Random Thoughts

Goodbye Zoey - I Love You

We got Zoey about 11 years ago. She was a rescue dog about 2 - 3 years old. She gave us her heart and we gave her ours.

Yesterday we learned that she had advanced cancer and we had to put her to sleep. It was awful to have to say goodbye to her. I just wanted to take her back home and have everything be ok.

Every morning I wake up first and as I sit up in bed she would be there. Happy to see me and yes, of course, I need to pet her and tell her good morning. And then it's "come on, come on" it's time to feed her. She would go half way down the stairs and then look back to make sure I was coming.

Then throughout the day she wanted to be by us. When I was home she would follow me down to my office. During the day my wife worked at home and he would sprawl out in her office. When we were out and got home she would go nuts barking until we got in the door just frantic to see us.

At times she would grab her dog bowl and carry it around or cause it to roll. And she would cry in anguish over it. It was the funniest thing. She also had a stuffed moose that she carried around much of the time and was so proud of it, constantly showing it to us.

She loved walks. Especially when she saw a bunny that she could chase after. Or when we got to the park and could throw the ball for her. The last couple of years as she got old that all slowed down but when she was younger she had incredible energy.

And she was a guy's dog. I could rough house with her and she loved it. She was a total alpha dog having to go through the door before the other dogs. She would come to me first when we all walked in together. In a house with all girls (my wife & 3 daughters), she was in my corner.

But mostly she loved being with us. We would sit down to read and she would plop down next to us, very content to just be there. Or we would pet her and her tail would wag and wag and she would happily sit next to us forever as we did that.

This morning I woke up and there was no one there happy to see me awake. No feeding her breakfast. No keeping me company while I make my breakfast. When I come home she won't be there overjoyed to see me home.

She gave us her heart and her love and asked nothing in return. She was always there for us. She rescued us every bit as much as we rescued her. Our lives were so much better for having her in them. And we lost her way too soon.

I love you Zoey. And I miss you. I miss you so much. I want you back so bad.

Senseless

A good friend of one of my daughters died two days ago at age 18. She was this brilliant, wonderful, talented child. Getting excellent grades on the IB track in High School, superb soccer player, and just had everything together.

And then at the end of 9th grade she got an eating disorder. Her mom did everything she could to help and she was in program after program. But over 3 years she could not beat it and it finally ended.

This is just senseless. After her service this Sunday I will have been to more funerals for children than adults. This is just wrong. Our children should not precede us in death - not any of us. And it's the wonderful talented ones that seem to be taken - ones that would add so much to our world.

Goodbye Orly. We will all miss you - so very much.

Update:

The funeral for Orly was today. The rememberances of her brought back what a horrible tragedy this is. She was such a wonderful, talented child. Over the last 3 years of trying to fight this, she graduated from Fairview High School working remotely. And she graduated early and with honors.

The number of lives she touched is amazing. The Synagogue was full and the procession to the cemetary was well over a mile long. All of these people there because of how Orly touched their lives. My daughter and the others that were close friends of Orly were torn apart. How do you explain to your child how someone like Orly can be taken like this?

So wrong and so senseless. Hold your children close and tell them that you love them.

Boulder Burgers

Ok, nothing to do with the election, but for those that like a good cheeseburger, here is my rating of the local burger resources.

A+ Carellis - Unexpected place to find it but they have the best burger in town. Only nit, one time the quality of the meat was so bad I would classify it as the worst burger I have ever had anywhere. And when I told the waitress she said "Oh." But I have been to Carellis hundreds of times and every other time every meal I have had has been superb.

A+ In and Out Burger - Ok, they aren't in Colorado. But if you are ever in California, Arizona, etc go get a Double Double.

A The Dark Horse - A really really good burger. Get a double cheeseburger sometime - that's their best.

A Mustard's Last Stand - Another really good burger. And the best fries in town.

B+ Fuddruckers - You have to go to 120th and Colorado but it's worth the trip. 90% of the time they give you an A+ rated burger. The other 10% of the time it comes out overcooked and luke-warm. So they get dropped to a B+.

B Toms Tavern - It's a good burger, but not great.

B- Red Robin - They used to be like Chilis, overcooked and lukewarm. But over the last couple of years it has gotten much better and almost always the food arrives properly cooked and hot.

C+ Good Times - If they didn't overcook the burgers they would be really good.

D+ Chilis - 5% of the time they have a really good burger. But the other 95% it's warm and way overcooked. Of course, most everything at Chilis is delivered lukewarm and overcooked, including the salads.

F Village Coffee Shop - They used to have one of the best burgers in town. But about 3 years ago they switched from cooking burgers fresh to taking already cooked patties and grilling them some more when ordered. So you basically get charcoal briquettes in terms of taste and texture.

If you know of a good burger place in town, please post and I'll try it out.

Audition Tape - final

Well the contest rules say 3 minutes maximum for the tape. So our final tape(4.6M) comes in at 2:59 (leaving 1 second in case their VCR is a little slow).

The tape and application goes in Tuesday express mail. We will hear sometime in July if they want to interview us. Cross your fingers.

Update:

Well, one last revision - here is the final tape. Now I'm off to run the BolderBoulder with my daughter.

Audition Tape - take 1

Here is the first cut of our audition tape(7.6M). It's long - the limit is 3 minutes so it has to be cut back. And it is highly compressed (to keep the size down) so the picture quality is not great. But I think it looks really good.

Any suggestions, especially those on where to cut, would be greatly appreciated. The goal of the tape is solely to get us on the show - so I think what is important is showing how we interact and interview.

thanks - dave

Shot our video today

Today we shot our demo video for The Amazing Race. I wanted something better than one daughter holds the camera while my oldest daughter and I talk in front of the camera. So I hired a professional filmmaker to shoot us today.

I think we have a lot of good shots. We spent 4½ hours filming, first at a local software company to give a nerd background to our initial introduction. Then driving with my daughter navigating - and with no acting she got us lost in Boulder.

We then stopped at Peaberrys and filmed us jumping out, asking for directions, and getting back in the car. And when they show that on The Amazing Race - at least how we did it it required us to do everything twice, so he could film us from inside the car and then again from outside the car as we left it. And filming us from both directions as we ran up to someone for help.

And the person we ran up to - he was great. Cooperated fully and then when it was over asked us what it was for. People are really nice.

Then up to NCAR to film us searching for the next clue. It's beautiful up there. So we ran segment by segment until we found the next clue, then ran off to go there. Again, each part we had to run twice to get us from both directions.

And then down to the East Boulder Rec Center for some final shots. And by then we were beat. It's rough doing this and having to repeat it over and over and trying to keep the same expressions and vocal tone and making it all work.

So now Jamie has to take all of these clips and turn them in to a good demo tape (less than 3 minutes long) to send in with our applications. I do know there is enough there to show how Winter & I would be on camera. Hopefully the people viewing the tapes will find us interesting enough to bring in for step 2, the in-person interview.

Once the video is complete, I will post it here. Once again, wish us luck.

This is who I want for my video

Well step 1 in shooting a 3 minute demo video for The Amazing Race is the script. We have ideas for items in the video - but no plot or theme yet. But that I think we can figure out.

Step 2 is getting someone who knows what they are doing to shoot the video. And preferably someone who can help us in what we do, how to frame it, everything. I wish these guys were in the Boulder area - I'd hire them.

If you know anyone like this in the Boulder area, please let me know. Someone who's clips grab your attention and don't let go of it.

Trying out for The Amazing Race

My oldest daughter Winter and I have decided to try out for The Amazing Race. My middle daughter was very supportive stating "the only way you can win is if you resign and I take your place." (She does have a point as she is incredibly athletic and I'm old.) But Winter is the only one over 21 so its her and me.

So now comes the hard part, the application. Filling out the written part is easy. It has some questions that do make you think. But it is pretty straightforward. The question where I was most surprised by my answer was when it asked for my most memorable time with her and to this day I think it is still when she first played soccer at age 5. I have a lot of memories where I am proud of her but that is the one that makes me smile the most I think.

So wish us luck on the application. And if you have any ideas, email me.

I have also told my personal trainer that if I get accepted then for the 90 days prior to the race I will do anything he suggests that I can do. The additional exercise he will put me on doesn't worry me too much - I'll be dying but I can do it. But the change in diet - I'm not sure I can handle eating vegetables and giving up my daily bacon cheeseburger.

ps - My initial goal was just to have a fun time with Winter and do my best. But with my other daughter's comment, now my goal is to show that a 50 year old (which is ancient in her eyes) can kick ass and win the race. So if I get in I'll show what and old nerd can do.

Lucky passed away today

We lost a member of our family today. Lucky our Golden Retriever passed away.

He was only 7 years old. A tumor was discovered on his spleen and the vet operated yesterday. The surgery was a great success, no other problems were found, and last night he looked tired and worn out but otherwise fine.

We got a call mid-morning today. A blood clot broke free and they could not stop the internal bleeding. They tried everything (the vet hospital was terrific) but his veins in his legs finally collapsed and we had to put him to sleep. We were able to give him goodbye hugs which is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.

He was family. I worked at home and I would talk to him throughout the day - he was a very good listener. Whenever someone was sad he could sense it and was right there to comfort them. In fact, as were were all crying over his loss, I instinctively looked for him to come join us.

He was an absolutely wonderful dog. Goldens are naturally friendly and loving and he had more than most. He loved us and cared for us. My daughters would be in the bathroom getting ready and he would have to join them there. My wife would be in the bath and he would stick his nose into the bathroom to be with her.

And in all of that and more he never asked for anything. He just gave us his love and caring unconditionally. And we all loved him back as much.

It is so unfair that someone so wonderful lived such a short life. Large dogs generally live 12 - 14 years and he only got half of that. And we only got half of that too.

We all love you Lucky and we will miss you and never ever forget you.

Lucky - I want you back so much.

Awesome Cheesecake

This is my grandmothers receipe and it is incredible.

Crust
1¾ cups graham crackers
1/3 cup sugar
½ cup butter
Press into pie pan; bake 8 minutes @ 350°

Bottom Layer
1 lb cream cheese
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
Pour into pie pan over crust; bake 20 minutes @ 300°

Set in fridge for 4 hours

Top Layer
1½ pints sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons sugar
Pour gently into pie pan over bottom layer; bake 5 minutes @ 350°

Set in fridge for at least 18 hours before eating!