My 1st X-mas Lights Picture of the Year

Greetings Readers

I am having a bit of a problem trying to post my blogs and having time to write them. I am still busy and trying to work, blog and do personal things are getting a bit overwhelming.

I had to post the blog post I started at lunch yesterday, this evening since I got busy all day and did not get home until late yesterday and by then it was so late that I "drank" my dinner.

Anyway, I posted one of two pictures that I took tonight of the Christmas lights that are twinkling in the Greenwood Village area near Fiddler's Green.

Since I was unable to post the picture and the blog outline I was going to blog about I was able to use the two pictures that I took and use them on both blogs since they are sort of pretty, well to me anyway.

I promise to get caught up with the ideas that I have floating in the head and get them down for you.

Well, well, well, what we have here is an update with the ever so Fucking Dairy Cow that mocked me going home almost every day on Arapahoe Road since I saw that Damn cow with utters in from of a barbecue restaurant.

The Fucking Dairy cow is gone! Ding dong - the Cow is Dead. You know like that saying "Ding Dong the witch is dead" Oscar's Smokehouse restaurant has been "dark" for the past week and then this morning I decided to see what is up since the other morning I saw some white paper on the front doors of the restaurant, which is not normally on the front door.

I biked up to the restaurant this morning and sure enough "Closed" was written on the white pieces of paper and taped to both doors of the restaurant. Before seeing the white paper on the doors, from a far Oscar's has been dark when I have been going home at night. Granted, I have been going home late, but I was trying to remember if Oscar's closed that early in the evening, but then I saw that Oscar's was really dark (like 3AM dark) as opposed to just "closed for the day" dark.

What I mean by that is that when a restaurant closes for the night, there is still some lights on. Waiters/waitresses closing and balancing out their night's take. The kitchen staff cleaning up, the manager doing whatever needs to be done for the night. But as I rode past Oscar's the other night, roughly 8 or 9 PM I saw Oscar's was very dark, then the other night I saw a truck backed up to the front doors around 9 PM so I was curious.

After all did I not blog sometime ago that the restaurant was under new management and I was going to take my parents back to the restaurant for a second chance. Well, so much for that idea.

Readers, let me take you back in Mr Peabody's Way Back Machine and for you local residents -back in the day when Pete McKay was on "the Peak 96.5" he too had a version of the Way Back Machine on his morning show. The restaurant was originally a Big Boy's restaurant. Matter of fact, I have a picture of my parents and brother in front of Big Boy himself that was taken in the 80's that I took. Ever since Big Boy's closed down a couple of decades ago many, many restaurants have occupied the building and the place never has lived up to the Big Boy's Status that our family thought was a great place.

In closing, too bad that fucking dairy cow (with an utter) will not be there anymore. Why? I will not have any more blogs to write about that Fucking Dairy cow in front of a Barbecue restaurant.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Night Before Halloween

Greetings Readers

You know I really do not have anything to write today.

Though I have been mulling over a question to ask. Since Halloween is right around the corner - I have a ritual that I have been doing each year.

I am the guy that gives out the regular size candy bars. I do not believe in the tiny little snack size candy bars. And really there is only one type of candy I give out and that is Reese Peanut Butter Cups. I want the single/divorced women to remember me when they bring the little trick 'o' treaters by. And yes, I also stock the refrigerator with a 12 pack of corona for an emergency beverage. Oh yes, there have been offers in the past, hence that's why I do that as a yearly tradition on Halloween for myself.

Then, there is a movie that I have to watch on Halloween. That movie is "Halloween III - Season of the Witches" Nothing special about why that particular movie, but I think it is because it has nothing to do with Michael Myers. And the ending is dark, for its time. There is no "fairy tale" ending in real life and I think that is why I am also drawn to dark endings.

So, that will be my schedule of events tomorrow. Nothing much, But the humble abode will be cleaned in case I get some company and also to make an impression when I open the front door and any single/divorced woman are perhaps looking for anything that they might like about me as a first impression.

I guess that could be considered shallow, but something I have to do once a year. I think I am entitled to do this one thing a year.

Well, in case any of you readers are new to my blog you probably do not have any idea about today's picture. To the old readers, it is finally that Fucking Dairy Cow that I have been blogging about from the beginning. Nothing really special, but this is the cow that I see almost every other day. I just wanted to finally show my faithful old readers the cow I have so eloquently wrote about in the past. Nothing new to talk about the Dairy Cow - Same shit, different day.

Do not forget readers - The premiere of Nip / Tuck - Season 5.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

US Open 2007 - Day 13

Greetings Readers

Well, I have won another bet - since Justine Henin won yesterday's tennis match against Venus Williams. I did not find out until this morning. I wanted to be surprised and also I was not ready to lose another bet. The Men's Semi-Finals are going on this Saturday Morning in the Mountain Time Zone. Yes - that is Justine Henin pictured on my blog post for today.

The work week has come to a close and whew what a week it has been. I was going to blog about my early morning bike ride that I had Thursday's morning, but other things were going on and I could not make time to write. The morning was one of the events in your life that you really do not get everyday. I knew that there was a cold front moving into Colorado on Thursday morning I just was not sure when the front was to make its appearance.

So, that morning I got my rain gear and proceeded to go out outside. I see that the rain clouds were directly over me, but that is where the clouds were. To the East the sky was partially clear and the sun was shining the early morning rays as it was rising over the horizon. I rode about 100 yards when the rain started to fall. Basically a light rain was starting. The morning air was warming up and I was in heaven. I loved the feel of the light rain falling on my arms while the sun was shining ever so brightly. As most of you readers know when the rain falls the sun in above the clouds. Today the clouds were there, but the sun had just made Dawn and the effect on me was serene.

With the sun shining so bright and a light rain was falling I took my time riding to work and just enjoyed the time that I had that morning. I even took off my sunglasses so I could take in everything around me.

That in a nut shell was a nice morning that I wanted to share with you readers.

That cow, you know readers, that Dairy cow that is outside Oscar's almost everyday. Well, Oscar's have put a banner on that cow for advertising of something. Nope. I did not look closely.

However, you know how much I just love that cow. Well, I am currently researching to see if Oscar can display advertising that big. Of course, if Oscar is breaking some sort of city code then by all means I want the city to know about it. Yep, that is me on this particular issue.

Oh, I finally made the front page, sort of, on the website that I joined recently http://www.sportingo.com/. I am very happy about making this part of the website. I know the article was hastily put together, but it was the way I felt and time was of the essence. I have included a screen print of my article The article is located in the bottom right of the picture "Is Novak Djokovic's clowning around a back-handed slap in the face?".

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Beginning of an August Heat wave

Greetings Readers

I received the rest of my shipment from Amazon.com yesterday. I now have all the CD's that I ordered. All were by Dj Tiesto aka Tiesto. That was the evening for me. Putting in Tiesto while eating my spaghetti and salsa from the day before. I could say that was an evening to cherish.

Yes readers, sometimes that is all it takes for me to relax at home. I would like a good book to read so I can open a bottle of wine - alas nothing has really caught my eye. Well, I do want to read the last, I think that was I read, the last of the series involving Duane and his family in the Larry McMurtry (spelling?) books - "When the Light Goes"

Oh, the humidity, is almost gone. Let me tell you readers I was sweating a little bit last night, but at least I was not glistening with sweat in the lights last night. However, I guess that means Jaci will not glisten and as I mentioned early this month - that is sexy. Oh baby. I know you readers probably do not care either way, but at least this is something that I think about that is a turn on for me. Alright time to change subjects.

I am happy that the Endeavor made it to space safely. I get a lump in my throat when I think about any/all space shuttle launch(es). No, I do not watch and hope to catch some terrible. I just want to know that the Shuttle(s) are okay. I have heard/read that NASA was/is close to keeping the Shuttles grounded. But obviously that is not true since there have been two or three launches since the last incident. I do care about the astronauts, but only in name - my caring is in "the Space Program" and the continuance of the Space Shuttle missions into space. That's it - nothing more nor nothing less.

I called my parents yesterday and my mom informed that the Hatch Green Chile are now in season. I guess the time for a mini vacation to go get some Hatch is about in order. I am going to try for next week, but some of my co-workers have already booked some time off for the next two weeks months ago. I hope I can a day or two, but if not, then not a problem. I will have to schedule a time for September.

I was biking home the other day and I see that Gosh-Damn fucking Dairy Cow outside Oscar's and then I see another item. It is a banner flying in front of Oscar's "Under New Management". I do know readers. Should I/my family give this place another chance? Nayh, that is tempting the gods. Oh, I know you readers are still waiting for the ending of the story I started. I am not sure if I have the entry on my laptop or not. If not, I guess I better but the ending together from memory and post to my blog so I can get some closure on this open ended story...

In closing, Rebecca got some riding in today since there was no rain scheduled for today.

Until the next time readers

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

99 degrees in Denver

Greetings readers

Denver was 1 degree away from the magic number of 100 degrees yesterday.

You know readers I have nothing to really talk about. I am still working on my Greenwood Goosechase story.

I realize I have some open ended stories. I guess I am starting to follow in the footsteps of the Soprano's. Of course, this was subsciously done on my part. I did not do this on purpose. Anyway, I guess I need to return to the story of Oscar's Smokehouse and "the fucked up dairy cow" that I still see outside their restaurant when I bike by there every other day. Though, I am going to have to revisit my first part of the story to see were I left off, but I do not think that there is much to say after that.

A few more withdraws from Wimbledon (from AP) - Mario Ancic withdrew from Wimbledon on Thursday because of a continuing illness, and Li Na pulled out with a rib injury. Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 French Open champion, previously had withdrawn, along with Vera Zvonareva, Zheng Jie and Romina Oprandi. On the men's side, Gaston Gaudio, Xavier Malisse, Jurgen Melzer, Paradorn Srichaphan and Jose Acasuso have withdrawn.

"Yeah! I saw that. I did it" - Detective John McClane. I have to admit I am getting excited to see "him" in action once more. Live free or Die Hard

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Grants, New Mexico - Vacation

Greetings Readers

So readers, I have nothing that I can blog about in the time frame that I have been granted in Grants, New Mexico. Not to mention that we, or should I say I, have a lot of ranch work to do. Of course, daylight is burning and the day is getting later and I have to clean the corral and I have to continue to feed the animals (mainly the dogs and cats). Not to mention empty and haul water. Okay, perhaps I am making the jobs seem a lot more than it should be, but I can say that I do not have to do all the work myself.

The weather is pretty good today. There is the promise of rain later this afternoon. There is a slight wind blowing in from the west.
I think that I have you readers that we have such and such animals. Well, we can add another animal to that list and that would be a very, very young lamb that was on the verge of "pushing up daisies"

Oops, I almost forgot readers this time I am on vacation for a full week and I plan to take advantage of my time off since I am not sure when the next time I am going to be able to take another long vacation.

I really did not want to leave for vacation since I was not ready, but I guess the question is "when will I be ready for a vacation?"

Anyway, it is good to be back on the ranch and the isolation is at its best. No one to bother me and not a sound to worry about. Except the animals and the wind blowing.

I know that perhaps some of you readers may be waiting for part two of the Oscar Smokehouse incident and I have to say that I am sorry that I will not be able to continue the story until most likely when I get back from vacation. I did bring my new laptop so I am going to continue to audit and add more to the story and if I get the chance to get back to a place to load my blog onto the internet - then I will.

The Riches - the past two episodes have been good and I have found out there are only three more episodes that are left in the season. That is way too bad. I have thoroughly enjoyed "The Riches" and I do hope that it gets re-newed for next season or of there is talk of continuing the story I hope they consider that. Granted, the story may have to change, but the concept of the "The Riches" may change since there is only so long that you can keeop up appearances. As I mentioned, the last two episodes have been very good. I/We get to see that there life is about to change and more importantly their life has changed and they did not actually see this change happen until it happened to someone that they know, sort of. The brutality or honesty, or maybe "new" life and seeing with a new pair of eyes have made them forget who they were or who they want to be. I do not know. Anyway, ramblings from me.

until the next time readers

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Garage Sale-ing this Weekend

Greetings Readers

Well, as the title of the blog states, me and my mother went to the Saturday garage sales in the local South of Denver area. Of course, we brought along our driver, my father-her husband. Saturday was a nice day to do the Garage sales. We have not done this together for about two years and since this past weekend was Mother's Day this was something that she/we wanted to do. We decided to switch Sunday to Saturday and that way it was her day.

Not much was out there, but we did find some of this and some of that. Granted, there were some items that I wanted, but I was not going to pay that amount that they wanted the item(s) for. It is a garage sale. I can not tell how many of those Garage sale operators wanted this amount and they won't budge. Sorry, their loss. I always offer half or some lower price if I think I can get the price I want. Yes, there are some times when the price is right and I will paid the price with no haggling at all.

We got out the door about 7:00 AM and started the day with a quick stop at McDonald's. Hah hah. Not the same one that I had my "almost" incident last week. Dang 2 McDonald's visits in two days and before that it must of been 6 months since my last visit to McDonald's.

Anyway, we started going to visit the garage sales about 7:20 AM and we had followed two signs, but they were not even set up. So, we pulled over in an empty strip mall parking lot and had our breakfast while we waited for the clock to strike 8:00 AM. We were surprised that people were not set up at 7:00 AM. Perhaps the garage sale season has not started. Who knows.

There was not a bargain that I can blog about that I was excited about. I did buy some old cassette tapes, computer games, and misc this and that. There were a lot of TV that looked good, but I was not going to pay 50 dollars for a 12 inch TV. I do not care if it is a TV/VCR combo.
I did find a camper's backpack for my brother. I would keep the backpack for myself since the "Dos Equis" logo is on the bag. But, I guess I better give it to him since he does use this sort of equipment. And if I were to keep the backpack, it would be for display.

Now on Sunday, there was this new restaurant that opened up the road from me called "Oscar's Smokehouse and Saloon". Every time that I rode by the restaurant I can smell the good aroma emulating from the place. So, I decided to take my parents to the place for lunch. I also wanted to eat there since I love BBQ.

The place was empty at 3:00 PM. Our waiter was a Mexican guy and his dialect needed some work. He asked my mother

"What would you like to read?"

My mom says "read?"

"What would you like to drink?" Our waiter says a bit more clearly. Yes, me and my father thought that was what he also said to her.

From there our Oscar's visit went downhill.

We could hardly understand what he was saying throughout the visit. I asked what came with the meals. Of course the waiter points to the menu and reads off what I just read. I then asked

"Does anything else come with the meal that is not listed? Salad? Bread?"

"No...." mumble. Mumble. our waiter mumbles.

I look at my Dad and he looks at me and we just knew that asking anything more was just wasting our breath. We could not understand our waiter and to ask him to repeat again is going to piss him off or make him nervous.

Flashback - Before we even got into the Smokehouse. There is this life size cow plastic statue that is in front of the restaurant. Yes, I see the connection. But! Readers. The cow status was a fucking Dairy cow (black and white) statue. Yes, there was a "hefty" Udder ready to be milked. I would like to say that anybody who is anybody would know that a Dairy cow can not be associated to a smokehouse. Of course, the average Joe would thought to themselves "that is pretty cool. A cow in front of a smokehouse" However, my first reaction was why do they have a dairy cow in front of smokehouse? Smokehouse/BBQ meat comes from other types of cows, such as our Black Angus cows that we raise, not a dairy cow. So readers keep that in mind - a dairy cow does not belong in front of a smokehouse. I guess that a diary cow could be associated to the butter that is served with bread.

Returning to the restaurant experience - Me and my father ordered the combo and my mother got the "hot links" platter. Two coffees and and Iced Tea. Well, we made the waiter nervous before and up to the point of ordering. Perhaps he was thinking that we would be like "dairy cows" come in, sit down, order, eat, and go. Not this Family! We are accustom to asking questions and basically getting things our way, within limits of course....

Readers, my time is up so I had to stop here. I will have to pick the conclusion tomorrow...

Hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day.

until the next time readers.

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete