Remember me?

In reference to Russell's comment that I bitched about him writing so much and that jealousy is a terrible thing, he is correct.  It is a terrible thing, but I had not anticipated this blog would captivate his interest and thus become his personal trip down memory lane.  Retirement gives you the gift of time and if wants to reminisce then so be it.  I guess we'll each make it what we want it to be.  So...

More highlights and observations...

Working backwards..

Yesterday we had a do nothing day.  We need one of those since retirement keeps us very busy.  This doing nothing can exhaust a person.  So we sat at the pool after taking a long walk.  

I remember driving thru the Rockies in the early 70's and literally hanging out the window singing Rocky Mt high because I was so mesmerized by the incredible scenery.  It's even better this time around.  The beauty of these mountains is astounding.  We went to Aspen today and took the scenic route there and the fast route back.  The fast route's scenery was breathtaking.

Vail is charming. Wherever you look you see mountains.  You feel like you're in Swiss Family Robinson and that Heidi will be walking down the street momentarily.  It is basically car free so you walk everywhere.  Wonderful paths for walks and bikes.

We drove up Mt Evans which is the highest paved car road - @14000 ft.  This means you are driving 2 ft from the edge of the road and your death.  I who hate heights was not thrilled but I would do it again.  I thought I would die a second death when as we got closer to the top driving on this narrow 2 lane road that had hairpin turns, a sign announced road narrows.  We were now 1 ft away from tumbling to our demise.

Driving across Kansas - which is not so flat - in the 104` heat and seeing only farm after farm.  You got the feeling these farms are the real thing and they are only playing at it back east.  Saw many sunflower fields and then realized that this is the sunflower state.

Kansas City is a great town.  Went to Crown plaza which is home to Hallmark.  It is still a family owned business and we went to their museum and watched all the hallmark commercials and cried thru almost every one of them.  Pitiful people we are.  They also have a vibrant area called Country Club Plaza filled with shops and restaurants where we ate dinner one night.  And since KC is all about the barbecue we had that one night too.

We finally went to some museums.  The Lincoln and Truman presidential libraries were great and I learned much.  Did you know the Emancipation Proclamation did not free norther slaves? Hmmm.  Also went to the Negro league baseball museum in Kansas City which I knew very little about.  It was a real education.  They were the first league to install lights and play night games.

Loved seeing Nick and Molly in Indianapolis.  They took us for dinner to an elegant steakhouse in an area called Broad Ripple where Molly lives in a charming house.  We walked along the canal which neither of them had any idea of the history of it.  But it reminded me of Schoen Place in Pittsford.

Next it's off to Boulder, the Badlands, Glacier National park, Banff, Vancouver and then Seattle and Portland for a wedding on 8/30.  Russell's eye surgery will then determine where we go. Either we will journey south to Phoenix for a mini family reunion in mid Sept and then head across the southwest to Florida or go directly there since we are thinking we will rent a place in the complex we want to live in and have a doctor who was recommended by his Rochester MD do the procedure.  We have already rented a place there for Dec and Jan.  At this point we will rent until we feel we no longer want to travel because we love what we are doing.

Until next time... Oh - and this fancy schmancy Marriott we're in does not have Bravo for Project Runway or the comedy channel.  Shame on them!