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BOULDER, CO
February 25
Today England played Ireland in the six Nations Rugby classic. It is an important match for both sides with the World Cup coming up in October, England is currently the world champion but have had a troubled reign. I decided to watch the game in an Irish pub in Denver. It was a DISASTER for England and they lost badly....you can tell from this photo how happy the Irish were. They deserved the win, that much I can say.
This Irishman really celebrated. I sat at his table and he was very sympathetic to my depression at Englands performance!
Well amidst the gloom and doom of Englands defeat, there was some happy news. My eldest son Brad, that's him on the right, announced his engagement to Sarah, thats her next to him. The family is delighted, you can tell.
February 22
The Big Melt has taken place and most of the snow has gone. Guess What?
Another huge snow storm is heading our way this weekend....will this fun never end?
Every now and then I slip in a picture of little Barry......my grandson...here he is trying on my hat for size.
PHOENIX, AZ
February, 20
In the air again, heading West this time. Every time I cross the Rockies the plane seems to take a slightly different route and I get slightly different shot..
This is a really unusual shot. If you look carefully you will see the ghostly image of a plane flying through a rainbow. Not only that, but the rainbow is in the form of a circle. It is the plane I was on somehow reflected against the clouds with the rain bouncing back the light into a rainbow. Why a circle? I haven't a clue! How it happened? Also not a clue. The only other explanation is that it was a ghost plane flying tandem with us....kind of spooky!
I am in Phoenix home of the famous camel back mountain. Well, I suppose it is all in the eye of the beholder.
One of the interesting things about Phoenix is that they they seem to enclose everything with tall palm trees. This was a huge open space of dirt, very attractively bordered. Space for future development maybe?
Here is another peculiar feature. At a street corner a collection of "I haven't got a clue!" Bird perches? Works of Art? They were not mobile, they were fixed. Any ideas ...anyone? As an observer of the human condition sometimes I just wonder...I know they mean something to somebody because someone cut and welded all these pieces and went to the trouble of having them erected. Maybe the City purchased them as works of art. Hey guys..you've been had!!
BACK IN COLORADO
February 19
It is Noon at the City Desk at the Daily Camera. It is also Presidents day and I got free parking outside. I am about to go on-line for a web based chat with consumers...it is the first time I have done this.
Me being careful reading the questions before answing them. I found it a very interesting experience. You have to type your answers so it is a trick to be concise yet answer the query. The chat session is to be shown on the website at www.dailycamera.com, let me know how I did. I also offered to answer any further questions that might arise. Just e-mail me at bcooper@coopertea.com
This was the "heads up" published in the Daily Camera about the Q/A session....
February 18
As you probably know I really like the tented roof of the Denver International Airport. I have taken shots of it from lots of angles. This is one of the better ones....we have just landed and the curve of the ground gave me an unusual picture. It resembles an Indian encampment, maybe that's what the architect had in mind?
We are on our way to a friends 70th Birthday. But this is not any friend. This friend is the founder of one of finest restaurants in the land, the "Flagstaff House in Boulder". They serve Coopers Iced Brew Tea and our
BAZZA is served in the form of Bazzatini's! We attended Dons 60th Birthday and wild horses would not prevent us from attending 70th...The restaurant is up in the foothills and I snapped this shot on the way up. It's a new angle of the "Flatirons".
Here is Don and some of his family. The setting was stunning, the company equally so and when I turn 70 I hope I get the same turn out from my friends....
Like I said. They serve Bazzatinis and Sandy and Karen are clearly enjoying one.....no more to be said. Apart from the fact that we are going to show the Flagstaff Martini menu on our website from now on.....
KANSAS CITY
February 17
I feel snake bitten! I arrive in Kansas City to swirling snow and freezing cold. When I thought about it I realized that all I had done was catch up with the weather that had just passed over Colorado! Not smart.
When I got up to my room I gazed out over the vista and what I saw was not encouraging. I am here for a trade show which thankfully is taking place in the hotel that I am staying in. I don't fancy attempting to go out in that traffic.
Here is the set up at the show. Coopers Iced Brew Tea to the right, BAZZA to the left, me in the center. The response to both was excellent....our distributor, RONNOCO, has beena tremendous supporter. Thank you guys!
Forgive the inside joke but this couple will forever think of this dinner as one where the "Toro Cement Factory" came into their life. Don't Ask. But I expect a response from Sean and Jessica, pictured here!
Of course I enjoyed the dinner as well. Being surrounded by hundreds of wine bottles was very comforting and Theresa was great company. Cant ask for much more.
No trade show is complete without dinner. Right to left..Beth, Dan, Tim and Steve.. and a good time was had by all!
Heading Home in one of those small commuter jets. The worst thing about this plane was that the bathroom was at the back, so for those sitting in the front when they were serving drinks...it was a long wait!! I have just heard that I have to be in Phoenix on Tuesday! I bet that's going to be another small plane as well. Oh what a life we lead.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
February 15 & 16
Guess where I am? That's right, back in Denver International Airport...heading to Kansas City. Home of the "Hereford Bull" ...Last Night Bob Seeger was in Denver. This is after I flew to Milwaukee to see him. I could not resist and Sandy and I struggled through another snow storm to watch Bob rock 35,000 people. No pictures could be taken as they were confiscating camera's...but I have the T-shirt!
On the flight out I sat next to the lady on the left who was on her way to meet school friends she had not seen in 30 years. Here you go girls, as promised, you are on my blog. Have a great weekend!!
The "Hereford Bull". Kansas City used to be one of the most famous steak cities, in the States, if not the world. Looming over the city is this Bull sitting atop a very tall plinth, it has to be at least 100 feet in the air.
I cant quite figure out the point of the whole thing, but clearly it was very important to the city fathers who put it up. It is unusual, I will grant that.
More recent city fathers have turned to more modern designs. These devices are on top of a Kansas City bridge. To tell you the truth they are as much a mystery to me as was the Bull. I cannot see the point of them.Actually the Bull makes more sense, at least it was related to an industry. I guess its all in the eye of the beholder.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
February 11 & 12
San Diego IRB International &'s Rugby Tournament.
I am here for the 7's tournament. BAZZA is a sponsor for USA Rugby! That means a lot of fun watching rugby and a lot of work getting the word out about how good BAZZA is! ZERO Cals, All Natural Energy, and it tastes great!
We ran ads and gave away a lot of BAZZA so that folks could get to taste the product. Taste is what brings folks back, no matter how much energy it might give you, if the drink doesn't taste great you will not get repeat customers is my view.
We had a combined booth with US Rugby. It was manned by Heather and Colleen, (you can see them in the background) We got a lot of traffic. These two were arguing which BAZZA was better, the Green or the Raspberry!
This is the shot of the event for me. I had a chance to visit with the US team. They loved BAZZA and later went out and won the Sheild Competition.They played a stunning game and beat Portugal 26 to 5. Way to go guys. We are proud of you!
This is a great score line....With 26 seconds left in the game...we have it in the bag!
As a sponsor I also got the oppourtunity to visit the US Rugby Box and hang with the "movers and shakers". I'll say this..we had a great view of the game!
The US Team are crowned Shield Champions. They played their hearts out.
They deserved the win.
A couple of US Supporters..
I found myself with a number of interesting folks...this was the GEIKO Gecko who recognized me...such is price of fame!
I had a reunion with friends I had played rugby against and with over 30 years ago...we felt we hadn't aged at all but the camera does not lie....that guy on the right looks old to me...! We actually have created a touring team that tours but never plays. Its founder is a Texan, so he called it "The Lonesome Dove Touring Rugby Team". Don't ask me to explain...I never could understand Texans...I love 'em, just cant understand them.
February 10
The aqueduct bridge at San Diego...I think landing is San Diego is either the most dangerous or the second most dangerous landing in the US. La Guardia is up there too. It has something to do with coming in over the hills and the town...anyway, we made it safely…
Sunset from the balcony of my hotel...San Diego is amazingly chilly. The air is COLD...gets through to your bones because it's a damp chill.
San Diego is also the docking port for a large number of LARGE cruise ships. I mean look at the size of this monster....where do the staff on boat live to take care of all those people staying in those staterooms? And that's just the rooms we can see above the waterline. They must be crammed in somewhere down near the propeller shaft.
February 9
I am on the road again. This time heading West to San Diego. The International Rugby Board is holding the Seven a Side International competition there and BAZZA is a sponsor for the US Team! Go USA!!! Once again the grandeur of this country just startles me when you look out of an airplane window. This shot is just west of Vail...
The beginning of the Grand Canyon...You can see on the left where it starts to widen...
Another shot of the Grand Canyon through the clouds directly below me…
Colorado
February 6
I am in Boulder to be interviewed by the Daily Camera newspaper. They in turn are going to put the interview on their web page and I am going to return on Feb 19 to answer any questions the world wants to ask. Or at least those who listen or read the interview. This is a shot of the famous "Boulder Pearl Street Mall" famed for its odd collection of eccentrics and business's ...but that's why they call it "The Peoples Republic of Boulder"!! Its different!
At the end of the Boulder Mall is the Daily Camera building. It has to be one of the most scenic editorial buildings around...I mean, look at the mountains in the background...
Here I am sitting with Alicia Wallace, the business reporter, who took me through the intereview. You can read or listen to the interview by logging onto www.dailycamera.com on the 19th of February, and downloading the podcast. You can also particpate in the "live chat with Barry Cooper" at noon that same day!
February 4
"Super Bowl Sunday" dawned freezing cold, a heavy frost covering all the trees....but gorgeous to look at...
Ghostly images, just visible through the mist...
The frost was this heavy.....
And underneath the frost encrusted tree, on the only patch of grass anywhwere in sight was this lone rabbit...desperately tugging away at the frozen grass.
He let me get very close, I was not a threat...the threat of another snow storm covering up his only food supply was.......!!
February 2
This time last week I was lazing around in the sunshine..today I am driving on ice covered roads, traffic backed up beyond the horizon and everybody very cautious. Not surprising really, the roads were like skating rinks.
At a traffic light I took a picture of my dashboard showing the outside temperature at -6F and this was in the morning with blue sky and the sun peaking out. This has been one tough winter in Colorado. Do you think global warming is happening?
February 1
The reason I left paradise and came back to the -7 degree F weather this morning was to be interviewed by Gregg Moss at Channel 9, the local NBC affiliate. Gregg digs into local businesses. He sits in the main news desk while I was set up in the news room, all by myself. I have to look at the monitor and talk directly into the camera. Greggs voice is coming to me via an ear piece. Here I am hooking up the microphone. Behind me the newsroom. In front of me the cameras!
Here is Gregg setting the scene....
Then the screen is split in two and we start to talk. I had three key points to make:
Point 1. It was announced today that my newly launched high energy tea, BAZZA, has become the Exclusive Energy Drink sponsor for U S Rugby.
Point 2. BAZZA is available nationally in 7-11 stores and derives all its energy from natural ingredients, it is as powerful as any other energy drink yet has ZERO calories.
Point 3. During the month of February, BAZZA is launching a scholarship program for outstanding rugby players in the nation. A percent of the profits made in February will go toward starting this fund.
Then a rugby game was flashed on the screen as I spoke of my love for the game and how it was "HIGH impact and needs a LOT of ENERGY" and that BAZZA was the perfect match because it gave high impact and delivered a real boost in energy.
Gregg and I then began to discuss the merits of BAZZA...all natural sources of energy, zero cals...
He asked me what it took to be a successful entrepreneur. I responded that you had to have a good idea, stick with it and this idea was mine!!
I love this shot. It is Gregg up at the main news desk, showing the two anchors the BAZZA high energy teas, with a case of BAZZA right up on the table.
Thanks Gregg....
We actually began to get phone calls at the studio within minutes of the program ending....I guess we reached our audience!
If you would like to see the entire interview click the following link:
Channel 9 News Video
Have fun! I enjoyed it. I mention one fact. That 5.41 you see on the left, well that is A.M!!! I was up early!!
January 30
Back in Colorado! Too much of a climate change for me to take in.....Life moves a bit too fast sometimes.
St. Croix
January 29
High on a hill overlooking the town of Christiansted is one of the best bars to see the sun set. It is part of the Buccaneer Hotel, nick named by the locals as "Buck a Minute". Tomorrow I head back to Boulder, the temperature there is 18F but I have a TV interview coming up at the end of the week and that is too important to miss. But I really enjoyed this past week...I needed the break.
One of the great aspects of the Caribbean and St. Croix in particular is that it can be very quirky, funny, romantic and colorful, all at the same time. A perfect example is the "Pink Fancy Hotel" in downtown Christiansted, St. Croix. What could be more romantic and colorful than their sign, that rocks and creaks in the wind.
Then pull back and look at the color schemes for their building...talk about quirky! But it catches your eye, that's for sure....
Now we get to the funny, romantic part...look how they name their rooms....gotta love it! And their sense of humor!
Leaving St. Croix. The North End of the island....the part that looks like Hawaii. You can just make out Fredrieksted, the other large town on the island at the top of the picture. Its where all the cruise ships dock, whenever they choose to come to the island.
January 28
This is the St. Croix Yacht Club. I had just learnt that my boat had been stolen. Someone drove in, hooked it up and drove off with it. Now I depend upon others to take me sailing. I started to look at boats again....A lot of funny things have been said about boats. You know, a bottomless pit into which you pour money?? A man should never have too many ex-wife's or a boat in the water. Both are too expensive?
Oh..the castle on top of the hill belongs to the Countessa. You can tell she is in residence as the flag is hoisted. Just like the Royal Family.
How about this one? No-one is going to drive in and hook this baby up and drive off with it! Trouble is what do I do with all those sheets and things. I think I'll depend upon the generosity of friends for the time being...
A friends boat...coming in to take us out to Buck Island...
Buck Island. Just about as close to Paradise as it is possible to get....
Look at the color of that water...the east end of St. Croix is in the background..
Me making my way over to Paradise....
Here is the Capt of the boat....notice a vague similarity? We had to check up on what our various parents were doing, prior to our birth days but there were no connections...I guess its just a tribal thing from way back....
January 27
When the local fishing boats come in you can tell the size of the catch by the number of birds chasing them home....I'd say these two fishermen had a good day...
Saturday night it is catching up with "The Gang" Sandy, Denny, Gail, Freddie, Lin, Teddy, George, and what a gang it is. At this table are folks who are ex FBI agents, ex CIA intelligence operatives, CPA's, Politicians, teachers, businessmen, one tea taster and a gal from Texas...I am not going to tell you who did/does what...but you can imagine the conversations are....fascinating??
January 26
We have a reef right in front our home here. I went snorkeling...found a few friends to join me for lunch.....
Here is a close up of my guests...is it rude to eat guests?
Not according to Sandy...
All gone!!
January 25
The sunset.......it falls every night at the same time...Just like Africa....it brings a rhythm to life that is not present on the mainland.
I love to sit on the dock in St. Croix and watch the boats bobbing up and down, the locals doing there thing and the float planes taking off and landing. You can see one just leaving the frame...
This is a main street in Christiansted. It gives you an idea of how old this place is. Alexander Hamilton was born and raised here. He worked at a local store and was recognized as being so bright that a group of local businessmen banded together to send him back to the mainland (The US) He never returned..which I think was a mistake...I love this place!
The end of a long lazy day....
January 24
One of the reasons I love St. Croix is that it is so like Africa. The slave ships brought all the seeds over and the grass, Acacia trees and vegetation are all African. I mean look at this picture. If you did not know this was the Caribbean you would swear it was Africa.
This is an Acacia tree. A larger version appears on the label of my BAZZA tea...see what I mean about feeling I am at home?
This was my morning walk today. I went over to the Nature conservancy land.
They have 2 miles of coastline protected. This is Jakes bay, it was completely deserted. I could hear the silence.
For all of you who are going through the fourth or fifth blizzard in Denver...my thoughts are with you. Truly!
I don't know what this cactus is called but it had a certain appeal.
More cacti. A tribe of cacti actually.
Somehow in my mind I saw this as a family. The cacti on the extreme left was the Mom, the one to the forefront the Dad, the one back of the Dad the eldest son? Then the three kids....but what do you make of the one on the right...wierd uncle Harry??? Clearly he/it...has a problem......It was a great walk about 4 miles and silence the entire way...then I snorkled in crystal clear water and walked back wet.
January 23
Here is my return walk....my home is right in the middle of the shot, you can just make out the pink building, with the green roof if you look carefully....
HOME! At last, Palm Trees, Sun, pounding surf. NO Snow!
We have Iguanas in the garden....They are shy creatures...fierce looking but very retiring.
One of the joys of island living is dining at Trish's place. That's Trish on the left, then Jan, Sandy, Ron, Susan, Sal and Janine...There were two Democrats at the table...so the conversation was lively. I lost a bet that Elizabeth Taylor was married to Stewart Granger. It was Michael Wilding....damn it! I now have to make a contribution to Trish's favorite charity...
My morning walk. No Max with me, but the surf and sun made up for his absence.
I walk all the way to the headland, about a mile and a half and watch the waves pound against the shore.....then head back. Good for the soul this kind of morning exercise.
Colorado
January 21
Its 5.30 am Sunday morning. I am sitting in a plane in Denver. This is the window next to me. It is covered in ice. I am outta here!! Another storm is heading our way and we may be the first ...and last plane out of Denver this morning. I am heading for the Caribbean and St. Croix. Like I said..I need some sun.!
So before we can leave we have to get the ice off the plane...so we head to the "de-icing stand" . A large crane then comes alongside and drenches us with a red liquid...
Leaving snow blanketed Colorado...
Trouble is you cannot get to St. Croix by a direct flight so the first stop is Houston, Texas. Their weather hasn't been too swift either. They have had a lot of rain...
Now we are on the second leg...Houston to San Juan. At last, blue water.
Look closely you will see the end of the continental shelf and the beginning of the deeper water. I thought this was a pretty cool shot.
Arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At last...sun, sand, palm trees and one more leg to go....At this point I have been traveling for about 10 hours..!
This is the last leg. San Juan to St. Croix...a two hour lay over and now a 40 minute flight in a puddle jumper to St. Croix and I am home. Its been a long day, but you know what? When I wake up tomorrow to the sound of pounding surf, and the rapping of palm fronds against the shutters...it will all be worth it!
January 20
With all the traveling back and forth across the continent my body has no clue what time it is. Sandy had a 6.00 am flight so I drove her to the airport and then went straight to the office. I am not known to be an early bird at the office. I was so proud of my achievement of being at my desk at dawn that I too a picture of the rising sun.
Home after a tough road trip and glory be...is that a piece of green grass I see under that tree?. Can it be that the snow is melting? Not likely, the temperatures have been down in the single digits and that is in Fahrenheit for my overseas friends. Snow does not melt at those temps. It just sits there!
In case you wonder what grazing animals do when the snow lies thick and crispy its this....The farmer had to go out and plow clearings across his field so that the cows can graze. Tonight I heard that there is another storm heading our way. You know, I think I have enough of this...I'm ready for some sun!
Pennsylvania
January 16
I am attending a trade show. Here is the booth introducing BAZZA and Coopers Iced Brew Tea....
This group of store managers love my tea and told me they sell a lot of it and wanted their picture taken with me. I happily obliged and told them it would be posted on my blog! Here it is ladies!
We also gave out a booth prize and Ms Kelly Marsh was the happy winner.
Congratulations Kelly, and here is your blog photo...as promised!
That night there was a social event. A round of "Texas Hold 'Em" poker. 150 players, we were all given a pair of these reflective glasses so that no-one can see our eyes. Of course for folks like me who smile when they get a good hand, it doesn't matter much if people see my eyes. I actually managed to do quite well and won a few hands and made it into the last 60. I lost all my money on an interesting hand. I was dealt an Ace and a four. The next three cards laid down were an Ace, a ten and a six. I bet into the pot and everyone had one round of betting so there was a lot of money in the pot. Then the river card was played and it was another Ace!!! So I had three Aces, (and a four) I bet my stack of chips and called the remaining three players..one bowed out he had a King High and a ten. The other player had an Ace and a Jack. So his Jack beat my 4 and I said goodnight!
Leaving Las Vegas
January 15
I am now criss crossing the country and heading for the East Coast. To get there I have to cross the Grand Canyon. It is an amazing sight even from 30,000 feet.
After the Grand Canyon it was back over to Colorado to see what all the snow looks like from up high. Pretty impressive, almost as much as in my front yard.
I am on my way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania via Pittsburg. The flight is delayed by 2 hours so I wander around the airport and come across this odd shop. They sell nothing but socks. I wonder how someone came up with a viable business plan to set up a sock shop located in an airline terminal, next to the departure gates. I mean how many people run out of socks in an airport? Enough to keep the shop going for 3 years it turned out because I asked the manager.
Las Vegas
January 14
Las Vegas is an amazing place....Castles in the air....
Its own NY skyline with its own Coney Island ride...
A city that has traffic running through it 24/7
Included in the traffic is this shocking vehicle that advertises girls direct to you, 24 hours a day. In the early days Las Vegas was run by the reputed mob. Then it changed to Corporations that "cleaned things up". Then the Corporations decided that LV was a family destination and all the Casinos had kids rooms. We brought our kids here and they loved it...but kids don't gamble and parents, if they are watching kids, don't gamble either. So the Corporations changed things yet again and they decided to "bring back the sin". The latest slogan being "What goes on in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas". So now we have trucks driving down the strip, advertising young women direct to you. Sometimes I think the world is just going to hell in a hand basket..know what I mean?
This caught my eye in the airport as I was leaving. Howard Hughes was once one of the most powerful and richest men in America. He owned and ran movie studios, owned airlines, built planes you name it, he probably did it. This flying suit was actually worn by him on one of his record breaking flights. True, he did get kind of weird towards the end of this life but I think the gawky, nerdy figure that was chosen to represent him here in this glass case is a insult to a pretty amazing guy...just my view. I could be wrong! It just struck me as odd. A bit like putting Sonny Bono in an alcove alongside an escalator....These guys achieved something..they deserve better.
January 13
We are in Las Vegas to attend the wedding of one of Sandy's old school friends. She is marrying an old school friend. In fact it was all very friendly! The couple getting married were born one day apart in the same hospital and were in the same nursery together. Talk about being destined for each other! They decided to get married by Elvis, hence the Graceland Chapel. It was in an interesting part of town. Surrounded by bail bond offices and pawn shops. It did not detract from the happy event, but it sure made getting a cab after the ceremony very difficult. The Chapel's claim to fame is that it married Bon Jovi the singer, who I believe is still married to this day..........very cool!
All of Debbie's schoolhood friends attended. Sandy is in the middle and Debbie is hanging off to the side.
This was the shot of the trip for me. The KING lives!! He was a very cool Elvis...
This was the happy couple...and I mean they were happy! David and Debbie....good luck guys!
Elvis has left the building....or at least us....There are so few people in the world that make a mark that remains long after they have gone. There are the bad guys of course, like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot etc., but then there are also the good guys like Elvis, Martin Luther King, and Mohamed Ali (when he goes of course, since he is still with us). They were people who changed how we saw things. Rock and Roll changed the world. After Elvis, music was never the same again. After MLK politics in America were never the same. And after Mohamed Ali, boxing was never the same. In fact, Mohamed Ali could be called the first "Rapper" Remember his famous quote, "Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee?"
January 12
Guess where I am now? You got it...Las Vegas...what is there to say...the sign over the luggage carousel says it all.
California
January 11
Guess where I am? Right where all the movies stars hang out and where the studios are. Didn't see any famous people, saw a lot of studios!
California is waiting for the "Big One", the big earthquake that has been threatening for years. I wonder if these houses that are literally perched and clinging to the mountainsides will survive? I presume they met the building code? I mean, look at them, they are poised over emptiness.
I was there to give a presentation to the 7-11 Franchise Board in Southern California. I am holding a bottle of BAZZA and you can tell the meeting went well. There is a huge rugby event taking place in San Diego on Feb 10.
It is the IRB 7's and as we are sponsors of US Rugby I want the 25,000 attendees to the games to be aware that they can buy BAZZA at the 7-11 stores. And I wanted the store owners to know they were going to have a lot of inquiries.
I love this shot. Meetings and presentations cannot end better than this!!
BAZZA'S EVERYWHERE!!! AND EVERYBODY SMILING
Here is one of the studios the famed American Broadcasting Corporation.
Colorado
January 10
On the road again. I looked out of the window and saw tail markings I had never seen before. Then I saw it was the "Make a Wish" foundation, the folks who take very sick (terminally so) children on trips.
Colorado literally blanketed by snow...
Town planning at its best and worst? Very neat, very orderly and devouring the great plains!
A different form of orderliness, made artistic by the weather.
The final accolade in America is to have an airport named after you. I did not know that the Burbank airport had been named after Bob Hope....
The forest fires that have been destroying large parts of California....
January 9
A red letter day today for me. My Publisher in Boulder, Connie (holding my book excerpt "Never Throw Rocks at a Baboon", and I came to an agreement that we could publish a full version of the book in the fall. We have to negotiate an agreement, of course, decide on a title for the full book, and a lot of other details. But for all of you who were looking forward to reading the rest of my book...it looks like you will be able to buy it by Christmas 2007!! Colleen, my Director of Marketing for Cooper Tea Company, and also a published author, is going to be involved in the project. I think the three of us are going to make a great team.
January 8
Its Monday Morning and the weather forecasters got it right. It is freezing outside and the wind is howling. The roads are slick and when I looked out of my study window I could see the traffic backed up for miles.
I took a zoom shot and you can see the black ice glistening. It was deadly out there on the roads today....rule #1 DON'T BREAK SUDDENLY...!!
January 7
Here we go again...another storm. Another blocked driveway and another call to the snow plow man. Locals say this is the worst storm season since 1982 and I can believe it. Now the news is that a cold spell is heading our way along with high winds. That means icy roads and snow drifts. To compound things, there was an avalanche on I40 over the weekend. Six cars were buried. I got a lot of calls and e-mails asking if we were OK. Luckily we had just come back from the mountains!!
This is not small snow plow...this is an industrial size snow plow!
January 5
The storm arrived last night...8 inches of "partly cloudy?"
His parents idea was that my grandson would just love to go out and play in the snow. My grandsons expression leaves that assumption in doubt! He looks like Winston Churchill after a bad day in parliament! The ears came with the Kangaroo costume that the Aussies brought with them.....its a "one of a kind" in Boulder!
January 4
The Rockies now look like the Himalayas. ANOTHER STORM is forecasted.
Enough is enough, we are getting tired of snow. We are running out of places to pile the snow..we are getting buried in the stuff. The storm is supposed to arrive tomorrow.
January 3
I took my Australian guest over to the Leanin' Tree Museum in Boulder. The museum specializes in Western Art but do not allow pictures to be taken inside the museum. Not so outside and there were some magnificent bronze sculptures that we enjoyed. Here are a few...
Mother and child huddling from the snow
This fella was named "The foreman"..
On the way home this scene caught my eye.....
January 2
The views leaving Vail and heading back to Boulder are spectacular.
After you cross Vail pass at 10,500 odd feet, the next sight you see are the ski runs of Copper Mountain.
Then you climb up toward the Continental Divide.. These are the first roads to be closed when the heavy snows hit.
Higher and higher you climb...
Then you come across the tunnel entrance that takes you under the mountains. The tunnels are several miles long. The one on the left is the Eisenhower and the one on the right the Johnson. If they ever build another one my guess is that they will call it the Ford tunnel. President Ford lived in the Vail Valley at Beaver Creek for long periods and was a well known figure on the ski slopes when he was younger. He died over the New Year. He was well thought of in the valley and elsewhere it turns out.
January 1
Vail Valley. I-70 runs through it and we overlook 1-70. We had lunch at Vail Village and it was very quiet. Not many people around.
I got a kick out of the size of these Christmas tree lights...they are Texas size! And everthing is BIG in Texas.
These Indian statues had a distinct Japanese feel to me. Maybe it was the horns on the helmet, whatever. It was a quiet day in the village. I wonder how many people stayed away because of the blizzards..it must have ruined a lot of family vacation plans. I have never seen the place so quiet. Tomorrow its back to the real world and work!
December 31 - New Years Eve
We came up to Vail to see in the New Year. I took Max for a walk and saw these rosehips that have survived the winter snow and the freezing cold...a hardy plant the rose bush.
Max contemplating a very cold walk in his future...
An Aspen tree that could not cope with the weight of snow.....
A new year beckons and we saw out the old year with old friends. From left to right James, Sandy, Caryn and yours truly.
The last sunset of 2006 over Vail Valley.
December 30
When in Vail...you ski!
Nice and warm in my ski suit, wearing red so I can be easily seen and a helmet to protect me from tree branches, I am ready to go...it was a glorious day.
The views were spectacular, the sky bluer than blue and the sun shone the entire time.....it was a perfect day for skiing!
At days end, I took a catwalk back to base of the mountain (for those non-skiers) that is a lazy run with no bumps or meanders. The sun was setting, and I caught this shot of the shadow of the mountain covering most of the hill and the last rays of sunshine lighting up the Aspen trees in the background. It made me think of the old year leaving us and the new year promising the future..kinda of cool....
Great shot, great year...an even better one coming....
A scary close shot of me. For all of those I have met for the first time in
2006 I am glad you came into my life, for all of those who were already there, I hope it has gone well for you and for all of those I have never met.....it is a long awaited pleasure....don't delay..life is just too damned short...
December 29, 2006
Blizzard number two all within the space of a week. Look at the accumulated snow in my front yard. We were completely trapped! It took a very large snow plow to dig us out. But the snow also provided some amazing sights and I had a ball taking pictures of the magic that snow can do to streams, trees and the countryside.
Oh Oh , Santa slipped!
A bubbling brook, still bubbling but now a work of art....
A magnificent Oak, standing alone in the field. You can tell which direction the wind was driving the snow creating another work of art....I loved the contrast, white and black, stark, clear, crisp. This shot
reminded me of the Baobab trees back home in St. Croix and Kenya.
On our way up to Vail, even the traffic lights were victim to the driving snow and were almost completely covered. You had to get really close to the junction before you could see the color. Driving was hazardous to say the least.
But if you want to talk about REALLY hazardous then take a look at this sign. It is for the trucks that cross the continental divide in the winter and lose their breaks going DOWN the mountain. We drove up to Vail after the blizzard and the roads were slick. We saw about six of these runaway ramps.
This is what a runaway ramp looks like. Can you imagine coming down a mountain on the front end of 55,000lbs, no brakes and knowing that the only way of stopping was to guide your runaway onto a snow covered gravel ramp designed to bring you a shuddering halt? Gives you a new perspective on truck driveres heh?
I love these old buildings that dot the canyons as you drive into the high mountains to Vail. You can see all the yellow "tailings" from the gold mines. This was one of the major gold mines located in Idaho Springs from way back when...it still stands and you can still see the tunnels where men sought their fortunes....
The last shot of the day....taken on the canyon road that leads from Golden, Colorado to Kermit's Cheeseburger joint on 1-70....funnily enough there was much more snow in Boulder than we found in Vail...and Vail is 10,500 feet and Boulder in 5,300 feet. Go figure...!
December 27
A week after the big blizzard and my driveway still looks like this and we have ANOTHER blizzard watch today. Ahh the joys of mountain living..
On the other hand, you do get days like this...
December 25
Ohh to be a child and come down those stairs, turn the corner and see all those presents ..Santa was good to a lot of people this year.....I hope he was good to you too...
The Christmas dinner table all set to go....
The table in use.......
December 22
My grandson turned one on the 22nd ..!!
The Rockies are starting to look like the Alps..
December 21
The aftermath of the blizzard of 2006. This is the view outside my front door, they say Boulder got almost 3 feet and it was much deeper in areas where there was drifting. A lot of shoveling awaits!
Trying to cut a passageway to the car. Max is clearly bemused as to which way to go...
Looking west from my backyard....
We needed a serious snow plow to dig us out...We are told this is the worst snow storm since 1983..I can believe that.
On my way to work I pass many cars that were deserted during the storm. This photo puts a whole new meaing to the phrase "I'm buried at work"!
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Happy Holdiays.....
Today is Friday and I don't enter tea blogs over the weekend and Christmas Day falls on a Monday so this will be the last entry for three days. It is time to wish you all the very best for the Christmas season.
May Santa be good to you and may 2007 bring you happiness, health and a goodly portion of wealth as well.
December 20
This Red Robin and I woke up today to a full scale blizzard. It is supposed to last two days. By the end of the day, we had three feet of snow....I guess it's going to be a White Christmas in Colorado this year!
This was the Robins perch by 3 pm...he had disappeared.
We closed the Tea Company early. By noon, most of the folks had left for the long trek home. I stuck around to catch up on some things and took this shot of the entrance.
This was the office patio adrift with snow. In the summer, we relex back here with a glass of ice tea. Iced tea is the last thing anyone is looking for at the moment. A pot of really good hot tea would work, but iced...not right now!
New York, New York
December 19
These Christmas decorations must be destined for the granddad of all trees...
I guess Christmas brings out the child in all of us....I've made up my list for Santa, I've got to make sure I leave it where Santa can find it ....
I drove across two magnificent NY/NJ bridges today. This is the GW (George Washington) Bridge...home to some of the worst early morning rush hour traffic jams in the world. I know, I lived in this area for 12 years and had to commute up to the GW. It was mindblowgingly awful....
This is the second level of the GW Bridge. I always think of that scene from "The Godfather" when they are taking Michael to the meeting where he shoots the Police Captain and the drug dealer. If you recall the driver spun the car around to make sure no one was following them...cool scene, cool bridge..
This is the Tappan Zee Bridge that crosses the Hudson river at Tarrytown NY. Traffic jams here are less mind-blowing because the authorities increase the number of lanes for the commuters heading into New York and then reverse the flow in the evening. Smart! Two Great bridges, two great pieces if engineering, one smart bridge authority.
Boats wrapped up for the winter....above them loom the rocky cliffs of the Palisades that border the Hudson River.
December 18
I saw this permanent crest right opposite St. Patrick's Cathedral in NY City. I bet 99% of the population miss seeing it, but if you stand on the step of St. Pats, on 51st Street and look West it is right there at eye level.
I just liked the way the colors came together in this shot. Its my youngest son. Title of the picture: "Sunday in New York".
The tree at Rockefeller plaza at twilight..
When you look up at sky scrapers you don't realize that many have gardens perched up there...but they do. Green grass, paved walks, pruned bushes, hundreds of feet about the rushing crowds...how the other half lives I guess.
This Gothic cap to a New York Sky Scraper has the look of the Devil to me.
There had to be a reason why architects would put such sculptures atop their designs but it isn't clear to me...
Not the North Star, but one of my last shots of New York...heading home tomorrow.
Travelling done for the year.....
December 17
I am in New York City for the weekend. This is the Chrysler building that I have always thought of as one of the most distinctive structures in the world. The scalloped top is one of a kind and I love those huge Griffins (I think they are Griffins) that guard all four sides.
A close up of the Griffins...maybe they are Eagles? Anyone know for sure?
Either way this is a great shot taken from the street!! Helluva camera!
Christmas in New Yort City.........
I am here with my two sons and they wanted to visit ground zero. So we traveled downtown to visit the site.
The site is screened off and it is very difficult to see the construction work. A timeline of the events on 9/11 is set up on the fence and a series of portraits depicting the events of that day and the aftermath. It is a sobering site.
My youngest son, Rory, in remembrance...
The site is still being cleaned up. Look at the protective clothing he is wearing, he had heavy rubber gloves and a face mask and the work was painstakingly slow....probably that is why it is taking so much time to clear up what is left of the twin towers.
I poked my camera through a gap in the screen and took this shot of a tunnel that ran underneath the World Trade Center. You can see how it is supported and held in place by the metal frame work..I wonder where it lead to?
Then it was down to the Statue of Liberty. Here is a shot of the three of us, the Lady with the Lamp is visible on the left....
The largest Nutcrackers that I have ever seen....
Atlanta, Georgia
December 15
Proud "Bazza" with his first run of Bazza Green Energy Tea. If you would like to know more about Bazza log onto Bazzatea.com
There are enough Bazza's in that last sentence to choke an elephant!
The Raspberry Bazza....tastes awesome with vodka (I am told) and the Bazza Green Energy tea is a natural with spiced rum (I am told)
December 14
We are in Atlanta. I just love the buildings here. Great stuff.
But what's with the top of this building? Is it a radio tower they wanted to hide? A statue? I cannot quite see what it is...but someone spent a lot of money hiding it.
I am here to attend a major bottling run of BAZZA, our new ready-to-drink, green tea based energy tea, that has zero cals and comes in two flavors, green tea and raspberry. It looks great, tastes great and is due to be launched nationwide in mid January. I will tell you where it is be launched nearer the day. Here is a shot of the raspberry tea.
And here is a shot of the Green Tea. Exciting times we live in!!
Colorado
December 14
We are sooooo dependant on computers nowadays. Mine crashed last night and I was lost. No diary to tell me what to do. No phone numbers. No incoming messages. I felt lost and isolated. Now I have a back up computer to use until mine is fixed. It has none of my information in it. It is like talking to a complete stranger!!
Anyway, me and the stranger are on the road again and I saw this interesting view of the Denver International Airport roof...clearly someone had a vision of something or other.
December 12
The Canadian Geese can put up with the cold however, although I spooked them a bit and caused a gaggle to head over to the ice flow ....
December 11
My morning walk is still splattered with sights that I cannot resist ....it was so cold that the snow had formed a solid crust and your breath hung suspended in the air....not even the ducks were around this morning. Their pond was solid ice... Max chased his ball but had trouble stopping on the slick surface and spent a lot of his time sliding on his backside past the ball.
The only reason old men own open top sports cars is to pick up young chicks...this I have been told....well here I am taking two young nieces for a drive, fulfilling the prophecy.....
December 9
The Holidays are upon us. This means family, friends and lots of entertaining. This is the family kitchen. Most of the year my wife (that's her on the right) says the only reason she has a kitchen is that it came with the house. But for the holiday season it becomes a center of activity....
The Office Party....A matter of tradition, and a good one at that.
My claim to have two Xmas trees in the house was quickly corrected by my wife who is very much a "Christmas person". In fact we have a Christmas tree in the library all year, so we actually have three trees. Christmas starts early and ends late but by March I have had enough of listening to "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" which she starts playing around late November. Being married to a "Christmas Person" has its drawbacks....on the other hand the house does look very festive....this is what I mean. look at the following pics.
The Big Tree in the Sun Room is in the process of being decorated....here we are half way there...more to come!
Lots of Christmas scenes....little snowmen everywhere!
Snow covered towns....
Reindeers everywhere...
Santa's Angels of course...
Even our Butler, Miles, gets in the act.. Although he doesn't look particularly happy about it..
December 8
Driving to work this morning I saw this ballon floating towards me. Glorious sight...
This is one adventure you will never get me on! I have no desire to hang suspended in a whicker basket hundreds of feet in the air, kept alive and aloft by hot air...no thank you!
December 7
Ahh... the joy of jet lag! It means you awake at 3:00 am when the rest of the world is asleep. By 5:00 am you are more than ready for a morning walk..and you can tell I was out at dawn by the length of my shadow....
Others awake this early are a trio of Ducks that decide it is just too cold to fly and let me get close for a picture.
And my faithfull companion Max, he's the black lump in the foreground...
Christmas is upon us and that means Xmas trees. We have not one, but TWO...I will show their progress as they are decorated. Here is the first ....
Here is the second....getting to the top of this beauty is going to be risking life and limb....
December 6
The wanderer returns. Twenty hours ago it was Bangkok, behind me is a snow covered Boulder. The world is a small place. But a surprise lay in store for me. During my absence my wife had installed a new man in the home. And he is not a man to be messed with. He stands 6 feet 5 inches and wears a size 14 boot. I was shocked to see him when I got home, but you have to go with the flow sometimes and roll with the punches that life throws at you....
Here he is....
You Better be nice, cause Santa Clause is coming to town.......Ho Ho Ho!
San Francisco, California
December 5
I love planes and I saw these two classics hanging in the San Francisco terminal en route to Denver. They were the two fighters that won the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. The nearest plane is the Supermarine Spitfire, and its wingman is the Hawker Hurricane. They turned back the Lufftewaffe when Great Britain stood alone against the forces of evil....great stuff, great planes!
BANGKOK, THAILAND
December 4
I just landed in Thailand and this is their new airport in Bangkok. It is stunning. I was used to the old one as I have been coming here for over 30 years. The new faciltiy combines the radical new with traditional old. Like the paradox that Thailand is, this works as well.
Everything is "see through" which can be a bit confusing at first (I ended up with a glass wall between me and my departure gate) but it gives a wonderous impression of space.
Scattered throughout the corridors are Thai Gods and Demons designed to scare and impress the travellers...a lot like the TSA trys to do. I prefer the Thai version myself.
The skyline of the "new" Bangkok...
Of course amidst the "new" is the old...these street side bars spillover with rock 'n roll music, Bar Girls (have you ever read Bangkok 8? If you haven't I highly recommend it. After that try "Tattoo"") and scantily glad guys looking for good time. I always think of "The Deer Hunter" when I see these bars.
AND THIS IS THE SHOT OF THE TRIP. It just beats out the Baobab tree in the magical forest in my opinion. A tattoo school!! Now I ask you, who in their right mind is going to be tattooed by a trainee? The word OOPS brings on an entirely new meaning in this context. I just love this shot...a school for tattooists. Well I suppose they have to learn their trade somewhere and if in the midst of your busy lives you wondered where a tattoo artist learns his craft....well now you know...in Bangkok in Thai Tattooland...the International School for Tattooists.
On the road again. I liked this shot. You can see the reflection of the plane against the engine...look carefully and you can see the airline I am flying ...ANA
KENYA, AFRICA
December 3
Paradise...is another name for where my mother lives. It is on the actual beach, and to approach her home you first drive through the Magic Forest and round the ancient Baobab tree. Then you curve through this stand of trees with the light dappling through. Colubus Monkeys (an endangered specis) live in this magic forest, along with a pack of Baboonbs (Ugh!) deer and last week a Leopard tried to get into the hen house and the Donkey went mad because he was tethered and there was a Leopard stalking around. One of the joys of living in Africa....life is never boring.
This is the entrance to my mothers home.
This delivers you to an old, moss and root encrusted wall, with a archway inviting you to enter. The trees cast deep shadows and your footseps echo on the flatstones...
Enter the archway and a short dark tunnel leads you into a verdant green ramshackle garden bathed in bright sunshine, ahead looms a tall black door.
Edge closer and you start to see parapites, towers, a veritable castle, and whats that glinting on the door?
The comes from the slave market square in Zanzibar. Not knowing what untold horrors it has seen. It is heavy, brass encrusted and covered with Arabic sayings. It is a door to give you pause....to open this door you feel you will be taken into another world. It does. But this is not to venue to tell that story, it my mothers tale, to be told some day, but not right now.
My mother who is 85, is ably protected by a large pack of dogs. Here is the lead dog, taking a rest from his duties. It was also very hot.
Mother's other companions are two Grey African Parrots that I have taught to whistle the opening bars of the "Star Spangled Banner". It has taken me years to do this., but now, when I arrive to visit, the dogs no longer attack me and the Parrots break into song. I guess I am moving in the right direction in my relationship with my mother.
Here is a view from the Parrots cage veranda. Not a bad life being a Parrot. You sit in a cage, are fed, have a friend, enjoy the view, every now and then some one teaches you a new tune and life goes on...
This is the view from the other end of the home....the house sits 60 feet about sea level but the lawns sweeps down to the Palm Trees, and nestles up against the Indian Ocean. See what I mean about Paradise? Its my last day here, I leave tomorrow for somewhere equally exotic....My mother is thinking about leasing out a part of her home on a long term basis as it has become too large for her. If anyone who reads my blog is interested, contact me at bcooper@coopertea.com. You too can live in Paradise!
December 2
My 85 year old Mom, caught in her boudiour.....
This is the main street in Mombasa, the city off the south coast of Africa, where my mother lives. It is probably one of the most famous sights in Kenya because of the huge elphant tusks covering the road. They were erected for Kenya's Independence celebrations in 1963 and never taken down. They are another show stopper!
December 1
One of the most amazing phenomena's of the Kenya South Coast is the tide.
It spills over the huge reef daily and surges up to lap against the shore.
Then it retreats to expose the reef completely. The retreating waters capture all kinds of sea life in the pools and it is a true adventure to wade out to the far reef and explore the coral. This is shot A with the tide out.
This is shot B with the tide in!
My destination is the South Coast of Mombasa where my mother lives. To get there I have to take a ferry across the harbour. This always makes me nervous...look at the size of the ferry, the number of cars and the next picture...
Would this type of decay on an overburdened ferry make you nervous? It does me.
Nairobi, Africa
November 30
On the way to Nairobi airport for the next leg of my trip I passed this extraordinary building. It is such an amazing combination of colors, angles and squares and what's with the HUGE horseshoe on the front? This architect was having a BAD day when he put this concept together. On the other hand.... it is a bit of show stopper!
These ladies were part of the Chinese Delegation. On my left is Zhang
Jiequn the Director of the Hunnan Tea Branch and on my right is Xiong Jia the Vice General Manager......they brightened up the conferece.
Below is the US Delegation...
I have spent four days in this room. The conference is over...I am ready to move on...
November 29
I kept on passing this Hindu Temple on the way to the conference and you know what I am like with buildings...so today I stopped and took a couple of pictures...
Intricate detials on the Temple..I wish I knew more about the Hindu Gods after looking at these pictures.
So now you know EXACTLY where I am.
Actually the official title is as shown..
The IGG (That's Inter Govermental Group for those who don't
know) started ou
