Wow - so I just got back from quite possibly one of the best vacations in my life. It's been a great year for vacations, what with Amsterdam and Cabo and all. Hard to believe that a simple little trip to Denver could even be in the running with the other two, but I tell you what - it was!
Wed: We got up at 4 am, something we only see coming from the other side, and got ready to fly out. Arrived in CO just in time for lunch. Got an UPGRADE to a Pontiac Grand Prix in the shade of "pull me over red". Included: heated (YAY!) leather (BOO!) seats, dual climate control (a must for "Frosty" and his she-devil wife), XM radio, sunroof, remote start (Dane's favorite), and plenty of room for hooligans and their baggage (and it had room for our suitcases). *snicker* Dane and I dined at Monoco Inn for lunch, our favorite Greek restaurant. It was just as amazing as the last time and our waitress (the owner lady) hasn't changed a bit - not her hair, not her make up, nothing - still the same. After that we drove down to Littleton, stopping (inadvertantly) by Theo's grave, then we got balloons and mums for Isis's grave. It was almost 90 degrees (yeah, I know - but that's how Denver is) out so we stayed for a while at her grave arranging stuff, hanging out, talking, being quiet, remembering, wishing. Dane even let the dot visit the grave (don't ask). We let the balloons go, which is almost more emotional for me than visiting the actual headstone. I guess the balloons are very symbolic. Each and every year there are more balloons. The last time I remembered letting balloons go there were only four balloons, one for each of us at the grave that day. This time there were 7 balloons. I couldn't remember if I was supposed to get 7 balloons (for how old she'd be) or 6 (representing how many years it's been since she passed). I got 7. Any more it's just honoring her memory and what she still means to me. All the anger has subsided. I rarely dream of her being alive and someday being reunited. Only when I'm bored or watch Kill Bill or have a hankering. These days I'm just filled with a sad curiosity at both her taken life and what mine would have been if she were alive today. I know I've told Dane that I love him and if I had to make a choice between our life now and a life with her, I'd choose him, but I think that's a lie and we both know it. I'd choose her any day. I'd choose her over my own life if given the opportunity. But it doesn't make a difference, I will never get that choice.
After visiting the grave, Dane and I set to other tasks like finding a back up costume and meeting Marcia for dinner. We went to China Taipei and of course I had fried rice - the best! It was great to see Marcia and catch up and she looks so happy and healthy. After dinner with her we visited with Peck's dad, Papa, at Caldonia's. I used to work there back in the day and it was crazy to go back there. It wasn't as hopping as I'd remembered and long gone are the days where I knew any staff. We drank beer and watched Game One of the World Series. After 13-1 Boston lead and a million walks, we lost interest in the game and talked about other stuff. It was great to see him and sitting there with him, talking about the old days, the current days, and days to come it really, really made me miss Peck and our lives together. For a second I closed my eyes and pretended that I would go home to the house on Kansas, smoke a cigarette with Peck in our room and talk shit about the day, the people we knew, the cause to wake up in the morning. I miss that room, our talks, Peck's sleep-smoking, that house, that time. For as awful of a time as it was in my life, it sure has some of the sweetest memories I can think on.
Thursday: Slept in a little then got a move on to start the day. Ate lunch at Macaroni Grill, a fav of mine that was not on the docket but I'm glad it was. Heather and Mark rented a H3 (AWESOME!) so we tooled around in that all day. I accidently-on-purpose pushed a button that turned out to be OnStar emergency. Incidently our H3 was named Louisa and she was from Louisiana. Mark was sad that his H3 was a girl car and not a boy car. He was also sad that it's name was Louisa and not "Afrosheen". It sure was shiny though. After a trip to Target and a drive around the city we met my old boss Jim and his wife Renee for coffee at Peaberry's, a Colorado coffee shop. It was great to see him and talk for a while and I was happy to introduce him to HG and MR. We sat out in the 80 degree CO sun and talked till about 3 pm. After that we went to go see 30 Days of Night (not so good) at Denver Pavillions. Then we went shopping and had just enough time to get ready for the evening. Ate at Chick-Fil-A (awesome) then moseyed over to Lodo's and hung out with Cheryl, Jake, Richard, and Kailea. It was great seeing K - she's such a loving, beautiful, smart girl - I love her so much. I was glad to see Richard too, though Dane hardly spoke to him which I thought odd. Anyway - we talked with Cheryl forever, who has an amazing sleeve on her arm - wow! She's so cool and I have so much fun with her. And her man Jake is cool as a fan. Melanie showed up and we had a great time too. She shed some light on a few things, but I was so clouded up with cosmos that I didn't understand/pay attention. After we closed the bar down (and the Rockies lost again) we went to Del Taco. I don't even remember anything but the heavenly crinkle fries.
Friday: Dane got the bright idea to meet his new boss (who is based out of Denver) for coffee at 9 am! An ungodly hour when you've had about 12 cosmos the night before. We met his boss though, tee-shirt and all (his boss, not us), and had a great time. Dane's excited about working at Gen-E and I'm happy for him. After that we had just enough time to lay down for a quick nap before meeting our financial planner Rich at our favorite Persian restaurant, House of Kabob. The meeting with Rich went well, but the food was horrible. I think the place must have been bought out or something because the decor and food were totally different. Bleck! Sad for us, but at least we will never crave HOK again. After that we stopped by Compassion & Choices and bothered Joe for a few. Only Christian and Brandi were there (that I knew from before anyway) so I talked with them for a bit too. Later we went to Govner's Park for happy hour with Joe and his sister Sophie. We had a lot of fun and MR even got a bucket drink. Ate some more food then moved on to Casa Bonita. There, for the first time in a long time, I was able to hug and hold one of my favorite people on the planet - Sarah. Max is HUGE but such a wonderful man, it was great and amazing to see him. Sarah and I talked and it was like it had only been a day since I'd seen her. We fell right in to place and I was happy and proud like a mother hen to introduce her to HG and MR. Casa Bonita was great, Randall showed up - which I wasn't expecting, and that was fun. We all ate dinner then buzzed all over CB and had a mess of fun. We even got a picture of us in the Old West Prison (I'll post later). After that we went back to the hotel to drop the cars off then went to Skylark - which sucked!!! So we went to Funky Buddah, which was awesome! Joe and crew met us there and by this time Sam was with us so we just hung out and had a blast! There were tons of people in costume, even d*ck in a box guys! Joe got wasted, which is always a sight to see, and we had a great time.
Saturday: Woke up and headed out to Littleton to eat lunch with my cousin, Sean, and his wife, Gretchen. The All American couple, a cop and a teacher, are just sweet as pie and have such funny stories we could have sat there and listened to them all day. Sarah met up with us and by that time we needed to head on down to CO Springs. We drove up to Cave of the Winds, Sarah and I in her fun Jetta, and the rest of the crew in the pull-me-over-red-Pontiac. Sarah and I had great conversation, though I felt bad because I was mildly hungover and tired. Quieter than normal, I listened to Sarah's tales and despite all that she's had to deal with lately, envied her. Envy isn't a good word to use for such a good friend. I'll try to explain - I'm happy for her yet sad but at the same time excited for her after she gets through the muck of what happened and the chore of moving on. She had good stories and bad stories, all of which made me miss living in CO and being close to her to the core of my being. Maybe that's why I wasn't a chatty patty. At any rate - it was wonderful to have alone time with her and it was such a beautiful drive anyway. Now we didn't go to COTW for a varitey of reasons, but we did hang out in the gift shop and game room and caused a ruckus. And wouldn't you know it - we ran in to some old Moab friends, Chris and Michelle! Of all the places, it was craziness, but it was also great to see them and say hello. After we messed around on the children's play toys and heckled hikers and even acted a bunch of fools on rocks, we went to Wines of Colorado. I sat there eating cheese and smoked garlic with some of my most favorite peole in the world drinking wine and loving every second of my life. Then fearing for it because the last time I felt that happy, I was attending my daughter's funeral that very moment 7 days later. Then I realized that at that very moment, on that very date, on 6 years ago I was at my daughter's funeral. I sat for a moment watching my friends and husband and reflected on the past six years and how I got to where I was. I thought about what I was doing the 6 years before Isis's death, 12 years ago, and thought I could remember a Halloween dressed as a French Maid right before I met Brendon. By the time I thought back that far it was time to go and just as well. We got ready at Stacy's house, they decided to dress in togas for Caesar's Palace. HG and MR had the best costumes and even freaked people out with how much like their characters they looked and talked. HG went as "your granny's BFF Rose" that plays the slots complete with - awe hell. Words will never do their costumes justice, I'll have to post the picture essay and let those talk. MR was dressed as a lounge singer, Robert Goolay (that's phonetic by the way). Hee-haw-larious. I simply dressed up as a slutty slut, er - I mean "Lady Luck" and Dane as the famed fuzzy dice. Sarah was the best Queen of Hearts for $5 that there ever was. The party was at a HUGE house in Gleneagle complete with indoor pool!! Of course, being Vegas themed and all, there was a stripper pole. We had a lot of fun, despite the Rockies loss (AGAIN!), and played games - HG got on the pole, MR did - even DANE did!! We all got on the pole. By 1 am it was time for volleyball in the pool, naked or not - you decide. I didn't want to get my Victoria's Secret bra all messed up so I had to go in topless. Hee hee. Harmless fun. We played till 3am then finally wrapped up in towels and went to bed in our respective rooms.
Sunday: All the partying and playing and eating and drinking caught up to us this morning and we felt and looked like ass. It was all I could do to function properly. It even took me 30 minutes to sign online and check in for our flight. The Keiths (party hosts) made us waffles and coffee and it was the best waffles and coffee we've ever had. By noon we were on our way to Dave and Busters listening to 40's music in the car and laughing about the days and nights and weekend's events. We ate another big meal at D&B and then played games till Stacy and her family showed up and so did Randall. Then we all did our thing till it was time to go back home. We dropped the dice off and said one last goodbye to Denver. By the time the plane landed I felt almost human again. It was late when we finally hit the hay, both with big smiles on our face for such a successful trip. It was even better than I could have imagined or hoped for. I saw many of my good friends, and even more people I wasn't expecting to see.
Today: I stayed home today which was good because our foster kitties needed medical attention. Turns out the one needs to have his eye plucked out tomorrow morning. I've been a crying mess and Dane and I have already decided to adopt and name him "One Eyed Willy". I've managed to do laundry, rest, do some errands, rest, and regroup for the audit. Once I get to work tomorrow it will be time to hit the ground running for the audit prep and budget work. Thank God I'm on break from school, I have a huge list of things to take care of like blogging, cleaning, picture making, and exercising. I hope I can get it all done in the next month. I officially start my diet and training tomorrow. I'll need to after the pounds I know I gained on this trip. Also today - Dane handed in his resignation to Denali. He did it with a very heavy heart and is sad but knows it's time to move on. It's hard to move away from the reason that moved you someplace to begin with, but it was time. He's at a rollout right now, which will last all night, poor guy.
I'm off to watch Elizabeth and cuddle my cats. Picture essay to come.
