2019/12/30 - Still Got It!

2019/12/27- Memories from 1994

One of our Denali team's training outings was a trip to Mount Rainier. On our last night we decided to build the ultimate deluxe snow cave:

In the inside we shoveled out five coffin size slots, radiating from a center group area

                        

And finished the front entrance:

2019/12/26 - Chestnuts

I’m enjoying a new way of playing chess. I call it chess without stress. 

When I first start playing chess, one of the most annoying things was an opponent who took forever to make a move. It really takes all of the fun out of playing. 

So I started using a clock, giving my opponent ample time (usually 30 minutes) to finish the game. That’s 30 minutes for each player, so the max a game could last is one hour. That’s enough for me. Any longer and my ADD kicks in. 

But then I started dabbling in shorter games, and found them incredibly exciting, but very stressful. At one point I was playing 2-3 hours a day and had to quit because my stress level was getting too high. 

But I always come back. I’m addicted to the stress. So I try different things. There was Treadmill Chess, Team Chess, Chess 960, and now I’m doing the craziest thing I’ve ever done. 

I’m playing 50 games at a time, with one day to make each move. 

So every morning I wake to 50 puzzles, where it’s my turn to move. Most times the moves are easy, but some are tricky and having all day to think about them takes all the stress out of it. 

It takes me about 45 minutes to make the 50 moves, and that usually satisfies my addiction for a while. 

2019/12/25 - Merry Christmas!

Damn.... It really pisses me off when I forget to take pictures of an event. It usually when I’m having too much fun.

Anyway we (Val, Heloisa, Zeh , and myself) had a wonderful Slovenian dinner at Yanna, Brano, and Emma’s house.

2019/12/24 - Christmas Eve at the Hoffmeyer House

2019/12/23 - My Christmas Cookies

White Chocolate-Covered Italian Anisette Cookies with Sprinkles

This is my recipe, fine-tuned over the years:

(Makes about 45 cookies)

2019/12/21 - Renee’s Christmas Party

2019/12/20 - Christmas Lights

2019/12/18 - Mom’s 90th Birthday

Attendees: Val, Renee, Heloisa, Mom, Ze, Steve

Pepperoni 90

2019/12/13 - Just another Bocce ball night

Last night was Val’s company’s Christmas party. They held it at the Rhein Haus Denver. The people  were great and so was the food! I had a lot of fun watching the company bocce ball tournament.

2019/12/12 - Still alive and well

My birthday shoulder injury persists. I said I would give it 2 months, and if it still hurt, then I’ll go get it checked. The 2 months was up 12 days ago. 

Life is different without exercise. All my other minor aches and pains have gone away. My back no longer bothers me. When this shoulder heals, I’ll be a new man.  

In the meantime I’m selling pipes and having pipe dreams.