Stay Busy...Are You Kidding Me

A morning person, I am out of bed weekdays before the Sun breaks first light.  A pot of coffee is brewing by 5:30.  On Tuesday, a bus takes me to a trail head somewhere along the front range or higher elevations, for a day of exercise and fun.  Wednesday is yoga with Paul Zeiger, at the Scheitler Rec. Center. Class members and Paul have been diagnosed with PD.  The joints and muscles I abused while hiking on Tuesday are massaged, stretched, bent, to prepare them for the busy week ahead.

The big day of the week, is Saturday.  My wife and I can be found somewhere between Dick's Sporting Goods Complex, in north Aurora to Spring Creek Baseball Complex off Quincy, to the Stroh Soccer Complex, South of Parker. 

Connor (9) celebrates after scoring a goal for the Sharks.

Dylan lunges after a wild pitch at Spring Creek.

A special reward-the game ball-after pitching a great game.

Dylan plays Lacrissse for the Spartans.

Connor has his eyes on the ball, as he moves it down field.

Considering all sports the family enjoys, we have been to all the ice rinks, high schools, and community parks, in the Denver Metro area. This fall, it will be track, wrestling, and maybe a late summer baseball league.  As winter approaches, we migrate into a full schedule of wrestling and we pick up hockey.  Of course it's not only regular season games for each sport.  One sport has playoffs, one all-stars, and most have tournaments.  That adds travel, expense, and time, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Our son-in-law (D-Mac) is co-host of the #1 sports radio talk show, "The Drive," on 104.3 The Fan.  The show is on the air, weekdays,  from 3 to 6 p. m.

The Bronco who has since  moved on to be a New York Jet.

Last year, thanks to D-Mac, I had the opportunity to capture images of Broncos training camp at Dove Valley.  It was a season that ended like nobody had predicted.  A playoff win against the Steelers, thanks to #15, Tim Tebo.

It gets better folks..D-Mac called me to ask if I was interested in attending a press conference at Dove Valley (Broncos HQ), and take pictures.  What...I would actually have a reason to say no to that?  Are you kidding me?  The reality of sitting in the media room of the Denver Broncos was a big deal.  Plus, I was with the man who always asks THE tough question of a player, or coach at the podium.  I'm still pinching myself.  

"The Hiker" captures an image of the Gore Range, Eagles Nest Wilderness.

So far, my life has been centered around outside things.  The office is wee most of the creative things get done.  Like writing on this blog every day.  Writing longhand letters to friends and family back in PA.  It's a common for me to stuff an oversize envelope with 6 - 8 two-sided lined tablet sheets plus photos.  Of course, my camera is always at my side, around my neck hanging from a shoulder harness, or on a monopod.   It goes everywhere with me...the truck to the garden, the back country, the grocery store,and on bike rides with the family.

Day pack waiting to be cinched in place for the day.

Then there is the "Life List" or bucket list which is always in a state of flux.  At this writing, there are 13 items either in progress or to be initiated this year.  Eight items are lined up for 2013 and two for 2014.

On the list is the Cherry Creek Sneak.  My daughter will walk the 5 mile course with be next Sunday.  Then the biggie...the Bolder Boulder, May 28th. I will be registered in one of the jog/walk waves.  Then, June 3rd is the annual walk for Parkinson's at Washington Park.  The list continues with tending a garden, planning an annual muti-day backpack trip for the family, etc.

Keep checking this blog for part two of this story.