Dashing Through The Snow

Hello from Cheyenne!

After a Thanksgiving luncheon with our greater adopted family on Thursday, we hit the road. We've been exploring Cheyenne, Laramie, and Vedawoo since. The best part of Black Friday and the start of the holiday shopping chaos is to escape it entirely and get outside. Or at least outside our normal routine.

We spent this morning hiking in snowy Vedawoo (pronounced VAYduhVOO), an area of rocky outcroppings that stick out from the otherwise tree-less, rolling plains. The Native Americans considered this a sacred site.

Don't worry. While we were freezing, Loo Loo Bell was nice and warm. And cozy, and most importantly (for her), alone in the hotel room. The hotel documented her as a therapy animal. Worst. Therapist. Ever.

I spent the first part of the break (read: GRLZ WKND) completely in denial about the amount of reading I have to do, so I've been making up for that the last couple of days. I purposefully didn't bring any fun reading. I call this method, 'forced focusing'. It involves carrying my book(s) around everywhere and taking advantage of random moments like this.

Even though I brought my laptop, I've been avoiding email altogether. Remember the dinosaur footprints trip earlier this semester? Well, I had to grade and I spent part of the weekend dealing with a case of student plagiarism. (!!!) I'm still getting used to being a teacher. Still trying to learn the balance of work and play. This trip is a lot more play.

Also have I mentioned how much I totally and completely love not grading film papers? Not lately? Well, I can't let you forget how proud I am of that decision, people!

Cheers to that!

Stay tuned for some great pics tomorrow. We took some awesome ones on the real camera, but forgot to bring the transfer connector doo dad for my computer. Those pics include Lucy's new BF (for real, an appropriate match), the highest point on the transcontinental rail road, and beautiful Wyoming scenery.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! (Read: almost time to decorate for Christmas.)

I still have about 30 hours of break left and I plan to take full advantage.

TGIF: The Cheyenne Edition

Feast

Japanese Souvenir B & A

I have a small Before & After to share with you today. It's nothing spectacular, but it's a simple improvement to a pretty bare wall between our dining room and living room.

During our summer vacay, we picked up some traditional wood block prints in Kyoto. G had researched a particular artist who is known for preserving the Japanese wood block method and we checked out the store one night after dinner. We found some beautiful prints that have been sitting in a folder ever since we got back, waiting to be framed.

I finally got to them a few weeks ago. Check out the difference!

Before

After

You can guess which of us picked which print. I like how even though the prints are different sizes and styles, the framing dude worked with me to make the final frame sizes the same. He gets my Type A. (This is the same store that framed our elephant foot print from South Africa a few years ago.)

I also appreciate how even though the colors and themes are so different, we were able to frame them in a complementary way that also fits in with the rest of dawrighthouse. Here's a close-up:

As you can see, especially with the geisha pic, the borders of the pictures are imperfect. I didn't want to closely crop the art; instead I wanted to be able to see the imperfections if that meant getting to see more of the whole design. The Samurai warrior print looks much more symmetrical (or, much more "perfectly printed and framed") but I appreciate how we are able to see the entire geisha girl print, even though the fragile rice paper is "imperfect." It's what makes it authentic to us, a true souvenir (which, in French, means "I remember".)

T minus 2 Days

Hello, loves. Are you ready for Thanksgiving or what? Only 2 more days!

A-peep left yesterday and I was all,

My diet today and tomorrow will consist of coffee and water. I keep looking around for goat cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon but there aren't any. I keep looking for someone to bring me the spiciest of all Bloody Mary's, but...alas...GRLLZ WKND has come to an end.

I basically binge watched TV and read and made fun of Loo Loo Bell all day yesterday. There was zero productivity but, in my defense, there was also a lot of water and very little food. My stomach thanks me.

I'm thankful that the last few days involved zero politics and lots of laughter. I'm thankful for friends who are like family. I'm thankful for a healthy bun bun and a week off. I'm thankful for good books and rainy, cozy days.

Hope you're enjoying the holiday prep this week.

Do You Have To?

Today was very much like yesterday. Which is to say there was food, lying around, chatting, shopping, and then a lot more food. I mean, GRRLLZ WEEKEND.

 There was brunch at a local pub.

They make - hands down - the best Bloody Mary's in Denver. But, when one craves a mimosa, one must order a mimosa. Or seven.

Leisurely brunch was followed by an even more leisurely trip to World Market where I got a lil something for a home improvement project. Glad I had a helper.

Also couldn't resist some festive lights to help transition from fall into Christmas. I mean, look! So festive! They'll work for Christmas, too, but I like them better for Fall. Loo Loo Bell does not approve.

Dinner, though, is where it's at. We went to Linger, which I've blogged about before. Whenever I go there, G sings the Cranberries song:

Do You Have To?
Do You Have To?
Do You Have To LET IT LINGERRRRRR?
You know I'm such a foooool for youuuuuuu.
You've got me wrapped around your fingerererererererer.

Etc.

You're welcome for me getting that stuck in your head.

But, look! Look at the food!

This pic was snapped right before the place filled up. These are weird days because the sun sets at like 4:30. So, even if you go to dinner at 7:00 it feels like about midnight or something. Anyhoo, the food is served tapas-style, so the fun is in ordering several dishes to share.

We started with Devils on Horseback: goat cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon and drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

These are my favorite and I will order these forevermore: Mongolian Duck stuffed Bao Buns served with sliced green onions and cucumbers. It simply does not get better than this flavor and texture combination.

A-peep's Sangria is on the left, but I'm here to talk about my drink, on the right. It is an Espresso Spritzer. Cold espresso, tonic, and Amaro served over a square ice cube and with the slightest bit of lemon zest. It was amazing. 

We topped everything off with a Turkish Bird's Nest (top) served on whipped goat cheese, and a Mini Peanut Butter Bar served with ice cream. Yes and yes.

This pic pretty much sums it up:

Must go digest now. There will be nothing but water until Thanksgiving.

GRRLLZ WKND

Not only does this weekend kick off Fall Break for me (no school until November 28! Hallelujah!) but look who's here!

GRRLLZZZ Weekend!

I made reservations for us at Dbar, only to realize once we had parked and walked a few blocks that the restaurant has totally relocated. So, you know, Steuben's instead! Twist my arm! Spicy Bloody Mary with bacon-infused vodka? I believe I will. She got some kind of sweet blueberry something. I dunno I couldn't really see past my spicy deliciousness.

After a leisurely brunch, we carried on our tradition of shopping at Talulah Jones, an eclectic boutique on 17th street. I used to walk by this store all the time way back in the day when I walked to work (in my old career when I worked downtown). Incidentally, A-peep and I were shopping here during a GIRLZ WKND a few years ago when I got the call about the K-12 in-class tutoring job (remember that?). That call officially ended my old career and started my new one, such that it is.

As fate would have it, I got promoted to supervisor this week at the writing consultant job. This was after a semester-long application process that included extra observations and workshops and presentations and letters of intent and projects. But? Done and done.

Funny how this lil store pops up during transitional times in my life. Here's to the next thing. :)

See what I mean about eclectic? I may or may not have bought a couple of much-needed Christmas decorations.

The store has nothing on my fall decorations, though. I mean, look at this:

Loo Loo Bell is unimpressed. She's cage-bound this weekend, in forced deference to her roomie. As I type this, she's glaring at all of us while we watch football. And by "watch football", I mean G and I yelling at the TV while A-peep lays on the couch and trolls through her phone. It is what it is. But the Hogs are winning and I love it.

Here's to a night of wine, a bit more football before a movie, then snoozies so we can get up and start the day like this tomorrow:

Then more food. And shopping. It's how we roll.