The 14er Club...

Last Summer I hiked only one mountain... Longs Peak. A formidable peak, a deadly peak. My hiking partner and I made the keyhole but decided that today was not a good day to die. So we headed back down the mountain.

Reflections on this almost a year later:
~ I was out of shape mentally and physically
~ I did not train properly
~ I hiked for all the wrong reasons
~ I sabotaged myself

That being said, this summer I have formed a loose group of men whom I'd like to hike with so that I can develop some healthy male relationships and build solid life long friendships.

My goals for the summer:
~hike these 16 peaks
~develop my hiking/climbing skills
~ get healthy / lose inches and build muscle
~ finish what I start

My very ambitious schedule is as follows:

Bierstadt / Evans Group
Grays and Torreys
Longs
Pikes
Elbert
Massive
Quandry
The Lincoln Group ( 4 peaks in one day, Lincoln, Democrat, Bross and Cameron)
Princeton
Sherman
and possibly Culebra / Sand Dunes

16 peaks in 11 weeks is pretty ambitious... but I would rather fail in the attempt than to not attempt at all!

See you on the mountain!

My new addiction... Sort of

I have two new addictions... one is new, one is seasonal.

I Love Bosphorous Cymbals. They are amazing, they are freaking awesome, they are... way out of my budget. They are 3 to 4 times more expensive than 2 other brands I am looking at, Zildjian and Dream. They are a worthy cymbal and goal to strive for.

And the second? Yes, my mid section is showing it and not helped by my seasonal addiction to STARBUCKS. Ohhhhhh, the Peppermint Mocha Twist... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Here's happy hunting and drinking.

New Drum Kit Shopping...

It's been years since I have thought about a new kit, exactly 13 years, give or take a month or so. For the past 8 years I have had access to drum kits through other venues, friends, etc. But now, I am in the midst of needing a kit for giging and going back to school. My gig playing is ever increasing and so is the need to get a kit.

It's an exciting prospect because this will probably be the first kit I have ever truly paid for myself. Now I put money into kits that my dad bought for me as a teenager but i have never purchased my own kit out right. I have the chance to truly design a kit for me and that has me buzzing.

There are other things though to ponder and plan for such as bills and things but a kit is within reach. So, I have been shopping.

I am leaning towards a Gretsch Catalina Jazz Combo, Catalina Ash, Catalina Maple or a Yamaha Gig and Go. I also have an offer from a friend for an Oak custom by Yamaha. Pretty exciting stuff.

Then there is hardware, most likely Gibraltar or Pacific (DW) Hardware and then Cymbals. I like the ability to customize your sound with Zildjian, but I am interested in a couple other cymbal companies that are out there. One is Dream, the others are Bosphorous and Istanbul. I really like the feel of Dream but I am really digging the sound of Bosphorous. As always, affordability will trump everything, but i can dream and plan for the future.

So, pray for me.

Keep the beat...

Lessons of Fatherhood

I made a promise to my son to fix his bike. So today, instead of using some free time selfishly for my own laziness, I broke his bike out and started work. IT's been years since I worked on a bike so I was a bit... ruffled. It's a Huffy special from Wally World, easy enough right?

It proved challenging at first. But after some surfing of the web and plain old stubbornness not to let my eldest down, I was able to get his crank off and the bearings out. The whole crank was apparently put together incorrectly. I found this very rewarding as I fixed this bike for my Mijo. (little man) I got the crank put back together correctly and the bike reassembled and everything works beautifully!

There is something to serving your family that is so rewarding. These are the times to soak up. They are young only once and I want to soak up and experience as much of their life as I can. I can't tell you why a promise kept was so wonderful but it was. I like being a man for my boys.

I see too many men who think being a dad is about bringing home the bread, my father included. But they are missing out on so much. My boys, especially my eldest, bless me daily, and humble me.

Here is a break down of my weekend:

Friday night:
experienced play with my boys in Mrs. J's room as my wife taught our guard. Witnessed my boys play together outside as brothers should, joyfully, lovingly, energetically, passionately. Watched all day long my eldest Love on his baby brother. Continued to hear my eldest grow up as he talked to me about his day. Listen to my eldest pray so simply but lovingly and thankfully. Read and laughed with my eldest about Oscar the Grouch. Rescued a dreaming middle son from his screams of desperation. Snuggled.

Saturday:
Hiked up Castle Rock with our eldest going solo from Mommy and Daddy. Was humbled as he, only 3.5 yrs, stopped to help his mommy up a rock. Was bewildered by lizards, 4 to be exact. Got excited about the Thomas we saw from the summit of The Rock with my 2 eldest boys. Remembered why boys love sticks. Enjoyed an autumn afternoon at the playground learning about dinosaurs on the playground equipment. Discovered our eldest is wise and loves "Stawbry" ice cream because it has real "Starwbreez" in it. Held my eldest sweet hand. was amazed at how a 22 month old and 3 year old's memories are, "McDonalds tonight, right Daddy?" Got excited about Batman toys in our Happy Meal, eldest wet our bed.

Sunday:
Fixed a bike for someone very important to me. Heard about fishes and a new toy Triceratops you can ride. Heard about Spike the Dinosaur, AGAIN! :) Watched a 3 year old figure out that after he peed on the toilet and the bathroom floor to get out cleanser and clean up his own mess, Snuggled with a little furnace during nap time. Found out how much the boys like Nachos. Enjoyed Oscar and Peter Pan. Wrestled, tickled, snuggled. Felt loved!

I take being a father very seriously. I have a choice to make to learn from the mistakes of others and to change the history of our family. I do it very joyously, passionately, humble. I am blessed to be a dad and to me it is the single most important task I have as a man next to being an Ephesian 5 husband. I am blessed and thankful for every day i learn lessons of Fatherhood.

I have uncovered the Holy of Holies...

Ever wondered how to keep your 2 liters from going flat? Well, if you think about it, the answer has been right in front of us. 

At most restaurants the soda is stored room temperature. It is never flat, well, almost never. So, how do they do it? Well like I said, they keep it at room temperature, and they mix it at the source. Well, how does that help us?

Simply, try storing your soda on your counter even after you open it and i bet you it does not go flat, for weeks. I have tried this now with my favorite, Mountain Dew and it's fake cousin (King Soopers brand) and it works.

So, try it and see what happens. It will make it worth actually buying 2 liters!

Remembrance...

I am sure there will be a gazillion postings on 9/11 today and they will come from every side so I will be brief.

I will remember for the rest of my days:

the horrible acts of hatred perpetrated upon the peoples of this country that fateful day 7 years gone.

I will remember where I was.

I will remember that on 9/11 I finally saw for myself that Evil is alive and well and that it does exist and will always exist.

I will remember my helplessness.

I will remember that this was not an act of God but of evil men.

I will remember the victims and their families.

I will remember the 1st responders and their families.

I will remember and honor the peoples of N.Y. City.

I will remember the heroes.

I will remember a day without partisan politics.

I will remember that for a brief time we were United.

I will remember the men and women who answered the call to arms.

I will... Remember.

Rain

Today in the Front Range we have been blessed with non-stop rain and temps in the 60's. We have desperately needed the storms we have had especially today. I will sleep a lot better knowing that fire danger is down.

I was awoken today by a tremendous lightening strike that sent echoes through our valley. I was thankful because it allowed me to go snuggle with my middle, Donut. He tried to get up but I persuaded him to stay with me. Several lightening strikes looked (apparently since I was sleeping) like they were right outside the window.

There is a peace, even with lightening, that I experience when it rains. I love the smell that comes with rain and I definitely love overcast days. They make me want to curl up and sleep and snuggle and eat, you guessed it, Rocky Road Ice Cream.

I hope that tomorrow is overcast. I look forward and anticipate the arrival of tomorrow.

Blessings!