What a glorious day!
My New Friend in Denver
My new friend threw several angry hissy fits, demanded things snootily, and acted like the entire world revolved around her. But at other times she was gentle, caring and an absolute joy to be around. Oh, did I mention she is only 22 months old, just working up to her “terrible twos?”
Fortunately, the latter was much more common than the former, and she was a great kid overall, but hey, she’s two, that’s just how things go with ids her age.
After my uber-stressful two months in Tucson, relaxing at my friend’s house in Denver was a treat, and playing with her kiddo and kitties was a win-win-win. We stayed up late talking, sneaked in a movie while the small one was napping, and generally ignored all of our technology and responsibilities to enjoy each others’ company.
Fortunately, the latter was much more common than the former, and she was a great kid overall, but hey, she’s two, that’s just how things go with ids her age.
After my uber-stressful two months in Tucson, relaxing at my friend’s house in Denver was a treat, and playing with her kiddo and kitties was a win-win-win. We stayed up late talking, sneaked in a movie while the small one was napping, and generally ignored all of our technology and responsibilities to enjoy each others’ company.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Stalactites & Stalagmites
On Day Two, we had an absolute blast at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. I couldn’t stop smiling, the place made me so ridiculously happy. I took about a gajillion pictures, smiling like crazy the entire time.
We tried to convince the small one, AKA Katie, to go to the geology area, as we wanted to see the rocks. However, she kicked and screamed and created a colossal ruckus, and generally made our lives a living hell, until we turned around and headed to the space area, where she wanted to play.
Thank God for shoes designed to make cute little squeaking noises with every step, so that when your toddler sprints off like a bat out of you-know-where, you can walk straight over, catch them and scoop them up before they bring themselves into mortal danger, as toddlers are wont to do.
We tried to convince the small one, AKA Katie, to go to the geology area, as we wanted to see the rocks. However, she kicked and screamed and created a colossal ruckus, and generally made our lives a living hell, until we turned around and headed to the space area, where she wanted to play.
Thank God for shoes designed to make cute little squeaking noises with every step, so that when your toddler sprints off like a bat out of you-know-where, you can walk straight over, catch them and scoop them up before they bring themselves into mortal danger, as toddlers are wont to do.
Space – The Final Frontier
40 pound (18 kg) replica of the moon, suspended from the ceiling
40 pound (18 kg) replica of Jupiter
So we allowed Katie to lead us to the Space area, since we both love that stuff too. We got dozens of envious looks and direct comments on the utility of the made-to-squeak shoes, too, especially among parents with kids around her age. I watched one harassed-looking mother’s eyes light up with understanding as she yanked ineffectually on the tail of her toddler’s monkey-backpack-kid-leash thing… squeaky-shoes-company will be making a sale to that mom in the IMMEDIATE future.
They had tons of stuff for the little kids that I’d never seen before – special areas for under-five-year-olds with space suits, fuzzy things to play with and kiddo-sized knobs to turn, levers to pull and buttons to push. I saw them safely ensconced there and then wandered around the space area entranced with the rotating 40 lb (18 kg) each Jupiter and Earth’s moon, gorgeous photos and kid groups running around everywhere.
Ahh Science, how I love thee.
They had tons of stuff for the little kids that I’d never seen before – special areas for under-five-year-olds with space suits, fuzzy things to play with and kiddo-sized knobs to turn, levers to pull and buttons to push. I saw them safely ensconced there and then wandered around the space area entranced with the rotating 40 lb (18 kg) each Jupiter and Earth’s moon, gorgeous photos and kid groups running around everywhere.
Ahh Science, how I love thee.
Prehistoric Journey
I pounced in and one-arm-captured our mischievous two-year-old as she tried to weasel her royal cuteness through the railing to get inside one of the dinosaur enclosures to splash in the river. “HaHA!!!” I exclaimed, thinking I was special for some reason. I felt silly, but also satisfied with myself for catching her in time.
At that moment a harried thirty-something woman plodded wearily past, trailing far behind six rambunctious middle-school boys yelling, running and punching each other as they tore their way through the museum. The woman resignedly attempting to keep up with them turned to me with a tired smile and commented as she passed: “hey, my job is the same as yours. But I have to do it with six of them.”
Well, I didn’t envy her that particular job, but the dinosaurs were so beautiful!! They had exquisitely life-like dioramas with careful attention to every detail, massive full skeletons spread across the entire area, and other smaller things between, with phenomenal integration of it all.
At that moment a harried thirty-something woman plodded wearily past, trailing far behind six rambunctious middle-school boys yelling, running and punching each other as they tore their way through the museum. The woman resignedly attempting to keep up with them turned to me with a tired smile and commented as she passed: “hey, my job is the same as yours. But I have to do it with six of them.”
Well, I didn’t envy her that particular job, but the dinosaurs were so beautiful!! They had exquisitely life-like dioramas with careful attention to every detail, massive full skeletons spread across the entire area, and other smaller things between, with phenomenal integration of it all.
Leaving the Museum
After the dinosaurs we wandered around the rest of the museum, looking at prairies and grasslands and all about Colorado. They even had a bit about mountains in Arizona, which drew an excited smile and some hopping-up-and-down from me.
Then we exited the museum and realized it was a glorious day. The crisp clean air, the exhilarating natural areas around the museum, and the cooperative weather revitalized us and filled us with the energy to pack up the car and drive away into the distance.
Then we exited the museum and realized it was a glorious day. The crisp clean air, the exhilarating natural areas around the museum, and the cooperative weather revitalized us and filled us with the energy to pack up the car and drive away into the distance.
Lunch is Served
After leaving the museum, we headed straight over to my friend’s favorite restaurant, and easily one of the best Indian buffets I have ever tasted. Oh. My. God. It was delicious. It was amusing trying to keep our resident 2-year-old interested and engaged, and body-checking her when she went after things she wasn’t allowed, all while trying to shovel delectable food into our mouths.
I was utterly impressed with my friend’s preparedness, knowing exactly what her kiddo would want and when, and how to keep her engaged and busy and enjoying life and sneaking in tons of learning about the world. I made so many mental notes today I’m going to have to install a new filing system to keep track of it all in my brain. Well done, friend-mom!
I was utterly impressed with my friend’s preparedness, knowing exactly what her kiddo would want and when, and how to keep her engaged and busy and enjoying life and sneaking in tons of learning about the world. I made so many mental notes today I’m going to have to install a new filing system to keep track of it all in my brain. Well done, friend-mom!
Oh Airport, How I Love/Hate Thee
Amidst the sleet and snow and ice at oh-stupid-o’-clock the following morning, we ventured out onto the highways and byways to get me to the airport by oh-dark-thirty.
We did succeed, and it wasn’t as bad as we feared. The small one stayed asleep, and didn’t turn into the angry cranky monster that we feared she would. The roads had not yet frozen, so uneventfully, they dropped me off, collected hugs, and I was off into the sleety sunrise a couple hours later as they headed back home.
I had to try five different check-in machines, then call one of the attendants over to help after they all failed. He argued with me for 20 minutes over my ticketing and my lack of a Chinese visa, and made me feel like an idiot. However, China was never my final destination, and he was simply in the wrong. When he finally figured that out, he grudgingly fixing up my boarding passes and vaguely motioned me to get out of his face, pointing in the wrong direction. A decidedly unimpressive start to my first international First-Class journey.
The actual on-board part of the first-class journey was fantastic, though, and worth every erg of effort it took me to get the tickets, but I’ll share about that later.
Until next week!
We did succeed, and it wasn’t as bad as we feared. The small one stayed asleep, and didn’t turn into the angry cranky monster that we feared she would. The roads had not yet frozen, so uneventfully, they dropped me off, collected hugs, and I was off into the sleety sunrise a couple hours later as they headed back home.
I had to try five different check-in machines, then call one of the attendants over to help after they all failed. He argued with me for 20 minutes over my ticketing and my lack of a Chinese visa, and made me feel like an idiot. However, China was never my final destination, and he was simply in the wrong. When he finally figured that out, he grudgingly fixing up my boarding passes and vaguely motioned me to get out of his face, pointing in the wrong direction. A decidedly unimpressive start to my first international First-Class journey.
The actual on-board part of the first-class journey was fantastic, though, and worth every erg of effort it took me to get the tickets, but I’ll share about that later.
Until next week!
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