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South Platte River at Deckers Colorado First off, I have to apologize for disappearing for so long. It seems my mobility scooter skills need some serious remediation or possible even revocation. Nearly a year ago on the last day of July, my husband and I set out for a day of exploring this beautiful region we live in. The plans were to venture down to the Platte River  outside of  Deckers Colorado  for some fishing (my husband is passionate about fly fishing) and general sight seeing and relaxation. It seems I was a bit to excited to venture down to the river to get a look at our destination and I made the nearly fatal mistake of not waiting for my guide and mule (my husband) to make sure I safely navigated the uneven trail leading down to our fishing spot. This resulted in a crash that ultimately broke my hip and while hospitalized, a nearly fatal UTI. It's been a journey to get back to a point where I can actually see future that doesn't involve daily pain and misery. With that out of the way, I'll move on to the reason for this blog. When national media publications are mentioned, they usually bring out either a love or hate reaction. With our very divided political environment we live in, just the mention of one of these media companies can bring out a ferocious response from those populating the other side of their political leanings. This, unfortunately can lead to a very unhealthy and uneducated populous that only ever hear a single point of view on so many fronts. This leads to a publication that is crucified by those whose political leanings are more to the right, because they carry a reputation as leaning the other direction. May I introduce you to MotherJones  and one of the leading advocates for the disabled community. I really had no idea they were as active as they were until the politics of today began leaning towards the cutting of so many programs that help those affected by so many different maladies. While researching the many articles and statements that have been in the news the last three months, articles resonating from MotherJones  kept popping up. They do an absolutely wonderful job of covering the possible outcomes and the possible repercussions of the many bills  that are being presented in Congress that will have simply devastating consequences for millions of disabled Americans across this county. Disability doesn't have a political party or care about your views. Disability doesn't care about your demographics or your education level. Disability doesn't care about your financial status or your support structure. Disability only cares about making your way of life that you were accustomed to more difficult. For some, this is a minor issue that briefly changes your daily routines, but for millions, it means uprooting your lifestyle and the need to rely on others in place of yourself. These are the changes that much of this proposed legislation is targeting without any answers as to how these people are supposed to adapt. Simply put, much of the infrastructure that has been put in place since the signing of the American with Disabilities Act  in 1990 is on the chopping block by the new administration. I would venture to guess that not a single person taking the time to read this doesn't know someone that in some shape or form has not benefitted by this act. As I wrote earlier, disability doesn't discriminate so it isn't political, simply opportunistic. And either you or someone you love could find out today that they may need the services of those serving the disabled community. Putting that in the back of your head, please look forward and reach out to your elected leaders about pardoning one of the greatest bills that Washington has ever put into law. Protect our disabled today and possible those you love tomorrow. Hugs, Dawn https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/trump-tariffs-medical-equipment-medicaid-dme/

Colorado Springs is blessed with some crazy weather, but the one constant is beautiful days year round. June 18th was one of those beautiful days that beckoned us to get out and enjoy this masterpiece that was created for us. After a string of warmer than normal days, this day we awakened to beautiful blue sky's and temperatures reaching the high 60's. This is not the kind of weather where you stay home and do laundry so after about 2 seconds of discussing whether we wanted to venture out, we were throwing together a picnic lunch and grabbing the pups for a day of adventure. Colorado Springs sits at the base of what is known as America's Mountain  or more commonly Pikes Peak  and it towers over the city and region. From where we live, we can be in the mountains is less than 10 minutes with everything from hiking (not in traditional terms for us), biking, off-roading (this is our jam), hunting, fishing and everything else the outdoors can bring. On this day, it was all about enjoying the weather and sightseeing with the family (yes the pups are family), so the family truckster (Subaru Outback) was the choice for our magic carpet. From the base of Pikes Peak there are numerous mountain roads and off-road trails that drop right into Colorado Springs. On this day we decided that Gold Camp Road , originating in Colorado Springs and crossing the southern face of Pikes Peak to the fabled gold mining towns of Victor  and Cripple Creek  was the road of choice. Both Victor and Cripple Creek are both worthy of a trip on their own, but this day was about being surrounded by nature and Colorado provides that in spades. Gold Camp Road was originally created as a way to traverse the difficult terrain from Colorado Springs to the gold fields in Victor. Following the old railroad tracks of the Shortline Railroad , it winds its way around the south face of Pikes Peak for 22 miles while climbing from around 7,000 feet to well over 10,000 feet in altitude. The road itself is very easy to navigate during the warm weather months, but as with most mountain roads is quite bumpy. A nice slow drive is in order as the towering granite rock formations, abundant wildlife and thousand foot drop-offs certainly warrant caution. You will encounter beautiful high mountain lakes, meandering creeks, and incredible views from the comfort of the seats in the vehicle of your choice. While this road is a manageable drive with just about any vehicle, is is nice to have something with a bit more clearance then usual, but don't let that deter you as this drive can be handled with even the most basic of vehicles. If you ever get a chance to visit our beautiful region, take the time to venture out of the city and see what nature is meant to be. You certainly won't be disappointed, and if fortunate you may catch a glimpse of a bear, moose, mountain lion (we came across one of these on this trip), or any other of the vast species of wildlife we are blessed to live with. Thank you for spending a few moments with us. XXOO Dawn & Nick

That line from the movie Forest Gump could not describe the life of a disabled person more clearly. Every person who ever walked on this rock has insight into their past, but not one of us knows what tomorrow will present. When our journey down this path started to present itself, it's much like being a toddler with the need to learn new things each and everyday. It's certainly not the way society scripts their future, but since when has a scripted game-plan ever played out exactly as it was drawn up on the chalkboard. When my better half began experiencing difficulties with simple things like walking across the room, it wasn't her that made the first observations. Living in the now tends to mask small clues that others may see, but go unnoticed by those living the moment. There are probably various reasons for not noticing a change in physical or mental abilities, and I'm inclined to believe it probably comes from not wanting to admit that simple daily activities are not so simple anymore. The not so old adage "It takes a village" certainly comes into play, whether it comes from the initial signs of issues forming all the way through the process of learning to live with the new diagnosis. Unlike a toddler learning to navigate the early stages of life, living with a disability doesn't come with a playbook to help guide you down your new path. The idea behind this business is a testament to the ability to adapt as a disabled individual and to those that provide the support needed to keep on keeping on. At some point early in this journey, serious conversations have to take place about where you want to go and do with the rest of your life. We want to model our journey and chronicle the ups and downs, the fun and the frustrations, and the love and dedication that keeps life an ongoing experiment in perseverance. Thank you for following along as we build this business into a ministry that gives hope and success to those like us. Along the way, we will be chronicling our experiences, from the ups to the downs and everything in between. We hope that you can take something away from our experiences that will make things a bit easier and life an enjoyable experience even if a bit different. Nick & Dawn

As a child growing up in Fort Worth Texas during the 1960's and 70's everyone knew the name Johnny Rutherford and his exploits during the month of May at the fabled Brickyard. As a three time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Lone Star JR as he was fondly known was a legend in the world of horsepower, even if it wasn't the horsepower Fort Worth was famous for. Always falling on Memorial Day weekend, the Indy 500 has always held those that gave their lives for America in the highest honor. I always remember the pomp and circumstance surrounding the race and was keenly aware of circumstances surrounding those honored at this event. It hasn't changed and the honor and gratitude extended out by the organizers of this magnificent event and it's fans is truly humbling. The planning for our trip started in the fall of 2023 with the normal discussion of does it sound fun, doable, and something we both wanted to experience. Some of my husbands fondest memories involved the years spent watching the iconic race with his father from the earliest of ages. Although he's not 100% sure, he believes he has watched the race every year since his first in 1971 as a 7 year old boy. Although never participating in racing himself, enjoying Saturday nights at the dirt tracks from an early age never wained and as a family we continued that tradition, although not as regularly as in the early days. Experiencing the spectacle that is the Indianapolis 500 seemed like a normal fit, so off we went on another great American road trip. Outings as a mobility challenged individual always involve planning, and that is much of what this blog is about. With that being said, multi day road trips obviously require quite a bit of research. Things to ponder include hotels, restaurants, and the all important family friendly bathrooms. For those that are able to handle their bathroom needs with just the need for ADA stalls, one of the great places to target are the rest stops along the major interstate highways. For the majority of the disabled community these rest stops provide a great choice for needs. Now for those that need additional help such as making transfers, this provides an additional challenge if you are not traveling with someone of the same gender as yourself. While many entertainment venues provide family bathrooms, the research we did for this trip identified the interstate rest stops as nil when it came to having a family restroom. For those needing a bit more help along these long road trips, venture on over to McDonalds or other fast food establishments or many of the newer gas stations/convenience stores such as Toot N Totum along the way. As to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for the most part they have done a really fine job of making the over 100 year old facility user friendly for those requiring more than two feet to carry them. Much of the parking for large events takes place in grass lots, so some thought has to go into the logistics of how you plan on entering the facility, but for the most part the terrain was level with grass and gravel being the biggest obstacle. We had tickets in turn three of the massive venue so decided that parking in a residential neighborhood butting up against the grandstands of that Northeast corner of the raceway was the way to go. With parking provided through the raceway being limited and in our case completely sold out, it was off to social media for answers. There are numerous places to get the information you need for a well planned day at the track, and I found Facebook to be invaluable. After a bit of research, we set out on the Saturday before the race and drove over to the neighborhood we intended to target for our parking. We were more than fortunate to find one of the nicest people we've ever met standing outside in his yard exactly where we targeted and for $20 and a handshake, agreed that he would save a place for us in his yard. This couldn't have worked out better if we drew it up on paper. Knowing that we had our logistics in order and knowing rain was in the forecast for race day, we decided some drinks and snacks would be in order so a cooler was secured and a trip to a grocery store set us up for whatever the next day may offer. It was now time for a good meal so off we went to Ricks Cafe Boatyard not far from the track. Ricks is a beautiful restaurant sitting on the shores of Eagle Creek Reservoir and is wonderfully designed with the disabled in mind. Whether you choose indoor or outdoor seating on their beautiful covered patio, they have done a wonderful job of allowing for easy ingress/egress. Unusually wide isles with large mobility ramps and ample room between tables makes this restaurant a must visit when visiting the Indianapolis area. Race Day Anytime you tackle something as large and crowded as The Indy 500 patience is not optional. We've done many large events in the past, but with 345 thousand people congregating in one inner city location, this event is just different. We planned our arrival for 7 am and with our hotel only 5 miles from the track, we decided a 5:45 am departure was appropriate. I mean could we really need more time than that to drive 5 miles? The answer was a resounding yes! We got to within 4 tenths of a mile of our neighborhood parking when gridlock ensued. We were 4 cars from the last traffic light leading into the speedway when all things came to a screeching halt. From that point, it took us over an hour to crawl the final 4 tenths of a mile to our smiling friend welcoming us with open arms into our parking space for the day. Once in place, we were set for the day. Not only was our parking less than 1/4 mile from the entrance to the stadium, there were food trucks and portable bathrooms provided (for a cost) just across the street from us. With rain expected right at green flag time, we decided to stay in the car and wait it out. This proved to be the right decision as the event decided to evacuate the stands 1 1/2 hours prior to the start of the race due to severe thunderstorms approaching the area. This is just some of the research you do when you are not as mobile as others, and it certainly makes for a more pleasant experience. The weather came and snarled and shook the ground, but moved out fairly quickly leading to a perfect day for an unbelievable race/experience. Once the weather cleared, we loaded up the cooler (yes you can bring food and drinks in) and headed towards our seats. Now bathrooms are not always a given if you are disabled. Knowing this, again research goes into how you handle something as basic as going to the bathroom. The bathrooms at the Brickyard are ADA friendly, but what you will not find are family restrooms. Since I'm unable to make my own transfers, this can be a game changer as to whether an event is even an option. With that being said, don't be afraid to get outside of the box with your planning. My husband always thoroughly researches every aspect of our escapades and his solution to my needs.....first aid centers. Yes, you can find private bathrooms if you dig deep enough. After entering the gates of the track, our first stop was the first aid center where the folks working there were more than happy to accommodate my needs. Now comfortable and happy, it was up a wide easy ramp to our seats right up against the fence by the track. What a cool experience! The race was incredible. The people were better, and the Brickyard was very doable for those wanting to experience a truly magnificent event. Please reach out in the comments if we can answer any questions related to this bucket list memory. Cheers Dawn and Nick

We ventured out to a new music venue last night and simply had so much fun. Stargazers Theatre in Colorado Springs Co. provides a truly wonderful venue for local bands to display their incredible talents. This was our first time visiting this southern Colorado Springs establishment and we couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more. As Baby Boomers, the music of Jimmy Buffet and The Beach Boys were staples in our musical genre, and we certainly were brought back in time with the performance of The Margarita Brothers. This group of five, simply put were just a barrel of fun with their mix of Carribbean sounds from Jimmy Buffet and The Beach Boys greatest hits. Also thrown in for fun were songs by Gerry Rafferty with their rendition of Baker Street along with a really fun Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) of Harry Belafonte fame. Somewhere along the way a Conga Line broke out with lots of dancing and singing from those in attendance. Stargazers Theater is a former movie theater that has been redone by the owners to provide a very accommodating venue for those needing mobility assistance. After finding out about the theater through another website, I began my due diligence and research to find out if it was a venue that would be friendly for our needs. While it is advertised as a general admission ticket, a little research provided the information I was looking for. Once you purchase your tickets, simply send them an email requesting seating that will suit your needs, and they will gladly reserve places for you and your group to accommodate whatever needs you may have. Stargazers is not a large venue, and the environment provides for an intimate setting with table seating and wide accessible isles. Mobility ramps were provided for both the first and second levels of seating, making ingress and egress seamless. With food options and a full bar available, nothing else is needed to provide you with a wonderful evening of fun music and entertainment. If you're a resident of Colorado Springs or visiting our beautiful city in the mountains, don't hesitate to head over to Stargazers one evening for an evening of fun and enjoyment. Hugs, Dawn and Nick