Denver Weekend

I wish they wouldn't keep changing the format and log in for composing!  My age is definitely showing when all I want is the "good old way" it was done back when.  I'm sure it provides jobs for young gung ho web masters but I need to do the same thing for months to get it into these crumbling brain cells.  I find I am getting more and more cynical and full of complaints so cut me off when you're around.

Mom and I had a good time in Denver - full and fun but no pictures.  I drove down alone and found it went smoothly.  My UNA meeting was at Denver University which is a beautiful school that has grown tremendously in recent years with excellent facilities.  I attended a workshop on climate change, had an hour with 3 other Presidents of UNA Chapters in CO and the Asst Director of the National - it was great networking and full of information.  After lunch Tim Wirth, director of the UN Foundation (Ted Turner's Billion $ gift funded it) spoke and he was excellent.  Very magnetic and upbeat on what the UN is doing and the work of the UNA.  The UNA merged last year with the Foundation and is now a program under their umbrella with access to their money.  I needed that enthusiasm - it was  like a  shot of caffeine.

Mom came down on the bus and we met at the Museum.  She had lunch there.  After a short visit we went to the hotel - not great but convenient, cheap, with free parking and breakfast.  Dressing for the Rockies game was not fairy wings but long johns - more like preparing for skiing.   We got to the parking lot and heard the National Anthem and got to the seats during the 1st inning.  They were good, we stayed warm, and didn't need the blanket or poncho.  (Thunderstorms and a low of mid-30's were predicted.) It is fun to feel the crowd at a game and see what you want and not depend on the TV cameraman.  It is a beautiful park and tho the Rockies lost, the game ended with a 9th inning catchup effort that just fell short by about 20 yards - caught and no home run for the last out.  After ball park eats, we stopped for dessert and both had fabulous rich sundaes after several months of close dieting - no salt, etc.-  it was a treat!

Sunday we went back to DU for a Wellesley event that was very pleasant and well done.  A classmate of Mom's, who she knew slightly, was being honored with a lunch and then she spoke on her work on gender and archaeology - a subject Emily might enjoy now that she is taking Ancient History.  She essentially founded the field and it providers some new perspectives on early (wo)man.  Ideas we never thought of when I was teaching pre-history.  Again the facility was beautiful, a large private dining area on the top of the athletic complex that was buzzing with ice hockey, swimming meet in an Olympic pool, etc. The views of the Rockies from DU are spectacular. We had a quiet evening at home after the busy weekend.

Tonight we're joining friends for dinner and then to the final TAKACS (string quartet) concert of the season.

Epic Fails and Tulip Fairies

This weekend was the annual Tulip Fairy and Elf parade on the Pearl Street Mall, and Alden made an appearance and got her face specially painted for the event. We tried to get Reid to dress up and join us, but he wouldn't go for it.

 

 

      We couldn't convince him to wear the green unitard and the fairy wings

On Friday night, we went for our usual visit to the bike park and I was having a great night, riding a few features that I hadn't had the guts to tackle yet. Well, you can guess where this is going... long story short; the lesson I took away from the evening is that I should listen to my son's advice ("Don't do it dad, it's too windy!) and don't try the large slopestyle features if it's a windy day- a guy like me is big enough to get blown around like a huge kite. I've spent a lot of the weekend changing bandages, but there was no bone or joint damage, so I'm actually counting my blessings!

5 major skin loss areas and Reid's word's of sympathy were,"You totally ate crap, Dad!"

Saturday was the annual Tulip Fairy and Elf parade down on the Pearl Street mall, so that was a no-brainer for what to do with Alden in the afternoon. She stood in line for a short eternity to get her face painted, and she looked beautiful for that afternoon, but today it sadly looked like she gotten a black eye. Both of us were getting some looks around town today!

Face painting at the Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade

The finished artwork

Who's that hairy dude behind you, Alden?

80's Boden- mid haircut

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!!

A very HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY to Sarah!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day, with lots of love from your family Downunder.

Loved the recent photos.  I'll have to find a few of my own to post!  Hope Dad's surgery went well...

Early Spring in BoulderA

These photos illustrate our spring.  A few repeat some of Rico's.  The first ones come from Spring Break when Rico and Kate got a brief time away and we enjoyed the kids in different combinations all arranged by Kate.  The captions - I just learned how to do that - explain the others.

Alden visits and helps Yia Yia cook

Lunch on the terrace during our amazing march weather

Arriving at Eldora for Rico's tailgate birthday

April moisture after no moisture in March - everything turned green.

and blossomed!

The incredible public park bicycle trails - Boden going for air.

and Rico catching it yesterday - April; 14th.

I took this the morning the next snow was predicted and fortunately all we got was rain so the yard still looks great.  SPECIAL FOR ELLI - Note our rather pathetic lilac bush in the upper right!

and more yard and tulips.  I have never had luck with tulips before but so far they are doing great here.,

Easter cookout with new parasol.

Guess what.

So that does it on photos. 

Finally, last week was very busy, full, and exciting.  The annual CU Conference on World Affairs took place and we had a dinner with participants Monday that was very pleasant with dinner on the deck of the Alum building and Tuesday night was the incredible annual jazz concert.  Wednesday we had a UNA dinner with an interesting CWA participant speaking on Latin America and its history of poverty - good but unusual.  Thursday Mom and I relaxed at a quiet restaurant dinner after  nine hours of panels.  

We heard some great music - one concert of 3 violins - a great rock player on electric, an Irish balladeer on a standard one, and a fantastic Brazilian playing a beautiful sounding classical guitar - what a great hour and what a variety of music.  Ended Friday with a two hour panel of storytellers - 3 Irish and one Israeli.  It is wonderful how CU interprets world affairs - so different from my old narrow view of politics, wars, and economics!  We also had plenty of panels that covered these topics. 

 Mom and I just got back from a free library chamber music concert.  I enjoyed two of the pieces - 20th century - that included some amazing and pleasant sounds from the strings.  The final piece - 1960 - I found boring and screechy.  A relaxing time however before tomorrow's hernia operation at the awful hour of 6 a.m.

And the college will be,.....

Sarah and I had a lovely trip to Saratoga where we visited Skidmore for Accepted Students Day. It was a full day confirmation of being in the right place. We spent Thursday night with an old friend of mine from Princeton who lives near campus. His wife is a nurse practitioner at the college infirmary, their son will be a senior next year, and he has signed up as "Uncle Schultzie". The first extended family event will be a dinner some time in Sarah's first week there in September. I couldn't be happier or more reassured that she has found the place for her. :) Go, Sarah!

Thanks for the Birthday Wishes!

 

We had a little snow on the Monday before my birthday, and it got every thing growing and greening up- it was very nice. Queso got really fired up by the snow- it was a dramatic change from her lethargy in the hot weather.

 On my birthday, we did something that I've been wanting to for ages- we had a good old fashioned parking lot tailgate grilling at Eldora. The snow is going fast, but the weather was gorgeous and the burgers were yummy- good times!

Tailgate grilling at Eldora for my birthday

"I forgot my ski pants, so I'm skiing in shorts- good thing it's so warm!"

 We had a really nice family dinner at a sushi restaurant for the b-day dinner. We got a private tea room because we had good timing- the kids had a great time shooting edamame all over and worshipping the buddha.

Sushi Zen

Easter morning shenanigans

 The Easter bunny came through again and got the kids all sugared up nice and early, so we got out to take Queso for her first hike. She did great and only got distracted by a few cow pies. The kids had a great time, too because we had gorgeous weather, a flat trail and lots of fun distractions.

Queso's continuing to be a good girl

Two thumbs-up for the Easter hike

perfect hiking attire: Easter dress, hiking boots with leopard covers, sun hat, binoculars, stuffy and harmonica

 Babbo and Yia-yia hosted a very nice and mellow Easter dinner barbecue in their back yard to round out the weekend, and I have to say it was a really nice ending to a great birthday weekend. Thanks for the wishes and the great vintage photos- it was a blast to see them! (nice pants, Elli- I will always remember you as the striped pants queen!)

Trunk confab at Babbo & Yia-Yia's

More Birthday Wishes

Yes, indeed - a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the little brother!  Hope you are having a great day.  Loved the photo on Julie's post...I've got one of my own to share:

Don't you just love the pants?!  And how about that record player...oh, how we have changed!  But the love is still there, Rico - always.  XOXO

Happy Birthday, Rico!

From the archives,.....this must be about 36 years ago?
I remember I was reading the The Chronicles of Narnia to you. I think we went through the whole series that summer.