How should I begin this entry about my camping trip? With the beauty of the area we camped in? With the hilarity of the combination of people who went? With the concussion I gave myself? I don't think it really matters, so I'll start with none of those things.
The camping shenanigans began the day before we left, when I decided to combine the exhaustion of working a double, cleaning with my roomie while boozing, and packing for the trip. I had made myself a list of the things I intended to take with me while working my first shift of the day, which was very responsible and a good sign that I know how to prepare for a camping trip, right? I thought so. It's too bad that the list was used for about one-point-five minutes as my roomie read the items off rapid-fire while I simply replied "CHECK!" After each item, whether it was packed or not. Heck, I would've said "CHECK!" even if the item wasn't on the same planet. We were having fun though, so efficient packing went out the window.
The next day, I awoke to the fifteen alarms I had set the night before (drunk me knew that I'd need at least twelve, and went above and beyond), and immediately grabbed my pack to see what interesting and amusing things I had shoved in it. After removing various snacks and extra clothing (I must've packed to camp in Siberia for a week), I was satisfied and jumped in the shower.
Once I had showered and grabbed everything I'd need for the drive, I took everything outside to wait for my ride to arrive. The only reason I'm mentioning this is because while I was waiting outside, three people offered me help and/or condolences because they genuinely thought I was either having a bad day or had been kicked out of my apartment. I guess I did look a little homeless sitting on my pack in the middle of the sidewalk so early in the morning. How amusing. And how sweet for those people to stop to see what was up.
Anyhoo, back to the adventure! We planned to be on our way by nine, but finally hit the road at around eleven after taking care of a few last-minute errands and a breakfast of fried chicken in the parking lot of the grocery store.
It felt so good to get out of the city. Immediately. There's something about being in the mountains that makes me feel whole and pure, even when I'm full of a greasy breakfast, slightly hungover and dog-tired.
The drive was pretty standard, with amazing views and bad radio reception, but there was one thing that stood out about it that I have to mention. I shared a coconut popsicle with my girl that took me back to the island mentality as if I had never left it. I don't normally name names in this blog, but here's a shout-out to the amazing Mimii Duarte. All I could think of as I chewed the chunks of coconut from that popsicle was the day we sat in the grass in front of the warm pond eating the fresh coconut that our new friend chopped open for us with his machete. Good times, my friend, good times. And much love.
Sooooo. We arrived at the Cataract Campground with smiles on our faces and smiling friends and happy dogs to greet us. The place was gorgeous. Our campsite had a vista so incredible that we didn't bother to really zip the tent so that we could enjoy it all night and early in the morning too. I hung my hammock in a canopy of trees that made me think of the kind of hide-out only children dream of.
Here's where the details become less important, and all you need to know is that we were having a great time doing camping type things.
Here's what's hilarious: I gave myself a concussion by walking into a log. No, that's putting it mildly and vaguely. I was crossing a bridge made of criss-crossing logs, and because I was focusing on my feet (makes sense, I didn't want to fall in the water), I didn't see the log that was at face-level directly in front of me on shore. So, as I took my first step on solid ground, I stood upright to hike up the steep hill in front of me. I only stood up a short distance, and SLAMMED my head into the log. Hand to head. Curse words. Bloody hand. Seeing stars. Feeling dumb.
It was fine. My knight in shining armor assured me that I didn't need stitches, and we hiked back to the campsite. My head is still bruised as shit, and there's a lovely scabby area, but I'm ok. Just still feel dumb.
So we camped. We drank beers and made friends with the neighbor campers. I camped with my younger bro for the first time since we were too young to camp alone. We stayed an extra night and spent several hours trying to get home on the highway that resembled a parking lot more than a highway, but enjoyed it anyway. It was a fabulous trip.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Something smells fishy
Hello, Mile High City!
Welcome to the latest chapter in the story that should be called I Laugh at Myself Every Damn Day.
Today started earlier than normal, as I had some important business to attend to across town. Greenwood Village, to be exact. Full of zombie suburban moms and rich snooty-pantses.
I awoke rather groggily at the wee hour of six, decided to lie around for the half hour to follow, and finally readied myself for the day. What was my mission, you ask? Sushi. For breakfast. And lunch.
As a new employee of the Hapa Sushi Group, I had to endure hours and hours of fresh seafood in order to familiarize myself with the menu. What a freakin' bummer. Ha. Ha.
So I took the bike I am currently borrowing, and got on the light rail at about seven this morning. while on the train, unable to move because you must stand with your bike, and because I was surrounded by four other cyclists, I started daydreaming. What thought should break me from my useless string of meaningless ideas? I had no idea which stop I should get off at, nor where I was supposed to go, really. Awesome preparation skills. Maybe I should have looked at that map a second time when I looked up this vital information yesterday.
So I guessed which stop to get off at, and headed south from there.
After riding for what seemed like an eternity, I finally came upon a gas station, where I asked a Random for directions. This was a mistake. While we bonded over Star Wars (he had an R2-D2 belt buckle, and I have two Star Wars tattoos), this guy had no idea what he was talking about, even after he Googled the location. So I rode at least a mile out of my way, but I eventually found the damn restaurant, and everything was ok.
There were about fifty of us at the tasting, and so you should be able to imagine the number of sushi rolls lined up on top of the sushi bar. Nineteen different rolls, with enough for everyone to try them all. It was a glorious sight to behold. We started with appetizers, moved on to entrees, and finished with all of those beautiful rolls. However, I was full before the entrees came out, so I only really tried a few of the rolls. I wished so much that I could be a cow and have eight stomachs. Or however many they have. Eight seems excessive.
After a two hour break, we came back to taste fish. This was the BEST part of the day. I got to taste every type of fish that is served in the restaurant. Sea urchin? Yeah, I put that in my mouth. It was like fishy garbage with the consistency of peanut butter that's been sitting out too long. Other than that, everything was awesome (only because I refused to eat the natto. It turns out that fermented soybeans taste exactly how they smell- like garbage and feet).
As if that wasn't the perfect seafood-filled day, what happened after the tasting was the icing on the cake. I was told I'd been selected to work opening night! So about ten of us got the lowdown on what to expect next weekend for the opening, and then I started heading back downtown.
Now, after a brief visit to my great friend V, I'm sitting in The BB eating fish and chips, trying to decide what to take camping this weekend. CAMPING! Oh, how I have missed camping in the very beautiful and great state of Colorado. We won't be able to have any fires, but I'll have good friends, my girl and my bro with me, so it should be a pretty fantastic time.
And so, until THAT crazy chapter, I bid you adieu.
Welcome to the latest chapter in the story that should be called I Laugh at Myself Every Damn Day.
Today started earlier than normal, as I had some important business to attend to across town. Greenwood Village, to be exact. Full of zombie suburban moms and rich snooty-pantses.
I awoke rather groggily at the wee hour of six, decided to lie around for the half hour to follow, and finally readied myself for the day. What was my mission, you ask? Sushi. For breakfast. And lunch.
As a new employee of the Hapa Sushi Group, I had to endure hours and hours of fresh seafood in order to familiarize myself with the menu. What a freakin' bummer. Ha. Ha.
So I took the bike I am currently borrowing, and got on the light rail at about seven this morning. while on the train, unable to move because you must stand with your bike, and because I was surrounded by four other cyclists, I started daydreaming. What thought should break me from my useless string of meaningless ideas? I had no idea which stop I should get off at, nor where I was supposed to go, really. Awesome preparation skills. Maybe I should have looked at that map a second time when I looked up this vital information yesterday.
So I guessed which stop to get off at, and headed south from there.
After riding for what seemed like an eternity, I finally came upon a gas station, where I asked a Random for directions. This was a mistake. While we bonded over Star Wars (he had an R2-D2 belt buckle, and I have two Star Wars tattoos), this guy had no idea what he was talking about, even after he Googled the location. So I rode at least a mile out of my way, but I eventually found the damn restaurant, and everything was ok.
There were about fifty of us at the tasting, and so you should be able to imagine the number of sushi rolls lined up on top of the sushi bar. Nineteen different rolls, with enough for everyone to try them all. It was a glorious sight to behold. We started with appetizers, moved on to entrees, and finished with all of those beautiful rolls. However, I was full before the entrees came out, so I only really tried a few of the rolls. I wished so much that I could be a cow and have eight stomachs. Or however many they have. Eight seems excessive.
After a two hour break, we came back to taste fish. This was the BEST part of the day. I got to taste every type of fish that is served in the restaurant. Sea urchin? Yeah, I put that in my mouth. It was like fishy garbage with the consistency of peanut butter that's been sitting out too long. Other than that, everything was awesome (only because I refused to eat the natto. It turns out that fermented soybeans taste exactly how they smell- like garbage and feet).
As if that wasn't the perfect seafood-filled day, what happened after the tasting was the icing on the cake. I was told I'd been selected to work opening night! So about ten of us got the lowdown on what to expect next weekend for the opening, and then I started heading back downtown.
Now, after a brief visit to my great friend V, I'm sitting in The BB eating fish and chips, trying to decide what to take camping this weekend. CAMPING! Oh, how I have missed camping in the very beautiful and great state of Colorado. We won't be able to have any fires, but I'll have good friends, my girl and my bro with me, so it should be a pretty fantastic time.
And so, until THAT crazy chapter, I bid you adieu.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
People can be crazy sometimes
Hello, hello, from the wonderful world of Denver!
Well, mostly wonderful. I've had some interesting experiences pedaling around Denver this week, and I think they're worth mentioning.
Let's start with the worst of them.
Yesterday, not half a block into my first ride of the day, some motherfucker nearly ruined my whole day. Here's the scenario: I'm riding uphill with another cyclist behind me. The first car to pass us leaves me approximately three inches of room as he goes by. ASS! So I flip him the bird. Naturally.
Apparently this was a mistake, as the driver of this car was either A: on PCP, B: extremely sensitive to being flipped off, or C: crazy as shit. He proceeded to stop his car, get OUT OF THE CAR, and yell obscenities at me while walking toward me in what can only be described as the "I'm gonna kill you now" gait.
Now, I've been called every single adjective this man shouted, but never while on a bike with a pedestrian coming after me. What did I do? I got out of there! See ya later, demon crackhead.
Enough of that nonsense. Let's get to the best experience I've had on a bike this week: having someone to ride with! While I do love to ride solo and go wherever I please, for whatever reason I please, it has been really, really nice to have a smiling face roll down the street next to me. Also, kisses at red lights are pretty awesome.
Onward now to one of my favorite things to see while riding around: people who smile back at you when you smile at them. Pedestrian, fellow cyclist, driver, whoever- it is always pleasant to have someone smile at you in passing. Plus, you never know whose day you might be changing just by smiling at them, whether they smile back or not.
Enough of biking, for now.
I've been shooting pool all over Denver this week, and it makes me happyyyy. I've really missed it. Sure, I played a few times while in Hawaii, but not very many, not in any sort of serious way, and always on a bar box. Which is fine, as I definitely met some amazing people while playing in Hawaii, but I have been missing playing on a full-size table.
So. That's been fun. Sheesh, maybe I should move on to something a little less boring and a little more amazing.
So there's this girl.
That's all you need to know. Until next time,
You stay classy, Denver.
.JPG)
A photo from a ride many months ago.
Well, mostly wonderful. I've had some interesting experiences pedaling around Denver this week, and I think they're worth mentioning.
Let's start with the worst of them.
Yesterday, not half a block into my first ride of the day, some motherfucker nearly ruined my whole day. Here's the scenario: I'm riding uphill with another cyclist behind me. The first car to pass us leaves me approximately three inches of room as he goes by. ASS! So I flip him the bird. Naturally.
Apparently this was a mistake, as the driver of this car was either A: on PCP, B: extremely sensitive to being flipped off, or C: crazy as shit. He proceeded to stop his car, get OUT OF THE CAR, and yell obscenities at me while walking toward me in what can only be described as the "I'm gonna kill you now" gait.
Now, I've been called every single adjective this man shouted, but never while on a bike with a pedestrian coming after me. What did I do? I got out of there! See ya later, demon crackhead.
Enough of that nonsense. Let's get to the best experience I've had on a bike this week: having someone to ride with! While I do love to ride solo and go wherever I please, for whatever reason I please, it has been really, really nice to have a smiling face roll down the street next to me. Also, kisses at red lights are pretty awesome.
Onward now to one of my favorite things to see while riding around: people who smile back at you when you smile at them. Pedestrian, fellow cyclist, driver, whoever- it is always pleasant to have someone smile at you in passing. Plus, you never know whose day you might be changing just by smiling at them, whether they smile back or not.
Enough of biking, for now.
I've been shooting pool all over Denver this week, and it makes me happyyyy. I've really missed it. Sure, I played a few times while in Hawaii, but not very many, not in any sort of serious way, and always on a bar box. Which is fine, as I definitely met some amazing people while playing in Hawaii, but I have been missing playing on a full-size table.
So. That's been fun. Sheesh, maybe I should move on to something a little less boring and a little more amazing.
So there's this girl.
That's all you need to know. Until next time,
You stay classy, Denver.
.JPG)
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Still the one
I should've been called out today.
I like to play a game called "That is NOT your bike." It's the perfect game to play in the neighborhood I live in, because you can play it often, and it's generally pretty funny. Old grey dude on a tiny pink bike? NOT your bike, dude.
I was that guy today. Riding a giant hybrid around that belongs to one of my friends, wearing daisy dukes, mohawk in full swing, singing along to the Led Zeppelin pouring out of my headphones, I felt awkward. Only because of the bike. I'm used to the Rodeo. I am not used to sitting high enough that I can actually see the traffic headed my way. (Em G, I am still so grateful for the bike loan! Your bike is incredibly easy to ride, and it helped make my day!)
Anyhoo, despite the size and awkwardness of the bike I was riding, I had a GREAT DAY. Rode from Lodo through Five Points, over to Capitol Hill, all through Baker and then back home to 22nd and Cali. It was a great ride through some of my favorite neighborhoods.
Got to see one of my favorite people today, and the cutest baby ever. Thank you, Steve's Snappin' Dogs for a delicious lunch (hot dog with NY onion sauce, yellow mustard and shredded cheese). And thanks, Z and K for a fabulous time. You know I love y'all.
Just have to throw this one out there: thanks Olympic Games for inducing one of the best and most effective power naps I have ever had.
My day is winding down now. It's my only day off for several days, and it feels nice to be relaxing. What a fabulous end to an amazing day.
Denver, you're still the one.
I like to play a game called "That is NOT your bike." It's the perfect game to play in the neighborhood I live in, because you can play it often, and it's generally pretty funny. Old grey dude on a tiny pink bike? NOT your bike, dude.
I was that guy today. Riding a giant hybrid around that belongs to one of my friends, wearing daisy dukes, mohawk in full swing, singing along to the Led Zeppelin pouring out of my headphones, I felt awkward. Only because of the bike. I'm used to the Rodeo. I am not used to sitting high enough that I can actually see the traffic headed my way. (Em G, I am still so grateful for the bike loan! Your bike is incredibly easy to ride, and it helped make my day!)
Anyhoo, despite the size and awkwardness of the bike I was riding, I had a GREAT DAY. Rode from Lodo through Five Points, over to Capitol Hill, all through Baker and then back home to 22nd and Cali. It was a great ride through some of my favorite neighborhoods.
Got to see one of my favorite people today, and the cutest baby ever. Thank you, Steve's Snappin' Dogs for a delicious lunch (hot dog with NY onion sauce, yellow mustard and shredded cheese). And thanks, Z and K for a fabulous time. You know I love y'all.
Just have to throw this one out there: thanks Olympic Games for inducing one of the best and most effective power naps I have ever had.
My day is winding down now. It's my only day off for several days, and it feels nice to be relaxing. What a fabulous end to an amazing day.
Denver, you're still the one.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Welcome to Thunderdome!
Hello! Hello!
Welcome to my new blog, "Oh, Denver."
Guess what it's gonna be about.
I love my city! It's true. No matter where I go in this crazy life, Denver will always be home, and I'll always make my way back to it. I love to explore Denver's armpits whilst riding my bike. This will be a chronicle of my explorations and adventures.
For now, an ode, in haiku form:
Denver, Oh, Denver
How I love you so so much
Even your shit days
I crack myself up.
Welcome to my new blog, "Oh, Denver."
Guess what it's gonna be about.
I love my city! It's true. No matter where I go in this crazy life, Denver will always be home, and I'll always make my way back to it. I love to explore Denver's armpits whilst riding my bike. This will be a chronicle of my explorations and adventures.
For now, an ode, in haiku form:
Denver, Oh, Denver
How I love you so so much
Even your shit days
I crack myself up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)