tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17035829362519874362024-03-13T04:24:47.576-07:00Dog is My Co-Pilot and The Road Is Wide OpenThe Life and Times of the New Mexico JohnstonsMatt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-85096697783263240952011-09-15T21:47:00.000-07:002011-09-15T22:54:31.254-07:00<div align="center">Sarah wanted a view window in the bedroom and a bigger bathroom, she now has both. we'll see how this turns out.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmtnAyntEjgAMWMgzJ_CrMmdD2tviSF076wxoV7bNaUYicqHL_KRi_d4cHG_elLMLYcEWo9jD05hrKXTxQix9cUl3dGN6-qxU_9g3ZBCcICuNzn53_XpHv7Yll6d4F9vKpZLUlZ-entU/s1600/3.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652830413190679346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmtnAyntEjgAMWMgzJ_CrMmdD2tviSF076wxoV7bNaUYicqHL_KRi_d4cHG_elLMLYcEWo9jD05hrKXTxQix9cUl3dGN6-qxU_9g3ZBCcICuNzn53_XpHv7Yll6d4F9vKpZLUlZ-entU/s320/3.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfusYh15NOC4ULeoIQ802t64JIrkpTbtfjgExddEm6EzXhyGR8OMuaO8tCcLr3TbyqAhsreJpYNKoYMIaQJpwKYE_r-hd038af8UV9iKqQ1uQRnJ77Ti5rEyqfhyqL_gi4AB0qjDtHNIo/s1600/2.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652822300068405330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfusYh15NOC4ULeoIQ802t64JIrkpTbtfjgExddEm6EzXhyGR8OMuaO8tCcLr3TbyqAhsreJpYNKoYMIaQJpwKYE_r-hd038af8UV9iKqQ1uQRnJ77Ti5rEyqfhyqL_gi4AB0qjDtHNIo/s320/2.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEDmZrNYLrQYAa7yrm9-t1jHXgW9cAN_DTbDo4kr9WPQHgl04FU0wxfmp5xQUmaJ5jOpcn-l0kEANNpDXwe3bf2INebu9gwebcWC26IFORxdF95dOStVd36yPaRwAXngorOvbJIzqC1I/s1600/1.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652815251435212178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEDmZrNYLrQYAa7yrm9-t1jHXgW9cAN_DTbDo4kr9WPQHgl04FU0wxfmp5xQUmaJ5jOpcn-l0kEANNpDXwe3bf2INebu9gwebcWC26IFORxdF95dOStVd36yPaRwAXngorOvbJIzqC1I/s320/1.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-47678892158550248372011-09-13T19:35:00.000-07:002011-09-13T20:01:23.868-07:00Fire Pit chairs: 1st attempt<div align="center">Just some randoms pics from the last week or so. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Dog waiting for mom to come home, dad is no fun.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhcgjztNALaM1IhGuCCt5DSNNNQaJBGgyqJTcTnjc8gRmbEa9atffMVKQWvNeTGSYIJ9QCIm-fr-xPtRhvEM4-WjAvwxR_i1SpQPaF0FhtkHrfGeEX2wKTFda8TQQ0cou9Gvu_d9hTQ8/s1600/IMAG0626.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652043132684469634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhcgjztNALaM1IhGuCCt5DSNNNQaJBGgyqJTcTnjc8gRmbEa9atffMVKQWvNeTGSYIJ9QCIm-fr-xPtRhvEM4-WjAvwxR_i1SpQPaF0FhtkHrfGeEX2wKTFda8TQQ0cou9Gvu_d9hTQ8/s320/IMAG0626.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pic</span> of a sunset taken through my binoculars with my phone, thought it was king of cool.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f4DEF2XKoaI4rm1YTlPW_P3IzjenI_5e5clAbFq94h8kb1iX41PElax6xFZKfNJnoCtnlvXesCp9iByI9Y6DSwWS7U5fZ9XF6EJoTPf0xzRL-suYyDUcud_jxGGpLJzotVW2MUtOBaY/s1600/IMAG0621.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652043129115987186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f4DEF2XKoaI4rm1YTlPW_P3IzjenI_5e5clAbFq94h8kb1iX41PElax6xFZKfNJnoCtnlvXesCp9iByI9Y6DSwWS7U5fZ9XF6EJoTPf0xzRL-suYyDUcud_jxGGpLJzotVW2MUtOBaY/s320/IMAG0621.jpg" /></a><br />I spent five days on this "Easy weekend project for the beginning woodworker."</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">It turned out great, but i did have a piece left over. Oh well, S<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">arah</span> wants four more so my month looks pretty full.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgPEv9U-RMWcJZtVQpBr8PPBjQTU1VyTBfvQZCB4TSoT4tWkQZ-lXRY59aG8tAAzKZ8nFTj0KnH9GhFLXcqQ7rZzyOYwzU8R09lybfyjWaG613hNHu-yLPAKSqDu3_l1peNagflYTe2M/s1600/IMAG0627.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652041688612146066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgPEv9U-RMWcJZtVQpBr8PPBjQTU1VyTBfvQZCB4TSoT4tWkQZ-lXRY59aG8tAAzKZ8nFTj0KnH9GhFLXcqQ7rZzyOYwzU8R09lybfyjWaG613hNHu-yLPAKSqDu3_l1peNagflYTe2M/s320/IMAG0627.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-87511642117107871862011-05-30T20:28:00.001-07:002011-05-30T20:45:39.439-07:00Yard Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZWgNX9BxaEihEGBCow7zBgM79oi5J5e7U-SDcAkTOKv3WBADyZXQSqhk6GzFcXFOUiqVJxTIUfvUdKl-tzakgG92Bw3_xDYi4OuZOXT2f-ebd7WnpcVFosZzm0AmXypjZi8zz7Ou2i0/s1600/DSCN0674.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612719243049490978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZWgNX9BxaEihEGBCow7zBgM79oi5J5e7U-SDcAkTOKv3WBADyZXQSqhk6GzFcXFOUiqVJxTIUfvUdKl-tzakgG92Bw3_xDYi4OuZOXT2f-ebd7WnpcVFosZzm0AmXypjZi8zz7Ou2i0/s320/DSCN0674.JPG" /></a> Sarah's dad, Tom ( also <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">affectionately</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">referred</span> to as the great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">emasculater</span>), recently retired and decided to come by and help us raise our back fence. Tom is a great guy who has a ton of experience and knowledge in this sort of project. So he showed up, we put him in the cage, and told him to get to work.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEApLOXN-HV_PqHln_VGPI4PafHtjaFvhRJ0QU0wii_TnqMSvvk8Vp8vyoteyShUc0kvi4N37Wfeh4wrF_-s2ZQnNrjR7OXdIMH-ykv-0YghxQYzCtqFitQXZtCXU-nfOFX3B4vKMwmzU/s1600/DSCN0713.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612719239383833426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEApLOXN-HV_PqHln_VGPI4PafHtjaFvhRJ0QU0wii_TnqMSvvk8Vp8vyoteyShUc0kvi4N37Wfeh4wrF_-s2ZQnNrjR7OXdIMH-ykv-0YghxQYzCtqFitQXZtCXU-nfOFX3B4vKMwmzU/s320/DSCN0713.JPG" /></a> Sarah just got out of school for the summer. She decided that she was going to help. then she decided to lay down. she's a good helper<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL6JGCqsO2PU5zXYnHXIAtdqvaQ8Szgr47fIPm_RwGGQWWN1QKyaBU4lZ-SCE51g5dOqb3y8Q-aGq02U3UHwGUsTsfrocJaIhPknCrn2wlIpuFqI_mdhtKiNMlHe1EOJtrgCahyphenhyphenIavE4/s1600/DSCN0712.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612718645051361234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL6JGCqsO2PU5zXYnHXIAtdqvaQ8Szgr47fIPm_RwGGQWWN1QKyaBU4lZ-SCE51g5dOqb3y8Q-aGq02U3UHwGUsTsfrocJaIhPknCrn2wlIpuFqI_mdhtKiNMlHe1EOJtrgCahyphenhyphenIavE4/s320/DSCN0712.JPG" /></a> She got up to inspect the progress.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVua-M5T4YFZxRX6Vurg31A7CSxCpCUvusRin9XoVI_4sT70Vg-ciYpY1Z1hoKbjf7IqlaDMYj3jluNLBgTOQW5I5EFHv6303Tnh2TdyH4QmC8mKE9uG4uwb_JNk36KvWbY_euB3KiDM/s1600/DSCN0698.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612718639973687794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVua-M5T4YFZxRX6Vurg31A7CSxCpCUvusRin9XoVI_4sT70Vg-ciYpY1Z1hoKbjf7IqlaDMYj3jluNLBgTOQW5I5EFHv6303Tnh2TdyH4QmC8mKE9uG4uwb_JNk36KvWbY_euB3KiDM/s320/DSCN0698.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Lisa did some inspecting of her own<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINpVW_LYisDpKe4ghIp7LiAgmrWwQBepMlux5B8UHCjPj6srnmxLClFoqS6OXkX_rKqY54PLxxHSiM_WsahHO3BURGn6NHs7gQgc0flKMpXu9xR8CUoSbYiCl67df-k22xCk_hNP8raw/s1600/DSCN0694.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612718637230156162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINpVW_LYisDpKe4ghIp7LiAgmrWwQBepMlux5B8UHCjPj6srnmxLClFoqS6OXkX_rKqY54PLxxHSiM_WsahHO3BURGn6NHs7gQgc0flKMpXu9xR8CUoSbYiCl67df-k22xCk_hNP8raw/s320/DSCN0694.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Sarah decided to take a break from her relaxing and layed down again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36X0thPbhobbiwGAI6CqYDAIuU-vYkEL5XDyMSUcam0wyjROxJ8hikpn6_lFvE9_lvqJsEnmpoXE1RiHrOliqHgSOpCXTl4MYDJzmxI05Ecb93NNDYQHLkjueZi2w1eemkcyvZavjzCY/s1600/DSCN0711.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612718631492428146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36X0thPbhobbiwGAI6CqYDAIuU-vYkEL5XDyMSUcam0wyjROxJ8hikpn6_lFvE9_lvqJsEnmpoXE1RiHrOliqHgSOpCXTl4MYDJzmxI05Ecb93NNDYQHLkjueZi2w1eemkcyvZavjzCY/s320/DSCN0711.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Good times had by all. Happy tom came by. I need all the help I can get.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-30047217304786436702011-02-02T15:01:00.000-08:002011-02-02T15:12:20.018-08:00Everyone Loves A Snow Day in the Desert<div align="center">Lisa tried to lay down, then settled for this position. I don't blame her.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt0eLsSZ6D8ZFD_q1tcqxWuLkMY-3rQj74p86ja5RFNCDvD-0bc3EDXAvBiFGW2BWpyOqEOXlm84zGoOSsHXeiL5MohUA9OHW57fotihnPdCyqvuURAPNC4O21JUaW3QLBpxom45Wgsk/s1600/IMAG0443.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569231737670454626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt0eLsSZ6D8ZFD_q1tcqxWuLkMY-3rQj74p86ja5RFNCDvD-0bc3EDXAvBiFGW2BWpyOqEOXlm84zGoOSsHXeiL5MohUA9OHW57fotihnPdCyqvuURAPNC4O21JUaW3QLBpxom45Wgsk/s320/IMAG0443.jpg" /></a> I liked Sarah's idea, but I had to go to work.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTsDzC2huZwpKnU9mHDdxm4EewW5hbBaoJI54ioU_iQkybYk5PSiIas7VeTm0WYgOVCQiVGtiRTd5fFRuE0Io6gTiS4GFo7srVrXxsntF9UC-iVeRgr7NYo3l6Bc4NFzH1oE75jGnlVw/s1600/IMAG0444.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569231730896426274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTsDzC2huZwpKnU9mHDdxm4EewW5hbBaoJI54ioU_iQkybYk5PSiIas7VeTm0WYgOVCQiVGtiRTd5fFRuE0Io6gTiS4GFo7srVrXxsntF9UC-iVeRgr7NYo3l6Bc4NFzH1oE75jGnlVw/s320/IMAG0444.jpg" /></a> So we settled for a walk with the Bumpuss's dog's<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHssJy7CWI1ImoqCsYJEppTIjLtj7fCGEOJ5wtTJEzu-5H9FPVDow7dmwjXJfG5IYUbO4z276lpkr9j1ipQcFk16ckIDT2WPsp0gY1_Xals0JsroRl6fP1DejmFj1W6DUV5QP5IPmC64/s1600/IMAG0447.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569231726182277106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHssJy7CWI1ImoqCsYJEppTIjLtj7fCGEOJ5wtTJEzu-5H9FPVDow7dmwjXJfG5IYUbO4z276lpkr9j1ipQcFk16ckIDT2WPsp0gY1_Xals0JsroRl6fP1DejmFj1W6DUV5QP5IPmC64/s320/IMAG0447.jpg" /></a><br />The dogs had almost as much fun as Sarah. We got some funny looks from the desert people. They must have thought the sky was falling.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VQR8dVItrDZUBg5KFbMLjk6TaNeOpQ8aZe-v8xdPs3XjhcAT-fradToOYUYLAhZbh6A3vEFbGhuT9_9Bn_XW_Elc_MuLUq_zUbQEf626aOoeeST41Lm6uNC-btE6kZk8kIijXfyMfK0/s1600/IMAG0448.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569231721635733138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VQR8dVItrDZUBg5KFbMLjk6TaNeOpQ8aZe-v8xdPs3XjhcAT-fradToOYUYLAhZbh6A3vEFbGhuT9_9Bn_XW_Elc_MuLUq_zUbQEf626aOoeeST41Lm6uNC-btE6kZk8kIijXfyMfK0/s320/IMAG0448.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-85437520352131604272011-01-05T17:14:00.000-08:002011-01-05T17:21:00.830-08:00My Snow Bunny<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOJOERLlgQ3NL8AuEA99SAzeOIjHfw9j5v3IEY55aZm6XhT0lHTtvSzgglRQxuQeIsBevYh73TDE_oAzTyHsmlmf7eRqPHMg6tX-thzWw2s8V9JTMnP1kFARvFGA1RMRPclu7Yqicsnw/s1600/IMAG0428.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558876302478501090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOJOERLlgQ3NL8AuEA99SAzeOIjHfw9j5v3IEY55aZm6XhT0lHTtvSzgglRQxuQeIsBevYh73TDE_oAzTyHsmlmf7eRqPHMg6tX-thzWw2s8V9JTMnP1kFARvFGA1RMRPclu7Yqicsnw/s320/IMAG0428.jpg" /></a> Just a few random pics of my favorite snow bunny at Snow Basin from Ski-a-palooza 4.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQeQFAwR1kcZuW8LfJMi0-6vP9Xq2Ndmm2HJaWA4QScSTf_URaa5WcEXcnilQf2yoZhd1P2QHR7Yc-aofqy6MpPXyc1jJJekaaoLsPbsqoRdaYAKkbo1iGZCc3XG0JkqeYq0pCzWmWII/s1600/IMAG0429.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558876298579820498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQeQFAwR1kcZuW8LfJMi0-6vP9Xq2Ndmm2HJaWA4QScSTf_URaa5WcEXcnilQf2yoZhd1P2QHR7Yc-aofqy6MpPXyc1jJJekaaoLsPbsqoRdaYAKkbo1iGZCc3XG0JkqeYq0pCzWmWII/s320/IMAG0429.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDegP6g5N7bh5n_PUvnrG9GdBeoKaZhUQOZuxdZMNqhYx-WNx7Ftp8noRKAwXotxNvfore1ueNbBudYa93hSz0E4WDRBS_-POjHAbo5g3yCyqW97Lq_dBOJCBz3zOhmF0hYu0pI3CQqp0/s1600/IMAG0431.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558876292074621266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDegP6g5N7bh5n_PUvnrG9GdBeoKaZhUQOZuxdZMNqhYx-WNx7Ftp8noRKAwXotxNvfore1ueNbBudYa93hSz0E4WDRBS_-POjHAbo5g3yCyqW97Lq_dBOJCBz3zOhmF0hYu0pI3CQqp0/s320/IMAG0431.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-60958230886134379252010-11-07T05:42:00.000-08:002010-11-07T05:50:08.811-08:00<div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Here are a few pics from the Haunted House I set up in the garage as the entrance to the Halloween party this year. the party was a grweat success. I am trying to track down the pics i took of our costumes but these will have to do for now. A few people were to afraid to enter the garage. Amazing what a smoke machine, little laundry detergent and, a black light will do to some people. </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJuF2WGy6ivVe9i_QkPevIruwv6wRsIo0n7xXqfBx4CZ5Aw95LpsHesjWu3qjIPw7kGy37AH7q7jE8xFLhvrRSTaBTxt4zJZ7XHr00Ro0SLJtasVZuP79zLzC3C024p8UZ805zNhgtiA/s1600/IMAG0421.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536803641754700354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJuF2WGy6ivVe9i_QkPevIruwv6wRsIo0n7xXqfBx4CZ5Aw95LpsHesjWu3qjIPw7kGy37AH7q7jE8xFLhvrRSTaBTxt4zJZ7XHr00Ro0SLJtasVZuP79zLzC3C024p8UZ805zNhgtiA/s320/IMAG0421.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSCeNxMeniOiBwxBakKUqRmq8gWSLrwWaaiwh-2Z8FX3tgE4BkOX3nT5l2gm4HNkbaznR1inmpDEUxFq6AQSRtVOsDw0K35Wz2wU8dK-yAVapsTuX1EM84WJDslFv0WZd_73IcqX0KbA/s1600/IMAG0420.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536803631731062706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSCeNxMeniOiBwxBakKUqRmq8gWSLrwWaaiwh-2Z8FX3tgE4BkOX3nT5l2gm4HNkbaznR1inmpDEUxFq6AQSRtVOsDw0K35Wz2wU8dK-yAVapsTuX1EM84WJDslFv0WZd_73IcqX0KbA/s320/IMAG0420.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEify_9LVqbKtKGuLg6T0h9ZNRhzHQvArTNkWRW-PGuUcI3ICm8Orm3Zz_GrnFd4HfYi9t40ejGZ1Jn332pKxgjldp8yWDrX_2R8GmISzGQ0cbBVL7p3NTQMmN0ZBJcEZK-qKQ36h2niuYw/s1600/IMAG0419.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536803615285108194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEify_9LVqbKtKGuLg6T0h9ZNRhzHQvArTNkWRW-PGuUcI3ICm8Orm3Zz_GrnFd4HfYi9t40ejGZ1Jn332pKxgjldp8yWDrX_2R8GmISzGQ0cbBVL7p3NTQMmN0ZBJcEZK-qKQ36h2niuYw/s320/IMAG0419.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYMkXeqeT5ujCSz-3cPlqSXDWoHCs51I_Pg5LLxwyWA71oxghas70EZfwcs9i8TsT5ZK6sHBCQhgpxgPSDZGPzuWQW9Y68AjQlS368lDKCFkeCp6CzsaLCNLRanyrLtZi1QYwumhW4C0/s1600/IMAG0418.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536803609122356018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYMkXeqeT5ujCSz-3cPlqSXDWoHCs51I_Pg5LLxwyWA71oxghas70EZfwcs9i8TsT5ZK6sHBCQhgpxgPSDZGPzuWQW9Y68AjQlS368lDKCFkeCp6CzsaLCNLRanyrLtZi1QYwumhW4C0/s320/IMAG0418.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8XREzYjWmo6ZPSKuuKoWi60nspOYW9vsIaGiNE8UG7_x490jbfIFQn80svI3_5bZbHRqW_xdjyk274HoyxeFcOv-mlhGal4yqcWmnw_NgNwt9uv0IOQIt-okf3xNeCICkeiSX8HIhaY/s1600/IMAG0417.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536803604955236962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8XREzYjWmo6ZPSKuuKoWi60nspOYW9vsIaGiNE8UG7_x490jbfIFQn80svI3_5bZbHRqW_xdjyk274HoyxeFcOv-mlhGal4yqcWmnw_NgNwt9uv0IOQIt-okf3xNeCICkeiSX8HIhaY/s320/IMAG0417.jpg" /></a></p>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-92190966212459771112010-08-16T06:47:00.000-07:002010-08-16T08:04:18.172-07:00Boomdays!!!<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3SgA7VH1GqhsCCD9WGn443ueagDCdQh22OPa1KZgUCr2ozL-g6D_yX_YqtJ1MEJwcapLZfkMEO_pYBNQuOf-N0FSnEUZqc3XMPDPwc1dqMGK8BSRtQRLGqeda5TvgU0aDijCbgv4myQ/s1600/IMAG0380.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506020628972749154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3SgA7VH1GqhsCCD9WGn443ueagDCdQh22OPa1KZgUCr2ozL-g6D_yX_YqtJ1MEJwcapLZfkMEO_pYBNQuOf-N0FSnEUZqc3XMPDPwc1dqMGK8BSRtQRLGqeda5TvgU0aDijCbgv4myQ/s320/IMAG0380.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">Random dude drilling hole<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtiXD9IgIw5OpoT-vR-XK4IhbAQuDJY-5bdGpXl54fls1WjOXredRYm8ml_10Lfan4F0GVD2ZbqgxFaV1PnF-HmjEjhRDO9-lYxRRH9hxHUAFd_TczZVcmT7atEAQSEwzy04GQGdVMX0/s1600/IMAG0379.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506020622364857410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtiXD9IgIw5OpoT-vR-XK4IhbAQuDJY-5bdGpXl54fls1WjOXredRYm8ml_10Lfan4F0GVD2ZbqgxFaV1PnF-HmjEjhRDO9-lYxRRH9hxHUAFd_TczZVcmT7atEAQSEwzy04GQGdVMX0/s320/IMAG0379.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><br /><br />And we're off.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xy-DmF-B6FN3Wy1Mg9lipvIjjIt_FZWR6G5V32EfhaIAT1UltrpxyL-Jy7kVdr0zSf3TJ_HzWw8YgXtJTPI6TFoajR9D2flIpQKvkKT4oxFb0vbgbozPjvReko805MvEQTErj3ektlk/s1600/IMAG0377.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506020612010609986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xy-DmF-B6FN3Wy1Mg9lipvIjjIt_FZWR6G5V32EfhaIAT1UltrpxyL-Jy7kVdr0zSf3TJ_HzWw8YgXtJTPI6TFoajR9D2flIpQKvkKT4oxFb0vbgbozPjvReko805MvEQTErj3ektlk/s320/IMAG0377.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">The hat was the key<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q6zBbsImH7jRQH6w_pe7bSC_jwkxOKocUJcvTDsbfo3x4SfLXRi1_Pmzyto2ueIJ2JQNLWBj6lRH3OMt6dJlCjGyejjXVFEBQdAc0qHnWuRtnt4PYZ-ZZah7yUtu-MV_HCllLNA4oME/s1600/IMAG0376.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506019298412692242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q6zBbsImH7jRQH6w_pe7bSC_jwkxOKocUJcvTDsbfo3x4SfLXRi1_Pmzyto2ueIJ2JQNLWBj6lRH3OMt6dJlCjGyejjXVFEBQdAc0qHnWuRtnt4PYZ-ZZah7yUtu-MV_HCllLNA4oME/s320/IMAG0376.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB_pEohdlIVUP5Mr1FoqtgKEWOkFkpkYtZiNNt2AeNGc2n-mpXvQOFxbS0e4xpJiWPbn05WTYecdqHAIGxlDaHQYId3KQYEh_xqiSv_rahZPhlLM1BontikaAfC8IhyHEa55cKBat2zs/s1600/IMAG0374.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506019292047188482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB_pEohdlIVUP5Mr1FoqtgKEWOkFkpkYtZiNNt2AeNGc2n-mpXvQOFxbS0e4xpJiWPbn05WTYecdqHAIGxlDaHQYId3KQYEh_xqiSv_rahZPhlLM1BontikaAfC8IhyHEa55cKBat2zs/s320/IMAG0374.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdRz_XoBnA2z8vxZALI6U6THlWWHidIkidzjPE7uCN8Fm39_9NIfVElf6iOVXXypPL3holA9_Oa0H6M1x-5gjza8aLZeC5SvGVLEtemVl4pYumcJjr5VlRYPZQkdww8w7UykxjyR47vs/s1600/IMAG0372.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506019282785097074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdRz_XoBnA2z8vxZALI6U6THlWWHidIkidzjPE7uCN8Fm39_9NIfVElf6iOVXXypPL3holA9_Oa0H6M1x-5gjza8aLZeC5SvGVLEtemVl4pYumcJjr5VlRYPZQkdww8w7UykxjyR47vs/s320/IMAG0372.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTx4GSg8v7f4uEQzvvC_hyHHP3SgYLSA65l2qWDfsSijxbs0aIAoXY9UB1yMS0vsO2i1DrmSGayBlJU_-lcFVTMWu0xgkGtLeYl8a3qZgpsFxccaTvAdozdE8SCczoYL62XiOa8jrUbK4/s1600/IMAG0371.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506019277136797586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTx4GSg8v7f4uEQzvvC_hyHHP3SgYLSA65l2qWDfsSijxbs0aIAoXY9UB1yMS0vsO2i1DrmSGayBlJU_-lcFVTMWu0xgkGtLeYl8a3qZgpsFxccaTvAdozdE8SCczoYL62XiOa8jrUbK4/s320/IMAG0371.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UZoKdT75_dxN1-r0d2KiGqOnoTko924rKYEv2Uf8x92ezi1x0tX_fPg0yQQDDqrXhV0Rq9l-CI8z-2rW69KJEgybOPNxpetD4LpJCgFbfzT2I08Tabv94U7dUK_lfU4BKWXqOudHSJs/s1600/IMAG0369.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506019273424804786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UZoKdT75_dxN1-r0d2KiGqOnoTko924rKYEv2Uf8x92ezi1x0tX_fPg0yQQDDqrXhV0Rq9l-CI8z-2rW69KJEgybOPNxpetD4LpJCgFbfzT2I08Tabv94U7dUK_lfU4BKWXqOudHSJs/s320/IMAG0369.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">What a pair. No trout left behind.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEnRmW4waI7k39VoeArHGeQY_lobzBMAZ8DLbdlMalZ00AQ3_Zzj-YeucuX8ja03v02VTqeMk3wgvEwrd7scH7_y4lKneB44Q7_cDMPNAJh8upQN_ObxFMYhqSY2x1UPD7oMlFe0ZLUw/s1600/IMAG0378.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506017512624924834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEnRmW4waI7k39VoeArHGeQY_lobzBMAZ8DLbdlMalZ00AQ3_Zzj-YeucuX8ja03v02VTqeMk3wgvEwrd7scH7_y4lKneB44Q7_cDMPNAJh8upQN_ObxFMYhqSY2x1UPD7oMlFe0ZLUw/s320/IMAG0378.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>Nancy's Dog<br /><br /><br />Sarah has always dreamed of going fishing with her father, Tom. Tom grew up hunting, camping, and fishing. He tried to introduce this to his family while the kids were very young, But Nancy wasn't having it, at all.<br /><br />So Sarah comes to me and says, I want to go fly fishing with my dad. I say have a good time. I had obviously not understood that she meant, "We are going fly fishing with my dad."<br /><br /><br /><br />Sarah and I live a good 10 to 11 hour drive from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Las</span> Vegas where her parents live. We figured we would meet somewhere in the middle. We (Sarah) picked <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Leadville</span> Colorado because it lies a very equitable 10 hrs from both of us. Made perfect sense to me.<br /><br /><br />With one weeks notice and in the midst of the counties biggest town celebration of the year, Sarah was able to find a hotel and a fly fishing guide to accommodate the four of us. We all arrived without incident the night before the great trout massacre was to begin. Nancy promptly got violently ill. From her symptoms I deduced that she was suffering from altitude sickness. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Leadville</span> sits well above 10,000 ft and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">flatlanders</span> do not take to the altitude well. We took steps to ensure her recovery and with all due sympathy extended, we went fishing anyway. (SORRY Nancy).<br /><br /><br /><br />We met our guide at the shop, fitted ourselves for hip waders, and off we went. We drove to a small fishing hole and practice fly casting in the parking lot. Right a way I could tell that i had missed my calling in life. I was a master fly tosser, or whatever you call it. River runs through it had nothing on me, I was confident to say the least. (surprise, surprise, I know). Sarah was doing well and Tom looked like had hadn't missed a beat since his last trip 30 years earlier.<br /><br /><br /><br />To the water we strode. I worked out some line, take my stance, observe my arena, and cast with visions of trophy trout hanging above my mantle. I could see the trophy very clearly in my mind. What i could not see any longer was a fly on my line. I had snagged the flies on the weeds behind me and destroyed my line. This would become a theme for the day. My delusions of grandeur faded with each successive branch, tree, rock, my own shoe, small rodent that I caught. At least i had a cool hat. Sarah was faring much better that I. She was able to hit the water with great regularity. Tom was continuing to look impressive.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At the end of the day we had all caught fish had a great time and returned to find Nancy still alive. We went into town to find a bite to eat. We stumbled upon the worlds greatest festival, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Boomdays</span>. A celebration of the town's mining heritage. The main street was blocked off, the vendors were in place, the music was ready. All were eagerly anticipating the grand opening ceremonies. The grand marshal came on the PA to announce the ceremonial beginning to the festivities and then, it appeared on the horizon, glistening in the sun, being carried with all the reverence, pomp and circumstance, and pride that the local Lions Club could muster. There it was, the beer tent!!!!.<br /><br />They carried this thing down main street, six blocks to the canter of town. dropped it in the parking lot across from city hall. And thus the stage was set for the oddest festival of all time.<br /><br />Then came the motorcycle rodeo which included such fan favorites as the Slowest drag race in the world. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">weenie</span> bite, where your passenger had to take a bite out a dog hanging from a string, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">biggest</span> bite wins. And the Honey I Am Home Competition. This display of pure class involved lying in a bed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">until</span> the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">announcer</span> yells "Honey I am Home!!!", At which point the competitor must jump up, put on a pair of pants, crawl through a window, start the bike, and get the heck out of town. best time wins. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Boomdays</span> Baby!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />A friend of mine from work used to travel to this thing every year with his family. The best way he could describe the goings-on was thus; "Random dudes drilling holes in rocks for no apparent reason." Enough said. here is a pic of that. Awesome.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We all thought Nancy was feeling better <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">until</span> she found a "DOG" and asked if she could keep it. </p>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-76236304778690125282010-03-29T01:57:00.000-07:002010-03-29T03:15:41.619-07:00Bataan Memorial Death March<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u9gtK3gSbx4MemhblgzGRh43k1Vz97cADZDahbAyp8_-TmHznsctmGgEDEdUwhTOjorSsN9WefOWWxKKaXvpLWISGzJ3CO5j7UEKBVktFlz70DWPIb6MfeLDhNqRDpqAaOrZ8hLIRQg/s1600/IMAG0121.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453980447724510946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u9gtK3gSbx4MemhblgzGRh43k1Vz97cADZDahbAyp8_-TmHznsctmGgEDEdUwhTOjorSsN9WefOWWxKKaXvpLWISGzJ3CO5j7UEKBVktFlz70DWPIb6MfeLDhNqRDpqAaOrZ8hLIRQg/s320/IMAG0121.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytNwRwOTBlkkxl9MJZWeuPLcw_oMoxclj6C3c6qEOfblEabB1-mkFqif6L_Dst9LAu9duWW4wY2IQ_ay-jWy18UH_-Psp7aLMb4VonEWV8KmEaHpDkzhZ8fD2YVA4S2ZXrTtXwsqgWXM/s1600/IMAG0120.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453980442039149250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytNwRwOTBlkkxl9MJZWeuPLcw_oMoxclj6C3c6qEOfblEabB1-mkFqif6L_Dst9LAu9duWW4wY2IQ_ay-jWy18UH_-Psp7aLMb4VonEWV8KmEaHpDkzhZ8fD2YVA4S2ZXrTtXwsqgWXM/s320/IMAG0120.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6wS5xA5DjGigI2bQJEz9TgQy6b3lGRT0LxOpkNVka8m9HtLge1Bw0PKLZOxXNRtbl1L_b3E-iTXxfM8oPC2MnXqf8nIiRTNcemHsKAvq_5ClE2SXxnWMwi9jsQsuNk5QnOShNSanNAs/s1600/IMAG0117.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453979715987519986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6wS5xA5DjGigI2bQJEz9TgQy6b3lGRT0LxOpkNVka8m9HtLge1Bw0PKLZOxXNRtbl1L_b3E-iTXxfM8oPC2MnXqf8nIiRTNcemHsKAvq_5ClE2SXxnWMwi9jsQsuNk5QnOShNSanNAs/s320/IMAG0117.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAHQgWW9EDJxsbB_Paba8EO4QvLQPXO7UOt3GOoSelIHrLkS8wykoPQksXcwaWz_yQQbEwmO6opB0oV-eKh_dgOhE6jE9R9DpAiwcEHSkTokYLbYK6Yeo63xylEg_uZKRrBDTPbDfIu4/s1600/IMAG0116.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453979707253276386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAHQgWW9EDJxsbB_Paba8EO4QvLQPXO7UOt3GOoSelIHrLkS8wykoPQksXcwaWz_yQQbEwmO6opB0oV-eKh_dgOhE6jE9R9DpAiwcEHSkTokYLbYK6Yeo63xylEg_uZKRrBDTPbDfIu4/s320/IMAG0116.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhIua775HuP4NbpaSOXe39ra00q_SqoGjs2XhvPQnCQRpyrAdDovnsdAdKxR3S-eLLn_VsQVN4hoMJiy0za_rfmUX4g_7V6yXwhbl_40L8_hx5zv_wWgOzWskbucVIjMlwRypqE1EtGo/s1600/IMAG0114.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453979700999928258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhIua775HuP4NbpaSOXe39ra00q_SqoGjs2XhvPQnCQRpyrAdDovnsdAdKxR3S-eLLn_VsQVN4hoMJiy0za_rfmUX4g_7V6yXwhbl_40L8_hx5zv_wWgOzWskbucVIjMlwRypqE1EtGo/s320/IMAG0114.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB9PlPSRTRGIofyeUASqABC571sTqUU-wH_itBo71F9i7fjSaiB5z_92W46T1eWIF2xiMN8RqA6oyI0t2oVHotEWkMJpQyJaab9YQkvuDE2YCYsXFRa_0pG4PjAAgfignsfaZGiXv21I/s1600/IMAG0113.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453979693460077474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB9PlPSRTRGIofyeUASqABC571sTqUU-wH_itBo71F9i7fjSaiB5z_92W46T1eWIF2xiMN8RqA6oyI0t2oVHotEWkMJpQyJaab9YQkvuDE2YCYsXFRa_0pG4PjAAgfignsfaZGiXv21I/s320/IMAG0113.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUdOBBn5t3DL_00SHE0RFjzkMZ3Iwn_GsVu99PGjxxKqkM2e7qU3-66JmPaTH-RFB3vMRbzsYqJcSDiRpFUYFNYCWCxZqkkp5_zHyE32r4yYYl1mfrj0hgBBJ_VtS8wiGO5f6u4puc8Q/s1600/IMAG0100.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453979683494590482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUdOBBn5t3DL_00SHE0RFjzkMZ3Iwn_GsVu99PGjxxKqkM2e7qU3-66JmPaTH-RFB3vMRbzsYqJcSDiRpFUYFNYCWCxZqkkp5_zHyE32r4yYYl1mfrj0hgBBJ_VtS8wiGO5f6u4puc8Q/s320/IMAG0100.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LnC49nmJPZP-_ljmNEwl8vfgqRareZ8fnzKrxV3oUC8GQ9wrkAlR8LYZzBRzp6qvQmiRoj3HyAJUNqs_lt4Irg_uod_v53qxzoyC8Y_bMVcObEUocTy9oRC-SGiXTGgecdkzxaHrzcY/s1600/IMAG0103.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453978766080246498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LnC49nmJPZP-_ljmNEwl8vfgqRareZ8fnzKrxV3oUC8GQ9wrkAlR8LYZzBRzp6qvQmiRoj3HyAJUNqs_lt4Irg_uod_v53qxzoyC8Y_bMVcObEUocTy9oRC-SGiXTGgecdkzxaHrzcY/s320/IMAG0103.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Last week Sarah and I participated in the Bataan Death March which is a race through the desert which commemorates the great sacrifices made by US servicemen in the Philippines during WWII. If you are not familiar with the events surrounding this ordeal I would <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">suggest</span> doing some research on it. I had always heard of the surrender of 6000 men in the early part of the war following the bombing of pearl harbor but I was unable to grasp the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">horrific</span> conditions these men were forced to endure during their march to the sea and in the following three years spent in one POW camp after another. This race was started by the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">NMSU</span> ROTC 21 years ago as a way to remember the price of freedom. That year 300 people showed up. over the years this event has grown and grown. This year there were almost 6,000 participants, many of whom were personally <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">connected</span> to these men in one way or another. </div><div> </div><div>A large number of these <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">POWs</span> were from the New Mexico National Guard. along the route i was able to talk to many people who were there to remember their grandfather, uncle, great grandad, husband, or family friend who had paid the ultimate price.<br /></div><div> </div><div>There are not many survivors l<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">eft</span>, but this year 24 men arrived early in the morning to see us off. The greatest part of this race, and what sets this apart from any other marathon, is the opportunity to meet these men and to shake their hand and say thank you.</div><div> </div><div>We attended a panel discussion on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Friday</span> night before the race where they had assembled a panel of authors, including Hampton Sides (author of ghost soldiers), and a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">handful</span> of survivors for a question and answer discussion of the events surrounding these men's surrender and torture. I was very interested in the research and historical perspective offered by the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">authors</span>, but i was more interested to hear from the men who were there. These guys were very open about their experiences during the war and about their desire to keep alive the memories of the ones who did not make it back. They told stories of being crammed into unmarked <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Japanese</span> transport ships for months on end and having to listed to the sound of US submarines<br />"PINGING" their ships with sonar in attempts to torpedo these ships, not knowing that for every <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">successful</span> hit they were killing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">thousands</span> of their brothers. </div><div> </div><div>To a man, they all said that the one thing that kept them alive was a belief in the man next to them and the faith that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tomorrow</span> would indeed come. They talked of still fighting in what small way they could. They were put to work building munitions and boats for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Japanese</span>. One man recalled substituting mud for rivets in the shipyards and the pride he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">felt</span> when that ship sank as soon as it was launched. These men are not bitter old codgers. They are positive, humble, and proud of the service they gave.</div><div> </div><div>As far as the run itself, I was woefully unprepared. I had <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">commited</span> to do this with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span> but with the snow on the mountain being so good this year my running schedule took a backseat to my skiing schedule. Of course <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span> still drug me out of bed at 3:30 am to drive out to the base. we arrived to a 28 degree temp. The ceremony started at 6:30 and after a fly-over by a few Raptors the race was on. We all lined up to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">walk</span> past the survivors and shake hands, then <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">we</span> were off. </div><div> </div><div>I couldn't feel my feet for the first three miles from the cold. I soon warmed up and settled in to a nice pace with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span> along side. We cruised along to about mile 10 when things started to go wrong. I suddenly was in dire need of a toilet. not a good feeling when in the middle of the desert. I spied a Port o potty ahead and ducked in. feeling like a new man I continued up the hill. I noticed a great photo op and went to take a pic of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span>. but where was my phone? Back in the potty of course. so i <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">turned</span> around and ran the 1/4 mile back to the pot. Not happy. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Finaly</span> caught back up to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span> and began up the hill again. </div><div> </div><div>two miles later <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span> started to have breathing trouble. in the Pics above there is a pic of the med tent i drug her into. She didn't want to go but I know her too well to allow her to kill herself. Turns out she was having a severe asthma <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">attack</span>. The docs pulled her from the race. She was very upset but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">thankfull</span> in the end. I continued and was going strong. At mile 19, i passed a young man on his way up the hill. he was 11 miles into the race at this point. by most standards he was moving pretty slow, but this man was different. This soldier had both of his legs blown off in Iraq. He had two prosthetics, two canes, and one gigantic smile on his face. Inspiring to say the least. </div><div> </div><div>I instantly stopped cursing the pain i was feeling and thanked God that I was able to feel it. </div><div>\</div><div> </div><div>I reached mile 22 and the dreaded sand pit. Ankle deep sand on a winding uphill mile long tract that humbles ever the best conditioned runners. I kept a g<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ood</span> pace through about three quarters of the pit and had to stop and walk for a minute. Right then i felt a hand on my back. A soldier was passing me and offering words of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">encouragement</span>, "come on bro, your almost there" he said as he passed. I noticed that this man had one arm. again the pain was diminished as i tried to keep pace with him. I talked to him about his injury. he told me of sitting in his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">barrack</span> with his buddies <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">when</span> an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">RPG</span> came through the window leaving four dead and seven others with amputations. I was again reminded of how <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">grateful</span> i was for the pain i was feeling.</div><div> </div><div>When i finished i sought out <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Sarah</span> and walked with her to the car. I was overcome with emotion from the experience I had just had. I was also suffering from mild heat stroke and severe dehydration. My buddy, who is an EMT, treated me with ice compresses and gave me <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fluids</span> while i lay in the shade. At that moment I swore that i would never do it again.</div><div> </div><div>As i sit and reflect on my experience now one week removed from the hurt, I want to do it all over again. Time is funny like that. As the survivors will <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">attest</span>, as the time passes the pain fades and the good memories surface. Friends made, laughs shared, the embrace of a loved one at the end of an ordeal. These are the things that remain. And as ever the faith that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tomorrow</span> will always come.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-44719377901934242982010-03-22T19:47:00.000-07:002010-03-22T20:01:14.915-07:00Bataan Memorial Death March<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRiddwvCAKIfuyOS1Qo2Y3-SADncSjGtcYrWyoadIbIV-e_Eb4PrNyJKRNQ8dDPkwsmcz1Pbyl2hTcS-q-CeknIcH0gDT18izXo1eRNIJi729bOAt5YdWR3I_VXLQGI4PO9OeJCuzIEE/s1600-h/imagesCAPKF3Y5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 93px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451658918451074050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRiddwvCAKIfuyOS1Qo2Y3-SADncSjGtcYrWyoadIbIV-e_Eb4PrNyJKRNQ8dDPkwsmcz1Pbyl2hTcS-q-CeknIcH0gDT18izXo1eRNIJi729bOAt5YdWR3I_VXLQGI4PO9OeJCuzIEE/s400/imagesCAPKF3Y5.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIYqujcSwuXmQ7kT8ZWk6UAwVUC5Y5OeD1-3R2LBsqbMp7QGOBYl7iRbqo0wI-gwQx363O93-DoLktQUQaV-xkMO2d6LbcenIlZ10kSjT0q8sIKoTsFRvDeyjZ__ufWkjGp-FoZ_DRgA/s1600-h/imagesCAPKF3Y5.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>Sarah and i participated in the 21st Bataan Memorial Death March yesterday. this is a marathon distance race through the sand and desert around the White Sands Missile Range. I will post pictures and a more detailed account when i get the time but i will say that this was one of the greatest experiences of my life. To be able to pay tribute to those who have given so much to this country was moving to say the least. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am sitting at work just praying that nobody runs from me tonight. I won't be able to give chase for long.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div>Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703582936251987436.post-81898530929187439772009-08-18T01:26:00.000-07:002009-08-18T01:45:26.879-07:00INTRODUCTIONI have nothing particularly witty or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">insightful</span> to relay at the moment. I will, however, declare that i will not be competing with POP and ERIC for the family <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pulitzer</span>. I will also not be giving daily updates on the mundane happenstance of my daily existence.<br /><br />What i will be doing is attempting to feed my inner <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">narcissist</span> as little as possible while keeping in better contact with those of you who, for whatever reason, still consider me family or friend. I recognize that for most of you our continued relationship is based purely on my choice of spouse, i don't blame you, but i will play the cards i have as long as i have them.<br /><br />The dogs are good, Sarah has reluctantly returned to the classroom, and i am impatiently awaiting the return of two of the great joys in my life; college football and snow. No priority should be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">inferred</span> from the order of appearance.<br /><br />(RE the PIC- First bike on the left is me <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cruising</span> through the desert with some friends)<br /><br />More to come later. probably much later.Matt Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913679805725112980noreply@blogger.com1