Holy Saturday, Batman

Turned out to be a very busy day... First up was AJ's baseball game, followed by Matteo's baseball game (at the other end of town, of course). (There was no fence-free camera angle for Matteo's game.) Then Easter eggs at the Krebs', followed by taking photos at Woodmen Heights Saturday evening Easter service.

The boys play at three different fields that have trains right next door!
In this case, the field was between the southbound tracks (pictured top center)
and the northbound tracks (pictured below) at Larkspur.
At least six trains went by during the game.
Larkspur is about 20 minutes north of us along I-25.

Southbound BNSF along magenta, northbound along yellow.
At the other two fields, the tracks are much closer to the field, but only one track.

Northbound.

The requisite "good game" high fives! AJ is #3.

How's that for a carved tire!

More snow, etc....

This time we happened to be taking Fina to a service project for her National Junior Honor Society. She was helping at a high school's "GameCon." Getting her over there turned out to be during the heaviest snow. A few hours later it was practically all gone. Most of the family was laying low as Matt had his wisdom teeth removed yesterday. Both baseball games were cancelled today (they won't play below 40 degrees - OK with me).

Rampart High School

Nana and Papa may have stopped at P.F. Chang's for dinner.

Pre-Embargo, Cuban-Tobacco Cigars ?

About a month ago I re-discovered, in my stash of railroad stuff, a souvenir from a November 8, 1953 inspection tour of the Holyoke and Westfield Railroad (Massachusetts). The cigar manufacturer, 7-20-4 Cigars, still exists and has quite a story. They opened in 1874 and closed in 1963 due to the embargo on Cuban tobacco, which they used exclusively. Kurt Kendall revived the name in 2006, which is why their bands now have Kendall on them instead of RG Sullivan’s.

But were they pre-embargo, Cuban-tobacco cigars?

Today, we smoked 'em, after giving them the month to recover in a humidor. The results were... Mixed. The band did have R. G. Sullivan on them, which theoretically was not made again after 1963. While they didn't smell like horse manure pre-lit (a typical nature of Cuban tobacco), they did smell pleasant, maybe a bit earthy. The filling was short-leaf, an inexpensive approach, but still often done with Cuban cigars today. The flavor was mild, but very nice. Again, though, not exactly "Cuban." Overall gut feeling - maybe.

See the To Shiny Rails story.

Political Bug

Jamie ran for Councilmember first in Westwood, Kansas and again in Pismo Beach, CA.  Being on a City Council for ten years cured him of bigger political ambitions. Digging through old boxes, it's amazing what we have in photos!

At our first home on Belinder in Westwood, KS.
That's Trevor. 1980.
This shot was taken for campaign posters and newsletters.

In Robob's 1948 Hudson, Pismo Beach, CA circa 1988.
Another shot for campaigning, not to mention the parade entry.
Tracy went to the ER that morning having run into a cart at Home Depot.

Spring Break at Overdrive Raceway

It was quite busy, as we probably should have guessed being Spring Break. Still, Papa and AJ had a great time at Overdrive Raceway. AJ finished 2nd in his last race, averaging about 30 seconds per lap. To give you an idea, the best adult time in the last week was about 20 seconds per lap and adults can go up to 40mph while kids are limited at 20mph. The track was pretty crowded today in each heat. So much so AJ had time to try a different car...

El Mostacho

Meet Pablo. One of the three thugs in Sister Act. Tracy says this is her favorite look so far. First Company Theater, March 22 through April 7, 2019.

Yvette made 35 for us!

The two Jamies.

"Holy rock and rollers!"

"Don't leave me, here in distress!"

"Who squealed?"

"Kill her.."

"Dios mio!"

Bomb Cyclone

How about an "Albuquerque Low" (a storm which tracks from the southwest). Bomb cyclone sounds worse. Both terms have been used for today's storm. Both terms we've heard for the first time leading up to and during today's blizzard. It's been a long time since Nana and Papa have seen a white out - where it appears you're driving/walking blindly into a wall of whiteness. And they say just five or ten miles to the south of us it's pretty mild. This has been going on since 9am this morning (it's 2pm now). By far the most powerful snow storm we've experienced in Colorado. I've coined the term "snow plaster," where the snow is wind-blown against anything (glass, walls, doors, whatever) and coats the surface. #snowmageddon

Tracy: "Aftermath of the Cyclone Bomb.
Still waiting for tow trucks and plows to remove.
Road closed until further notice.
#pileuponi25 #kidsdidntlistentoweatherman #crashed "

Love how drifts are sculpted.
And this patio is covered.

This patio is covered, too.

See how the snow is encasing the bulbs?!

Nana (and Matt) really want the mail.

Pretty close to white out.

Warmer days at Till (there is hope)