Summertime Sadness

Kyoto Buns has got that Summertime Sadness too!

Lana Del Ray speaks to her soul.

In reality Kyoto was upset with us because she saw that our suitcases were packed and she knows what that means- that means we are going on a trip and once again...

she is not coming with.

 We left her for Colorado.

It was a fantastic trip.

We went because back in April, Brian had discovered that his favorite band of all time,

The National

would be performing at the Red Rock Amphitheater.

He has been anxiously awaiting September ever since.

Neither one of us had ever been to Colorado before. We really didn't know what to expect.

I can honestly say it was a lot different that I had envisioned in my mind, but in a good way.

For instance, I had no idea that trees grew out of the red rock like that. 

I'm probably a loser, but I thought that was very cool.

I also kept making references to Disney and Fox & the Hound, as that's what the drive into Avon reminded me of. 

I think I annoyed Brian asking him every time we saw a cliff, 

"Do you think that's the 

cliff the mean bear threw 

the dog off of?"

There were a lot of cliffs.

So yup, he wanted to kill me.

  

After an 8 hour drive, which call me crazy, wasn't too bad actually..

we made it to 

The Pines

resort in Avon, CO.

Here is Brian looking off of our terrace in the room. He is contemplating all of the beautiful things in his life, while reading a chef's cuisine digest.

This is the life!

 

Here is the view from our room. 

The air was so fresh and clean there. 

The place is so grandeur, that I felt microscopic in comparison. 

I had a lot of fun testing out my camera's settings, hence the multiple photos.

After Avon, we went up to Vail, CO.

Which was literally just up the road.

It's a cute ski town basically Park City on Steroids.

 

There I am in front of an Italian coffee, pastry and chocolate shop.

Here is Brian taking a super deep breath.

Not only because the view from Mt. Evans is simply breath taking but also because...

We were up almost 13,000 feet. The air is pretty thin.

It's freaking hard to breathe up there. 

It's funny because almost the whole way up there are warnings that say,

"If you begin to feel light headed turn back."

"Drink plenty of water to help get adjusted."

"Snow, rain may keep you from coming back down, you may stay the night in one of our complimentary sheds in case of inclement  weather."

I'm cool. I'd rather die.

 

But the view up there was spectacular.

We hiked about a half a mile to the look out and already we were out of breath.

Those signs were no joke. 

You really can't do as much as you think you can without fully adjusting to the air's thinness.

Brian wanted me to hike. So I did.

I was in the elements, but out of my own.

*note: the golden sparkly flats I chose to wear.*

Brian was very disappointed we didn't get to see any real life mountain goats.

But hey! We did get to see this little guy.

His name is Sir Alfred Chuck.

On the way down, we decided to pull over and sit on the edge of the cliffs and look out. 

It was really pretty because it was foggy, eerie and even a tad spooky.

It was awesome.

Brian amongst the clouds.

Next we went to Cherry Creek, CO. 

It's just 5-10 minutes from the heart of Denver.

There were two malls (an indoor and an outdoor one) within a block of each other.

Can you say HEAVEN?!?

We parked our car at the indoor mall and walked to the outdoor one so we wouldn't have to pay at the meters. 

Yeah. We're sneaky and thrifty like that.

We ate breakfast at delicious little crepe place.

I got apple cinnamon and Brian got banana's and nutella. 

 

Brian and his Nutella...

He's such a white boy.

Then, I wanted to go to the Bronco's stadium.

Brian thought it was too far away... but I made him go.

I must say, I like the Bronco's colors.. brings me back home

Orange and Blue

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for.

The moment Brian had pondered and obsessed over for 5 straight months.

The moment that had brought us to fun Colorado in the first place....

The National!

But first... there was more waiting.

You can't watch The National in the daytime.

They deserve more intimacy than that!

Who do you think they are?

So we waited..

And waited...

And waited...

And than...

Now I'm not saying Brian cried.

I don't know if Brian cried.

I chose not to look and check for fear that he might have been.

But, I would not be surprised if he had.

They were honestly great. Every song sounded better live than on his album.

If you've never heard of them, I would recommend them.

Some people say they have a hard time getting into them because they think the songs are sad...

They are not sad.

They are slower and melancholy.

But they have fast songs too.

The songs may be a little sad, but they are hopeful.

This is me: Sad that we had to come home.

The ride there was awesome, but the ride back felt like it took years!

The ride from Grand Junction to Price felt like 8 hours in and of itself.

Probably because we didn't want to return to our responsibilities. 

I know it's not practical to be on vacation forever but,

Can't we at least feel like we are on vacation all year round?! 

So lately, when I go to my in-laws for dinner, I pull out a photo album and I look through it.

There are some cute pictures in there of little Brian Boo. 

Here are just a few of the gems I snatched while looking through album #1.

*Below*

He is thinking:

"So... let me see if I got this straight.
I end up marrying a girl who takes how long
to get ready?!?"

 

On a somber note. 

A great man, the patriarch of the Southwick Family Clan

(my mother-in-laws side of the family)

returned home.

After 21 years he reunited with the love of his life.

We truly will miss him and his sweetness and willingness to help even until the end.

I will never forget how warmly he welcomed me into the family.

I will never forget his hugs and his sweet kisses on my forehead.

I will never forget his smile and his laughter.

We will never forget his humble strength.
We will never forget his example to us.

Until we meet again, you are in our minds and hearts.

*Below*

A tender picture I found in one of the albums of Brian and his grandpa