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Yikes - it's been over a month and a half since my last entry! As usual work is largely to blame for this. Since I don't own a computer (and will continue for a while) I must do my personal computer after work hours. Since I stay a bit late every day to finish up work things, I'm pretty burned out to do emailing or blogging.

I have today off and am at Darcy's library. I worked there my first year living in Florida (August 2000 to August 2001). A nice little library - I guess it's not little as it's one of those "joint-use" libraries. I think I'm getting tired of hearing and saying that word! Darcy and I will have lunch and then I'll go home and work out. Yesterday I walked my regular mile on the treadmill at a steep incline. I seemed really out of shape and was drenched in sweat after I was done. My time was just under 15 minutes that is normal. But I did the same thing in Denver and hardly broke a sweat and was not as tired. The only difference there was that my lungs burned more. More about Denver in a bit.

Exciting news today is that the Edmonton Eskimos won the Grey Cup yesterday! Sounded like a thrilling game and I wished I had been home to watch it. I think that I miss the CFL more than the NHL. The former has deep Canadian roots and has not been tainted with escalating salaries, player arbitrations, over abundance of marketing, etc. The NHL has, unfortunately, become Americanized over the last fifteen years. The lastest, I think, edition of Macleans magazine has a cover story about the possible demise of Canada's few remaining NHL franchises. With the exception of Toronto, all may die. Wayne Gretky was the highest paid player in 1987 with a salary of 1 million dollars. I forget the player the article compared but it was some Joe average guy that only had 32 points last season and earned 9 million! What a fiasco. I realize that players were screwed around for decades by the greedy owners and now the tables are reversed but things have to change. I predict there will be a long lock out/strike at the end of this season. I'm not sure what will happen but part of me of me will not be sad. I'll get off my soapbox now...

I was in Denver, CO from November 1 to 9 visiting my brother and sister-in-law. A very therapeutic trip as I hadn't seen Craig in three years and three months. They live in a nice area (Highlands Ranch) south of Denver and both are taking classes. Craig will earn a Bachelor's degree and Malini just started a Master's in Education program. She is an elementary school teacher and I spent one day at her school. I was very impressed with her artististic talents and her teaching. I read the book Where the Wild Things Are to four different classes.

Craig was very busy managing his four sunglass boutique stores. He had many personnel issues to deal with and running from store to store. I admired his strong work ethic - he's worked hard in the retail industry to get this far. We saw The Matrix Revolutions but was only so-so. The ending was left wide open for a fourth installment. Trilogy my ass! Why do so many movies insist on leaving the back door open for sequels?

I spent time at two malls where Craig works (Cherry Creek and Flatiron). The latter had a nice outdoor area with stores and walking areas. It seemed festive with the holidays approaching. Denver is flat like Edmonton with no foothills like Calgary. But it's much closer to the mountains and only about 90 miles from the continental divide. Loveland Pass was at the divide and had an elevation of 11,158 feet. I think that's the highest I've ever been on land. Although I climbed a mountain (not very rocky though and no climbing equipment needed) in Santa Fe in 1999. That city's elevation (about 7,000 feet)is higher than Denver's and the mountain must have been close to 5,000 feet.

Anyway we spent Friday night (Nov. 7) in the resort town of Glenwood Springs. Reminded me a bit of Banff but not as big or quite as picturesque. We went in the natural hotsprings and it soothed my aching muscles. Craig and I put in a full workout that morning! We also had to go to the Jefferson County Courthouse to clear Malini's traffic violation. It was an immense building that looked like a smaller verson of Congress. The monstrosity was perched up on a hill. Too bad the county website doesn't have a photo. We found the courtroom where Malini had to go "People of Colorado vs. Mailini Shires". Seventy-seven people were scheduled at 1:15 pm to go through this so-called speedy court. I'd say about fifty showed up. We had to sit in these uncomfortable wooden church pew benches. With the money spent on that new building you'd think they could make seating arrangements for the guilty somewhat comfortable.

Another day I visited the state capitol building and public library. Both were very impressive. They were in the heart of downtown and it reminded me of Edmonton. I was surpised to note that the main branch was closed on Wednesdays and closed at 5:30 on Thursdays and Fridays. Budget cuts are likely culprits.

The city had an outdoorsy feel with many cars being four wheel, two wheel or all wheel drive Subarus. Many vehicles had ski racks. I'd love to live there but unfortunately there aren't many jobs there. Craig and Mailini said that they may visit me next summer. That's the best time for them to both take a vacation. I warned them about the oppressive heat and humidity though!

I FINALLY finished the book Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. Very good book. I'm still editing my article and want to submit it before U.S. Thanksgiving. I guess I've rambled on long enough. Hopefully I'll be able to blog again soon...
posted by Michael at 11:07 AM