Mon.
Normal day
Tues.
My mother tore her achilles tendon and so I had to pick her up from the dr. after she had a shot in her heel. This did not add to the best week ever, but definitely the craziest.
Weds.
Lily Mountain
I decided to go on a nice fairly easy hike this morning. Hoping to get both my dog and myself out of the house (yes I hike alone or with dog) I decided on a trail that is in National Forest Land. It was a challenging ascension but towards the top it becomes so worth it. The last third of a mile maybe is all rocks-like large boulders. I usually don't let Indigo off leash but there was no way to scramble up the mountain holding the leash. So we both climbed to the top and I was so proud of myself. I mean I had literally just climbed up my first mountain-and alone and with my dog not running away. And I just stood there looking out at this amazing view and all I could think was wow! I did this! I got bored waiting for other people to hike with that I finally just went and it was so great.
Lily Mtn p. II
The way down was significantly more frightening. I decided to follow my dog because she seemed to know the best/easiest way down from the Boulders and so it seemed like a good plan. So I followed her until I realized all of a sudden that we were no longer on the trail and in fact I had no idea where we were. I had no idea which direction we had come from (except for up) and had no idea how to get back to the trail. Luckily I had phone service (yes most the trails I hike do) and I called Little Boats and was like I am lost. I have the dog but she keeps looking at me like where are we? Where do we go? So how do we get down from here. Luckily she gave me some tips and I attempted to scale down the mountain-off the beaten path. Mind you I am wearing Chacos the whole time and trying to balance while on steep parts of the mtn. Needless to say I ended up sliding portions down on my @$$ and ended up ripping the entire seat out of my pants so that they became a form of @$$-less chaps. It was the most frightening and yet exhilarating thing of my whole life. And I made it down. Well Indigo led me back to the trail after having a near run-in with poison ivy, scaling down rocks, sliding down rocky hills, and eventually ending by falling on/over a tree acquiring a large splinter. So I escaped with only minor gashes, bruises, and scrapes to most of my body but we made it both up and down.
Boyztown
Later that night I drove down to Denver to meet friends and ended up eating, drinking, and later going to the (gay) male strip club, Boyztown. Well let me tell you that I felt totally out of element, however, following their lead, I decided to try to relax and have a good time. I have never sexualized men's bodies before, always thinking, that while there are attractive men in the world, I am just not attracted to them. But I can't lie, there were some truly beautiful and sexy men at this club. Although the club itself is a lil' skeezy. So sipping on my Miller Lights, and feeling like I walked into some sort of strange dream, I was approached by one man in particular. Beautiful. That's all I can say. Beautiful. And for some reason he liked me. Guys like him, never go for women like me. Normal sized women, normal looking women. And I was so flattered that I found myself unable to tell him that I was gay and in a relationship. I found myself in this strangely liminal space of excitement yet utter fear. And I didn't want it to stop. Although I realized later after his attempts to pursue me, that ethically I should have told him. But I wanted to live out a fantasy in the land of fantasy. And I tell you what it was the largest ego enhancer I have had in awhile. Sad it had to happen because of a man, but hey, some are hot. And I'll take that.
Thurs.
After rushing up the mountain on only four hours of sleep, I managed somehow to babysit, although pretty poorly. It did involve a lot of television. Sorry A's.
Rockies Game
That night I has plans to go to a Rockies game with my dad and his brothers. I don't spend a ton of time with that side of my family. Partially because I am not invited a whole lot. So I was so glad to get to spend some time with them. It was really pretty fun and a good game too. Although baseball is not my favorite sport, I found myself able to get into it. And of course what is a baseball game with out stadium food? So that was pretty great too. Just the smells even. And the Rockies won against the Braves, which, didn't hurt either.
Fri.
Facebook
So I had always sworn that I wouldn't get Facebook because I had so many issues with Myspace and thought FaceBook was just so lame. However, I had sort of been thinking of joining because it seemed interesting and fun, especially now that I don't have a real job, and do have lots of time. So I joined and immediately had friends waiting for me. And it is kind of fun also a little bit addicting. So I am only allotting myself a certain amount of time with it throughout the day. I don't want to worry about what I will miss on Facebook and end up missing out on in life. But you can find me and be my friend now.
Gem Lake
Friday I hiked Gem Lake with a new friend and it was a very nice, "moderate" hike (as she and I like to call it.) Although the steps towards the top were kind of rough, I didn't know anything of steps until the next day. But once we got to the summit, we were able to take a break by the lake and chill out for awhile. We got some great pictures-I love that about KN, she loves pictures and I hate them. So I'll let her take them and send them to me.
Big Smith
That night Little Boats and I decided to head down to Ye Old Rock Inn after eating Indian Food to see the rockin' rootsy, blue-grassy, Missouri, zydeco sounds of Big Smith. And it was a great show. I love their music-it is so fun to just romp to. And the place wasn't too crowded so romping was possible. And Little Boats' roommate was here from Telluride and he is so rad and just sweet and fun. It is a week of reunions that is for sure.
Sat.
Chataqua
Saturday morning I woke up and drove to Boulder to meet my good college friend Jo to hike in Boulder. Well we did hike a short ways, but it was like 95 degrees, sweltering hot. And the trail we picked had huge never ending stairs. So I whimped out like a mile and a half up the trail-my calves were still dead from Weds. near run-in with death. But we had such great conversation and so much fun to just spend some time together. Much needed time.
Rock Creek
Last night finished off with a nice jaunt down to the AP to camp at Rock Creek. It was a great one night car camping trip. And we got to bust out our new tent and although we forgot the fire wood we were able to collect enough to make a pretty decent fire. We grilled and just had an excellent time.
Sun.
Meadow Mtn.
So today after waking up by a river Little Boats and I headed to one of our fave places in the whole world: the Meadow Mtn. Cafe. It is this quaint little cafe in AP, where you share tables with strangers and eat some amazing non-greasy breakfast and lunch food. The best thing about it was its new deck arrangement-sort of like a garden with lots of beautiful flowers, cool hanging art pieces. The people are friendly, the food is good-need I say more. And right down the road is the beautiful fresh spring of water where you can go and get the most AmAzing water. No plastic bottles just fresh pure mountain spring water.
We finished the night with Little Boats' bff rolling in from Steamboat and going to his brother's house where we ate some fresh elk burgers and were able to enjoy their mountain property.
--
So my week has been a bit crazy and I am so close to being almost done for. I do have an interview with a rafting company this week, but we'll see. I will honestly say this summer not working has been the best thing of my whole life. I don't remember not working during high school, college, grad school. Always working, because that's what people have to do. That is one thing I love, people up here don't always work, or they don't work to make money. They make enough money to survive while doing what they love. It is neat to be a part of and I don't want to lose it but know that I will eventually. Until then...I keep playing!