While we were in Denver, we went to the Celestial Seasonings tea factory. It was Halloween, so lots of people were dressed up. Two of the women on the tour with us were dressed, one as Beeker. Best Halloween costume ever.

They make you wear hairnets. Heh.

My dad took this picture of Taylor, which I really like, since I think it captures a certain essence of growing up.

We are home safely from Denver, the cats are thrilled to see us, my inbox is full of spam, my sister has been married of to a hell of a guy, and all seems right with the world.

Earlier today, Ladybug and I were walking to the Flying Dog brewery, just to see where it was (I’m desperate not to get the cold that my body is getting, so the plan was to see the place, but not drink). It turns out that the Brewery is in Wyoming, but on the walk there, we passed Coors Field. I like Coors Field; we did a tour there last year, and it’s the only major league ballpark where I have ever set foot on the playing field. As we passed, I noted that the store was open, and if Ladybug needed anything– anything she could possibly dream of– that had a Rockies logo on it, they’d have it.

Perhaps only in jest, Ladybug said, “What about some glow-in-the-dark Rockies underwear?”

Well, of course I cannot pass up a challenge like this one, so I dragged her in there, and sure enough, we found glow-in-the-dark undies. A thong, no less! I told her to find her size, because we were going to purchase it. She thought this seemed silly, but I insisted. She’d dreamed it up, and clearly the Rockies mind-reading, store-minding AI fashioned it on the spot and put it one the shelf for us to find. So we were gonna buy a pair, dammit.

Well, it turns out that they had only L and XL in stock, which means that either the Rockies believe all of their female fans are chunky, or throngs of petite ladies are sporting some Rockies thongs.

We walked out with no Rockies gear and heavy hearts.

Happy anniversary, hot stuff.

For all who were wondering, Ladybug is recovered. She slept quite a bit Sunday, and was back at work today despite my protestations. She then worked overtime that she won’t be paid for. She’s a sturdy human being, that Ladybug.

It’s thundering wickedly and I am listening to Beethoven. I’m not normally a classical listener, but am finding more in the past few weeks that I enjoy it.

I’m supposed to go to a picnic, which will be a nice break from working, but it’s thundering. Boomer is in my lap. I’m working at a decent clip. These factors– mostly the thunder– should be enough to keep me from attening the picnic. But the picnic is with family. We’ll see how this goes.

I have been meaning to blog this for quite some time– it’s the original photo that was on the SAFE Haven for Cats website before we went and met our newest feline friend. This is Boomer, back when she was known as “Anastasia.” What a cutie?

If Ladybug ever doubted that I love her, even one little bit, I think that doubt should now be obliterated. We just returned from her 10-year high school reunion.

I must say that the highlight of the evening was the “awards” section of the agenda, during which someone with a little too much excitement about her high school years read out the superlative categories the class had voted on in high school and had people guess who the class had voted for. They all knew most athletic, but other than that, there was a lot of silence and a lot of incorrect guessing… until they got to “Most Intellectual,” at which point the woman reading the categories said, “And you all know who this is…” Everyone in the room said, in unison, Ladybug’s name. My poor wife turned bright red.

Ladybug and I just got back from my mom and stepfather’s house in Cary, where we had dinner. Ruth was also there, which was delightful. It’s nice that our mothers are close and friendly; it makes for a pleasant, supportive family environment. I could get used to this.

During the three hours we were there, my mom brought up the poetry assignment several times. She’s sent me a couple of drafts, and I have told her that when she sends one that meets the requirements of the assignment, I will send her my completed assignment. She’s quite desperate to know what I have been working on, especially since she has now shared three drafts and has a fourth draft ready on her work machine.

Ladybug thinks I am being petulant or that I’m enjoying the chance to torture my mom, but the truth is that I’d be thrilled to send her a copy of mine. She deserves it at this point because the assignment has clearly become the kind of game for her that it was for me, insofar as it seems like a mild obsession. But, until she meets the letter of the assignment, I’ll not be sharing. And frankly, I’m glad I’ve asked her to comeplete the assignment to the letter, because her poem has improved greatly from draft to draft!