What a beautiful day for a hike

Pretty day today.  Middle school kids were up for a field trip.  It only dampened the serenity of it a little bit.  No matter what, the frup had a great time and I loved listening to the water sounds and the birds.

Summer may get here yet

Summer has been a long time coming to the valley.  I know it isn't officially until June 21st, but it's been downright cold here. We're in the Banana Belt of Colorado for God's sake!  Mom and Dad went to Beaver Creek this week and wandered into nine inches of snow!  It's been great hiking weather (cool is good to work up a sweat), except I haven't taken my camera on any adventures lately.  I need to do that next week and get some shots of the water before it's gone.  There is a lot of water in the canyons this year.  Callie is thrilled!  I'm still looking at a summer trip, but plans may change again.  I may do Kanab, Utah and then Chico, CA.  I just got word my friend in London may join me.  We've been pen pals for almost fourteen years and have never met!  It would be great to get to know him in real life instead of just over the web, but no matter, he's been one of my best friends through all the turmoil and trauma and now the good times too!  Amazing how life works when you work with it instead of against it.  The serenity prayer is right...Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Whether there is a God or not, there is a rhythm to life that calls for us to pay attention.  Lost in addiction, we pay attention to nothing that works and systematically fight the world and all it has to offer.  Sober, we live life on life's terms and accept the natural ups and downs and forge ahead.  No matter the judgement of others, I am grateful for this second chance that I've been given to do the right things and live the life I want to live, consciously, lovingly and completely.  With all of the bad in the world, and the cold harshness that others choose to focus on, I am grateful for all that has been given to me, and all that I have, and I am sober to enjoy every second, every minute, and every day.  

Thank goodness

Colorado shoppers are much less likely to find beer, wine and liquor on supermarket shelves after a House committee on Wednesday killed a bill to expand alcohol sales and the prospects dimmed for two similarly aimed ballot initiatives.

It was the third time in as many years that a coalition of convenience stores, supermarkets and consumer advocates has been thwarted in the legislature.

House Bill 1279 would have allowed a supermarket to buy the license of a neighboring liquor store from its owners in the industry's most creative attempt yet to secure the beverages for their stores.

I, for one, am okay with this bill failing.  I lived in New Mexico for way too long and all I found was the ease of getting alcohol fueled my drinking.  I chase career drunks out of my store everyday, and I know we all get tired of dealing with the same drunk, different day.  I don't want to deal with hard liquor sales, 3.2 beer is reminder enough of why I no longer drink.

Today is a milestone day

Today I close escrow on a town home for Callie, Abbie, Nicholas and me.  It is a big day and one certainly filled with mixed emotions.  I never believed I deserved anything good in my life and I set out to prove it. Boy, did I prove it, and then some.  Lost in the abyss of addiction and one bad choice after another because I couldn't stop drinking.  I wouldn't stop drinking.  I drove, systematically, everything and everyone I loved out of my life, some for good.  Three short years ago, I was standing at the crossroads the big book talks about and was literally looking at the choice of life or death.  Frankly, I was leaning towards death.  Somehow, something bigger than me pulled me from that deep, dark hole and saved my life.  I will be three years sober in July, and I am a grateful recovering alcoholic.  There are those that believe because of the choices I made while drinking, I don't deserve anything good in this life now or ever.  I question it sometimes to be sure.  I still don't think sometimes I deserve anything good.  The thing that comes to mind in this now sober head, is that I deserve what I work for.  When I was drinking, I didn't work at anything but drinking, so the results were what you'd expect.  For the last three years I have worked hard at my sobriety, a job, creating balance in my life and keeping my priorities straight.  I think I have succeeded in almost all areas because I know sobriety is my number one priority above absolutely everything else.  To those I loved and lost because of my choices then, I wish you well.  No matter what, I hope you find what you are looking for and that it brings you happiness and serenity.  I never thought I would walk this world without a partner, but I know now this path is mine to walk alone and  I believe that with my continued sobriety and the power of program, all will be well.

More hiking pictures - I think it will be a great summer!

Balancing rock

This rock looked like a face carved by God.

The Callie girl resting.  She is still so cute!

Amazing

The Supreme Court has ruled a federal law designed to stop the sale and marketing of videos showing dog fights and other acts of animal cruelty is an unconstitutional violation of free speech.

The 8-1 decision was a defeat for animal rights groups and sponsors of the unusual congressional legislation.

The specific case before the court dealt with tapes showing pit bulldogs attacking other animals and one another in staged confrontations.

This is an incredibly outrageous and poor ruling.  George W. may not have done a lot of things right during his term in office, but one thing he did very correctly was sign a law making dog fighting a felony in all fifty states.  The sale and marketing of a video showing fighting and abuse is a direct violation of that law.  The people selling these videos staged and filmed animal abuse.  This is not a free speech issue.  This is a dog fighting and animal abuse issue.  The law is clear.  Breeding, training, staging and participating in dog fighting in any form is a felony.  Filming it is simply evidence.  The Supreme Court should not be allowed to hide behind the direct question curtain.  I ran into this with Amazon when discussing the sale of books on breeding, training and fighting dogs.  They came back the freedom of speech argument.  There has to be a line drawn in the sand.  Where does freedom of speech cross over and become a crime?  The more I think about it the more I believe, as long as no one is hurt, freedom of speech rules.  When intentionally compromising, using or abusing and killing another life of any form, it is not free speech, it is a crime.

Spring Hiking

I am so glad spring is here!  Callie and I have had some terrific hikes over the last few days.  I got some great pictures.  My 12.1 MP Canon is a great camera.  I just need to learn to be a better photographer and we'll be in business...sharing spectacular photos that is.

Callie up in Bang's Canyon when there was still snow.

Mount Garfield in the distance.  It was a beautiful day and we could see the fog moving out of the valley.  We were in Devil's Canyon about ten miles from Garfield.

This tree is on a trail in Devi's Canyon.  I just like the way it looked.