Fall Fell

On Monday (17-Oct) the tree looked like:

Then on Saturday (22-Oct) it looked like:

What a difference a couple of days make!

It was a good thing we bought the bagger for the tractor - we filled 12 bags (45 gallon bags). The bags weren't fully packed down so we figure that we packed in over 250 gallons of leaves. Most of the leaves were from the front two trees.
The roof still has a bunch of leaves on it but we should get them down pretty soon (and clear the gutters).

The other tree (a sycamore) will still have some dead leaves on it come May.

Murphy's Law

We started to clear out some of the fallen leaves from the yard yesterday - the tree out front turned a brilliant yellow and has been raining down leaves for the last few days and the front yard was yellow with leaves. Robert tried getting the leaves with a leaf vacuum, it worked great but it was taking too long and the tree was dropping leaves as fast as he could suck'em up.

So off to Sears for a bagging attachment for the lawn tractor - of course they sold us the wrong model (they have about 12 models of bagging attachments). When we found out it was the wrong one we went back to exchange the unit (after documenting the model tractor). This time they didn't have the model in stock (it should be here Tues), in fact they couldn't figure out which one it needed so Robert had too look it up in their cross reference book.

With the Sears fiasco we missed out going to the jam in Hotchkiss, so no pickin' this week. But Robert did figure out some 'new' bass lines since there is a picker who plays mostly classic country that shows up in Hothkiss. Mebbe next time he'll get a chance to try them out.

It's about time!

Jim (see 04-OCT post) walked up and asked Robert to come to his office when he had a minute. The standard thought of OH $&*! came to mind. So he went to Jim's office and they hod a long discussion, involving outstanding issues/problems, whether or not Robert was happy there, and a raise. Hey Robert got a pay increase for the first time after nearly 5 years! WOO HOO!! CitLan was a bit too cheap in that respect - in fact during the three years we were there his pay actually went down every year!
At this rate next year he'll start making what he was paid in MI.

Meantime Susie is still in school, taking a course in assistive technologies. She convinced the instructor to let her presentation be on the excent program that she became quite the expert on at BOCES last year. This should another A (the grades came out for the last class and she got an A).

We went down to Hotchkiss for the Sunday afternoon jam at a restaurant. There were anly 2 other pickers, a third guy went out and got his guitar a bit later. There was some good pickin' despite the small turnout.

Apparently Denver (and the front range) got snow over the weekend - it only rained here but there is snow on the mesa - and it has been mostly grey until this afternoon when the sun came out. We hope to drain the water lines in the trailer this weekend before it actually gets cold.

One year and counting

Robert has been at MBC Grand Broadcasting, and in GJ for, a year now. What that might be good for?? Who really knows?! The company has a policy (?!?) to give employees a bag filled with candy (Well it's actually filled with that shredded plastic filler stuff and a some junk "food" on top) with some balloons, but they forgot. Robert told the GM that "somebody was falling down on the job" and guess what - about an hour later the GM walked into Roberts office saying the package showed up!! Of course it didn't have a card to id the recipient (it usually does)! Robert asked Jim (GM) if he "made a phone call" which he denied - in yooper they'd say OOH YAH SHUR YOU BETCHA. Robert asked a couple times about a raise Jim replied "a raise??" like what might that be. Hey he put in three years at the other place and didn't get one this joint should, since they keep talking about how good he is and how well the group is doing.

Meantime, Susie is still questioning her career path. To teach or not to teach, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to find a different gig or stick this one out and by doing so get paid more money. So Shakespeare isn't our forte but it does get the point across.

Back from the weekend

We spent the weekend at a retreat - as always a wonderful time. The trees weren't quite up to peak, but the weather was perfect. There were a few light clouds floating about that just helped light up the morning and evening sky with the sunrise/sunset colors.

As always no-one wanted to go home, but we all knew that we live in the 'real' world and can't stay in the beauty and serenity of that place and time, but we did get the opportunity to experience it and we will again - next year.