GA PIG, Bassin and Baseball

We had to stop at the GA PIG for some BBQ on teh way back from the St. Mary's property. This is the proprietors nephew. I did ask about sign theft to which the owner said she "had a guy that made the Dancin Pigs in the lawn in bulk" This sign she said is practically part of the load bearing barn structure. She says also that she gets letters from around the world with stolen pigs posing in them.

This was not the biggest of the trip but pretty good size for a lagoon in the neighborhood.
Jim Erickson was kind enough to take me to a Rockies game recently. I look up to Jim for O&G guidance b/c he has a wealth of experience.

Denver and FIG Oil and Gas Company, LLC

So back in Denver now and been hunting for something to keep me busy and allow for some money making. Would love to find a contract position in the Oil and Gas sector that would allow me to compliment my resume and add to my upstream foundation of experience. So far I have talked to the Canadian Consulate who would like to do a Rockies Market Analysis with a deliverable that would identify best options for Canadian company entry to the US Rockies. San Juan Resources, a small operator of gas wells in the 4 corners area of the NM might have some more temporary project work and I will meet with the Owner/President/CEO again tomorrow. I have also submitted my resume to EOG, EnCana, Bill Barrett Corp, Samson Resources, Noble Energy, Cimarex, Forest Oil, Williams Energy, Pioneer Natural Resources, St. Mary's Land and Exploration and Anadarko to name a few. Seems like most of the larger shops are looking for full time, not contract, so that is a limiting factor. Still I have to go to to Paris in January to finish the course work for my degrees. This all leads me to the exciting news of….:

 

The formation of FIG Oil and Gas Company, LLC. FIG is an single member LLC for me to work under. It allows me to bill hours for project work, right off membership expenses for networking at O&G Association functions and most importantly will serve as the operator and organizer of 2 other LLCs that I will seek outside investment for. XYZ LLCs business plan will focus on wildcatting in Kansas and ABC LLCs business plan will seek investment opportunities within the Upstream Methane Technology coupled with an eye towards acquisition of oil and gas leaseholds that will benefit from innovative upstream methane technology. Of course XYZ and ABC are only temporary names, FIG on the other hand has some personal meaning

Besides FIG being one of the most recognized words in the world due to the historical or evolutionary importance to diets of humans and our tree dwelling predecessors it is also an acronym for a multitude of simple but core beliefs for me: For Ideas of Grandeur, For Investors Good, Flexibility Innovation Growth to name a few and the list is growing. If you have one, let me know.

FIG O&G is marketing itself currently as a consultant with competency with no bad habits, because much of my experience is book taught or 2^nd hand experience. I bring an fresh mind and clean slate to problems that may need an approach from a different angle to find the solution as well the energy and willingness to take on tasks other may not want to or simply don't have time to given the state of the industry.

In short though, FIG Oil and Gas is "Ideas, Analysis & Solutions for Petroleum Geology, Exploration Economics and Strategic Upstream Investment".

I am excited also to attend the IPAMS Annual Meeting in Vail this weekend. www.ipams.org . And soon, Jeannette will be back from South Africa to start studying for comprehensive exams for entrance into the doctoral program. While she is studying during July I will be attending the Petroleum Super School, offered by the Petroleum Engineering department at Mines. I am think the 3 week PSS will be an integral compliment to my geology bachelor's.

Link to Petroleum Super School: http://www.mines.edu/outreach/cont_ed/pss.htm

 

Headed to the Yanks-Rockies Game tonight with Azziz, Joe McCool and some other friends and going to try and sneak some fishing and some golf in somewhere soon. Hope all is well out there with my friends and fam. I do miss you and if I can do anything for you let me know.

Best,

Joe

 

AND BE SURE TO VISIT MY OTHER SITE TO SEE AL L THE NEW PHOTOS: http://joedumesnil77.spaces.live.com/

 

View of Cabin 3 at the Homestead with the Firepit in the foreground. Check out the Homestead yahoo group link on my live spaces page for more photos. They had the 30th Anniversary Celebration over Memorial Day. Cabin Bob(not pictured her but it is on my other blog) is still immaculately Homestead and so cool b/c it is a straw bale house. They are also beginning construction on a rammed tire, "Earth-Ship", where Cabin 2 sat. If you are ever in Central Ohio, you must visit, if only for a breath of fresh and mind opening gaze upon one evolving groups opt out of the hustle and bustle that most of us live in daily. Tell them I sent you.
I had to stop and see Pedro at South of the Border for some fireworks.. had too.
Elvis's Pool with diving board. If you opt to swim while on your tour, the museum staff will most likely call the Memphis City Po-Po to escort you to your next main attraction in Memphis, the Police Station. Umm, I haven't been arrested in a long time and but i wouldn't be surprised if it happens in Memphis if it happens at all in the future.
Swan Paddle Boat ride at the OKC Zoo. Jenny soaking up some rays.
At this point in our paddle boat ride I have mounted the swan's neck and we are headed at ramming speed towards a boat of adolescent strangers.

Trip Back East

Denver > Philly > Louisville > Columbus > Richmond > Hilton Head / Bluffton > Jacksonville > Memphis (Graceland) > OKC > Denver

Philly: Damien and Abby's Wedding, great turn out of old friends, golf the day of the wedding made for an afternoon nap that extended through the wedding though. Phil had a mild alcohol induced siezure before my eyes at 2:30 in the morning; he was talking, then staring silently mid sentence and then started talking right where he left off after about 30 seconds of silence. Phil – REST!

Columbus: Christy, so good to see you. Congrats on 5 years. When are you coming out to see CO. Justin Harmon is doing well and selling pimped out Airstreams. I need to get him some info on Betrand and Cournot price and quantity strategies. I tried to convince him to loan me one to goto Burning Man. C'mon that would be a great marketing opportunity. Dr. Frolking is still teahcing up a storm at Denison. Mike Frazier tells me he is headed to retirement.

Richmond: Mike Grizzard is doing great. Mike was my roomate senoir year with Damien and Josh in Stone at Denison. He works for a small fund management firm that sounds like very cool new venture growth opportunity. Sounds like he might try and get back into school to chase an MBA. Had a chance to meet his brother, really cool guy with some temporary driving restrictions if you know what I mean, so all of us got along pretty well since we all think alike.

HHI/Bluffton: Caught a lot while there: a lot of sharks, bass, sleep, rest, food, parental company and good southern hospitality.

Jacksonville: Kelly Sewell is living well and doing something she loves (most of the time). Kelly's attention to detail makes her the on to comb through fine print in all the Private Equity and ETF contracts that Raymond James' somewhat light, quick and elite small bank investment group. I've decided I want to hire her away from that at some point and see if she can help me in contract analysis and management in oil and gas. Kelly, thanks for a wonderful visit in JAX. I hope South Africa was amazing and I hope to see you again soon, you Southern Belle you.

Memphis, Graceland: I stayed at the days and in Memphis, directly across from Graceland, Elvis's Mansion. I want to go back to try and go for a swim in his pool, but I need someone to go with me cause I really don't want to get arrested by myself. The swimming pool was in the shape of a guitar.

Oklahoma City: I visited Jenny and her parents for 4 days. We had a blast. We went to the Zoo, played golf with her paprents and took the Grandparents along to watch. Her Grandpa makes the best bread and wrote a book on Pressure Vessels, that is still used as a reference book for the oil and gas industry today. Jenny's family was so open and inviting, I was blown away. They were also so proud, caring and well wishing for their "Cunci", especially Grandma. Eva and Dan, Jenny's parents, have a beautiful house on the fringe of OKC in a great area of town. I loved sitting on their patio in the their backyard in the eveing just chatting away, puffing on an Avo Uvezian cigar. Eva is apparently an allstar commercial real estate broker with CBRE and Dan, Jenny's dad is the guru behind the scenes, orchestrating everything from financing, to the publishing company for Grandpa's book, to finessing one fo the best chilli recipes I have ever tasted. I can't wait to see them and spend more time with them again.

Then Back to Denver: See the more recent post with that update.

Early Exam Week, Gov Snub, Trip Out East (US that is)

So I have 2 exams this Friday but that's all on the exam taking front. I have a paper that is due next Monday and then this semester is sign sealed and delivered. It kind of snuck up on me, seeing I there have been some super ups and some pretty low downs for me this semester. Still I maintain that I am the luckiest, most blest, spoiled little boy in the whole school. Really the ups and down are a construct of my own… my apologies if you got to hear about one of the downs, please next time remind me I am the luckiest guy on planet earth. I am not as stressed as last semester this time, probably because I have 3 less exams. The paper that I need to turn is in is pretty interesting…. Well to me at least… it has been fun to write, should be fun to finish. <<<<<<WARNING SKIP TO NEXT PARAGRAPH IF ECONOMICS IS TOTALLY BORING TO YOU--- TRUST ME >>>>>>>> On that note: QUESTION: if comparing yearly exploration expenditures relative to average price for the year over time …… wait let me be exact here, start over. Let's say onshore domestic oil expenditure relative to average price of Brent per barrel for the year yields some ration and I and I want to compare that changing ratio over time with let's say, natural gas onshore domestic expenditures relative to Henry Hub price per mcf (we would hope to show cross price activity levels reflected and some example of a rate of product transformation, either from gas to oil or vice versa) WOUL D YOU ADJUST THE PRICE AND EXPENDITURES TO REFLECT REAL 2006 DOLLARS? I don't know… would you. My guess is that this would dampen any signatures of change a bit and just being manipulating something that doesn't require manipulating b/c the ratio is static in time… BUT we are looking at dollars over time and in order to make any quantifiable conclusions one have to pick a side and be able to defend the choice, I could see many of my peers picking the real dollars so as to have time in perspective of today's dollars…. I don't know. What would you do?

Moving along, the Government Sponsored Critical Language Scholarship that I applied for did not come through… which is kind of a bummer, but like I said earlier, most spoiled rotten little boy on earth… there are lots of other options for summer and plenty of time to sort that stuff out.

I am really looking forward to an end of semester celebratory jaunt back east… Thursday of next week I should be en-route with my cracked windshield and audio books with Carolina on my mind and a wedding of 2 of my closest friends from college. BUT SERIOUSLY WHO IS GONNA TELL THE TRUTH HERE…….. ok I will.

Damien and Abby: Abby from the Crawford Halls and our first days of college I remember nothing but great memories. Steely Dan and Grateful Dead into the late night study hours or slightly saucy jabberwocky session on Venditouli's and Johnny's room on second with Adam Bouchet Friedman coughing up a lung next door, while Bryan or whoever that whack job roommate of his was that like to black out, get arrested and soil himself ;lay in bed passed out with fluorescent overhead lights on, Pink Floyd Mettle playing tripily and Adam chiming in with a cough or a cackle (note to all your moms and dads out there… you should be thankful… we were Kosher compared to this kid, speaking of Adam's roommate, not Adam of course). Then second semester when I met the Man, Damien, years later dubbed "Stamien". I only met him because I pledged a fraternity, mind you the best pledge class of the best fraternity I could have ever seen myself joining. And each one of us was a character in his own right especially you Damien. The reserved witty comment in think Boston accent for exactly the right time to let everyone know… you aren't back, no, no, no, you been here the whole time!!! And your unrelenting and I'll say it, quite admirable performance Senior year with regard to working out, hitting the books and finishing what you started triumphantly with pride while many of us layed off the afterburners and me imparticularly reminding everyone while 3 sheets to the wind that "D" well "D" was for "Diploma". I just didn't think Chavez would take me so literally. All of us we grew, we groped, we eventually graduated... BUT and I put my foot down here. You 2, Damien and Abby, better not think for one second that you had any of us fooled for that senior year, all sneaky about where you were, disappearing to Mulberry (maybe I shouldn't be talking: collar… getting…. Tight…uhum), no pda, less raging, more homework/books. I mean YES, Jackson and I were taking double Beam and Coke to the wood working shop with that Zellwegger-esque Dutch teacher for Sculpture I Class at noon 3 days a week, and yes I had focused my efforts on corrupting Griz and making out late night with the hostess from Brews in the living room while ya'll slept, but DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT WE WEREN'T ON TO THIS WHOLE THING FROM THE GET GO. OK…..?

The beautiful thing about it all… is that it lasted … and we will get a chance to celebrate that love ….. and all the experiences that brought us…. more importantly you two….. to this point in time and to this outward sign of commitment to one another…. in less than 2 weeks with you. E-cheers to that… (and if you weren't nervous yet… anyway)

I should be studying… ciao for now!

And special thanks to Chile Bean for the Manjar and the bags we like and really most importantly the super thoughtful and oh-so-touching card… you made my week.

NEW BLOG and PHOTO PAGE - YES I HAVE RELOCATED

Please go here to view the latest: http://joedumesnil77.spaces.live.com/

There is more functionality on this other site, especially with regard to posting photos.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to bookmark it!!!

Joe Dumesnil

Buesnos Aires, Buenos Aires and yes one more time in case you didn´t hear me... Buenos Aires

If you have not checked out the photos from Santiago so far... you should

cut and paste: http://joedumesnil77.spaces.live.com/

Buenos Aires is amazing. If you are looking to come here with someone...um... yeah I´ll go. It is like Paris but tropical and with less pretense in the people. The people are what make it really awesome, great attitudes and mellow feeling everywhere. Maybe it is because I am on vacation, nahh!!!!!

Anyway, more to come, but it Saint Patty´s Day, its 11:30 pm, and I want to go to a club that doesn´t open till 2am... it is supposed to have a great view over the river at sunrise. Thank god I still have some young in me. Wheeeeee!!!!

Enough with this spanish keyboard, hit delete like 50 times diring this blog, hahaha.

Ciao for now, lots of love and time to enjoy some more "good aire",
Joe

Update - Domingo - a las diez y media: no club, lots of sleep for Linds, I enjoyed the peace of BA night aire, Linds not feeling all too well: but me still chipper and we are off to some "ferias" in San Telmo and Recoleta (barrios de BA). Caio

PS they pronounce the doble l of llamar with a strong "szcha" here. sounds and rolls off the tongue great.

5 years, The Plan for SA and Study Abroad for Summer and Fall

So 5 years ago and a day I had a pretty rough day, little would I know that I would look back on it as one of the greatest things that had ever happened to me.

Reader's Digest Version: without incrimination too.

Yes, I was having some personal problems, primarily associated around a couple of good friends; let's just call them Jim Jack and Johnny. I decided, probably more like resorted, to the only option I had yet to try; ASK FOR SOME HELP. Sick of trying to fix myself and having gotten to point desperation, I sought someone who knew me, knew J, J and J, but was not mom or dad. I was 24, college grad, "Parlance of my time" to quote the Dude, living in a studio with a Murphy's bed that was always down. Had left my job that I hated and holed up; no phones, no mail. J, J and J were lying around everywhere, I couldn't see straight and wouldn't have wanted to see myself, and yeah I was scared to even look in the mirror. I reached out to the one person I could think of that would keep it objective in my mind, no more sympathy, enabling, coddling. I called my Uncle, the late and mind you life saving that day and GREAT Rodney Brown. He had known the 3Js too and had somehow kept them at bay for a long time, over 20 years. He had seen me when I was rolling with the 3Js and no crass comments, nor snide looks, more the look of I know something you don't. The thing about Uncle Rodney was that he would good, kind, understanding, caring; a man among men with a heart equivalent to Fort Knox (pity shame he lived in Indiana). He would tell me what to do; he would know what to do. I knew, just knew he was the right person to talk to about the 3Js. By now I have called the Central Office in Denver and told them that it was that bad and I'd call back after I thought about it…too funny; typical ehhh. So by the time I get a Uncle Rodney on the phone I am hyperventilating, like bad, like I can't feel my dang fingers, I am scared, not sure what is happening or going to be happening in the next second, let alone the next day or week or month. We chatted, he suggested that I find a bag to hyper ventilate into, good advice really. We chatted, I cried, I needed help and needed and ear all the while at the very same time I did not know what the hell I needed. Yet he kept it simple, said the right things and kept me in the moment because the past and future were way too scary to even think about. He suggested I let my Dad know what was up, I did that, he suggested that I might attend one of dem regularly scheduled meeting that you hear about. I was ready.

My car had expired plates, from South Carolina still, I had lived in Denver for nearly 2 years. Hell no I didn't have insurance. I had better uses for the money. I only used the car to pick up my friends the 3Js, but I had to have them with me to even think of leaving my den. Ben and Leslie came to see me that night. They stood by and helped me clean some of the carnage of waste and ill care up around the den. They smiled and laughed when appropriate and told me that it was OK, which I really needed from some piers given the situation. Ben helped me clean up the luggage that the 3Js come with and for some reason I knew he had wanted to do that for long time… he had seen a friend slip and full on spiral for too long. Still, no confrontation, just support, thanks you. Dad and my talk went about as good as it could, not sure if I had an expectations of how that one was going to turn out, but it was decided that it couldn't hurt to do some family time, golf and HHI time.

Back to the car and March 1^st 2002; at 11:30am a new friend that knew, but did not know my Uncle and Dad, was going to meet me to go to a nooner. I woke up terrified and it wasn't long before I was back in tears and hyper ventilating. 11:30 came and I stepped out of my den and the building and into the car. There was about a foot and half of fresh snow on the ground and this guy had driven 20 miles through uber sloppy roads to pick my sorry ass up at the request of long distance couple of friends that were my family. Little did I know I was to be part of a different kind of family, a family that all of them belonged to. He, Andy B, told me to take everything with a grain of salt as I hunch over in the front seat and continued to hyper ventilate. He told me I would be ok. We got to SEAC to the nooner… I couldn't talk really, very shaky, paranoid, scared and too be honest, I don't think I had been outside during the daytime in that unaltered state in a long time. I was introduced as Joe D, Andy told the 40+ other people in the meeting that I was a golfer and had a good swing, dad must have told him that. I laugh/cried because it was a bit embarrassing, I mean I was still shaking and breathing awkwardly heavy. I couldn't feel my finger tips, the accelerated breathing had put so much CO2 in my veins I had lost feeling in them and they for shaking and tensed straight. Someone brought me coffee and I laughed cause there was no way I could get my fingers to bend, they just wouldn't. Post introduction, there was a roared accompanied by smiles of strangers and welcomes. I tried to listen, but not sure I really heard anything other than I thought I might want to see what the hell these guys are doing cause they seem to be happy, of which I hadn't experienced in a long time. We left the nooner; Andy B took me to a greasy spoon near my house… I couldn't eat much. He gave me a book and suggested I try to get some sleep, read the book, and go back for another meeting ASAP. They had 4 meetings a day there and Andy explained there were 1000 a week in Denver Metro.

It was going to be OK; I realized that I wasn't alone and that there just might be a solution; if I would have it. HOW you ask? Honesty Open-mindedness and Willingness… time takes time, can't force a good thing, but just keep coming back because miracles do happen. I could do that.

Thank god for Uncle Rodney, Andy B., Ben & Leslie Suh, my parents and the hundreds, probably thousands that have continued to lend a hand, an ear, a suggestion, a bit of honesty, compassion, thought, love, time, their lives, their experience, their pain, their joy, their hope; you are why I am here today. If you stumble I want to be there for you, available to be of service to others, any others, finally some meaning to life and it was there all along. All I had to do was change my perspective a tad. Again, from one thankful MF, thank you everyone.

 

MOVING ALONG TO ONE OF THE GIFTS, more a bundle of gifts:

South America:

March 9^th, 2004 Denver to Santiago, CHILE leave midday

March 16^th, 2007 Santiago, CHILE to Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

March 18^th, 2007 for one night Colonia, URUGUAY

March 20^th, 2007 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA to Santiago, CHILE

March 22^nd, 2007 Santiago to Denver arrive in the morning.     

IF there is someone or something I shouldn't miss, please let me know.

 

AND finally, I did not get into the summer school in Germany, waitlisted, but no reply on where I am on the waitlist. So I want to learn another language… this whole English thing is cool and all but I want to speak something else. Go somewhere else and learn hopefully. Going to check in with some high up friends from Saudi and see if Egypt for internship and study is possible. Possibly Dubai. Shoot wherever. Would love to learn some German, French, Arabic, Russian, Hindi, Farsi, Mandarin or Japanese. Suggestions? Got any, send'em along.

 

Good night and may you who are reading this be content and blest with health and some humor.

Joe Dumesnil

Hello everyone... here are some pics from the rodeo the other night. We had a great time and actually got upgraded seats do to a mix up with our tickets. Saddle Bronc Riding like a pro. This guy was gonna be ok, but it probably left a mark.
This is my favoraite event: Mutton Busting. They take youngsters and put them on the back of sheep and see how long they can hold on. A young girl won this years event by holding on till they removed her. She must have hung on for at least a minute while the sheep she was riding took a full lap around the arena. The place went nuts.
Jeannette, my roomate and my friend, Lindsay with Joe McCool in the background.

Computer Crash, Dog Agility and Single Digits

I have been rebuilding my computer for the past couple of days. Picking up the pieces, installing, re-installing, cursing, attempting to refrain from physical demonstration of my frustration, you know all the mellow life is easy stuff. In a narrow and all out clash of the titans battle I am please to announce Joe - 1.000001, Computer - 1.000000, close but vistorious. In a way it was god sent, now it is updated, back-ed up and ready for another year of use till it crashes again. So in the meantime its smooth sailing. (fingers AND TOES crossed). Also, thinking about doing the upgrade to Vista, so if you have comments, let me know, I want to hear.

I had the pleasure of checking out the Super Dogs - Dog Agility Show at the National Western Stock Show on Tuesday night with Joe McCool (friend and accomplice to many shenanigans), Dawn Sims (HAL recruiter that replaced me and it carrying the touch with much more grace than I and diamond in rough) and Merrill Mann (long time friend in Denver who has always been there when I needed someone, also partner in crime and crime fighting).

Anyway the show was great... very high energy, lots of cheering and the dogs were amazing. They had a bull dog that was the comedian of the show, knocking barrels over and acting the tough guy,; he was named PotRoast. There was a mini greyhound named Zing that was lighting fast. in the jumping contest, he won by jumping a fence that was at least 5.5 feet high. They had a great dane that was some how able to fit through the tunnels on the course that all the other dogs were going through. There were all walks of dogs, it was fun. The announcers were part of the show too, as they dawned, bright, shiny blue and silver suits that draped them. I think they might be "partners" if you know what I mean. They did a great job of getting the crowd involved, they had us cheering those dogs on at the top of our lungs. I would definitely go again; dogs are just cool like that.

I have plans to go back to the National Western one more time this weekend with 10 other folks for the Pro-Rodeo on Saturday night. Should be a fun crew, good mix; so more photos to come.

Maybe it'll warm up some for it... but the forecast shows snow, AGAIN, for this weekend. Seriously, this has been the coldest and longest duration of cold I think I have endure in Denver since I moved here in 2000. I mean yeah, its no Rock Springs, but this is getting kind of weird. It has been in the low teens and single digits (sometimes negative) at night since i got home on the 28th of December. Crazy really, I mean how the hell is a guy to keep his golf game and skiing in check when he can't do both in the same day. What the hell ;).

I miss those of you in France and might try to take a trip over there this summer to see ya'll. A lady friend and I have been entertaining the idea at least. I hope all is well, classes are interesting and Paris is energizing your passion for life.

My new place in Golden is great, finally starting to feel settled kind of, still trying to find the semester's rhythm though as we are only in week 2 of classes. My roommate, Jeanette, is super cool and we seem to work/live well together. She has tons to talk about seeing as she is very traveled, from another country and just as floored as i am to be back in school full time after being industry for a number of years.


All in all, life is good with me and sincerely hope the same for you who are reading this.

Best,
Joe

Frozen Water, Rubber and Administrative Tasks

Ahhh... the sounds of rubber spinning in a shell of frozen water (zeeeeeeeee). Complimented by engines and scraping of metal on ice and road.

So I was in Chicago Wednesday night, saw the snowstorm headed to Denver and figured I better not wait till my Thursday night flight to if it got cancelled. It was rhetorical at that point, if the weather man was right (which is an enigma in Denver), I knew the answer. That meant being at the airport as early as possible to get on the standby list. For Andrew that meant a riding with me to O'Hare at 4am, probably a little buzzed still and half asleep, seeing as we were out Wednesday night till 2:30am. I was able to hop the first flight out though and really owe you one Andrew. Andrew and I got some great pics of the folks we were are to run into... hopefully those will be posted soon. Pics of Tim Walters, Kara Feemster, Kevin Shannon, Brant Steiner, Thor. We also went to the top of the Hancock Building for a great evening view of Chicago from 96 floors up. Brant is married and has a child on the way. Kevin is in Law School in Cleveland, Timmy is getting married in June or July and hoping to do a bachelor event in Vegas. Kara is loving Chicago doing some travel for work (Denver in Feb...see you again then).

So like maybe you like heard, it is like kinda like snowing here a bit sorta. Yeah soooooo... here are some pics.

This is the alley behind my house (note the "Sweet" rut on the left: Joe 1, Rut 0) This is the entrance to my new place in Golden. It is a carriage house and in an awesome, i mean awesome location. Right near Golden's municpal ammenities, library, creek path, athletic fields, rec center and
My car with some snow on top.
Looking east into Downtown Golden this morning.


So far Golden has gotten over 20 inches so far, most of it between 6-2 last night. There actually was lighting and thunder with the snow last night. I have had the pleasure of working out my lower back shoveling snow. I actually got stuck in a rut in the alley by my house within 30 seconds of driving up to my place yesterday. It only took me like 30 flipping minutes to dig out, arrrgh. The side streets are completely rutted from the snow storm last week and 2-4 inche black ice is all over the place from the freeze thaw temps since the last storm. This should be interesting to see how long it takes to get back to status quo. Governor has declared another state of emergeancy and Douglas County was just declared a disaster area. It seems like there is a ton of trash on the Denver streets, bagged but not picked up. Like mountains of it on some corners...

It is still snowing, lightly though. Local Forecasters are saying this is a lull that should pick up again this afternoon/evening and result in another 5-15 inches before end of day tomorrow. That sentance just makes me smirk.

This weather forced limitation on activities has been nice so far for me... I have been taking care of a lot of administrative things I have put offer for sometime now... unpacking, updating, cleaning, sorting, surfing... I say let it snow another 30 inches, I could use another 2 days of just chillin.

Note to self: buy 2 gallons of washer fluid cause its gonna get messy on the road when this stuff starts melting.

More pics to come.

Louisville Photos

Me, Mom and Dad; I think this might be the best photo we have taken as a family ever. They got a cropped version for Christmas.
Me and Grandmommy
Aunt Betty and I catching a meeting
Grandaddy and I
Beautiful portrait shot of Grandmommy

New York Photos

Andrew Cooley and I. He and I met up and went to B&H Electronics (west side, Jewish owned retailer that has electronics down to a cluster funk of a science. It is run by Hasidic Jews in all their yarmuka and lock glory. One thing I noticed in the shopping melee was that I saw only one female employee on the floor. She was assigned as the "thanks for shopping B&H" ambassador. But there were no other women at all on the sales floor working. Hmmm. Andrew is doing great, in the sail rigging business for one of the oldest US sail makers, its a small shop, family owned but he says he has been concerned with longevity, challenge and reaching full potential. So good to see him. Just makes me smile how I recognized him in a ski outfit at Vail last year after not seeing the guy for 10+ years. I guess it is a small world, one community.


Rockefeller Center

Lokking south west from Central Park over an ice rink

Kate Ersly and I

Fifth Avenue

Christmas vacation breather...

Truth is I have been really lazy and haven't written in my blog so this breather I speak of is one of eye-opening excitement. I am flying to chicago in about 2 hours to see Andrew Juedes, Tim Walters and some other Dension folks. I have been in Louisville and have seen lots of family and friends this past week after 3 days in New York. I saw, Ed and Shirley Dumesnil, Danny, Janice and Kobe (spelled right?), Josh and Caroline Jevne, my parents and grand parents, the Whitty's (John, Laura and Arra), Allen Bush(Uncle Al) and Aunt Betty. So good to see all these folks.

I always refer to Thanksgiving and Christmas as holidays of glut. We sure are fortunate to be able to have all that we have. I am so flipping stuffed from eating so well all week, I actually think I have had a couple of out of body experiences during over-contentness or it was just a wicked case of food coma.

I have lots of photos to post from New York and Louisville and will get them up once I am back in Denver.

I lost a friend in Kansas City just before the holiday. Jim Howard was inspiring, level headed, witty, funny, really real and always there if I need someone to talk to... he passed sober in his sleep at the mercy of Lou Gehrigs(sp?) dissease. The world is minus one on the good guy team with him gone, but I will never forget him. One of the best men I have ever known, godspeed Jim.

That's about it for now... New Year's right around the corner and I am looking for something fun to do, soliciting ideas.

Best and Be Safe,
Joe

Post Exams

So I am writing from New York City. Exams are over and teh condo is sold. Last week was packed full of things from Monday morning through Friday at 4:30 when I formally closed on the property. Really excited to be over with my first semester and am sure that it ended well definately a B or better average. One note to self, probably shouldn't have taken 5 classes in my first semester without checking to see if each of them had a final.

I got into NYC yersterday, flew in with one the exchange students after I missed my flight. So instead of taking a flight that left at 9:30 I left on a direct flight 3 hours later and instead of arriving at 5:30, I go there 6pm. It all works out in the end. I met up with Andrew and Keri by 7 and we went downtown to the Village area for dinner with one of their friends. I slept in the taxi on the way home I was so tired from the week.

Today I met up with Andrew Cooley at Grand Central Station for lunch and the afternoon. We started near Times Square and went all the way back down to Union and Washington Square on foot, so definately got some excercise. We had lunch at the Park Avenue Country Club, a great 20 something place to watch some football.

I write from the hotel, ready to continue cathcing up on some sleep. With that good night and more to come over the holidays. Picture of NYC too of course.

Pre Exam Week

So I have 5 exams next week; yes I am pretty busy right now. Really looking forward to the 16th when I fly to NYC. My condo is under contract with a close date of the 15th and the move can wait till after my last exam on the morning of the 14th. Things are going well. We have gotten some snow. I was able to get some skiing in last Friday at Winter Park. They got 8 inched of fresh snow while we were there. it was great... the snow is so forgiving when its powder.

Above are 2 photos I snapped yesterday from my balcony. You can see the MOON setting over Denver. Beautiful sight. Seems like the moon is setting at around 5 or 6 these days so if you are up early... take a gander.

Best,
Joe

This is why I stay in Colorado.


Played 9 holes yesterday with a friend. Hit the ball pretty well. Other than that, laying low and doing homework this weekend.

Policy @ Mines

I attended a seminar to focussed around what role CSM should have in Public Policy. Below is more specific info on what I attened. This is an excerpt from a white paper written by Rod Eggert and Laura Pang for the seminar that was to guide the discussion. This is important to me and I look forward to playing an active role in it as it develops.
_________________________________________
Broad Vision
Mission. The mission would be threefold:
1. To bring greater visibility to CSM’s expertise in discussions of public policy in
CSM’s focus areas, drawing on technical and non-technical disciplines and
covering both domestic and international issues.
2. To increase CSM’s intellectual capital and expertise as they relate to all aspects of
public policy and analysis in CSM’s focus areas.
3. To engender greater inter- and cross-disciplinary collaboration in policy-related
issues across the campus with a special view to integrating and synthesizing
knowledge acquisition, generation, and dissemination from engineering, applied
sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.
Role. CSM would strive to be an “honest broker” that would help frame discussions and
debates about energy policy, possibly in a “think tank” format. Specifically, CSM would
bring together interested parties from academia, government, industry, the media, and
non-governmental organizations.
Audiences. The target audience for Item 1 would be public policy makers at local,
regional, national, and international levels. The target audience for Items 2 and 3 would
be the CSM community of learners.
-------------------------------------------------------
Possible Activities and Functions
• Host special events: for example, an annual policy conference on energy issues; a
guest lecture series
• Engage in outreach: publish a journal; arrange press interviews; place CSM faculty as
featured speakers elsewhere
• Host experts: visiting researchers/scholars
• Promote research: funded and unfunded
• Enhance existing programs: including Engineering and Technology Management,
International Political Economy of Resources, McBride Honors Program in Public
Affairs, Mineral Economics
• Establish a chaired position(s)
• Fund fellowships for graduate students; new certificate and degree programs
• Recruit a well-known “public intellectual” to spearhead the effort

__________________________________________

Encana/Halliburton "Frac Job" (Hydraulic Fracturing Stimulation Technique)

Pics from the Frac job yesterday. Lindsay, Roberto and I went. We basically had a private tour of a frac job. Many thank to Halliburton and Encana for having us.
Lindsay with the well head and isolation tool in the background. The tool allow for other tools to be put inside of it first, then lowered into the well without having to release the pressure of the well.


Roberto and I in the TCC or Tech Command Center (Trailer). This is where they monitor and "call" the job from.

Some mountains in the background.
Last 2 photos courtesy of "Pumba" the Halliburton guy that gave us a tour of the equipment.
"Pumba" showing Roberto and I the equipment.

Thanks for looking.

Skiing, Hedging, Turbos and Gems

I went up to Arapahoe Basin skiing on Wednesday morning for the first time this season. They had 2 lifts and a top to bottom run open. The snow was good and the weather was great. I went with to other graduate students from Mines and made it back just in time for accounting class.

Thursday of last week I went to an IPAMS (Independents Petroleum Association of Mountain States) Hedging seminar. It was focused on practical application of hedging for the oil producers in the Rockies. I learned so much, thanks to a sponsorship from the Association, because otherwise I would not have been able to afford it right now.

While I was driving up to the mountains on Wednesday, I noticed my car was losing some of its power and of course the check engine light came on. So Friday I got outfitted with a rental by the dealer where I get my work done and they set out to make some money on me. 8 hours and 400 smokes later I redeemed my rental and was please to find out that they owed me a refund for some work done 3 months ago that should have been warranty work. More good news is that my station wagon now hauls butt. The inline 5 cylinder Volvo with its low pressure turbo is ready to take on any challengers and go full speed ahead up the mountains for winter. They also were able to do an alignment which has smoothed out the ride noticeably. The roads in Denver in my opinion are pretty crumby in spots so the alignment can take a beating.

Friday Night I was invited by a friend to attend the unveiling of the largest specimen of Aquamarine found in the state that was held at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It was really an Oil and Gas event with tons of politicians, lawyers and independently wealthy oil men of Denver. Aquamarine is the gem name for Beryl which is really just a blue emerald. The specimen they unveiled was absolutely amazing.

And to wrap up this post, we got a bunch of snow earlier but none of it stuck. Now the temp is dropping, supposed to bottom out around 19 tonight. And I am actually heading to well site tomorrow morning to see a stimulation job called a "Frac" around 6 so its should be kind of chilly in the morning. I'll try to get some pics.

Bears, Nuns, Firemen, Lions and Spiderman --- oh my!

So these are some pics of Scott and Lania Ross's Spider Man, Skip and Soonie's Fireman and a lion and bear who I am still not sure who they belonged to. So cute, might have to have one, one day. Please note: that is a pregnant Sister Lania with the fireman above, hehe. We also have bride and groom to be/Megan and Lorin/Bridezilla and in the Dog House posing with the snow cone portion of the Suh Family. The minnie snow cone is, if I remeber correctly, less than 2 months old but they were able to find a wig that fit.

Halloween week...

This is always a strange week of the year for me, at least the last 4 years have been... I just have a much different game plan or approach to Halloween relative to past years. There, but for the grace of god, go I.

This has been an eventful week full of ups and downs. Avs game was good, high scoring but no good hockey fight action, still a good game. Tuesday I had a bout of insomnia that in hindsight I think was a result of late night coffee and icecream and stress related to emotions, academics and extracurriculars. Really kind of scary because I don't like long nights like I did in my undergrad years. Wednesday I had the pleasure of sharing my story with some gentlemen at a half way house. They were too nice to have me and very appreciative. I had heard of this house for a long time, but had never made time to visit... so it was awesome to put a visual to a place I have heard so much good about. Friday I made some time to visit campus in the evening to celebrate with the Muslim Student Association the end of Ramadan and have a Eid Dinner. They had a academic speaker that I think failed to recognize his audience (one of the most diverse and educated rooms in US at that moment I am sure) hence his talk was a little off target. Still the food was great. We had an asortment of meats, falafil, humus, pita bread and wonderful company. Saturday, Ben and Leslie had their 4th annual Halloween party and it was great to see the children all dressed up in there outfits. The childless adults used it as a warm up to some bar hopping but I wasn't really in the mood for that so I called it an evening by 9:30. That evening I got some great rest only to wake up with a spare hour.

Today I went to hang with the folks in the O&G industry before the Broncos game. Halliburton sponsored and held its annual tail gate event at Mile High Station and served up some awesome elk, pheasant and etoufe. And finally, here I sit typing. Off to bed for me, thanks for checking in.

Best,
Joe

Avs Game Tonight

So, been a while and things are pretty much status quo here. I had a very relaxing weekend with a wonderful dinner at my Lebanese friend's house with about 20 friends on Saturday evening. I took the most awesome nap yesterday while watching some football. Caught a little of the world series, which is really cramping my Simpsons watching. I woke up with a hell of back spasm this morning, but its gone since I worked out.

Somethings on the horizon I look forward to are:
Avs game tonight.
Speaking at a half way house on Wednesday (no I am not an alum)
I have arranged for the Warren Miller ski movie to be shown at school in November.
Also arranged for student discount at the Denver Botanical Gardens Blossom of Lights event over the holidays.
3 test in the next week and half (sacastic YES!).
Researching a paper on Gas in the Rockies, more of a market analysis.


Still trying to convince someone to go with me to the Corn Maze and the Denver Arboretum (I must have spelled that wrong). And life is sweet. Hope everyone reading can relate and let me know what your are up to.

Best,
Joe

Christmas Itinerary - DEN>NYC>LOU>CHI>DEN

I booked my Christmas/Birthday Travel. Really excited for the 3 cities I will be in New York City for my birthday and Chicago right after X-Mas. I have no set plans or places to stay yet in NYC or Chicago so let me know if you want to hang or have a place to stay. See below.

Sat, Dec 16, 2006
Departs 9:47am, Arrives 5:10pm
Denver, CO to New York, NY

Tue, Dec 19, 2006
Departs 8:50am, Arrives 11:25am
United Airlines 3693
New York, NY to Louisville, KY

Tue, Dec 26, 2006
Departs 6:35pm, Arrives 6:55pm
United Airlines 7825
Louisville, KY to Chicago, IL

Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Departs 10:10pm, Arrives 11:40pm
Chicago, IL to Denver, CO

Hope everyone has some cool plans.

I am also looking for someone to go to Jackson with around the New Year or early January. Probably going to drive from Denver up there.

Rocky Mountain National Park

These are some pics from my drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend. Estes Park which is at the entrance to the park is a Rocky Mountain Shangri-La. I can't believe it took me 6 years to tak ehte time to drive up there. The leaves on teh trees had already begun to fall but there were still some brilliant colors on the hill side. Below is a shot of a Pasture where we found at least 200 elk watering and bugeling (sp?). You mau be able to pic out some of the elk near the water. It reminded me of a trip my mother and I took up to Jackson, WY last year about this time.
The below shot is take from Trail Rigdge Road just past Rainbow Corner which is usually the ternimus of th eroad for the winter season. This shot was taken facing south. It is hard to put this in perspective, but if you can imagine the trees below being a 200 foot tall stand of lodgepole pines, maybe that will help. Its very scenic up there to say the least. Funny thing is that it is less than 2 hours from Denver nestled in a nook of the Front Range, just north of Denver.

Weather partly cloudy, high clouds, about 50 at the top with a stiff breeze that makes you eyes water. But is you get out hte wind it is so comfortable. I guess fall has set in and winter is fast approaching. One of the things I have noticed since I am now in Denver more that I have been over the past 3 years is that the (jeez i have been living in Denver for 6 years now, whoa) is that is more moist here that I thought. Maybe thats because I have spent majority of that travel time on the western slope which tends to be drier, more harsh.

I hope this finds everyone ok, happy, content and blest with some health. I am getting over a chest cold... Just not very good at being sick. But hopefully this will leave be invicable ove the winter. Ciao!