jon d wilke's blog

Why I Love to Write

Years ago, when I was a lost man, I was asked, "If you could get a tattoo, what kind would it be and what would it mean?"

"It would be a writer's quill over my heart," I responded.

Click here to read "Why I Love to Write (part 2)."

Fall Colors

During my recent and rare weekend off, my wife and I drove north to Santa Fe, N.M., to see the aspen trees in their fall colors.  Click here to view the photo album.

Fall is much different in New Mexico than "back East."  Because the vegetation varies, the color varies.  In Kentucky, maple and oak trees turn from green to yellow to orange and then sometimes red before browning and falling to the ground.  Here, a smaller type of maple turns yellow then falls.  Some smaller trees have become a deep purple before losing their leaves, but these are rare.

Here, yellow is the dominant fall color.  Aspens grow at altitude, and small meadows along the Sandia Mountain range can be spotted from a distance.  Bright yellow cottonwood trees can be found along the rivers' edges.  My western fall season is enjoyably different, and I appreciate the many differences this landscape offers, but overall, the beauty of a rolling hill blanketed in oranges, yellows, reds and greens is deeply missed.

October is here!

My favorite sports time of the year is here.  The buzz is in the air, and thousands of fans are tuning in weekly to catch the big match-ups.

Hard hits and great defensive plays launch leather-bound couch potatoes to their feet.  Big city rivalries have sports fans nationwide aggravating their coworkers and friends, placing bets and side-bets.  No, I'm not talking NFL here; I'm talking Major League Baseball.  That's right, baseball is my favorite sport, and October is here. 

October is more than a just a grid on the calendar, it is the birthplace of dreams, hopes and tears.  For some, it's dreams.  The Rockies were wild-card dreaming and had to secure their playoff berth though a rare one-game playoff.  Joe Torre's Yankees could only hope that A-Rod and the rest of the offensive would show up, and the Cubs prayed through tears to end their curse and make a miraculous post-season appearance.  Boston has a great chance with their bullpen and bats.  The Phillies were encouraged early in the regular season by Jimmy Rollins, who said that "We're the team to beat."

Whatever happens, it will be fun to watch.

Editor's Note: This post was written in the last week of the regular season, but just wasn't posted.  I understand timeliness, but sometimes life gets in the way of a hobby.