Cherry Creek Arts Festival

I attended the Cherry Creek Arts Festival again this year. Here are a few new favorites:
Tropical Paintings
Handmade Guitars that are really a piece of art more then an instrument.
This guy's metal work stuff was selling really well.

Lake Wylie - Take 2

We went out on the lake again on Sunday. Here is a video of Shawn's dad solum skiing and everyone else on the boat. Aggie got a little braver her second day and actually rode up front for awhile.

Lake Wylie

Suzanne and I drove to Charlotte to visit Eileen and Shawn. We went out on the boat in Lake Wylie. We brought Eileen's dog, Aggie, with us. She's never been swimming before. Her face was priceless when she was lowered in the water from the boat - somewhere between pure terror and shock. The life preserver was in case Aggie didn't move her legs and sunk like a rock. After we brought her back on the boat, she was looking at the water with new interest. Shawn had to hold her from jumping back in. Suzanne tried knee-boarding for the first time. And I took a few runs on the wakeboard. Eileen's co-worker Mandi and her husband Michael joined us.

Dinner

I met up with Megan, Stephen and Megan's little sister Katie for dinner at Tamayo in LoDo.

It was fun sharing our obsession of Twilight - the books, the movie, the soundtrack as well as learning about Megan's favorite bull to watch on PBR chicken on a chain.

How I start my morning...

It has rained more this early summer season then the previous summers I've been here. The result is it's greener then ever before. I've been walking/running/biking on the High Line Canal trail a lot the past couple of weeks. Usually I'm joined by birds, rabbits, squirrels, ducks and the occasional coyote or horse. I drive 5 minutes to the trail head and in a few minutes on the trail this is my view. It's nice to start my day with this view rather then cubicle walls...

When I bike, I leave right from my apartment. Unfortunately the first 1.5 miles to the trail head is mostly downhill, so I save the hardest part of the ride for the end on the way back. I programmed my ipod with 21 songs. It took 17 to get to my turnaround point and all 21 to get back. It was a 2.5 hr ride.

More Stand Up

I saw Kevin Pollak tonight at Comedy Works in Landmark Village. I told Eileen I was going to see him and that he was in her favorite movie "A Few Good Men" and she still didn't know who I was talking about. Here's a pic (hint: he's on the right).

He was also in "The Usual Suspects" -another awesome movie. Prior to the show Mythili and I went to Jing for drinks and appetizers. It has a very cool interior and good food from what I tried.

Dad turns 65

Since I made a big deal about Eileen turning 30, I think Dad's 65 is also a big one.

Cosi fan tutte

Megan and I saw the Cosi fan tutte opera. It was a comedy which was much lighter then the last one we saw. We ate at a champaign bar, Corridor 44, prior. I highly recommend (as did the bartender) the truffle parmesan fries.

Stand Up!

The Kempe Center has a facility at The Children's Hospital and is for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Ellen and I attended a fundraiser comedy show. The comedians were Kathleen Madigan (video) and Josh Blue.

March of Dimes

I participated in the March of Dimes March for Babies walk. Children's was one of the sponsors, so a group from work was walking. 10k is an easier distance to run then walk - it took 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Eileen Turns 30

Here is a re-creation of the card I sent Eileen for her 30th birthday.

"Ring, Ring...it's your youth calling. Long Distance. "

Family Easter Egg Contest 2009

The contest began in 2007 with my winning "Easter Basket" egg and has been getting more competitive and sophisticated each year. Ellen joked about dying an ostrich egg to win by shear size but instead this year we added 'googly eyes'.
The entries are:
Ellen's "Bunny and Chick" (we're not quite sure why there are cotton balls on the bunny's sides but supposedly they are arms), Michelle's "Graduate" and Joan's "Monster".





















Ellen has suggested that there be a trophy for the winner. Joan will be leaving for Tibet in a week and will search the globe for the appropriate trophy to be passed from winner to winner.

Note: I have checked out Eileen's blog, and I have to say "City" is pretty impressive and quite a competitor.

Scruffy Murphy's

I went to Scruffy Murphy's for trivia night. It has a cool Irish pub atmosphere. I definitely say go for drinks but skip the food.

Copper Mountain

Fred and Joan at the top of Copper Mountain. Unfortunately Vicki fractured her ankle within the first part of her lesson the day before and was out for the rest of the weekend.

Copper Mountain x2

It was back to Copper Mountain this weekend. Tearah and Gardito tried snowboarding - both signed up for a lesson. Unfortunately Tearah fractured her wrist near the end of the day. The orthopedic surgeon that happened to be on our shuttle back to the parking lot took a look at the x-rays and assured her it was minor and would be fine in a couple of weeks. But she does have to wear a bright green cast. We stopped at Tommyknocker Brewery in Idaho Springs on the way back - good mussels.

Denver Restaurant Week - Vita

Denver Restaurant week was extended a week. I tried Vita up on the north side of town next to another restaurant I really like, Lola. The highlight of the dinner was the dessert, Banana infused bread pudding with almond ice cream. I'll have to go back in the summer when I can sit outside and enjoy the view.

Swimming

I'm taking a swimming class 2x/wk at the Lone Tree Recreation Center. This picture actually is the pool - you can't see the swim lanes to the far right. The instructor writes out different workouts and gives us drills. It's been so long since I've done organized swimming. I really enjoy it.

Copper Mtn

My favorite month to go snowboarding is February (before spring breakers, and weather is normally warmer). I had almost let the whole month slip by - so at least I caught the last day. The conditions were excellent - sunny, powder/packed powder - I couldn't have picked a better day.

Parallel 17

I tried Parallel Seventeen Restaurant (modern Vietnamese food). It's a very tiny restaurant on 17th avenue. The calamari had won a best bites from 5280 magazine, and it is very good. I was disappointed with what I ordered for the main course - it was tasty but $24 for 3 scallops is ridiculous.

Duo Restaurant

Megan and I tried a restaurant listed in 5280 magazine, Duo Restaurant in the highlands area of Denver. The exotic mushrooms appetizer was very good. I also liked the ambiance.