Thankfully There Are 31 Days To This Month

When I am asked how I am, only one answer comes to mind. Bewilderment!! Where the hell did January, February, and now March go? Seriously, where does the time go? Poof

I was on a road ride earlier in the week and was totally lacking motivation with riding hard or for power or for speed. Eat It Strava!! Just riding the River Trail to simply ride. Then it dawned on me that one of my goals was to check in with folks that I hadn't talked with in over a year.

So that is what I accomplished. Talking on the phone while pedaling along the Not So Mighty Colorado River. Phoning folks was a very simple process really. I hit the call button of the desirable contact, speaker phone icon, and slipped the phone in my flannel pocket with the mic facing outwards. Chatting Away We Went

My overall milage is short of impressive to say the least. But I am actually enjoying meandering along the desolated River Trail System. That is when a dose of reality dawned on me. Riding for the pure joy of riding. Its so important to keep anything fresh, enjoy the moment, and discover something new around each bend. Cycling In Its Unadulterated Form

I wish I could offer up the ability to share more information about these creative photos from above. I was just googling patio covering imagines and basic gazebo plans and these photos popped up. Well, the first one came up of the crescent moon, dolphins, and the serenading apparition with that recorder. That imagine took me down the rabbit hole to initiate impulsive clicking.

Crushed our latest round of disc on Tuesday. Like unreal throws and thankful The Dude was there to witness my shots. Hole #1 I let go way late with my driver. That disc flew under a willow tree branch, just cleared the top of a fallen dead cottonwood tree, and skipped off the walking path towards the basket. EASY BIRDIE. Hole #2 My driver landed further than I expected and BIRDIED the second hole for the second time now. Hole #3 and my driver danced gracefully in the air with the lofty winds and landed feet from the basket. First time that I have ever birdied those first three holes. The photo above and below are The Dude's putts. Notice below that his yellow disc bounced off the basket in mid flight. He did that all day. Drilled the hell out of the baskets but never landed inside for the make. Thankfully, We Never Count Mulligans

I've began night riding again as Colorado is in Stay-At-Home mode. I could easily roll around in the daylight but I feel more like a rebel during the moonless nights through the mean streets of GJ. During the night, critters are so active, riding without a worry as to exactly where my derailleur throws the chain upon the appropriate cog. I just cruise lightless, turn when I feel like it, and seek nothing but freedom itself.

I would enjoy socializing while riding but the higher authorities continue to remind me that distance is my best medicine. But Damn It!! I do miss companionship. For those of you that are married or have that someone special, embrace the moment. Turn to them right now and tell them why you love them so. Share with them a behavior they exhibited or presented lately that really turned you on inside.

Bacon?? 

Also, I really appreciate how many of you have streamed my latest radio shows. The show on the 18th with the Yoda quotes has 41 hits and the Global Groove show on the 22nd has 17 hits. I would be so grateful for some feedback. Good AND Bad. What would you prefer hearing, do the trivia segments bother you, or does the sound of my voice cause you mild seizures or tremors?? The link to the 18th will only be accessible for a few more days as the 22nd has about 9 days or so.

Think Snow,
Cheers

Thanx For Thinking Snow - We Needed It

ORTHO:

The Ortho world was been effected for sure. As of this morning I have only had two clients call AND back out. Most, I talk out of bailing. Here is what I say on the phone. Your are stressed = bodywork , your lymphatic system is you bodies immune system = bodywork , my building is damn near empty and I will meet you on the street, open the door, push the elevator button, and sanitize my hands in front of ya. The clients sheepishly agree to keep their appointments and thank me afterwards for holding them "accountable" because they feel relieved. Three clients in particular told me that it was the first time that they "relaxed" in weeks. There really is something to a para-sympathictic state of being. Thats Right, Being

Karma Cupons Here - Switched Out A Toilet Seat - These New Suckers Took Some Thought - I Then Had To Follow The Given Written Out Instructions - Not Like The Old Days - Two Plastic Bolts And Done - Now, They Are A Whole New Lock-N-Bolt Action - I Guess Thats What I Get For Saying," Sure, There Easy, I 'll Do It For Ya." 

CROSS ROADS GYM:

Just as I was happily falling back into a rhythm with swimming, Cross Roads closed their doors. Talk about bummed. Its really a bummer on so many levels. So lets be optimistic, lets have fun with it, and lets do this. Morning calisthenics, road rides of the River Trail, and washing them hands.

GOOD NEWS:

So stoked about the lack of pollution. HERE is a link of photos and videos coming out of Venice. Dolphins have returned to the harbors, locals admitting that they have never seen the bottom of the channels before, and how the airborne nitrogen dioxide has plummeted over China recently.

And a Pro Cyclist that I follow posted a video from a hanging valley back in November during Turkey Week rides and then again from Monday. The air quality was remarkable. You could see another mountain range in the distance. The Clarity

And nobody was at the Hot Springs!! Its a hippie dippy carry out what you carry in. I was the only human there, week day of course, the audible sounds of birds blew my mind. Its as if they knew the humans were locked away in fear and they were singing with celebration. Another Righteous Byproduct From This Pandemic

RADIO SHOW:

I find myself tooting my own horn here more and more. If you met me in person, hope that happens, you will hear me deflect praise. Like with MAD Racing. There are times when I "give" advice for a project and when someone gives me the acknowledgment in front of others, I politely find a way to point outs someone else achievements. Using The Force

Having said that, THIS SHOW WAS STELLAR!! The show opens with The String Cheese covering Walking On The Moon, Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi banter, and then Purple Disco Machine covering Devil In Me. I began the show at about 5:20ish AM but this link starts from the 6am hour. My format or playlist if you will consisted of 1970's tracks, silky smooth reggae beats, and a number of female vocalist banging out cover tunes. As transition between songs, played more soundbites from Yoda Movie Quotes. They're Killer

The 16 Watt Awakening (  LINK HERE  March 18th ) has a sweet time slot with plenty of morning faithful listeners. KAFM began with only 16 watts and a few years ago was granted with a grant that pumped us up to a mighty 300 watts. The 16 Watt Awakening is one of the original shows from 1999 and has had two solid volunteers holding down that time slot. One programer is an original and the other has been around for 4, 5, maybe 6 years now. Its A Well Received Time Slot

Snow On The Valley Floor

I purposely never made reference to the virus or the fact that I should have been waking up in Vegas rather then spinning tunes. Projected positivity over the airwaves for 3 full hours. Hope Ya Stream And Please Turn It Up!!!

This Late Snow Storm Hit The Valley Thursday Before Mr Sun Came Up

Then, I received a quick fill-in call from Coach."Can you please cover the Global Groove show Sunday?" HERE is the link for ( March 22nd ) that show. Went very well by the amount of texting and phone calls. It was lively for sure and I enjoyed myself as usual. Probably had something to do with the magnetizing  trinket left by JJJ. Once again, I made NO reference to the virus and stayed clear of the soap box urges. So now you have 6 hours of stimulating music to entertain yourself with. Find That Sweet Spot Between The Speakers

Hippy Jim far right's B-Day - Me, third from the left 

DISC GOLF:

The Dude & I threw a round of 18 as this storm front was approaching. It was windy as all get out but it didn't matter to us. We only keep track of the birdies anyway. Speaking of which, I birdied the 2nd hole for the first time ever. Totally wind aided, my driver flew on and on and on. We laughed and chalked it up to the Disc Gods on our side. May never birdie that hole again. Here is a photo of The Dudes putt on 17. Funny thing about this photo is it was suppose to be a video for Tim in San Diego. Classic

Wednesday Before The Storm 

AND THE UNFORTUNATE NEWS:

I was suppose to be on the road towards Marble Colorado after my radio show this morning. But the first e-mail this morning, Gunnison Country said NO, the AirBNB organization set out some kind of notice to the tune of owners are not allowed to rent their places. Now, I'm just not one to be hunkered down on the couch. Marble was totally ideal and I planned on riding my bike, cooking fresh veggie meals, tromping around in the fresh Pow Pow, and reading my book. Marble has a current population of 57 full time residents and NO COMMERCIAL MERCHANTS. There is no virus, hardly any people, and I am happy to keep my paws to myself. So another day trip up the Grand Mesa it is. WTF

Met Steve - One Happy Dog Here 

I only hope that in 6 weeks or 6 months from now, when humans roll back out from isolation, with that full sense of freedom in our hearts, we are a little better, more empathetic towards Mother Earth, a little more productive, understanding of ourselves, more appreciative, more humble, a little more loving, then we were yesterday.

Stay Hydrated,
Cheers

Easing Back Into It, Not So Easy Really

Slowly started turning over the cranks on the commuter bike and instantly became hooked again. I love swimming but there is nothing like a casual bike ride. I am able to smile when I swim but not freely smile like while riding a bike. I am feeling stronger in the gym but not strong like grinding up a hill climb on the road bike. I feel completely in control in a plank position but nothing controls my perspective like a downhill decent on the OLD 575. I Have Focus Again

ORTHO:
After rescheduling clients from that mini hiccup in the get along, been enjoying time in the office again. Catching up with old faces, two new clients, and a couple of funny ol Silver Sneakers. Its been a really good mid month practice.

One of the new clients is a trail runner and a part time road rider. We met on the River Trail and they were going on about nagging aches and pains. I normally go into Ortho mode but I felt as if a neuromuscular massage would be rather beneficial in this case. A neuro session really depends on the clients ability to find eco-pressure with me. Take the belly of the quad ( Rectus Femoris ) were I use my elbow and begin at the origin / attachment of the muscle. I apply as much downward pressure as I can, the client contracts the muscle fully, releases, and I micro move towards the insertion / opposite attachment. I move a little, they contract, I move, they contract, through the entire functional muscle group. But the client must be able to contact the muscle fully. Its a client directed session for sure.

Another session with a Silver Sneaker went well. They were suffering from upper tramp tightness and headaches. I believe they healed themselves when I allowed them to work in the supine ( face up ) position. They explained that a massage therapist MADE them lat face down which was very uncomfortable. Their daughter recommended me "because you will listen" was their words. I truly believe that they healed themselves because I didn't take away their power. It was quite the empowering session for all parties involved. Dig That

NUMBERS:

My January numbers were solid and then February hit. Starva was even kind enough to send me an e-mail with 184miles less ridden miles then last month, 9 hours less than last month, and 2,800 less feet climbed then last. Great!! And if that wasn't enough, my annul adventure to Vegas is out the window. NCAA cancelled the March Madness Tournament for the first time ever. SUCKS

 UMPHERY'S McGEE:

Just before the world class Belly Up in Aspen shut its doors because of C-19, Umpherys did their best to blow the place up on night one of three. What A Night!! First opener was Higgins > #5. Both of these tracks are legendary cuts. Push & Pull was the next long jam and a favorite of mine. Little did I know what I was in store for. The melodic intro of Breaker began to build. Breaker is a song that I am not all that similar with but the UM boys teased Marshall Tucker Band's Can't You See. I thought that they were going into the song but pulled out of that and went deep into Cut Off and morphed that into The Police's very own Can't Stand Losing You. My Phuc-N Eyes Welled Up. That cover tune jammed into Similar Skin to put an exclamation point on the first set. MIND BLOWN

I literally had to step outside during the set break to collect myself. The night air was crisp, the stars were plenty, and all the hip youngster puffed on their vape pens. As I headed back down the staircase of the Belly Up, Little Gift was the second set opener into a signature jam Into The Kitchen. That jam teased Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away two different times during the jam. Impressive Really. As they came out of it for the second time, light show was amazingly off the hook in that room, Thin Air rounded off the 3 song opening set. I would have been satisfied had the show ended there but no. Resolution > Can't You See > Resolution > Upward > Plunger to end the set on a non-stop 45 min block of tunes. Love That

UM walks back for an encore and not just one song and boogie off. How about a 20ish minute jam of Phil's Farm > Cocaine > Phil's Farm. How do they do it? Night after night? City after city? Silky Smooth, Flawless Cover Tunes, And Jams That Suck You Without The Bottom Falling Out. Phuc-Yes Umphery's McGee

RADIO SHOW:

My next show will be Wednesday the 18th at 6am and I am itching. I'll be hosting the 16 Watt Awakening with a plethora of tunes to showcase. Yoda Willing, tasty cuts from the 70's, remix bonus tracks, and deep reggae vibes from unknown artist. You will be able to STREAM live and WEB CAM as well. Hope You Can Make It

GYM:

Lifting again feels good yet I am beyond weak. I even backed off the weight and controlled 15 reps per set. But damn it worked me. And sore, son of a witch with a capital B. My chest was so tight that I could hardly hug myself. Yes, I Do That Often

,

GOALS:

1. Hydrate Like A Mad Man
2. Steady Rides With Longer Milage 
3. Dance Like Nobody Is Watching
4. Snowshoe Around The Full Moon Time Frame
5. Contact Friends That I Haven't Seen In At Least Over A Year  

After All, We Are What We Are And We Are Just That,
Cheers

Time Is Flying By Because I AM That Busy

What Happened To February?? Wait, What Happened To January?? Its Already March WHAT?!?!?!

ORTHO:

The Ortho world took a hit this past week and I am way bummed about it.

After my San Diego trip, I was full stream ahead. I literally landed in the Grand Valley, unpacked, packed, and went from sea level to 7,200 feet in 14 hours time. MAD Racing was invited to time the Regional Youth Cross Country Invitational. Teams from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, And Idaho were lined up to tackle the groomed trails around the Odin Rec Center. Couldn't Be Happier

Live IS Good!! Working in the mornings, snow shoeing in the evenings, and sleeping in yet another bed. February was ending on a high note. No Complaints

But Monday Morning, The Chest Felt Off. Super Bummed!! That first week of March was packed in with clients, gym routines lined out, and an aggressive cycling schedule. All That Went Out The Window

Classic 

I started calling clients and they could hear it in my Southern Georgia Whiskey Cigar Smoking Voice that I was sick. Of Course, everyone knew I was in CA and promptly associated the C-19 virus. We live in such a fear base society for sure. And rescheduling is such an inconvenience for all parties involved. Another real downer was I had coordinated a video/commercial for my practice last Saturday.

Sound Asleep 

I hired a film crew and scored a willing model for simple knee and ankle release pieces to be shot. Designed a story board for how I was thinking things would flow, wrote out scripts, and was pretty excited overall. Rebooking that was a royal pain in the A$$. Sucked Really

And all of this was my own damn fault. It wasn't the traveling. It wasn't the late nights. It wasn't burning the candle at both ends. It wasn't the forgiven uncomfortable beds. It wasn't the three jobs. It WAS the fact that I didn't wash my Phuc-N hands Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday, after the relay races, a number of the head coaches sought me out while I was breaking this down and loading the work trailer. They appraised me for all of the work I put in, how I conducted myself all weekend, they complimented me on my empowering words to their racers at the start lines, the constant reassuring messages to each racer before the tag of their relay leg, and one coach asked me about a possible interview via a phone call later in the week. This means I shook a lot of hands and was starving at the end of the day. The MAD Crew had prepared homemade chili, sliced avocados, grated cheese, and tortilla chips. Covered In Germs, I Ate

What do you suppose the idea is behind SPAM Calling and SPAM Comments?? Does anyone actually bite on these? Would you really answer this call?? Does anyone clink on the SEE THE SWIMSUITS LINK or FIND YOUR NEW LOVE HERE LINK??  My phone rings about 3 to 6 times a day with these Colorado Spam Calls. I have listed my number on the Do Not Call List but to no prevail. Those Bastards

GOALS:

1. Wash My Hands
2. Eat My Veggies
3. Hydrate
4. More Fruits
5. Slowly Start Morning Calisthenics
6. Ease Back Into The Road Miles 

Its very unfortunate that it takes a deadly outbreak to remind us to wash our hands, takes an F4 tornado ripping through a grass roots town to prompt us to a Red Cross donation, or a tragic auto collision to bring awareness to just how precious life truly is.

Be Kind, Think Of Others, & Smile,
Cheers

San Diego Living

This adventure began on a Tuesday at the Old Walker Field Airport on a gorgeous Grand Valley afternoon. Not a cloud in sight and minimal wind, perfect recipe for taking flight.

Flying Over Las Vegas - The GTREEN Building is the MGM

My seat on the first leg was next to a delightful gal from all places CRESTED BUTTE. We chatted the whole 40+ minutes about everything and everyone. One of my best flights from GJ to Salt Lake City. The rest of the trip was completely uneventful. SCORE

My first order of business was hitting the Administration Building in downtown San Diego. I mailed in my $$$ and paperwork but never heard a peep back. Tim and I personally walked in and got the inevitable run around. Go To That Room, Wait In This Line, Go Over There, etc. We were then told that in order for me to become deputized we would have to wait 30 days??? Thats when I took charge. I was extremely polite and pulled the COLORADO card and explained just how happy I would be to escort those papers downstairs for all the appropriate signatures. The Clerk Says," WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN THE CERTIFICATE IS READY." Sure, Government Agency Call Me?? Sure

We left downtown and made a "quick" stop at Costco and talk about visually stimulated. That place in unreal and I had no idea about the amount of Organic items they stock. All the alcohol was relatively cheaper. Beer wise! Spirits were about the same price as in Colorado. We then drove over to the store to pick up a few miscellaneous items and realized the Spirits were almost $15 more expensive than back home. Couldn't believe the sale price on the VooDoo Ranger though. Dig That

Tim asked me to have a look at his vows that afternoon. No Problem. He had a very elementary "paragraph" and I was concerned as I am no creative speech writer. So I asked him about Amanda and jotted down some key words. Wrote out a rough sketch/outline and then asked Tim HOW HE REALLY FEELS. "Close your eyes and what do you see when I say Amanda?" I then wrote his vows and he was so stoked! He took it as his own and jumped into character immediately. You could literally see the weight lifted of his shoulders. A Moment That We Will Never Forget. The pieces were easily falling into place. Zen Baby Zen

Our Backyard Work Station - Making It Happen 

Onto BBQ'n the night away with friends and family members of the Bride And Groom. Some of the faces I remembered from previous visits and many of the attendees where from Kentucky, Sac-A-Tomatoes, and various parts of SD. So under my goals, REMEMBER NAMES, thats were I was coming from. I fixed on the association game of recalling their name 3x and associating them to their specific seat around the fire. Worked Pretty Well

Off to northern San Diego the next morning. San Diego is so gorgeous and in Full On Springtime Mode. Hillsides painted in emerald shades of green, the lush cacti was blooming, and all the erect flowers appeared so damn healthy as they wait for pollinators. Devine I Tell Ya

Arrived in the afternoon and the sun feels much hotter inland than along the coast. Duh. I was a wheeeee bit dehydrated and started pounding H2o while mixing up my detox potion. I picked a few fresh lemons and oranges of T & A's trees, fresh organic garlic, and fresh organic ginger. I grated and mixed it all together and took mom on a walk while that concoction married. We walked and she explains in great detail the workings of her neighborhood, who's who, what yards received the Yard of the Month Award, pointed out the TWO murder homes, and dropped names of original home owners that I nodded to and responded with," Oh Yeah, Those Folks." Not in a dick headed demeanor but I don't recall that stuff. So & So from 1979 hosted such & such party. But this was one of my other goals, BE PRESENT. Engage & Play Nice 

My Nieces Some 6 Years Ago - Such Kids 

Pretty wild to be back at my mothers place as it a museum of artifacts and what nots. First thing through the door she says," Welcome Home!" I didn't make any fuss but that is not my home, never felt like home, and that place carries so much turmoil from my youth. And whats with all the bells and alarm chimes?? Any door that opens has its own chime. The lamp post out front makes a doorbell sound as you walk by. And all the Phuc-N Clocks ticking and tocking! It Was So Age Appropriate

But then, There Is This Guy. All Is Right In The World. Except for him as he was REALLY trying his best to grab a little shut eye. My butt rubs were clearly wrecking his daily nap time. But he is such a cuddlier in the mornings. He jumped in bed with me and wormed around until it was Go Time. We choose to believe he likes people But In Reality, he believe every human has a treat just for him. Right

P & P & I sat out back and enjoyed a few beverages and reminisced and chatted about upcoming travel plans. Quite relaxing really. Purposely No Mention Of Politics, Religion, And Partners. Another goal was BEST FOOT FORWARD. You know, taking the high road. KISS - Keeping It Simple Stupid

This was wild!! The amount of growth over the past 30+ years was mind boggling to say the least. The above photo is where my friends and I would ride our BMX bikes to the "Trail Head" of Black Mountain. You can clearly see the road that has been cut into the hillside. Later, I heard that there is a whole new MTB Trail System on the north side of Ole BLK Mountain. Wish I Had Done My Research

I drove my mom through old neighborhoods and ended up here. This location is now a massive green grassy park above my high school. CRAZY. That pool, I spent four years practicing water polo and swim seasons in. Countless hours!! Then went on to coach Freshman High School Water Polo all through the 90's while finishing up my own collegiate career. All of of those school buildings to the right of the pool were obviously built after my time. That area was the old soccer field as soccer fields and football fields were always separated. Also, the band/drill team practiced there before taking the field during Friday Night Halftime Shows.

Everything from the ballfields on is ALL new to me. Back in the day, there was an old dirt road that meandered all the way to Del Mar State Beach. This was an all day adventure as a kid and I'll bet that my mom would have cringed had she known about this. That road housed numerous migrant working camps and she is totally fear based. I never had any problems and skated kidnappings both ways everyday during the summer months. It just wild to me to see all the business parks and residential areas now. AND What Do They Do For Water

Now, there is the famous HOF ballplayer Ted Williams Parkway that ends in Del Mar from my mom's house. Its ONLY six miles, minutes away, and offers the most spectacular bike path along the parkway. Had I known this, another missed opportunity on my part, would have rented a road bike while I was in town. Flipping Amazing

So Friday rolls around and no word from the Admin Folks. Surprise Surprise. So around 3ish I headed downtown to storm the building and create some waves. Pulled into a metered space that had 45 minutes still, NICE. Walked in and Erica says, "Your From Colorado?!?" NICE. She says she has my certificate. NICE. I only waited for about 15 minutes and she hands over my packet. Nice. The State Of California Authorized Me As Deputy Commissioner of Marriage. NICE

I captured this photo, the Admin Building as well, sent to T & A. They were tickled pink! With my certification in hand, the wedding is now officially happening. Its Party Time

Many of you may already know this, I Am A Real Gene Wilder fan. This gum-ball machine stopped me dead in my tracks. Love This

Friday around 5pm was the rehearsal dinner at The Pearl in Point Loma and the site of the ceremony on Saturday. The place is beautiful and them folks JUST finished a full on renovation. They were even installing the door locks on my room, even after I had checked in. They were apologetic but I told them that my door would be wide open until Sunday Evening. No Worries! The T & A Wedding would be the first after this renovation. EVERYTHING was brand spanking new. And The Pearl just might never see a ceremony such as T & A's again. 

The rehearsal was warm buttery smooth, the dinner was prepared onsite and deliciously amazing, and my room was quickly established as the hospitality suite. Surprise Surprise!?! The meal served consisted of perfectly roasted vegetables, mixed green salad WITH edible flowers, and savory based chicken wings. Two brews were served that Amanda hand picked out. A fantastic chewy DOUBLE I.P.A. and a Mexican logger that I shied away from. Again, another evening of laughter, dynamic friends, and sipping on the good stuff. Exceeding All Expectations

Saturday morning ( 02/22/20 ) poured rain. Poured is an understatement. The streets of Point Loma were cascading like rivers of fresh tropical water features. For me, it was bitchin to witness and I danced around like a little kid with my shoes off. I continued to reassure T & A that rain on your wedding day was a true good luck measure. And for those two, totally ideal!! They were so cool about it. About everything really. The photo below is when the first sight of sunshine peaked through from those ominous clouds just hours before. Clearing sky, postcard beautiful, and the ocean air smelled so clean. Phuc- Yes

Tim & I hung in my room while Amanda and her two daughters were treated to a professional hair and make up session. Tim casually rehearsed his vows and we laughed with all the folks popping in my room at different times. Dropping off center pieces, offering any assistance, and just having fun in general. Me, still without shoes, dress shorts, and my favorite light weight white shirt from Cambodia ventured on down to the lobby area for more meet and greets. Still doing my best to remember names. By 4pm, the photographer took T & A and kids off for their photo shoot. I took that time to crank on my 2019 birthday show by The String Cheese Incident in my room. As I was finding my center, random faces popped in to express some encouraging words or ask questions or whatever. Everyone of them scanned me over and hesitantly made the comment of " You Look ( slight pause ) Nice??.!?" Too Funny

Photo Credit - J Butterfield

Just as the magical time of 4:56pm rolled into play, Tim & I made our way down the backstair case. We stood off to the side, out of sight of the guest, and waited out the last minute seating and beverage needs. Tim's soon to be Uncle in Law came by to say some very kind words to Tim. That is when it dawned on me that I had written out this entire ceremony, choreographed our parts, went over important cues with Tim, but had absolutely no introduction. None What So Ever. Sh*T Fire!

I waltzed my way out and open with,"How About That Good Luck Charm Of A Rainy Enriched Morning??" The attendees went nuts and I knew we were in for a urbane ride!! I introduced my self and explained how the Great State of California granted me the title of Deputy Commissioner of Marriage. I told a very quick story about how Tim reached out on August 15th 2019, in my model of the world, expected the best man speech as were in Elementary, Middle, And High School classmates. " WoW, am I ever honored!!" were my exact words. I then asked for a welcoming round of applause for the mother of the Bride. Then the first set of parents of the groom and then the second set. Closed out with, "All of us are privileged to be here today to witness this ceremony. " Everyone Cheered And Clapped

Photo Credit - J Butterfield

Ladies and Gentelmen.. We hit all of our marks. I never stumbled once and spoke with grace, integrity, and from the diaphragm. T & A asked me to spare down my speech from the original as they really wanted a short, sweet, and to the point ceremony. And that is what we did. I was so proud of Tim for nailing his vows, never projected any sort of nervousness, and spoke so cool and clam while slipping on Amanda's wedding ring. As I was talking about how deep their love for each other or something to that matter, I Paused and said to the crowd, "You Know, Like A Tony Gwynn Long Ball Deep." That was a huge hit and we all took a second to laugh and honor the late T Gwynn. Complete improv moment. I am telling you, the second best wedding I have ever witnessed and by far the best wedding I have ever had the privilege of being apart of.

Photo Credit - J Butterfield 

As the parents and attendees walked towards us, you could see how "pleased" "happy" "excited" everyone was. So genuine and so kind. Hugs and photos were on the agenda for about an hour. As for me and my interactions, not one not two BUT three couples asked me if I would officiate their weddings. The other standard reply I had for everyone when asked about how many weddings have a done."Including This One Today, One." Their faces were reading pure amazement. Everyone confessed to me how great T & A appeared and everyone expressed to T & A how great I was. Throughout the night T & A & I giggled about all the positive feedback and how we gave each other all the credit. I also shared with folks about how something is really easy to do when you believe in the cause. Tim And Amanda are beyond in love and truly are best of friends. They compliment each other so well and have always looked out for each others best interest. Its Refreshing

Another huge hit that T & A pulled off was a photo booth. They hired a guy who arrived with a small trailer. The trailer had been gutted out and remodeled into a welcoming photo booth. Tons of costumes!! Each group took 5 separate photos, the pictured were developed, and then the prints were issued right out of the side of the trailer. BRILLIANT!! Take your photos, move on out to grab your photos, and makes room for the next group coming in. I am telling, fantastic addition to an already fantastic day.

Oh, dinner after the wedding you ask???? Holy Smokes!! T & A went all out!! Waiters roamed around with fresh hot samples on small pizza paddles all night long. My favorite by far were the stuffed crab cakes. Delightfully prepared chicken breast on skewers were so handy. Bite size macaroni shells stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes. Everything that passed my way was mouth watering. Everyone raved about all the desserts but I knew they would give me hiccups. Happens anytime I mix sweets and alcohol. My Lose But A Damn Good Day

The next few days were spent seeing old high school friends, previous workmates, and more BBQ'n under a moonless sky. This is the view from where I spent a majority of my high school years in San Diego. Only those two closest rows of homes ( solar panel house was the cut off house to the neighborhood ) down below existed back in the 80's. Everything else is "new" and so many humans. Again, what do they do for water?? And I never saw one person utilize that park way down there were all that green grass is. CRAZY

Drove over to the Torrey Pines State Beach and I really enjoyed that. Parked the automobile and went for a little walk. The ocean breeze was almost too cold for me but the walk was much needed. Reflecting, enjoying, and processing game plans with each step towards the future. That afternoon, T & A & I ate the most boss fish tacos. Fresh Cabbage, Fried Calamari, Mahi Mahi, and Yellowtail with fresh beans, guacamole, and homemade authentic salsa. Another mark on my goal list, BLISS OUT. We laughed together all afternoon long. Affirmative

One of those BBQ evening was beer can chicken and smoked beef ribs. The last of the remaining friends and family in town popped over. Quite a few brought dishes to add to the mix. Super casual and relaxing after a full spectrum of weekend execution. Only a couple of us lasted past the midnight hour. I happily maned the fire pit until it was just that hot coal glow. Oh Yeah

And check out that masterpiece above?!?!? I threw that sucker back in 1989 and Tim still had it in his garage. Missing a little hair, just like all of us as we age, still functional. That Totally Touched Me 

The photo above was on my last night. I shot this out the backseat window as Amanda drove us down to the Coronado Brewery. Not bad for an old iPhone6 at 35+mph. We met up with more friends that night, few more well crafted brews, and had a blast catching up. Anyway, this photo is over looking Mission Bay and Festa Island. Back in the day, Tim & I hosted a number of bon fires on Festa Island. Its been alcohol and glass free for almost 30 years now according to Tim. However, back to the evening, every brew I "sampled" at the brewery was excellent. The food was outstanding as we all shared dishes. Actually, the pizza slice I tried was just OK now that I recall it. But Totally Award Winning Beers  

Needless to say, my head never found a pillow before 1am. I call that feet maximizing your itinerary. I remember sitting here before my flight and thinking about if I was going to be able to stay awake.

Even more impressive is the fact that I am very lucky person with incredible friends. I traveled to Sunny San Diego, meet new faces, saw old friends, remembered familiar faces, and was part of a gathering that created life long memories. This, even today as I type this, fills my heart with love. Love And Friends... Perfect Combination

Departing Salt Lake City

Entering Colorado

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GOALS FOR MARCH:

1. Reflect upon those moments in time
2. Importunateness of my time
3. Define my workout schedule 
4. Express gratitude 

Thanx For Checking In,
Cheers