hootenannie

A childhood friend from my hometown of Montrose, CO, is being featured on Tom Brokaw’s documentary, “American Character Along Highway 50,” which airs tonight at 8/7c on the USA Network.  Watching Jeff’s clip reminds me of just how beautiful western Colorado is – one of those things that I didn’t appreciate until I moved away. …

First things first: go get excited for my friends Annie and Hillary.  Ow OWWW, ladies! Now, let’s whiplash back to my quiet life.  All I’m asking is to find a charcoal grey, non-microfiber, cozy, not-too-huge, affordable, totally sexy sectional.  Craigslist is failing me at every turn. When it comes to my home, I’m a big…

I was awake from 2-5am for no real reason at all.  I just woke up out of a dead sleep, and my eyes stayed open for three hours. I tried all sorts of things – reading, watching a movie, thinking about boring things, tossing and turning, changing the temperature, changing my blanket situation, moving out…

I love beets.  I really, truly love them.  If I see them on a menu, I will choose beets over almost anything else. My least favorite color is blue.  I don’t hate it, I would just never pick it for anything.  If I were the captain of a kickball team, I would choose red first,…

On Sunday, while talking to my mom, one of my major insecurities fell out of my mouth.  Without the slightest hesitation, it slipped off my tongue – and landed right there on the coffee table. “Where did you learn that?” she asked.  “Why do you feel that way about yourself?” And for the past 36…

So, remember why I moved to Denver?  Because my mom has cancer? Well, as she put it this weekend, “I’m not sure that I have cancer.  But I KNOW that I have chemotherapy.” It’s true.  In the last 2 months since the initial diagnosis, cancer has felt like a joke, a deception.  This woman is…

Yesterday, my favorite Handy Graham gave me a ring – not a diamond ring (I should be so lucky), just a phone call. We shot the breeze for a few minutes, and then he asked, “How’s it going there?  Are you doing okay?”  It was earnest and sincere.  My eyes stung for a few seconds,…

I forgot to mention that I am now outfitted for Colorado. This is called the Lodge Parka, which is most appropriate for me, since I’m not really a “winter sporter” (not that I’m really a “summer sporter” either).  But a lodge?  That I can do. Has anyone read “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen?  I…

When I moved to Nashville two years ago, I switched to Bank of America because I never wanted to have to switch my bank account again – so naturally, I chose the bank of AMERICA. It turns out that Bank of America is actually the bank of NOT DENVER. – – – – – –…

I moved up to Denver on Friday night, and have been camping out in my apartment on an air mattress; my stuff should arrive late this week.  I live off of exit 206 (an homage to Seattle) on a street called Franklin (an homage to Nashville’s little sister) next to Cheesman Park (an homage to…