the globe rover

Denver, CO

Unfortunately, the Colorado Rockies have had an unsuccessful run in their first ever World Series. The last two games showed great effort but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the very experienced Boston Red Sox. But I’m still proud of them and think they represented our town well and have a lot to be proud of! And now, they are at least familiar with the Post Season and I have faith they’ll be back again in the near future.

Go Rox!!!

Denver, CO

So although the Rox finally put a little something into the game, it was a disappointing loss at home. That being said, Saturday night out in Denver with the World Series and Halloween celebrations made for a very entertaining evening!

Ellen, Jim and I started the night at Jacksons with Kathy, Andrea and friends and then moved to the Ginn Room to meet up with Lou, Popo and friends. Seriously, it was great entertainment to see all the costumes and people out for a good time. Our last stop was Delaney’s (next door to the Celtic) which was by far the most entertaining part of the evening. Something about late night and lots of booze made for plenty of laughter. Hopefully, these pictures show a bit of the fun.

Here’s to another shot for the Rox and Happy Halloween!

Denver, CO

This book is definitely one of the most talked about books I have encountered this year. After hearing about the book, one of my book clubs decided to read the book for our October meeting. And since I purchased the book, it has constantly been a topic of conversation from the assistant at my doctor’s office talking to me about it, to friends recommending as a book I should read through email.

I think the amount of hype set extremely high expectations (especially given my love for travel and travelogues). So when I started the book, I felt a bit let down that it wasn’t more enthralling and captivating. But by the third and final section, I was fully entranced and anxious to find out how this year of discovery ended.

The book is broken into three parts representing three different searches (Italy = search for recovery through food and language, India = search for spirituality through meditation at an ashram, and Indonesia = search for balance through putting the piece of life together and rediscovering love). The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, chronicles her personal year of international travel after a devastating divorce and broken relationship. She spends four months in each of the three different countries and finds herself through the experiences and people she meets along the way.

Gilbert is a very eloquent writer that is able to personalize her experience without offense and with brutal honesty. She seeks what most of us are looking for — meaning in life — through travels and relationships. The tie to the japa mala (108 beads used for Eastern meditation becoming 108 chapters or “stories”) is a great personification of India and point of importance of meditation in Gilbert’s journey.

This book is definitely a great read with depth and meaning!

Baton Rouge, LA

This past weekend I traveled with some friends to Baton Rouge, LA to attend the Auburn vs. LSU football game. We were hoping for a great football game and not only did we get that, but we also got a weekend of great fun.

First things first… LSU fans know how to throw a good party (including plenty of food and plenty of drink). They do it like champs. I’ve been to many schools for tailgating but I think that LSU takes the cake. It is a non-stop party even when the game starts at 8 p.m. at night (think many hours before and many hours after). And our favorite LSU fan, Nan, was kind enough to invite us to some quintessential LSU tailgates.

But let me back up. We started the weekend on Friday with drinks at an outdoor bar high above the ground overlooking the Mississippi River (including a beautiful sunset). That followed with an amazing Italian dinner downtown with all kinds of cajun/creole influenced Italian dishes. And the final phase of the night was Baton Rouge nightlife (Jubans and Happy Note) complete with purple drinks for one (Lou), high school reunions for one (Nan), swerving walks home for one (Jim), sidewalk faceplants for one (yours truly), and laughter at the rest for one (Ellen). It was good fun and good laughs. We spent parts of the evening with Nan’s family who were all gracious hosts and kind enough to indulge our fun.

So after a long night of Louisiana style fun, Saturday was filled with college football (after a slow start to the day). This was my first visit to Death Valley and it did impress. We tailgated for hours before the game, toured around, and then enjoyed a great match throughout the entire game. And all of that in the midst of tens of thousands of LSU fans who were all more than welcoming and fun spirited to those of us Auburn supporters (although I did get tired of the repeated question about why we have multiple mascots — and just for clarification for anyone reading — Auburn has one mascot, the Tigers and a battle cry, War Eagle). Seriously, it was a great place to be and despite our very close loss in the last second, it was a really fun game.

That left only some more eating and enjoying to do on Sunday including a walk around one of the lakes and brunch at a different and amazing Italian restaurant. Picture traditional Italian brunch specialties with a cajun/creole slant. Let’s just say, they know how to eat in Louisiana.

It was a really fun weekend spent with good friends - cheers to Ellen, Jim, Lou, Nan, and the Thompsons. And remember,

“better to be safe than sober” –Lou

Go (geaux) Tigers!

Denver, CO

After reading reviews, I was not very excited about reading this book. But after rejoining my Denver book club (that I was a part of starting back in 2000), I decided that I should catch up and read it for sake of participation. We also were lucky enough to have the author, Saira Rao, call into our book club to share some personal insight and answer our questions — great experience!

The beginning of the book was heavily shroud in duties of working for a judge. It was interesting but perhaps too detailed for my desires. However, all that information set the stage for the book which is a chronicle of the year the author spent as a “chambermaid” working for one of the toughest judges.

The book ties in hilarious and unbelievable stories (imagine eating your lunch in a restroom just to have a moment of solitude away from the judge) that run the gamut from waiting for bar exam results to see if you are still part of the “acceptable crowd”, to working for a judge that has no manners and does nothing but yell and spit on everyone, to having and losing the love of your life (a perfectly matched Indian romance that ends by being cheated on and finding out at your family event). It is a very entertaining book composed of some real and some not so real stories from a year in the life.

Entertaining book to say the least!

[This was a book club book selection.]

Denver, CO

Synopsis from Publishers Weekly:

Flynn’s debut novel focuses on an emotionally fragile young woman whose sanity is being severely tested by family dysfunction, smalltown incivility and murder. It is a mesmerizing psychological thriller that is also quite disturbing and, thanks to reader Lee’s chillingly effective rendition, at times almost unbearably so. Camille Preaker, a novice reporter with a history of self-mutilation, is sent to her hometown in Missouri to cover the murder of one teenage girl and the disappearance of another. There, she must face a variety of monsters from the past and the present, including her aloof and patronizing mother, her obnoxiously precocious 13-year-old stepsister who dabbles in drugs, sex and humiliation, and an unknown serial killer whose mutilated victims bring back haunting memories. Lee’s interpretation of mom enhances the character’s detachment and airy state of denial to an infuriating degree. And her abrupt change of pace when Camille suddenly begins chanting the words carved on her body is hair-raising. But the voice Lee gives to the stepsister—tinged with a sarcastic, cynical and downright evil girly singsong—makes one’s blood run cold.

The depths of the human mind to create a first time novel like this are amazing. Although the story line is incredibly disturbing, this book is a great read. It is short and captivating leaving the reader questioning what could possibly happen next and who could be behind the horror of these murders.

Gillian Flynn does a great job with her first novel and creates a book that is quick to read and leaves one wondering who might be sitting next to you with this kind of hidden life.

[This was a book club book selection.]

Denver, CO

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

Born in prison to a single mother, Antwone Fisher was a ward of Cleveland’s foster care system until he was taken in by a family who subjected him to verbal and sexual abuse throughout his adolescence. At 17, Fish escaped, only to suffer the hardships of life on the streets. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he found a “family” of his own. But before he could make peace with his past, he had to discover who he really was and where he came from—an inspiring, fascinating journey that lead from the mean streets of Cleveland to the highest echelons in Hollywood.

Very tragic story of one boy’s struggle to overcome obstacles from his youth to become a successful contributing member of society. Engaging read although difficult to imagine having to suffer through this type of abuse and lack of love.

[This was a book club book selection.]

Denver, CO

The Colorado Rockies have literally swept their way into the World Series in a season filled with firsts. And most importantly, the first time they are going to the World Series in their 15 year history. They are on fire after winning 21 or their last 22 games.

I was one of the lucky one’s on hand for tonight’s game…and what a game it was. It was surreal to be amidst the fans that have stood by the Rockies through many rough seasons and enjoying the success of this season.

The Rocks are hot! And the energy in the stadium was electric. The Diamondbacks didn’t have a chance and all but the eighth inning it showed. I’ve seen my first baseball team, the Braves, go to and win a World Series. And now I’m hoping to see my other team!

It’s great to see Denver come alive for baseball!

post script: Need some more Rockies? This is a great article by Jayson Stark with the unbelievable cinderella story behind this team’s season.

Denver, CO

There has been yet another school shooting in Cleveland, Ohio by a fourteen year old boy. That’s a child. Not an adult. With a gun. That was angry. And his anger led him to attempt to murder four plus people and then take his own life.

America is out of control with senseless shootings and killings. There are too many guns and they are too easy to obtain. And too many children are killing others and being killed by these guns (some intentional and some accidental).

Every time I read another story in the news about shootings (which is way too often) I am sickened by our lack of gun control. I wonder if we are ever going to get serious about this issue and do something. Really do something…

Denver, CO

Check this out…Arapahoe Basin (better known to locals as A-Basin) is already open for the season. This is more of a local mountain in Colorado and has opened for the earliest date ever in their 61 year history.

Who thought you could be skiing or boarding in the States in October!

Georgetown, CO

Sunday was another day spent in the beautiful Colorado mountains this time enjoying the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad.

The Georgetown Loop Railroad was one of Colorado’s first visitor attractions. Completed in 1884, this spectacular stretch of three-foot narrow gauge railroad was considered an engineering marvel for its time.

The thriving mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume lie two miles apart in a steep, narrow mountain canyon. To connect them, the railroad’s builders designed a “corkscrew” route that traveled twice the distance, slowly gaining more than 600 feet in elevation. It included horseshoe curves, grades of up to 4%, and four bridges across Clear Creek, including the massive Devil’s Gate High Bridge. The Colorado & Southern Railway operated the line for passengers and freight from 1899 to 1938, when it was abandoned.

The weather forecast called for rain, snow, and cold weather. However, we had an amazingly beautiful day. Scott and I arrived early and were able to drive up toward Guanella Pass and take some pictures of the changing Aspen trees. Then we enjoyed the railroad with Lynette and Cathy - truly a great Coloradan adventure.

Midway through the train journey, we stopped for an optional tour at the Lebanon Silver Mine.

The tour takes you 500 feet into a mine tunnel bored in the 1870s. Your guide will point out rich veins of silver and tell you about early-day mining. The temperature inside the mine is a constant 44 degrees Fahrenheit, so bring a jacket. The tour also includes visits to the manager’s office, the miners’ change room and the tool shed.

Mark was our humorous tour guide that was sad it was his second to last tour of the season (Sunday, October 7th is the last day of the season for both the railroad and the mine). He had such interesting stories about the mines, the history of Georgetown, and the sport of single-, double-, and triple-jacking. I’ve yet to be able to find much of anything on the web about the sport but I’m bound and determined to go photograph one of their events. Needless to say, it was a great way to learn about more Colorado history and the riches that once were in Georgetown (picture streets made of silver - literally- when everyone had gold fever and found an alternative use for all of the silver they discovered).

We capped our trip off with a stop at the recommended Mother’s Saloon in downtown Georgetown. We knew we couldn’t go wrong when we walked in and we sat on kegs made into stools set right next to two big huge dogs. The staff (owner Tina and her husband) was great and friendly and the burgers were quite good.

This is a highly recommended tour for anyone coming to Colorado for a visit! And even for locals it is a fantastic way to spend your day.

Now there’s a shiny penny!

Denver, CO

“The Road” is an interesting depiction of devotion and love between a father and son. I was slow to get into the book but once I did, I was captivated with the evil found along the road and troubles that the boy and father faced.

The story is the journey of a father and son along a road in order to head south through a land that has been mostly wiped out and is left with ashes, dead carcasses, and “bad” people. They hope to find good people but mostly encounter and hide from the evil people. The love is strong and ability to forge forward without knowing what is ahead or if there is anything good at the end is enviable. The father found meaning through the “fire within” that both he and his son shared.

Definitely an interesting read with an unusual perspective, setting, and outcome.

[This was a book club book selection.]

Denver, CO

The forecast for this weekend called for turning cold and possibly snow. I didn’t think it would happen when it was sunny and cool this morning on our way up to Georgetown. But as typical with Colorado weather, there was a change in the air and the storm brewed…bringing the first snow I have seen this season.

Although exciting and beautiful to see, I am not yet ready for the snow as I am still enjoying the sunshine and spending time outside without it being too cold. It’s inevitable and is on the way so thank goodness for the sunshine and excitement that the first snows bring!

Cheers to new seasons.

Denver, CO

I have been struck by another movie that I really enjoyed. Once is the true story of an Irish singer trying to break into the music scene and along the way finds someone to share his musical journey. From IMDB:

An (unnamed) Guy is a Dublin guitarist/singer-songwriter who makes a living by fixing vacuum cleaners in his Dad’s Hoover repair shop by day, and singing and playing for money on the Dublin streets by night. An (unnamed) Girl is a Czech who plays piano when she gets a chance, and does odd jobs by day and takes care of her mom and her daughter by night. Guy meets Girl, and they get to know each other as the Girl helps the Guy to put together a demo disc that he can take to London in hope of landing a music contract. During the same several day period, the Guy and the Girl work through their past loves, and reveal their budding love for one another, through their songs. Written by Charles Delacroix

The story has an unexpected outcome which I was happy to see. Great music, great love, great Irish traditions, and great story. I have already purchased the soundtrack and love it (a bit more on the mellow side). This is definitely one of my recommended movies of the year so far.

Denver, CO

Clearly you have no class.

Clearly you went to a school with no dignity.

Clearly you missed the lesson on values.

I am a proud Auburn fan whether we win or lose (my flag has been at my house even when we were 2-2 and not just after we upset number four Florida Gators). At Auburn we believe in friendly rivalries and don’t take other people’s belongings just because we don’t like them.

I will fly another Auburn flag proudly. And you can steal that one too. But there will be another… Auburn fans are proud through good seasons and bad!

War Damn Eagle!