February came in like a lion and out like a lion. We're in the middle of a(nother) snowstorm here in Colorado. Just when the ground had FINALLY dried up almost all the way and I could see our yard and driveway...The weather report yesterday said we're only supposed to get less than an inch accumulation. This morning it said 1-3 inches. Well, it's 3 pm here and it's supposed to snow until midnight and we're already at a solid 3 inches for sure. -sigh-
I'm ready for spring. Snow is fun and all, I just really like to see the ground every now and again, plus it'd be nice to enjoy a relaxing drive where I don't have to worry about crashing into the car in front of me at any given point.
So my mom and sisters will be here in a month. I got together a list of possibilities for us to do while they're out here and I'm getting excited. I love having visitors! My friend Ted's probably going to make it out here in the next couple months to do a ski weekend w/ Eric and I. That'll be fun, I miss Ted.
This weekend should be interesting. I am going to my very first (I think) bridal shower. My friend Jessica is getting married to my other friend Elgn in April and I'm invited to her bridal shower. I have no idea what to expect. I'm loathe to say it, but I'm not exactly looking forward to it. I like Jessica a lot but getting together with a group of girls is not my idea of a fun way to spend any night, not to mention a group of girls that I don't know. However, I will suck it up and do it anyways, just like I'm sucking it up and agreeing to be an usher at their wedding. I swear, I do not remember ever agreeing to that. Damn Eric must've agreed for both of us.
After the bridal shower I'm going to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Good stuff, people. If you have never seen one of their shows, check it out. I equate them to a modern day (and less drugged-up) P-Funk--which is also a must-see show, get it in before George Clinton dies. My other shows for this month include, but are not limited to: Badly Drawn Boy, Dead Meadow, TV on the Radio, the Coup, Cracker and Neko Case. Very exciting.
Seems like everyone in Colorado is sick right now. I've been overdosing myself w/ echinacea and golden seal to fight off this sore throat I keep getting and so far it's working.
The trip to Italy's really coming together. We're down to just 2 days where we're not sure exactly where we want to go. Here's what we have so far:
Leaving Denver May 8
Getting into Rome May 9
Leaving Rome for Sorrento May 13
Leaving Sorrento for ? May 16
Leaving ? for Florence May 18
Leaving Florence for Denver May 22.
Right now we're debating between Cinque Terre, Venice and a little town in Tuscany called Cortona. I think Cinque Terre will win out. We shall see.

a thought

I've been in a great mood all day today and I think it's because I started my day with fresh blackberries in my cereal.

So it's been a nice week/weekend. Justin came in Thursday night as planned and we all had a good weekend. He got to meet some of my friends out here and vice versa. This is him looking happy in the mountains (he was not in fact happy but cold. I made him stand outside the car for a few minutes to take that shot):

So the weekend was great, both of the shows were fantastic. Well at least I thought so...I went

to The Shins w/ Eric, Heather and my friend Case. I was the only one in the group who was sufficiently impressed. However I was also the only one in the group who's really listened to and was familiar w/ the new album and I think that makes a big difference. Everyone wants to go to a show and hear the songs they know. The Roots show was different, everyone had a good time for that one. I knew those guys would be awesome live...

In addition, I forgot to ever post pics of my latest haircut. Keeps gettin' shorter and shorter. Also that's my concentrating face.
Das ist alles.

i'm a bad liar

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I know I said all that stuff about blogging more just for the heck of it, etc. I'm a horrible person. I just get really busy and always want to post pictures so in my downtime(i.e. when I'm at work) I never want to post b/c I can't do pictures here. Oh well. So, the news:
Justin's coming into town tonight which makes me very excited but somehow not as excited as I'd thought I would be...weird, huh? I'm fighting off a cold so that brings fun levels down a notch. Should still be a good time. We're going to see the Shins tonight and I have never had the pleasure of seeing them live so I CAN'T WAIT. The show sold out here in Denver, no surprise there. Their new album is the shit, I absolutely loved it. I was really scared they'd do a horrible 3rd album and I'd have to stop liking them, but no. If you haven't heard it, please do yourself a favor and check it out.
Then on Saturday night, we're going to the same venue (The Fillmore) to see the Roots. I'm expecting that to be a super fun show as well.
In other news, Eric and I have FINALLY booked our trip to Italy. We are flying into Rome and out of Florence and so far we're thinking we'll take side trips to Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, and the countryside of Tuscany. We'll be there from May 8-22 so it'll be a nice, long first trip to Italy for us (for Eric it'll be his first trip out of N. America!). I had a rough time breaking this news to my boss, I think he's probably still mad at me but Eric and I have been talking about this trip for a few years now and kept pushing it back and pushing it back...now we've finally made it happen and I'm dizzy with excitement. I'm somewhat obsessed with planning out the details of this trip. I don't want to miss anything, who knows when we'll be able to make it back...
I had a great Valentine's Day this year...I figure they're pretty good every year but I have a notoriously bad memory so maybe not...This year we went out to a restaurant called 4580 here in Boulder and they had a 4 course dinner Valentine's Day thing. The food was pretty good, I was pleased. Eric got us tickets to Cirque de Soleil for when it comes here in July as my VDay present. Very nice.
That's about it I think...my mom finally booked her trip out here w/ the girls. I'm both anxious and excited about this visit. Too much face time with my mom is often a problem for me. I can't wait to see my little sisters though, I'm missing their childhood (and, in Aly's case, her teens). They're coming out March 29-April 7. I'm going to have to work a few of those days so I shoudn't be too overwhelmed.
I think that's all. Sorry again for the delay.

Link for what it all means...

Advocating Director