January 2025

Giddy Up!

Some cowboys smoking their "cowboy killers" in 15 degree weather.

National Western Stock Show.

Waiting for my turkey leg with my tall boy.

Song: Drunken Poet's Dream
Artist: Hayes Carll

A cover of a Ray Wylie Hubbard classic has me yearning for long summer days and the wandering it brings. 
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Favorite Lyrics: 
"I got a woman, she's wild as Rome
She likes to lay naked and be gazed upon
Well, she crosses a bridge then sets in on fire
Lands like a bird on a telephone wire"

The most gorgeous gals around.

A Friday Night Rodeo

My favorite event is the Cowboy Roping. This is when the cowboy and his horse are released from the chute the same time as a small cow. The cowboy has to rope the cow around the neck, jump off his horse, and tie both the front and back legs of the cow.

A Pensive Pal

Chute Out Bar

After the Rodeo, we scooted to the Chute Out Bar to chase some yellowjackets and meet all the cowboys.

The Deloran

Found an 80's themed speakeasy off of Broadway in Denver. The aesthetic was 10/10.

High Score

While at The Deloran, I pumped some quarters into the Ms. Pacman and I managed to get the machine's high score. I am proud, but also firmly aware that if I brought my mother here, she would crush that.

Milennium Flacon Jungle Juice

I am far from a Star Wars fan, but this was neccessary for the table. Another highlight (not pictured) was the "tv dinner" inspired appetizers.

My Great Grandpa and My Uncle Dickie

My mom sent me this photo with the following caption: "I found this photo of my Papu (right) and your first crush, Uncle Dickie (left)".

It's reassuring to hear that my taste in men hasn't changed much. lol. What can I say, I like a well dressed man, with a long square face and a head of voluminous hair.

Fun Fact: I actually saw my Uncle Dickie at a funeral about a year ago. He was still as fly as ever....even in his 80s.

God Bless a Beautiful Gene Pool

Song: Pro Freak
Artist: Smino

Brining the early 2000's Outkast vibes mixed with a bit of Drumline. This song was on heavy rotation as I curled my hair and did my makeup this month. 

A Green Dream

Style: Making the Unneccesary Neccesary

Officially Registered

Training has begun for this year's Colfax Marathon. This is my first half-marathon and I am a bit nervous...but I am excited to run through the Denver Zoo and through some of Denver's best landmarks/parks.

Two Blackbirds

I saw this beauty at one of my favorite metaphysical shops in Denver. Unfortunately, she was not for sale.

Lunar New Year

Kicking off "The Year of the Snake" by stopping by the "Far East Center" in Denver's "Little Vietnam". I grabbed some red envelopes and some candy to hand out to my students.

Lunar New Year is one of my favorite holiday's of the year. I consider it more of a "fresh start" than the New Year's of January first.

Also, it reminds me of teaching at my first school. It was at this school that I began the whole school tradition of celebrating this day as a way to honor our large population of Vietnamese students. I look back fondly at that as one of the best things I left behind at that school as I remember the swelling of pride that my students felt as we celebrated their culture.

Dame un Besito

Song: Lloraras
Artist: Oscar D'Leon

In my ESL classes this month, we practiced our English speaking/presentation skills by having the kids present on a style of dance from their home country. 

The genre of dance that was overwhelmingly loved by my Venezuelan students was Salsa. Out of my 20ish students, 10 of them chose Salsa as their presentation topic. This quickly turned our class into a dance party. lol

It was so fun to dance with my students and experience some joy especially with how heavy school has felt for my students this month. 

Sick in Bed

During the month of January, I unfortunately caught a 2 week cold that I could not shake.

Communication is Key

For a full week, I communicated with my kids via typing and projecting on the screen. Gratefully, my kids were so kind to me a few even made me "Get Well" cards.

Wisdom via Celestial Seasonings

It is hot tea season and I love reading the quotes Celestial Seasonings peppers on their various flavors.

This quote resonated with me as I feel it captures my own philosophy of life: I want to experience the breadth and width of life; not just the shallowness that promises safety.

Valentine's Day Nails

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday...so I decided to celebrate a little bit early with this design.

Song: Rock with You (The Reflex Revision)
Artist: Michael Jackson / Revision

One of my favorite DJ mixes to one of my favorite songs.

This song reminds me of my first few years of teaching as I used to play it for my students while they worked and at their school dances. 
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This is one of those songs that will get the whole room moving. So, next time you go to a dive bar and see a jukebox unoccupied....please, put "Rock With You" on and put the whole place into a good mood.

Snow on my Ponderosa

Denver has been a bit too dry for my liking. I've missed the snow, shoveling, and spinning donuts in empty parking lots.

Crowded Gyms

Every January, gyms are blessed with an increase in attendance. As a routine gym-rat, this can be frustrating; however, I find it to be very inspiring to see newbies trying something new and making their health a priority.

So, if you're new to the gym...Welcome! And if you're a fellow gym-rat like me who is experiencing some frustration with limited availability of machines...remember that you were once new and that we have some brave new souls who want to be just like you.

I Love My Gym

No tvs, no music, a killer view of the Mile High Stadium, and a diverse crowd of trust fund babies and North Side Vatos.

Song: Designer
Artist: Balu Brigada

Some fresh funk with an impeccable music video vibe. I can't wait to listen to this song accompanied by some warmer weather as I roller skate around Wash Park.  

A 4 Year Old's "Horse" Party

Big Brother Duties

Fun with my Students

After a long 90 minute class, I gave my kids 15 minutes of free time and they broke out this "vintage" digital camera. They took turns snapping photos and posing.

Observing my students play and be goofy made my heart swell and my eyes water. This month has been hard on my kids as all of them are feeling the uncertainty of our nation's current upheaval and the daily fears they experience while being in school that is no longer considered a "Sanctuary Location".

These past two weeks have been traumatic for them, but I and the other teachers in my building are assuring them of their safety and the fight that we are willing to fight for them.

Slurpees with Nina

Hitting 7-11 with my carpool after school. Being the "fun aunt" is my calling.

Stadium Inn

Popped into this bar in hopes to play some pool, but found it to be overtaken by DU college students.

I rarely feel like an elder, but as I waited in line for the bathroom, I looked around and felt like I was hanging out in a daycare.

P.S. I wish I would have sent this photo to the couple in the center. They look beautiful.

Read More Poetry

Song: Man in the Box
Artist: Alice in Chains

This song was my "go-to" before my basketball games in middle school/high school. The aggressive opening and the lead singer's vocals geared me up for war. 
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This song, for the month of January, has been being played by our high school Jazz band and it is so incredibly epic. I have found myself hanging out in the hall and sneaking glances of the kids jamming out. The angst, the aggression, the impulse for war...it all feels appropriate being echoed by the hands of teenagers.

Idaho Spring's Best Dive

I played a lot of pool this month, but my favorite game was here in one of my favorite dive bars. I came here after a long soak at Indian Hot Springs and picked up a game with a motorcycle babe in her 70s. We were neck and neck, but she managed to kick my ass every game.

Her name was Lenore and a lifelong resident of Idaho Springs. We talked pool, motorcycles, favorite roulette numbers, and being a woman who runs with wolves.

She inspired me and solidified my own identity as a woman who cannot be tamed.

Upon leaving, I asked if we could trade numbers to meet up again to play, and she cool-ly said..."I don't have a phone, you know where to find me". #Goals

Wrestling at West High School

My baby cousin (7th grade) dominated the 160 lb weight class.

Here is an action shot of him effortlessly body slamming his opponent into a tap-out submission.

Love on Colfax

I love the new Colfax tradition of hanging these hearts in the Heart of Downtown Denver.

Saint Cajetan's Restored to Original Colors

To celebrate its 100th birthday, this historic building was converted back to its original colors. It is a glorious and a beautiful oasis in a sea of concrete gray.

Best Cocktail: Goldfinch's "Pleased to Meet You"

Tried a new spot called Goldfich. It has a swanky vibe with great color, fabric, and cocktails.

The "Pleased to Meet You" was my favorite. He are the ingredients: Rye Whiskey, Canton, Honey Ginger Syrup, Lemon, Angostura Liquer, Sage

Song: Sweet Little Rainbows
Artist: Allen Stone

This song went triple platinum in my house. 

Allen Stone, the hipster looking man with the soul of angelic gospel singer, does it again with this "COLORS" performance. 

This song accompanied me on my slow domestic duties of baking my weekly breakfast muffins, mopping my wood floors with Murphy oil, and folding laundry while Frankincense incense burns and my hips were rocking.
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It is a song of worship. Listen with me. Welcome to my church. 

Denim Dime

This month I was a shameless outfit repeater with this look. I wore it to the following events:

1. Friday Night Rodeo
2. Wandering the Stock Show
3. Dance Lessons at the Grizzly Rose
4. Zach Top Concert

4 Hour Brunch

A spontaneous family brunch quickly turned into an all-day event after bottomless mimosas got involved.

Lookout Mountain

Bored at home? Don't scroll on your phone. Instead, gas up your car and go for a ride. If you're in Denver...cruising the curves of Lookout Mountain is always a good ass time.

Run in my Hose

I wore my favorite tights to work, but unfortunately caught a run via my long nails.

Ponder: What is it about a run in your hose that makes an outfit teeter on the realm of scandalousness. Is it social conditioning? Is it the peek of flesh? Is it the juxtaposition of femininity and the roughness of tears?

YUP

Sold Out

Waiting in line at Zach Top's sold out show. I was sick as a dog without a voice, but I had to see that man work.

Zach Top

A young man in his 20s bringing the 90s country vibes with his steel guitar songs and starched button-up shirts.

I have never seen the Grizzly Rose so packed and never have I seen so many buckets of beer purchased so as to limit your amount of "bar breaks" you'd have to take and potentially lose your spot in the crowd.

Song : Bad Luck
Artist: Zach Top

January is always a heavy country music month for me as the Stock Show rolls in. 

And this guy was my newest discovery via my cousin J'aundre as we carpooled to the Rodeo. His voice immediately gripped me and I asked, "Who is this?!"

I was expecting some artist from the 90s, but no, it was a new guy named Zach Top who is only 28 years old...baby boy was born at the tail end of the 90s. To say I fell in love quickly is an understatement.

My love only deepened as my cousin surprised me with some tickets to Zach Top' sold out concert that would happen the very next week after my "first meeting" with him!

P.S. I love this song, but I also love the video. It's got all the things I love: a good looking man, a dirty dive bar, a pool game, and a sweet ass truck. God Bless America, its cowboys, and dimly lit dives. 

My Inner-Clepto's Temptation

I saw this beauty at the "side bar" at the Grizzly Rose. I loved it and even found myself evaluating the "steal-ability" of the piece (I mean....look how easy it would have been).

But rest assured, I left her behind as I am a believer in the effects of karma.

Free Pool Wednesdays

My favorite pool hall in Denver...I shall not disclose the location. If you know this photo, we should hang out.