Graduation

Calling him out

Our local paper has a motto, If you don't want it printed, don't let it happen. 

Basically, if you don't want people to know about what you're doing, you shouldn't be doing it.

I'm amazed at people who are found out for doing bad and then have the nerve to get mad at the person they blame for letting the cat out of the bag.  I mean, c'mon.

Years ago, I had a guy get mad at me, stop speaking to me for over six months, because I unknowingly let one of his girlfriends (later to become his ex-wife) know that contrary to what he was telling her (how was I supposed to know and even if I knew, so what?), he was still seeing another one of his girlfriends.  Umm, you're stepping out and lying about it but you're mad at me?

Of course, this here is a bit different because it's hardly inadvertent.  I know that I'm putting something out there that someone likely won't want me sharing.  And I'm doing it anyhow.  Again, if you don't want people to know about it, . . .

To his credit, Rachel's dad, upon my request, sent a monthly check to help defray Rachel's expenses.  Now, he didn't send what I asked for, the amount never changed in over 15 years and it was less than a court would have set but the check did come every month.  Until this past February.  Please note that Rachel's 18th birthday was at the end of January.  So, boom, that's it.  All parental responsibility ends the second the child turns 18, right?

In another example of stellar parenting, Rachel just found out today that her father will not be attending her high school graduation.  And she only found out today because she finally worked up the nerve to call him to ask.  This after he promised last August that he'd be there.

I apologized to Rachel the other day for my poor choices.  She wants/needs to ask him if he'll be helping with college and doesn't know how to approach him.  I don't even know how to begin to help her with that one.

I'm just sayin' . . .

Prom

Jeffrey's Steakhouse

When I saw the ad for Jeffrey's Steakhouse in the paper, I was excited that there might be another nice dining choice in Moab, especially after our last, not-so-good meal at Zax. I figured from the ad that they were trying to be upscale so I realized that it would probably be a bit pricier than Zax and the Moab Brewery but every once in a while that can be ok.

Only not in this situation.  It was pricier alright, it just wasn't ok.

A dry, stringy 8 oz filet for $30.  A so-so New York strip for $37.  A $6 up charge for a salad substitution that was only a $1 more on the menu.

To be fair, the calamari appetizer was good, light and crunchy with a tasty crushed tomato dipping sauce.  And the beefsteak tomato salad (the one with the $6 upcharge) was quite yummy, with a high quality balsamic vinaigrette drizzled over chunks of bleu cheese.  The decor was well done and the ambience inviting.

But the service was very slow and the food not worth the cost.

Energy snacks

It has been my experience that energy snacks suck.  In their attempts to be healthy, they have failed miserably to be tasty. And don't even talk to me about the consistency.  Energy bars, energy gel, yuck.  Give me a Snickers bar (although they don't do heat too well, do they?).

Well, I'm happy to report that the energy snack people may actually be figuring taste and consistency out.  This past weekend, we stumbled upon several winners.

First, there's Clif Shot Bloks.  They're rather like square gummy bears.  I recommend Strawberry, Mountain Berry and Black Cherry in that order.

Next, Clif Luna Sport Moon Energy Chews.  These are crescent moon shaped energy chews (again, think gummy bears but bigger).  I liked the blueberry.

But my favorite by far are the PowerBar Raspberry Gel Blast Energy Chews.  Chewier than the Shot Bloks or Moon Chews with a sweet/tart raspberry burst, these little guys rock.  Yum.  

They all make energy snacking during physical activity a much more pleasant experience.  

And, no, I didn't get any sort of remuneration for touting these products.  Not even free samples, although I guess you can get free samples of my favorite directly from PowerBar.  I haven't tried it so I don't know the details.

Seriously? What makes you think I'd support that?

I don't think it's any secret that I'm an Obama fan.  I don't think it's any secret that I support the healthcare reform bill.  

So, why, oh why, would Citizens United, that conservative, hypocritical organization that battled to overturn campaign fundraising limits, think that I would support them in their latest quest to repeal the healthcare reform bill by suing the Obama administration in an attempt to get in front of the Supreme Court again?

I got a fund raising phone call from Citizens United and Dick Morris and by the end of it, I was laughing at the poor woman.  It was typical offensive Republican speak (with a little Dick Morris book selling tangent), asking me if I agreed with Obama's efforts to socialize healthcare, destroy the military and other imagined horrors.  I told the woman that, while her scripted question was offensive, pejorative and ridiculous, I wholeheartedly agreed with Obama's efforts thus far.

I must be on some list. It must be the same list that resulted in my invitation to the McCain rally in Grand Junction just prior to the 2008 election.  I have no idea how I would have ended up on such a list.

Either that or they're so misinformed as to think that everyone who figures out how to afford to live in Aspen must be a die-hard Republican who supports their twisted agenda.

Omens

Sometimes omens portend bad things.  Sometimes omens are meaningless.  Happily, last weekend was the latter.

Even before we left Aspen for Moab on Friday, we experienced a discouraging setback involving a carport and bikes on a roof rack.  I won't be saying anything more about that episode other to say that we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and soldiered on.

Given that we were leaving Aspen in search of spring, we experienced a second discouraging omen as we traveled west into weather much like that we had just left.  

Refusing to bow to negativity, we continued on to our hotel in Moab whereupon we were handed keys for Rm 313.  Really?

But I'm pleased to report that all of these omens, these signs, were completely innocuous.  Two warm (but not too warm), sunny (with episodically pleasing shade clouds) days, one bike ride and one hike later, we headed home having had a very nice visit with spring.