My Commute Home ...

... As seen from the 27th floor of the Hyatt. I always get stopped at the light there at the end of the "big bend" underneath the Colorado Convention Center, where I often see kids hugging the paws of the Big Blue Bear.

Sunset Over the Rockies

This is the view from Peaks after the sunscreen was lifted from the windows once the sun went below the mountains. The photo, of course, doesn't do justice to the view or the moment. Everyone in the bar just stopped talking and there was almost an audible gasp as we all took in the view. Really, I sometimes forget how beautiful it is here in Denver. I will always remember when I moved here, in awe of the mountains, and how Denny told me that some day I would "forget" the mountains are there.

He was right. Twelve years later I sometimes do forget ... but this was a perfect evening! I always dreamed of living in Denver and here I was, having a pleasant get-together with two friends I'd met through work, Courtney, who has her own marketing/PR firm, and Angela, whose firm designed the Hyatt Regency Denver. Of course, meeting at the Peaks was her idea. What was really fun was to share a glass of wine - just one since the house Chardonnay was $9.5o a glass! - with two people who share similar sensibilites ... we toasted the new "Battlestar Galactica" and "Dr. McDreamy." Silly, I know. But such a nice time!

By the way, at the beginning of this season's "The Amazing Race," right before they go to commercial, something about Duracell, they pan over the city and show City Park and ... my neighborhood, City Park West. This is the view of Denver from City Park - it's unparalled. And, as such, I cannot wait for spring (and early summer ... well, everything before the last weeks of July and first week of August, when it's hot) because Em and I spend a lot of time at the zoo ... and we see this all the time. Have I mentioned how much I love having the zoo as a neighbor?

'I See What You Mean'

This is "I See What You Mean," my favorite public art installation in Denver at the moment. This was shot on my way to meet some friends for a drink at Peaks, the 27th-floor lounge of the new Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.

Mile High Smile.

OK, I know. It's out of focus. In fact, it appears that Emma's almost wearing two pairs of glasses. Still, just look at her! She's so happy, and so proud of herself. Tonight was the graduation ceremony for her afterschool karate class ... and she got another medal. Woohoo! She totally kicks Bode Miller's ass.

Miles, Slapshot & A Mascot Whose Name I Forgot.

They just appeared in the section above us! Cooool.

In short, we just had such a fun time.

Thank you, Denny! The tix were among the best Christmas presents Emma's ever gotten. We love you love you love you.

Rocky's Birthday.

It didn't hurt that it was Rocky the Mountain Lion's 16th birthday and all the mascots from every major Colorado team -- Miles, Dinger from the Rockies, Rapidman, Thunder from the Colorado Mammoth, Slapshot from the Colorado Eagles at DU, plus the CSU Ram and the Cowboy from either U of Wyo or UNC ... and and and ... the mascots from the Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Sonics -- those two, by the way, obviously practice together b/c their slam dunk was phenomenal when it came time for the mascots to show their stuff -- totally adorable Clutch from the Houston Rockets, and others that I can't remember. Oh, yeah, Stuff from the Orlando Magic. Total goof. There were 16 mascots in all.

Emma lapped it up, of course. As we got into the Pepsi Center, she got a free Rocky alarm clock (all kids did, of course) ... and we loved the special celebrations for Rocky's b-day, especially ... Mascot Dodgeball. Oh, good stuff.

She wasn't sure at first.

Right before the pre-game buildup began ... she just wasn't too certain about all of this. Then the announcer started telling everyone to scream, and the music blared, the Orlando Magic was introduced, then the Nuggets. She got into as soon as I pointed out the Noise Meter on the video display and explained it was the opposite of the old cafeteria noise-o-meter at Marsh.

We Won!

I think it's safe to say Emma enjoyed the Nuggets game on Saturday. This is Em celebrating the 100-94 win over the Orlando Magic.

Now She's Going to Disney World!

Science fair was a success.

Emma didn't win in the K-1 division -- because there's just no arguing with dancin' popcorn! -- but not a pout was in sight. You see, all the participants won medals. And Emma? She was in it for a medal the entire time.

The best part, though, was when she declaredthis to her dad, stepmom and me: "I'm so proud of myself!"

'I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees”.'

Oh, not so fast there, smart boy.

'Video shows Bush got explicit Katrina warning'

Not surprisingly, White House spokesmen and other proxies are suggesting we shouldn't read too much into these tapes.

“I hope people don’t draw conclusions from the president getting a single briefing,” presidential spokesman Trent Duffy said, citing a variety of orders and disaster declarations Bush signed before the storm made landfall.

“There’s nothing new or insightful on these tapes,” [Homeland Security spokesman Russ ] Knocke said."

Okay. Move along, folks. Nothing here to see ... except the president being told the levees will be breeched. Come on, now. We all know Bush is an idiot but now that's supposed to let him off the hook? We supposed to think it takes more than one briefing to grasp the concept that this isn not going to go well? And that maybe you ought to get off your ass and cut short your vacation? Now.

I suppose the White House just figured they'd get away with spinning their own reality ... that they could deny whatever, delete any incriminating e-mails or deny official requests for meeting tapes and transcripts ... it's what they do best.

But I was reminded of something I heard on the radio while driving home today: tapes brought down Nixon.

Dare we hope?