Ho Ho Ho

Big Snow - Over 7 Feet in Vail and Beaver Creek in December.

All I want for Christmas is to ski! Looks like my dream will come true....

Time to go home

I've had a great visit in Florida although the weather hasn't been great - until today. The day I leave. Oh well - played golf four times and have had some great visits. Looking forward to getting back to Denver so I can ski! Hitting the slopes with Ray and Pudge this Thursday.

Tampa

I'm in Tampa for a week to celebrate the holidays w/ mom & dad. Having fun but the weather sucks. Cold and raining! Played golf on Wed and hope to get out on Sat. Meeting Beth & Todd for dinner this evening. I'm here til Tues and I hope the weather improves!

Belize pics

Check out the Belize pics if you want -
http://picasaweb.google.com/osuzigman/BelizeAndGuatemala#

Vail

Scored the condo at Vail saturday nite so we hit the road after the football game (FL vs AL) and enjoyed the hot tub. Got up early Saturday and skied all day. Great conditions for so early in the season. They had World Cup races at Beavercreek all weekend and I wish we would have made it over there to watch. Check out the pic. Note the word "almost" in the text. Wow.

Ski at A-Basin

Well, the cold front moved in so I called Ray to see if he wanted to ski on Tuesday. Gotta try out the new boots! Great snow with more on the way. It was cloudy and cold but the skiing was really good.

69 and sunny on Monday

So I played 18 at City Park GC. Had a great time and was paired with two of the best golfers I've ever known. Humbling.

Cave tubing and the zoo

Burt picked us up at 7 am sharp and took us to the market next to the bus stop for a local breakfast. We then drove to Jaguar Paw for some cave tubing. Choco, a local Mayan, was our guide. It was just the three of us! They get hit with the cruise ship crowds and can have hundreds of people going out so that was a treat. Was a cool adventure.

After we finished and dried off we headed to the zoo. Burt worked there for 10 years and knew everyone. We got the VIP tour! The jaguar is Junior and his mother abandoned him so he was hand fed as a kitten. He is very tame (I didn't know this when I noticed the electric fence in his pen was not working) and for $50 you could have a one-on-one encounter with him in the pen. We didn't have enough time, but the Director of the zoo had him perform a few tricks to our amusement.

After the zoo it was time to head to the airport. We stopped at a roadside stand for one last local lunch of stew chicken with rice and beans (as well as potato salad) then we were off to the airport.

Back to Belmopan

Oscar was waiting for us at 3 pm and we began the wild ride back to the border. He tapped his horn at every muchacha we passed (there were many) along with every horse, dog, pig, chicken, child, etc. There were many of those as well.

Tikal

Woke up and started hiking at 6 am to see as much of the sunrise from a temple as possible. Made it to Temple II around 6:30 and heard howler monkeys all over the jungle. We had the place to ourselves for a couple of hours. Very cool place which, according to historians, had over 100,000 people in it's heyday.

Next adventure - Guatemala

Said our goodbyes to the crew and Dingy Dave dropped us off at the Hokey Pokey water taxi. Took the Hokey Pokey to the bus stop and caught a bus to Belmopan. We then happened upon a taxi driver (named Burt of all things) who agreed (they all agree when they make US $$) to take us to the Guatemalan border and make arrangements for us to be driven to Tikal.

Welcome to Belize

Arrived at Belize City then caught a flight to Placencia. What a tiny airport they had in Placencia! Caught a taxi to downtown where the driver stopped in sand and pointed to a light off in the distance and told us that was where the hotel was. We walked on a narrow sidewalk which, as it turns out, is in the Guiness Book as the narrowest street in the world. We checked into the Trade Winds hotel run by George and Lisa then walked down the beach to have dinner at De Thatch. Saw the most beautiful moonrise right over the water. Next day relaxed on a hammock then went for a sea kayak cruise. We didn't have to be on the boat until 5 pm so we enjoyed the day.

Belize

So my girlfriend found a travel deal - 7 days and 6 nights on a catamaran based out of Belize. Tradewinds is the company. Cheap airfare to boot! We leave Friday morning and will be gone until Monday the 24th. Taking a few extra days to explore the Mayan ruins, and tropical rain forest.

No cell or email so take care and I'll post pics / stories upon my return. Peace out!

Here's the itinerary -

Beautiful Belize with its blend of Caribbean, Mexican, Spanish, and Mayan traditions lies on the eastern coastline of Central America, bordered on the north by Mexico, on the west and south by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. It is separated by sea from its neighbor to the southwest, Honduras. Travel to Belize from Florida is just over 2 hours, making it a close and accessible location to most. Considered one of the best places to dive and snorkel in the world with sites such as Great Blue Hole in Ambergris Caye which is rated #11 on the Scuba Travel Top 100 Dives of the World; it is sure to be a treat for our members who enjoy diving and snorkeling.

Arrival Day
Embarkation is possible from 5PM. You can check in at the reception of the TradeWinds Tianna Suites and drop off your luggage when you arrive. Town is only a 5 minute stroll away. Your catamaran will be moored right outside the Tianna Suites in Placencia Point. Upon arrival you will be greeted by our operations manager who will take you through the check in procedure. Then you will be introduced to your crew and fellow sailors and you will be shown to your cabin and helped to settle in to your new home for the week. After a refreshing Welcome cocktail we will cast off and head out into the bay of Placencia where you will enjoy a delicious dinner aboard followed by a good night’s rest before we set sail the following morning.

Cruising Day 1
Wake up for breakfast and have an early swim if you fancy it. Then we set sail to nearby Wippari Caye which is around 10 nautical miles north east of Placencia. Here you will find calm waters, amazing snorkeling and fishing.


This Caye is home to fishing legend Julian Cabral where he owns and runs a beautiful little beach bar. For any fishing enthusiasts, a quiet beer with Julian will reveal the inside track on the best ways to catch our scaly friends down below. You can spend a lazy day strolling the Caye’s shore, swim and snorkel before and after lunch on board prior to getting ready for cocktail hour and dinner. Don’t forget your camera today. Wippari Caye has an unforgettable sunset.

Cruising Day 2
After breakfast you can help the Captain hoist the sails for a 2 hour journey to the beautiful Queens Cays. This small group of Cayes is made up of three of the most exotic sand Cayes you will ever see.


Your Captain will moor your yacht close enough to the Caye so that you can jump right off the back and swim ashore. The water here is crystal clear and there’s great snorkeling to be found all around. If you would usually be too nervous to jump off the boat you can still snorkel right off the beach and see everything that the Queens Caye reef has to offer. After lunch we will prepare the scuba divers for their first dive of the week on the nearby outer barrier reef. A short ride in the dinghy brings us to the WALL, with depths of around 100ft. After another exciting day it’s time to relax and just take in the beauty of this remarkable paradise.

Cruising Day 3
Following a Sailors breakfast we will take the dinghy for a short ride to a dive site that offers an abundance of fish, not to mention the odd reef shark swimming past.


Then we’ll hoist the sails and head south to Ranguana Caye, 2 acres of paradise on Earth. Pat runs the bar and restaurant on the Caye which serves the freshest seafood known to man. There are hammocks set up on the beach for you to relax in before diving off the beautiful white sandy beach into the coral reef waters. For the fishermen, Ranguana Cay offers some of the best bone fish Belize has to offer.


These ‘catch and release’ fish are caught right off the beach, under the shade of the coconut trees. Tonight we eat and drink ashore with Pat. She is a master blender. You name it, she’ll mix it. After dinner take a stroll under the moonlight along the beach. The stars so far from any light pollution are incredible.

Cruising Day 4
After breakfast we will make a short sail to Pompion Cay. Here you can stroll on the sandy shores looking for treasures that wash ashore. Snorkel right off the beach and explore this under water paradise. For the scuba divers you will enjoy another reef dive just 10 minutes away by dinghy to Lobster Point which is well known for, you guessed it, lobsters!!! After lunch we will once again hoist those shady sails to make our way to Little Water Caye for cocktails and the last swim of the day prior to settling down for another scrumptious dinner on board.

Cruising Day 5
5 nautical miles south west lays the famous Laughing Bird Caye, home to the rather noisy Laughingbird Gull. This small sand Caye has an information centre on the island, so any and all questions you might have that pertain to our friends underneath the waves can be answered here by one of the rangers. You can enjoy snorkeling and diving right off the beach with an underwater wall dropping down to 100ft vertically. Like several of our anchorages this week, Laughing Bird Cay is a marine park which means there is no fishing allowed on or around the Caye. Because of this protected environment the Caye offers an excellent chance to see some of our bigger friends down under including lobster the size of footballs walking along the bottom without a care in the world. Kick back for another great sunset.

Cruising Day 6
Breakfast today is followed by an early morning snorkel after which we set sail for Colson Caye. On arrival we drop the anchor in time for a last lunch on board followed by one last swim before heading back into Placencia and the end of the sailing part of our adventure. However, to compensate for that, tonight we dine out at our favorite local restaurant.

Departure Day
After breakfast onboard, it is time to gather your belongings and memories. Your crew will arrange transport back to the airport before exchanging fond farewells. Those of you who are staying additional nights in the Tianna Suites will have their bags taken to their room, where arrangements for some land based activities can be made; whether exploring Monkey River or visiting one of the Mayan Ruins; you will already be planning your next TradeWinds adventure....

Metallica

Photo courtesy of Aaron Thackeray who I met at Red Rocks

Metallica Set List
Pepsi Center, 11.04.08

01. This Was Just Your Life
02. The End of the Line
03. Ride the Lightning
04. The Memory Remains
05. One
06. Broken, Beat & Scarred
07. Cyanide
08. Sad But True
09. The Day That Never Comes
10. For Whom the Bell Tolls
11. Wherever I May Roam
12. Master of Puppets
13. Damage, Inc.
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore

16. Last Caress
17. Hit the Lights
18. Seek and Destroy

My ears are still ringing. Good times......
Opening acts -
Down
Down is an all-star heavy metal side project whose original lineup consisted of members from Pantera (singer Phil Anselmo), Corrosion of Conformity (guitarist Pepper Keenan), and Crowbar (guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Todd Strange, and drummer Jimmy Bower). Formed in the mid-'90s when Pantera was on a brief break (between their Far Beyond Driven and The Great Southern Trendkill releases), the quartet's members had been longtime friends and decided to break up their downtime (hence their name).
The Sword
Not to be confused with the Canadian heavy metal band from the late '80s, named simply Sword, the Sword is a retro-metal four-piece hailing from -- of all places -- the singer/songwriter oasis of Austin, TX.

Did you vote today?

I did via a mail-in ballot. I hope to never stand in line again to vote, it is so easy. Rode my bike to a drop-off station yesterday and got my "I Voted" sticker. Free coffee at Starbucks, free drink at Funky Buddah.....I wonder what other deals are out there?

Made it to a chili cookoff and two Halloween parties last Saturday. Pics to follow once my shipment arrives, hopefully today. I mistakely packed my USB cable in a box that was shipped so I can't upload any pics ;)

Going to the Metallica show this evening at the Pepsi Center.

It's time for Zig to get back to work. The recruiting field doesn't look so hot with the economic downturn. Anyone have ideas?

Happy Halloween

Well, I finally dropped off the boxes for shipment to Denver. I may never see them again. The first address I was given to drop off the boxes was on Harmon Ave off of Greenlawn. And the business was gone. Turns out the company just merged and relocated to Grove Tucky. Disaster averted, I went to visit Burt and family. Just in time for punkin carving! Burt - your children will make you pay for past transgressions! Alcohol will numb the effects ;)

All in all, a great visit to Ohio but I'm ready to get back to Denver!!

Brazenhead

Got an out of the blue call from Joe (my cousin's husband - what does that make him BTW?) that he was in town and he wanted to meet for dinner. Went to Brazenhead in Grandview for $3 burgers. Had a few pints and caught up - great to see you Joe! Have fun in FL next week.
Trying to get things taken care of to ship some boxes. 11 boxes and 675 pounds sitting in the 'Burban waiting to drop off at the dock. It'll be nice to have some of my things in CO as I've been wearing the same clothes for a year ;)
One more day! CO here I come....

Hiney Gate

Well, it's taken me a few days to recover from the loss last Saturday. Or was it the Hiney Gate? Whew - one of those a year is enough. Got to meet up with many friends and was very busy running around trying to meet up with everyone. Made it to the Skull Session and got to the stadium early.
Got to see Zach last week - and the girls. They are all doing well.
Weather here is typical Ohio - overcast and dreary. It's cold and wet. Haven't seen the sun for three days. Can't wait to get back to Colorado!!!!!!

For sale

Looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

While I'm here, I am clearing out my storage unit. Great time to pick up some bargains!

For those of you interested in a deal, holler back There has been some interest in a few items, but here's a rundown:

Klipsch surround sound speaker system w/ subwoofer for a PC - This sounds really good. $7
Wheelbarrow - 6 cubic feet with 'no flat' tire. $35
Shop-vac = 18 gallon, 6.25 hp. She's a beast! $35
Office chair $25
Lawn tools - Rake, shovels, edger, weed puller, etc. Make an offer.
Hose reels (one has a real nice hose) and several attachments / quick release / splitters. Make an offer.

I also have these items for sale with pictures if you want / need them, or you can take a look for yourself - make me an offer!!!!!

Hitachi circular saw - never been used, still in the case
Dremel kit
Weber kettle grill with many accessories
Holmes patio misting fan
Computer desk
School / bankers desk - 30+ years old in great shape. Fold down work surface with many drawers / nooks
Antique bakers hutch
Scott's 7000 lawn / fertilizer spreader
Sony 17" TV
JVC Cinema Series 36" tv with stand
Metal hammock stand
Hammock
Craftsman 6 hp lawn mower - mulcher
Garage shelves - (3) plastic. 4 shelf corner unit, 5 shelf wall unit, 4 shelf wall unit
Sony GSX909ES Stereo receiver ($1,500 new)
Sony ES model CD carousel ($1,500 new)
Cerwin Vega D-3 speakers
Progressive scan DVD player
AIWA stereo
JVC mini stereo

I have the BEST SISTER in the WORLD!

And not just because she sold me her tickets to the Penn State game (although that did help ;) And not because she is putting me up for two weeks (that helps too) but she's just freakin' awesome!!!!

Thank you!!!

Ohio here I am

While I'm here I need to clean out my storage unit, so I am driving Big Blue. I have a feeling I'll be great friends with the gas stations in town....

I hope to sell / donate much of what I have in storage. It's amazing how much shit I've managed to accumulate. If you're interested in some bargains, let me know! I'm dealin'!!!!!

Good times

Had the unexpected surprise of an old friend show up in Denver for a conference this week. George is a buddy from High School and we had a chance to catch up and talk about old times. And jam to the new Metallica CD in my car. Damn, that was good & loud. Reminded me of my 1st car - '74 Cougar with the Pioneer TS-6907's in the rear deck. HA! Good times.

Ohio here I come - briefly

Hey all - for those of you unaware, I plan on making a trip to Ohio soon. I'll be there from Oct 19th - 31st and look forward to catching up with family and friends. It's been nearly a year since I left and I can't wait see what's going on. I also need to deal with a 10' x 30' storage unit jam packed with......stuff. I plan to sell / donate as much as I can. At the very least move into a smaller unit. I figure I'll keep what I'll need for my own place in storage and make another trip. Drop me a line if you'd like to get together! You can send a comment to the blog or email me at mark at osuzigman dot com (don't want to type my actual address so as to avoid spam)

Rocky Mountain Alumni Club

The Rocky Mountain Alumni Club is for Ohio State fans in Colorado and they meet at a bar called Croc's downtown - right off the 16th Street Mall and Market Street. Ray & I have been to several games there and it's like being at Varsity Club. I signed up for a membership a week ago to get involved. So I attended a Board meeting last Tuesday to see what I could expect from my $25 membership investment, other than a cool t shirt. I met several people, most from Columbus, who where getting involved in turning the club around as I guess they had been floundering as of late. Next thing I know they ask if anyone can volunteer to be the Game Watch Chair at Croc's. I kept asking what all was involved but couldn't get the answers I was looking for. So I volunteered anyway. Turns out I must also serve on the board. And be a member in good standing with the Ohio State University Alumni Association. No big deal, but I like how I didn't find out until later! So for those Buckeye fans in the Denver area, I'll be at the table in the back selling raffle tickets, bumper stickers and memberships during all of the remaining games (except for the Penn State game as I have tix - thanks Stace!) so be sure to stop by and enjoy the atmosphere!
http://www.coloradobuckeyes.com/

Telluride and Colorado in the Fall

Left Mesa Verde on Saturday and drove towards Telluride to find a place to camp. We were running out of daylight so Ambereen told me to turn on the next National Park Access Road. We made the turn and drove 25 minutes into the park, past a herd of cattle and up to 10,000 feet before finding a clearing suitable for camping. I set up camp and she started the fire (in an established fire pit, of course!). It got dark quickly so we settled in and grabbed dinner and finished a bottle of wine. The fire was starting to die down when we heard a pack of coyotes celebrating a kill nearby. Kind of creepy when you can't see your hand in front of your face. I wonder what they caught? Checked out the night sky once again (hard to describe the thousands of stars and the Milky Way that you can't see in the city) then got some shut eye. Walked around camp in the morning then as I was packing up she heard the call of a make elk in rut. I missed it and he never made another sound. Must have been the right call? Packed up the car and hit the road. We were headed to Durango to drive around and have brunch. The San Juan Mountain Range is the most beautiful in all of Colorado (IMHO) and the leaves were turning so it was showtime. telluride was spectacular and we drove through town to head up a 4x4 trail taking us to an overlook. There was a house / structure at the top of the trail which was an old hydroelectric facility with caretakers still living there. It would give me the creeps living on the edge of that cliff. Unreal views though. Wow....
Had a great brunch (salmon eggs benedict with kick ass home fries and the drink special was a John Daly!) then headed to Placerville, Ridgway, Montrose, Delta, Hotchkiss, Glenwood Springs and back to Denver via I-70. That's a long ass drive for those of you unfamiliar with the territory. But the views were spectacular with the fall colors, especially through Telluride up to Glenwood Springs. Vail was pretty too, but it was nothing compared to the drive up 550.
Check out all the pics at - http://picasaweb.google.com/osuzigman/ColoradoFall2008#

Mesa Verde

Made it to Mesa Verde last Thursday and toured Cliff Palace. We then grabbed dinner at Metate ($19.06 for a three course meal to celebrate the 100 year anniversary) and set up camp at the campground (in the dark). The stars were spectacular. So many to see that we couldn't even figure out the guide. That and the bottle of wine we had ;)
Got up early on Friday and headed to the Visitor's Center to buy tickets to tour Long House and Balcony House. Headed to Balcony House first to catch the 9 am tour. After the tour we hiked the Petroglyph Trail then toured Spruce Tree House. That took us to lunch then we had to drive to Wetherill Mesa to take the Long House tour. This park is a World Heritage park - so far I think I've been to two in the US. Mesa Verde has been hit by a few fires in the past several years and over 50% of the park has been damaged, Due to the high alpine environment they estimate it will take 100-300 years for the park to recover fully. It's a very cool place and well worth the trip. Check out the photos here - http://picasaweb.google.com/osuzigman/MesaVerde2008#

Pagosa Springs

Spent two days at Pagosa Springs last Wednesday & Thursday. The hot springs are the best I've been to so far (although for beauty Conundrum wins hands down) although you must be careful. I got into the Burg when it was 116 degrees. That's freakin' hot! Played golf at the only course in town and got a birdie on the #1 handicap hole. The rest will be left in my memory and I hope it fades quickly.
Headed to Mesa Verde on Friday for a couple of days.

CU Boulder vs West Virginia

What a game! I worked the gate on the field at the Northeast corner and got THISCLOSE to Erin Andrews (she wants me - I could tell) and got to watch pretty much the entire game. What a show it was. The Buffs pulled ahead 14 - 0 with two quick scores then fell asleep. The game ended up going to OT where WVU's field goal attempt bounced off the post right in front of me. It was so close it sounded like a bell ringing. The Buffs took over and kicked a field goal on 3rd down to win it. It was mayhem - I pushed the gate back to let the fans rush the field and got the hell out of the way. The gate was also where the players and Ralphie entered. Ralphie is the mascot - a female bison who runs across the field with the players at the beginning of the game. I can't believe they can get away with that one - two handlers were being pulled on their stomachs across the field trying to hang on.

Fossil Trace golf

Well, since nobody wanted to play hooky to see the Rockies at 1 pm today I decided to play 9 at Fossil Trace. 9 holes w/ cart for $25! It's gorgeous outside and I can't wait to T it up. 3:40 T time. And get away from the news on TV and the radio. I heard an interview on NPR this morning with a financial expert who described the AIG bailout in such detail that I was shocked as to what could have happened had the government not stepped in. All the greed from the subprime industry is going to play havoc with our economy for a while. Am I happy I sold my house when I did..........whew.
The pic is a dinosaur footprint located next to the #11 green. Hence the name Fossil Trace.

Future Weapons cannon challenge game

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/future-weapons/games/cannon/cannon.html

I got 27,900 1st try. Have at it!! (116,000 on second try ;)

Just heard from my sister that they lost power last Sunday. And still don't have it back. And it could be until Sunday before they do!!! They live in S Delaware County. Had no idea it was that bad. Wish I could do something to help.......

Move Ray & Kerry & Santana

Moved Ray & Kerry to new digs in Highlands Ranch. We've agreed that if any of us fail to hire professional movers next time we're entitled to a free bitch slap.

Went to the Santana concert at Fiddlers that evening after watching the first half of the USC scrimmage. Great show.

G. Love & Special Sauce - John Butler Trio and Tristan Prettyman

G. Love & Special Sauce - John Butler Trio
Friday, September 12, 2008 — 7:00PM
doors open at 5:30PM
With John Butler Trio and Tristan Prettyman
$39.50 RES, $36.50 GA - Ticketmaster - plus applicable service charges AEG Live is thrilled to announce G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE with special guests JOHN BUTLER TRIO and Tristan Prettyman performing live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre Friday, September 12, 2008.

G. Love & Special Sauce are a trio from Philadelphia, PA. Their laid-back, sloppy blues sound is quite unique, as it encompasses the sound/production of classic R&B and recent rap artists (the Beastie Boys, in particular). The group -- G. Love (born Garrett Dutton) on guitar/vocals/harmonica, Jeff Clemens on drums, and Jim Prescott on upright bass. Ever the road band they are known for their extensive touring. By 2004 and the Hustle LP, G. Love had eased up a little on the kitchen sink approach, offering instead a cohesive, dry groove reminiscent of his earliest efforts. Hustle was also the first G. Love release under Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records banner. It made sense; the two had been pals at least since Philadelphonic, which Johnson had guested on. His move off Sony spawned the Best of G. Love and Special Sauce, but G. wasn't done. Special Sauce did a series of shows in 2004 with Johnson and fellow Brushfire artist Donovon Frankenreiter, and the trio also found time to issue a brief live EP before 2006's Lemonade. The tour chronicle/live album A Year and a Night with G. Love and Special Sauce appeared in 2007. ~ SOURCE: All Music Guide

GREAT SHOW - and my last for the season at Red Rocks......good times. They took me out for a few drinks afterwords. My co-workers, not the band ;)

Foo Fighters at Red Rocks

Foo Fighters
Monday, September 08, 2008 — 7:30PM - Tuesday, September 09, 2008 — 7:30PM
doors open at 6:00PM
JULY FOO FIGHTERS SHOWS WERE POSTPONED TO MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th & TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9th - DUE TO ILLNESS.

AEG Live is thrilled to announce the FOO FIGHTERS performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Monday, July 14th, 2008 and a second show on July 15th. Special Guest Supergrass will open the show.

The FOO FIGHTERS are:
*Dave Grohl (guitar/vocal)
*Taylor Hawkins (drums)
*Nate Mendel (bass)
*Chris Shiflett (guitar)

Having commemorated their tenth anniversary with a year-plus run commencing with a double studio album hailed by the New York Times as "an unexpected magnum opus," a sold out arena tour built on that first disc's rock foundation followed by a toned down and intimate theater trek that highlighted the softer side showcased on that record's second half and capped off by a headlining gig at London's Hyde Park for a crowd of 85,000, the question looms larger than any in the Foo Fighters' career to date: What do they do for an encore?

GREAT shows - I'm now a huge Foo Fighters fan - anyone have their music??

One more show at Red Rocks for me this season.

Tiny made it back after his head injury at NIN - 6 staples in his scalp - ouch....

You are from Colorado if:

A winter statistic: 98.0% of Americans scream before going in the ditch on a slippery road. The other 2.0% are from Colorado and they say, 'Hold my soda and watch this.'

You will eat ice cream in the winter.
It snows 5 inches and you don't expect school to be canceled.

You'll wear flip flops every day of the year, regardless of temperature.

You have no accent at all, but can hear other people's. And then you make fun of them.

'Humid,' is over 25.0%.

Your sense of direction is: Toward the mountains and Away from the mountains.

You say 'the interstate' and everybody knows which one.

You think that May is a totally normal month for a blizzard.

You buy your flowers to set out on Mother's day, but try and hold off planting them until just before Father's day.

You grew up planning your Halloween costumes around your c oat.

You know what the Continental Divide is.

You don't think Coors beer is that big a deal.

You went to Casa Bonita as a kid, and as an adult.

You've gone off-roading in a vehicle that was never intended for such activities.

You always know the elevation of where you are.

You wake up to a beautiful, 80 degree day and you wonder if it's going to snow tomorrow.

**You don't care that some company renamed it, the Broncos still play at Mile High**

Every movie theater has military and student discounts.

Everybody wears jeans to church.

You actually know that 'South Park,' is a real place not just a show on TV.

You know what a 'trust fund hippy' is, and you know its natural habitat is Boulder.

You know you're talking to a fellow Coloradoan when they call it Elitches, not Six Flags.

A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you.

Your two favorite teams are the Broncos and whoever is beating the crap out of the Raiders.

When people back East tell you they have mountains in their state too, you just laugh.

You go anywhere else on the planet and the air feels 'sticky,' and you notice the sky is no longer blue.

OSU vs OU, party and Poison / Dokken

Saturday was a whirlwind. Cathy & I went to Croc's at 9 am and met Sharon, Hillary and Gayle to watch the Buckeyes dismantle OU. Hmm. Not quite what happened. We need to play a lot better to not be embarrased this Saturday. The party was at Jon & Catherine's house then I had free passes to see Poison & Dokken at Fiddlers Green. Dokken was one of my favorite bands back in 1984 so I went just for the hell of it. Those guys looked like they had their AARP cards. And how the hell do they still have so much hair???

Spent Sunday in Boulder - cool town and will be back there in two weeks for the CU / WVA game.

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) at Red Rocks

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Friday, September 05, 2008 — 7:00PM - Saturday, September 06, 2008 — 7:00PM
doors open at 6:00PM
With Talib Kweli and FLYING LOTUS on 9/5 and Ghostland Observatory and Bassnectar on 9/6
$36.00 GA advance, $40.00 GA day of show - Ticketmaster - plus applicable service charges
Live Nation proudly presents STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Friday September 5 and Saturday September 6. Special Guest Talib Kweli and a special guest TBA will open the Friday show. Special Guest Ghostland Observatory will open Saturday’s show plus a special “in the round” set by Bassnectar.

Dubbed “…one of the country's most intriguing, innovative outfits around” by XLR8R Magazine, STS9 steps out this summer armed with their brand-new, highly anticipated studio album, peaceblaster. To be released in summer 2008 on their own label 1320 Records (www.1320records.com), the new album will feature never-before heard tracks that artfully mirror the intensity of STS9’s live shows, while preserving the musical intricacies of past studio albums that critics and fans have touted. peaceblaster comes nearly three years after their acclaimed 2005 releases, Artifact & Artifact: Perspectives, both of which were named in iTunes list of top albums of the year.

The excitement of STS9’s sixth annual return to Red Rocks doesn’t stop in Morrison. The band is also performing an intimate show at the Boulder Theater on September 4th that is on-sale now exclusively at (www.sts9store.com) as a three day pass for the entire weekend. The band is also planning on hosting after-parties at the Gothic Theatre each night with a number of incredible acts that will be announced soon.

It was rave music. I was happy when it ended.

3 Doors Down - Hinder - Finger Eleven at Red Rocks

3 Doors Down are putting up massive radio numbers with “Its Not My Time”, the first single from their self-titled album in stores now. Their much anticipated fourth studio album has spawned rock’s biggest radio hit of the year so far. 3 Doors Down have become a signature presence in Rock through hard work and passionate songwriting that speaks directly to their audience. Lead singer Brad Arnold cites this effort as perhaps the most communal band effort. “3 Doors Down has always been about every band member giving everything we’ve got,” says the singer/songwriter. “On this album we really wanted to make every song count. We owe it to our fans who have been there to support us from day one.”

Braced by front-man Brad Arnold’s enduring vocal power, 3 Doors Down has put together an amazing streak of powerful albums and chart-topping singles, including their 6 million selling 2000 breakthrough effort, The Better Life, and epic mega-hit signature songs such as the #1 “Kryptonite,” and “When I’m Gone,” from 2003’s 4 million selling epic Away From The Sun.

Good 'ol fashioned rock and roll show. Loud as hell and lots of chicks. Overstaffed again so I sat in the front and listened to the entire concert - and got paid! Only a few more shows left this season. Gotta get 'em while I can.

Best show of the season - NIN

Best stage setup - best light show - best sound by far...

Nine Inch Nails, also known by the acronym NIN, was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, USA in 1988 by Trent Reznor, the only constant member of the band. He is generally credited for popularizing the genre known as “industrial rock”.

NIN will be touring in support of their latest release, the slip, and as a thank you to their fans for their continued support, they are giving it away one hundred percent free, exclusively via nin.com.

Nine Inch Nails 2008 touring lineup has been completed. Returning member Robin Finck and new addition Rich Fownes will join Trent Reznor, Alessandro Cortini and Josh Freese for a world tour beginning July in North America.

Finck has served in numerous touring configurations of NIN, from tours supporting The Downward Spiral (1994-1997) to The Fragile (2000-2001). More recently, he played in Guns N Roses. Fownes has been performing with UNKLE, and has been a member of With Scissors and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. The upcoming tour will feature the live debut of material from the recently released Ghosts I-IV alongside songs spanning the entire NIN catalogue.

Cool pic of me on the way up to Windom Peak last weekend. The other one is at the Botanic Gardens for the Bruce Hornsby show a few weeks ago.
Working the Nine Inch Nails show at Red Rocks tonite - that should be pretty wild. 3 Doors Down tomorrow.
Went to a going away party for Cathy's friend Laura on Sunday and learned she was freaking out about getting packed. I told her I would help out on Monday. Little did I know how unprepared she was! Chicks ;) Had to unload the last half of the 28' UHaul and get everything loaded up. Finally had enough so Cathy got a 12 pack of Sam Adams and we sat in the park for a few hours and enjoyed the rest of the day.

OSU vs YSU

Met Ray at Croc's downtown at 9 am for the Buckeye game. 10 am kickoff here makes for an early morning. Ray told me Croc's is the place to watch OSU football in Denver and was he spot on. It reminded me of Varsity Club. Standing room only with everyone sporting OSU gear. Felt like I was in Columbus the entire time. Hope Beanie isn't hurt too bad. Next week's game is against OU where Ray & Sharon went so it'll be a big day at Croc's once again!
Go Buckeyes!

Gov't Mule / Umphrey's McGee at Red Rocks

Gov't Mule / Umphrey's McGee
Sunday, August 31, 2008 — 7:00PM
doors open at 5:30PM

With
$43.00-$60.00, 2-Day Ticket $85.50 - Ticketmaster - plus applicable service charges.
AEG Live is excited to announce GOV’T MULE featuring UMPHREY'S McGEE performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday, August 31, 2008. Showtime is 7:00 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

Big riffs, massive grooves, and expansive improvisations are the hallmarks of Gov't Mule's legendary live shows. Likewise, their well-crafted songs feature larger-than-life characters bearing life's heaviest burdens, performed by four musicians guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes, drummer Matt Abts, keyboard player Danny Louis, and bassist Andy Hess whose powerful musicianship and chemistry along with their tireless work ethic have earned them the respect of their peers.
We are pleased to announce that Gov't Mule, will be returning to Red Rocks in Morrison, CO, as part of an incredible Labor Day Weekend of music, on Sunday August 31st with very special guests Umphrey's McGee.

The Allman Brothers Band / Bob Weir & Ratdog at Red Rocks

The Allman Brothers Band / Bob Weir & Ratdog
Saturday, August 30, 2008 — 7:00PM
doors open at 5:30PM

With
$43.00 - $60.00, 2-DAY TICKET IS $85.50 - Ticketmaster - plus applicable service charges.
AEG Live is excited to announce THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND & BOB WEIR & RATDOG performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 30, 2008. Showtime is 7:00 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

The Allman Brothers Band have a 39 year tradition of blending the new and the old... playing the songs that stir our souls because they bring back so many great memories, casting classic blues tunes in a new light, and then hitting us with something completely fresh and new that is destined to become a classic. The group will resume its touring schedule in August with co-headliner Bob Weir & RatDog as part of an incredible Labor Day Weekend of music.

Bob Weir already has a secure place in rock history as the Grateful Dead's co-vocalist and what Andrew Clarke (in one of England's leading newspapers, "The Independent") called the genre's "greatest, if most eccentric rhythm guitarist." When you have a modest, anti-promotional personality - and when you spend 30 years next to an icon - it's easy to fall under the radar. Taking the stage with the multi talented line up of drummer Jay Lane, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, lead guitarist Mark Karan, reeds man Kenny Brooks, and bassist Robin Sylvester that is RatDog.

Dierks Bentley at Red Rocks

Dierks Bentley
Friday, August 29, 2008 — 7:00PM
doors open at 5:30PM

With Rodney Atkins, Cross Canadian Ragweed
$42.50 RES & GA - Buy Tickets Online - plus applicable service charges.
AEG Live is thrilled to announce 98.5 KYGO’s 2nd Annual Summer Chill Out with DIERKS BENTLEY and special guests RODNEY ATKINS and CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED performing live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre Friday, August 29, 2008.
Dierks Bentley (who was given a family name as a first name) grew up in a nonmusical family in Phoenix AZ. He got his country music education on his own listening to recordings. He moved from listener to player when he picked up an electric guitar at age 13. He moved to Nashville at the age of 19, but he quickly grew discouraged by lack of public and professional interest coming his way. It all changed when he walked into the Station Inn, a bar where the bluegrass faithful hang out. An all-night jam session recharged his batteries and he started pursuing gigs again. He landed a job at the TNN television doing research on classic country music and by night he worked on his demos. Capitol Records heard the artist, signed him, and released his self-titled debut in 2003. Bringing his love of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings to the forefront, “Modern Day Drifter” followed two years later and became a Top Ten hit. In 2006, he returned with Long Trip Alone, with the hit “Every Mile a Memory”.

DNC acceptance speech

Since I didn't get the tickets after applying online I decided to work the event and take my chances. It was quite and ordeal but worth it. I drove to the aquarium to get my credentials (clocked in at 8:37 am) then drove to Elich Gardens to park and took a shuttle to Invesco. Hundreds of people standing around looking and waiting for something to do. Since I signed up at the last minute I didn't have a supervisor to report to so people tried to get me on their teams. I'm asking them what my role would be and they weren't too forthcoming so I said no. I told Kay I'd join her team since she runs the floor at the Pepsi Center and they host the Avs, Nuggets and a few other teams.

We were shuffled to section 117 outside to get out of the way - just in time for Stevie Wonder's sound check. Then Cheryl Crow's sound check. Got some sun and hung out for an hour or so. Then we were sent back downstairs where they had food. We weren't told it was for us and it was kind of secrative so I walked up and asked what was up. They said it was for us. So why weren't we eating? Then Kay said we would be needed and we only had time for a quick snack. Whatever - I chowed. 2 plates as I knew it would be the only food we would see all day. And I was right.

I waited around for 2 more hours and then she told me she didn't need me. This was 2 pm! I saw Doc (from Red Rocks - he works with me) and asked if he needed help. He told me to change my shirt and join his team. I joined Tiffany (Red Rocks - see how this works?) and we were to walk on the ADA aisle to keep it clear. We were Roamers. We had 1/4 of the stadium to watch. Prime spot! Most everyone else had to work outside, underground or some other shitty location. I scored! We walked around, talked, and told people to move. That was it.

Saw Al Gore speak, Bill Richardson too and saw Stevie Wonder & Cheryl Crow again. Then we found a prime spot for Obama and cleared people out of the way so we could see ;) Seriously - "Keep moving", "You can't stand here", whatever it took to get them out of our way. I had one guy move so an Officer could stand next to me and take pictures. The guy was pissed - his look was priceless! Tiffany pulled the best one though - she walked up to a gentleman in a suit and told him to move along. He showed her his credentials and she kept telling him to move until she read them - US Secret Service - so she let him stay. HA! This is the same person who, at the Garrison Keiler show last week wouldn't let a woman throught the stage door (she didn't have a pass) and I looked up as the show started and she was one of the star performers. I still give her shit about that one. Now I can tease her about the Secret Service.

The crowd went crazy and it was like being at a concert. He spoke for quite a while and we got to listen to most of it. I'm glad I was there to witness history, and things went pretty smooth considering all of the security. Long day though and I'm beat. I have work to do today, All the ski stores have their sales today (I need ski boots) then I'm working at Red Rocks Fri Sat & Sun.

Livin the dream ;()

DNC Protest

Since I only had one day to enjoy the DNC from an outsiders perspective I decided to ride my bike downtown this afternoon to see what was going on.

Not much.

I eventually rode to Civic Center park to rest and make a few calls. All of the sudden I hear someone yell "Bikers ready!" and everyone got up and started to ride away. What the hell, I'll go too I thought. So I hopped on my bike and away we went. Turns out it was planned and we had a police escort blocking intersections and following us. We took over the streets of Denver for over an hour. Almost made it down 16th street mall but apparently that was not to be as the cops put a stop to that idea after 2 blocks. It was a cool experience and only one idiot was arrested for spitting on a cop.

It was a great afternoon and I rode around from 1-8 pm.

Tomorrow I am working at Invesco for Obama's acceptance speech. It'll be a long day but it's the only way I have to get in the stadium. Not sure if I can take pics but I'll try!

Durango / Silverton

For my birthday I decided to take Ambereen to Durango for a backpacking trip. We left on Friday and drove to Durango which is in the Southwestern corner of CO. We took the scenic route so we came in from near Silverton and entered the San Juan Range - spectacular! The mountains looked so different from what I've seen.

Found a great campground outside of town and set up camp then drove in to town for some dinner. Got back and built a fire - rare these days. Got some sleep then made it to the train station in the AM to catch the Durango Silverton Narrow Guage. It's the real deal - coal fired steam powered locomotive. We boarded and settled in for the trip to the Needlton stop where the backpackers exit.

6 mile hike with a 3,000' elevation gain (challenging for most - trust me) and we set up camp at 11,000'. Got some shut-eye so we could attempt a fourteener in the am. Hit the trail at 8:30 (that time will be relevant later) and hiked for a few hours until we got to Twin Lakes. Ran into a few hikers on their way down. Hikers (experienced ones anyways) have a funny habit of not telling you what to do or what they think you should do. Instead they'll give cues like asking where you're going and when you tell them they nod, look at their watch, look at you, look at their watch and say something like "good luck". Which really means "you should have gotten your ass out of the tent three hours earlier than you did, dumbass". Lesson learned. We made it to the saddle next to Windom Peak (one of the three fourteeners in the immediate area) when Trevor (whom we met on the train) came bounding down having bagged Windom and Sunlight that morning. He told us about the clouds he saw and how ominous they looked. I had a discussion with Ambereen about turning around. Let's just say one of us is a little more conservative than the other. After 15 minutes of talking about it, we turned around just as two hikers came screaming down from near the peak and thunder roared through the valley. Let's just say we made it down a hell of a lot faster than we made it up. Got back to the tent and took a long nap. Made dinner and went to bed - it's hard work hiking that shit! Got up the next morning and hiked back to the pickup point where we flagged down the train - which kept on going....turns out it was the early train running way late - so we caught the next one. Cool ride to Silverton where we had lunch and I got a few birthday gifts (metal sculptures) from a local artist. Wish I took a pic of him and his shop.