2010

Click here to view this photo book larger

Robert Earl Keen @ The Grizzly Rose

McClains visit

Christmas Day

I don't know why we never put the ring back on the tree and got a picture, but yes we really did get engaged Christmas morning!!!

Message from your friend

Hi, CAM
Your friend C thought you might be interested in this article.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=177644&catid=339

I don't usually get too caught up in matters such as this but I guess today I am avoiding my work and looking for excuses to blab. OF COURSE HE IS INSANE - no sane person does this, just as no sane person commits suicide bombings or shoots up his workplace or a student shooting up his school. That is NOT sane behavoir. To me there needs to be an overhaul of the judicial system's approach to "Not Guilty by reason of insanity" I think we should not only look at whether the individual had the capacity to know and/or be aware of the consequences of his/her actions but also the basis of ones claimed insanity. Obviously what I propose is very subjective, but when matters of insanity we're already being subjective so let's add another step and go a little deeper. People lose their minds over ANYTHING and just because they CLAIM insanity does NOT excuse them from prison in all instances. We have all been around truly insane people . . . or maybe not, but I have seen a few on 16th Street here in Denver and experienced some on the light rail and from my, albeit, bird's eye view THIS man should not be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Store advertisement and mountain fashion

I pass this store almost everyday, DinEa, and almost everyday I say I'd like to step in there and see what they offer.  They are on the corner of a pretty main street just on the edge of the Denver University area but not really in the little "shopping" area on Pearl Street or University.  I've been noticing it since my first visit to Denver and STILL have not been in the store.  Regardless, here is the point I'm here to make.  Last week I noticed there outside advertising board said something along the lines of "Be different, be in style."  Now this just made me laugh out loud and of course, K asked me  what I was laughing at and when I tried to explain why this was funny to me, I'm pretty sure the point didn't go across the gender barrier.  I've already noticed to myself, not in any kind of a judgmental way at all, but that fashion is just not a big thing here in Denver, at least not the fashion that a lot of the world is consumed with.  Just like you've always heard, a lot of women don't wear makeup and are often in slouchy, comfortable clothes and shoes.  The Colorado-fashion, or rather mountain-fashion, is found at REI, Inc. and other outdoor stores such as local cycling and board shops which have high-end outdoor gear and wear.  You don't care about heels, sassy tops, shiny jewelry and fancy makeup so much out there when the wind gusts up to 25 mph frequently, it snows in the morning then is 55 degrees in the afternoon, and you very well may be commuting to work/or wherever on a bicycle or planning to participate in some other outdoor activity at some point that day.

Now, of course I am way over simplifying the reality.   Women do have on makeup, wear heels, and all the other "fashion" trends; however, after observing them for quite some time now I can earnestly say that fashion trends do not drive the average Coloradan.  I am sure that the market research and those that study all that have long ago made this distinction about the Front Range, but back to the store's slogan . . .  it was hilarious to me because no where else that I can think of would a store really have to encourage women in that way to be "in style."  From my experience, limited albeit, most women I know and have been around are trying hard to follow some of the stylish trends. 

Maybe it was just the charismatic mood I was in that day . . .   - NO, I still find it funny. 

New Vocabulary

Yesterday evening as I was driving home from commuting from work to the rail station we had parked the car, and as we had gotten about three inches of snow in the last four hours or so, I started thinking about this whole new set of vocabulary terms that I have had to (or by default) have acquired here in Colorado.  Words like: white out - when it's snowing so hard out, its just white out; black ice - when the road is frozen; blizzard - not that it's a new word but I sure as hell never used it back in Mississippi; also, along those same lines is snow shovel, slush, gropple, beanie . . . You get the idea.  Of course those are just snow/weather terminology, but it's just a whole other world out here ;)  

Really though, being from a completely different region of the country honestly does make the most mundane everyday life things seem out of the ordinary to me.  I love it!  I love being so far out of my element that the everyday isn't even "everyday."  It excites me for the most part.  And honsetly, I don't even really do any of the more adventurous stuff out here.  haha.  I mean I do want to I just haven't gotten around to it all yet.  Honestly. 

She is too adorable!

Snow is here to stay . . .

I believe that January will make up for no snow in December.  This is our second big storm of the month and it is probably here to stay!  I think, or K guesstimates that it was a least a foot this morning.  We both came in to work and so I did not really get any pictures but took these too on our way to the lightrail station in DU. 


Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The year of first

Well there's no doubt that 2010 was a year that I will always view as a true turning point in my life.  To describe it as "a year of first" seems so cliche' and in my opinion does not really do it justice, but then again it is my life so I am probably being biased. 

Honestly, I feel like I've hardly caught my breath since the new year and truly I'm not one to do a whole lot of reflection and resolutions anyway but given that 2010 really was a HUGE year of changes for me I feel like I should reflect a little on what all I have been through and where to go from here.  I feel like for the most part the major changes have all mellowed at this point and I've gotten into a groove, so to speak, in Colorado and with K. 

This year has been a wonderful year in summation.  K proposing was such an unexpected, joyous surprise to cap it all off.  I just did not imagine that he would do that right now, but I find myself looking at my hand and just being overjoyed with love and happiness.  Not just because my ring is pretty (in my opinion anyway), but because I know that K and I are meant to be together and will have a fulfilled and loving life together.  Being engaged was really just icing on the cake, I knew we'd get married but I had started to believe it would just be in some Colorado-low key, common law fashion of "I marry you."  Ha ha (but kind of seriously!)

I guess I could easily make a list of all the things I've yet to check off the list since moving to Colorado, but that would just be in keeping with the negativity that I've grown up with all my life - always pointing out what HAS NOT been done or what IS NOT okay, etc. etc.   However, I think instead I'll just point out that I am now consistently working with the same company and in a position that provides me with income to live off of, I absolutely love living in Colorado, I've made a few friends, I came to work today inspite of there being a foot of snow on the ground, I'm getting back into shape, K and I are still very much in love and are supporting one another in a way I've always hoped a relationship would be!  We did so much fun stuff this year and I've made a photo album of all our trips and shows but I still have to add December to it so I'll have to post it later this week.  My plan is to send it to shutterfly and have a hard copy album created!  I'm so glad I went ahead and waiting until after Christmas since we had such an exciting one!! 

Most importantly, I am personally feeling confident, at peace, loved, proud and excited about myself and my life here in Colorado.  What more could I ask for?

Naturally, I have more things to get in order and on top of . . . a job with benefits, the CO Bar, learn to snowboard, climb a fourteener, figure out a wedding plan, get our other car repaired, - the list is always endless of course but whose isn't.  One day at a time, one step at a time, one thing at a time. 

Happy New Year!!

We rang in 2011 with the McCls at the Pepsi Center for the second night of WSP.  K and C had gone on Thursday night, after the McCls arrived Wednesday evening.  I don't have my pictures downloaded yet.  In short, we had a "perfect" time.  Cold, cold weather, beautiful snow, good food and MSU won the Gator Bowl.  I honestly think the whole visit went as smoothly as it could have and got a real sense that all the McCls enjoyed themselves in their own way.  We didn't make it to the mountains, due to the weather, so they'll just have to come back in the Spring/Summer sometime!! 

Here's Reverb's write up about the Panic Show.  I really enjoyed it and am becoming quiet the fan inspite of myself!  http://www.heyreverb.com/2011/01/03/live-review-widespread-panic-the-pepsi-center-day-2/