I'm Itchin...

This time of year I'm itchin...for spring, to garden, to get in shape for summer clothes, for baseball, for my yard, for long evening walks, for cool morning runs before the day gets hot...Today, I'm itchin for a good book to read! Help! I just got done with Into the Wild (great suggestion, Meg) and my book club book This I Believe is almost done. I need fiction! A good story, one that is deep and sad and profound...or I would settle for something fun, but I just need a good read. Any suggestions, send them along. I do have Truman Capote's In Cold Blood on hold at the library. I saw Capote on DVD last weekend and loved it. I am fascinated by the 1960-1970 eccentric writers, artists and musicians...I love reading a biography and seeing "Partied with Andy Warhol" somewhere in there. I wish I could have been a sociologist in the 1960's...And today I am not itchin as much as I will be when the weather gets warm. By this I mean allergies. I forget that I have a love/hate relationship with spring because of how stuffed up, sneezy and runny I get when all the lucious leaves and crocuses start popping out. Oh well, it is a small price to pay to bring me out of the winter drudgery.

A little green, sun and the beach

Here are some pictures from San Diego. It was nice to break up the cold, gray and brown winter doldrums with some green and the beach!

A little bit of confidence goes a long way

Last night I had the fortunate opportunity to spend time with some great women. My friend Karen is leaving the SCFD to be the cultural liasion for the City and County of Broomfield. It is a great opportunity so to celebrate we went out for dinner with other SCFD past or present employees...all of whom are female. We came to the consensus that the SCFD office leads to great things...Karen's new job, one gal is now teaching at DU, another started a graduate program, and even my own path has been successful. Just being with some great women for a night re-inspired me.

I realized at Karen's going away party that I have gained confidence since working at SCFD. I remember always feeling not confident around the board members, directors of arts organizations, and the cultural council people. Since I was just the office admin I always felt like a peon in the world of the arts. But yesterday I just felt so much more confident. I walked right up to the past board chair and re-introduced myself-we talked education and work. I met several cultural people. I introduced myself to a gal who works for the Daniel's Fund, where Regis students are often recipients and got her card. I just felt so good and I realize I have grown and matured in even a short time, 2 years.

I decided to take this confidence to the next level for a little self improvement. I saw my friend Melissa who is trying to get in shape by training for a 5k. She isn't much of a runner, and I am a pretty slow jogger, so we decided to meet once a week and jog at the park together. We may try a little 5k this May. We met this morning, and ran the outside path of the park in a little under 30 minutes. It was invigorating, fun, and felt good to focus on me for just a bit. I think it is a blessing that as humans we grow and change and become stronger people. I am glad that I recognize it when it happens to me.

I am back, and Mike is in NYC

If I could post pictures of our trip to San Diego I would. Mike has the camera, and he is in NYC. We got back yesterday and I am still adjusting. Mike had to fly to DC for a meeting yesterday after we arrived from San Diego, and then he took a train to NYC for a meeting tomorrow. He is going to play Friday and part of Saturday-hopefully scoping out the places we will visit if we ever go!

San Diego was great. Here is my perfect lifestyle: Summer in Alaska, Winter in California. Hmmm...can't do that on an advisor's salary. I guess I willl need to be happy with travel. Our best day was Sunday. We drove to Coronado island and took in the beauty, we had a great lunch in downtown San Diego, we visited the USS Midway (retired aircraft carrier) and had the best pizza at Basic Pizza by the ballpark. Maybe I just like the life of leisure.

I will post pictures when I get the camera back...of the two coasts, of course!

Here we go a caucusing...

Last night Mike and I dusted off our Political Scientist selves and went to the caucus in our neighborhood. That was, for both of us, our first caucus. I don't think the organizers were expecting as many people that showed up. But, if everyone in our neighborhood got as many calls as we did from the candidates, then it is hard to ignore the event. Our precinct's caucus was at Lincoln Elementary and the cafeteria was packed. First we went to one corner, then moved to another. We signed in and as the people kept coming in we got squished into the back corner. It was hot. I was thirsty. I was clausterphobic. Other precincts left to different rooms, we stayed along with another precinct in the cafeteria. It was an interesting process. We were split into 3 groups-each for the 2 candidates and those undecided. Speakers were supposed to stand up and try to convince the undecideds to vote one way or another. Our precinct leader wasn't that organized, so I think we skipped this step. Mike and I both volunteered to be delegates to the county convention in March, so we shall see if that happens. All in all, it was an interesting experience and, even though it was hot and stuffy and disorganized, voting always give me a renewed sense of pride in democracy.

Tribute to Grandpa Mac

Grandpa Mac will be remembered for the love he gave his family, the joy in eyes when he was with the grandkids, the stories of his life he would tell, the challenging games of cribbage he would play, and for many many other reasons. We love you, Grandpa Mac.

Tile complete!

We spent all day Saturday grouting the tile backsplash and wall. Here it is! This was a milestone and now, even though there is still some work to do, we don't feel like our lives are being taken over by the kitchen!