather:
First it hailed, then it rained, and finally it snowed today. It's the most moisture since the Noah kid went into the Ark building business-just kidding, it's the most/only moisture we've had in a month with temps in the 70's. Can we say draught? Maybe this will put an end to all the forest and grass fires we had lately.

Today is Sunday. Some people spend Sundays reading "The Good Book." Me-I just read a good book. I'm now reading "61 Hours" by Lee Child. The main character is Jack Reacher, who is one of my three favorite fictional characters. Jack is a roamer who seems to find a mystery to be solved. This setting in this novel is South Dakota. As I used to drive across SoDak, I never thought it would ever be a setting for a mystery. Wrong-the setting blends into the plot very well. There are 14 books in paperback in this series which I have read each of them and one that just came out in hardback but I buy only paperbacks.
I now have 14 other books at home to read when I finish this one. Reading is one of my favorite interests. I also like reading newspapers. I can't understand people who get their news from phones. We get the Denver Post and used to get USA Today in Casper but gave it up when we moved. We just don't have time for two newspapers. I also read magazines while I have a book going. I subscribe to TIME and Sports Illustrated and get a few from some memberships. I especially like the Colorado AAA magazine.
I don't know if I would do well in a book club. I prefer trashy mysteries with no social redeeming qualities to cloud my mind.

Around 9:00 this morning I was driving to the fitness center to work out. As I was driving north I saw two balloons taking off. We live across from Chatfield State Park and a lot of balloonist launch from there. One was OK but the other seemed to be in a distress mode. It finally landed but where it landed was the interesting part-about 50 yards south of C470, which is the major belt road around the western and southern parts of the Denver Metro area.
When I came back over an hour later, I didn't see the balloon on the ground. Since the drift was a very light breeze to the north, the relaunch would have been an exciting rise over a freeway. I can imagine a sleepy driver encountering a balloon in his face (Whoa, dude! What was that?). The second launch is strictly my imagination but given what I had seen early, either the second launch was scratched or a different excitement was put back into four-lane highway driving.
I've seen balloons come down in our residential area. One almost landed in a pond one time. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

Tuesday elections: I was kinda happy with Colorado voters. They rejected a couple of Tea Party crazies for governor and US Senate and also voted down-usually by a three to one margin-a half dozen of the most ridiculous initiatives. The Republicans did gain a couple of seats in the US Congress and that was expected but they were hoping for a couple more. I guess we are neither a "Red State" nor a "Blue State" but we are a purple state.

Background: I attended the Air Force-Utah football game at the academy last Saturday. I had a great view of the scoreboard. I noticed the scoreboard sponsors included the usual:beer, bank, fast food, etc. Last week I posted a bumper sticker about better funding for education and the military having to raise funds for new armaments. Here is what came from that thought.

How about Budweiser who spends billions on advertising sponsoring an aircraft carrier. Can you imagine how happy the pilots would be when they landed and thought about a cool Bud waiting for them. It might even take their minds off the bullet holes. Coors could sponsor a couple of battle ships. They wouldn't be sailing on Rocky Mountain Spring Water but it's water nonetheless. Maybe GM and Ford would sponsor some Humvees and tanks. All the Arabs in the Mideast would create a new market for Lincolns and Caddys. I don't think liquor sponsors would go over well with certain area religions but cars, Remington rifles, paint, plants, and certain clothing lines may go over. Imagine a gum sponsor for bazookas. With the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy, I don't think Dairy Queen would go over well with the services. Just an idea to help balance the budget.

Today is election day. I have had nightmares that I will wake up tomorrow and find that extremists at both ends of the political spectrum will get elected and Congress will waste two years just fighting and accomplishing nothing.

Yesterday was our first Halloween in our new neighborhood. Didn't know what to expect in the number of kids, etc. The neighbors gave me a rough estimate and I bought treats accordingly. Kathy helped Keri at her place so it was up to me to man the home handouts. This is a big responsibility considering we were averaging about six to ten kids in Casper. Our neighborhood kids all grew up, left home, and many now have kids of their own. Our first client arrived about 6:15 and then for the next hour it was big business. I think the neighbors organize so the kids can all go together and for a second reason. Each group had a wagon pulled by a father. It wasn't to haul little kids or candy. No, it was to haul the beer which each father had in hand as he led his troops to the houses. One mother told me it was a neighborhood tradition. By the time the kids had gone up and down the two cul de sacs and hits a couple more streets, they had a pretty good stash. One real little kid would get a treat at one house and then trade it at the next house for another treat. The kids and parents were so nice and polite. I didn't see any vandalism when I drove to Eric and Keri's around six this morning. There were a lot of pumpkins and Halloween decorations which could have been destroyed. Our neighbors said they had around 80 kids the year before and that's about what we had last night. We turned off the front light around 8:15.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR in yesterday's Denver Post:
"Like most people, I am sick of the disgusting political attacks on TV. I can't wait until the election is over, so that we can get back to the wholesome tasteful ads for fungus infection and hemorrhoid cures."
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