Red Rocks Amphitheatre

While our seats were towards the top of Red Rocks, located southwest of Denver, the music of Chicago and Brian Wilson came in loud and clear, a tribute to the design of this iconic and stunning amphitheater.  This is a bucket list item and one I hope to cross off multiple times.  We listened to people's suggestions on how to get there and get out as easy as possible and took an Uber there, which dropped us off at the top, and a taxi back, which was positioned at the bottom.  While some walking was involved, it was all downhill and the taxi got us out without waiting in line.  

https://www.redrocksonline.com

Three Rivers

The picture below was taken from the West End bridge in Pittsburgh, with the Ohio River seen up close just after it is formed by the Monongahela River on the right and the Allegheny River on the left.  The stadium on the left is Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.   

https://www.pghtours.com

Cog Railway

All aboard the Cog Railroad on its 9-mile trip from Manitou Springs, at about 6,300 feet above sea level, to Pikes Peak's summit of 14,115, and a jacket, gloves, and hat are a good idea, even if it's 90 degrees when you board.  It was shut down from 2018 to mid-2021 for a complete $100 million rebuild of the tracks, visitor center, and new railcars.  The views are spectacular and at times a bit scary for my selective fear of heights.

https://www.cograilway.com

75 MPH

That 75-mile-per-hour sign seen below, and never seen in Ohio, is on I-25 south of Denver.   It reminded me that the rules of the road can be very different depending on where and when you are.  American Samoa has a maximum speed limit of 30 mph, parts of Texas State Highway 130 are posted at 85 miles per hour, during World War II, a national 35 mph "Victory Speed Limit" was enacted (ouch!), and between 1974 to 1987 we were limited nationally to 55 mph.  The link below contains more info on SH-130 between Austin and San Antonio.

https://www.mysh130.com

Shrimp, Rice, and Pineapple

This dinner couldn't be any faster or easier.  The Costco frozen coconut shrimp takes 6 minutes in a hot frying pan, the frozen sticky rice takes 5 minutes in the microwave and the already-cored pineapple is sliced and takes 6 minutes on the grill.  Took both Chef Elaine and her apprentice (me) to pull this off in six minutes.  Took longer to eat it than it took to cook it.  That's different.  

 

Pittsburgh Tours

Combine the view from the upper deck of this double-decker bus with a perfect weather day in Pittsburgh and seeing the sights of the city was a ton of fun.  You also get a great view and appreciate how big traffic signals are when they pass a few feet above your head.  You can get off and on as many times as you like, giving you a chance to play some games at the Five Rivers Casino or grab a bite and a beer in Southside.

https://www.pghtours.com

Replacement Grill Parts

I've never had a grill last long enough to replace the pipes and vents, but our current Charbroil Gas2Coal, now six years old, needed it badly.  Not that it's in great shape but if less than $50 will give us a few more years, that's a deal.  The replacement parts fit perfectly but are pieced together slightly differently, and this YouTube link set me straight.  We're ready for another summer of grilling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9VTQpVVtoA

Smart Grid

I guess we're part of the electric smart grid now that our meter has been replaced with the beast seen below.  I suppose AES has a lot of plans given what the cost of this investment in every house must be.  Other than a couple of seconds of power loss (oh well, the PC and Mac probably needed rebooting anyway), it was a painless process.  The link below has all the technical features, most I can't fathom what they mean.

https://www.landisgyr.com/product/e331351-focus-axe

Rounds

Just what I need, another snack like popcorn.  These rounds are simply addictive and the little bowl shown on the right is my only hope for portion control.  Truth in the packaging, they are light and crispy and the butter flavor is uniquely delicious.  

https://www.snydersofhanover.com/butter-rounds

Ohio Flag

The Ohio state flag has a unique shape, called a swallowtail design, and was adopted in 1902.  Using the same color scheme as Old Glory, the blue field represents Ohio's hills and valleys and the stripes represent the roads and waterways.  There are a total of seventeen stars, an easy way to remember that Ohio was the seventeenth state admitted to the union.  There is even more symbolism, which you can about at the link below.

https://www.usflagsupply.com/u.s.-state-flag-history/ohios-flag-history.html