The Poop Deck

pic from Nataliedee.com

I have house guests of the un-invited variety.

They are squatters and they have taken up residence on my deck.

They are pigeons and they squat ALOT!

The deck has been re-named The Poop Deck in their honor. 

I avoid The Poop Deck at all costs. 

The other day I came home from dropping my friend Angie off at the airport (miss ya girlfriend) and found that The Poop Deck had been cleaned off and things were re-arranged. I had also had house guests of the invited variety so I texted each of them to see if they had felt sorry for me and decided to clean up The Poop Deck as a birthday gift. Each of them replied with, "EWWWW NO!!" 

 It was a mystery, how did The Poop Deck get magically cleaned?? The next day a friend came over to pick up something and handed me a business card that had been stuck in my front door. It was for a pest control service, mystery solved...kinda.

I have to admit that it kind of freaks me out that someone was on my deck without my knowledge or any prior notice but that has happened before. My HOA is notorious for sending men to do repairs on my deck with no warning. Last time I was awakened by men on ladders leaning against my bedroom window hammering the siding back in place at 7:00am.

I guess I am happy that it is cleaned off and I didn't have to do it. But the real surprise is on them because the birds are already back. AND, if they think I am paying for pest control services I didn't ask for or authorize, SURPRISE...I am not!

Good Eats...5280 Week 2011

Every year in February Denver has an awesome tradition. It's called 5280 Restaurant Week. It is a week where literally hundreds of restaurants in the Denver metro area create a special dining experience for two at the cost of $52.80 (or just $26.40 for one). Keep in mind that there are dining establishments on the list that normally charge much more than $52.80. Last year a group of friends and I celebrated 5280 week with a trip to Texas deBrazil. I was a first timer and I was amazed at the journey my taste buds were taken on. We laughed and made many a crude joke about "men with meat". I think Michelle's face in this pic says it all. 

This year when 5280 week rolled around we decided that we needed to up the anty a bit and we chose three places to visit. 

My friend Helen was the Hostess with the mostest.

She did all the organizing, created themes for each night and made decorations and favors for everyone.

 Round 1

Our first outing was dubbed, "A Night of Glitz, Glam and Bling" at Elway's in Cherry Creek. We were asked to wear our finest attire and all the glitz glam and bling we could carry off.

Here I am dressed and ready for a fun night. 

 When we arrived we were greeted by a table decorated with feather boas and these cute GG&B boxes at each places setting. Inside were beautiful rhinestone earrings for each guest.

Dinner was scrumptious!

Especially Dessert!

Brownies and Cheesecake lollipops, yummy.

(Insert schweaty chocolate balls jokes here...we did.)

 A great time was had by all (to the envy of the tables around us).

Round 2

Our second outing was a repeat of last year's "Men With Meat" (on skewers). 

This year it fell just before Mardi Gras so we went with the festive Mardi Gras Theme.

 The men with meat did not disappoint.

Some new friends were added to the group.

And Helen even had a slice of King Cake for all of us. Cass was the lucky winner of the baby in her slice.

 

 Fabulous Food and Festive Fun!!!

Round 3 

Our final 5280 week outing was to The Melting Pot of Littleton. It is one of the restaurants that extends its 5280 special well past the official dates. We enjoyed our "It's a wrap" dinner on the March 31st, the last night of their month long special. For me that date was bittersweet. I was excited to go to one of my favorite places with friends,  but the date marked the anniversary of my layoff and an entire year of unemployment. I decided that the only way to properly enjoy the evening was to invite a couple of my friends who were laid off with me, so Mindy and Nora joined the 5280 group. 

We dipped our sorrows in melted cheese, doused them in batter and fried them in oil and finally drizzled them in chocolate. I couldn't think of a better way to make ourselves feel better.

All in all this year's 5280 adventure was a HUGE success. Thanks again Helen for all of your efforts in organizing and planning these fun evenings. 

I may have eaten lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and top ramen in order to afford these fun nights, but it was SOOO worth it!

Can't wait for next year.

This is my life...

Wow, hard to believe that this is my first post of 2011! 

Where have I been???

What have I been doing???

Well lets just say that the life of the unemployed is about as exciting as watching paint dry most of the time.  I have been posting fairly regularly on my craft blog but I haven't had much I felt like blogging about in my personal life so this little blog has been sadly neglected. 

This past year has been HARD, really hard. I feel like I am stuck. Like I am driving in a blizzard and can't see the direction I should be going or even the destination I am heading towards. I don't like that feeling. I keep asking myself the same questions.

How did I get here, and where do I go from here?   

What am I supposed to be doing?

When will I see the light at the end of the tunnel? 

I have to have faith. Faith that everything will eventually be ok. Faith that HE has a plan for me even if I can't see it right now. Faith that I can do whatever it takes to get through this. 


Because I don't allow myself to wallow in pity for very long (a little wallowing is healthy...right?) I have to acknowledge the positive things that I have enjoyed during the past year. 




I have had LOTS of time for crafty projects. They have kept my mind and my hands busy. I have spent time during the day with other crafty friends and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning creating. I have had the chance to build my hobby into a small business, not enough to live on but every little bit helps. 

I have read LOTS and LOTS of books! I love reading and I can get lost in a book so easily. I read more than 100 books in 2010. I haven't had that luxury in a very long time and I am really enjoying it. 

I have succumbed to my body clock and my inner night owl. I enjoy staying up until 3:00 or 4:00am reading, crafting or sometimes even cleaning. I also enjoy sleeping in until 10am. When I have to adhere to someone else's schedule I will need some time to adjust, but for now this is how I roll and I am loving it.


I have had the chance to volunteer my time to various projects, friends in need and charities. There is nothing better to raise your spirits than to serve someone else. 

I have enjoyed lots of good times with great friends! More on that in future posts, stay tuned. 


Yes, this is my life and as Kate would say, "It might not be a perfect life but it's my life."