Snow....cold temps for the next week or so you say? Hmmm...seems to me I should be somewhere warmer. Oh yeah, I will be!!!! Orlando here we come, heard something about it being 80 there. I think I can handle that if I absolutely have to.

Some days, the sun does break through the clouds and allows its healing heat to embrace you.

Texas, really. Its a possibility when I get done here in Greensburg, another week. But first a trip to Iowa, then home to sell a bunch of crap from storage. Maybe Texas in a month, to two.

Possibly Texas, the plans may be delayed a little further though. Thought I might be there before the end of May, now its a little later. I have some friends there that I made over the summer, they offered to find a job and housing for Anna and I. I could also help in Galveston on the weekends.

Does anyone actually come to this site anymore or is it just a dead horse?

I hear Texas is lovely this time of year, think i'll go check it out for a year or two.

Back in KS for a few weeks helping out with the volunteers coming in. Can I afford it? No. Am I getting paid? No. Is it worth it? I'd like to think so. Anyways, be back in Colorado next Friday night just in time for the dance to start, maybe a little earlier.

Turkey day, have a great day, get stuffed!!



No turkeys were harmed in the making of this messege.

August, the beginning of August, my step father found out he had a brian tumor, had it removed, got west nile, and was back home in the sum of oh about 2 weeks total. I realized that I had compassion fatigue, and was pretty much consumed by it. This realization has me moving back to Yuma and trying to make a go at life again but in a new way. I would still really like to help people in need, but at the same time I need to make money. We'll see how that goes. Always remember, mercy is the mark of a great man......i'll leave your mind to wander on that, as I know most of you know the rest.

I am alive.

So, I don't write in here most of the time as you who have me on your lists know. Once in great while there is something that comes along worth the time to convert in to digital words. This is one of those rare and dare I say exciting times.
The past week or more like Monday through Friday afternoon was spent in Greensburg KS. Some of you may know of why someone would travel to this town for a week, others may not so i'll sum up here for a few minutes.
Greensburg KS was hit by a rather large tornado last year in May, (e)F5 to be exact. This meaning that the winds in this tornado were, on average, above 250mph. Also this tornado was large in the fact that it was 1.7 miles wide. Now this doesn't seem like all that big of a deal until you come to realize that it went through the middle of a town (Greensburg) that is only about 2 miles by 2 miles, meaning that literally the town as a whole was gone. Some say this town was destroyed, but after being there and seeing it for myself, i'd say this town is actually just gone. If you care to see some before and after satellite pics take a look at these.
There are also some interesting clips from stormchasers and the like on youtube, just go there and type in Greensburg.
You can say what you want, but there is nothing like actually seeing the aftermath to make you think. We can sit back in our chairs and watch the news and see the footage and pictures, but to actually stand in the middle of a town that has been....well.....removed from sight.....its beyond ones words to explain. So what were we doing there besides staring with open mouth at the power of mother nature you ask.....well, we were volunteers in the rebuilding of the town. After one year you can sort of tell that there is the possibility of hope that the town will once again flourish as the county seat. Our job there, construction. We did a little siting on a house, but an I beam under another in the basement, sheetrocking, trim work, and anything else that we could. This was wonderful, since I do construction, but it wasn't that, it was more in the fact that these people were so happy to have someone working on a home for them, appreciative. We also just stood and talked to the survivors. Which, remarkablely there were a lot, considering that the tornado basically erased Greensburg only 12 people did not make it. Anyways, back on course. Listening to the survivors stories, and just talking with them seems to be great release for them, and greater understanding for you as well.
This is a first for me, i've never gone on a trip to rebuild whether it be Greesburg or New Orleans or anything like that. Nor have I actually done anything for local org's like Habitat. For me it was really eye opening, and if it seems like i'm "preaching" a little i'm sorry, that is not the point at all. Perhaps this is my release for time spent and time wasted, perhaps its something else. I guess maybe its a hint as well, if you can or get the chance, throw some time into bettering your community or someone elses, not for the money or glory, but for yourself.

This is kinda fun, there are 14 parts on youtube. Type in "Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Rainbow"

(soft doogie houser computer journal music in the background) So it seems I am cursed at the moment. My business partners vehicle broke down on Friday afternoon and is still not running. This was all well and good until I came down to Yuma on Saturday for a family reunion on Sat. afternoon and a 50th Anniversary on Sun. Sunday afternoon I attempted to leave Yuma and head back home. All was still going well when I stopped at the storage units to grab a few things, then got worse when I stopped at 7-11 for gas. Seems that when I stopped, so did the fuel pump. Now I am sitting here waiting for someone to find some time to repair said pump. I am hoping for tomorrow morning, but have yet to hear news. Seems when you get to where you like life again, something has to come along and smack the living shit out of your smile and set you back in place.

location: Yuma CO