Blog-azic

Much has happened since my last post... First, Susan and I are engaged. It was quite unexpected for the both of us. After work one Friday (December the 20th), I was talking to Susan as she prepared to go out for dinner. I thought her eyes were mesmerizing, and the question just popped out of me! Second, we rescued a puppy that was found a stray by a few friends. His name is Benji, and he is a beagle mutt. He is now about 5 months old. Third, and finally, I have been doing a lot of traveling! Last week in Philly (CHOP upgrade) and this week to Maricopa, where I hope I can solve some ongoing and quite troubling problems. I've been troubleshooting this since Christmas eve!

Day hike near Ouray, CO - Wednesday, July 24, 2013 We scrambled, one after another, in file - if two can constitute a file. The hillside was shattered into pieces: bits of shale that crinkled like glass as I set down the point of my walking stick. Mine was smooth, chest high, relatively straight. But hers was short, and twisted at the top. "I want this one because it has character," she told me. I can say the same of you, my dear. So, we went up Bear Mine Trail. I was not expecting the steep ascent. Defiant pines stood, straight and tall; wicked, grotesque oaks sprawled. And the path! No, not a path, but only the idea of a path, a thin trickle of smoke. We clung to the mountain side, she leading me. Below us, a blue creek churned white over boulders. Across the gully, a sheer rock wall. Above, the sun beat down. My shirt soaked through. A deep longing from inside: too much coffee this morning. I was light headed and hungry. Soon we reached the old mine. The land