Wednesday, June 24, Laundry, Fishing and Dad

I woke up at 5:00 (ungodly hour if you ask me), but covered my head with the blanket and went back to sleep until 8. Everyone else was still sleeping, so I got my current read and started back in on it. This particular book really gets to me emotionally, so I stopped several times to pray for the offspring. It's just one of those stories.

We designated today to be Laundry Day. It has been our practice to pack 3 days' worth of clothes and then do laundry wherever we may be. So this was our day. We got everything together and, after the morning ablutions (there's that word again), headed into Creede to the oh-so-familiar laundromat that we always use when we're here.

Jeez-a-lou, the washers were $3.50 each!! Naturally, we didn't have enough quarters or even cash for that matter, so we asked the locals where to find the nearest ATM machine. It was about 4 blocks away. Here we go -- exercise for the morning. Huff, puff, huff, puff. I don't remember having altitude issues before. Maybe it's because we're older? Yeah, that's the ticket. We're older.

Made it to the bank and the ATM machine without too much embarassment. The ATM fee for a cash withdrawal was $5.00! Supply and demand, right? Whatever.

Back down the 4 blocks to the laundromat and got the washers going. B&K decided they were hot, so they drove back to the cabin to change clothes while Dear and I set up our Internet cafe in the laundromat and piggy-backed WiFi off of one of the local B&B's nearby. I uploaded some more photos to Facebook (I think there are more than 80 of them in the album now), checked email and bank accounts, and then worked on the blog.

While we were doing laundry, #3 called B and told him that their dog, Jaxon, had hurt himself somehow and should he go to the vet? B said yes, and K called the vet in Midlothian to make an appointment for 4:30. Turns out that Jax had cut his leg all the way around and the vet decided to keep him overnight for antibiotics and observation. #3 offered to stay with B&K's other puppy, Sydney, so she wouldn't be alone for the night. Isn't that what canine uncles are supposed to do? Thanks, #3!

After the laundry was finished, we walked next door to Kip's Grill for a late lunch (3:30 p.m. already!), picked up a few grocery items from the local market, and then drove back to the cabin. Thunderstorms were rolling in -- that happens pretty much every afternoon here -- and we sat on the cabin porch listening to the thunder, feeding almonds and granola to the chipmunks, and taking pictures. They're very tame and will eat out of your hand if you stay really still. One little guy even climbed up the outside of K's pants-leg looking for more goodies.

In spite of the rain, we drove out to Love Lake to do some fishing. It wasn't raining when we got there and the other fishermen were pulling fish out of the water like every 5 minutes or so. All we got was wet, cold, and p-o'ed because we certainly didn't get any bites! Not even any nibbles! We tried for about 2 hours, but finally gave up and came back to the cabin.

B&K let us out at the lodge for some more Internet time -- I needed to listen to yesterday's lecture. Did that while Dear watched "A Knight's Tale" and now I'm caught up with the blog.

Dad. Today is the 25th anniversary of my father's promotion to Heaven. I can't believe so much time has passed already. I am sorry that our children didn't have the chance to know their Grandfather. He would have been proud of them. I love you, Dad, and I miss you!

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