Day Whenever

After several days of getting some skiing, relaxing, hormones (for her), algebracic formulas (for me), and drinking (for both) out of our system - literally and figuratively - we headed back to Denver...and then to reality.


It was soooo cold on the way back from Vail that our car's thermometer displayed the lowest we've ever seen a car thermometer go (see pic below).  Not sure about you, but i had no clue these themometers could even go into negative numbers? Granted I'm from the South and thankfully I've never been anywhere when it was that could so hadn't had to look, but I had no idea a negative sign was ever there to illuminate - if necessary. Or maybe I have but they only cars with this little negative sign there.  sell/rent them that way in the Rockies or northern areas I haven't been much...or maybe it's just that because of where we live that negative sign has never come into play so therefore I never noticed it being available. Either way, they were shocking firsts for both of us - the temperature and the little negative sign beside it.




Not much else to report, at least not for now...In other words, as many of you know we successfully got what we came for - for now. Playing the the probablity and statistics worked out in our favor. So as it turns out and as my "everything happens for a reason" wife points out, it was well worth missing the GMAT appointment to figure out the best course of action...even if it meant crunching numbers, forecasting odds, and deliberating with the embyologist all while sitting in the parking lot of the testing center as my appointment time passed. Besides, after applying probablity and statistics in as much of a real life scenario as I could possibly imagine before the actual test, it probably was best that I didn't have to go take it immediately after.
You know, somewhere in all of this is a whole disseration and justification on how my gambling ways helped us make the right decision here...but I'll save that for later!

Anyway, over and out for now, but here are some recent video links for you...



1. Boulder Theater, a frickin' awesome live music venue, is a convertered, old school movie theater in the downtown of a hip college town (the perfect recipe, no?). If Red Rocks is the best outdoor music venue I've been to, then Boulder Theater is the best small indoor venue I've been to as well. (I know that's a bold statement, and it's a tough call with Ziggy's in Winston, but then again, was Ziggy's itself all that great or just the roster of bands that came there?). But it wasn't just the setting and atmostphere, the setup was just as key...good, close seating, great accoustics, and just as important, it's bar was inside the music hall starting at the dual entrances and stopping in the middle just before the sound board.


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvgkeFdyXCE



2. Execellent rendition of "The Way It Is" by B. Hornsby...came in the middle of his set, sorry for shaky camera work in the first 30 secs, had a hard time getting it prop'd on the open seat beside me (yes, the seat beside me was open, probably the only one in the place - drinks, jackets, feet, video cameras - it was all fair game - money!). Bruce was very good, not great..typical kinda pompous self - he came straight out, went into two straight songs, didn't say a word to the crowd, and didn't acknowledge Bob Schneider (who actually outperformed Hornsby, I predict he will start to get big pretty fast with shows like that) or let him re-appear on stage with him later. But nevertheless, Bruce always plays well, so here you go...

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRHpqjuAY7w


3. Video of a somewhat tipsy stroll through Vail Village...the men were leading the way in search of quality red meat and high definition display of college football...surprisingly we found the best of both in one spot. Hang on 'til the end of the clip to witness Catherine's excellent handiwork on the video camera.


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkiI_hwY6ZU

Day Whatever

Been a while since we last updated, been several residences and towns ago, and been through so much since that I don't really know where to start...nor will I. (plus, I think everybody reading this knows what all has transpired anyway).


So fast forwarded to real time...Good day on the mountain today. The good news was new snow rolled in, the bad news was the weather that came along with it - 10 degrees was the high at the mid point of the mountain and most of our time was spent above there! So we all (yes, even Catherine) were pretty bundled up. It was so cold that if any body part, particurally the face or ears was exposed it started to sting and had to be dealt with almost immediately. The rides on the chair lifts were mostly spent helping each other adjust hoods, googles, masks, neck gaiters, toboggins, etc.


But nevertheless, we were out there braving the elements, and glad we did, still well worth it....got in a good four hours. At the time we left this morning, the local sports book had the over/under on the amount of time Catherine was going to last out there at 1.5 hours - but she well beat that prediction...although, we didn't get out there until 11am today, partly due to our late evening, but mainly due to the fact it took close to an hour to assemble her outfit. It was quite a process, the full dining room table was used to piece it together for full warmth from head to toe with no body part exposed..and what she didn't choose to wear but could later be used to add warmth was cramed in my little Camelback pack to bring with us.

Anyway, think we're staying in and cooking here tonight...supposed to be even colder, but snowing most the evening so a good night to stay in, watch it snow, and watch football of course. Heading over Beaver Creek tomorrow, Mercer and I plan to ski while Catherine posts up and tries to spot celebrities at the Ritz Carlton lodge right at the base of the mountain.


Here are a few images from the last several days...



Walking the streets of Boulder...

Brief stop for a picture with Vail Valley in the background...note: goggles and face mask were removed only momentarily for the picture.

And here are some links to the latest virtual tours of the last two places...First the Hotel Boulderado in dowtown Boulder, CO. Over hundred year hotel, which actually publicizes itself as being haunted. But we stayed on the newer "unhaunted" wing (at least that's what I told Catherine).

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64VuMt2eeHY


And here is the Austria Haus Club in Vail Valley...eloquent little Swiss Alp type property right beside the village and within easy walking to the slopes (condo actually faces the mountain, along with the outdoor hot tub).

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDFXOY5P-nw

Day Five: Beer and Football (and more shots)

Day Five

Not much new or exciting to report, we've hit the daily routine part of the trip that entails a 45 min. appointment in the morning and then having the rest of the day to find something to entertain ourselves. Problem is, that form of entertainment can't be anything too strenuous and we don't want to go anywhere that involves spending money (i.e. the mall).

Weather has turned a little cooler (high in 50's) and will be getting even colder in the coming days with a chance of snow...hopefully the snow comes heavier to the mountains, right now the ski report isn't looking so good for next week.

With most of yesterday spent inside the hotel (Trey taking GMAT practice test and Catherine doing Xmas cards), I decided today we, or me really, needed some sense of normalcy so we went to a local sports bar to drink beer, eat wings, and watch the Jake Delhomme complete more passes to the other team than his best receiver (who also happens to be on my fantasy team - ouch). See pictures below for Catherine's three pronged experience at the sports bar rooting for the Panthers and members of my fantasy team...

(I convinced her to take a sip or two of beer - again, try to find a sense of normalcy)

(Now this is more like normalcy - her checking BlackBerry while I'm watching sports).

(Not sure if it was the 2 oz of beer, the boredom, the medication, or depression from watching Jake Delhomme but it all caught up to her.)

Update on the treatment...things are moving along nicely, but a little slower than expected - the retrieval is now tentatively scheduled for Thursday. That means more medication for Catherine (shots) and presents some obstacles with me scheduled to take the GMAT that day and us planning to check out of Denver hotel and go to Boulder for the night for Hornsby concert. Nothing we can't overcome, but if you're sending out prayers and want to get specific, ask for Wed. retrieval.

Day Three: Thanksgiving Day '09

Quite an nontraditional Thanksgiving Day (as we knew it would be), but it was spent doing to the following...

• Studying for the GMAT (TW)


• Compiling our Christmas Card list (CW)


• Scouting out the GMAT test location (both)


• Attempting to find a local park, but a striking out (both)
  
• And then the highlight of the afternoon, venturing out to Historic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO - just outside of Denver to the west. Countless musicians have made a habit of performing here while on tour, and now I can see why. By the same token, live music fans have made pilgrimages here to see their favorite bands play, and again, I can see why. Bands are known for putting on incredible shows here and plenty of live albums have been produced from the concerts here (i.e. Dave Matthews Band - Live at Red Rocks '98).
  
• Here are a few pics of the place along with a link to panoramic videos from both the top of the amphitheater and from the stage...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaSr_3K454U

• Lastly, our big Thanksgiving feast...at none other than the Element Hotel. The Manager's Special was upgraded to a Thanksgiving Buffet this evening. So we couldn't turn down the free food, or the customary free beer! Besides, the staff here has become our defacto family so it would be strange to walk right past them in the lobby on our way to dine elsewhere. Certainly this is not exactly how we would have ever imagined spending a Thanksgiving dinner, but plenty to be thankful for nonetheless...we wouldn't be here going through this if it wasn't for the support and encouragement of those we would otherwise be with, and for that we are truly thankful.

Obviously no medical appoinments today, but we have two tomorrow...One for her and one for me - and I'll leave it at that. An update from the first day though, response to treatment is going well...everything is progressing as it should be for the time being, just that the process of getting there is the hard part (obviously more for her than me).

Day Two Updates

Day Two: Settling in and trying to entertain ourselves...

Returning from grocery store using the hotel's luggage cart to transport our stuff to the room, notice there is no beer on the cart!...

Playing putt-putt at the mini-golf course next to the hotel...By the picture you would think it was under 30 degrees, but I think the temperature was actually in the lower 50's. As for the golf, Catherine took an early lead and won the front nine by 7 strokes, but I rallied to win the back by 9 strokes, and therefore win today's round. Sure there will be a rematch though...

More to come in the days ahead, but now it's time to head down to the lobby for the nightly manager's reception which includes free beer and munchies...So it has become a nightly routine to not only go down there to have a few cold ones, but also in order to slowly (and cheaply) stock the fridge (hence the reason for no beer being purchased at the grocery store).

To view a tour of our home away from home, click on this link for a virtual tour...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHZi_pO9n7s