A day of firsts

There were lots of springtime 2012 firsts for me today.

1. First long walk with Zoe.
2. First time in shorts outside.
3. First time in sandals outside.
4. First dinner on the grille.
5. First sunburn.

Yes...I already got rid of the pasty winter skin. It is now bright red. Sadly there is no photo altering here.

Old Dog, New Tricks

Zoe has never gone in the water at Standley Lake. Last year she barked at it and got her feet wet. Today she shocked me and ran right into the water. She loved it. So I guess an old dog can learn new tricks. It was a fun morning.

Standley Lake in the Morning

Zoe and I took a 2 hour walk to and around Standley Lake this morning. It was beautiful and it was nice to get some one on one time with Zoe. She is such a sweet dog and does great off leash.

Dale was right

This tree struggled for a few years and at one point I even thought we would have to pull it out, but Dale said to give it time. Dale was right. Look at how beautiful this tree is blooming this year.

I am not alone

My Mom always used to say, "Never complain. There is always someone worse off than you."

I was just sitting here on my bus thinking how after already being awake for two hours, I still am exhausted. I keep struggling to keep my eyes open and stay awake.

I am not alone.

A woman two seats in front of me fell out of her seat. Yes, she fell right onto the bus floor. She quickly popped up and apologized with embarrassment to everyone telling us she fell asleep for a second.

My Mom was right. There is always someone worse off and that person was only two seats away this morning.

Sunset, sunrise

I snapped a photo last night of the sunset while walking the dogs and snapped the sunrise this morning walking to the bus - both beautiful.

A nice birthday

Dale seemed to have a nice birthday. He had lots of texts and emails (over 75) in what I called a "birthday text bomb". We had dinner at Smash Burger. We started at Rumbi, but they went out of business (sad, as Dale loved that place). I gave him lots of fun cooking things from Sur la Table for cooking on the grill. He got a card from the puppies. We went to Smart Cow with the Stubbendicks. All on all...a nice birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dale!

Today is Dale's birthday.

Dale - Happy birthday to you, my love. I could not imagine my life without your smile. Best wishes for another year filled with joy, the love of great friends and lots of good memories as you deserve 365 days of happiness. I love you! - Tom

Now unlike me, Dale is not a big birthday person. He prefers low-key over large celebrations, so this year I followed his wishes and there are no big trips, no big parties or limos. It was just a few small celebrations over the past two weekends. Tonight will just be Dale and I celebrating together with a nice dinner out, some pie at home and perhaps a birthday gift or two, which sounds wonderful.

Brunch at the Brown

Yesterday in honor of Dale's birthday on Monday and our friend Steve's birthday on Tuesday, a bunch of us went to the champagne brunch at the Brown Palace...or as I call it...see Dale eat his body weight in seafood. The guy sure loves his shrimp and muscles.

The brunch was delicious and Steve and Dale were both celebrated by Shannon, Judy, Barb, Sandy and myself. It was a great afternoon except we all left far too full. Good times.

I love Spring

It makes me very happy. The sight of flowers blooming and trees budding brings a smile to my face.

Spencers Theatre of Illusion

Last night Dale and I, along with our friends Sandy & Steve Stubbendick went to the Lone Tree Arts Center in Lone Tree, CO to see the Spencers Theatre of Illusion. First, let me say the Lone Tree Arts Center is a beautiful theater and space. It is gorgeous and a very intimate performance venue. If you have an opportunity check it out.

As for the show, it was incredible. Dale and I are very fortunate in that we are able to call the Spencers, Kevin and Cindy - stars of the Spencers Theatre of Illusion our friends. We met Kevin and Cindy back in June 2008 on a train from Paris, France to Venice, Italy. We met in the dining car over an incredibly comical dinner of cold veal with warm tuna sauce. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning on that train getting to know one another and shared several meals while in Venice, Italy. It was not like we were strangers who just met, but more like friends who had known each other for years. We have stayed in touch on Facebook over the years and were able to see their show in Cheyenne, WY back in April 2009.

Kevin and Cindy are two of the kindest, most sincere and warmest people Dale and I have ever met, so of course when we saw them were coming back to Colorado to perform, we knew we would see their show. We contacted Cindy and she was incredibly kind to arrange tickets for us and even invited us to have dinner last night with her, Kevin and their crew (Keith, Chase and Alan) before the show. It was incredible to get a sneak peak of what goes into putting on a traveling illusion show from the equipment, lighting and back of the stage. It is an incredibly timed and detailed event. It is amazing that five people are able to create such a professional show. It shows you how talented of a team make up the Spencers Theatre of Illusion.


Best of all, Dale and I were able to catch up with Cindy and Kevin. We shared stories, talked about our travels and had a great time for the three hours before the show. We also were able to meet and get to know Keith, Chase and Alan and it was easy to see what a great bond the team shared. These are three talented guys and you could see how much they care for Kevin and Cindy and vice versa. Cindy and Kevin even surprised Dale with cupcakes for his birthday. How sweet is that? Here you have two people incredibly busy putting on a show and they took the time to remember and celebrate Dale's birthday. Like I said...they are two of the kindest, most sincere and warmest people ever.

In addition to their traveling illusion show, Kevin and Cindy also dedicate a large portion of their time working with physically challenged kids in at local hospitals and schools. So on most of their days where they are now on the road driving, you find them giving of themselves showing how magic is a great tool to help kids. I told you they were incredible, didn't I?

The show itself last night was amazing! What I love about the Spencer's show is how personal it feels. Kevin does an incredible job talking to the audience and sharing why he became a magician. I feel everyone in that audience by the end of the show walked away feeling like they truly knew Kevin and Cindy. You feel like you just watched a friend perform in your living room, not on a stage in front of an audience of 500+ people.  Dale was even picked to help with one of the illusions, which made Dale smile from ear to ear.

What I love about Kevin's performance is his approach to magic. He does not come across arrogant or like he is there to fool the audience in the slightest. He explains that everything he will do in the show is simply an illusion. It is not reality. It is a slight of hand, deception or misdirects that make your mind believe something that is not really happening. It is not supernatural. Best of all, Kevin makes every kid in the audience know that they could do the same illusions with practice. He explains he was a kid just like them years ago who watched a magician like Doug Henning and learned from a box of magic tricks his own parents bought him. I just love that. I love watching the faces of the kids in the audience and how they sit in absolute awe as Kevin performs Houdini's legendary walking through a wall illusion from the early 1900's or the more modern passing of his body through a rotating fan. Even illusions like repairing a torn newspaper wow the audience. I know I still sit in amazement even time I see Kevin split Cindy in half and wonder how she is able to get her body into such small spaces. She is incredible. The love, dedication, respect and devotion Kevin and Cindy share is so obvious both on and off the stage.

After the show, we were able to spend more time with Cindy, Kevin and the crew and watched as they skillfully tore down their traveling show in an hour. We even were able to get a tour of the truck the travel. Unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye and after hugs and pictures, we said farewell to our old friends - Kevin and Cindy and new friends - Alan, Chase and Keith. It was a great night and very kind of Kevin and Cindy to bring us into their traveling world for an evening. We hope to see them again real soon and hopefully their travels bring them back to Colorado.

If you get the chance, go see their show. You will not be disappointed. It is an incredible evening for people of all ages. You can check out their schedule on their website.

The Twilight Games

I have decided to write a book called The Twilight Games. It is all about a
girl named Katniss living in a post-apocalyptic world who is hired by a rejected werewolf named Jacob to track the once desire of his love named Bella and put an arrow through her heart. There is also an interesting side story about a love triangle between three boys named Edward, Peeta and Gale. I think it will be a huge hit. I will be worth millions or at least hundreds of dollars.

My unconscious mind is on a delay

Last night I had a dream I was back in Albany, NY and it was St. Patrick's Day. At least I assume it was St. Patrick's Day because everyone was drunk and oddly dressed like they were extras from the Emerald City scene in the Wizard of Oz. Everyone was really decked out in over the top green costumes that were crazy but cool.

I was with high school friends Jennifer Wheland Wettergren and Colleen Sheehy Gidley near Washington Park and we kept running into other high school friends like Jason Shover and Kim Shover Facteau, who were very intoxicated and jumping onto a bus, Mike McCormack, who has hanging green lights along the park fence and J.P. Peterson, who was apparently the parade grand marshall.

It was funny because neither Jennifer, Colleen or I were dressed up for St. Patrick's Day and we seemed confused none of us knew about the holiday. Everyone kept asking us if we were going to the party but when we asked what party nobody would tell us.

It feels a bit strange to have a St. Patrick's dream now. My unconscious mind must be a few weeks behind. Still it was nice to see so many high school friends even though it was just a dream.

Yeah for me

Look what my friend Sandy got for me - my very own bunny candy dish filled with my absolute favorite Easter candy - Robin's Eggs. I love them. Best gift ever! So sweet. Or maybe she was tired of me eating all the Easter candy at her house. Either way...yeah for me!

Best birthday yet!

As an early birthday treat, our friend Sandy took Dale out for a day of shopping and then dinner. I was invited for the dinner at Osterio Marco. It was delicious. I love their carbonara pizza. Thanks Sandy!

After dinner we went to the hat store in Larimer Square. Sandy treated Dale to a really cool hat for his birthday. I bought myself a hat too. We ran into our friend's Rob Dixon and Laura Ling, which was a treat. After we hit Little Man Ice Cream for dessert.

I love Dale's birthday. I got pizza, a hat and ice cream. Best (Dale's) birthday yet!

Cows...actually thousands of cows

Last night I dreamt that my office building in downtown Denver was filled with longhorn cattle. Yes cows...actually thousands of cows. So many cows kept piling into the building some cows were being pushed off the roof and out windows as the new cows needed room. People, like me just stood outside watching cows fall to the street and die. We would yell at people passing by to look out as some people were nearly hit by falling cows. It was very weird.

So what the hell does that dream mean?

They lied

They (being the people at Channel 7 News) said it was supposed to be 50 degrees this afternoon. I heard this at 6 AM this morning. They lied. It feels like 35 degrees out (and yes I am cranky and bitter about it).

Walking Dead Season Finale

Last night Dale and I watched the season finale of zombie series, The Walking Dead, which I feel is brilliant and one of the best scripted shows on television. As good as the show is, one character continues to annoy me and that is wife and mother, Lori.

Spoiler alert: In the prior week's episode Rick kills his so-called best friend Shane after Shane tries to kill him. In this episode Rick tells the group and his wife, Lori what he did. Lori, who is pregnant with a baby that may be Shane's or Rick basically told Rick several episodes ago that Shane needed to "go" and basically encouraged Rick to kill Shane. Now Rick goes and does it and after he told her about it, she acted all disgusted. It annoyed the shit out of me and I really wanted Rick to just raise his gun and shoot her too. Now that would have been a kick ass finale. He could have shot her and then turned to the group and said, "Anyone else want to judge me? Oh, and Carl...your Mom was a whore."

And speaking of Carl, could Lori maybe keep an eye on her son Carl for more than 5 minutes and prevent him from wondering off since people are getting killed left and right? Is that too unrealistic?

Now typically TV show characters do not annoy me this much, but Lori popped up in a completely unrelated dream I had last night and she was annoying as hell there too. In the dream everyone kept asking who she was and she kept saying "I don't know," over and over.

So now is she not only ruining a great TV show, but she is also ruining my dreams. I think I need to start a letter writing campaign begging the writers to kill off Lori. They might as well kill her son, Carl too. He has just been begging to be eaten anyhow.

Looking for a good read?

Check out the book Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. I just finished the book this week and was very impressed. It was recommended to me by my friend Shannon Spencer.

Last Days of Summer was a great, nostalgic read about a young boy's friendship in the early 1940s with a baseball star told entirely through letters, newspaper clippings, telegrams, war dispatches and report cards. The story centers around Jewish boy Joey Margolis, who moves to a tough, Italian Brooklyn neighborhood with his Mom and Aunt Carrie after his parents' divorce. Facing bullies and craving a surrogate father for his always absent own Dad, Joey starts writing (and slightly stalking) New York Giants baseball player Charlie Banks. Joey's outrageous fibs and desperate pleas grab the attention of Charlie and a unique friendship develops between the two. The story focuses on their friendship over several years.

It is a very funny, yet touching read. It is the second book I have read by Kluger and his unique style does not disappoint.

Two very different movies

Dale and I relaxed this afternoon and watched two DVDs we rented at the grocery store. They were two very different movies, but both were enjoyable.

The first was the Anna Faris and Chris Evans romantic comedy What's Your Number. It was a bit formula and expected (spoiler alert) since you knew they would get together at the end of the film but it was fun watching them get there. Anna Faris is doe-eyed and adorable and Chris Evans is fun to watch with no shirt. Overall, a cute flick.

The second was the baseball story, Moneyball with Brad Pitt, which surprised both Dale and I. Neither of us are huge baseball fans but found this film to be very enjoyable. It was lot more intense and interesting than we expected and I know understand why Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill were Oscar nominated. I am very glad we gave it a chance.

It was a nice quiet, enjoyable Sunday afternoon on the couch with my love Dale and our two best girls - Lucy and Zoe.

Great night with my birthday boy

Last night Sandy Stubbendick and I started the Dale Gloude/Steve Stubbendick birthday celebrations (a bit early) with dinner at Sullivan's, the Patsy DeCline show at Lannie's Clocktower and dessert at Osterio Marco. Throw in lots of St. Patrick's Day drunk people watching and you have a great evening.

Dinner was very good once we settled on where to sit (don't ask). Some of the highlights were the cheesesteak egg rolls, shrimp and lobster bisque soup and creamed spinach.

The show was great once we settled on what show to go see (don't ask). Lannie Garrett was kick ass fun as Patsy DeCline. The website says if you love country western music you will love this show. It also says if you do not love country western music you will love this show. They were right. I am not a huge fan of country western and I loved the show. The show was very funny, lively and just a complete joy.

For dessert we all we unanimous to get our favorite - the caramel breaking pudding at Osterio Marco. It never disappoints and I also had a delicious Strongbow cider to wash it down.

The streets will filled with the young, drunk partiers, who may or may not be Irish, but look for any chance to drink. It was quite a sight.

Overall a great night with my birthday boy and two wonderful friends. Not the best pictures but still fun to share.

Nice weather

Zoe and Lucy enjoying the nice weather. They played chase with a tennis ball earlier.

Happiness

Happiness on St. Patrick's Day is getting a St. Patty's Day card from Mike Flynn and family. It goes from being a good to a great holiday.

Welcome back old friend

They're back! Yes...the flowers are back. It is like welcoming back an old friend and it means summer is just around the corner.

Twin Peaks

Last night we joined our friends Sandy, Steve and Judy at the American Legion #1111 for their annual Corn Beef and Cabbage dinner. A very kind woman there named Annie cooks up an Irish feast. This is our second year and except that I break out in hives there for some unknown reason it is great food and great people. This year I brought Benadryl.

Anyhow, the also have tear of pickles where you win prizes. Sandy won a bread warmer. Steve won a hair coloring treatment and a bag vacuum seal system. Judy arrived to late and tickets were sold out. Dale won nothing. I however won a woman's bracelet ($30 value) and a $25 gift card to Twin Peaks (not bad for a $10 donation).

The funny part is I had never heard of Twin Peaks and thought it was a gag prize based on the gift card. But apparently it is real. It is a restaurant were the girls dress like slutty lumber jacks and show off their twin peaks. Ha! 75 straight men in the place and one of the two gay guys win this treat. I love irony!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to me!!!

Harmony

Dale bought me a black & white cookie. He knows how I love these cookies and remind me of New York. These cookies are all about harmony and sugary goodness.

Thanks Dale!

Suddenly felt like Spring

Tonight Dale and I joined our friend Sandy for dinner at Tokyo Joe's. The weather was so nice we sat on the outdoor patio. It felt nice to be eating outside. It suddenly felt like Spring. It was nice and relaxing.

On the way home I snapped a few photos of the stunning sunset. There are few things as beautiful as the sun setting over the Rocky Mountains.

Always a struggle

This time of year is always a struggle. In the morning, I need a sweater or light jacket. In the afternoon, I do not. As a result I forget to carry said sweater or jacket home most days. By Friday I end up with an office full of sweaters and jackets.

The Hunger Games

I just finished The Hunger Games. Great book. At times I completely forgot I was reading a book written for teens since the plot and themes are very dark. Part of me just imagines a 14 year old girl sitting reading the book and her Mom asking what it is about.

[Mom] - What are you reading Susie? Black Beauty? Little Women?

[Susie] - Hunger Games.

[Mom] - What's it about?

[Susie] - It is about sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where the countries of North America once existed. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, holds absolute power over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 from each of the 12 districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle in which only one person can survive.

[Mom] - that sounds nice.

[Mom] - wait, what?

It is official

The calendar may not say it is Spring yet but this robin on our back patio says otherwise. Well not say...as robin's cannot talk but you get the point.

Beautiful day

Spring has sprung. It is a beautiful day. High 60's and sunny. Even the pussy willows are starting to pop.

Fun idea

My neighbors Sam and Anjanette are selling their house. They have a for sale sign and flyers in their front yard. How funny would it be to screw with the flyers. I could relabel it the Arvada Murder House, photoshop body tape outlines and blood into all the photos, and then put them back in. Ha! Good luck selling then.

More pleasant

Last night I had several dreams that involved our dog, Lucy running away. Let's hope tonight's dream are more pleasant and less anxiety ridden.

Spring has sprung (temporarily)

Today was a beautiful day in Denver as temperatures hit the upper 60's. It felt like Spring has arrived, although anyone who has lived in Denver knows this is just a sneak peak and we are bound to get more snow.

Walking the 16th Street Mall near my office I noticed the warm weather brought several things - some welcome and others unwelcome:

1. The restaurant outdoor patios were showing signs of life. (welcome)
2. A lot more homeless people were camped out. (unwelcome)
3. A lot more crazy people, who are not homeless but like to act like it were everywhere. (unwelcome)
4. The people who instantly go from winter jackets to shorts and flip-flops at the slightest hint of warm weather. (unwelcome - white, pale white legs)

And why does it seem like all the homeless people downtown suddenly have dogs. Weird.

Oh well...hopefully this weather just keeps improving. I am ready for Spring.

88 and a blizzard

Dale and I joined our friend's Sam and Anjanette for a game of bowling this afternoon. I did not have my best game with a lame score of 88, but we all had fun and that is what matters, right? Afterwards Dale even treated me
to a blizzard at Dairy Queen. It was a good afternoon.

Lucy on my belly

Lucy likes to snuggle on my belly. She says it is like a bowl full of jelly. She has been on top of me all morning.

Little Lucy

She is very affectionate this morning.