Best Find Ever!!!

I went home last weekend to the SD to visit my parents. My aunt and uncle also were visiting from Wisconsin. Aunt and Uncle like to go to antique stores, and I went along last Saturday morning to one in Canton, SD.
Please feast your eyes on the Best Find EVER at an antiue shop: Purple Hippopotami Salt and Pepper Shakers! $1 each!!!! So like TOTALLY AWESOME!

Bowling

Last night I went bowling and I got a 147. Then I got a 117. I think 147 is probably one of, if not the best, score I have ever earned. For some reason, the booty shaking music didn't start until 9, which was confusing. I think we did all leave as either "We are the Champions" or "Crazy Train" was playing though.

WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Since I forgot my camera, here are some words of wisdom from www.toothpastefordinner.com

Some days my head is too big

To even wear a hat! Check it here:

http://www.nataliedee.com/052506/massive.jpg

Dream Kitchen

Holy kitchen awesomeness! Totally check this out, Ikea Dream Kitchens.

Thanks to Peeps for sending me the link. I think I like the one with the pink stairs the best. But I actually just like the song the best. haha. Make sure to turn up the volume!

I like the one with the fireplace, too. What's your fave?

Colorado Colfax Marathon

This past Sunday, 10 of us ran in two relay teams in the First Annual Colorado Colfax Marathon! It started east of Denver, out in Aurora, and went all the way to Lakewood, west of Denver. People ran down your favorite street and mine, Colfax Ave. The relay was broke down like this: 10K, 5K, 10K, 5K and 12K.

Our team names were hippoJOGamus and hippoRUNamus, following in the hippo tradition which started in August '05 with the hippoPUBamus. Team hippoJOGamus consisted of me, Liz, Lucia, Alice and Maggie and team hippoRUNamus consisted of Justin, Annie, Lloyd, Marisa and Kate. That is all of us in the pic. Just like that Streets song goes, We're So Fit and Don't We Know it.

We had a blast running and also totally appreciate our two team drivers, John and Joe, who both got up super early to shuttle us to the relay exchange zones and to the finish line. They are totally rad.

Of course later that afternoon we had a big party/BBQ which was quite the success, with a fruit watermelon being voted Favorite Food. Also, we only had 1 PBR left out of the many, many beers which seems to signal a scucessful party.

A highlight of the race for me was running the first 10K, and half of it with a grey-haired man named Bob who told me about the shrapnel in his right lung and how he used to fly helicopters. And yes, I was running the same pace as this probably 65 year old man, but I still exceeded my goal time!

Fun fun fun. Perhaps more races in the future, as well.

5K!

This past Sunday, May 14th, I ran my first 5K ever! This race was great for a variety of reasons:

1. Six wonderful friends did the race with me--Liz, Kate, John, Laura, Katie and Maggie. You guys are awesome!

2. We got to run around the warning track at Coors Field right before we hit the finish line.

3. There was free beer and free pizza (I thought they were going to have hot dogs, so I was a little sad) after the run.

4. We get 2 free Rockies tickets for running!

It was great fun and a serious goal accomplished for me. Now just to get ready for the race this Sunday, where I run a 10K in the innagural Colorado Colfax Marathon. Woo Hoo!

Friday Fever!

OK so I like TOTALLY have FRIDAY FEVER. So does my friend, Jeff "Peeps" Peoples. We are communicating Texas-Colorado and I contracted FRIDAY FEVER from him.

Friday Fever makes you:

• Not want to work
• Want to go to Happy Hour, Stat
• Feel REALLY hyper
• Send funny emails
• hehehehehhehehe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now, an illustration.

What I've Been Doing

Lately. what I have been doing mainly is watching movies. Here's a short summary:

Friday: The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I liked the book better, the movie was like 3 hours long. Ugh. I give it *** of ***** stars.

Saturday: Shopgirl. This movie is great, Steve Martin is old, but Claire Danes is great and so is Jason Schwartzman. I give it ***** of *****.

Saturday, continued: Just Like Heaven. This movie was dumb, and I didn't like it but I like Mark Ruffalo. Gotta like any guy who's name rhymes with buffalo. I give it ** of *****.

Sunday: The Squid and the Whale. I liked this move because it was short (81 minutes) but it was kind of depressing. ***.5 out of *****

Monday: Colfax Avenue, Main Street Colorado. I love Colfax, so does Laura, so we went and watched it. It was OK but all still photos, and I think the title was actually Colfax Avenue: Heart of Colorado. Anyway, I think I should make a movie about Colfax. Maybe when Stacy moves back. After all, we already wrote some songs for it...
I give this *** of *****. It could use some work.

Tuesday: I actually saw people and didn't watch a movie! But I did watch Gilmore Girls. Season finale next week!

Now that you are all caught up with my media intake, I will try to think of something more interesting I've been doing for next time.

EL BEBE!!!

My friend Anne/Annie had her baby last night (April 25th)! Below, a picture of baby Cozette. After 30 hours of labor, somebody get that woman a drink, she deserves one! (Annie, not el bebe).


Here is Annie on April 3, when el Bebe Cozette was still in her belly:

Saltines and Chocolate

That is what I have been eating all day. Below, an illustration. Hmmmmmmm

It's a life change!

So at the end of February I finally did it. I got a new car! Well, new to me. Here are a few pics. It's a blue Ford Focus that Stacy named Hollywood. The picture with the two cars is my and Kate's foci. We are most excited to have foci. Hehehehehhehehehhe.
The car is zippy! If you want a ride, hollaback.

It's Baseball Season Again!

I totally love baseball. And I am super excited because this year, there are 7 other wonderful female baseball fans who are joining me on 12 Wednesdays throughout the season to go to Rockies games! The Ladies Night deal is fantastic--only $52 each for 12 games ($30 seats!) for the season, beer coupons and some kind of free gift--and then every Wednesday any woman who goes to a Rox game, also gets a voucher for a future game! That's what I'm talking about. That's right, Ladie's Night rocks.

The huge pile of tix came in the mail the other day. Please feast your eyes on this greatness. Fun!

Cadbury Eggs

Today is quite possibly the best Monday morning ever because I got not only one, not two, but THREE Cadbury Egg 4packs! My friends at work Renee and Anne got me some. What a wonderful work day surprise.
You see, I love the Cadbury Egg 4packs. I don't like to buy the eggs individually because:

1. Nobody likes loose eggs
2. I don't know how many of the eggs were handled by lots of dirty hands
3. They could have leaked onto each other or something

I will post a picture of the 4pack later. Until then here are some pictures of my wonderful friends who bought me the 4packs!!! Oh and also a picture of the Cadbury Egg Mobile, which I wish I could buy and scoot around town in.


Renee on her birthday with Senor Misterioso!

Anne at her Baby Shower!

They are awesome cuz they bought me Cadbury Egg 4packs! Indeed.



Egg Mobile I would like to ride in and/or drive

My roommate Laura is also awesome because she bought me a 4pack last week which totally made my week better!

The Sista/Brotha/Running Hood

Sooo here's the thing. Since the new year I have become a runner. Well, maybe I'm using the term "runner" a little liberally. I have started running, but what to me is running to most is, to be quite honest, jogging, or sometimes at best, shuffling really fast while sucking air in and out like a hoover vacuum cleaner.

I breathe hard, I stride out, but at the end of the treadmill run I am still at about 5.7 mph (about an 11 minute mile) which to those of you who are REAL runners you will know, this ain't so fast.

However I have discovered something utterly fantastic when I go running in the park. All those other running fools, they are pulling for me, and for all the other runners out there. That's right, they know what it's like to actually drag your butt to the park and run that big, fat circle, while dodging goose poop and breathing in exhaust from cars. They know the sacrifice, they want me to succeed. They helped me run up the hill past the zoo not just once but twice yesterday. Twice! (FYI the zoo hill is like, totally hard for me but I am slowly--literally slowly--improving). And even when my iPod died not even half way through my run I kept going, because I felt the support vibe. They thought I could do it. I didn't want to get kicked out of the secret runners are awesome club.

See I set this goal for myself about a year and a half ago that I would run in a 5K race in 2005 (well, that didn't happen, for unforseen reasons like, I was too lazy, drank too much whiskey, and ate too many breakfast burritos at Pete's Kitchen at 2:15 a.m.) and so I reset the goal for the '06 and told people I wanted to do it (oh accountability factor how you motivate me) and now I am going to be running in a 5K on May 14. And the best part of this 5K (well there are a few best parts): 1. There is free beer AND hot dogs after it; 2. It's sponsored by the Rockies so each runner gets two free tix to a future game; and 3. Free t-shirt. 4. Post-Race Party in Coors Field!

Not only that but a bunch of us Denverites are going to be running in relay teams or volunteering during the Colorado Colfax Marathon on May 21st. Most exciting, I know! And yes, there will be a big party after that in our backyard with beer, whiskey, hot dogs and maybe even ice cream cake.

And that's whatta gotta say 'bouts that.

Snappin' Dogs

So two weeks ago we ventured down to the new neighborhood hot dog restaurant if you will, called Steve's Snappin' Dogs. I had been anticipating with glee this visit for some time. Though the dogs were a bit overpriced and kinda messed up my belly the next day, I would go again, especially when it is nice enough to go outside. Steve's also got Best New Store on Colfax in the Westword. Here is a photo diary of Steve's.

Bad Knee

Today my bad knee hurts because I ran on it too much and now I feel like a geriatric. I feel like it is haunting me now. And I wasn't even running from anything, I was just running on the treadmill. RARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leah's Food Pyramid

So my favorite website, www.nataliedee.com, inspires me all the time. Yesterday it inspired me to make my own version of the food pyramid (click here to see Natalie's). This gives you a kind of general idea of my food intake.
It used to be cherry coke, doritos and beer. Oh what a long way I have come.

Funny Times at the Old Man Townie Bar

So most of you in D-Town or that have visited me in D-Town know that I used to go to the Squire a lot (The Squire is a dive bar along East Colfax for those of you who don't know--as townie as a city bar can get I would say). I used to go like, a few times a week, at least. Well last night Laura and I revisited it--for the first time since October--which was great cuz it was $2 you-call-its, and you could get top shelf stuff, not just well, which was wondeful. Here are some funny things that happened there last night:

1. We walk in and James Blunt is playing. Most of you have probably heard the "You're Beautiful" song. I admit, I like the song, not my fave by any means but sure it's sappy, it's heartfelt, it's heartbreak, it's about miss opportunities, all ingredients for a good pop song. But playing loud in the divey-ness of the Squire? Crazy! Weird! Then I talk to Sudi, the owner of the Squire, and I was like, "Sudi did you play James Blunt?" (Jokingly) and he was like "yeah, I love him" (this was serious). Point being, don't make fun of the music unless you are SURE the person you are talking to did not play it.

2. We were there from 10:30 til 1. James Blunt was played at least 4 more times. That just ain't right at the Squire.

3. An older man, perhaps 50-55 years old (later to find out his name is Howard), stopped me and was like "Miss, I just have to ask you a question. Did you play sports in high school or college? Cuz you look real athletic. I bet you played basketball or something." Me, laughing: "Yes, I did play basketball and volleyball in high school, but not college. I played intramurals there." Howard: "You didn't play in college? That's crazy! You should have cuz you have real great legs. I like athletic women." Me, still laughing: "Uh, that's nice, thanks" And I cheersed him and was on my way. Nothing like getting compliments from old men at the squire.

4. Before we left, Howard came over and gave Laura and I a hug. I told him I might put him in my pocket cuz that's where all the good people go. He seemed a little confused. He's out of the pocket now.

5. An older man, maybe around 70-75 came in on one of those cart things you see people riding in in Target sometimes. His name was Ken and he about fell off his barstool 2-3 times, which scared me (he got off his cart thing to have some beers and sit at the bar). But we cheersed with Ken and he seemed quite pleased.

6. There was a dude with a navy blue and white polka dot sweater on. He told us he has gotten kicked out of the PS Lounge before, another dive bar in our neighborhood that we love. After talking to him for a bit, I wasn't surprised about that.

7. Jack, another 60ish-70ish year old man, came in and was most excited to see me. We used to play trivia together sometimes at the squire. Jack is missing more than a few teeth. He gave me a hug and seemed pleased to make the reconnect, as was I.

8. I was told that I had a limp. This perplexes me. Has anyone else noticed I limp? I really need to correct that if I do.

I think that's most of the funny things. The biggest bummer is I forgot my camera. Cuz if this could have been a photo essay, I guarantee you would ALL have been more interested!

How Urban Are We?!?!

Stacy's made it back to Denver! Here we are on a nice spring-like afternoon downton D-Town. We were looking for Senorita Misterioso but we couldn't fine her. But we sure were stylin'! And check out Stacy's shades. HOT HOT HOT!!!

Tooting a Horn

So Saturday night got a lil crazy up in the mountain town and I ended up not playing just one but two brass instruments, that's right, tuba AND trumpet.

I loved it and I danced and Senor Misterioso loved it all, too.

Woo hoo!

Let Me Eat Cake

This is what I had for lunch today. It was totally and completely awesome:

Click on the cake to go to the Coldstone Creamery Website

It was freaking amazing!!!!

Baby, it was cold outside

So I went skiing Saturday in Breckenridge, CO with my buds Kate and John. And to put it mildly, it was FREAKIN COLD. Here are a few pictures. I know we mostly just look like Martian Mountain Monsters because no skin is showing, but it was a good time, especially since we hit the slopes at like 8:45 a.m. You guessed it, there was nooooo going out the night before. Not when you are as hardcore as we all are. hahahahahah. Really though, it was fun, minus the bone-chilling, frost bit nose temps. RARRRRR Cold!!!

The Ground to the Hog Day

Happy Groundhog's Day!

I love groundhog's day. I love it so hard. One of my fave days of the year, hands down. I even bought flowers for myself in celebration.

Today Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, so it looks like 6 more weeks of winter. However, it's been so freaking nice out here in Denver, who cares? Plus the mountains are getting tons of snow so it's totally fine with me if the winter hangs out for a bit longer (man I never thought I'd say that...I am becoming soooo outdoorsy!)

To get news of Phils prediction, just click here. Also here is a fabulous quote from that article, "Phil is incapable of error. If he says six more weeks of winter, you can take it to the bank," said Mike Johnston, one of the 15 members of the Groundhog Club Inner Circle in Punxsutawney, site of the annual Groundhog Day ceremony.

Also check out groundhogs.com for some more fun groundhog facts!

Sleepy Pup

HAHAHAHAHA
You all have to go and see this poor sleepy pup. Thanks to Marissa and Naomi for bringing this to my attention! (You will need your sound on and QuickTime to watch it).