Divided States

I thought this was an interesting article, click HERE. The comments are even better. I better get the rest of my stuff from my parents because pretty soon I'll have to cross country lines to get there. I hope I don't have to get another passport. I don't think I could wait that long and I better start learning Spanish.

Mom's Redemption

Mom redeemed herself. She did wrap my gifts. So here they are displayed under my sweet tree.

Here's the hall unwrapped. I can't remember a Christmas in my life that mom hasn't given me socks. Thanks mom my feet get cold. Also thanks for the cast iron pans. I'll put those to good use.

Bow Tie Prof 2012

This week the bow tie prof was back it town. It was fun to hang out with him again!

When you're making a run for president in 2012 you can wear what ever you want. Do ask him to take off his shirt though, he'll give Barack a run for his money.

While out we we at the edge of town. This is a nice picture of the river valley.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Dancing Christmas

This video is ultimately for my roommate. His mom sent him these sweet figurines and I knew they had to be shared with the world!

Christmas Tree

Here's our Christmas tree and thanks to mom it even has presents under it. Although I'm not too sure about the wrapping job. It's kinda plain.

Making it back

So no one worries I made it back to the land of encantment saftely. I think it was the first time I flew without any problems.

Thanksgiving

I went home for Thanksgiving and after dinner we decided to go for a little walk.



Here's my brother and sister-in-law. I think my sister-in-law's hat is awesome!

For our walk we decided to find some pheasants. The hunting party preparing for the hunt with a cold/refreshing drink. The background is a view of my uncles farm in Wisconsin.


The next day it showed, my parents farm was covered white.

DSL

The internet at are apartment has sucked since we got it and thanks to my roommate we finally had a tech come out. Now hopefully it's fixed for good!

Past Time Activity

While back in the Midwest I made a trip to Wisconsin to visit a good friend of mine. We decided that we would make a batch of beer. It's something we did often in college and use to have a good time doing it.

Oh coarse this beer won't be ready to drink for a couple of months so we had to enjoy some other varieties.

Frames

An older coworker thought I should try out his glasses. I think I look pretty good!

Karma

Definition: the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation .

I have always believed in karma and I do think that if you do good things good things will happen to you and vice versa. Recently things have really fallen into place where I'm glad Karma exists. Those people who have done some bad things are finally paying for them. Although, I'm not happy they are getting what has come to them, it is a relief.

Thank you Karma!

Shiprock

I liked this picture I took. Shiprock is the thing in the middle of the picture. Its probably the best know and most photographed feature in the four corners. The mountains in the background are hard to make out but they have snow on them.

First Snow

I was on the way to work today and it started snowing. I had to hurry to take a picture because when it snows here it does not stick around long.

Where I Work

I technically work at three mines but really only go to 2 of them. I can't post any pictures of them on here but here is an article in the paper about one of the mines that I work at. Click HERE and enjoy.

If you scroll through the pictures my boss is the guy pictured.

Windex

Today, I finished three days of training teaching me how to handle chemicals when the are spilled or set on fire. Mostly this training had to do with emergency procedures. I learned some stuff that transfers into everyday life.

All chemicals that we use around the house are really really really bad. Windex and 409 are terrible. This isn't limited to cleaners. Everything we use will hurt us. It might not hurt you today but with prolonged use it will effect you, it all adds up.

Wearing gloves is about the best thing that can be done, because all these chemicals are absorbed through the skin. I guess I can thank my company for scarring me into protecting myself.

Duke City 5K Results

The results are in and I did ok. I finished the race in 26:12. I'm pretty happy with that but I would love to get my time under 24 minutes. I'm fine with that time because I didn't run really hard. I kept a nice steady pace, and I never really got tired. I'm gonna keep running and maybe try 10k next. I think that will be fun.

Grandma's Hard Work

Last Christmas my grandma gave me a quilt. I didn't use it last winter but with the changing weather I intend to this year.


Here's my grandma's hard work, thanks grandma!! It's one of the best gifts I've ever received.

First Freeze

It frosted for the first time Sunday night. Soon it will be snowing.

High Winds

For the last couple of days we have had some strong winds in town. The fence around the yard was falling over so our landlords solution was to tie it off with a rope. More than likely this is not a temporary solution. There's always entertainment around this house.

Autumn Has Arrived

When I was running tonight I was reminded how spectacular nature is and why I love the outdoors. I'll let someone else describe how I feel, it will be easier that way.

"Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?"
- Hal Borland

Settling the Dust

We had a nice fall rain yesterday. This was different from when it normally rains here because it rained all afternoon and most of the night. Usually we get spotty thunderstorms that roll through and don't last long. It was beautiful! I miss the rain.

Brewers Go Wild!!!

The Milwaukee Brewers are going to the playoffs for the first time since 1982. 1982 is also the year that I was born so basically my whole life the brewers have pretty much stunk. When it came to baseball I never had a lot to cheer for, but I do this year.

Go Brew Crew!!! I'll be cheering you on.

Engineer Mountain

The plan this weekend was to hike Engineer Mountain and then do the Telluride loop that take us through various pass around Southwest Colorado to see the colors. The leaves are beginning to change colors so it is gorgeous.

Here's the first view of the peak from the trail


We got up to the base of the mountain and it was raining pretty hard so we decided the risk of trying to go up the mountain in the rain wasn't worth it so we turned around. After starting to head back it started to snow on us pretty hard, so I think we made the right choice. We can always try again.

After traveling a ways north we got out of the rain and viewed some awesome country through Red Mountain Pass.

We may not have gotten to the top of engineer mountain but the 6 mile hike was the start of a great day. We saw some beautiful area's with spectacular fall colors and had a nice lunch in Telluride... totaly worth the drive!

Wheeler Peak

Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico. A couple of months ago we hiked up to horseshoe lake(below). Later that week we found out that horseshoe lake was only ~1 mile from wheeler peak.

The round trip hike to horseshoe lake in July was about 14 miles and that wasn't too bad so... if wheeler peak is only ~1 mile from horseshoe lake then that wouldn't be any problem right? What we found out was it wasn't that easy and Wheeler isn't a mile away.


When you turn around and look away from the lake this is what you see. It doesn't look that bad but your going vertical ~600 ft (thanks GPS) in about 1/4 mile distance. That little section of the hike took a lot out of us.

After we got through the bad part we saw this beautiful high alpine meadow, and our destination. It's hard to make out the trail leading up to it but the high point in the picture is Wheeler Peak.

We made it!!! The top is at 13,161ft and there is a monument describing who it is named for. Is that a gorgeous view or what?

To prove I made it here's a picture of me!

After we made it to the top we had to make it back. Already exhausted and 9 miles in we had to go another 9 miles to get out. I'll spare you all the details but a day later we were still exhausted but happy to be home.

Trip stats:
Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Distance: 18 miles
Elev. Change: ~4000 ft

Next weekend, Engineer Mountain in Colorado with a elevation of 13,997 ft.

Saftey Picnic

This is my companies annual picnic. Because we are a mining company, instead of calling it a company picnic they try to promote safety and call it a safety picnic.

So what kind of stuff do you do when you have a picnic for over 1000 employees and their families. How about softball, basketball, and horseshoe tournaments to go with 5k run, bouncy houses, free food, and an Elvis impersonator.


This is what a park looks like in the southwest when you don't irrigate. Isn't it brown!


Below is my gold medal for running in the 5k. I finished it in 27:42 it wasn't my best time but it was OK. Half the course was up hill. The course started at the top of the hill, the mid point was at the bottom, and the last half was going back up the hill. So I'm happy with that time but I hope to do better next month.


We could also participate in a health assessment for free. During this they measured our blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and body fat. You'll all be happy to know I was normal for everything except my BMI was a little high, but I already knew that. I've also lost over 20 pounds since March.

I'm an uncle again

Here is a picture (courtesy of my brother) showing the newest member of our family. Her name is Macie and the big guy holding her is my nephew Ian.

Visitor

My uncle Dennis came to visit me this week. I took him on a tour of the mine, which I think he enjoyed. Sorry, I can't post pictures of that its against the rules. We went out to dinner and got to catch up a little. It was great having him here and I hope he comes back!

If only someday my parents would come visit

Training

Next weekend I'm going to run a 5k at my company picnic. No big deal, I already run 3-3.5 miles 3-4 times a week.

October 19, 2008 is the Duke City Marathon. I thought about trying to do a half marathon but quickly realized I've never run that distance, or any distance close to it at one time. Maybe I'll try some other time. So the 5k it is, the best part my company is paying the entry fee's.

www.dukecitymarathon.com

I can't wait!

Labor Day Weekend

Friday Night

We drove up to Vallecito Co. and camped next to Vallecito Lake.


Saturday we drove up to on of my favorite places to go hiking. They are a group of high alpine lakes over 12,000 ft.


Here we are before we start. Me, Amanda (my roommates girlfriend), Brice (roommate).

The hike in!



The final destination. The only problem is that we din't stay long because a storm was moving it.


The weekend wasn't without its accidents though there were a few cuts and bruises.

Sunday wasn't as much fun. After it rain on us all night and all morning we decided we weren't going to do the hike we wanted to do. So we headed back to Farmington to dry out.


This was over Vallecito Lake as we were leaving. The storm was breaking for a little bit but according to the news we made the right decision because it only got worse.

Good Luck Ryan!

We had dinner last night for a friend that recently took a job away from Farmington. I wish him the best of luck in his pickleball endeavors. Unfortunately this is the best picture I had of him.

Green Chili's

It's that time of the year again!! Possibly my favorite thing about New Mexico, Green Chili's!!

To understand the chili you must first understand the process. Most green chili's are grown around Hatch NM. They are purchased at any grocery store (as long as you live in NM) and come in a stylish burlap bag. Once acquired you go outside were they are placed in a roster to cook and char the chili. Once properly roasted they are put in a garbage bag and placed back into the burlap sac (the picture above) to steam themselves for a few hours.

Once steamed they are frozen and put into everything you cook to add an amazing flavor.


Don't they look delicious! If your going to try to trade me chili's for sugar beets, think again. I now have 60 pounds of chili's to enjoy for the next year.

Camping With Old Friends

This past weekend I met a old friend from Illinois and his wife outside of Trinidad Co. Also included in our group were a bunch of their friends from Texas. A little fishing was done.


While fishing the boat started to fill up with water and they thought this would be the easiest way to empty the boat. It was an entertaining weekend!

Purpose

I never thought I would be creating a blog. I remember telling myself "I will never do that". So why now? I have a friend (jt) who's blog I like to read, and its easy to see what he's up to without having to call every week. So, I'm creating this for my mother who gives me a guilt trip every time I talk to her, my grandparents who I don't talk to enough, and my friends who it's become ever difficult to stay in contact with. Now even with 1000 miles between me and most of you it'll be easy to see what I'm doing. Hope you enjoy!