Last year I was in Las Vegas at this time.  Celebrating friendships and life.  Wine was involved, some pool time and a Cirque show.  Excellent trip really. 

This year my friend, Shana (fellow yogi in Santa Fe) invited me to join her at Ojo.  I would have loved to but didn't feel confident that I would be able to take the time off.  It seems easier to acquire time off around my days off instead of changing it up.  I want to have a consistent work week so I chose to skip this Ojo adventure knowing that I can head down in a few weeks to rejuvenate.  I am stoked.

Maybe I will manage a trip to Vegas in the fall.  I always love the food factor and it is a quick flight.  Who knows?  I have boundless opportunity to explore more of the states and I want to.  I am inspired to do something new.  Any suggestions?

Upcoming travel and desires

I have made some plans and am considering others.  I feel I should try to visit Carol in Kansas at some point soon. It's been over ten years since I have last seen her and she has always been supportive of me.  I met her when we moved to Kansas and my mom worked for her and her husband.  Later my sister worked for her and finally, I did.  I think I have known Carol since I was seven years old.
She is getting older as we all do.  Six months ago she chose to move into an assisted living facility.  She had been living on her own up until that point.  Lunching with ladies, walking around her neighborhood and drinking wine. I love that part of it.  It is good for her health and recommended by her doctor.  Of course, I celebrate and support that on a daily basis myself.
I believe I will attempt a road trip soon to go and see her.  Perhaps see the little beauty, Emma, too. I need to figure out how to make it happen and how much time I will need.  I saw everyone in my family two weeks ago and so if I chose to not explore more of Kansas, I think they would understand.
I will be heading to Santa Fe in a few weeks to celebrate friends birthdays, soak at Ojo and drink silver coin margaritas. I need to arrange where I can stay during that time and believe I can visit Melody or Teo.  I considered staying at a hotel but am more interested in creating experiences (translation drinking and dining) than having a posh place to stay.  Although posh places to stay invite other things that I enjoy, haha.
It feels right to be in Denver and creating my own niche.  Slowly, it seems, I am making progress.  I had some lessons to learn and some stuff to let go of.  Since I am now in my own space, I have made multiple trips to goodwill to release more of the things that have been with me at different addresses and cities.  Seems silly that I wanted to have them with me especially as they were boxed, unopened, unused.  Some of my artwork seems outdated, too.  I think I am finally ready to purchase a van gogh.  When I visited Amsterdam with Brian we stopped by the museum and I fell in love with some of his later pieces.  Of course, I love starry night and sunflowers.  But there are others, too, that are exquisite. 
I bought some sheets for me and my friend who I was staying with.  New sheets are always a nice gift, I believe.  It is my attempt to express my gratitude for my host's graciousness/generosity.  The least I can do, I feel.
I keep learning about what is important to me.  And how to make it my reality.  I am grateful that I have the opportunity to keep exploring.  I will continue to do so.

gratitude

Beautiful.  I love this bench and where it is located.  Matthew Winters Park in Denver.  I love knowing how many times I have visited to reconnect, reflect, rejoice.  I feel, at peace, there.  I should visit more often as it is extremely relaxing for me.

I am reminded, daily, of Brian and how he chose to live his life.  No regrets.  Always generous with his friends, work, and me.  Sometimes I get wrapped up in details and forget how wonderful my life is.  I have the freedom to travel, to meet friends and dine in some incredible restaurants.  I am fortunate to have many friends that support and encourage me.  I want to continue on this path.  I am thankful.

etiquette

I keep hearing about how it is a different time.  Translation, we have forgotten how to be considerate, courteous or practice the art of etiquette.  I was talking to this couple yesterday expressing my disappointment with a situation that I recently experienced.  I explained how I had received a text as a thank you and felt that it was insufficient and inconsiderate.
The lady looks at me and says that her daughter-in law never sent thank you cards after their wedding.  Not one person received a thank you and I was shocked.  200 guests and not one thank you.  She continued with having three sons and  how she tried to inspire them to be courteous after their high school graduations.  She even went as far as to addressing all of the thank you cards from their graduations.  Hopeful that the boys would take the hint and fill out the cards.  She said, she was unwilling to write the cards themselves.  And, in my mind, I thought, but they are boys,...hmm, why is that okay?  Something else to consider at a later time.  I do have male friends that have written me thank you cards, notes, letters so men can and do know how to be courteous.
Her last thought was that she and her husband chose to overlook the lack of etiquette as it is a different time.  She doesn't want to upset the balance by pointing out how her daughter-in law is basically terrible at courtesy.  They skype or text on a weekly basis and that has become enough.  I am on the fence with it.  I don't think a text is enough.  I take the time to put together something thoughtful and write a card to express the why and I receive a text days later.  It's rude. 
The best part of the conversation was where she said, I don't think my grandkids will be able to read cursive since they have ipads in their classrooms now.  They no longer are taught how to write cursive in school.  My response, yea, this person might not have been able to read my handwriting.  I am notorious for my handwriting and yet, I still enjoy sending notes, cards, letters.  Just yesterday, I took the time to send six cards to people I wanted to thank for their kindness, graciousness and/or generosity.  I love receiving cards, too. 
I know it is a different time.  I see how things change and I have changed, too.  I stalk people of social media.  I contribute photos, thoughts, etc on a few of the sites.  I communicate, daily, via text and rarely leave messages on phones anymore.  I know multiple people who do not know how to access their voice mail account.  We are reliant on text, sure.  However, this does not take substitute the essence of courtesy, etiquette or class. 
My last thought is that yes, things have changed.  I do not have to sacrifice my values on this to coexist in the reality.  I will continue to write cards and make time to do this.  I just cannot be so rigid, perhaps, on how others practice kindness.

connections and small world stuff

Small world continued to present itself yesterday.  I met Tiffany for lunch in the Uptown area of Denver.  I chose the place for the happy hour wine and knowing this restaurant as it is based out of Phoenix.  I had been hesitant to check it out since my expectations were low of what they would offer.  They do have a great happy hour, daily, with wonderful wine specials.  The food is not that dynamic nor has it changed since they opened in the early 2000's as we found yesterday.
Still, we had a few glasses of wine and I asked the bartender how long she had worked there.  Since they opened she said.  I told her I had lived in Phoenix and knew some of their loyal staff and as we were talking this guy approaches and says--aren't you Harmony?
I knew this guy from being in Phoenix.  He had been a valet and parked Veronica numerous times.  Such a small world!  He took care of our appetizer which was super kind.  Dan will be heading back to Phoenix next month to return to life there.
After our appetizer we chose to seek out margaritas.  Last time we day drank, we spent the majority of the day at this spot.  Yesterday, I wasn't really feeling it.  Too loud and the drinks were meh.  We considered our options and headed to another spot where we know the bartender.  I drove over and parked only to find that this place has closed for remodeling.  Crap!
We were out of options.  Did I really want to drive back downtown in rush hour traffic?  What was east of us?  I turned into the Whittier neighborhood and saw a random bar.  People were sitting outside and so we thought--let's check it out.  We walked into the bar and it was inviting.  The wine selection was lame and as we chose a cocktail one of the bartenders emerged.  I knew this guy from a few other restaurants.   And he had worked at the airport last I knew.  He remembered me and so our first round was taken care of.  Excellent!
Earlier in the day, I heard a song that took me back to 4th of July celebrations in Iowa and summers with my cousins.  I think I started the day on a nostalgic realm and wanted to be reminded of my connections.  Today I return to work.  I will hopefully sleep, easily tonight, as I open tomorrow morning.  I have some anxiety about waking up and getting their on time.  This will be my first opening shift and it does scare me.  I am bartending which will be awesome but the opening shift is early.  Should be interesting.
My trip to Oregon was too quick.  Went by too fast and there was not nearly enough time to spend time with my sisters or my parents.  Too many distractions and options really.  There will have to ben another trip this year, I think.  Perhaps they could visit me that would be a novel idea, haha.
I must start my day and see where it takes me.  Cheers!

Last weekend

Reunited with friends from college.  Awesome.  Jean was awesome and drove down from Seattle to pick me up from Portland and drive me to Eugene.  It was a whirlwind of activity.  So many people in town to celebrate Mackenzie's graduation.  I was fortunate to see her for her open house. 

I remember being that age and wanting to be free.  My mom hosted my party and some of my friends stopped by along with family.  At the end of it, I flitted from party to party to see friends and dreamed of when the summer would end and I could move to college.  Such a glorious time.

I get it, I do.  I only wish I had been able to carve out a little more time with Mackenzie before heading back to Denver.  I suppose there is always next time.  Yesterday, I spent the majority of the day traveling back to Denver and experiencing delay after delay til I arrive in Denver and the light rail is not working.  So frustrating!  I waited with Maghan til he got off work as he had had my car.  Had I known that he would arrange an uber from park and ride I would have left an hour before we left.  Yet another irritation that I would have liked to avoid.

I am back and heading to work in a few hours.  Back to thrive, create a niche and be happy.  I will reflect more on my trip to Oregon when I have time.  It was amazing to see all of my sisters, parents and friends.

adaptation and wants

New place.  Adjustment to the new surroundings and recognizing what I have carried around with me for the last ten years.  I think of how I carted my stuff from Denver to Phoenix in my car and then convinced an ex to pick up the remainder of my belongings when he traveled through.  How had I thought more on it, I could have parted ways with the majority of it before bringing it to Phoenix, Santa Fe and eventually, back to Denver.  I am finding things I have kept packed and now upon unpacking I wonder why I have kept it. 
I have a good will section set up.  Then, there is some trash that occurs and my clothes remain at the warrior prince's for the time being.  I have been working, a lot, and my time off is limited.  As much as I want to retrieve my clothing I also want to sleep, drink wine and relax.  I know that I will be heading over in the next few days to get my clothes.  I have a trip to Oregon this weekend.  I am super excited to fly and see my sisters.  Actually, my entire family will be in Oregon spending time in to celebrate my niece's high school graduation.  Should be a joyous occasion. 
And, I fly into Portland and have the opportunity to meet up with a fellow traveler from Denver.  Jaime and her hubby met me in Argentina in 2008.  Or at least we tried to meet in 2008. We missed each other by an hour.  Fun story for sure.  I think I will have time to meet up with her for a beer before my college friend, Jean, picks me up to drive us down to Eugene.  I am excited to see her, my sisters and family. The last time we were all together was in 2012 for Michaela's wedding.  Should be entertaining to say the least. 
I love my new space.  It cools off at night and although there are new sounds and and people, it suits me.  I am learning to enjoy it and stop hearing the street.  It is more lively here than at Sara's or Maghan's house.  When I return from Oregon, I will make the time to discover all of the nooks and crannies of it.  The nearest coffee shop.  Grocery store.  Where I can buy wine.  Are there pastries around?  All of the things that make neighborhoods unique.  I should start running again.  Once my schedule works itself out, I will.  I managed to arrange a run with Lindsay a few weeks ago and I live close enough to Sara where I could run over to meet with her and tour her neighborhood.  Focus on health and everything else will fall into place. 
This weekend will be wonderful and much needed.  It has been four years since I have seen my sisters.  Although I keep visiting them.  They owe me a few trips to where I am at to even things out.