Worked for Nelson Tree Service today

Worked for the tree service today. 2 jobs both in Highlands Ranch. Breath-taking views from high up on our 2nd job today!

Hot today. 85 degrees. Just Rich and I today. Like the old days.

Took a long walk this morning before work to look at the red sunrise portending rain.

After work went to Fireside. Chatted with Audrey the barista and book aficionado. Worked on my next column.

The pics show the red sunrise and then a  panorama of the mountains where even Longs Peak near Estes Park can be seen and its 75 miles away. You can see Green Mtn where I hiked religiously when I lived in Denver. Boulder can be seen too. It's an hour drive away.

First worked for Rich in February 2002 when I moved nto town. Tree service is hard work but gratifying. I was exhausted at the end of today.  Both Rich and I took several breaks today. He and I almost never took breaks especially 12 years ago. Didn't have to. Rich and I are really feeling the limits of age.

Tomorrow I am beginning my new job at the SAME Cafe( So All May Eat). Never worked in a restaurant before! Will take the train to Auraria then hike 2 miles to get there.

Schoenbein takes day of rest

Spent good part of the day at Fireside as is my custom. Spoke with Audrey the barista. She is 28 and a former MP in the Army. She is now thinking of joining the Peace Corp! Brave young lady!

We discussed our reading preferences. Audrey likes novels; me, I read almost exclusively non-fiction, biography, history, Christian/Spiritual and current events.

However, today Audrey caught me reading Pilgrims Progress. She claims it's a novel. I countered her jab with the fact that it is an allegorical, religious story and not a novel. The word "novel" literally means new story. There is nothing "new" about our journey as Christians on our pilgrimage through this vale of tears. Ha!

Later, back at the Nelson ranch, Jeremy and I played Sequence against his dad and mom, Rich and Marge. We won one game and they won the second.

I will be working for Rich tomorrow cutting down an ash and trimming two others.

Tuesday I will be working for the SAME Cafe downtown Denver. Free meal too!

Can't wait to meet Brad and Libby Birky owners/proprietors.

Hiked Slaughter House Gulch late this afternoon. Took some pics. See below. Also, one pic of Audrey included as well as Jeremy, Marge and Rich.

Left Fireside for home. Took the train back to Littleton

Finished up my day relaxing and reading at Fireside. Read parts of Into The Wild and Pilgrims Progress. Waiting for my book to arrive, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck.

Sipped ginger tea and my usual diet coke. Afterward, hopped aboard the southbound "D" train for the Littleton Downtown station. Then hiked the "Slaughter House" Gulch Trail for the walk to the Nelsons. Nobody can tell me why this trail is named such...or maybe they don't want me to know!?

All in all a great day. Hiked with Deb Komodore, read some good books, wrote some, connected with an old friend I haven't seen since my school days back in Morton, Cody Weinstein.

Got an email from Jim Burns my good Irish friend from Quincy, heard from Mary Milam a good friend from my State Farm days back in the last century the 1900s, cooked supper tonight and now reading again. The Nelsons attending a dinner party so I have the house, one dog and 2 cats to myself.

Then its off to bedlam!

Goodnight!!

Pics showing my train coming in. Last pic shows my usual cozy spot at Fireside.

Hiked the Canal Trail with Deb Komodore

Deb Komodore and I hiked the Canal Trail through the Cherry Hills area off Colorado Blvd this afternoon. I have known Deb, her husband, Alex and their three children now for 12 years or so.

Deb has a great story to tell. She was waylaid by breast cancer back in 04 and was at one time between stage 3 and stage 4. Her doctors were not optimistic at all about her chances of survival. However, God would have his say in the matter and decided that she still had work to do here. Thank goodness.

Since then she has lived life day to day and living it close to the bone as it were. This has counter intuitively resulted in conflict with friends and people in the church. Her life...the way she is living it can be threatening the same as mine can be now.

I will flesh out Deb's story in my Sept 17 column in the Morton-Times News.

First pic is Deb Komodore. She inherited the chalk drawing from her deceased mother. She is loaning it to her church to remind parishioners that the harvest is great but the laborers are few. What's ironic about this is that after we got back from hiking and got into the car I made a remark about how great the harvest is but the laborers are few. Told her that for most of my christian walk I wasn't interested in doing anything for the Lord but now I told Him I was available to work. Deb then gets out of the car and opens up the trunk and shows me this great piece of art. It so fit!

Day 133- At Fireside and hiking Highline Canal Trail today

Yesterday I walked 9 miles after work part of which was done on the Highline Canal Trail which snakes through the Denver Metro Area. Walked the last mile or so in darkness and a light rain. It was very peaceful.

Went to Wholefoods for a salad for supper.

I used to live 2 blocks from there back in 04. Lived in a 2 story condo with a fireplace. Josh stayed with me a couple of months back then. Used to hike the canal trail in the evening even with snow on the ground.

I always did a lot of walking wherever I have lived. I could think through a problem better by putting one foot in front of the other.

Pics are from yesterday's walk. Note the rainbow.

Day 129- Worked at Heartland

Nice peaceful 3 day weekend slipped into the past. Back to work today.

Walked 4 miles to Whole Foods for a salad and 4 miles back to Rich's home. Will be walking 8-10 five days per week.

Tomorrow I will be at Fireside all day writing my Sept 10 Column for the Times back home. Over the weekend a friend related to me that his friend a businessman wants a book written and wonders if I would be interested in ghost writing it. So, we shall see.

Took the Highline Canal Trail part of the way from work to Whole Foods. Will be taking it a bit farther on the way back home tonight. Its a bit spooky at night but pleasant.

Pics are of the trail.

Day 128- Holiday over. Work begins

Looking forward to Sept 9 my first day working at the SAME Cafe downtown Denver.

This week working 3 days at Heartland Const and 1 day at Nelson Tree Service.

My spare time is spent writing and reconnecting with other friends in the metro area.

Drove over to Josh and Emily Nelsons in Englewood yesterday and met little Sierra Nelson the Nelsons' days old baby girl. Held her for a few moments. It was the first time in years that I have held a baby. Scary.

Also met the Joseph Grabers who were visiting the Nelsons. Joe is the pastor of  Living Water Fellowship in Golden and is also producing a documentary on the Amish. Joe was a part of an Amish community. His father was an Amish minister. They left the order/settlement years ago. The Grabers have been Amish for centuries.

Beginning my 10 mile walks today to prepare for my departure in the spring.