Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Kris-mas-stache Bash

The party got off slowly, but really packed a punch. Mustaches were beautiful. Thank you to everyone who wore mustaches, brought ornaments for our tree, and brought gifts to put under the tree. Kris, Stacia, and I opened them this morning and loved it!

Ah, winter in the Dirty D

Been having some good experiences lately. Gunther came to Denver. This was not only magical, but beautiful... look - he is just as pretty in real life as in his pictures:


Then there was the Critical X-Mass ride. Christmas lights by bike... there is no better way:

Jason freezing his fingers off


Julie at the Botanical Gardens


The Critical X-Mass crew


Then there is the Hot IQs and D. Biddle Christmas party at the Bluebird Theatre. Rob dressed up in his bunny suit and made the whole night:

Monday, December 10, 2007

Wrestle Dogs

Yesterday was Jeff's birthday so I went to Vail to spend the weekend with him and Melanie. Nick was there too to we hit the mountain and all the fresh snow. We all got dressed up in one piece suits and sweet 80's ski clothing asa celebration. As of Sunday morning, Vail was reporting 30 inches since Thursday! Not a bad storm huh? Blue Sky Basin had only opened for about 1 hour on Saturday for the first opening of the season due to a lift failure. We went there and got some serious freshies as can be seen in the videos and photos below...



I dropped this line in Tea Cup Bowl during my first run:


Jeff can really throw down some edge:


I tore some snow apart under Pete's Express in Blue Sky Basin:


Jeff did some good gaping in his one piece:


Rails for gapers:

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

CycleJerks and Tetris League

Hit Larimer Lounge for the screening of the new CycleJerks film. #5... Good stuff.

After starting out with 3 strong wins against 3 strong competitors, I lost two rounds in this month's Tetris League tournament. Ended up taking away an award for "Most Improved", a t-shirt, and a button. Not bad...

Friday, November 23, 2007

Thanksgiving

Current music: Neutral Milk Hotel - On Avery Island

Yesterday we had a few people over to cook, drink, and eat all day... Here is the outcome:

Monday, November 19, 2007

On Being Green

Cool new (or sorta) website... Walk Score. On the topic of being "green", which seems to be all the rage these days, a walkable neighborhood is certainly green. Not only can you walk everywhere you need to go and save energy, you will also save money.

What is your neighborhood's score? Mine is 88!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

More bicycle

Current music: Cranberries - Stars (Best of 1992-2002)

Yesterday I went back to 16 Teeth and got my new brake lever. While I was there I just couldn't resist the Origin-8 Pro blue track grips. So now with my lever and new grips I applied the silver bar tape I picked up at Velo Swap.






Update!
A few new pics because these last ones didn't come out the greatest...




Thursday, November 15, 2007

KMC Z410 - Blue!

Current music: St. Vincent - Marry Me

Allan told me about a new bike shop on 6th Ave that specializes in single speed and fixed gear bikes. Today I went on a mission to find it and sure enough... 16 Teeth is right on 6th Ave between Downing St. and Marion St. Great little shop. I picked up a nice blue chain for my nice blue bike. This bike is really starting to come together. I have some more things to do, but it is going well...









Monday, November 12, 2007

New Mexico - Ojitos Wilderness Area

Yesterday Allan, Koura, and I got back from a hiking/camping trip at Ojitos Wilderness Study Area in New Mexico. Stories to come. Here are so photos:

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Party week

Current music: Boy Sets Fire - Tomorrow Come Today

This week has been nothing but a party. Tuesday I went out for dinner after work with some customers in from out of town. Wednesday we had a work party to celebrate our latest release. Tonight Allan and I prepared for our New Mexico trip then sat down with Kris and Stacia to watch the train wreck that is Pants Off Dance Off. Tomorrow we are heading to Ojitos National Wilderness Area until Sunday. Pics coming then...

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Skateboarding in Edwards

Yesterday I did my first day of the snowboard season and hit two resorts in one day - A-Basin and Keystone. After, I met up with Jeff and Melanie in Edwards and went skateboarding for the first time in several years at the Edwards Skatepark. Jesse Shoemaker met up with me in Vail. Rad getting to hang out with him all day!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Pumpkin Carving and Strelka

Current music: Ben Folds Five - Naked Baby Photos

This evening I got together with Jaime, Cindy, and Adam for some pumpkin carving and rum-spiked chocolate milkshakes. We ended up a Christmas Lobster pumpkin and an Aquarium pumpkin:







Afterwards, Paul showed up to hit Sputnik with Stacia for dinner. I went down there with them, but it was packer with Hallo-wieners partying it up. We ended up at the Strelka window:


Even ran into the Judge version of Neil Patrick Harris:

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Velo Swap!

Saturday was Velo Swap. I have never seen anything like it in my life. 60,000 sq. ft. of bikes! I ended up with a new fixed gear road bike and a bunch of random parts. I have been riding the thing non-stop. I never knew riding a fixed gear would be so much fun.



More pics...

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Stacia's new cruiser

Stacia got a new cruiser online from BeachBikes.net. It came in the mail last week so we put it together during the first half of game 3 of the World Series. Looks good!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Current music: Elliott Smith - Figure 8

So, last weekend was the Zombie Crawl. This weekend was the Pillow Fight! Not sure how well it is remembered, but last year was the pillow fight at Bayaud and Broadway. This year it was at 15th & Larimer in downtown Denver.


Photos:


Videos:
Denver Pillow Fight 2007 - part 1


Denver Pillow Fight 2007 - part 2


Denver Pillow Fight 2007 - part 3

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Denver Skyline Project (complete)

Finished up my Denver Skyline Project. Got these last 2 photos and now I just have to get them all printed and framed.

Mid-day:


Sunset:


You can see the whole set here.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Zombie Crawl!

Last night before the LUPEC Crush Party there was the Denver Zombie Crawl. Oh yes...

Videos:





Photos:

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Denver Skyline Project (part 2) in da morning

Current music: Chamberlain - The Moon, My Saddle

Went out for the second morning in a row, freezing on my scooter. Today I got the shot I wanted though:

Friday, October 19, 2007

Denver Skyline Project (part 2)

I started part 2 last night very similarly to the way I started part 1, but it was colder this time. I tried to get my sunrise shot this morning, but missed the opportunity by about 10 minutes. Here is the first one...

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Far, far away

Last night I drove to Duxbury, MA to get a frappe at Farfar's as was suggested to me by a native of the area. However, I got there just after they closed. Quaint little town. Beautiful homes.


f/3.5   ISO:400   Focal length: 18mm   Exp: 15sec

Monday, October 08, 2007

On my way to Boston

Yesterday Koura and I made it out for her first mountain bike adventure ever and only my second of the season since I just got my bike back recently. We went to a section of the Colorado Trail along the South Platte and just west of Waterton Canyon. I have riden this trail before so it was a good one to bring Koura on since I knew it wouldn't have any unexpected problems for her.

After mountain biking I hung out at home for a while then went over to Sputnik for Triviatron 3000. Our team won for the 3rd time in the past 4 weeks. Cool that Jaime joined up this week.

Today I am sitting in the Denver airport waiting for my plane to Boston. I have to go there to help with testing of my software.







Friday, October 05, 2007

Denver Skyline Project - sunrise

Finally finished the first set of photos for my little project. Here is the last one:

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Nearly done with stage one

So I am almost done with the first part of my Denver Skyline Project. I only need one more photo and I might be able to get it tomorrow... Here is the one from the sunset falling on the city yesterday:

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Favorite new recipe

I found this recipe last week and I have made it twice already: Vegetable Papillotes...

Throw a bunch of veges (I use asparagus, onion, garlic, carrots, mushrooms - shitakke or portabello -, squash, anaheim peppers, capsicum, and tomatoes) into foil, top with parmesan cheese (if you are not vegan) and wrap it up. Put it in the oven for 25 minutes at 400F. Make cous-cous or rice to go with it. Serve over the cous-cous or rice and garnish with pistachios.

Both times I have forgotten the pistachios, but it works well anyway. Also makes good leftovers.

Build-a-Bike

Yesterday I got an old road bicycle frame at a DU auction... Today I started stripping it down to the frame... Soon I will start adding components.

Before:


During:


After:

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Skyline Project

I started a little photo project of the Denver skyline. I need to get a proper tripod to really do it, but I have started playing around a bit to see what I will need. In the end I am planning a display on my dining room wall, but it will be a while probably...

So far here is what I have from my playing around:




Wednesday, September 19, 2007

colds are bad news

Current music: St. Vincent - Marry Me

Stacia and I went up to Vail this past weekend and hung out with Hulsey and Mel. Fun times. I got to ride my mountain bike once again. It felt good to be back on it. Just did a short ride. I plan to do some more riding this weekend, but closer to home.

My camera came back into Best Buy after the "DC converter board" was replaced. Weird... why do they have a "DC converter board"? The camera surely runs on DC and the battery is obviously DC. I assume it is actually a voltage regulation or monitoring board which was replaced.

Having my camera back I was able to go and play with the new lens filters I got. The circular polarizer is great. I also like the Tiffen 812, but in a sunset that one has such limited use. I will have to play with the Tiffen Haze-1 a bit more to really learn that one. Here is a shot using the circular polarizer:


f/3.8   ISO:100   Focal length: 20mm   Exp: 1/100

Thursday, September 06, 2007

broken puter, new puter, broken camera

Current music: Black Heart Procession - "The Spell"

Well, my old laptop I have had since 2003 finally bought the farm. It did me well. I shed a silent tear for it. Although it had no name, it was loved. Now I am typing to you straight from my new Macbook. Ahhh. Finally. I have been wanting one for so long. I am rather pleased with it so far.

In other news, my new camera died. I took it back and it is being repaired. Damn. I was so looking forward to editing photos on my new Macbook.

Stacia's doors are now installed, all painted and doorknobs, and the light in the dining room works again. It has been quite a time for broken items around the house lately. Maybe I have gotten though this episode.

Friday, August 31, 2007

Spendy lately

Current music: Ben Folds - Whatever and Ever, Amen

It seems like all I have been doing lately is shelling out cash and this trend isn't slowing. I had to put doors on a bedroom in my house (which used to be an office) because my sister moved in there this week. My laptop died on Wednesday morning so I have to get a new one. There is a light fixture which is screwed up in my dining room. I have tried to fix it, but I am now over my head and I have an electrician coming on Tuesday.

All fun stuff eh? The joys of owning a (really old) home.

At least I will end up with a new computer. I am getting a mid-grade MacBook and upgrading it to 2 GB of RAM.

Monday, August 27, 2007

a little processing

Current music: Sigur Ros - ()

Tonight after work I have just been working around the house. Getting ready for Stacia to move in was more work than I thought it would be. Shampooed the carpets and crap like that in her room. I think everything is ready except the doors. They will be put on tomorrow.

I also did a little editing of that photo from last night. Not because it is a great shot, but because I don't have a better one at the moment...

Sunday, August 26, 2007

preparing

Current music: Songs Ohia: Axxess & Ace

This weekend was mostly spent looking after my house. I made some good progress. Cleaned the basement (mostly), cleaned the garage, installed some bamboo looking window film in the bathroom, and did some other general cleaning. Stacia moves in on Tuesday and the doors to her room should be installed the same day!

It has been a weekend of parties...
Friday: Karla's birthday
Saturday: Danielle's going away party, Inslee's birthday, Justin's birthday/housewarming
Today: just some sweet trivia at Sputnik.

I headed to Wash Park around sunset this evening to get some photos and play with my camera a bit. I need to do that more. This is the best shot I got, and I am not all that thrilled. I could probably lighten it up a little, but this was the base shot:

Thursday, August 23, 2007

so much, just so much

Current music: Jeremy Enigk - The Missing Link

So... I am not sure where to start. Just so much stuff going on lately. Last weekend a bunch of DKBC kickballers and I went to Vail to play in the annual Evans Chaffee Kickball Classic. We really didn't know what to expect, but we thought we would kick some ass. So, we all started off by drinking a lot all night then trying to play the next day hungover (or still drunk). Turned out well (3rd place of 13), but we got our asses kicked in the last game, 22-1.

Here are some things thrown together...
My pictures
#3's pictures
Sputnik Photobooth
Video

Moving right along... we got out DKBC trading cards!


So, other things besides kickball... Tammy and Margi moved to Brooklyn. This sucks for all people in Denver. I hope they come back and visit soon. Stacia is moving in on Tuesday. The doors for her room were meant to be installed today, but the vendor shipped the wrong size to me. Now it is going to be about 2 more weeks. Stacia will deal, but it sucks.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

no champ here

Current music: Joanna Newsom - Ys

Us Drinkin' 40s ended up losing the championship game this past weekend to the mighty Shit Kickers. I would have to say they played an excellent game. We did too, but just couldn't manage to bring runs home. We had runners on 2nd and 3rd twice during the game, but were shutout 4-0.

Thank you DKBC for a great season and all the new friends.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Kiwi Week

Current music: My beautiful air conditioning

Ben and his brother Adam showed up at my house on Thursday. Since then we have just been rockin' it. Thursday night we hit up Benny's for some good mexican and margs then went to Sputnik for a few more drinks. They didn't tell me that they were sick. The next day with the hangover on top of being sick the two of them were useless. Did the mall thing so they could buy cheap American clothes.

BirthStock (which ended up at my house after the cops broke it up at Bosch's place because of noise)
was amazing. Pictures of my backyard being overtaken by BirthStockers:




Yesterday Ben and Adam slept in to try to fight their sickness then we headed up to Estes Park for a drive on Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road. More pictures: