I’m sad today. Yesterday I found out my friend, David, died on the 20th. I met David at an HIV support group in the early nineties. The last time I saw him at the gym we made tentative plans to meet for lunch or dinner. David hadn’t been at the gym for a month or so, which was not unusual given that his job often consumed his life when deadlines were pressing. David was diagnosed with cancer about three weeks prior to his death. He was told he had six months to live. He made travel plans with his partner, Brad, but died before they could depart. David’s memorial service will be held on Wednesday afternoon. I think I’m going to have a quiet day baking or working in the garden.
Archive for July, 2012
David
Posted in friends on July 29, 2012| 1 Comment »
Neighborhood News 7/26/2012
Posted in neighborhood on July 26, 2012| 1 Comment »
There are four houses for sale on our street. The house to our north is now on the market. The wife of the couple is a real estate agent so it’s for sale by owner. She wants to move because the ranch house behind theirs is being scrapped and replaced by a two story. I not thrilled about having a two story being constructed on that lot but our bamboo provides a lot of privacy.
Bitch across the street’s house is languishing on the market. Everyone thinks it’s overpriced. Bitch finally lowered the asking price by 20k. No offers have been received. It looks like we’re stuck with her for now.
There’s a rumor circulating in the neighborhood that the rich guys who bought the mansion are spending $32 million on renovations. The neighbors are stunned that they are spending this much money but it takes a lot of cash to renovate a 33,000 square foot mansion on six acres. They’re flying in European craftsmen to work on the project. A double wide construction trailer is now sitting on the front lawn just behind the hedge.
Downsizing Again, and Again, and Again
Posted in my life, work on July 23, 2012| 1 Comment »
The company continues to lay off people. Every week there is news of another round of terminations. The other QA Analyst in Colorado had his contract cancelled at the beginning of July. That left my peer in New Jersey and my manager, Mrs. C. Mrs. C got fed up with the management team across the pond in Ireland so she found a new position in the R&D department. She’s currently negotiating her release date for her new position. When she leaves I’ll report to a man in Ireland who I’ve never met. It will be interesting to see what happens when Mrs. C leaves. I have a feeling that my job will be moved to Ireland and my contract will be cancelled. I guess it’s time to revise my resume.
Looking Forward
Posted in garden, my life on July 21, 2012| 1 Comment »
Sometimes life can be as bleak as a hot cracked paved street next to a succulent garden. We have to hope that a better day is around the corner. I’m having a sad day so I spent so time in the garden. I felt much better after admiring nature’s beauty.
Another Senseless Act Of Violence
Posted in my life on July 20, 2012| 1 Comment »
It’s a sad day here in Denver. We’ve had another senseless act of violence. This time it’s at movie theater. The last time it was a high school. Say your prayers.
Moth?
Posted in my life on July 16, 2012| 2 Comments »
I found this bug on the front porch. It hung around for a few days. I’ve never seen one before. It reminds me of the Talk Talk’s Colour Of Spring Abum cover. Any idea what it is?
Updates 7/16/2012
Posted in friends, my life on July 16, 2012| 1 Comment »
Mike went back to work even though he doesn’t have a hip. He still gets IV antibiotics every day. He can’t get out of his BMW without help so he’s buying another car. I saw a new Acura SUV in his driveway on Saturday.
Brian, a friend who moved to Ohio a few years ago, was in town for a few days. Brian borrowed Pam’s Cherry Creek house for a small bring your own liquor cocktail party on Thursday night. Brian is known for doing things on the cheap. It was good to see him and catch up.
Jackie and I went to the member’s preview of Now Boarding at the Denver Art Museum on Saturday morning. The show details the history of airports and the construction of five airport projects by Denver based Fentress Architects. It was a fantastic show. Jackie has photographed several Fentress projects in Denver. After lunch I took Jackie to the Botanic Gardens to see the new bamboo sculpture exhibit. We had a fun day hanging out. We made tentative plans for a photo shoot at junk yard near Ft. Collins.
I met up with Brian and his friend, Tom, for a really late brunch at Steuben’s on Sunday. We headed over to beer bust at the Wrangler after brunch. Eight dollars buys a cup for all you can drink draft beer. The bartender with the mohawk gave me a bottle of water since I was not drinking. I left Tom and Brian at beer bust a little before six to head home.
It was a fun weekend and I’m having trouble getting back into work mode this morning.
Cover The Nipples
Posted in my life on July 12, 2012| 2 Comments »
There comes a time in every man’s life when he should stop wearing wife beaters in public. I gave them up a number of years ago. That time has also come for an infamous gay personal trainer/escort/masseur who gained notoriety when he went public with a three-year affair with an evangelical preacher. The guy works out at my gym. He usually wears a bright colored nipple exposing skin tight spaghetti strap tank top. The guy is in good shape for a man in his mid-fifties but the skin tight wife beater and fading dye job convey a look of a man desperately trying to hold on to his youth. Nothing could be sadder. It’s time man up and cover up the nipples when working out.
From Fires to Floods
Posted in my life on July 10, 2012| 1 Comment »
The relentless heat wave was ended last Friday by a cold front that brought cooler temperatures and much needed rain. Most of the wild fires are out or are almost completely contained. The monsoon season finally started. A whole new set of problems were brought on by the rain. The rain came in torrential downpours that started on Friday and continued until Monday afternoon. Streets flooded, canyons were closed by rock and mud slides, Cherry Creek overflowed its banks and ash from the recent fires was washed into waterways. The intense rain storms have calmed down for now. There still may be a few mild late afternoon showers every day but the violent storms have ended for now. The cold front has moved on only to be replaced by a high pressure system that is bringing hotter temperatures in the 90s. There’s nothing like summer in Colorado.
Cowboys and Frat Boys
Posted in family, my life on July 8, 2012| 1 Comment »
The wedding weekend was a drama free. K and I were on the go all weekend but we had a lot of fun. The weekend was filled with breakfast reunions, lunches, dinners and running last minute errands.
The rehearsal dinner on Saturday night filled a private dining room at the Strater hotel. The groom’s guests were dressed in coat and tie while the bride’s side was dressed more casual. I’ve never seen so many cowboy hats at a sit down dinner in my life. The bridesmaid’s husbands were cowboys while the groomsmen were the groom’s fraternity brothers. Several touching speeches were given. The groom’s father read a proclamation from the Kansas City mayor. A 1970’s singer, who is famous for a song about tying yellow ribbons on trees and is a friend of the groom’s mother, sent a congratulatory video. The food was excellent and liquor flowed like water.
The wedding was held late in the day on Sunday. The bride’s father and grandfather built a gazebo for the ceremony in a meadow shaded by a grove of trees. The reception was held in the sprawling two story ranch house that sits on top of a hill with west facing breath taking views of the valley below. The dinner was served under a tent that was erected outside of the six car garage that the caterer used for staging. The after dinner dancing was held in the spacious ranch house’s great room. The non-dancing guest congregated around the bar and fire pit on the terraces that flanked the rear of the house. K and I stayed until the end.
On Monday we met K’s parents for breakfast and then drove back to Denver. K flew back to St. Louis on Tuesday morning.
The Corporate Slave 