Love and all that stuff

February CRAWLS.

As in, I look at the calendar EVERY DAY and think "it's not over yet?"

This February I refuse to succumb to the month. I did the same thing last February. Only it TRULY takes a conscience effort to plan each day. To know that it's grey and cold and it's only one month out of the year.

A girlfriend came to visit this weekend - her husband and sons went to the mountains to ski. We had a girls weekend.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL - as in: not a cloud in the ski. Highs lower 60's. This is our March weather. We had the top off the convertible.

A picture perfect weekend.

It's Valentine's Day. It's her husbands birthday. The sign of maturity - knowing that you can celebrate your love. Your birthday. Any freaking holiday. Anytime you want....

You don't just need a day.

I received a text from Peter Pan at 3:15 this morning wishing me Happy Valentine's Day.

Life doesn't always look like the movies. Sometimes you just have to make it work for you.

One day, whether you are 14, 28 or 65

you will stumble upon somoene who will start a fire in you that cannot die.

However, the saddest, most awful truth you will ever come to find ----

is they are not always with who we spend our lives. 

Our should I say

Not whom we spend our lives with Hollywood Style

Never a Finer Moment

We won the Super Bowl.

Wait, let me re-phrase: The Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl. Of course we did.

I knew we were getting our fairy tale ending. It was our turn.

Kind of a boring game. But some great moments. I guess that's really life. It can't all be "Hollywood moments" - you have to have "day to day life" mixed in there too. I guess that goes back to the movies I like to watch. Independent Films, with moments of Hollywood.

The Broncos players looked old. Our Defense? Looked like we had been written in a Hollywood script.

Of course, I'm a bit partial. The MVP for the Super Bowl went to Texas A&M. So did our coach.

For those non-football fans - we weren't expected to win. We were the underdog. We looked old. Our coaching staff looks old. Our players look old. We look like "The Independent Film that has all those actors you have know for years - cameo, after cameo appearance."

North Carolina looks young and shiny and agile. - All Hollywood and Botox.

To quote the latest saying: "Then the sheriff came to town."

We won.

The other team did not stand up and "take it". They were actually "sore losers".

The "Super Bowl Celebration" was on Tuesday. I had never been to a "Sports Championship Celebration".

There are concerts. There is a parade. There are speeches. They put the players on fire engines. Including the coaches, the support staff and "THE TROPHY" They parade through town.

I wrote the boys notes to miss school. The first and only time I've ever wished my children were about 12. They would have wanted to go with me.

I get to the "light rail" (our train system) at 9:30am to ride the train downtown. I nearly couldn't find a parking spot. The train was packed.

The woman next to me had never even been on the light rail. But, she knew she needed to go.

A friend of mine lives downtown. Right on the parade route. We will go watch from the balcony. Come with me.

NEVER have I been SO proud to be from Denver.

I know, I know. I've complained for several years about having to come back here. BUT, I've also always said, I do love this town.

And, today, being a part of it all. The fans. The city and public transportation. Of course, our perfect weather. (There wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was 50 degrees) (mind you, it's February (winter) in Denver).

It wasn't something words can even describe.

"They" (whomever "they" are) say there were a MILLION people attending (from 10 - 3).

A MILLION people. Young people. Old people.

Not one riot. Not one embarrassing moment for the city. For the state.

People were polite. It was crowded. People were nice.

I've never experienced a finer moment.

This is the moment you want, when you tell someone, "Go make me proud."

Well done Denver.

Maybe maturity isn't such a bad thing.

Monday Morning

It's a big weekend in Denver. The Broncos are playing in the Super Bowl. This town is Orange and Blue. There are flags flying. Buildings lit up. Everyone has their Broncos colors on. It's awesome.

Elway's restaurant is closing Sunday at 3 so the staff can enjoy the game. My club is closing at 3 also. Everything in town - I'm talking sports bars, restaurants, shops are closing at 3pm on Sunday.

Super Bowl weekend!!! The biggest bar night of the year. Denver is closed.

We are all a little nervous. The last time we went to the Super Bowl we completely embarrassed ourselves.

Not this time though.

We all know this is it. We are going to get our fairy tale ending.

Peyton Manning is going to retire after this game.

Our stadium is named "Sports Authority Field" - we all call it Mile High Stadium. We used to be a "stadium" now we are a "field. We've grown up. We are a real city now.

Sports Authority is filing for bankruptcy on Monday.

Pat Bowlen - the owner of the Broncos. They told us last year he has Alzheimer's. His estate owns the team. There are changes ahead.

This is it.

This is our glory ride. Our lifetime movie.

Win or Lose on Sunday, Monday is a whole new world. The beginning of a new era.

We've got this.

We'd already be done

Start. Right now. Whatever it is.

Today.

Start:

• writing
• walking
• your homework
• grad school
• losing weight
• traveling
• finding yourself
• believing in yourself
• getting rid of bad habits.

Start. Right Now!

This puppy does NOT like to have his nails trimmed. Every single time I try, I tell him the same thing:

If you would quit fighting me, we'd already be done

I remember my mom telling me this.

I remember telling the kids this on a regular basis.

If you would just quit arguing about NOT wanting to do something - you would already be done. It's taken you longer to argue with me.

What happens if you don't start right this very second?

In six months, you will still be ________________ the opposite of everything on your list. If you DON"T go to grad school at 60, in 5 years, you will STILL BE 65. Only you won't have accomplished what you wanted to accomplish.

But, if you start right now. Right this very second?

We'd already be done.

They Should Have Sent Me Two

Our puppy is growing by leaps and bounds.

He is a bit over 5 months old. Getting bigger every day. He knows all his "commands" that he is supposed to know for all puppies up to 6 months old.

Of course, like any "child" there are things he doesn't like.

He doesn't like to have his nails trimmed. (He's going to have to go get a mani/pedi soon - we are going to leave this to the professionals. After all, I do, why shouldn't he?) Really, I think we are the ones with the problem. We are so scared of cutting them to short (down to the "quick"). I did cut one too short once. He didn't like it, but it wasn't too bad. It just bled.......

He is a barker. He barks when he has to go out. He barks when he wants attention. If you tell him, "Quiet" when he barks. He barks back. He thinks it is a game. He will "speak" on command. He just won't "be Quiet" on command. We are working on that.

Yesterday we had a snow day. A foot of snow. He LOVES the snow. I like to think he thinks it's the water. He romps and jumps. Runs laps. He even throws his own toy for himself to fetch.

He just would not tire. He kept wanting to play.

There are several days when he is stuck with me. Just being boring. Not going on outings. Not leaving the house.

These are the days he hates the most. It took me a long time to get use to days of not leaving the house. Even though I work at home, I make sure I get out everyday. A walk. The club to workout. The 7-11. SOMEPLACE other than my house.

Even yesterday, on our snow day, I had to go for a walk. I get it, I get a little  LOT stir crazy.

As he was barking at me to play with him. My first thought, "They Should Have Sent Me Two".

If I had two of them, they could play together. THEY wouldn't drive me as nuts. HE wouldn't want all my attention all the time.

My children are only 17 months apart. My sister has twins. Children & puppies should come as a pair. They can entertain themselves!

When I told a friend of mine this statement, she said, "Did you want another so you keep one?"

"No, oh no, my dear." It was all about trying to make my life "easier".

She smiled at me and said, "You better be careful for what you wish."

Then the moment passed....

Mind the Gap

When you ride "The Underground" (subway) in London, one of the recordings tells you "Mind the Gap". Meaning, watch your step as you board the train. There is a bit of a "gap" between the station and the train.

Or I guess, vice versa, a "gap" between the train and station.

Duncan is thinking of taking a "Gap" year next year. In today's American terminology, taking a year from studies/school between high school and college.

He wants to play Junior hockey one more year to see if he can get picked up by a big school or a semi/pro hockey team.

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Although, most people I know didn't know what they wanted to do when they were 18. Why should Duncan?

And really, it doesn't really matter what I feel about this. Don't get me wrong. I can have my feelings. I can express my feelings, but it is his life.

It's at this point of parenthood, I go from being a "manager" to a consultant. He has to start making choices that HE thinks are best for HIS life.

But with freedom, also comes responsibility. There are rents, hockey, insurance, gasoline, food, etc. These come with decisions.

It sounds exciting to me for him. Not the choices I would make for him, but that's not up to me. It's up to him.

My only words of advice to him?  "Mind the Gap"

At the Copa

At the Copa. Copacabana. Music and passion was all they were after at the Copa...... They fell in love.

I remember these lines SO well from my childhood. A Barry Manilow song. (BTW, who the hell is Barry Manilow?)

The boys and I are going to Rio in August. We are going to the Olympics.

I'm not quite sure how we are going to pay for this. I'm not quite sure how we are going to do and see the things I want to do.

Although, I know it's all going to work out okay.

I have our airfare booked. I'm working on our house swap.

We want to stay in Copacabana.

I looked up the song I thought I knew for the last 40 years. The words to the verse. The melody. 

For the most part. I was right. 

Only, I didn't remember the line "they lost their love". I remember, 

At the Copa. Copacabana. They fell in love

We are going to Copa.

We are staying at the beach.

I'm planning on falling in love.....

With a country, a person, or my life.... After all, we are at the Copa.....