Life in Bronco Land

Everything in Denver is orange and blue - people who are otherwise fairly normal (I think) are becoming Broncomaniacs!  The AFC championship game is in Denver this afternoon between the Broncos and the New England Patriots.  The Pats have beat the Broncos the last four times they played.  But all the odds are that Denver will win today and then -- two weeks later -- the  Super Bowl!

I will watch the game, probably while reading a book at the same time, but my philosophy about it is "somebody has to win, somebody has to lose".....and that's exactly what will happen.

It's a beautiful Colorado winter day today - the forecast for game time is over 60 degrees with just a little breeze.  Perfect weather for a football game -- or anything else.

Getting warmer

It was a little warmer today, somewhere in the 30's - warm enough to melt some snow and ice. 
It hasn't been as cold here as in other parts of the country; the "polar vortex" is really doing a number on places that usually don't get temperatures below freezing.

I went out for lunch today with my daughter and another friend.  This friend brought along her seven year old daughter who was adopted from China about the same time my grandson came.  She was not a "special needs" child -- in other words, she was perfectly healthy.  But this past April she was diagnosed with brain cancer.   She has undergone surgery, radiation and chemotherapy; the cancer has affected her eyesight, her hearing, her balance, and the right side of her face is paralyzed.  But she is an amazing girl, just precious.  Her mother is even more amazing; I can't imagine how I'd feel if I was a mother in this situation.  If you believe in prayer, pray for "Daisy" - that's not her real name but the name they are using to protect her privacy, and God knows who Daisy is.

A big day in Colorado

Reporters and their teams are in Denver from all over the country, probably from other countries as well.  The news stories for the last few weeks have been full of anticipation about what will be happening today in Colorado.

Today is the day that recreational marijuana becomes legal in our state.

Medical marijuana has been legal for several years.  In order to be able to buy the medical version, one must have a card signed by a doctor.  Unfortunately, there are lots of unethical doctors around here.  I recently heard a statistic that about 95% of those who carry medical marijuana cards are under the age of 25.  Suddenly they all have unbearable back pain. 

When I first moved to Omaha, I worked for a surgeon, and he told me that back pain is almost impossible to prove or disprove.  Evidently that information has circulated very well through a certain population.

When recreational marijuana use was on the ballot, I was sure it would be defeated - but to my surprise, it passed.  I think the main reason it passed was because the activists made a big thing about the taxes being used for education....so of course it was ok to make marijuana use legal.

In spite of the fact that it affects the brains of young people in a negative way.
In spite of the tact that it attracts the criminal element.

I really think that Colorado will regret passing this law. 
I wonder how many people will die on the roads because users are driving while stoned.

Already there has been an increase in crime involving break-ins at pot shops and at the warehouses where it is grown. 

It is a sad situation.