The New "60"

I will only be the "new 60" for one day--on my birthday tomorrow. Here are a few observations:

• I still "rejoice in the wife of my youth" (Prov 5:18). I'm looking forward to spending more time with my favorite person in the world--Susan
• Being a granddad is awesome
• In 60 years my "island of knowledge" has grown, but so has my "shoreline of ignorance"
• It's such a blessing getting to see my children (and their spouses and spouses-to-be) become mature, highly competent and effective adults who are followers of Christ
• In my 60's my plan is focus on being more humorous...here's a quote from a fellow 60 year old...Peggy Noonan

"Wit penetrates; humor envelops. Wit is a function of verbal intelligence, humor is imagination operating on good nature."

Kent Announces the birth of Anna Katherine

Welcome Anna Katherine Wiley

Mimi and Grandad are very happy to announce the birth of Brett's new sister: Anna Katherine (Anna Kate) Wiley

Middle East Trip

I have not done a post in a long time....I may be the only one who sees this. My plan is to get back on track in providing slightly amusing and semi-interesting thoughts on this blog. Last week I was in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Dubai on business. The culture there is interesting. The nomad, desert culture equates to a lot of sitting around and drinking coffee in rectilinear rooms. There was so much sitting around that the last thing I needed was a stimulant like caffeine. Here are some take-aways:

• No need to visit Kuwait...just desert, oil and cars...and rooms to sit around in



• Abu Dhabi...our oil money is going for a lot of granite, marble and golf courses



• Dubai...over the top....your oil money is going to build hi-rise buildings and to pay architects



• Why ski in the beautiful Alps or Rocky Mountains when you can ski at the mall



• Berkas....great example of how radical fundamentalism misses God's plan for women

Middle East--Been there, done that.

It's That Time of Year

A Classic Seinfeld episode...right up there with Christmas Vacation for the time of the year. Here's some quotes:

Kramer: Is there a tree?
Frank: No. Instead, there's a pole. It requires not decoration. I find tinsel distracting

Frank: It's made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio.
Kruger: I find your belief system fascinating.

Frank Costanza: Welcome, new comers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you're gonna hear about it!

Fall in Colorado

The climate in Colorado has got to be one of the best in the world. You really get all four seasons here without extreme heat and not much extreme cold. (OK, you can get 3 feet of snow once a year.) Here are some fall colors right from our yard.

Northern Exposure (da Bears)

I went on a float plane/bear observation trip yesterday while Susan went to the spa. I was originally going to go fly-fishing but it got cancelled because the river was too high. We were in port at Ketchucan where it rains over 160 inches annually.

The group got really close to the bears! (it was near a salmon fish hatchery...therefore you get bears)