Its a Celebration

The last entry about my trip includes my trip to Orlando to see the Pifer family and some of my friends from Tampa - we had a great time.

One of the exciting parts of the trip was seeing my great-nephews play ball.

Grant coming across home plate.

Next day we got to see Owen running the football all over the field - they are both great players. I was so proud of them - and the crazy announcements over the sound system about the firefighters -

Here is Owen looking very dapper in his football jersey.

And of course there was pizza when it was all over.

The joyousness of children - we all have so much to learn about how life can be filled with joy.

My friend David and his partner Vince came to meet Chris and me in Orlando - we did Cirque of course and were all amazed. Chris and Vince were Cirque virgins - I think they were stunned as we all are when we first see the show.

Here we are being silly - what? us?

Chris, David and I find some fun art behind the House of Blues. I look at this picture and can hardly believe it is me.

I still dont like the climate but seeing my family and friends in Florida was one of the joys of this year - it has been WAY to long.

Following this part of the trip Chris and I headed back to Hilton Head and the next day I flew from Jacksonville home to Albuquerque.

O I just couldnt leave this entry without saying something about "no child left behind" and this has nothing to do with the idiotic educational plan that the fool from Crawford imposed upon the world. Well - maybe for those of you in Orlando and PA who read this - thats enough said - I am still laughing about the famed lost child.

Blessings to you all.

Chuck

Chapter 2

Good evening - and thanx for coming back. I have been so busy lately and doing so many things that blogging is coming more easily each time.

Following the fun Hans, Brian and Sherri and I had at the Balloon Fiesta - I was ready to take a trip home to see my family - I was also very ready to do that. My family, with the exception of my sister, had not seen me since my surgery - so this was going to be the big reveal.

To be in PA in the fall was heaven - Fall is my very favorite time of the year no matter where I am - but in PA it is truly breathtaking.

This is a view of the Susquehanna River and my sister's front lawn. The colors are so clear in this picture - but they were beautiful.

It was homecoming and my great nephew Cody and great niece Chrissy were all dressed and ready to do - pictured here with my niece Kim and her husband Chuck.

My sister and her husband and I spent a day at their hunting retreat in the mountains of north central PA - and as you can see the vistas we amazing.

I didn't get one picture of my sister that she wouldn't kill me for posting here so I wont. But she is a very beautiful blond - and one of these days she will show up on these pages.

The trip home was very special. I only wish my mom and dad could see the progress I have made with the weight loss. My family was thrilled and it was so very good to see them all.

Following this part of the trip I spend a few days on Hilton Head Island with my friend Chris. His place is beautiful and just about 100 feet from an amazing beach and the ocean and his cat loved me.

Chris and I then spent a few wild days in Orlando visiting friends and more of my family.

There are several very fun stories about that trip- and lots more pictures - so do come back and read them - maybe tomorrow?

I preached today at First Congregational in Albuquerque and it felt great to get back into the pulpit - My sermon was entitled The Right Way to Worry. It was a day full of meaning in a number of different ways. And, as usual, I learned more about myself that I might have wanted to know. Blessings - Chuck

Happy November! Can you believe it is November? Holy smoke.

Well - we certainly have things to have mixed emotions over don't we? We have a new and wonderful President - but folks in California, Florida, and other places continue to prove that hatred and ignorance flourishes no matter what. Pray folks - that is all we can do.

Well where do I begin?

I spend a wonderful 12 days on the road visiting family in PA and was there on my birthday. Left PA for a few days in Hilton Head Island with my friend Chris and he and I did the Orlando trip to visit the rest of my wonderful family and some friends.

Let me begin with the Balloon Fiesta weekend and the trip to the Trinity site (where the first atomic bomb was dropped). Brian and Sherri came from Phoenix for both events and we had a wonderful time.

Sherri, my co-worker Jeanette and I board the bus for the WAY to long trip home.

The visit to this site was very interesting. Being in the very house where the bomb was put together; standing where it was dropped, finding Trinitite on the ground (the green rock formed when the bomb melted the NM sand), and I am not sure I have ever been that far in the middle of nowhere. And of course - in the true middle of nowhere - on 1 of the only 2 days a year this site is open - I ran into someone I knew - go figure.

Here is Brian at the site of the drop. Very moving to realize what has happened since.

Then came the Balloon Fiesta. Wow - it is such an amazing event and so much fun - you must all come to visit during this time and join in the fun.

The next morning - we should have been at the filed by 6 AM - thank God for rain - but that night we went to the Night Glow - when the balloons are tethered and just light up at night - with fireworks after. It was colder than hell - but we had a great time.

An idea of how pretty this event can be - multiple this by 200 and it is really breathtaking.

This is the night I discovered that I had no warm clothing at all in my size - time to shop - there is a God.

Hans, Brian, Sherri and me - all huddled

keeping warm in the cold desert night.

Later that night we all discovered Two Fools Tavern - a delightful English Pub with outstanding fish and chips and LOTS of hot tea for Sherri and I to keep warm - the boys drank their way to warm - some horrible, thick, warm beer.

It was a really wonderful weekend and I believe we learned that, although Hans is constantly on me about being a compulsive shopper - when it comes to the Balloon Fiesta - he can out shop me any day. Hmmmm?

Well - again - the Balloon Fiesta was a huge watermark in my journey through weight loss and recovery. My first year at the Fiesta I pretty much walked into the park and sat down - didn't move and saw what I could. The second year my sister was here and neither of us could walk as she was suffering from an injury and I was huge. Although when my Nephew and his family came for the second half of the fiesta - I rented one of those scooters and did have a great time at the event. Last year I spent the Fiesta in beautiful Lubbock TX in the hospital. This year we walked all over the place - saw all the stands and went back several days for more. The progress is amazing.

I am going to sign this entry off and come back to blogging in an hour or so - to continue the journey through October - come on back - there is much more to see and read.

Be well - always - Chuck

Smelling the Roses

Good Evening Friends,

What a work week I have had - took yesterday off as I wasn't feeling well - today the Museum was closed to film a TV show - tomorrow I work and then I am off Thursday and Friday for my trip to Lubbock - life can be so difficult sometimes - teehee.

Today I stopped to smell the roses - the ones in my own front yard - here are some pictures of the things blooming at my house.

I will share some more pictures of the flora of New Mexico on the next blog.

A while ago I told of my adventure taking a class in harness loom weaving and promised to show my final class project. It was a scarf and although there a few flaws it really came out well. The colors are really beautiful - and this winter you will see me decked out in the new scarf a lot I am sure.

Here is a close up to show the colors and a picture showing more of the scarf.

Don't worry - you wont all be getting hand made things for Christmas this year - I need to buy a loom first - lol - then look out.

The weather is nearly perfect here in NM this time of the year - warm days, very cool nights for sleeping, crystal blue skys, and perfectly clean, clear air during the day - the mountains are breathtaking these days. As fall approaches and the seasons change I am reminded of the many changes that we all go through in our lives. This past year has been filled with so many changes I can hardly even list them all (don't worry I wont). Some changes are joyfilled, some very surprising, some incredibly difficult, some just curious. Whatever they are - change gives us the time for reflection and the realization that we are here for such a short time - what a crime to waste it fighting change.

Blessings to you all. And Riv - excuse me for asking - but who are you? Making me crazy trying to figure it out.

Always - Chuck

YIKES! Not Since July

Good Morning and it is great to be back blogging.

I apologize for the very long time between blogs so I will try to make it up to you and fill you in on all the dirt that has been going on - well maybe not the dirt - but the joyous activity that has filled my life since I last blogged.

I bought a new mode of transportation and here she is - bright green, new tires, something that allows the wind to blow through my hair - tada:

My dear friend Brian is a bicyclist and helped

me pic her out - and I love it. Have not tried

very long trips yet but have done a few days of

10-15 miles. I have even gotten over the fact that the helmet messes up my hair.

Lots more has been happening - the back yard is just about finished - once the crappy customer service people at the water feature place replace the broken fountain - then it is time for the party to christen the place - you all MUST come.

Work - Hmmm - who came up with the idea that one should spend 8+ hours a day in a room that does not have a TV, or a couch, or snacks, or someone fun to talk to? I want to dance on their grave.

Now don't get me wrong - I love my new job. Not sure I have even mentioned it here - but I am the new Director of Development for the National Atomic Museum - soon to be renamed the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. We are a Smithsonian Affiliated museum and were chartered by Congress - so it is a pretty special place. We will be moving to a huge new state of the art facility in March and will become a very visited place. The folks there are super, my boss is wonderful and the many financial benefits of a full time job are welcome - but no more Ellen, or endless hours of the HGTV network and all the hunky carpenters. I guess I will live.

Just this past weekend Jeanette (the director of marketing for the museum) and I were attendees at the Navy Ball - and here is proof that we both clean up well.

Jeanette is a delight and we are becoming fast friends - and she loves wine - yea!!!

More to come on the fun people I work with - lots more.

Here is Albuquerque we are all preparing for the upcoming Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - the largest in the world - it means many days of rising at 4 AM to get to the filed in time to see 800 balloons all ascend at the same time - breathtaking. What? You haven't been here for this event? Well get your butt moving - you are always welcome to crash here - hotel rooms fill up about 9 months ahead - but the Wilhelm Hostel is always open.

This year the Museum is sponsoring a field trip to the Trinity Site - the site of the first atomic bomb - here in NM - and Brian and Sherrie are coming over for that trip - a drag show later that night and then the balloon fiesta the next morning - they don't have any idea how tired they will be for the trip back to Phoenix.

The BIG news is - I have found my voice. Since I have lost so much weight - much more than a normal person weighs - I have found I am able to stand and sing again. I have joined the church choir and the New Mexico Gay Men's Chorus and I love both. Very different experiences as you might imagine - but both wonderful. The Men's Chorus is under the second year of a great new conductor and the music we are doing for the Holiday Concert is outstanding. It is very emotional, after 2 years of self-isolation that I have 45 new friends - all who like to sing. To say nothing of the social benefits of knowing 45 new friends who are gay men.

So much has happened in the past year - o yes - a full year. Next Friday I have an appointment in beautiful downtown Lubbock TX to see Dr. Syn - on the one year anniversary of my surgery. There is almost no way to explain how I feel - physically and emotionally about the major changes in my life. But thank you all for your support and love while they have all happened.

The next big hurdles are to have a hernia fixed (and that may happen within the next month), the peneculectomy (and I almost promise you that is spelled incorrectly) but that is the major "tummy tuck" they will do to remove all the lose skin - that will happen sometime in the spring, then the little nips and tucks with arms, legs, neck, and other areas that will need to happen to make me look FABULOUS - but not like Bruce Jenner or Joan Rivers - ya think he could make me look like George Clooney? Hmmmm.

Well - this has gone on for a long time - and I promise now that I am back in the groove to be very regular about this blogging thing.

Blessings - stay tuned for many more surprises - hugs and love to you all.

Chuck

Dogs, mulch, and gates, O My

Good Morning,

It is early here in the high desert. I spent last night at the hospital taking a sleep study and find myself up and attempting to be productive L O N G before that would usually happen.

Since the last blog entry things have been busy around here.

I made a trip to Denver to see the Labradoodle dogs that will be having puppies this year and fell in love. The dogs are wonderful and have the temperament of a lab and the benefits of the standard poodle - no shedding, no allergies. I have included a picture here of the dog that I will be getting a puppy from. That will happen most likely in the winter. I am very excited.

The work continues on the back yard but yesterday we came very close to finishing the entire thing. We have added the rubber mulch - yes rubber, as in recycled tires died to match the landscaping. This stuff doesn't blow away, fade in color, float in rainstorms, support the growth of any bugs or microbes and wont need replaced for at least 15 years.

The plants you see at the end of the hot tub are hot pepper plants - so come for a visit and let me cook for you - teehee.

The gate was installed yesterday also and now it is my job to stain it to match the patio roof. The work is within spitting distance of being finished and it has been lots of fun - but it will feel so good to have it all finished - sit under the stars and have a glass of wine.

The week has also been filled with wonderful events. One of my best friends ever dropped back into my life through email and this blog - Sandy, a very long time friend from High School - one of the nicest things to happen to me in quite a while.

I also had the ugly overhead fluorescent light taken out of the kitchen and had 8 can lights added to brighten the room and take away the shadows. What a huge change. Next we add door and drawer pulls to the cabinets.

There will be lots more to tell you and pictures to continue to show you sometime after Tuesday - so stay tuned.

With much love and blessings.

Chuck

Oh and yes - Happy Birthday Mike!!

A Homeowner's Work . . .

Good Evening and Happy July,

Today was "Make as Much Progress on the Back Yard as Possible Day" and boy did we make progress.

There are many pictures attached so I hope you enjoy them. My wonderful neighbors John, George, and Demetrio did tons of work today. Our math was screwed up so we are short a few square feet of sod - but that will be easy to fix.

As you can see, there is more work to be done but it should all be finished within 2 weeks and then there will be a Yard Warming Party to which you are all invited. Hope to see you there.

Hugs - Chuck

Bringing in the Sod, bringing in the Sod, we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the Sod.

Demetrio, the neighborhood stud, show off his newly acquired arms after lifting the garden hose all by himself.

John and George unwind the border for the lawn.

The nearly finished lawn looking north.

This picture is really of the view to the bench, NOT of Demetrio's butt.