Orbits of a deluded mind

Well I'm stuck in the road right now waiting for an answer to a question made to my management, so I have time to write a bit.

The trip has gone well thus far. I think the fact that I'm out here as a senior engineer and advisor to my branch manager should say loads. It doesn't mean that I'm not ready to come home soon.

A couple of days ago, I drove up to meet my old friend Chris Lett and her boyfriend Jamie. They are such a cute and happy couple. Christine is an old friend of mine from my more active SCA days. We decided to meet in Castle Rock as a good halfway point. They live north of Denver in one of the suburbs. It was nice getting to chat with her about her travels and old times.

Because we weren't meeting till late for dinner, I decided to drive up Colorado Hwy 83 versus Interstate 25. I'm happy with that choice as I enjoyed the scenery of the backroads. Turns out Co 83 is beautiful but a bit more developed than I'd hoped for (I was looking for abandoned places). On the way though I did find a hidden gem, Castlewood Canyon State Park. When I pulled in, I discovered the park was practically empty. The visitor center has been closed for months by the looks of it, a victim of the state budget crisis here. The park straddles a 100 to 120 foot (33 to 40m) deep natural, boulder filled gorge on Cherry Creek. Without people anywhere nearby, it was peacefully quiet and serene beauty of the site. I wasn't impressed by the park's designated overlooks so I took advantage of lack of people to climb out onto the cliff edges to photograph the natural beauty of the canyon. Yes I know I'm fearless/crazy, don't listen to rules but it was worth every moment of it. Life's meant to be an adventure and nature to be experienced. If I get time to go back, I'll hike down the trails and head to the bottom of the canyon to get closer pics of the creek.

More adventures await!

I'm sitting in my hotel room following a very successful test exercise for work. Yea! The 'bad' news my flight from Atlanta to Hunstville (and technically the one from LA to Atlanta) was cancelled due to weather Friday. As a result, I'm flying back on Saturday morning from LA. Now I get to figure out what to do and where.

OK, so I suck at regularly updating. That's what happens when life events overcome webtime and available brain cells.

Family's doing decently enough. The possibility of moving in with Wendy was discussed and I actually saw more resistance than I ever expected from the kids. Her house is smaller and it would cause some serious issues in some manners of privacy & the kids various projects. Financially and personally it would help in some ways. Right now, it's on the back burner.

Work is going in interesting directions. I fly out Monday with my manager to observe test procedures and activities. I'm genuinely looking forward to this and think it should be enlightening in more ways than one. I'm not sure if I'll be able to post the "Nature Photo of the Day" feature while I'm away, but I'll try. I'll have my laptop from work, but the permissions on it may still block the sites. I decided that I will take my camera and try to shoot a little. There's too many places & people there that deserve photos.

As some of you know, I'm trying my hand as a show promoter and producer. No not "tried," I am actively working on show ideas. The failure to restart Sleep When You're Dead is simply due to personal requests from the previous promoters. I'll leave it at that and would beg everyone else to do the same. There will be a regional Goth show again, but it may be here in Huntsville.

I am pleased to note that I managed to get one of my favorite new artists booked to Huntsville in a few days and hopefully again in late March. Ladies and gents, spread the word - on 2/16 at Bandito Southside (formerly Bandito Burrito South), April Smith & the Great Picture Show will swing through town. This is a small warm-up gig to test the waters here. I'm hoping have a firm date for a late March when they return from the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, TX. April and her band perform a rowdy mix of cabaret, jazz, swing and indie that's nothing short of amazing. Don't take my word, the New York Post, Billboard and Rolling Stone rave about her. If you can make it to Bandito on 2/16 (8pm), you won't be disappointed! The March show will hopefully be at the Flying Monkey Theater with room to dance!.


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