And now for your regularly scheduled program

Sunday's post was a little heavy on the emotional side. The past week and a half were chock full of awesome so here's a quick rundown. Last week (wednesday?) was the summer solatice ride, a Denver bike ride from City Park to Wash park, cruising though the botanical gardens and ending with burritos. No joke: beautiful short ride through town, free burritos and beer and it supports Bike Denver, the Denver Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. I forced myself to go even though Noel was in Chicago and I was alone. Luckily after the race I met up with MG, Ashley, Steve and Brandon; so I actually stayed at the park and hung out for a while instead of heading home early.

Sunday Liz and I ran the Louisville trail half marathon. It was super hot out (its been in the triple digits all week), but we had alot of fun. The route was not very clearly marked and I took two wrong turns and had to back track, but after that Liz and I were able to stay together and finished the race at 2:32:16. After the race and a quick shower I went to DCH where I taught taekwondo to the girls Noel works with. It was pretty awesome and the girls really seemed to enjoy it.

Souls grow back

Warning: This post is chock full of emotions. If you cannot handle them read no further.

I'm having an overwhelming emotional reaction to everything that is happening in my life. Though most of the emotions that I'm feeling are happiness, wholeness, and excited anticipation, sometimes I'm reduced to tears and can barely begin to put my feelings into words.

Thursday I woke up, and for the first time in months I felt genuinely happy and full of positive energy and enthusiasm that those last few months of Americorps beat out of me. The only way I can describe it is to say "I feel like my soul has grown back." I'm ready to go back into the world and experience its beauty, and meet new people, go new places and have an impact on the world. My future was all of a sudden filled with infinite possibilities. I want to bike across the country, and lead trips through the backwoods in nature to teach and share this passion for the world. And I want freedom. I want to be able to give up this materialistic lifestyle that I feel is just holding me back.

There was one thing stopping me. How could I tell Noel that I didn't want to live with her anymore? I know that she had built her life here with the assumption that I'd be here too. But I'd made up my mind. I'd tell her after she got back from her trip to Chicago. After Liz dropped us off, Noel turned to me and said: "My mom asked me to move closer to home. I'm going to move to Chicago." Wow. We were nearly on the same page! She told me her plans, and I told her mine. She wants to leave in a few months, but I intend to stay in Denver for about a year. But now I've been granted the freedom to move on and live my life.

Last night I had Ryan over to pick up his stuff that I'd accumulated. There wasn't much, but I felt bad throwing his things out, and there was some things like a movie we watched together, and the heart necklace I wore everyday while he was in Afghanistan. Things I can't look at without crying, but can't bring myself to dispose of. So now they're his problem to deal with. In conversing with him, his impending marriage became real to me, cutting one more cord that was keeping me here and granting me the gift of freedom.

Then today after the relief and joy of talking with Noel started to ebb, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of loss. Now I can't help but think that I'm losing two of my best friends at the same time. I feel a sense of loss and  fear of being completely alone; with no one to fall back and rely on.

I'm choosing to embrace the positives in these changes. I feel like I can return to the life I love, and that each day is an adventure. I can now look at my current lifestyle with more positivity and enjoy each moment, no longer being stuck in a rut, but moving forward with my life. In the next few months I'll be trying to accomplish my "Life After Americorps" Goals, and creating a plan for the future. More than anything, right now I feel happy. Happier that I've felt in a long time.

Exploring Colorado

Thursday Jena came to visit me here in hot and sunny Colorado! We spent the whole extended weekend doing activities that I was pretty sure going to kill Jena, but she made it! The weekend was filled with athletic type events, and eating at restaurants. (Restaurants and food highlights are listed at the end). We spent Thursday walking around downtown Denver and seeing a little bit of the city. We popped into the Library, the Art Museum, and the Tattered Cover (bookstore) and spent the day catching up (gossiping like schoolgirls).

Friday I woke Jena up early to beat the line at Snooze for breakfast (ok Jaws woke us up for his breakfast, and let's be honest 6o'clock here felt like 8oc'lock to Jena). Then after failing to wake Noel up to join us for a day of hiking we picked up Liz and drove out west into the mountains. Noel has been recommending the Hanging Lake Hike to me ever since she did it with her Americorps team a year ago, and I figured it would be a beautiful place to take Jena.  About halfway there (Vail) we stopped to go to the bathroom, and we were FREEZING! It was so cold I'm surprised we couldn't see our breath! At that point we decided we wouldn't be able to continue without warmer clothes, so we stopped at the Copper Mountain resort and got some super warm souvenir sweatshirts. When we got to Hanging Lake we had descended in elevation and it was HOT again! So we left the sweatshirts in the car and hiked. The hike was a little over 1mile, but had an elevation gain of 1020feet. Alot of it was like climbing up sleek rocky stairs. I thought the hike might kill Jena, but she persevered (though she asked the people coming down if the hike was worth it). We made it to the top to see a clear bluegreen lake, waterfalls, rocks, and peaceful views overlooking a valley full of nature and beauty. We rested and snapped pictures there, before the mile hike down. The way down took barely any time at all!

Saturday I tried to let Jena sleep in a bit more, and after breakfast at Jelly we got started with our day. Now I'm a big fan of Snooze. If I had to vote for a place to eat breakfast I would go there. The food is rich, decadent, delicious, unique and worth the wait. Noel prefers Jelly. (I don't dislike Jelly, I just prefer Snooze) But Jelly does have a more comfortable atmosphere, the waitresses are always sooo nice, and its cute with retro decor. So I let Jena make up her own mind (results below). For the record, Ben chose Snooze too. Then we went to Red Rocks for a short hike (a flat 1.4 miles) and some sightseeing. Then we drove out to Longmonth where the Oskar Blues Brewery makes Jena's all time favorite beer, Tenfidy. While waiting for the tour to start we each ordered a beer, before seeing that they did offer a sampler platter of their 7 most popular brews. Resolving to have that after the tour we joined our group. This was the best brewery tour I've ever been on (ok, so I haven't been on many). It was given by a live tour guide (while drinking) to a group of people who had been drinking and most brought their beers with them) the factory was super cool, talking alot of recycling and sustainability initiatives, and their craft beers. The tour guide was super knowledgeable, and the tour was fun. After we shared a sampler of the beers (of which I drank most of so Jena could drive us home) including: Tenfidy, Dale's Pale Ale, Mama's Little Yella Pills, G'night Imperial Red, Deviant Dale's, Gubna Imperial IPA, and Old Chubb Scotch Ale. Then our tour guide came over and we chatted her up, telling her we came all this way because Jena drinks Tenfidy in Pennsylvania, and she gave us a shot of barrel-aged, whiskey-infused Tenfidy to try. It was as thick as a milkshake, and nearly as delicious! As I mentioned I had to take one for the team and finish most of the beers. Then we headed home to rest our weary legs!


Sunday I tricked Jena into running a 5k with me (ok we run/walked it). We did the Pajama 5k to support "Cancer below the waist." It was a pretty small race...I think I might have been able to win my age group. So we had a leisurely run/walk around Wash park, taking in the scenery, breathing the fresh Denver air, and enjoying the fitness atmosphere that infuses Wash Park. We got apples, bread and longsleeve Ts to commemorate our achievement. Again, Jena didn't die! When we tried to drive home for a shower my street was blocked off for the pride parade, so we went over to Greek Fest for lunch and some cultural enrichment. It was so hot on Sunday, so eventually we headed home for a midday nap. Then we went out for dinner, then dessert.

Today we headed back to our "real lives" but I feel refreshed from Jena's visit, and feel more like myself!


Pho at Pho 555
Happy Hour at Govn'rs Park (2 for 1 Long Islands)
Snooze (We split the three pancake platter and got a red velvet pancake, a sweet potato pancake, and a blueberry granola pancake-with lavender butter...)
Vine Street Pub (burgers after a long day of hiking!)
Jelly (Noel's favorite breakfast place- so Jena could have both experiences and decide for herself that Snooze is the best!) Jena's decision, and I quote: "I have assessed brunch and I believe Snooze is the winner by a nose!"(diabetes-inducing delicious!)
Froyo at Yogurtland
 Greek Fest for some authentic Greek salad, dolmathes, and orzo! (Plus the entertainment of kids performing the traditional Greek dances, in amazing costumes- we did not envy them in the heat!)
Stoney's Bar and Grill (sweet potato fries and the best salad a restaurant can make!)
Dessert at DBar (we got the molten lava cake with icecream and strawberries and rhubarb...but I can't wait to go back for a cake and shake!) This was another fan-favorite-food experience...to quote Jena: "I'm going to have daydreams about that one!"
Breakfast Sandwiches at Einsteins...a good way to start a Monday...but a sad way to end an amazing weekend!

A Wave

Today at Yoga the teacher told us "Emotions are like waves, you can't stop stop them from coming, but you can choose which ones to ride."

I'm so glad that I went tonight, her words really just spoke to my soul. This week I've been feeling alot of negative emotions, which have been crippling to the effect that after work I would come home and eat pizza and not be able to convince myself to leave the apartment again. I missed several yoga classes, spin classes, and extra runs that I wanted to do because I've been trapped in a state of emotions that I couldn't control.

The positives of the week are: I've taken a lot of time to talk with my friends, and reconnect with them. After a full weekend of yoga and running I am ready to ride my positive emotions.

A Busy Little Bee

Today was the first vegetable pickup for the CSA I joined. My stomach is so full of farm fresh veggies, I can't find the motivation to go to yoga. (Ok the 10 mile bike ride in 90* heat to pick up the veggies is why I can't convince myself to go to yoga). But I did stir fry some delicious fresh green things (some of which I'm not quite sure what they are)! Liz and I are splitting a share of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) so every week for the next few months we'll go and pick up our share of veggies from the farm Alex and his brother run. This week we will be enjoying, lettuce, spinach, bok choy, swiss chard, radishes, turnips, cilantro, dill, onions, and a fresh garlic so potent it makes my mouth water. So I stir fried some of that up with some tofu in a chipotle lime sauce, and added a quirt of lemon...Mmmmm! Saturday they had a First Harvest Party at the Farm, so Liz and I drove out to Brighton to see the farm, and enjoy the pig roast. They literally had a dead roasted pig on the table! (In addition to vegetable things).

It took about two weeks, but I'm back to running like my life depends on it (like my life depends on being able to run far, not fast). I convinced Liz to run a half marathon with me, and we found a schwaggle.com coupon for a great discount on a nearby race. So we signed up for it. Saturday I mention to Liz that I'm going to go running in the park Sunday, to train for the half coming up. Liz was completely baffled, and had no idea that we signed up to run 13.1 miles at the end of this month! I also joined a triathlon club, which has three group workouts a week (speed training, Tuesdays, swimming Thursdays, and biking/running on the weekends). I hope I don't drown. I also got my bike tuned up, and cleaned out. I replaced the chain and switched my straight handlebars, for drop bar we stripped off of Noel's old bike. I already think I'm faster. The only thing I'm bummed about is my mountain bike got stolen before I had a chance to transfer the clip-less pedals. :(

Yesterday Noel, Liz and I drove down to Colorado Springs, then up to Woodland Park to have dinner with Russ (our old fire management sponsor) and his wife. Not five minutes after we were seated Russ's phone rang. There's a wildfire, and he had to assemble his current Americorps Team! But they didn't have to go to the fire until morning, so Russ  called his new team and gotten them running around preparing like crazy (I don't have to imagine what they were doing, I know they were packing everything they needed into their red bags, and running around in crazy excitement, not able to sleep a wink!) And we had dinner at an Irish pub in Divide that must have opened right after we left. Russ hasn't changed a bit, his beard is still awesome, and he can still make fun of Liz as well as Noel and I can. Woodland Park is exactly the same (plus a brewery). It made me sad to drive through the springs, and through Woodland Park, and it really made me miss that time in my life. I miss living out of a backpack, and those small mountain towns, and just the familiarity of that whole area (I haven't been there is two years, but I still knew my way around). I wish we were still living on the mountain, hiking and chainsawing everyday, and spending out weekends in that cute coffee shop  in Woodland Park (where we used to sit outside in the truck and get wifi after-hours). We tried to stop for delicious, steamy, creamy mochas before heading down the mountain, but we missed closing by 15 minutes.

Other things I have done since my last update:
-Went to a Rockies game (an activity sponsored by the Wellness Committee at work...included dinner and happy hour)
-Saw 'Avengers' (finally)-all of those men are exceedingly attractive.
-Convinced Jena to run a 5k when she visits. To quote her "Well, I just had to google what a 5k was, but ok!" (The weekend I have planned might actually kill her- we're going to do the Cruiser Rocks bike ride/bar crawl, run a 5k, and do an exceptionally strenuous hike that is apparently amazing and has waterfalls).
-Went hiking with Ben, who drove up for a weekend, before flying to Alaska for his sweet summer internship. And we did the Coors factory tour. And played Zombie Fluxx while waiting in line. Nerd Alert!
-Hosted a mini Bike and Build reunion. (Ok so it was only dinner with Sam and Lori, but I did cook). Sam is moving to Denver with her bf, AJ, and crashed here while doing some apartment hunting. They'll be here in August-Yay friends!