December – Cold Start

It’s been a roller coaster ride temperature-wise here in Tucson and here at the apartment in Oro Valley.  May had a hot spell in the middle of the month and ended up warmer than normal.  Then June into July was cooler than normal.  October had a really unusual cold spell the third week of the month and now November has ended as the 3rd warmest on record.

Keeping with the pattern, December is starting out cool and getting colder.  Even though many places in and around Tucson experienced their first freeze in October, almost a month earlier than average, the Tucson International Airport has yet to freeze this season.  That is about to change.  Cold air from Canada, eh, is already invading the South Plains of Eastern New Mexico and Texas and some of that cold air is going to spread westward to Arizona.  Friday looks cold (by Tucson standards) despite full sunshine.  A north breeze will make the upper 50s feel even colder in the shade, although I guess if you can find a sunny, wind sheltered, spot it won’t be nearly as bad.

Friday night/Saturday morning will be the coldest so far this season.  Winds will die down after sunset and clear skies will allow for good radiational cooling.  It should be no problem for temps to fall from the 50s into the 20s to near 30… even at the Tucson International Airport.

Next weeks weather pattern looks good for our dry conditions.  Cool unsettled weather looks to be on the way with valley rain showers and mountain snows possible off and on much of the week.  I hope so.  I really like the rain in the desert and I really am ready to head up to Mt. Lemmon to see some snow!

Meanwhile, AccuWeather is highlighting the expanding December cold with snow expected from the Pacific Northwest to Arizona to Eastern New Mexico to Louisiana to the Great Lakes and East Coast

Snowman Mike in Carlsbad, NM

With thanx to Brad Light’s Cam Page, here I am in Carlsbad, NM!

Blue Shadows

This song reminds me of my first TV job.  I think it was 1986 or 1987.  One of those.  I was hired at KOBR-TV in Roswell, NM as a Master Control Operator.  I started in 1986 after working two years in radio at KBIM-TV.  Anyway, I would switch the evening shift which included Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.  I would record musical acts and comedians that came on the shows.  Somewhere (maybe) I have an old VHS tape with Bill Mahr’s first appearance on Carson.  Also pre Seinfeld Show Seinfeld on Letterman.  On Friday nights we aired music videos.  I’m blanking on the name of the show, but I remember a lot of Bartles and Jaymes commercials!  and, this video.  I never saw Three Amigos, but I liked this.  Still do.

Update: I Googled it. It was Friday Night Videos. Duh!

Roswell Gus Macker

Gus Maker 3-on-3 Basketball came to Roswell, New Mexico in the 1980′s. At KBIM TV we had a media team in the Maker. There were hundreds of teams coming in to town from all over to brave the heat for 3-on-3 basketball glory! It had great economic impact on Roswell. Hey, teams gotta eat!

Snowkids

Taken in Roswell, New Mexico in late 1992 (I think). The kids came over to my small place on Kentucky Ave. and we made a snowman. Michael’s mittens got soaked and he managed without them after that. Great job kids!

Wild at Heart

GREAT book!  I remember when I was a new Christian.  Barely a year in the faith.  My Church, Trinity Church in Lubbock, had a men’s groups study on, “Wild at Heart.”  I already had a home group so I didn’t sign up although I was interested.  Especially since it was being taught by an Air Force recruiter I admired.

So, years later, I FINALLY read it.  I read it on Saturday.  Now I’m wondering, what took me so long??

There is so much to the book.  I’ll probably reread it sometime.  The main messages I got out of the book?  For me, it boils down to a couple of principles that has really igniting something in me.  The biggest and most impactful?  It’s OK for me to be who I am!  God gave me a lot of wonderful gifts.  I don’t need to be afraid of them.  I shouldn’t suppress them.  That’s like hiding your light under a bushel.  No.  God has reasons why He made me the way He did.  I need to come out from behind my personality and quit beating myself up for being an under achiever.  And, to challenge myself to not be so lazy.

Growing up, school was very easy for me.  I’d show up, stay awake in class (for the most part), blow off the homework and ace the tests.  I developed a nasty habit of being lazy.  Hey.  If I can excel without trying, then why push myself?

It truly is a blessing and a curse.  How cool that I can just show up and learn!  Of course the flip side is, sometimes challenges come along in life that do require extra effort.  I’d rather watch TV :-)

When I was in elementary school I found out that not everyone thought the really smart people were cool.  I also discovered I could make people laugh.  So.  Why not suppress the one and develop the other?  Classic under achiever syndrome.

I think God is challenging me.  Not to be the smartest around, but to not be afraid to be who I am.  To be thankful for the gifts He has given me and to use them for His glory!  That means studying His word more.  Spending time in His presence.  As I learn about Him and get to know Him, I can share with others.  I desire to teach and preach.  If it’s His will I need to pursue it!  The big question I have now is, what is the best path to take to do that?

Another area is assertiveness.  I need to assert myself more and have more confidence!  Or at least realize that I have more to contribute then I have at times.  Once upon a time in high school I was brimming with confidence.  I was class president.  I was all league in track.  Good at football.  School was easy and I was popular.  It seemed everything I did turned to gold!  Slowly as my drug and alcohol use increased I started to falter.  By the time I was a junior I quit football, was kicked off of the track team and dropped out of school the following year.  I languished for a few years before I moved to New Mexico to start my broadcasting career.  I have done pretty well despite not having a college degree thanx to the gifts God has given me, but I never quite regained the confidence I had before I started messing up.

I need to realize.  God’s gifts and talents are without repentance!   I didn’t mess up His best plan for my life, rather He has made me a new creation in Him!  I can forget the former self and truly live!  That means forgetting those things that are behind and pressing forward to the high calling of God.  With His help I intend to do just that.

The other area is relationships.  Women.  But that is none of your business :-)  God is teaching me some things.  Someday, Lord willing, I am going to be a great husband to a blessed beautiful woman!

Tour of Duty

Michael is going to be transferring into the ROTC Program at UT Arlington.  They have one of the top programs in the country and the best program in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.  It’s pretty impressive.  Since Michael has decided to join the Army it makes sense that he would pursue the officer route.

Since I’m in town this week, my ex-wife did a very nice thing.  UT Arlington has regular tours for perspective students and their folks and Katrina signed us up for one for yesterday.  We also met with the ROTC recruiter and asked a bunch of questions.

Pretty impressive. UT Arlington is the top school in the state in many academic areas.  Number two for engineering, which is what Michael would major in.  They have a top nursing program and accounting too.  Not sure what else the guide mentioned, but I’m sure there was more.

It’s a nice looking campus with a lot to do too.  The activity center is awesome and so is the billiards and bowling center!  Katrina made the comment that there is more to do on the UT Arlington campus then in the whole town of Commerce where Michael is going to school now!

Next step.  Paperwork, get accepted, get his basic training and job training out of the way, and become a Maverick starting next January!

Favorite Christmas’ – 2007 in Roswell

Yes, it’s true. This year was another favorite Christmas!!! I was invited to hang out with the family and extended ex in-law family in Roswell again. I have to be honest. They treat me better then I deserve and I appreciate it!

The drive from Tucson is about 575 miles. I left Sunday morning, December 23rd and arrived by late afternoon. I would have been there a bit sooner, but a few miles after I left the apartment there was a guy trying to push his car up a slight hill to the gas station. I stopped and helped and found out how out of shape I am!

Anyway, the 575 mile drive took a little over 6 1/2 hours. I checked into my hotel and shortly after Michael called and said they were at the house (his grandparents house) and to come by. I was amazed at how much Roswell had changed and grown! A lot of hotels and a lot of new restaurants. Part of it is the alien tourism. Most is probably from the oil boom. Another big part from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center being based there. It all adds up to little Roswell, New Mexico growing!

The weekend was filled with a lot of family fun. Amber and her husband Michael were there with my granddaughters. They are SO CUTE! My son Michael stayed with me at the hotel because the house was packed.

We did a lot of fun stuff. Most of it just hanging out at the house and enjoying each others company. I am so grateful that I am accepted as family. It really is amazing.

Christmas Day was awesome. The tree was lost in a sea of presents! The kids slept in until after 8am! I’m not sure how that works, because we were always up before the Sun. Anyway, opening all those presents took quite a while :-) Josh got a Wii, so I spent a lot of the rest of the day bowling along with Michael, Natalea, Josh, Lauren and others. I have now decided. I want a Wii!

Dinner was turkey and ham and all the fixin’s. The deviled eggs were just as awesome as I always remembered! Turns out Jodina made ‘em this year. They turned out just as good as when her Mom makes ‘em. Then it was time to bowl for real!

Gene, Michael’s Grandpa, owns the bowling alley in town. Every year they host Christmas in Roswell, we all go bowling. The bowling center was closed on Christmas, but we know who has the key :-) This year was particularly interesting. Turns out Michael’s friend from college also has grandparents in Roswell! They were instant messaging and found out they were both in town, even though neither one knew the other had family in Roswell! So, Michael invited Rachel to bowl with us. I am not a good bowler. If I hit the 1-teens I’m doing good. I did have one game of 137! The rest in the high 90′s. Funny. On the Wii I was bowling in the high 100′s and had two games over 200, but I digress :-) Mostly the bowling was about hangin’ out and having fun! Rachel is really nice and it was nice to meet one of Michael’s smart college friends.

So, about a half hour before we leave, it starts to snow! By the time we left, it was sideways snow coming down hard!!! It was awesome! We drove back to the house with wet roads, but grassy areas turning white. We ended up with a quick inch of snow just in time to make it an official white Christmas!

I drove back the next day and the roads were clear even though there was still some melting snow to enjoy on the side of the road.

There were a lot of highlights to this Christmas. Mainly the time spent with my son Michael, my daughter Amber, my grandkids, and with the ex in-laws who always make me feel welcome.

Thanx for another great Christmas!

Favorite Christmas’ – Skiing

I’m not positive of the year. Most likely 1992. I lived in Roswell, New Mexico and the kids lived across town. Christmas morning was clear and cold! I was up early and loaded the car with presents for the kids and drove to their house. I stayed maybe an hour or two and got to watch them play with their new toys, etc. I then left so they could get on with their visiting other family, and I made the short drive to Ski Apache.

I was a Weatherman on KBIM TV at the time and Ski New Mexico provided all the weather folks in the state with free skiing! I had been a few times and was getting decent. It was way fun! That’s for sure. So, by 10am I was on the slopes and pretty much skied all day! I was by myself, so I didn’t really talk to too many people. I just enjoyed the skiing and the snow. Did I mention I LOVE SNOW?! The slopes close at 4:00. I skied pretty much until then, turned in my rentals, and drove home. Stopping at the Sonic in Ruidoso first, of course. I was tuckered out, but Christmas wasn’t done yet.

I got home a little after dark. I was invited to the Simmons’ for Christmas Dinner! I lived just a few blocks from them, so I changed and walked to their house using the Spring River Trail and then up the hill on Pennsylvania. The meal was delicious, as always, and I got to spend more time with the kids and also my ex-in laws.

For variety, fun, and family, it’s hard to beat this Christmas memory!

Favorite Christmas’ – Miracle Snow!

I was a reporter/photographer at KBIM TV in Roswell, New Mexico. One man bands they (we) are called. Reporters who shoot their own stuff. It was probably the first Christmas after my divorce and the first since moving back to Roswell from Canby. That would make it the Christmas of 1991.I was the low man on the totem pole. That means I was the only reporter. AND the only only photographer scheduled to work that day. I had gone to Gaye Drive the night before (Christmas Eve) to shoot video of Christmas light’s in that famous for Christmas Lights neighborhood! At least famous in Roswell. I’ll probably even check it out this Christmas Eve while I am there!I admit it. I was feeling sorry for myself. I was working on Christmas. I was a little sad and a little lonely. Separated from family and all. I was working on my Christmas lights feature. The idea was to take my video and do an AB Roll. Basically, fading back and forth between shots. The whole thing set to music. Vic McCarty, our sports guy and good friend, gave me some Christmas music from the Kingston Trio. So, I finished that and it turned out pretty good actually :-) I do remember being sad and lonely while I put it together though :-(

The forecast was for cold and fog and low clouds. No precipitation, just cold and cloudy. Well it started to snow! It was probably 34 degrees, but it was snowing! And it snowed and snowed some more!

It was still snowing and I had to cover a story at the Catholic Church. They were feeding homeless and poor folk Christmas Dinner. As you can imagine, the story was very very touching! I had a great time covering it! And the whole time it was snowing!!! I remember getting my shoes wet going back to my car because of the slush. But who cares! It was SNOWING!

If you know me at all, you know I love snow! I got some video of the snow to send to Albuquerque. Put my story together. It was all good :-)

My video aired in Albuquerque. My Christmas lights aired on KBIM (I wish I had a copy) and so did my story. I did my job on Christmas, and God gave me a miracle snow to enjoy!!!