My Erratic October
…Because that is the only way to describe it. I have been trying to do posts along the way but it has been one thing after another and finally I feel like I can come up for air. I thought a list would be the best way to go because well, that is pretty much how my month went. The saddest part – I actually had to check my calendar to remember some of these items.
o Started off the month with Gino Velardi’s fashion show (OK-1 day before October) but what a blast, his new line as absolutely stunning that if I had the money and a place to wear it I would purchase 80% of it! Besides promising him that I would finally walk in his next show, I was also asked to model for a new Denver magazine, DeVelo!
o Birthday came and went with a blur. Wednesday started off with a beautiful sunrise, my midterm finished, work and then 2.5 hours of school
o Birthday weekend started off with moving day filled with pouring rain that took longer than I hoped but finished with enough time to unpack most of it. I have even started decorating more than the last apartment; my favorite piece is the chandelier wall décor above my bed
o That Sunday my friend Luisa treated me to a candy bouquet and dinner at Ale House at Amatos. Worst service ever but after writing a letter to management, we are willing to go back and try with the $100 gift card they sent me
o Celebrated a belated birthday with Michael up in Estes Park. We rode horses in the morning, which wasn’t as fun as I thought it was going to be (slowest.trail.ride.ever) but I am glad we did it. I was just happy to be in the mountains as I hadn’t really had the chance to that summer
o School has been keeping me busy. I realized that I am not doing as well as I thought but now is the time to move it up a notch. I even spent 2 hours in the library just trying to figure out a topic for my 5 page comparison paper. (I decided on comparing the difference between Jewish and Hindu marriage ceremonies and traditions)
o Spent time with my bar family at Salty Rita’s watching them carve pumpkins. I should have jumped in but I wasn’t dressed for it and was too exhausted from work and school to operate a knife after having a glass of wine
o I absolutely love my new car! While the big 4-valve V8 engine has increased the charge at the gas pump, I still have no regrets. From the simplest of things like being able to roll down my window to the luxuries like the most amazing seat warmers ever. I honestly love those butt warmers so much that I am worried that I will have to replace them in the next few years
o We had our first dump of snow in the city. 4-6 inches by my house. It seems to be a tradition in Denver that it has to snow around Halloween. Poor trees took a beating from the heavy wet snow but more so in Northern Colorado. It is a beautiful site but by Sunday there will be very little evidence that it ever snowed at all. In fact, 2 days later my lawn is already 20% green grass!
o This weekend is Halloween weekend and instead of playing dress up and hitting the town, I will be spending my time finishing my apartment and writing my paper that requires more reading material then my brain is capable of handling
I have a new personal project that started brewing last weekend and while I can’t talk about it now, I will be an open book when I get some more answers but that will many weeks and maybe months. Also thinking my blog is due for a big makeover – something with a more personal touch….and I know just where to go! If you are in the mood for a blog change and haven’t checked out Munchkinland Designs yet, you are missing out! She does an amazing work and luckily for me she now offers options for WordPress users. That’s about it for this month but next month I am going to attempt a blog challenge as I have never participated in one and thinking now is the time. Anybody have any ideas? If so, let me know!
A Moment of Clarity
Did you ever have a moment when your eyes are finally opened for the first time and you see the world in an entirely different way? For some people it is a life threatening experience, for others it is the lost of a loved one or an event that forces them to change everything in their world. For me, my moment was at 25, right after I called off the wedding and went to therapy. I became an outgoing person wanting to see and experience life, like I was given this second chance to do something with my life. I couldn’t believe that this world was here all along and I wasn’t participating in it.
My friend Gretchen (a.k.a. Grea – My Twin) just had that moment as well… she has recently experienced this clarity in life and I couldn’t be happier for her. It has given her the ability to see different possibilities for herself. Similar to the feeling that a proud parent has of a child, I am so happy that she is lucky enough to have this moment, where others go a life time without ever getting that chance. This is an experience that I hope everyone has, that they awaken out of the rut and start living their life to the fullest. I can’t wait to hear her stories of adventure; what new paths that she may stumble upon while walking down this new road and the people she meets along the way.
I guess the reason I bring this up is I miss having that feeling. I miss that wide-eyed innocent doe feeling that gave me strength and the power to do anything. My mind has been out of kilter lately. I have had a rough two weeks (for multiple reasons) and had a craving for friends to talk to. My friends have been busy with work, out of town or just unavailable. I have had this feeling of longing to be with them, just to talk or share their company. I didn’t really get that chance to get together and the consequences proved themselves today when the ugly side of me came out.
The Man and I went to Breckenridge for the Fourth of July (the picture above taken from the drive up there). You see, I have had a craving for the mountains. To be outdoors, be one with nature, to be able to sit back and enjoy its wonderful beauty. It all makes sense now…I was looking for the healing of the outdoor world, being in a calm peaceful spot to try and re-group myself, putting the pieces back into place where they belong. While I had fun, I also had waves of insecurity and depression. I turned into “that girl”, that girl that I hate. I had built up this weekend in my head to be the one good thing that would turn my luck around, that The Man could save me from myself, but the truth is, the only one that can change my attitude… is me.
I do not like the fact that I projected my low points on The Man. I am a strong and confident women and it isn’t fair to do that to him and our relationship. Yes, a relationship isn’t always filled with laughter and fun; it is the hard times that push more growth, but why burden others because you cannot be a complete self? As long as I stay aware of my mental state then I should be ok. If I have to ask for help I will, but otherwise I will fight to stand on my own and for my happiness.
Tonight is July 4th and I am home alone and I couldn’t be better. I didn’t get to eat hot dogs or hang with my family or friends but I did get my fill of little ones and sunshine. I was given a gift of seeing a part of my state through someone else’s eyes. I need and want this time alone. As the sun sets into the darkness, it has begun to rain. I kind of take that as a sign… the sign of self cleansing. There is nothing better than sitting outside at night, drinking a glass of wine and listing to the rain; to wash away the over analyzing thoughts in your head bringing a sense of peace within ones self.
With that, I leave you with a brief sound clip of tonight and hope you can re-group and have your own moment of clarity or cleansing
The Honey-Do List
Now, if only I had a honey in my life to take care of it! But I don’t which leaves all of it up to me.
I think I officially have had it! I never really did a spring cleaning because I moved into my apartment around that time. Well, this week I am done with all the clutter and crap. I have been so busy with my new job and social activities that I have become lazy and one day I turned around and looked at my apartment with disgust. When did it get this bad?! Between the overflowing recycling bin and the dirty clothes thrown on the floor, it was the last straw!
Besides the dirty living quarters, then there is the list of things I have been procrastinating on. Things like hanging the rest of my pictures, unpacking the remaining boxes, getting my oil changed and the list goes on and on. It is so long that I can’t remember all that needs to be done until I see something that reminds me to add it to “The List”.
Before writing this post I managed to get my hair cut (it’s been 3 months), get my oil changed, replace my air filter, clean up all the recycling & drop it off in the bin down the street, washed the dishes, and emptied 3 boxes and organized them in plastic storage bins!!! I feel so accomplished yet when you take a look around, it still looks cluttered. Sigh… I am thinking that maybe for now I will make my apartment visually appealing and attack the rest of the boxes tomorrow once I buy some more plastic tubs.
One of the last things I need to organize is my summer schedule! I am SO excited about all the outdoor activities that are going to be happening here in Colorado! I just received my June issue of 5280 Magazine with the Ultimate Summer Guide and picked up the new Westword Summer Guide (for newcomers and natives).
There are so many things that I want to do, now being back home AND having a job that allows me to play on the weekends, I just don’t know how I am going to choose! Things from downtown art festivals to free outside movies, Rockies games, charitable food & wine festivals, City Jazz in the Park and horseback riding in the mountains plus sleepovers/pool parties with my niece and nephew. Almost too many choices… so tonight I think after getting my apartment in tip-top shape, I shall sit down, highlight all the events that I want to go to and start plugging them into my Blackberry calendar. Then making a list of the Colorado specific adventures that I want to enjoy just this summer and filling those into the holes. Who would have known that having fun would require so much preparation and work? And I better get it done because the events start this weekend! Capital People’s Fair, Churchill Cup (Rugby), Denver Chalk Art Festival, Film on the Rocks, Telluride Balloon Festival…. Like a kid in a candy store, where do I even begin?!
I AM SO EXCITED FOR SUMMER IN THE ROCKIES!!!








