New things, like grills, fences, and careers

It's been a busy few weeks as we've been getting ready for summer... thankfully the freak snow storms have ended (well, I guess fingers crossed!), and we've been able to spend more time outside and on the house as of late.  A few weekends ago we had a little date night and enjoyed two fun spots in Denver: Jonesy's in our old 'hood of Uptown is a great spot for friends to grab a drink (they have TONS of CO microbrews on hand) or eat some good grub, and Delite in our current 'hood - a fun bar to its sister restaurant next door (Deluxe).  We had never been there, but were pleasantly surprised with the fun drinks and atmosphere (when we walked in, the DJ was playing an old Michael Jackson tune - I was sold right away!).  I'm guessing we'll be back!

Well, we finally bought our very first grill!  The guy who remodeled our house prior to our purchase was smart enough to add a natural gas hookup to our patio, so we were able to buy a natural gas grill (no tanks!!).  Unfortunately, they don't carry many of these in stock, so we had to have it shipped in a box.  Matt was a trooper and got it put together for us to enjoy! (It had been rain/snowing that week, so we had to build it indoors - we were determined to grill ASAP)

The finished product:

Our first grill-cooked meal:

Thankfully, this past weekend was a nice one, so we had a few friends over for grilling out.  Music, food, friends, christmas lights on the patio... can't beat it on a nice night!  :)

We also hit up Home Depot a few times last weekend and planted some cilantro, basil, and parsley on the patio railing, and put some flowers in hanging baskets on our fence to try and spruce up the backyard (you can sort of see it in the above grill pic).  I do not have a green thumb whatsoever - and I won't be surprised if these things don't last all that long.  But for now, they look nice!

Another project we're in the process of taking on, is that of trying to put in a fence.  Who knew it would be such a big process??  We've called about four or five folks for bids, and we've only received two over the past several weeks (why wouldn't you send in a bid after you visited our property??  I just don't get some companies).  The bids were MUCH higher than our naive predictions, and we thought we'd have to wait or possibly never do it.  Thankfully (for us, not so much for him), my stepdad was volunteered by my mom to come help us out.  :)  He, my mom, and Ethan came up for the weekend to check out fence suppliers with us and see what we could possibly manage.  We had a great time with them in town (as usual) and even hit up Oskar Blues in Longmont for some microbrews and live music (if you've never been, it's great!).  Sunday, after Jason got roped into installing a retractable screen door for us (thanks to the age of our house, a tiny project usually turns into an entire day project!), we did eventually get to make it to the disc golf course out in Arvada.  I got a nice sunburn and everyone had a great time!

My mom even got to use the electric saw on a stump that was growing from the alley into our yard.  She was very proud of herself:

Nice day for frisbee golf!

Matt and Lincoln catching some air on the ride home:

I've never seen Lincoln so pooped out.  He NEVER lays on the floors of cars.  I had to get a pic:

Last night we caught the series finale of LOST (a fore-mentioned favorite of ours).  It was sad to see the show come to end, but we had been anxiously awaiting it for awhile.  Friends we met through Keri and Joe came over to watch with us (you can't watch such an event alone!!), and the finale did not disappoint.  I was very mixed at first, but I'm happy with the way they ended the show.  In case someone out there is planning to watch the series eventually, I won't spoil the ending here, but for a good review of the finale, check out this article.  I know a lot of people weren't satisfied with the ending, but after more thought, it really all comes together well in my opinion.  Sad to see such a thought/conversation-provoking show go away!  I guess we'll now have more free time on Tuesday nights :)

The other big news in our world, now that I can officially announce it, is that I will be done with work on June 8th as I enter into a VERY new season of life.  It's one I'm still very nervous about but anxious to begin.  This Fall I'll be starting the Graduate Urban Teaching Program at the University of Colorado Denver.  Teaching is something I always thought I'd enjoy but placed irrational negativity on as I didn't see it as "challenging" or "prestigious" enough for what I wanted to do/be.  Over the years, I learned how crazy that sounds, and I started to realize that working at a job I don't enjoy (and is not challenging) simply for the title or paycheck will never bring me professional fulfillment.  I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've had, but I really haven't been happy with my career path for several years now.  Teaching seemed like something I could truly enjoy and find fulfillment in - so here I go!  My classes don't start til the Fall, but I'm missing several prerequisites for being a secondary social studies teacher (as decided by the State of Colorado), so this summer I'll be taking some classes through Front Range.  It's going to be an interesting ride for me, one I'm very excited and very nervous about.  Making such big changes is difficult for me... I'm always one to second-guess myself.  Did I make the right choice?  Should I have tried something else?  Will the financial investment (i.e.debt) be worth it in the end?  How will I ever get a job when teachers are getting laid off left and right?  Wow - so much to process still, but thankful that I have a husband who is very supportive of me and what I think is in store for me professionally.

That's it for now - my mom and Jason are coming back up this weekend to see if they can actually install the fence, so we're crossing our fingers everything works out and we'll have a fence by Memorial Day!  Lincoln will be one happy pup to not be on a tie out outside anymore!  We're definitely grateful for them putting their time and energy in to helping us out like this.  Driving up from New Mexico is no quick jaunt!

What we watch

We'll admit it, we have a problem.  The problem is too much television.  I don't think it's a real problem in the sense that we need to attend therapy or anything, but it is a problem when we find so many shows we enjoy that they occasionally air at the same time (thank you DVR!) or keep us from doing more important things (generally, that being cleaning).  For anyone that cares, here's what we like to watch and why:

LOST
I start with this because it is quickly approaching its series finale (May 23rd).  We are sad that the show will be over, but have thorougly enjoyed getting "lost" in all of its crazy stories and mysteries.  I can't think of another tv show that I've gotten so much joy out of speculating and hypothesizing about.  Each character has really been developed well, and even though the premise is crazy and sci-fi-ish, it's truly fun to follow.  If you've never seen it, at some point in your life, I recommend watching the series in full.  There are so many twists and turns and unexpected revelations that you'll think these writers are either crazy or brilliant.  Of course, I may change my tune after the finale if they don't wrap up many of our burning questions... but all in all, I can say that we've been completely entertained by this unique and well-written show. 

The Wire
I must admit that I've only seen parts of this show, but I know that this is hands-down Matt's favorite show ever.  It's got amazing writing, amazing actors, and fabulous story lines.  Taking place in Baltimore, it uses often real stories to inspire their dramas, and from what we know of Baltimore, they do a fantastic job of portraying the rough parts of the city.  It was deservedly critically acclaimed, but I feel as though it was slow to pick up dedicated fans.  If you're in need of an awesome drama series to Netflix, this could be it.  HBO really knows how to put together great shows, that's for sure.

Friday Night Lights
This is one of my favorite shows of the 2000s.  Entering season 4 this week, this show definitely had a rough start.  After its first season, the show was highly critically acclaimed yet got bounced around to different nights of the week on NBC and had a hard time building a fanbase.  Fortunately, the fans they did find became diehards saving the show from being killed (and yes, I did write in asking them to keep the show!).  The show revolves around the family of Coach Taylor, a high school football coach in Dillon, Texas where football is bigger than God.  He and his wife portray what I could probably say are the best, most realistic married couple on television, period.  Their interactions with each other and with their children are so real that you can't help but fall in love with them and root for them.  Every character has his/her flaws, but the show is so well written that you really feel for each of them in their own way.  The drama is lifelike (with the exception of a few story lines that they could have passed on), and the cast is phenomenal.  In all fairness, I have yet to see the 2nd half of the series as I've been waiting for Matt to catch up.  We're almost there, but I love that he loves the show too.  I highly recommend this show to just about anyone.

Anything on HGTV
There's rarely a weekend that passes that we haven't lost a few hours watching Property Virgins, House Hunters, or any of the other fabulous shows on this network.  It's so fun watching others look for homes to see what they like/dislike, can afford in certain areas, are willing to sacrifice... half the fun is just watching the couples try to decide what they really want when it comes down to it!  We also love seeing what your money can get you in cities all over the US and how people decorate or prepare to sell a house.  It's all very intriguing and somehow it's easy to get glued.

NBC Thursday Night Shows
I don't think I need to say much about the NBC Thursday night line-up.  Basically, we love it.  I've become a huge fan of "Community" - Joel McHale is hilarious.  His dry humor really makes the show, and they've found a great cast of odd characters to find themselves in funny situations with.  "Parks & Recreation" is not my favorite comedy, but I enjoy Amy Poehler and her awkward office antics.  It can often be as dry as The Office, but I don't find myself cringing nearly as much.  Aziz Ansari definitely is the unsung comedic hero of the show (he plays Tom).  "The Office" will always be one of our favorite comedies.  I've come to find that people either love it or just don't see the appeal.  I've found the awkwardness yet sincerity of the show to be both heartwarming and gut wrenching, yet somehow you can't hate Michael.  I also thought the Pam/Jim wedding episode was hilarious yet especially sweet.  Those writers definitely know what they're doing.  "30 Rock" is a terrifically written show with an outstanding cast.  I think I laugh out loud at every Tracy Jordan line, and I find Kenneth the page to be the highlight of many scenes.  It needn't be said that Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are incredible.  I have a lot of admiration for Tina Fey - she's a terrific writer and actress, and she's made this show what it is - something I always get a good laugh from.

American Idol/So You Think You Can Dance
Ok, so this is obviously more me than Matt, but I have to admit that I have enjoyed every season of these shows (and yes, even the current AI season, which admittedly is nowhere near as good as past years).  There's just something about watching people fulfil their dreams and get to do things many of us wish we could have the chance to do.  Even if they're just flashes in the pan, these folks got to live out their dreams for a brief moment in time.  Plus, competition is always fun, and of course, I tend to always "know" who's best and root accordingly.  If you've never seen SYTYCD, I highly recommend it.  It's not as cheesy as it sounds - these kids can DANCE.  It's really fun to watch.

How I Met Your Mother
I wasn't a fan of this show at first, but it really grew on me.  The funny thing is that there's not much I can really point to as to why we enjoy it, but Neil Patrick Harris is certainly one of the funnier characters on tv right now (playing Barney, a sex-crazed, self-absorbed member of the friend group).  The show follows Ted (narrated by Bob Saget as the future Ted talking to his kids) and his adventures en route to finding his wife and the mother of the children hearing these stories.  It's got good heart but also has hilarious cast members, especially in Jason Segal who plas Marshall (the other half of Lily and Marshall, who are one of the most adorable married couples on tv).  Plus, I'm a sucker for following a good group of friends (I did love "Friends" after all).

Big Bang Theory
If you have any part of you that finds comic book-collecting, tech-talking, sci-fci loving, uber geeks amusing, then this show is for you.  Sheldon (the main character) is so outrageously geeky that I often wonder if he's even playing a character at all.  The show follows four scientists/physicists/engineers as they awkwardly meander through life trying to find women and win nobel prizes.  (Sheldon, however, may be asexual.)  The comedy between the cast is hilarious, and their awkward adventures and encounters with the rest of the world are very funny to watch.  It's always good for a laugh.

The New Adventures of Old Christine
If you were a fan of Elaine on Seinfeld, don't expect the same character here - Old Christine is perhaps one of the quirkiest, most awkward, self-indulged and insane characters on television, yet you can't help but love watching the woman fall all over herself.  Old Christine (called "Old" because her ex husband is now engaged to "New" Christine, a younger woman with the same name) is obsessed with herself, can barely listen to anyone, drinks too much wine, struggles fitting in with other parents, and thinks she's a good person (which is questionable on the whole), but her mannerisms and self-depricating humor are hilarious to watch.  She is able to make fun of herself (without knowing it) and embarrass herself in almost every circumstance.  Because of this (and also the dynamics between her and her best friend played by Wanda Sykes), I always enjoy tuning in.

Mad Men
After hearing many great things about this series, Matt and I decided to order the first season on Netflix.  The acting is great, and I do love the cast, but I've found it so far to be quite dry and slow.  I've heard the subsequent seasons pick up a bit, and perhaps if I were watching it week-to-week on tv, it wouldn't bother me as much, but for now, we are having a difficult time getting through it.  I think there's a lot of potential for us to love it, but we're just not there yet.  The world they've created is amazing, and it does feel like you're stepping back in time.  But wow, those times were wild, and I feel like I'll get lung cancer from just watching.

Grey's Anatomy
Ok, I feel like I'm writing this several years too late, but I won't lie that I still enjoy watching Grey's (and not just to watch the ridiculously handsome Patrick Dempsey).  There's something about this show that always gets me - the cast is diverse, and even with their flaws you want to root for them.  The show suffered several key losses (Isaiah Thomas, Kate Walsh, TR Knight, Katherine Heigl), but I think the writing remains strong.  I'm not a fan of all the characters they brought in after the merger with Mercy West, but several have really grown on me (I also don't miss Izzy at all).  The relationships on the show are really what make it watchable, and I've enjoyed seeing them evolve, grow, and sometimes fall apart.  Not sure how long the show will be on the air, but I'll watch until it's done.

some birthdays and stuff

Sometimes when I forget to bring my camera out (or I'm too lazy to use it), I have a hard time remembering if we've been busy or boring lately :)  Probably a little of both, as usual.  Here's what's been going on the last week or so...

Since we were out of town for my dad's birthday, we celebrated with a dinner at Efrains (some of the BEST mexican food in Colorado!).  Always a fun time (I shockingly hadn't been in over a year, a travesty, I know), and we ended the night with a rousing game of Cranium in my folks newly remodled kitchen (of course Matt and I won) :)

Last week we hit up Vine Street Pub for our friend Keri's birthday - it was in our old neighborhood of Uptown, but oddly Matt and I had never been.  It's a sister restaurant to Mountain Sun with great beers and food.  We had a great time (and Joe brought an amazing cake from Cake Crumbs, which was delicious!!).

One of Matt's good friends from college (Sherpa) was in town with his wife for a long weekend.  Oddly enough, his wife's good friend from college happens to live in Denver too.  Matt met her and her husband at Sherpa's wedding last year, so we became fast friends.  Having Sherpa and his wife Grete in town was a good excuse to hang out for most of the weekend - so we did!  Unfortunately, Matt caught my cold (or sinus infection?), and we both were coughing/sneezing/sniffling most of the weekend.  Lucky them. :) 

It ended up being a great time - I love having visitors in Denver to "show off" our city.  There really are so many hidden gems here.  We ate a great dinner at Jess/Nick's place on Thursday night, met up at Sputnik on Friday night (the bar in our neighborhood that we love - great sweet potato fries, awesome mac-n-cheese, yummy corndogs - in other words, totally healthy!), and had dinner at Beatrice & Woodsley on Saturday night (after Matt and Sherpa did a tour at the Great Divide Brewery).  If you've never been, I highly suggest at least visiting once.  It's one of the most unique interiors of a restaurant I've ever seen, and their bathrooms are incredible (odd thing to point out, but just wait til you see them and you'll know what I mean).  They have interesting/unique cocktails that they make fresh for your order (they usually involve fruits and other fresh ingredients), and their food is very elegant.  Happy hour is a great time to go to sample some food and drinks for much cheaper than their normal prices. 

After dinner at B&W, we hit up Sweet Action (on Broadway) for some delicious ice cream and then headed to our place for some wine (scotch for the guys) and hanging out.  It was a great time to catch up, play some Wii, and enjoy each other's company.  Always love having friends over! 

We had my dad, stepmom, Amber, and DJ over for dinner on Sunday night for my stepmom's birthday.  I made a simple dish of breaded chicken, parmesan/herb rice, and asparagus with a delicious goat cheese/strawberry salad to start, though of course everyone mostly liked the cookies/ice cream at the end. :)  My sister called me in the morning to see if Matt and I were sick as I guess she and DJ had been sick all morning throwing up and whatnot... my cooking may not be fabulous, but I'd never made anyone sick!!  Thankfully, Matt and I were not sick, and I checked with my parents who were also not sick.  PHEW.  That would have been embarassing :)

This week we're working on getting some bids for putting a fence in at our house.  Matt played at the Empire again last night, and we're hoping to go camping with Keri and Joe on Friday if the weather isn't too chilly.  And thank you for the many folks that have sent encouraging messages about my new goal of eating healthy - encouragement is such a great motivator!  Off to a slow start, as I predicted, but I'm definitely making some good changes that I think will add up and keep me making more :)  For instance, instead of grabbing random breakfasts or snacking on bad foods if I don't eat breakfast, I've been bringing a ziplock bag of frosted mini wheats to work.  It's a great way to eat a healthy breakfast but eat it slowly throughout the morning so I'm not munching on other stuff out of boredom or hunger.  Baby steps!  :)