Triple K

Kona, Keebler, and Kai.  They're really going to miss each other...

Not a good sign for a Monday

This thing is "consistently" a POS; I can tell you that right now.  Don't see how a check is necessary.

All Beginnings Have Ends

We were both awake at 5:30am, as were some rather curious Moose (Mooses?  Moosen? eh).

After some quick packing and a final dub, we were out. 

"I want to be a part of it, too.  Also, Kona puked right where you didn't want him to.  Just sayin'." -Keebler

Mostly due to the fact that our breakfast plans were foiled without a camp stove.  To be remedied for sure.

But it also allowed us to complete the 2.5 hour drive home, shower unpack, and head to Delectable Egg by 9:!5, which left us the rest of the day to stop at Target, shop for matresses, pick up Mike's truck in Longmont (we forgot and momentarily thought we'd been robbed when we got home), organize the camping gear into newly purchased lockable tubs (for organization, portability, AND rain-proofing!) on sale at Target (hence the stop), complete all the laundry, hose down half the gear and air out the rest, and still have plenty of time to bike up to Corona's for Mexican food, head back home and enjoy an evening of The Legend of Zelda.

That's how we roll.

Roughing It (Really)

The next morning both of us anticipated different aspects of breakfast, all of which included one thing: utilizing our shiny new pots and pans.  Unfortunately, two hours and a sunburn later, we had neither coffee nor pancakes, but had instead reached a new level of frustration with camp fires.  Pretty sure we even stopped abbreviating "EFF!"

But, that's what being married is all about - rolling with the punches.  And in the end, I exclaimed "Let's just take the wine and leftover cheese and accoutrement and eat in our chairs in the river.  Screw pancakes!"

So that's exactly what we did.  It was closer to lunch time anyway, and heck, it was 5 o'clock somewhere.  Not that we cared - we didn't have anywhere to go.

Just behind the fire pit was a hill that led down to the frigidly beautiful river...

 And a man-made enclave in which our chairs fit like gloves.

 So fitting.

So that's what we did.  We sat in the river, ate cheese, drank good wine, and talked.  About everything.  Plans, dreams, camping, life, school stories, living wills, money, dogs.  Literally, all day.  It was A-MA-zing.

Here's a different view of said awesome campsite.  Because you really do need to appreciate.

The dogs were so beyond tired, because camping doesn't allow for napping most of the day.  Also, Kona exhausted himself pulling his stake out of the ground trying to get to us by the river and eventually another pair of dogs.  Thank goodness he's friendly...

We kept waking them up when they began to attempt to nap beside us; we wanted them good and tired for that night as we didn't want a repeat of being woken up at 4:30 because, and I Dog Quote, "It's Time."

Yes.  I read tail wags.

Once the shade moved away from the Peace Sign and back to our camp site, we moved up to enjoy the river and the puppies at the same time.

I should've taken a photo of the perfect brats and s'mores we enjoyed that night, but I was too relaxed and frankly too tired to care.  We took the pups for a potty-one-more-time, and were snug in the tent before it was even totally dark.  Good thing we'd planned ahead and packed everything we could in the car; the Ranger came by to let us know there had been a bear spotted in the area...so we were slightly concernicus that night.

The dogs, however, couldn't have cared less.  I'm pretty sure Keebler was in dog heaven getting to sleep so close to his Mom.  He'd rearrange himself stiffly throughout the night, but always, always, his head was either right against or on top of the air matress.

And when we did hear what could've been bear rustling in the middle of the night, it was Keebler who growled in defense.  For all the hellfire burning in him, he's a closet sweetie.  Love that dog.

The Poudre

Because my boss is awesome, he said get out by 1 o'clock to head up to our very first camping excursion.  So I ended up getting out at 1:30, picked Mike up, and we were out of Longmont by 3.  It's a good thing, too...but I'll get to that.

We had packed up the Explorer with all our camping gear, backpacks with limited clothing items, bedding, the Dog Camping Kit (like kids but with more hair and less talking back), the new cooler, non perishables, and lots of wine.  I laid out a blanket hoping to fill in the crevices into which Kona could hurl (almost made it) and threw the pups in the back.  When I put them on their leashes, Keebs immediately looked for an opening in the car into which he could jump.  Kona just sat there.  So when Keebs jumped back out as I was about to pick Kona up, I said "AYE!  In the car!"  After which BOTH dogs (to my shock) jumped in the back.

Alright!

About 5 minutes later I heard Kona give a couple heeves and I just pray he's not doing it in the back corner.

Puked in the back corner. 

Pretty much wherever I hope he doesn't is where he ends up losing his breakfast. 

Oh well.  Company car!

Anywho, we hit the Poudre Canyon around 3:30 and start seeing the aftermath of the High Park fires up north.  So sad to see the amount of forest that burned; but what was even more disturbing was the water in the Poudre River. 

It ran black. 

 

Totally freaked me out when I first saw it, and then it occured to me that sitting in the river was quickly becoming a historical wish.  We watched river rafters getting out at one point, and their legs look like they'd rubbed ash all over themselves.

No thank you.

Add that to my already deepening concern that we weren't going to get a spot and relaxation couldn't have been further from my mind.  Except for the more westerly we went, the more relaxed I became.  I don't know why, but the prospect of the entire weekend took a weight off my shoulders.

We passed several US Forest Service campsites, and about 20 minutes away from ours realized we could see the bottom of the river again.  We arrived at Kelly Flats at 4:30 to find the very last campsite available.  It just so happened to also be absolutely perfect.

There was even a fence we utilized to "air out" the puke blanket!  It could not have been more perf in size or location - just down from the potty and water spicket (I refrained from taking photos despite the facilities being surprisingly nice for, you know, basically being a hole in the ground; you're welcome). 

After we set up camp Mike went to work on dinner immediately.  Puppies are like, "WTF?!"  Seriously.

 "WTF, Mom?"

Epic cowboy steaks firepit-grilled with (I know, it sounds disgusting, but it's awesome) cottage cheese and tomato.  Unreal.  You may also appreciate the camp gear.  We purchased two GSI products, the Bugaboo Camper Cookset and the Crossover Kitchen Kit.  Worth. Every. Penny.  These tiny (like, tiny) sets when all packed up unfold to be two pots, a pan, four cups, bowls, plates, and then cooking accessories you don't think about needing!  All small enough that we can backpack (eventually) with them!  It makes my organizational heart so happy.

Kona appreciated the smells...look at that face!  Le sigh...

Oddly enough the dogs wouldn't relieve themselves in the campsite, which I guess was a good thing?  But that meant walking them several times in an attempt to get them to pee.  It offered us ample opportunity to work on leash skills...which turned out to be a great thing.  Keebs and Dat:

After our final evening dub, Mike busted out his camping surprise - a myriad cheeses, crackers, baguette, and dried fruits to enjoy by the camp fire.  Despite the scattered rain, the evening could not have been more beautiful.

Also, I'm pretty sure we went to bed at 9pm.  Fantastic.

Breathe.

Inundated

I really don't like Dell.  Since my beginning with the company over six years ago, I've had to deal with five computer replacements, including two that resulted in my hard drive (and subsequently a lot of hard work) being completely wiped out.  I feel as though I'm pretty computer savvy, so I became tight with the Laptop Hotline guys if for nothing else than to learn how to deal with using sub-par computer products when I was so used to Apple computers.  Also, there are weeks I talk to them more than I do my parents.

I wasn't, however, without my wits. 

Every time I sent in my Dell computer with the Apple sticker covering the Dell logo in the middle of the laptop (in protest), they would have to remove it when they sent me a new one.  And because I've been purchasing Apple products since the 90s, I have an abundant supply of the little white gems.  So each time, I'd replace it.

Finally, they just gave up and started drawing worms on them when they would send me my laptop back. 

Ford is launching a new in-dealership program revolving around iPad apps, and the zone managers are receiving iPads to utilize in this regard (miss the boat on that one, but I can't be that disappointed since I already have my own).  So Laptop Hotline has been working on the security and distribution of these bad boys.

Randomly last week I received an e-mail from Bob, my favorite Laptop Hotline genius, asking if I was still in Denver.  My response was that I hadn't been involuntarily separated due to having thrown a dated piece of Windows-based equipment out the car window yet, so yes, I was still here.

A week later I receive this in the mail at the office:

His excuse was they were making the world a better place by limiting the number of Apple stickers on Dell laptops returned.

I think it's Love. ;-)

"I'll never understand the completely random things at which you become ecstatic," Grammes exclaimed.

Shortly thereafter though, he bestowed his own sticker for my cube collection.  "I didn't know you were a sticker person...maybe you could mark this out in red or something..." he said begrudgingly as he sauntered off having presented his offering:

I'm tellin' you, it's Love!  Or at least a strong sense of work-appreciation.  Same diff.

Well, It's Official

We're going camping.

Don't call us; we'll call you.

Actually, we won't; where we're going there's no cell service. Yes. That feels as freeing as it sounds.

Don't worry, Mom and Dad. We'll be fine and I'll call you Sunday.

But on the off chance we're not and we have to utilize pictured first aid kit (how they fit 5 days for 4 people worth of first aid in there I'll never understand), my beneficiaries are all in order, and Nar and Du will have to move you out to CO.

Silver lining!

I will follow you into the Dark

BFF BBQ

Yet another epic pot luck at the Argueta's.  Love this girl.  It's funny, despite feeling highly unsocial (and slightly psychotic), I've been nothing but.  It figures.

Also, that used to be my skirt.  We clean out our closets and switch quite a bit!

Blast from the Past

@ ARC.  I almost bought it just because...Apple is awesome.

SALT of the Earth

We met Dani & Gary at SALT in Boulder for some interesting cocktails and home-grown food.  A bit pricey but very tasty.  Also, I discovered I can wear my hair curly again.  Sweet.

After that, we snuggled up in face masks with some Bogle Petit Sirah from the newly-discovered Liquor Mart in Boulder to enjoy Scary Movie 3.

T.G.I.F.

Vicarious

When I went to pick up the keys in Kathy's office for the gift shop, I saw these on her desk.  Incredible color, just had to snap a shot!

It's always these crazy times

Grammes wouldn't let me catch him with a backwards baseball cap.  It almost worked...

Rain over the Rockies

It's Hot.

Love, Poppy

Me & the Pups Tonight

Mike's out of town and I plan on being a complete lazyball all weekend.  Of course, I'm sure I'll end up being productive instead.  But for tonight, me & the pups are watching movies and drinkin' wine.  Well, we're watching movies, I'm drinkin' wine, they're just whining.

Remember These?!

I loved these when I was a kid!  I'm pretty sure I had a whole collection amassed from different people during cancer treatment.  Nothing says Get Well Soon like revolving goo balls in clear plastic shapes.  They're mesmerizing!

Speed Bump

Abbott's

We biked up to Abbott's tonight for some frozen custard and bike squee.  I'm telling you, we're going to enjoy the heck out of these!

Mike & Bike

Gitchyousum!

Luvs it.

On the Road Again

I never want it to end.

Mystery Trip: a Day in Colorado Wine Country

Next time we do this, we will bring our own bikes!  Today might've been my most favorite day ever.  Seriously. Ever.

 We started at City Park where we delved into the second annual Lavender Festival...we purchase quite a few delicious goodies!

 The entire day was spent on bikes. 

We stopped in a little store on Main St. in what used to be the town's bank - complete with safety deposit boxes, a large safe door...

 And very old money boobie traps!

 Our first vinyard was Canyon Wind Cellars.  Free tastings and a ten mile bike ride - what more could you ask for, really?

 A French winery! 

 Complete with wine, cheese, & baguette!  Maison la Belle Vie, probably my favorite stop.

 I had a pretty good view...

 We made a pit stop at Aloha Fruit Farm.  Mike felt right at home.

It started pouring right before we made it to St. Kathryn's!  It was actually a nice respite from the rather blistering sun - you're closer to Utah than Denver, keep in mind.

We just sat outside with our glasses of wine and watched the rain and the wind (and the highly entertaining people running from both).

 Our final dinner was at Inari's Bistro on Main St.

After that, we biked around streets we hadn't been down until the light was too dim to continue to do so.  It gave us a fabulous view of the desert sunset.  And really, the perfection in this photo sums up the entirety of the day, which was a nice little ending to our perfect Colorado Getaway.