Oktoberfest

CAD, Colorado Association of the Deaf, had a fundraiser Saturday that was off the hook. I haven't had that much fun in so long. I'm really glad I went. Marilyn, thank goodness, came too. She hosts the ASL Chat I've been going to. At first I thought I'd be going alone which wasn't thrilling to me but I didn't want to miss this. I have no idea how many deaf events happen in Denver.

Everything that is usually at Oktoberfests around the country ware there as well as a Deaf DJ, Nico DiMarco, and going with the theme, they had brats for dinner. They were actually very good, topped with sauerkraut. They also handed out some swag!!! Towards the end of the night we had a raffle! :D I've always loved raffles, I never win anything....actually I did once back in college. This time, no surprise, didn't win anything. The only thing I really wanted anyway was the Bluetooth speaker/cooler. Oh well. My former bosses from Aspen Camp were there and met some new people.  Overall, it was well worth supporting this great non-profit while having a blast.

Those of you who know these dances/songs: the Wobble, Electric Slide, Single Ladies, Y.M.C.A., This is How We Do It and so many others were played,danced to and translated in ASL by interpreters. It was an awesome time for hearing and deaf to come together and just let loose.

I can't wait till the next deaf event!!

Fall for Denver

Today was a gorgeous day. Even though, I didn't do what I really wanted to do today, I tried to make the most of it. Below are some pictures I took. People have told me that the East has more vibrant colors as well as variety during Fall. Whatever the differences, I still love the beauty He has chosen to bless us with each year. No wonder my Uncle Bill wanted us to send him leaves after he moved to San Francisco!

I love my neighborhood so much. I hope to stay around Wash Park; it has the best of everything! Falling for Denver, yes I am!

Mind....Blown

OMYGOODNESS! Some good times up here in Denver. I'm so glad I didn't give up on my job search in this city. I had thought about going back to CT (but seriously didn't want to) or trying a new city like Portland. My cousins want me to move to SF, but I don't know....I already know how expensive it is to live there.

A couple weeks ago, I went to my first Rockies game where while I was looking for my friend Kristin, a woman asked me if I needed tickets. Mind you, she wasn't one of those guys with pants halfway down their butts selling tickets for half price or anything else for that matter outside the stadium. I had never been to this part of Denver let alone to the baseball stadium here. She looked nice enough so I answered, "No, I'm looking for my friend." She then proceeded to tell me that some friends of hers never showed up and that she has some tickets. I looked up at her unsure if there was an ulterior motive at play. I asked her, "You don't need them?" She told me that she didn't want them to go to waste and if I could use them, she'd give them to me. I asked incredulously, "You sure?!" "Yea, take them." She hands me two tickets. Stunned, I said thanks and watched her walk away. When I met up with Kristin finally, I looked down at the tickets she gave me. They were season tickets. Neither one of us could believe it!

The game itself, we didn't see much of. However, we got to meet quite a few people, which was pretty much the point. Both of us are new to Denver so having a friend in the same boat is AWESOME! I'm so glad I met her and can go to events without having to psych myself up every time. Meeting people has always been a tough thing for me, but I've gradually gotten used to it and since in the end I want friends, real ones, I have to put myself out there.

This past Thursday was the weekly ASL chat I've been going to for the last few weeks. This time a girl who was blind came along with her two not-blind friends. She showed us how to write in braille. My jaw dropped. She told us she's still learning the language, but she can sign really well. She could see a few feet in front of her, but not too far. I had to keep reminding myself to lean forward. I wish I had gotten the chance to tell her about contact sign. She doesn't seem to know about that yet. I honestly have never had an in-depth conversation with someone who was blind before. At first, I had no idea how she was going to communicate since this was an ASL chat meaning no voice allowed; it wasn't until she mentioned how far she could see, I understood what i needed to do so that she could follow the conversation. I wonder if that's how people feel talking to me.

I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people. I look forward to seeing who else God brings into my life. While there are times where I'm like WHY GOD WHY!? Like when I miss the same bus twice or dealing with the aftermath of my car accident....still and the incompetent people working for the judicial system. However, I try to remember to thank Him for keeping me alive and the people in my life who make me smile.

Loving Denver Every Minute

Today was extremely eventful for I went to Master's Hands Bible Church this morning, which I've been trying to visit since I moved here. Met Pr. Otto whom some missionaries from Church of the Bible, where I grew up, met my parents who knew of this church. I feel like my life is the way it is because someone became friends with someone else. I wouldn't have been able to stay at the Wulf's house last year if they hadn't moved to CT years ago and befriended my mom. I wouldn't have known about Master's Hands if those missionaries didn't know my parents.

The church was nice, small, but it was great to meet some Deaf people. Everyone was over 50 which seems to be typical of good bible churches here. In Ithaca, I had no worries because it's a college-town. Here is a different story. My new friend from a Christian group I joined last week, Kristin, gave me a few names of churches to try. I don't want a mega-church because I feel lost in the sea of people quite easily and the sense of community isn't really there. Also, many (not all) mega-churches teach watered down Christianity; I just have to be careful.

This afternoon after a 20 minute change of clothes and eat lunch, I hoped on a bus to Coors Field where the Rockies baseball team was playing. Their field is HUGE! I don't think I've been in that big of a stadium before. The closest experience was when going to a Josh Groban concert in Boston. Kristin and I had such a hard time finding the group, the Christian Professionals/Social Denver Christians. It must have been a good half hour of searching before we found them. Part of the issue was that we didn't know them. We had met the leader of the Social Denver Christians last week and some other people, but they didn't come to the game. It was mostly the people from the Christian Professionals group. Regardless, it was a lot of fun getting to know more people and making new friends. Didn't watch a whole lot of the game, but the idea was to have fun and that's what I did! Overall, a great ending to the weekend!

To be honest, there is one flaw to Denver -- actually all cities -- which is the amount of times I have to walk by and hold my breath due to the smoke coming from white or brown cylinder items between their fingers. I get dizzy when I inhale second-hand smoke. Other than that, Denver is awesome! Come visit!

Birthday Success

My co-workers are amazing! They are quite creative as you can see....my desk is quite festive. My boss of sorts (she doesn't work directly over me, but in another department) bought me one of my favorite desserts, APPLE FRITTER!!!!!! It was huge, the picture doesn't do it justice at all!

Voodoo Donuts is (according to many Denver residents) the best donut shop in the city. So if you're ever here, I recommend them. They have a weird menu I will admit, but they are oh so good! If you're on a diet, just don't eat any sugar for the next couple days.

Considering this is the first year where I hadn't really planned on anything, I had fun! I'm really glad God helped me get this new position at Reading Partners. I can tell I will learn a lot and these people will become good friends.

(Wish I didn't have to work....but oh well. Can't have it all).

Making New Friends Is the Bomb!

Friends are something that everyone needs. No one likes to be alone. I remember my high school days feeling rejected and as an independent "woman" I strive to go out of my way to meet others that share my values and/or interests. So on Thursday, I decided to go to Deaf Chat at Panera Bread.

With every new venture, nerves creep in but I was also excited because ASL is a language I love and want to continue using personally and professionally. This group was so much fun to get to know. The mix of personalities was just right. In some ways, I felt like a novice because I am not used to putting myself out there. On the other hand, this group made me feel right at home because they weren't signing super fast like my co-workers at Aspen Camp. I want so much to get to that point, but to this group I was the fast signer, which was nice for a change. I was able to teach them some new signs and by conversing with them, I had to teach myself how to sign slowly. I don't know for sure in what capacity I want to use ASL professionally, but this group takes me back to my HOP days as a Director, which I enjoyed immensely signing to my heart's content. This is definitely a group I want to continue growing with and I look forward to getting to know them better and seeing who else joins.

The first few weeks here, I have felt lonely after work simply because my roommate has a social life already with her fiancee and friends. Apart from her, I don't really know anyone in Denver. Though tomorrow, I'm excited to see my friend, Melissa, from Cornell/FCA who lives in Littleton, a town south of Denver. Friends really do make a new place truly feel like home and I'm stoked to continue my journey of making Denver home. Eventually, I plan on joining a soccer team, a gym and a church where I will find more people I can relate to.

My Ithaca friends taught me to be myself and wait for those who want to be my friend to come into my life rather than changing who I am in order to fit in. Some people will like me and others won't. No one should have to be someone else. My motto: Be genuine and others will find your light!

SURPRISE!

Last Saturday, I went back down to Falcon for a "You Survived Your First Week!" party at the Wulf's house. Little did I know, there was something else in store for me. They arrived at my apartment a couple hours after the original time they said, but I just figured that they ran into traffic. You never know with Denver or what the highway will be like between the Springs and here since there's only one direct route.

They arrive early afternoon and they ask about my week at work. It's been stressful, but I know once I get the hang of it, I'll be a pro as someone in the office said to me. We needed to go to Walmart on the way back since my Trolley Dolly, an insulated grocery cart that April found for me a couple weeks ago, zipper doesn't work. After I exchanged the cart, April and Mrs. Wulf needed to get new shoes. I thought nothing of this since April is quite a shopper. We spent maybe an hour in Walmart total. So I just rolled with it.

We get to the house and nothing seemed out of the ordinary though I did see a new car in the driveway. My thoughts were it was either Gina's new car, since she had been talking about getting one, or someone from church. So I didn't really pay that close attention to it. I walk inside and put my things in April's room since that is where I usually crash. I come back out and sit on the couch looking through emails on my phone. I have no idea what the plans are for that night regarding my "party" but I figured they would tell me whenever. No big deal.

I happened to glance up when I saw people standing in the middle of the living room. I then notice one of them has a camera pointed in my direction. Thinking to myself, "What's with the camera?" I'm trying to process what could be going on, when Breazyi opens the bedroom door and as I'm watching her run away from it, I see out of the corner of my eye a head from the doorway.

I look up and see my parents' smiling faces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I was about to have a heart attack. A million questions flow through my brain like, "How did they get here? How did I not figure out this was coming? Is this payback?" According to my mother, the answer to the last question is, YES! Months earlier, I had surprised them Mother's Day weekend.

After the shock wore off after a couple hours, I was able to enjoy their visit and now that they are gone I'm kinda of sad. Funny, how the more time you spend away from your parents the more you actually miss them. There are times when all I want is to talk to my mom. It's weird yet good to be on my own, but still have my parents' numbers on speed dial. <3