The place where H2 loses O

Fun fact about Colorado: it's called the Centennial state because it joined the union in 1876. Fancy that! Now you know why there's a C in the middle of the flag! No, not just C for Colorado but C for Centennial*! Yay knowledge!

My main man, Tbot, grew up around Denver and still has family and friends there so we spent a weekend visiting the beautiful state and chatting with lots of fun folks.

We're so excited.

We started in Castle Rock, CO (so named for the big hunk of rock atop a hill that legit looks like a castle. Nature is cool!) and stayed with his aunt and uncle and cousin. Such nice folks, they made us burgers at nearly 11PM since our flight had been delayed!

We woke early the next morning to start our day in Denver. We caroused around town and ventured through the zoo and the museum of nature and science. The weather was insanely perfect which helped distract me from the fact that my brain was gasping for air.

Lion! The reason the zoo doesn't open until 9AM: Mr. Man back there does his duty with his ladies at 8:30AM. Yes, sirree! Confirmed by TBot's brosef who worked there back in the day.

Just saying hey.

Really? Not human? That guy is the definition of chillin'.

Maya exhibit! We made our own tile pattern *nerd alert*.

Ok, really it was just the top portion because we ran out of white tiles.

After getting our walking fill for the day, we checked in to our urban bed & breakfast. It was surprisingly adorable and quaint just north of downtown Denver and across the street from a park. Lovely! I was immediately itching to take a thousand pictures...so I kinda did.

Breakfast was written here the next morning.

Foyer and baller art on the wall to the left.

We spent a few minutes with our feet up after walking so much before heading out to pick up his friend, Dave, for dinner. We found a tasty burger joint and indulged in green chili cheese fries and some pretty fabulous burgers and drinks.

That drink was called something Donkey. Honey vodka and some other good stuff. Yeah, that was tasty.

Before we could contemplate going out we both realized our eyes wanted to close so we decided to call it a night and headed to bed. The next morning dawned bright and early and beautiful and crisp and cool and clean and clear. It was a commercial world out there! I proceeded to photo attack the house and the grounds around it again. How could I not? Just look!

A specially crafted table for the B&B.

I love this!

Super precious, right?

Foyer! I love foyer's.

Entirely quaint.

I love Victorian houses!

It was a nice oasis in the heart of Downtown.

Highly recommended!

We sat around a specially designed table for the house with four other couples from different parts of the US and enjoyed a lovely chat throughout breakfast. I LOVE staying at places like this versus hotels...you just can't beat the camaraderie!

We gathered up our goods and hit the road for Broomfield, where Tanner-san grew up, but not before making a very important stop. Everybody sing it with me now...

CASA BONITA, CASA BONITA!!!!

After that brief (very brief considering the sketch 'hood it's in) stop, we meandered down a Highway 6-esque road to Broomfield. We wove in and out of the residential streets, of which the entire city was comprised, and stopped at a few key places. One was a burrito place that was locally famous and we chatted with the owner whose son went to school with Tanner. I should mention the burrito was delicious. After that was a drive-by of his childhood home, elementary school, middle and high school and some of his friend's homes. One more pass through the neighborhood to chat with his mom's best friend (they are carbon copies of one another) and we vamoosed to Boulder.

Boulder is only over a hill from Broomfield, so you'd think it would take less than the 20 minutes to get there that it did. The landscape really is fascinating in Colorado. You can see for miles because of how flat it is but that's because you're on top of a rise that shows you said miles. Boulder is a college town with a mountain range as the backdrop and it's a great sized campus. We wandered around and it was really nice to note how all the buildings had similar architecture and texture except for the engineering school. Weirdos made a fortress. I expected to see flying monkeys and arrow slit windows around every turn.

After buying some CU goodies, we drove up to Chataqua (maybe that's how it's spelled?) Park to go hiking. I knew it would be tough but I really had no idea how out of shape I would feel. We walked ten feet up a slight incline and my muscles started straining and my breath quickened and I looked up the rest of the way to realize that it didn't stop rising for awhile. And that was only because there was a hill in my way up to the mountain so I couldn't even SEE how far it went. I powered through and was happy to do so as we took in the surroundings. Truly a beautiful hike.

This looks fake!

Still looks like a green screen.

Gettin' some sun and our steps in for the day! 17K+, whatwhat!

Because walking 7.5 miles wasn't quite enough at this point, we drove to Golden, CO, home of the School of Mines and perhaps more famously, the Coors Brewery, the world's largest single-site brewery. We partook in the "long tour", all 20 self-guided minutes of it, before making our way to "Coors Lab" and getting our three free beers. Yep, all free. Please note, there's a "short tour". Can you guess what that entails? Yep, straight down to the taps.

Coors Light has NEVER tasted so good, ever, as it did from that nearly freezing tap. I will absolutely be taking the short tour the next time we visit. They had some seriously delicious beer! Also, did you know Coors owned Blue Moon? Mind = blown.

Blue Moon! You get three of these for free! Daily!

In line for #2!

Killian's, highly recommended.

And because adding another 1K plus steps still wasn't enough, we drove down to Red Rocks Amphitheater and walked some more.

Look at that view!!!!! I was in awe imagining getting to see Mumford & Sons here.

Ta-da! Tired but so happy.

We motored our way back to Broomfield where we were hosted for dinner by Tanner's bestie, Adrian, and his girlfriend, Allison, who also hiked with us briefly earlier in the day. They treated us to a 3 course meal before we indulged in an episode of The Walking Dead. I'm still torn on whether I want to give that series a go considering zombies are kinda super scary. They are fast now because apparently everyone was bored with them wandering slowly thereby making them easier to kill! Um, please make them easier to kill again, thanks and bye.

With one more stop to the aunt and uncle's house for a big breakfast on Sunday, we made our way to the airport to say, "See you later, Colorado!" and hit the bumpy ride home. Seriously, clouds, cut it out.

Did I mention it dropped to 50* with wind blasts making it feel like freezing ice rain was pelting my legs as we bolted for the bus to the airport? It freaking snowed! Weird weather.

Another great trip! Get ready, NYC, you're next!

*And also not cannabis, per my dad.

Where people work hard to go slow

Back to Florida, the land of snowbirds and mean yankees; The home of people with no class or respect for others and no happy waves and "howdy"'s. It's tough to live there, tough to visit, tough to leave because of my good friend, Carrie, her boys (all three), and her sis and BIL (and the animals, can't forget the animals).

I love visiting Carrie because she is one of those people that makes you better. You try harder, you laugh harder, you live better when you're around her. While visiting the folks of Florida isn't something I'd recommend, I WILL tell you that Carrie is the bomb and worth every minute of those people to see her.

Let's fly!

This wasn't just a vacation, it was a workout-acation (what?). Post two hours of workout with Katie (the sister) we are at the pool to relax! And reflect sunlight. And blind people. And for Katie to get pooped on by a bird.

Inbetween workout #3 and 4. Newfound love = zumba! Katie in the front, Carriecake in the back.

His first time at the beach in over five years. WHAT!

Where the ocean meets the river. The water moved frighteningly fast and it was absurdly windy!

Last morning there. :-( But we got to enjoy some awesome Boston folks at a great diner. Family run, no nonsense but loving...Southerns from the north, excellent! Me with her boys, Braden and Riley. They are really good artists, very creative and smart and growing up really quickly.

These two are seriously cut from the same cloth: cotton, v/crew neck t's from Target.

She's simply the best.

Sad to go home. 

Until next time, Carriecake, et al!

28 was great!

Buckle your seatbelts folks, this one's a doozie...

Many, many years ago I had this feeling...a feeling that has lasted for all these many years.

28 is gonna be great.

I'm on the other side of 28 and I'm here to tell you...damn skippy!

January:
3 weeks of birthday celebration with game nights, food consumption and many a laugh ushering in a new year of life.

Thanks, Basura!

February:
First anniversary with my favoritest person on the whole planet.
The first musical movie dinner night. Jesus Christ, Superstar!

Flashback 7 years.

Rodeo and my first (and then second and third) fried oreo!

Ride buddy!

March:
Georgie's wedding fun! Four back-to-back weekends with the ladies who brunch was such a treat and it was such a joy to watch G and S become man and wife! Plus, her dress and shoes were FAB! Oh, and not to mention her AMAZING cake. What a dream.

Whatever was happening was hilarious.

Got to meet the BIO!
Game of Thrones commences!

April:
Annabelle's first bowling experience, and boy was it amazing. What a kid!

Not shown: her throwing her hands up after every bowl. Every one.

Toured Blue Bell with Stace, WE FINALLY MADE IT!

Rock-climbing with the SIL and I sorely wish I had taken a picture of her frog impersonation as she clambered up the wall.
Second musical movie dinner night. Les Miserables!
My cousin's wedding reception in Dallas and a fun night with family.
Most epic trip to date with Jess to D.C and NYC. Let's do it again!

May:
Kyle-do gets baptized! He did such a great job in his little pimp outfit.
Molly and I start and subsequently fail a push-up and squat challenge. BINGO WINGS!
I did THIS!
Happy Mother's Day, mama!
Dinner with my Plains gals, miss you!
Third musical movie dinner night. Sweeney Todd! A musical I haven't seen. I know...pull your jaw up from the floor, that's gonna leave a mark.
Experienced Sam Houston Race Park. Very fun, fast-paced, air-conditioned and exhilirating. Didn't hurt that we started the experience by making up an entrance to the parking lot. Parking fees? Not for us!
Was lucky enough to host my most amazing and stunningly beautiful friend, Carriecake, her BF and her boys. Such great boys and what great houseguests! They treated me to a most delicious breakfast the morning of their exit and I proceeded to stuff my belly.

June: The musical month...trust me.
FREE PRESS SUMMER FEST. No words can describe...
MUMFORD & SONS. No word has been created that could come CLOSE to describing this. Really...no word.
Oh, and the Texas capitol. And the original Kerbey Lane. But....M&S!
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL at Miller Outdoor Theater. Holy crow, those kids were so good!
Father's day, love you, popsicle!
Fourth musical movie dinner night. HSM and Phantom of the Opera. Uppin' the ante!
Pool time with the ladies who brunch, sorely missed them!
Astros with the PDub/UST crew and then we topped that with Chocolate Bar. Dangerous!

July: Playing catch-up
Date night with the lovely mama of my little Landosaurus Rex! How quickly my little gummybear has grown!
Woosh, off to Michigan!
Juice cleanse...never again. :-D
PROMOTED! Boom, baby.
Swimming fun with AB & K-do!

Fifth musical movie dinner night. And this time, it was inadvertently perfectly timed with the World Premiere of Teen Beach Movie. Yeah...but it was awesome!!!!!!
River float 2013! Again, again, again!
A paw-ty to celebrate my good friend's official adoption of two, yes two, new pugs. Yes, pugs. She has a plethora of pugs.

August:
Carrie & Jase came again! I L-O-V-E hosting them!
Restaurant Week Month! Hello, ladies who brunch, I've missed you!
Vegas, baby!
Work buddy dinner with the diva and Cards Against Humanity. Perhaps our influence on her should veer further to the side of Disney than devious?
Geek Fest at HMNS (Houston Museum of Natural Science) and I ran into not one, not two, but THREE friends/family members that night. Completely at random.
My first HOT YOGA session, thanks Molls! I'm hooked, guys. You should be, too! Tanner is soon to join in the action...
Haaaaappy birthday tooooo Tbot...happpppppy birthday to yoooooou! We celebrated right nicely for my main squeeze with Fogo de Chao dinner on Saturday the 24th, a movie afterwards, a huge family breakfast on Sunday and a delicious dinner at Yardhouse with his bro. Epic golden birthday, you quarter-centurian!
Lunch with Alex and all we did was talk books over schwarma. AGAIN, AGAIN!
I got my mom's couch, thanks Mama!
I got to see my cousin play OSU football at Reliant Arena. Happy last season, Andrew! Hope to see you in the NFL one day!

September:
Happppppppy birthday, Mamasita! No hair dye and a healthy frame, here's hoping I got those genes!
Musical movie night numero seis! Oh, but this time...I must confess...we didn't watch a musical. Instead, we spent 6 hours talking.
Ding-dong...hello! My name is Elder Price...Round Two of Book of Mormon here in Houston and it was just as great as it was in NYC! Hooray!
L'auberge for fun! Except the only fun part was anything NOT related to gambling because they gots all our monies... :-(
Haaapppppy 6th birthday, Evan-san! TBot and I got lucky because not all the kids were able to make it so we got to BOWL, and shoot LASER TAG, and have pizza and cake and soda. That was SO FUN! I love my kiddos!
First Texans game of the season, the last weekend of September.

October:
Hello West Coast and my fabulous cousin and his fiance. The weekend had finally arrived for my and TBot's trip to San Francisco!
Go Coogs! TBot and I decided to support a local university and attend a great game at BBVA Compass stadium. I also got to learn why the light rail was being installed on Texas Ave...it ends at the Dynamo stadium! Smart Houston, very smart...connecting all the main stadiums together.
Dinner with two of my favorite people, Alex and Berserkmoes. The topics of conversation shifted from food, to books, to movies, to Excel shortcuts, to impending travels, retirement accounts and planning and our careers. Seriously, two of my faves.
Epic seventh musical movie night and we successfully watched Pitch Perfect. Aca-scuse me?
Renaissance Festival! I have made the trek here many, many times and some years are better than others but always it's a sight to be seen! (Wish you could be here, Carriecake!)

BBot and TBot

Too much enthusiasm for adults?

Found cider on tap! I'd consider the festival a whopping success.

HALLOWEEN! Happy 4th birthday to Jack!

November:
Had lunch with two of the greatest, Georgie and K-Money!
Big project #2!
Saw my Navy buddy and met his gf (now fiance). See you in Seattle!
Mad Potter with the ladies and saw the Big Bird Belly growing! See you at your shotgun wedding, Judea!
Did another juice cleanse, what is wrong with me?
Happy birthday, Berserkmoes! Bummer about our shoe fail, but a fun night nonetheless!
Let's celebrate Mr. Kyle turning the big ONE and the Woeste's being born!
Tbot and Bbot's parents meet for the first time...dun, dun, duuuuun. It went fine, thank goodness!
Austin for Kathy Griffin!

I did not get her signature. She is a far cry from the D-List now!

Gave thanks, many many thanks, for all the delicious food that was eaten on for days and days. Turkey day is amazing.

December:
Annual holiday party and we got to bring my bro and SIL as our dates!

"What color tie do I wear?"
"Red, you have to match me. That's what happens when you have a girlfriend."

He may hate ties but he still cleans up nicely.

Dinner with winners, my Plains gal pals!
8th, count it...8th! Musical movie night.
I spent a weekend toting my friend Lakesha around Houston and she proceeded to make me become obsessed with Scandal. Dangit, Kesha, I don't have time for another show!
Finally met Sita at the Maynard's for dinner. Sita bonita!
Hi, Carriecake and Katie! Glad I got to treat you to some Starbucks before you hit the road!
Annual family Christmas party at the 'rents house. Always a great White Elephant to be had...
Merry Christmas! Round 1: my parents, Round 2: TBot's parents. So much food, such nice gifts!
Miss you, Kelly. Another year has passed but you're still just as sorely missed.
12th annual sister-in-law cooking day, right in the nick of time. Happy New Year's!

January:
The dawn of a new year and the best MONTH of the year. :-D
Became obsessed with and subsequently watched all the seasons of Downton Abbey. Season premiere on the 5th!
Big bird belly has grown. Got to celebrate with Judea and her baby daddy the impending birth of their Grimlock. Sidenote: reverse charades makes you sweat a lot and nearly injure yourself faking a basketball shot.
Congratulations to my two cousins for graduating from UT and OSU both! The youngin's aren't so young anymore...
Vinny & Garette together again! Those cookies were diabolically good.
Lady G (who made me get obsessed with DA) hosted a fabulous tea party to discuss the latest goings on. I can't help but laugh and be envious of the DA ladies. Fashionable clothes, being courted, having tea and dressing for dinner. Envy and LOL'ing. They have to say excuse me before cursing. They have to wear the proper attire or someone will be aghast at their faux-pas. Hilarious.
Niiiiiinth musical movie night. No way? Yah weh! Zero to hero, just like that.
Yoga in the park!

Happy birthday party, Annaboo! I can't believe you're 3!
MY BIRTHDAY.

I want to give a big shout out to my 'rents for letting me come to be and for helping me become the best person I know I can be. You are the solid bedrock of my life, my sturdiest of foundations and my ever-flowing fountain of knowledge. Thank you for me!

And a big hello to the last year of my 20's! Buena suerte on topping all that.