Wings Over the Rockies

Last weekend, I finally was able to go to Denver's Air and Space museum!!! Once a year, Denver has a Free Museum night and select museums across Denver and surrounding towns are open after 5pm for free!! I've been to the Art Museum, Museum of Nature and Science as well as the Botanic Gardens, but had yet to visit this one since it's about a 20-minute drive from Denver proper.

For those who don't know, I've had a fascination with planes since middle school. My original plan after graduation was to go to flight school. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I am Deaf and that I would have had to take calculus...those plans didn't come to fruition. I do still sometimes dream about being in the Air Force or a part of the Blue Angels -- they do those cool tricks you see at Airshows. I love watching them!

One thing that I didn't expect to see was Luke's fighter jet from Star Wars!! With R2D2 in the back!!! My jaw just about dropped and one of the girls with the group was also a Star Wars fan so OF COURSE, we got a picture!

They had flight simulators there which brought back memories of flying planes on Jonathan's simulator. Good times. He was my flying buddy. I didn't get a chance to at the museum since there was a line but I got to watch the kids play on it. The museum had quite a few interactive stations where you could pretend to be in a cockpit or see what it feels like to be in a rocket.

Every time I fly home or somewhere, I get excited to be in a plane again! The rush of take-off is my favorite. Then, as you fly higher, the people and houses get so tiny. I've always found it to be so cool. Of course, you can't forget the beauty of the clouds from up there. Honestly, there's nothing quite like it.

Pumpkin Chunkin

Yesterday, I went to the annual Punkin Chunkin festival in way east Aurora. I had never heard of it before and neither had anyone else in the group. I went with my friend Lauren whom I met at a meetup a year or so ago. She hosts different meetups within the Christian 20s and 30s group. Lauren typically hosts the most interesting ones, at least to me.

She found out about this festival through good old-fashioned Google. While it was windy most of the time we were there it was a lot of fun. As with many other fall festivals, you have your usual pumpkin picking and an array of food and drinks for purchase. One downside is that there weren't many pumpkin or apple related foods. Why on earth would a fall festival NOT have anything with apples in it? There was one vendor selling pumpkin cinnamon rolls -- they weren't terrible.

Another neat thing about this festival was the Carve Wars. (We did not watch the only thing). This was a bunch of guys (6 or 7) carving statues out of wood. Some were very intricate and looked complicated to do. Hats off to them. I had thought about buying one but the ones I really liked, of course, were the ones that were $60 or more.

Now the "chunkin" part was interesting. Never have I ever heard of a competition about launching pumpkins to see how far their catapult could throw it! There were maybe 10 groups of people with their own catapults -- some small and some HUGE.

Overall, it was a good day, met some new people and explored a new festival.

Breakfast for Dinner Anyone?

So some of you may know that I love love LOVE food-themed parties. Well, this year was no different. For my birthday party this year, I decided to have a Breakfast for Dinner theme. Best idea yet...though I can't take all the credit -- this one was my mom's idea. It was a good once since so many of my friends were just as excited about it as I was.

I asked everyone who came to either bring something homemade, a drink or an empty stomach. Overall, the party went exceedingly well despite my heart palpitations that I had prior. Every time I host a party, I'm always afraid people won't have fun or we will run out of food. This birthday party I invited 25 people and until the morning of -- 16 people RSVP'd. So I was freaking out that I wouldn't have enough room in my apartment for everyone. So I went frantically looking for chairs to add to the seating I had already. I did find some, thank goodness and to top it off -- they went right with the decor. (It's not like I wanted matching furniture like a married couple, but I didn't want something ugly either).

The day rolled around and I was still frantic -- this time about having enough food. I didn't want to be one of those people who tells their guests, "Well...there's a restaurant around the corner if you're still hungry."

Anyway, I bought A LOT. More than I needed since about seven people cancelled either because they were sick or got called into work/worked later. So now I have a lot of scrambled eggs....anyone want to come over and help me eat this?

Overall, the party was a smashing success. Everyone had a great time and I got to reconnect with some old friends (meaning the ones I met when I first moved here/college). I love hosting and will continue to do it cause it not only brings me joy but my friends as well. I know that God gave me the gift of hospitality and I pray that I will be willing to use it wherever I am!

Birthday Shenanigans

So I turned 27 on September 7, 2018. Crazy. I feel old...weird and old. Most of my friends here in Denver are older than me so I really shouldn't feel this way.

Even though my birthday wasn't until Friday, the shenanigans started on Labor Day where my friend, Nicole, took me to a nail salon to get manicures! I've never had a manicure done before. I'm not totally sure why but maybe because I just wasn't a girly girl. I painted my nails on occasion but never a manicure. While it was weird having someone slave over my hands for 45 minutes, I can see now why people like getting their nails done. It's very pretty and last awhile. The next time I do this, it will probably be for a special occasion.

Afterward, we went to lunch at a place called Cheddar's -- its a bit like an upscale Ruby Tuesday's in my opinion. It was great getting to know Nicole a little bit better. She was a potential roommate last time I was looking but didn't work out that way but I am glad we are able to be friends and hang out!

Then the day of my birthday came and I had no idea what was in store for me. Originally, Nicole and I were supposed to get manicures after work but she had a work event so we moved it to Monday, Labor Day. So walking into work that morning, I really only had a sliver of a clue of what I wanted to do after. Before I get to that, at work Tanya, a coworker, brought in a chocolate chip cookie cake and a Tres Leche cake with Oreos on top!! OHMYGOODNESS!! So scrumptious! Yoly, another coworker, her birthday is Saturday -- the day after mine -- so we celebrated together!

After I got home I Skyped with my parents, as usual, and then went to one of my favorite restaurants in Denver, Torchy's Tacos with two friends from church, Alissa and James. They are pretty much like family. After filling up our stomachs with tacos, we went to Paciugo in Lakewood. They sell gelato and James likes their gelato in coffee. Yummy! I also enjoy hanging out with them even though they are old...haha...ok older than me by about 10 years.

I will never stop thanking God for surrounding me with love every single day. I enjoy the company of the friends I have made at work, church and different groups I'm a part of. Thank you for all those who made my day special. May I continue to always be thankful.

PS I love that my mom still spoils me by mailing me a birthday cake every year ;)

Star Wars Night

This past Saturday, my friend Nicole and I went to the Star Wars Rockies baseball game!! Loved that they had the baseball team dress up in Star Wars characters and instead of Rockies against A's it was the Rebels against the Empire. Check out the pictures, you'll see what I mean.

In honor of Star Wars Night, they had free t-shirts with your ticket!!!

Hope you know who that is on the front of the shirt!! My roommate, who has only seen ONE Star Wars movie (courtesy of moi) knew who that is so...

I will admit I was getting sleepy by the 7th inning because I had gone to 258 Deaf Street festival that morning. However, the game was as exciting as baseball can be but we WON! Whenever there is a Star Wars theme, I'm there -- doesn't really matter where haha.

I'm glad that Nicole told me about it and that we could go together! Love that girl! Clearly, we were meant to be friends. GO ROCKIES!