rocky mountain blog

Crazy Carmen

2012-01-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

I heard on the news this evening that a crazy woman marched into Denver's new Clyfford Still Museum last week and literally attacked Still's painting entitled 1957-J, No.2. Carmen Tisch apparently leaned into the over sized 13'x9' canvas and then proceeded to scratch and punch the painting with her fists. To top everything else off, during "the incident" she decided to take a pee on the floor nearby - nice touch.

Seriously, what is wrong with people? I understand being "moved" by a work of art, but this is a whole different thing. And why might you ask would a fine, upstanding, cockroach of a woman (see photo below) decide to do something so terrible? No one really knows. The work had no religious or political connotations that have been known to drive others to madness (see article here about a similar incident where another crazy lady, Kathleen Folden of Montana, took a crowbar to a painting in Loveland, CO). My theory is that the ink from Carmen's many elegant tattoos eventually took their toll, seeping into her remaining shard of a brain, and causing her to spin out of control. That, or just another victim of Denver's altitude ...

Still's 1957-J, No.2 was literally an "anchor" piece at the new museum, and the value is estimated between $30-40 million. It will cost approximately $10k to repair the damage. The piece, outside of it's rather enveloping Rothko-like size, is unique in that the forms seem to be drawing towards each other and simultaneously breaking apart.

Sweet Carmen will appear in a Denver courtroom tomorrow ... where she will probably take a pee and tell the judge to kiss her tattooed ass ...

"A" ... For Effort

2012-01-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

Well, my first day of New Years resolution cooking was a ... er ... failure. I spent the morning perusing all of our many cookbooks and collecting quick recipes I thought I may be able to use during the weekdays. Most involved chicken and pasta and were considerably variable in their degrees of healthiness (though I was admittedly more drawn to the ones involving cheese, bacon, butter, and all things fat!).

One of my finds was a "stuffed chicken" recipe (from the Cooking For Two cookbook) that I happen to already have all of the ingredients for ... with the small exception of Marsala table wine. Who knew, but there is literally no recommended substitute out there on the world wide web for Marsala. Apparently, its dry, distinguished taste is one of a kind. So I ended making a run to Whole Foods explicitly for this item ... though I returned with much more (I do love that store! Granted, I really didn't need water chestnuts, mushrooms, or a big delectable wedge of Port Salut cheese ...).

The recipe looked easy enough, with emphasis on the "looked" part. I was a tad concerned about the six minute cooking in a pan thing for the breasts, as I've always done chicken in the oven and it's always taken considerably longer. One phone call to Mom (which if cooking were an episode of the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? would have been my one "Call A Friend" tip) did confirm 6 minutes per side was more than enough, especially after I took my aggression out on the little boogers with the meat tenderizer (1/2" thickness). Long story short, the 6 minutes was right on the money, but on mid-level heat. My burner, naturally, was entirely too hot causing the olive oil to boil ferociously and smoke up the entire house. And my breasts, after a mere 4 minutes were black as tar.

Being one to never give up, I immediately turned the heat down, and cut the burned breast halves off before returning the remaining raw chicken halves to the black scorched pan. I watched these little beauties like a hawk, and despite having to re-imagine the stuffed breast now that all of its inner goodness had fallen out, what remained was juicy and quite delicious if I do say so myself. The Marsala drenched garlic sauce was a little bit of heaven, though lesson learned yet again, Marsala tends to evaporate quickly and should be served immediately. Sean was much later than his 6 PM due date, so what remained wasn't as succulent as I had originally planned. He did, however, after cleaning his plate, say I get an "A for effort." Gee ... thanks Sean!

Tomorrow is back to work, and after literally 2 weeks away I can't say I am the least bit excited. It's funny how the longer you're away from the office, the more your brain likes to tinker with the possibility of other career opportunities. I was thinking today those Whole Foods people so look incredibly happy, though given my culinary prowess, I'd probably end up in the back unloading boxes or mopping floors after hours. I can only dream of one day finding myself in a green apron at a more desirable public position. Perhaps behind the cheese counter wearing one of those little white hats or doting over truffles at the confectionery. I'm thinking I should stay away from the meat counter and anything involving actual cooking. I can dream big ...

Hair Of The Dog

2012-01-01T20:03:00.003-07:00

It's another year, and despite all the prophetic doomsday, I have every faith 2012 is going to be awesome! (it is, afterall, an even number!)

I've been contemplating resolutions, and admittedly I'm having some trouble ... I always do! Sure, my mind is aflutter with those typical promises I know I will break almost as soon as I make them (ie: going to the gym, cutting out alcohol, volunteering, etc.). Regardless, I was thinking I would actually try to bite off something I can actually chew (quite literally!), and maybe something that would benefit not only myself, but Sean as well.

So, in addition to being more diligent with my blogging, I've decided this year I'm going to make a more concerted effort to actually cook during the week. And when I say "cook" I mean actually going beyond defrosting a frozen entree in the microwave. We're talking balanced meals here with actual proteins, greens, etc. By the sheer number of cookbooks and kitchen gadgetry we own, you would think we were both gourmet chefs already! I know I can do this if I put my mind to it, and who knows, maybe I'll discover a hidden talent somewhere along the line! (fingers crossed!)

Last night was a good start point in keeping my cooking resolution. Remember those days when all you could think of on New Year's Eve was going to some raging party at a downtown club where you would pay through the teeth for admission, get drunk off expensive cocktails, and end up spending the evening with a bunch of sweaty D-bags? Been there, done that, and good riddance in my mind. I may be showing my age here, but now I'm all about the dinner party. Sean and I joined our good friends Meggie and Ryan for dinner at their place. Meggie, being a true-to-form Martha Stewart (complete with pearls), had everything planned to the nth - great menu, wine, music. And with her expected flair for being the "hostess with the mostess," she appeared to pull it all off effortlessly (I adversely would have been a complete maniac!). We had a leisurely paced steak dinner complete with Bearnaise and champagne, then watched the ball drop in Times Square over dessert. Don't ask me how, but we all ended up staying awake till 3:30 in the morning ... pretty sure the orangecello was to blame! I was ready to start hot tubbing at midnight, but alas, we will need to hold out for another night ... the heater on "Bub's Tub" was on the fritz ...

We all started coming to our senses around 10:30 this morning (early, all things considered), and despite our huge dinner the night before, everyone was famished. Next thing I know the smell of bacon is filling the house, and Meggie and Ryan had eggs, hash browns, and leftover flatiron steak cooking on the stove. Meggie is really never one to let an opportunity pass, so the mimosas were not far behind ... a perfect start to the new year, and a very necessary "hair of the dog."

Ever notice how these little sayisms creep into our vocab without ever really knowing where they come from or what they actually mean? Well, I did a little iPhone research today (Sean did anyway), and this is what we discovered about "hair of the dog." For one, it's a Celtic folk band based in New York state (see link). Secondly, it's the name of a bar in nearby Broomfield, Colorado as well as a brewing company in Portland, Oregon (see link). Regardless, the real roots of the saying come from pre-Shakespearean times, and referred to "a method of treating a rabid dog bite by placing hair from the dog in the bite wound." (eww ... see link). In a similar fashion, you can treat a hangover by taking a little nip of the same boozy concoction that gave you the affliction in the first place ... but I would suggest leaving the actual dog hair to the dogs.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T23:49:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this little poem that was originally published on a New Year's Eve dinner menu at the Hotel Del Monte, New York in 1940.

A wish that’s old,
For a year that’s new,
May the dreams you’re dreaming,
All come true.

Wishing you and yours the absolute best in 2012!

Deck The Halls! Fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra ...

2011-12-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

The week between Christmas and New Years may be the one, solitary week during the calendar year you can truly unplug and unwind (POTUS Radio's Pete Dominick refers to it as "Taint Week" which totally cracked me up - "the week between your ho ho, and your hee hee!"). I imagine it's a similar scenario for most, but for me, this blessed 7-day stretch is literally the only time of year construction schedules, and demanding clients, come to a semi-grinding halt. No phone. No email. No headaches. No guilty conscious ... though admittedly, I never really turn it off altogether.

It always takes me about 2-3 days to actually ease into this holiday state ... and another 2-3 days to actually ramp back up! Sleep can be a funny thing. When I actually start getting 8-10 hours, alarm free for consecutive nights, I'm actually more tired during the day. Supplemental afternoon naps seem to be the "new norm," perpetual yawning is unavoidable, and having to actually "do" anything (outside of eating of course!) seems all but exhausting. I'm convinced this is a snap shot as to what retirement and "senior living" will entail ... and somebody better be ready to wipe the drool off my chin!

Sean and I took full advantage of our holiday down time this year. We were both so busy with "work work" in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we didn't even get a tree up! (a first for us) Seriously, no tree, no lights, no wreath on the door, no Christmas cards ... we're starting to identify with the Jewish Orthodox families in our neighborhood (and in some ways, I kinda liked it!). Regardless, when our small propeller plane landed in Weyers Cave, Virginia last week, that warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling finally began to set in ...

My parents moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia sometime ago, and this is the second year Sean and I have gone there to celebrate with them. From the time we walked in the door till the time we left, I felt like Mom was literally shoveling food down my throat ... cookies, peanut butter balls, cheesecake, you name it (though if you ask her, she'll say she really didn't do a lot of baking this year). I feel like I put on 5+ lbs ... though fortunately the bathroom scale hasn't caught on. The stockings were all hung by the chimney with care, and Mom of course, had decorated not one, but three trees so you had one in view no matter where you were in the house! We were able to get a little holiday shopping accomplished prior to Christmas. Outside of many sporadic runs to Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, and Harrisonburg's own Valley Mall, the majority of our time was spent on the sofa or at the kitchen table. I did get a lot of reading knocked out (Walter Isaacson's bio on Steve Jobs ... great read), had 20+ games of Words With Friends going on my iPad, watched a couple movies, and played MANY games of Mexican Train ... which my Dad is convinced has little to no strategy, but I would beg to differ! (the competition was very heated ... )

My brother and his family weren't able to come up from Richmond until the day after Christmas, so we did a rather non-traditional Christmas dinner in true "Christmas Story" fashion - Mom, Dad, Sean, and I went to a Chinese restaurant! (though disappointingly the waiters didn't sing Deck The Halls to us or anything ... Fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra. Check out this classic scene here) The restaurant was actually packed and despite the "All White Meat" verbiage being crossed out on the menu in big, black permanent marker, the non-traditional fare was delish. I try not to think about it too much, but if they aren't using "All White Meat," what is it exactly? Hmmm ...

The day after Christmas was a wee bit insane, but in a good way ... my nieces always seem to make the holidays a little brighter! We did a traditional Christmas dinner with the family, then opened presents ... or watched my niece Cammie open everyone's presents. What is it with little ones and wrapping paper? They could literally care less about what's inside but give them a bow to tear off, and they're in holiday bliss! My niece, Sophie, got a new Barbie bike, and all things pink including "Princess Barbie" which naturally she already owned. My niece, Cammie, got a bunch of new books, clothes, and a Little People Zoo playset. Remember Christmas when it didn't involve cash money and gift cards?!?! I'm not complaining, but there is still something rather magical about waking about Christmas morning to actual toys!

Sean and I hopped an earlier flight back to Denver on Wednesday morning. The metro area received 12-16+" of snowfall the day after we left, and we were a little worried we would be digging the car out at midnight if we stuck to our original itinerary. It was great to see Mom, Dad, and the fam, and despite it being a full 7 days, time just seemed to slip away way too quickly ...

Turkey Day Road Trip!

2011-11-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

So like I mentioned in one of my previous posts, Sean and I have decided to hit the open road this Thanksgiving Holiday and drive to Boise to see his parents. Its been a really long while since I remember taking any semblance of a road trip. The last time of significance was this summer when I went up to Steamboat with all my fembot friends ... and even then we're only talking 3 hours with no traffic. In the big state of Colorado, I really only count road trips if they extend beyond 5 hours ... sure, 3 hours is a long time in the car, but when you're taking mostly back roads through God's country the time tends to pass rather quickly. And as long as you're heading due west from Denver, the scenery can be completely breath-taking.

I remember when I was a kid my parents hardly ever flew with us .. except for those few times we went out of the country together. Most of our domestic holidays were spent in the car going to see either Granny Ruby in North Carolina, or Granny Herndon in Leesburg, Virginia. Chad and I would fight like cats and dogs ... as what tends to happen when brothers are forced to coexist in small places for any long period of time. I'm pretty sure my parents spent more time twisting around in the front seat to referee, than they ever did facing forward. God bless Sony and the introduction of the Walk-Man ... I'm pretty sure that invention alone is the sole reason my parents maintained their relative sanity, and Chad managed to live past his 10th birthday (with only minor abrasions ... and irreversible mental trauma).

Outside of roadside bingo, endless games of UNO, and singing along to every Sandy Patty christian song my parents had on cassette tape (don't judge ... I could do Sandy Patty better than Sandy Patty ...), I honestly don't remember why I view these times in the car so fondly. Maybe it was the snacks my mom always had on-hand ... seriously, I'm convinced my mom and dad can't spend any more than 10 minutes in the car without a box of Wheat Thins and a cooler of Pepsi's (it's s small miracle I ever made it out of my husky jeans). Or maybe it was getting to see the world from the comfort of the backseat ... I'm pretty sure I've used every interstate restroom between Richmond and Raleigh. Or maybe, just maybe, it was that forced family bonding time ... I wonder why you can never seem to appreciate those times when you're actually in it?!?!

I view my times in the car with Sean just as fondly, and maybe it's because he can't tune me out as easily as he can when we fly. I mean, what other times do I have to give my inconsequential political commentary on the state of the world, or sing along to every song that may come on the radio (my lyrics are always better than the real thing), or read every road sign along the way? Don't be fooled ... Sean loves every minute of it.

Big Square, Little Squares

2011-11-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

I met a friend for coffee this morning at The Market in Larimer Square (it's "a Denver institution ...") and on the way out the door the front page of the Denver Post's "Denver & The West" section caught my eye. It was a photo of a rather amazing floor installation they're currently installing at the new Denver History Museum and it kinda had the intricate appeal of one of those ancient Greek villas you may have read about in grade school World History.

The terrazzo floor is a topographical map of the big square state designed by artist Steven Weitzman. The map is composed of 234 36"x36" squares, and weighs a whopping 8 tons. Created entirely of recyled glass and stone, it took Weitzman and his crew 7,000 hours and over 3 1/2 months to complete (... a short timeline all things considered).

Weitzman is currently based in Maryland, but he does have Colorado roots. He moved here at the age of 19 and lived in Boulder for a time. Weitzman's flair for public art is well known coast to coast. I actually remember one of his public works from my days in DC - a fountain along H Street depicting Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. Weitzman can't really be pigeon holed as a mosaic artist, however. His works range from sculpture to paintings, as well as large scale concrete works. I was most impressed with his highway and bridge beautification projects, though I was surprised to see he didn't have anything to do with the sculptural panels along Denver's stretch of I-25. Most of Weitzman's highway and bridge projects can be located in the Midwest and Maryland. Check them out on his website here.

I've heard first hand about this floor from my friend Meggie who has been working diligently on the interior design at the new Colorado History Museum. The museum is slated to open in Spring of 2012.

When Darkness Falls ...

2011-11-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Daylight Saving Time (DST) has come and gone ... and we will miss you, sweet sunlight. Regardless, I'm kinda glad my mornings will be brighter than what I've been experiencing the past few weeks. It has been nearly impossible to roll out of bed for some reason, though my lack of stimulating clientele may be also to blame. Granted, I am not a huge fan of 4:30 PM sunsets, though it does make after work cocktails seem slightly more apropos ... unless of course you're sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere.

A 2009 Michigan State University study showed DST has adverse effects on the American workplace. "Following [the start and end of DST], employees slept 40 min less, had 5.7% more workplace injuries, and lost 67.6% more work days because of injuries than on non phase change days," explained the study, which looked at mining injuries between 1983 and 2006 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

So in an effort to not focus on the negative, I thought I'd do a little research on the sunniest places on Earth ... and not so surprisingly, they're not far from Denver. Yuma, Arizona clocked the most hours of sunlight per day, averaging a whopping 11 hours per day! Other sunny locales in the United States include Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, and good ole El Paso, Texas. Colorado didn't exactly make the cut, but that's no reason to snub our 245 sunny days per year ... we're still sunnier than many other states (though I would be weary to claim 300 days ... and I'm talking to you Metro Denver Economic Development Corp). Most meteorologists agree that the Front Range experiences 245 sunny days when you define cloudy as "exceeding 80 percent clear to partly cloudy" (see link for further info).

Senator Greg Brophy introduced a bill last Spring to actually put Colorado on Daylight Saving Time (DST) year round in an effort to increase outdoor activities. Regardless, the ski industry adamantly opposed the legislation as it would reduce the amount of sunlight ski patrollers have in the morning to perform avalanche inspections (this would most likely reduce daily ski time for the public by an hour or more ...).

It could always be worse, you could live somewhere like Finland or Norway where the sun may not rise for 70 whole days! (these areas also can experience daylight at the same extreme) Even parts of Alaska may only experience less than 5 full hours of sunlight a day during the winter months! (Wasilla being one of them ...). If you're looking for a winter refuge, try South Africa. The Northern Cape experiences almost 12 full hours of sunlight in the winter months! (and they have fantastic beaches to boot!)

For more info on DST, check my previous posts:
http://rockymtnblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/time-change-timeline.html#!/2007/11/time-change-timeline.html
http://rockymtnblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/falling-back.html#!/2010/11/falling-back.html

DIA's Growing Pains

2011-11-05T20:12:00.000-06:00

I read recently that DIA experienced its busiest month in its 15 year history last November ... four million passengers and more than 45 million pounds of cargo passed through during that time. The lesson here is fairly simple ... avoid Thanksgiving air travel at all costs (regardless of where you begin your travel or your destination, there's a relatively good chance you'll be coming through DIA at some point ...)

Sean and I are planning to head up to Boise this Turkey Day to see his parents ... and we're actually driving this time around. We have never really experienced that part of the country (aka: BFE) and despite the 10 hours in the car (negative), it would enable us to take Dakota with us! (positive! ... I always hate putting her in the kennel over the holidays, which seems to be more the rule than the exception ...). I'm actually kinda excited about it! Ever since Sean's parents moved from Durango to Boise, our road trips have been rather limited ... I kinda like seeing the sights.

Speaking of DIA, world renowned architect Santiago Calatrava recently made his exit from the airport's expansion project citing a lack of adequate funding and an unrealistic schedule. I was very disappointed to hear the news; however, as someone entrenched in the construction industry I can understand his reasoning (... and I may be the only one). Denver Post journalist Eric Gorski wrote a piece in September that literally made my blood boil it was so biased (see http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18972016.) And maybe this naivety wasn't intentional on Gorski's behalf, but it certainly did anything but help make the architectural process more transparent to the Denver masses. In fact, the architectural process was summed up by a mere one word descriptor, "visioning," and even such definitions as "charette" were defined lightly (Gorski cited the term "charette" as "an architectural term for an intense period of design" completely eliminating the number of days charettes typically entail, actions involved, and participants being the architect, client, and other members of the design team). If I didn't know anything about architectural process and the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that goes into it, I too would have been just as pissed off as those taxpayers that left comments.

It's almost as though Santiago Calatrava has been villianized for walking away from the project after the rules of engagement were altered on behalf of DIA officials ... namely, they reduced the overall project cost by $150 million and shortened what was most likely an already aggressive schedule. It would appear to me, DIA officials, or better yet DIA project managers, are the real villians this time around. If they didn't know what they were getting for the millions of dollars they paid lump sums to Calatrava for 2 years of work, they should have done a better job writing the initial RFP as well as the contract detailing their requirements. I mean, hello?!?! You can't complain about not getting something if you never asked for it in the first place!

I'm thinking DIA officials should have just asked Curt Fentress to design the expansion and skip the whole selection committee circus ... God only knows how much the city paid on that to begin with.

This little incident isn't the city of Denver's first bad love affair with architects, particularly those with "star" status. Steven Holl resigned from The Denver Justice Center project in 2006 after the Mayor's appointed project director rejected the design ... but only after Holl's original proposal was accepted by the city's selection committee. Talk about a cluster ... And then there was the original design for DIA by the Perez Group back in 1995 ... don't get me started.

My other favorite part of Gorski's article was his comparison between Calatrava's annual fees to the salaries of Denver Bronco's backup quarterback Tim Tebow ($1.6 million) and Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez ($1.3 million) ... way to throw blood in the water, Gorski. I'm sure in comparison to Calatrava's efforts those inflated jocks are worth every penny [insert extreme blatant sarcasm here]. And I'm almost positive Tim Tebow "logs" all his time on the bench prior to submitting a billing report ...

For a peek at what would have been Calatrava's vision for the DIA transportation hub, and Denver's gateway to the world, see link.

Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs ...

2011-11-03T23:14:00.000-06:00

I am such a creature of habit, and thankfully, the Hallmark Channel allows me to live up to my full ritualistic potential. Every night from 10 till 11 PM, you too can watch back-to-back episodes of the Golden Girls, and if that wasn't enough, from 9-10 PM you can see episodes from my other all-time favorite, Frasier! I honestly think at this point I've seen every episode ever created for both shows, yet even on repeat they never get old ... well, except for maybe that episode where the girls go to a "resort" and get lost with three "college" guys that looked like they were in their 40's (it really sucked ... almost as much as any episode centered on Dorothy's ex-husband, Stan).

My favorites episodes from all 7 season, in no particular order:

A LIttle Romance - Where Rose is dating a midget
Lesbian Lovers of Miami - Dorothy and Blanche agree to go on a TV show as a favor for Rose, who misunderstood the concept of the program.
In A Bed of Rose's - Rose brings a man home only to wake up with him dead the following morning
Ladies of the Evening - The girls win tickets to see Burt Reynolds and accidentally get arrested for prostiution
Old Friends - Blanche mistakenly gives Rose's teddy bear away to a domented girl scout who holds the bear for ransom
Scared Straight - Blanche's gay brother Clayton pretends to sleep with Rose in order to hide his true self from his sister.

I honestly can't imagine how many times I've heard (and sung along) to the Golden Girl's theme song "Thank You For Being A Friend ..." The song, coincidentally, was written by Andrew Gold, who passed away this past summer (I think it's fairly certain Betty White will outlive us all ...). At this point in my life, hearing that song is equal to my mother giving me a goodnight kiss as a kid ... I've just kinda grown to expect it and my night kinda feels incomplete if I happen to miss it (tis true!).

Frasier's theme song, however, I can't say gives me the same warm and fuzzes. "Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs," as sung by Kelsey Grammar has got to be one of THE weirdest songs I have ever heard; yet, when you're passively tuning in, you may not pick up on the song's ludicrous lyrics. So here you go:

"Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin',
Tossed salad and scrambled eggs

Oh My
Mercy (alt: Quite stylish.)

And maybe I seem a bit confused,
Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!

But I don't know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs.
They're callin' again.
I've heard it a million times, and still I absolutely have no clue ... I guess some things were just meant to remain unknown.

Pixel Portraiture

2011-11-02T22:44:00.000-06:00

Sure, George Seurat, may be best known for pointillism, but there were others before ... and even more that continue to expand on the style. The meticulous art form may have got its start as early as the 3rd millennium BC, when the Mesopotamians started creating pictures composed of many tiny pieces of colored stones, sheels, and ivory. This art later evolved to glazed tiles and mosaics, made famous by the Greeks and Romans around 1500 BC. These pictures covered the floors of Roman villas, temples, and bathhouses and typically commemorated mythological scenes, acts of war, and portraits of the emperor himself.

Like mosaics, pointillism uses dots of pure color, most often oils, to create a seamless image. Seurat's technique was revolutionary in 1886 and was even frowned upon by critics of the age. Regardless, the art form stood the test fo time and was later utilized by other greats like Vincent Van Gogh, Camille Pisarro, and later, modern greats like Chuck Close. Technology and its emphasis on pixels, continue to emphasize the technique.

I recently came across an artist that has catapulted pointillism in an entirely new direction. Christian Faur uses wax crayons to create astounding portraiture with a sculptural slant. The crayons are stacked in specific locations inside a large wooden frame. The pixelated effect is both haunting and mesmerizing.

"My earliest memories of making art involve the use of wax crayons. I can still remember the pleasure of opening a new box of crayons: the distinct smell of the wax, the beautifully colored tips, everything still perfect and unused. Using the first crayon from a new box always gave me a slight pain.”
To see more examples of Christian Faur's work visit http://www.christianfaur.com/

Schizo Colorado

2011-10-28T19:09:00.000-06:00

I had the chance to talk to my mom yesterday and she mentioned they were expecting snow at home in the Shenandoah Valley. That's big news for Virginia, but not so random for the big CO! Apparently, the same storm that hit us on Wednesday was now creeping it's way into their backyard.

Colorado can be rather schizophrenic this time of year. This past Monday, in fact, it was a rather pleasant 80 degrees ... no coats, windows down! And then [snap!] ... we're dealing with below freezing tips and 6-11" of snow. This particular storm was distressing mainly because the snow was so wet ... it literally stuck to everything. Granted it was gorgeous, but most of the trees are still holding onto their leaves (or were!) which snapped limbs down in masses and brought power lines crashing down with them. 200,000 homes along the Front Range lost power during the storm, and 3,900 were still without power today (Fortunately, we were not one of them ... I'm pretty sure I couldn't function without hot water!).

No sooner did it arrive, the sun has almost melted it all away .. leaving us with nothing more than a winter wonderland memory. A memory we're sure to repeat in the months ahead ...

Fiery Red, PANTONE 18-1664

2011-10-27T23:58:00.000-06:00

The Antron gal was in the office this week for a little lunch and learn activity and she brought along a little color theory activity by birthday (compliments of the fascintaing book Colorstrology). Being an April 1st Aries, (the extroverted, competitive "Ram") the descriptor card didn't really strike me as being off. Though, admittedly, red is not my favorite color - much less "Fiery Red" ... I prefer an oranger shade!

Ironically, most of my good friends (Sean included) were not listed with the compatible birthdays ... not even close actually! But I'm keeping my eyes out for those born on May 20, June 16, and October 25th ... apparently, we're supposed to be Besties!

Think Different

2011-10-23T19:50:00.003-06:00

I was watching 60 Minutes tonight and the leading story was about the life of Apple founder, Steve Jobs. In true to surprise / Apple form, his biography is due to be released tomorrow ... just two weeks after his death. Unlike the products he is best known for, Jobs held no control over the material Walter Isaacson chose to include - and according to Isaacson, Jobs lamented he would most likely not like the book.

Isaacson and Jobs began meeting in 2009 while Jobs was gravely ill with pancreatic cancer. What transpired, was 40 additional interviews revealing both a genius and a perfectionist, who didn't deal well with people that didn't share his same desires. Those that knew Jobs well say he operated within his own "reality distortion field" - a reality that worked both for him, and against.

Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs is available for pre-order on Amazon.com

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify and vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as crazy, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

Metal Nests

2011-10-22T09:47:00.000-06:00

I rarely come across artists I would personally like to invest in ... I think that's mainly because I'm commitment phobic (and I really like white walls). Regardless, I recently came across an artist I'm majorly infatuated with ... and it all started with an unrelated Internet search no less!. Mitchell Lonas is an artist that has managed to seamlessly weave nature and architecture together, and to that end, has also developed his own distinct way of "painting". For his "Metal Nests" series, Mitchell paints on metal panels and then cuts them to create a shimmering effect that seems to make the subject literally pop off the canvas. The resulting effect is mesmerizing, haunting, and like architecture and design, highly exacting.

The "Metal Nests" series is by far one of my favs. Mitchell became enamored with the nest's beauty and construction when his mom passed along two nests she had collected composed of horse hair. Mitchell kept the nests for quite some time until the creative process managed to take it's toll, and he developed a way to showcase them appropriately on metal panels. The canvases are large, ranging in size up to 4' x 6'.

Nordstrom has recently commissioned Mitchell to complete 7-12 works for their new stores. And interestingly enough, his nests will also be featured in the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 ... the set designer was introduced to Mitchell's work while touring a gallery in New Orleans. He apparently insisted on nothing else.

Mitchell's studio is located in Asheville, North Carolina, which is ironically home to another of my favorite artists, Donald Sultan. Check out more from Mitchell at his web site: http://mitchelllonas.com/

The Eames Stool - A Classic

2011-10-21T22:33:00.000-06:00

My aspiring dreams of being an avid chair collector are becoming more real each year. I've always told Sean that eventually we will have a crazy large house and I'll have so many classic chairs we'll need to build a backyard barn just to house them all ... of course, by this time, I will no longer do real "work" and my life will be devoted to charity, fabulous lunch dates, and throwing parties! I'll wear velvet slippers around the house, have live-in help to cook and clean, and be a regular at the Hermes boutique ... but I digress! This barn of course won't be your typical farm barn by any stretch ... I'm thinking a gallery white interior with chairs floor to ceiling so they can be viewed like artwork (think Herzog & de Meuron's VitraHaus).

For Christmas this past year I bought myself an Eames Lounge Chair which has since become my favorite domestic destination ...and honestly I think my reading habits have dramatically improved! (never underestimate the power of good design ...) As part of that delivery, I completed a customer satisfaction survey, and by some stroke of luck, won another Eames classic - the Walnut Stool! Of course, I only won one of the three, but honestly I have been lusting after these little guys for some time. Despite their rather diminutive size (15" tall, and 13.25" in diameter), their machine-made elegance is not to be ignored.

Originally designed in 1960 for the lobby of the Time-Life Building in New York, the Eames conceived these little guys as stools or occasional tables with identical tops and bases so they can be turned upside down and vica versa. The design is primarily attributed to Ray Eames. Ray was a sculptor by practice, and the apparent craft of these stools served as a nice counter-balance to the colder, ultra-mod seating in the Time Life lobby.

There are three distinct designs, almost resembling large-scale chess pieces. I went with the more dramatic and angular "C-Shape" ... and I'm sure eventually I'll have the "A" and "B-Shapes" to help keep it company!

The Circle of Life

2011-07-10T11:47:00.006-06:00

This summer has been a genuine blessing in mine and Sean's life - we have become Dads not once but twice! Back in May a Momma Robin decided to build her nest in the eaves of our roof directly over the back door. I told Sean to knock it down once I realized what was happening, but Sean being the animal lover opted to not heed my advice ... as he often does. A few weeks later we were indeed blessed with baby birdies (and a superfluous amount of bird poop) though the babies flew away rather quickly leaving us with a vacated nest.

A week went by, and yet another Robin decided to move into the nest ... yes, this nest is definitely the envy of all the other Robins. It stays nice and cool in the shade during those hot summer days, and because of it's supreme location beneath the eaves, it's tucked away securely from the squirrel's reach. Anyway, this particular female Robin brought her husband along who almost always looked on from afar .... in retrospect, I'm convinced Momma Robin #1 was just a husband-less slut.

Almost as quickly as it had occurred the first time around, Robin #2 gave birth to three healthy little chirpers ... the likes of which let their presence be known every time Momma or Papa swooped in with some fine worm vittles and such. Literally, Momma and Papa were feeding these kids like all day long ... and you really had to watch yourself as you went to and from the garage for fear you may get knocked in the head by an incoming food delivery. The kids were rather vocal, as were the parents, and we became accustomed to their rather constant squawking.

Last Sunday, however, the squawking became considerably more shrill. I heard the Robins going completely crazy and asked Sean what was going on ... he was peering out the kitchen window in an utter trance. Sean likes to play this game with me on occasion, where I ask him a question and he pretends to not hear me ... even though I know he does. So I asked again, "Sean, what is going on out there?" No answer ... yet again, so I walked over to the window and Sean finally said "You don't want to do that." Anyone that knows me, knows if you tell me not to do something I most certainly will ... and what I saw nearly made me scream. One of those nasty sidewinding brown snakes had his mouth wrapped around one of the baby birds, and the poor dear was screaming for everything she was worth. Momma and Papa Robin looked on in horror but were doing little to prevent the inevitable. I screamed for Sean to kill the thing, and finally Sean went out to the garage and got the hoe.

Sean stealthily came up behind it and started whacking at the snake for what seemed like an eternity but to no avail ... seriously, from my perspective at the kitchen window it looked like the hoe was bouncing off the snake's body. The snake still had the baby bird in its clutches and was now maneuvering his body beneath the fence ready to take the bird with him. Sean, being smarter than the average bear, went to the other side of the fence and began whacking him from behind. No matter how many times the snake got smacked with the hoe, he didn't let go of the little bird ... I thought for sure the baby was a goner ... I was going to end up watching the whole thing (and being quite literally scarred for life). Finally Sean got a good solid whack at his lower body and the snake released the bird. Sean took a few final whacks at the thing just to assure his deadness then deposited his lifeless body somewhere where I wouldn't find it ... at least I hope that's the case.

The bird was saved though obviously in shock ... upon further inspection the poor dear was still alive. Momma and Papa Robin had flown away at the very sight of Sean waving his hoe like a mad man, and I was deathly afraid the bird was going to be left for dead. I put my gloves on, and scooped the little buddy into a cardboard box and brought him over to the porch so we was directly beneath the nest ... I was hoping he'd be easier for Mom and Dad to spot. We left him be, peering through the window on occasion to assure the baby was alright. Somehow, when we weren't looking, Momma and Papa managed to get the baby back up into the nest. I've never been prouder.

So I guess sometimes good really does conquer evil ... thankfully! And I certainly hope this serves as a lesson to any other snake that may find his way into my yard ... I got a hoe with your name on it.

Awe Inspiring ... The Cosmopolitan Hotel Lobby

2011-03-07T06:58:00.003-07:00

Check out the latest from the LAB at the hospitality design firm, Rockwell Group ... the West Lobby of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas. A vibrantly kinetic space, the lobby centers around 8 gigantic columns wrapped with mirrors and LCD screens. There are 384 displays on the columns and 26 behind the registration desk ... an immersive digital experience.

See my previous post, Little Gold Men, for more of the Rockwell's work.

Who? Moi?

2011-01-20T11:12:00.002-07:00

On A Good Day ...

2011-01-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Love this song. The video centers around a community garden project Above&Beyond latched on to in Detroit. Check the "making of" vid for more info.

It's the New Year - Rah!

2011-01-01T16:12:00.008-07:00

I'm not a big fan of big New Year's Eve celebrations for many reasons. One, it tends to attract people I'd ordinarily never hang out with (or want to hang out with for that matter ... God bless Denver but the mountain people tend to come out of the hills at the first sign of fireworks over the 16th Street Mall). Secondly, I had a little bad luck a few years back while attending a neighborhood soiree that still scars me to this day(see post dated January 2, 2007 ... but just know I warned you). The good restaurants tend to be plagued with rushed service and mediocre food, while the roads are covered with uniformed pigs.

Consequently, the past few years have been rather mellow for Sean and I. We typically either cook or go out to dinner, watch the ball drop in Times Square (on TV), and typically go to bed before the clock even strikes midnight Mountain Standard Time (oh yes, we're party animals!).

Last night was no exception. We sat on the sofa literally the entire evening wedged between our girls, Dakota and Boop, captivated by Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin - the hosts of CNN's NYE coverage. Their banter reminded me of Kermit and Miss Piggy ... Kathy being her irreverent, borderline-Tourett's self, while Anderson more of the giggly, polite, school boy. They do make a humorous pair.

Sean and I did manage to stay up till midnight (Denver time!) and take in the celebrations the world over ... including Nashville's unfortunate illuminated guitar that somehow got stuck on its midnight descent down the pole, as well as Key West's famed drag queen, Sushi, being dropped from a second storey balcony in a high heel shoe. Where do these traditions come from anyway?!?!

Check out the pics from other New Year's Eve celebrations the world over including this fireworks display in Sydney, Australia (compliments of the Boston Globe's Big Picture - see link).

Happy 2011!

2010-12-31T16:30:00.016-07:00

“Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

There's no stopping it ... the older you get, the faster time flies. 2010 was a good year, despite the lackluster economy, the oil spill in the Gulf, Tiger Woods cheating, Gary Coleman dying, and Desperate Housewives getting stupid beyond recognition. It was a year that many spent looking for a job, while those of us fortunate enough to hold on to them, did more with less. For me personally, it was a good year ... I wouldn't say it earned the "excellent" ranking but "good" by far:

I began my tenure as the President of the IIDA Rocky Mountain Chapter (Goodbye free time! Hello new members!)

Sean's parents moved to Boise, Idaho (Goodbye weekend home in Durango! Hello deep fried finger steaks!)

My parents moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia (Goodbye DC! Hello JMU!)

My brother had another baby girl! (Hello Camryn Alleyna Herndon!)

Sean and I bought new vehicles! (Goodbye old Mini. Hello new Mini!)

The office continues to be all-consuming ... the majority of this year's clients being law firms and health care related entities, with a smattering of higher ed and government. I continue to adore my clients as well as my colleagues, which makes the day-to-day bumps in the road manageable.

My resolution this year is to take all the good from 2010 and make it "excellent" in 2011 ... fine tune it if you will. This essentially means making more time for myself, and attempting to stay more balanced and level-headed (no matter the forces that tug at me throughout the year). Looking back at my previous new year's posts (see 2008 and 2006), I've been successful at some resolutions and a complete failure at others. Regardless, it's always good to go into the new year with a clear head and a positive outlook ... no matter if you actually reach those lofty goals or not. For 2011, I have just as many resolutions swirling around in my head ... here's my Top 5:

Time management. "Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count." Finding time to do everything I actually want to do (and do well) is by far my biggest challenge. My goal is to manage every minute better so I can actually do more with every day. It affects everything in some way or another ... from sleep, to work, to exercise, etc.

Finish LEED. Period. I've been talking about this stupid test for 3 years now and still haven't finished getting my credentials. It will happen in 2011 (and it will happen soon).

Give up hard liquor. Yes, I love my gin and I love my tonic, but I think it's time to change things up a bit. That does not mean I will passing up the red wine, however ... some things should just be considered staples of good living.

Unsubscribe verses delete. It dawned on me recently I spend a large chunk of my day sifting through a lot of "noise" in my multiple inboxes. In an effort to spend my time more wisely (see resolution #1) I hereby vow to unsubscribe from all those stupid emails that clutter my life ... and this one I know I can keep!

Breath. I have the tendency to run on two speeds - hyper drive and super hyper drive. In order to preserve my health and mental well-being, I will hereby make a concerted effort to take things more slowly and at the risk of sounding like a complete cliche, stop and smell the roses.

Wishing you and yours the very best in 2011!

New York > Pixelized

2010-12-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Incredible movie short by Patrick Jean depicting New York attacked by pixels ... with a nod to gamer's past.

Do Ask, Do Tell

2010-12-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

After much debate, and what was beginning to look like an empty campaign promise, I was extremely pleased last week to hear about the passing of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. With that one act alone, Obama earned my vote by getting rid of a piece of legislation that was by far one of the most discriminating acts our country has ever put forth. Honestly, I can't believe it ever stuck to begin with, in a country where "every man is created equal" and where "church and state" are supposedly separate. I don't care who you are, or who you share your life with - if you put your life on the line for your country, your country should return the favor with a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

"This is the defining civil rights initiative of this decade," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Service Members Legal Defense Network. "Congress has taken an extraordinary step on behalf of men and women who've been denied their rightful integrity for too long." (source)

Accordingly to an ABC News-Washington Post news poll, in 1993, only 44% of Americans believed a repeal of DADT was a good idea; now that figure has increased to 77%! So why the shift? I can only speak for myself, but I think gays and lesbians are less scared than they they used to be about being themselves and coming out to their friends, family, and employers ... thankfully (if I hear about one more married gay guy getting a divorce and ruining another woman's life I think I'm going to spit! ... no names of course ... Rev. Ted Haggard). Gays and lesbians are just as prone to having monogamous, fruitful relationships as their straight counterparts ... anyone with a brain can see that. I can't imagine going to work every day, as so many of our service men and women have done, and putting that part of my life on the shelf. Afterall, our relationships, and who we love, define who we are.

Here's some facts about DADT:

For being the world's most progressive country on many fronts, we're surprisingly behind the 8-ball when it comes to gays serving in the military. Did you know 25 other countries allow gays and lesbians to serve? For the longest time the United States and Turkey were the only two member countries of NATO that barred gays and lesbians from serving openly (for a complete list, see link).
Since DADT was implemented in 1994, over 13,000 men and women have been discharged for being gay. This does not take the thousands of additional men and women into the equation that left on their own free will. 45% of these men and women were minorities. Women accounted for 34% of that number.
Since its inception, DADT has cost the American tax payer between $290 million and $1.2 billion dollars. For every serviceman, that's discharged it costs between $22k and $43k to replace them (source)

Historically speaking, this has been the most successful Congress since the "Great Society" legislation of the 1960's (so yes Nancy Pelosi, despite your dip in the popularity polls you can leave with your head held high ... Madam Speaker, I still think you're the cat's meow!). Here's the highlights of the 111th Congress (source):

Extended health insurance to 32 million Americans
Passed Wall Street and financial regulations
Spent over $1.67 trillion on economic initiatives that economists prevented a recession from becoming a depression
Expanded pay equity laws
Passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Gave the FDA the power to oversee the tobacco industry
Extended the Bush tax cuts for all while adding more tax cuts and extending jobless benefits
Repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Passed sweeping new regulations designed to prevent outbreaks of tainted food (if you need another reason to really question the Bush presidency, watch Food, Inc. and how his appointments affected the FDA as well as the food we eat ...)
Ratified the START Treaty
Passed the 9/11 responders bill

In many ways, President Obama has been more successful in 2 years than most Presidents have been in 2 full terms (and that's no bologna!). We'll have to see if this momentum can stay at a premium as more Republicans take their seats on Capitol Hill this January.

Crocheting - It's Cool

2010-12-29T16:38:00.003-07:00

New Yorkers may not have recognized Wall Street's iconic Charging Bull when they awoke Christmas morning. Olek, a New York based Polish artist, painstakingly crocheted a purple and pink sweater for the brute that seems to have sucked the ferociousness from the bull's stance. Olek crocheted the sweater both as a statement on the economy as well as her homesickness. "This crocheted cover represents my best wishes to all of us. It will be a great, prosperous year with many wonderful surprises!!!"

Charging Bull was originally placed in similar guerrilla fashion in 1989 by the Italian sculptor, Arturo DiModica, as a symbol of "the strength and power of the American people." No small undertaking, the bronze bull weighs about 7,000 pounds and stands a whopping 11'-0" tall. The sculpture cost the artist $360k of his own money to create.

Olek chose crotchet as her craft because it allowed her to do two things at once: "watch movies and make art." (love it!) The bull may be the largest crocheted project she has ever undertaken, despite her past installations involving bicycles and brightly colored human forms.

Olek may be a harbinger of a crotchet comeback. Sean and I took a whirl through the National Museum of Natural History in DC on Monday and saw the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project in the Oceans Hall. Individual crocheters and crochet groups from the Washington metro area as well as from around the world were invited to participate by creating faux coral reefs from crocheted yarn. Created and curated by Christine Wertheim and Margaret Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring, the reef is a homage to the Great Barrier Reef as well as the world's disappearing coral reefs. Check the image below as well as some of these crocheted "reefs" from Google images (click here).

The Hyperbolic Crochet Reef will be on view at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History until April 2011. Olek's crocheted installation met with a much less timely demise, however ... Charging Bull's purple and pink sweater was removed by the park's caretaker Christmas morning.

Salvation Army Bell Ringers > Now Even More Annoying!

2010-12-15T18:41:00.001-07:00

And just when you though those Salvation Army bell ringers couldn't possibly be any more annoying ... with their incessant "Merry Christmas" greetings and their judgmental stares [insert scrooge here]. There are literally 3 ringers in a one block radius of my office along the 16th Street Mall ... as if the Green Peace hippies with their clipboards weren't enough! Now the holiday ringers actually accept credit cards ... well, in 200 cities anyway (Denver is not among them ... this year anyway).

Regardless of the new convenience, donations to the Salvation Army are down from last year (in Colorado Springs the group is about $120k behind where they were this time of year in 2010. Chicago, as well as other major cities, have also seen a major decline ... to the tune of a 13% loss). A spokesperson to the Associated Press, cites the economy (and the weather) as the major reason for the downturn, but it may have something more to do with the public's growing knowledge of the group's anti-gay policies.

The Salvation Army states on its website "scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life" (though I'm pretty sure the scriptures also say if you commit sin in your thoughts you're already screwed ... regardless of your celibacy ... so you're pretty much damned if you do, and damned if you don't. The Bible also says "He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD." - Deuteronomy 23:1 (... just FYI).

It should be noted that despite the Salvation Army's stance on all things homo, the group does not discriminate in delivering services (probably because it receives nearly $300 million from the U.S. government annually). This hasn't stopped the group's advocacy against equal benefits to domestic partnerships as well as imposing "the category of sexual orientation to the list of anti-discrimination protections." Furthermore, the group does not hire people who are known to be gay, and fires those who are - when legally allowed to do so.

I choose to give my holiday donations to groups that share my non-judgmental views ... like the American Red Cross (they also accept credit cards, and donations can even be made online!)

Roadside Attractions

2010-11-27T10:51:00.010-07:00

If you happen to be traveling between Canada and the U.S. (Blaine, Washington - near Vancouver) this Thanksgiving holiday you may notice a rather odd billboard like installation on the horizon. "Non-sign II" by Seattle based art collective Lead Pencil Studio is an assemblage of small stainless steel rods that are assembled together to create the negative space of a billboard. Whereas most billboards detract attention from the landscape, "Non-sign II" redirects attention to the landscape itself ...brilliant. The piece was commissioned by the federal goverment.
Denver has its own version of roadside diversions, like the "Cloudscape" installation along Pena Boulevard. Created by former Colorado resident, Christopher Lavery, "Cloudscape" is a series of three cartoon-like "clouds" playfully perched on blue scaffolding and composed of corrugated metal and cellular plastic. They range in size from 16 to 40 feet and are part of the airport's rotating art collection.

Black Friday - The Dumbest Day of the Year

2010-11-26T20:41:00.006-07:00

I've been going through a rather cynical phase lately ... granted it may not be a phase. I was having lunch with a couple of colleagues last week and somehow the conversation gravitated to "what's wrong with kids today?" Yup, I've totally become one of those 30 something adults that thinks the world is going to hell in a hand basket ... I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.

I'll spare you the meat of the conversation (as it's totally worth another blog entry), but suffice it to say we determined one of the reasons people are so out of sorts is that we don't know the meaning of days off anymore - much less holidays or Sundays for that matter. When our parents were growing up it was just an accepted fact that stores would be closed on Sunday, including the grocery store, and you would just have to plan ahead. Today, we not only expect the grocery store to be open, but get PO'ed when ANY business decides to close its door on "the Lord's Day" (I used to get so mad about Chik-fil-A being closed on Sundays ... as if the entire day would be ruined without a chicken sandwich and a mega-sized sweet tea). Even on the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a rarity for a grocery store to be closed the entire day, and though professional offices may be technically closed, deadlines and schedules rarely take into account employees actually being away.

Even if a retail business does manage to be closed on Thanksgiving Day, it will most certainly be open on Friday - "Black Friday" as it has come to be known. The oh so famous kickstart to the holiday gift-buying season, when people go completely insane for 2-for-1 Barbies and crockpots for $5. People stand in line in frigid temps just to be the first in when the stores open at 5 AM (and this year I heard some stores were even opening at midnight the night before ... good grief). "Black Friday" supposedly got its name when ABC News called it that in 1982 - the day when store ledgers go from red to black.

I just don't get it. I loathe holiday shopping and to do it on day when the stores are even more insanely crowded with rude people than usual sounds like a suicide march (...according to The Credit Score blog 24% of Black Friday shoppers do it purely for sport). Nothing on my Christmas list is remotely that important. Ironically enough, however, "Black Friday" is not the busiest shopping day of the year accounting for a mere 6.4% of holiday sales according to Shopper Trak ... Christmas Eve still holds the record for the busiest shopping day of them all.

This year, even more than ever, Sean and I avoided all things retail. We had a very pleasant lunch at Salt in Boulder, and enjoyed the remainder of the day camped out on the couch. I have yet to get my head around my Christmas list this year, though undoubtedly the clock is ticking ... sooner than later I too will find myself in line among the throngs of holiday shoppers looking for pseudo-bargains and unfulfilling consumerism [sigh].

Lets Talk Turkey

2010-11-25T22:33:00.006-07:00

Thanksgiving is here! Yay! That glorious day of the year when we eat more in one meal than most third world families consume in one month! Admittedly, I do love the whole ritual of the Thanksgiving feast ... the turkey, the stuffing, the wine, the spiral cut glazed ham, the mounds of mashed potatoes and gravy. Did I mention the wine?!?! I do not, however, love the hours of preparation involved leading up to the main event which more often times than not is over and done with in ten minutes or less (talk about anti-climactic).

This year, Sean and I took the headache out of the whole thing by having Whole Foods do our entire Thanksgiving meal ... yeah, it may be cheating but the herb roasted turkey was just as good - if not better - in my humble opinion (and we actually got to spend the majority of the day outside the kitchen ... in fact, we may have a new tradition!).

Speaking of Thanksgiving and turkey, did you ever stop to think how many of those poor ugly birds Americans consume in one day? Try 46 million. Of course, the turkey we eat is not even remotely close to the turkeys the pilgrims ate (not even the free range birds from Whole Foods are similar). Our turkeys are fed high-calorie diets so they grow at an unnaturally fast rate. They usually become so top heavy they can barely stand on their own two legs (much less breed under any normal circumstances). They're pumped up with superfluous amounts of antibiotics and hormones to promote muscle mass, which in turn they pass on to us ... excess hormones have been linked to many types of cancer including breast and prostate.

The good news, however, is that turkey meat is a lean and flavorful protein source, and according to the American Dietetic Association, it's also a good source of minerals like zinc and selenium, which help with cell and tissue repair and growth. Turkey is also a good source of arginine, which some research suggests may actually help open arteries.

Irregardless of the healthful side affects, I'm limiting my turkey intake this year ... the more I dig up about meat the more appealing my old vegetarian diet becomes. Pass the green beans please.

Toaster Porn

2010-11-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Always Waiting

2010-11-12T10:59:00.001-07:00

Ever think about how much time you spend waiting on an elevator? Or stuck in one? This nifty little graphic breaks out the estimated amount of time (in years) office workers spend waiting just to get to their floor. Luckily Denver's on the low side at 2.3 years ... unless of course you happen to work in Republic Plaza!
Never fear though ... what you make up for in Denver's elevators you probably lose on the road. Denver has the 16th worst commute times in the country out of 52 metro areas surveyed at 26.66 minutes. Not surprisingly, New York is the worst with an average wait time for 34.55 minutes. Close behind are Washington D.C. (33.23 minutes) and Chicago (31.08 minutes).

At the other extreme, Rochester, N.Y., has the nation’s shortest big-city commute, at 20.37 minutes, followed by Buffalo, N.Y. (20.78 minutes) and Oklahoma City (21.35 minutes). Read more here.

Hello

2010-11-11T05:56:00.002-07:00

New fav ditty from Martin Solveig + Dragonette ...

Falling Back

2010-11-07T09:48:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite times of year is "falling back" ... that magical weekend where time stands still and you get that much coveted extra hour of sleep. Last night at 2 AM, marked that magical occasion.

I've always been intrigued by daylight savings, (see previous posts - March 2007, September 2007) mainly because I always thought it was this antiquated thing that was designed for farmers back in the "olden days" that woke up at the butt crack of dawn to plow the fields, and feed the cows. Today, however, it's more about energy conservation. In fact, the Energy Conservation Act of 2005 pushed it back into the month of November. Here's some other fun facts t know and tell about DST:

1. New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson proposed the idea of shifting clocks in summer in 1895, so he could spend more time collecting bugs after his day job at the post office. New Zealand did not adopt his idea until 1927, after Hudson had retired from the postal service.

2. London resident William Willett independently came up with the same idea in 1907. He published a pamphlet outlining the idea. He died in 1915 before his plan was implemented.

3. Germany became the first European country to try DST in April of 1916, in order to conserve energy during wartime. Germany’s allies quickly followed. England tried it in May of that year. The US first tried DST in 1918, but dropped it after two years. Except for a federal mandate during World War II, DST was optional among the states until 1966, after which states must legally opt out if they choose.

4. The only states in the US that do not observe DST are Arizona and Hawaii (and several tropical territories). Arizona found that any savings in lighting costs were more than offset by the extra cost of air conditioning for that evening daylight hour. The Navaho reservation in Arizona does observe DST, while the Hopi reservation contained inside the Navaho reservation does not. Hawaii follows the lead of many tropical areas that do not benefit from DST as the amount of daylight doesn’t vary much near the equator.

5. Antarctica has 24 time zones. However, since the continent also has continuous daylight in the southern summer and continuous dark in the winter, research stations keep the same time as their home countries, in order to co-ordinate work, communication, and shipping schedules.

Sue Sylvester On Halloween

2010-10-29T15:48:00.004-06:00

"Halloween is fast approaching. The day when parents encourage little boys to dress like little girls and little girls to dress like whores and go door to door brow-beating hard working Americans into giving them free food. Well you know what, western Ohio? We've lost the true meaning of Halloween: fear. Halloween is that magical day of the year when a child is told their grandma is a demon who's been feeding them rat casserole with a crunch garnish of their own scabs. Children must know fear; without it they'll try frenching a grizzly bear and will consider living in Florida."

- Sue Sylvester, The Rocky Horror Glee Show

The Great Salty Lake

2010-10-29T14:51:00.003-06:00

The rain let up for a brief period Saturday afternoon, and in that time, we found ourselves driving north on I-15 towards the Great Salt Lake ... amazing what happens when you have a full tank of gas and nowhere to go! By the time we reached the gate to Antelope Island State Park, however, the rains had picked up yet again ... thank God for my recently purchased umbrella (cold rain on a bald head really sucks ...).

Despite the downpour, we paid our $9 entry fee and began to cross the 7 mile causeway from Syracuse to Antelope Island. The 42 square mile island is the largest in the Great Salt Lake and is home to about 500+ bison, as well as mule deer, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, porcupines, jackrabbits, and several rodent species. It's also home to a vast array of migrating and nesting birds mainly due to the large population of brine shrimp and brine flies in the lake.

Due to the lack of trees on the island, the bison can be spotted quite easily, and in many instances, we found them grazing right next to the road. Hard to believe at one time these 1000 lb beasts numbered 30-50 million west of the Mississippi. By 1900, however, they were annihilated to a mere 800. Utah resident William Glassman purchased 25 of them from a small Texas ranch and brought them to the Tooele Valley west of Salt Lake City. 12 of the 25 were eventually purchased by the owner of Antelope Island - 4 bulls, 4 cows, 4 calves - and without the presence of wolves on the island, the herd has managed to flourish to the 500 we see today.

The Salt Lake itself was kinda creepy ... the water was still, murky, and above all, the place was just smelly. No sooner would you convince yourself you were smelling the beach, you'd get hit in the face with a big smack of sulphur that would literally make your eyes water. Random facts to know about the largest inland body of water west of the Mississippi?

On average it's about 3'-0" deep
The lake is about 3-5 times saltier than the ocean
It is the 4th largest salt lake in the world (the Dead Sea in Israel being the largest)
It's fish-free; the largest inhabitant is brine shrimp
Salt is extracted from the lake for use as table salt. One of Morton's largest salt plants is located in Salt Lake City.

And here's my favorite:

In 1875, with the intention of making a money-making tourist attraction, James Wickham decided to bring whales to the Great Salt Lake. 2 35-foot Australian whales were shipped to Great Salt Lake (by boat to San Francisco and then by rail to Salt Lake City) and then released into the lake .. never to be seen again. Though there have been several alleged whale sightings, scientists believe that they could not have survived the lake's high salt content.

A Rainy Day In Temple Square

2010-10-28T16:21:00.010-06:00

The clouds moved in and just stayed during the remainder of our stay in Salt Lake. I was so not happy. When we woke up on Saturday it was literally pouring buckets outside ... which kinda put a damper on almost everything I wanted to do. Sean and I contemplated heading back to the airport and waiting on standby, but instead, decided to invest in umbrellas and just make the most of the crappy weather.

We ended up heading into town to see what makes Salt Lake a holy city - Temple Square. The Temple sits on the center block of downtown, and all of the streets are named after numbers so no matter where you may roam, you always know how far you are from the Temple (just in case you ever get lost ...). Temple Square itself is composed of the Temple, as well as the Tabernacle (home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), Assembly Hall, and a number of visitor centers. The new Conference Center lies to the East, and other assorted LDS buildings like the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Church History Museum, and the Church Office Building surround the Square. From an architectural perspective, it's a very impressive collection of buildings ... monumental and restrained, and kinda boring all at the same time.

Let me first start out by saying I was a tad disappointed in the Mormon Temple itself. After seeing the splendor of the Mormon Temple in Washington, DC (Kensington, Maryland to be exact) with its white towering spires, and the emphasis Mormons have put on architecture and design with temples in other parts of the world, the "mother" temple in Salt Lake just appeared a tad short and squat. Fun facts to know and tell, however, the Salt Lake Temple was actually the 4th temple ever built. Construction started first on the Salt Lake Temple, however, 3 other temples were started and completed in less time than it took the Salt Lake Temple to be complete. It took 40 years for the Salt Lake Temple to be constructed, and less than a year for the interiors to be complete.

Sean and I started our self-guided tour in the North Visitor Center where we were greeted by a whole sleuth of cheerful Mormon girls ready to show us through the exciting exhibits! (honestly, their cheerfulness was kinda creepy ... maybe I'm just surrounded by so many cynical people all day long, that true sincerity just creeps me out). Sean and I did our very best to avoid eye contact with any of them ...

As we left the Visitor's Center and headed toward the Tabernacle, we were once again approached by a cheerful duo of Mormon girls. "How are you?" "Where are you from?" I did my very best to be interested in the banter without getting my soul sucked out through my eyeballs. And though we already knew the answer, Sean asked them if we could go in the Temple. They looked at each other and then us, and explained it was a scared place and wasn't open to the public ... probably because there's a bunch of Mormons inside running around in their underwear killing chickens in the name of God the Father (I'm kidding of course, but secrets do tend to make the mind wonder ...).

We then walked over to the Church History Museum ... I was determined to learn as much as possible through the LDS lens. Growing up in the Methodist Church, I've always heard how "off-kilter" the LDS faith is ... as if Christianity and the Bible are any less wacky than Joseph Smith and his golden plates! The history of the Latter Day Saints is interesting to say the least ... very much like a modern carbon copy of the exile of Moses and the Jewish people out of Egypt ... only this time Joseph Smith leads his people to Zion in Missouri and later to Nauvoo in Illinois. Likewise, following Joseph Smith's murder by an angry mob in Carthage (... can you say Christ figure?), Brigham Young eventually leads the believers to Salt Lake, the Promised Land. Amen.

I don't poo poo anyone's beliefs. If anything, I'm kinda jealous that with everything out there, anyone can actually settle on one religion or denomination. I strongly believe there are many spokes to the religious wheel, and more than one way to learn life's lessons, find peace, and get into "heaven." I totally respect the Mormons emphasis on the family unit, the importance of looking out for each other, and their eagerness to share their belief(s) with others. Each and every year, the LDS church continues to grow - 13+ million members and a history that spans a mere 200 years! Like the history of the United States, it's amazing how much they've accomplished in such a short time (we heard on the local 6 o'clock Salt Lake news, the LDS Church just broke ground for a temple in Rome ... now that's an accomplishment!).

Being gay, I was convinced Sean and I would be run out of Salt Lake with torches ... especially once they figured out we had passed within the walls of Temple Square! Fortunately, no holy water was thrown, and no torches were lit, and despite the rather hard stance the Mormon Church takes on homosexuality, I am happy to say that my Mormon friends have never made me feel inadequate, nor have they ever disrespected my relationship ... it's a non-issue. With that said, I may never make it inside a true Mormon Temple ... ho hum. Then again, I can't say the interiors meet with my tastes anyway.

Park City's Sleepy Splendor

2010-10-26T23:51:00.003-06:00

Last weekend, Sean and I ventured to Utah for an IIDA event ... as President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter, I had the privilege of judging the Salt Lake City Center's Fashion Remix runway show (it's similar to Denver's Pret-a-porter, where design teams get paired up with manufacturers and design couture from materials we typically use in interior design - flooring, fabric, stone, glass, etc.). The event was spectacular with over 20 teams, and nearly 1200 people in attendance ... I was completely blown away!

We took the opportunity to stay in Salt Lake ... though we have both spent some time in the southern half of the state (Zion area), neither of us were familiar with the city of Salt Lake or the more central part. On Friday, we rented a car and drove 30 minutes east to Park City, which played host to the Olympic Winter Games in 2002. Sean and I paid a visit to the Utah Olympic Park, which played host to ski jumping, nordic combined, bobsled, skeleton and the luge events. Today, the facility is used primarily for winter sports training, but there's a museum as well that showcases Utah's participation in the games.

In 2008, Forbes Traveler Magazine voted Park City as one of the 20 "prettiest towns" in the United States ... and for good reason! (it's painstakingly perfect, but in that well-planned, seemingly non-commercial kinda way ...). On our quest for a decent lunch spot, Sean and I walked Main Street only to discover most of the recommended spots were either closed for lunch or closed until the ski season picked up ... seems to be the case for most ski towns (here's a tip when traveling in the mountains in October - call ahead!). We ended up at more local yocal type of place called The Eating Establishment (which was good, but wasn't our first pick being from out of town).

In addition to hosting the Olympics in 2002, Park City is also home to the annual Sundance Film Festival (chaired by Robert Redford ... coincidentally, Redford also has a restaurant downtown called Zoom - open for dinner, closed for lunch). FYI: Park City is also home to Miss Field's cookies ... yum!

After lunch, we drove around the hogback to check out the scenery. Despite the resort towns being in the "off season," the autumnal color in this part of the world is breathtaking (like a picture on a jigsaw puzzle!). Aspen yelllows are a given, but the reds and oranges were also a welcome sight. I was pretty impressed with Park City and how it has managed to "disguise" its development. Hotels and resorts were everywhere along the town's outer limits, yet they have somehow managed to prevent disrupting the picturesque views ... a real testament to effective site planning and development by design.

As we drove back down I-80 back to Salt Lake, I almost fell asleep ... and I did end up taking a nap when we got back to the hotel. Cloudy weather + a day off + fresh mountain air = Sleep!

A Landmark Saved

2010-10-19T18:37:00.003-06:00

Some things we just take for granted ... like turkey on Thanksgiving, church bells on the hour, or seeing the Hollywood sign soaring high on the horizon above LA. Well, the latter of those things almost went away this year and without the help of Playboy magazine millionaire, Hugh Hefner, those over sized 9 letters may have disappeared altogether.

The Trust for Public Land had tried desperately to raise the $12.5 million needed to secure the property from developers, but even with the help of Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Tiffany Jewelers, and a whole host of other supporters, they came up dramatically short. Fortunately, Hugh Hefner donated the remaining $900k necessary to secure the deal ... and not a moment too soon.

This wasn't the first time Hugh had donated financial support to save the sign. In 1978, the original letters that spelled "HOLLYWOODLAND" were auctioned off to make way for the new more permanent sign we see today. Hugh himself purchased the "Y" for $27k, as did Alice Cooper, and 7 other donors. The letters as they stand proudly today are 45 feet each, and together span 350 feet across.

Hollywood isn't the only town in the US with a landmark dominating its horizon. In fact, the Wellington Airport in New Zealand has a similar white clapboard sign that spells "WELLYWOOD," as does the Faraya Village in Lebanon, "FARAYA." Denver, while not having a look-alike Hollywood sign feature, does have a rather well-known feature that dominates the night sky, albeit a tad less secular. The illuminated cross at the Mount Lindo Cemetary is supposedly the largest illuminated cross in the United States (the largest, ironically enough is also in Lebanon - the "Cross of All Nations" in the town of Qanat Bekish). Built in 1964, the lit cross was built by cemetery developer, Francis S. Van Derbur as a tribute to his father, Francis C. Van Derbur, who is buried there. The cross was installed on the east side of the mountain so Francis' mother, Pearl, could see it from her home in Park Hill. The cross is 390' tall, 254' feet wide, and uses 20,000 watts of fluorescent light.

Style AND Substance

2010-10-15T06:18:00.003-06:00

As part of the continuing updates to the IIDA Rocky Mountain Chapter blog (which coincidentally gets updated more often than my own personal blog ... [sigh] ...), I've started posting monthly articles "From The President." Check out October's by following the link below ...

Style AND Substance
http://www.iidarmc.org/?p=697

Now If You'll Excuuuuse Me, I've Gotta Show To Do ...

2010-10-13T06:28:00.001-06:00

Just one of my favorite scenes from Del Shores' Sordid Lives ... "a black comedy about white trash." Seriously, I think I could watch this movie every day and never really get tired of it!

Chicago's South Pond Pavilion

2010-09-13T21:28:00.008-06:00

Just a few inspirational pics from the South Pond Pavilion at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo (design by Studio Gang Architects; photos by John and Beth Zacherle).

"Life IS Amazing, isn't it?"

2010-09-12T20:34:00.000-06:00

Let me first start out by saying I hate funerals. I realize the whole act of grieving is a necessary part of our lives here on earth, but I can't stand the reminder re: immortality. With that said, Sean and I felt it necessary to attend the funeral for our good friend, and doggy day care owner, Cristal Newell on Saturday.

Let me start by saying Cristal was an amazing person - truly. Yeah, we didn't hang out on the weekends, go to movies, or picnic in Wash Park, but I did entrust my beloved Dakota to her care twice a week at Mile High Mutts - and for that alone, we had a bond. She was always there when I dropped her off in the morning, ready to give Dakota a great big hug to welcome her back, and always ready to give me a full report about Dakota's new doggy friends, as well as any peculiar habits she may have picked up. Dakota loved Cristal, and for that I loved Cristal.

Cristal was a friend to Sean and I. She didn't care about the fact we were two guys raising a little girl without a clue in the world (and in many ways we still don't). Cristal was the one that actually taught me to cut Dakota's nails... how to hold her, how far to go (and what to do if the dern things started to bleed!). She was always willing to offer advice on dog ownership ... whether you actually asked for it or not.

Cristal was 33 years old - a year younger than me. She was a wife, as well as a mother of 2. The details surrounding her death are still so shocking to me I can hardly believe it, but if anything else, it goes to prove every day here on Earth is truly a blessing (as the quote on Cristal's facebook page simply states- "Life is amazing, isn't it?")

I think I started swelling with tears from the moment I entered the church on Saturday morning. The narthex was full of pictures from Cristal's life - her childhood, her graduation, her wedding to Marcus, the birth of her kids. Her family and friends, as well as her patrons, took to the pulpit to tell of Cristal's life and with each story, I thought my chest was going to implode. Here was this incredibly selfless and beautiful person that affected so many people in so many different ways, and in the blink of an eye her life was over.

I think sometimes my life gets so out of control so quickly it's hard for me to stop and smell the roses. If anything else, Cristal's passing was a reminder to enjoy each day as if it's your last - experience new things, take in everything around you, make new friends, but most of all, make a difference.

A Walk Across America

2010-08-15T09:33:00.002-06:00

I guess this guy can check it off his bucket list ...

Incredible stop-motion video - 2,770 still frames total. The 14 day trip started June 17th in New York and ended in San Francisco July 1st ... obviously there was a car involved at some level.

You can check out the route and all the stops over at Google Maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114377149660692097554.00048a7f41d69ed15f3ea&z=4

Hot Pants

2010-06-24T16:56:00.007-06:00

In comparison, Denver style can be rather dull. check out these photos of men's pants in Florence ... Viva Italia!

Subway Refreshment

2010-06-18T07:57:00.002-06:00

Some ads are just cooler than others ...

Memorial Day Magic

2010-06-01T06:39:00.014-06:00

Ever since I was a kid I can remember Memorial Day weekend being a pretty big deal. Afterall, it was the end of the school year and I had three solid months of sleeping in, pool time, and vacations to look forward to! I totally miss that! Every year I threaten to take a summer sabbatical and move to the beach, but for some reason that has yet to actually occur! As a 34 year old adult (gag ... seems hard to believe), Memorial Day still has a certain magic but not for all the same reasons. First of all, any 3 day weekend in my world is pure magic, but throw in perfect weather and no agenda and I'm in complete bliss!

I'm happy to report this past Memorial Day weekend was just such a weekend. Sean and I didn't make plans for fear we'd be stuck in traffic somewhere ... and quite frankly I'd rather do a road trip when everyone else isn't doing a road trip (I kinda loathe the I-70 crawl ...). We spent the majority of the time putzing around in the yard attempting to get things back up to a presentable state ... home ownership takes A LOT of time (and if someone tries to tell you otherwise, they're lying). Regardless, somewhere between our multiple trips to Home Depot and spending insane amounts of money, I began to actually feel relaxed. I played in the dirt cramming some bedding flowers in the front yard (as well as all my many terra cotta pots ...), while Sean planned his garden, spread fertilizer and complained about how the grass was already starting to look burnt. Don't ask me how this happened, but somewhere along the line we've both turned into little old men, but I will be the first to admit there is a certain satisfaction that comes with having a well-manicured lawn (though we still have many weekends of back breaking work to go!)

We did manage to take a little break yesterday and grab some lunch over in Cherry Creek. I love the shaded patio at Cucina Colore ... something about it just screams lazy days of summer (oh, and those multiple glasses of bubbly Prosecco aren't bad either!). Surprisingly, we weren't the only ones lured in by the relaxing atmosphere. Is it just me, or do you remember a time when business were actually closed on Memorial Day?!?! We were kinda thinking most of our favorite places would be closed, but no so. In fact, I can't recall any restaurants in Cherry Creek being closed yesterday! The patios were packed! Despite it working out in our favor, I kinda miss those days when holidays actually meant something. Remember when grocery stores would actually be closed on holidays and you had to plan ahead?!?! Seems like nowadays if there's a dollar to be made, the doors will almost always be open (so never fear ... you can always run out and get those missing hamburger buns!).

I guess Memorial Day weekend is an even bigger deal in Colorado than I remember it being on the east coast ... mainly because in this part of the world we somehow tend to skip Spring altogether. Honestly, warm weather seems to set in overnight ... so forget "easing" into anything. The grass literally turned green a week ago and the trees in our backyard are just now getting their summertime canopy ... and did I mention it snowed May 12?!?! Fortunately, however, Memorial Day typically marks the end to the schizophrenic winter weather patterns and the beginning of fresh cut grass, butterflies, flowers, and all things summer! Bring on the sunshine!

Pac-Man's B'day

2010-05-21T14:51:00.002-06:00

You can actually play Pac-Man on Google's homepage right now ... a nod to Pac-Man's 30th birthday! Uber cool ... and a major distraction at work!

Pinatas, Mint Juleps, and Big Hats

2010-05-07T13:21:00.001-06:00

Last Saturday was the Kentucky Derby and Sean and I attended a friend's "Cinco de Derby" party ... a lawn party, complete with mint juleps and piñatas. It's quickly becoming an annual event that tends to draw the more down-the-earth crowd ... down-to-earth being those of us who choose not to celebrate the day at the Denver Botanical Gardens. Admittedly, however, there's a big part of me that kinda likes the Botanical Garden's formality, and most importantly the hats - giant, ornate, over-the-top, hats. Yeah, we might be in Colorado verses some mud-covered track in Kentucky, but don't tell those midwestern, faux-southern belles that flock to the Gardens year after year to get drunk and flaunt their latest purchases.

Derby-style hats, unlike normal hats that typically do nothing more than cover a bad hair day, are so huge and ostentatious, they can also distract from a host of other problems - such as a bad face day (... and don’t lie to yourself ladies, you know you’ve had one). That said, in addition to helping to conceal negative appearance issues, Derby hats are also good for drawing attention in a crowd, because, let’s face it, how often are people wearing hats with two foot brims covered in netting and ribbons and feathers and roses? They’re perfect for meeting friends in a crowded bar or helping a blind date pick you out in a restaurant. Also, Derby hats = insta-glamour. Whether paired with a frothy tulle ball gown or jeans and a tank top, Derby hats make a lady instantly look fabulously feminine and alluring. Don’t believe me? Watch an Audrey Hepburn movie and then try to tell me megahats aren’t the shiznit.

Best thing about Derby hats, in my personal opinion, is that in this boring age of fashion functionality and cookie-cutter, Banana Republic style, uber-feminine hats are just freakin’ fun. Even the so-called “fashion forward” take clothes so seriously and buy the same high-waisted pants/secretary blouses/oversize cardigans/blah blah blah over and over again … let’s get some variety in here, damn it! It’s time to embrace our inner four (or eighty)-year-olds and bedazzle something that will make heads turn!

In short, I am planning to do everything possible to promote and inspire bringing back the Derby hat - and not just for race day, but every day. I expect initial resistance from the general public (ie: finger-pointing, snickering ...), but I have realized my calling and will resist the jeers for the greater stylish good.

Cool Is ...

2010-05-05T07:24:00.005-06:00

... something sleek, simple and bold, that feels effortless.

... to be the first, the original that starts a trend and is iconic.

... forward-thinking, breaks boundaries, confident. Cool is the idea you wish you thought of first.

... the audacity to be different for reasons that don’t need to be articulated & unconsciously achieving it.

... cool is what stands up - what makes you take a notice and appreciate something beyond the norm. When you see a product or a design or creation and your mind just screams at the want of it - or the appreciation to understand it more fully - that is cool.

... cool is what makes you think twice.

... cool is something that pops up in our minds when we see something positively extraordinary!

... cool makes you nod in agreement with all your senses, makes you grin and perhaps the goosebumbs follow. Cool penetrates beyond fake reactions, cool blows the dryness of your face, cool opens your eyes to walk away from it knowing that there is more than generic and monotonous garbage.

... effortless style, a hint of madness and heaps of attitude

... a mindset —being informed, relaxed, and expressing it effortlessly.

... the word 'cool' is just confidence in aesthetic form.

... wonderful, clever and beautiful. From oh wow, ahhh, I get it! to it would make me look *good*

... cool is a person not being affected by other peoples opinons, or behaviour -staying cool in a critical situation. A cool person stick to what he/she thinks is right no matter what. A person who works hard to appear cool is the oposite. What is "Cool stuff", like on the Cool Hunter page, is defined by if it stands out, doing it's own thing.

... the art of not needing to try to be it, of possessing enough confidence in your own ideas and style to turn heads.

... the new ideal; it is moving confidently forward into a better future, assured that things to come will be better.

... a person/place/thing pleasurable to observe as it appears to fulfill its nature effortlessly and with signature style

... the time you spend to define what cool is, cool is already gone somewhere else. Welcome in the tiring cycle of coolness. :)

... we see 'cool' in things/ideas/people that have an innate and untouchable authenticity about them. Things that redefine genres. Spawn global fads and inflame our insatiable appetite for originality and roads even more less travelled than the ones before.

... remaining unaffected and composed in a world which is filled with trouble and uncertainty. Living with a constant Miles Davis soundtrack in the background, acting accordingly.

... cool is all that is authentic and artistic and innovative...cool is confidence without the arrogance... cool is connected to spirits that seek instead of stagnate...cool is impossible to define because it's in a constant state of evolution.

... cool its everything that makes you think “WOW...“

... cool has nothing to do with the external. There is no object, gadget, fashion, or built environment which is cool by and of itself. The term is only manifest when the external thing becomes utilized and inspired by a person. Cool is merely confidence of character which is then made cool by the appreciation of an audience.

... anything within reason can be made cool by somebody with the power and subtlety to make it individual and authentic - except a Toyota Prius maybe.

... cool is something so attractive and inspiring that people want to appropriate for themselves and for their creations. It's a subjective concept.

... COOL is worth attention - remarkable, something to remember, outstanding, eye-catcher!

... cool is about being desirable! it can be new, old, something u found a new use. it's not cool if its not a desire!

... cool is not about trends or fashion, it's about being timeless and effortless.

... something that makes you feel like telling someone else about it.

... cool is only a momentary flash of brilliance ...Before it transforms to conventional.

... when pessimistic people say something is cool, I pay attention and usually agree. It takes a lot to impress pessimism

... anything that is described by the advertising media as cool, isn't.

... cool is an Outlier. Something that sits on the edge of normal thinking. Thinking outside of the square

... cool is the emotion we feel at contemplating the few brave, who express their originality, being loyal to their true selves and exposing it by doing so. We would all like to dear to be cool, is an expectative, but not to be copied, but to be selfexpresed (there is not a cool thing, and a not cool: it depends on who/how they are generated)

... cool is cool, defining it any further may just defeat the purpose...

(via coolhunter.net)

Have A Coke! (... and take a seat!)

2010-04-30T23:29:00.006-06:00

Emeco, one of my fav all-American furniture manufacturers, has recently introduced a collaborative design between the Coca-Cola bottling company and the iconic 106 aluminum Navy Chair. The new 111 Navy Chair is modeled after the classic, but instead of aluminum, the chair is composed of 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles (thus the name ...).

Designed in 1944 for the U.S. Navy, the original 106 Emeco chair takes 77 steps to produce and includes a process that alters the aluminum's molecular structure so that it's three times harder than steel. The new 111 recycled chair won't be quite as tough, but will provide a positive way for used bottles to be upcycled. Each 111 chair will contain a mix of 60% PET and a combination of other materials - including pigment and glass fiber for strength.

The 111 will come in six colors: Coca-Cola Red, Snow, Flint, Grass, Persimmon, and Charcoal. Available at Design Within Reach for a mere $230 each.

Meck + Madonna

2010-04-30T22:50:00.001-06:00

What Space are You Obsessed With?

2010-04-25T15:06:00.007-06:00

In case you're flipping through IIDA's Perspective mag in the not so distant future, be sure to take a gander at the back page ... lower right corner (... I was trying for the centerfold but this was as close as I got!). Click to enlarge.

The WWF

2010-04-24T09:45:00.000-06:00

I love graphics that make you stop and actually think. In combination with uncomprimised creativity and a solid mission, The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) may have one of the best advertising campaigns out there. Check this link featuring 50 of the WWF's absolute best print ads (click here)

The Coachella Crane

2010-04-19T06:58:00.000-06:00

The Coachella music festival took place this past weekend in Indio, CA, and though the playlist was quite impressive (Tiesto, Gorillaz, David Guetta ... the list goes on) probably the most impressive part was the venue itself. Right at the festival's entrance sits a huge Crane, designed by Crimson Collective, that also serves as the festival's "party pavilion." Measuring 45 feet tall with a 150 foot wingspan, the 35,000 lb "bird" is composed of modular aluminum tubes and mesh fabric (Textilene). Multi-colored LED lighting brings the bird to life.

Grace. Wisdom. Peace. Amazing. Check out a vid of the construction here.

Some Things Just Aren't Meant To Be

2010-04-16T19:06:00.001-06:00

I'm convinced some things are just not meant to be ... particularly when it comes to flying. And in this age of Al Queda, shoe bombs, underwear bombs, etc. I can't let myself get too worked up about any one random thing in particular ... you really never know when it may just be a blessing in disguise.

With that said, last Sunday morning marked a record first for me - I actually missed a flight. I was supposed to be attending a design retreat with Herman Miller in Zeeland Michigan and somehow with Spring Break travel, etc. I got booked on a 6:20 AM flight with a connection in Minneapolis,

later bound for Grand Rapids ... exotic I know. I should have known something was awry when I logged onto Delta.com on Saturday only to discover I couldn't print my boarding pass ... the message received was "Please See Attendant" - another first in my world. When I arrived at DIA bright and early on Sunday morning I was greeted by a crazy long line at the Delta counter ... apparently I wasn't the only one having issues checking in on-line. Seriously, there were 3 gymnastics teams in line in front of me, and at 20 persons per team, you get the idea ... the line literally stretched half way down the terminal. Delta, in a stroke of genius, had 2 attendants at check-in which slowed things down even further.

At 5:30 AM when I noticed I had barely moved in line, I began to seriously worry. Is it possible I won't make this flight?

Well, those worries were quickly replaced with the reality of the situation, when the Delta attendant started screaming for all passengers traveling on the 6:20 to Minneapolis to step out of line and come over to the First Class line. I felt relief. Finally, Delta was going to do everything possible to assure no one misses their flight. I was wrong. The lady that asked the 6 of us to step out of line neglected to tell the flaming Queen running the First Class line why we were there ... and the he/she continued to take First Class passengers ahead of us in line. When I finally reached my boiling point, and told the guy why we were there, he told me the line was for First Class passengers only and that we need to get back in the regular line. He went on to say he sees "this kinda thing all the time" and pretty much accused me and the other 5 passengers of trying to cut in line ... he's lucky I didn't knock the tiara off his bald head with the lightening bolts that shot out of my eyes.

Anyway, because of the miscommunication I/we missed the cut-off. The First Class guy won the big gay stand-off and we got back in the regular line so we could hopefully get re-booked on another flight later that day (but only after the diva behind me gave the First Class checker guy a few choice words of her own - he was unphased). I decided to call my travel agent and have them check into the situation as well, but due to Spring Break travel it didn't look good - unless of course you're willing to spend an additional $800 to get out of Denver. The only thing Delta could do within reason was book me on the same 6:20 flight the next day which would have put me in Grand Rapids by mid-afternoon on Monday - missing half of the entire reason I was going in the first place!

Anyway, to make the long story short, I didn't end up flying to Michigan after all. I did, however, learn a few very valuable lessons:

If you have bags to check and you can't check in on-line, get to the airport even earlier than that 2 hour TSA advertised window. Having extra time at the gate is always better than having no time at all.
Don't rely on that 45 minute before take-off, cut-off thing ... it varies by airline, and their employee's mood for the given situation.
If you're asked to step out of line by an airline attendant or anyone else for that matter, do NOT under any circumstances let that person out of your sight - for even one minute.
Do not fly Delta - unless of course, you're flying First Class.
Always keep an even temper despite what might be thrown at you. Some things just aren't worth the flare-up.

Oh, and did I mention the 6:20 flight was delayed an hour? Oh yes ... thank you Orbitz for those mobile updates!

Perspective

2010-04-13T21:10:00.003-06:00

Jamie Oliver's Flash Mob

2010-04-11T22:00:00.004-06:00

"A flash mob is about creating a really unusual experience in a really normal place, and shocking everyone with something brilliant." - Jamie Oliver

In case you've been missing out on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I think you should stop what you're doing right now, run over to your DVR/Tivo, and set the thing to record on Sunday nights ... at 9/8 central on ABC. Seriously, it's my absolute new favorite show ... and just when I was all but over those cooking shows with sassy Brits (sorry Gordon Ramsey ...). The show is truly phenomenal to the point I want to kiss the guy every episode.

Oliver has been on a mission to get kids and families to understand food and nutrition for years, and while most of his efforts have been enjoyed in the UK, he's now on the other side of the pond in Huntington, West Virginia no less ... a town that the Associated Press designated as the unhealthiest in America, based on its analysis of data collected in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly half the adults in this county were obese, and the area led the nation in the incidence of heart disease and diabetes. With so much at stake, not only in Huntington but in the United States period, the show focuses on trying to revolutionize what and how kids eat in schools - out with fatty, starchy meals and in with fresh, healthy greens and proteins (did you know that French fries in public schools is actually counted as a vegetable?!?! Sad but true ...)

Every week I find myself laughing and crying all at the same time. It's sad how addicted to fake food we've become in this country, to the point many of us don't know what real food actually is.

This past Sunday Jamie was dared by some overweight no-name local DJ (Rod Willis, WDGG ... undoubtedly an "I like it my way, don't tell me what to do" Republican) that he couldn't teach 1000 people to start cooking healthy. Well, fortunately, the DJ guy got under Jamie's skin a bit so he took him up on the bet... and the good town of Huntington came to his aid. In a matter of days, Jamie had his 1000 ... Rod Willis being the 1000th ... and he had a wall of pictures to prove it. Jamie gains a little notoriety in town by staging a flash mob at Marshall University to get everyone interested in helping him win the bet. Jamie leads the mob in a little impromptu dance number complete with woks and spatulas to the tune of The DNC's Jungle Flames. Loved it. Check out the vid below ...

Eating is all about habits. and I applaud Jamie for his efforts. Watch the show (and eat REAL food!). You'll like it!

The Time Is ...

2010-04-09T21:33:00.000-06:00

Soundsuits

2010-03-30T10:38:00.011-06:00

I'm infatuated with dance music verging on techno/trance - though I tend to lean more in the ambient ATB direction than Britney Spears remixes. Rarely does my Sirius satellite radio stray from the Area 38 or BPM channels ... even at 5 AM! (and unless Sean is in the car with me, the volume is usually loud enough to prohibit any normal conversation) Ironically enough I love it for many of the same reasons Sean hates it - endless repetition, songs that seem as though they will never end, ethereal vocals, etc. I guess if I find something I really like I want to drag it out as long as humanly possible.

My new favorite album is BT's, These Hopeful Machines. Granted not every mix in the 2 CD set makes the cut (I have a very itchy fast forward finger), but the majority are incredible ... discography you can literally get lost in (my favs being Rose of Jericho, The Emergency, A Million Stars, Le Nocturne De Lumiere). All of them exemplify that extended mix anthem thing I know and love and all of them are songs I tend to enjoy when I'm in my car, or at my desk, but almost always when I'm lost in my own little universe (which unfortunately is never often enough!).

For me, good dance music tends to spark something that can only be described as "out of body." It allows you to block out the day-to-day crap, and get lost in more appealing, creative directions.

Nick Cave, while not a musician himself and not the Aussie DJ by the same name, has a lot in common with some of my favorite sound artists. As a dancer and an artist, Cave has successfully bridged the two with his creation of "Soundsuits." Some are made for performance while others explicitly for exhibit, but all of them are meant to invoke the feeling of motion, dance, and escape. “When I was inside a suit, you couldn’t tell if I was a woman or man; if I was black, red, green or orange; from Haiti or South Africa,” he said. “I was no longer Nick. I was a shaman of sorts.”

Though the suits themselves kinda take on a tribal affect, Case collects a good many of the found objects from area flea markets. The suits can be composed of crocheted dollies and buttons, as well as beads, feathers, and sequins - "always sewn, never glued." Regardless of the material, the end result is visually incredible.

Hot Dogs Kill

2010-03-21T19:25:00.000-06:00

I'm beginning to wonder how I ever survived as a kid. About a week ago the American Society of Pediatrics called for a redesign of hot dogs, claiming the shape was a choking hazard. Granted, hot dogs can be a hazard if an infant was to wedge an entire wienie in their mouth, but isn't that why we have parents to cut the things up into bite-size morsels?!?!

More than 10,000 kids under the age of 14 go to the emergency room every year after choking on food, and 77 of those 10,000 die (do the math ... it's less than 1%). Reportedly, about 17% of those choking incidents are related to hot dogs, all of them children 3 years old or less. So, to put the hot dog thing into perspective, approximately five children died each year in the U.S. from choking on a hot dog - along with, approximately, 3.3 from candy, 3 from peanuts or other nuts, 2.7 from grapes, 2.3 from other meat, 2 from carrots, 1.7 from popcorn, 1. 5 from apples, 1.25 from beans, and 1 from macaroni/noodles. (and just to really complicate things, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commissions over 29% of the 10,000 emergency room choking incidents were related to latex balloons).

Regardless of the statistics, living in the U.S. we're rather accustomed to having things dumbed down to the lowest denominator so I imagine this call to redesign one of America's favorite foods will come to pass. The design firm of RKS was featured in Fast Company recently with their take on what the new, revolutionized hot dog could possibly look like (sketches below). I, for one, am already a little grossed out by the fact real hot dogs are nothing more than ground pig parts squeezed into a sausage shape ... ick. But seeing these "fun kid-like" shapes that look as though they belong in the pasta aisle verses the deli is more than just a little unsettling ...

What Your Toothpaste Says About You

2010-03-19T08:32:00.001-06:00

I'm definitely the life of the party ...

Little Gold Men

2010-03-14T21:07:00.007-06:00

I've watched the Oscars in year's past, and similar to the Olympics the initial charm wears out quickly ... predictable speeches ... corny hosts ... approving nods/grins/applause from a celebrity saturated audience. Honestly, like the sequined ball gowns, if you've seen one, it feels like you've seen them all.

That aside, I found myself parked on the sofa last Sunday taking it all in ... the initial hook being the incredible set. Designed by hospitality designer, David Rockwell, the crowning jewel was the 100,000 Swarovski crystal curtain (affectionately referred to as "Crystal") . Rockwell added topaz crystals to the curtain's make-up to give it a smokier look so it would work better with the overall color scheme. Rockwell envisioned the entire set as a return to the classic sound stage (think Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin) where the audience played a larger role in the look and feel of the set. He removed the entire front section of the theater, and brought in velvet upholstered club seating, midnight blue carpeting, and tiny crystal lamps that gave the front section more of an intimate supper club appearance.

The set changes themselves were over-the-top dramatic ... and fast. One of my favorites being a huge scrim composed of classic table lamps and shades that magically fell from the sky and almost as quickly as it appeared, disappeared into the ceiling. Rockwell's flair for pattern, mod graphic shapes, and patinaed metal was evident throughout the entire show set-off by the lacquered white stage below.

Check out this time-lapse vid of the stage set-up from FastCompany.com:

The Oscars have become the epitome of award shows. Started back in 1929 by the Academy for Motion Arts, there are actually seven types of awards given out by the Academy ... the Academy Award of Merit being "Oscar" (the other seven are known as the Irving G, Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award ... and the list goes on. Check out Wikipedia for a complete list). "The Oscar" is the best known of the seven and is made of gold plated britanium on a black metal base. It weighs 8.5 lbs and is actually an Art Deco depiction of a knight holding a sword. The knight stands on a reel of film with five spokes, the spokes representing the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians. The nick "Oscar" is rumored to have come from Academy librarian, Margaret Herrick, who commented it looked like her Uncle Oscar *fun facts to know and tell ...)

The design was originally conceived by MGM's art director Cedric Gibbons (who is credited for over 1500 films in his lifetime including The Wizard of Oz - see imdb.com for a complete list). Los Angeles artist George Stanley was commissioned to create the original statuette, which have been forged in Chicago at R.S. Owens and Company ever since. They typically take about 3-4 weeks to produce every 50.

On Sunday,Sandra Bullock managed to take home a little gold statuette of her own, after winning for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (credited to her work in The Blind Side ... NOT Speed or the Razzy award winning All About Steve). Her acceptance speech was by far one of my favorites - I actually got a little choked up. She thanked her costars, producers, and husband, threw in some nods to the other contenders (including Meryl Streep who just about knocked my socks off with her role as Julia Childs in Julie/Julia and who also happens to have the most nominations ever for Best Actress in the Academy's history ... 13 total).

Bullock topped off her acceptance with a thank you "to all the mommas who go out of their way to take care of their babies" (which was kinda Sarah Palin-esque but befitting considering her footballer mommy role in The Blind Side). She then thanked her own mom, Helga, for forcing her to practice piano and for teaching her "not to ride in cars with boys". She also thanked her for teaching her that there is "no race, no color, no class system ... no sexual orientation that makes us better than anyone else." Here, here ...

Other highlights of the night included The Hurt Locker for Best Picture, Jeff Bridges for Best Actor, and of course Neil Patrick Harris ("Doogie") for his beyond gay opening musical number ... complete with jazz hands a cast of Ziegfeld Follies style dancers.

Denver 2022?

2010-03-06T18:55:00.004-07:00

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of the Winter Olympics .... I guess there's just not enough skin to really hold my attention (and despite living in Colorado, skiing is totally not my thing). Regardless, this year's games in Vancouver had some rather memorable highlights. The US managed to take home the most medals at 37 total; however, we were beat out by the Canadians in regards to the total number of gold medals (the US had 9 - a tie with Norway - while Canada took home a whopping 14 - see medal count). 82 countries worldwide participated (... including Jamaica. Ghana, Bahamas, Gabon, and the Cayman Islands also made their first appearance in the Winter Olympics).

The Vancouver Olympic Village was situated in a former industrial area. The redevelopment of the area managed to clean-up the existing waterfront, reintroduce a plethora of native marine habitat and indigenous plant species, and removed previous on-site contaminates. The area will eventually be home to 15,000 residents (known as Southeast False Creek) including 250 affordable housing units, shopping and other community services. The redevelopment is expected to achieve LEED Gold for new construction, with the exception of the community center that will achieve Platinum.

Though I can't say it was as impressive as the Herzog & de Meuron's Bird's Nest in China, the Richmond Olympic Oval, was probably one of the most notable, sustainable buildings in the Canadian Olympic network. Home to the Olympic speed-skating event, the stadium was designed by the American/Canadian firm CannonDesign. The roof was composed of 1 million feet, or 6.5 acres, of wood infested by mountain pine beetles, spanning up to 310 feet.

The pine beetle has managed to kill almost half the pine trees in British Columbia - in Colorado alone, they have managed to destroy 2 million acres since 1996. The pesky little insect lays its eggs under the bark of the pine tree, and when the larvae hatch they feed on the inner bark, essentially cutting off the tree's supply of water and nutrients. The beetle also carries a fungus that stains the wood in a blue/gray hue, and destroys the trees natural defenses against the attack.

Canada put in nearly $580 million to build the three main Olympic venues, and it's estimated the overall operational cost of the games ran around $1.76 billion. Direct revenues were somewhere in the ballpark of a whopping $10 billion ... it's little wonder cities worldwide compete relentlessly for the honor to hold the games on their home terf!

Regardless of the projected income, Denver still holds a place in Olympic infamy for being the first elected "host city" to tell the OAC to go away. In 1972, Colorado voters elected to reject the public funding needed to support the Olympic games ... which at the time was an unfathomable $5 million. On top of the perceived cost, locals worried about the added construction, the traffic, as well as the pollution. Even without the Olympics, the population of the Denver metro area has more than doubled since the 1970's ... ranking us 15th in terms of national traffic congestion (see article here).

The Olympics may still find their way to Denver, however, despite the recent announcement Denver would not be a contender for the 2018 games. A little over a week ago (before his bike accident), Governor Ritter told reporters he believed Denver will be a viable candidate for the games in 2022. Stay tuned ...

Burger Town(s) U.S.A.

2010-03-02T18:46:00.009-07:00

Since my downward spiral back into carnivorous consumption, I've somehow managed to avoid fast food almost altogether ... though the allure of a Wendy's "Baconator' following an evening of binge boozing can sometimes be an unavoidable temptation!

Speaking of which, yesterday, Fast Company.com featured an infographic that kinda caught me off guard. I've always thought McDonald's held the lion's share of the burger market from coast to coast, but depending on where you live in the ole U.S. of A. there may be other burger chains with 10x more geographical prowess. Come to think of it between my home and my office, there's only 1 Mickey D's, but 3 Burger King's, and 2 Wendy's ... though the Colorado portion of the map appears to be dominated in Wendy's yellow.

The original map appeared on Weathersealed.com, and proves one thing if nothing else - in order for secondary chains to "wipe-out" the 12,000+ restaurants that make up the American McEmpire they must create a dense geographical stronghold (fun facts to know and tell, McDonalds has 30,000 restaurants worldwide in more than 100 countries). Take Sonic for instance (shown in a light bluish haze above) that has decided to aim it's greasy cannon at the state of Texas, packing in 900+ restaurants or Hardee's/Carl's Jr. (in bluish aqua green) completely dominating the Carolinas.

If you honestly need a couple more reasons to avoid the McEmpire as well as any of its Allied Competitors, here's some eye-opening - albeit disturbing - fast food facts courtesy of ReviewDiets.com:

1 in 4 Americans visit a fast food resturant each day
In 1972, we spent 3 billion a year on fast food. Today we spend nearly 110 billion.
French fries are the most eaten vegetable in America.
In the U.S., we eat more than 1,000,000 animals an hour
60% of Americans are either overweight or obese

The Royal Rat

2010-03-01T05:00:00.009-07:00

When we were in Belize back in December one of the ongoing stories between us and our driver was the existence of what Belizeans call "The Royal Rat" or the Gibnut or Paca. The nocturnal rodent thrives mostly on fruits and leaves (their favorites being avocados and mangoes) and they can grow up to 26 pounds. The Gibnut is the most prized gamne animal in Belize, and in many parts of the small country they have been hunted to extinction.

Our driver, Logan, told us that he was a hunter and that when he lived in the jungle he hunted Gibnut [insert Trazan-like scream here]. I believe a direct quote was "if it has legs, I will hunt it." Logan was a rather scary man come to think of it ... and I have no doubt he ate most everything he hunted.

The most famous story about the Gibnut stems from a royal visit by Queen Elizabeth to Belize in 1985. The queen was served roasted Gibnut as a delicacy while dining at the residence of the British High Commissioner. Almost immediately, the British tabloids got ahold of the story and headlines reeled worldwide, "Queen Eats Rat." Letters from good Brits streamed into the royal palace voicing their digust that her highness had been subjected to such foul fare while traveling abroad. Adversely, Belizeans viewed the bad press as another example of British arrogance and racism - and understandably so (I commend the Queen for respecting the locals). The timing of the bad press couldn't have been worse considering just 4 years earlier Belize had been granted independence from British rule.

Despite Gibnuts being near extinction in some parts of South and Central America, the little critter is available on many menus in Belize... the most famous being in Corozal at Hailey's Restaurant in the Caribbean Hotel. The meat is supposedly non-gamey in consistency and is supposed to be the tasty piglet equivalent to veal ... and though it may be more than acceptable to Queen Elizabeth and Andrew Zimmern, the very thought of eating the spotted little rodent kinda makes me noxious.

Wiser Words Were Never Spoken

2010-02-28T11:54:00.001-07:00

Denver's Restaurant Week

2010-02-27T09:35:00.008-07:00

It's that time of year again! The time of year when normal restaurant people can't seem to get a reservation at any of our favorite spots in town! Yay!

When I arrived in Denver 5 years ago the concept of Restaurant Week sounded worthy enough, but since then, I've become less enamored with the concept. Here's the thing, Restaurant Week, while being a great way to try new spots has also become well known for poor service, a rushed dining experience, and most importantly, mediocre food ... even restaurants known for exemplary cuisine seem to forget their reputations when the tables are turning faster than you can shake a fork.

Case in point, on Thursday night the normal dinner menu at TAG was replaced with a "special" three course assortment to meet the $52.80 price per couple. The apps were bland, the pork was tough, and the dessert course tragically underwhelming (the highlight quite honestly was my two glasses of Pinot). I wasn't surprised in the least when the maitre d' popped by almost immediately following the coconut cake clearing to remind us they had a table to turn - a restaurant practice I find beyond rude regardless of what weekly special may be taking place (the same thing happens at Root Down almost every time we go ... don't ask me why I continue to go back). I guess I should have known we were in for a rather lackadaisical dining experience when the host at the door felt the need to tell me they had reservations for 300 that evening ... as if I care. Restaurants need to learn to "court" customers the way they would a boyfriend/girlfriend ... afterall, a second date is never a guarantee.

Last night Sean stopped by one of our favorite Friday night haunts only to find the bar completely packed and a wait at the door ... patrons undoubtedly lining up for that $52.80 dinner special. We left, ultimately ending up at home over a Pizza Hut pizza and a bottle of wine ... a relaxing Friday on the couch, but not exactly what we had planned.

I'll be glad when Restaurant Week(s) is over ... and quite honestly, I won't care if it doesn't come back.

An Apple A Day ...

2010-02-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sean always makes fun of me for keeping green apples on our dining room table ... but honestly, is there anything else that looks better in a Carlo Contin Satellite Bowl? Granted, I tend to buy them more for looks than to actually eat, but I do like having "fresh" stuff around the house ... and lets face it, flowers just don't keep long enough!

With that said, I may start eating more of my centerpiece. Did you know apples are LOADED with Vitamin C which aid's the immune system as well as boosting phenols? (phenols lower cholesterol) They also reduce tooth decay by removing bacteria, and provide quercetin which has been suggested to protect brain cells against neuro-degenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease.

If you're watching your weight, apples are always a good choice with less than 100 calories. They're also packing with vitamins, minerals, and four grams of heart-healthy fiber ... IF you eat the skin. The skin adds fiber as well as natural antioxidants called bioflavoniods.

All You Need

2010-02-14T09:25:00.002-07:00

I thought this little graphic giclee print from Rafa Jenn was rather ingenious - wittingly entitled All You Need.

Hope everyone has a happy Valentine's Day!

The Answer Would be No

2010-02-13T17:00:00.006-07:00

I heard on NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" this morning that a billboard has gone up along a Minnesota highway depicting good ole Dubya and the words "Miss Me Yet?" Um, really?!?! Nobody really knows who's behind the sign ... but I think I smell a dirty rotten teabagger.

Vancouver's Vectorial Elevation

2010-02-06T16:38:00.006-07:00

How cool is this? Lighting designer Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has developed an installation for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Using 20 large robotic searchlights posiitoned around the English Bay, light patterns illuminate the Vancouver sky, and anyone can submit a lighting "design" via the web. The temporary designs shift every 12 seconds and can be seen up to 10 miles away.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's projects have been commissioned for the millennium celebrations in Mexico (1999), the UN Summit of Cities in Lyon (2003), the expansion of the European Union in Dublin (2004), Madison Square Park in New York City (2008) and the 40th anniversary of the Tlatelolco student massacre in Mexico City (2008). His artworks have been shown in three dozen countries, including art biennials in Venice, Istanbul, Havana, Sydney, Liverpool, Shanghai, Seoul, Seville, and New Orleans. Check out http://www.lozano-hemmer.com/ for more info.

Gaga @ The Grammys

2010-02-02T08:31:00.001-07:00

If you're like me you may be on the verge of pulling your hair out if you hear "Bad Romance" one more time. With that said, however, I never get tired of Lady Gaga and her fashionista/artistica viewpoint on the world (See previous post Lady Gaga > Architectural Cipher).

Last Sunday's Grammy Awards did not disappoint, with not one, but 3 costume changes, beginning with an iridescent-lavender number, with spiky metal arm candy and a bright-yellow two-toned wig. Next, for the much hyped duet with Elton John, came a high-cut green sequined bodysuit, with power shoulders, matching booties, and a glittery pink eye mask. Last but not least, a silver space-age mini, tucked up in the back, worn over a bedazzled nude jumpsuit with a lightning-bolt headpiece ... everybody needs one.

Though in the past Gaga has worked with practically every "who's who" in the fashion world including the likes of Alexander McQueen, Romain Kremer, and Gareth Pugh, for the Grammy's all three ensembles can be credited to Mr. Giorgio Armani - surprised? Kinda nice to know the guy can step out of his well-tailored little black box from time to time ...

The Vault of Salinger

2010-01-29T13:25:00.011-07:00

J.D. Salinger died this week at the ripe old age of 91. I became captivated with J.D. back in high school when I first read The Catcher In The Rye. I think the first time I read it was more out of curiosity ... afterall, it was a major hit on the banned book list for those crazy fundamentalist librarians. I remember seeing the word "fuck" in print for the first time and being completely intrigued (and mortified all at the same time) ... but it took a second and third read to completely grasp the thing (to this day Holden Caulfield is one of my personal heroes!).

J.D. Salinger became an even bigger curiosity later in life when I heard he was living his elder years as a complete recluse in New Hampshire. "He was famous for not wanting to be famous" and he enjoyed writing for the sheer joy of writing ... not for the sake of getting published (how noble).

I read on the AP News wire this morning there may be a vault of Salinger's works that have never been released - 15 unpublished manuscripts to be exact. Of course, the literary world is on pins and needles about the whole thing but no one will come forth to either confirm or deny the allegation ... but I imagine we'll know for sure soon enough.

Here are a few excerpts from Catcher that really moved me:

"Anyway, I was telling you about that afternoon Jane and I came close to necking. It was raining like hell and we were on her porch, and all of a sudden this booze hound her mother was married to came out on the porch and asked Jane if there were any cigarettes in the house. I asked Jane if there were any cigarettes in the house. I didn't know him too well or anything, but he looked like the kind of guy that wouldn't talk to you much unless he wanted something off you. He had a lousy personality. Anyway, old Jane wouldn't answer him when he asked her if she knew where there was any cigarettes. So the guy asked her again, but she still wouldn't answer him. She didn't even look up from the game. Finally the guy went inside the house. When he did, I asked Jane what the hell was going on. She wouldn't even answer me, then. She made like she was concentrating on her next move in the game and all. Then all of a sudden, this tear plopped down on the checkerboard. On one of the red squares -boy, I can still see it. She just rubbed it into the board with her finger. I don't know why, but it bothered hell out of me. So what I did was, I went over and made her move over on the glider so that I could sit down next to her - I practically sat down in her lap, as a matter of fact. The she really started to cry, and the next thing I knew, I was kissing her all over- anywhere- her eyes, her nose, her forehead, her eyebrows and all, her ears- her whole face except her mouth and all. She sort of wouldn't let me get to her mouth. Anyway, it was the closest we ever got to necking."

"In the first place, I hate actors. They never act like people. They just think they do. Some of the good ones do, in a very slight way, but not in a way that's fun to watch. And if an actor's really good, you can always tell heknows he's good, and that spoils it."

"The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still just be finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole, with their pretty antlers and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket. Nobody'd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you."

"... I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will."

"Here's what he said: 'The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.'"

The Concrete Countdown

2010-01-24T09:24:00.006-07:00

Next time you pull out in front of one of those cement mixer trucks, you may want to think about how much they actually weigh when loaded. The trucks themselves weigh about 20,000 lbs when empty, and can carry loads up to 40,000 lbs when full. According to the documentary we were watching on The History Channel yesterday it is all but impossible for drivers to stop these trucks on a dime ... they typiclaly need at least 20+ feet to come to a complete stop (kinda scary).

Jobsite: Concrete Countdown was a rather heart racing account of what happens to concrete once water is added and the countdown to hardness begins. From plant to site, concrete has 90 minutes to get poured and smoothed before it becomes useless (compound that with floor plates 700+ feet in the air!). If it fails to arrive, workers are forced to climb inside the barrel with jackhammers to free the hardened concrete ... a messy process that can take 8-9 hours to complete.

The trucks themselves are rather ingenious. Inside the barrel there's a device called the Archimedes' screw that pulls concrete deeper into the holding drum, and when turned the other direction forces concrete out.

The '09 Rewind

2010-01-02T21:18:00.003-07:00

One of the reasons I started a blog was to record my thoughts and the daily goings on ... Lord knows there may come a time when I'm sitting in a nursing home bed and can't remember anything beyond what I record here! With that said, I wanted to include a retrospective of sorts ... 2009, despite the economic downturn, has been a great year!

Sean and I did a good deal of traveling, our recent trip to Belize being the most fresh in my head. We flew back to the east coast a number of times to see my parents, as well as old friends in DC (I'm so thankful I still keep up with everyone back there ... sometimes it honestly feels as though I never left!). I had the opportunity to travel to North Carolina around Thanksgiving for an extended visit with my Granny Ruby - it was SO good just to hang out with her in the kitchen! I honestly can't believe it had almost been 5 years since I last saw her (shame on me!).

The year was filled with weddings, including my good high school friend, Christy, who tied the knot in Nashville back in May (our night out at the "honky tonks" is still quite fresh in my head). My best friend from college, Jane, took the leap in August. She ended up marrying a Boston guy, but had the wedding in her hometown in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Jane and her mom have been like adopted family for Sean and I. It was so good to see everyone, including our good friends from Virginia, Mark and Tracy. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was for Jane ... I remember tears despite the 100 degree temps at the outdoor ceremony.

Sean's parents in Durango continue to be our home away from home ... I had the good fortune of spending a week there this summer (which in my mind, may be one of the most beautiful spots on the planet). I always look forward to my time there, be it a week or an extended weekend.

My involvement on the board of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) continues to keep me zipping between here and Chicago ... I'll be heading there again towards the end of January. I had the good fortune of taking on the roll of President-Elect this year, and I look forward to making the chapter larger and even stronger in 2010. Co-Chairing this year's IIDA sponsored Pret-a-Porter fashion show was a tremendous labor of love. I had the opportunity to organize the annual event in a new venue ... and with a record-breaking audience of 1600! The couture was totally off the hook, and the models were amazing! I'm looking forward to helping out again in 2010.

This year my Grandaddy Herndon passed away. His passing was relatively sudden which in hindsight was a blessing ... he didn't suffer from what I understand and he did live a full and happy life. I will always remember my time with him, as well as with my grandma, on the farm in Leesburg, Virginia.

On the same note, I was sad to hear about Ted Kennedy's passing and I'll always remember being in that Hallmark store in Dupont Circle when he barged in to buy birthday cards for his wife and daughters (ironically enough they have the same birthday). He was a big man with an even bigger personality, and a tremendous force when it comes to environmental and social political reform - particularly human and civil rights. More than 300 bills that Kennedy and his staff wrote were enacted into law.

Other celeb deaths included Michael Jackson, whose doctor, Dr. Conrad Murphy, is currently facing murder charges (never a lack of drama there ... even in death). Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon passed away in June, Patrick Swayze in September, and Bea Arthur in April ... though Bea lives on at our house (reruns of the Golden Girls are a nightly ritual for me ...)

Enough about death, my niece, Sophie, turned 2 and she continues to be the sparkle in my family's life. She's walking, talking, and growing like a weed ... I'm slightly prejudice but I tend to think she's the most adorable little girl on the planet. My brother and his wife are expecting their second in the spring!

The firm continues to keep me crazy busy - in a good way, despite the year's economic woes. I'm continuing work with the University of Colorado, as well as my military clients in Colorado, Texas, and beyond (major yawn ... but it pays the bills). Western Electric continues to expand and grow, and the State of Colorado, despite being supposedly "bankrupt" still has a number of projects that have kept me hopping all year long. We recently landed a law firm client I'm completely ecstatic about! - they're few and far between in Denver. After working on law firms almost exclusively in DC, I'm primed and ready to get back into it.

I delved into the world of side work as well, helping a new CEO from Canada get his whopper of a house furnished and settled for his family . I also had a client that kept me busy all year through (still does) with a warehouse "garage" that houses his classic car collection. More "man cave" than garage the thing has a fitness facility, wet bar, snooker and poker table areas, basketball court, and lounge areas throughout ... everything you need to get away from your nagging wife (I'll post more "after" pics when all the furniture finally arrives in February/March).

2009 marked the end of my vegetarianism ... a 2006 resolution that lasted over 2 years. I was force fed a steak burrito one day over lunch with some colleagues, and I honestly haven't looked back. I'm still pretty picky about what I actually stick in my mouth, however. Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma and the PBS King Corn documentary still haunt me when I hit the grocery store aisles.

The older I get the less about resolutions I tend to be - it's a small miracle I can juggle everything in my life as is, without compounding to the stress with resolutions. I do have things I want to improve upon and things I want to do, etc. but I'd rather keep it in my head verses putting a pen to paper ... less official that way (I can't stand the disappointment when I flounder ... I'm human, it happens).

At the ripe old age of 33, I'm happy to say I'm still one of the happiest kids on the block. I continue to be blessed with love, terrific family, and amazing friends. Honestly, who could ask for anything more?

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T12:38:00.001-07:00

Here's a peep at the fireworks show that lit up the night sky along the 16th Street Mall last night in downtown Denver ...

More images from New Year's Eve celbrations around the world can be see here TheBigPicture.com

Once In A Blue Moon ...

2009-12-31T22:21:00.005-07:00

Every so often (once every 2.7 years) we end up with not 12, but 13 full moons in a year. The extra full moon is called a "blue moon" and though Sean swears it isn't actually blue, our back yard literally looks bathed in blue moonlight at the moment ... maybe it's just the reflection from the snow.

We played it low key for New Year's this year. We had a very relaxing champagne dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood haunts, Lacanda Del Borgo - and fortunately managed to avoid all the drunken hooligans downtown. I'm exhausted and I never thought I would be saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to getting to bed before the figurative ball drops in Denver ... the "real" ball dropped a few short minutes ago in Times Square (thank goodness for Mountain Standard Time!)

Happy New Year everyone!

Mod Denver

2009-12-30T09:44:00.002-07:00

The Winter Issue of Modern in Denver mag is available on newsstands now! Be sure to check it out ... including a little ditty by yours truly (page 27), and a really enlightening history of the Airstream Trailer, "America's Land Yacht."

Available at Whole Foods, Sunflower Market, the Denver Art Museum, and the Tattered Cover.

Homebound

2009-12-28T09:08:00.004-07:00

"He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left."
- Chinese Proverb

In an effort to relish every last remaining morsel of vacation, I crawled out of bed at the first glimmer of sunlight ... and I actually made it to the pier with my cup of coffee just in time to see the sun as it rose out of the Caribbean Sea. It was breathtaking watching the world come alive at the moment. Almost as soon as the entire orb became visible in the east, the birds started swarming, skimming the ocean waters looking for breakfast ... and the fish didn't seem to be the least bit concerned (... a number of times I saw them jumping, taunting the hungry pelicans overhead). Even Mr. Lionfish was out and about, darting between the pilasters under the pier ... I'm convinced he made an early appearance just to wish me "adieu" (he may be a dangerous little guy, but he's certainly personable).

During my last remaining hours on the pier, I somehow managed to finish reading Loving Frank ... I can't remember the last time I've read a book quite so fast. I can honestly say I have a new respect for Frank Lloyd Wright, and an even deeper respect for Mamah Cheney - "The Truth Against the World."

Sean and I said goodbye to Joanne and the pooches, loaded up the golf cart with our luggage, and headed into town around 10 AM. Our flight back to Belize City was departing in about an hour's time. As we sat waiting in the Tropic Air terminal, basking in the humidity and the 80 degree temps, it became increasingly hard to believe we would be back in frigid Denver by 9 that evening.

Luckily, my detachment from the world the past couple of days resulted in zero knowledge of the underwear bomber and his failed attempt to bring down a Delta plane on Christmas Day. Seriously, what is wrong with people? And what is it about religious conviction that makes someone willing enough to blow their balls off?!?! (... is there anything sacred?!?!)

Despite the extra security leaving Belize City, as well as our transfer at Miami International, we made it home safe and sound. I wasn't thrilled to see the snow and the white canvas peaks of the DIA terminal ... but it was extra nice to crawl into my own familiar bed!

Vacations are funny. They give us a chance to step out of our normal routine and refocus on what's important in life. I see that. I'm immensely thankful for that.

Aftermath of a Bonfire

2009-12-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

We woke up this morning very late in a drunken stupor ...

The Christmas Day bonfire was lots of fun, despite the mosquitoes (Sean appears to be sweeter meat for them than me. He swears he's been bitten like 18x). Joanne and Josh are superb hosts ... I was beginning to feel like I've known them forever. Joanna is originally from Toronto and Josh is a native Texan. They moved to San Pedro from Austin 8 years ago. Josh kept the bonfire roaring ... it felt good, though at times it was so hot I had to take a few steps back to catch my breath!

We totally enjoyed meeting their friends, who were also locals to the island. One British couple, Jo and Chris Beaumont, manage some condo residences on the island, The Palms. They also own the Belize Chocolate Company that just so happens to be the same chocolates Sean and I picked up on Wednesday at Wine de Vine (the brand is Kakaw). They only purchase local beans from farmers in southern Belize and the taste is pretty extraordinary ... and though I am not a big chocolate fan, I'm totally guilty of eating half the bag. Another couple, who happens to be Josh and Joanne's neighbors, used to live in Chicago where they represented a bunch of the same furniture lines I specify today (ie: Herman Miller, Thomas Moser, etc.). It is such a small world.

As the night went on, and a countless number of wine bottles went empty, it started to downpour. The gang moved the festivities to the porch and more bottles were produced. I honestly have no idea when I stopped consuming, but I know Sean and I were the last ones standing outside of Joanne and Josh. It was a good night :)

Needless to say we were not in a state of mobility this morning. We eventually made it out of bed and onto the sofa where we watched District 9, an alien freak show of a movie (not my cup of tea). I eventually went back to bed till noon.

The rains left the road into town riddled with potholes and standing water, yet again, but it didn't stop Sean and I from poking around later that afternoon. We did a little walking tour downtown and watched the tourists, and locals alike, along the beach. When it started raining again we ducked into this Mexican place called Caliente! It was ok, but again, I can't say it was one of the best margaritas I've ever experienced (hair of the dog). Stick to the Beliken beer or the rum drinks ... that seems to be what the locals do best. The snapper tacos were delicious, however, and Sean had pork enchiladas that made me ravenous.

The light rain eventually let up, and as we were leaving the restaurant a local kid ran by with a baby raccoon on his head ... I've heard of a raccoon hat, but this was a whole different thing ...

Since we knew this would be our last full day in San Pedro, we decided to take one last driving tour of the island in our snazzy golf cart ... which kept backfiring for some reason and was starting to sound like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

I'm amazed how dense the town of San Pedro is, and how everyone seems to live just over their shoppes. The streets are busy with tourists and children playing, as watchful parents look on from their balconies. It really is a different way of life, but it kinda makes you smile. Everyone just seems happy.

On our way back to the cottage, we passed the family from Tennessee that had been with us on our tour of Caracol last Tuesday. We offered them a lift back to their place since it was on the way. Apparently the whole family had been sick previously that week, but fortunately everyone was back in good health. Their son, Nate, couldn't stop talking about the snorkeling trip they went on where he actually got to "hug" a nurse shark ... um, what kind of parent lets their 12 y/o son love up on a shark?!?! It's probably a good thing I'm not a parent, because I'd probably be overprotective to the point of being criminal ...

Sean and I watched one last sunset from the pier this evening. I got goose bumps watching the big red ball settle over Caye Caulker ...

Christmas On the Pier

2009-12-25T18:38:00.002-07:00

It's Christmas and we literally spent the entire day sitting on the pier ... yup, that island air is making me super lazy. I started reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and I have to tell you I've been completely engrossed by the thing ... I can't put it down!

Sean convinced me to jump in the water today, so I got up to the courage to take the plunge. I didn't see the Lionfish thankfully, but I did get up close and personal with just about everything else living under the pier ... including a rather large iguana that came out this morning to say hello (I named him Frank).

Josh and Joanna invited us to their bonfire this evening on the beach. Should be fun ... never thought I'd ever be spending Christmas on the beach!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T11:38:00.001-07:00

Don we now our SPF 75 ... Merry Christmas!

Swimming With the Fishes

2009-12-24T21:12:00.003-07:00

We kept the windows open last night ... I can't tell you how nice it is to wake up to the birds chirping (and when you get to bed at 9 PM, getting up early with them isn't such a big deal). We also heard the little garden dude raking the driveway bright and early. Joanne's parrots seems to know exactly what day it is ... they serenaded us with "Jingle Bells".

I decided to make a pot of coffee and go sit on the pier, read, and enjoy the morning ... easier said than done. For some reason the little dropper on the coffee pot didn't open, and the coffeemaker literally exploded ... I spent a good part of the morning cleaning up grounds off the floor and the stark white cabinets. And then when I finally got the thing working again, I made the mistake of putting salt in my cup verses sugar ... a mistake I didn't realize till I was sitting at the end of the pier (word to the wise, the sugar in Belize is typically in much larger granules than what we'[re accustomed to in the states ...)

Sean and I rode into town this morning to have a little lunch at The Sunset Grill. Surprisingly, the road was smooth ... we're convinced they ran over it with a paver thing of sorts to flatten out the ruts (we must have hit it yesterday when it was at its absolute worst). Lunch was ok, nothing special, but it was kinda cool watching the locals feed the tarpons. Tarpons are large coastal fish that grow up to a whopping 8' in length in some instances. They're kinda aggressive when it comes to feeding, so it was kinda fun watching them swoop under the dock and literally snatch the sardine bits out of people's hands.

Sean decided we should explore North San Pedro after lunch ... against my better judgement. We were both kinda tipsy from boozing it up at lunch, and driving drunk in a golf cart just can't be a good thing ... though I seriously doubt it's an enforceable crime in San Pedro. Next thing I know we're paying a toll at this "draw bridge" thing. The Boca del Rio Bridge is built just stoutly enough to carry pedestrians, bicycles, golf carts and golf carts with trailers - but no motor vehicles. And for a small fee of $5 BZ you too can traverse into the great unknown of the North ... which coincidentally looks almost identical to the South.

We eventually ended up back home and decided to enjoy the sun, and sit out the day at the end of the pier. Beaches in Belize are not the typical white sand things you might expect in the Caribbean (ie: Turks and Caicos). There is white sand but you typically only see it at the bottom of the ocean ... the shores are almost always lined with dense vegitation and Mangrove trees. Piers are about the only way you can get past the slimy muck that collects along the shore, but once you get past it, the crystal clear water will literally take your breath away (and if you simply MUST have a white sand beach, try Placencia Peninsula to the south).

The end of the pier at the cottage is teeming with life - it literally looks like an aquarium. Josh and Joanne constructed a manmade reef of sorts that has become home to a countless number of colorful, tropical fish. I let Sean be the first to explore with his snorkeling gear ... I'm not big on swimming with the fishes. He used his waterproof camera to take a bunch of pics, and he said he saw a Moray Eel as well as a Lionfish.

The Lionfish (pic right) is probably one of the strangest fish you've ever laid eyes on ... but also one of the more beautiful. From my viewpoint above safely on the pier, it didn't even look like a fish, with it's "mane" of fins. Naturally, being one of the more beautiful, it's also one of the more venemous (... kinda like people). Lionfish are not native in the Caribbean. It has been speculated that their introduction may have occurred when Hurricane Andrew destroyed an aquarium in southern Florida. DNA from captured Lionfish in the area show that they all originated from the same six or seven fish (kinda amazing when you think about it). Reef people fear that the Lionfish will decimate juvenile fish in the area and deplete Belize’s fish population. The only known natural predator for the Lionfish is the Nassau Grouper – which is endangered in Belize. There is a $50 US bounty on their heads, though I can't say Sean or I plan on making a fast buck on its dead remains ...

We decided to stay in tonight and watch The Hangover. Joanne has a great collection of DVD's she generously allowed us to borrow. The movie was hilarious - highly recommended if you're in the mood for slapstick. Senor Chang from NBC's Community is certainly getting around these days ... and I kinda have a little crush on Bradley Cooper (can't believe he's younger than me though at the ripe old age of 30 ...).

Does Santa make it to San Pedro for Christmas? I certainly hope so! Merry Christmas Eve!

La Isla Bonita

2009-12-23T21:26:00.008-07:00

We left San Ignancio around 8 this morning ... back down the ole Western Highway one last time. Sean had arranged for us to take a puddle jumper plane from Belize City to San Pedro. While we were sitting in the waiting area at the little private airstrip, we watched the trial of Richard Heene over the whole "Balloon Boy" diabolical ... what a jackass.

The puddle jumper was a 14 seater and they made this overweight French guy move to the front ... I guess to help get the thing off the ground.

As we left Belize City I actually saw manatees (aka "sea cows") swimming in the blue waters below ... very cool. 10 minutes into the flight we made a quick stop on Caye Caulker and then 6 minutes later landed on the one-lane airstrip in San Pedro.

San Pedro is an idyllic tropical island and the very inspiration behind Madonna's La Isla Bonita ("I fell in love with San Pedro ..."). Golf carts are the only major form of transportation and ours was waiting for us at the airport. Once we got all the rental paperwork taken care of and the luggage loaded, we headed through town due south ... the cottage we're staying at is about 4 miles outside the town limits. Again, we found ourselves on a very bumpy, unpaved road ... riddled with potholes and large puddles of mirky white water. I had to turn around and hold onto the luggage just to keep everything in the stupid golf cart.

The cottage is amazingly cute, with it's bright yellow clapboard and white picket fence. When we pulled into the driveway, we were greeted by two dogs, Wiley and Peanut, with red bows around their collars. The caretakers, Joanne, and her husband, Josh, live in the main house directly adjacent to the cottage. The entire property was extremely well cared for with palm trees, lots of flowering plants (and butterflies!), and a meticulously raked sand "yard" ... kinda reminded me of one of those Japanese "Zen" sand gardens. Between the cottage and the main house is Joanne's aviary ... she has 2 pet parrots but neither of them seemed interested in me staring at them through the screened mesh. Sean and I took a moment to unpack and walk down to the beach, and then decided we would head back into town for a little light lunch and to stock up on all of our "necessary" accoutrements.

We found ourselves at Wild Mango's, a small, open air restaurant right on the beach. The chef, Amy Knox, is apparently a local celebrity, and a past executive chef at the Victoria House Resort just down the road from our cottage. I had a really kickass mojito, and Sean had a lime colida type of thing ... complete with a very sassy pink umbrella! We had a sampling of three different types of ceviches, which were undoubtedly some of the best I think I've ever had - shrimp, conch, and snapper. Ceviche is one of the island norms, and though everyone has it, it isn't always good from what we understand. I could have sat on that deck overlooking the beach all afternoon, but alas we had errands to run.

San Pedro isn't the type of place you can do a lot of one-stop shopping ... we're so spoiled in the U.S. Sean and I ended up hitting 2 grocery stories just to avoid having to buy expired merchandise ... it's a problem, so be sure to check the dates on EVERYTHING if you ever find yourself here (including dry goods). We then hit this little place called The Greenhouse for produce ... everything looked really good. I bought some white grapes, however, that I Iater figured out were not seedless (apparently "seedless" is only something we have in the states ... we're spoiled rotten). We also hit this wine shoppe called Wine De Vine where we stoked up on all the necessary alcoholic provisions for the next 4 days ... though you would have thought we were staying at least a month! The store had a really terrific wine selection, as well as gourmet cheeses and chocolates ... I bought some Port Salut and Sean bought a bag of dark Belizean chocolate with chilies. We also discovered this place called The Sausage Factory, based on a recommendation, where we got a bunch of meats, including roast beef, chorizo, bratwursts, and prosciutto.

We did an antipasto dinner with all of our finds ... it was rather delicious, though I think both of our appetites were kinda light ... still reeling from our ceviche lunch. Almost as soon as the sun went down tonight, the stars came out. They're everywhere. I'm always amazed how much you can see when you're NOT in Denver ... or anywhere else in the U.S. for that matter. It's a crime we've allowed light pollution to become an accepted norm.

Sean and I were sitting on the porch after sundown, when all the geckos came out to greet us. Seriously, I don't know where they all came from but the little green lizards were scurrying all over the side of the house. There's a full moon and a gentle breeze coming off the ocean ... the palm trees blowing in the wind almost sound like a lullaby.

The Simple Life in Paradise

2009-12-22T22:32:00.004-07:00

During our travels throughout inland Belize, you can't help but notice a plethora of Mennonites. They're not hard to spot in their horse-drawn carriages, wearing long-sleeves, bonnets, and straw cowboy hats ...

The Mennonites, like those in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other parts of the U.S.,have long been on a quest for a place to live in relative peace. Their conservative religious beliefs include their refusal to pay land taxes or support the military. Their migration to the Americas occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries, and they eventually made the move to Belize in the 1950's. The Belizean government welcomed them with open arms, and they signed a special agreement which exempts them from military service and certain forms of taxation while providing freedom to farm and practice their own distinctive religion. They live in closed communities, practice their own form of government, and run their own banks, schools, and businesses. They contribute to the Belizean economy mainly through the poultry and dairy markets. The Mennonites are also adept furniture makers.

There are currently about 10,000 Mennonites living in Belize, and an additonal 2,000 are native Belizeans who have converted.

Belize has a long history of opening its doors to outsiders. I read an interesting factoid in one of our travel guides that after the Civil War, they actually allowed 7,000 Confederate dissenters to settle here, mostly from Louisiana and Mississippi. The dissenters were under the impression they could renew their cotton plantations and continue slave labor, but what they didn't expect was the wet climate would not allow cotton to flourish in the same way they were used to in the Old South (160" of rain annually). After 5 years of trying to make their cotton crop "take root," and suffering from hostile Indian attacks, tropical diseases, and insect plagues, less than 100 of the original Confederate dissenters remained.

Now it's important to note, that since Belize at that time was under British rule, their "open arms" shouldn't be perceived entirely as goodwill. There were many monarchies and autocrats that wanted to see the United States divide and fail ... and this dissention played right into their game, or so they thought. During the Civil War, Belizean merchants provided a direct supply line to the Confederate states and their army ...

... they also helped smuggle liquor into the states during that whole 1920's prohibition thing.

More Flora ...

2009-12-22T21:38:00.011-07:00

I noticed today as we were leaving the Rio on Pools that the falls were surrounded by these beautiful orange and red "popcorn-like" plants ... the same plants I typically put in pots at our house in the Spring!

I can't begin to describe the ambush of fragrances you get around here during the day ... all of which seem to be more pleasant than the last. The ground around the reservoirs at Caracol were covered in a varietal of cilantro that literally takes your breath away. And I noticed as we were walking back to the visitor center past the archaelogical village the ground seemed to move ... it was covered with a low growing Venus fly trap type of plant (though not even remotely as sinister) that literally closes when touched. It was kinda like being in Alice in Wonderland!

Here are some other floral pics we captured during our visit to Caracol ... including a soaring Ceiba tree that took my breath away. It's little wonder that butterflies seem to love it here ... they're everywhere.

The Swimming Hole

2009-12-22T21:32:00.001-07:00

After our rather exhausting tour (it's amazing and all, but after awhile all of the stone structures start looking the same), we eventually made our way out of the jungle to the visitor center. Our guide had arranged a picnic lunch which couldn't have been better timed ... we were all starving. We enjoyed a fresh cut watermelon for dessert.

All of the visitors to Caracol are escorted out caravan-style by the Belize military with machine guns ... yeah, good times. Apparently, a group of tourists were ambushed on the dirt road back in May 2006 (it happened twice in under a month) and the Belize government isn't taking any chances ... as you might imagine, relations between Belize and Guatamala isn't exactly stellar, and much of it has to do with border disputes.

Once we were a safe distance from the Guatamala border, the short bus took a slight detour through the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve so we could all take a dip in the falls at Rio on Pools. Sean and I were scurrying all over the rocks like a bunch of kids while sunbathers lounged out on the flatter rocks below. It was nice ... though the rocks were kinda slick.

Sean is such a stud.

Back at the hotel, we ended the day over big Rum Punch drinks and a heated game of cards. Tomorrow we leave for the beach!

Caracol

2009-12-22T20:58:00.004-07:00

Today was awesome. We got a good night's rest, managed to eat breakfast, and boarded a short bus at 8 AM to catch a ride to Caracol. We headed down the Western Highway like we've done the past 2 days, but eventually ended up turning south on a dirt road dubbed Mountain Pine Ridge Road. This has to be the bumpiest 46 mile stretch of road I have ever been on in my entire life, and to experience it in a short bus was even better .... I'm pretty sure we never got above 25 mph. Sean was sitting in the back seat which had somehow come unbolted from the floor ... he eventually learned to ride it out. We were joined by 9 other hotel guests, a family from Tennessee, a married couple from DC, and a father and 2 sons from North Carolina.

Caracol is the largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize, and at 68 square miles it's evern larger than present day Belize City. The site has 5 main plazas and over 35,000 buildings have been identified on the premises. In AD 650, this Mayan city maintained a population of over 140,000+ people, which is nearly double that of neighboring Tikal in Guatamala. Caracol boasts an elaborate city plan (a radial design similar to Paris or Washington, D.C.), as well as a well-sustained agricultural system.

The name Caracol was given by archaeological commissioner, A.H. Anderson, in 1938 apparently for the winding access road leading to the site. Ironically, however, Caracol is Spanish for "snail shell" and as our guiide, Bruce, pointed out, the jungle floor was littered with shells. The original name of the settlement is believed to have been Oxhuitza or "place of three hills."

El Caana or "sky-palace" is the largest building at Caracol. At 143 feet, it remains one of the largest man-made structures in the entire country of Belize. Sean and I began climbing almost as soon as our guide turned us loose, and just when I thought we were near the top there was another courtyard with 3 more temples, and yet another staircase that led even higher - three staircases/tiers total. We were soon looking out over the jungle canopy below from Caracol's highest perch (check the panorama view here).

On the way down, we heard the loudest howl I think I have ever heard ... from what I thought were gorillas in the mist. The jungles surrounding Caracol are full of Howler Monkeys, that apparently have a hard time defending their terf. They are the loudest animal in the known world (no lie) and while their howl is not a piercing sound, it can travel for three miles. The guide was telling us you can always hear them, though you rarely actually see them.

One animal you can see is the fire ant. Their black mounds are everywhere at Caracol, and if you should accidentally step on one watch out! ... our guide was telling us it happens all the time, and a number of the guys in our group were claiming to have been bitten (of course the kid from Tennessee was poking the mounds with a stick so he kinda deserved it). I spent most of my time at Caracol staring at the ground. A more desirable ant species at Caracol are the Leafcutter Ants. Every once and awhile you'd see the ground moving right beneath your feet, and if you focused a bit more you'd see a very organized superhighway of leafcutter ants that literally ran up the trees and down onto the jungle floor. I was transfixed on these little guys (see vid below)

Next stop was the A-Group or Astrological Court, a complex of temples that were dedicated to watching the stars, observing the heavens. The arrangement of the buildings in this area is indicative of the sun's location and helped the Mayans identify the solstices, etc. The Mayans asrrological observations helped formulate a calendar, as well as a mathematical system. I opted to not climb this temple, but Sean couldn't help himself ... getting up was apparently a lot easier than coming down. The slick green moss required that everyone pretty much crawl down on all fours .... it was fun to watch (from the ground anyway).

From a building perspective I was most impressed with how the Mayans would construct their new structures not by pouring new footings but by building directly over existing structures. This process took place approximately every 50 years, which coincidentally was the average Mayan life span. Their structures were almost like time capsules of sorts. The deeper you went in the building the more you learned about the past.

Another interesting tidbit about the Mayan civilizations are the presence of ball courts. The rules of the game (called pitz) are not known but it is believed to be somewhat similar to volleyball or racquetball. The Mayans are believed to have played with a real rubber ball, not like what we know today, but a solid rubber ball (ouch). The formal games are thought to have ended in human sacrifice, and may have been used to resolve conflict among men (like a present day court). The stone scoring rings are said to signify sunrise and sunset, or equinoxes. Ballcourts were considered portals to the underworld and were built in key locations within the central ceremonial precincts ... at Caracol there are 2 courts, both of which are directly adjacent to the main courtyards or plazas.

Ron Zappolo, Belizean Super Star

2009-12-21T22:48:00.001-07:00

I tried to enjoy the little bit of sunlight we had today, so when we got back to the hotel I sat by the pool and finished my Augusten Burroughs book ... under the watchful eye of a wooden pterodactyl perched overhead smoking a cigarrette. Don't ask.

Sean took a snooze in the cabana hammock.

You Better Not Cry was just ok ... I did love some of the stories, but like John Grisham and so many before, I get the impression Burroughs' books are going to print a little too quick, before the nuances have had a chance to be ironed out. It just didn't seem to flow that well between stories, and it kinda felt forced in spots. With that said, I loved the opening story and the rather sad one he ended with ... I honestly don't know what I would do if my house flooded on Christmas!

The television in our hut gets all the local Denver channels ... even the hotel bartender knows anchorman Ron Zappolo on Fox News (weird). Can't say I miss home at all ... it appears there's another cold front moving in and more snow. I think our yard has been blanketed in white since November.

Sean and I did Rum Punch drinks again for dinner ... after that horrid margarita I had for lunch I'm beginning to think rum may be the only thing they do well here! We're trying to get to bed a tad early tonight so we can actually have time for a real breakfast in the morning ... the fruit stand thing just didn't cut it.

Lights out.

The Place of the Ticks

2009-12-21T22:21:00.001-07:00

After our hearty lunch, and the worst margarita I think I've ever had, Sean and I walked down the hill to the Cahal Pech archaeological site. The name Cahal Pech literally translates to "Place of the Ticks" which stems from the cows and the pasture land the hill used to be known for.

The ruins were absolutely incredible. From the visitor center, you walk through this little patch of dense jungle and then it opens up into a grassy courtyard surrounded by stone steps. The site was a "palacio" home for an elite Maya family back in the day. It was inhabited as far back as 900 BC, which makes the site one of the oldest in Western Belize. There are 34 structures total that surround 7 open plazas. The site was abandoned in the 9th century AD for unknown reasons, and left largely untouched till an archaeological study in the 1950's.

Unbelievably, tourists can climb all over the structures, which was a rather harrowing experience given the slick moss ... more than once I thought I was going to bite it. I climbed the stone steps to the top of the highest structure, at a whopping 25 meters, and Sean discovered some bats in a rather eerie cavernous room that I tried to avoid. Almost all of the rooms appear to have a stone bed of sorts, which I guess could be used as a bed, a bench, a table, or even an altar of sorts.

Oh, the Flora ...

2009-12-21T21:09:00.001-07:00

Logan drove us back to the resort for lunch ... he is quite the chatterbox. Luckily our guided tour this time around involved daylight and more sunshine than rain.

There is really only a few paved roads in Belize and fortunately the Western Highway between Belize City and San Ignacio is one of them ... we spent a lot of time going back and forth. The only major downfall are the multitude of "Pedestrian Bridges" or speed humps. There are literally tons of them, and I love the signs (see image at right). There isn't really an enforced speed limit in Belize, so the humps are there to encourage people to slow down when they go through the villages that have popped up along the highway ... though I am absolutely convinced the height of these things would make the Mini bottom out.

Logan, our driver, was apparently born and raised "in the jungle," though he lives in the Cayo now. He's had a rather colorful life to say the least ... most of which we heard about. He likes to hunt anything that will move (which includes the "Royal Rat" ... more on that later) and I get the impression he's very attuned to the plant-life, or moreso than any American would be in our own country. He would frequently point out the different types of trees and flowering shrubs growing along the highway, which admittedly are more impressive than the Belizean architecture.

The Mahogany tree (Swietenia Macrophilla) is the national tree of Belize. It's also present on the country's Coat of Arms with the motto "Sub Umbra Florero" which means "Under the shade of the Mahogany tree." It grows straight up and can reach a height of more than 100'. There aren't as many Mahogany trees now as Logan remembers, however ... when Belize was a British colony, Mahogany was a major export. Major logging in Belize started in the 1770's, and unfortunately when the slow-growing trees were cut down they were not replenished. There are still a number left, though they tend to stand alone verses in groves ... Logan was quick to point them out.

He also noted a couple of groves of Teak trees (tectona grandis), tall, skinny things that were planted in straight rows. Teak has recently become a more commercial commodity in Belize mainly for it's demand overseas. Although it originates from Asia, it will only grow in a narrow band around the world, within 10 to 15 degrees of the Equator. I was more impressed with the grid-like geometry of the groves than anything else.

The most impressive tree we came across was the Ceiba tree, which also happens to be the national tree of neighboring Guatemala. The tall, white trunk can grow up to 230' high and the branches don't really start spreading out till it reaches its maximum height. The Mayans believed the Cyba (or Yaxche) was sacred. It was literally the axis of the world, the sprawling roots going down to the underworld, the trunk representing the earth, and the spreading branches reaching to heaven. A Yaxche could be found at the center of most pre-Columbian Mesoamerican villages. Today, modern Mayans will still leave the tree out of respect when harvesting lumber. Logan swears the thing audibly groans at night ... "Not like a human groan, but you can hear it growing."

I've also noticed there are a lot of different types of palm trees. Sometimes the only difference is the type of fruit. Like the ones around our tiki hut have these big clumps of red berries that the birds seem to absolutely love - Carpentaria Palms (Carpentaria Acuminata). Then there's the ones we typically think of when we think of palm trees, the Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera). The ground in Belize is literally littered with green coconuts. The weirdest one I've seen so far looks like some type of Mayan headdress. the leaves literally sprout out from the trunk like a peacock. It's totally weird, and I have no idea what it's actually called.

This concludes your Belizean flora lesson.

Zip Lining In The Jungle

2009-12-21T21:00:00.001-07:00

We woke up this morning to more light rain and a flurry of chirping birds ... the birds were on the loud side, but better than waking up to a screeching alarm clock by any stretch.

The floor to our thatched covered cabana is slightly slanted downhill ... the bed managed to roll to one side of the room in the middle of the night, and Sean almost lost his balance when he crawled out of the bed this morning (I guess you don't really notice if you're swinging around in a hammock). I ended up taking a rather cold shower, in a cold room I might add, with zero water pressure ... yes, I understand conserving resources but I NEED hot water. Bathing under a cold trickle was hardly even enough for me to shave effectively - I'm boycotting shaving for awhile.

We accidentally missed breakfast, so Sean had our driver, the same guy that picked us up at the airport the day before, drop us by one of the local fruit stands at the downtown San Ignacio market. There was tons of fresh local produce, including oranges, watermelons, mangoes, etc. which our driver kept reminding us were fresh and "without pesticides" ... apparently most everything we eat in the U.S. has been sprayed with something at some point or another (sad but true ... and don't get me started on what's in our meats). I bought a Canadian green apple that had probably been sprayed with chemicals ... it was delicious.

Today we did something neither of us have ever done before ... zip lining. Logan drove us from San Ignacio eastward to a place near Belize City called Jaguar Paw. Fortunately the rains stopped though the jungle canopy is so dense it probably wouldn't have mattered. The course was set up with 7 runs that put you about 75'+ above the jungle floor. It was totally incredible. Sean said I was screaming like Tarzan! (and fortunately we avoided the spider monkeys that according to our ziplining guides, Israel and Alex, are well-known for throwing their poo at zip lining tourists).

I was amazed just how dense the jungle is. Did you know that only 1% of sunlight actually penetrates the canopy to hit the ground below? Crazy ... And I noticed that a bunch of the plants we buy in the U.S. as house plants grow naturally here ... the only difference being the leaves are as big as I am.

Part of the ziplining package was a cave tubing expedition, but we decided to forego that activity ... it was still crazy cold, so I'm not sure what the other pale tourists donning their life vests and Keens were thinking.

San Ignacio ... "The Cayo"

2009-12-20T23:00:00.002-07:00

I came across this little vid about the little town of San Ignacio where we're currently staying ... a promo piece of sorts pulled together by the local tourism division. San Ignacio and sister-town, Santa Elena make up Belize's second largest urban area. The two towns are separated by the Macal River and boast Belize's only suspension bridge, the one-lane Hawksworth Bridge.

A Day In Flight

2009-12-20T22:37:00.001-07:00

It's been a whirlwind of a day. We got up around 3 AM to catch the big blue Super Shuttle to DIA ... some brainiac made reservations for a 6 AM flight (no names of course). I pretty much slept the entire way to Dallas/Fort Worth, but by the time we landed the excitement butterflies started twitching in my stomach. We would be on the ground in Belize by 3 this afternoon.

We spent the majority of our airport waiting time people watching and perusing Belize travel guides .... well, I did anyway (I gave Sean an Amazon Kindle for Christmas and he's had his nose buried in that thing since it arrived - then again, it is very cool). Belize has a very rich history which includes the Myan civilization (around 2000 BC), the invasion of Spanish conquistadors, and the eventual settlement by British pirates. As a country, however, it's relatively new. A former colony of Great Britain known as Northern Honduras, it changed its name to Belize in 1973. The country became independent on September 21, 1981.

In an effort to get into the Christmas spirit in some capacity, I also started reading Augusten Burroughs new book, You Better Not Cry ... it honestly had me laughing out loud in the terminal waiting area. The quote at the very beginning sets the tone, "I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked me for his autograph" - Shirley Temple. Ever since Running With Scissors, Burroughs has become one of my steady authors ... similar to David Sedaris, Michael Pollan, and a host of others. Though he does have some rather dark moments (just read about his alcoholic episodes in Dry, or his abusive father in A Wolf At The Table).

We arrived as scheduled in Belize City at 3:45 PM. It was overcast and rainy as we were making our descent over the Caribbean, but there was no mistake where we were headed based on the blue/green waters below. As soon as we exited the plane onto the tarmac the humidity almost knocked the wind out of me ... ick. Sean, adversely, was beaming from ear to ear ... he loves it for some reason. Fortunately, our luggage managed to make it as well.

The shuttle from the hotel wasn't waiting for us at the airport as Sean had arranged ... somehow they got our reservation mixed up with another McDonald flying in the next day. The driver, a little guy by the name of Logan, ended up arriving 2 hours late ... and for 2 hours Sean and I sat outside enduring the taunts of the local Belizean cab drivers. Our driver, once he did arrive however, ended up being a super nice guy ... very apologetic about the mixup (though I get the impression it wasn't his fault). He talked our ears off the entire 90 minute ride from Belize City to San Ignacio (also known as "the Cayo"), though I was rather miserable in the back seat with my broken window ... it was freezing outside and no matter how I shifted in my seat I couldn't avoid the cold outside air. Unfortunately, with the 2 hour pick-up delay, we ended up losing all of our daylight so the tour to the west side of the country was anything but picturesque. It rained cats and dogs from the time we left the airport till the time we arrived in the Cayo ... and given our driver's piss poor windshield wipers, and the fact the main road barely has painted lines, I'm amazed we made it in one piece!

When we did finally arrive at the hotel in Cahal Pech Village, the manager, a portly British chap, arranged to have a complimentary dinner for us ... which was a very nice gesture - Sean and I were starving. We started our meal with the manager recommended Rum Punch, a rather powerful concoction of rum(s), pineapple juice and pretty much anything else the bartender decided to pour in - it was truly delish. We enjoyed our surf and turf on the outdoor patio, as the torrential rains carried on. The other hotel guests sat around us playing cards, drinking Beliken beers.

We managed to make it back to our little thatched roof cabana, overlooking the sparkling lights of downtown San Ignacio below ... and not a moment too soon. We're both t-totally exhausted. What is it about traveling that literally drains the life out of you? And why is it so friggin cold?!?! I thought it was supposed to be considerably warmer the closer you got to the Equator! I keep thanking my lucky stars I wore a long sleeve pullover and jeans to the airport this morning ... I haven't had the inclination to strip down to shorts or shirt sleeves once. Our accommodations are rather nice. Our little hut in the jungle is split into two sections, the first being a large screened porch, complete with hammock, while the back half is enclosed with a bedroom and bath. The bathroom tile pattern leaves a bit to be desired, and the cold fluorescent lighting is a little stark, but all-in-all, it's a nice place. I hear air conditioning is considered a real luxury in this part of the world, but it will not be a luxury we will require this evening ... I already miss my electric blanket!

Destination: Belize

2009-12-19T20:43:00.008-07:00

Hard to believe it was only a week ago when I accidentally discovered where I would be spending the Christmas holiday . Sean's boss, Gene, in a completely innocent attempt to start a conversation at the company Christmas party spilled the beans about a surprise trip - a trip Sean has apparently been rather chatty about in the office, but neglected to tell anyone it was a surprise Christmas present for me. "I'm so jealous you'll be spending Christmas somewhere as warm as Belize!" Excuse me? At first I was 100% certain the boss man had me confused with someone else - afterall, we were planning to be in Durango with Sean's parents! But as the story progressed it became clear Sean was planning a trip and I was apparently going with him.

At first I was expectantly not thrilled. How was I supposed to pack for an international excursion in just under a week in addition to wrapping up everything at the office? And how on God's green Earth did Sean ever think he was going to get me to on a plane, destination unknown, without me kicking and screaming?!?!

Sean has never been a real planner person (like me). He does plan, but not really in a calendar/scheduling type of way. He prefers the element of surprise and complete spontaneity. I, adversely, have my life planned out 4-6 months in advance 99.9% of the time - and I like it that way! I was panic-stricken at the very mention of a week-long, tropical getaway, but instead of playing on my initial Debbie Downer instincts, I decided to suck it up and go along for the ride ... after all, what other time of the year would I have 2 weeks completely off to relax and not worry about the office and ongoing construction shenanigans?

Once Sean wrapped his head around the fact the beans had been officially spilled, we went to dinner for a full debriefing. He had decided on Belize because it had all the elements of vacation with a heavy dose of adventure. Of it's 8,800 square miles (about the size of New Hampshire), the western part of the country was dense with jungle while the east was a Caribbean paradise. We would spend the first half of the week in the west touring the Myan archaeological sites, and then the latter half in the eastern cayes.

I'm happy to report, I did manage to get everything wrapped up at the office this week ... though it kept me there till 8 PM last night! All the other Christmas hoopla (wrapping presents, Christmas cards, baking cookies, etc.) would just need to wait till next year. We leave bright and early tomorrow morning!

Going Above & Beyond

2009-12-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

The future is now ... Earlier this month, Richard Branson, Virgin brand's founder launched the first commercial-passenger spaceship. "The SpaceShip Two will rocket tourists into zero gravity beginning in two or three years. This will be the start of commercial space travel," the Virgin Atlantic Airways founder said at the launch in California's Mojave Desert. "You become an astronaut."

The $450 million dollar project, would see the construction of six commercial spaceships that would take passengers high enough to achieve weightlessness and see the curvature of Earth set against the backdrop of space. About 300 aspiring astronauts have put down deposits for the $200,000 ride.

When the Virgin Galactic team was looking for some atmospheric music to herald the launch of their ground-breaking SpaceShipTwo, they turned to one of my favorite techno bands, Above & Beyond. Club anthem "Buzz" that was inspired by the Apollo 11 moon-landing set the tone for the event. After the unveiling of the world's first space tourism spacecraft, Above & Beyond performed an exclusive DJ set in front of an audience of 800 dignitaries, celebrities and soon-to-be astronauts, plus the assembled global media. Vid below ...

Fun Facts: The Nickel

2009-12-18T21:59:00.004-07:00

The United States nickel actually contains 0.04 oz of real, genuine nickel, which at the April 2007 price was worth a whopping 6.5 cents. It gets better, however. When you factor the 3.75 grams of copper that actually make up a real American nickel, the value increases by 3 cents, making the overall metal value over 9 cents. Since the face value of a nickel is 5 cents, this made it an attractive target for melting by people wanting to sell the metals at a profit. However, the United States Mint, in anticipation of this practice, implemented new interim rules on December 14, 2006, subject to public comment for 30 days, which criminalize the melting and export of cents and nickels. Violators can be punished with a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisoned for a maximum of five years ... so don't get any big ideas :)

More fun facts to know and tell, the new 2006 nickel features a forward-facing Thomas Jefferson, the first of its kind with a President facing forward. The image of Jefferson is actually based on an 1800 painting of Jefferson by Rembrant Peale. The word "Liberty" is shown in Jefferson's own handwriting, as it was on the 2005 Westward Journey nickels. The other side has the all too familiar image of Felix Schlag's Monticello design. For some reason I have yet to come across a 2006 nickel, but I do come across the 2005 side profile Jefferson every now and again (see image here)

Read more about nickel here, and the United States nickel coin here.

Like Sands Through the Hour Glass ...

2009-11-23T12:43:00.010-07:00

There's a certain number of overwhelming "awarenesses" that hit you in your 30's. The big one is that you're just not as young as you used to be ... as my back aches from shoveling snow, and inability to drink like I used to will firmly attest. There's also a realization that no one you know is as young as they used to be either - including your parents, grandparents, and every other person of authority you may remember as a child.

The past couple of weeks have been a rather dramatic reminder that nothing really stays the same.

My grandfather on my dad's side passed on November 7th. The news hit me in the gut like a ton of bricks. Not so much because it was a surprise ... my grandad was 80+ years old and had led a very full and productive life. I think it caught me off-guard mainly because I've been so preoccupied with own silly/demanding job, I've completely lost track with those that love me ... and what should be a much bigger priority in my life.

My grandad was a very energetic character and always the life of the party no matter where he went ... despite being perceivably shy in the presence of my grandma (who was by far the most domineering character in the rather large Herndon clan - 4 sons, 1 daughter, 15 grand kids, and 16 grand kids. She passed away in 1995). He was a gentle soul and was quite literally the glue that held that side of the family together He grew up on a farm in Leesburg, Virginia, and went on to be a farmer himself, on the same plot of land coincidentally, raising Angus Cattle. He was an artist as well - a gifted ceramicist - and when he wasn't creating for himself, he was teaching others the kiln craft. Much to my chagrin, he was also a certifiable workaholic that passed his workaholic gene on to my dad, who in turn passed it on to me ... though thankfully with me it didn't manifest itself in the same "I'm gonna run out and build a fence" kinda way. He was a good guy all around, and I will miss him.

The funeral was held on a very wet and rainy Thursday, as the remnants of Hurricane Ida broke up along the eastern seaboard ... the same storm caused my flight to be delayed the day before. Despite the rather melancholy occasion, there was a silver lining. For the first time in literally 10+ years I saw all of my cousins and family. I hardly recognized a large majority of them (Mom had to act as my interpreter at the funeral home whispering names to me as people approached so I wouldn't be totally caught off-guard). By and large, all of my cousins have gone on to marry well, and have kids of their own ... beautiful kids of their own but I'm slightly prejudiced. I honestly may be the only one left that isn't married with children - sorry mom!

A week later I'm back in the DC area for a more happy occasion - it's Thanksgiving. I flew in last Thursday for a rather extended stay. Mom and I took a little road trip on Friday down to Sanford, NC to see my granny on the other side of the family. Granny Ruby, like Grandaddy Herndon, is also in her 80's. She's crazy active and like most women on the Cameron side, sharp as a tack. I don't know who was more excited to see who - me or her! (its been over 5 years) We spent the weekend sitting around the house catching up and feeding our faces ... my granny hardly ever leaves the kitchen. Every ten minutes she's offering something to eat (it's little wonder my uncle who lives across the street has ballooned to 300 lbs). Between the sweet as crack sweet tea, and the endless array of desserts, I honestly thought I was going to fall into a diabetic coma ...

It was kinda cool listening to my mom reminisce with her mom about the old days on the chicken farm. Like Grandaddy Herndon, Granny Ruby has stayed relatively close to where she was born. It was so good to see her, as well as my uncle and his family. Who would have guessed my little cousin Teresa would go on to get her Masters in Education and spend 2 years living and working in Australia?!?! Crazy stuff. Teresa is living up the road in Raleigh, is recently engaged, and is now spearheading the Head Start program in that city. My other cousin, Heather, and her husband, Mike, just had their third child and currently live in Indiana. I almost hated leaving on Sunday ... I still feel like there's family news floating out there I haven't heard yet!

On the way back to DC, mom and I stopped in Mechanicsville to visit my brother's church. I was expecting an entire sermon of eye rollage, as I honestly didn't think I could take my brother's preaching seriously. All sarcasm aside, however, I was impressed. He didn't read and spoke from the heart rather fluently. I was transfixed. Here was this kid that honestly drove me crazy a good portion of my life, and he has become a confident leader, speaker, and father figure - I honestly didn't think it was possible! Yeah, he still has the capacity to drive me stark raving mad, but despite our rather superficial differences, I am proud of him.

So like sands through the hour glass, these really are the days of our lives. I'm learning day by day to soak it up, and keep up with all of those that have helped get me where I am today. It's a crazy fast world ... and it's only getting faster.