December

December started out wonderfully! On the 3rd, I celebrated my 35th birthday and Steven took me to dinner at my favorite restaurant, The Blue Star. I had a lemon drop martini and the best cheeseburger in the Springs. A little unusual for a birthday dinner, I know, but that was what I was really craving and it totally satisfied. As my birthday gift(s) Steven gave me snowboarding equipment, which I'm trying for the first time this season. I think I'm really going to like it, and I can only hope that I'll be as graceful and smooth on the hill as Steven is.

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On the 9th I got to attend a (free!) lecture by the legendary movie director Spike Lee. He was a very down to earth guy and I greatly enjoyed his talk. Now I just need to watch some more of his movies!

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The next night Steven and I and a few friends got to see a live taping of the radio show etown featuring one of our favorite musical groups, the Flobots. (See their additional websites here and here.) It was so interesting to see the way the show was taped, and to have to redo our applause sometimes so that it can be used for editing. The edited show will air sometime in February; I'm excited to hear it again in its polished format. I'm proud to say the Flobots are from Denver but have become nationally known for their song "Handlebars", which I've seen on VH1 and have heard on the radio many times. They played that song, as well as my favorite one "Rise" (both videos can be seen on their main website) and several more. I love the viola in all of their songs, played by the only girl in the band. Their style of music is unusual and probably not for everyone, but I love it! They're very politically active in the community and it's inspiring to see that at such a young age. I know I wasn't anything like that when I was younger.

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Later that same week, our office received the bad news that the Colorado Springs location was being closed and all of us were being laid off. Some people had to leave that day, but the rest of us stayed until January 23. It's really a bummer, because I had been hoping that this was a job I could enjoy and grow with for years to come. But now it's back to the job hunt along with everyone else who's in the same position. Thankfully Steven's job seems secure and he's been enjoying his new role as the Operations Manager.

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Christmas was a low key day for us. We just did stockings this year, considering the bad news I had received not long before. Roxy had her own stocking and was thrilled to find lots of treats and a new toy to play with! And I finally watched A Christmas Story for the very first time (hard to believe, I know). It was hilarious! I'm definitely adding that to How the Grinch Stole Christmas (either version is fine) as a Christmas tradition from now on. We didn't have a tree this year but I did finally get the decorations up around the house. I was excited to put up some really cool mirrored stars I bought at Cost Plus World Market. They looked great on our stair railing, and I was also able to display the wonderful glass pine cone that Krissy had sent me from Germany a couple of years ago. I love Christmas time!