Tonight: PUNK ROCKS! (and a peek into a past life…)

The Vandals at Red Rocks…along with The Offspring and others

The Vandals: Last time I saw them perform, was at Penny Lane coffee house in Boulder Co in 1998. It was a small punk rock show. Babes in Toyland opened for them.

That was along time ago. Also a long time ago I was a teenager living in a college town with not a lot to do. So a bunch of us would “produce” small punk rock shows. My part of the production process was small. I was in charge of copying off copies of the fliers and distribution.

My step father had an insurance office and I had a key and access to a lot of paper (uh, sorry Larry—If you are reading this now. I guess this is one of those childhood secrets I just let loose. I wasn’t REALLY doing homework in your office all those evenings--I am busted)

Anyways, I digress. We had a lot of small garage type punk bands perform at our shows. Many faded away over time but a few actually made it “big” – The Offspring was one of those bands. I have not seen them perform since they were playing for us and 50 of our “friends” we charged $4 to get in the door, the venue was a vacant office space we rented for the evening next door to Front Range Records on College Ave. Some of the other bands that played for us in those years: Social Joke, Libido Boys, Green Day, 7Seconds, No Doubt, All, Descendants, and many many more…

There are lots of stories and fun times from those years…Someday I will write them all down along with the bands that I met, listened too and drove around to and from the gig’s in my Blue VW Rabbit…Good times (Nuclear mom—you may need to help me with that…Since my memory is shady…I was not kind to my mind/body in those years)

As for tonight…I am excited to relive a little of my youth in a MUCH larger Venue…and I doubt I will be anywhere near the mosh pit. Instead, I will be that “old person’ the kids will wonder where I could have ever heard of such punk bands…oh if they only knew…

Dear Bicycle Chain Ring:

Please quit biting me.
Frankly it hurt's, makes me bleed, leaves a scar and is all around, NOT COOL!

Thanks,
Tanya's Right Calf

Memorial Day Weekend Recap (Long)

Memorial Day weekend had plans for one adventure, in return I had many I did not plan on. This blog will come across as a montage of personal accomplishments, reuniting old friends, being true to myself and my family.

It started early on Thursday evening in my home town, visiting with my parents and my old buddy (BC) at one of our old college haunts.



Funny how coming home can feel just like that. Across the bar as I waited for BC to join me I recognized a face but could not put a place with it. Then it dawned on me, it was Suzy…Suzy who taught me to tap dance to the Beastie Boys while we were both part of the dance department at CSU (talk about some shuffle ball change…). A few moments later, another old college friend (Kimberly) came in and sat right next to me at the bar. I have not seen Kimberly since we celebrated my college graduation at this same bar in 12 years ago…(really? That long ago? Scarey!) Kimberly had no idea who she sat next too, to her she was sitting next to some random stranger. I looked at her and said “Hey lady!” She looked at me with a blank look, then she recognized me, followed by a scream and a hug that pretty much tackled me off my seat.


After spending some hours in Elliots, BC and I did what we do well, walk around old town FTC and discuss all the changes in life we have experienced over the years and plans we have for the future. Finally long after my bed time, BC and I hugged, departed our separate ways while I peddled away on my bike I yelled across old town square ‘I love you!!!’ to hear a reply on the other side of the Square ‘I love you too!!!’ Some things just feel right. The love we have for each other is completely plutonic and a special bond we share as surviving our adolescence and early 20’s together. Also, it is when I am with BC I am reminded of all the crazy stuff we DID survive. For instance, once in an adrenaline rush I lifted my car to save his life (so I thought—he really wasn’t under the car when it fell off the jack)…True it was a Honda CRX, but still, I tore every muscle in my body for him. That is another story all together…

The next morning I got up early to go on a road bike ride with my dad and one of his cycling buddies. We met up at the Jiff Store, road “My Nemesis” hill around the south end of the reservoir to Horsetooth Park and back to the Jiff store, where my dad and his friend loaded up the car and I opted to ride my bike home, making a small detour on the way.

I hate this hill!!! Our relationship started early when I was a kid and tried to tackle it on my dirt bike…Ever since I get a huge sense of accomplishment every time I get to the top…sometimes I find myself yelling “Spank that, hill”—it’s kinda weird I know…


While on my way to old town, I chased my own train…It’s not the Iron Horse, but it was as close as I would get to riding against a train on Memorial Day weekend :)


On the way home I stopped by Kansas City Kitty, a very cool little shop owned by my childhood friend Chip, his wife Christi and her business partner. If you ever find yourself in Fort Fun you MUST stop in and see them. They have a very cool little shop full of fun, lovely stuff

After I got home and changed out of my lovely spandex I took off to the North to Cheyenne, Wyoming to take advantage of Sierra Trading Post’s Memorial Day sale.

After giving my credit card a workout in Wyoming I headed home to watch my niece graduate from my alma matter (FCHS). Followed by a wonderful dinner with my parents.

After dinner, when I was getting ready to retire for the evening I got a text message from another old friend who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He and his family were passing through Colorado Springs the next night and they asked if they could stay at my house.

Uh sure…I headed home on Saturday to frantically prepare my house for three house guests I was not prepared for. The evening was spent telling stories, new and old, catching up and eating pizza. Also, I made them take the bottle of Jagermeiser that was left in my freezer after his last visit over three years ago…

Speaking of Pizza, on my way home on Saturday I discovered Abo’s is now in Loveland!!! Abo’s was my favorite pizza in my youth. It required a drive to Boulder’s Pearl Street mall to be able to abide. There were many afternoons missed of school for Abo’s pizza…



Sunday I finally got some time to myself. Fun Tina and I headed to Territory Days and were rained into sitting in Meadow Muffins and observing from a far, with cocktails in hand.

Monday I enjoyed a Rockies game with my brother, sister in law and two wonderful nieces.

Coors field pic taken by Hailey

Coors Field pic taken by Natalie


Natalie and I

Some serious baseball fans

Hailey and I

Me and my two favorite little princesses

What an amazing weekend!!!

It's Oh So Quiet...

The story of my life...



Minus the male dancers.

Note to self: Aquire Male Dancers wearing only underwear...

In the past year:

A year ago today I experienced one of, if not the most frightening experience of my life.



You can read about it here.

The lesson I immediately learned was I am thrilled to be alive and life is short and each day is to be lived to the fullest.

Tell the people you love you love them and hold them close. Get rid of negative influences in your life and most of all...LIVE!



In the past year I have: loved, lost, stagnated, grown, awakened, been inspired, blessed, hurt, deceived, disappointed, surprised, overjoyed, outraged, had new experiences, experienced the familiar. Along with a thousand other adjectives, emotions, feelings and experiences and accomplishments.

People close to me have been born and other people have passed from this life. Others have gotten sick while others healed. All the while I was fortunate to be a part and witness this thing called Life.



AMAZING!

Washington Adventures in Friendship, Wine and Children

Some of my favorite Quotes: “There is nothing like being loved by a child” also “The best place in the world is right beside a friend”



My trip to Washington to visit Nuclear Mom, was exactly what I needed for my soul. I am ever so thankful for not only the wonderful vacation, but also getting to spend time with and develop a relationship with her children. She and her husband truly have a beautiful family and I am lucky to be loved by them.


I also got to learn to make Lefse. A Scandinavian dessert that my grandmother used to make and I regretted never learning to make it before she passed away. When NM mentioned to me that she had learned to make this from her in-laws I jumped all over the opportunity for her to teach me to make it…NM wrote a great blog about it here.
Here is proof of us rolling out our Lefse...YUM!

Also I can’t forget all the delicious wine we were able to drink, sample and of course I had to buy some for my wine cellar. (In actuality it is some wine in cardboard boxes in my basement, but ‘Wine Cellar” sounds better).





On my last day of my stay I told Leif and Skadi I had a wonderful time visiting. I asked the kids if I could come back again for another visit.

“Sure” Leif replied.


YES! I will be back!!! I miss my “Morning Monkeys” already!!!