Urban Safari

"Let the wild rumpus start!"

-Max
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak

On Saturday, it was raining in the mountains, so we decided, instead, to have an urban adventure in and near Denver's City Park. Our adventure began at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Toys, and Dolls, a place we have wondered about for some time. I would say that it comprises primarily miniature sets - miniature houses and models or real and fictitious places. We then walked around City Parks trails and ponds. The Denver Zoo is located in City Park. After several hours in the park, we took a break for an inexpensive burrito and a drink. At the end of the evening, we returned to City Park to watch the light and water display at the recently renovated fountain in City Park.


Steve in front of the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys

Door knob to Museum. Cameras were not allowed inside.

Tree in the side yard of the museum.

Steve walking through City Park.

A charming statue - try to ignore the missing feet.

Paddle boats on the lake in City Park.

Me, The Denver Zoo.

Watching animals.

This is how this guy/lady eats!


Ferdinand the Bull scratching an itch on a tree.



Big yawn. This guy was sleepy.

Elephant dust bath

This shrew's nose was quite flexible

Brown Ottus the Hippopotamus

The newest member of the zoo - the baby giraffe, not Steve!

When given the chance, we see who the real animals are.
I'll give you a hint: It's not the peacock!

Can you find the zebra?

Polar bear paws. Polar bears lay down splayed out like this on the ice to cool off.


The Thin Man, a narrow neighborhood bar near City Park.

City Park fountain, a nice end to the day.

Barack Obama Rallies in Golden, CO

But if you want real change – if you want an economy that rewards work, and that works for Main Street and Wall Street; if you want tax relief for the middle class and millions of new jobs; if you want health care you can afford and education so that our kids can compete; then I ask you to knock on some doors, and make some calls, and talk to your neighbors, and give me your vote on November 4th. And if you do, I promise you – we will win Colorado, we will win this election, and we will change America together.

Barack Obama
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
September 16, 2008

Why, you may ask, did Barack Obama choose to speak at the Colorado School of Mines? There are several answers to this question including:

• Colorado School of Mines, among other activities, conducts research in the field of alternative energy and, more traditionally, oil extraction;
  
• Colorado is a swing state;
  
• Jefferson County, where the School of Mines is located, is considered one of the pivotal counties in Colorado because of the considerable quantity of undecided voters;
  
• Colorado is poised to become a leader on the alternative energy front;
  
• Governor Ritter and Denver's Mayor Hickenlooper have a track record of leadership on energy issues.

While I still think that the electoral college stinks like a rat, I am very pleased to be living in a state that matters in the 2008 presidential vote: a purple state. In Vermont, where I have done the majority of my voting, I, like all Vermonters, knew I had very little influence over the national election because Vermont was a blue state and that was that.

Here in Colorado, I feel like I can do something. Colorado is purple, thanks to the rapidly shifting demographics of the state, and no county is believed to be more pivotal than Jefferson County, just south of Boulder County, where I live. I am going to take Obama's closing comment to heart and knock on some doors, make some calls, talk to neighbors and do my part to create greater opportunity for myself, the U.S., and the planet.

The media is at the ready and the moon was still up when I arrived.

Waiting in line.


The campaign offices handed out two tickets to each attendee. I had no takers on my spare ticket, crazy as that may sound. I spoke to the Arvada campaign office about the extra ticket and was told that Lynda, a public school teacher and Obama volunteer extraordinnaire, who narrowly missed her opportunity to attend the Democratic National Convention, didn't get tickets to the Golden event and really wanted to go. I gave her my spare ticket and a ride and we had fun airing our liberal views and taking in the event.

Massive conservative protest on the grassy knoll. I believe that the sign on the left says something about "no socialists".

An Obama campaigner generously offers this McCain supporter a Job to Elect Obama. (See pamphlet.)

Lynda and Rachel. Rachel has been volunteering with the Obama campaign since June. We linked up while standing in line.

Moi as the bleachers were filling up.

Lynda with Karen, the volunteer organizer who suggested that I give Lynda my spare ticket.



Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter

The lead campaign organizer for Jefferson County spoke after the Governor. While this may have been arranged this way to allow Governor Ritter to move on to State business, I like to think that allowing a young upwardly moving field organizer to speak after the governor was an organizing tactic, an effort to highlight the grassroots nature of the campaign. Maybe.


Ba-rack OBAMA!!! YAAAAA!!!


Yay! Whistle. Shout. Woo hoo! Cheer, cheer, cheer!!!!

Shaking hands and kissing babies. Obama (blue circle) makes the rounds.

After the crowds had cleared, this cowboy-booted Democrat-in-training hammed it up on the podium for a bit, waving to the crowd.

Fun British Flicks

"It's the curry. My bum feels like a Japanese flag."

Pinky
Flushed Away

It's highly possible that you haven't heard of two British movies that were sleepers stateside in the last several years: Stardust and Flushed Away. Steve and I loved these movies. He wonders, "Will Stardust be the next Princess Bride?" (Princess Bride wasn't popular in the theaters, but developed a cult following over time.) If you watch Flushed Away, I guarantee you will be imitating the slugs.
Just watch it! Both movies fully satisfied our charm, characters, and plot taste buds.

Stardust is a fairy tale of a movie narrated by Ian McKellen.

The spirit of this movie is a cross between Wallace and Gromit and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Need I say more?

Enjoy!

Refinishing Chair Seats

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

Proverb

Yesterday, I refinished the chairs that are part of the $50 dining set that I purchased through Craig's List. It was well built and light weight, but the seats were a ratty, cracked black pleather. The table and chair set fit our budget, and with a little TLC is nice again.

I'm sharing this not to brag about my DIY prowess, but to inspire friends and family to consider doing the same. It's pretty easy.

Refinishing a chair with a fabric seat.

You will need:

• a standard tool kit (with a variety of screwdrivers and a hammer)
• a staple gun (can pick one up at a craft or hardware store)
  
• upholstery fabric (I got this at Jo-Ann Fabrics)
• 1" foam (I got this at Jo-Ann Fabrics)
• Scissors
  
• Optional dust mask (Filling inside of old chair cushions can be dusty, moldy, nasty. Yuck!)

Directions:

1. Unscrew seats from the chairs.
2. Use hammer claws and screwdrivers to pry up tacks that hold old fabric/material in place.
3. Peal off old stuffing and seat cover (mine was sawdust and horse hair and a previous layer of leather).
4. Trace outline of seat onto foam.
   
5. Cut foam.
   
6. Cut a block of fabric that is at least 2" larger than the seat in order to wrap around the side and staple into place.
7. Lay fabric down pattern-side down, making sure to be consistent with the pattern orientation. Place foam on fabric and wooden seat on top.
8. Staple fabric onto seat. (Pointers: Staple fabric into place on one side, then the opposite side so that you can pull fabric tight. Cut away excess fabric, especially near old screw holes.)
9. Screw seats back on.
   

Dancin' and Playin'

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.

~Japanese Proverb

With very little planning, adventure was around every corner as we made our way through Saturday. In the morning, while I was bringing Karen to Rockin' Robin's consignment store, in Niwot to find an outfit for a beach wedding that Karen will be attending in Santa Monica, we arrived to Nostalgia Days. We caught a Native American dance demonstration and an orchestra. Karen was treated to area rocker and overall music maven Rockin' Robin's fashion advice and soon had the perfect outfit. Clothes at Rockin' Robin's are fun! We then rendezvoused with Steve and Tamtam and took the bus to the CU Football home opener agains Eastern Washington, where I know several of my Washington family attended. After the game, we ran across our old neighbors Andrea (mom), Izzi (daughter), and Charlie (son). Charlie, who just entered kindergarten, was showing off his game on the breakdance mat on the Pearl Street Mall, while the drummer kept the beat and Izzi, who is still in diapers, stood by in her stylee hot pink Puma track jacket.

Niwot, Colorado. Niwot means "left hand"; Niwot was named after Chief Niwot, the Arapaho leader at the time that white miners entered this area in masses. You can see Left Hand Grange in the background. Niwot has been featured in the Denver Post for reviving its downtown through efforts focused on the celebration of local history. Dancers stand during a performance of a prairie chicken dance for Nostalgia Days.




Rockin' Robin's thrift shop. Rockin' Robin is organizing a clothes rack in the picture.

Rock 'n Roll Ernie

Steve looks on at the game.

Roughly in the center you can see Ralphie, the CU Buffs' mascot. Ralphie is a lady buffalo who runs during every game and it is the job of the rodeo cowboys in black and yellow around her, to stick with her while she runs. This was one of the game highlights for me.

Steve drinks a Squishy with Karen and Tamtam in the background. My tongue was red from this drink.

An awesome game. CU was looking pretty sad in the first half, but rallied in the second half to a 31-24 victory over Eastern Washington.

Go Ralphie!

Hip hop dancing street performance on the Pearl Street Mall. These guys had great energy. Super fun!


Five-year-old Charlie breaks it down, while the drummer keeps the beat. When Steve dropped five dollars in the money bucket, he said, " They deserve five bucks, just for keeping the beat for Charlie."