The Bitterroots

I recently finished reading The Bitterroots, C.J. Box's most recent mystery novel.  The story follows Bozeman, Montana private investigator Cassie Dewell as she investigates rape charges against the black sheep of a wealthy Montana ranching family.  Dewell, a former police officer in both North Dakota and Montana, has her hands full as she discovers that the isolated county where the ranch is located is entirely controlled by that family, and continuing her investigation will endanger her life.  In writing this book, Box takes a break from his more famous Joe Pickett series, but the result is a very good thriller.  Box always writes a good story, and I really enjoyed this book.  I heartily recommend it, and suggest that you pick up a copy from your local library or independent bookstore today.

A Final Word On The National Western Stock Show

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, Denver's National Western Stock Show is over for another year.  It is a great place to take photos, especially because nobody - including the animals - seems to object.  In fact, taking photographs is expected, which is why I was able to take the photograph on the left in the Cowboy Bar - located in the middle of the cattle barn - without being hassled, as usually happens if you try to take photos of hipsters in their natural habitats.

When I went to the stock show on opening weekend, Murdoch's Junior Barn was filled with llamas and alpacas, while on Free Grounds Admission Day it was filled with a whole variety of goats, such as the one in the photograph on the right.  I myself am from the south side of Chicago, and so I have never had any experience with farms or ranches.  This is in stark contrast to my sister Susan, who when she was young, stayed on our Great Uncle John's farm near Geneva, Illinois several times, and fondly remembers how they would go to the barn to say goodnight to the cows each night.  Susan also got to go with my Grandmother and Grandfather Spillard to the horse races every Sunday, and got to stay with my Grandmother and Grandfather Hoyt once in a while, too.  However, when I came along 11 years later, I guess they had had enough of all that, and must have told my parents to just let me play outside on the streets.  But I am not bitter.  Much.

In any case, in addition to all the goats in the Junior barn, there was a pen full of sheep, too, as seen in the photograph on the left.  And as you can see, there is always one sheep who tends to stand out in the crowd.  As I walked around these animal pens, I could not help but notice that people were spending a lot of time vacuuming these animals, especially the cattle.  I just hope that they only have to do this at shows, and not out on the range. That would take a hell of a long extension cord.  And with that, I have to say that I am looking forward to attending the National Western Stock Show again next year, too.

The National Western Stock Show Winds Down

The National Western Stock Show is over after a 16 day run here in Denver.  This year I attended the event twice - on opening day weekend and on Free Grounds Admission Day.  And as regular blog readers know, free is my favorite price point.  This show is the highlight of the year for farm and ranch families, and they come from all parts of the country, especially the West and Midwest.  The photograph above shows cattle taking part in a competition, but what kind of cattle I can't say for sure.  I checked the guide but could not find this contest listed. I assume it was an "off the books" affair, probably to avoid protests by vegans.

I spent a lot of time in the livestock pens, taking photographs of the wide variety of animals on display, such as the moo cow (I am using the technical term here) named Pete, seen in the photograph on the right.  Considering that they have given this animal a name, I hope that the ranch who owns it doesn't intend to sell it to a slaughterhouse.  To me that would be just a bit too heartless. Just a bit.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the show was seeing the zebus - a rare breed of miniature cattle - two of which can be seen in the photograph on the left.  Breeders raise these animals for their beef, as pets, or as mini oxen to pull loads.  They have also been used as therapy animals in nursing homes. And once again I have to ask: Can these animals be house-broken?  If not, it has to get pretty messy if they are adopted as house pets.

Getting Together With The Old DU Bookstore Gang

This past Saturday night I got together with some of my friends and former University of Denver Bookstore co-workers for dinner and to see what everyone has been up to over the past few months.  The conversation started off on the subject of sewer lines, which homeowners are evidently responsible for between their homes and the street.  Surprisingly, I have heard a number of people talk about how replacing these pipes can cost many thousands of dollars, and makes me glad that I own a condo instead of a house.  Later on, the conversation moved to the more happier subject of travel. Jake and Valarie (the former Operations Manager of the DU Bookstore), seen in the above photograph on the left, are planning a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, and I was very surprised to hear that there are now non-stop flights between Los Angeles and Hanoi.  Wow!  Who could have imagined that years ago? Darrel (the former Accounts Payable Manager of the DU Bookstore) and his wife Linda, our hosts for the evening, and seen in the photograph on the right, are planning a trip to the south.  My sister Susan and I (along with her two dogs) are also planning a trip to the glorious southland in the fall, and I am anxious to get some sightseeing tips from Darrel and Linda.  Chris (the former Accounts Payable Assistant for the store) and Jim, the couple in the center of the photograph, have done a lot of traveling over the years, and this spring are taking a break from the joy that is air travel. I understand completely.  Great to see all you guys again!

My Mother's Birthday!

Today would have been my mother Mary's 104th birthday, if she were alive today.  She and my father Nelson moved to a condo complex called the Monterey Yacht and Country Club in Stuart, Florida, back in 1976, and they just loved it there.  Fortunately, the City of Stuart would not allow the complex to dredge the St. Lucie River to allow them to put in a marina, and so the waterfront along the river remains a peaceful respite to this day, just a few minutes walk from the condo.  I took the photograph on the left of my mother posing by the St. Lucie and the complex's pier on a visit to Stuart back in March of 1996.

My father Nelson passed way in 1983, just 7 years after my parents moved there, but at least he and my Uncle Bill (my mother's brother, who also lived at Monterey with my Aunt Elsie) had a few years to play golf together on the complex's 9 hole course, like they used to do when on vacation in Canada. My mother continued to live there for almost 30 years, and my sister Susan and I would often travel down to Stuart together to visit.  The photograph on the right I took of Susan and my mother in front of Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty, where we had dinner at least once each trip.  We always went to the early bird - as I remember, it was critical that we arrived there before it ended - and we usually walked around the marina in front of the place afterwards. Sadly, the restaurant was destroyed by one of the 3 major hurricanes that hit Stuart in 2004 and 2005.  I still want to get back to Stuart when Susan and I feel we no longer have to rent the place out for financial reasons. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.  And why are Susan and my mother posing like they are in the photo?  Just one more question that will never be answered.

Walking The South Platte

For a change of pace, I decided to drive down to Littleton, Colorado the other day and spend a few hours hiking along the South Platte River, seen in the photograph above.  Years ago, I attended a concert at The Platte River Bar and Grill, featuring a band that Marty - onetime DU Bookstore textbook buyer - played guitar for.  The place had a large outdoor venue, and I noticed a trail behind it along the Platte that looked kind of interesting.  That was 7 years ago, and yesterday I finally decided to check it out (and yes, I do tend to procrastinate a bit).  I found a parking spot at Hudson's Gardens, just down the street from that bar, and spent several hours exploring the riverside trail.  There was a lot of open space and wilderness around, unlike the riverfront closer to Denver, which consists mostly of factories, warehouses, and commercial outlets.  It definitely made for a pleasant day, and was only a short drive from Denver, too.  What could be more perfect?

Rick Steves is Returning To Denver!

Next month none other than travel guru Rick Steves - host of the PBS television series Rick Steves Europe and seen in the above photo I took of him back in March of 2018 - will be returning to Denver to speak at the Denver Travel and Adventure Show.  Rick attends this show every other year, and I am happy to report that this is indeed our year. He draws a huge crowd, mostly people around my age (my friend Doug, a former University of Denver textbook buyer, once referred to Rick as the Lawrence Welk of travel), and the line waiting to get into the Colorado Convention Center just before his talk runs all around the block.  If you buy one of his books, and have him sign it, you might get to speak with him a few minutes, but I am, of course, too cheap to do that. Last time, I did happen to pass him going into the men's room after his last lecture, but I felt it might be a bit tacky to engage him in conversation at the urinal.  But perhaps not - maybe this year that might be the best way to have a chat. Right? Right?

The Zoo - Part II

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, I went to the Denver Zoo Tuesday afternoon to take photographs, despite the fact it was overcast and chilly the entire day.  As usual, the teenage lions seemed to be most willing to pose for photographs.  There are 4 of them - all brothers, and for some reason, it was recommended that they not breed.  I suppose that is because they are juvenile delinquents.  After all, the last time I was at the zoo, one of them pushed it's backside up against a viewing window and urinated all over it, while a large group of surprised zoo visitors in front of that window took it all in.  I decided not to take a photograph of that particular incident. You are welcome.  And I want to stress that the lion in the photograph on the left is NOT the same one I posted on this blog a few weeks ago, although I must admit they all seem to look alike.  Probably because they are brothers.

Also, as mentioned yesterday, all 4 lions were inside their den one minute - roaring like mad - and outside the next, sitting on the rocks in the compound. The lion on the right decided to stay outside when the other three went in for the final time, roaring at me for some unknown reason.  And just what did I do? The zoo won't let me bring you a steak to eat, and I am not responsible for the iffy weather, so get a grip, guy.  After all, you have a comfortable, heated den to return to.  Not even the English have that.

A Chilly Day At The Denver Zoo

Although it was cloudy and chilly here in Denver today, I decided to head to the Denver Zoo anyway, because for one thing, I am not going to let a little bad weather distract me from my plans, and for another, because I didn't have anything to put on my blog the next two days.  When I got there, I saw that the zoo had left open the doors to most of the animal's inside quarters (I was going to say cages, but that would have painted an entirely different picture), allowing them to choose whether to be inside or out.  A number of them seemed to want to just hang out in the doorway, such as the giraffe in the photograph on the left.

The teenage lions seemed to be undecided about whether to stay in or out, too - one minute they would be outside, lounging around the rocks in their compound, and the next minute they would be inside, roaring at God knows what, the sound magnified by the echo in their chamber.  One of them can be seen in the photograph on the right, checking out the scene in the doorway before once again venturing outside.

The rhinoceros in the photograph on the left did venture past the doorway, but not far, refusing to go into the main compound, no doubt so that it could quickly head back to it's heated  suite (I use the word loosely here, but let's face it - it is far more comfortable than out in the wild).  In any case, many of the animals that were outside had their back to zoo visitors and did not seem to want to pose for photographs.  I suppose bad weather makes even wild animals grumpy.  Zoo personal definitely need to give them some special treats on days like this - hopefully that will make them less crabby.  It definitely works with me.

The Unlikely Spy

I just finished reading The Unlikely Spy, Daniel Silva's first novel.  It is a World War II thriller about a British college professor who is drafted by Winston Churchill into running a counterespionage campaign to thwart Nazi spies in the UK.  Not too long after this book was published, Silva wrote The Kill Artist, his first Gabriel Allon thriller, and began the series that has made him an international bestselling author year after year.  Since the book I have is a first edition of Silva's first novel, which I purchased at a used book sale, I thought it might be worth some serious money.  After all, my friend Wally bought a first edition of The Hunt for Red October, Tom Clancy's first novel, and sold it for a small fortune.  I immediately checked the internet to see how many thousands of dollars my copy of The Unlikely Spy would bring, and found that a signed first edition was worth $16.  I guess I will put off buying that villa in France, at least for the time being. Regardless, I really enjoyed this story and heartily  recommend it, even if it didn't make a fortune for me.

Lunch With Mark, Dinner With Stuart

My 67th birthday yesterday was a doubleheader - lunch with my friend Mark and dinner with my friend Stuart. In the afternoon Mark and I went to Pepper, an Asian restaurant just down the block from Denver's Tattered Cover Bookstore, where I used to work as the bookkeeper.   In celebration of the coming of spring training, Mark (seen in the photograph on the left) wore his Hudson Valley Renegades tee shirt.  The Renegades are a team in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, and are targeted by major league baseball for elimination, along with the entire Pioneer League, one of whose teams is the Rocky Mountain Vibes, who play in Colorado Springs.  This would be a disaster for the cities where these teams are located - a true injustice.  As usual, the food at Pepper was great, although since it was Sunday we were charged dinner prices even though we were having lunch.  Talk about injustice!

Later that afternoon I went for a walk with Stuart (seen in the photo on the right) around Belmar, an open-air shopping district in Lakewood, Colorado that features a variety of shops and restaurants, one of which is the Champa St. Burger Works, where we had dinner. The food there was good, too, and they had very cheap beer on tap, which is always a plus for me.  Belmar, by the way, is considered Lakewood's downtown area these days, and sits on the site of a former shopping mall called Villa Italia. Because of this history, Belmar holds the Festival Italiano there every year.  It is wildly popular, and I myself attended the event last year.  Stuart did, too, although unintentionally.  He mentioned to me that it was so crowded, it was almost impossible to find a parking spot, much less maneuver around the area. But this is perfectly understandable.  Lakewood is so boring that when something takes place there that is actually interesting, all 155,000 people who live there show up to enjoy that rare event.  Who can blame them?

For Better Or Worse, It's My Birthday...

Today I am 67 years old.  I have never been crazy about celebrating birthdays, especially since I have gotten older, and older, and older. However, unlike my sister Susan, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, I am perfectly willing to be photographed in my current aged condition, which is why I am featuring the above "selfie" that I took the other day at Denver's Washington Park.  Of course, I am 11 years younger than Susan, which makes me still just a kid.  At least at heart, anyway.

My Sister Susan's Birthday!

Today is my sister Susan's birthday.  I won't say how old she is, since she would kill me if I did.  She would also kill me if I took a current photograph of her, which explains why I am featuring a photograph of her on the day she graduated from Fort Dearborn Grammar School back in the 1950s.  The above photo was taken in front of our house in the south side Brainerd neighborhood of Chicago, with my father Nelson's Nash parked in the background.  That was one big car - hard to believe almost everyone once drove automobiles like that.  I would hate to have to parallel park that baby.  But I digress.  Happy Birthday Susan!

The Buckhorn Exchange

I took the light rail train to Denver's Santa Fe Arts District a few Fridays ago, on the way to the First Friday Art Walk.  The train stops at 10th and Osage, which is where the Buckhorn Exchange is located, as seen in the photograph on the left.  The Buckhorn was opened by "Shorty Scout" Zietz, who rode as a scout with Buffalo Bill Cody, on November 17th, 1893.  And none other than Theodore Roosevelt visited there in 1905 and asked Zietz to be his guide and hunting partner during his trip to Colorado's western slope.  I had dinner at the Buckhorn only once, when Susie and Joe, two former employees of mine at the Walden Bookstore I managed at Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard, Illinois came out to Colorado to visit. They treated my then wife Lisa and and I to dinner there, which was really nice, since this is a very expensive steakhouse.  The only other times I have been to the Buckhorn were to have drinks in the Victorian lounge on the second floor, which features a bar made in Essen, Germany back in 1857.  One warning, however - if you don't like to see stuffed animals, or thousands of antlers hanging upside down from the ceiling, or a very large collection of antique guns, you might want to avoid the place. I'm just sayin.'

Nobody Here But Us Chickens

I recently went for a walk in Denver's Lower Highlands neighborhood, and was amazed at all the new, upscale apartment buildings and condos that are being built there.  One of the people I worked with at the Tattered Cover Bookstore owns a house there - the house where she grew up, as a matter of fact - and has has often complained about the hipster crowds, the lack of parking, and the high taxes in the neighborhood now.  She says she longs for the old days, when the neighborhood was filled with crack houses, but was uncrowded and had low, low taxes. However, not all of the area is gentrified, as can be seen in the above photograph, which shows a backyard where someone is actually raising chickens.  I assume they are doing this to help pay those big tax bills. There must be a lot of money in eggs.  In fact, I think I should consider raising some on the balcony of my condo, in order to help make ends meet.  I wonder if the HOA would object?  Nah.

Spring Training Is Exactly Four Weeks Away!

It may be cold, snowy, and depressing outside, but baseball's spring training is only 4 weeks away.  Plus, my cousin John and his wife Barb have bought a home in a 55+ development in Tucson, Arizona, just a short drive from the spring training camps in the Phoenix area.  I told John that I intend to drive down there to watch all of the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies exhibition games, and stay with them while I do so at their new place.  Of course, being a sensitive sort of person, I also reassured them that I would not overstay my welcome, remembering the old adage that fish and visitors stink after 6 weeks. Which is exactly how long spring training lasts.  How perfect is that?  

Taking Llama and Alpaca Portraits At The National Western Stock Show...

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, my friend Stuart and I went to the National Western Stock Show here in Denver Sunday afternoon, and it was llama and alpaca heaven.  I have head that they can be temperamental beasts, and like to spit at you, but most of them were perfectly happy to pose for the camera, like the llama or alpaca in the photograph on the left (I really don't know the difference between the two species - they are not native to the south side of Chicago, where I grew up).

In any case, the little fellow on the right was pretty willing to have it's photograph taken, too.  Llamas and alpacas are all the rage here in Colorado, whether for their fur or usefulness in carrying supplies into the mountains, or perhaps just for pets.  I suggested to Stuart that he might want to check with the management of his apartment complex to see if they allow them as house pets, but he seemed a bit reluctant.  Perhaps he is more of a pot bellied pig man.

As for the animal in the photograph on the left, gnawing on one of the iron bars of it's pen, I have not the vaguest idea what it is.  To me it looks like a giant mole,  but what do I know?  Of course, the way it in chewing on a piece of metal, I would hate to let it loose on the furniture in my apartment. And I have to wonder just how easy it would be to toilet train one of these creatures?  I also have to wonder how they would react to being hit on the nose with a newspaper?  I am worried that not only would they spit, but they might also charge.  I think I will wait and see how Stuart makes out with his llama, first, before I adopt one of my own.

Visiting The National Western Stock Show With Stuart

My friend Stuart (pictured above with "Showman," the llama) and I took advantage of an opening weekend 2 for 1 coupon and went to the National Western Stock Show here in Denver yesterday afternoon.  It was evidently llama and alpaca day, since they filled the Junior Barn's pens, and there was a llama and/or alpaca competition going on in the arena next door.  We only bought grounds admission tickets, and did not attend a rodeo, instead opting for pizza and beer at the Old Chicago on South Colorado Boulevard.  I attended a rodeo here only once, and as Ed, my old University of Denver Bookstore director told me years ago, going to a rodeo once is interesting, but twice is a mistake.

The Mark Of The Assassin And The Marching Season

I just finished reading a two book series by author Daniel Silva, which follows the exploits of CIA agent Michael Osbourne.  The first book in the series is The Mark of the Assassin, and the second is called The Marching Season. After the second book, Silva wrote The Kill Artist, the first book in his wildly successful Gabriel Allon series, and he never looked back.  In any case, The Mark of the Assassin follows Osbourne as he investigates the suspected terrorist attack on an American airliner.  Osbourne believes it is not a terrorist attack at all, but the work of a professional assassin known only by his nickname - October.  This is a very good story, with a very harrowing finale.

The second book in the series, The Marching Season, takes up where the last book ended, and the action shifts to Northern Ireland, where a hitherto unknown terrorist group is trying to destroy the recently signed peace agreement.  Once again it appears that Osbourne is pitted against the notorious assassin called October.  I very much liked this book, but I am beginning to think that Silva has a soft spot in his heart for assassins. After all, Gabriel Allon, his most famous character, is a retired assassin, too.  In any case, I recommend both of these books for your reading pleasure.

The National Western Stock Show Parade

This past Thursday morning I headed down to Denver's 17th Street (the financial district) to take some photographs of the annual National Western Stock Show Parade. I was hoping to take the iconic (my sister Susan hates that word, by the way, feeling that it is way too overused, but I digress) photograph of cowboys herding longhorn cattle in front of Denver's Union Station, but once again failed.  The only way to take that kind of photograph is to be standing in the middle of the street, facing the oncoming beasts, but if I did that, I would probably be arrested, and so to hell with it.  I wound up with the photograph above, showing the cattle being herded past the Oxford Hotel, which was around when cattle probably still did walk past those doors on a regular basis.  And how great is that?

The 5th Hole At Monterey

The further we get into January, the more I get nostalgic about Stuart, Florida, where my mother Mary lived for almost 30 years.  When she moved there with my father Nelson  back in 1976, she did not play golf, but since the complex (the Monterey Yacht and Country Club) had a 9 hole course, which was the center of social life there, she quickly learned.  The photograph above is of my mother and I standing in front of the 5th hole, one of the prettiest on the course. It was always a scary hole - for me, at least - since you had to drive across a lagoon to reach the green, and if you fell short, you would lose your golf ball, which was always an issue back then.  The best solution was to use somebody else's ball - a floater - which had drifted to shore after being left behind by some other unlucky golfer.  That was always my system, and it always worked beautifully. And, I will have you know, if I actually did make it over the water and onto the green, I would always leave that person's ball where they might find it, and use my own on the next hole.  I do have my standards, after all.

One Cent Day At The MCA

The first Saturday of every month Denver's Museum of Contemporary Art allows Denver residents in for just one cent, and this past Saturday I decided to take full advantage, despite the fact that most of the time I find the artwork there just a little bit too weird. Surprisingly, the exhibits this month are pretty good.  All feature female Denver artists, including a young photographer by the name of Francesca Woodman. Most of her photographs are self portraits, many in the nude, with the purpose of trying to express her relationship with her environment.  Woodman was born in 1958, graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design late in 1978, and died in 1981 at the age of 22 by suicide, depressed by both a broken relationship and despair over failing to attract interest in her photography. Ironically, there has recently been renewed interest in her work.  I must say I really enjoyed seeing this exhibit.  And in addition to her photographs, one of the exhibition rooms duplicated her studio in New York, and yes, it was a mess.

Another Denver artist being featured is Flora Lewis Mayo, who came from a wealthy Denver  family and went to Paris in the 1920s to become a sculptor.  There she met Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti, and they became lovers.  However, after the stock market crash, the allowance from her father was cut and then eliminated, forcing her to return to the United States.  After this, she wound up working at various manufacturing jobs and finished her working career as a janitor in an office building in Los Angeles.  Virtually all of her artwork was lost, and the exhibit mostly contains her personal possessions, photographs, and a movie about her life. As in the Woodman exhibit, there were several wall-sized photographs, such as the one of her, Giacometti, and several acquaintances seen during happier times.  One of the themes of both of these exhibits was the difficulty women faced as artists after leaving school and trying to build a career. Is this still true today?  I don't honestly know, but in any case, I enjoyed viewing this exhibit, too.  And I must say, touring the MCA was definitely worth the entrance fee this month.

The Zoo In January

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, I went to the Denver Zoo this past Saturday afternoon, and since the weather was warm and sunny, all the animals were out and about, even one of the tigers, which have been very reticent the past couple of months. After pacing the compound for a bit, I was very pleased that the tiger in the photo on the left leaped up onto it's perch and was willing to pose for me. Next time I should probably bring a raw steak and toss it into the compound as a reward.

On the other hand, the Black Handed Spider Monkey was hanging out close to the front of it's cage, but refused to look me in the eye.  It simply stared out into space, looking glum.  You can't blame it, of course, since it is confined to such a small space with no hope of escape.  Perhaps the zoo should let zoo visitors take turns taking him or her home on the weekends.  A change of scene might be just what it needs.

What's New At The Zoo With Tatu?

Since it was so sunny and warm last Saturday afternoon, I decided to head to the Denver Zoo to take a few photographs.  Because it was the weekend and such a nice day, the place was jammed, and I am not sure how I avoided getting run over by one of the thousands of baby strollers zooming past.  In any case, I immediately went to see Tatu, the baby lion cub (no doubt named after that character from Fantasy Island), who as usual, was enthusiastically exploring his surroundings, seen in the photo on the left clutching some paperwork - perhaps a film contract - in his mouth.

Tatu is still hanging out with his father, Tobias, as seen in the photo on the right.  And of course, there was a good size crowd watching their every move. My only complaint is that neither Tatu nor Tobias would look me in the eye and pose for a proper portrait.

That is not the case for one of the four male teenage lions in the main compound.  He was quite willing to pose for a photo, as seen in the photograph on the left.  Of course, earlier, one of these four lions was leaning his backside against one of the viewing windows, and suddenly pissed right against that window where zoo visitors were standing and watching. Was this some sort of message?  It certainly wasn't a coincidence.  Zoo employees need to teach these guys some manners, for God's sake. And do it now!

Epiphany!

Today is January 6th - Epiphany - the day it is believed the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem to bring gifts to the Christ Child, after first checking in to the local Motel 6 (they were warned in advance of the problems with getting a room there).  Epiphany is also known as the 12th day of Christmas, which means you have no more excuses not to take down the Christmas tree after today.  It is also the last day I can get away with posting Christmas photographs on my blog, such as the one above of my sister Susan and brother-in-law George unwrapping their gifts in the living room of their Fort Collins, Colorado townhouse on Christmas Day.  And when was it taken?  Beats me, but definitely a while back.

A Book Of Bones

I just finished reading A Book of Bones, John Connolly's latest mystery novel.  The stories feature private investigator Charlie Parker, who lives in Maine and whose cases involve the supernatural.  A Book of Bones is the sequel to Parker's last book, The Woman in the Woods.  I enjoyed both books, and recommend them to anyone who likes both mystery novels and horror stories.  However, I advise everyone to read The Woman in the Woods first, since it provides the background for A Book of Bones.  The story involves a shadowy couple searching for a book called The Fractured Atlas, which has powers that can change, as well as end, the world.  And speaking of horrors, in the background of the above photograph is Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, one of Denver's most popular ice cream parlors and where none other than Rudy Giuliani once campaigned for the presidency.  Now that is scary.  Talk about haunted ground.

The First Friday Of 2020...

Yesterday evening I went to the First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe Boulevard here in Denver.  The crowds were much smaller than usual, but I don't know if that was because I came earlier than usual this month or because it was January.  In any case, it made it much easier to look at the artwork, and I actually saw quite a lot of good photography, especially at Neo Art Studios, Sync Gallery, and Michael Warren Contemporary, which seems to be the most upscale gallery on the street.  Of course, there was plenty of bad art, and just plain weird art, too, such as the colored light pieces seen in the photograph above.  It might be weird, but on the other hand, it is definitely colorful.  And colorful is good.

The 2020 CTA Historical Calendar Is Here!

Yes!  It's true! The Chicago Transit Authority Historical Calendar for 2020 has been released, for all to download to their computers and enjoy.  Plus, the front cover features a bus stopping at 63rd and Halsted Streets, close to my old south side Chicago stomping ground.  I went to movies at the old Capitol Theater near this corner with my family, and got on the "L" train at the station there (as seen in the background of the photograph) with my mother when we went downtown. Perhaps it will be a good year after all.  Be sure to download your copy immediately at https://www.transitchicago.com/historicalcalendar/.

Ringing In The New Year With A Leeds Soccer Match

My friend Mark (seen in the photograph above) and I watched Leeds United play West Brom in a New Year's Day match-up between the top two soccer teams in the UK's Championship League. And no - we did not fly over to Birmingham from Denver to watch the game.  We actually watched it on the television (the telly) at Mark's place. Mark has subscriptions to virtually all the sports channels and streaming services in the world, which allows him to watch every sporting contest on every continent at any time of the day or night, even the world famous penguin races in Antarctica.  And by the way, the Leeds-West Brom game finished in a 1-1 tie, with Leeds coming from behind to remain in first place, to the great joy of Mark, a truly dedicated Leeds fan.  During the game, Mark was in contact with his pals in Leeds, exchanging opinions on the direction of the game.  Of course, we south side Chicago White Sox fans don't do that.  We just sit and drink beer and suffer.  Is it a generational thing or a cultural difference?  Beats the hell out of me.  Another Old Style, please.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!  At last 2019 - with all its turmoil and partisanship - is behind us, and we can look forward to 2020, which I am sure will be a year of cooperation, compromise, and working together to improve the country and the lives of it's people.  Just kidding, of course, but we have to have some hope, right?  In any case, the photograph above is one I randomly selected from the files on my computer.  I have no idea when it was taken, but suspect sometime in the 1980s or early 1990s.  It was taken in the dining area of my mother Mary's condo in Stuart, Florida, and notable for the fact that the wall still has it's original wallpaper on it.  I wonder why it was ever removed?  I thought it added a nice touch to the place.  In any case, the above revelers, from left to right, are my mother's neighbors, Minn and Jen, my sister Susan, myself - wearing a shirt that is still in my closet, I might add - and my mother Mary.  And who took that photo? My ex-wife Lisa? Another neighbor?  The answer to that question has disappeared into the mists of time, just like those happy days.  But now it is time to look forward, right?  What choice do we have? And with that, I hope you all have a Happy New Year!