On my mind...

I've had an interesting couple of weeks here in Denver. Aside from feeling run down/burnt out from work, I've felt completely socially incompetent lately. There've been a number of contributing factors but I know I haven't handled myself in a manner up to my normal standards. That fact alone has been quite disconcerting. Nothing to the extreme, of course--no prostituting myself or contracting super AIDS--I've just hurt some valuable peoples' feelings and wish I wouldn't have. How vague and full of self-pity! I know, I'll stop--it's just been on my mind.

Here are some pics from a few good nights to pick you up from a bummer blog post:

Evee-E an Me Went to see the Colorado Symphany Orchestra.

Old Radio playin at a Pirate Party.

After the pirate party with Spencer and Tommy.

Kissing Party.

A different night at Spencer's. Eva and Tommy.

Playing music, as usual. Adam and Spencer.

Russ.

Keepin it fresh.

Russ might've spilled some beer on himself...
...and this might've been the result.

Delightful!

Hike! Hike! Hike!

So, in addition to the other radical shnit I did last week, I was hailed on and almost struck by lightning bolts!! It was actually quite fun. My roommate, Jeremiah, and I decided to go on your typical everyday hike in the mountains and although the sky looked ominous, we started up the trail to a quarry. About 45 min in, the weather started changing dramatically but there was no way we were going to quit until we saw the damn quarry because it had been such an uphill climb. We finally made it to the quarry but it had started raining and lightninging everywhere by that point so I snapped a quick photo and we booked it back down the trail. Shortly after it started hailing and we started running!! Haha, it was much more exhilarating than a normal hike so I was definitely thankful for that and the dry clothes Jeremiah had in his truck.

Hike! Hike! Hike!

Annnd it's raining...

The stupid quarry--spent like, 30 seconds here.

Ominous!

Snapped a quick one whilst getting hailed on.

Hail--sweet...

The colors were fab after the storm.

Hail in Jeremiah's truck.

We were forced to put on the most whack outfits to get dry.

Haha, love it.

Among...

By amoung, I meant among...
GDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miscellaneous+Virgil+Typos

Hi there, here are some random pictures from random nights. I also wanted to apologize for typos in previous blog entries--seems i've been in a hurry lately--spelled herd of cattle like HEARD amoung other inexcusable grammatical errors... ya heard??

Jeremy and Scooter at Armidas for some karaoke...

With my favorite dog in the whole universe--VIRGIL

Come in Cobra Commander...

Spencer's.

Again, with the best dog evah.

Musketeers, keepin it fresh.

Shows...

I've been out to a bunch of shows lately which has been quite nice!! I went to a lot of shows in Iowa but was usually pretty selective about who to see--It's been nice here because there's so much talent around the Denver area that I don't need to be too picky and still end up being thoroughly entertained.

Hello Kavita

Action Packed Thrill Ride--Lucas' first band

I love Evee.

Old Radio--Lucas' second band+Patrick

EPIC

Jukebox

Hardcore--Eva+Spencer

Eva's gonna kill me for this!!!

HI! HI! HI!

HI! HI! HI! So, I forgot to blog about my mini climbin adventure last Sunday... I woke up late to meet this guy Colin and his friends to go climbing so I just told them I'd meet them--which was a little foolish because I'm the WORST with navigating and all that. So, I printed as many maps and directions as possible before heading to Boulder. I drove into Boulder Canyon looking for this crag called Avalon where I had climbed with Colin a year ago and once I'd arrived at the spot the internet told me to park, I started looking for the huge talus field that leads to the first tier of the crag. [To clarify that jargon: I was looking for a huge pile of rocks that leads up to the first section of Avalon--where I was to CLIMB. Additionally, according to Wikipedia, a crag is "a rock-climbers' term for a cliff or group of cliffs, in any location, which is or may be suitable for climbing." JUST SO YA KNOW!!]

Looking down from Sleeping Beauty crag.

So, of course I climbed up the wrong talus field and still couldn't find a trail after a half hour of tromping through the wild wild wilderness. As I was on the way down to gather myself/see what else I could find, I saw another climber heading up the same talus field..... and it just so happened that it was Ben from Shelf Road!! So random, but we ended up climbing together because he couldn't find his friends, and I couldn't find mine... we ended up at a crag called Sleeping Beauty and warmed up on a 5.11a!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a grade I'd never tryed before so it was silly for warming up on but very fun and rewarding at the end. The other extremely rewarding part of the day was learning to clean the routes of gear; as I hadn't done that before either. After Sleeping Beauty, Ben and I headed to Clear Creek in Golden and climbed some 5.10's at the crag Little Igor. Pizza and beer followed and I was sooooo happy to have such a fun day off work!

So excited!! Also wanted to illustrate the amount of gear gathered when cleaning a route.

Today...

Today was pretty rough. I opened the store for the first time by myself which was exciting but also meant I had to arrive early. Our district manager ended up coming to Colorado from Texas for a surprise visit which meant even more stress and the longest 9 hr shift of my lifffeeeeeeeee. Boohoo. Anyway, that wasn't so bad. But I really miss my mom. Whenever I'd have a tough day in Iowa I'd pop over to my mums place and we'd sit around, read magazines, talk about work/dudes/everything and it was the perfect release. Today was the first time it really hit me that I don't have that source of comfort anymore. Ugh. I think I'm going to a show tonight with Spencer and Eva so hopefully that'll cheer me up a bit. I guess I was bound to have at least one bad day...

One month anniversary...

I'VE BEEN IN DENVER FOR ONE MONTH... OFFICIALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe how lucky I've been in finding the people and places I've come to love so far. Making the transition to Denver has been made so much easier because of these people and places. Haha, that's a little vague but whatevs--Moving here was the BEST choice I've ever made. Happy anniversary Denver. Love.

Jeremiah's Ranch...

My most recent adventure took place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week when I FINALLY had some time off to go to Jeremiah, my roommate's, ranch. The ranch is around 45 minutes South of Denver and it was such a great time--I want to go again ASAP. Being in the country; not worrying about work or dudes or friends; and enjoying simplicity and the beauty of nature was exactly the kind of break I needed.

On Wednesday night we didn't do much aside from have dinner and hang out with Jeremiah's parents and grandma. Jeremiah showed me around some of the ranch but it got dark soon after and we called it a night. At 7:30AM the next day, Jeremiah's dad woke us up to heard cattle to a location closer to the house. It was quite exciting!!!! I have always loved horses and riding one with a purpose in mind was much more exhilerating than the trail riding I've done in the past. The cows are big and fat and some like to get rebellious and stray from the heard or hide in the bushes. They're also always hungry so they would constantly stop to eat on the way and wouldn't budge til the horses were right on their asses. Silly creatures, I tell ya.

The rest of the day was equally as rewarding. Moving furniture, playing with kitties, clipping horse hooves, napping, eating lunch and dinner, saying grace, looking at old pictures, going to the cave of wonders, and exploring the rest of the ranch where just a few of the highlights.

The Crowfoot Ranch.

I was made fun of for my cowboy boots cuz the heel is all funky--thank you thrift store.

It was perfect out both days.

Gross picture but whatever--horses!!!

After herding cattle, Jeremiah and I went riding about for fun.

The road that leads to the house--the view from where I took a nap on the porch.
There was cool shit everywhere--a photog's dream. This was in the tool shed.
The house Jeremiah grew up in--his parents now live in Jeremiah's grandparents' old house. On the way to the cave.
Entrance to the Cave of Wonders--very cool--thought of bros and climbing, of course.
Boots!
Another view.
Meals were the best--I'm def not used to being so spoiled! My roomie and me at the end up the trip:)
Road named after Jeremiah's grandpa on the way back.