Thanksgiving

You know those days when your mind starts racing and for whatever reason you are worrying about everything that is not within your control? Those things that you can't do anything about? Why are we not friends anymore? Why is this person so selfish? Why is traffic so horrible? Why didn't I run today? I hate those days.

I hate those days because my life is great. And one small negative seed gets planted somewhere in my brian and it takes 24 hours to get it out. To distract me from focusing on the negative, I keep going back to the resolution list.

• Stop trying to plot giving; do it spontaneously, and often.
• Pick a new, favorite charity.
• Every time you food shop, buy 2 extra cans of nonperishable items and donate them to a food bank.

I don't know why it popped in my head, but it did, to organize donations to the Denver Rescue Mission, I spontaneously reached out to my friends and coworkers. I have learned that sometimes just having the information in front of people will motivate them. The Denver Rescue Mission is close to where my good friends live and takes care of those in need that are so close to my home.  I can't ignore the reason for the Mission. Thanksgiving is a great time to remember how lucky we really are and help those that are less fortunate. I am trying to make it a year round thing.

So while I continue to work on these resolutions:

• Shift perspective on your situation once every day. Take five minutes to look at a situation, relationship, conflict, or so-called problem ongoing in your life from a completely new perspective every day. Hopefully, issues will not be so frequent that you’ll need to every day — but such a positive perspective-shifting practice as “reframing” helps us to break bad habits of thinking and realize that everything ain’t so bad after all.
• Lose expectations. On purpose. And stop expecting specifics. We tend to believe that knowing, wanting and even demanding specifics will be the fastest path to seeing results. The truth, as I’ve learned, is that expectations actually hamper achievement and, maybe ironically, that decision-making without expectations is the real powerhouse of positive growth and forward momentum

I keep smiling at the good things in life. Happy Thanksgiving!

Still Time for Resolutions

It seems like just yesterday I was talking about all the things I had planned for 2012... San Fran, Vietnam, Olympics, weddings, concerts... I managed to keep the schedule pretty full.  I saw some amazing things.  I did some amazing things.  When the year started a good friend sent me a link about resolutions, 57 Life-Changing Resolutions. 

I am starting to feel that life is more than bucket lists, accomplishments and material things.  The more comfortable I become with where I am, the fewer things I want and the less I want to be around negativity, people or otherwise.  I constantly look at this list and I have challenged myself to grow by changing a few things I do.  A few things that the boyfriend and I have done lately that I love:

• Leave a 30% tip, every time- It really makes a difference.  I challenge everyone to do this.
• Go 1-for-1 on your wardrobe.- This is now a solid rule, we really don't need stuff.  And not having the room since the boyfriend moved in has made it easier to enforce.
• Do less better. - I have stopped planning so far in advance to make time for random dinners, brunch dates with old friends.  Or one on one time instead of time at a bar with 20 people.  I have really reconnected with some people I really missed.
• Break an old habit.- I haven't bit my nails in 2 months.
• Bury the hatchet.- They know who they are (in fact this year there were many), and I am glad to say it is water under the bridge.
• Teach gratitude, selflessness and charity (quietly). - I started keeping dollar bills in my car and told myself any time I see someone that needs help, I will give them a dollar if I have it.  No judgement.  We were walking downtown and we passed an old man, reading, in his sleeping bag in a doorway.  He had one tomato by him.  Without me saying anything the boyfriend went to the ATM, we went back to him and handed the old man some cash.  Life gets hard.  I am not here to judge and being poor is not a crime. 
• Write more letters. -I focused on my Grandpa.  I think he loves it.  Better late than never.
• Create something real. 

So here is where the boyfriend comes in, "create something real."  I do not have a creative bone in my body.  When he was moving in he had some old end tables.  We decided instead of throwing them away we would make them into something we wanted and create something, even get a little creative.  We have very similar tastes when it comes to furniture so with his know-how, skill and well... he did most of it.  Haha... we have some amazing end tables and we had time to do them this past weekend because I didn't schedule anything to do.  One thing at a time.



Before:  There were two, product of the 80s?







During: Mixing concrete on our deck

Finished Product with the concrete top

I kinda love them

What's Next

When you read the articles about why Romney lost the election and they mention that the grass-roots, on-the-ground campaign that Obama's camp ran was superior to that of ol' Willard's.  They are right.  I saw it first hand.  I would show up at a local supporters house, where his first floor was set up with campaigning materials, computers, snacks and be greeted by a happy, eager organizer, Eddie.  Eddie would explain what we were doing, the laws around how it worked and patiently answered questions.  The first phase I registered voters, the second phase I made sure those that registered were going to vote.  Each time I showed up to volunteer Eddie would be there with a map printed, names of registered democrats or unaffiliated voters on the two by two block area I would canvass that day.  It amazed me.  We really did win this election "block by block."

I enjoyed the moment as long as I could, with a beer in hand watching Brian Williams announce Ohio was projected blue... and relaxed.  Then the sad stat was realized, the country was subjected to this LONG, EXPENSIVE campaign for 18 months and we are back to where we started... a do nothing House and a Democrat President.  But is it worse?

Thank you GOP for portraying Democrats as lazy, self-entitled minorities.  Thank you liberals for stereotyping Republicans as the rich 1% of the population whose greed collapsed the banks.  Thank you to those around me that bought into it and focused on what they didn't want in our government more than what they wanted.  Once my neighbors, friends, coworkers remove their yard signs, I have to accept our differences and work as a community again.  Will Congress? 

POTUS

Here it is... I am deep into election season.  Those of you, who have realized I failed at staying off Facebook, get to see my political pushes every now and then.  Those of you who see me once and awhile know I have been volunteering for the Obama campaign.  And those of you who deal with me on a daily basis have seen my car magnet, watched the highs and lows from the great pride I felt after the DNC to the great low after the first debate, get to hear my political rants... and now, now I am scared to death. 

The race is close.  I hate that. 

I believe in President Obama.  I believe that he has stood up for human rights, restored international faith in America and looked out for the interests of minorities and the middle class.  So when the opportunity came to watch the President speak at Sloan's Lake in Denver, I couldn't turn it down.  My AMAZING boyfriend took time off of work to secure tickets.

He couldn't get the time off of work to go, so The Bride's fiancee grabbed up one of the extra tickets and headed out on a cold, fall morning with me.  I believe this guy is a Republican at heart, but not a typical Republican because Willard is just making it impossible this go around to vote Republican if you believe in any type of social issues and want a candidate that is consistent.  After too much time of Will.I.Am... really, any time with any member of the Black Eyed Peas is too long... POTUS arrived at Sloan's Lake.

I got to hear the Big Bird jokes and chant "Four More Years."  But this was also the first time I had ever seen the President of the United States.  It was freaking cool.  He is alot shorter than I imagined, but there he was.  There I was.  And 6,000 other people that see things the way I see things.  I hope.  I hope they vote... I really want 4 more years of this guys.

What Do You Like?

Seems like forever ago I was pulling up to a bar I had never been to before, to meet up with a guy I could barely recognize, barely knew, to see if this was the guy I would start dating.  Wearing the standard black shirt, jeans, flats in case he was shorter than I remembered.  Ordering a drink that I thought would cause the least amount of conversation, usually white wine.  Sitting there asking 20 questions to try to get to know eachother better and confirm this wasn't an epic waste of time.

Any guy from the last 3 years: "So what do you like to do?" 
Me: "Well I run, hike, camp, really anything outside... oh and I love the Broncos."

That's right, love not like.  I love the Denver Broncos.  Going to Bronco games was something I really didn't know how much I missed until I moved back.  And now... now, we have Peyton!  The last game I went to we got there early to enjoy in the tailgating festivities...

Me:  Do you want to go watch the players walk in?
Bf: Sure, if you want to.
Me:  (blah, blah) THAT IS PEYTON MANNING! 
I go running
Me:  Look there he is!











Bf:  (Slowly walking from where I just ran from)
Me:  Come on, don't you want to see him?
Bf:  Not enough to start running.
Me:  I have never seen anyone cool, walk in... holy crap there is Eric Decker.  (Pulling the boyfriend)  Would you be offended if I asked you to take my picture with him.
Bf:  (Just smiles)
Me:  Ok, maybe next time.

Good to know I can still get excited.... and take my picture with my favorite Bronco Fan:

Mumford

You know, those bands, albums, concerts where the music turns into more than music.  It becomes your lifeline.  I discovered Mumford and Sons when I ran my first marathon... my great friend in Dallas, her husband sent me "Little Lion Man" to add to the marathon playlist.  I had no idea what I was getting into.  Each song on their "Sigh No More" album echoed what I was feeling as I left Dallas.

"I'll find strength in pain and I'll change my ways.  I'll know my name as it is called again."
 -The Cave

I had to see them when they were playing in Denver right down the street from my house.  I went with my new friend, we have to call her the Bride now because I will be in her wedding in 11 months!, who was discovering the City with me after her move from Boulder.  I will never forget before the concert being asked "Use 5 words to describe yourself.  Now, use 5 words to describe your friend."  Loved this game.  The concert was instantly a fave.

A year later... what has changed?  I am in love.  And I got to see Mumford again, this time at my favorite venue, Red Rocks.  With the bride, her fiance and 6 other amazing people who have touched me in one way or another this last year.  This experience was documented in the recent release of "I Will Wait."  It will always be a reminder of how lucky I am.  And how Mumford and Sons will always be more than another band.  Their new album does not disappoint.

I Love You Too

The days are getting shorter.  The weather is getting cooler.  Football is on my TV.  And the leaves are changing outside my window.  We had a dry, hot summer and in the middle of all the wonderful things happening in my life, I have managed to get to the mountains a little more this fall.  Sure everyone has bought their pass to go snowboarding all ski season... but hold up, not just yet.

My first hike was to the place where the boyfriend and his family spread his dad ashes.  It was a close hike, but amazing... you felt like you were on top of the world.  His cousin came with us.  There were no words I could use to describe what it was like to be a part of this moment and celebration of someone who meant so much to the man I love the most.

 

When we left the car at the trailhead it was cold.  Frost on the ground, move as fast as you could to keep warm, cold.  I love the sunrises and the morning air, however this hike was more about the destination to me. And the cold air kept us moving.  On the way back down, there were moments where I got lost... and remembered why I am so lucky to live in such an amazing place.

 

The second hike we grabbed our partners in crime and headed for the hills.  (This is where I note how lucky I am to know someone who has access to a condo in the mountains)  We got started a little later because we would be staying the night.  I thought that most of the leaves would have fallen by this point, but I was wrong... if anything they were just a little more intense.  I also saw my first Moose!  Life in Colorado does not suck.  To party in the City at night and to be able to drive one hour into complete isoloation the next... thank you.

 



 

I was reminded on this hike just what climate change has done to Summit County, Colorado.  Beetle Kill.  Look into it.  Basically our winters do not get cold enough to kill this beetle that feeds on our forests.  So the beetle feeds year round versus just in the warmer months.  The result is devastating when you first see it and if you think about it long enough.  I have had some people tell that you get used to it.  No.  I won't. Thus the e-card I got from a great friend.  Yeah, I probably would make love to the environment.