Colorado Springs

Today I believe I am heading to Colorado Springs to hang out with Chrissy. My intention is still to spend a few days down there but today is just a day trip I think. Will have to see how it all shakes out.

Boulder Part 2

So yesterday we went and poked around Nederland for a while. Hit the various shops and such. A big ass storm blew through and soaked part of the Jeep, that was quite awesome.

We had dinner at the Black Forrest which is fricken huge. Had a Russian Egg for a starter and the Sauerbraten for dinner. Mmmmm.

After dinner we headed down to Boulder to experience the Pearl Street Mall's night life. Walked up and down the 6 blocks and noticed a bunch of homeless kids. So that was interesting. Also walked past the 'Happiness Revolution' which was a group of six or so hippie kids that asked if we could spare a smile. Pretty funny.

Had some drinks on the rooftop of a bar and ate Yam Chips and Guacamole. Mmmmm.

Then went home and went to bed. Yay!

Umm...Wow

Well, so much for the news being Fair and Balanced.

Fricken Work

So work raised it's ugly head and demanded that I address it. I had to drive into town to a small coffee shop because the Library is closed on Sunday and Monday. So there is where I sit, working.

Boo! :(

However, once this is done I think today will be spent in Nederland checking out all the hippie art and stuff and then dinner at this big ass German restaurant called the Black Forrest. The Black Forrest has a special place in my heart because we played a radio show there when I was in Europe the first time and the director popped a solo on me. Bastard.

Nederland!

Today we went into Denver. It was mostly a very frustrating experience because it was mostly last second. I have learned that last second planning (or lack thereof) and big cities do not go together. Also, once again, I discovered that me and no food do not got together.

So we went home and took a nap. Then we went to Nederland!

Now, Nederland is a town in the moutanins tucked away in a valleyish area on the way to Boulder. This place has hippie written all over it. Grest town! Lots of neat little shops and restaurants. And four bars!

Here is my thinking on the name Nederland. Either they meant it to be Neverland, but were too high to spell it right. Or, and I think this is most likely, it is named after my heor in Three Amigos...Ned Nederlander. Therefore, it should obvious that someone should open bar/restaurant called Ned's in which a talking turtle serenades the patrons. How cool would that be?

Muesums

Is DC the only place where Muesums are free?

Boulder

Above is the Pearl Street Mall. It's an open air mall that spans several blocks. Lots of shops and restaurants and free entertainment.

In some areas of Boulder peds can press a crosswalk button that's turns on these flashing lights that indicate that the traffic should stop. Found that out the hard way. :)

Black Hawk and Central City

The closest town to where I am staying is Black Hawk - a gambling town. Central city is right next to it, like a mile away. They both have town halls and police forces.

The way Blawk Hawk was described to me I had thought it to be some poor little crappy town with one casino and a gas station. Wrong. Its like Vegas in the Rockies. Big ass Casinos with all the trimmings.

Central City also has a bunch of Casinos but has little shops and such as well. And, the biggest surprise of all, and Opera house...a pretty famous one at that apprently. Been in business for 75 years. If I knew anything about opera, I was told, I would have been impressed by the level of superstars they have there. Apparently one sat next to me at the Face Bar. Ah the face bar, that's a different story.

To give you an idea, think of the old west meets a smaller scale Vegas. Black Hawk would be the strip and Central City would be the old part of Vegas...Eldin Street I think? The two cities are REALLÝ cool.

Btw, isn't Central City the name of a town in a video game? Policy Academy comes to mind.

On The Way To Boulder

I decided to head to Boulder today. It's about 35 miles away but the road is uber windy and the speed limit is about 40. Plus, it is raining, which I enjoy but not everyone does.

On the way I saw the place pictured above and it looked like it was really hopping, so I decided to stop for lunch.

I am now sitting at a table inside waiting for my breakfast eggs and chili thing. Across the road is a dude that does trail rides that I think i'm going to check out.

The place is busy as heck so I sat at the tiny bar they have while waiting for a seat. I'm drinking a rather hoppy but refreshing beer as well. The people are nice and sociable which has more or less been typical up here in the hinterlands of Colorado.

On to boulder!

East vs West

Traveling west by car is more plesant than traveling east. For one thing, everytime you hit a new state the miles count down to the state line. This way you know how far you have to go.

The timezone changes work in your favor heading west as well, giving an extra hour here or there of driving.

As boring geographically as the midwestern states can be, they have awesome speed limits. You can cover a good bit of ground with a 75 mph speed limit.

One of the annoying things, however, are the radio stations in western Iowa and Nebraska. The three Cs are mostly all that is available out there (Classics, Country and Christian). So if that's your cup of tea you are golden.

All in all the drive west was pretty fun and quick.

Public Service Announcement

Two things:

1) I have discovered how to update my blog via email.
2) because of number 1, expect a lot of short entries about random stuff. These are mostly for me so in a year or so when I have totally forgotten everything I can go back and look.

Wait, who am I kidding. It'll be in September I need to go back to remember.

The Big Open Sky

Evertime I drive across the middle of the US...your Iowas, Nebraskas and Kansasies...I have an apiphany. I decided to write it down this time so I can stop having it.

There really is something to the "big open sky" that comes up in songs and such about the midwest. The sky is fricken huge. There are not any trees or structures to block your sight and it really is impressive. I don't know that I could ever live in one of those states but seeing that sky like that is something I would never tire of.

Car, I Name Thee...

...Bug Catcher!

"Nothing beats clown sex."

Stop laughing. (You know who you are.)

Butch Dewey

Any one know who that is? Pop quiz!

Anyway, I meant to post this a few days ago but didn't, so now I will. Some interesting quotes from my Breaux trip. I'll let you all try to figure out what they are in reference to. I apologize if I hurt anyone's delicate sensiabilities.

"No, that isn't too juicy."
"It's like sliding a hotdog now a hallway."

Oh, and the next quote deserves a post all on it's own. :)

Denver

I arrived in Denver last night about 4 ish east coast time.  I decided to push through all the way.  Dang that was a long day.  20 hours, 1200 miles and one nap, but I'm basically here.  Just a 30 minute drive up the mountain and I'm there.   Let the fun begin.

Oh, before I forget.  I was listening to the radio and that song about becoming a rock star by Nickleback came on.  The Dobson 'Focus on the Family' influence is apparent because they were bleeping out all kinds of stuff, like the word drug.  Oh, but Playboy was ok.  Weird. 

Onward!

Riding Along in My Automobile

So I'm heading to Colorado.  By car.  Yes, once again I have decided to drive across country all by my lonesome.  It has been a couple of years and I was starting to feel an itch to just go.  So that's what I did. 

I'm currently writing from a truck stop with Wi Fi (the Flying J, they are all over the country and all have Wi-Fi) in Des Moines, IA.  I left my house yesterday in my car around 5:30 pm and stopped west of Cleveland, OH for the night.  I've gone a total of 1000 miles with 700 more to go.  My thinking right now is to try and make it to Colorado by tomorrow morning before my friend goes to work so I can sleep in a real bed.  That'll be nice.

I've learned a couple of things I thought I would share on my trip so far:

1. There is a town in Iowa called 'What Cheer'.  Two thoughts come to mind on how this town's name a came to be.  Either someone was hard of hearing OR, more likely, it is just a really depressing place to live.
2. Having the back open in the Jeep when it is raining is not good for the stuff in the back of the Jeep.
3. The trip between Cleveland and really until you hit Iowa has some awesome rock channels.
4. Sirius antenna's do not work under the top of a Jeep.  Boo Sirius.
5. Jeep's do NOT do a good job of keeping bugs from whacking the windshield.  Must be that less than aerodynamic shape.  Eww.

This trip is totally open-ended.  I expect to be back the week after August 10th but who knows.  Once I get to my first destination I'm just going to do whatever feels right at the time.  I have an entire army of people looking after the beast so I know he is taken care of (thanks!!). 

Anyway, that's it from Des Moines.  It is time to hit the road again and take a bite out of that 700 miles.

BTW, here is a link to my route: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Ashburn,+VA&daddr=Black+Hawk,+CO&sll=40.40378,-91.32766&sspn=32.587941,48.867188&ie=UTF8&ll=40.380028,-91.494141&spn=32.587941,48.867188&z=4&om=1

Yay Monkeys!

"Sixty eight percent of Republicans don't believe in evolution. On the other hand, only five percent of monkeys believe in Republicans."
---Stephen Colbert

Ha Ha!

Scrubs

Love that show!  It is so funny how some of the plotlines in that show parallel my romantic life.  Actually, its usually funny...sometimes it stinks.

The Day The Internet Crashed

Oh Nooooo!!  Oh the humanity!!!

Ultimate Energy Drink

Mmmmmm...energy.

This Is Spinal Tap!

I don't think the audience got it.  Good stuff.

Well Said

Keith Olbermann talking about the Scooter commutation. 

Air Car!

Sweet