Black History Month!

Not remembering it's Black History Month, i stumbled onto a couple programs today which reminded me  First this morn i tuned onto the History Channel which was showing Glory   this movie was about the 54th Infantry of the Civil War, the first Black Army    very moving movie even though i got in on the tail end of the movie   must rent it or find it somewhere to view the whole thing   i did watch the documentary immediately following the movie   it was good for me to remember some of our history   how far we have come, yet so far to go....then only a few moments ago, i was tv surf channeling when i landed on NBC    Tom Brokaw was presenting a story of a Black WWII Veteran who eventually was honored with the Medal of Honor    this was about the 92nd Airborne (i think), another group of black soldiers who were the ones involved in Italy's freedom    both stories were just astounding!    they were great history lessons for me to remember....

in between history lessons today, Jimmy and I went off on another hike   went looking for trail 192 (this is the one i've been looking for)   I was on trail 93 yesterday...anyways, i'm pretty confident i found the trailhead   we walked for about 30mins before stumbling on a trail that went upside the mountain   i should had ropes and binders the way the trail was basically straight up   anyways,  we finally get on top  and discover a trail that leads back into the mountains   we didn't go any further for my chest was pounding and hurting therefore recognizing my heart had been pumped enough already for the day  (more conditioning on the way)   after a short snack break, we head down the end of the trail to see where it actually starts   once down and looking back up, it is not very obvious that there's a trail there   mostly rock again and sandy gravel    i fell on my bad knee on the way up on sandy gravel   i was immediately reminded to get that hiking stick out   didn't think i'd need it today having Jimmy along   i was wrong!   definitely need the hiking cane regardless   i'll search for a collapsable one which i can fold up when not needed   i only need it on these steep inclines to assist my bad knee and give me a better grip on that sandy gravel   but over all it was another good hike    tomorrow will be a rest day   i can tell i need to build up my cardio on these slopes   plus their hard on my knee   so i'll hike every other day   that'll be good enough for Jimmy and me  ...i did wonder how the hiking will be if Tabou ends up here   only time will tell...

overall, it's been a very good day!

 

great hike!

what a day!   i found a trailhead   not the one i was looking for, but a great trail    i hiked 2hrs in    1:45 non-stop before i needed a breath    my lungs were burning so i knew i was getting in good cardio   it was all an incline the whole way up   someplaces i couldn't tell where the trail existed due to the boulders  and mountainside i was climbing   haven't had such an adventure hiking in a very long time    after a 20min lunch i continued the hike another 15mins to the next trailhead    met some hikers who were doing a loop from the trail i've been searching   they showed me the map and gave me a good indication as to where it's located   the loop will be about 4-5hrs to do   it's pretty rugged and i wonder if Jimmy can make it   however, there were plenty of hikers with their dogs on this trail today, so i'm definitely giving it a shot on monday with Jimmy   i was damn pleased with myself realizing i'm not as out of shape as first thought   i think with Jimmy i'm going at a faster pace   will test that theory this next week as i take him along on this trail    this will be a regular hike for me and great workout   i'll do it at least 3times per week, up to 5times per week     today's hike felt like one days walking delivering mail   it's harder on my bad knee, but i'll endure the pain   i love hiking too much to stop at this time in my life   and besides i just got a refill on Naproxen for my knee pain, that will help   ...it was a beautiful hike   wish i had my camera today   i got high enough to overlook the city as well as in another direction a small town just outside abq    now i just need to condition myself with these trails, then take off on other trails    this trail today was an adventure   on the way down i was even sliding on my ass at one point while wondering how the hell did i get up it    will take my hiking stick next time for the descent    must figure out a way to strengthen both knees too   they both hurt on the way down at times     anyways i had a great day    i also came home to an empty house again   kyle had departed before i left   he arrived home today just as i was leaving    couldn't have had a better day other than my state tax return showing up   that would have been the icing on the cake!   

all quiet on the southwestern front

it's saturday morn   i'm home all alone, except for my Jimmy    kyle went to a party last nite and has yet to return   so i sit this morn in solitude and what great pleasure it is    kyle either always has the tv or radio on  he's not into quiet time   i'm accustomed to beginning each morn with my cup of coffee and silence for about 2hrs daily   the quiet moments have been too few and far between since his arrival again 6weeks ago   i had already decided on a hike by myself today, and will complete that journey   i've been still searching for that trailhead that will lead me into the mountains all the way to the Peak   hopefully i can locate it today   after doing a small hike yesterday, maybe i know where it is   the map located there is ambigous, so i've been rethinking it since yesterday   i'll see about noon time today   first i must do breakfast to store plenty energy for the trail   food is essential for any hike   it's not like walking where you can go for miles without eating   with all the ascending and descending, my body uses up far more energy    my body uses every muscle in my body for that matter    anyways, for the moment, i enjoy my solitude right here in my place    wish me luck in finding that trailhead...

p.s.  Tjnya informed me yesterday she may be giving me Tabou   Tj's headed to Illinois and hasn't found a place she can keep her    i'll keep you posted on this if and when it happens...

Brokeback Mtn...and protesters

just got out of the movie, 'Brokeback Mountain'    damn good movie   if you want to see a good movie, then see this    if you'd like to know a little what some struggles in a gay life, see this movie   it reminded me of me and my struggles with being gay, then bisexual, then whatever the hell i would eventually determine i am (bisexual)   it's taken me a long time, very long time, to embrace my sexuality but i'm happy i finally did    anyways, this was a damn good movie with real raw emotions of life.....then i come home to aol news to find anti-gay protesters in the news   these protesters are showing up at soldiers' funerals protesting    what the hell does any soldier have to do with anti-gay protesters   these protesters are out of line as far as i'm concerned   do these protesters recognize that our soldiers do not only fight for everyone's freedom in the USA, but also the freedom of these protesters to free speech    we are a 'toleratant' country, but protesters and people as these test my tolerance for sure   they sure know how to ignite my anger with their warped mentality    this is ignorance at its worse   when will people learn....God Bless our soldiers and all they do for our country!   may these protesters' minds Open, may they learn what humanity is truely about    there is a human in each one of us including gays, bisexuals, transgenders, heterosexuals, confused and otherwise    there is Life within each of us!

brrr...again

the damn pilot lite keeps going out on this heater    and i keep having a hell of a time lighting it   !@#$!     anyways,   if i can't get it lit, i'll be calling the landlord again    something must be wrong somewhere in there    initially i thought  maybe it was the wind, but i'm thinking differently now     so wish me luck in lighting this damn thing ....in the meantime, i'm watching Curling-which i don't get-while waiting on the Bronze Medal Women's hockey game    the USA will be competing for the Bronze   GO USA!!!....

same day, in the evening... i did call the landlord who in turned called someone to actually fix it    hopefully no more calls to the landlord....today is one of those days i feel like i'm losing my mind.....kyle volunteered to do laundry, so i sent him on his way   thanks kyle ...

movies, movies, movies

well went to another movie today and kyle desires to go again tonite    saw 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' again today    Cindy couldn't remember seeing it, so we saw it at the dollar movie    right now i'm watching 'Tears of the Sun' which i haven't ever seen    tomorrow i'll go see 'Chicken Little' and later next week i'll finally see 'Brokeback Mountain' and 'Memoirs of a Geisha'    i held off from the latter 2 waiting on Cindy only for her to tell me last nite she wasn't interested in either one-finally     so i guess i'll become a bit of a movie buff with my spare time....but right nite, i'm excited about tomorrow being back into the mid 50s so Jimmy and i can go hiking again    that will be my main daily hobby, hiking    will be in search of the trailhead down the street that will lead me all the way to the Peak    this way Jimmy and i can do a 6hr or so hike several times a week, M-F and take the weekends off   it'll be like my 10mi hike deliverying mail, only more enjoyable   i must keep in shape   as soon as i get my first retirement check, i'm joining a gym too    gotta love it!....now, what book to begin reading, is the question?

Eight Below

Great movie!   must see!   just saw it this afternoon    being the dog lover i am, i cried through the last half of the movie, but don't worry, not a real sad movie    very heart warming....think even Kyle had a teary eye at the end....