Watch life from the sidelines or actively participate...you choose!

So my first month of Colorado living is coming to an end and I must say I've taken advantage of every single day.  I have fallen in love.... with Denver and I keep envisioning myself living here permanently but then I remind myself that I've only experienced one season. The natives say "oh, the winters are mild, and the snow melts by noon" which sounds great but I'm pretty sure that is not always the case. It's funny because every travel assignment I take I'm always in the honeymoon phase..i always fall in love with some aspect of the city I'm visiting.  Thank goodness I'm a thinker and not a reactor as I know never to make a permanent decision on a temporary emotion.

In any event, I am learning so much about myself on this assignment and those who know me, know that I'm a creature of habit. Its a wonder I have enough grit to be a traveler since there is so much uncertainty and change that occurs. I have however given myself some sort of routine. Once a week I workout at Red Rocks which is absolutely amazing. The scenery is so beautiful and there is always people running the rocks, stair climbing, etc...how could you not be motivated to join in?
There is always great people watching while strolling up and down 16th Street Mall.
Picnic time at City Park is also something I enjoy doing almost on a daily basis. Most recently, I enjoyed watching the Rockies beat the Astros at Coors Field followed by an awesome fireworks display. I'm not leaving any stone unturned, I even visited the Denver Zoo (I'm still a kid at heart, I'll never be too old) but my absolute favorite thing I've participated in thus far was fly fishing.
Did I catch anything?...No (a cold maybe)...Was the water freezing?...absolutely...Was I afraid the current might pull me down? of course but for me there is something serene about being still, being quiet, and being present.

So as I say goodbye to the month of May, I journal in my gratitude diary about how grateful I am to have had opportunities like the ones I've experienced this past month and am SO excited for what's to come......

                           hopefully this is the closest I'll ever be to a black bear

Denver Zoo

 Rockies beat Astros in extra innings- what a great game!

 16th Street Mall

 Denver Pavillons

 Red Rocks

 Red Rocks workout is no joke! I climbed every step and ran every row

 South Platte River

Remembering

Today this blog is not about MY adventures or MY life. Today I recognize my beloved Aunt Cynthia. I think everyone has a "favorite" aunt or relative. Well, aunt Cynthia was one of my favorites. I lived with my aunt in New York during an influential time in my life (elementary school until I believe 5 or 6th grade).
She was my biggest supporter who was very involved in my school and extracurricular activities. She was my cheerleader who was always so excited to hear about my success with anything I did. Unfortunately auntie suffered from seizures and eventually lost her vision but she continued to have a great sense of humour and a laugh that was so infectious you couldn't help but to laugh.

My cousin and aunt moved to Atlanta from Brooklyn several years ago at which time my aunt's health deteriorated and the level of care needed resulted in her having to be placed in a nursing home. I last saw my aunt in the nursing home last year and as soon as I spoke she had the biggest grin on her face and said my name then went down the list of all the other family members who were also in attendance. I was amazed because it had been such a long time since I was in her presence and she remembered and recognized everyone's voice.

A couple months ago, she suffered a massive stroke which left her unable to speak, eat, and was basically bed bound. Today, May 18, 2012 she took her final breathe and has joined the lord as well as my grandmother whom she loved dearly.  I am sad she is not here physically on earth but so happy she is no longer suffering. Today my auntie is living the GOOD LIFE.

Miss Me- But Let Me Go
When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
why cry for a soul set free
Miss me alittle
but not too long and not with your head bowed low
remember the love we once shared
miss me but let me go
~anonymous

 where I lived with my aunt

 P.S 152 (lots of musicals performed here with my aunt in attendance)

Coney Island

Our treat

The Big Easy

New Orleans hosts the Jazz Festival the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May each year. Such a great place to listen to tunes of all types. Don't be fooled by the name "Jazz Festival". I had an opportunity to see Neyo, Mystikal, Grace and the nocturnals, Zac Brown Band, The Eagles, Aaron Neville and listen to the sounds of trumpets and horns being blown while people waved their handkerchiefs in the air and got their groove on.

Food at the fairgrounds is well worth the long lines. Although the locals say Crawfish Monica is overrated, my salivary glands said otherwise as I cleaned my bowl and yearned for another helping.

Of course when you go New Orleans, you have to take a stroll down Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. Lots of street performers shaking their tail feather, tap dancing, playing instruments. 

New Orleans is always a good time. However it is easy to get wrapped up in the party scene and unfortunately for me that meant having various drinks and the mixture of daiquiris, beer, wine, and vodka had me leaving the big easy feeling a bit queasy.

 this is where it all began that left me praying to the porcelain gods

Crawfish Monica

 Big Chiefs performing

 Zac Brown Band

  Cafe Du Monde (lines wrapped around the corner)

 Good times with good friends

Street performers on every corner

Skylines

There is something about seeing a city's skyline that makes me smile and brings me back to memories of growing up in the city. Being partially raised in Brooklyn, I always loved the outings into Manhattan. I loved seeing the tall buildings and the mass of people making their way around the city like herds of cattle being funneled from one narrow street to the next. Those times where long forgotten once I moved to the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia as a teenager. Now in my 30's I am blessed with the opportunity to travel for work/pleasure and I always manage to get a glimpse of various cities which reminds me of home.

                                                           Dallas

                                                             Atlanta

                                                            Denver

                                                           Houston

                                               

                                                                Miami