work day, game day 2015

Published June 25, 2015

Rockies use 5-run 8th for 6-4 victory over Diamondbacks

DENVER — On a day when he got a break from his job as the Colorado Rockies starting shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki stepped into a starring role of a different sort. Tulowitzki started a five-run eighth inning with his first career pinch-hit home run, and the Rockies rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 Thursday.

Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

ARI 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 4 9 1

COL 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 – 6 7 0

afternoon Rockies game / annual summer tradition
— watching Colorado Rockies with Ashton Haga at Coors Field.

third time in 4 years, our company outing included a Rockies day game – must be summer (thanks PS Audio!)

2nd consecutive year the home team has been in the NL West cellar (5th of 5 teams)
2nd consecutive year the home team trailed late, hit multiple homers & squeaked out the victory

telling ya: I just might be the Rockies’ good luck charm – 4 wins in a row. MAGIC 🙂

: work day, game day – primo seats (in the shade)

: Coors Field game face 2015

2015 – Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 4

2014 (Jul) – Rockies 6, Padres 3

2014 (May) – Rockies 10, Mets 3

2013 – Rockies 10, Padres 9 (bottom of 9th homer)

2012 – A’s 8, Rockies 2

Rocky Mountain Irish Festival

Published June 20, 2015

If I had to blame someone for my love of Irish music, Irish dance & storytelling (art of telling a good joke) – it’d be my friend Stephen. I remember late nights in Landaff, New Hampshire listening to his dad, step-mom Donna, Trudy & Bob – Trudy & the Pioneers – singing & playing instruments ‘til midnight. Sooooo much fun. Talk about a favourite memory – folks, that’s a Top 10.

Stephen & his sister Sheila exposed me to Celtic Thunder – a Dublin-based group, which tours the U.S. annually (cousin Neil is in the band). When I read Celtic, Keith Harkin would be soloing at the Rocky Mountain Irish Festival in Estes Park – HAD to get tickets.

Work early Saturday – my daily painting assignment done (2 more walls of green) – then drove an hour-half north to RMNP (Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park). Mountain air & glacier snow: good for the head, good for the soul. Beautiful sunny weather, busy day in the Park.

Back down the mountain, made my way to the Stanley Park Fairgrounds – home to Estes’ annual Rooftop Rodeo. Not much of an actual Irish festival – this ain’t Boston – but couldn’t beat the view. Sun set over the Rockies as dancers, violinists & vocalists took to the outdoor stage. Unfortunately, my Celtic Thunder guy was a no show – replaced by an Elvis singer…yeah, kinda weird.

Nice diversion from painting & Home Improvements 🙂 Last local weekend before my sister’s visit next month – marathons in Charlevoix MI & Angel Fire NM in my immediate future.

: picturesque evening, whatta view — at Estes Park Fairgrounds

: Trinity Irish Dancers

: meanwhile back Home — Ro & Marty

traditional Irish dancing

Catch the Whale Plane

Published June 14, 2015

Early Sunday rise – pumped, excited – vacation highlight: downtown to Lake Union for an 8am seaplane departure to San Juan Island on the US-Canadian border. Prop plane loaded, looped Seattle’s city lake, speed increase & UP…on our way. 45 short minutes later, circled once, water landed in Friday Harbor WA. Awesome ride, super convenient.

Weather plays a HUGE role in life in the Northwest. Cool temps, dense fog, steady mist, drizzle. Our day? Sunshine, all day long. Couldn’t ask for better weather 🙂

Pier walk, short jot into town, breakfast at Cask & Schooner, tour check-in.

Boarded MV Sea Lion; charter advertised “over 90% whale sightings”. Sign me up! First Orca adventure – killer whales, wolves of the sea. These massive mammals hunt in packs, often toying with their prey before flesh tearing into dinner. Intelligent, majestic, SeaWorld giants – but don’t be fooled, these giants are meat-eaters. Social creatures migrating up-n-down the Pacific Coast – Washington, BC & Alaska (summers), Baja California (winter).

WHALE! Not one whale, but an entire pod. SPECTACULAR!

Trademark black-n-white markings – just out there in the wild – no words.

Our boat briefly crossed into Canada, following multiple family pods hugging the northern shoreline in search of seal. Stunning landscape, tree line, glacier-fed bays, ocean channels, snow-capped Mount Baker. Incredible scenic wonder.

Whatta day, whatta adventure. ‘Catch the Whale Plane’ – highly recommended.

Free Msg! Welcome to Canada. Dial +1 & 10-digit# to call US. Global Data: $2.05/MB. Turn data services off in device settings or use Wi-Fi to avoid charges. Sent from my iPhone