GreeleyGrizzler Profile

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

I do get ill from time to time (although I hate to admit it). I guess at my age (did I mention I'm going on 84?) I worry about the loss of mobility and strength. The Dr.'s (and Gladys) don't help any with their constant "stay in bed" attitude. I remember the time I had a surgery and Gladys called a man in to mow the lawn. It all but killed me and left me feeling completely helpless as if I were a total burden on Gladys. If we men feel as though we can't pull our weight around the house (especially on heavy projects) it can make us feel as though our useful days are over. Gladys, on the other hand, can only follow Dr.'s orders for the first day, then it's business as usual around the house. Over the years I have come to realize the utter futility of trying to get her to sit still and rest. These days however, I try to follow my own advice of letting others help but it's still not easy letting go. Sometimes things are just taken out of our hands completely though. Such is the case with people throughout Oklahoma recently. Many of us who have lived in Greeley for sometime recognize the ties between us and Oklahoma. Many of our older residents (and their parents) settled in Greeley from Oklahoma over the years. I guess when I look at some of the inconveniences I have experienced over time, I cannot possibly understand having everything ripped from my grasp. I guess the only solace I could offer the people of Oklahoma are the words of Franklin Graham when he spoke after the Columbine tragedy. "During times like these people will do one of two things, they will either Blame God and turn away from Him, or they will turn to Him for strength to get through this horrible time, I pray they will turn to Him". Authors Note: members of the Grizzler family trace their roots to Oklahoma and our prayers are with them in this time of anguish.  (Thursday | post #1)

Greeley, CO

Westmont Students Earn Servant Leadership Award

It is a wonderful thing to see servant hood applauded these days especially as this nation considers itself to be moving into a service industry economy. I have often wondered how to breach the subject of servant hood being awarded (as sports is) in it's value to College students. It is nice to see Westmont do just that. I have always valued the upbringing I received from my father and the many values I learned from watching him deal with people at his business. To this day I still point to my father as the greatest single influence in my life and the person that taught me how to serve others in the same manner as Our Lord did.  (Wednesday May 1 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Pro-Gun Billboard in Colo. That Has Some Residents Upset

This Ad is really quiet good. As Benjamin Franklin said; "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety".  (Wednesday May 1 | post #3)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

I can just hear the boos and hisses as I write this (but that's never stopped me before). I just love being inside, cozy and warm, during the type of late winter weather we've been having. I guess (as you regular readers know) it's partially because Gladys and I are usually prepared for extended periods of being shut in by the weather. We just love a nice fire in the wood stove, along with lots of hot soup and sandwiches, as we look out the window at the beauty of the snow on our trees and yard. We find ourselves taking the time to watch movies we haven't watched for years. I think most importantly though is that we take the time to talk to one another about the things that need to be said; things that really matter. I guess the weather just forces us to slow down and enjoy life. Too often we spend our lives at a breakneck pace and never slow down enough to enjoy one another's company - which is a real shame. There will come a day where we'll wish we had said more. Unfortunately by then, it's usually too late. Perhaps we should all spend at lease one day under "shut in" conditions, and say all those things we never take time to say any other time. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz.  (Apr 18, 2013 | post #1)

Louisville, KY

Do you know David McCaleese?

If so, please contact someone in a position to get him Psychiatric or official help as he continues to post the following type of messages to the Greeley, Colorado Topix site: As Watchman, when I see the sword coming against the land (GREELEY, CO ON 3/29/13), I BLOW THE TRUMPET TO WARN THE PEOPLE (Ezekiel 33, 3)! Posted by davidmcaleese 2 hours ago -- Reply He usually further implies that he will usher in the destruction of Greeley and will then recieve his wife and children back? With the problems we have had with nuts and attacks in Colorado I'm sure you can see why we would be concerned and want officials notified. This man needs help and prevention from carrying out any strange plans.  (Mar 20, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

I'm very much a 20th century man. I have some of the trappings of the 21st century but I will always be a product of the times I grew up in. Not to be misunderstood, I am grateful to have seen two centuries and many great and wonderful things. My father, on the other hand, was born and lived out his life within the past century. I'll always remember him watching the moon landing on TV and saying "I was born before the Wright Brothers flew and now I'm watching men walk on the moon". This is the kind of thing that shapes our lives. You know, the happiest and the most difficult times of our lives are the memories that never escape us. As I have said before, at my age I go to a lot of funerals. I should also mention that I have visited many friends in hospital and nursing home beds. There's nothing so humbling as watching someone your own age, wasting away. Let me give my younger audience at tip. When doctors, nurses, or nursing home attendants tell you "we're just going to try and get a bit of meat on your bones so you can go back home", get in touch with hospice if you had planned to finish your days in your own home. Get back home right away or you may never see it again. Now, as for the old plan of whooping it up through life and then having a death bed conversion; forget it. You will be too busy with the battle for life and avoiding death, trying not to admit that once is fading and the other nearing. In other words, denial hits heavily, and if you have nothing in place to turn to, it may be too late. You can take this or leave it, that's entirely up to you. All I know is every time I visit a friend in that shape, the nurses have them more concerned with evacuating their bowels than getting their spiritual house in order. We are born into eternity and it comes to us all, no matter the century. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz  (Mar 14, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

Something from an animated (well sort of) cartoon, the name of which is not important, has circulated back around to our little page. In this (ahem) cartoon they label Greeley as "the opposite of Hawaii" and I think, in many ways, that's true. They ment this in a negative way, of course, but I see it as a possitive. You see I have a friend who moved to Greeley from Hawaii many years ago. He likes the fact that we enjoy more sunny days than (yes) even Hawaii (it rains a lot there) guess that's why their College football team is called the Rainbows. He attended UNC where their football team is called the Bears. He is a Loyal Greeleyite and enjoys the Broncos and the Rockies (baseball team), which reminds me, we are only a stones trow away form the Rocky Mountains (Which he also loves). From my perspective however, I think Greeley is without a doubt the most centered small city in the country (and I don't just mean geographically speaking). I believe that , as goes Greeley, so goes the Nation. By this I mean, the feelings and opinions of the average Greeleyite match those of average American. Our foundations and principles are the same as those that define the Nation. Sure we've had a rough go of it lately. We've taken it on the chin (financially speaking) but so has the rest of the Nation. Yet we still visit our local houses of worship together. We campaign and vote in our elections together and, we usually reflect the National average in our voting returns. More than any of these things though, we are not just another expensive tourist trap on some ones "Bucket List" (as Hawaii is). You can still stay here for reasonable rates and get great (large) meals for a very low cost. Again, don't forget those mountains. Yet with all these things going for us, we don't live under crowded or congested conditions and we enjoy the pace of our little city. In short, we wouldn't be Hawaii for all the tourists in the world. If you think all of this is silly, you'd love that cartoon, if not you'd hate it. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz.  (Feb 28, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

It's always darkest before the dawn, or so the old saying goes, but I wonder. Have you ever been driving and realized how the poorest visibility is not when things are completely dark? You see, the headlights take over then. No, it's at dusk when visibility is at it's poorest and lights are of little or no value. For those of us who have turned to our little Greeley Topix page for unbiased free press style news, the recent onslaught by the Greeley Tribune may have seemed somewhat daunting and, well, downright discouraging. It seems (as always) the Tribune just cannot relent of the near death grip it has held on our hamlet for some 130 blah, blah, blah years. As I have said in the past, I no longer get my news from them and have, in fact, found it rather easy and enjoyable finding alternative ways to follow what's going on around town. So I guess you could say that I've seen this as a dawn after the dark kind of experience. On the other hand, as for our friends (I was tempted to leave out the "r" in that last word) at the Fractured Flugelhorn, well, one can only hope and pray that they will go the way of the rest of the printed news media (so called) and be replaced by unbiased free e-press alternatives. Let us now view them as a rusty Oldsmobile (also extinct) limping off through the dusk and eventually, out of sight into the night. That's my oppinion and you're entitled to it. Griz.  (Feb 18, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

Tribune takes Greeley voters to the woodshed over Distric...

I'm always amazed at how our nation thinks that throwing money at nearly every problem is the ultimate solution. In the matter of low test scores I believe that the only voters to blame are teachers and parents. Certainly school administrators that are so busy worrying about all the wrong things (like blue hair) share some of the blame, while the place where the rubber really meets the road is in the classroom and after school in the home. If you really want to throw money at a problem why don't you throw it at afer school tutoring for kids who have single parent homes with one working parent. Money should also be alloted for students that have difficulty learning for whatever the reason. Stop all of the arguing about languages, school size and taxes. Get back to the real point of school, teaching the kids.  (Jan 24, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

I don't know how she does it! I (in case you haven't already noticed), am far more selfish. I squirm at the thought of being around those I, (for lack of a better term) dislike. I avoid conflict like the plague, while she on the other hand, can walk right up to someone (whom I had thought had made an enemy of themselves) and be the most gracious person I have ever known. That sums up Gladys in a nutshell. For this (and many other reasons), I listen to what she has to say, not just hear, but really listen. I always consider her opinion in any decision I have to make. Now I don't do this because I'm afraid of her (which I'm not....well maybe just a little bit). No, it's more than that. Just as with a close friend, over time you begin to realize that person's value and understand they have only your best interests at heart. A track record develops and you find wisdom from them has guided you down successful paths. I guess what I'm trying to say is (over our many years of marriage), Gladys has become my best friend. Now you may be asking yourself, where's the old guy going with all this stuff? I'm glad you asked that. You see, the next holiday coming up, (yes there's another one already), is due in just 3 short weeks. Before you run to your calendar to prove me wrong, I'll remind you. It's Valentine's Day on February 14th for the more dense among us, (I'm speaking of course, about us men). The reason I remind you of this 3 weeks early, is so that (when the day is upon us) you won't find yourself running around some store, trying to figure out what YOUR Gladys might like. The way I look at it, this is the one chance we have all year, to express how grateful we are for the person with whom we have been blessed to walk through life with. We should make the most of it. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz.  (Jan 24, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

I received some boxed sets of old favorite TV shows and I've just about narrowed it down. I figure it began in the early to mid eighties, slowly at first (most ominous things start that way) and building to the grand crescendo we have today. Now, I'm no stranger to change (I am nearly 84) and I enjoy many aspects of it (change that is), but that doesn't mean I approve of all of it. Such was the case when I saw that dull black vinyl staring back at me as I paused my DVD player during my eureka moment. Just then I saw the future rushing towards us in one solitary product. The first plastic automobile bumper. Prior to this invention (?), cars did, in fact, have times where they just bumped into each other. Often times, two drivers would tap bumpers, get out of their respective cars, check the damage (or lack of it), find none, shake hands and drive on. These days however, cars can literally break into bits with one low speed encounter. As I watched, I realised an entire era was slipping away and no-one in my old tv shows had any idea where things were headed. I miss the old cars with all the chrome, and now I have proof they existed. People say a lot of things from past eras never existed (like small towns with good values) and although I don't have physical proof that they did (I don't need another eureka moment to tell you this), I know it's true - I lived it. Cars also had front door vent windows that actually opened......but that's another moment. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz.  (Jan 9, 2013 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

The first Christmas gift (that I remember getting) was a wooden airplane on wheels that I pulled around on a string and as it rolled the propeller spun round. You know the kind, Fisher Price thought they were safe many years later, although I'm certain that thousands of kids have bumped into thousands of objects while looking back to see if that propeller was still spining. I now think, however, this was probably good practice for young people to avoid bumping into things while walking and texting. The best present I ever got, though, had to be a scooter with wooden handles and real rubber tires (well actually, back then, they were more of a toss-up between granite and graphite). I felt every pebble, crack and rock I ever passed over. If one of the tires should chip it was like riding with one square wheel (until it eventually smoothed out). These days I don't need much so exciting gifts are pretty much a thing of the past. I now tend to focus on family and that very first Christmas in which we all received the greatest gift of all. May that gift be with you and your loved ones each and every Christmas you are together. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz.  (Dec 18, 2012 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

2013 Leadership NoCo class announced

The Union Colony (now Greeley), was besotted with the need for absolute control of their utopic society. In the days of it's inception the class system (and a low population) helped in dismissing citizens that might bring about some sort of radical ideals. These days it is much more difficult to control the wills and directions of the populous as it has become so much larger and class discrimination is frowned upon. Hence Greeley, in it's disguised control motivated nature, several years ago began it's hand selected "Leadership Classes" beginning with those started by the City Council. Disguised meaning, the motives of separating (their ideas of) the wheat from the chaff would be percieved as possitive and beneficial to the community and, therefore, widely accepted. It is, however, distressing to see this method of community control expand to all of Northern Colorado. To me it is a giant step backwards towards a return to the class system we thought America had moved away from when we moved away from England. Apparently such is no longer the case.  (Dec 4, 2012 | post #1)

Greeley, CO

The Greeley Grizzler

I have long contended that people only live to 80 or 90 for the simple reason that, if we lived longer, we would expire the moment we examined the prices at the grocery store or the gas pumps...etc. In fact, I think most things would overwhelm us. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, I can tell you that remembering and repeating three generations of names can be quit a task. Gladys says, I should just call all of the young ones nugget. Gladys also believes that we only live to a certain age because our friends (who have gone before us) need a fourth for Bridge and have, therefore, petitioned for our arrival(she's quirky that way). The upside of long life, of course, is enjoying the three generations of Grizzlers and having the ability to give out hugs and candy from Grandpa's sweater with a generous coating of lint (the candy that is, not the hugs). A recent study told us something that every child who ever entered his Granparent's house already knew, that being, young people can smell old age. But I tell you this now (before they do a study on it) those of us who are older can always smell the sweet scent of life from (what we once called) the crown of a baby's head. Some used to say you could draw life from inhailing that scent, I'm inclined to believe that one can draw life from a child that lived over 2000 years ago now and at our home we're preparing to celebrate His birth, He too has a crown. That's my opinion and you're entitled to it. Griz. (Writer's Note): The Greeley Grizzler returns after a short Thanksgiving hiatus in his home with his loved ones for whom he is deeply thankful.  (Dec 3, 2012 | post #1)