A car, a torch, a death (for 2 years anyway)

I have 10 days.  10 days until half of my heart goes across the country and to Mexico then on to Honduras for 2 years.  10 days to get as much alternative Indie music as I possibly can added to playlists to survive on while he is gone.  10 days until a small melt-down ensues.  

10 days.

It hurts to think about not having him around.  We've been through hikes and concerts and sad times and great times together.  We have cooked together more than I can even count and had some great discussions. 

I love this boy.  My toe-headed 3 year old that once existed has turned into a 6'1" tall handsome young man.  I'm so proud of him and what he has done with his life thus far.  He has been working on his culinary arts certificate and will have it done early, before he leaves the day before Thanksgiving.  He graduated in May and had played tennis and ran cross country.  He has been loving, open minded and a good listener to my times of stress and anxiety.  He has been my source of off the radar music, and I'm not sure I'm able to pick up the slack while he is away... but I'll try.  His playlist might be endlessly long when he gets back, but I'll try to do his job while he is away doing his.

10 days.

And when I lay down and go to sleep tonight, it will be 9 when I wake.I wonder... if I just don't sleep, does that keep it from happening?

Remember that when I packed your bag, I reached in and buckled up my heart... for you to go away with.  I love you Steven Wade.  Love you to the moon and back.

Cheyenne Frontier Days... long TREK!

Just back from the gym, tending to Wade, Aspen and Hayden's Aunt Mary. We are headed to Park City today for a few days. Mary bought us a room up there for two nights, and we have plans to swim, ride the alpine slide, and perhaps ride the lifts and do some hiking. Morgan isn't with us, she is at her dads... long story. The short version is, she needs to rest and relax and be (somewhat) waited on. When I heard her dad was driving through town to bring Wade here after their trip to Lund, I sent Morgan with him. She needs some time to work out some of the wrinkles with him anyway.

She spun the wheel and won $25.  She bought a backpack for kindergarten

Aspen loved Frontier Days!

My view around town on my 5 miler

denver LOVES

Cheyenne

Cheyenne and Denver were SO SO SO much FUN! There was only one downside... the DRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE!!!! We drove to Cheyenne on a Friday morning, and arrived in Cheyenne around 4pm. On the way home, however, we left Denver at 1:30 Sunday afternoon, and pulled into Lehi at midnight. Won't do that again. We stayed in a cool hotel that was similar to the style from the Titanic age, the Brown Palace Hotel. I ran a good five mile exploration route through town. This was my favorite part of the trip, actually. Cheyenne was good. Zac was amazing (as always)... however, the Marshall Tucker Band was the warm up band instead of Sonia Leigh. IT was NOT good! They were bad and I was really looking forward to Sonia. Zac has a new album out. It is (as always) great. We are glad to be home... at least until we leave this afternoon for Park City :)

Brenden got his shipping orders, and flies out to Canada next Tuesday, so his days for local care packages are numbered.

Loud

Guns N' Roses in town... 

With my 3 favorite guys...

Yes please.

 What was more entertaining than watching an old washed up "has been" try to belt out the same songs and notes as he did 20 years ago, was watching my boys love every minute of it.  Unfortunately, he took the stage at 11pm, so Hayden and I didn't last the entire concert.  Even Wade ended up asleep in Brenden's truck before the final song.  Brenden, however, stayed until the last piece of tinsel fell from the ceiling.  

My real entertainment came when I got to introduce Brenden to Sonia Leigh and take him to see Hayden's favorite band, Zac Brown.  

Great show.

Great musicians.

Great entertainers.  

I think we have increased Brenden's musical selection... at least improved on it greatly :)

Willie and Waylon and the boys

A memorable concert with country legend Willie Nelson and my BFF, Becky.
Willie can still sing like no other.
It was a great venue, outdoors at the Gallivan Center, and we were right toward the front.
Favorite song of the night was Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.
The song I waited all night to hear, but didn't was Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.
Thanks Hayden for watching all the kiddos while we went and had a girl night.

Happy Valentines Day... Hayden's version

For Valentine's Day this year Hayden gave me a "golden ticket".  Pick any concert you want to attend, and that will be your valentine's gift.  

So... I checked what was coming to town in the next few months.  

Nothing I was willing to cash in my "ticket" for, so I waited.

I knew a couple bands/groups that I wanted to see were slated to come to town in the fall, so I figured I would wait a bit, and see what the schedule looked like.

Middle of April rolls around and Hayden hands me his computer and says "Happy Valentines Day".  On the screen was a receipt for tickets to CHEYENNE DAYS to see his favorite band, Zac Brown Band.

Apparently, I waited too long (although no expiration date was ever written or implied on my gift).

So, the end of July found us flying into Denver, and driving to Cheyenne for the concert.

Cheyenne Days has a culture all of it's own.  I could people watch all day, and I've never so many pretend cowboys in my life.  (Pretend cowboy = someone sporting boots that look they have never seen a pile of cow crap... EVER... or wearing the cowboy shirt that still has the creases in it from the initial packaging)

We had GA tickets, and sat in line to get in an hour before the gates opened (which was an hour before the OPENING band of 3 went on).  We were at the front of our section with a great view!  

The opening gal, Sonia Leigh, was amazing (I need to find some of her stuff and download it).  Zac Brown, however, definitely was worth the trip, the drive, and the time spent in line!  He was a great performer, sounded good live, and sang the song that always makes me cry: Highway 20 Ride.

Lesson learned from the trip... next time, we stay in Cheyenne.  Even with sneaking out of the massive crowds before the encore, and getting out of the parking fiasco without a hitch, we didn't get back into Denver until 2am.  That was only after taking turns driving, rolling down windows, stopping for a little break to revive ourselves.

I was able to get my long run in while in Denver.  They have an amazing river front trail that runs for miles.  It was a warm morning, but I started early enough... ran past many many homeless people sleeping along the river.

We stayed at the Teatro, just a block away from the theater district.  We rented bikes and rode around town.  On the way to Cheyenne we stopped and had lunch with an old college buddy I hadn't seen for 20+ years.  The second night in Denver we had dinner at the Yard House with Hayden's cousin, Jenn, he hadn't seen in years, and we topped off the last evening by having dinner with an old co-worker at the Cheesecake Factory.

Lots of good food.
Great time together.
Good company... especially the crazy guy who planned this whole thing.

THAT is one SWEET hat, Hayden!!

before it started

first hour of the show

by the end... it was packed, from one end to the other

The Uintah's... from the air

the flight in to Denver

at the end of 16th street mall