Back

I'm back from Durango CO. What a long drive.... The service for Robin was sad.

Both on the way there there are back I stopped at the accident site. It's a surreal mixture of car pieces, EMT gear, childrens toy's and pieces of a life now gone.

I left flowers on the way back.

It makes me sad.

New tent

I've been replacing gear that my ex wife took when we got divorced. Surprisingly, she found it necessary to take all the new gear we had bought or gotten as wedding presents...

Last year I just made sure to backpack with people who had a tent, like Ana and Rebecca. I used my REI dividend, plus a 20% off single item special running until April 3.

It should be a fun summer.

Terri

Not me. Put a pillow over my head and get it over with. I'd rather be dead.

Random from the web

Water change for fish tank

I did a 25 gallon water change in the fish tank. It's something I'll need to do about once a month. What a mess...I'll have to come up with a better method for next time.

Tuesday I'm driving to Bayfield for the funeral. I should be back either Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon.

No wife

Parked in front of the gym was this fantastically good looking yellow ferrari with license plates that read: "NO WIFE".

Random from the web

Robin Demko killed in car accident

Robin was killed in a car accident this week. I'll be going to the funeral in Bayfield, CO Tuesday - Thursday. Here is the text from the local paper:

March 25, 2005
Bayfield woman dies in crash
By Dominic Weilminster Herald Staff Writer

Bayfield resident and incoming chief financial officer for Durango-based Brainstorm Internet, Robin Ann Demko, was killed Wednesday evening in a crash between Center and Del Norte on Colorado Highway 112. She was 36.

Demko was traveling back to Bayfield from the Denver area. Inside the car with her 4-year-old son Alec, 1-year-old daughter Clarice, and 5-year-old niece Zoe Hoban, of Lakewood, said Phil Bryson, chief executive officer for Brainstorm, who relayed information from family members and friends whom he said were too shaken up to speak to the Herald Thursday.

Demko suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Norman Haug. The three children riding in Demko's car were all transferred to Rio Grande Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and released, Haug said. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of Demko's death.

Near mile-marker six on Highway 112, the right side of Demko's vehicle went off the side of the road and collided with a post on the shoulder. Demko then over corrected to the left and caused the vehicle, a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser, to roll one-and-a-quarter times and come to rest on its right side, according to an accident report compiled by Colorado State Patrol Technician G. Crowther.

The speed of Demko's vehicle was placed at 74 mph at the time of the accident. All the passengers in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts, but the Toyota's airbag restraints did not deploy, the accident report said.

Demko moved to Bayfield from Denver with her family about a year ago, Bryson said. Demko worked as a certified public accountant for FredrickZinkElliott in Durango, but had recently accepted a job to be the CFO for Brainstorm internet.

"This is really unfortunate because I know how excited she was to come to Brainstorm, and on top of that, she was a really good person," Bryson said.

Services for Demko will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at Hood Mortuary.

The need for speed

Comcast upgraded the Denver market this week. 740 KB/sec downloads is a bit faster than the dialup 4 KB/sec I used to get on a good day in high school.

The upload speed is faster too, which will help with my blogger/digital photo uploads.

Jacob

Week not worth repeating

Kim went into ICU on Wednesday with a dissected carotid artery. 3 hospitals later, she's at Swedish medical south of Denver. On top of the dissection, she has an aneurysm. Sometime this morning they'll be putting in a stint in the artery.

Wednesday was late....3:30 am at the ICU in Boulder. Thursday I was up at 8, off to feed her cat and bring in some things from her apartment. After a transfer to Swedish, Lori and I drove down there to visit. Driving home last night I got a call about a friend of mine Todd Demko. His wife was killed in a car accident Wednesday night. The funeral is next Wednesday.

Earlier this week my 8 year old nephew fell and broke his arm. It was a compound fracture that severed an artery. 4 hours of surgery and numerous pins later... he's home after 3 days in the hospital.

I could do without another week like this for a while.

grey outside today

It's grey and a bit cold out today. The workout went fine, and I hear that it's snowing in the mountains. I'd love to go play, but I need to work....maybe next week.

2005-03-18 Sauvignon Blanc wine ratings

Wine rating results in pdf format. Click to download.
Sauvignon Blanc

Next wine event 2005-04-16 Barbera

Enjoy wine, friends and fun at the next wine event:
Saturday April 16, 2005, 7pm.
Barbera $30 or less.

Barbera
[bar-BEH-rah]
Italian red wine grape that can produce marvelous wines but that has become so plentiful in some of the hotter growing regions around the world that its image is beginning to tarnish. Barbera wines from these hotter areas-such as southern Italy and California's SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-are high in ALCOHOL and ACID. They have little flavor and are used mainly as BLENDING WINES. Superior Barbera wines can exhibit a ripe currant flavor with a nuance of SMOKINESS. Five DOCs in Italy's PIEDMONT region produce the most noteworthy Barbera wines. Two of them-BARBERA D'ALBA and BARBERA D'ASTI-make wines that are 100 percent Barbera, while Barbera del Monferrato, Colli Toronesi, and Rubino di Cantavenna may produce blended wines. Good Barbera wines are also made by the DOC's of OLTREPÒ PAVESE in Lombardy and COLLI BOLOGNESI and COLLI PIACENTINI in Emilia (look for GUTTURNIO). The PIEDMONT region uses Barbera grapes to produce Verbesco, a light, DRY, slightly effervescent (FRIZZANTE) white wine made as a BLANC DE NOIR.

Special instructions: Bring some food to share with the group, and one bottle of wine per person or couple





Download printable directions and info here.
Get a mapquest map here.
Join the e-mail list.
Send a RSVP.

Workout blah's

I think I'm fighting another round of bronchitis off. My workouts have been getting progressively harder to do in the last few days. Deep breathing means you hear that wet fluid sound at the end of it all. Ick.

I spent most of yesterday sleeping on the couch. I hate being sick.

I need to bill some hours today.

I picked up a bottle of Amoxicillin in Mexico (was I supposed to declare that?) so I'll do a week round of taking that and hope for the best.

Snow shoeing in Estes park

The girl and I went snow shoeing in Estes park today.

3-18-05 Wine event pictures

Wine event pictures 3-18-05 Sauvignon Blanc

Click to view.

lots of computers

I'm scrounging parts for Robin's computer upgrade. The office looks like a computer geek wherehouse.

Settle this, Mr. Wanky

I have a non-paying client in collections for about $2k. Today I got a call from the collection agent -- the non-payer is offering $400 to settle in full.

Fuck you.

I don't think so.

The tank seems to be doing ok. The salinity is right where it should be. I tossed in a few more reef hermits the other day. Tomorrow I'll probably get some more, plus some blue legged hermits too.

Friday is the next wine party, Saturday afternoon with Javon, Saturday night some home and garden show with Lori, Sunday snow shoeing in Estes park.

I got back from the gym today feeling good. It's nice to be back into the routine again.

Snow

It snowed last night. Not the 3 feet I would like to see, but it's a start. We haven't had a good blizzard here all winter.

The shrimp die-off was probably due to low salinity. I've been raising it all week and it should be right in a few days.

Back home

I've survived the trip. 9/10 shrimp are now crab food, for some reason or another. I'll have to figure that out.

Tonight I'm off to the symphony.

Tired.

Stone Island

Spent the day on stone island. Beach, sun, surf, fun. Here is your picture:

Tonight we´re off on the town again. Only a few more days remain so we´ll have to make the most of it.

Laundry

I actually did some laundry today. It´s nice out, sunny and warm. I´ve been reading on the beach with the ipod and watching people. Tonight we´re going to some fancy restaurant. I´m not sure I can handle any drinking today. 4 days of that in a row and I´m starting to feel like gringo road kill.

What happens in Mazatlan stays in Mazatlan

Unless someone takes your picture.

Shrimp

They fish for shrimp at night and then walk the beach in the morning selling them. Jeff and I bought 4.5 pounds of these good sized shrimp and I made the ritualistic shrimp burritoes with them this morning for breakfast/lunch. Yummy.

After my nap, lots more water, and some internet action I´m ready for happy hour! This place is just an alcoholics nightmare.

Last night out was late. You really can drink a lot at sea level. Here is your picture: Jeff, his girl, and his sister.

More Maz

It´s been cloudy here a bit, but it doesn´t really matter. Basically we´re talking about naps, drinking, and reading. The weather is irrelevant. Maybe in a few days I´ll care. Here are some pictures, Me, and Jeff´s parents.



Today will probably be more of the same. We suffered through a 90 minute presentation on time shares for 100 bucks in coupons, a bottle of Kalua, and tickets to stone island.

Internet access here is one computer you sign up for. At least it isn´t dialup.

Pictures from the balcony

Isn´t technology great? Combine a digital camera with a USB flash SD card reader and an internet connection in Mexico and you´re posting in no time at all. Ok. Back to the bar.

Mazatlan

Arrived alive, after an early start at DIA. It´s warm, and we´re checking in to the hotel. I think it´s time for some shorts.

Tank, vacation

Off to Mexico for a week tomorrow. I should pack...

The tank is doing well. The critters seem happy. I've been fighting off something again, so the workout is so-so. I'll have to see what I can do in Mexico. Maybe if I remembered to take the vitamin C I'd be better off!

I think I was hammered

Next wine event 3-18-05 Sauvignon Blanc

Enjoy wine, friends and fun at the next wine event:
March 18, 2005, 7pm.
Sauvignon Blanc $30 or less.

Special instructions: Bring some food to share with the group, and one bottle of wine per person or couple





Download printable directions and info here.
Get a mapquest map here.
Join the e-mail list.