Month: February 2026

  • Day 049 of 2026

    Day 049 of 2026

    And today is a travel day!

    Got up this morning and had some time with the dogs and the ln caught up on my email and everything else that is part of my morning routine.

    Started getting tech phone calls shortly after I started on my first cup of coffee. The had my “oh shit” moment that I was going to cut it too close for my flight. So I rushed and got it together for Jesse to take me to the airport a bit earlier than planned.

    I really don’t mind wandering around Denver International Airport as there is always some new artwork and sculptures to see. Today was no different.

    Anyways, I wandered around and found a few quiet places to stop and get some work done to keep up with the office work. Got my 10000 steps in as well before leaving Denver.

    Best feeling in the entire world when you get to the gate and your plane is arriving.

    Boarded in time. Backed away form the gate. And Parked for an hour. It appears we were delayed to allow the many private jets heading to the same airport to land on time. There is something WAY wrong with that picture… we are a schedule flight…. private jets not a scheduled flight. I guess they have more money.

    The flight into Montrose, CO was very bumpy, and now that we are on the ground we are waiting for planes to de-ice in front of the two gates available for United at this very small airport.

    And now we have been sitting here for about an hour and a half waiting for a gate. Actually waiting for them to de-ice plane after plane while waiting for a gate. The Captain id getting very upset with the station manager because he hmsays he could get into another gate if they would push the departing planes back a little further when de-icing them. This is the longest wait I have ever had on a taxiiway.

    Still waiting

    Finally, at the gate. And to add insults, this is gate 4.

    And now I wait for baggage at belt 1 of 1. I think they have 1 employee offloading the baggage, loading the next flight, and then bringing the baggage to the baggage claim.

    Finally got my bags and got out of the airport and to the hotel Was able to cheek in with no issues, nice desk clerk. Got a decent room and was able to walk out right behind the hotel and get some food at Safeway right behind me. Dinner was some broccoli and cheese sauce, a turkey pot pie, and then for desert I got my standard batch of blueberries. I also picked up a bag of “Skinny Pop” to munch on during my drive tomorrow.

    I did have to catch up on all of my open work support related tickets, so I set up my office away from home. People laugh at my but I like my 65″ monitor. Makes it real easy to see issues in some of the photographs I need to review.

    Anyways, while today was stressful from a travel perspective I really can’t complain. I think it would have been much worse driving over 7 hours, and it would have been a little more than that because of the Winter weather. I do not have 4 wheel drive and I think it would have been worse.

    Goodnight all and I will talk to you tomorrow. I am hoping I get some decent photographs of my travels, and I will share as I can.

  • Day 048 of 2026

    Day 048 of 2026

    Hello all!! Busy day today with some closure as well. I received a phone call that Gizmo was ready to be picked up. I took an early lunch and went and brought her home.

    The cycle is complete, all my promises are kept, she is partially home with her pack, and her spirit is re-united with the bridge pack. Hopefully I will see them all in the future. But please, not too soon.  The candle flame is out, the candle is put away hopefully not to be  used again for many more years.

    Got back home, spent the rest of the day working, got a lot done. I finally have my head above C level. Allstate files keep me very busy. Finished off what was in my queue and then escaped for an hour.

    I did get out for my 4.5 mile (or about) jog/walk. I only label it as a run on Garmin as I try to separate that from my dog walks ans indoor walking at the airport.

    Total distance: 4.46 mi
    Max elevation: 5685 ft
    Min elevation: 5554 ft
    Total climbing: 902 ft
    Total descent: -917 ft
    Average speed: 4.25 mi/h
    Average cadence: 57
    Average heart rate: 107
    Average temperature: 18.7
    Total time: 01:05:08

    Not a bad walk, and I found this on one of the roads.

    Aurora is starting to move these around town. And this is a really good location. Capture all the people leaving the base in a very big hurry at the end of the day.

  • Day 047 of 2026

    Day 047 of 2026

    And the candle still burns. Gizmo is not home yet, this is tradition. I still feel bad that after she went to sleep for the last time I did not stay and spend my 10-15 minutes with her – I have always done this with the previous pack members, but this time I really wanted to remember her purring, not her silence. I really pray that she was not aware that I left. I have always stayed because I am afraid there is still some brain activity and a sense of awareness, this time I just couldn’t. I hope the Dr did not think less of me for not staying.

    Onto other things. After last week today was much calmer and I was able to get some other work done besides answering Cause of Loss Determinations (COLDs) all day. The ones I did get were valid and needed to come to me. I spent a ton of time today trying to get hold of technicians and other people I needed to talk with. Some successful and some not, but valiant effort.

    I did get out for a break mid-day and went for a pretty long walk. I am trying to get hills into my workouts (have a challenge from our healthy choices system at work). I need 60 more floors of “up” to meet the challenge for this month.

    Total distance: 4.9 mi
    Max elevation: 5682 ft
    Min elevation: 5566 ft
    Total climbing: 350 ft
    Total descent: -333 ft
    Average speed: 4.12 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 108
    Average temperature: 24.7
    Total time: 01:11:24

    Anyways, didn’t have the heart rate issues on this one, but I was not trying to push myself either. Res wanted to go with me but I made him stay home.

    On the Pack News, Climber is pissed off at me. I tried to get some eye drops in her eyes and she wasn’t having any of it. She yelled at me, it was like I was killing her. I gave up. Jesse for some reason is able to do this stuff, but she really fights me. We think she is having some allergies making her eyes itch a bit. Res could really care less.

    Climber and Res do have the right idea though. It’s after dinner nap time.

    Anyways, they have the right idea. It is time for me to say goodnight and I will see you all tomorrow. We have some exciting travels coming up.

  • Day 046 of 2026

    Day 046 of 2026

    What a day! First, the Candle Still burns for Gizmo. It will remain lit until she comes home, it’s a tradition that we do for all of our Angel pack, when we have to say goodbye the candle is lit and stays lit until they come home.

    I did take her unopened food and cat litter bag over to the donation spot for they Aurora Pet Food Pantry (Part of the Denver Food Bank). If she can help at least one pet stay with a family that is struggling for food I will be more than happy to donate. I will eventually take her cat tree over and maybe her litter box, but for the moment the food was the most important thing to pass on before it went bad.

    On happier news, started off the day with a little down time to have my coffee and once Jesse got up I took Res and Climber for their walks. Res always goes first and gets a longer walk on the weekends. We did just over two miles. Then I took him back to the house and took Climber back out. Climber got a long walk today, she did over 4 miles.

    Total distance: 4.28 mi
    Max elevation: 5667 ft
    Min elevation: 5519 ft
    Total climbing: 440 ft
    Total descent: -430 ft
    Average speed: 3.77 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 102
    Average temperature: 24.5
    Total time: 01:12:22

    And it didn’t even tire her out! She was going going going going……. And when we got home she decided to run the stairs.

    After Jesse and I had breakfast I went back out to Cherry Creek State Park and did another jog. It was supposed to be a 2min run / 2min walk training tempo, but unfortunately my heart rate dropped significantly about 3 miles in. Of course that means I was 3 miles away from the car, so I just walked the rest of the way. As I went around the reservoir I noticed the water level is the lowest I have ever seen it. It is probably going to be a very interesting year for boating. The water is very low.

    I made it back to the car and wrapped things up. I did sit there for a few minutes and finished my water and tried to figure out what was happening with my heart rate. I don’t think I will have any answers until the cardiologist take a look at the cardiac monitor I am wearing for the next 4 days or so. I am starting to wonder if I am going back into aFib and my watch and heart rate chest strap doesn’t know how to interpret it.

    Total distance: 6.55 mi
    Max elevation: 5622 ft
    Min elevation: 5566 ft
    Total climbing: 514 ft
    Total descent: -507 ft
    Average speed: 4.31 mi/h
    Average cadence: 58
    Average heart rate: 92
    Average temperature: 28.3
    Total time: 01:36:03

    Anyways, I am done for the day, tomorrow is another day. Good night all!

  • Day 045 of 2026

    Today did not start off as planned. The dogs and I got up at our normal time. Spent our quiet time with snacks and outs. Jesse got up around 9am as normal. And then things changed.

    Gizmo started howling. Now, she has been howling a lot lately, but this was different, this went on for about 30 minutes before I went to find her. Normally when she howls she is in the hall and it is obvious, this time she was no where to be found and I had to go look for her. I found her crouched under a night table, amid dried up poop. I picked her up and took her downstairs with me. She ran to her litter box and then projectile vomited all over the place. I found two other spots as well.

    I did my morning walks with Res and Climber while thinking through what to do. I despise ER vet visits, but I also do not like my current vet that we started using for the dogs when we first moved out here. I got back to the house, we had breakfast, and I decided that I had to take Gizmo to the vet. I already knew what the outcome would end up being, projectile vomiting is never a good thing with her, and I was not going to put her through yet another surgery. It was not a financial thing, she has good pet insurance, it’s an age a quality of life thing.

    I made my initial FaceBook post as I always do as I left the vet. No last minute photographs, I don’t believe in that.

    RIP Gizmo. 

    We will post more later.

    Update: Hi all thank you so much for all of your messages and thoughts, but for Gizmo please think some happy thoughts. Seriously I know it doesn't sound right, but she is in a much better space now. I firmly believe it. She has not been happy for some time, she has been sick, she has not been cleaning herself and she has been withdrawing more and more. I make all of our pets a promise when we adopt them, that when quality of life disappears then I will be there with them when it is time. Promise kept. This was not too soon, this was right. This was not a financial decision, she has very good insurance, this was a quality of life.

    I leave this post with one last thought

    The vet had to sedate her to even place a catheter. That part was done without me present as I did not want to remember that. But she was still with us when they brought her to me, wrapped in a blanket and when she laid down next to me she started purring. As calm as could be. She purred until right after the anesthesia took hold. She left this word happy.

    This is the first time I did not sit with a pet for 10-15 minutes after the procedure. I just couldn't. I really just wanted to remember the last bit of purring. It was as though she was telling me all would be OK.

    After I came home, I needed to just be outside for a while, so I went for my afternoon jog/walk. Went locally because I really didn’t feel like going anyplace distant.

    Total distance: 5.25 mi
    Max elevation: 5649 ft
    Min elevation: 5472 ft
    Total climbing: 429 ft
    Total descent: -428 ft
    Average speed: 4.35 mi/h
    Average cadence: 59
    Average heart rate: 116
    Average temperature:
    Total time: 01:15:05

    I think I am going to say goodnight for the evening and see you all tomorrow. I am hoping for a better day.

  • Day 044 of 2026

    Day 044 of 2026

    Hello all!

    Today was a catch-up type day. There isn’t much to share, other than we had some frustrations at work today, may be growing pains, but I had to throw in the proverbial white towel today and ask for help. Of course the person that I needed to ask for help from was out of the office for the afternoon, but that is a discussion to have on Monday.

    I took a lunch break finally around 11:30 or so and was gone for an hour. I needed to go out for a walk before I told someone off. Yup, one of those days. Happens to all of us occasionally. Got most of my steps in for the day while calming myself down a bit.

    Total distance: 4.98 mi
    Max elevation: 5684 ft
    Min elevation: 5558 ft
    Total climbing: 370 ft
    Total descent: -335 ft
    Average speed: 4.27 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 120
    Average temperature: 22.2
    Total time: 01:10:32

    Spent the next 4 hours getting caught up, and then sort of called it a day. Time to walk the dogs, have dinner, and now it’s rest and relax time.

    I am going to call it a day. I hope I will have some better things to talk about tomorrow. But, as always, before I do, here is the station log for today.

    mheard from KO4YAW on 14.105LSB / 14.1023 USB Net 105 in Aurora, CO:

    YAWNOD:KO4YAW-7} Heard List for Port 4
    KC2IHX-7 Feb 14 01:30:03
    N6CTA-7 Feb 14 01:19:16
    KB9PVH-3 Feb 14 00:35:21
    NS2B-1 Feb 14 00:34:16
    AC0ZH-7 Feb 14 00:02:43
    KB9PVH-5 Feb 13 23:51:34
    W6VVN Feb 13 23:44:20
    VE3QBZ-7 Feb 13 23:39:26
    K0LAI-1 Feb 13 23:33:10
    K0LAI-7 Feb 13 23:29:56
    WG0A-7 Feb 13 23:23:38
    VE3QBZ-1 Feb 13 23:19:45
    N6CTA-1 Feb 13 23:18:10
    KB8UVN-7 Feb 13 23:08:48
    KC2IHX-1 Feb 13 22:55:25
    WG0A-1 Feb 13 22:54:07
    N9LYA-8 Feb 13 22:44:33
    W1CDN Feb 13 22:35:03
    NS2B-7 Feb 13 22:32:53
    KB9PVH Feb 13 22:24:19
    KB9PVH-15 Feb 13 22:24:01
    K7SKI Feb 13 22:23:20
    N9SEO-3 Feb 13 22:20:09
    K7TMG Feb 13 22:19:25
    KE8NAD Feb 13 22:12:51
    KB9KC-1 Feb 13 21:59:38
    N4QMI-7 Feb 13 21:29:15 via KB9PVH*
    W1CDN-1 Feb 13 21:28:33
    W1CDN-7 Feb 13 21:26:59
    VA3PIX-7 Feb 13 21:16:31

    NOTE: This will be the final mheard for a few days as my station will be changing to JS8 mode for a while. The packet node will be up via IP addressing only.

  • Day 043 of 2026

    Day 043 of 2026

    Hello All! This is one of these posts that is going to be ongoing today. Started off the day at my hotel in Grand Junction, CO.

    Looked out the window of the hotel and saw a bunch of new car models with manufacturer plates. All fitted with GPS and all Toyota. I had a chance to talk with one of the drivers and yes, they are testing new models in various conditions across the country. Sort of cool.

    New Toyota Models

    Got breakfast and then spent the next few hours working on desk stuff. That is pricing, processor questions, and tech support.

    While I had the room booked for two nights I decided to check out early as the roads look pretty good through the mountains and I really want to go home today. I had to check out around 10:00am so I went to the park and got in most of my 10,00 steps for the day.

    Total distance: 4 mi
    Max elevation: 4596 ft
    Min elevation: 4566 ft
    Total climbing: 186 ft
    Total descent: -195 ft
    Average speed: 4.01 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 96
    Average temperature: 22.2
    Total time: 01:11:52

    I also had some time to find some more of the sculptures and other neat things around the park. This is one of the neat things when I am traveling, I can find some really neat things in all the areas I travel to if I look close enough.

    After that it was time to head over for my appointment and meet up with the adjusters, the engineers, and the property management (HOA) representative. The inspection went about as well as I thought it would, but the view from the roof was awesome. I love the mountains in this part of the state.

    After the inspection was done it was time to head home. Here are some awesome photos that I took along the way.

    I decided that I would do something I have been wanting to do for a while here, I put the drone up to get some good photos of the canyon from above. This is all along the Colorado River. I am going to put those photos up on a page that I will link into this, but just not tonight. That is a tomorrow project. In the meantime below is a 360 Panoramic Image that I leave you with. You will need to click into it then you can move it around with your mouse of phone. Zoom in and out works as well. Enjoy.

    And the rest of the drive home was rainy and dark. I made it home around 8:00pm, had a late dinner and then time for bed.

    Today’s travels took me about 300 miles total.

    Have a great evening. Check back tomorrow for that updated link here with my drone reel from today’s stop.

  • Day 042 of 2026

    Day 042 of 2026

    And how fast plans change during the course of a day! Oh, hello and welcome to my world!

    I was supposed to spend today at home and do a “quick” trip to Grand Junction, CO tomorrow for an inspection. Well, that did not happen as planned. I am sitting in a hotel right now in Grand Junction. Why you ask? Well, there is this small Winter storm that was supposed to hit the mountains overnight and into tomorrow that was going to follow I-70 and it’s mountain passes. I decided that the best idea would be to get out in front of it and get to Grand Junction before they did something stupid like close the road. Would have been no fun tomorrow as there really isn’t another option other than I-70.

    Anyways, made my way slowly out to Grand Junction. I had to stop frequently as I had to check in on some questions from the office and some of our technicians. On long flat land I can sort of take a look at things on my tablet/laptop as long as I don’t have to type, but in the mountains, nope, not happening. Too many curves, and Colorado has something against guardrails. We just don’t use them.

    Some photos from my travels today. The first one is the climb into the Eisenhower Tunnel, the next two are leaving the tunnel. We have no snow on one side and snow on the other.

    I stopped at a rest area along the way a little further West along I-70 and took a these. I love this part of the state, it’s so neat how the mountains, water, and all the cliffs come together.

    Got to my hotel in Grand Junction and checked in. Decided that I wanted to go out and get my steps in. Fortunately there is a really nice local recreation/athletic/trails park nearby. Found a really neat sculpture along the way, it’s called Love Song and it was created by Denny Haskew out of Loveland. I sort of get it and that is something I don’t say about a lot of sculptures.

    The part was really nice as well. It’s called Canyon View Park and it is off the last Grand Junction exit, right as you are headed into town. Lot’s of construction going on in the area, but the park looks like it is most often used for Soccer during the warmer seasons.

    So, I rounded out my outdoor time today with almost a 7.5 mile walk around the park a few times. Wasn’t as fast of a pace as I normally do, but as I am traveling I really do not want to get hurt.

    Total distance: 7.39 mi
    Max elevation: 4592 ft
    Min elevation: 4553 ft
    Total climbing: 262 ft
    Total descent: -264 ft
    Average speed: 3.96 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 104
    Average temperature: 20.7
    Total time: 01:53:43

    Finished that, had some dinner at the hotel. I stay at Home2 Suites when I am out here normally, so they usually have some healthy options in the frozen dinner selection. Today was something Mexican. And then I had to catch up on all the open requests from work. Took me about two hours to get that done before I sat down and wrote my blog (this) for the day.

    Today’s travels, about just under 300 miles along I-70.

    And…. I forgot my laptop charger. Though it appears one of my phone charger has the “umpf” to charge my laptop, if it doesn’t overheat and die we may be OK. I am going to sign off for the evening, but before I do…..

    The mheard list from KO4YAW on Net 105, 14.105LSB or 14.1023USB located in Aurora, CO:

    YAWNOD:KO4YAW-7} Heard List for Port 4
    N6CTA-1 Feb 12 01:32:11
    KC2IHX-7 Feb 12 01:30:02
    KB9PVH-5 Feb 12 01:28:48
    N6CTA-7 Feb 12 01:28:16
    N0BN Feb 12 01:27:28 via KB9PVH-7*
    N0BN-1 Feb 12 01:27:03 via KB9PVH-7*
    K7SKI Feb 12 01:19:26
    KB9PVH-7 Feb 12 01:13:26
    W1CDN-1 Feb 12 01:01:31
    KB9PVH-3 Feb 12 00:58:59
    W3TQG Feb 12 00:55:07
    KC2IHX-1 Feb 12 00:42:02
    KB5YZB-1 Feb 12 00:35:43 via KB9PVH*
    AC0ZH-7 Feb 12 00:32:36
    K0LAI-1 Feb 12 00:31:32
    K0LAI-7 Feb 12 00:29:56
    K5DAT-7 Feb 12 00:18:19
    KF7PSM-7 Feb 12 00:16:28
    W1CDN-7 Feb 12 00:01:16
    KN6NW-5 Feb 11 23:05:02
    NS2B-1 Feb 11 23:03:36
    WB7PZZ Feb 11 22:54:32
    N4QMI-7 Feb 11 22:40:04 via KB9PVH*
    KB8UVN-7 Feb 11 22:37:24
    KB9PVH-1 Feb 11 22:20:31
    KA9QJT-1 Feb 11 21:31:36 via KB9PVH*,N0HI-2
    WB5BNV Feb 11 20:57:18
    W9LCF Feb 11 20:57:08
    WW6Q-1 Feb 11 19:46:18
    KB9PVH Feb 11 19:21:58

    Goodnight All!

  • Day 041 of 2026

    No great photos today. It was an “in office” and “at home” sort of day. Had so much to do and such little time to do it. On health news I am on the heart monitor again, it’s not awful, it is just a pain because I can’t get it wet for 24 hours and then I can’t swim with it on. Which means no swimming for 13 more days. And I keep hitting the “record symptoms” button by accident.

    So, I got up and had my coffee, enjoyed some quiet time with the dogs before I logged into work for the day. And then it started…… I was finally able to take a break around 10:30 to go do a long walk, I was not able to jog as I wasn’t supposed to get the glue under this thing sweaty. But, I got a decent walk in, made my 10K steps (what a joke that is).

    Total distance: 5.81 mi
    Max elevation: 5679 ft
    Min elevation: 5516 ft
    Total climbing: 449 ft
    Total descent: -433 ft
    Average speed: 4.22 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 118
    Average temperature: 18.8
    Total time: 01:22:58

    Came back and finished out my day with work. I ended up working later than I wanted to and still didn’t get everything done. So, I had about two hours of extra stuff to do this evening. Now I am in a much better place. I really need to spend some time on the phone calling technicians tomorrow or Thursday. I may try to have some conversations while I am driving on Thursday. Oh, yeh…. I have to go out to Western CO Thursday for an appointment.

    Res and Climber got a short walk today, it’s an afternoon weekday walk, these are always short.

    Total distance: 0.58 mi
    Max elevation: 5619 ft
    Min elevation: 5567 ft
    Total climbing: 73 ft
    Total descent: -73 ft
    Average speed: 2.95 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 104
    Average temperature: 19.9
    Total time: 00:12:38

    I just imported and ran all of the Greyhound-data race files for Tri-State and Wheeling Downs for last week. Still need to upload the final files to greyhound-data, but at least the hard part is done. The rest is basically point and click.

    I think I am going to call it a night tonight, I am exhausted and have spent way too much time staring at a monitor today. My brain is mush.

    mheard from KO4YAW on 14.1023 USB / 14.105 LSB Net105 Aurora, CO

    YAWNOD:KO4YAW-7} Heard List for Port 4
    N6CTA-7 Feb 11 02:36:27
    KB9PVH-5 Feb 11 02:13:32
    N6CTA-1 Feb 11 02:13:27
    KC2IHX-7 Feb 11 02:06:01
    KB9PVH-3 Feb 11 01:50:27
    K5DAT-7 Feb 11 01:48:19
    KC2IHX-1 Feb 11 01:35:20
    W1CDN-7 Feb 11 01:34:59
    AC0ZH-7 Feb 11 01:32:38
    K0LAI-1 Feb 11 01:30:46
    K0LAI-7 Feb 11 01:29:56
    K7SKI Feb 11 01:19:30
    W6VVN-7 Feb 11 01:14:59
    KB9PVH-7 Feb 11 01:14:13
    W6VVN Feb 11 01:09:55
    KD9WZZ Feb 11 00:55:05
    VE3QBZ-1 Feb 11 00:47:26
    KA9QJT-1 Feb 11 00:31:40 via KB9PVH*,N0HI-2
    KN6NW-1 Feb 11 00:23:05
    KN6NW Feb 11 00:23:03
    N9SEO-3 Feb 11 00:20:09
    VA3PIX-7 Feb 11 00:15:46
    KF7PSM-7 Feb 10 23:46:35
    KB9KC Feb 10 23:34:32
    WB7PZZ Feb 10 23:13:35
    WG0A-1 Feb 10 23:04:05
    WG0A-7 Feb 10 22:51:26
    N4QMI-7 Feb 10 22:31:41 via KB9PVH*
    K7TMG Feb 10 22:15:49
    NS2B-1 Feb 10 22:02:43

  • Day 040 of 2026

    Day 040 of 2026

    Happy Monday!!!

    Started off the day with the alarm not going off. I am so happy (most of the time) that I have an internal alarm clock that won’t let me sleep past 6:30-6:45 before I am awake. Got up, gave the dogs their morning treats, and their outside time. Then I had to log in for work.

    Had a meeting with IT today to go over software used. I am not sure but I always feel IT is there to make life more difficult. I spend more time answering questions and not getting much accomplished. But, we got through the meeting and I am sure I will hear some follow-up in the next day or so. Once I finished with that call, I tried getting caught up on tags (questions), Cause of Loss Determination requests, and Tech Support requests.

    Lunch time today was a swim. I have to start wearing a heart monitor after today for the next 14 days and I wanted to get the Garmin swim challenge for this week done. Unfortunately can’t swim with the heart monitor, so it was important to get in the water today. After the 14 days are up on the 23rd of February I should be able to get back into the water and complete the monthly challenge. I need about another 5K of swimming to get that done. Maybe I will attempt to do that in one session and I can take care of a few Swim.Com challenges as well. I need a 200yard kick also for the USMS challenge. These challenges do keep me motivated so they are important.

    Came back home and finished out the day. I worked a little bit late to get it all done and then I worked a little extra this evening to get some new technicians added to the Alpine Intel University, our online training platform. I suspect that less than 50% of them will actually take the online classes and I will spend some additional time pestering them to do so. Life goes on and it’s job security.

    I just had time for an afternoon walk to get my steps in for the day. I got my 8,000 steps that is my goal, but weight watchers would like to see 10K steps (there’s that magic unscientific number again). I am also participating in a 300 floor step challenge. It is climbing 300 floors worth of steps in the next 30 days. That’s easy because every one of my workouts gives on an average of 20-30 floors. Give me the next 15 days and this will be done as long as the weather holds up. 27 floors today. During the afternoon walk I had to take a couple of tech support calls and of course that is difficult when you are not sitting in front of a computer, but had phone in hand and I was able to provide the support.

    Total distance: 3.65 mi
    Max elevation: 5666 ft
    Min elevation: 5557 ft
    Total climbing: 318 ft
    Total descent: -318 ft
    Average speed: 3.62 mi/h
    Average cadence:
    Average heart rate: 98
    Average temperature: 24.8
    Total time: 01:03:20

    Got back just in time to walk the dogs for their afternoon/evening walks. Then it was dinner time and relax time. I am sort of done for the day, but I do have one more computer related activity I need to do and that is to start the import jobs for last week’s races for greyhound-data.org.

    I have to make a vet appointment for Gizmo. Something is wrong and I am worried about her quality of life. She is 19 years old and I am afraid she is hurting. It could be arthritis, but I guess I am going to have to get her checked out. I just have this gut feeling that this may be a final appointment for her, which is why I have been hesitating. Why am I worried about quality of life?
    1) She does eat, but has graduated to wet food only.
    2) When she moves she “hollers” as she walks.
    3) She has stopped cleaning herself. I am having to deal with matted fur.
    4) She hides under a bed most of the day and rarely comes out. I am not sure this is the life for a pet.
    5) She still does navigate the steps to come to her litter box.
    6) She stopped eating outside of her room. I think it may have been that she can no longer jump up on the table without extreme effort.

    This is just one of these, I am not sure situations.

    Today's mheard from KO4YAW in Aurora, CO for 2/9/2026 on 14.105LSB / 14.1023USB.

    YAWNOD:KO4YAW-7} Heard List for Port 4
    KC2IHX-7 Feb 10 02:42:01
    KC2IHX-1 Feb 10 02:28:39
    K7SKI Feb 10 02:23:33
    AC0ZH-7 Feb 10 02:02:40
    KB9PVH-5 Feb 10 01:51:48
    KB9PVH-3 Feb 10 01:48:55
    KB9PVH-7 Feb 10 01:45:18
    KB5YZB-1 Feb 10 01:32:56 via KB9PVH*
    K0LAI-7 Feb 10 01:20:38
    N9SEO-3 Feb 10 01:20:08
    K5DAT-7 Feb 10 01:18:19
    KB9PVH Feb 10 01:16:49
    NS2B-1 Feb 10 01:02:00
    KB5YZB-7 Feb 10 00:28:30 via KB9PVH*,KB9KC-7
    KC6HBB-1 Feb 09 23:55:38
    KC6HBB Feb 09 23:55:37
    KE8NAD Feb 09 22:36:07
    KB9KC Feb 09 22:28:02
    K7TMG Feb 09 22:23:28
    KA9QJT-1 Feb 09 22:16:41 via KB9PVH*,N0HI-2
    WB7PZZ Feb 09 22:05:50
    N6CTA-7 Feb 09 21:59:08
    N0HI-7 Feb 09 21:58:33 via KB9KC*
    N6CTA-1 Feb 09 21:27:51
    KB9KC-1 Feb 09 18:34:56
    KD3BFP-1 Feb 09 15:26:00
    W9LCF-7 Feb 09 15:21:52
    KB9PVH-1 Feb 09 15:12:42
    WB5BNV Feb 09 15:02:30
    WG0A-1 Feb 09 15:00:36

    I think that is a wrap for this evening. I will see everyone tomorrow.