First Night Above the Mile High City

Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen,

Wow, it's been a while hasn't it. Let's see, where did we last leave off? Friday? Seriously? Where the f**k have I been? Oh yeah, busy outta my mind getting set up in Denver. I apologize for the sparce entries...but I'm sure that you understand. Well, let's see. Since Friday, I've done a little bit of everything...sort of. Saturday, I spent the morning at the hotel and then headed to meet T-Skittle (Filly's aunt in town) but along the way, stopped at the Devil (aka Walmart) to pick up a bed for myself during the next week...a wonderful voleur top air mattress. It's actually really comfortable for being a queen sized air mattress. Anyway, eventually I made it to her house...and met her husband D-Skittle and sons S-Skittle & M-Skittle...and his pregnant girlfriend C-Skittle. Everybody clear? Okay. They were extremely nice peeps. Very hospitable...and of course, being a humble man, I wasn't about to take advantage of it...but they were even offering me a TV for the week until I got my stuff moved into my apartment. T-Skittle even made a bed for me...and the rest of the family told me that it had been probably a decade since she had done it for them. What can I say? The ladies love me. Oh, they also have three cats named Rocky (like the boxer), Whitey (like the Man), and Oreo (like the cookie...but I also called him Oreoreo...like the Jungle Love lyric). We basically watched college football all day and D-Skittle was more than willing to answer questions about the area, give me maps, tell me where all the cool places to go on road trips were, even gave me a phone book. Like I said, good peeps...and over the weekend, we got pretty tight. They even invited me to Turkey Day Dinner if I didn't have any plans. Is that sweet or what?

Saturday night, some of the coworkers and I originally had plans to hit the town...but a rash of strep throat had hit the week before so most were sick or recovering, others had wedding plans, so it was basically down to Nikki & me sharing a Smash Burger, which were actually quite delicious burgers. We agreed that In & Out Burger was better...but this was the best in Denver (so far?). We caught up on how we were doing (hadn't really talked to eachother in a year or so since she moved out here) and I asked about the city and she asked about people back home and why the hell I decided on Denver and stuff like that. During dinner, there was even a beautiful sunset right outside the window. It was an awesome little meal...and afterwards, I went back to T-Skittle's and watched more football. Good times.

Sunday was more football, but this time of the professional variety. D-Skittle & I talked about football and more about the area and eachother's background. He looks and acts like your stereotypical hippie. I mean...just close your eyes...and picture a hippie. That's this guy...and he's cool as sh*t. Anyway, basically all day Sunday was me just kicked back and relaxing, doing as little as possible. I even watched some stupid horror movies with T & S-Skittles. The first was "Shutter" with Rachael Taylor (who I saved from a giant snake) and Joshua Jackson about a camera that kills you. Okay, so that's what the preview made you think...and it pretty much is (in fact, spoiler alert, somebody is killed by a camera). Basically, there's a ghost haunting this young married couple of which the man happens to be a photographer and the girl is really really hot. Anyway, the ghost shows up as smudges on pictures (even digital) and curiosity leads the girl to investigate (for some reason). A web of lies and intrigue ensues...and you basically laugh at how unscary the movie is. Period. I say pass...but how can you pass on Rachael Taylor? Cheesy horror flick.

The next one was "The Devil's Partner" from 1961. It's an old black & white movie with bad editing, sound, storylines, and not the satanic porno that I was expecting...but it was kid friendly, which was good because S-Skittle watched it with me. It was incredible to watch though. It's about a small town where people are dying mysteriously...and they all seem to somehow be involved with the city's gas station attendant Rick (not Louis Cypher...but pretty close). The worst kept secret in the world...is that he's the Devil. (Of course, the Devil would sell you gas with a smile) Basically the story is really...well, you don't really focus on that. I'd say check it out if you have an hour to spare and want to see what old scary movies were like. I enjoyed it...but not because it was frightening...but in a "Plan 9 from Outer Space" kind of way.

Monday was day two at the new job...and I basically spent the whole day trying to soak in as much information as I could (names, systems, procedures, etc) along with city landmarks, freeway exits, street names (not all numbers like in Utah) and my mind's a little on overload right now...but I'll manage and want to learn more. It's awesome to be completely immersed in something completely new. I mean, basically Nikki is the only person I had ever known before...and even then, just as a casual coworker buddy. Everybody has been great though at making me feel welcome, always good for a laugh or advice, and the eye candy isn't bad either...but I'm not dating coworkers anymore, remember? Of course you don't...because I wouldn't dare chisel that in stone and deny that portion of the populus. It would be like saying that women can't vote...and I'm all against women's suffrage. Wait, is that right? Isn't women's suffrage like their suffering? Damn English language. Anyway, work's cool...and I'm starting to remember a lot of the names and procedures...but it's a lot to soak in. Just a matter of time though.

After work, Nikki invited some people to a house in Castle Rock that she was housesitting to watch the Broncos Monday Night game against the Patriots. For those who don't know, Castle Rock is the Ritzy, multi-million dollar homes suburb of Denver...and this house was no difference. This house had several unused rooms that were bigger than my apartment...but we do have similar taste in projector TV with Guitar Hero/Rock Band attached. So when the game really started to suck (Pats 41, Broncos 7) we decided to play some Guitar Hero...just me and the four ladies watching football, playing video games, eating pizza and drinking beer. Good times. Thanks for the invite, Nikki. Oh yeah, it rained a little bit and one of the ladies also new to Denver is from Rancho Mirage, California and had never driven in rain before. She's going to LOVE the snow...which should start falling later tonight.

Today, it was basically just work during the day then I was finally able to get my key, parking pass, etc. and move into my new apartment. I'll show you some pictures tomorrow or something. I took a stroll to the Walgreen's to get essentials like toilet paper and some snacks...but basically, it's just my suits, other clothes, an airmattress, and a few water bottles in the fridge. It's hot stuff...but I look out the window...and it's like a starry night...but in reverse with all the glittering lights down at the street level some 300 feet down and the sky's cloudy tonight because of the impending snow. I can't wait for the snow to start falling right outside my window, glowing in the city lights, and falling on the city streets below...as I stand there in my Spiderman underwear with a million people before me on the horizon. Oh yes, I like this apartment so far.

Anyway, I'll let you all get to bed...and I'd better too. Even though my commute in the morning involves taking an elevator. Have I told you how much I like this apartment? Or the city of Denver? Or all of you loyal readers...and my other family & friends who aren't necessarily reading this? Because it's true. I miss you all madly...but I'm doing good...and every day is a new experience...and I can't wait to get this place tricked out so that when you come visit, we can play some Rock Band at about 300 feet about the Mile High City, sip a few beers...and if you're lucky, get to crash on an airmattress like me tonight. Have a great night everybody!!!