And so it goes . . . time that is . . .

Good Morning from the mountains of AZ,

Wow! It is mid-month in the New Year already. It is difficult to believe how fast time seems to be hustling along. The last few days I have been reflecting on what it means to be 64 years old (almost, but in my 64th year). I think about how old folks use to seem at this age when I was younger, and also, how they are perceived today with all the changes in diet and exercise, etc. Guess that I have been lucky, appearance wise, in that for most of my life I have looked about 5-10 years younger. This doesn't come from my own delusions but from othe people's comments.

Just this week a couple of younger folks who work out at my gym were genuinely shocked when I told them my age. The problem is that I do not feel all that junior, especially when I look in the mirror in the morning.

However I am viewed, the fact is that I am on the downhill side of life even if my youngest daughter wishes to deny it. I know all that crap about "you are only as young as you feel." One thing that bugs me the most about all this is the way you are perceived by the opposite sex, especially those a bit younger. And, I am not talking about pedophilia, just folks who would have fallen into my old "10 year down rule." I do not mean a woman who is younger than her 40s, 50s, or low 60s. They do not seem to be interested anymore, or at least the one's I'm interested in pursuing. I am not the least bit interested in a "matronly" looking woman of my age, as it seems a former relative by marriage seems to be. So, I will just plug along.

On another front, my daughter Natasha and her husband will be on their way to Japan (Okinawa) for a government job he has secured. This is great news for them as it will get them out of Flagstaff where there are few meaningful employment opportunities for them. They are both excited about the change. Natasha is an inveterate traveller so the new horizons will give her a chance to experience the Orient (as we use to call it, now more PC, Asia). I will miss having my daughter so close and treasure this almost two years (by the time she leaves) that we have had together. I wish them the best on their new adventure in life.

A week, or so, ago I got to visit my good friends the Henrys, Bob and Cindy, down in Goodyear, AZ at the foot of the Estrella Mountains. Last March was my last visit with them. As usual we had a good time together. I miss seeing them more often. What with Bob working as a Ranger in Denali Park in Alaska, it is difficult for us all to get together.

Cindy & Bob Henry, Goodyear, AZ

We are expecting a whole week of snow storms beginning Sunday night/Monday morning. The predictions from NOAA are anywhere from 3-7 feet accumulations. If htat happens that may put everything to a stop here in Flagstaff. The first major storm that dropped 2 feet in December nearly did that. The good thing is that it bodes well for skiing here. The downhillers will have great conditions at Snowbowl, and we XC skiiers should profit as well. The only problem will be getting out there if they do not get the roads plowed.

Me and Jon Marie at Flag Nordic Center

As far as XC skiing goes, I hit that magical mark last Sunday while skiing with my friend Jon Marie. I have now broken even on my season pass to the Nordic Center. This is the earliest that has ever happened, and in many years have not gotten to the even point.

Movies: I have seen only two in the New Year, one only fair, and the other not that good at all.

It's Complicated is an OK comedy for us "older" folks with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. It is amusing in places but drags a bit. It might be something for your "Netflicks." The other, The Book of Eli, with Denzel Washington is another of these Apocalyptic films that seem to be in vogue presently. Even though I like him, I found the story stupid. Gary Oldman plays his usual menacing "bad guy." I think you can skip this one unless you are "into" the violent scenes. Besides we never find out where Eli learned all the marshal arts he displays. This was definately a waste of Denzel's talents and my time.

That's it from beautiful downtown Flagstaff . . . Ciao All!

Happy New Year!

Good Morning Folks!



Happy New Year and farewell to the the first decade of this century. It is not difficult to remember the worry coming into this decade and the century, the Y2K hubub. Remember when everyone was worried about the computers of the world crashing. Also, there was 9/11 early in this decade and for most of it the debacle of having George HW Bush as our president. His war and greedy buddies on Wall St. took us from prosperity to the end of the decade in financial ruin, almost another great depression.




Personally, I lost relatives and friends during this ten year span, most important of which was my mother in 2006. I will forever miss her.





As a nation and culture we lost scores of cultural icons such as Walter Cronkite, Ted Kennedy, George Carlin, and many others too numerous to name. For me many of these deaths ended the era that I grew up in, especially those political and entertainment figures that represented those times for me. Their demise has changed my world, and in a way that makes me feel set adrift somehow.




The positive aspects of these last ten years exist as well. My youngest daughter got married, another granson appeared on the scene and I retired after 27 years of teaching college. I moved from Prescott, AZ to Flagstaff after retiring. In additon, I got to spend 9 of the last ten years as a Park Ranger in Grand Teton National Park. In this last year of the decade I bought a condo here in Flagstaff. So I actually own something, or at least my name is on it, the bank really owns it.

Tasha & Jason, a year after wedding


As a last artifact of the year 2009 I list my top ten films. My main criteria is that I have had to see them in a movie theater myself. One problem with that is I have missed some great films that did not make it to my location. In addition, some very good films that have already won awards for the previous year did not go into general release until January 2009. Some of these that I did not rate were The Reader, The Wrestler, Grand Torino, and Nixon/Frost. Almost all of these would have been in my top ten. So here goes. . .



1. Avatar
2. Up in the Air
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Inglorius Basterds
5. Invictus
6. Star Trek: the Beginning
7. Summer Hours (French)
8. 500 Days of Summer
9. Is Anybody There (British)
10. this is a tie between Brothers, and The Blindside

Honorable Mention goes to Michael Moore's documentary, Capitalism, A Love Story.


My movie count was down from 93 viewed last year in theaters to 62 this year.



Now it is on to a new decade and whatever adventures that brings to us all. Let us hope that President Obama can turn things around and that we get out of all of these wars.


As we use to say back in the 60s, that is 1960s (oh so long ago it seems now) . . . Peace and Love!