denver. 18-22 july.
so... where do i begin? well, how about from the beginning?

partner in crime for the weekend.

friday: after going to o'hare at 4am and being refused to fly standby, things worked out regardless.  we made it to denver earlier than expected and made it to the ovation taping for jason mraz.  after standing in the hot, hot sun (no humidity, though), i got to see him in a tiny venue and up close.  afterward, we were told that he would not be meeting people or signing autographs, but i waited.  and, it totally paid off.  i found myself reverting to the days of being a giddy little schoolgirl.  but, who cares?  i sure didn't.  hands down, THE best day of my life.   

later, i got to spend time with my gomos and hangout on pearl street in boulder.  pearl street is so cute!  and, even though the people of denver drink the most, they must be doing something right.  'cause, they are a good-looking group of people. 

saturday:  day one of mile high music festival - it was going to be about 100 degrees sans humidity.  no big deal, right?  especially to someone from chicago.  correct.  the sweat literally just dries right up, but the sun is freakin' hot, since there is no smog to block it. 

jason mraz (twice in one weekend!)  ahh...  i know. i have no shame.

lupe fiasco. what a great performer!  usually rappers don't sound so great live, but not lupe.  this is the second time i've seen him live.  so cool, he is. 

tom petty and the heartbreakers.  even though he's like a thousand years old, he's still got it.  

sunday: day two of mile high music festival - going to be above 100 degrees.  bring it on!  frankly, after the past two days, i had my fill of music. but, tickets were already paid for and it wouldn't hurt to get a little more sun. 

colbie caillat.  i usually don't like listening to female voices, but she's not too bad.  and besides, who doesn't enjoy listening to a little "bubbly"? 

the backdrop.  you can't get this kind of view sitting at charter one in chicago. 

john mayer.  talented - yes.  his facial expressions while singing are a whole other issue. 

dave matthews band.  now, i know why i haven't gone to any of their concerts before and why i prefer not to go to one in the future.  the amount of second-hand "smoke" inhaled just isn't worth the music.  he's quite the performer, but so many of his songs sound the same. 

monday: estes park, rocky mountain national park, boulder mountain park - spent the day with great uncle and aunt seeing the sights.  breath-taking. 

estes park.  aren't they so cute? 

rocky mountain national park. gorgeous.

don't feed the bears.

boulder mountain park.

up until recently, i didn't realize what the big deal about the denver area was.  it's this little kept secret that only the locals know and appreciate.  now that i've been there, i see what the hubbub is all about.  i'm definitely not the outdoorsy type, but i do appreciate the majesty of nature and untouched land.  and, if i were to find myself living there (which after this trip is a possibility), i just might become one to enjoy the great outdoors (or at least, looking at it.) 

but, my favorite part to this weekend?  let's visit it again:

i may be experiencing the best day of my life - ever - on friday.  never in my life have i won anything.  when i take my chances, luck is not on my side.  until yesterday!  i won tickets to a private concert for jason mraz.  so, not only did i win something that's a big deal (to me), that big deal involves jason mraz. i  jason mraz!  upon arriving in denver friday, i'll be rushing off to a jason mraz concert.  how exciting!  if i can't fly standby, i'll just be getting to the venue when the doors open.  but, if things continue to look my way, i'll be arriving with time to clean myself up before i see jason. you cannot believe how excited i am!  but, it doesn't stop there - oh no!  on saturday and sunday, i'm going to the mile high festival where jason mraz is performing again!  oh geez!  i haven't even gone yet and i already love denver! 

06-25 vs baltimore

this is a few days behind - my apologies.

the cubs have been a little spotty as of late, so thank goodness we went to the only game they won of this series.  those orioles - i thought we had them.  anyway, we got to sit in the bleacher box seats for the first time.  i normally do not choose to sit in the bleacher section at all.  and now, i know why.  the food options suck.  sun and i have a tradition of beginning with our kosher hot dogs with a buffalo cheese fry boat.  it's a delightful combination.  those are just the starters.  then, we proceed to stuff our faces with whatever else may fancy us that day.  this game, we didn't get our fry boat.  i felt like we were held captive in the bleacher section with no way out.  we couldn't find out way to the main part of the park at first. it was kind of scary.  luckily, it was a good game and the weather was perfect.  so, even without teh fry boat, it was a great day at wrigley.  go cubs!