How did Monday get here so quickly?

Saturday morning E and I decided to tempt fate and the weatherman predictions and head to Rampart Reservoir. We had a great MTB ride around the reservoir. I only crashed three or four times. The only blood was when I cut my finger at the end of the ride while pushing up on a rock after crouching down near a stream to splash water on my face. Figures.

The weatherman had predicted that the afternoon was going to bring in cold, gloomy fall weather. During the ride we did have some cool spots but all in all it was great. Afterwards we drove the back road to Monument and then Castlerock to shop for running shoes for him and a birthday present for my dad. (this is when the rain, sleet, thunder lightening and hail started--Thunder and Lightning in October is weird!)

I made a side stop into the Coach store. Most the purses in Coach were disappointing to me. I prefer the classic styles and designs, not the new loud trendy purses they seem to sell in the outlet store lately. Also, I know Nuclear Mom is in the market for a new purse, I had an eye out for something she may like and I could take a pic and send it to her since she is not near a coach outlet store. Sorry, nothing looked that great, hopefully the Christmas season will bring a better selection. E found his running shoes but I was striking out in all the items I was shopping for.

We headed back to the springs in hopes of getting to Criterium before they closed. I was able to acquire a kick ass b-day present for my dad there. Also ran into a few friends there also. It is alwasy a nice surprise to randomly run into friends you haven't seen in a while.

After bike riding, shopping and driving most of the day we stopped at a little Thai restaurant, Bhan Thai, we had both heard about from multiple people. Not new in town, but in an area of town I don’t normally go. It was not the best Thai food I have had, but definitely better than other places I have had in town. The prices were very reasonable too. My all time favorite Thai food is Tommy's Thai in Denver.

After dinner, we stopped by my house to shower, clean up and look up movie times. Both E and I had wanted to see the movie ‘We Own the Night’. Knowing E’s dad also mentioned he would like to see this, we called him and invited him to go with us. The movie was different than I expected from the previews but still good and entertaining none-the-less. If I was a critic that could award stars I would give it 3 out of 5…Not bad. The cold gloomy weather the weather man predicted was rolling in at this time, so curling up in a movie theater was the best option after an action packed day.

Sunday morning I woke up at an hour that no one should wake up for on a weekend. Unless of course you are participating in a favorite sport, pass-time or drive two hours just to surprise your father for breakfast. Wednesday of this week marks my dad’s 60th birthday. He wanted this birthday to pass quietly with not a lot of attention. Normally his birthday does. Not this year. My step-mom did a great job planning a surprised brunch for him. The plan was that we (all of his children, grandchildren and close friends) would be at a designated restaurant, after they left church she would suggest that they go get brunch. Something they normally do. I have never seen my dad so surprised when he walked in and saw us all there, me especially. He was so shocked he threw his hat at me and started to tear up a bit. (I have pictures of all this but a low battery so I will have to wait to upload them) – it was a great surprise for my dad. It was also neat because I got to see some family friends I hadn’t seen since before I moved away for Fort Collins and I was able to have some good play time with my youngest nieces and nephew. I also was able to catch up with my other niece who is going through the turmoil’s of high school, and my nephew who is starting his freshman year at my alma matter, CSU. My oldest niece was unable to make the party for reasons unbeknownest to us.

After brunch I went and spent a couple hours visiting my parents and the stopped by my brothers house to see the play house my dad, brother and brother in-law built for my young nieces. My niece Natalie was very excited to have me as a guest in her playhouse and was an excellent hostess. She served me pretend tea with lots of sugar and pretend food (hot dogs and peas). After our tea party then I departed to head back to Colorado Springs in time to get home and settle in to watch the baseball game. Sunday evening ended with E and I cooking pasta primavera with shrimp and a bottle of wine and watching the Colorado Rockies win game 3 of the National League series. One more win and we are on our way to the World Series!!!

Plans for tonight? Another bottle of wine, and another Baseball game…GO ROCKIES!!!