HELLO, COUNTRY BUMPKIN
It is time to welcome into the world, Edward Craig Metcalf! He was born on 09/25/07 at 12:24pm (CST) to my cousin Daryl and his wife Kandace Metcalf. Edward come in at 7lb. 10.6oz and was 19in. long.
As we say around here, Ya Daryl!!!!!!
DID YOU FEEL THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE?
Previously in this blog:
That is what happens when I let sore muscles type for me. In the end, who I am kidding, I am going to do hike 14ers, that is part of me right now. In fact, I did one last Saturday, September 22, 2007. So here I am again letting my sore muscles speak for me, but I have give a trip report for the Monkey Pen.
Friday night, Bob and I headed out to drive to Mt. Missouri near Buena Vista and Leadville. Mindy was wanting to go with us to do her 2nd 14er, but other plans that she really looked forward to; kept her away. Friday night, we did stop in Buena Vista at the cafe I like to eat at before a hike. The cafe is up for sale, which I hope the new owners are as good as the previous.
After putting food in our bodies, we drove up to the Mt. Missouri Rockdale West Ridge trail-head in the dark. Four wheeling in the dark always concerns me, but this one worried me a tad more because of the famed river crossing on this road (14ers.com has a video of the stream cross, click here to watch it). Apparently, you can not cross this area until well after July because there is too much water till then.
We made just fine with out damaging my vehicle. Then on Saturday morning began the hike. Since this is the back way up Mt. Missouri, we did not see a lot of people. Also, the trail is a little bit tough to follow in spots as it is not the best trail in the world, but that kind of made it more fun finding the trail now and then.
It was a nice hike from the trail-head to Clohesy Lake. From there it did start going up hill and we mostly stayed near a river. It did not seem to steep to me till we started going up the ridge (however coming down, it was a lot steeper then I thought going up till we got back pass the river). Going up the ridge was a lot of work. Once we got to the top of the ridge it was not a cake walk to the peak. I found the ridge to be more a of pain because it looked easy but it was not. It had a lot of up and downs till you got to the top of Missouri.
However, we made it to the top just fine and the weather was nice. The clouds did not really move in, but the wind made it cool. We talked to people who had came up the other way and with a few guys who came up basically with us. They went off to do Mt. Belford from the top of Mt. Missouri. I could not have done that, but I hope it went well for them.
Going down, it was pretty steep, especially going back down from the ridge to the river. It really made my quad muscles very sore going down back to the river. The legs really felt like Jell-O to me. Which got me thinking what did the old timers say when their legs were gone before Jell-O or before rubber? Questions, I may never know the answer to, but I only think of those questions when I have no oxygen and sore muscles.
Well, the other nice part of the hike was we got to see lots of Aspens trees changing colors. You can see some of the trees and other photos of the hike by clicking here.
Monkey Meditations
- Other Punishment Ideas For Belicheat: Wear an Armani suit during every game
- Don’t Blink
- Whatever you do, don’t turn around
- It is late September and the Rockies still have a playoff shot
- Other Punishment Ideas For Belicheat: Become the Browns coach again
- It has become a crazy, scary, and bizzaro world
- People are getting Rockies scores during a Bronco game
- Monday talk is more about the Rockies win and playoff hunt than the Broncos lost
- Other Punishment Ideas For Belicheat: Attend a Red Sox’s game at Fenway in Yankees clothes
- I grew up watching Bud Black pitch for the Royals
- I always liked seeing him pitch
- Watching him throw down his out of control player, Bradley, is something never thought I would see
- Other Punishment Ideas For Belicheat: Have to study commercials with Payton Manning instead of game film
- Still Black could not stop the Rockies from sweeping the Padres
- After the Rockies had just swept the Dodgers
- Don’t blink, this is a real playoff run by the Rockies
PAST THE POOL & THE 18TH GREEN
It has been many years since I played in a golf tournament, but a few days ago I got to played in one to benefit the scholarship fund for Faith Christian Academy. My company, Admirable Consulting, Inc. was a Gold Sponsor of the event. Being a Gold Sponsor got a sign on a hole for the company and entry fee for a golf foursome. I was going to have Tiger, Phil, and Serigo join me, but after their lawyers told me to stop bugging them; I had my friends Mike, Bill, and Abe play on my foursome.
There were some risks involved in my decision to be in this tournament, both personally and professionally. One, I usually don’t spend anywhere near that amount of money for advertising for my company but it was for a good cause. Two, I am already so overwhelmed with work that a day of not really working scared me. Three, I am a bad golfer. Four, it was at a private country club, Hiwan Golf Club, and I was sure they would have pictures of me which said, “Do not let in this bad golfer and tell him to go back to the office and work because he is behind”. Five, even through it is a scramble format (that mean we use the best hit of the four of us every time), some of my hits had to be used. Six, there were some expensive houses next to the course.
As we drove to Evergreen, it was raining and a bit cold. However, when we got near Clubhouse Lane, the rain had stopped. Then the sun came out enough to warm it up so you did not need a coat. The weather was just about perfect the rest of the day, at least for me.
We really did have a good time. It was good to get out and have a fun time with friends. None of us are very good golfers, but we did OK. Since it was a scramble format, we ended up with a score of 87 or 17 over par. We ended up getting the highest score and little trophy. They called it the “High Score Award”, but we think it should be called the “Honesty Award”. See the next lowest score was a 74, which seemed fishy to us. There were a lot of teams and I don’t think all of them had ringers on them. I guess in the end they probably did a lot less of putting than we did.
Too bad I can not get an 87 by myself. Oh well, at least we did not break any windows of the nice houses or kill any other golfers with our hits. So I guess that means it was a good day.
You can see some photos that we took by clicking here.
G.I. JOE MOVED TO MEXICO, HE’S HIDING FROM THE IRS
It is hard to watch someone you reveal, fall. I guess that is part of growing up, learning that heroes are just people.
It appears that G.I. Joe has caved to political correctness and has giving up on being a “Real American Hero”.
Sadly, this is just another blow to the “American” heroes and soldiers as just a few months ago, 
Like
THESE ARE THE THINGS I PRAYED FOR
Well, it is September and the Rockies are still in contention for a wild card spot. I doubt they will get it, but they are involved in a “pennant race” still. I am hoping they will get it, but I know it will be hard. However, there a few more things that are in reach for the team or players that I would like to point out.
Jeff Francis has a chance to get more than 17 wins in a season, which is the team record. He currently has 15 wins with at least four starts left. I am hoping the commissioner can be there for the breaking of the record when he gets 18. I am looking forward to seeing the videos that Kevin Ritz and Pedro Astacio have made for Jeff.
No Rockies pitcher or player has ever received a CY Young vote. Jeff Francis with his great season, I believe should get at least some consideration this year. However, I still think Brent Mayne was ripped off a few years ago when he was the first position player to get a win pitching since 1968.
The Rockies have never finished above the Dodgers in the standings. Currently, we are tied. I think this is the year it will happen. This is the biggest goal I want to see in my lifetime behind the Rockies winning the World Series.
The Rockies best road record is 36-45, in 1997. Currently, they are 33-41 on the road. So they have a chance to get their most wins on the road for a season. If they are to get to the playoffs they will need to break this team record.
This MLB record is owned by Brett Bulter at 42 and it appears safe now. Willy Taveras was on pace to break this record before he got hurt. He has 37 before his season ended. Though, Willy will not get it, I decided to at least mention it.
Troy Tulowitzki has a great chance of winning the NL Rookie of the Year of award. This would be the 2nd ROY award given to a Rockies player. Troy did break the National League home run record as a rookie shortstop. When he hit his 20th dinger of the year, he broke Ernie Banks’ record from 1954.
I am not sure Matt Holiday will get much consideration for MVP because of Coors Field (If that is true why is Jeff Francis not get more talk about winning the CY Young or why isn’t Jake Peavy getting fewer consideration because of Petco?), but he has a great year.
Anyways, there are some of the milestones and story lines that I am watching as the September rolls along for the Colorado Rockies.
Monkey Meditations
- I’ll Rather Be: Retired
- Need cash now?
- Injured in an accident while under a DUI and need a lawyer to sue YOUR victims?
- These are just some of the commercials really bug me.
- I’ll Rather Be: Reading a funny blog
- Then there are the diet ads where results are not typical.
- Or the drugs that cause tons of side effects while maybe healing you.
- Those are pretty annoying as well.
- I’ll Rather Be: Less confused
- However, there is one group of ads that really make me mad.
- They are just plain insulting; they claim if I like Football, I would like soccer but don’t know it.
- I can not believe false advertising like that would be allowed on TV.
- I’ll Rather Be: Wiser than a bummer sticker
- After week one in the NFL, I think Chiefs fans are already looking forward to the 2008 Royals season.
- I think Bronco fans are looking into better health insurance for heart issues.
- I think Patriots fans are looking for to hire Jason Bourne to do a better job of spying on the other teams.
- I’ll Rather Be: On a long, long vacation
- Congratulations to Sadee on running in the Chicago Half Marathon over this last weekend!
- Congratulations to Todd Helton in becoming the first MLB player to have 10 consecutive years of 35+ doubles.
- Our prayers go out to Buffalo Bills TE, Kevin Everett and his family.
AH DO YOU REMEMBER THESE
If you have read this blog over the years or know me, then you have come to realize I am a big fan of win, lose & Drew. I think he is the best sports person in the country if not the world. He just does it with cartoons, not words.
Well, as long as I can remember, I have laughed at his cartoons and now he is celebrating 25 years of win, lose & Drew. So I just wanted to thank him for all the great work he has done. He may never read or maybe he will, who knows. Either way, I know I am a much more informed sports fan because of Drew! I hope he has another great 25years and that I beat him in the fantasy football league I am in with him (yes, a new claim to fame for me – being in his fantasy football league).
Here are some of my favorites by him. Frankly, it was hard to make a small list, because he has done so many good ones. I can not put copies of the ones that I like here, but I can describe them here so maybe they will help you remember and laugh. Some of them I did find on his site, so I did link to them.
He is having a vote for his favorites on his site.
- Dan Reeves giving a pregnant lady a contract when the baby kicks because the Broncos needed a punter.
- If Shadows could talk where Rozelle gives Davies the Super Bowl Trophy.
- Elway in the old timers baseball game.
- The guy watching the Doug Moe show and the wife thinks it is the Roadrunner show.
- Elway looking into Sakic’s bedroom and the Cup, [View It].
- Plummer blaming Brian Griese’s Dog, [View It].
- Hurdle boarding up the Rockies bullpen, [View It].
- Plummer at the Stock Show (frankly any drawing of Plummer with the bread is great), [View It].
- Any drawing of Little Ricky or when he makes fun of soccer.
- Future Major League player where the kid doing the math problem comes up with big number for a small problem.
IT WASN’T THE BOOKS, THAT I DIDN’T READ
Sometimes I wonder about how much money we waste. Yes, I spend a lot of money on worthless things. However, I am thinking some biggest waste of money in this world maybe on studies. There are two new studies that have come out the last few days that have renewed my belief that we waste money on studies.
- Rock Stars are more like to die likely to suffer a premature death – [more information]
- Men like good looking women – [more information]
All I can say is duh.
Maybe, I can get money to do a study on if we need air to breathe or if Bronco fans hate the Raiders? If you have any good ideas where to get the study money or any study ideas, let me know.
WERE FOOTBALL FLUNKIES
With all due apologizes to those in Michigan who will read this, I want to join the multitudes in congratulating Appalachian State on their BIG win. I love it when the big school get upset by the little ones, especially when the team is named Mountaineers. So here is the fight song of the victors.
Hi-Hi-y-ike-us
Nobody like us,
We are the
mountaineers,
mountaineers,
mountaineers,
Always a-winning
Always a-grinning
Always a-feeling fine
You bet, hey
Go Apps!
Fight Apps!
Go, fight, win Apps!
