Victory Is Mine....

Ok. I may or may not have tricked Isabelle into laying in her new bed.



She even has a look on her face like she's humoring me.

Isabelle's Birthday

Today is Isabelle's (A.K.A. Catfish, Shortstack, Grandma, Chick Pea, and The Little Sausage) birthday. She is 5 years old today. Because of the fact that she is so enthusiastic about everything, I can't really tell if she is especially excited about this special day or not. I got her a little dog bed for her birthday. Being the bad Mom that I am, she has never had a real bed. I always just gave her old pillows and stuff since she's so small. But, I thought since she's almost an old bag that I may as well get her a real bed. I had the bed in my car and as we were getting out at my house last night I thought to myself, oh, I need to bring up the bed. For a second I had that "but what if Isabelle sees it" thought and then I was like, get a grip. She has not only the brain the size of an almond but the memory capacity of a goldfish, so I got the bed and headed for the elevator. However, to my dismay, while standing and waiting for the elevator, I looked down and Isabelle was staring straight at the bed and wagging her tail. So I started hiding it behind my back and trying to distract her by saying things like, "Look! there's a giant zip lock bag of chewable vitamin C you could eat!", but she didn't look away. I figured once I got upstairs I would put it on the counter where she can't see and she would forget about it, which she did. This morning she seemed very excited about her new bed except now she is sleeping on her ratty old pillow right next to the bed. Very disappointing. But what can you do? She's an old woman now...set in her ways.

Coloradons

I know my last blog was about all the crazy people coming out the woodwork lately. But last night I was driving home and when I got into the city I noticed a new thing on one of the skyscrapers...someone was projecting a purple hue on almost the entire building and there were the letters, CR over the purple. This got me to thinking about what good fans people in Colorado are. We're not like some states where people go overboard and trample and shoot each other. We're loyal, we show up and hollar our brains out, and then we celebrate for as long as possible. This got me to thinking about how great people from Colorado are in general. Granted, most of the people here are from someplace else (everyone calls it the transplant state), but the people here are so great. Everyone is friendly and willing to lend a hand or give directions, people are nice to each other. Strangers all talk to each other. Now, I haven't lived in other states but from my travel experience this isn't the sentiment in most places.
Plus, it is so cute that the Colorado Rockies are going to the World Series. This is something out of one of those cheesy underdog movies. Everyone here is so excited about it, it's nuts. So, the point of this blog is GO ROCKIES! and hurray for Colorado.....

The Crazies Are Out In Full Force.

Having lived in the city for about 4 years now, I have grown accustomed to just about everything you can think of. It takes quite a bit to surprise me. I have the Denver police non-emergency line programmed in my phone and other than that, I just go about my business. The crazies definitely come in waves. After the Winter when it starts to warm up they start coming out of the woodwork around the city. That's usually the most pronounced "crazy boom" of the year, but for some reason they are everywhere right now. Even in unexpected places. Of course, you have the crazies that are homeless and mentally ill who talk to themselves and bark at walls and things of that sort. They aren't really scary because I think they are too occupied trying to get ahold of themselves that they don't even notice other people around them. Then there are the crazy panhandlers that heckle you. My very favorite is the one that dresses like Santa starting in August and sings everything from Christmas carols to the Star Spangled Banner at the top of his lungs (and horrifically, I must add). He'll walk up to you and belt out a line at the top of his lungs right at you. The surprise came from a girl in one of my classes. I'm taking this incredibly boring (required) classical sociological theory class (the name alone makes me want to fall asleep). There is this girl in my class that has been trouble from the beginning. Even if she is asking a question it comes out like an attack. At first the class laughed at her a lot and whispered and I would sit in the back of the class watching everyone (because that is what I do...maybe that's where this sociology thing comes from), but I would really feel bad for her. I thought, this is just like high school. Even in college that poor girl can't have her own opinion and speak up without being sanctioned by these twerps. However, after weeks of this and a couple outbursts (including one in the last class), I have decided that this chick is just plain old bat shit crazy. Excuse the expression, but for some reason it is in my vocabulary lately, and no Mom, I know, intelligent people don't talk like that ; ). So now I have started wondering, maybe the reason that people have always been so harsh towards those who violate social norms is because those people really are off their rocker. Maybe there is more reason to these social norms than we give them credit. Anyhow, the crazy people are everywhere right now.

The Backyard

I took a drive into the mountains today to see if I could catch the last bit of leaves changing. It is so beautiful up there. So incredible to think that this is just an hour outside of the city. Colorado is so beautiful. I have lived here almost my entire life and it still takes my breath away.

Little Bursts of Magic

I was walking home from class tonight around dusk. It's funny how you can watch the seasons change through the light if you have to be somewhere at the same time everyday. I used to walk home from my class in broad daylight, and now it's almost dark by the time I get home. (As soon as it gets a little darker I'll start driving...don't think I don't know my family who's reading this wasn't thinking that...). I was walking and listening to this great soothing Jack Johnson song and I had one of those little bursts of magic moments. The city had quieted down because most people had gone home from work and things were almost frozen in the aqua blue light of dusk. The weather was perfect. It was probably 70 degrees, maybe a little warmer, with a very gentle breeze- the kind that just grazes your skin and gets your hair just perfectly out of your face. The lights of the city were just barely starting to glow and my block turned from a big city to a little neighborhood- the only people really on the street were people that lived right there. It's so interesting living in the city because it's like it breathes in and out. In the morning it takes a deep breath and tons of people flood in like little ants. Then as it begins to get dark it exhales and it's just us. The people who call that block home. I was just strolling home in this, wishing I could walk a little slower and soak this in a little longer.
It reminded me of a movie I saw yesterday called "The Evening". There was a part where a nurse told an old woman to picture one of her happiest moments. But a moment when she was alone- and it made me think what mine would be. I would have to say that life doesn't seem any more real than when you get stuck in one of those little bursts of magic...even though by definition they don't last very long. At least we get a glimpse now and then.

Where Are My Manners?

I had to be out of my apartment for a few days because they were re-doing the hallway floors and upon arrival to my apartment this morning I realized that with all the commotion of the last couple weeks I didn't notice how icky my house has become. So, I started cleaning and as I was vacuuming New Clean Couch I realized that I never introduced you. Everyone got to see Green Couch depart but missed the new arrival. So allow me to introduce you to New Clean Couch :




When New Clean Couch arrived at my house I was a little apprehensive at first. It felt stiff and we were uncomfortable around each other for a while. But then we bonded over a very extended "Lost" marathon where I had to catch up on 3 seasons. We were together through the intense moments, during the laughs, and finally at the season finale. After that we became thick as thieves and have been inseparable ever since.

New Clean Couch is very soft. It feels vulnerable around Isabelle, the vomit machine, because of it's "fair" complexion. I keep telling it not to worry, that Isabelle has taken to throwing up on the floor these days, instead of the furniture. I even vacuumed New Clean Couch today, deciding that it would not become one of those couches where if something falls in the crack you just leave it because you fear what else is down there. I will not fear under the cushions anymore. I'm taking control of New Clean Couches' destiny to stay clean.

Now that you have all met, you'll have to come visit sometime for a sit.

Quote of the day:

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." - Mark Twain