An Evening with Dave Barry-- Sept 25th 2008

An Evening with Dave Barry was held at the Wildlife Experience and was hosted by the Douglas County Library Foundation. Dave Barry is an humor writer who has written over thirty books including the Starcatcher series, a young adult series that explores the history of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Neverland. Amazingly enough Barry has also won the Pulitzer Prize and formed a ban with Stephen King and Amy Tan. Overall, Barry was delightful and interesting to listen to (even if I couldn't see him since we were in the back of the room) His 'stand-up' act entertained and he pretty much saved the Q&A session that wasn't nearly as fun since the questioner didn't have interesting questions.

Rock Solid Writer’s Conference-- Sept 20th

The last couple of years the PSM library in Castle Rock has hosted the Rock Solid Writer's Conference. It's an all day experience with key speakers, classes taught by published authors and the opportunity for people to pitch their books to agents. this year my mom was kind enough to get me a spot in the conference. Overall, a wonderful experience. The speakers Margaret Coel and Jim Sheeler. Coel used humor and charmed to win over the group talking about her Native American mystery novels and her non-fiction book on Chief Left-Hand. Sheeler moved the audience with his powerful slide show on his new book Final Salute which takes a close look of the morning families of soldiers killed in Iraq.
Everyone signed up for four sessions of classes; mine were:

• "Make Your Poetry Come a Live" taught by Gail Waldstein
• "The Care and Feeding of Editors" taught by Marni Jameson, Sally Stich and Carol McAdoo Rehme
• "Structuring the Screenplay" taught by Ryan Kelly
• Dialogue and Setting in Fiction" taught by Todd Mitchell

Overall the first and last one fall flat. Waldstein was unfocused and used the time to talk about personal manners which wasn't helpful or professional. and ended the class with an exercise that she got from the second worse writing conference she attended plus an exercise she didn't even try herself. The last class taught by Mitchell just didn't add anything to my knowledge and felt like it was geared towards a young/less experience audience. The only interesting thought he presented was using dialogue to hide the truth.

The other two classes were fantastic. I singed up for 'The Care and Feeding of Editors' because of the name. What a creative name-- how couldn't I reward these ladies for such wit!?! Two of ladies (Jameson and Stich) come from a freelance writing for magazine background and spent they're 20 minutes on what editors want/don't want, your relationship is always going to be one sided, and fresh is important to any sells pitch. McAdoo Rehme's background deals with editing collection of short story books such as Chicken Soup for the Soul. The one piece of information that really stuck out to me was that the writers sometime shape the collection. A wonderful punctual, precise, and focused presentation. Finally, Ryan Kelly's 'Structure for Screen Plays' blew me way. Kelly's enthusiasm propelled the whole class and carried our awkward answer to a new heights that added to the discussion. Kelly focused on the plot structure of a good screen play and gave helpful advice as when key events are suppose to happen and what moves a screen play is a characters desire/need and the bigger the consequences the better the movie. Both classes was worth the entry fee for the event.

Burgundy vs. White Scrimmage

So in an attempt to be more social (and to avoid another chest hurting belly dance class) I went with friend Michelle and her friend Dee to the Avalanche pre-season scrimmage in Colorado Springs. Where we had a great time making silly eyes at our favorite picks. since it's been years, and I do mean years, since I've gone to a game I had a great time scooping out all the guys and picking my favorites (#16 Darcy Tucker). The White team totally beat the Burgundy team during the actually game, even though Burgundy had Captain (and Michelle's future husband) Joe Sokic on it. The shoot out at the end was a different story. All and all a great time and I'm glad I missed out on a Belly Dancing class to experience it.

Kansas Trip

So friend Labecca was in need of a computer, and it turns out that my job gave us great deals on our old computers. So we did a friendly exchange in Hays, Kansas. I wish I could say we had a great night on the town but really we just got to the hotel, drank at the bar, and then drank again in our room later. I tried a new beer called Shock (very similar to Blue Moon) and played what can we order that the kitchen actually has (apparently it was off season to visit Kansas). I also enjoyed the amazing bill board signs that advertised six legged cows and over 20 pound prairie dogs. On the boarder of Colorado and Kansas there is a McDonald's with video games for the kids (looked like Mario go-cart) and although everyone says the drive to Kansas is boring (which it did drain me more than driving to GJ which is the same distance) I did find many thing that were beautiful and photograph worthy-- unfortunately I was driving and couldn't pull over to take shots of everything that I wanted to. How can someone say that sunflower fields, black birds, old rusty trucks, grain elevators are anything but beautiful?

Upcoming events for Halloween

The Firehouse Ghosts
October 25 - October 26, 2008
PRESENTED BYDenver Firefighters Museum
The Denver Firefighters Museum invites the whole family to bring their sleeping bag and learn why things still go bump in the night at haunted old Fire Station No. One. This old fashioned sleep over in a haunted fire station built in 1909, is anything but old fashioned. The evening will open with a traditional firehouse spaghetti dinner and progress with spooky movies, titles early on such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, and get spookier as the night wears on. Ghost stories, children's crafts, Halloween cookie making, and a behind the scenes tour by flashlight of the basement haunted house will conclude the evening. For those that survive the night, a continental breakfast will be served. The evening is designed for all ages and costumes are encouraged! Important Information Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

Trick or Treat Train and Railroad Halloween Town
October 25 - October 26, 2008
PRESENTED BYColorado Railroad Museum
Catch a ride and visit all the town's special stops to fill your treat bag, visit the kid friend haunted house and silly graveyard, the pumpkin patch, and Hobo campfire with kid-friendly storytelling.
Helpful Information: Train departures every 20 minutes between 10:00am and 4:00pm.


Boo at the Zoo
October 25 - October 26, 2008
PRESENTED BYThe Denver Zoo
Discover "spooktacular" Halloween fun at the Denver Zoo. Costumed kids get a real treat as the zoo fills with mysterious creatures and lots of sweets!

Bikes On Main Street

Sun Swirl

Clock on Main

High Heeled Feet by Clee Richeson

"Can I keep him?"

A New Adventurer-- Belly Dancing

What can I say? Since my college days I've been dying to try out Belly Dancing. We had a group of older ladies that would shake their stuff at every event and I always wanted to be as beautiful as these ladies. So I signed up with a local place that offers Belly Dancing for an once a week two month section. So far we've learned Ciro walk, shim, freeze, grape vine, ball in chain, step ladder, hula ring circle, camel, head slides, and the many different ways to move one's hips. And I've learned that I differently do not have any skill in this type of dance at all. She keeps on telling us 'have strong inter thighs" and although I get the idea I have no clue how do it-- and control my movement because of it. For the most part I look like a lanky five year old roughly playing at a princess dance. And my chest hurts horrible while doing most of the moves.

I'm afraid I'm really looking forward of this experience being over with.

Train on GJ's main street

Grand Junction Trip

At the beginning of September, I visited my old college town. Main Street has always been littered with beautiful art piece. Also on Main Street is Main Street Bagels; a Bagel shop that was very important to me the last few months I lived in Grand Junction. The last few months I had been craving they're Skyway Bagel (spinach cream cheese, tomatoes, and melted Swiss). I stop and wrote a little while listening in an old folksy group play their banjos.

Upcoming events for the week of the 13th

Kim Barnes
October 15, 2008
PRESENTED BY Tattered Cover Book Store--Colfax location
Barnes will read from and sign her new novel A Country Called Home, a luminous story in which she returns to the great forests of Idaho to offer a powerful tale of hope and idealism, faith and madness.

Refuge Roundup at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
October 18, 2008
PRESENTED BY Rocky Moutain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Free family celebration of the American West and National Wildlife Refuge Week featuring bison tours and hayrides, a singing cowboy, square dance exhibition team, Aztec dancers, Buffalo Soldiers mounted cavalry drills and more!Important Information: Reservations are required for bison tours and hayrides.

The Emerging Filmaker's Project
October 16 - May 21, 2009
PRESENTED BY The Bug Theatre
Held the third Thursday of every month, the EFP focuses on really independent short films by local filmmakers.

Daniel Sprick Solo Show
September 19 - October 31, 2008
PRESENTED BY Gallery 1261, LLC
Daniel Sprick produces paintings where objects appear familiar at first glance, but upon closer examination, one notices that some key attribute has been withheld or altered. His engaging images will be featured in a solo show at Gallery 1261 in Denver this September, allowing viewers the opportunity to delve into the translations of what he sees around him in everyday life. His images surround the process of contemplation - the odd associations one makes, and the way one's inner world may spontaneously ignite as a result of one's prolonged interaction with a fixed subject.

Noises Off
October 3 - November 1, 2008
PRESENTED BY Denver Center Theatre Company
This side-splitting farce chronicles the misadventures of a bumbling theatre troupe as it struggles to rehearse Nothing On, a seedy British sex comedy. As the action spins out of control onstage, even worse chaos ensues backstage. The plots collide head on, resulting in a hilariously disastrous final performance. Performance Location: The Stage Theatre

Mr. Marmalade
October 3 - October 25, 2008
PRESENTED BY Next Stage Theatre Company
Lucy is a four-year-old girl with a very active imagination. Unfortunately, her imaginary friend Mr. Marmalade doesn't have much time for her. Not to mention he beats up his personal assistant, has a cocaine addiction, and a penchant for pornography and very long dildos. Larry, her only real friend, is the youngest suicide attempt in the history of New Jersey. Mr. Marmalade is a savage black comedy about what it takes to grow up in these difficult times. Important Information This event requires attendees to be at least 16 years of age or older.