July 2018

The Fire Has Been Put Out- CO

The Fire Has Been Put Out
Southern CO
July 2018

The road was closed all last week as fire fighters worked endlessly to extinguish this massive fire.  And on the day we left Boulder to drive to Pagosa Spring, this road finally opened up again.  It was eerie to drive through these burnt woods.  The presence of death and defeat was everywhere and when we opened our car windows, the smell of the fire permeated our surroundings.

Lucky's Market

Lucky's Market

Boulder , CO

July 2018

OMG, I love this place. Yea, it's got a nice selection of quality foods.  But that isn't what makes it so damn special.  They sell draft beer that you can purchase and drink as you are roaming the aisle, picking up all kins of goods that you don't need.  And the pint only cost $2.13. We live in a great country.

The Overlook

The Overlook
Thermal Water Pools
Pagosa Springs, CO
July 9th, 2018

It is my birthday and I love to soak in warm water so KT suggested we drive from Boulder to Pagosa Springs to spend a luxurious day in the springs.

There is a very expensive hotel that would have charged us $320 for the night and would have allowed us 24 hours access to the waters.  But we were too cheap to spend all the money for a hotel.

So we booked and AirBnB above the local brewery and scouted out to find a day spa to accommodate  us.

We ended up here and the day was so unsatisfactory.  I knew KT wouldn't like it as much as me because she is not an obsessive soaker.  She gets bored easily and, on the other hand,  I can nap in warm water.  But we both left this place with a hate-on for it.  None of the pools appeared clean.  Most of the pools were too hot for comfort and even though we were told the water could be adjusted, the manager was nowhere to be found.

It rained while we were there which forces us to stay inside where the environment was dark, obsessive and smelly.  KT hated it and showed after 1/2 hour.  I soaked for about two hours and spent most of my time in the cold pool.  We left feeling dirty, unsatisfied and ripped off.

Next time, I am staying at the expensive hotel.

HPA

HPA

New Belgium Brewery

Golden, Colorado

July 2018

I like beer, lots of beers and I will try any beer.  But this beer? No thank you.  This is a hemp pale ale and the hemp taste is overpowering and too distasteful to me. It tasted as if I was drinking a discarded, soggy weed blunt. Some ingredients are meant to be left out of beer and this is definitely one of them. 

Breckenridge Music Fest- CO

Breckenridge Music Festive
July 7, 2018
Boulder, CO

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• I had a VIP pass that afforded us all the food and beer we wants, access to the entire venue and a growler gift
• Mango Pale Ale- yes
• Agave Wheat- NO!!! That was a bad taste.
• Vanilla Porter- yes
• Vanittal Porter- nitro- yes
• Hop IPA- yes
• Peak IPA- yes
• beer creamsicles- nope, too messy
• beer popsicles- yes, delicious and refreshing. I wish I could have taken a few of these home with me.
• There was a fondue foundation in the VIP tasting room and the chocolate was made with the Irish Stout.  I didn't try any but my friends said it was delicious.
• We walked in the warehouse refrigerator.  It was a cheap thrill.
• Mike Gordon from Phish was the final act and he was a crowd pleaser.  I don't know Phish's music but I liked what I heard here.
• A man approached me and asked if I was some one's mother. Y told the guy that I was Mike Gordon's mother.  He said he "just knew that".  He could tell because we looked alike.
• I am reaching an age where I should really bring ear plugs to concerts. My ear drums ring at times.
• The heat was intense.
• The sun permeated every where.  They needed more shade tarps.
• I drank one pint of water for ever one beer I drank.  that was an effort but it paid off the next day.
• A big ass guy fainted right in front of me.  Thought he was going have a seizure.  But he refused to go to the hospital even though an ambulance arrived on the scene.  He stayed for the rest of the concert.  I wonder how he felt on Sunday.

Prior to heading to the festival, I told my friend, Melissa, there were three rules she had to enforce today to help me cope with all of this free beer:

1. no sitting at the bar
2. no beer to take home
3. a pint of water after every two pints of beer.

• 
  

FB posting # 8

FB Posting #8
June 15, 2014
Colorado

We ran into this elk and fortunately he didn't run into us.
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

5 Comments

Dead But Not Forgotten

Somewhere in the mountains

Boulder, CO

June 2015

Even though this tree is dead, its presence still demanded my attention.

JULY 2017

July 2017
West Chester, PA

July 1, Saturday- West Chester, PA- hung around the lobby and chatted people up in my new apartment building. I am really enjoying my new surroundings.  This was a good choice for me.

July 2, Sunday-MD- went back to my house in MD and sat on the beach with neighbors.  We spent the afternoon, drinking beers and laughing.  I am going to miss them.

July 3, Monday-MD- I tried to spend the day going bar-hopping with Joann and Trav but too many places were closed because it was Monday. We did end up at Steak & Main and had a great time.

July 4, Tuesday- PHL- went to a fireworks celebration at Penn’s Landing with Sharon and Glenn. I love to watch fireworks.

July 5, Wednesday- West Chester- it was a lazy day, but I did go to Jitters, a local bar, by myself I am usually uncomfortable to do that.

July 6, Thursday-  West Chester- it rained all damn day. I tried to book a flight to Colorado.  I saw one last night for $200 but it’s gone now.  I hate the airline industry.

July 7, Friday-West Chester- I hung around my apartment all day. I am content to just hang here.

July 8, Saturday- State College, PA- went to a Blake Sheldon concert at Beaver Stadium with the Anderkos. It was a fun concert but a long day.

July 9, Sunday- PHL- My birthday and I am 62 and very excited.  Today I get discounts at the movies, on Amtrak and other places.  I qualify for Social Security and best of all, I can now buy a lifetime pass for $10 to the national parks.  This is a wonderful time in my life.  I went to Philadelphia University to watch John Staudt’s basketball team.

July 10, Monday- MD- had dinner with Colleen France.  She wants to rent my house. She can’t afford it. But I would love to make a deal with her.  She could use a little stability in her life.

July 11, Tuesday- MD- dinner with Joann and Trav and then off to Kilby’s Creamery for delicious coffee ice cream.  This is the second time this week I have been here.  This has to stop.

July 12-Wednesday- WC- Vicki Murphy Kendall came to visit. We just hung by the pool.  I also planted a balcony garden.  I know I am going to go overboard.

July 13- Thursday- WC- dinner at the Social with the Descanso and Ruth Snyder. They are as excited about my new place as I am.

July 14- Friday- WC- another rainy day but it was fun to hang in the lobby and watch people coming and going.

July 15- Saturday- CT- took a day trip up to CT for a bridal shower.  Kevin is marrying Emily in September. I can’t wait.

July 16, Sunday- WC- added a few more plants to my balcony garden.  It’s small but it’s better than nothing.

July 17, Monday-WC- hung around the pool all afternoon. I like being here.

July 18, Tuesday-PA- drove the Pottsville for Deb Green’s brother’s funeral.  It was a military funeral.  They know how to honor people. Had dinner with Jaye and Dom in DE and then headed to MD for the rest of the evening.

July 19, Wednesday-WC- went to an evening movie, Maudie,at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute with my high school friends.  I love going to the movies.

July 20, Thursday-CO- took an early flight to Colorado to see KT and her family.

July 21, Friday- CO- KT had a dinner party for the Kendalls, KT’s family and me. It was fun to be with all of them.

July 22, Saturday- CO- Vickie Murphy Kendall is going to be in a triathlon tomorrow so we drove the 17-mile bike trail, so she could get a feel for the challenge.  And then we stopped at Oscar Blues Brewery for a coffee IPA.  It was delicious.

July 23, Sunday- CO- Vickie came in 1^stplace in her age group (70+).  She was worn out.  Later that night, we went to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a String Cheese Incident concert.

July 24, Monday- CO- we drove the Great Sand Dunes National Park and KT bought me a lifetime pass to the national parks. And it only cost $10.  That's money well spent.

July 25, Tuesday- CO- we drove to Cripple Creek and other small cowboy towns along the way.

July 26, Wednesday- CO- we went a brewery called A Very Nice Breweryand it was. I had a late-night flight home.

July 27, Thursday- PHL- I got in at 5:30 AM.  I was exhausted. I had no energy today.

July 28, Friday-MD- I made a quick drive down to MD for a library meeting.  I also checked in on the house and then I had a very expensive stop at Whole Foods.

July 29, Saturday-PHL- dinner with Deb Green and Mary Graham at the Manayunk Brewery.

July 30, Sunday- PHL- dinner with Sharon and Glenn.  We called Heather and she is ready to deliver that baby. I can’t wait for her to become a mother.

July 31, Monday- WC- I went to the Split Rock tavern and meet two new friends.  We had a good time.  I drank beer and came home and threw up.

To read more stories, check out:   bkmemoirs.blogspot.com

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The Triathlete

The Triathlete

Vicki Murphy-Kendall

Boulder Triathalon

Boulder, CO

July 23, 2017

Vicki has been a competitive athlete for 20 years. Mostly she runs.  But the last ten years, she also competed nationally and internationally in triathlon competitions.  She was in a race last year in Philadelphia and a fellow competitor clipped her during the bike race.  She fell, was knock unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital.

She had a concussion and bruised body.  She spent six months in physical therapy.  She had vertigo for months.  She had to forfeit a competition in Mexico.  And her confidence was shaken.  So it was a big deal when she announced to us that she was going to compete again in a triathlon in Boulder.

I flew out to Colorado to watch the event.  The day before the race, we drove the 17 mile bike course.  It started at 5800' in elevation and went up to 6500'. It was brutal.   The water temperature was 50F which required a wet suit for most of the competitors.  But the running event didn't concern Vicki at all.  "That's where I am my best.  I can run.  I feel most in control with I run," she told us. "I finish with running.  That will be good."

She was up and out of the house by 5:30 AM to get to the race course and prepare for her 7:50 AM start time. Arnie, her husband, joined her.  Then Mike, KT and I meandered to the finish line by 10:15 AM,  just a little bit before Vicki thought she would finish.  "It shouldn't take me more than 2 1/2 hours.  That's my usual time," she assured us.

Lots of athletes were just starting the run when we arrived but we were sure we were going to see Vicki finish in just a few moments. Then it was 10:30 and there was no sign of Vickie.  There were no more people running out of the start chute so we just knew she had to be coming along soon.  We waited in great anticipation. it was 10:45 and still no Vickie.

As I let my gaze wander around the event, I saw a competitor hobbling on the other side of the road.  I thought it was Vicki and I strained my eyes to see.  But a truck drove by and blocked my view.  When I could see her again, it was clear she was in distress. She was limping and walking.  And she was just starting the race. I wanted to cry.

KT and I walked up the course to find her but she got away from us. We speculated that she was suffering from heat stroke in this 90F weather. At any moment, I expected to see her on a golf cart, being brought to the medical clinic. I really wanted to cry for her.

I stayed in one spot and KT went ahead to see if she could find Vicki.  After ten minutes, KT called me. "She's on her way.  She just passed me." That was a huge relief.

After a few minutes, I could see her bright pink shirt running towards me.

"Vickie, you only have 1500 steps left," I shouted out to her and she waved her arms in excitement.

As she got closer to me, I asked, "Are we going to walk together or are you going to run it in?"

"I'm going to run it.  I had a leg cramp. But I'm OK. I'm going to run it in." And she did as best she could.  I met up with her a few minutes later and she was thrilled.  She had come in first place in her age group.  All of the other competitors did not finish the race.

"I'm the only one who finished.  That's why I won," she said, almost apologetic.

"Vicki," I said to her, "Shut the hell up.  You are 72 and you completed a damn triathlon. Take your first place medal and shut up."

FACEBOOK POSTING:

She finished 1st in her age group. This old bitch can run, swim and bike. Congratulations Vickie Murphy Kendall, a triathlon athlete.

VICKI'S FOLLOW UP EMAIL TO US:
Bridget and KT,

Have been having a hard time getting on line here but finally have.

You guys are just too much.

The love and interest you have in me touched me deeply.  Seeing you at the Tri  (on the running part) when you saw I was in trouble made me feel so loved.  It is not always easy for me to feel loved...not sure why...but you guys.....are just too wonderful.

Thank you so much.

I love you both....

Vicki

Snort Buck Saloon

Snort Buck Saloon

Colorado

June 2016

This place is off the beaten path and in the middle of nowhere.  It is currently up for sale and I don't know who would buy it as you have to travel many miles to get here.  But you do get to keep all of the useless dollar bills.  I tried to count all of them but it was a wasted effort as there are just too many of them. I wonder how many could be retrieved and used as a down payment?

Snort  

2017 In Review

 2017 In Review

Jan 1- Snow Geese Migration- I went to Bombay Hook to watch them.  At first, I could find them anywhere.  But then I looked in the sky and saw a flock heading to a watering pool.  And there they were, thousands of them.

A snow storm at the beach- January- Long Beach Island, NJ

The Women's March in Washington, DC on January 21, 2017

Alaska;  2/27-3/7

car

The Carters- March 26

I moved to West Chester, PA

I got my lifetime pass to our national parks.

Kevin got married to Emily

1/29/17 @ PHL airport

I traveled across country from the east coast to the west coast in four delightful days.

I visited 39 breweries this year.  A new record.

I went to the Great Sand Dunes in CO

I saw a tiger in the wild at Chitwan National Park in Nepal.

My sweet Elliot was born in August

I saw the Living Goddess in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I traveled to Nepal in November and December.

I traveled to Bhutan in late December.

To read more stories, check out:   bkmemoirs.blogspot.com

 or  bkmemoirs.wordpress.com