I have been called out

I am so ashamed. My failure to post daily is not just minor. It's massive. Epic, even. I have not posted in over two months. Some might say that, per the definition of my blog, the implication here is that I have not learned anything in over two months. I beg to differ. I have learned. In fact, maybe I have been SO BUSY learning for the past two months that I didn't even have time to write about it. Believable?
yeah, ok. The bottom line is that I have failed. And after I failed, I procrastinated because I was so embarrassed about my failure. And after procrastinating, I decided to let it go because nobody had said anything to me about it. It was then, of course, that I was called out (thanks, Bozung). So here I am, declaring amnesty for myself and my 60+ days without blogging the things I learned.
I am not going to try to catch you up on what I learned, but I will give you an update on the high points of my life in the past two months:
-I testified in court regarding a case I investigated at work. It was a little intimidating, but a cool experience. Yet another reason I truly love my job.
-Had my very first experience in being stood up. Oddly enough, it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. But it might make for some humorous blog fodder someday.
-Went for my first hike of the season a few weeks ago. Let me just reiterate the utter superiority of this state. I am so happy to be out in the sun again!
-I am looking for a house! That's right, I am hoping to be a homeowner by no later than August 1, 2009. It is exciting and intimidating and tiring all at once. And my realtor happens to be the best actor in Colorado Springs. No, seriously. How's that for multitasking?

There are probably more things I could share, but I feel like it will be hard to follow the whole buying-a-house thing, so that's all for now. So let me leave you with what I learned today:

Apparently my tv is not ready for the DTV conversion. I do have the converter box. But as I was watching tv tonight (the Bachelorette, what else?), a crawler came across the screen saying "If you can see this message, your TV is not ready for the DTV conversion."
So, I'm thinking I'll join the senior citizens of Colorado Springs at one of the digital conversion workshops. I can't wait. After that, we'll probably have a nice 4pm dinner at Country Buffet.

I'm alive, and I've been learning!

Did you think I left you? I didn't. I just failed a baby-size fail in my goal of updating at least weekly. I'm sure my extremely large fan club was in total devastation. But I have a good excuse- I went on vacation! I was very busy the week prior to leaving and I went to New York City for my vacation, so I spent my time trying to make the most of the city instead of blogging. I'm sure you'll forgive me. But I did learn, and I did make little notes so I would remember. So I will give you this in a two-part series.
Here we go, beginning with the week prior to my trip:

Tuesday, Feb 17:
I went out to lunch with my dear friend (and coworker) Rochelle. Ro introduced me to a great little Japanese restaurant downtown called Yoo Mae's. I'm not a connoisseur of Japanese food, but I thought it was great. I ordered a Bento box, which is basically a box lunch of an assortment of things. It was delish, and pretty cheap, too. So I now have another place I love for lunch.

Wednesday, Feb 18:
I learned a new word!
Quorum: the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority (from Dictionary.com).

Thursday, Feb 19:
The 2009 Colorado State Budget passed out of the Senate today on third reading. It then went to the House for Consideration. As it left the Senate, it included amendments made by our very own Senator John Morse, who, regardless of your politics, is undeniably one of the state's biggest champions of services for people with developmental disabilities (DD). If you don't know, I work for a company that serves people with DD. We contract with the state and are bound by State rules and regulations, as well as State funding, such as it is. Colorado has a budget crisis right now that is pretty serious, which has caused a lot of cuts across all areas of funding in order to try to recoup the projected losses before the end of the fiscal year. Human Services of any kind generally get the short end of the stick in terms of government funding, and it is certainly true in the DD world. Morse's amendments restore DD funding that was cut recently in response to the current budget crisis. I could wax on for a long time about the needs in the DD world, but this is very intentionally not a soapbox blog, so if you ever want to hear more about what I do and what the 'services' really mean, please ask me. I'd love to talk about it. But for today, I'm hoping the budget will pass through the House with Morse's amendments intact.

Friday, Feb 20:
I learned that my car is in working order. This seems anticlimactic, I know. But I got my oil changed last weekend and was told there was a residue on the oil cap that could indicate that there is a crack or break in a gasket, which could have cost me around 1000.00 to repair, mostly due to labor. I mildly freaked out, because (reference my lesson from yesterday) I work in human services, and do not have an extra 1000.00 lying around at any given time. And I was getting ready to go on vacation. Yikes! So I took the car in, they checked it out, and there is no leak. I'm told that driving short distances like I do causes condensation to form in the oil cap because the car engine doesn't have a chance to warm up all the way before it is turned off. Apparently the condensation is the residue. So, I breathed much easier today. And learned a little bit about cars (which I assure you, I'll forget quickly).

Saturday, Feb 21:
Today I watched my sister's first dance competition of the season. I love watching these things. It's so fun to see how she has grown in her skill, and to watch the talents of other studios and dancers. I learned something I hope I will never have to use, but here it is:
If you have a tutu, you have to hang it upside down when you put it on a hanger. This ensures that when it is time to put it in, the material is as fluffy as possible. This is critical, you know.

I mean, really, flat tutus? How utterly common.

Sunday, Feb 22:
Tonight some of my girlfriends and I got together to watch the Oscars. We got dressed up, in real live dresses (I haven't worn a dress since September), and we went out for martinis. Since we live in such a fast-paced and metropolitan city, our first two choices for martinis were closed, it being a Sunday at 7pm. But we wound up at one of Colorado Springs' best restaurants- The Famous. I had never been there before, but the martinis were lovely. And while I can't testify to their steaks, I can tell you their crab cakes are wonderful.

Monday, Feb 23:
Another lesson involving food (I really like food)! I went to Outback tonight with some friends. I ordered the salmon, which is my favorite thing on their menu. One of the things I like so much about it is the sauce they give you (rémoulade). But apparently they no longer serve rémoulade at Outback.
So I no longer consider the salmon my favorite thing on their menu. Take that, Outback!

Tuesday, Feb 24:
A re-learn: I am still a horrible procrastinator when it comes to packing. No matter how early I promise myself I will do it, I will not. I will start 'packing' around 8pm or later (tonight it started at 10). It will only loosely resemble packing, as it will include beginning a load of the laundry I want to take...and messing around on facebook...and finding things to clean in my room...and searching the internet for things to do on my trip...and occasionally getting up and putting things in a pile next to my suitcase. Slowly it will begin to look more like packing until sometime after midnight I am ready to go to sleep. There will be a long list on my nightstand of all the things I have to remember to put in my bag in the morning, and then I will sleep fitfully, waking every hour or so, because I am so afraid that I might sleep through my alarm clock since I went to bed too late. This is self-sabotage at its finest.

I am no longer apologizing for the lateness of my posts.

I've just accepted it. I will not be a daily post kind of girl. So here's your taste of the last week of my life:

Tuesday, Feb 10:
You know the phrase, "under the bus?" As in, "He just threw you under the bus?" Well, I learned that the origin of the phrase is, in part, attributed to my very own hometown newspaper! There are a few ideas of where the phrase came from- ranging from Cyndi Lauper in 1984 to Minor League baseball slang. But there is mention that one of the first citations for the phrase in text is from a 1991 article in the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph (currently The Gazette). Who knew? To read more on the origin of the phrase, click here.

Wednesday, Feb 11:
I had some girl-time with my friend Rochelle. We had popcorn and watched The O.C. on DVD (yep, I'm serious. We are unapologetic about the quality of television we enjoy). I leanred that Ro has a horrifying habit. She eats unpopped popcorn kernels. She has no explanation for why. I don't even know what else to say, but if you've been wondering what to do with the kernels in the bottom of the bowl, just invite Ro over. They'll mysteriously disappear before you realize what has happened, because of course, you'd never believe a human would eat them. But it's true. And I saw it. And heard it.

Thursday, Feb 12:
I went to court today. I attended a hearing. It was actually incredibly interesting. I learned that some lawyers will use "objection" very liberally in the hopes that the judge will let something slide. I learned that we have at least one magistrate in Colorado Springs who is not all that dissimilar to Judge Judy. And I like her for it. I also learned that if a particular residence has a large number of police/911 calls, the police will assign an officer to check on the residence and try to figure out why the pattern exists.

Friday, Feb 13:
I learned that Anne Boleyn made a joke about having a small neck on the day of her death. For those of you not as obsessed with Tudor England as I am, Anne Boleyn was an English Queen who was executed. She was the second wife of King Henry VIII, and he had her tried for treason and sentenced to death by beheading. On the day of her death, it is said that she joked about her own impending death, saying, "I heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck." She then reportedly put her hands around her neck and "laughed heartily."

Saturday, Feb 14:
I learned something I may never have to use in my entire life. On the original Mario Brothers Nintendo game, there is a place where it is (theoretically) possible to earn 99 lives. If you already know this, you are a bigger nerd than I thought (and you join the ranks of some of my best friends). Anyway, this marvelous opportunity is in level 3-2. At the very end, when you are hopping up the pyramid to get to the flag, there are two turtles walking down the pyramid toward you. You have to jump on one of them, knocking him into just a shell, and then jump up on him again, knocking him against the stairs, and then keep jumping up right as he is bouncing off the stair wall and toward you. If you do this with just the right timing, you keep knocking him against the stair wall every time you jump, which earns you points. If you do it repeatedly in rapid succession, your point values increase by doubles until you are earning 1ups every time he hits the wall. Apparently you can do this 99 times (if you have cat-like reflexes and the patience of a snail). And truly, I suppose you could do it more, but since the original Mario game was pre-Y2K, it didn't foresee such things as triple-digit life counts, therefore, Mario or Luigi can only have up to 99 lives before the game would not track it.
Use this knowledge wisely, folks. With great power comes great responsibility.

Sunday Feb 15:
I learned once again that the logic of children is neither sound nor complicated. My little cousin, Isaiah, is three. I got to see him on Sunday. We were at my friend's photography show (which was awesome, by the way), and there were fruit trays all around. I helped him get some snacks, offering him grapes and melons. He wanted grapes. About halfway through a nice-sized bunch of grapes, the following exchange took place:
Isaiah (holding a grape in his hand after taking a bite of it): "I throw up grapes."
Me: "What?"
Isaiah: "I throw up when I eat grapes." (He pops the other half of the grape in his mouth.)
Me: "Then why are you eating them?"
Isaiah: "I like grapes."
Me (turning to his mom): "Does Isaiah throw up when he eats grapes?"
Isaiah's mom (looking at his plate with more grapes on it): "Yeah."

Awesome.

Monday, Feb 16:
This lesson was learned somewhere between Sunday and Monday, I can't be sure. Some friends and I went to Cripple Creek on Sunday afternoon. We spent time in the casinos Sunday night and into Monday morning. I can sum up the Cripple Creek gambling experience with the following:
-People under age 40 do not fit in.
-People who can breathe without the aid of medical equipment may or may not fit in, depending on which casino you are in and what time of day it is.
-'Restaurant' is a term used very loosely in Cripple Creek.
-And finally, be careful to look closely at the denomination of your money when tipping cocktail waitresses.

January is over and my blog is overdue.

It's been one long week, my friends. But I did keep track of what I learned. So here goes:

Monday, Jan 26:
My friend Sheonaid taught me what a yurt is. It's like a hut/tent that is semi-permanent. When I looked it up, I found out they were originally used by nomads in Central Asia. But we also have them here in Colorado in the mountains, if you ever want to use one for camping.
Tuesday, Jan 27:
My sister is doing a report on Ella Fitzgerald, and she taught me some of what she has learned. Ella Fitzgerald had a troubled childhood and an amazingly successful career. But the thing that stuck out most that I didn't know before was that she had both of her legs amputated due to complications with diabetes. I might be a little out of the loop not knowing that, but I'll admit my ignorance anyway.
Wednesday, Jan 28:
Wednesday was a re-learn day. Most of my friends know I'm not a big fan of the being in the gym. I like to exercise outside in the sun and wind and nature. But in Colorado, there are times of the year that it's the gym or nothing. So I was at the gym on my lunch hour, which is unfortunately a pretty busy time for my YMCA branch. And I re-learned another reason why I hate that place.
IT STINKS. Yes, running makes me feel healthy, but exposure to the smell of sweaty people in close proximity is a definite temptation to join the ranks of the sedentary. At least the odor suppresses my appetite, so even if I have to cut my workout short in order to breathe, I can make up for it by skipping my dinner.
I can't wait for spring.
Thursday, Jan 29:
My friend Laura is one of my favorites. She lives in NYC and I am staying with her when I go out there at the end of February. We were talking about all the things to do in New York, and I learned one thing I am unapologetically excited about (in all my nerdiness): The Tenement Museum. I love history. I love learning about the day-to-day in different periods of history. I love seeing old furniture, clothing, houses, and buildings. I love learning about the way things were. So the Tenement Museum is a must-see for me. They conduct tours of an old tenement building. It was built in 1863 and housed thousands of New York immigrant families until it was vacated and boarded up in 1935. It was untouched until 1988 when the Tenement Museum discovered it and restored it to its former glory. I'm probably more excited to see that than I am about seeing Times Square.
Friday, Jan 30:
I learned a few small lessons from a night with friends:
1. The proper pronunciation of the word Curaçao is "cure-a-so," like this.
2. Some people aren't cut out for card tricks.
3. It is possible to spend time with Jared Harp without witnessing a Chris Brown dance routine.
4. Best in Show is still hilarious.
Saturday, Jan 31:
I learned the joy of answered prayers. I had a date with my sister. If you are not a girl with a sister, I'm sorry you'll never know the pleasure of a sisterly bond, but it is a beautiful thing. There are ten years between me and my sister, so when she was little, our relationship was atypical. I was more of a babysitter/third authority figure. But now, she's a teenager. She's heading into high school, and over the past few years, I've been praying about how to navigate the transition between authority-type and sister/friend. It's not been that easy, but it has been worth it. Friday was a really sweet time. We had dinner and a movie and talked about boys and school and real life. I realize I might be biased, but I'm pretty sure I have the best sister ever.
Sunday, Feb 1:
I learned that some things are still embarrassing, no matter how old you are. On Sunday we had fantastic weather, so I went for a run outside. At least, I made it through most of my run. But on the last block back to the house, I definitely took a nice, classic, completely ungraceful face plant. I am blaming it on the downtown sidewalk that is cracked and broken. But I had just run on such a sidewalk for 20 minutes, so there might be more to it. Like me not picking up my feet. Or the gods being against me.
Anyway, I definitely scraped a nice piece of skin off my knee. And I definitely looked around immediately afterward (you always do the look-around when you're embarrassed). The only thing that saved me was the complete state of desolation that befalls most of America from 4pm-9pm on Superbowl Sunday. So there was basically nobody around to see it. Although I'm sure some CC student was looking out the window of their apartment and had a good laugh. All I know is, it still hurts, and I still feel like a kid. Your pity is welcomed.
Monday, Feb 2:
I learned that my friend Allison is now LEED-accredited! Allison is an architect and she has been studying like crazy for the test she took today. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation demonstrates a knowledge of green building: environmentally friendly design and construction with an emphasis on sustainability. Last week, Angela, another good friend of mine, also became LEED accredited. Congrats Al and Angela! I'm proud to know you both. I'll take you out for a celebratory drink at the next possible time. Ange- that means we should wind up in the same state again sometime. ;)

Five new things

I am not doing well at keeping up! Sorry! I'll catch you up on where I am lately...

Wednesday, Jan 21:
On Wednesday some of my friends noticed flags around Colorado Springs were flying at half staff. So I found out that the Colorado Governor ordered all flags to fly at half staff in honor of a fallen U.S. Army Staff Sergeant from Colorado. SSgt. Bauer was killed on Jan 10 in Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. He had earned a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and an Army Commendation Medal. He was 24 years old.
It left me sad, speechless, and humbled.

Thursday, Jan 22:
Thursday I had a dinner party for a dear friend of mine. Danny went to college with me and he lives in Africa right now, but was back for a visit over the last month. We had a little reunion of KU alumni and it was a lot of fun. And as is the case with most reunions, the conversation covered a wide range of topics. So during the evening I witnessed a lively little argument about rabies. Allison and Danny argued about whether or not rabies is fatal, until they realized they were both arguing the same point: rabies is fatal unless someone has been vaccinated previously or receives a vaccination very quickly after becoming infected. I looked it up later and found out that there have actually been two documented cases of survival where the patient did not receive any rabies-specific treatment. Also, it is suggested that inducing a coma in infected patients may allow someone to survive. In 2005 a girl from Wisconsin received the treatment (called the Milwaukee Protocol). The theory is that being in a coma protects the brain from damage while the body builds up an immune response to the rabies. The girl was hospitalized for 76 days, 31 of which were in isolation, but she recovered.

Friday, Jan 23:
Friday was part 2 of a girls' night that my friend Suzanne hosted. We watched Anne of Green Gables, which I had never read or seen before. So I finally learned how the story turns out. But I did enjoy it. I think deep down all girls love the guy-gets-girl storyline, no matter how predictable or unrealistic it is.

Saturday, Jan 24:
Elisa and I were discussing the origin of Obama's campaign slogan, "Yes we can." We have been talking about how it's basically the English translation of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers' "Sí se puede" from the seventies. So Elisa googled "Yes we can" and found this: Yes We Can (Hold Babies). I cannot explain the laughter that ensued. At first we thought it might be a joke. But the more you look at the site, the more it looks sincere. Amazing.

Sunday, Jan 25:
Today I learned that a group of porcupines is called a prickle. I also learned that baby porcupines are extremely tiny and cute in a semi-disgusting way.

See?
That picture is not mine, by the way. I found it online.

Ruins, Gentlemen, and the Career I Wish I Had

Ok, here is the last trio of lessons:

Sunday, Jan 18:
I went for a walk last Friday with Elisa on Cascade Avenue. Cascade is one of the streets in downtown Colorado Springs that has beautiful, old, huge houses. So we passed one of the houses and it caught my eye because it was bright pink. On the front of the house was a plaque that said, "Hungo Pavi 1922." So Sunday I looked it up. Hungo Pavi is an ancient great house ruin located in Chaco Canyon National Historical Park in New Mexico. It is un-excavated and much of the ruins are now covered by desert ands and vegetation. It had over 150 rooms in it. Chacoan people occupied Hungo Pavi beginning around 1000AD. There are some cool pictures here.

I haven't figured out why the pink house has the plaque on it, or what the significance of the year '1922' is. Some things are just a mystery.

Monday, Jan 19:
Monday was a really great day. I spent time outside in the Colorado sun with my mom and my dogs, and then I went to Denver with some of my favorite people. We went shopping and ate dinner at Casa Bonita. While shopping, I received a bit of cultural education about cuff links. I have always known that they are meant for cuffs, of course (I'm really good with contextual clues), but I had never actually seen someone wearing them and didn't really know how they worked. I saw a bunch of cuff link sets at Banana Republic and it prompted the question. My friend Toby told me that they work with a specific type of shirt- one with French cuffs. He demonstrated how they work on a shirt in the store. It's a small thing, but I feel better for knowing it.

There are definitely some cheesy cuff links out there, even in Banana Republic stores, but I still think I like the idea of them. They're classy. The only downside to cuff links is that they prevent the wearer from doing the masculine after-work sleeve roll. Ladies, you know the one- where they unbutton their cuff and roll it up to about the elbow? I have a thing for the sleeve roll. And I have it on good authority that I'm not the only girl who does. So guys, here's a lesson for you: The question of cuff links is a win-win. Choose cuff links and you are a gentleman. Choose against cuff links and do the sleeve roll, and you're golden.

Tuesday, Jan 20:
Today was inauguration day. Like many people, I listened to our new president address the nation for the first time in his post. I'd love to hear your reactions to the speech, by the way. But I am not going to blog about politics. It's not my bag. I did learn something interesting, though. One of Obama's top speech writers is 27. You read right. He's TWENTY-SEVEN. And pretty Gap-chic, judging by the picture. But the point is- I think I'm in the wrong field. This guy writes speeches that the world hears. He gets paid to craft ideas into words to reach the masses. And he apparently does it in marathon sittings fueled by coffee and Rock Band video game intermissions.

I am totally in the wrong field.

Currency, Pie, and Ice

Three brief lessons:

Tuesday, Jan 13:
I learned that (at least right now) one Euro is equivalent to 1.32 US dollars.
I have 35 Euros, which is approximately 46 dollars in currency that is useless in my country. I have had the Euros in my possession since the last time I was in Europe. Which was in 2006. I don't know why I haven't exchanged them, but I think it has something to do with the hope that I will go back sometime and have use for them. But next time, it's Italy. Or Greece.

Wednesday, Jan 14:
I learned that chocolate pie and whipped cream is an AMAZING combination. At least when prepared by my lovely friend Abbie. She decided to cook a big dinner to celebrate the new position I was offered at work (which is one more example of how amazing my friends are). She made a brilliant Italian meal of salad, stuffed shells, garlic bread, and chocolate pie. And wine, but that's a given. I had a great evening with some of my favorite people and stuffed myself to the brim. And somehow, I've made it through life without ever having chocolate pie until now. That's 24 years of wasted time, folks. Please learn from my mistakes.

Thursday, Jan 15:
Today I learned about an awesome event happening in Old Colorado City this weekend. It's called Ice on the Avenue. There will be ice sculptures and demos of ice carving. And Old Colorado City is a great backdrop for an outdoor event. It's the cutest little historic town! So I can't wait to get out there and try to take some pictures of the ice. Anyone want to make a day of it??

Lessons from Camping

So, I went camping with some friends this past weekend. It was a good time. Great weather, great people, and beautiful scenery. And what's more, we all learned some very important life lessons during our time together. I'd like to take a moment to impart some of that valuable knowledge.

- Beware the ricochet when using a hatchet (Please ask Mr. Cole if you want details).

- Always carry an Army-issue tourniquet (this lesson comes in handy if you neglect to follow lesson # 1).

- Water- resistant is no match for water-proof (especially true of tents and sleeping bags).

- Rocks are not good bedfellows.

- Don't make fun of the over-prepared camper (he's probably the one who has the tourniquet when you need it most).

- Last but not least:
Rule #1: Never talk about Mickey bombs.

Clothing of mountains, and other thoughts.

It's here. (begin mental recitation of "Jaws" theme)

Ok, I will admit, I don't actually know when the first day of winter is, but I have decided to say it is here. As a native Coloradan, I think I have the freedom to choose confidently how to term the time of year, because I know that my departure from fact is not due to misinformation. I am merely acting out of the freedom we Coloradans have to experience multiple seasons in and out of season! (still with me?)
And even if you want to argue the fact and maintain the integrity of fall's calendar presence, I'm okay with that, as long as you can grant me the one thrill of my winter experience:

The annual clothing of Pike's Peak!

I realize I'm a bit late on this observation, because the true day of draping was actually two Sundays ago, but it was weak. It was the natural equivalent of putting on a thin shawl. Make no mistake, I was thrilled to see it, but the real joy came yesterday, when the Peak finally got to wear a coat. I don't know why this change is so noteworthy to me, I guess it's just my personal measure of the change in season.
I feel it similarly in the summer. The day the peak disrobes always brings a smile to my face (and a little blush on the mountain's behalf, because it really is a little naked and vulnerable looking- ESPECIALLY above timberline, if ya know what I mean).
But no matter your views on indecent exposure in the high country, you have to admit that the sight this morning of snow blowing off the top of the Peak was beautiful, if you got the chance to see it. If not, keep your eyes up, it will happen quite a few times over the coming months, and the last thing a Coloradan should do (native or transplant) is become oblivious to the natural beauty of God's creation. We're blessed every day to see even the tiniest glimpse of the majesty of a Creator who could think to create something so phenomenal to my mind. It calls to mind a line from a song by Shawn McDonald:
"The same hands that created all of this/they created you and I/What a Beautiful God"
Imagine-
The privilege of being created, known, sought after, and loved by One so artistic, wild, powerful, and detailed - it's beyond logic, and it's definitely beyond words I can provide.

What's your favorite part of the season change? We asked this in a meeting the other day, and I loved to hear the answers.

Best weekend ever

It was a lovely weekend. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. I got two new books, the first of which is an incredibly well-written and creative novel. It also presents the gospel in a refreshing and weighty light. And shouldn't the gospel be weighty? It's a beautifully heavy thing. Savage and excessive. If you have the urge to read a new book and think more seriously about the love of the Lord, read this book: Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee. Sounds counterintuitive by the title alone, but trust me. Well, at least trust me so far. I'm not even done yet and I am endorsing it! That could be some sort of book reviewing faux pas.

2. I spent some time with a good friend having coffee and reading in a cozy little coffee shop. It's the simple things.

3. Craig Gross, pastor for XXXchurch.com, came out to our church on Sunday morning. Very compelling speaker. He has a call to ministry that I think very few would be willing to answer- walking into the world of pornography to speak the truth of Christ's love in a dark place. If you want to know more or hear more, go to their website. They also have podcasts of a radio show on itunes.

4. Sunday afernoon, I went driving in with some friends up to see the beautiful Colorado aspen trees turning. We drove up to Cripple Creek, stopping along the way to take some pictures of a season beginning to change. It was beautiful. Then we drove further up, to Victor, Colorado. Victor is a tiny little old mining town. People still live there, but there are lots of mines around the city that are old and abandoned. There are also a lot of great buildings in the town that are still standing with a lot of character and history built-in. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the afternoon:



I could post about a hundred more, but I will leave at that for now. It is enough to say that it was a perfect first weekend of Fall, and I wanted to share. (and get back to blogging after a long hiatus, oops!)
I hope your weekend went well, too.