Another list

Sometimes these are quick ways to keep updated...
1. What books are you currently reading?
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and Song Yet Sung by James McBride. I never read the first one when it came out, and am loving it! The second one is my book club book. I put off reading it for a while but just got really engrossed in it per Meg's recommendation.
2. What movies are in the Netflix queue?
Honestly, it probably hasn't been updated. Mike and I just started watching Into the Wild the other night, but we still have to finish it. I loved the book and the movie is proving its worth. I think we are going to drop our Netflix down to the 1 movie per month. With school, baseball and the weather getting nicer movies just aren't in the forecast.
3. What are you doing professionally?
I am finishing my graduate certificate in adult learning this summer. My teacher Kristi insists that now I have to work on my teaching portfolio. A last minute opportunity to teach computer skills to adults opened up for the next three weeks at Morey Learning Center, and I am going to teach conflict management at The Conflict Center this fall. Hopefully, this will build my portfolio so I can start teaching at Regis!
4. Where have you dined lately?
Mike and I have our favorite Sushi restaurant called Osaka Sushi on Colorado Blvd and Exposition. We love it there. I also ate at Racines last week for a lunch with friends.
5. What are you doing this summer?
Going to our Tuesday baseball games (if the Rockies can last that long), taking classes, hiking, gardening, working, and hopefully having a few overnights in the mountains. I want to throw the perfect summer party...

The way things are

I have found myself inconsistently blogging these past few weeks. I think it has to do with how very busy both Mike and I have been. I feel like I am inundated at work, at school and at home with stuff to do. It is graduation time, so students are coming out of the woodwork to find out if they have done everything they need to do to graduate. I am finishing up a class as well and have never procrastinated as much as I did this term, which is coming back to haunt me this week with my final project. We are still trying to finish up house improvements, which neither of us are motivated to do. I feel like every minute of the day is full of some sort of a "must do" and I wish I had a maid, ghost writer, and personal construction worker to do these things for me. It is getting way to beautiful outside to not enjoy it!

I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. Class ends this week, and I will be gardening over memorial weekend. Mom and I have a get away planned to Estes Park over mother's day weekend, and we are seeing real progress on our house chores. So, hopefully over the next few weeks things will be looking up!

Happy 35th Robert!!

Tomorrow my brother turns 35! Whoa! Old man Robby. Here are some pictures from the celebratory weekend. We partied on Friday night at Cap City and then yesterday had a lovely dinner of spaghetti, meatballs and homemade cake with the family. Tomorrow Robert will come to the baseball game with me! Wow. Who ever knew that turning 35 would lead to so much celebration? Seriously, you are a great brother and friend-I am so glad we are related!

If you like movies, check it out!

Mike found out about this neat little find in South Denver. There is a new development going up at I-25 and Belleview, a lot like Bel Mar and other places. There is a Landmark movie theater there that plays more independent films than other mainstream theaters. Here are three top cool things about it:
1. The $12 admission includes all you can eat popcorn and all you can drink soda
2. If you really need to feel like you are at home, you can order alcoholic beverages-there is a bar in the lobby. A man came into the movie theater carrying a half drunk bottle of wine.
3. If you don't want the popcorn, they have yummy other concessions-Abos pizza, empanadas, quiche to name a few.
So, check it out! http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Denver/Denver_Frameset.htm
We saw Leatherheads which I would recommend to football fans and non-fans alike. They are also playing The Other Bolyn Girl, Smart People, and Run Fat Boy Run.

Bye bye wisdom teeth

I got the news yesterday at the dentist that I have to have all four of my wisdom teeth extracted. I have been successfully putting this off for years, until the pain in my bottom left wisdom tooth grew to almost unbearable. The doc told me that they are very tight in there, and so that is where the pain is coming from. So, out they come. I made a consultation at the oral surgeon for April 29th and my surgery is scheduled for May 28th at 9am. When I called, the receptionist asked, "Will you need IV sedation?" Please. 2X as much if at all possible. Mike has promised to be my caregiver and mom promised to make me chicken and rice soup. I am taking three days off even though everyone I ever spoke to is fine almost the next day. I am milking my sick time because I am such a baby about pain.

An interesting weekend

I had such an interesting weekend, full of ups and downs. Saturday morning Mike and I went to FedEx to pick up his interferon which couldn't be delivered because we weren't home. The woman couldn't find it, blaming the currier for not scanning it back in. Mike was furious, as it is perishable and medicine to keep cancer away. Both this lady and her boss were unsympathetic and unapologetic, but they finally found the package.

We then took Mike's car to get the oil change and took the dogs to this dog park in Englewood called Canine Corral. We had been there once before over a year ago and it isn't my favorite dog park-there are 2 gates to get inside and dogs have to be leashed in the parking lot. If you have heard or seen Chester as we get about one mile from the dog park you will know that he is a freak, barking and whining as if this is the only event in his life worth living for. The thought of leashing him in this state is like thinking to leash a wild boar with no tranquilizers. Mike went to open gates and I let the boys out of the car (no leashes) and they announced their arrival into the dog park. A man (I think he is the Tony Soprano of this dog park) came over and told us the dogs had to be leashed or if the police see us we would get a ticket. We told him, "thank you, now leave us alone." He actually thought we were two different people who, it sounds like, came last weekend and created chaos with their dogs. So, he continued to tell us how he told us this last weekend, and if he has to tell us again he will call the police on us. We ended up leaving and will never, ever go there again.

The highlight of my weekend occurred after this lovely morning on Saturday. Meg picked me up at 1:00 and we went to high tea at the Brown Palace. It was such a treat. Not only is it always just fabulous to hang out with Meg, we settled into our chairs and devoured tea, scones, finger sandwiches and desserts, all the while talking about life. At the end, I got to top off a great tea with seeing Meg's little Mia, who is seriously the cutest little girl I have ever seen. I think this tea turned the rest of the weekend around, as I had fun at a co-worker's party Saturday night and Mike and I were productive Sunday on the kitchen cabinet doors.

The weather was gorgeous too. I wore sandals on our walk yesterday. We watered the lawn and I see buds coming on my lilac bush. I am also in love with the plant Phlox. I put one in my back garden and is green and has pink flowers on it. I love this time of year and all the lovely spring and then summer days ahead!

6

March and April are celebratory months in this house. Stan turned 6 on the 30th and Chester turns 6 in April. Nothing like watching puppies grow into big dogs to make you feel old. I remember when we picked up Chester from the breeder. Barely 8 weeks old, he was so shy and would hide under tables and chairs. I remember the car ride home...he sat glued to me, wouldn't move or breathe and threw up all over our neighbor's lawn when we finally pulled up to the house. And Stan...when we adopted him he was such a mess (was, you ask?). He was poorly trained, neglected, attention starved. He ate my garden gnome, would have accidents in the house, and panted heavily(?). Now, yes, the boys have their quirks. Still poorly trained, but not neglected. When they come running at you when you come over, it isn't out of wanting to attack you but give you love. Happy birthday Ches and Stan.