Hot Air Ballooning

I went hot air ballooning in Boulder with the Fair Winds company. We took off at 7am and were in flight for 1 hour. It was great weather for the trip. Our balloon had 6 people in the basket. Around 6-7 balloons took off from our launch site. One guy jumped out right away and parachuted back to the launch site. Our landing was interesting. We ended up in a open plot in a neighborhood. The ground wasn't level so we bumped along the ground a couple of times before coming to a stop. It was so quiet in flight with the exception of when the burners were going (which were also very hot on top of my head).

Canvas & Cocktails

A new store opened in Cherry Creek North called Canvas & Cocktails. You bring your own cocktails and an instructor leads you through creating an acrylic painting. I took the class with some co-workers. The painting of the evening was "Poppies".

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Hike

I went hiking at Golden Gate Canyon State Park with some co-workers. We were taking a break, and I whipped out my camera and told Amy and Tearah to 'look like you're hiking'. This is what I got.

We took the Burro Trail which was a 4.5 mile loop. It was quite a climb with about 1000' elevation change. It was mostly cloudy so nice weather for the trip.


We had lunch at The Bridgewater Grill at The Golden Hotel. We sat out on the patio overlooking the tubers on Clear Creek. Here's a pic from the hotel website.

Solera Restaurant

I tried the restaurant Solera on Colfax with a co-worker. Every Wednesday they have wine tastings for $15. I also tried the happy hour appetizer special of "White truffle "Mac & Cheese", asparagus, green peas, toasted almonds & Wisconsin white cheddar". Normally you can only get it as part of the scallops entree. It was excellent as well as the wine.

Where are they now? (Vol 4)

I haven't written a "Where are they now?" since February of 2008. In January 2007, I wrote about my best friend from highschool. This one is for her little sister, Merrill (www.merrillgrant.com).

CSO concert

As for annual tradition - I attended the Colorado Symphony Orchestra concert in Cheesman Park with Megan. This is the first year I've actually prepared something for our picnic - chocolate bundt cake made with almond extract and amaretto drizzled with a powdered sugar/milk glaze. I didn't take any pictures, so instead you can check out the ones from previous years. Honestly it looks pretty much the same every year and of course Megan and I never age.
2008
2007
2006
2005

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.