A Good Day

 

Song:  Separate Ways

Group:  Journey

As I had my specialist appointment at 1 PM in Denver...

I went to bed early last night

for fear of over sleeping and missing my appointment

with my Pulmonologist (lung specialist).

Whenever I do that...

I end up waking up too early.

But...

no problem...

I got to see a nice sunrise this morning to start out...

what turned out to be...

a good day.

I had arrived one hour early for my appointment.

The outdoor visitor area overlooking some unfamiliar mountain peaks.

I had some good news.

My pulmonologist and I had discussed the results of my previous testing

(full lung functioning test measuring blown volume and pressure...

and a full thoracic CAT scan).

My lung performance test was all in the good range...

and although my CAT had shown some lung inflammation...

there was no progression shown from an earlier one taken.

My doctor then chastised me :(...

for waiting so long to go into the doctor

when I first started having deep coughing seven months ago...

especially when I felt as if I were suffocating at night 

just before finally going in to see the doctor.

In my mind I was thinking...

 I am tough!...

I am a tiger!...

I am a mountain man!...

Raaaaahhh!!! (tiger roar)  :)

Then...

she informed me that the number ONE cause of death in senior citizens is...

Pneumonia (and in second place...falls)!

That I did not know!

I had always assumed it would be heart attack in place number one.

So...

I just quietly and somewhat sheepishly nodded in agreement 

to notify her right away in the future should I ever have any similar symptoms.

I knew she was right...

so instead of feeling like a tiger...

I felt like a kitten (meow)  :)

Both doctors surmised I had pneumonia...

although they don't know the particular cause or strain.

She didn't recommend a lung biopsy as my event is so long gone...

and there would be nothing for them to do with the new information...

as there were no indications of any other type of disease or ongoing infection...

although I still have some inflammation

(I am still at about 80% energy levels).

-----------

While I was in the waiting area before my appointment...

I had looked up the restaurant I was going to eat at in the area.

When I looked up the menu...

OMG!...

not only were the prices insane for a good steak...

the portions were so small.

No way.

So...

I decided to stop in at one of my new favorite restaurants in Woodland Park

on the way home (Peak View).

--------------

Armed with the good news...

and still feeling the wonderful effects 

of my first real weight training from a couple days ago

(since I had first gotten ill)...

and then with the above song starting to play from my playlist...

and with my mind made up to try Peak View's baby back ribs

(the Tiger was back and hungry to eat meat...raaahhh :)...

I drove down the highway feeling GOOD.

As I listened to this song all the way home...

I moved about somewhat spastically in the car

to the beat and rhythm of this great song as I sang along with Steve Perry

(the lead singer of Journey)...

well...okay...trying to...albeit an octave lower  :)

By the way...

I will blog about my two main weight training exercises...

which I had named...

Milo...

and Thor's Hammer...

sometime later.

In short...

Milo is a total body heavy lift and walk...

and Thor's Hammer is a total core exercise.

I will use the Farmer's Walk only every so often in the future...

as Milo allows even more weight to be carried...

and so...

forcing even more overall body growth and effects.

For the first time in seven months...

I feel so much better.

 

Nearing Woodland Park.

I arrived at the restaurant sometime after 3 PM.

Another great benefit of being fully retired...

I can choose the timing of going places when most everyone is at work.

I got a prime seat at the restaurant...

and this was my view as I sat facing the window looking out at Pikes Peak

as I enjoyed my meal.

I saw these spring rolls in the menu...

and I just had to try them.

They had long and thick strips of BBQ Brisket with the veggies that make up the spring rolls.

It was a perfect blend of East and West.

The chili sauce was so delicious...

and the spring rolls were the perfect appetizer before the main course.

Even their homemade pickled radish and carrots were so good.

Although their ribs were not so good as was Maggie's in Cripple Creek...

Maggie's no longer carry those...

so...

this and Roy's will be my BBQ place of choice.

But...

they also make Pho here

(and the only other nearby place that had made Pho (Creations Everlasting)...

no longer does (Cripple Creek)  :(

So...

next time...

I will try their smoked brisket Pho here.

I then finished off with some cheese cake.

---------

As I was awaiting my check...

a somewhat sad situation unfolded.

When I first walked in...

the waiter suggested that I try sitting at a table in the bar area...

since it had the best views.

That was all the encouragement I needed.

When I walked past the bar and took the best seat in the house...

I noticed one lone...

slightly overdressed young 50ish woman sitting at the bar and drinking

some sort of hard liquor.

As I was eating...

I could see out of my peripheral vision that my waitress also tended the bar...

and she was talking with the woman on a somewhat familiar basis.

This means the lone woman was most likely a regular there...

meaning she was a barfly.

It was a pity.

She must have been quite pretty in her youth...

as she had Nordic features and blond hair...

tall for a woman...

still slim...

and yet...

there she was...

sitting alone at a bar and getting drunk

(her speech was slightly impaired and her eyes had a sleepy look to them).

In general...

I loathe being around drunks.

However...

I don't have it in my heart to be unjustifiably rude to someone...

and so...

I merely tried to avoid eye contact with her as I looked around for my waitress.

But...

as drunks so often are...

she was freely verbal and bold in action.

As I had feared...

she tried to strike up a conversation with me.

I answered her question about my food...

while still trying to avoid eye contact...

as I didn't wish her to see in my eyes...

the pity I had for her.

She wasn't rude...

and I could momentarily see in her face...

a quiet desperation...

a silent pleading for anyone to salvage her life.

While I did feel sorry for her...

there was nothing I could do for her...

and in truth...

I wouldn't have even if I could have.

I then politely ended our conversation and briefly nodded and waved goodbye

as I got up and walked into the main dinning room to find my waitress

so I could pay my bill.

-----------

People must realize that their youth is a time for building for their future...

and that many sacrifices must be made early in life to ensure

a prosperous and deeply happy life during their later years.

I am...

and always have been...

an ant...

not a grasshopper.

While I will try to help a fellow ant...

one whom had fallen into dire circumstances not of his or her own doing...

I would never sacrifice my time or resources for a grasshopper...

especially one like her...

a woman who had all the advantages in her youth...

including great beauty...

and yet...

had thrown it all away.

She had chosen immediate gratification over deferred gratification...

repeatedly throughout her life.

And as it is now Winter in her life...

she was attempting to plead poverty...

when it was all of her own doing.

I have seen many such cases throughout my life...

and it is just plain sad.

One of my favorite restaurants in Woodland Park...

and they have so many delicious dishes to try...

including Cajon seafood!

So much exploration in the future...

so many new dishes to try  :)

------------

I will soon begin more outdoor work...

as I simply couldn't finish up the decks until I felt better.

Anyway...

the tiger is back...

well...

still licking his paws and wounds...

but back nonetheless.  :)

Cripple Creek's Don Juan's Cocina

 

Song:  FF Prelude (Orchestral)

Original Composer:  Nobuo Uematsu

I had seen on Facebook that my old favorite Mexican restaurant in Cripple Creek

had finished redecorating and was opening under a new name.

This past weekend was their grand opening...

and today was their last day of half off all food and drinks.

I couldn't resist...

and so...

I worked out a little bit...

took a long hot shower...

and then headed off to the new Mexican Restaurant at just before 2 PM.

Halfway to the main road to Cripple Creek.

I had arrived in under 15 minutes.

I didn't notice much change in the decor.

When I asked for a table...

the waiter said that they wouldn't open until 4 PM.

As I already had my heart set on tacos...

I just walked down to the casino and played Keno for just over 1.5 hours.

I played penny Keno at first...

...and then I switched games to big money Keno...

5 cents  :)

As I have said before...

I don't enjoy gambling

(tedious and boring).

I only did so to pass the time before the restaurant opened.

I ended up with $1.00 more than I had started with...

after over 1.5 hours playing...

so...

it was just to kill time.

I loved their chips and various dips.

Their salsa was so good...

super flavorful.

I had ordered a six taco combo...

each one different.

I had beef...

beef with dipping sauce (Birria)...

chicken...

pork...

fish...

and shrimp.

This was the first time in my life I had ever tried...

either fish or shrimp tacos.

Each taco was so delicious.

I was especially pleasantly surprised with the fish and shrimp tacos...

they were so good.

Each taco also came double tortilla wrapped so as to not fall apart as it was eaten.

At the taco truck in Woodland Park...

I could finish six tacos easily.

However...

these tacos were just enormous.

My eyes were so much bigger than was my stomach.

These shrimp were HUGE...

and the shrimp taco was filled with them.

Each taco was just jam packed with meat and other ingredients.

I wanted to leave room for dessert...

so I took back 2.5 tacos.

I am so glad to have a great Mexican restaurant in town once again...

and, this new restaurant is better than the old one.

I had Tres Leches for dessert.

I enjoyed the beautiful partly cloudy day on the way home.

(I had played the included song all the way home...it just fit my mood).

----------

In the restaurant...

a very friendly and funny (humorous) Korean lady sat next to my table.

She had merely walked in without waiting to be seated.

She was about my age...

and she was country.

She spoke her mind (in broken English) in a loud tone...

and looked around as if something were wrong with the people staring at her.

She looked at me after having sat for a few minutes...

and loudly proclaimed...

"They are sure taking a long time...huh?"

Then she looked at my taco plate and said...

"I will get that" (the same combo).

I assured her that she couldn't finish it should she order it.

So...

instead...

she ordered two tacos.

She was from the countryside of Korea...

I could tell (vs the city).

She was very straight forward...

and...

not at all shy.

And...

typical of many Asians...

she tipped very well.

Without a second thought...

she pulled out a $20 bill and put it on the table with her card.

When the waitress came by...

she politely asked the Korean lady why she had lain out both, the cash and the card.

The Korean lady just pointed to the cash and said...

"This is for you".

Her $20 dollar tip was more than the cost of her meal.

At first...

I was afraid she wasn't used to the value of her money...

and I was about to say something...

but...

taking into account her sureness of action...

and thinking she had probably won a good amount of money in the casino

(people often tip big once they have won money in a casino)...

and the fact that most Asians are very good with money...

I just kept my mouth shut.

She was also funny in her actions.

She kept looking over at me as I ate...

and when I caught her eye...

she just kind of motioned to me with her chin and smiled as she looked at my food...

as if to say...

"That looks so good...

I can hardly wait for mine to arrive."

After finishing my meal...

I then bid her goodbye as I strode away from the table.

But...

I had forgotten my leftover container...

and she loudly proclaimed...

"You forgot your food!"

I thanked her and retrieved my food...

and then gave her a country nod and smile.

She then returned my country nod and smile...

and off I went.

I chuckled to myself as I walked down the stairs and out the casino to my car.

She and I had instantly meshed because we are both country at heart.

I could tell...

that like me...

she was very simple and wasn't concerned with what other people thought of her

(Not only in speech...but in mannerisms.  

She sat for comfort...

and she boldly looked at others and her surroundings in the restaurant

instead of surreptitiously giving furtive...

almost hidden...

glances).

In the country...

people are open, friendly, and trustworthy.

They don't put on false airs of sophistication...

for we are...

very simple.

I feel so much at home here...

for once again...

it feels as if this is where I have always belonged.

In my heart...

I have always been country.

It is all about simplicity...

fresh air and open land and skies...

but most of all...

it is about freedom.

------

My next article will be in a couple of days.

I will be going back to Denver for another appointment...

and I will be stopping in at a highly rated restaurant on my way back.

Mueller State Park / Hornbek Homestead

 

Song:  Where The Streets Have No Name

Group:  U2

Today...

I took Bandi on another short country drive.

I first fed Bandi...

and made a large bowl of Natto for myself.

The temperature was in the low 60s F (16 C)...

and although I like the temperature mostly in the 40s F and 50s F...

it was still nice...

and the fresh breeze as I drove with all of the windows down...

was still very refreshing.

I had two objectives for today...

to stop by the visitors center at Mueller State Park

to get a map of the Nordic Ski areas for next Winter...

and to visit the Hornbek Homestead (the first stop south of Florissant).

I drive past the Hornbek Homestead every time I take the scenic route to Woodland Park.

This time...

I wanted to see it on the way home...

as I made a circular route from home...

first going on Hwy 67 to Mueller State Park...

and then up to Divide and then to Florissant...

and then to the Hornbek Homestead...

and then simply going home along the same route.

Although it was just a little over a 1.5 hour country drive in total...

Bandi and I loved the beautiful day.

I played the above song all of the way home from Hornbek Homestead...

as it came up on my playlist and it had me playing air drums and guitar the whole way back.

Next Winter I want to go Nordic Skiing at Mueller State Park...

 as it is but 30 minutes away from home.

The information center was closed the last time I was there...

but this time I got a map of the park...

along with the marked Nordic Ski areas.

One of the views from the Information Center parking lot.

The lines in pink are the groomed Nordic Ski areas...

but I could also go off trail if I wish to.

I then headed out of the park and on to Florissant to make the South turn 

to Hornbek Homestead...

and then on to home.

The Hornbek Homestead.

A small ranch lived on by a woman and her four children...

first built in 1878.

The construction was of hewn logs 

with some sort of plaster used as chinking between the logs..

and with wooden shake roofs.

The T-Intersection where I take the country cutoff to Divide

(I approach it from the opposite direction).

It consists of winding mountain roads...

but I usually use it at night...

and I normally just go the scenic route (on to and through Florissant)...

in the day time.

The drive home was so nice.

The cloud formations were so beautiful...

and my hands were just flying keeping up with the percussion of the drums...

my fingers air plucking triplets on the bass guitar strings...

and with my right hand playing the chuk a chuk a chuk a chuk

of the rhythm guitar of this song.  :)

No worries...

I drive with my knees when I do this  :)

On my way home...

I encountered this herd of deer...

although I still had a ways to go before I reached my mountain ridge turnoff.

Bandi was just staring intently at the deer.

On my way home...

I stopped by the mail boxes and I picked up a Japanese care package 

which had been sent to me.

I love Morinaga caramels...

but I am sure the caramels from Hokkaido will taste fantastic as well.

--------------

Bandi and I are going to rest for a bit...

and then I must file my Federal and State taxes.

While it is not difficult...

I find it to be mind numbingly tedious.

But...

it must be done.

However...

I am going to first savor the cool mountain breeze flowing through

my house from the comfort of my bed.