Insomnia and other nonfiction

Well, it's almost 3 a.m. I'm headed off home to Ohio later today for a long overdue visit, to help out while my da recovers from surgery, and to housesit for the folks, so you can expect lots of pics and rambling the next few weeks. Sleep isn't coming to me, just sore muscles and anxiety. I hate flying. The wee Dee Bunny is sleepless too, nudging my feet constantly for pets. I think she senses something's up and she's been restless today. Although it didn't stop her begging for trail mix when she wanted a snack. I steamed some spinach and put pie crust dough in the fridge to chill earlier: Shaun and I have a brunch date involving quiche. I made a big batch of penne with vodka sauce and stashed it in the fridge too, so I don't have to worry about him living off french bread frozen pizza and mac & cheese for at least a day or two. For now, I'm off to make some Sleepytime tea and toast and hopefully snooze for a few hours. Peace to you and wish me luck.

Spring Storm

We live closer to the clouds here. Aren't those colors amazing?

Mouse Music

I'm a fan of indie music, in case you didn't already know that. Here is Deb Talan from The Weepies, singing Ashes On Your Eyes. I can't get this song out of my head today.

(Their song, Somebody Loved, is on my wedding track list.) I have GOT to get new strings for my guitar. I want to be able to play this song!

Going to be a fantastic concert season. The lineup so far is Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Tool, Kings of Leon, and the Black Crowes. And Lilith Fair, if I can swing it.

I found spring in the mountains

We went to Golden today.

What a pretty little historic town. It's about a 20 minute drive from us, west on 70. It was also the second day all month that the weather was really nice. (Nice being both sunny AND warm!) My long lost green!







There were lilacs, tulips, and daffodils all over the place! I had to stop and sniff on every street corner.

I have no idea what this next plant is, but I saw it in several front gardens and I loved the spring green color.

We stopped for dinner and drinks here:

and then we headed home. I had an awesome veggie club and my avocado craving from earlier was satisfied. Aaaah! It was a good day. Thanks John G., both for the suggestion and for driving us!

Sidenote: Today is Bradley the Paso Fino's 21st birthday! Hope you had a happy lazy day, old friend.

Once Upon A Time in Ohio

These were taken late last fall.

Another Colorado brewery gets five stars!

This is now officially my favorite beer. Bye for now, Bass!

Nederland and The Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival

(Weather today is cold and overcast, with a little wind and sleet earlier. And it's May...)

So back in March, we were feeling adventurous. We decided to head up into the mountains and check out the festival going on in Nederland. We didn't actually get to see Grandpa Bredo, that was a tad pricey. But the whole little town was celebrating and there was a lot to see; hearses driving around dolled up like parade floats, coffins on wheels (there was a race), street performers and people dressed as aliens. It was Nederland's version of the Day of the Dead. Unfortunately the weather was on and off drizzly, so I couldn't always whip out the camera when I wanted to.


This is "frozen turkey bowling" set up on the side of the main street. For the life of me, I just couldn't get this one. This looked more disgusting and wasteful than fun. Is it just me?


This was one of several cute little souvenir shops on the main street. I was a tourist that day, but I spent my moolah on beer.


Here is the co-op. I plan on coming back here whenever we visit the area. They carry local herbs, eggs, and produce, bulk tea and Dr. Bronner's soap! ^-^ I tried to stand directly in front of the shop and take this shot, but at that moment the sun chose to come out.


Beer tent. Mm, Left Hand Brewery beer.


This was the "Polar Plunge". There was a pond on the hill that people were jumping into through the ice. You had to have signed up for it in advance. I remember jumping into Mimi and Opah's pool when we would visit for Christmas in Houston and if you can work up the nerve to jump, it feels really good. One guy that jumped shouted, "I'm alive!" Ah, nothing like a good adrenaline rush.

May Day!

Gorgeous day. Cool, sunny, breezy, peaceful. Shaun, Romeo, and I went to the park with the huge sports field down on Colorado Blvd. I brought a book to read, human and puppy snacks, a jug of cold water, and we stretched out on a blanket.

Parking and Barking

The local bark park is super close, which means Romeo and I go on daily excursions to meet local peeps and their pooches. We've met some real characters, with two and four legs. Most of the time, he's so happy to be out of the apartment nothing can get him down. He runs and poops and sniffs behinds and drools and smiles at everyone. I've turned one of the pockets of my backpack into Romeo's "diaper bag", with plastic bags, paper towels, and treats. Which really comes in handy, because he has the shoestring drool syndrome. Sometimes Shaun comes too, which makes Romeo extra super happy. He always comes with me when we have recycling to drop off too, and starts his happy dancing when he sees me taking it out to the car. I love my step dog!

St. Paddy's Dinner and other news

Here is a bad pic of our yummy St. Paddy's dinner way back last month. I had fun making boxty for the first time and (ironically?) Shaun proposed that night. We polished off a 12 year old bottle of Jameson's to celebrate. The boxty were a lot like potato pancakes and went really well with the pork roast, baked apples, and cabbage. We had leftover boxty for breakfast. (Side note: I have since resumed my mostly vegetarian diet.)

We left Ohio on February 12 and arrived here on Valentine's Day around 8 p.m. It took a week for our things to arrive by the delivery truck. The whole process of unpacking TONS of boxes, organizing, rearranging and getting settled was stressful on us all and in that time, my camera remained unused. I regret it now, but I was homesick and a little apathetic. The most stressful time of all was probably that first week of sleeping on an air mattress with no other furniture or possessions here and living off takeout.


Shaun's car didn't get here until the end of the week either, so he borrowed mine. So the pets and I were here, with very little to do and no way to get around. Poor Romeo actually got sick, his digestive tract was really messed up for a while. Dee Dee took it all in stride, in fact, she was a real little trooper. After all the reading I did about the impact of stress on rabbits, I was scared that she would have health issues too after driving across the country in a pet carrier. But my bun is nothing if not a tough little cookie. That, and she's easily distracted with alfalfa treats and the occasional Cheerio.