Medicine for the soul

It's hot here.  Like really, really hot.  And smokey.  In fact, when I look East out of the kitchen windows, I can clearly see the smoke is trying to pass itself off as a low-lying, morning fog covering the sidewalks.  But, I am not so easily fooled.  When I look out of my bedroom windows, where there once stood tree-covered foothills, there is nothing but dense, brownish smoke.

The heat and the smoke are taking their toll on me...I haven't managed to get a good night's sleep in too many days and my exhaustion levels have hit their max: I'm tired, cranky and have hit that point where a good cry seems like it would solve everything.  It wont, by the way, but it would feel damn good!

Rather than sit and wallow in my exhaustion, I've poured myself a giant cup of coffee, grabbed a yogurt from the fridge, and put The Lake House on.  I need a little dose of Chicago (and Keanu Reeves) to combat my bad mood, and it's working.  Being able to recognize the statue in the Daily Plaza where Sandra Bullock wtinesses Keanu's accident, and the building on Michigan Avenue where Keanu's father works makes me smile.

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Sometimes a little Hollywood romance combined with memory lane wandering is just what the doctor ordered.

We've got no money, but we've got heart...

I present to you Anna Sun by Walk the Moon.

Folks, I am obsessed with this song. 

No joke, the National Guard guy* commented this morning that he always hears this song playing in my car when I come through the check-in station.

Please hop on the obsession bandwagon.

*Due to the High Park fire's Incident Command Base being located across the street from my office, traffic is currently restricted to Fire and Business personnel only, so I have to say hello to the National Guard on my way into the office.

Happy Birthday to Me!



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I would say the title of this post pretty much says it all. 

Today is my 26th birthday! 

Mother Nature has decided to gift me with temperatures in the 70's, which is a much-needed reprieve from the nearly 100 degree days we've been having.  A little breeze and some clouds and suddenly we have perfect driving-with-the-sun-roof-open weather. 

We're full on into highly destructive fire season around here, so the office is pretty quiet today, but my coworkers have still managed to make me feel extra special.  My boss brought in a beautiful, decadent cake and those few people who are in the office today gathered around for a little singing, some cake eating and lots of laughing. 

Tony is coming up after work to join in a family dinner celebration.  My mom is making one of my favorite meals and has whipped up an angel food cake with whipped cream and berries for dessert.  I have every intention of going to the gym after work so I can indulge in dinner tonight without feeling disgusting afterwards.

Midwest Adventures

This evening Tony and I are hopping on a plane to Chicago!!  I am beside myself with excitement...focusing on work is hit or miss this morning, which is fine by me.  I've wanted to visit Chicago for as long as I can remember, and after a few failed attempts with friends over the years, my little Midwest dream is finally coming true.  Thank you, handsome boyfriend!  Tony has a work conference to attend next week, so we'll have a little him + me + Chicago time this weekend and then I'll be let loose on the city Monday and Tuesday while Tony's holed up in a conference room.  But, we get our evenings...and Tuesday evening is shaping up to be phenomenal: Chicago (the band!) will be performing in the Navy Pier area (I do believe) along with unlimited food and drink for the conference attendees and their guests.  Thank goodness my parents passed along their love of Classic Rock to me.  Come Wednesday morning, I will hop on a train to Ann Arbor, MI where my mother will be anxiously awaiting my arrival so we can spend the remainder of the week with my Grammy and Uncle.  I'm looking forward to used book shopping with my Mom and Grammy, evening walks around the neighborhood, and catching up with family.  

I am unbelievably excited for this vacation! 

It'll do for tonight

There was a fierce storm brewing when I left work this evening.  The sky to the east was full of monstrous, white, gorgeous thunder heads.  I wanted them to be behind me, over the mountains, ready to roll over Fort Collins...I love a good summer storm...but, sadly, those thunder heads continued east and have opened up over the plains.

We could use the rain; our forests and our firefighters could use the rain.  But, my want for that storm isn't to be interpreted as anything other than selfish tonight: I want my summer storm.  I want to watch the lightening streak across the sky.  I want the air to smell like rain.  And I want fall asleep to the sound of rain drops hitting the pavement.

There is the smell of rain in the breeze coming in through my open windows.  I hear rumbling thunder and every so often, for a split second, the sky turns purple and the foothills are illuminated by lightening.  It's not quite the summer storm I'm craving, but it'll do for tonight.