Teller Times

This weekend my dearest friend Stephanie and I spent the weekend at the cabin. Every time I take the hour drive up to the mountains and spend time out of town, I question why I don't do it more. I instantly become drowsy once at the cabin and find that naps are a requirement when spending time up there. Steph is a mom of 2 young boys and so, for 3 years now, we plan a weekend where can just be and hang out. This year, mom invited us to join her at the Teller County Pancake breakfast which supports the local volunteer fire department. After breakfast we went on a tour with the historical society. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but was impressed with what I learned.

We toured the old school house, where they taught from the late 1800's until 1960! It was super cute and just what you'd imagine a small town school house to look like.



We toured a Victorian ranch home, complete with stories of ghosts and murders! The woman who lives in the home is a local historian and has even written a book....I walked through her home, in her bathroom. A voyeur's dream come true.



We went on a tour of the local cemetery with the headstones of icons of the time and sad stories of children dying from the numerous diseases.




Some on the tour were out in full dress.

Fortunately I grabbed my camera - it was a great day to take some photos.

Here's Mom & Me and Mom & Steph.

Sleepy Head

I am so confused this morning. This morning I woke up in the middle of a dream and at this moment, hours later, I am still terribly confused. Did I or did I not take a shower in a garage with a moving door which put me at risk for exposing myself to the co-ed crowd outside? And did I or did I not dig through my bottom drawer of jeans to discover that my younger sister had taken them and now I had nothing to wear? And could this have anything to do with making reservations just yesterday, for a spa in Santa Fe or that I spent time last night with one of my junior high students who was talking about sharing clothes with her sister and not being able to find things that had been borrowed? I’m kind of feeling like the only way to combat this would be to close my eyes for a little bit and try to get some things resolved in my head. That’s not going to happen anytime soon. On my way into the courthouse today, one of the attorneys said, “Wow, you look tired today!” Thanks buddy.

Yee Haw!

So I love this time of the year....the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo strolls into town and for the last couple of years Christina has gotten tickets because of her fabulous job and their affiliation with the rodeo AND she has been kind and generous enough to invite me. Last month they had the street breakfast downtown, on Tejon street. For $5 you get an egg and pancake

breakfast, served up by some of the local army guys, live music and the opportunity to sit on bails of hay. There is a parade (which I missed this year) and a cattle run downtown. I walked out of work the other day and stumbled onto some livestock. It wasn't until I talked to my friend in Seattle that I was reminded it isn't everywhere that herds of cattle are sent down city streets.

My love for rodeos started a couple years back when my dad invited me to join him at the Western Stock Show (which is in Denver every Martin Luther King Jr Day weekend). We check out the livestock and the goods and we go to the rodeo. That year, we just happened to get great seats near where the buckin' broncos and bulls are .... it was perfect and close to all the action. It's a tradition now, and I look forward to it.

I love the romantic idealized cowboy lifestyle, the work-with-your-hands mentality and grass roots feel of it all. The cowboys themselves aren't bad to look at either and there is something about watching a man with a well-trained herder dog, or prize winning bull, or impressive riding abilities that is attractive.

This year mom and dad joined us. The VIP food was great, and the weather (despite threats of rain) was perfect.

5K Princess Warriors

Here we are week #1. (from left: Schelau, Jana)

Woohoo! I did it! We did it! 5 weeks. In a row. 5 kilometers.

Insert tune from My Fair Lady: "They said he couldn't do it but he did it, he did it. They said he couldn't do it but indeed he did!"

The first week, a whole 5 weeks ago, I began with fear - what if it is horrible? Impossible? or What if I don't finish?
The fifth week, on this very night, I began with fear - what if it is horrible? Impossible? or What if I don't make it?

Pasha! It was totally not horrible and we totally made it!

I'll admit the t-shirt ceremony was a little anti-climatical - there were a lot recipients and by the time the T's rolled around, it was old news. There also wasn't a group photo, and I'm not ashamed to say I was looking forward to that. BUT! I did receive my official shirt - a true sign that I did it! Let me just point out (and toot my own horn) that I, a non-runner, at times lazy, and not a goal setter put on game face every Tuesday for 5 weeks and ran 5 kilometers each week...in a row! I am going to say it: I am a princess warrior.

And so I would like to thank:
Jack Quinn's - for the 5k, of course. All the runners who ran by my apartment
challenging me during my denial stage. Bristol Brewing, who makes such a darned good beer that a cold Beehive is totally worth the effort. Apple for creating the ipod - which not only gave me the beats but a handy little stopwatch, as well. All the artists who inspired me to climb the hill - you know who you are. (let us not forget the generous ex-boyfriend who gave the gift of the ipod and the initial anger drive to run). My friends Sarah and Vicki, who have been avid runners for quite some time and were an inspiration. My running (read: jogging) partner Schelau - I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have someone to do it with; thank you for your commitment despite rain, discomfort and pain, and for the knuckle bumps ~ which meant everything to me.

See you all again next week. I'll be the chick in the leprechaun jersey working on a runner's high.

Independance Day

I love days off in the summer. I wish there were more. I know I complained about having a day off in the middle of the week, and I felt the pangs of exhaustion on Thursday but...still a day off and that, my friends is a beautiful thing. I started the day early with Christina and Schelau. We had a delic breakfast at Adams Mountain Cafe. Then, we went on a hike: Section 16. Phew! If that ain't mountain hiking, I don't know what is. The views are so beautiful that it is worth every strain and bead of sweat.

Our tough hike was followed by some hot dogs and potato chips, true 4th of July style. Although there was no propane, so the dogs were broiled. Then, we sat in the hot tub. Great fun and the perfect followup from the hike. By evening we headed down to Manitou Springs and watched the fireworks. It was a nice change from the usual Memorial Park crowd and we were able to chill out and get comfortable on the sidewalk. The excitement really came when a drunken motorcyclist whizzed out in front of me and then got so upset at me that he stopped in the middle of traffic (which required a freakish slam on the brakes). He then yelled at me and finally veered off the road. Geesh!

Anyway, God bless America!

If you recall, I was recently informed that I had 3 cavities. I set my appointment to get them all filled at once. That way there's just one horrible experience associated with stress and pain, instead of multiple visits. I arrived to my appointment and was whisked away to my chair and the tech explained, as she handed me a remote, that I could watch whatever I'd like and to get comfortable. TV? cool! In addition to the stress of dentist drama, I was now having a difficult time deciding what I would watch during this process. I had all the choices of cable, none the less. Nothing I'd really want to see, as I was sure to be distracted; I didn't want to be the cliche chick, tuning in to the "Wedding Story," and nothing I could watch at home. "Dirty Jobs" was the winner. I've only seen a couple episodes and it's one of those shows that makes me want to get cable. I watched for a bit and the assistant made a comment about my choice. She's also a fan of the show. My dentist is running behind so I have plenty of time to get comfortable...and more nervous. "Dirty Jobs" is not show enough to completely distract me from why I'm here.

Finally, he comes in and we begin the process. He too points out that so many of his patients choose "educational" shows. The experience begins with two nasty numbing shots and lots of drilling.

TV has crept into our lives everywhere. It is no longer reserved for family time in the den. Kids have their own tvs in their rooms, they are strapped to seats in cars and minivans, even at restaurants and the bars conversation competes with whats on the boob tube, not to mention, catching flicks on cell phones and ipods. And it is no different at the dentist's office. While Dr. Drill Bit was grinding at my teeth, I could see the tech dazed by the images on the screen. And while the tech held the light on my tooth (to harden the filling) my dentist turned his attention to the dirty job on screen. I found myself getting super agitated. I couldn't even see the tv, much less care to watch it. I felt very compelled to pay attention with what was going on in my mouth...too bad my professionals weren't. If I could have reached the remote, I would have shut it off immediately and scolded something reminiscent of my mother, "No more tv until you've done your chores!"