Bloomage

Though I endured an incredibly gnarly space-age dental procedure yesterday, I'd really rather focus on the positive - it's all the, er, rage in mental health circles.

SO, check out my neighborhood! It is bursting with color right now and I've nearly run my truck into telephone poles just 'ooohing' and 'aaaahing' over the bright pinks, deep reds and eye-popping yellows.

Please enjoy the colors while I try to describe my weekend: Beanie, my horse teacher, is driving me hard these days to get my cantering down. Lord knows I've got a lifetime to learn when it comes to riding horses but I feel like I may be getting somewhere. Beanie is very encouraging - happy to yell when I fuck up but also lets me know that I am improving.

On Saturday, as an April snow came down, we grabbed a couple of hard ciders and rode over to the neighbors for a visit - I felt very studly. Then, the 22-year-old ranch hand made a pass at me - I tried to lay out the math for him but he was not concerned with such logic. Good to know I still got it somehow, somewhere, even though I can never find it when I need it. Meanwhile, I've put in a request to my friends for a more seasoned fellow - say ages 40-55. I just don't have the patience to train 'em, y'know?

I mean, just look at this tree, wouldja? It's just sitting in someone's front yard, screaming "YELLOW! YELLOW! YELLOW!" to everyone that passes by. I love it.

Now then, where was I? Oh yes, the weekend. Then, later that day I met up with HDW & HDH who kindly took me along with them on their date. We had some fine grub at the Lowry Tavern (artichokes are an aphrodisiac, I'm convinced) and then we went to The Soiled Dove to see Karrin Allyson, an incredible singer I'd never heard of.

Karrin doesn't just sing, the music literally moves through her body and comes out her head and hands; it is mesmerizing. She is known for her jazz tunes and Brazilian melodies but she also did some great standards like, "Guilty" which I'd only seen done by John Belushi in The Blues Brothers. Plus, she's an adorable pixie and you can't take your eyes off of her. A major talent and I'd nearly missed her.

So, yes, I have learned to trust the artistic instincts of HDW, who always blows me away with her fantastic ear for quality music. I needed a Colorado music guide and when I heard her casually sing all the words to "I've Been Everywhere" - no small feat - I knew that I had found the right woman for the job.

Ahhhh, yes, ... springtime in Denver. It's especially lovely on Vicodin ...

On Sunday, I did some more cantering and there were a few times - at least five - where I had no control over the horse. SCARY. At least one of those times was heading straight up the side of a mountain. Ben was huffing and puffing, determined to do what I asked of him, even if he was out of shape.

But as long as we both keep trying - and bloomage happens - there is something to celebrate.