What is Pete up to?

Everywhere we go people are constantly asking, "What is Pete up to?".  Well, I don't like to constantly blog about good ol' Pete unless there is actual news to report.  In spite of that, here is a Pete update.  First, I would like to start with a quote by Pete that I recently picked up in a conversation.  It was so noteworthy that I had to immediately write it down so as not to forget it.

Pete...  "Sometimes they may could do that"

I can't even recall what he was referring to, but I found it noteworthy.

Pete continues to work out with us each morning, be it hiking or mountain biking.  He has pretty much thrown in the towel on running.  We still have him signed up for a half marathon this summer, keep your fingers crossed.  Here are some pictures from our recent hike.  Please keep in mind that while this looks like some remote wilderness, it is about 2 miles from our home.

Beautiful Scenery!

Dave and Julie

Snow capped mountains in the distance...thankfully! 

Johnson Trail/Snow Canyon State Park

The other day I asked Pete what he did on the previous day.  He described finding the wheel off of a suitcase and his efforts to recycle the plastic apart from the metal.  He spent over an hour getting the wheel apart!  I told him at 69, almost 70 years of age his time is better spent on ANYTHING else.  He disagrees.  He is the consummate recycler.  As a matter of fact, his weekly trash is so small he takes the tiny bag and tosses it in his neighbors trash rather than drag the can out.  His recycling on the other hand is so vast he has to crush cans and break apart cardboard to get it all in.  The fact that much of what he puts in recycling is non-recyclable does not deter him.  I can only image the expression on the faces of the sorters at the recycling plant when his load arrives.  His obsession with recycling has moved from funny to worrisome.  The other day we went to Costco and as he walked through the parking lot he picked up two plastic bottle caps and a spring from a ball point pen!  I would not even bend over for a spring!  It would not be so bad except these gems end up being left in my car which I quickly throw away when I discover them.  Please don't tell Pete,  I have have already caught him going through my trash on a few occasions.  On a recent hike I spotted a penny on the ground and quickly pointed it out to Pete who immediately picked it up.  A short time later I spotted another and again pointed it out to Pete who pocketed it.  Now I am not opposed to pick up a quarter, but a penny!  I'm a little concerned that Pete may need the cash. Why do I think that?

Pete's house shoes

Indiana Softball sweatshirt, circa 1997.

Half of banana capped by a used piece of "tin" foil.

Does anyone know how long minced garlic can be stored?  Well, I checked on line (the source of all knowledge) and it says 1-3 months in the refrigerator.  Well, we asked Pete if he had any for a recipe that Julie was cooking for them.  He did.  He pulled out a jar from the pantry.  We have learned to immediately check the expiration date on all food that Pete has in his control.  Well, Bush was president when Pete bought that garlic!  I'm not talking about W!!!  I'm talking about Bush 1!  1989!!!  That garlic was opened, used and has been sitting in a cupboard for 28 years!  It has been moved 5 times!  When we pointed this out to Pete, he tasted it and said it tasted and smelled ok...  One more thing...  The other day we were at Pete and Cookie's house.  Cookie was getting ice out of the "ice box" when a piece fell on the floor.  I picked it up and tossed it into the sink.  Pete, thinking I was not looking picked the ice from the sink and added it to his drink.

I'm thinking of starting a Go Fund Me sight for Pete.  I would put it towards a new sweatshirt, garlic from the 2000's and some shoes with a tongue...  Who am I kidding, he would still wear the same sweatshirt!  We love you Pete and all your eccentric ways.