Hey everybody!
So, big news on this end! we FINALLY got an apartment!! I am beyond excited. 600 sq ft to call our very own! We will be moving next weekend! It's all kind of a whirlwind, but we are thrilled.
Things are finally picking up and while I still have no discernable marketable direction in my life, the boy has gotten 3 job offers in the past 3 weeks! :) --thus, enabling this move to happen. I am so proud of him and his perseverance over these utterly soul-crushing long months.
There's so much I want to tell you! This couldn't have come at a more perfect time. We may even get to put up our own little Christmas tree. I may be offline for a bit but should be back up after the holidays with plenty of updates.
Until then, I'm trying to enjoy everything. Remain open and grateful and revel in my excitement!
xo
About Me
- Sara
- Denver, CO, United States
- Adventurer, wanderer, explorer extraordinaire. I love travel, yoga, photography, and cooking. I often pretend like I'm crafty, have a black rescue cat. This is the chronicling of my life from recent college grad with a degree in my pocket (with honors, thank you very much) and no immediate job prospects on the horizon--That little tidbit could be due to the fact that my boyfriend and I recently decided one day over cereal, "Hey! You know what would be a good idea? How about we uproot our stable lives, quit our jobs and move to Denver?!" And so we did. Just like that. We left the comfort of our 1100sq ft home and all our friends, ceremoniously quit our jobs and hit the road. One U-Haul, two cars, and one storage unit later, here we are! Livin' the dream in a cousin's basement and trolling the interwebs for employment in search for a better life in the Mile High City--To present day where we are living the dream in West Wash Park and planning our wedding after 3 wonderful and eventful years, in the 303.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Baby it's cold outside
Hello there everybody!
This has been a weekend of reflection for me. Normally this time of year, I would be lighting holiday scented candles and ordering seasonal flower arrangements. It's funny to think back, now that there is snow on the ground again and winter seems finally to have made up it's mind to stay, to when we first arrived here.
I remember snow pouring down, creating a pristine wonderland for me, welcoming me to my new home, as if to say "look what I have made for you. Perfect. Fresh. Shiny and new". In retrospect, it was a bit like that moment when Lucy, full of fear and excitement, pushes through the back of the wardrobe into a snowy, magical, unknown world. We pulled our U-haul into the storage unit and unloaded at 4:30 sharp, right as the first of what was to be 22 inches of snow, began to dust my eyelids. However, I did not share Lucy's plucky confidence. I felt exhausted, strained, stressed, and wavering somewhere between nervous vomiting and resigned fainting.
I remember the first time I took my car out in the snow. More snow than I had ever seen since I was a little kid and stepped off my front porch in NH-swaddled in so many layers of insulated, moisture retardant fabric, that I began to resemble a cross between a Weeble and the Michelin Man. The moment I stepped off the porch, I plummeted softly down, vanishing into a snow drift asserting it's vertical dominance over my mere 2 ft. frame. I don't remember this incident clearly, merely my mother's horrified and amused recounting of it. That first Denver snow, I drove my car so slowly I might as well have been pushing it around like a life size Hot Wheel instead of driving it. As anyone who has ever been in a vehicle with a significant other during a tense traffic situation knows, it is enough to test the mettle of even the most established of unions. I remember that night-sitting in a random Mexican restaurant in a random strip mall, too wired to eat, exchanging terse mono-syllabic quips, each in turn defeating well meaning intentions.
Now, I look at where we are. Still not perfect, but closer than we have been. I look back at those first trying weeks of "what have I done!?" and compare it to all the wonderful adventures we have had since we have been here. All the amazing, stories, opportunities and people. I think of how sometimes hardship brings you closer, makes you better than you ever thought possible. Not only has my relationship reached new heights during this year of trial and tribulation, but it has also brought me closer to this city in which I live. A city I love. A city that I am proud to be a part of, no matter what. A city that has opened it's heart and unfolded to me as I have unfolded unto it. A city that I now call home and can't imagine leaving. 10 months. 10 of the most taxing and rewarding months I have known.
We almost seem to have come full circle. While it's not over yet and while we still face our fair share of struggles, we have started to look at apartments again. The market is opening up. We are closer to pursuing our dream, and we have the hope of a brighter future. I am not sure I can adequately explain what it means to again be in this space of searching for home-only that now it seems that home is a place not an idea. I still miss my family quite terribly and part of me will never feel at home unless I am with them, but all this is part of growing up I suppose. And, maybe in the end I haven't done such a bang up job of it after all. We are finally in a place we should be-the place we should have been when we first arrived-a place where we are finding and creating our own little home. But, should is a tricky word....for, without all the in-between, the struggle, the wandering,...none of this immense personal growth and emotional tempering would have been possible. I wouldn't have been able to fully appreciate where I am now-on the precipice of starting something new and exciting once again. On the doorstep of my own future front door...
This has been a weekend of reflection for me. Normally this time of year, I would be lighting holiday scented candles and ordering seasonal flower arrangements. It's funny to think back, now that there is snow on the ground again and winter seems finally to have made up it's mind to stay, to when we first arrived here.
I remember snow pouring down, creating a pristine wonderland for me, welcoming me to my new home, as if to say "look what I have made for you. Perfect. Fresh. Shiny and new". In retrospect, it was a bit like that moment when Lucy, full of fear and excitement, pushes through the back of the wardrobe into a snowy, magical, unknown world. We pulled our U-haul into the storage unit and unloaded at 4:30 sharp, right as the first of what was to be 22 inches of snow, began to dust my eyelids. However, I did not share Lucy's plucky confidence. I felt exhausted, strained, stressed, and wavering somewhere between nervous vomiting and resigned fainting.
I remember the first time I took my car out in the snow. More snow than I had ever seen since I was a little kid and stepped off my front porch in NH-swaddled in so many layers of insulated, moisture retardant fabric, that I began to resemble a cross between a Weeble and the Michelin Man. The moment I stepped off the porch, I plummeted softly down, vanishing into a snow drift asserting it's vertical dominance over my mere 2 ft. frame. I don't remember this incident clearly, merely my mother's horrified and amused recounting of it. That first Denver snow, I drove my car so slowly I might as well have been pushing it around like a life size Hot Wheel instead of driving it. As anyone who has ever been in a vehicle with a significant other during a tense traffic situation knows, it is enough to test the mettle of even the most established of unions. I remember that night-sitting in a random Mexican restaurant in a random strip mall, too wired to eat, exchanging terse mono-syllabic quips, each in turn defeating well meaning intentions.
Now, I look at where we are. Still not perfect, but closer than we have been. I look back at those first trying weeks of "what have I done!?" and compare it to all the wonderful adventures we have had since we have been here. All the amazing, stories, opportunities and people. I think of how sometimes hardship brings you closer, makes you better than you ever thought possible. Not only has my relationship reached new heights during this year of trial and tribulation, but it has also brought me closer to this city in which I live. A city I love. A city that I am proud to be a part of, no matter what. A city that has opened it's heart and unfolded to me as I have unfolded unto it. A city that I now call home and can't imagine leaving. 10 months. 10 of the most taxing and rewarding months I have known.
We almost seem to have come full circle. While it's not over yet and while we still face our fair share of struggles, we have started to look at apartments again. The market is opening up. We are closer to pursuing our dream, and we have the hope of a brighter future. I am not sure I can adequately explain what it means to again be in this space of searching for home-only that now it seems that home is a place not an idea. I still miss my family quite terribly and part of me will never feel at home unless I am with them, but all this is part of growing up I suppose. And, maybe in the end I haven't done such a bang up job of it after all. We are finally in a place we should be-the place we should have been when we first arrived-a place where we are finding and creating our own little home. But, should is a tricky word....for, without all the in-between, the struggle, the wandering,...none of this immense personal growth and emotional tempering would have been possible. I wouldn't have been able to fully appreciate where I am now-on the precipice of starting something new and exciting once again. On the doorstep of my own future front door...
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Winter is coming...
Hi all!
Well, it's October 6th and day 2 of snow. I wasn't prepared for the sudden and rapid change from blissful 65 degree days and gradually changing leaves to 30 degrees and snowing. I was just beginning to drag my long sleeves out of storage and now I suddenly have on the mattress warmer and the down comforter. While I'm not a cold weather fan by any means, I do kind of enjoy it. I love having an excuse to turn on the fireplace and it all feels so very...Colorado! :)
(To make me even more of a native hipster, I've begun working on my repurposed bike and bottle chandelier)
After a rough day on Thursday I went out with my new best local gal pal and we went to Stingers, a nice upscale diner sort of place that was packed to the gills. Both the food and the cocktails were quite good, and rather inexpensive all things considered. I had chicken in a parmesan sauce with a large amount of leeks, which was closer in actuality to a leek salad, and a coffee infused vodka martini which tasted like heaven.
We then moseyed downtown to Appaloosa Grill which has live music every night and a late night happy hour menu of epic proportions. The band wasn't all that great, but we had fun, chatted with the guys, and they even dedicated a song to us! We continued our potato binge, honoring my people's national vegetable in true style, and split an order of the truffle fries. They were so garlicky we could barely finish them. Still, it was one of the best nights I've had in a long time. There's nothing an open mind, a strong drink, and a good friend can't fix!
Well, it's October 6th and day 2 of snow. I wasn't prepared for the sudden and rapid change from blissful 65 degree days and gradually changing leaves to 30 degrees and snowing. I was just beginning to drag my long sleeves out of storage and now I suddenly have on the mattress warmer and the down comforter. While I'm not a cold weather fan by any means, I do kind of enjoy it. I love having an excuse to turn on the fireplace and it all feels so very...Colorado! :)
(To make me even more of a native hipster, I've begun working on my repurposed bike and bottle chandelier)
After a rough day on Thursday I went out with my new best local gal pal and we went to Stingers, a nice upscale diner sort of place that was packed to the gills. Both the food and the cocktails were quite good, and rather inexpensive all things considered. I had chicken in a parmesan sauce with a large amount of leeks, which was closer in actuality to a leek salad, and a coffee infused vodka martini which tasted like heaven.
We then moseyed downtown to Appaloosa Grill which has live music every night and a late night happy hour menu of epic proportions. The band wasn't all that great, but we had fun, chatted with the guys, and they even dedicated a song to us! We continued our potato binge, honoring my people's national vegetable in true style, and split an order of the truffle fries. They were so garlicky we could barely finish them. Still, it was one of the best nights I've had in a long time. There's nothing an open mind, a strong drink, and a good friend can't fix!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Slancha!
Happy Fall everyone!
I love fall. It is my absolute favorite season. The leaves changing, the smell of fireplaces burning, football and pumpkin lattes, fall has always held such a sense of renewal and promise for me.
So far, the promise of positive autumn energy is off to a rocking start- the man has an interview! :)
This weekend we made the most of the spectacular whether and went to downtown's Ocktoberfest! It was kind of expensive ($5 a beer) but it was a good time. We walked around, enjoyed some Sam Adams Ocktoberfest, listened to good music. Each booth supported a different cause, so we spent a lot of time at the Feline Rescue booth. The venue itself was rather sparse, the majority of it being blocked out for Living Social, and every other spot was either selling sausage or pretzel or beer. There were yodeling men in leiderhosen! As with any event, it was the company that made everything worth while and the boy and I had a fantastic time laughing and bonding over some good brew.
Right now, the game is on and we are enjoying the remains of a lazy weekend.
We also started subbing in on a sand volleyball team, which has been a great (free!) way to meet people, enjoy the last of the good weather, and get some exercise. We discovered a local sports bar that we like where the games are held and so far everyone we've met has been super cool. It's nice to start building a social network again.
Things may be manifesting a bit differently this fall than they have for me in the past. I have to look a little harder, and in some different places, but there are still good times to be had and great things in the air.. and we are continuing to make the best of it! All in all, things are starting to look up...!
I love fall. It is my absolute favorite season. The leaves changing, the smell of fireplaces burning, football and pumpkin lattes, fall has always held such a sense of renewal and promise for me.
So far, the promise of positive autumn energy is off to a rocking start- the man has an interview! :)
This weekend we made the most of the spectacular whether and went to downtown's Ocktoberfest! It was kind of expensive ($5 a beer) but it was a good time. We walked around, enjoyed some Sam Adams Ocktoberfest, listened to good music. Each booth supported a different cause, so we spent a lot of time at the Feline Rescue booth. The venue itself was rather sparse, the majority of it being blocked out for Living Social, and every other spot was either selling sausage or pretzel or beer. There were yodeling men in leiderhosen! As with any event, it was the company that made everything worth while and the boy and I had a fantastic time laughing and bonding over some good brew.
Right now, the game is on and we are enjoying the remains of a lazy weekend.
We also started subbing in on a sand volleyball team, which has been a great (free!) way to meet people, enjoy the last of the good weather, and get some exercise. We discovered a local sports bar that we like where the games are held and so far everyone we've met has been super cool. It's nice to start building a social network again.
Things may be manifesting a bit differently this fall than they have for me in the past. I have to look a little harder, and in some different places, but there are still good times to be had and great things in the air.. and we are continuing to make the best of it! All in all, things are starting to look up...!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Hello again, old friend...
Hello there!
It's been a while. I know you've missed me-my legions of adoring fans! hah.
Adventures have abounded! First up: Aspen.
Weekend before last, I drove up to Aspen for the weekend to see some family. I wussed out on taking Independence pass, so that's a drive I still really want to take. It was a pretty hefty 4hour drive, not including the times where my GPS decided to have schizophrenic episodes due to dropped signal while traveling through the mountains. LEFT! RIGHT! RECALCULATING ROUTE: DRIVE OFF CLIFF, THEN PROCEED LEFT!
Aspen itself was very lovely, though too small for me. Quaint is a good word. It seemed a very Stepford town...the fancy cars, the designer shops, the inhabitants literally dripping with money weren't really my scene, but I loved the outdoor European style restaurants/cafe's and the beautiful rolling hills. And, we were able to walk around, enjoy happy hour cocktails, take-out crepes, and Shakespeare in the park, all for under $100! The next day we went for a fantastic 10 mile hike and ended up at a surprise costume party. The next morning, it became clear that I had a case of altitude sickness. Too many martinis + not enough sleep+ 10,000ft = owie. Aspen is a wonderful retreat, but not a place I could live year round.
Next up: The Denver Zoo
I had never been to the zoo here before, so this was a treat. The zoo itself is ginormous! We walked and walked and walked. And, walked. I got to finally see the Toyota Elephant passage and we saw the elephant show with Bodie, which was awesome! It was so cool to see an elephant up close, though I would have preferred to have had the experience in the midst of an Asian jungle rather than surrounded by sugar addled 4yr olds. I gave myself major bonus points for finding the sloth hidden in the tropical birds exhibit, as he was perched high atop a tree doing his best imitation of bark. The boy and I shared an ice cream cone, enjoyed the beautiful day, and overall agreed that giraffes smell.
Adventure numero three: First Friday on Santa Fe and El Noa Noa
I had been to Santa Fe before on a Sunday morning when it was next to deserted. Friday night, it was entirely transformed! I couldn't believe it! There were musicians and food trucks and people of all kinds spilling over into the streets. All the galleries were bursting and bustling with life. We went to a repurposed church to see the debut exhibition of paintings by the boy's cousin. My only complaint really is that it was so crowded that it made meandering kind of difficult unless you knew exactly were you were going. I loved the vibrancy and youth and creative counter culture pulsing all around me though! I will definitely go back again. Our art adventure left us a bit peckish and we walked over to El Noa Noa, which was voted by Westword and others as having the best Mexican food in the city. We had a delicious margarita and some Fajitas. It was expensive for what it was, but it was still an enjoyable affair. The sounds and smells...it was a city and a culture alive, and I was part of it!
The final frontier: Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX.
Another experience you could only have in an amazing city like Denver. The theatre was neat-a knock off of the famous Grumman's Chinese Theatre in LA. I must say, I didn't get any deeper of an appreciation seeing the film in IMAX. In fact, the best part was probably seeing the trailer for the new Hobbit movie and the Life of Pi (one of my favorite books) on such a large scale and with such amazing sound. Today we are going for a bike ride and going to a sports bar to watch the first Bronco's game of the season like the true Denverites we are becoming! :)
Let the adventures continue!...
It's been a while. I know you've missed me-my legions of adoring fans! hah.
Adventures have abounded! First up: Aspen.
Weekend before last, I drove up to Aspen for the weekend to see some family. I wussed out on taking Independence pass, so that's a drive I still really want to take. It was a pretty hefty 4hour drive, not including the times where my GPS decided to have schizophrenic episodes due to dropped signal while traveling through the mountains. LEFT! RIGHT! RECALCULATING ROUTE: DRIVE OFF CLIFF, THEN PROCEED LEFT!
Aspen itself was very lovely, though too small for me. Quaint is a good word. It seemed a very Stepford town...the fancy cars, the designer shops, the inhabitants literally dripping with money weren't really my scene, but I loved the outdoor European style restaurants/cafe's and the beautiful rolling hills. And, we were able to walk around, enjoy happy hour cocktails, take-out crepes, and Shakespeare in the park, all for under $100! The next day we went for a fantastic 10 mile hike and ended up at a surprise costume party. The next morning, it became clear that I had a case of altitude sickness. Too many martinis + not enough sleep+ 10,000ft = owie. Aspen is a wonderful retreat, but not a place I could live year round.
Next up: The Denver Zoo
I had never been to the zoo here before, so this was a treat. The zoo itself is ginormous! We walked and walked and walked. And, walked. I got to finally see the Toyota Elephant passage and we saw the elephant show with Bodie, which was awesome! It was so cool to see an elephant up close, though I would have preferred to have had the experience in the midst of an Asian jungle rather than surrounded by sugar addled 4yr olds. I gave myself major bonus points for finding the sloth hidden in the tropical birds exhibit, as he was perched high atop a tree doing his best imitation of bark. The boy and I shared an ice cream cone, enjoyed the beautiful day, and overall agreed that giraffes smell.
Adventure numero three: First Friday on Santa Fe and El Noa Noa
I had been to Santa Fe before on a Sunday morning when it was next to deserted. Friday night, it was entirely transformed! I couldn't believe it! There were musicians and food trucks and people of all kinds spilling over into the streets. All the galleries were bursting and bustling with life. We went to a repurposed church to see the debut exhibition of paintings by the boy's cousin. My only complaint really is that it was so crowded that it made meandering kind of difficult unless you knew exactly were you were going. I loved the vibrancy and youth and creative counter culture pulsing all around me though! I will definitely go back again. Our art adventure left us a bit peckish and we walked over to El Noa Noa, which was voted by Westword and others as having the best Mexican food in the city. We had a delicious margarita and some Fajitas. It was expensive for what it was, but it was still an enjoyable affair. The sounds and smells...it was a city and a culture alive, and I was part of it!
The final frontier: Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX.
Another experience you could only have in an amazing city like Denver. The theatre was neat-a knock off of the famous Grumman's Chinese Theatre in LA. I must say, I didn't get any deeper of an appreciation seeing the film in IMAX. In fact, the best part was probably seeing the trailer for the new Hobbit movie and the Life of Pi (one of my favorite books) on such a large scale and with such amazing sound. Today we are going for a bike ride and going to a sports bar to watch the first Bronco's game of the season like the true Denverites we are becoming! :)
Let the adventures continue!...
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Gratitude is the name of the game
Hello again friends!
My adventures of late have been more of a culinary nature (leave it to a non-meat eater to make pork chops into hockey pucks)... However, big news on the headlines these days is that I snagged me a job!
Yours truly is now a part time receptionist at a veterinary clinic , and possibly a soon to be part time personal assistant as well! Please don't let me stand in your way, while visions of Renne Zelwiger as the pouty yet plucky blond heroine, down on her luck when suddenly she lands a job in an adorable local animal hospital surrounded by puppies and kittens and an assorted cast of oddball yet well-meaning doctors (possibly played by Owen Wilson and Meryl Streep) in the Lifetime movie adaptation of my life play out before you. Not that I've given this any thought or anything. While I'll still be struggling to pay the bills and make ends meet, I am eternally grateful not to have to wake up every morning and stalk the job boards. It is a welcome and wonderful reprieve and I am delighted to have the opportunity. Right now I'm enjoying the flexibility of a part time schedule, seeing as how the BF also landed a very exciting gig of his own which will have him shipping off to Antarctica for a month in just a few short weeks!
So, here we go! Off on new adventures! I will keep you updated as the job develops, the plot thickens, and the heroine escapes with her hero to exotic new locales where her Barbie dream house awaits!
My adventures of late have been more of a culinary nature (leave it to a non-meat eater to make pork chops into hockey pucks)... However, big news on the headlines these days is that I snagged me a job!
Yours truly is now a part time receptionist at a veterinary clinic , and possibly a soon to be part time personal assistant as well! Please don't let me stand in your way, while visions of Renne Zelwiger as the pouty yet plucky blond heroine, down on her luck when suddenly she lands a job in an adorable local animal hospital surrounded by puppies and kittens and an assorted cast of oddball yet well-meaning doctors (possibly played by Owen Wilson and Meryl Streep) in the Lifetime movie adaptation of my life play out before you. Not that I've given this any thought or anything. While I'll still be struggling to pay the bills and make ends meet, I am eternally grateful not to have to wake up every morning and stalk the job boards. It is a welcome and wonderful reprieve and I am delighted to have the opportunity. Right now I'm enjoying the flexibility of a part time schedule, seeing as how the BF also landed a very exciting gig of his own which will have him shipping off to Antarctica for a month in just a few short weeks!
So, here we go! Off on new adventures! I will keep you updated as the job develops, the plot thickens, and the heroine escapes with her hero to exotic new locales where her Barbie dream house awaits!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Summertime and the livin' is...hot
Ok, I know I'm overdue, but I've been trotting around a bit. I never thought it would be cooler in New Mexico than in Denver! While I can't quite be friends with rum again yet, I can tell you about my pre-trip adventures and my sun soaked summer nights in the good old 303.
A week or so ago, at the start of this lovely heatwave is when I believe we became true Denverites. Not because we've been here nearly 6 months, or for any date derived reason, but because we (mainly I) decided that heat wave be damned! We were going to go ride our bikes around Wash Park!... during peak heat. FYI for those meteorological newbies like myself this does not occur at noon as it does in the East but rather between 3-4pm. And, we were not alone! Like other bike loving Denver hipsterites, we hit the paths surrounded by other like-minded maniacs. We even bought ice cream from the shady ice cream stand by the boathouse, and ate cherries in the shade while the grass tickled our toes....
Later that evening, we went to the infamous Rock Bar on Colfax. The best little dive bar in Denver. It's inside a super sketch motel (we took bets on what the rooms looked like: Quater massaging beds? Round Beds? Mirrors on the ceilings? Water beds?) where there was even a special appearance by McLovin' himself in all his tube sock glory! But-lest I disparage this little gem too much, let me tell you, it has the BEST dancing anywhere I've been so far (thanks in part to my new friend DJ Gatsby). No cover charge, and the best booty shakin' tunes you could ask for 'till 2 AM. The drink selection is...limited, but the people watching is gold. That is, if you can take a break from dancing long enough to look around. I highly recommend you check it out and bring your dancing shoes!
Until next time,
xo
A week or so ago, at the start of this lovely heatwave is when I believe we became true Denverites. Not because we've been here nearly 6 months, or for any date derived reason, but because we (mainly I) decided that heat wave be damned! We were going to go ride our bikes around Wash Park!... during peak heat. FYI for those meteorological newbies like myself this does not occur at noon as it does in the East but rather between 3-4pm. And, we were not alone! Like other bike loving Denver hipsterites, we hit the paths surrounded by other like-minded maniacs. We even bought ice cream from the shady ice cream stand by the boathouse, and ate cherries in the shade while the grass tickled our toes....
Later that evening, we went to the infamous Rock Bar on Colfax. The best little dive bar in Denver. It's inside a super sketch motel (we took bets on what the rooms looked like: Quater massaging beds? Round Beds? Mirrors on the ceilings? Water beds?) where there was even a special appearance by McLovin' himself in all his tube sock glory! But-lest I disparage this little gem too much, let me tell you, it has the BEST dancing anywhere I've been so far (thanks in part to my new friend DJ Gatsby). No cover charge, and the best booty shakin' tunes you could ask for 'till 2 AM. The drink selection is...limited, but the people watching is gold. That is, if you can take a break from dancing long enough to look around. I highly recommend you check it out and bring your dancing shoes!
Until next time,
xo
Monday, June 18, 2012
Museum Madness
Father's Day Edition...
We went to the Museum of Science and Nature aka the Natural History Museum on Sunday for their free day. Bad idea as this was also father's day and the place was absolutely slammed! You couldn't walk 10 feet without hitting a stroller or stray child, but, it was still a good museum! 3 floors of solid exhibits, even if some of them weren't in working order. I am apparently clinically dead, as I didn't register on any of the Health/Body exhibit scanners. Good to know. Stealth Ninja level 10 achieved! While boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed all the gross googly bits, I quietly wandered off to look at the buffalo and try and keep my lunch down.
Afterwards, to atone for forcing the man friend to enjoy several hours of cultural enrichment, I brought him to the famous Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs to enjoy a bacon dog with bacon on top. One thing I have learned since living in Denver is that food that is supposed to be cheap, is not. After a grand total of $12 we parted ways with our hostess and I sat down to gawk at all the Ludo Le Fevre posters and Food Network accolades. I got the Cilantro Duck Dog wtih cream cheese and caramelized onions and a side of grilled cauliflower. It was sweeter than expected-the cream cheese a definite win. But overall, the duck wasn't as creamy as I had expected, and our chocolate milkshake was merely lukewarm. Man friend's fries were good though, and the cauliflower scored high. Although the experience was a bit mared by the stress of having to parallell park between a Triumph and Minivan while being approached by 2 separate pan handlers at once.
Overall, I give Biker Jim's a 4 and the DMSN a 6 on the scale of suck to awesome.
Onward and forward to other Denver adventures!
We went to the Museum of Science and Nature aka the Natural History Museum on Sunday for their free day. Bad idea as this was also father's day and the place was absolutely slammed! You couldn't walk 10 feet without hitting a stroller or stray child, but, it was still a good museum! 3 floors of solid exhibits, even if some of them weren't in working order. I am apparently clinically dead, as I didn't register on any of the Health/Body exhibit scanners. Good to know. Stealth Ninja level 10 achieved! While boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed all the gross googly bits, I quietly wandered off to look at the buffalo and try and keep my lunch down.
Afterwards, to atone for forcing the man friend to enjoy several hours of cultural enrichment, I brought him to the famous Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs to enjoy a bacon dog with bacon on top. One thing I have learned since living in Denver is that food that is supposed to be cheap, is not. After a grand total of $12 we parted ways with our hostess and I sat down to gawk at all the Ludo Le Fevre posters and Food Network accolades. I got the Cilantro Duck Dog wtih cream cheese and caramelized onions and a side of grilled cauliflower. It was sweeter than expected-the cream cheese a definite win. But overall, the duck wasn't as creamy as I had expected, and our chocolate milkshake was merely lukewarm. Man friend's fries were good though, and the cauliflower scored high. Although the experience was a bit mared by the stress of having to parallell park between a Triumph and Minivan while being approached by 2 separate pan handlers at once.
Overall, I give Biker Jim's a 4 and the DMSN a 6 on the scale of suck to awesome.
Onward and forward to other Denver adventures!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Follow my creative meanderings on Polyvore!
I am now on Polyvore.com! You can follow my creative endeavors there!
Here is a sample of what you can find...
Here is a sample of what you can find...
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Car Crashes and Traffic Jams
"For once I wanna be the car crash/not always just the traffic jam"
- SnowpatrolToday, I was in a car crash. No worries, I am alright and thankfully, my car is intact. If car crashes can be figurative as well as literal, I've been having a lot of emotional car wrecks lately as well. I'm not proud of it, but there it is. I've been so stressed out and disappointed with everything. Still no job and even less money...Where is my spirit of adventure? What's happened?
Our friend Bob came into town yesterday and we gave him the good ole Denver show. We went to Sams no.3, which my bf claims has "the best green chile in Denver!" Their portions are also enormous. The "Kitchen Sink" burrito is, literally, the size of a kitchen sink. We walked from there to Denver Beer Co. off Platte, which took about 20 minutes through the park and across the river. I tried their Rasberry Klosch, which was surprising and pretty good! Crisp, tart, fizzy and light. They get my vote for best downtown brewery, since they had a big pump station where you could get sunblock -it is patio season afterall- and the bartender was really knowledgable about everything and talked/joked with us while we drank. From there we went to Breckenridge, where I sampled their "mojito ale" which tasted like a skunky IPA more than anything else, and had no hint of mint. Then, we took the shuttle back to Rock Bottom who's mango mojitos never fail to disappoint.
From there, we were off to Lakewood where we are house/cat sitting for some friends of ours. It's nice to be in a new part of town and explore what it has to offer. I am checking out a new yoga studio in this part of town tonight and will report back with a verdict. It's nice to have some kid-free space to ourselves and I'm trying to stay open to adventure and embrace the chaos. Looking on the bright side, my bug bites from Texas are fading and I'm allowing my mind to wander towards the delicious fantasy of planning a camping trip to Moab.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
4 day weekend follies
So, it's Tuesday. I've made it out on the other side of the long weekend safely, and with my liver mostly intact. It's been a busy weekend full of adventures!
Friday 4/25
I had a spectacular interview and was feeling great, ready to kick off the weekend with energy and pizzaz! I decided to forgo my usual evening yoga class in favor of a celebratory trip to the Renegade Food Truck Fair. Money is hard to come by these days, but I wasn't feeling too anxious as admission was free and where I come from, cart food is cheap. In New York you can get a bagel and coffee for $1.25 or you can get a phenomenal falafel for $3. In Denver, you can get cheese fries for $7 or a mini pizza for $10. I did not see one thing on the menu that was under $6-except the cupcake, which was a mere $4- so I decided to indulge in the dinner of champions. My boyfriend and I split a disappointing side of green chili cheese fries and each had a few beers, trading off who bought the next round. Despite the ill success of the culinary aspect of the evening, we still had a wonderful time enjoying eachother's company and the warmth of the summer night, inhaling the smell of kitchen grease, and watching the Rockies game on the big screen. Even if I wasn't able to make out like a bandit with some of Stubens fried brussel sprouts (side note: should toats be on the mobile food truck menu!) the evening was a blast.
Saturday 4/26
Uneventful day at children's birthday party.
Sunday 4/27
This was an interesting day. It began nicely enough, doing some yard work around the house and battling hoards of flesh hungry ants. Then the time had come. The dreaded and appointed hour. We had been invited to a house party for a friend of ours from high school who had also recently moved and was celebrating his one year anniversary of life in the 303. Did I mention that also in attendance at this party was an ex-boyfriend of mine who I hadn't seen or spoken to since our not-so-pretty breakup Senior year of high school? Um, yeah. The level of awkwardness cannot be overstated here, ladies and gents. When I was able to restrain my contempt to a socially acceptable level, we briefly exchanged polite niceties before quickly parting ways again, which was fine by me as in my belief Ex's are to be treated as The Doctor would treat a Dalek (for you non Who nerds that means to be kept at a distance with minimal contact and regarded with general distrust). I was slightly disappointed that I didn't walk away having made a slew of new friends as I had hoped. It was however, nice to see our friend and get out of the house a bit. And, I learned that I can't keep expecting that everyone I meet will magically, instantaneously become my new closest friend who will go on shopping trips with me or spend Thursday nights eating Ben and Jerry's from the carton with while watching old SATC re-runs with me. Maybe, just this once I need to stop expecting so much of everyone around me, just let go, and enjoy the ride....
Monday 4/28
More yard work, followed by an afternoon in Wash Park. I had organized my first Denver get-together and was a bit anxious as to how it would turn out. The turnout was small, as most everyone was still recovering from their partying the night before. I broke the bank at Whole Foods for some picnic snacks, we grabbed the sun shade (best invention ever!) blanket, and headed out. As usual, the park was packed! But, this time we knew where to go and were able to get a good spot by the nets, where we eventually ended up playing volleyball with a few nice random strangers who hit it off with some members of our group. While the motley crue that did turn out wasn't quite what I expected, we still enjoyed a lovely day in the grass under the shade, played a few rounds of ball, and had some good food. So, not a total bust. Again, the Universe seemed to be telling me that the more I resisted and insisted on some preconceived notion of perfection, the farther things would drift from that ideal. I am in charge of my own happiness, and the best way to get there is to let go! Relax, and don't hold on so tight.
So, there we are. That was the weekend in a nutshell. Blog fodder at least! I know it's not that interesting, but these are my adventures as I have sworn to document them: with humor, humility and honesty.
Friday 4/25
I had a spectacular interview and was feeling great, ready to kick off the weekend with energy and pizzaz! I decided to forgo my usual evening yoga class in favor of a celebratory trip to the Renegade Food Truck Fair. Money is hard to come by these days, but I wasn't feeling too anxious as admission was free and where I come from, cart food is cheap. In New York you can get a bagel and coffee for $1.25 or you can get a phenomenal falafel for $3. In Denver, you can get cheese fries for $7 or a mini pizza for $10. I did not see one thing on the menu that was under $6-except the cupcake, which was a mere $4- so I decided to indulge in the dinner of champions. My boyfriend and I split a disappointing side of green chili cheese fries and each had a few beers, trading off who bought the next round. Despite the ill success of the culinary aspect of the evening, we still had a wonderful time enjoying eachother's company and the warmth of the summer night, inhaling the smell of kitchen grease, and watching the Rockies game on the big screen. Even if I wasn't able to make out like a bandit with some of Stubens fried brussel sprouts (side note: should toats be on the mobile food truck menu!) the evening was a blast.
Saturday 4/26
Uneventful day at children's birthday party.
Sunday 4/27
This was an interesting day. It began nicely enough, doing some yard work around the house and battling hoards of flesh hungry ants. Then the time had come. The dreaded and appointed hour. We had been invited to a house party for a friend of ours from high school who had also recently moved and was celebrating his one year anniversary of life in the 303. Did I mention that also in attendance at this party was an ex-boyfriend of mine who I hadn't seen or spoken to since our not-so-pretty breakup Senior year of high school? Um, yeah. The level of awkwardness cannot be overstated here, ladies and gents. When I was able to restrain my contempt to a socially acceptable level, we briefly exchanged polite niceties before quickly parting ways again, which was fine by me as in my belief Ex's are to be treated as The Doctor would treat a Dalek (for you non Who nerds that means to be kept at a distance with minimal contact and regarded with general distrust). I was slightly disappointed that I didn't walk away having made a slew of new friends as I had hoped. It was however, nice to see our friend and get out of the house a bit. And, I learned that I can't keep expecting that everyone I meet will magically, instantaneously become my new closest friend who will go on shopping trips with me or spend Thursday nights eating Ben and Jerry's from the carton with while watching old SATC re-runs with me. Maybe, just this once I need to stop expecting so much of everyone around me, just let go, and enjoy the ride....
Monday 4/28
More yard work, followed by an afternoon in Wash Park. I had organized my first Denver get-together and was a bit anxious as to how it would turn out. The turnout was small, as most everyone was still recovering from their partying the night before. I broke the bank at Whole Foods for some picnic snacks, we grabbed the sun shade (best invention ever!) blanket, and headed out. As usual, the park was packed! But, this time we knew where to go and were able to get a good spot by the nets, where we eventually ended up playing volleyball with a few nice random strangers who hit it off with some members of our group. While the motley crue that did turn out wasn't quite what I expected, we still enjoyed a lovely day in the grass under the shade, played a few rounds of ball, and had some good food. So, not a total bust. Again, the Universe seemed to be telling me that the more I resisted and insisted on some preconceived notion of perfection, the farther things would drift from that ideal. I am in charge of my own happiness, and the best way to get there is to let go! Relax, and don't hold on so tight.
So, there we are. That was the weekend in a nutshell. Blog fodder at least! I know it's not that interesting, but these are my adventures as I have sworn to document them: with humor, humility and honesty.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Flea Market Flop
On Sunday, I explored the Mile High Market.
Excited by the prospect of of sifting through vintage chic treasures and scoring the season's first organic morels and local goat cheese, I set off to Henderson, a tad worried that my 11am departure meant I would miss out on the best baguette.
Boy, was I wrong! I arrived and paid $6 to park ($3 in admission fees and $3 in ATM fees to get cash money to pay for said admission fee). My first clue about my misadventure should have been in the parking lot when I pulled in next to a truck who's paint job made me feel like I was idling next to an amusement park ride in all it's glittery mauve glory. Hey, if you've got it...flaunt it?
Afterwards, I strode through the gates ready to begin my buying adventure! I wish I'd had my real camera, My shiny expensive $500 Canon D5 that makes me look like a real photographer and not some artsy poser clutching an Instagram cell phone, because maybe then people would take me seriously while I photographed the Marachi leader in the Yankee cap, or the booth of wigs and plastic Virgin de Guadelupes. (though, as it turns out, the only person I needed to be taken seriously by was myself. Or perhaps, to take myself less seriously.) This was not at all what I expected. Vendors hawked fleece Raiders blankets and Playboy paraphernalia. Plastic AK47's hung next to inflatable Spider Man mallets and shiny "designer" shoes and sunglasses... What is this place?! In the farmer's market section, I was dismayed to find only a dubious selection of fruit and chili. I wandered aimlessly for 30 minutes or so, attempting to stumble on some kernel, some oasis, of what it was I had hoped to find. No such luck.
Later, empty handed and stuck in traffic on I-225, I had to wonder...was this some version of the new American dream? Instead of nostalgia laden trinkets and yuppie farm to table produce, I had found something entirely different. Not a flirtation with the past, but a staunch declaration of the shiny new now. ..I won't get much further into this tangled tangent on shifting socioeconomics or racial politics, but I will explore something related: ideas of fear and courage.
It has come to my attention what a walking contradiction I am. While I apparently have no qualms about uprooting my life and moving to a new state where I have no immediate social or employment prospects, or cold e-mailing companies my resume- things that I'm sure would terrify any normal human-I do apparently lack the courage to declare myself an artist without the proof in hand. Instead of walking up to Mr. Mariachi and saying, "you have such an interesting face. Do you mind if I take your photo?" I silently slink by, ingraining his image to memory and disparaging my lack of preparedness. I bet Christiane Amanpour doesn't ask herself for permission to be brave! It takes courage to embrace your inner artist. You'd think I would have figured this out by now, coming from a family of artists! And, while I seem to be perfectly capable of handling rejection in every other aspect of my life, it appears I have yet to master the realm of artistic rejection. Even when the only one doing the rejection is myself. So, perhaps in this regard, the market wasn't a flop after all... in an effort to become yourself, you first have to believe in yourself.
Moral of the story: Sometimes the biggest bully we have to stand up to, is ourselves. Stop waiting for permission to be the intrepid artist and as Nike would say, "Just do it".
Excited by the prospect of of sifting through vintage chic treasures and scoring the season's first organic morels and local goat cheese, I set off to Henderson, a tad worried that my 11am departure meant I would miss out on the best baguette.
Boy, was I wrong! I arrived and paid $6 to park ($3 in admission fees and $3 in ATM fees to get cash money to pay for said admission fee). My first clue about my misadventure should have been in the parking lot when I pulled in next to a truck who's paint job made me feel like I was idling next to an amusement park ride in all it's glittery mauve glory. Hey, if you've got it...flaunt it?
Afterwards, I strode through the gates ready to begin my buying adventure! I wish I'd had my real camera, My shiny expensive $500 Canon D5 that makes me look like a real photographer and not some artsy poser clutching an Instagram cell phone, because maybe then people would take me seriously while I photographed the Marachi leader in the Yankee cap, or the booth of wigs and plastic Virgin de Guadelupes. (though, as it turns out, the only person I needed to be taken seriously by was myself. Or perhaps, to take myself less seriously.) This was not at all what I expected. Vendors hawked fleece Raiders blankets and Playboy paraphernalia. Plastic AK47's hung next to inflatable Spider Man mallets and shiny "designer" shoes and sunglasses... What is this place?! In the farmer's market section, I was dismayed to find only a dubious selection of fruit and chili. I wandered aimlessly for 30 minutes or so, attempting to stumble on some kernel, some oasis, of what it was I had hoped to find. No such luck.
Later, empty handed and stuck in traffic on I-225, I had to wonder...was this some version of the new American dream? Instead of nostalgia laden trinkets and yuppie farm to table produce, I had found something entirely different. Not a flirtation with the past, but a staunch declaration of the shiny new now. ..I won't get much further into this tangled tangent on shifting socioeconomics or racial politics, but I will explore something related: ideas of fear and courage.
It has come to my attention what a walking contradiction I am. While I apparently have no qualms about uprooting my life and moving to a new state where I have no immediate social or employment prospects, or cold e-mailing companies my resume- things that I'm sure would terrify any normal human-I do apparently lack the courage to declare myself an artist without the proof in hand. Instead of walking up to Mr. Mariachi and saying, "you have such an interesting face. Do you mind if I take your photo?" I silently slink by, ingraining his image to memory and disparaging my lack of preparedness. I bet Christiane Amanpour doesn't ask herself for permission to be brave! It takes courage to embrace your inner artist. You'd think I would have figured this out by now, coming from a family of artists! And, while I seem to be perfectly capable of handling rejection in every other aspect of my life, it appears I have yet to master the realm of artistic rejection. Even when the only one doing the rejection is myself. So, perhaps in this regard, the market wasn't a flop after all... in an effort to become yourself, you first have to believe in yourself.
Moral of the story: Sometimes the biggest bully we have to stand up to, is ourselves. Stop waiting for permission to be the intrepid artist and as Nike would say, "Just do it".
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Cinco de Mojito
Ok, the guilt of not having posted fro 2 weeks is crushing me, so here goes the brain jumble that has been the last several weeks. If I'm keeping this blog strictly about my adventures in wonderland, then my first move should be to tell you all about our Cinco de Mayo festivities.
We went to Washington Park, which is like the Central Park of Denver. It was amazing! I was so impressed by the size of the park, all the little areas: the lake, the croquet field, the hedge maze, the volleyball park....and how many people were out! Everyone had dogs, and kids, and was barbecuing and toasting with frosty adult beverages. Everyone had pinatas and it was just so....awesome! Like an idyllic scene out of a Noxema commercial. We drank mojitos, and beat the shit out of a defenseless neon paper mache donkey, we played volleyball and I had a hot dog for the first time since I was 5yrs old. Well, Mojito me did. Regular me wouldn't go near one of those god forsaken nitrate bombs. So, I guess you could say it was karma for my carnivorous misdemeanor that the volleyball pole fell on my foot giving me a massive bruise and prompting many compliments on my fashion forward makeshift ice pack made from a Glad bag elegantly entwined around my ankle like the daintiest of gladiator sandals. Very McQueen.
Word of advice to my lady readers out there: Fake tans, much like fake nails, fake boobs and fake LV are always a bad idea. In preparation for my summertime debut, I caved and bought some bronzer so as not to blind innocent bystanders with the startling white of my casper like legs. So, I arrived at the park in all my freaky streaky Snooki like glory. And, try as I might, there really is no covering up that unmistakable smell. I should add, for those of you living under a rock, that Saturday was also the day of the Kentucky Derby. I have waited all my girlish little life to be invited to a Derby party (attempts at hosting my own never being successful). The day finally arrived, and lo, my giddy heart to finally be able to wear my big floppy sun hat and do my best Duchess of Cambridge! And then imagine, immediately ensuing, my massive disappointment when I realized that my fabulous hat -in a moment of what was no doubt once considered a stroke of genius- had been misplaced somewhere along the move and in in its place in the box wherein I believed my precious treasure was placed, were instead warm winter caps and fuzzy hats. Great. I can show up for my Derby debut in a fur lined Elmer Fudd hunting cap. It's only 94 degrees!
However, despite all the obstacles, we still had a grand old time! Life is what you make it, friends. And when life hands you limes you make yourself a good margarita.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Secrets
Last night, we had the pleasure of attending yet another, "this only happens in awesome cities!" event. We took a mini road trip (4hrs) and drove through Northwest Colorado to Grand Junction where we attended a Postsecret event at CMU. The event was interesting for several reasons... first, as my boyfriend so chivalrously pointed out: I don't just feel old, I am old. Well: older. Comparatively. Not that age is a bad thing by any means. I often equate age with wisdom and experience and give it veneration and respect. But, if I had graduated at 21, gone to grad school for 2 years, or toured around South America like most of my friends on Facebook are busy doing- each crafting their own unique post-college new world identities- then I would still be sitting there: 25 and figuring my way out. Finding my place. I would be a post-Post Grad. Then what? I may identify myself strongly with the free spirited Tom's wearing youth of college campuses, but in my my ratty home-made v-neck and skinny jeans, I felt more like an imposter than a compatriot. This is my first strange encounter with age disassociation. Somewhere in between the awkward shiny days of 21 and the hip sarcastic safety of 30-here I am. The true definition of a Twenty something....but what exactly is that something? When you are busy becoming what are you? The truth is, right now, I don't feel like much of anything. Except a disillusioned anti-social basement dweller....but, before I begin to wallow too deeply in my own vaingloriousness, I reach my second point.
The event was interesting. If you know what Postsecret is, and have ever had the interesting task of explaining it to someone, you know it can be quite challenging to define. It is better seen and experienced, than explained. But, for lack of a better explanation: it is a "community art project" that has morphed into the largest form of group therapy I can imagine. I have always strongly believed in acknowledging and strengthening our shared humanity, believing therein lies our greatest hope. Don't worry, I'm not getting all new-agey guru on you. A lesson I've recently learned however, is that sometimes the greatest relief can come from simply sharing something out loud. Even if there is no solution, no healing to be found, a tiny step can be taken simply by giving it voice and allowing yourself to come that much closer to a place of better. Not that we all have to be squeeze-boxes to our innermost thoughts and feelings. In fact, there are many things I'd rather people not share (I don't need to know the intimate details of what happens in your bathroom or your bedroom, thanks). Many of the secrets shared are ones I don't even relate to, but they give hope and help to those who do relate to them, and make them feel less alone; which can sometimes be the greatest gift. It's not the nature of our problems that unifies us, its our need to share them, and in that, find community. Anyway, all this is a verrrry long and round about way of saying, that I was grateful not only for the secrets shared, but for the perspective they gave. Sometimes peeking into someone else's life can make you feel a whole lot better about your own. It's not a game of better or worse. Win vs. lose. It's about each person taking the time to take inventory of what they have, in addition to the have not's, and to be grateful for what they find. To appreciate the small things. To "find the everything in the nothing" to quote the beloved Miriam Bradbury.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
...S'wonderful, S'Marvelous...
Thank you Ganesh, Jesus, God, Allah, Buddha, Flying Spaghetti Monster, whatever you may be--thank you!
There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel! Just when I hit my breaking point (as evidenced by my manic episode yesterday afternoon where I collapsed amongst the grocery bags on the living room floor, sobbing to my boyfriend about how I just couldn't stand it anymore!, and then consequently woke up with a lovely stress induced cold today as penance for my doomsday theatrics) I have landed an interview! AND, for icing on the cake, a dear friend of mine gave us her 7th row tickets to tonight's Rockies game for a much anticipated date night. So, what had started out as a bleak and decidedly grim week (Dear applicant, we thank you for your time and your interest in our organization. Unfortunately, we received 110 resumes for this posting, and went with a candidate who better fits our needs...it's not us, it's you. Note to self: next time be sure to add "makes rainbows in spare time when not taming unicorns and solving world hunger" to my list of standout accomplishments) has made a sharp right turn for the better! Even if those appear to be rain clouds on the horizon, and even if it's just a courtesy interview, I am going to dance my little Dayquil filled heart out in the rain if I have to, and celebrate the small victories (and the big ones) and the precious gifts life sends my way! I am going to do as my mother always taught me to do: defend my happiness (C) ! <--that little C there is because it's copyrighted. It's the title of my mom's forthcoming book, which you can buy at www.defendinghappiness.com
Saturday, April 14, 2012
It's raining...raindrops!
It's Saturday night. All I want to do is get dressed up, hit the town for a tall Long Island, and dance like a maniac to Lady Gaga. But nooo. It's raining. And I'm broke. And, oh yeah, I don't have many new friends yet here in beloved old D-town. So, I sit. I sit, and I drink beer from a can. In-are you ready for this Giraldo?! - a hoodie! The humanity!
I suppose I should cut myself some slack. Not that any machine washable attire is normally in my wardrobe, but I have been pushing myself like a drill Sargent with yoga. I think I'm definitely the most fit I've been in my life-that's one plus to being unemployed! Which, is good since I usually come home and spend the evening making a ginormous calorie laden feast with whatever mish mash I can unearth from under Disney lunch pails and juice boxes in the fridge....It's amazing how quickly your sense of self can begin to crumble being unemployed and having few financial resources; so I try and hold on to the little things, like yoga. Like, photography, and cooking. Maybe one day, I'll even get good at this blog thing! It's like you have this life checklist: I finally found the right man, and the right city, the right car, now I just need the right job and the right house, oh and if we could just freeze time for a little bit while I gather these things, that'd be great! Then my little Barbie dream life will be complete! I'm not feeling sorry for myself, I'm just trying to document the struggle with humor, in hopes that it helps. We all have our paths, I'm just trying to find mine. It's a long and winding, and glorious road full of beauty and surprise, but it can really suck sometimes. For now, I will just have to be content that I am warm and dry, drink my beer, watch some more bad sketch comedy on Netflix, and try and convince myself that maybe one day, if I try really, really hard, I won't need my little list anymore.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans
We decided to start our first St. Patrick's Day in Denver off in style, and nothing is as grand as a spot atop the Jameson float in the big parade! What better way to celebrate my heritage than to holler drunkenly from atop the beauty of a flatbed Ford while brandishing an abnormally large bottle of my country's finest libidinal export? We started off the morning at the ass crack of dawn like true champions, running on wee hours of sleep. It was all very exciting at the beginning-I standing there with the early morning wind in my hair, clad in my finest greenery, on the prow of the platform being serenaded by bagpipes as visions of rolling green hills and Riverdancers pranced in my head. Flash forward an hour and a half later. After being lectured extensively about the proper protocol for handing your enraptured crowd candy (under NO circumstances is throwing or tossing allowed, lest your aim mislead you and leave a child with a black eye and a dented box of Nerds) we set off to seek our glory! Needless to say, drinking copious amounts of cheap green beer while you are carted down Blake St. in front of hundreds of adoring onlookers, there comes a need for certain...facilities...that can be rather hard to come by. I watched at stop light after stop light as the lines for Port-a-Potty's rolled out before me, strategically assessing their location and the merits of explaining that I deserved to cut to the front of the line because, really people, I have a float to be on! However, such was not to be. This resulted in me hurriedly ejecting myself from the float at the next nearest available red light and paying the $10 cover charge to run, nay, sprint faster than the speed of a Leprechaun, into the restrooms at the Celtic Tavern. So consumed was I with my mission, that I shoved the crumpled up $10 into the lass's green solo cup clad beverage by the register, not stopping to apologize. Why hadn't I jumped ship and gotten on the Dubliner's Cheese float?! At lest they had the sense to have their own Port-a-Potty on board, adding a very functional touch to their farm scene tableau. While my expectations of "the Largest St. Patrick's Day parade West of the Mississippi" were somewhat dashed -I had imagined Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade but with more green and gold- there were, and this is the technical term, a "Fuckton" of people (not all of whom I suspect were actually Irish). It was an eventful way to ring in our first heritage holiday in our new hometown! We came, we saw, we...had corned beef and car bombs and it is a day that I'm sure I, nor my near ruptured bladder and sore liver, will soon forget.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)