A Denver Bronco & An African Cowboy

September 9, 2011

For the past 6 years I have been working with a non-profit called Project Education Sudan (PES). I helped to found this organization in 2005 to build schools in remote regions of southern Sudan.  In 2008 I traveled to Sudan to implement some adult education workshops. 

This summer we held one of the coolest fundraisers I could imagine, Climb For Sudan.  We sponsored two climbers to climb every single 14,000+ mountain in Colorado (58 in total) in 60 days!  With corporate sponsors we pulled in over $60,000!  To celebrate this huge success, PES hosted a wrap party like none other, and asked me to help run the registration tables.

Ayor and family

This wrap party was especially important as a way to honor Nick and Joe, our two climbers.  Joe almost died on mountain #54 when he slipped and fell 40 vertical feet.  He broke many bones and had to be carried down the mountain for 3 hours by Nick.  We were all so thankful that he survived such an accident, and could come to the party in a wheelchair.

When PES hosts a party, we like to do it right.  So, we invited some Denver Broncos to serve as our celebrity bartenders.  Isaac (dressed like a cowboy) jumped on in there too - just for fun. 

And we had some Sudanese dancing.

Even Gordon Appell jumped in on the dancing action!

It was a beautiful night to spend time with friends on a rooftop downtown. 

What a wonderful family this organization has become!

Steve Martin Plays The Banjo!

July 23, 2011


For the past 10 years I have discovered that no matter where I have to drive to around Denver, it will take me 15 minutes to get there.  In my head it doesn't matter if we are talking about going Downtown, to work, or to my parents house - yup, 15 minutes will do.  Turns out, that isn't exactly how it works.  I am late.  A lot.  


This blog post is also late.  But just like every other time, you all will forgive me. 


As many of you know, I come from a bluegrass music background.  My cousin, Adam, is in a very successful bluegrass band called Head for the Hills.  His full time job is touring the country with his band.  Super cool!  My dad is also a bluegrass/folk musician - so we like to get down on the banjo at Thanksgiving.  

(Adam on the left)

Every year we go to a bluegrass festival in the mountains.  It is the day that I look forward to every year.  I especially looked forward to it this summer because this year Steve Martin was performing with his banjo band!


Outside of the regulars, the new characters of Rockygrass 2011 included:


Caroline!

 

Ayor!

Adam (my cousin) and Alyssa (his girlfriend)!

So, the day started out as all good days do...with some giant hula hooping.

 

Ayor struggled to hula hoop.  I guess her hips really could not lie. At least she looked gorgeous just holding the hula hoop...in front of a giant connect 4 game.

Next, we heard some tunes from Adam on the stage. 

 

 My family has a rule that you must dunk your entire body in the river.  This year, with the runoff from the snow, the water was freezing.

 So, I made my mom go first.

 And that meant that I couldn't wimp out...

 Even Ayor got in on the action!

Afterwards, Ayor taught me a Sudanese card game.  It had no rules that I could understand.  Yet, Ayor kept getting mad because I kept winning.  I'm a natural I guess.  

Rockygrass always gets a little crazy.  At one point I found my mother picking her teeth with a knife:

 Steve Martin completely stole the show.  It was the perfect combination of comedy act mixed with incredible natural talent on the banjo.  Turns out he has always played the banjo, but got distracted by an acting career.  I can't remember another concert I enjoyed so much.  I highly recommend checking out his debut bluegrass cd - which won a GRAMMY last year!

Goodbye, Rockygrass 2011.  Once again, the best day of the year.

Meet Baby Bear!

This summer I finally fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine - to get a puppy.  I had wanted to get a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy ever since Justin told me about the breed in 2008.  Rhodesian Ridgebacks are an African breed of dog, originally bred to hunt and kill lions.  Bear is going to be about 80 pounds.  He is already awkwardly tall and looks like a small horse.

In July my dad and I drove to Utah to pick up my new puppy from his breeder.  And yes, Bear is Mormon. We were lucky enough to pass Little America - the cheesiest truck stop in Wyoming.  Obviously there was a green dinosaur.  Obviously I had to ride it. 

I finally met baby Bear and all his siblings when they were 2 months old.  

Bear was bred by a wonderful lady, Susan Ralston, who put us up for the evening at her beautiful ranch in Morgan, Utah. 

(small horse)

 

It was so fun to get to know all the puppies in the litter - they were adorable together!...And then I kidnapped him away to never see them again. 

 

 Bringing him home I was a proud (nervous) mama. 

Baby Bear is really incredible.  He is now 4 months old:

 

Like me, he prefers to sleep 10-12 hours a day.  He usually can be found sleeping in this position:

 

He doesn't know how to jump yet, so he usually walks up to things and puts his front legs on them while looking at me pitifully.

(With Aunt Bailey)

He loves pillows!  He tries to sleep between them whenever possible.

He is confused by the concept of getting a bath.

(insert terrorized face)

His ears flip backwards all the time.  Therefore, I often shout "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?" at him. 

And best of all - he plays well with others!

(With Antoinette and Mike)

I love baby Bear.  Even though he chews on everything and costs me a lot of money.  Here's to the next 12 years together!

(Got your nose, Mama!)