snow snow snow

It snowed in Denver while I was away. I was surprised at my excitement when I pulled onto Downing and saw the snow on cars, houses and Wash Park. Last winter in England was depressing without snow. I believe snow to be the reward for all the cold, the culmination of all this wintry chill. In England there was never any snow for me, just cold. It wasn't completely depressing because a few flowers bloomed to remind us of life still carrying on, but you get the drift.

power of a wet paper towel

I was subbing 2nd and 3rd graders as I noticed this wonderful little healer... the wet paper towel. After recess one of my girls discovered a cut (mind you a cut to her is more like a minor scrape which in actuality could simply be marker residue) on her hand so she goes to the sink and seriously wraps her palm with a wet paper towel. Another girl tripped on the carpet and got a rug-burn on her knee. What does she do? She retreats to the sink and gets it all doctored up with the wonder-cloth.

Denver reunion '08

The hometown crew came to town this past weekend. Initially it was just Sol and a couple of his friends but then came megan + andy, and then jesse + jen and the rest of Megan's friends from her stint in Denver. It was the most exhausting weekend so far in Denver, which is why the post is small but the pics are fun.

From Menver '08

Quasi-candid shot of the crew after whoopin up on the boys in a little arcade bball game.

From Menver '08

Marcus, Mike, Jesse, Sol. Nice poses.

From Menver '08

Two of my favorite ladies.

From Menver '08

The infamous "blah" in honor of Todd.

From Menver '08

Mike, Jesse and I makin some music at Red Rocks.

From Menver '08

The beginning of the Weekend at the Warehouse!

From Menver '08

Marcus and I enjoying the fine brews of the Great Divide Brewing Company.

From Menver '08

sol and jesse

From Menver '08

Jen asked if she could "play dress up and do my makeup" so here you go... and obviously michael was excited too.

Land of Enchantment

A couple weeks ago I made the trek home. My brothers were threatening to dispose of my belongings so I had to rescue them. I worked a wine dinner to make a little cash and see some friends and spent the rest of the break enjoying the mountains and eating some of my favorite food.

From run to the hills

From run to the hills

From run to the hills

From run to the hills

stars by your name

How encouraging this comment can be, "Well, we don't have anything yet, but I've put a star by your name."

It really is affirming though, when you finally meet someone in person and they are taken by your amazing talents and potential offering to their great company and they close with, "I'm putting a star by your name." One great charter school I sub with told me that and now I've had a few gigs there, which as you can see by my posts, I enjoy. Also, an incredible company that I would practically work for free with has just confirmed that their hiring "freeze" is not a "frost" as they had hoped and probably won't hire until January, but there is a star next to my name. Who knows, but stars are nice. For now, I will take the star and maybe do a medical study to pay the bills till January. I need a bad disease though or to be really depressed and willing to experiment with treatments...

Fiesta!

Inspired by a party Katie attended, Megan and I will be hosting a Chair/Wine party this Friday night as our housewarming gig. It's BYOC/W - we have a table and no chairs is the problem, really. Don't bring anything fancy or spend much on it, and if you don't have a spare chair then bring a fun beverage, and if you're not into beverages then just bring your fun self and we will be pleased! Please come if you're around and bring friends too! Directions are here.

tears

it was one of those days that tears come easily. I missed my dad a lot. I felt like staying in bed all day and really had to force myself to leave the house. My heart aches. I am tired in my heart. I keep hearing about relationships that seem to lose their luster. How do life-long friendships last and why is there such a difference in commitment between friendships and marriages? I'm holding on to hope for all these marriages out there but it's a dark place of hope with only a small lamp guiding the way. I want my friends and family to be full, not "getting by" or "making it work" with their partners. Where does our ambition go? The drive that tells someone "I'm not going anywhere?" Somewhere down the road we/he/she is gone and the indescribable fervor is taken as well. Ayzosh, take heart.

So I sat in our big chair, after peeling myself off for an hour or so to meet friends for dinner/drinks, watched a couple reruns and tuned in the depressing melody of Joshua Radin.