A Tribute to Siblings

Last weekend I headed up to Boulder for to visit Graham, pick up my mail and let Henry go for a swim in the lake. Graham and I had a great visit and, while this won't be a long post, it's an important one because siblings are very special people.

Granted, Graham is totally too cool to read my blog so I could say he is "gay" (to use one of his favorite multi-purpose adjectives) and he'd never know. But the truth is, it's fun to visit him and now that we are older, he's more of a buddy than a little brother.

Graham will be 20 in about six weeks. When I realized he was not a teenager for much longer, I could barely believe it. Siblings surprise you because too often we think of them as a pest or as someone who can "push our buttons" but a good sibling relationship is like having an enduring friend.

Think of it this way: your brother and/or sister was there long before your spouse and will be there after your parents are gone. Your sibling could very well be the single person you know for the longest period in your life. If you don't have siblings, special friendships often fall into the very same category.

So that's why this post is dedicated to the unconditional friend, the brother or the sister in your life.

Fall is here!

This is such a wonderful time of year. Crisp, cool weather but it is still light until 7 each evening. Henry loves the hiking and long walks and living downtown is a blast!

Here are a few updates:

1. I'm golfing! Golf is actually incredibly fun and I've had a blast each time I've headed out for 9 holes. We had our company golf tournament last Friday and my team won the tournament. :-)

2. Garbanzos is my new favorite lunch place. It's like Chipotle with Greek food!

3. Dog Whisperer is an addicting show. Even though Bryce fancies himself the ultimate dog trainer, you can learn a lot from Caesar Milan!

4. I love the light rail in Denver and I've been taking the train to work at least 4 mornings a week. It's fantastic to sit back and relax with a book for 30 minutes in the mornings while someone else drives.

5. Downtown living is still great. I find myself dreading a 10 minute car trip because it seems soooo far!

6. Kristi's wedding in Kansas City was beautiful. It was wonderful to celebrate with Kristi and TK and see lots of Kansas friends!

That's all for now!

Hope all is well with each and every one of you.

The Pleasures and Dangers Of Downtown Living

Good Morning and happy last few days of August!

I hope all is well with each and every one of you. It's been a wonderful and fun change to go from living on the outskirts of Boulder to the center of Denver. Bryce likes to point out (in a surprised tone), "You're just fitting in so well!" That could be because he still thinks I'm a little bit Kansas-country, but that's still a label I'll take. :-)

There are many differences between country and city living. Some are fun, some are dangerous (in a good way) and some are just different.

1. Happy Hour is waaay way way to convenient.

2. You can go to dinner, a movie and to Walgreens without a car.

3. Grass is sparse and the dog "area" is always full of regulars.

4. On weekends, you get out of the city....because it is full of charity organizations on scavenger hunts and Chinese tourists asking for directions (I can't direct them where they need to go yet!)

5. Parking is coveted. Luckily, my building takes care of parking but it is super tricky to find a spot sometimes.

There are many, many more but you might have to come visit to see for yourself! :-)

Wine recommendation (way overdue): Zen of Zin Zinfandel. Dark and wonderfully drinkable with anything from cheese before dinner to pasta. Can be found for right around $10.

Movie recommendation: If you're brave enough, you absolutely must watch Food Inc. It's a very level-headed documentary about the food we eat, where it comes from and who controls it. The documentary opens the door to food subsidies and explains why milk is expensive but soda costs $.30 per bottle. It is a wonderful, eye-opening movie that will either turn you vegetarian or into a farmer's market worshiper.

2602, life in a highrise

Well folks, it might be time to change the name of my blog because Bolder in Boulder doesn't exactly apply anymore. Bolder in Denver? Bolder in Downtown? We'll see!

About a week ago I packed up my things and headed downtown. Check out the pictures on the blog for a little peak of my new place! Now I have bar stools, a kitchen table and a few other things so it is looking less sparse slowly but surely.

So far, I love it. Henry is a riot and spends his entire day (and sometimes night) looking out the windows.

More to come!

The best advice I'll ever give on my blog

Here it is. The best advice to ever be given on my blog. Never, ever commute. That's it! Just never commute. By commute I don't mean a 20 minute drive. I'm talking highways and over an hour. I'm talking a commute where drizzle doubles your drive time and where an accident triples it. I hate driving. Those who know me know that I'm not a big fan of road trips and really don't enjoy the car in general. That being said, it makes it all the more miraculous that the distance I am currently driving to work is about 55 miles.

Luckily, it won't be forever. I'm still planning to move to Denver and a recent two-hour car trip home kicked my moving plans into high gear. My job at GolfTEC is still going very well and I feel like my commute has taken some enjoyment out of a fantastic new job. But, in the wise words of my dad, every inconvenient state is temporary.

Last night to break up my drive I stopped in Denver to take a walk with an old friend who is a new Denver resident! Meghan and her dog Autumn moved here about a week ago and we are thrilled to have them here!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Love,

Emily

New job, busy life

Hello all,

Sorry for the long delay!

Bryce and I had a wonderful trip to Martha's Vineyard (pictures!) and then I throughly enjoyed my quick visit to Kansas City for Kristi's bachelorette party and bridal shower.

While in the Vineyard, we spent time on the beach, went sailing, rented jet skis and took a day trip to Boston. All very fun! The bridal shower was beautiful and we bridesmaids had a great time taking Kristi out for a night at the Power and Light!

Monday I started my new job and so far, it's looking great! I already feel in sync with a lot of things and the rest of the marketing team has really taken the time to show me the ropes. GolfTEC has a great training process for newbies which includes some golf, learning the sales ropes and a meeting or two to learn their internal company database. Overall, it's a chill vibe with a face-paced marketing strategy. I think I'm going to like it!

The only downside has been the commute (Haven't gotten to see Henry as much as I would like lately) and deciding where I'm going to move to in Denver. Graham is planning to transfer from an Arizona community college to Colorado and live in my condo! It's great because someone will be watching Henry while I move and, of course, I'll be able to visit a family member close by.

More on my potential move later!

Whirlwind Week

Happy Saturday!

What a week. Too many decisions, too little time. In a very short time I was facing choosing a new job, a potential move to Denver, waiting to hear from other jobs and (my choice at the time) sitting there doing nothing!

"It all will seem better in the morning" applied last week and I woke up knowing exactly what I wanted to do. So, you're talking to the new Digital Marketing Specialist at GolfTEC! GolfTEC teaches more golf lessons per year than any other company and is located right outside of Denver. They have a putting green in their office and do tv, radio, online and print ads- a marketing person's dream! Check 'em out at www.golftec.com

I start July 12 and I'm excited to hit the ground running. The late start date was one of my requests of GolfTEC because I need a vacation. Bryce and I are off to Martha's Vineyard in a few short days to enjoy a relaxing week on the east coast. Maybe we'll head into Boston for a game at Fenway park while we're there!

As soon as I get back from the Vineyard, I have another, incredibly important event to attend! Krisit's Bridal Shower is coming right up! I leave for KC the 9th, come back to Boulder the 11th and start at GolfTEC the 12th. With all that traveling, I am happier than ever that Graham is visiting this summer. He is saving me hundreds of dollars in PetsHotel bills and, of course, I know Henry loves hanging out with him.

Today, I have a list of four Denver apartments to check out. I'm just planning to test the waters and see what's out there. I probably wouldn't move until August at some point. I'll keep you posted!

It's actually been a slow wine week but I have a champagne recommendation! Ferrari Italian sparkling wine is the most incredible champagne ever. At close to $50 bucks it's a splurge. I bought it at the wine tasting we went to a while back for a discount and have been saving it for a special occasion! I think a new job is just the way to celebrate. Enjoy!

Love,

Em