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.

 





F*#^$&

I have been MIA.  It took two amazing friends to call me out today for me the realize that I needed to snap the f&#^$# out of it.  My life is amazing.  I am in love. I have great people that include me in their lives. 

The other day I stumbled upon this quote:

Lately I have fallen into the trap of thinking about what I don't have and why I don't have it. I believe that it is ok to go there, just as long as you don't get stuck there. I got stuck.  The everyday routine has just frustrated the f$^$^*# out of me.  I haven't blogged lately because I just write boring f#@^*# reports at work non-stop.  Oh, the day I had a submittal and the owners decided to jam up the printer with marketing crap... wasn't going to blog then.  How about the frustration I felt when an old friend wouldn't tell me why a card idea I had caused her "concern"?  It was just a f^$#^# card.  I wanted to join a friend in remembering her mom at the Komen Race for the Cure and was told I would have been invited if I was still on Facebook.  So I got back on f%##^ Facebook.  I even found myself taking out this aggression at the Broncos game Sunday... sorry Texans fans that felt the wrath of a long few weeks.

So I got sad.  I got upset.  And thanks to my good friends, I am back.

Favorite Comfort Food

Pizza.  I touched on this earlier and I will touch on it again.

I love pizza. 

When my pregnant 15 year old sister was living with me, Friday nights were reserved for working out, pizza and a movie. 

When life was hell in Texas, I would workout, eat pizza and watch Dateline on Friday nights.

I felt a new friendship begin when I called an old college friend and told her I just ordered pizza come over.  We sat there and talked about failed relationships, moving forward and life.  From that moment we would tackle any problem with pizza. 

My first date with the boyfriend was to the local pizza joint.  (I am so lucky to live down the street from one of the best pizza places:  Wyman's No. 5)

Oh man... pizza is it for me. 

Three Days Later

On Sunday the boyfriend and I were driving home after dropping off a couple of SUPs (stand up paddleboards) at REI after a great weekend camping with some great friends.  We were coming up to a red light at an intersection when I noticed to the left a young woman, reluctantly trying to unfold her cardboard sign. 

Colorado is no stranger to homeless people or people asking for handouts.  It was one of the first things I noticed when I moved back, I can remember asking my dad, "When did it get to be so bad?"  I try to help when I can, but I rarely have cash on me.  I understand that not everyone needs the money, or will use it for things society feels they should.  It is not for me to decide who is worthy and who is not.  However, I find myself becoming numb to the image or noticing the same people on the same corner that detour me from helping anyone. 

I sat in the passenger side of the car.  Watching.  She looked close to my age and was pretty well kept, decent shoes, a shirt that was clearly from the Goodwill or donated to her... she struggled to open her sign.  The look on her face was one of pain, she hated that she was standing there.  I hated that she was standing there.  She didn't get the sign open in time for me to read it before the light changed.  As the cars started moving forward she folded up her sign and began to cry. 

I felt my stomach sink as we got further and further away.  I wanted to go back and give her something, food, money, water... tell her it was going to be okay.  I didn't even tell the boyfriend how I felt at that exact moment.  I can't get her out of my head.