Tragedy

A Grand Junction man and woman are dead, and another woman remained in the hospital late Saturday after a man shot them outside a north Grand Junction home Saturday morning. The suspected gunman also was in the hospital Saturday night after concluding a police chase by shooting himself in the head.

Grand Junction dentist Terry Fine, 61, and retired School District 51 teacher Flo Gallagher, 60, died from injuries they sustained after being shot in the Fines’ driveway at 2631 Chestnut Drive, according to the Grand Junction Police Department.

Terry Fine and his wife, Linda, were being picked up by Flo and Mike Gallagher to go on vacation together when they were approached by a man who shot them in the driveway at 8:30 a.m., police said.

There are so many things that are sad about this story. Terry was my parents dentist, I wanted to go see him, but was told he was retiring. Imagine, planning the rest of your life after years of working, and having it cut short just like that. Worse yet, yesterday was a beautiful Saturday morning, I was walking with Callie over to my parents house really enjoying the morning. Imagine, you wake up, getting ready for a vacation (they were apparently going to Las Vegas for the weekend), looking forward to it, walking out in your driveway and getting cut down. A jogger and good Samaritan were also shot. Imagine going along for your morning jog, planning the day ahead and getting shot because you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The good Samaritan is Harry Griff, an attorney in town, he was working on his swamp cooler. Imagine just living your life, and in a second it changes. I lived in this neighborhood for a time when I came back from New Mexico. It is quiet and neighborly. Everyone knows everyone and gets along. We haven't heard anything about the shooter, but my best guess, is it was random. That makes it an enormous tragedy.

Lessons I learned from my dog

Everyone who has a dog does this. We all have great lessons to learn from our furry four-legged fruppies.

EVERYTHING is a playtoy.

Don't go into anything with expectations, you'll have more fun and never be disappointed.

When you don't get what you want, do something really cute till they cave to your will.

Hanging out in the bathtub is A-okay!

Don't worry about making mistakes, there is always opportunity to try again until you get it right...and there is usually a great treat at the end!

When you get tangled up in a big mess, stop moving. Someone will help you get untangled.

Don't let a little rain keep you inside.

If the rain does keep you inside remember your choices: a good nap, a movie and popcorn, teasing the cat, a warm bath and a nice treat after, digging in the toy box, or just hanging out doing nothing.

Don't mess with the cat, they usually start it, but you end up getting in trouble.

And the most important thing I learned from my dog: Trust your Mom, you may not agree with her, but she only has your best interest and safety at heart.

Emerson Park

Grand Junction Police are investigating the death of a woman in her 30s who was found on a bench in Emerson Park at about 5 a.m. this morning.

Police were notified of the woman’s body after someone at the park flagged down a Mesa County Sheriff’s deputy passing by in a vehicle, according to the Grand Junction Police Department.

Investigators so far have not found any evidence of foul play, police said.

The woman’s identity will be released after an investigation by the Mesa County Coroner’s Office.

Emerson Park is "the" hangout for alcoholics and drug addicts. I helped a friend fill out paperwork to divorce her addict husband...word is he's spending his days in this park.

All I can say is that I am completely grateful to the people who brought me back from the hopeless abyss of addiction. This could have been me.

Blog Surfing

I stole this picture from another blog. I hope the blog author doesn't mind...I just love pigs! I have become quite the blog surfer. It has been interesting to click on my blog and then go see what else is out there. It's very easy to do, and I like seeing what people are up to in this world. It has become my morning thing. Wake up, have coffee, write, go to a meeting, walk Callie, have breakfast, and while having breakfast I surf. I do read the news, but find it depressing and boring at the same time. Blogs are interesting. There are some impressive writers out there. Much better than I can ever hope to be.

I remember a woman from Google did an interview somewhere and said that blogging is a great way to keep up with family and friends. That is true for me. I see Scott and Mick everyday, but they don't get to see Callie all the time. My blog is a great way to keep them up to date on her progress, especially since they so graciously let me adopt her. Scott said he's finding creating his own blog pretty fun. My friend Suzy in Michigan follows my blog and I follow both of hers. I am interested in the studies she is doing on herbalism and raw foods. I don't know if I'll ever jump into the raw food pool, but it may become more integrated in my diet as I continue to get more healthy and learn more about diet in helping me stay sober. There is also a blog I found the other day called "The Inner Text". Who ever this person is, they are a truly gifted writer and very provocative. I will continue to follow that one. I like reading about other people's lives. There are several I read who are documenting their journey through sobriety, as well as other opportunities for growth and learning. Not to sound like a voyeur, because I'm not, but in this chaotic, financially troubled world, I like to hear about normal people, read about the events that shape their lives, learn what interests them, and expand my world in my own little way. I have a lot of contact with people when I'm at work, but there are very few of them that I am able to get to know on an intimate basis. Those that I do know well are so valuable to me on so many levels. I guess as an aspiring wannabe writer I wonder what makes people tick, what they think, if they think, and what is their motivation in this life.

Three things my father told me

Most of my writing practice comes from prompts. I like working with them as they tend to be provocative and somewhat frighteningly insightful to me. Much of my writing practice happens elsewhere from here; the ones I post are a simple decision to type my writing practice rather than write it, and this is as good a place as any to store it.

Three things my father (my dad, as they are two different people in my world). One, don't smoke...I did. Two, take your time in relationships, spend time getting to know people and explore who they are before diving in head first...I have never done that and have paid the price...so the most important thing he told me: Three, there are consequences for your actions...YES THERE ARE! I had to learn that one the hard way. I am incredibly stubborn, willful, selfish and pigheaded. The consequences for my actions have matched my behavior appropriately. What I have learned relatively late in life is that I do not have to react to anything. It doesn't mean I don't, it means I'm aware I don't have too. I have the capacity, the tools, the insightfulness of life's lessons learned to understand that no action can often be better than the wrong action. I know that if I make the wrong decision I then have to clean up the mess I make as a result of my behavior. That is not only something that my father told me, it is something that I take to heart and carry with me wherever I go...all because I am a sober alcoholic who now pays attention. The thing I tell myself everyday...there is absolutely nothing or no one worth drinking over.

Colorado's First Winter Storm 2008

I copied this picture from the Denver Post. Colorado is receiving its first winter storm this morning in mountains above 9,000 feet. Farmer's Almanac says it is to be a harsh winter in "these here United States". Fortunately, I have a space heater, a down blanket, warm clothes, and most importantly, a dog! With gas prices reaching new heights this year, I am turning back to electricity and many layers. As my friend Larry says, "this is going to be a five layer winter!"

2nd visit to the Mesa

I went up to the Mesa again today. It really is great having such beauty a half hour away. A friend wanted to see it, so off we went with Callie again. I also knew the colors I saw last week were not the end, only the beginning. The colors today were much more brilliant than last week, possibly because the reds are starting to show. My parents are going up this weekend to ride horses and I expect they will be in awe wherever they go. Callie did great as usual and I checked out more of Crag Crest, which is "the dog hike". I would like to hike the entire loop, but it is an eight hour hike so I need to start earlier and take someone with me who does these lengthy deals. Most likely my Mom. We have done some challenging hikes in our past and do them well together. I maintain that you have to hike to see this beauty, it can't been enjoyed thoroughly from the road.