Remained sexy while doing so.

Gosh. Maria got in a car accident last night coming home in Raton. She tried to go around some debris on the road, but ended up hitting it and blowing out a tire, lost control and ended up in a tree, probably going 60mph. Thankfully, from what it sounds like, her car did exactly as it should have and pretty much buckled, saving Maria any major injury. They took her to the hospital in Las Vegas and did some x-rays, but when I talked to her, she didn't think she'd broken anything. And I tend to believe her, as she has a degree in that.


But, RIP to Maria's dear car. What a sweet car Princess Diana was, absorbing all that force to protect her driver. Maria told me her engine is crunched in about 2 feet. It really is unbelievable that you can hit a tree going that fast and not seriously hurt yourself. And in all honesty, it was probably a good thing that tree was there, instead of risking a rollover.

ALSO, Marky got into a wreck on Saturday. He's somewhat sore and his car is still drivable, but he's pretty worried about frame damage. So, send them both well wishes, perhaps even flowers and candy. And drive extra careful this week... something's going down.

In somewhat lighter news,

Kenneth took me to the zoo on Sunday to celebrate my birth. I really do love that place. I realized what a great place it is to exercise too. I've been thinking about getting a membership and going every Saturday morning, walking around it a few times.


The polar bears were extra frisky. Well actually, just frisky. I don't think I've ever seen them in as much motion as they were in on Sunday. This bear was trying his hardest to get that plastic cylinder into the big pool at the top of his habitat. It was so crazy to watch him balance it and then shove it up, like he was serving a volleyball. He would get so frustrated when it would fall back down, but he just kept doing it.

I also worked a crazy lot last week. On top of 40 hours in office, I spent 3 nights at the theater; bartending Tuesday and managing Friday and Saturday. So, I spent a lot of time being tired.


I did have the great satisfaction of a G-Dub reunion of sorts, as one of the old security guys was back in town for about a week. With his visit, came the visits of a bunch of old staffers on Tuesday night. And who are all these people?
First row: Scott (the one visiting from Virgina. He worked at the bar for years and years before moving about 2 years ago.), Jay Dee (did maintenance and janitorial stuff before Kenneth took over. He's my favorite of the sleazy security guards we've had over the years. And trust me, there's been a few.), Kyle (you should know him), Marky (him too), and oh Daniel my Daniel (current head of security and greatest person I've met in a long time.)
Second Row: Kristina (invented the Golden West bartender. If anyone has right to claim that bar as her own, it's that girl.), Jenny (did the office job before me. She is fantastic and from New York.)
Third row: Kathy (mom), me, Phil (if you went into Birdland anytime in the last 5 years or so, you probably saw that guy. He worked security for us for a loooong time.)
Bottom: Patrick (remember how I just typed about sleazy security guards? Yeeeeah, about that...)

But, it was just so great to see everyone all in one place again. It was enough to remind me why I still work there and why I doubt I'll ever be able to leave. I've noticed now that I just love being at the theater. I'll just stop and look around at the building, just because I'm so happy it's still there.


We zombies.

Well, it looks like this little office job of mine might not be hanging around as long as I originally expected. I knew it wouldn't last through the year, but now it's looking like it might not last through the summer. Some office folk think I'll be okay, but I really don't feel like taking any chances. So, I'm starting to think of other places I could possibly work, and starting to think even more about if it's finally time I pick up and head to Oklahoma, once and for all.


I want this place to hire me.

I'm also looking campaign stuff and more federal stuff. What's up, Census 2010? I count real good.

Right in the middle of duplications.

Because it's Monday and I am completely exhausted, Have a geoduck.


A geoduck, pronounced "gooey duck", is a species of large saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk, native to the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada (primarily Washington, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska). It has a life expectancy of about 146 years, with the oldest recorded at over 160 years. This makes Geoducks the second longest-living organisms in the Animal Kingdom next to the Galápagos tortoises. Today, they sell in Asia for up to US$30/lb (US$65/kg). It is extremely popular in China, where it is considered a delicacy. The geoduck's high market value has created an $80 million U.S. industry.

(for Angie.)

The geoduck is the official mascot of The Evergreen State College, located at the southernmost tip of Puget Sound in Olympia, Washington. The school's Latin motto, Omnia Extares (or, "let it all hang out") is at least partially intended as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the creature's phallic appearance.


HAY. Thanks to everyone for making my birthday lovely. I had a fantastic weekend. So fantastic in fact that it took every part of my being to get out of bed this morning. I am going to take a giant nap when I get home.

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.

Sarah, sans parka.

Location: Englewood, Colorado, Starfucks.
Miles Logged: 502

Well, I’m officially 23.

A big part of me wishes I was home, surrounded by all my friends. But, being in Denver ain’t so bad either. Minus the fact I just had to pay $6.00 to T-Mobile for wi-fi. I am a sucker.

I’m staying with another dear Ratonian Sarah. She’s a few years older than me and I’ve always idolized her confidence and her sincerity. Yet another person I feel honored to meet. She is the queen of the perfect one-liner. Yesterday, she told me, in absolute seriousness, “Cat, I need to ask you a question. Am I a parka person?” While, out of context it’s terrible, if you know Sarah, and the fact her family decided it was the perfect gift for her, it’s hilarious.

Dinner at Casa Bonita tonight! Excitement!

Also, I back-posted a bunch of stuff since I was without net for a while. Read, read, and read.