Florence, Colorado: My Summer Vacation At Bass Pro Shops

Occasionally I like to go on a vacation and leave the quaint burg of Florence, Colorado. This year, time, so far, hasn't allowed a lengthy trip. So I decided on another fun Colorado day trip.

Too far to drive to the Natural History Museum in Denver? Haven't budgeted for the price of admission? No worries. Here's a cheapo and fun way to get a few hour vacation by trolling Bass Pro Shop in Colorado Springs. It's ALMOST like the Natural History Museum. And I'm pretty sure the security at Bass Pro Shops isn't quite as strict as the security at the Natural History Museum.

Join with me as I take a few hour retail vacation. Or if you're really smart, you'll leave this blog page as fast as humanly possible and get yourself to a real vacation.

Who needs to go on an expensive roller coaster to scream one's kiester off. Cheap thrills are free on my vacation. Unfortunately as I was posing for this picture, one bystander starting laughing so loudly that it almost broke my concentration. But we got the picture right before alarmed parents covered their children's eyeballs and whisked them away.

Now don't try this at home (or in the wild children) but I enjoy comparing my manicure to the bear's. I won.

Since I blew my vacation budget of $33.96 that I pulled out of my couch cushions on gas and some alligator bites at the restaurant at Bass Pro Shops, I decided to give myself a free pedicure in the alligator head at the fishy-themed bowling alley. I tried not to alarm any schoolchildren or nuns with my size nines, but someone passing by did suggest that I wouldn't need a paddle board to get across any water since my feet were paddle board-sized. OK, no one actually said that. Must have been the voices in my head or that snippy alligator.

I wasn't the only one having a good time at Bass Pro Shops. That's Uncle Buck. He has a restaurant at Bass Pro Shops. Quite lovely food there, I must say. I did tell him to put the mermaid down, that it was not his. But he didn't listen. I think he mumbled something about enjoying fresh sea food. But I could have misunderstood.

And that is how you have a fun and cheap day trip vacation in Colorado.

The Setup: Pete Crooks New Book With Forward by Lt. Joe Kenda

I'm a big Lt. Joe Kenda fan and a fan of true crime. So, imagine my delight when I received this email from journalist and author, Peter Crooks.

Hi there,

I came across your blog about Joe Kenda and thought I would let you know about a true crime book I published earlier this year. The story, about a group of con artists who wanted celebrity attention at any cost, is quite a wild tale and has a bizarre intersection with Kenda's show.

I interviewed Kenda for the book, and ended up becoming friends with him, so I asked if he would contribute the forward. He was very generous (and insightful), so he did.

http://www.amazon.com/Setup-Story-Dirty-Soccer-Reality/dp/1940363314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415686797&sr=8-1&keywords=the+setup+pete+crooks

Thanks for your attention!

                                                          ******************

There's the link to Amazon above, for all true crime and Kenda fans to check out the book.

I lived in Colorado Springs for over two decades and it was in the Springs that Kenda solved nearly 400 homicides. 

I just discovered Kenda on Investigation Discovery TV and am catching up with reruns. Imagine my surprise the other day when I saw my former boss, Howard Black, a former colleague of Kenda's on Lt. Joe Kenda: Homicide Hunter. I worked on a special short-term project as a civilian at the Colorado Springs Police Department, but never met Kenda. But I was  impressed by his former colleague, even though I did not know of Kenda back then.

So, all True Story Club readers--go check out Pete Crooks book, with a forward by Lt. Joe Kenda.

I haven't had a chance to read the book, but if it has the Kenda stamp of approval, I'm certain it's a great read.

My Guilty Pleasure-- Lt. Joe Kenda: Homicide Hunter

  I have a guilty pleasure and it's not sitting on the couch eating bon-bons, even though that could be arranged. It's Lt. Joe Kenda of Investigation Discovery's true crime show--Lt. Joe Kenda: Homicide Hunter.

  The odd thing is I just discovered Kenda a few months ago when channel surfing. It's a bonus that I lived in Colorado Springs for over 20 years, where Kenda solved almost 400 homicides.

We rolled into town just about the time Kenda was retiring from his stellar career, so we'd never heard of the detective until a few months ago.

                                                                        JOE KENDA




  For those not familiar with Colorado Springs, it is perhaps one of the country's most scenic mid-sized towns, nestled closer to the Rockies than Denver. The town exudes beauty, art, history and a friendly spirit.

  Who knew what evil lurked under the surface of that fair town.

 The other day I was working at a small shop in another part of Colorado and a browser came in. She and her friend were in southern Colorado on a work assignment and live in Aurora. For those not familiar with Colorado, Aurora is a suburb of Denver. While Aurora has very ritzy areas and fine people, parts of the suburb are among the roughest in Denver metro. At least that was my opinion based on the evening news when I lived in Denver metro.

  Out of the blue, this Aurora resident brings up Joe Kenda. She is delighted when I tell her that I am one of his biggest fans, even though I just discovered him a few months ago.

  She said," I'm telling everyone I know about Kenda and about Investigation Discovery channel. I believe everyone should watch a few of these true crime shows, just as a warning as to what is really happening in order to protect oneself. I mean, look, Colorado is portrayed as one of the safest places to live and if all this was happening in Colorado Springs...well..."

  I couldn't agree with her more.

  I was under the delusion that Colorado Springs had very low crime for a town of its size. And I suppose it does.

  But several years ago, as a juror, I spent nearly three months in the El Paso County courthouse with my fellow jurors intently watching over 100 witnesses, including members of the FBI, CBI, ATF, Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff's office testify.

  It was not just the trial that changed my mind about what lurks under a very wonderful city. It was going through security and metal detectors everyday and rubbing shoulders with obvious gang members and criminals and seeing their demeanor. I learned  how to read gang tattoos and gang tags, as a gang tag actually appeared in the courthouse.

  I was talking to a courthouse janitor, who told me not to worry, and to tell my fellow jurors not to worry about our safety--because if I ever saw the security in the courthouse, I would be amazed.

  But somehow all that security didn't prevent a gang banger from spraying a wall.

  But it was really Joe Kenda that opened my eyes to the violence and nature of some people.

  In our house, Kenda is a bit of a hero. He reminds me a bit of one of my other heroes, Winston Churchill.

  Watching Kenda the last few months, brought me back to my months as a juror. When the guilty verdict was read in our double-homicide case, I was watching the faces of the attorneys and the defendant, of course. Basically there was little facial reaction from them. But the lead homicide detective, who sat at the prosecutor's table most every day, nearly cried. He quickly regained his stoic expression. And then, I realized that most law enforcement authorities take it very personally. It is more than a job.

  It's obvious it was with Kenda.

  I just recently discovered that Kenda is a bit of a marketing machine on his Facebook page. I say amen to that. He earned that right.

  A bonus, besides Kenda's deadpan delivery and witticisms is the actor (also a real former law enforcement officer) Carl Marino, who plays the younger Kenda. Since I'm talking guilty pleasures, the fellow is pretty easy on the eyes and a compelling actor.

                                                                 CARL MARINO



  Yes, we at True Story Club love our true stories, including true crime. And especially Joe Kenda. It isn't often you find reality TV that alternately makes you chuckle and makes you think deep thoughts because Kenda knows how to condense the worst of human nature into a learning experience.

  One of my favorite Kenda quotes: " If you're going to be a liar, you should at least have the decency to be good at it."

  Yeah, Kenda! That's always been my major beef with criminals. Especially career criminals. At least be good at it--including lying.

  Ah, but most of all, I love Kenda's walk-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick approach. Kenda was mentioning that most alleged criminals expect the police to yell at them. But Kenda said he didn't raise his voice, because it's much scarier to people when he was arresting them to say in a very low voice that if they didn't do what he said, he's kill them right then and now.

  "And they always believed me," Kenda said.

  Ya know what? I believe you too, Lt. Kenda. And you are just one reason I believe in the power of good law enforcement.