Life is a journey, not always happy or sad but always interesting. Join me as we travel the winding road via this blog, on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/mabryatpinnacol), and on Instagram (@davidmabry).
My local Regal Theatre has come up with a clever gimmick to get patrons into theatre seats on perhaps their slowest night of the week, Monday. Once or twice a month they offer a Mystery Movie Night where for just $5 a person you can see a new release with the only catch being that you don't know what you'll be watching until the credits start to roll. A friend clued us into this and we've now seen two excellent flicks: Ordinary Angels starring Hilary Swank and One Life with Anthony Hopkins. If you're looking for something a tad more substantial than Kung Fu Panda 4 then I'd highly recommend them,
Ordinary Angels is a true story based on the book by Sharon Stevens Evans about ordinary people rising up to save the life of a sick child. One Life is also about helping children but in a completely different context and the main character, Nicholas Winton, was actually featured on 60 Minutes several years ago so I was vaguely familiar with the story when the movie started but the story is so compelling that the ending still elicited strong emotions. Here too the movie is based on a book written by Mr. Winton's wife Barbara. I only mention the books as the old adage says that 'the book is better than the movie' and if that holds true I can't wait to read both.
I did experience something completely new at last night's mystery showing of One Life that I hope is a one-off and not indicative of what is to become a new norm. There were probably thirty or so folks in Theatre #3 along with my wife, our friend and myself. As the previews started to show someone in the theatre thought it would be appropriate to light a joint and share the pungent aroma with the rest of us. I have seen patrons vape during theatre shows (not to mention a certain Colorado congresswoman caught in the act on camera) but had not had the pleasure of partaking secondhand in the ganja goodness in such a setting. I guess going forward they'll have to add the prohibition of smoking pot in movie theatres to the already present restrictions on cell phone usage. Either that or the lobby concession stand can start selling dispensary offerings along with their peanuts and popcorn. Regardless, the in-theatre experience for me is still a treat and to see two such outstanding movies for only $5 is a deal too good to pass up!
I can't wait until the next Mystery Movie and best of all during the month of March Regal Theatres is offering one every week. Hopefully see you there and if you have to light up please do so outside or in the lobby. I know you'll be hungry...
News has it that today is the day to get hitched if you’re into the marriage kind of thing. Why today? Well, it’s December 31st, 2023 and the last day of the year. Need something more? It’s 12/31/23… Still not there? It’s 123123 - 123 123. Apparently some folks with romance on their minds find that series of numbers auspicious. Granted that series of 123123 won’t happen again for another hundred years and the last time it occurred was in 1923. For the guys out there who have trouble remembering their anniversary date I guess it is auspicious as it probably doesn’t get any easier to remember than 123 123. If you forget that maybe you really shouldn’t be tying the knot tomorrow after all.
‘23 will soon be in the history books and some might say good riddance. There’s certainly some fond memories (especially if you scored tickets to see Ms. Swift’s concerts) but like most years there was a fair share of the bad to balance out the good. After all this is Human history we’re talking about. What say we take a quick look back at some of what’s happened in good ole’ ‘23… See if you can tell which ones really happened:
On January 2nd Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin collapses on the field after making a tackle and needed to be resuscitated. After a remarkable recovery he would return to the football field in November.*
Mary Katharine Campbell is crowned Miss America.*
Ke Huy Quan wins the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”.*
The first report on the Teapot Dome Scandal is published by the U.S. Senate.
In March the first former President to have ever been charged with a crime is indicted by a New York Grand Jury.*
The self-winding watch is patented and the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio is founded.^
The bloodiest war between Israel and Hamas begins.*
16 people die on the second day of the Beer Hall Putsch.^
The first Presidential address is broadcast on the radio in the U.S.^
Barbie becomes the highest grossing film of the year.*
Nepal gains independence.*
The “Fate of Frankenstein”, based on the 1818 Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein opens at the Royal Opera House at Coventry Garden. The author of the novel attends the only performance based on her work that she will ever see.
Hugh Glass is mauled by a grizzly and has to crawl 200 miles for help.
Bruce Willis is diagnosed with dementia and Rosalynn Carter dies after receiving a dementia diagnosis earlier in the year.*
Simon Bolivar is named President of Peru.
Southern California beats Penn State in the Rose Bowl 14-3.^
January sees the first penalty-free game played in the NHL.^
Time Magazine publishes its first issue.^
Time Magazine names Taylor Swift its Person of the Year.*
A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the closest between 1226 and 2874, occurs on July 16th.
So a lot has happened in ‘23. You may have picked up that not all of the above happened last year, but in fact they all did happen in '23... just not in 2023. Those with an * happened in the year just past. Those with an ^ indicates events from one hundred years ago: 1923. And if you knew Simon Bolivar, Hugh Glass and Mary Shelley hearken back to 1823 then you’re a true history buff. With your good memory, and you’re single, you might just want to take that marriage leap on 123123. For the rest of us, as the old adage goes, “the more things change…”
As 2023 draws to its inevitable, and at times interminable, close we’re starting to see the usual end of year lists. Time just announced that Taylor (do we even need to use her last name anymore? Hasn’t she reached or surpassed the levels of other single moniker divas such as Cher and Madonna?) as Person of the Year. If you’re not in the know about all things Taylor I’d recommend you read the excellent article. I’d be last in line to say that what Ms. Swift accomplished with her Eras Tour and subsequent movie wasn’t incredible but her naming is as much a commentary on the lack of standout nominees this year as it is a recognition that Taylor, at the end of the day an entertainer, was the most deserving of most important person of 2023. Just look at the list of folks (or groups) she was up against: the Hollywood Strikers, Xi Xinping, Sam Altman, the Trump Prosecutors, Barbie, Vladimir Putin, King Charles III, and Jerome Powell. Ho, Ho, Hum. Admit it - reading the list you probably had to stop and think to yourself - why was this person or group even in the news this year? Either the fleeting half-life of the news cycle or the ho-hum nature of most of this list is what swiftly moves Taylor to the top of this increasingly less-than relevant award.
Did you see Taylor’s movie? I did. It was outstanding. I saw the movie because, perhaps as you already guessed, no one would confuse me for a Swiftie, and I was not going to spend $254 for a hard stadium seat that I probably wouldn’t have spent much time actually sitting in. Heck, even at the movie showing folks were hard pressed to remain seated. Instead, singing and dancing in the aisles between the very comfortable and perfectly adequate stadium seating, thank you very much, was the order of the day.
I haven’t seen Beyoncé’s Renaissance film yet only because it just showed up a couple of days ago at my local theatre and I generally wait for the opening week crowds to subside before enjoying the sounds of popcorn crunching and beverage slurping in Surround Sound. From all accounts Renaissance is also excellent and all the hullabaloo as to which film is better, Taylor’s or Beyoncé’s, is in the words of a much esteemed poet, ‘much ado about nothing’. Said poet it much be noted, would very much have qualified for the Times award if Time had been publishing circa 1589 to 1613.
At the opposite extreme of Time’s list of the famous and infamous is the sad recounting of who the world lost in the last year. 2023’s losses were anything but ho-hum. Way too long to list here but I’ll mention just a few: Sandra Day O’Connor, Henry Kissinger, Rosalynne Carter, Matthew Perry, Norman Lear, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, and for those with the ability to dance or at least an appreciation of those that can, Len Goodman. Can Barbie or AI (Artificial Intelligence aka Sam Altman) compete?
Granted, we’re only a couple of years removed from the pandemic which for many of us will be remembered as perhaps the most ho-hum period of our lives. Too many of our recent years look best in the rear view mirror as they rapidly disappear from memory.
Our politicians promise, as they always do, better times ahead and even that jaded promise seems ho-hum given the condition of the world today. I watched the Republican Debate the other evening (I think it was just me and one other guy in Boise and I think he slept through most of it). The ‘Hollywood Strikers’ who made the Times list would have been hard pressed to have come up with anything remotely close to the political farce that was on display.
My wife and I, both getting into our ‘Golden Years’ (whatever that means), both agree that it is perhaps time for a younger generation to try their hand at running a very complex and difficult world. Not that we believe that a newer generation necessarily has any better answers than any preceding generation did. If that was the case the world’s problems would have been solved long, long ago (remember the ‘Greatest Generation’?). Still, if what was on display was any indication of what the 'next' generation is offering it's no surprise that the winner of the debate, at least according to the pundits, was the one person who most should have been on stage but was conspicuous by their very absence. Ho-hum.
Speaking of entertainment, we were in downtown Littleton a couple of days ago perusing the retail Holiday offerings and had a chance to meet Mr. Claus sitting in his updated sleigh. We also chanced upon some Carolers who treated us to a rousing rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. They raised the bar from ho-hum to Ho! Ho! Ho! at least for this jolly old elf (me). The Carolers will be making the rounds in downtown Littleton every Saturday and Sunday in December between noon and 3 if you're in the mood for this kind of Holiday cheer. I love Christmas Carols so I'll leave you with a short video of one of my favorites - Silent Night sung by Sinead O'Connor who also sadly left us in 2023. Hopefully in 2024 there will be less of the ho, ho-hum and more of the Ho! Ho! Ho!
In my neck of the woods, actually more like my neck of the prairie that Denver, Colorado really is, its leaf raking season and has been for, oh, the last month and a half. And, at least in my backyard, leaf raking season is still far from over.
The local T.V. (For those of you who still actually watch such a thing) weather prognosticators had forecast a winter storm to pass through last night and into today with wind and a mix of rain and snow. Instead we woke to sunny skies and dry conditions and nary a breath of wind. The only movement of the leaves outside my window are from the intrepid squirrels going about whatever their business is this time of year.
What was Einstein’s definition of insanity?
I was counting on the wind to finally (did I mention its been a month and a half?) knock down the final leaves off our trees so that I and my beautiful wife could put the finishing touches on having a leaf-free yard before the serious flakes start to fall.
Not that anyone’s counting, but I’ve now raked the leaves that have fallen at least four or five times. I’m sure the garbage man that collects our lawn bags full of leaves is wondering if we have a leaf production facility in our backyard and the answer is yes, yes we do and it has been operating in overdrive this very mild late summer/early fall that we have been experiencing this year.
And still when I gaze upward into the branches of our willow, oak, and ash trees I still see a plentitude of leaves just waiting to tumble down and cover my lawn anew. I grew up in New England where leaves know how to behave. When its time for them to fall, they fall. You rake them up into big piles, the kids run and jump into those piles, you rake them up again, and then you’re done.
Perhaps I should mention that I don’t just rake my leaves. Ours get special treatment. I mow them, blow them, vacuum them and mulch them before they get bagged. The only thing I don’t do is wash and dry them. Back in the day in New England we’d burn the piles after raking but I’d guess in today’s world that’s now taboo. And here in the West burning of anything, especially in one’s back yard, is a serious no-no.
A couple of years ago my beautiful wife had the brilliant idea that we should put river rock around our backyard deck as it would make lawn maintenance easier. What she, and yes I, failed to consider come Fall was trying to get the fallen leaves out of said river rocks. Granted it did make LAWN maintenance that much easier as there is less grass to mow, but the work involved in removing the leaf litter from the rocks has me thinking it may be time to invest in a chain saw and eliminating the heart of the problem - trees. When we moved into our humble abode many years ago our backyard was not landscaped unless you consider mud your thing. So we dutifully laid sod, created flower gardens, and planted trees. Small trees. Very small trees. I’ll let you in on a secret - just like kids, trees tend to grow (and grow, and grow) and before we knew what hit us we were in the leaf making business big time. If they taxed my leaf production Prop HH (if you’re not from Colorado, never mind and be glad) wouldn’t have needed to be on the ballot.
Even the wind hasn’t cooperated this year. Usually if I wait long enough a strong wind will come along and make my leaf problem my neighbor’s leaf problem which in my book means problem solved. Of course if the wind changes direction his problem becomes my problem but at least I have a 50-50 chance which are better odds than you’d get on our beloved Broncos.
You’d never know that I mowed yesterday
They taunt me. I’m sitting here writing this and I see them, one leaf at a time, slowly fluttering down. I can almost hear the trees laughing at me. You’d never know by looking at my lawn that just yesterday I had mowed them all up in anticipation of the winter storm that was not to be. Just in the time it took you to read this sentence I could fill two or three bags full of leaves.
I know, I know. Just suck it up, pull out my big-boy rake and get after it. Which I’ve put off long enough while writing this blog. I mean, it’s either that or move to the coast and buy a boat.
From my house to yours Happy Raking and may the wind always blow towards your neighbor.
A common enough question, at least in a sane world, but becoming increasingly problematic given the seemingly ever-increasing global turmoil.
Like one heck of a lot of retirees my wife and I had envisioned doing some traveling in our ‘golden years’ (whatever that means) and so far we’ve been moderately successful save for brief interruptions from things like COVID. We often get asked the question of where we’re from out of most folks natural curiosity or simply as a conversation starter. Innocent enough on the surface but more challenging than ever to honestly answer. Why? What’s wrong with simply saying “We’re from Denver, Colorado!”? The short answer is that it immediately shares our nationality - American.
Years ago we were on a trip that stopped briefly in Nicaragua that to put it mildly has had an interesting relationship with the good ole’ U.S.of A and were told that if asked where we were from we probably didn’t want to acknowledge our true country of origin. So, just like that, I became Canadian, eh. If anyone pressed, especially since I don’t really sound Canadian, I was from Vancouver, just across the border from Seattle. Point being that most Nicaraguans are perhaps not up on their Canadian geography and more importantly Canadian accents to truly know what someone from the beautiful city of Vancouver actually sounds like.
Why Canadian? Well, most folks like Canadians and for the last couple of centuries Canada hasn’t dominated global happenings and all the political and military baggage that comes along with that. Simply put, Canadians are usually not a target when traveling. Americans are.
This Spring, while on a cruise in the Caribbean, I was again asked the “where you from?” question. I thought I’d try the “Canada, eh” response and see if I was any more successful at convincing this nice Antiguan (or whatever the proper designation is for someone from the paradise that is the island of Antigua) than I had been with the Nicaraguans. Now, he didn’t immediately tell me that I didn’t sound Canadian. Instead, what he did tell me, was that I didn’t look Canadian. Hmmmm. My travel advisor hadn’t trained me on how to look Canadian or conversely, not look American. Stereotypes aside, what does a Canadian look like? I mean, granted I’ll never be confused with Wayne Gretzky, but can you tell that William Shatner, Michael Fox, and Justin Bieber (and many more very famous and accomplished people) are all from the Great White North just by looking at them?
We were in Morocco last year, the city of Marrakech to be specific. Depending on the political climate at any given time Americans might or might not be welcome in this beautiful country at the northern tip of Africa. Wandering the streets of the old town we were approached by two young men who, speaking English, wanted to take us on a tour (notwithstanding the fact that we were already on a tour!). I pretended not to understand them and inevitably when they asked, in English, where I was from, I immediately proclaimed “Deutschland!” (Germany) and in my best 7th grade German asked them “sprechen sie deutsch?” (Do you speak German?). They didn’t buy my being German any more than the Nicaraguans or Antiguans bought my being Canadian, eh, Fortunately our Moroccan Tour Guide (did I mention that we were already on a tour?) intervened and we were on our merry way.
All this is a long way of getting to the fact that we are scheduled to head to Europe in December to take one of the trips on our retirement bucket list (“bucket list, eh!” - see… I really can pass for Canadian!) and with the state of world affairs are starting to recognize that once again we may well be persona non grata (unwelcome) based on our nationality. As our State Department points out: Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. Meaning don’t stand out in the way you look or sound. If our travel history and my laughable efforts is any guide that will be easier said than done.
Anyhoo (as one of my former coworkers used to say), I thought I’d share a short video of a trip we did this Fall much closer to home where no one asked us where we were from. Granted it was only a couple of miles from where we live but the bottom line is that it was a glorious Fall day to get out and see the autumn colors from a different perspective. While you watch the video I’m going to be busy digging through my closet to find my toque (stocking hat) that proves I’m from beautiful Banff, Canada, eh!
I was waking up this morning to a cup of hot tea, warm oatmeal with fresh blueberries, and my local paper. I don’t often read the physical print edition anymore having subscribed to the digital version some years back. But, just like with books, I love the tactile sensation of turning a physical page of a newspaper so when the Denver Post offered a deal giving digital subscribers the print edition of the Sunday Post at no cost I was excited to again lay my hands on some actual newsprint.
I know the Post didn’t make this offer out of the goodness of their corporate heart. This time of year, heading into the Christmas gift-giving season, the savvy minds at the Post knew they had to get the Sunday ad supplement in front of the eyeballs of subscribers and since digital only readers probably skip the ad section entirely this seemed like a good way to do it. Used to be that the ad supplement this time of year was thicker than the actual newspaper and I admit to actually enjoying browsing through the ads seeing what was hot and what was not for the upcoming Yuletide season. Nowadays advertisers have too many other options to divert your attention so even with this latest promotion the ad supplement as well as the newspaper itself remain woefully thin.
Still, amidst the stories about doom and gloom that seem to be what our world is all about these days, one advertiser did successfully catch my eye and no, it wasn’t because of the two attractive and young models who seemed somewhat at odds with the message of the ad. Skechers, which bills itself as “The Comfort Technology Company” shares the tough task, like all shoe companies, of continually coming up with something new so that their CEO’s and CFO’s don’t have to go into their quarterly earnings calls sweating bullets. The ad that caught my eye this morning didn’t so much tell me what their ‘new’ product would do for me as it bragged about what I wouldn’t have to do if I spent my hard-earned money on their newest offering. Like, not bending over. Like, not touching my shoes. Like, no kidding. Now Skechers didn’t invent the slip-on shoe (or as they are marketing it - the “slip-in”) which has been around Like, Forever. But they have brought not having to do anything to do something to a new, and I would argue, lower level. “Putting on your shoes has never been easier. No bending over. No pulling them on. No hassles.” In short - “Effortless Comfort” can be yours for only $75-$90 (yeah, I looked up the price on their website).
I know, I know - there are many among us who on any given morning roll out of bed and wonder how we are going to face another day let alone deal with the aches and pains that make bending over and touching shoes sometimes problematic. But see, here’s the thing. The two attractive and young models didn’t look the type who would have any issue at all in bending over to touch their shoes. In fact they looked fresh out of a Yoga class where contortions like ‘Downward Facing Dog’ and ‘Happy Baby’ feature prominently. In fact, they looked like they were headed for a Lululemon photo shoot and somehow took a wrong turn and ended up hawking footwear products that allow you to “Go Hands Free”.
And what about the fine (and perhaps soon to be lost) art of shoelace tying? How will our kids ever become functional adults if they never learn “Loop, Swoop, and Pull!”? We’ve already lost kids being taught how to write in script and now this? If I wanted to be really snarky I’d say that Skechers is contributing to the ruination of our future leaders but I’ll pass since our current leaders can’t seem to walk and chew gum at the same time which is in itself another long-lost art.
Meanwhile, somewhere back in reality-land my better half and I just returned from back East where we rode our bicycles from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. along the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath. And yes, there was much bending over and touching of shoes. No kidding. It’s trips like this that I hope will allow me to be able to tie my own shoes for many years to come. The video below shares some of our snapshots from the trail. We rode the route with a group of 12 through a company called Wilderness Voyageurs which as far as I know is making no claims other than offering great cycling vacations across the U.S. And our two guides Rachel and Jodie ably guided this group of shoe-tying bender-overs through three States and the District of Columbia.
Oh, and one more thing - did you notice the footwear on the model on the right? What does it feature? Tied Shoelaces!!! Score one for some factory worker somewhere who apparently still knows how to “Loop, Swoop, and Pull”.
Nebraska's tourism slogans have ranged from "Nebraska Nice" to "The Good Life" to the current "Nebraska: It's not for everyone." For someone like me who's only real exposure to Nebraska has been driving through it on Interstate 80 I've never put any of the slogans to the test but from behind the steering wheel of a car whizzing through what appear to be endless fields of corn I'd have guessed that I'd lean toward the latest incarnation.
Still, thanks to an Instagram ad, I had been enticed to sign up for a two-day bike ride deep into Cornhusker territory and miracle of miracles had actually been able to convince my wife to join me. Starting in Lincoln, which is the capital, the Goldenride would see us bicycle on the Homestead Trail south to the small town of Beatrice, spend the night camping in a bucolic park and then return the way we came. 88 miles of riding over two days which by September should be eminently doable for any cyclist who has put in even a modicum of in-the-saddle training on their two-wheeled steed. And better yet, the Homestead Trail is almost pancake flat which for this Colorado boy would be a pleasant change from riding the type of Colorado terrain perhaps better suited for an elevator or ski lift.
The ad promised sunny skies and warm - not hot - weather, live music, craft beer, delicious food, and a football watch party where the Cornhusker fans (of which there were many) could revel in University of Colorado Coach Prime leading the Buffs to their second consecutive win. I guess "Victory: It's not for everyone" also rings true for Nebraskans. But I digress...
The weather certainly lived up to the hype with temps in the 70's and low 80's, sunny skies as promised, and little wind. All in all a cyclist's dream forecast. A group of around 250 set off from downtown Lincoln not quite at the crack of dawn with most reaching Beatrice by early afternoon where we set up our tents in the very pleasant Chautauqua Park. There was even a shower truck provided complete with supplied soap and shampoo and most importantly, hot water. Food trucks were on hand to fill hungry tummies or you could take a shuttle to some of the other culinary establishments in town. All I can say is that there was a tad less corn in the fields by the end of the day. And the Tidball-Barger Band wasn't half bad either.
Did I mention beer? The free shuttles did a booming business taking folks to the local drinking establishments which I am sure were most appreciative of the unexpected but more than welcome crowd of folks a wee bit thirsty after battling 40+ miles of crushed limestone trail. Perhaps the only downside to Goldenride 2023 was that some of the already quite gregarious cyclists returned to Chautauqua Park somewhat more boisterous than when they left such that the start of 'quiet hours' in the park were delayed by an hour or two... or three. Still, I can understand they had to drown their sorrows from that afternoon's loss on the gridiron and the good news was that by next morning no one seemed much the worse for wear.
The ride back to Lincoln was uneventful and peaceful as the miles slowly passed by beneath or wheels. The trail looked vaguely familiar from what we had experienced the day before (it's an out and back ride after all) but going the other direction one was able to glimpse nuances and perspectives different from the prior day.
All in all, the Goldenride Bikefest delivered on everything it promised and offered a type of ride and terrain (rails to trails) not readily available in Colorado. If I hadn't been on the Goldenride I'd probably have been doing a gravel race in Gunnison that same weekend but I've got to say taking a break from the competition-focused events of my home State was a luxury much appreciated. And kudos to the organizers for putting on such a well-run event. On a spin from the new Nebraska slogan, they got it right when they advertised their ride: "Honestly, it's for everyone."
