Entries Tagged as 'Uncategorized'
Thursday night a bunch of southern Colorado media people will gather together to pay tribute to our friend and colleague Gary Street. Gary is a radio guy who worked at several radio stations in Colorado Springs and Denver. A real pro – Gary not only worked hard building a great radio career, he also gave back to his community — whenever anyone asked.
So, tomorrow let’s give back to him. Gary doesn’t work in radio anymore – he has Parkinson’s. For those of you who have not seen Gary in awhile — you will see how he has changed and how tough life is for this good guy. You will see the toll the disease has taken on our good friend.
Hope to see you there — Cliff House, 5pm.
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Five years ago today, I said goodbye to my Dad. A long battle with cancer – a horrible disease that changed everything about him – was finally over. As I stood beside the bed we had made for him in my parents living room – I held his hand as he took his last breath. My heart hurt. I looked around the room that was crowded with my big family – siblings, nieces and nephews. Everyone asleep – some draped over armchairs, some curled up on the floor – I was glad to be awake.
I wept as I stood over him reading from Psalms. I wanted so much for him to be able to hear what I was saying. A few minutes earlier I knew that he didn’t have much longer. I felt anxious – I wanted him to hear a scripture that would comfort him – make him less afraid of dying – praying that in these last moments, Dad was finally connecting with God.
I will never forget June 9, 2005. I will also never forget what a great man my dad was – in so many ways. He was so right about everything – from politicians to preachers – how did he know?
The world needs more guys like my dad. The real deal – generous, hardworking, honest, strong, kind, smart – and a guy who could smell bullshit a mile away. The latter is what I loved most about him.
He taught me how to be tough and to face my fears. He gave me confidence and made me believe in myself. He warned me about people who would hurt me – and instilled in me the importance of respecting people – no matter who they were and what they did. He taught me about forgiveness and love. He bought me my first jigsaw, my first car and gave me the down payment on my first house. He never liked any of my dates – but treated the man I married like his own son.
In the summer of 2002, I had to go to Seattle on a business trip and my husband Peter came along. It was early June and we had not been in our little downtown home for very long. My dad was keeping an eye on the place while we were away. When we returned, my dad had left us the most amazing, wonderful surprise. He had started a garden in my backyard and even built a fence around it. No one else had ever done anything that cool for me before.
I miss him. I finally realize just how good and remarkable he was. I also know I want to be more like him – more than anyone else I know. I love you Dad.
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Cindy Fowler - 2010 Athena Award Recipient
The Colorado Springs Chamber has a luncheon every year in conjunction with their Women in Business conference. At the luncheon, the chamber honors women who excel in business and community service as well as mentoring women. In attendance are some of our community’s most impressive women leaders.
On duty and armed with a camera, I was shooting video at the event. Traveling from table to table, I had a particularly great view and got to see just about everyone who came to the lunch. At each table, I was saying to myself, ooh, there’s her and her and her. Wow — as a city, we should be proud of our female “movers and shakers.” Looking across this giant hall of hundreds of women, I said to myself, “hey, we are in pretty good shape if these women are in charge.”
Several of today’s nominees are women I have known or known about for nearly twenty years. I was glad to see many of them finally getting the recognition they deserve (I think we get into ruts of over-recognizing & honoring the same people in our city).
Among today’s nominees were Diane Price and Sally Clark, two women who do a lot of work for this city. Smart and together, I am glad we have power chicks like these in our midst. The winner, however, is someone who inspires us all. Diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, Cindy is a fighter and a survivor. We have watched Cindy Fowler do amazing things and be strong when something very scary was attacking her body. A renaissance gal, she has been a leader in many local organizations and non-profits. From her work with Newborn Hope to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (a place where you’d better be a power chick) she fits in everywhere and fits the bill for the Athena Award. High Five to Cindy and all of the other amazing women who were nominated.
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Today I was looking inside of one of our tulips out front and marveled at God’s artistry and creativity. I stuck my camera on top of the flower and took this shot.
I started planting flowers a few years ago. Not much of a green thumb — I still wanted to try. We have a garden of sorts which we affectionately call our “non-judgmental garden.” This means you can’t say squat about what’s in it, why the plants and flowers are arranged the way they are and the shape it’s taken on. It is a little quirky — but every now and then, we will get a lovely surprise. This gardening thing has been a great stress reliever.
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After months of searching Colorado and beyond…I found it. I found a place that serves nothing but Sloppy Joes. My love affair with this scrumptious, loose meat hamburger dates back to my childhood when Mom would whip up a tasty batch laced with onion and green pepper. The place I found is almost as good as Mom’s- — ok, it is as good as Mom’s.
“Simply Sloppy Joes” is owned by a charming Minnesota native who had us at hello. “Jennifer” is the nicest person in the world and I was only around her for 4o minutes — trust me, she is the real deal. Maybe her upbeat, incredibly good attitude made the vittles tastier.
Restaurant hunting after a Rox game, we found a small ad in the back of Westword. I had to look twice – couldn’t believe I hit the jackpot. Not too long a drive, we zipped over to Lakewood to the 6700 block of Mississippi and it was love at first bite.
If you like ‘em — this place is worth the drive – from anywhere. I recommend the “Plain Jane” – there are seven varieties. The owner brought us samples of all of the Sloppy Joe flavors. For $2.50 you can’t go wrong. High five to Simply Sloppy Joes — we’ll be back.
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Rockmount shirt (The Columbine)
What’s your coolest piece of clothing? A designer something? Or maybe it’s an accessory. Maybe you don’t have anything cool. If you’re ready to add seriously cool, that will never go out of fashion – then read on.
Eric Clapton has several of them, Robert Duvall has one. Hugh Grant, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks, Bob Dylan, Tom Selleck, Robert Redford, Meg Ryan, Matthew McConaughey, Aidan Quinn, Nicholas Cage, Kiefer Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Jay Leno, Don Henley, Green Day, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, just to name a few have them — and they bought them while visiting Denver. “They” are Rockmount shirts – beautiful western shirts with fabulous snap buttons that don’t wear out.
“Papa Jack” Weil - founder of Rockmount Ranch Wear, designed the Rockmount shirt to be more form fitting so not to get caught in anything while riding the range. I bought my first Rockmount shirt – a bargain at twenty-five bucks and can’t wait to wear it. They average around $60. Although, the shirt worn by Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain went for a $110,000 at a fundraiser.
No, I didn’t buy it because all those celebs have them – ok, well maybe I did. But also — because it is a really great looking shirt – and many of them remind me of the shirts my dad wore.
Shirt worn by Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain went for a $110,000 at a fundraiser
Papa Jack Weil - Founder of Rockmount Ranch Wear - Courtesy Rockmount Ranch Wear
Papa Jack and Mayor Hickenlooper - Courtesy Denver Post
Hugh Grant wearing a Rockmount shirt
Steve Weil (Papa Jack’s grandson who now runs the store) and James Earl Jones in his Rockmount- Courtesy Rockmount Ranch Wear
Special shirt made for Eric Clapton and band for touring
Heidi - who sold us two Cowboy hats and my first Rockmount shirt
My husband Peter who turned me on to Rockmount Ranch Wear
“Papa Jack” Weil – founder of Rockmount, worked at the store until he was 107 — the oldest working CEO in the country. He died in August 2008.
Next time you’re in LoDo — go check out Rockmount Ranch Wear, 1626 Wazee — ask for Heidi. Then you too can dress cool and have something in common with Eric Clapton.
http://www.rockmount.com/celebrities
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Aubrey men and friend Tyler
Having not been to a Colorado Avalanche game in a few years, I forgot how much fun they are. Ticket prices aren’t exactly family friendly so we watch most of the games on TV. Of course, there is no substitution for being there in person. Finding a good deal on stubhub.com, we landed in four pretty good seats for a somewhat reasonable price.
A great game, the Avs won in a shootout against the Kings – the crowd was in no rush to exit. Making their way out of the arena – people were moving slowly – shoulder to shoulder traffic. Then something weird happened. A spontaneous cheer broke out as the hockey fans were herded down the escalators of the Pepsi Center. Not just your post-game, “Yea, we won” chant, but a well orchestrated full-on cheer. Hundreds of blue and red jersey wearin’, kid toting, somewhat sober and not so sober, nonetheless well behaved hockey fans shouting… “AV-A- LANCHE, AV- A- LANCHE, AV-A-LANCHE.” It was melodic, harmonious and uplifting. They were hockey fans who sounded more like Up With People. Huh? What happened to the cliche loud, beer swilling, foot stomping, obscene gesturing “hockey fans?” They weren’t around last night.
So what gives? Am I out of touch with Avs fans? Are they so different from football and baseball fans? After a Bronco game, I used to have to put my hands over my kid’s ears because of all of the F-bomb dropping etc. I have stories, but this blog is G rated.
Rockies fans are a bit more subdued. They sachet out satisfied and smiling after a win — knowing they’ll be back the next day for more. Overall pretty calm.
Whatever the game – I love the fans – most of the fans – here’s a high five to Avs fans.
Cheering hockey fans
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Snow on patio table - six inches.
Got to love this spring snowstorm barreling right through spring break. I can’t remember a blast like this one — with each storm a new tale to tell. This one will remind me of how both my husband and I raced for the snow shovels to clear the sidewalk – BC – before coffee. I think we have reached that age where we worry that people will sue us if they fall on our sidewalk. We have arrived — we are officially our parents.
Anyway, this storm was more fun – partly because we knew the snow wouldn’t stick around for long and partly because there was no anxiety about snow days etc. Hope you are enjoying this beautiful blanket of white. I am looking forward to the green and buds that come next. It won’t be long before we are out in our front yard tending to what we call our “non-judgmental” garden (named this so that we could do whatever we want with this space where nothing seems to want to grow) and in the backyard where we are going to attempt a vegetable garden. If you have any pointers about what a novice gardener should try first — I’m all ears like a jackass.
So enjoy the moisture that will give your yard a boost. And post a comment if you have gardener’s guidance or tips.
six inches in our backyard - woo hoo!
Peter shoveling like a maniac.
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My mom used to pump us full of chicken soup at the first sign of a cold. I’ve taken a page out of mom’s book and will whip up a batch for family or friends when needed. Some poo- poo it, but I think there is something to this treating colds with chicken soup. I was glad to find the following articles on the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Oz websites:
Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t, what can’t hurt
By Mayo Clinic staff
Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold, and many are nearly as ancient. The use of chicken soup as a congestion cure dates back centuries. But is longevity any guarantee that a cold remedy works? Do effective cold remedies even exist? Here’s a look at some common cold remedies and what’s known about them.
Cold remedies: What works
If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for one to two weeks. But that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. These remedies may help:
- Water and other fluids. You can’t flush a cold out of your system, but drinking plenty of liquids can help. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse.
- Salt water. A saltwater gargle — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
- Saline nasal drops and sprays. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays combat stuffiness and congestion. In infants, experts recommend instilling several saline drops into one nostril, then gently suctioning that nostril with a bulb syringe (push the bulb in about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, or about 6 to 12 millimeters). Saline nasal sprays may be used in older children. Unlike nasal decongestants, saline drops and sprays don’t lead to a rebound effect — a worsening of symptoms when the medication is discontinued — and most are safe and nonirritating, even for children.
- Chicken soup. Generations of parents have spooned chicken soup into their sick children. Now scientists have put chicken soup to the test, discovering that it does have effects that might help relieve cold and flu symptoms in two ways. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils — immune system cells that participate in the body’s inflammatory response. Second, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus, possibly helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nose lining.
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Over-the-counter cold and cough medications in older children and adults. Nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers offer some symptom relief, but they won’t prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects. If used for more than a few days, they can actually make symptoms worse.
Experts agree that these medications are dangerous in children younger than age 2. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is evaluating the safety of over-the-counter cold and cough medications in older children.
Keep in mind that acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can cause serious liver damage or liver failure if taken in doses higher than recommended. It’s common for people to take Tylenol in addition to flu medications that also contain acetaminophen, which can lead to acetaminophen overdoses. Read the labels of any cold medication carefully to make sure you’re not overdosing.
If a cough lasts after your other cold symptoms have resolved, see your doctor. In the meantime, try soothing your throat with warm lemon water and honey and humidifying the air in your house. Avoid giving honey to infants.
- Antihistamines. First-generation (sedating) antihistamines may provide minor relief of several cold symptoms, including cough, sneezing, watery eyes and nasal discharge. However, results are conflicting and the benefits may not outweigh the side effects.
- Humidity. Cold viruses thrive in dry conditions — another reason why colds are more common in winter. Dry air also dries the mucous membranes, causing a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. A humidifier can add moisture to your home, but it can also add mold, fungi and bacteria if not cleaned properly. Change the water in your humidifier daily, and clean the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Dr. Oz Website -POSTED BY DR. MICHAEL ROIZEN/Chief Wellness Officer Cleveland Clinic:
“Everybody seems to have their own special remedy for curing a cold. The truth is, you can’t really cure a cold; you can only speed its course.
And there have only been three things that have been shown to really have an effect on speeding one up-chicken soup, zinc lozenges, and vitamin C (though we don’t know why they work, research has shown that they do).
You should consume any of the three at the moment you start feeling symptoms. Your options:
- take 500 milligrams of vitamin C four times each day with plenty of water immediately at the start of cold symptoms and for the next two or three days, or
- take one zinc lozenge every 6 hours, beginning at the start of cold symptoms and for the next two or three days, or
- eat a cup of chicken soup four times a day at the onset of symptoms.
Doing any of the above can reduce the average time that a cold lasts from roughly five days to three.”
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Not sure what NBC was doing when they bumped Leno to 9pm — but it is great to have him back at 10:35. I’ll admit it, I am a traditionalist when it comes to TV watching. So when NBC upset my routine by moving Jay to 9, Conan to 10:35 and L & O to 8pm, it messed up that nice routine of late news into Jay — fall asleep during Jay, wake up at 2am to turn the TV off — yada yada, yada. Anyway – nice to have Leno back at 10:35.
Glad the NBC execs came to their senses. Here’s a High Five to Jay late night.
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