OT: The Avalounge (mod warning - No Politics)
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My Colorado trip is postponed till June now.
Instead of flying, going to drive it from NC, 1600ish miles, then going to take an extra week of vacation and spend time in the Midwest with the family and site see.
Instead of flying, going to drive it from NC, 1600ish miles, then going to take an extra week of vacation and spend time in the Midwest with the family and site see.
expatriatedtexan
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It's not a super interesting area, to be honest, to actually be able to see Colorado. The road down to Denver is a very easy drive though. Denver has a top 10 museum of art, museum of science, and zoo in the nation. All three are good gets. Eat at Guard and Grace if you can afford it, but there are a ton of awesome food scenes in Denver. D'Corazon is a beast of a Mexican restaurant. Lucile's is a must-eat breakfast place around the metro area.
You will be close to Boulder, which has some established institutions when it comes to food. Flower Pepper is probably one of the best you can get. Gaia Masala and Burger, Zoe Ma Ma, Rincon, Blackbelly, Frasca's, and Jax are others worth chequing out. A ton of hiking spots around Boulder as well, my favourite is Royal Arch, but I honestly just loved walking around some close ones too like Red Rocks trail in Boulder or driving on Boulder Canyon Dr. One of my favouritestest things to do if you have time is drive from Netherlands north on highway 72, then northwest on highway 7 to Estes Park and do Rocky Mountain National Park. Crazy awesome drive, but in June it will be MEGA busy (word of warning). Also, even though you're coming in June, if you plan on going to the mountains, bring some coats. There could be a 30 degree temp drop from Boulder/Longmont to Rocky Mountain National Park. One time when I was towards the top of Mt. Evans, it was snowing with 80 mph wind...in July.
expatriatedtexan
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The wife and I spent way, way longer than intended at the Denver Fire Station Museum. Actually stepped in to get out of the heat of walking around in the summer and just got mesmorized by it.
Guess what I'm trying to say is that even many of the smaller museums in Coloado are just incredible. Think the wife and I would actually have considered relocating once upon time. There really is a wealth of culture in addition to some vastly different but always gorgeous terrrain, whether up at RMNP or out towards the Garden of the Gods or the Red Rocks, it seems like we never quite have enough time to hit up everything we want to see on our trips down.
I think my favorite restaurant has been the Chophouse but it's been years since I've been there. The last two trips, my wife has wanted Fogo de Chao. Have no idea how she litereally dances out of a place like that while I've had to loosen my belt a good three notches and am already beginning to realize just how bad a call that last double neat was.
Going to say the ohvious.. witnessing a death is rough.
Was playing ball hockey and the guy beside me on the bench started slumping and breathing hard. We paused 30 seconds after I noticed, called 911, started CPR. First responders arrives 5 minutes later and work on him for 30 minutes and declare him dead from cardiac arrest.
I’m still processing it. I don’t know how to describe how I feel besides being numb. I was in shock and didn’t have many feelings at the time… but if was solemn. After the first responders came there wasn’t anything else anyone else could do. But I’ve never witnessed this type of death where someone is alive, talking, running, joking, etc… and then they’re gone. Just like that.
It really brings you down to earth and also makes you realize first responders don’t make nearly enough of what they deal with.
Was playing ball hockey and the guy beside me on the bench started slumping and breathing hard. We paused 30 seconds after I noticed, called 911, started CPR. First responders arrives 5 minutes later and work on him for 30 minutes and declare him dead from cardiac arrest.
I’m still processing it. I don’t know how to describe how I feel besides being numb. I was in shock and didn’t have many feelings at the time… but if was solemn. After the first responders came there wasn’t anything else anyone else could do. But I’ve never witnessed this type of death where someone is alive, talking, running, joking, etc… and then they’re gone. Just like that.
It really brings you down to earth and also makes you realize first responders don’t make nearly enough of what they deal with.
Neither do caregivers who assist people that die over the span of years.
We really do a shitty job of taking care of each other. And it’s getting worse every day - not better.
Take care of yourselves while you’re still healthy, because once you’re not - this society tends to leave ya behind in the dust.
I really regret my 20’s and 30’s of smoking and boozing it up all the time. I’ve now cut out alcohol and trying to start eating better. My biggest regrets in life is that I didn’t start doing this sooner and maybe didn’t start concentrating on having a family sooner. Kids/relationships/travel are definitely where it’s at for life satisfaction (at least for me).
That's scary af. You just never know when it's your time. That's how my father in law died - was just setting up the camper and sat down because he got tired and just died.
He had heart troubles for a long time (he wasn't healthy at all). I remember when I was first dating my wife, the first time I met her parents was her dad was in the hospital because he had another heart attack (saw his dick when he rolled out of bed to shake my hand
), and then he took us to Texas Roadhouse when he got out - just to give you an idea about how much he dgafBeing a parent is hard AF, but I agree. Honestly have a hard time remembering life before kids at this point.
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Just to steer the conversation so it's not so heavy.. my mother in law is legit crazy. She's always been a narcissist (not going to trauma dump, but she went like 6 years without talking to my wife and threatened my father in law with divorce if he contacted her - he did anyways, and then she blamed her for his death. Currently she isn't talking to my wife again for the last 6 months or so), but she's next level loosing it now
Yesterday she messaged my brother in law (and about 30 other people on facebook) because she saw a picture of JD Vance as a kid with his grandma in the background. She legit thinks it's my brother in law and her mom in the picture and she's freaking out because she can't figure out how CNN got this picture of her son and why they are lying about it being JD Vance
People in her circle keep messaging my wife asking how to help her mom, and she's just over it. We've had a good laugh about it. She's legitimately unhinged about it. Might be going early dementia or something. It's next level even for her
McMetal
Writer of Wrongs
If you're here in June and love nature, Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park isn't too far northwest from Longmont. When you said you were coming in March I was a little hesitant to recommend that because of potential weather issues, but in June you'd be there at a great time. RMNP is gorgeous.
Seriously it is. I always feel bad griping about raising kids to my parents - because any time raising kids is tough. But holy hell - I was doing my taxes and adding up the costs of my 6 year old’s after school & summer camps + my 2 year old’s daycare. We spent about $35,000 in child care last year. How tf am I supposed to put anything into these kids college funds? And that’s not even going into sports leagues, extra plane tickets, negotiating dinner every night, etc etc.
But boy when your kid thinks you’re their super hero and finds stupid things to laugh and talk about at the dinner table - it does seem to make it worthwhile somehow.
Ceremony
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I don't know some of the pictures I've seen of JD Vance the past few weeks have very clearly been of JD Vance and absolutely nobody else.That's scary af. You just never know when it's your time. That's how my father in law died - was just setting up the camper and sat down because he got tired and just died.
He had heart troubles for a long time (he wasn't healthy at all). I remember when I was first dating my wife, the first time I met her parents was her dad was in the hospital because he had another heart attack (saw his dick when he rolled out of bed to shake my hand
Being a parent is hard AF, but I agree. Honestly have a hard time remembering life before kids at this point.
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Just to steer the conversation so it's not so heavy.. my mother in law is legit crazy. She's always been a narcissist (not going to trauma dump, but she went like 6 years without talking to my wife and threatened my father in law with divorce if he contacted her - he did anyways, and then she blamed her for his death. Currently she isn't talking to my wife again for the last 6 months or so), but she's next level loosing it now
Yesterday she messaged my brother in law (and about 30 other people on facebook) because she saw a picture of JD Vance as a kid with his grandma in the background. She legit thinks it's my brother in law and her mom in the picture and she's freaking out because she can't figure out how CNN got this picture of her son and why they are lying about it being JD Vance
People in her circle keep messaging my wife asking how to help her mom, and she's just over it. We've had a good laugh about it. She's legitimately unhinged about it. Might be going early dementia or something. It's next level even for her
expatriatedtexan
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Hey man.
I appreciate you taking a minute to let us know what's going on buddy. There is no single "right way" to process something like this... I've found there are several "wrong ways" though. Talking... to us, to a friend, to anyone who will listen. You can even chat me up if you feel like it. But simply verbalizing your thoughts and emotions can often bring some clarity... because it's a lot easier to deal with "fear" or "sadness" or "relief" or whatever... one at a time, instead of trying to just fight this big ball of sutff.
You're in my thoughts and if there is anything I can do... even to just allow you to unload thoughts on someone.. I'm here.
Estes Park is a core memory for me as a child for some reason. I want to take my kids there sometime.
expatriatedtexan
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In the late 70s/early 80s when we were camped up there when I was a kid, I remember us camping in a place in Estes Park because RMNP had been booked when dad tried to get us reservations. Worked out just as well really. Man, that town as I remember was full of artists and cafes' with musicians and such. Neat town but I imagine that place is packed nowadays as well. We'd take like three weeks and camp all over the four corner states. 6 of us in a Chevy Chevette.
Last year we loaded our Sprinter van and took the kids to Grand Canyon, 4 Corners, Mesa Verde, and Moab. I had a lot of fun, but my wife prefers a hotelIn the late 70s/early 80s when we were camped up there when I was a kid, I remember us camping in a place in Estes Park because RMNP had been booked when dad tried to get us reservations. Worked out just as well really. Man, that town as I remember was full of artists and cafes' with musicians and such. Neat town but I imagine that place is packed nowadays as well. We'd take like three weeks and camp all over the four corner states. 6 of us in a Chevy Chevette.
.I want to do Estes Park and maybe Monument Valley soon, but we'll see how the summer goes. Probably end up in Tetons/Yellowstone like we usually do though
expatriatedtexan
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I have no idea what the condition of the parks are like today but I think we hit Carlsbad, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Mesa Verde, and the Great Sand Dunes on top of RMNP.Last year we loaded our Sprinter van and took the kids to Grand Canyon, 4 Corners, Mesa Verde, and Moab. I had a lot of fun, but my wife prefers a hotel
I want to do Estes Park and maybe Monument Valley soon, but we'll see how the summer goes. Probably end up in Tetons/Yellowstone like we usually do though
I think the one thing most folks can agree about America on is that in general, the National Parks do not suck.
My key places I want to visit:
Pikes Peak (taking the train up)
Garden of the Gods
Estes Park
Pikes Peak (taking the train up)
Garden of the Gods
Estes Park
We did Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods maybe 4 years ago. Incredible.
On man I haven't been to Carlsbad in like 18 years! Totally forgotten about it. Need to take my kids there but I don't really enjoy much of eastern NM haha
expatriatedtexan
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Yeah, but driving from Texas the Caverns were more like a stop on the way to the rest of the places for us.
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I lived in Texas for a minute when I was a kid. Getting to the Rockies was so good haha
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