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.