MetroOwl

Wanderlust: Fort Collins

2012-01-26T14:15:00.004-05:00

If you know me, you know wanderlust gets the better of my waking hours more often than not.

Today's daydream: Gateway Natural Area, Fort Collins, Colorado

Film: City on Fire

2012-01-04T22:39:00.012-05:00

Adorable Chow Yun-fat's 1987 catapult to stardom. Rat tails, pleated pants, English dubbing... Pretty cheesy, but perhaps a bit too cheesy. Bordering on "processed cheese food" kinda cheesy, and not enough action to make up for it.

*Disappointing, though we do get a nice rear view of Chow's rear view. ^.^

Postscript: Who knew there was a website, also called City on Fire and similarly lackluster, that reviews Asian films? Ah, the serendipity of Bing.

100 Years... 100 Movies

2012-01-04T21:00:00.014-05:00

One the New Year's resolutions that Hubs and I made is to stay home more often, cooking, spending time together, nesting (and saving moolah for our first house!). So there will undoubtedly be a lot of movie watching, and we've decided to update our Netflix queue with AFI’s "100 Years… 100 Movies". Some of these I've seen, but it's been so long that they're worth another go 'round. Perhaps, if I'm feeling so inclined, I'll post here about each film as we watch it. I'd love to read about your fave flicks and what you think about those on the list.

(Those in bold, I've seen.)

1. CITIZEN KANE 1941
2. THE GODFATHER 1972
3. CASABLANCA 1942
4. RAGING BULL 1980
5. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN 1952
6. GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
7. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 1962
8. SCHINDLER’S LIST 1993
9. VERTIGO 1958
10. THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939
11. CITY LIGHTS 1931
12. THE SEARCHERS 1956
13. STAR WARS 1977
14. PSYCHO 1960
15. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
16. SUNSET BLVD. 1950
17. THE GRADUATE 1967
18. THE GENERAL 1927
19. ON THE WATERFRONT 1954
20. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946
21. CHINATOWN 1974
22. SOME LIKE IT HOT 1959
23. THE GRAPES OF WRATH 1940
24. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982
25. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 1962
26. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON 1939
27. HIGH NOON 1952
28. ALL ABOUT EVE 1950
29. DOUBLE INDEMNITY 1944
30. APOCALYPSE NOW 1979
31. THE MALTESE FALCON 1941
32. THE GODFATHER PART II 1974
33. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST 1975
34. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS 1937
35. ANNIE HALL 1977
36. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI 1957
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES 1946
38. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE 1948
39. DR. STRANGELOVE 1964
40. THE SOUND OF MUSIC 1965
41. KING KONG 1933
42. BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967
43. MIDNIGHT COWBOY 1969
44. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY 1940
45. SHANE 1953
46. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT 1934
47. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 1951
48. REAR WINDOW 1954
49. INTOLERANCE 1916
50. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING 2001
51. WEST SIDE STORY 1961
52. TAXI DRIVER 1976
53. THE DEER HUNTER1978
54. M*A*S*H 1970
55. NORTH BY NORTHWEST 1959
56. JAWS 1975
57. ROCKY 1976
58. THE GOLD RUSH 1925
59. NASHVILLE 1975
60. DUCK SOUP 1933
61. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS 1941
62. AMERICAN GRAFFITI 1973
63. CABARET 1972
64. NETWORK 1976
65. THE AFRICAN QUEEN 1951
66. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 1981
67. WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? 1966
68. UNFORGIVEN 1992
69. TOOTSIE 1982
70. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 971
71. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1998
72. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1994
73. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID 1969
74. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 1991
75. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967
76. FORREST GUMP 1994
77. ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN 1976
78. MODERN TIMES 1936
79. THE WILD BUNCH 1969
80. THE APARTMENT 1960
81. SPARTACUS 1960
82. SUNRISE 1927
83. TITANIC 1997
84. EASY RIDER 1969
85. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 1935
86. PLATOON 1986
87. 12 ANGRY MEN 1957
88. BRINGING UP BABY 1938
89. THE SIXTH SENSE 1999
90. SWING TIME 1936
91. SOPHIE'S CHOICE 1982
92. GOODFELLAS 1990
93. THE FRENCH CONNECTION 1971
94. PULP FICTION 1994
95. THE LAST PICTURE SHOW 1971
96. DO THE RIGHT THING 1989
97. BLADE RUNNER 1982
98. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
99. TOY STORY 1995
100. BEN-HUR 1959

Men and Women

2011-12-16T00:21:00.001-05:00

Advent: Awaiting Illumination

2011-12-08T23:58:00.001-05:00

"Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is my light" (Micah 7:8)

Read a lovely article by Eitan Fishbane, PhD, titled "From darkness to light: Entering holy time."

"God is the radiance that dwells at the soul of existence, the rock upon which the weary might rest. Even as we travel in the dark places, the spark of an inner divine flame may sustain us with a measure of hope."

Pray for Patience

2011-12-02T00:19:00.004-05:00

Stumbled upon this tonight at the perfect time.

Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of my life, in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied. Let me forget myself so that I may enjoy the happiness of others. Let me always hide my little pains and heartaches so that I may be the only one to suffer from them. Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden or embitter me; that it may make me patient, not irritable; that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow or proud or overbearing. May no one be less good for having come within my influence; no one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble, for having been a fellow traveler with me on our journey towards eternal life. As I meet with one cross after another, let me whisper a word of love to You. May my life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity. Amen.

Perhaps this shorter, more easily remembered one will be good to learn and keep handy in the spiritual toolbox.

My dearest Jesus, teach me to be patient, when all day long my heart is troubled by little, but troublesome, crosses.

...but I'm trying!

Equation of life

2011-12-01T12:16:00.003-05:00

Wanderlust

2011-11-25T21:21:00.001-05:00

Wish I was here: Paris at night

Cleanin' and Greenin' in Philly

2011-11-23T10:03:00.007-05:00

This morning's reading turned up some good news in Philadelphia. Other cities, take heed.

A study published this week focused on more than 4,000 vacant city lots that have been cleaned up and planted with grass and trees under the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Vacant Land Stabilization Program. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found there were fewer gun crimes in neighborhoods where lots had been "cleaned and greened." Some residents also reported experiencing less stress and exercising more.

Among its many progressive programs is the community garden and city harvest efforts.

There are more than 400 community gardens in Philadelphia, each one an oasis. Besides being attractive, these serene spaces promote health and nutrition, improve local economies, and allow neighbors to come together for a common interest.

(How cute are these lil' peppers?)

Philly is such a magnanimous city, full of warmth and fight. There's a reason they call it the City of Brotherly Love, right?

Insatiable

2011-11-23T00:58:00.001-05:00

Shocker: Fox should be called Sheep

2011-11-22T16:06:00.002-05:00

Talking Points Memo reports that Fox News viewers are less informed than those who read NO news at all.

“The (poll’s) results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don’t watch any news at all,” said Dan Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson and an analyst for the poll.

Read on and laugh (or cry - both are appropriate)...

Je t'aime

2011-11-04T21:27:00.001-04:00

Self-improvement

2011-11-02T23:55:00.001-04:00

Success & Donuts

2011-11-01T00:17:00.001-04:00

5 Simple Rules

2011-10-31T00:53:00.001-04:00

Are you listening?

2011-10-28T10:26:00.005-04:00

another new music curator at work

A tune I love that DN loves, too: The National's cover of The Philistines Jr.’s "Twenty Miles to NH Part 2," arguably better than the original and part of the compilation album "If a Lot of Bands Play in the Woods...", which features such lovelies as Jonsi (of Sigur Ros), Tapes n’ Tapes, Tokyo Police Club, Mice Parade, Mates of State, Guster, Frightened Rabbit, Dazzled Kid (AKA Tjeerd Bomhof) and so on. It's a companion to The Philistines Jr.'s own October release, "If a Band Plays in the Woods..." Listen to more of the remixes over at Pitchfork.

Your own self

2011-10-25T09:32:00.001-04:00

"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of
improving, and that's your own self." ~ Aldous Huxley

Deer crossing

2011-10-21T16:28:00.001-04:00

Anyway

2011-10-19T17:44:00.006-04:00

People are unreasonable, illogical and self centered.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
SUCCEED ANYWAY.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
BUILD ANYWAY.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
THINK BIG ANYWAY.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have, and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY.

Mother Theresa's version of Kent M. Keith's "The Paradoxical Commandments." Found on a sign at Shishu Bhavan, her children’s home in Calcutta and in the book "A Simple Path."

Zombies don't eat zombies

2011-10-19T17:39:00.000-04:00

Thinkers everywhere are in grave danger.

Talk geeky to me

2011-10-14T20:59:00.002-04:00

Talking About Talkeetna

2011-10-14T18:40:00.006-04:00

Truly a favorite blog of mine.

When I need to quiet my mind, or take it someplace else entirely, I daydream of life in Talkeetna, the way Laura lives it.

One of her shots...

Ashes

2011-09-28T11:26:00.004-04:00

"People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes."
~ Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby)

Must See

2011-09-26T18:54:00.001-04:00

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

Enlightened

2011-09-23T23:03:00.002-04:00

Must brighten up my patio immediately. Hubs, where's your drill?

via Craftzine

High fives all around!

2011-09-21T16:56:00.000-04:00

Bad spell check. Bad.

2011-09-19T17:13:00.003-04:00

Dear iPhone spell check wizard,

You are wrong.

I did, in fact, mean "woohoo" not "Elohim." Whatever that is.

And "LOL" should NOT be "polio." Nobody gets that anymore!

Please back off,
Me

When did we forget our dreams?

2011-09-16T17:55:00.000-04:00

J'adore, xkcd.

Comma sutra

2011-09-16T16:59:00.000-04:00

Punctuation is damn sexy.

Creation

2011-09-15T13:58:00.002-04:00

"It is wonderful to be in on the creation of something, see it used, and then walk away and smile at it."

~ Lady Bird Johnson

And so little time

2011-03-02T15:59:00.000-05:00

{wedding inspiration} Garden Roses

2011-02-24T20:40:00.000-05:00

Italian Humor

2011-02-21T01:35:00.003-05:00

Well, Good Morning, Cuteness!

2011-02-19T09:04:00.000-05:00

I Just Wanna...

2011-02-18T23:10:00.000-05:00

Please Don't Flush It

2011-02-15T21:05:00.000-05:00

Happy Love Day

2011-02-14T19:15:00.000-05:00

100 Years

2011-01-23T13:57:00.000-05:00

Sweet Dreams

2011-01-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

Snuggles

2010-11-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

Growler: Surlier than a suds stein

2010-01-26T23:45:00.026-05:00

The New York Times dining section today tells how Brooklyn beer buffs are discovering the joys of "The New Old Way to Tote Your Beer": the growler.

By midafternoon on a recent Saturday, Bierkraft, the beer emporium and grocery on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, was half-filled with customers, many of them parents with babies or toddlers in tow. They were browsing the more than 1,000 varieties of bottled beer or surveying the listing of selections available on the 13 taps and 3 cask lines. Some carried a good-sized satchel.

Diaper bag? Gym clothes?

No. It was a tote for their growlers.

Growlers — 64-ounce glass vessels that look like a moonshine jug — have become the beer accessory of the moment. And the jugs, filled at taps in bars and stores, are not just the toys of the bearded, flannel-shirt, beer-geek set.

The painful truth is that Floridians can't enjoy fresh-from-the-tap beer at home, unless it's from a larger operation that bottles its product (or cans it - had a Dale's Pale Ale lately?), because the state limits retail beer containers to 32 ounces and growlers hold a full gallon. But beer lovers in the Sunshine State have grown accustomed to this sort of disappointment; you'd be hard-pressed to find many brewing establishments at all 'round these parts. Just look at the tragicly brief list of breweries on this here peninsula and compare it with the litany of options in, say, lager-lovin' California or perhaps that hops haven we call Colorado.

So, when we have a beer event it's kind of like the second coming ("You mean to say they're bringing the beer TO US?!"), and several shindigs are happening in the coming months. This weekend, Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter will turn into a Field of Hops, when the Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival will offer samples from more than 100 breweries as well as a beer tasting and pairing event. A handful of the showcased breweries are from our home state, and God bless 'em for choosing to brew suds rather than squeeze orange juice.

Be beautiful

2009-12-16T23:42:00.005-05:00

"Be as beautiful as you can be, for yourself first, and then to anyone else with enough good sense to see it, too." ~ Maya Angelou

Barrow Falls Road in Abbot, Maine, by Tracy Crawford
Courtesy of the Sierra Club's Daily Ray of Hope

Being out there

2009-09-27T20:46:00.004-04:00

A recent Daily Ray of Hope from the Sierra Club:

"What makes life in our cities at once still tolerable, exciting, and stimulating is the existence of an alternative option, whether exercised or not, whether even appreciated or not, of a radically different mode of being out there, in the forests, on the lakes and rivers, in the deserts, up in the mountains … we cannot have freedom without leagues of open space..."

~ Edward Abbey, author of "Desert Solitaire"

Kankakee, Illinois, by K. K. Condon

I lick you, & I like you to like me to lick you.

2009-09-15T21:13:00.003-04:00

I like you, and I’d like you to like me to like you. But I don’t need you. Don’t need you to want me to like you. Because if you didn’t like me, I would still like you, you see. La la la la la la.

I lick you, and I like you to like me to lick you. But... I don’t need you. Don’t need you to like me to lick you. If your pleasure turned into pain, I would still lick for my personal gain. La la la la la la.

I fuck you, and I love how you love me to fuck you. But I don’t fucking need you. Don’t need you to need me to fuck you. If you need me to need you to fuck, that fucks everything up. La la la la la la.

I want you, and I want you to want me to want you. But I don’t need you. Don’t need you to need me to need you. That’s just me. So take me or leave me, but please don’t need me. Don’t need me to need you to need me. Cuz we’re here one minute, the next we’re dead. So love me or leave me, but try not to need me. Enough said. I want you, but I don’t need you. La la la la la la.

I love you, and I love how you love how I love you. But I don’t need you. Don’t need you to love me to love you. If your love changed into hate, would my love have been a mistake? La la la la la la.

So I’m gonna leave you, and I’d like you to leave me to leave you. But lover believe me, it isn’t because I don’t need you (you know I don’t need you). All I wanted was to be wanted, but you’re drowning me deep in your need to be needed. La la la la la la la la la la la la.

I want you, and I want you to want me to want you. But I don’t need you. Don’t need you to need me to need you. That’s just me. So take me or leave me, but please don’t need me. Don’t need me to need you to need me. Cuz we’re here one minute, the next we’re dead. So love me or leave me, but try not to need me. Enough said. I want you, but I don’t need you.

Articulate Alan

2009-09-12T11:53:00.014-04:00

Who knew Alan Greenspan's talks on finance might produce gems?

~ "I guess I should warn you. If I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said."
Consider yourselves warned.

~ “There's potential for individual disaster there."
Every day.

~ “Look at it! Look at it, damn you! This is the result of your consistent, persistent, grinding, impoverishing inflation, you despicable loathsome morons!”
For full effect, insert other action in place of "inflation." Perhaps "selfishness" or "rampant disregard for animal welfare" - ya know, whatever fits.

~ “How do we know when irrational exuberance has unduly escalated asset values?"
Again, for full effect, replace "asset values" with, say, "our expectations" or "my opinion of you." Hehe.

And the Most Germane Award goes to...

~ "I know that you think you know what I said. But I'm not sure whether you understood that what you heard IS what I meant."

I don't know what to say

2009-09-08T19:49:00.005-04:00

I really don't. You just have to watch.

If you need to take just one more look, look here while he explains how he "just wasn't getting any enjoyment out of it. Although the heat does normally stimulate every joint, muscle and organ in my entire body."

Take a break

2009-09-08T17:17:00.008-04:00

Today's beboppin' fave.

Look, Ma - freehanded!

Paste's round up of "16 albums to look forward to this fall" is worth a peek.
~ Pearl Jam's got a new record, and I finally (!) dig Eddie again.
~ Bob Dylan does Christmas; not sure what else I could say on the matter.

Ways I waste my time

2009-09-03T22:20:00.016-04:00

Have a quick moment of reflection with the Sierra Club's Daily Ray of Hope.

"Let life happen to you. Believe me; life is in the right, always." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

ellowstone National Park by Windy Torgerud

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Check these "perfectly sculpted melons" on Environmental Graffiti, which always has something cool going on. I mean, really, they titled their blog post "perfectly sculpted melons"; what's not to like?

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No Room Service, Just Snacks and Shit is hilarious. Honestly.

"I'm the kind of nigga that'll kidnap your kids, take 'em home, fuck 'em good, and send 'em back to you in bandages." - Keith Nut, "Watch Out" by Fat Joe

Oh. Then you're going to have trouble keeping friends and getting people to trust you and all that stuff. Can you imagine trying to get a job ten years after making this song? ...

~ "You have most of the qualifications we are looking for but we're just going to have to go with the other guy."
~ "Is this because of when I said I'd fuck your kids... and stuff?"
~ "One hundred percent."

Also, what's up with "Fuck 'em good"? It's not like it's going to be enjoyable for the kids. Filed under: Worst guy ever.

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WebUrbanist compiled some cool examples of light art and graffiti such as this:

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I know I can't explain Homies and Honkies, so I won't try. Just click the link.

Today in Pictures

2009-09-02T10:18:00.003-04:00

"An organic rice field featuring a sculpture created using two different types of rice is ... planted in Thailand’s Central Plains & occupies an area of 16,000 square meters... The first variety, Chai-nat 1, is an irrigated local rice variety and... the second is Khum Phayao, a traditional black rice variety. Greenpeace is demanding that the Government issue an outright ban on GMOs, particularly GMO rice." (AFP/GETTY)

"Ice sculptures by Brazilian artist Nele Azevedo melt on the steps of Berlin's Concert Hall at the Gendarmenmarkt on Sept. 2. The event, which saw participants place some 1,000 ice sculptures, was sponsored by the WWF to attract attention to the ...earth's melting poles due to global warming." (AFP/GETTY)

They love coffee even more than you do.

2009-08-03T23:44:00.003-04:00

As seen on the Telegraph's Pictures of the Day:

"Artist assistants stand next to 3,604 cups of coffee which have been made into a giant Mona Lisa in Sydney, Australia. The 3,604 cups of coffee were each filled with different amounts of milk to create the different shades."

It is yours.

2009-08-03T23:35:00.004-04:00

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It is yours." ~ Ayn Rand

Dedham, Massachusetts, by Kerry Hawkins
Courtesy of Sierra Club's Daily Ray of Hope

If this doesn't make you grin...

2009-07-24T13:50:00.003-04:00

...you're a miserable sod.

How cool when people throw off old conventions while hanging onto just the traditions that matter the most to them, making the day their own. They certainly seem like fun folks! Of course, I could be biased, as I really like this song and somersaults and hot pink...

Stumbled upon...

2009-07-23T23:12:00.011-04:00

Interesting way to keep growing your veggies during longjohn season. AND, it comes with your very own ladybug army!

Tulip mosaics around the world.

My favorite tot's new favorite song.

And we should

2009-06-21T22:38:00.000-04:00

"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth."

~ Evan Esar

Found objects

2009-05-27T19:05:00.028-04:00

Ask A Urinal

"It's impossible to be unhappy in a poncho."

"Why are you looking up here? The joke is in your hands."

Newsroom Quotes

"I do think that 99% of heads are bigger than arses."

"I have no luck. Last time I went out I ended up knocking on a murderer’s door."

Marghanita

"Perfect use for your plastic water bottles"

UrbanEye by The NY Times

"Can you use a thesaurus as a weapon? Tonight Opium Magazine
sponsors a Literary Death Match: competitive reading.
Readers, including the veteran SNL and comedy writer Alan
Zweibel and the novelists Rivka Galchen, Josh Weil and
Michael Muhammad Knight -- author of "The Taqwacores," which
has been called "'The Catcher in the Rye' for young
Muslims" -- will unspool some verbiage in the round at
Pianos. They will be judged -- by a New Yorker writer, a
"Project Runway" alum and a comedienne -- on their
showmanship, meter and sesquipedalianism, and everyone will
feel smarter when they leave."

Raft Clear Creek River w/ Mile-Hi Rafting

"Sure Shot: $37 Adults / $30 Child
Rafting on Clear Creek River’s mountain water is an experience that’s fun for the whole family. Get ready for some fun on our exciting ‘Sure Shot’ beginner-rafting trip. Begin with passing by the historic Charlie Taylor Water Wheel experiencing Class II rapids (ripples). While rafting through Historic Idaho Springs the Class III rapids of Castle Falls and Argo Holes test your newly developed rafting skills. Below town history and nature abound, with the occasional sighting of Retail Hawk, Deer, Fox, Bob Cat, Lynx, Elk, and Big Horn Sheep. Dizzy Lizzy, Power Line, Mountain Lion, and Box prepare us for the grand finale of Mr. Twister! The perfect beginner—starting with Class II water so you can practice, and then the Class III rapids. There is a 50 pound minimum for rafting to insure proper fit of the life jacket. Allow 3 hours for the trip."

311 really wants ya to watch "Hey You"

The band has hidden a phone number in the video. Call the number, leave a message, and the band might call you back. I love love love 311, but this song is just "eh". So, the only reason to watch the vid is for glimpses of hot Nick Hexum.

Parkour

Training class for the masses looks like a good workout.

Bike trials

Danny MacAskill, an in-feakin'-credible rider from the U.K.
(And this song by Band of Horses is fab.)

A smattering of Vincent Hermance in Colorado

And the To Read list grows...

2009-05-20T00:17:00.003-04:00

Story of my life (pun a happy accident): I add to this list faster than I can check books off of it, sometimes tenfold. The newest addition is worth sharing with you, lest it go unnoticed in that ever-overwhelming list to the right.

"The Immense Journey: An Imaginative Naturalist Explores the Mysteries of Man and Nature" by Loren Eiseley seems as though it might speak to the same part of me that fell in love with "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey. Those are big shoes to fill, though, Ed's are, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Who knows when I'll get to this book, especially now that I've added a fourth to my nightstand. After years of desiring to but waiting for the seemingly "right time", much as one might feel about buying a home or having a child, I've finally ventured into Ayn Rand's world, with her first endeavor, "We the Living".

Wish me luck.

Hope never stops at all

2009-05-18T20:12:00.006-04:00

Another nice Daily Ray of Hope:

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all." ~ Emily Dickinson

Bridge Creek Watershed area of Bend, Oregon, by Pete Marquess

Compare/Contrast

2009-05-16T16:49:00.007-04:00

Found this an intriguing comparison, as each of the four vocalists produces such a unique sound. Peter's and Trent's voices are so distinct, making the collaborative version rich and interesting. But it's almost too much, as TV's vocals complement one another so well as a sufficiently groovy duo. Reminds me of a Mahler piece performed by a several-hundred-piece orchestra; the movement's tonality is incredibly complex and thus wondrous, but there's something equally spectacular about a seemingly simple violin solo. Perhaps there is no comparison to be made, just an appreciation for the individual performances...

The always cool TV On The Radio performing their tune "Dreams", infused w/ some Bauhaus and NIN flavor.

And here's "Dreams" straight up. (Sound's a bit distorted, though.)

Smooooth

2009-05-15T21:22:00.001-04:00

Burger grease art

2009-05-14T11:06:00.001-04:00

Holy cow!

"The answers are simple."

2009-05-11T20:06:00.003-04:00

Today's Daily Ray of Hope from the Sierra Club is worth sharing.

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."
~ Dr. Seuss

Photo Credit: Jim Dollar
Location: Otter Point in Acadia National Park in Maine

Awesome animals

2009-05-10T12:38:00.005-04:00

This slideshow is full of neat animals in the news. I'm such a sucker for stories about critters - happy or sad. The latter, of course, inevitably make me angry at my own species.

Here's a great one:

In November, the cries of alarm from Willie, a Quaker parrot from Denver, Colo., alerted his owner, Megan Howard, that the toddler she was babysitting was choking. His yells of "Mama, baby" led Howard to perform the Heimlich maneuver and earned Willie the local Red Cross chapter's Animal Lifesaver Award on March 20.

Some others include a turtle fossil, 30-something millions of years old, found to have an intact egg sac (a first here the U.S.); hundreds of stray dogs starving and turning to cannibalism because locals dropped them on an uninhabitable island to get them out of their fishing village; a 772-pound stingray is the largest freshwater fish caught by a rod and reel (they released it, thankfully); and an albino elephant baby born in the wild in Africa (aww!).

Honey, is that you?

2009-05-10T12:10:00.006-04:00

LemonDrop.com (Who thinks up these names? And, just in case you're wondering how I even found the site, this was a headline on my homepage) reports on identical twins marrying identical twins in China. It's like a bad sitcom waiting to happen, but sorta cute, too.

Identical twins marrying a set of identical twins -- it sounds like something from a soap opera. But it actually happened in Wuxi, China, so we can only hope that none of them are evil and/or homicidal.

It was unusual enough when Jian Yang, one-half of a set of identical male twins, proposed to Juxiang Jiang, herself one-half of a matching set. But things got weirder when their identical siblings, Kang Yang and Lanxiang Zhang, fell in love at their engagement party. All this led to -- clearly -- a double wedding.

Of course, hilarity and confusion ensued. For instance, Kang once tried to hold his brother Jian's fiancee's hand on a group outing. Naturally, she didn't stop him, because she thought Kang was Jian. And there they stood, until Kang's fiancee helpfully corrected the error. (How did she know?)

Their parents consider the marriages a sign of great luck. Which is good, because with all the potential for accidentally adultery, they're going to need all the luck they can get. That, and name tags.

Some good tunes: Rocco Deluca & The Burden

2009-04-28T20:17:00.010-04:00

Colorful

Swing Low

Super glued flip flops

2009-03-26T20:03:00.007-04:00

How much water do you use?

2009-03-22T12:29:00.005-04:00

The National Wildlife Fund tweeted a link to this on Good magazine's website. It's quite the eye-opener. (Click on the link to the article if you have trouble reading the graphic; this is the largest I could make it.)

Apparently, I'm a Doer

2009-03-21T14:06:00.009-04:00

Typealyzer analyzes the types of words a blogger uses and the frequency with which she uses them, and spits out an analysis of her personality type. Here's what it says about this blog and me; it's pretty right on.

The analysis indicates that the author of www.metroowl.blogspot.com is of the type:

ESTP - The Doers

The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

It also pinpoints your personality on a brain map, which I was unable to capture and post here. Basically, it shows the brain divided into these sections: Thinker, Practical, Feeler and Idealist. Apparently, I am Practical, which is somewhere between the Thinker and the Feeler. It describes the Practical blogger as thinking (with a talent for logic and mathematics) AND sensing (with a talent for order, habit and details). I suppose that's pretty accurate.

There's also a LoveTypealyzer. Here's what it says about MetroOwl; this is only partly accurate.

The analysis indicates that the author of www.metroowl.blogspot.com is of the type:

ESTP - The Doers

They are gregarious and action-loving and will probably make your date into a thrill. In relationships they often feel tremendously commited, but want that commitment to be renewed day by day. They tend to get bored easily, and may be prone to switching relationships frequently unless they find an outlet for their boredom elsewhere. Sexually they are more into enjoying the moment sensually than verbally.

Best matches: ISFJ or ISTJ

And, lastly, there's a SportTypealyzer, which is sort of comical for me seeing as I am not the athletic sort. But here goes:

The analysis indicates that the author of www.metroowl.blogspot.com is of the type:

Artisan

"Get your kicks while you can!"

The Artisans loves real-life events that can be experienced here and now. Standing in the shouting crowd at a game is almost as fun as actually taking part in it! Personally they love action and will go boldly down roads that others consider risky or impossible. That´s why they will probably gravitate towards sports with tuff independent sportsmen and women. They´re always on the look-out for fun and playful ways to enjoy themselves together with friends.

Sports of preference: Motor sports, Football, Boxing and other sports that gets the adrenaline pumping.

I suppose it's worth mentioning that I take this sort of thing with a grain of salt. And certainly any site full of spelling errors makes me wary.

"Working your way from the ground on down"

2009-03-10T02:10:00.002-04:00

The adorable Ben Harper and other boys with a few of my favorite things: great music, skateboards, slide guitars, Chucks and poets' souls.

Buy festival tix on layaway

2009-02-28T19:48:00.008-05:00

Per Springwise:

Back in 2007 we noted the return of layaway payment plans, and in today's economic climate the need for such arrangements is clearly even greater. Completely understandable, then, that several upcoming music festivals are giving attendees a layaway option for purchasing their tickets.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, for example, will take place from April 17 to 19 in Indio, Calif., featuring a range of indie-rock artists. A three-day pass to the festival costs USD 269 plus fees, but this year, would-be attendees buying online have two alternatives to purchasing their tickets outright. First, they can pay just 50 percent of the cost up front, plus Ticketmaster fees, and then have the remaining 50 percent automatically deducted on April 1. Alternatively, they can pay 10 percent up front, plus Ticketmaster fees, and have the remaining amount automatically deducted in two equal payments on March 1 and April 1. The last day to order via layaway is Feb. 28, but the option is not available for single-day tickets or camping travel packages.

The Coachella festival is produced by Goldenvoice, which is offering similar layaway options at its Stagecoach Country Music Festival, also held in April in California.

Country Thunder USA, meanwhile, is offering an EZ-Pay option to purchase USD 119 general admission for its April festival in Arizona in two installments at no extra charge. Tickets must be purchased online by the end of this month.

Finally, for the June Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee, attendees who buy by the end of February have the option of purchasing their USD 249.50 general admission tickets in five installments of USD 50 plus applicable fees. Bonnaroo offered an installment plan last year as well, according to USA Today.

Economic woes may be hitting consumers far and wide, but that doesn't mean all luxuries have to be dispensed with. Be flexible in your terms of payment, and consumers may just pay you back—with interest! ;-)

Don't answer that

2009-02-22T23:16:00.001-05:00

Normally, I'm offended by the gender stereotypes used to market media (FuelTV and Mopar Muscle are for men, and women dig Lifetime and Cosmo), because my interests cross over quite a bit. But this time, I'm thankful to not be part of the target market.

While looking for the Dew Tour to schedule it on my DVR, I came across a SpikeTV show called Manswers. AT&T U-verse describes it this way:

Knowledge that a guy can appreciate is presented, including tips on how to spot an undercover cop who's pretending to be a hooker, the surefire method to become drunk faster, and how to take a punch to the head with less risk of brain damage.

Apparently they answer life's critical quandaries, including:
~ Which is deadlier, a samurai sword or a speeding bullet?
~ What are some uses for your urine?
~ How can I get out of handcuffs?
~ How many girls are really bi?

God help us...

A lil' bit of this or a lil' bit of that

2009-02-21T23:09:00.006-05:00

A sexy sewing joke: win!

I've got the gimmes

2009-02-20T23:26:00.031-05:00

I've been buying some gifts online tonight, and along the way I found some "Gimme!"-inspiring items.

Numbers-matching '69 Beeper
(I'm not thrilled w/ what's under the hood here, but the body's niiice.)

Tuition to pursue a graduate ESL certificate
(Yeah, I know I'm asking a lot. But it's either this or a full-on master's in education, and we can hold off on that one for right now.)

The certificate in English as a Second Language Studies aims to improve the preparation of instructors in junior colleges, colleges, and private schools... Our approach is to increase students’ linguistic knowledge in general and that of English in particular, so that they may better appreciate the structure of English and that of the first language(s) of their students...

The curriculum consists of the following prerequisites, which may be taken concurrently with other courses in the program, if they have not already been satisfied:

~ ENC 3310 Advanced Exposition (required for teaching English certification) or equivalent taken at another accredited institution (3 credits)
~ LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics or equivalent taken elsewhere (3 credits). A competency exam may be required. FOL 3880 Research and Bibliographic Methods (2-3 credits) is strongly recommended for students who have not had such a course, but it is not required.

The following list of 15 credit hours comprises the required core courses. One equivalent 3-credit course may be transferred from another accredited institution or program.

~ LIN 4680 Structure of English
~ LIN 6720 Second Language Acquisition
~ LIN 4620 Bilingualism
~ TSL 4251 Applied Linguistics and TESOL
~ TSL 5345 Methods of Teaching TESOL (or ENC 6700 for English GTA's)
The last two TSL courses are also part of the College Education’s Add-On Endorsement for state certified public school teachers.

"Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books" by Azar Nafisi
(This has been on my To Read List for a long time, and I'm itching to jump into it.)

Love Hoo You Are tee at Etsy.com
(Really, why is this only available in toddler sizes? OMGosh.)

Owls In Love tee at Etsy.com
(Etsy rocks my world - one of the best places to shop!)

Mini Teapot and Spoonful of Sugar necklace, also at Etsy.com
(The girlishness is almost out of control at this point in the evening.)

Eat Sleep Rock Repeat onesie at Etsy.com
(I need to rent a baby to justify this purchase.)

The All Good looks like it isn't

2009-02-19T18:18:00.010-05:00

I've never heard of this festival before, but somehow I got onto its mailing list.

I sorta dig a couple of these artists, and apparently the lineup is still in its formative stages. But, if this is all they have confirmed at this point, I'm not even hestitantly optimistic that the final lineup would be worth roughing it in WV for three days.

Perhaps I'm not enough of a hippie? I do dislike having dirt under my fingernails when not gardening...

Have any of you attended this festival before? What about festivals in general? Do you think they're worth "the trouble", especially the camp-over ones? Or does that trouble make it all the more enjoyable for you?

All Good Music Festival and Campout
July 10-12, 2009
Marvin's Mountaintop in Masontown, WV

Ben Harper and Relentless7
Bob Weir and Ratdog
Moe.
STS9
Les Claypool
Yonder Mountain String Band
Tea Leaf Green
Buckethead
SoJa
BassNectar
Steve Kimoch Crazy Engine
The New Mastersounds
Donna the Buffalo

...blah blah blah...go see if you've ever heard of the rest of these bands...

Now, Coachella? That's a bit more tempting...

Beautiful and purposeful life

2009-02-17T18:50:00.004-05:00

One of the reasons I'm fond of butterflies is the time and energy spent growing and perfecting in the cocoon, in preparation for a short but beautiful and purposeful life in flight. This reminded me of that.

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. - Rabindranath Tagore

And those of you who know me personally may recognize this fella, a Ulysses Swallowtail.

An invincable summer

2009-02-03T22:40:00.008-05:00

A Daily Ray of Hope to get you through the snowy day.

In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.
- Albert Camus

Fort Collins, Colorado, by Julie Magers Soulen

Coachella is 2,500 miles away

2009-01-30T20:22:00.014-05:00

What a damn shame. Here's just a taste of this year's crazy lineup:

Friday, April 17th
Franz Ferdinand
M. Ward
Morrissey
Paul McCartney
Silversun Pickups
The Crystal Method
The Hold Steady

Saturday, April 18th
Amy Winehouse
Calexico
Drive By Truckers
Henry Rollins
Michael Franti & Spearhead
The Killers
Thievery Corporation
TRAV$DJ-AM
TV On The Radio

Sunday, April 19th
Groove Armada (DJ Set)
Jenny Lewis
Lupe Fiasco
Paolo Nutini
Perry Farrell
Peter Bjorn and John
Public Enemy
The Cure
Yeah Yeah Yeah's

Help us help the critters

2009-01-28T21:00:00.005-05:00

This is the fifth year that my sweet lil' Suki and I will participate in the Walk for the Animals to raise some bucks for the very deserving Humane Society of Broward County. We have so much fun at the walk, and when we get home at the end of the day, she regales old man Ching Ching with stories about jumping around in baby pools and sniffing strangers' tushies.

My animals bring so much joy to my life. (OK, let's be honest -- they help keep me sane!) And I know most of you have also experienced the love that only a devoted pet can give. So, I have no doubt that you understand the worthiness of this cause.

The Humane Society has introduced me to beloved pets, given me pet behavior and health advice, provided us low-cost training classes and shots, and given me vast opportunities to get involved and make a difference (a big "YAY!" for the PetSet parties). It's the largest animal adoption agency in the Southeast U.S. and found homes for 9,923 pets last year. Its staff educated more than 100,000 adults and kids, and spayed/neutered more than 10,000 pets. (Are you impressed yet?)

The best part is that my company (I'm the pack leader of our company's walking team) gives $2 for every $1 I raise! So, if you donate $25 through me, it magically turns into $75. Isn't that fantastic!? Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to give; but if you'd rather hand me a check or cash, that's great, too.

Thank you SO MUCH for your generous donation and continued support! I hope you'll come out and play with us at the walk! And if you don't live nearby, maybe you'll be inspired to find a worthwhile charity near you.

Wash your spirit clean

2009-01-25T22:01:00.005-05:00

Yet another nice Daily Ray of Hope. I seem to be drawn to John Muir's words.

Keep close to Nature's heart ... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.
- John Muir

Near the Parsons Memorial Lodge just north of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park, by Arthur Schmidt

Best (worst?) Bushisms

2009-01-25T17:56:00.000-05:00

(Meant to post this one sooner. Still funny, though!)

The ever-interesting Slate.com has posted a piece listing the top 25 Bushisms of all time. I've culled a few of my faves. Check out the story and tell me which is your favorite, or if you've heard another classic that isn't on their list.

4. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."—Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

15. "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."—Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000

16. "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."—U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 3, 2000

24. "They misunderestimated me."—Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

Hey, I'm misunderestimated all the time, dude. I gotcha.

A frosty, fiery sleepy-head

2009-01-22T01:05:00.000-05:00

Another pleasantry.

Late lies the wintry Sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

–Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94)

As sexy as Heidi's?

2009-01-18T19:20:00.002-05:00

Love it!

The "Peanuts" Philosophy

2009-01-18T16:52:00.014-05:00

Courtesy of my friend, the following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder them.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the 'headliners' of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But, the applause dies.
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!

Apparently, white folks like leaves of absence

2009-01-17T16:04:00.005-05:00

A recent post on the Stuff White People Like blog takes a comical look at what young, middle-class white folks do when they want to "find themselves." It's quite funny, especially because I know many people like this and I myself hope to teach English abroad. I don't see as much pretention in my friends as he apparently sees in such people, but I totally get what he's saying and it's just plain funny. (Yes, self-important 20-somethings can laugh at themselves - can't they?)

An excerpt:

It is most common for the person taking the year off to use this time to travel (see Post #19 for reasons why). Generally, they will start off with a set amount of money that will use to travel for as long as possible. This explains why a white person with an $800 backpack will haggle with a poverty-stricken street vendor about a $2 dollar plate of food.

Got $8? You're a multi-trillionaire!

2009-01-16T23:19:00.000-05:00

The NY Times recently reported:

Zimbabwe: A 10-Trillion-Dollar Bill
By Celia W. Dugger

The country’s stratospheric inflation rate, one of the worst in world history, entered a new, yet more incredible realm on Friday as the Reserve Bank introduced a new family of trillion-dollar bank notes, beginning with one for 10 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, which is worth about $8 on the black market. The state media reported the bank would also gradually release $20 trillion, $50 trillion and $100 trillion notes.

Seize your crisis

2009-01-14T22:22:00.004-05:00

Stumbled upon this recently. Interesting.

When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger, the other opportunity.

I hope my Chinese-speaking friends will tell me if this is even true. But in the meantime, what do ya'll make of that?

A lovely ray of hope

2009-01-14T13:54:00.005-05:00

I found today's Daily Ray of Hope especially lovely.

"The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls."

-- John Muir

Emerald Ridge along Wonderland Trail on the west side of Mt. Rainier in Washington, by Troy Mason

Day 9 in Colorado :(

2009-01-08T08:35:00.012-05:00

~ If we were feeling a lil' funky yesterday, just anticipating our last day in Colorado, imagine how we felt this morning! We had to drop our rental car off at 2 p.m., so we had precious little time to cram in as many as-yet-unseen spots we as we could.
~ In an effort to be make our way east toward the airport, we headed into Denver, drove around downtown, and looked at/photographed things we'd only seen in the dark or had missed entirely.
~ The more east we went, the fewer places there were to eat. So, we stopped at Quizno's for lunch. (Did you know it was founded in Denver? I didn't.)

~ Here are a few things I noticed during my time in Colorado:

~ Everything is more beautiful and overwhelming than you planned for
~ Mountains help drivers keep their sense of direction (as the beach does here in Florida)
~ Many businesses have really cool, funky signs out front
~ Fat people are not permitted to live here
~ Half the grocery stores have funny names
~ Panda Express and 7-11 are everywhere
~ Outside is lightyears better than inside
~ People are friendly and patient, even while driving
~ Things are casual AND laid back (which is quite different from SoFla, which is casual but not so laid back)
~ Generally speaking, people here are attractive (in a natural, silicone- and Botox-free way, also unlike my neck of the woods. Wait, there are no woods here; there are in Colorado, and that's something else I liked.)
~ Cars are dirty
~ It's not near as cold as you'd think, but it's windy!
~ "Wind- and solar-powered", "mom-and-pop owned" and "sustainability focused" are often used to describe businesses
~ Public art is everywhere: sculptures, murals, even groovy multicolored bike-shaped bicycle racks
~ The men are men. (Yum.) Not metrosexuals - ya know, the dudes that shave their arms. (Blech.) Side note: Someone really ought to form a Manscapers Anonymous here in SoFla; those guys need help.

Day 8 in Colorado

2009-01-07T15:50:00.001-05:00

~ Our last full day in Colorado. :( The thought of this made us a little funky, but we tried not to think about it and to just enjoy ourselves. Today's plan was the same as yesterday: daytime in the mountains, nighttime in the city. But today's city was Denver; there's so much to see that two or three nights there is sadly inadequate. I hope next time to have a local to hang with for a day or two. Any takers? I'll buy dinner. ;)
~ On to the specifics... First, we headed back south to Golden. I'd really enjoyed myself there on my first day, and the kid hadn't seen it yet. So, we drove around quite a bit, looked at houses and the foothills, then walked around the main strip a bit. We had a pretty good lunch at Woody's Woodfired Pizza and Mini-Me bought some gifts for her parents and friends back home.

~ We went to the Boulder Reservoir, which seems to be a hotspot for hibernating boats and RVs.

~ Then we met our friend at Starbucks (yes, the Sbux again) in Boulder before taking a drive up to Chautauqua Park and around the surrounding residential neighborhoods. She wanted us to see some of the hidden gems and where "the money" lives. Sadly, this is also where some of the wildfires would be a few weeks later.

~ Following a goodbye to our local friend, we headed to Denver for the night. We had dinner at Mezcal, which features a lucha libre in its logo and serves pretty good food, with the exception of the (canned?) red sauce. The atmosphere was cool, and my impression is that this part of town is my kinda neighborhood.

~ We walked around Larimer Square, Writer Square and the surrounding area a bit. I think we enjoyed this trip all the more because everything was still decorated for the holidays.

Day 7 in Colorado

2009-01-06T16:42:00.004-05:00

~ We'd stayed up late last night chatting and looking through our photos; and the lil' cousin just couldn't wait and had me purchase tickets to her next Big Head Todd show.
~ We grabbed a quick snack for the road and made our way northwest to Nederland, a small place high up above Boulder full of old wooden buildings that have been revived by colorful hippies. It's pretty cool there, and the fact that it's only about half an hour outside Boulder makes it even nicer.

~ On the way up, we took the Peak-to-Peak Byway. Its tight, winding curves would likely make this dangerous in bad weather, but it was a dry, sunny morning and the views are outta this world. The kiddo even spotted some alpacas, which I love. I wish we'd had more time for some hiking and such; I'll just have to go back more often, won't I? :)

~ We didn't spend too much time in Nederland, and headed back down to town via Boulder Canyon. Wow. There was no real way for me to take great photos of the canyon, because you simply can't back up far enough to get the entire canyon wall into the frame! But I tried...

~ We spent time on Pearl Street Mall. Our stops included Starbucks (I was surprised that there aren't more indy coffeeshops in these parts), Boulder Bookstore, Gold Mine vintage shop, a toy store and an old-fashioned candy store (Mini-Me got herself a vanilla gelato here, despite the cold wind outside). As I always do when traveling, I made a point of looking for the local newspaper office, and grabbed copies of the local rags, too. Worth mentioning is that this town is full of public art as are its neighboring cities (sculptures, murals, etc.), buskers (most of whom were actually good), street lamps plastered with posters pushing local bands, and a youthful, funky vibe (it IS a college town, afterall). And Boulder, like Denver, has a large number of live music venues for its size; that's great for me!

~ We picked up our friend and had supper at West End Tavern, which apparently is owned by the same folks who own Zolo, where we ate last night. Both places are run on 100% wind power and locally source as much of their food as possible - pretty cool.
~ Again, we walked around downtown a bit, then took the long way back to the hotel. I never tired of the lovely nighttime view coming up over a hilltop in the suburbs; the lights just keep going and going and going.

Day 6 in Colorado

2009-01-05T09:58:00.003-05:00

~ Slept in after a late, great night.
~ Walked out for a quick brunch, some of us to Poppycock's and other to McDonald's (I know, I know).

~ Left Aspen with heavy hearts. Not only is it hard to leave this magical place, but the BHTM part of our trip is now over. (One more month and most of us will be seeing them again; that's not so bad!)
~ On the way back to Boulder, we longingly eyed the natural spring-fed pool in Glenwood Springs, and made stops for coffee and to take photos of the crazy-beautiful views.

~ Made a beeline for Zolo, where we enjoyed a relaxing dinner.

~ After driving by a few sights, we took our friend home and wandered around the Pearl Street Mall. As usual, we took the long, winding way back to the hotel. I'm struck by the number of Mexican restaurants and 7-11s, and the funny name of one of their main grocers, King Soopers (of course, Publix here in the south isn't necessarily a less-amusing moniker).

Day 5 in Colorado

2009-01-04T09:59:00.038-05:00

~ I woke up first and opened the curtains to see a white wonderland. The weather gods were cooperating, giving us gorgeous weather on the driving days and a beautiful six inches or so of fresh white stuff on our full no-driving day in town.
~ Relaxed, stopped into Starbucks for a "reliable" java, and had breakfast at the very busy Poppycock's (French toast, nomnomnom). It seems every place here is busy; I won't attribute that entirely to it being high season, because everyplace we went was a nice mix of delish and friendly.
~ Walked around, shopped, took photos, threw snowballs (OK, that was just me, the tropi-chick), and relaxed until our final (sniff) Big Head Todd show.

~ We decided tonight to have a "nicer" dinner, so we followed the recommendations of several friends and visited two places for supsup. Social was cool, but it felt more like a NYC lounge than what we were looking for and the menu wasn't entirely up our alley. (That said, the scallop/brie/honey appetizer was scandalous.) Next stop was J-Bar at the Hotel Jerome. I particularly wanted to stop here as it was a haunt of Hunter S. Thompson (seems he had several faves; the man liked the drink), and we did find a "Hunter S. Thompson for Sheriff" sign behind the bar. It's lovely there, cozy and warm (figuratively speaking only, unfortunately, as there was a mean draft by the window seats), and the menu was comforting. Our salads, burgers and chicken pot pie hit the spot, and my pretty-dern-local Blue Moon was ace. (Oh, and yeah, what they say about being able to drink much less at altitude is true!)
~ Again, we got to the club just after the doors opened, but tonight we had a two-hour wait until the show started. Last night, a DJ took over the club after the BHTM show, so they only played two hours and we all had to clear out right after. Tonight there was no after party and we'd heard from a crew member that the guys might play a longer set, so we were hopeful and didn't mind waiting two hours for the show to start. Football, beer and war stories commence...
~ Here's what I posted to the BHTM boards:

Wow. This weekend has left me at a loss for words (and for those of you who know me, you know that's a rarity). Our second night here in Aspen was outta sight. The guys seemed to really be having a great time, and a little musical birdie told me they were stoked to see people showing up at all the CO shows night after night.

How could we not? This place is a gem of a venue; I can't stress that enough. The guys never cease to amaze me with their friendliness and down-to-earth attitudes; they always make you feel like you're an old friend. Aspen is crazy beautiful, especially while decorated for the holidays and covered with a dusting of the nice white stuff, and the people here have all been really nice. And the energy and set lists... man oh man... let's just say that both nights we all left a lil' bit worked over.

What a weekend! I'm sad to see it end, but I must head out into the 3 degree weather and back to Boulder now. In the meantime, chew on this setlist:

Monument in Green (just Todd and Jeremy)
Friend of the Devil (that's the Dead, baby!)
Cruel Fate
Neckbreaker
Blue Sky
It's Alright
Moose
Riviera
Sister Sweetly
Mona Lisa
Strategem
Tangerine
VOJ/Leaving
Heart of Wilderness
Love Transmission
Magdelina (with a horn)
Ever Since Ya Pulled Me Under (with horns)
James Brown Medley (with horns)
Beautiful World (with horns)
Runaway Train
Come On
Encore: Circle, Rocky Mountain Way (!!!)

~ I should add to the above post that I danced more than I think I may ever have at a show; perhaps it was the set list, maybe it was the fun produced by being surrounded by more friends than I usually am at a show, likely it was simply the perfect circumstances of the weekend. It truly was a perfect weekend.

~ Oh, let me not forget to mention that after the show we hung out BS-ing with the merch guy, who is a friend of the band, while my lil' cousin bought some goodies. Jeremy came out to chat with us and we got some photos of him with the kid and some of the girls. He was his usual sweet, funny self. When we finally left, we bumped into Brian, who was helping load some equipment into the trailer; he, too, was his usual friendly, twinkly-eyed self, and the kid got another photo.

P.S. PER YOUR REQUESTS, I'LL POST LOTS OF PHOTOS AND VIDS ON FLICKR AND MYSPACE IN A BIT. GO TAKE A PEEK!

Day 4 in Colorado

2009-01-03T10:07:00.004-05:00

~ We checked out of our hotel in Westminster, drove to Boulder to pick up my friend, and got on the road.
~ We stopped in Breckenridge so the friend could get her hair cut; her hair dresser moved from Boulder to Breckenridge not too long ago, and this all-important primping session was scheduled weeks ago. While that was happening, the youngin and I walked around, had lunch at a teensy tiny pizzeria, and stopped into a shop so she could buy a T-shirt she'd spotted from the car window on the way into town. It reads "Dude, I think this whole town is high! Breckenridge, altitude 9,600." Funny.

~ We slipped and slided our way back to the car, and tried to find a Starbucks on the way so the driver could get her caffeine fix, but we didn't have much luck. When we found that the S'bux in Glenwood Springs' Safeway sported a broken espresso machine, we gave up hope; surely there would be a place to sate our cravings in Aspen.
~ There was, but not until tomorrow morning...
~ Meanwhile, the drive to Aspen was gorgeous. Not only are the views phenomenal (I know, I'm full of mammoth adjectives and convenient superlatives, but if the shoe fits...), but the weather was perfect for travel: dry, sunny and still.

~ After trying to find a place to park the car outside our hotel (the roads were narrow, parking is on-street, and the snow plow had left pretty large berms), we were assisted inside by a friendly, chatty hotel staffer who was very interested in going to one of the shows we effused about. (A convert? Perhaps; I never did see him at the Belly Up, but then, I was certainly distracted.)
~ The hotel is really beautiful, two-and-a-half blocks from the Belly Up, all restaurants, Starbucks (!!) and the base of Ajax Mountain. So convenient; the weekend felt like a cruise, in that you could party all night and schlep back to your room with no worry of car keys and DUI check points. Well, this wasn't exactly that kind of weekend, but I thought it worth mentioning for those of you planning a ski trip. Enjoy. ;)

~ Wash, dress, primp, loudly sing along to BHTM, excitedly dance around the room, take a final five (or ten) looks in the mirror, stop for an "ooh I forgot my scarf", and out the door we went to dinner at Little Annie's, which we'd heard and read many good things about. Our cheeseburger, BBQ chicken and grilled turkey sandwich were all great, especially since they were all accompanied by lumpy, peppery mashed potatoes of a divine nature. The woman who runs the front of the house (owner?) moved like a NYC diner hostess but had the personality of a Midwesterner: perfect. The place is cramped, bustling and affordable, and our booth in the front window was chilly but cozy. Note to self: Go back, if only for the mashed potatoes and the Tootsie Roll Midgies (or are they Minis? I'm never sure which are which.) that come with the check.
~ The Belly Up was only a couple blocks from the restaurant, it wasn't bitter cold, and the town is a storybook fantasy, so the walk to the show was enjoyable.
~ The venue is tiny but beautiful, the sound and lighting were great, the coat check not only exists but is free (wow), and the audience is permitted to stand right up against the stage. I'm unsure how the band feels about it (they didn't seem to mind us being right up in their faces), but I know we all were crazy for the set up. It's the best place I've seen a concert yet, and I've seen many.
~ The doors opened an hour before the show started, and we got there just a few minutes after doors for fear of a cramped space and no spots near the boys. But it worked out great. Everyone was watching college football and nursing their adult beverages while waiting for the show to start; there's a large, roll-up movie screen rigged in front of the stage, and it wasn't lifted until just a moment or two before the guys came on stage. But our group of six or so waited by the corner of the stage, chatting and taking turns refilling our water cups and emptying our bladders, until the screen was rolled up. Then we quickly scooted into position (with me dead center at Todd's toes, naturally), while everyone else jostled in behind us.

~ The show was perfect. Here's what I posted on the BHTM boards.

Last night's show was incredible, just incredible. The energy was crazy - both the guys' and the audience's. The set list featured a nice mix of old and new, including some great surprises, like a horn section and Clapton's "Forever Man". This was a BHTM show as I know and love them - outstanding!

Cherries on top: the venue is great (with a capacity of only 400 or so), the stage itself is pretty tiny so all the guys were within view, we were so close that my water bottle was on the stage at Todd's feet, and this was my teenage cousin's first show and she's officially hooked (Yay!). She's crossing her fingers that she gets to meet the boys tonight.

What was actually played varied a tad from the set list taped at Todd's feet; for instance, "Stategem" was on the list but wasn't played, and "Boom Boom" wasn't planned but made it into the encore. Here's the set list I jotted down over the course of the night:

Broken Hearted Savior
All the Love You Need
City on Fire
Resignation Superman
Again and Again
I'll Play the Blues For You
Fortune Teller
Dirty Juice
Bittersweet
Under a Silvery Moon
In the Morning
Forever Man
These Days Without You
Juliana
Dinner With Ivan
Please Don't Tell Her
Wishing Well
Cashbox
Spanish Highway
Kensington Line
Beautiful Rain
Encore: Conquistador, Boom Boom, Her Own Kinda Woman

~ After the show, we walked around town, trying to figure where to go; that chatty hotel staffer had suggested a locals' bar called Zane's but it was too close to last call to make the trek over. We ended up making it nowhere, wandering in circles and giggling our heads off. It's that giddiness that comes only from a stellar BHTM show. We eventually walked off some of our natural high and stumbled back to bed, where we lay talking for hours.

Days 2 and 3 in Colorado

2009-01-02T02:30:00.038-05:00

My efforts at creating maximum mountain/music/metro time have minimized my wifi time. So this update will be abbreviated. (And please excuse any typos; it is about 4 a.m. eastern time, after all.)

Day 2
~ Drove deep into suburbs at the foot of the mountains, just poking around.
~ Picked up a quick lunch and another bottle of water. I can't seem to get enough water these days - cotton mouth and dry eyes!
~ Made my way over to downtown Denver to see where the Ogden Theatre and The Irish Snug are located. Noticed the city, especially along Colfax, is teeming with interesting signs; I'll post some pix later.
~ Went into REI (Recreation Equipment Inc.) in the city. It's an outdoor-equipment store in what looks like a huge, old brick warehouse (could be a new building for all I know), with a rock climbing wall about three stories tall and enough snowboards, fleece hoodies and mountain bikes to outfit the entire city, methinks. Pretty cool. Sadly, I bought nothing; no immediate need and no room in the suitcase.

~ Rode with a friend to our hotel in Denver, checked in, and ogled the dozens of Widespread Panic fans drinking cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and noshing Skittles in the lobby, elevators and halls (the band played the Pepsi Center on 12/30 and 12/31, so the city was oozing hippies).
~ After some primping, we met more friends in the hotel lobby and drove over to the Irish Snug for dinner and a beer. It has the feel of a true Irish pub in a northern city (Manhattan or Boston), with wooden walls, all Guinness products on tap, and stuffed full of Christmas flocking, New Year's Eve decorations and local revelers. Unfortunately, we didn't find the folks we were hoping to meet up with until after we'd paid our tab; so we stayed for another beer, then walked the two blocks over to the Ogden.
~ Doors were slated for 8:30, show at 9:30, so we didn't expect much of a line at 8. We were mistaken. There were easily 50 people there ahead of us and security got a bit pushy with everyone at one point (wanting us to reform our queue across the street, but none of us budged for fear of losing our place), but we still staked our claim on a nice piece of real estate at the railing in front of Todd's mic. Perfect!
~ The band had announced that they'd play two 90-minute sets, but it turned out to be one hour-long set, followed by a 30-minute intermission and another two-hour set. My favorite Led Zeppelin song, Tangerine, was interrupted by the stroke of midnight, but we didn't care. Todd seemed awfully eager to end 2008 and start a fresh new year; we all agreed and toasted 2009 along with him, thanks to the champagne the band gave to the lucky front-rowers. Cheers! (More/better pix to come...)

~ All in all, BHTM played more old stuff than new, along with a few favorite covers (James Brown, Johnny Cash, Zeppelin), and were accompanied by a two-man horn section in parts. I got two full beers (cheap, stinky, sticky beers) down the back of my silk blouse, but I (almost) didn't notice, because the music was great and the boys were as adorable as ever. Sadly, my request was, for the first time in 16+ years, not played, but I think this weekend's shows in Aspen will be even better than yesterday's. Can't wait!!
~ Here's what I posted on the BHTM boards.

NYE was really fun! It was great to meet some of you folks I've been chatting with here for the last year or so; thanks for being nice! The set list was very cool, with lots of older stuff, which is just fine by me. And I agree, 422phos, that Todd's hair looks great short; and he seemed eager to shake off 2008 and start a fresh year. My view was great (though I wasn't able to get very many good photos), I had wonderful people all around me (including some new friends!), and it was a great way to ring in the new year.

Here's the set list I jotted down throughout the evening:
Turn the Light Out
Love Transmission
Come On
Please Don’t Tell Her
How Easy
Runaway Train
Bittersweet
Helpless
Heart of Wilderness (Todd rocked it so hard he broke a string)
Angela Dangerlove
Blue Sky

Intermission

Caroline
Midnight Radio
I’ll Play the Blues For You (with horns)
Freedom Fighter
Fortune Teller
Spanish Highway
Circle
Mona Lisa
Cruel Fate
Tangerine (interrupted by the stroke of midnight)
Auld Lang Sine
James Brown Medley
All the Love You Need
Ever Since You Pulled Me Under
Her Own Kinda Woman (with horns)
Conquistador (with horns)
Boom Boom (with horns)

Encore: Beautiful Rain, Broken Hearted Savior, Folsom Prison Blues
(By the way, who threw their panties on stage during the show? Come on, fess up!)

~ For now, we walked several blocks back to our hotel, and after a hot shower and second look at the city view, I sunk deeply into my cozy bed.

Day 3
~ After some shuffling of cars and a trek to the airport, I dropped off some friends at the terminal and then headed inside to collect my lil' cousin. Yay! (Note: Picking up an "unaccompanied minor" at the airport isn't convenient; plan into your schedule at least 30 minutes more than you think you should.)
~ The kid and I made a beeline for Morrison; I couldn't show her Red Rocks quickly enough. But, I suppose hunger gave us enough pause, because we stopped for a Mexican lunch at Morrison Inn; we chose not to partake of their (in?)famous margaritas, being as it was too early in the day for me and she's, ya know, only 14 years old. Small details. :)
~ After rolling ourselves out of the restaurant, we walked around town a bit, took photos, went into a new-agey-type store (you know the kind: reeking of incense and selling many hand-knit anoraks, but cute nonetheless). A few other places looked quaint but were closed, and we weren't really in the mood to shop. Give us fresh air and sunshine!

~ On the way to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, I regaled her with my "huffed and puffed all the way up the stairs" story from my Tuesday visit to the park, and she laughed at her old, sad cousin. Yeah, well, she laughed even harder when, after ambitiously heading down to see the view from the stage, we had to make the trek back up in increments, conquering 20 or so steps at a time. Her panting and grunting made me feel a tad better about my own physical fitness; it seems working out four times a week at 13 feet above sea level does not adequately prepare one for a few flights of stairs at 6,200 feet. ;)

~ We spent a few hours driving around Denver, and I showed her Invesco Field, the Ogden and Fillmore, the funny signs on Colfax. We stopped into Twist & Shout record shop for some used CDs and to take a gander at the posters and other artifacts on the walls, including items from both Big Head Todd and Kiss (For a prize, can you correctly match each cousin with her favorite band?). The adjacent Tattered Cover closed pretty early and we missed out, which was disappointing for us book buffs. On our way to dinner, we stopped for photos at the state capitol and the city/county building, which is beautifully decked out for the holidays.

~ Later, we walked down the 16th Street Mall, had dinner at the Rialto Cafe (nice but casual), and checked into our hotel for the night. Tomorrow will be a big day: a drive up to Boulder to meet a friend, then back on the road to Aspen, with a pit stop in Breckenridge for lunch. Oh, and don't forget the Big Head Todd show at the Belly Up tomorrow night - the kid's first!

Day 1 in Colorado

2008-12-31T00:37:00.024-05:00

After two peaceful flights from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta and Atlanta to Denver, I picked up my silver Dodge Caliber (cute, large trunk, and pretty good clearance for a compact) and set off.

I made my way through the eastern and southern suburbs, oohing and ahhing over the view of the Rockies at every turn. Once I made my way to Morrison, I spent a couple hours at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. It's probably the most magnificent thing I've ever seen; photos (even those better than mine) could not do it justice. It's overwhelmingly mammoth and gorgeous. The air is pretty thin at 6,200 feet, so the other tourists and I were so winded that we had to stop every few steps while walking up the amphitheatre; the local joggers, most of whom were accompanied by their large dogs, didn't seemed fazed at all. But by the time I left, I was completely exhausted. After trekking around the park, you can rest your lungs and quads by walking through the visitor's center, where they have on display concert posters, signed guitars and other memorabilia from bands that have played there through the years (Big Head Todd included, of course).

Not too exhausted to head north to historic Golden, which has a western flair (possibly manufactured, but cute nonetheless). This town is also seated right at the foot of the Rockies, so the land is hilly and the views are great. (It's worth mentioning that the sun seems much bigger here in Colorado than at home, not to mention stronger and brighter; I suppose that's because I'm a mile closer to it! :P Anyway, this seems to have created a hazy effect in most of the photos I took today.) The town is adorable, it's full of bronze sculptures, and the creek is populated by what look like Canadian geese; oh, and it has an indy bookstore. Yeah! The Coors Brewery was closed for tours today for some reason, so no free sample for me; ho hum.

I checked into my hotel, took a power nap, and went for dinner at a local brewery called Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery. It's a pretty cool place, full of TVs showing college ball games, a very nice cobb salad; their homemade Red Rocks Red was creamy (if you like Smithwick's, you'd dig this for sure). Nice touch: You can see the big beer kettles (is that what they're called?) from the street through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I capped the night off with a decaf by the (faux) fire at Caribou Coffee. Now I'm going to bed, if I can - seems some of the folks in my building are fond of screaming, running up and down the halls and slamming doors. I need my rest, right? Tomorrow will be a long day, what with the Big Head Todd and the Monsters New Year's Eve show and all. :D

The mountains' call

2008-12-26T20:28:00.024-05:00

The mountains are calling, and so here I am, packing for a nine-day trip to Colorado. I'm not all that experienced with dead-of-winter vacations in the Rocky Mountains, so filling the suitcase has been interesting. But I haven't had too much trouble creating a Wish List of places and things I don't want to miss during my stay.

I'll be spending most of my time in the Denver/Boulder area, winding my way through the surrounding towns of Morrison, Golden, etc. There will also be a two-night side trip to Aspen, with stops in Breckenridge and Vail on the way in and out. I was hoping to visit the Garden of the Gods and ride the cog railway up Pike's Peak, and maybe take a drive up over the Wyoming line to Laramie; but if the weather is as snowy as it's been lately, my lack of winter driving skills will preclude me from taking those side trips this time around. I'll just have to come back during the summer sometime soon - perhaps in early June when Big Head Todd and the Monsters open the concert season at Red Rocks Amphitheatre!

All in all, I won't be taking as many "chances" as I normally would, because I will have my 14-year-old cousin with me and have to play "grown up" - that means a skiing lesson is likely out, too. But that's all OK with me, because, as most of you know, I'm not terribly adventurous when it comes to activities that could, ya know, compromise the integrity of my spinal cord, and I'm really stoked about spending tons of one-on-one time with my favorite mini-me. :)

I'm bound to miss some of these things and discover places I didn't plan on, but here's what I've got so far...

I'll keep you posted with photos, videos, and updates here throughout my trip.

WISH LIST

Denver
Tattered Cover bookstore
Colorado History Museum
Mt. Evans Scenic Byway
16th Street Mall
Larimer Square
State Capitol
Blue Bear at the Convention Center
Molly Brown House Museum
Twist and Shout record store
REI Outlet (namely, the mammoth rock climbing wall)
Denver Museum of Nature and Science (only for the view from the 3rd floor)
Coors Field (perhaps best left for the summer trip)
Invesco Field at Mile High (unfortunately, I'll be there just days after the Bronco's final home game)
El Chapultepec restaurant and jazz venue
Herman's Hideaway (this likely won't happen - no shows are scheduled during my trip)
Mezcal restaurant
Cry Baby Ranch store
Common Grounds coffeeshop
Spicy Pickle Sub Shop (OK, some things on this list are based on friends' recommendations)

Boulder
Hotel Boulderado
Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Leanin' Tree Museum of Western Art
Pearl Street Mall

Aspen
J-Bar
Woody Creek Tavern
Funky Mountain Threads store
Silver Queen Gondola (if non-skiers are allowed in the winter)
The Popcorn Wagon
ride in the Ultimate Taxi

In general
try buffalo meat
take a horse-drawn sleigh ride
go snow tubing
ride the Pike's Peak Cog Railway
climb around the sandstone at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
get a photo at the Continental Divide
dinner at The Fort in Morrison
tour the Coors Brewery in Golden
shop at Weber's Books and Drawings in Breckenridge
make a snow angel :P

Holiday lights!
Union Station
Brown Palace Hotel (the huge tree in the lobby)
D&F Tower
the city and county building
pine trees in the mountains!

Say it loudly and proudly

2008-12-23T15:52:00.001-05:00

And he doesn't succumb to the soup

2008-12-03T17:22:00.002-05:00

Crazy. Remember Point Break? "It's not tragic to die doing what you love. If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price."

I believe

2008-11-04T17:19:00.003-05:00

I came across this quote today, and it struck me as so true that I thought I should share.

Who so loves, believes the impossible.

-- Elizabeth Barret Browning

Yet another reason to love those Coloradans

2008-10-15T18:18:00.003-04:00

...especially the ones in Boulder!

Seems the students at University of Colorado at Boulder worked together to make the Buffaloes' homecoming game 90% waste free. I find it incredible that this goal was important to enough people to make it happen. But I shouldn't be surprised; health, fitness, environmental concern and a love for the outdoors seem almost to be requirements for living in that part of the world. A lazy litterbug? Stay in Virginia, or Alabama, or whatever state happens to be the least "green" (I'll research that and get back to you in a later post).

Anyway, here's what Ideal Bite (a super-cool Web site that sends a very do-able "go green" tip to your e-mail box each day) has to say about it:

Can't get all excited over draft picks and dream teams? Bet (C)U can: Even if you go just for the tailgate party, you'll have a good time knowing tomorrow's homecoming Buffs game'll be 90% zero waste. All the nachos, burgers, and pizzas sold at FF now come in eco-friendly containers with biodegradable utensils - and huddled around 50 stadium spots are recycling and composting bins, with signs and student volunteers showing you what to drop-kick where. The new program will keep more than 54 tons o' garbage outta landfills this season - and put the black gold, er, compost, back on CU's campus. Stat.

Wanna Try? CU Buffaloes homecoming game; Oct. 4, 5 p.m. Folsom Field, Colorado Ave. & Folsom St., Boulder; Tickets, $50-$95.

An afterthought: Seems you can tell a good college football team by the cost of their tickets. The Buffs charge at least $50 a ticket. It costs as little as $5 to see my Owls in action. (That's Florida Atlantic University for your folks living north of the Florida/Georgia border, and no they're not having a good season so far, but there's time for redemption!)

How to choose a favorite hockey team

2008-10-14T20:00:00.006-04:00

Well, perhaps it's not the best way, especially when it comes to fantasy play (trust me!), but it is an option for you serious boozers out there. :)

Puck Daddy's (sometimes amusing) blog reported today on the average cost of an evening of hockey fun. As P.D. states, most of us don't fit under that "typical family night" umbrella of four hot dogs, two ball caps, two small beers and so on for $288.23.

Most folks just want the beer, and lots of it. And if they can't afford what's sold at the arena, they'll pre-drink in the parking lot - or avoid the crowd entirely, enjoying the game at home with a remote in one hand and a 12-pack in the other. (This makes me wonder if the arena owners wouldn't make more cash by making beer affordable for the heavy-drinking masses, rather than only to a small few. But, anyway...)

So, what's the going rate for Panthers fans? It seems those money-hungry bastards at the BankAtlantic Center charge $7 for a 20-ounce beer - that's 35 cents an ounce. No wonder I don't booze it up when I'm at the games! (The 40-minute drive home has something to do with that, too.)

Based on this list, I'm thinking I oughtta start traveling to games in Pittsburgh ($0.25/ounce) or Washington ($0.28/ounce).

Can you afford to take a date to your next home game?