In July, my aunt Mary and Mom visited, so I played tour guide.  I took them to Blackhawk for a day of gambling; 16th street Mall in Denver for shopping/lunch; and another day visiting Morrison and Evergreen.  Later that month, I went on a camping trip with about 35 other people at Carter Lake.  We had 3 jet skis and two ski boats, so everyone got an opportunity to do both.  A lot of fun, but I was really sore from water skiing. 

 

In August, I climbed two 14,000+ foot elevation mountains (Gray and Torrey Peaks).  First time I've done something like this and I was grateful my friend Patty was experienced, since she had 9 previous 14ner climbs.  I was spent physically . . .  However, I really enjoyed challenging myself.  See the album pics. 

I went to Sedona, Arizona and Mesa Arizona in early June, 2007, to visit my cousin and her husband.  Also visited with George and Mary Lou while in Mesa, Arizona.  Sedona is a beautiful area . . . see photo album.  Mesa was just hot . . . hahaha.  Also swung by New Mexico (where I may live after I retire and sell my house).  Also considering New Mexico and/or being a snow bird in either the Caribbean, Mexico, or South America.  Decisions, decisions, decisions . . . hmm.

I went to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for a six day trip, and got in 10 SCUBA dives, including two cenote (cavern) dives.  Also, did a ship wreck dive.  However, the most unusual and amazing dive involved a school of yellow stripers - we came across thousands of stripers and a few barracuda were munching on them at their leisure.  The dive master that we were with commented that he had never seen anything like it in 20 years of diving.  Very cool!

 

Last week, I attended the National Safety Council's conference in San Diego.  While there, our organization's (Bureau of Reclamation) safety professionals also met for a meeting and some training.  Very nice to see some peers that I hadn't seen in quite some time.  Going to the San Francisco bay area in late December for a family get-together, so I am looking forward to that.  However, I will be back in Colorado for Christmas.

Last month I went to Reno to meet family (Mom, Aunts, Cousins, etc.) and do a bit of gambling.  Not much of a gambler, but this trip I took some of the Casinos money home . . . LOL.  I was doing some home landscaping on my mountain property and was able to pay off the balance of the contract with this money (grin).  See house photos for landscaping results.

 

In October, I am planning another SCUBA dive trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  Stay tuned . . .

Thus far, 2006 travel has taken me to Cozumel for a SCUBA dive trip; Las Vegas where I saw Madonna's Confession tour concert at the MGM Grand; FIBArk (First In Boating) festival in Salida, Colorado; and a couple of camping trips in the front range Colorado mountains.  Next week, I'm going to Washington D.C., which is work related, i.e., I'm giving 3 safety and health class sessions and am inspecting the Interior Building.

 

In August, I am going to Reno for a family get-together.  Not much of a gambler, so will do my thing (people watching).   I want to go on one more Caribbean SCUBA dive trip before the end of the year, preferably in late September or October.  My dream trip - which I might do this year - is Australia . . . I already have the Frequent Flyer Mileage to get the airfare free . . . However, this type of trip I would rather do with someone else versus going alone.  Anyone interested (LOL)?

Many years ago, when I was a member of an Air Force medical rescue team, I was working out with weights, doing bench presses, with a couple of other members of the team and someone said, "Hey, I'm going to start calling you "Blade" . . . Can't believe you're so damn skinny (i.e., a grass blade he was alluding to) and can lift that much weight."  The name stuck.