Spring Fever

Spring 
Karla Kuskin 

I'm shouting 
I'm singing 
I'm swinging through trees 
I'm winging sky-high 
With the buzzing black bees.
I'm the sun 
I'm the moon 
I'm the dew on the rose.
I'm a rabbit 
Whose habit 
Is twitching his nose.
I'm lively 
I'm lovely 
I'm kicking my heels.
I'm crying "Come dance"
To the freshwater eels.
I'm racing through meadows 
Without any coat 
I'm a gamboling lamb 
I'm a light leaping goat 
I'm a bud 
I'm a bloom 
I'm a dove on the wing.
I'm running on rofftops 
And welcoming spring!

I came home to find these beautiful tulips from my sweet husband. 

Cupcakes

My current obsession is cupcakes. 

I was frustrated with the delay of the cupcake craze taking so long to get to Colorado. Now that I'm in the big city, I cannot get enough of them. 

It started when Christina sent me a link from a Denver paper about a new cupcake shop. When Cadena was driving through, and I was home sick, she asked if I needed anything. "I need a cupcake." I had been thinking about them since the news of the new shop and had almost attempted to find it on my own this sad sick day, but it was all I could do to muster enough energy to go to McDonald's for a fatty lunch and cheap movie. 

Hmph - so, we all agreed they were disappointing, with thick icing that tasted more like crisco. 

This did not deter my interest or desire for cupcakes, but instead, challenged me to find the best one in town. 

For mom's birthday, we went out to do a Cupcake Challenge. There are two bakeries across from each other on Colfax Ave. One, with traditional fluffy finds and the other with more artistic rich ones. 

For the record, two size-able cupcakes in one setting is more than enough. 

 On another day, Cadena was back in town, had stopped somewhere to chill for a while and discovered their cupcakes with espresso icing. She offered to pick me up from work, and we headed right back there - I needed one!

After purchasing an icing tool, 

I was easily convinced to take the cupcake making class at a local cooking 

school with a co-worker. 3 hours, 5 recipes and I had to try them all. It wasn't until after the class, that I realized by tasting half of each recipe (which I thought exhibited great self-control), I had finished off 2 1/2 cupcakes. Lunch - check. 

It was so fun to have friends over that evening, after dinner and short films, to share the last of the treasures. 5 cupcakes cut in fourths!

Now co-workers keep asking when we'll bring some in to work. Oh no, I think not. These aren't the kind cupcakes you bring in to work to have scarfed down by people who don't know your name. My adventure will continue.... until I've tried them all!

Thanks Cadena, for your great support in my cupcake treasure hunt. 

RTD BLUES

"I want to live in a big city with public transportation."

Now that I'm here I recognize my naivete. 

As a people watcher, who generally cannot get enough of observing, public transportation has let me down a number of ways.

#1 In such small perimeters it is really hard to watch without being caught... and to stop watching after being caught especially when they're sitting right across from you. Oh, these eyes are rebellious.

#2 During rush hours, it is standing room only and any period of time is a long time to rely on inner core strength and rubber hand loops to keep you upright and not all over the person who is standing so very close to you.

#3 While the majority of people seem to be aware of others, there is a pocket of people who are oblivious to the hoards of bodies all around them when they: 

a. talk on the cell phones (answering work calls and speaking with important work voices, shoot the sh*t on the way to get antabuse while they complain about the roommate who moved out just b/c their dog pooed under her bed and that they can't move into a new apartment b/c they have a misdemeanor on their record, discuss grandma's health and what they're having for dinner)

b. put their bag next to them, taking up two seats in a standing room only train

c. laugh and giggle when their child is screaming incessantly 

d. try to climb in before you can get out

e. have trouble breathing through their nose and make horrible noises when they breathe through their mouth, so much so, that as you hear the sound right behind you, you find yourself grasping for your own breath (not to worry, I saw her again and she is capable of smoking).

#4 No matter the time or circumstance I am always just missing the train I need. While the wait isn't usually more than 8 minutes, it's a long 8 minutes if:

a. it's cold outside

b. you're late to work

c. you ran to the train, pushed the "open door" button, only to watch the train pull away and use those minutes to rehash the harshness of rejection and rejection with an audience

d. you know that was the last pre-rush hour train and the next will be packed and you can kiss a seat goodbye

Unfortunately, because my public transport is almost always on cranky mornings (I mean, which work days don't start with those?) or after long work days and in small, crowded spaces, I've lost some of my excitement with analyzing people and their conversations. Currently, I most enjoy the rides when I've got my ipod and can't hear those around me, or have found something interesting to read on my blackberry. To great relief, I recently found myself in an open space with lots of people and enjoyed taking them all in and watching them be them. Phew! My passion is still there - just not with commuters. 

- I should note, I've not experienced a train as crowded as the image I've included-

The Fire

We went to the early service at church - it starts at 8:30. Inevitably, we always arrive late, which at out church, isn't nearly as shameful as it would be in most places. 

After such an early rise, I could hardly wait to snuggle up on the couch. My eyes closed, I drifted into sweet sleepiness.... and then I heard yelling - confusing my peaceful slumber. Kids playing a game? It doesn't sound fun. A family fight? It isn't ending. 

Eventually, I crawled off the couch and to the porch, walked out on the the balcony and saw a shocking sight. The apartment building across the lawn was on fire! Huge flames from the bottom apartment balcony all the way to the next balcony. The yelling? Neighbors screaming at people in floors above the flames to "GET OUT!" 

There were at least 9 fire trucks/engines that sirened in to save the scene and the fire fighters put the flames out shortly after they arrived and hooked up their hoses. 

The smoke billowed for a while and plenty of us gathered on the lawn to watch and take it all in. 

Fortunately, no one was home in the apartment that started aflame. And no one lived the the two apartments above. Unfortunately, the family who lived there has no home. 

I am even more thankful, now, that the candle I forgot to blow out, a few months ago, didn't burst into flames in this high rise apartment, but instead just flickered on and made the whole place smell good upon my return home. 

The story... After this short break.