Chairs from the Mile High City

Not the best birthday I’ve ever had, that’s for sure. I dropped my digital camera at Casa Bonita and broke the LCD screen. Pretty lame, especially when there’s no view finder on the camera. BOO. But, I’m trying to be positive, thinking about “blind photography” and some of the interesting images I’ll get. I've become far too dependent on that foolish "delete" feature anyway.

(Listen to what UNM Media Arts has done to me!)

When I turned 18, I spent most of the day alone, with the exception of a short trip to the mall where I just happened to meet the drummer of The Big Spank. I felt completely isolated, all alone in a city I knew nothing about. Number 23 was about the same, but it says a lot more on my perspective. I wasn't sad yesterday, I remember crying myself to sleep 5 years ago. There's still this sense of isolation, but I guess I'm more comfortable in my own skin.

However, all the phone calls and well wishes I got made it that much more awesome. Especially a call from Seattle!

On top of going to Casa Bonita, me and Sarah went to see Waitress, which I highly endorce. There was one line that made me so completely homesick, being "Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight. All they do is wrap you up in their arms without an ounce of selfishness to it." I guess it just made me miss my network.

But all in all, mood is positive. I'm proud to have located free wifi at an independent coffee shop (hiiiiiiippie...) near the apartment I'm staying and I'm super proud that I've kept my spending to a minimun. However, I will be extravigant when I get to Oklahoma by taking a day trip to Arlington with Matt for Six Flags Over Texas, something I am SO excited for. Rollercoasters! I was highly debating going to Elitch Gardens, which is Denver's theme park. However, I've ridden every coaster they have about 8 times, so I decided to wait until Texas. (A little Elitch Gardens History: the park was bought by Six Flags a little over 6 years ago, something that upset a lot of Denver-ins, as it's been a Denver landmark for over 100 years. Apparently, it's no longer a Six Flags, so congrats on getting your park back, D-town!)



I find Denver to be a lot like Albuquerque, but segregated. I'm staying in a very working class neighborhood of apartment complexes, that borders the fancy-pants Cherry Creek/Hills neighborhood. It's like I am where the workers live, the servants quarters. I already miss that about Albuquerque, the multi-million dollar estates next to the trailor. I was very excited to see a Drive In theater, hopefully me and Sarah will visit it this weekend. Even though I think I've seen everything it's showing, it's completely an aesthetic thing. I'm also excited about a visit to the Denver Art Museum this weekend.

People here seem to have a lot of pride in their city. They're freaks about the Broncos. Angie was telling me stories about going to the last event at Mile High and watching people rip up chairs, so they could have a piece of the stadium. It's hard to not love a city that so many other people do. However, I think it's just the area I'm in. I'm not feeling it in Englewood.

I'll be here for the weekend, then Monday I'll be driving through Kansas, Oklahoma-bound. If anyone knows of anything awesome in Western Kansas, let me know. I'm kinda already dreading that journey.